"Japan is located offshore in the northeast of our country. After the Battle of Baijiangkou in the Tang Dynasty, Japan was severely defeated. Japan sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty to study the culture of the Tang Dynasty. Now many Japanese pirates have become pirates and often harass our coast."
Zhang Xianqi didn't know much about Japan, and he didn't even have direct contact with Japanese people.
Zhu Zhanzhen took a sip of tea and said slowly: "Zhang Xianqi, if you are asked to go to Japan as our envoy, would you be willing?"
Zhang Xianqi was shocked and asked Zhu Zhanzhen: "Your Highness, our country is going to send envoys to Japan?"
"Yes, I have discussed it with my father."
"Your Highness, you must not do it. We are the country of the Central Plains of the Ming Dynasty, and we send envoys to the barbarians on the small islands overseas in Japan. Throughout the ages, only weak countries have sent envoys to strong countries to study and pay tribute. How can the lord of the Central Plains visit overseas."
“Isn’t it an act of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to send Zhang Qian as an envoy to the Western Regions that will be remembered for generations?”
Zhang Xianqi was speechless for a moment.
Zhu Zhanzhen continued to explain: "Of course it is not the mission you thought. His Majesty issued an order some time ago that people from Korea, Japan, Jiaozhi and other countries can participate in our country's imperial examinations and learn our country's culture. Here we go to Japan
Just for this purpose.”
"Establishing a school?"
"It is a thing that integrates diplomacy, teaching culture, and promoting the Ming Dynasty. I call it the embassy, the Ming Dynasty Embassy in Japan."
Zhang Xianqi muttered to himself: "Embassy."
"Your Highness, the foreign barbarians are not civilized enough, but these small countries can treat them with courtesy, so why do they attach so much importance to them." The intellectuals of the Ming Dynasty looked down on these small countries around them from the bottom of their hearts. This was the education and guidance they received.
cognition.
Zhu Zhanzhen sighed and said: "Zhang Xianqi, others should not be underestimated. Although they are a small country now and bow before the Ming Dynasty, if you underestimate others, they may have to suffer the consequences in the end."
Zhang Xianqi obviously will not change his opinion because of Zhu Zhanzhen's two words.
People who were born in the Ming Dynasty seemed to find it difficult to understand the misery of being enslaved by the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty.
It has always been difficult for people in prosperous times to understand the suffering of troubled times.
If it weren't for the modern documentary Zhu Zhanzhen, it is estimated that children of his age would not be able to understand what happened at that time. Even if there is so much historical evidence, there are still people who deliberately slander and slander the people who were persecuted at the time.
The writing in Shubenshan is not as realistic as the documentary. Zhu Zhanzhen used to watch documentaries about the Holocaust, but he did not dare to watch them when he was young. When he watched them when he was older, there was always a feeling in his chest that he could not express.
Zhu Zhanzhen stirred the brown tea in the teacup with his fingers and said with a little anger: "During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, did you ever think that the sheep herders and Qianghu people in the north could disrupt China and massacre the Central Plains? Did the Khan of the Tang Dynasty ever expect you in the future?
After Fang sang, I came on the stage. Anyone can take turns to be the emperor in this world; even the peaceful Hui-Song Dynasty, when he was writing the ink, did he ever think that Yuan could destroy the Liao Dynasty and then massacre the Central Plains, and he would become the two of others?
Foot sheep?”
When Zhu Zhanzhen said that he was angry, he burst out in anger: "Where will the enemy come from next time? Will it come from the grassland? Or from Jianzhou Jurchen? From North Korea? From Japan? Or from the west across the ocean?
?Our country has a vast land and a long history. There have never been fewer people who want to take it as their own and want to enslave our people. Looking around the neighboring countries, are there still few people who are eyeing it now?"
"What they lack is a man from heaven like Temujin, or when the emperor of the Central Plains changes and a fatuous king or ministers in troubled times appear, they will desperately invade China. We need to understand them and never underestimate them.
In these places, potential enemies should never be underestimated."
"If you fall behind, you will be beaten. If you don't think about progress, you will definitely fall behind."
"Scholars don't always say they worry about the world first."
After saying these words, Zhu Zhanzhen himself became unusually excited.
"His Highness is in peace and thinking about danger, and he is ashamed of himself." Zhang Xianqi was shocked by Zhu Zhanzhen's words. He knew that Zhu Zhanzhen had a flexible mind. Whether it was a newspaper or a steam engine, it was unprecedented.
But with today's remarks, His Highness the Fifth Prince's vision was far beyond his reach. At this moment, Yongle Shengshi began to worry about the future.
This is not a far-sighted vision, it is just about knowing what will happen in the future.
"Zhang Xianqi, Japan is an island country located in the northeastern sea of our country. The two countries have actually intersected for many years. Ever since the Tang Dynasty sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty, Japan has visited the Central Plains many times. Presumably, they should know something about the landforms and culture of the Central Plains, and even have detailed information about it.
According to records, it can be seen that the Japanese spies this time have sent people to take root in the Central Plains for a long time, but we know very little about them."
"You don't know, and I don't know either. I went to Honglu Temple and asked around, and the answers I got were almost the same as yours. The few people who can speak Japanese may know a little bit, but the mountains and rivers, where are the ports, and where are the ports?
This is a city. We don’t know where to station troops or where to produce food. If there is a war in the future, we don’t even know where to go ashore. We will be in the dark and blind, and how to defend ourselves against foreign enemies.”
Zhang Xianqi understood Zhu Zhanzhen's final idea, which was to ask him to go to Japan to sort out all the information about Japan and send it back. But wouldn't this mean he would be a spy? He was a dignified scholar. If he was asked to be a spy,
, he couldn't let go of his figure.
"Your Highness...do you want me to be a spy?" Zhang Xianqi hesitated for a while and then asked.
"No, I want you to go to Japan blatantly, walk swaggeringly on the land of Japan, to understand their customs, people, landforms, rivers and seas, and I also want you to promote the culture of the Ming Dynasty, and from a cultural perspective, you will make some Japanese people
Spontaneously get close to the Ming Dynasty."
"Your Highness, can such a thing be done?"
Zhu Zhanzhen nodded: "I believe I can do it. I am not asking you to be a spy hiding in the dark, but to be an envoy representing the Ming Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty's ambassador to Japan."
If you are not a spy, you will not have to live in hiding, and it will not damage the character of a scholar.
"Your Highness, why is it me?" Zhang Xianqi was a little curious.
"The ambassador has been living in Japan for a long time. He must be a loyal and upright minister. He who can sacrifice his life to give advice should be the first. He should also be able to communicate well. If he is a guy who doesn't know how to adapt, he can be easily deceived and will provoke conflicts between the two countries.
, now is not the time to start a war, you must be a Jinshi, because you want to promote our Ming culture and make the Japanese people think that being a Ming person is superior to others."
"That's why I choose you."
"I am afraid at first. I am willing to serve His Majesty and Your Highness. However, I have an old mother at home who has limited mobility. If I travel far away, I am afraid that I will not be able to fulfill my responsibilities as a son."
Zhu Zhanzhen looked at the closed door: "Can you ask the old lady to go out for a while?"
Zhang Xianqi hesitated for a while, then brought his old mother out and sat on a stone chair.
The old lady has a kind smile. In fact, she is not even fifty years old. She is just overworked and looks older.
"The old woman has limited legs and feet and cannot salute His Highness the Fifth. I hope His Highness is not surprised."
Zhu Zhanzhen nodded in amusement, and then explained his intention to let Zhang Xianqi go to Japan to be an ambassador.
Light burst out from the old lady's cloudy eyes.
He solemnly confirmed with Zhu Zhanzhen: "Your Highness, are you really not a spy?"
"The ambassador is not a spy, but represents the face of Ming Dynasty."
"As long as you're not a spy, it's not easy for me to raise a son. If I were to be a spy, it would also be a waste of the knowledge that I have studied hard for more than ten years. I am neither a spy, but an upright official. Go, Xianqi, I will definitely
I want to go." The old lady said excitedly.
"Mom, you don't feel well."
"Woman's words, aren't you making His Highness a joke by saying this?" Zhang Xianqi's mother stopped him: "My mother worked so hard for you to study, so that you can display your talents and leave your name in history.
It’s not for you to take care of me, an old woman. Don’t forget what your father said before he died. The men of the Zhang family will either protect the country or go to the high court to advise the country on good policies. The Fifth Highness values you, how dare you hesitate?"
The old lady severely reprimanded Zhang Xianqi in front of Zhu Zhanzhen, but Zhang Xianqi lowered his head and said nothing.
Zhu Zhanzhen secretly admired how powerful this old lady was. Otherwise, how could she cultivate such a young Jinshi from an ordinary family.
Zhang Xianqi was scolded, and he hurriedly saluted and said: "Your Highness, Xian Qi is confused. It is Xian Qi's blessing to be valued by His Highness. Xian Qi Ding should do his best."
Zhu Zhanzhen looked at Zhang Xianqi's mother: "In ancient times, Meng's mother moved three times, and her mother-in-law had tattoos. Compared with these two, the old lady is not inferior."
"Your Majesty, Fifth Highness, how do you think you can be a wife? The old woman has no education. She only knows how to train her son to be the pillar of the country. I just don't know when we will set off."
"As short as about one month."
"Well, you have to hurry up. Xianqi hasn't married yet, so I'll go and see more from tomorrow. No, I'll go today." The old lady became anxious.
"Mom!" Zhang Xianqi, a big man, felt a little embarrassed.
The old lady's words made the atmosphere much more pleasant. Zhu Zhanzhen looked at the mother and son. Neither of them said a word about the rewards or official positions they wanted to be ambassadors to Japan.
They didn't ask for it, but I couldn't help but give it.
"Let's go to Japan. I will ask Honglu Temple to send two people who can speak Japanese to go with you. You have to learn it yourself. There are probably no less than a hundred people including escorts and followers. This team is centered on you, and everything depends on you.
Take it, it’s not a light burden.”
"Thank you for your attention, Your Highness."
Zhu Zhanzhen asked again: "What kind of reward do you want, I will discuss it with my father."
"I am so frightened that I dare not ask for a reward."
"How can those who work seriously not be rewarded?"
"Your Highness, Xian Qi is honored to serve the country and I dare not ask for a reward." Zhang Xianqi declined again.
"My father and I have discussed it. In the ten years of Japan, I will be granted the title of official in Xinjiang, or I will be admitted to the cabinet and become the prime minister. If you have any other requests, you can make them."
Zhang Xianqi's whole body trembled with excitement, and the dragon gate where the fish jumped was right in front of him.
This time he made no pretentious excuses.
"My lord, I will not give up even if I die."
Zhu Zhanzhen stood up to leave, then turned around and put down a golden bean and said, "Purchase some better outfits."
"From now on in Japan, you will represent the Ming Dynasty!"