Chapter 451 It’s an honor to be Ming Dynasty’s dog
Chapter 451 It’s an honor to be Ming Dynasty’s dog
“Being a stranger in a foreign land, I miss my loved ones even more during the festive season!”
At the southern end of the long and narrow Tsushima Island, the highest peak is Mount Yatate.
The weather was still very cold and it was snowing heavily. Japanese Bo Yan Shifan was full of passion, looking to the west and reciting poems affectionately.
Next to him was a man who had shaved off the hair in the middle of his head, leaving only his temples and a bun on the back of his head. From his neck down, his clothes were very loose.
After hearing his words, the man asked: "Yan Sang, is this a poem from Shangguo?"
"Exactly." Yan Shifan turned to look at him, "Yitiaojun, this is "Remembering the Shandong Brothers on September 9th" written by Wang Wei in the Tang Dynasty. Now you are also guarding the horse for the next generation. You nobles want to write Chinese characters.
Are these poems not what we need to learn?"
Zong Yidiao lowered his head with some shame: "My father has always been a monk. I never thought about my future status. There was no need to learn this in the past."
Yan Shifan smiled: "In the past, there have been endless disputes on the island, but now we finally have communists. It is not too late to start the Righteous Tiaojun."
"So my father asked me to follow Yan Sang and ask for advice. He warned me that your knowledge is unfathomable."
"Unfathomable?" Yan Shifan laughed, "If that's true, I would have passed the Jinshi exam and been an official in the Ming Dynasty. Why would I risk traveling thousands of miles to come here and recite the verses about missing relatives in the wind and snow?"
Zong Yidian stepped aside and extended his hand: "Yan Sang, the weather is cold, so it's better to go down the mountain and go back to Jinshi City to have a drink at the hot bar. Yan Sang came back from Ming Dynasty, and his father has always been very concerned about Yan Sang's new sales."
"Okay, it's time to pay a visit."
Tsushima Island is very mountainous and has very little farmland.
This place has always been just a place to eat near the sea. When the weather is good, you can see Busan in North Korea and Kyushu Island in Japan.
The distance is no more than a hundred miles.
Because of this, the history of Tsushima Island was not peaceful.
At that time, the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty occupied Tsushima Island twice. The Zong family took root in Tsushima Island because the first generation ancestor Zong Ziguo only led more than 80 people to fight against dozens of times the Yuan army here.
The result was of course no surprise. Although Zong Ziguo fell to the ground and fell asleep on the spot, the Zong family moved the Kamakura shogunate and eventually became the guardian of Tsushima for generations.
But the Zong family has actually become a wallflower since then. More than a hundred years ago, North Korea sent troops to Tsushima, and the Zong family surrendered and accepted official posts in North Korea under the Cargill Treaty.
Therefore, the clan is not only a local daimyo recognized by the emperor and the shogun, but also regards Korea as its suzerain.
With its eight counties on the island, Tsushima has become a trade transit point between Japan and North Korea due to its geographical location. Sapphire, pepper, and ivory from Southeast Asia, copper, tin, knives, and lacquerware from Japan, and cotton cloth, rice beans, and honey from North Korea.
, Ginseng, under the governance of Tsushima Guardian, the eleventh generation clan governor, Tsushima Island prospered for a while.
At its peak, the island had too many people, and they had to be encouraged to go out. At that time, the number of Japanese who went to Miura, Korea, once reached more than 3,000, which eventually triggered the Miura Japanese Rebellion recorded in Korea, which also led to the obstruction of trade, and then
This triggered the civil strife in the Zong family for more than ten years.
This civil strife lasted until last year. Yan Shifan mistakenly supported Zong Qingkang, the fifteenth generation governor of the Zong family who had finally won.
Today, the core of Tsushima's power is located in the newly built "Golden Stone House" built more than ten years ago.
In Japan, the word house refers to the residence of a person with a certain status. The highest level can be called the imperial palace, which is not limited to the royal family. The next level refers to the public family and the nobles of the military family, such as the Zong family.
One party protects the person. In addition, there is also the emphasis on the official account.
Yan Shifan only felt that it was chaotic and that it felt like it was being forced to a higher level.
In fact, this golden stone house is not big, and there are not many people living around it.
Kinishi Castle is located next to a small harbor on the southeast side of Tsushimanan Island and is built on a mountainside. It is a mountain castle.
Next to the harbor, there is the ruins of the old city called "Pond House", which used to be the residence hall of the Zong family, but now it has developed into a small port city.
There are ordinary low-class people over there, and many of the big shots on Tsushima Island have gathered in Jinshishan City.
The largest building in the city is the "Guangjian" in the shape of a gold and stone house. In the eyes of the Zong family warriors, Yan Shifan walked in familiarly, and what he faced was Zong Qingkang, who looked like a monk... Hanging on the niche behind him
That painting.
"eagle".
A smile appeared on Yan Shifan's lips. This was also his handiwork. It was a "famous painting" that Zong Qingkang regarded as a treasure as a gift to Zong Qingkang for becoming the governor of the family.
Because the creator of the painting was signed by the famous Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. Not only was there a signature, but there was also a compliment, which said: "The imperial pen is dripping, and the painting is about the eagle; the eyes are made of gold, and the jade and snow are the clothes; the pen is strong.
Like a sword, with sharp claws like awls; How can I untie the rope and fly thousands of miles high? I respectfully accept the favor and only give a complimentary speech. Cai You, a scholar of Xuanhua Palace, praised it."
Look! The monarch of the Song Dynasty personally wrote it, and the important ministers praised it. How much face does it have? The white eagle is so lifelike, its rope has been untied, and it is flying thousands of miles high. What does it mean?
In fact, they are quite numerous folk commercial forgeries in the Ming Dynasty.
But Yan Shifan cherished it and offered it in exchange for many benefits.
Seeing Yan Shifan, Zong Qingkang sat there, bent over, and performed a Buddhist salute: "Mr. Yan, I've been waiting for a long time."
"Zong Sang, you are now a guardian, and you still uphold Buddhist rituals?" Yan Shifan returned the greeting and sat in the guest seat.
"I have been a monk for many years and cannot change it." Zong Qingkang looks like a kind old man, but at the age of sixty-six, he hangs this eagle in his room. Naturally, he does not take it seriously.
Originally, he was not destined for the position of family governor.
In the past, he became a monk at Kokubunji Temple. According to what Yan Shifan now knows, this Kokubunji Temple is not simple. Eight hundred years ago, the emperor at the time ordered the construction of Kokubunji Temple in various places in order to protect the country. Japan is divided into many small countries, and it can be said that it is one country.
A Kokubunji Temple.
Mune Haruyasu became a monk at Kokubunji Temple until he was sixty-five years old, but he was able to win the dispute between his nephews and was invited by the Mune family's retainers to serve as the family governor. Naturally, it was not without some planning.
The construction of this gold and stone house started many years ago. At that time, Soharuyasu was still a monk at Kokubunji Temple, but this gold and stone house was built next to Tsushima Kokubunji. Is there no reason?
Of course, some of Yan Shifan's efforts are now mixed into this.
So Yan Shifan seemed casual when talking to him.
Of course there was the reason that he, as an outsider, had a lot of money and materials, but also because Yan Shifan did not regard Zong Qingkang as a powerful person in his heart.
At least it still seems a bit hypocritical: Why pretend to be indifferent to fame and fortune when you are clearly ambitious?
After Zong Qingkang exchanged greetings with him, he started talking about business: "Jun Yan returned to Ming Dynasty to visit relatives. I wonder if he brought back any good news? Over in North Korea, the big and small Yins are fighting openly and secretly. Now no one wants to be taken advantage of by the other side. There are only two times a year.
Fifteen ships are really not enough.”
Yan Shifan seemed to be smiling but not smiling: "Members of the Zong family are only allowed to bring twenty-five ships, but I, Huizhou Sea Trade, am a merchant from the Ming Dynasty. Haven't I been exempted from this ban in the past few years? Could it be that Zong Sang can't trust me anymore?"
Zong Qingkang stared at him.
Originally, the trade between Tsushima and North Korea was actually no longer restricted by the twenty-five ships. However, since the Emperor of Heaven held the Longevity Ceremony a few years ago, North Korea claimed that the Japanese tribute envoys plundered Ningbo in the past.
Ming Dynasty was still holding a grudge, and specifically pointed out the issue of trade with Japan to the North Korean envoy. The North Korean leader did not want to offend Ming Dynasty, so he requested that the rule of twenty-five ships a year not be broken.
Zong Qingkang also understands this point. The powerful ministers in North Korea are in power, and the leader of North Korea is worried that turning against the Ming Dynasty will cause the army to suppress the country. In that case, he will have to rely more on the powerful ministers and even allow them to contaminate military power. And this matter can become a source of accusation between the powerful ministers.
An excuse for factions to plot evil.
But in this case, it can no longer be called a coincidence that Huizhou Sea Trade came to Tsushima at the right time.
Zong Qingkang looked at Yan Shifan's face and always felt that he was very mysterious.
He is a young man with great skills and excellent knowledge. Does such a person really have no good future in the Ming Dynasty? After staying on Tsushima Island for several years, the clan currently has no qualifications to trade directly with the Ming Dynasty official.
The share of trade with North Korea also relies heavily on him as a middleman.
"Of course I can trust Mr. Yan. However, if the clan wants to truly get back the 800 territories of the North Omi that Ashikaga Shogun promised, the clan will need more than just some money. Mr. Yan, the one who competes for tribute and plunders the Ming Dynasty is the Ming Dynasty.
The Nei family and the Hosokawa family have nothing to do with Tsushima. I don’t know what they are compatible with, the Korean trade, and the muskets. Will there be any gains from returning to the Ming Dynasty this time?"
Yan Shifan still did not answer him, but asked: "Zou-san, the Kitaomi Asai family and the Minami Omi Rokkaku family are related by marriage, and the Kyogoku family who was expelled by the Asai family is the original clan of the Nizi family. I want to get it
The real enemy of the 800 territory promised by the Ashikaga Shogunate is the Nishi clan who is very likely to use it to fight for it. Isn't Sou-san worried that the Nishi clan will seize Tsushima Island instead?"
A flash of light flashed in Zong Qingyasu's eyes: "Now that the Nizi clan, the Ouchi clan, and the Mouri clan are fighting, isn't it a good opportunity? As long as we can get back the 800 territory of the North Omi, we can also have sea trade with North Korea, the Ming Dynasty, and the Gyeonggi countries.
We all rely on Tsushima to obtain a steady stream of money and supplies."
Yan Shifan looked at him and then at Zong Yidian.
Look at the spirit of the old man. He is already sixty-six years old, and he actually has the ambition to compete for supremacy.
Who gave him the courage? It was naturally the scale of trade that had opened their eyes to Huizhou Sea Trade in the past few years, as well as the artillery on the escort warship in Yan Shifan's hands and the birds in the hands of the generals hired by the Great Sea Company
pistol.
Yan Shifan reminded him: "Zong Sang, there are so many goods sold to the Nizi family, Ouchi family, and Maori family in Tsuima, they must have been on guard. Nearly half of the newly mined silver mined by Iwami Yinshan every year has arrived.
Tsushima Island. If my prediction is correct, they are all thinking about Tsushima Island, and maybe they are already building warships."
Zong Qingkang smiled: "Will Mr. Yan watch them attack Tsushima Island? Compared with strangers like them, the Zong family has more trust in Mr. Yan."
Yan Shifan also laughed: "I helped Zong Sang resist foreign enemies? So if Zong Sang succeeds, what will I get?"
Zong Qingkang put away his smile, and then said seriously: "Yan Jun, I admire your talent very much. You are a powerful businessman in the Ming Dynasty. You chose Tsushima as a trading base. What do you want?
It is also very clear. If you can no longer hold back on me, then what if I can establish a new shogunate after my success and give Tsushima Island to you?"
"...Give me Tsushima Island?" Yan Shifan laughed and laughed, "Zong Sang actually has the ambition to create a new shogunate?"
Zong Yidian was also startled and looked at his father in disbelief.
Zong Qingkang's expression did not change: "Yan Jun said that he is alone. If you are willing to be my adopted son, why not protect Tsushima Island with you in the future?"
"..."
Yan Shifan also put away his smile and looked at him, and Zong Qingkang's eyes became sharp.
Being alone is his own excuse, but Yan Shifan, who has stayed on Tsushima Island for so long, also knows that Japan treats adopted children very formally. If there is such a relationship, the original family on Tsushima Island
It really doesn’t matter if you give him the karma.
but……
Yan Shifan said calmly: "It seems that during the time I left Tsushima, you, who had just become the guardian, spent a lot of time investigating my origins?"
Zong Qingkang bowed and said, "I have absolutely no ill intentions towards Mr. Yan. It's just my sincerity. If I can get Mr. Yan's help to establish the shogunate, I will definitely become the adopted son of the general, and I will not disgrace Mr. Yan's status."
Zong Yidian suddenly felt that his father's attitude was a little low.
Yan Shifan's smile suddenly bloomed again: "My identity? Zong Sang knows my identity?"
Zong Qingkang's eyes were as sharp as the eagle on the painting behind him: "The Ming Dynasty firearms are extremely powerful. If Yan Jun was just a private businessman, how could he have such well-trained guards? Besides, the ancestors of the Zong family were immigrants from Korea.
, although you can’t go to the Ming Dynasty, you can explore a few things through North Korea. I still know some of the important ministers of the Ming Dynasty. Yan Jun can carry out such a large-scale trade. I wonder if he has the same ancestry as Yan Weizhong, the Minister of State of the Ming Dynasty?"
"...Tsk, tsk."
Yan Shifan was speechless.
This is not surprising. Those who know a little bit about the Ming Dynasty but not enough about it can guess that the important ministers of the Ming Dynasty let the descendants of their clans go into business and help him gain wealth through power and connections.
Yan Shifan's strength displayed here was indeed strong enough, and Zong Qingkang was not idle after Yan Shifan's trip back last year, and learned some information about the Ming Dynasty from North Korea.
Since there is a person named Yan among the important ministers, and it was Yan Song who initially handled the Japanese tribute case and later petitioned the Zhejiang Shipping Department to reinstate him, it is only natural for him to ask this question.
It seems that without himself, Zong Qingkang would not dare to dream of creating a shogunate, and would still say it in front of him.
He laughed again: "Zong Sang wants to gain my support, and after success, he can use me to surrender to the Ming Dynasty wholeheartedly and obtain the title of His Majesty?"
"Small overseas countries have always been ministers of the Celestial Empire. Now the heroes have joined forces and are in constant chaos, even invading the higher country. If peace can be restored and more people can communicate with each other, it will be a blessing for Japan, and it will further demonstrate the power of His Majesty the Celestial Empire, and it will be more harmonious.
Mr. Yan needs it." Zong Qingkang asked sincerely, "Does Mr. Yan think this is the truth?"
"That's the truth. If I succeed, I can do business in the entire Japan." Yan Shifan laughed, "It seems that Zong Sang and I want to go together."
Zong Qingkang was overjoyed: "Does Mr. Yan agree?"
"It's impossible to be Zong Sang's adopted son."
Zong Qingkang's expression stiffened slightly and he fell silent.
Without such a relationship, how could he trust this person more? This person already had a wife in the Ming Dynasty, which Zong Qingkang knew.
Unexpectedly, Yan Shifan said again: "My father is still alive and I am an only son. How can I be Zong Sang's adopted son?"
"...Yan Jun, are you not alone?"
"I just came to Japan alone, but I am not without any relatives." Yan Shifan said with a smile on his face, "Didn't Zong Sang mention my father's name just now?"
Zong Qingkang and Zong Yidian both opened their mouths and looked at him in disbelief.
"Yan Jun's father is... just..."
Yan Shifan looked at Zong Yidian: "Why did Zong Sang ask Mr. Yidian to stay with me after I came back this time? It turned out that I had long guessed that I had an extraordinary origin and had such ambitions. Now Zong Sang knows that my father is
Regarding the affairs of the Ming Dynasty, I wonder if we still have our original plan?"
Zong Qingkang's face looked gloomy and uncertain.
The parents and children of the ministers of state of the Ming Dynasty came to Tsushima Island specifically to do business. Is this still just a matter of asking for money?
Zong Qingkang was not sure. Could it be that Ming Dynasty had any thoughts about Japan?
"...Yan Sang just said that you and I wanted to get together?"
Zong Qingkang tried it, but the title became more respectful.
"Yes, your Majesty also said that if Japan continues like this, it will be a disaster rather than a blessing for Ming Dynasty."
"...Your Majesty... also said?"
Yan Shifan felt very happy, and his face showed the kind of ease that he could let go and do something: "His Majesty's Holy Edict: In Japan, the emperor is not the emperor, and the ministers are not the ministers. The wars are endless, and the people's lives are in ruins. Their livelihoods are gone, and they have fallen into the grass.
In order to cause trouble to the Ming Dynasty and the various vassals, Yan Shifan was specially appointed as the Eastern Bodhisattva. With the imperial edict, he ordered the Japanese leader and the general who conquered the barbarians to give me an explanation. He captured the thieves and chieftains in Ningbo who pretended to pay tribute and plundered the people of the Ming Dynasty and tied them up to sacrifice to the Ming Dynasty.
Undead."
"...Uncle Dongying?" Zong Qingkang, who had been sitting upright, stood up, "Yan Sang, you..."
Yan Shifan was still sitting and asked him with a smile: "The Ashikaga clan cannot capture the Ouchi clan and the Hosokawa clan. Sou-san, can you capture them? If you can capture them, you will be able to conquer the barbarians as a general."
It’s time for my uncle to go back and answer the decree.”
Zong Qingkang was stunned for a while, and then he finally knelt down in ecstasy, sitting down in a very formal manner, and even took his son with him.
How could he be so virtuous and capable as to dare to be the only son of the Minister of State of the Ming Dynasty and the adoptive father of an earl?
But that doesn't matter anymore, there is a bright opportunity now.
"The foreign minister Zong Qingkang is alone and weak. Without the help of the higher country, it may be difficult to conquer the traitors."
"It's too far to conquer all the traitors. How long will it take?" Yan Shifan shook his head, "Why should Zongsang care about the 800 territory of Kitaomi River? My uncle's decree is to first check the Japanese lord and his country.
Is it possible to conquer the barbarians as a general? If they cannot do it, the Ming Dynasty will abolish the canonization of the Japanese ruler and the barbarian generals. Although they have long existed in name only, someone needs to go there. Yi Tiaojun, are you willing to be the envoy? "
Zong Qingkang's expression suddenly changed: Can he still come back?
Yan Shifan said with a smile: "I'm just asking for you. I won't tell them on the spot about Ming Dynasty's treatment. Zongsan and the Ashikaga clan knew that Ming Dynasty would be detrimental to the Ouchi clan and Hosokawa clan. They were afraid that it would be too late to rejoice. Another meeting
I’d like to help you. My uncle’s mission is to bring back the thieves and bring them to the Ming Dynasty. If you can do it yourself or together with Nizi Harujiu, that’s your ability. If you want to create a shogunate, how can you do it?
Just rely on Ming Dynasty for help?"
Zong Qingkang's heart was ups and downs. It seemed that the Ming Dynasty was really going to invade Japan.
But they chose the horse, do they think they have the ability?
Nowadays, among the heroes of all countries, horses are not enough.
He looked at Yan Shifan's calm smile and felt that he might not care whether the Zong family could succeed or not.
But can you refuse this opportunity?
The Mongols may eventually be defeated by the divine wind of the vast ocean, but Tsushima Island has never been able to escape the fate of being wiped out.
Yan Shifan, who revealed his identity, brought great oppression to him.
Even if you don't become this cannon fodder, Ming's footsteps have already arrived on this island.
And this young man talking and laughing freely in front of him, with such a prominent status, doesn't he worry about his own safety?
Without the actual support of armor or even military strength, they need to take risks and sacrifice their lives first. If the Zong family is unwilling, what if they fall out with him first?
Yan Shifan only had one eye, but the light in his eye was sharper than Zong Qingkang's.
Zong Qingkang hesitated for a while, and finally lowered his head: "The dog is capable of it!"
He had no choice, the clan's foundation lay in the opposite horse.
Tsushima is an island, only a hundred miles away from North Korea. The huge merchant ships and escort warships of the Ming Dynasty have been able to come here familiarly.
If he hadn't been the pioneer hound of the Ming Dynasty, this young man with a charming smile would probably show his fangs in no time.
The Ming Dynasty, which drove the Mongols to a distant and bitter land, still holds a grudge against a matter nearly twenty years ago, which shows that they have made up their minds: Japan will become the Ming Dynasty's loyal dog again.