When the whole country was celebrating and the city was full of joy, only Zhu Zhanzhen was frowning at the secret letter in his mansion. At this time, Chen Xinyue came over with tea: "Your Highness, the weather is cold and you are riding a horse again today. Let's drink some ginger tea first."
Bar."
"Okay, let's leave it for now."
"Why is Your Highness so sad today?"
"Nothing happened."
Zhu Zhanzhen didn't say anything, so Chen Xinyue didn't continue to ask.
Chen Xinyue talked about another thing: "Your Highness, when I entered the palace yesterday, my mother mentioned that Hu Shanggong would leave the palace after the year. She had been in the palace for so many years and could leave the palace before, but the Crown Princess insisted on keeping it.
She, I thought that after all, Hu Shanggong could keep the entire palace's female officials obedient, and she was a very capable person, so I discussed waiting until Hu Shanggong left the palace to invite her to the house, and Hu Shanggong agreed. "
Zhu Zhanzhen was in Guangzhou before, and he had exchanged letters with Hu Shanwei from the beginning. Chen Xinyue was a thoughtful person, and she noticed that the relationship between her husband and Hu Shanggong was unusual.
"Yeah, good."
"Then I will arrange for Hu Shanggong to live in a separate courtyard in the mansion, just like Zara, Xiaozhu and the others."
This is the treatment given to Hu Shanwei's concubine. Although she has no status, the treatment is the same.
"Okay, Xinyue, thank you."
"Your Highness, why bother saying thank you?"
"Xinyue, the New Year's dinner will be held the day after tomorrow. Please be prepared to follow me into the palace."
"Your Highness, please let Zara sleep with you tonight."
"Let me be quiet tonight. I have some things to think about."
"Okay, Your Highness."
Zhu Zhanzhen was immersed in the darkness alone, looking at the secret message sent back by Li Xianyu.
Li Xianyu went to Japan as a female embassy official, and is still in the embassy, but she contacted the Ashikaga family.
She said that she had become the concubine of the Prince of Pearl River and had been lurking for many years. Now that the Prince of Pearl River dismissed her after getting married, she used a first-edition steam engine drawing to gain the trust of Ashikaga Yoshimochi.
The Ashikaga family thought that their previous spy plan had failed and that Li Xianyu had lost contact, but they did not expect that they could still contact him after so many years. This precious steam engine blueprint was enough to make up for their current shortcomings.
Now she is still in the embassy. The Japanese think that she is their spy buried in the Ming embassy, but they don't know that she is a double agent.
The news that Li Xianyu has now received is that Japan does have a steam engine, but the steam engine has serious problems. Their current steam engine cannot maintain good operation.
Moreover, Li Xianyu has found out that the Japanese steam engines are imitations of the Ming Dynasty, and there are drawings of some parts. However, these drawings obviously do not match the different versions. Some are from the first generation, some are from the second and third generations, and there are
Missing, then they did their own research and put it together and it didn’t match.
But being able to obtain these drawings shows that the Japanese spies in the Ming Dynasty either had a large number of people or were in a high position, otherwise they would not have been able to obtain so many drawings.
Japan is an opponent that must be guarded against, and the reason for guarding against it is not its strength, but its heart.
Since the beginning of the contact between the two countries, Japan has never stopped coveting the Central Plains. Back then, they dared to declare war on the powerful Tang Dynasty.
As long as they felt that their national power was strong enough, they would launch a war against the Central Plains. Unfortunately, after being repulsed by the Tang Dynasty, their country was in a turbulent era for a long time. It was not until Ashikaga Yoshimitsu ended the north-south turmoil in Japan thirty years ago.
, entering a period of relative stability and unity.
With food and clothing in mind, the Ashikaga family felt that they also wanted to do an unprecedented feat, and the idea of invading the Central Plains was engraved in their culture, so they thought hard, arranged spies, and learned to imitate.
Zhu Di wanted to be an emperor for eternity. Don't the Japanese generals want to leave a name in history?
Men are all the same, power and fame are always their ultimate goal.
At this time, five months had passed since Li Xianyu went to Japan. After gaining the trust of the Ashikaga family, he gradually got some information. However, Zhu Zhanzhen felt that she would not be able to find out more in-depth information, and the Ashikaga family should also be able to find out more information.
Only the most core people know.
He wrote a letter overnight, telling Li Xianyu not to investigate too much but to stabilize the current situation.
"It seems it's time to find an opportunity to go to Japan." Zhu Zhanzhen murmured to himself.
In the past few years, Zhang Xianqi has done very well in Japan. He has done a good job in running the embassy and doing good cultural promotion. The Japanese people have eager expectations for Ming culture. The Ashikaga family also very much agrees with Zhang Xianqi's teaching of Ming culture in Japan.
Last year, four Japanese students went to Ming Dynasty to take the imperial examination. Although they were all rejected, it must be said that the mentality of Japanese people is unusual.
After thinking about it, Zhu Zhanzhen went to the palace overnight and went to the prince's study to explain the matter. After that, the two found Zhu Di together.
Zhu Di, who was still energetic during the day, was lying on the bed now, his whole body was weak and his lips were a little white. If he was not really weak, he would not see others in such a sickly posture.
He said feebly: "I was sweating while riding a horse today. I felt happy at the time, but now I am suffering. I am getting old. I am getting old."
"Father, please take care of your dragon body. I will come back when your father is in better health."
"No need, it's just a cold. It's nothing serious. You guys came to see me all night. It must be because of something important."
The two looked at each other, and Zhu Zhanzhen handed the letter to Zhu Di.
"Grandpa Huang, the Japanese embassy has come to report that there are spies in Japan and I. They have stolen our steam engine blueprints. Although they are some parts, but they can get so many blueprints, they must have been seriously infiltrated by spies. I hope Grandpa Huang will allow it."
My grandson is looking for spies."
After Zhu Di read it, he sighed meaningfully: "Once it is investigated, many officials will be alarmed, ahem, and the government and the public will be shocked. Now is not a good time to investigate this matter. I will order Jin Yiwei to secretly investigate all cases related to Japan.
Relevant officials should not make any big moves now."
"But Grandpa Huang..."
Before Zhu Zhanyi could say anything, Zhu Gaochi stopped him and shook his head to stop talking. The two looked at each other, and Zhu Zhanyi bowed and left.
After the two of them exited, Zhu Di looked at the closed door and murmured to himself: "My son is too thoughtful."
Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanyi were walking on the road in the palace. Zhu Zhanyi asked with some confusion: "Father, why didn't you let me say just now that things in Japan are not trivial and people in Japan have to be on guard."
"Before this expedition, His Majesty has considered the affairs of Japan, and has also told you that your Imperial Grandpa naturally has his own arrangements for many things, and your Imperial Grandpa is not feeling well today. You can just inform him of the matter and wait for him.
It won’t be too late to discuss it after you feel better in two days, and Japan’s affairs are not a matter of one or two days.”
"Father is still thoughtful."
"Also, why did you let your spies take the first version of the steam engine drawings to Japan?"
"I can't bear to let the child trap the wolf. If I don't bring anything valuable, people won't trust my spies. Moreover, it's just the first version of the steam engine blueprint. It will take some time to really build it to the Japanese level.
It is not on the same level as our current steam engines that have been improved over several generations."
"Is this really the only reason?"
"Yes."
Zhu Gaochi smiled slightly and said, "You can ask the spy to come over with a reason for starting a war."
Zhu Zhanzhen remained silent.
"Zhan Zhen, after the New Year, you can go back to your fief."