Being recognized by Ming Dynasty means having external support and strength.
Although Japan is an island country, Yoshimitsu Ashikaga has always set his sights on the boundless continent.
The Ming Dynasty was founded in the south of China and overthrew the arrogant Northern Yuan Dynasty. Hundreds of thousands of troops made several Northern Expeditions and swept through thousands of armies. This was such a huge military feat.
Moreover, during the Northern Expedition, they continued to use troops against southwestern China. All the chieftain vassal states on the border were surrendered and no one dared to disobey. This was such a military front.
The Ming Dynasty has millions of soldiers and horses, and its vast territory has everything you need. Trade with the Ming Dynasty will make Japan more and more powerful. And the wealth gained through trade is enough for the Ashikaga Shogunate to use money instead of samurai swords to destroy the enemy.
Another point is that the Ming Dynasty is now flourishing. This is also the fundamental reason why Ashikaga Yoshimitsu changed his disrespectful approach to the Ming Dynasty during the Northern and Southern Dynasties after the unification of Japan and the north.
He was familiar with the history books of the Celestial Dynasty and knew that any dynasty in the Celestial Dynasty would be invincible within a hundred years of its founding.
There was silence in the hall. This was when General Si Boyi spoke again, "My lord, the Ming Dynasty may not understand your painstaking efforts! They are coming this time..."
"It all depends on people!" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu interrupted, "I have observed that the envoys of the Ming Dynasty are greedy people, and there are many ways to deal with greedy people." He said, suddenly smiled, "He came thousands of miles away, did he reprimand me or not?
Who knows? It all depends on whether we can impress the Ming Dynasty’s mission!”
"I will give the Emperor Ming another humbly-worded credential as a pretense, and I will burst into tears. This has always been the case in the Chinese dynasty. Let their self-esteem be satisfied, and they will give us a certain amount of respect!"
As he said that, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu suddenly smiled coldly, "Besides, I am not completely losing my dignity and blindly trying to please. Since I accepted the canonization of the Ming Dynasty, I have cooperated with the Ming Dynasty to exterminate pirates. If we let the wolf of pirates out now, Ming Dynasty will
Will our maritime borders be stable?”
"I believe that compared to Japan's internal affairs, they are more concerned about Ming's maritime borders, right?"
"So what if I am really Dong Zhuo of Japan? But I have the intention to be on good terms with Ming Dynasty, and I have the strength to make Ming Dynasty take a look. What can the emperor do? What can he help Ming Dynasty? What can he bring to Ming Dynasty?"
"I want to find an account, and Ming Dynasty will settle it!"
"Father!" Ashikaga Yoshinori whispered, "My son feels that you are too wronged!"
"When a man is alive, it doesn't matter if he bows his head due to grievances. There is a Chinese saying that a man can bend but also stretch. Even the Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty has suffered too few grievances in his life? Is a momentary bow of bowing more important than an eternal inheritance?
"
As he spoke, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu said in a stern tone, "Everyone!"
"Hi!" All the officials of the shogunate knelt down and leaned over.
"No one should neglect the envoys of the Ming Dynasty!" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu said solemnly, "Anyone who dares to be rude to the envoys will be killed!"
"Hayi!"
~~
Afterwards, the officials of the shogunate retreated.
In the hall, only Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Ashikaga Yoshitomichi, Yoshinagasa Shiba and another important minister of the shogunate, Sekishiro Ichijo Sutra, were left.
Guan Bai is an official position, originating from China, which means relaying reports.
"Book of Han·Biography of Huo Guang, Jin Rixi" "Everything must be done first, and then the Emperor will be informed."
In Japan, the emperor had no real power for a long time, but his status was respected. Therefore, Guanbai was an important bridge for communication between the shogunate and the emperor, and was also the middleman between the two parties to divide their interests.
Ichijo Suitsugu was of noble birth, and his family was a branch of the Fujiwara clan, a powerful family in Japan for generations. He was an elegant man, not like a samurai but like a scholar from the Celestial Dynasty. He had a steady personality and was never eager to express his opinions. But what he said,
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu always paid special attention to him.
"Ichijo-kun!" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu said slowly, "I have something to ask of you!"
As he said that, he smiled and his eyes became sharp, "We must never let the envoys of the Ming Dynasty see the emperor!"
Ichitsuji thought for a moment, "I'll do my best! However, the news that the Ming Dynasty envoy wants to see the emperor must have reached the emperor's ears at this time. Maybe at this moment, His Majesty is already preparing what kind of etiquette he will use to receive the envoy.
I surrender!"
Although the emperor has no real power, he is the spiritual symbol of Japan.
Although the shogunate treats the emperor like a puppet, it is far less in its own hands than the powerful ministers of the Celestial Dynasty do to the emperor. The emperor is surrounded by loyal ministers and has his own administrative team.
It’s not that Japan is inexperienced in plotting to usurp the throne, it’s that they have always been governed by aristocrats, and although there are scuffles among the princes, no one dares to bleed the royal family.
"Then please go and explain to Your Majesty the disadvantages of him meeting the envoy!" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu smiled slightly, "Your Majesty is a smart man, what can he gain from meeting the envoy of the Ming Dynasty? If he doesn't meet, it means that I owe him a favor.
!”
"I will try my best to do it!" Guan Bai, a sutra heir, bowed, thought for a while, and then said, "But if the Ming Dynasty has a credential, it must be presented to His Majesty."
"I'll give it to you after I've seen it!" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu said.
Ichijo Sutra nodded and said no more.
Then Ashikaga Yoshimitsu said to the Persian general, "The envoy of the Ming Dynasty is greedy and should prepare more gold and silver. Not only for himself, but also for everyone in the envoy, even the lowest-ranking sergeant, must give generous gifts!"
As he said this, he thought about it, "They have traveled a long distance and must be extremely tired. Choose some women and serve them with all your heart!"
"Ha Yi!" Si Boyi general said, "I will do it now!"
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu turned to look at his son and said again, "Tell your mother that at the banquet to receive the Ming Dynasty envoys, Saeiko will be present!" As he spoke, he laughed, "I heard that at the Yamana family,
But the beauty Sasaki is dispatched!"
I couldn't help but shake my head when I said this, "The commander of the Imperial Guard in the Ming Dynasty is actually a greedy and lustful person. As long as these two things satisfy him, what reason does he have to make things difficult for us?"
"Father!" Ashikaga Yoshimochi, as the successor of the next generation, has a completely different attitude towards Ming Dynasty than his father. His father was close to Ming Dynasty, but he was more wary than close to the giant Ming Dynasty. He was even a little hostile.
In fact, this is what many people in Japan really think. For thousands of years, they have said they don't care. But that unimaginable behemoth is so close at hand. Who can not be afraid?
"Are you too kind to them?" Ashikaga Yoshimochi whispered, "We in Japan are not a country like Korea and Ryukyu!"
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu looked at his son, "I asked you to study, have you read it? There is a Chinese saying, if you want to take something, you must first give it to me. If we want to get something, we must give something corresponding!"
"It's just some gold and silver treasures, woman."
"Isn't it worth using these vulgar things in exchange for the other person's favor?"
Saying that, without waiting for his son to speak, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu continued, "Do you think that we have lost face by being so humble? But let me tell you, face is illusory, and power is real."
He was teaching his son when suddenly the sound of footsteps came from outside.
A warrior came over sweating profusely, "My lord, something happened!"
"How is it appropriate to panic?" Si Boyi scolded him.
"The guards of Xinyoumen and the people from the Ming Kingdom...are fighting!" the warrior shouted in panic.
"Nani!" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu became furious and shouted loudly, "He injured someone?"
"No, it was someone from the Ming Dynasty mission who injured him!"