Chapter 290 Feng Chan (3) The mission arrives in Beijing
When the first sailing ship of the Japanese mission cut through the waves and slowly sailed into Tianjin Port, the rising sun on the skyline announced the arrival of a new day in a solemn way.
The sea surface is sparkling, as if it is covered with broken gold, and the outline of Tianjin Port gradually becomes clear in the morning light. This is a busy and dynamic port, and its hustle and vitality show the pulse of this great empire.
Shimazu Tadahashi stood on the bow of the ship, his eyes piercing through the early morning mist, trying to capture every detail of this strange country. As a general who once led his troops in various large and small battles on the Korean battlefield, he hoped that through his
His eyes discerned the source of Ming's power.
He saw the workers on the dock as busy as a colony of ants, and goods were being loaded and unloaded quickly in the huge lifting and lowering room of the boom. In the trading area of the port, the cries of merchants, the honking of boatmen, and the blacksmith shop in the distance
The tinkling sounds coming from inside are intertwined into a vivid picture of the Ming Dynasty market.
Tokugawa Hidetada stood next to Shimazu Tadashi, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and awe. "Your Excellency Tadashi, look at the silk over there, how bright the color is and how delicate the texture is. It is indeed a product of the Ming Dynasty." His
His fingers pointed to the rows of neatly arranged silks and satins. Those colorful fabrics shone attractively in the sun.
Shimazu Tadahashi nodded, but his eyes were attracted by the porcelain on the other side. Those porcelains were elegant in shape, exquisite in pattern, and the glaze was as warm as jade. Each one seemed to be a top-notch work of art. He couldn't help but think, so exquisite
The craftsmanship is probably rare in Japan.
At this moment, a group of Ming soldiers wearing mandarin duck uniforms and hoods appeared at the dock. Their arrival immediately attracted everyone's attention. These soldiers walked in neat steps, with serious expressions, and the Wanli II rifles behind them
The wild goose feather knife on his waist reflects the cold light in the sun.
The Ming army did not often wear hoods during daily inspections. They usually only wore cloth face armor. In many cases, they even wore no armor at all and only wore mandarin duck robes. The appearance of this army wearing hoods is obviously not a coincidence.
.
Indeed, their main mission was to escort the Japanese mission, and beyond that, they also came to demonstrate the might of the Ming Dynasty.
The leading general was quite young, probably only in his early twenties, but he was very tall. He walked up to Shimazu Tadahashi and Tokugawa Hidetada with a straight face, and his voice was steady and strong but emotionless: "I am dismounting Yi, the current imperial guard.
The First Cavalry of the Third Town of the Army, Independent Biaotong. On the orders of Mr. Yuanfu Gaoge, I came to escort your delegation to the capital. I, Independent Biao, will ensure the safety of your delegation during this trip. I also ask your delegation to
Stay safe all the way and don't make things difficult for me."
Because before coming to the Ming Dynasty, all members of the Japanese mission had received special training, so they naturally knew something about the Imperial Guards, known as the "First Army in the World" of the Ming Dynasty. This "First Cavalry in the Third Town of the Imperial Guards" was an independent symbol.
"If nothing unexpected happens, there should be 1,117 cavalry under his command.
More than a thousand cavalry are not that important in today's Ming Dynasty, but in horizontal comparison, if placed in Japan, they would be enough to sweep away at least 20,000 ashigaru in terrifying combat power - although Shimazu Tadayagi and Tokugawa Hidetada did not
I had personally seen the Ming cavalry show off its power on the Korean battlefield, but the Liaodong cavalry led by Li Rusong in the Battle of Bitiguan was able to force the main force of tens of thousands of Japanese troops to move forward with just a few men. In the end, they were almost defeated by Li Rusong's rebellion before retreating.
The entire Japanese army was well aware of this matter but kept silent about it.
It was Li Rusong's battle that directly caused the entire Japanese army to fear the Ming cavalry like tigers and wolves. Without a strength advantage of more than five times, they would not dare to confront the Ming cavalry.
Therefore, when they heard that it was a Imperial Guard cavalry commander, Shimazu Tadashi and Tokugawa Hidetada immediately stood in awe, stepped forward and bowed deeply to express their gratitude. Their respect for this young general was not only
It was because of his position, not even entirely because of his prestigious reputation as a "Ming Army Cavalry", but more because of the inviolable majesty he exuded.
Ma Yi nodded slightly. The humility of the two Japanese envoys made him calm down a little. He waved his hand and said, "In that case, please come with me."
As the mission landed, the escort team of the Ming Army also began their work. They lined up on both sides to form a passage, leading the Japanese mission through the bustling crowd. When they left the port area, they
Chu Machang mounted his war horse and escorted the delegation towards the capital.
It turns out that because Tianjin Port is extremely prosperous, this racecourse was built by Jinghua as a "parking station". Today, because a group of cavalry was ordered to come, this racecourse was temporarily requisitioned to park their horses. Fortunately, the order was highly pragmatic.
According to the Tianjin Port Racecourse, it only took a few hours. Even the money was not confiscated and the horse feed was given away for free, which made Ma Yi very grateful.
Naturally, the Japanese mission did not understand the reason. They thought that the horse farm was owned by the Ming army. They looked at each other privately and were extremely shocked by the wealth of the Ming army.
When they officially set off on the road, the members of the Japanese mission were dazzled by the scenery along the way. They saw the golden wheat in the farmland, heard the flute played by the shepherd boy, and felt the bustle of people in the market. Every scene was...
It tells the prosperity and richness of the Ming Dynasty.
While passing through a small town for a temporary stop, Shimazu Tadahashi was attracted by a blacksmith shop. He stopped and carefully observed how the blacksmith forged pieces of pig iron into sophisticated farm tools. The skilled movements, precise strength, and
He couldn't help but marvel at the perfection of the final product.
Tokugawa Hidetada was attracted by the bookstore nearby. He walked into the store and flipped through those exquisite books. What seemed to be printed between the pages was not ink, but the light of wisdom. He was deeply attracted by these carriers of knowledge.
attract.
The books sold in an ordinary bookstore were actually more abundant than the collection of the Gongqing family in Japan. This made him know the profound cultural heritage and huge educational system of the Ming Dynasty. Such a strong contrast shocked Tokugawa Hidetada -
- Taige dared to hope to conquer the Ming Dynasty! This is really the fearlessness of the ignorant...
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! As night falls, the mission rests at a post station. Although this post station is called Yangcun Shuiyi, it is simple, but clean and tidy, and the food is not luxurious, but delicious
Delicious. Shimazu Tadashi and Tokugawa Hidetada sat in the courtyard of the west wing of the inn in silence, looking up at the stars, wondering what they were thinking.
After a long time, Shimazu Tadahashi let out a long sigh and asked quietly: "Based on what you saw today, what do you think of the Ming Dynasty, Hidetada-dono?"
Tokugawa Hidetada said bitterly: "Wealthy and prosperous, our troops and horses are strong."
"Is he worthy of becoming the master of Japan?" Shimazu Tadahashi asked again.
Tokugawa Hidetada fell silent, and after a while he slowly said: "You can be worthy of being the master of Japan, but you are not worthy of being the master of Japan."
Shimazu Tadahashi narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "What do you mean by His Excellency Hidetada's words?"
"It is powerful enough to be the master of Japan, but because it is too powerful, Japan will not take it seriously even if it is willing to show its support." Tokugawa Hidetada suddenly turned to look at Shimazu Tadahashi and said: "Your Excellency Tadahe,
What do you think of the bright general who is escorting us today?"
Shimazu Tadahashi pondered for a moment and said: "He acts with moderation and manages the army well. However, since he is only a young man, I expect that he must come from a generation of generals."
Tokugawa Hidetada nodded solemnly and sighed: "Your Excellency Zhongheng has good eyesight. I have quietly inquired about it. This man's father's name is Ma Lin, and Ma Lin's father's name is Ma Fang. All three generations of his descendants are famous cavalrymen of the Ming Army.
General. In particular, since Ma Fang, the Ma family has relied on Yuge as its backing in the court, and its status... may be like that of Taige's subordinate Qiyue Qibenqiang." [Note: According to the previous chapter, "Yuge" is
Japan’s special honorific for high pragmatism.]
Shimazu Tadahashi nodded and said: "It has lasted for three generations. It is indeed the style of a general."
"That's not what I want to say." Tokugawa Hidetada shook his head slightly and reminded: "Didn't Your Excellency Zhongheng realize that although this person treats us with courtesy and thoughtfulness, there is hostility in his eyes..."
"What's the surprise?" Shimazu Tadahashi interrupted: "Did Sir Hidetada forget how long it took for both sides to stop their troops in Japan and Ming Dynasty? Since Sir Ma Yi is a cavalry general, he is probably from the North. Even if he has never been to the Korean battlefield in person,
There are always some old friends in his clan and the army who have been there, and maybe they are still withering away there.
In this case, it is reasonable for him to have prejudices against us. Since we, Japan, have surrendered, it is time to sincerely change our ways in order to seek forgiveness and let both parties clear up their past grudges. Could it be that Your Excellency Hidetada is still going to continue?
Is this kind of hatred possible?"
Tokugawa Hidetada was at a loss for words. After a while, he stood up and sighed softly: "Perhaps what Mr. Zhongheng said is the truth... It's getting late, so I'd be sorry to excuse you. I'm sorry." After saying that, he bowed slightly and said goodbye.
go.
Shimazu Tadahashi frowned slightly, watching Tokugawa Hidetada's back disappear into the night, his eyes flickering, wondering what he was thinking.
The next day, the mission continued their journey. As they got closer to the capital, the sights they saw became more and more spectacular. On both sides of the wide official road, there were lush trees and colorful flowers and plants. Occasionally, some farmhouses could be seen.
Fruits and vegetables are planted in front and back of the house, showing the affluence of the people in Gyeonggi.
Finally, the mission saw the outline of the city of Beijing from a distance. It was a majestic city with tall and thick walls, tall towers, and flags fluttering. The gates of the city were heavily guarded, with soldiers holding weapons and watching every passer-by vigilantly.
people.
The heartbeats of Shimazu Tadashi and Tokugawa Hidetada accelerated involuntarily. They knew that this was not just a simple trip, but a clear expression of Japan's surrender to the Ming Dynasty, and it was also the beginning of another exchange.
As the Ming army cavalry slowly entered the capital with the mission's carriage slowly entering the capital, the entire Japanese mission was shocked by the prosperity of the city. The streets were spacious, lined with shops, and full of pedestrians. The shops along the road fluttered their business flags, and there was a dazzling array of merchandise.
From gold and silver jewelry to the Four Treasures of the Study, from rare medicinal materials to specialties from various countries, we really have everything you need.
When the missionary convoy entered the administrative district from the market area, the style suddenly changed. The gray bricks and black tiles revealed the precipitation of the years and the solemnity of the empire. There were fewer shops on both sides of the street, and the flow of people changed from ordinary people.
There are officials wearing various official uniforms, as well as servants of various distinguished and high-ranking officials. Various accents are intertwined together, forming a magnificent and solemn picture.
Fang Congzhe, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, an elegant middle-aged official, is already waiting in front of the Rites Department. He is wearing a crimson official robe, a jade belt around his waist, and a black gauze hat on his head, looking solemn and cordial.
Seeing Shimazu Tadahashi and Tokugawa Hidetada getting out of the car, he walked forward slowly, smiled and saluted: "I am Fang Congzhe, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, and I have come to greet you two by the order of the Prime Minister. The capital is crowded, and the Prime Minister
I have ordered you to prepare better accommodation for you, please come with me."
Shimazu Tadahashi and Tokugawa Hidetada hurriedly returned the greetings, but barely got a word in, before they saw Fang Congzhe get into his own carriage. They had no choice but to return to the carriage and let the convoy follow Fang Congzhe's carriage southward through Zhengyang.
Enter the Nancheng Gate, then turn east for a few miles and arrive at the Xizhao Temple located near Guangqumen in Nancheng of the capital.
The environment here is quiet, with towering ancient trees and the melodious ringing of temple bells, giving people a feeling of being far away from the hustle and bustle of the world, which is in sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle just now.
After the two parties got off the bus, Fang Congzhe explained: "Eun Xiang specially chose this place, hoping that you can find a peaceful place outside of the busy official duties." What can Shimazu Tadayake and Tokugawa Hidetada say? Only Qian En
Expressing gratitude with all thanks. However, Fang Congzhe seemed very busy, so he left after a brief introduction.
The guest rooms in Xizhao Temple are elegantly decorated, and the furniture and furnishings all reveal the exquisite craftsmanship of the Ming Dynasty. Shimazu Tadayagi and Tokugawa Hidetada were very satisfied with this arrangement. They thought it was a reflection of the Ming Dynasty's respect for them. But after thinking about it carefully, they realized
I felt a little strange, why did the people who received them along the way seem to be "following the orders of the senior officials" rather than "following the imperial edict"?
In the early morning of the next day, the morning sun shone on the red walls and yellow tiles of Xizhao Temple, making it look particularly warm. Shimazu Tadahashi got up early, packed his clothes, and prepared to go to Gao Pragmatic's mansion as instructed by Fang Congzhe yesterday.
He was both excited and uneasy because today would be the moment for him to have a direct conversation with the top official of the Ming Dynasty.
The highly pragmatic Nanning Marquis Mansion is located in a strange place. It is located on the Shicha Sea outside Di'anmen. In front of the door is a pair of majestic white marble lions given by the emperor, showing the status and authority of the owner.
When Shimazu Tadahashi walked into the mansion, he saw rockery, flowing water, and sparse flowers and trees in the courtyard, showing the demeanor of a scholar. However, on the side of the Shicha seaside, there was a tall building with a strange shape, which seemed to be in a Western style. He was introduced to this building, and then
From the plaque in front of the door, I found out that this building is called "Rixin Building".
Shimazu Tadahashi suddenly realized that the nickname of the imperial pavilion actually came from this building? Soon, he was taken to a study room on the third floor. In the study room, a tall man wearing a red silk python robe was sitting upright.
Behind a rosewood desk, he was playing with a jade Ruyi in his hand, looking calm and calm.
Shimazu Tadashi had seen a pragmatic side in North Korea, and he would not admit his mistake at this time. He quickly took a deep breath, took three steps forward, knelt down, and kowtowed: "Shimazu Taduhane, the foreign minister of the barbaric wilderness, pays homage to the imperial palace.
May the Royal Pavilion be blessed with peace and prosperity."
Gao Jingshi already knew from the letter that he had been given the special honorific "Okaku" by the Japanese, so he was not surprised. He just smiled slightly and motioned for him to sit down: "Master Shimazu has come a long way. Thank you for your hard work. Please stand up and sit down."
.”
Shimazu Tadahashi quickly stood up and returned the gift, followed the direction of Gao Pragmatic's finger, and lowered half of his buttocks on a rosewood chair. He felt the majesty of Gao Pragmatic's peacefulness, as well as the confidence that he inadvertently revealed. Then he began to wait for the royal pavilion.
's question.
However, what he didn't expect was that Gao Jingshi did not take the initiative to ask any specific questions, but asked lightly: "Is there anything you want to tell me, head of the Shimadzu family?"
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