It was the tenth day of the ninth lunar month in the first year of the reign of Emperor Goguangmei.
Ninomaru Palace in Kyoto.
Vic Brown and the Liverpool businessmen walked through a deep palace corridor under the leadership of Master Chun Shen, the master of Shiranoshan Mountain.
Two Europeans as strong as oxen stepped on the pine floor, and the floor emitted the chirping sound of orioles.
This is Ninomaru's famous oriole floor. It is said that it was designed like this to prevent assassins from sneaking in quietly.
The British officer noticed the weapons hidden on both sides of the corridor. Those strange weapons gave off a cold light, but they could not see where their owners were hiding.
The Liverpool merchant whispered to his companion:
"This is the ninja of Kyoto."
"In the dark night, ninjas cover their faces, blow hidden arrows in the corner, and attack secretly in the dark night. Loyalty is the only thing, and smoke is used as a weapon."
"oh."
Brown yelled, interrupting the businessman's chanting.
"Compared with ninjas, I'm more concerned about where the old monk who killed the wild cat went?"
At some point, Master Chun Shen who was walking in front suddenly disappeared.
While I was surprised, the church bell rang overhead:
"The General Zhengyi is here, please don't make any noise."
The two Englishmen looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and closed their mouths.
They enter a secret room with a clover carved on the door.
No need for Cohen to explain, Vic Brown also knew that this was the crest of the Tokugawa family.
Several murderous warriors at the door searched the two people carefully, checking from the soles of their feet to their hair to make sure they were not carrying weapons. Then they all said sorry and stretched out their hands to respectfully invite the British to enter.
On the screen facing the main entrance, several pines and cypresses are painted, symbolizing the eternal prosperity of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
There are a few wild geese parked among the pines and cypress branches, which means that the general and the famous people live in harmony.
This was the place where the shogunate met with the daimyo of various vassals, and it was also Tokugawa Iemitsu's palace in Kyoto.
The misty pine branches holding the snow complement each other with plum blossoms and falling cherry blossoms. The flowers, birds, wind and moon are full of three-dimensionality and the colors are magnificent.
Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third-generation general who conquered barbarians, sat behind a screen surrounded by a group of retainers.
Light and shadow intersect, and an exquisite Venetian mirror hangs on the wall.
Tokugawa Iemitsu turned his back to the British, and his eyes crossed the high railings, overlooking the city of Kyoto below.
The borders of Japan accommodated the newly conquered lands, and the Ezo land in the north was captured by the shogunate.
Ryukyu in the south will soon be recovered by the Satsuma Domain. As for Korea, I believe it will be the same as it was fifty years ago, or even easier to win.
In another month, the armies of each vassal will enter densely populated China.
In Zhejiang and Fujian—the area that the Japanese are most familiar with—there are bustling towns, rolling fields of rice and wheat, mellow wine, plump meat, delicate and slender women, and mountains of gold and silver.
These are waiting for their true owners.
"Japan's development has been too inward-looking in recent years,"
Tokugawa Iemitsu thought.
"My father is an overly cautious person. He was intimidated by Liu Zhaosun's power and turned the whole of Japan into a hibernating snake."
Now it's time for it to show its fangs and grow wild.
Tokugawa Iemitsu was very dissatisfied with his father Tokugawa Hidetada. When his father was in power, the Tatars imposed the Treaty of Niguan on Japan.
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【Beginning of Ming Dynasty from Saerhu】【】
A huge humiliation.
Hearing that the East India Company was willing to assist in the Western Expedition and send representatives, the beast's blood flowing in the general's bones instantly boiled.
The general knows very well how expensive and scarce the materials of each vassal are! The middle and lower class samurai even only eat two meals a day.
Japan really needs to go out and rob.
It is said that among all famous people, being able to eat carp is a sign of dignity!
Even as the shogun with the highest social status in the samurai family, Tokugawa Iemitsu's daily diet was very simple.
The shogun once ordered that extravagant food and fancy clothing be prohibited. He himself took the lead in practicing frugality. He would not eat more than two dishes and one soup, and he would not drink any alcohol. Note 1
The officials of the shogunate each brought their own lunch boxes when on duty. Only the middle-aged and senior officials could still provide food after the meal time while on duty, but only one soup and five dishes were provided.
Not long ago, when Hidemoto Mori of the Yamaguchi Domain was on duty at Edo Castle, he brought a piece of salmon in his lunch box. Everyone felt it was rare and asked to share it.
“China has clumps of pomegranate trees with their crackling ripe fruit, barbecue forks skewering dripping beef, sunken ground revealing shiny veins of gold, and countless women.”
To be honest, I have been reading books recently to catch up on updates, switch sources, read aloud with many sounds, and it can be used on both Android and Apple. 】
The three generations of generals who conquered the barbarians seemed to have seen the scene after the Western Expedition.
The samurai plundered mountains of wealth from China, herds of cattle and sheep, and countless luxurious houses were built in Edo.
And groups of Chinese slaves working in anklets in the city...
"Dear General, on behalf of all the representatives of the East India Company in Manila..."
Vic Brown spoke a lot of English, interrupting Tokugawa Iemitsu's yearning for a better life.
The translator hurriedly stepped forward and whispered a few words beside General Zhengyi.
The enthusiasm on Tokugawa Iemitsu's face dissipated slightly, and his waist immediately straightened up while sitting on the tatami, with an expression on his face that resembled the one he had when his father died.
"Oh, is it Mr. Brown from Yingnanli? How are the preparations for the grain, grass and gunpowder campaign in Nagasaki?"
When Brown heard what the translator said, he spoke neither humble nor arrogantly.
"Your Excellency, General, this is Yingjili, not Yingnanli. Also, please forgive me for not knowing about Lord Racecourse's deployment."
The advisors and retainers around the shogun looked sideways, and the samurai was about to draw his sword next.
Tokugawa Iemitsu smiled generously and forgave the red-haired Yi for his rude behavior.
He put his hands on his hands and laughed, tilted his head back, and stepped on the floor with his feet in an exaggerated posture.
"Mr. Brown, you have traveled a long way and only rested for a few days in Nagasaki. You must be very tired. I am very satisfied to see you today. Although Japan has implemented a national lockdown order, the friendship between our country and Britain is like Mount Fuji. The white snow will continue forever. Please give my regards to Her Majesty the Queen of your country."
"Thank you Shogun for affirming the friendship between Britain and Japan. However, I have not been back to London for fifteen years. I may have forgotten what tea the Queen likes to drink... Let's get down to business."
Tokugawa Iemitsu inherited the character of his grandfather Tokugawa Ieyasu, like an old tortoise in trance, with no expression of joy or anger.
Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu walked the bird together, but the bird didn't sing at all.
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【Beginning of Ming Dynasty from Saerhu】【】
Oda Nobunaga said: "If it doesn't scream, kill it and see if it screams."
Toyotomi Hideyoshi said: "You don't need to kill. If you bark, you will be rewarded. If you don't cry, you will be punished. This way, it will definitely bark."
Tokugawa Ieyasu said slowly: There is no need to do anything, just wait. It is a bird and will sing sooner or later.
When everyone was furious and wanted to kill the British, Tokugawa Ieyasu's grandson leisurely said:
"I have heard from Nagasaki the purpose of Mr. Brown's trip. I heard that you have something to do with Japan's Western Expedition..."
The British officer bowed and saluted the shogun, ignoring the hostile eyes in the room:
"Yes, I think there are still some loopholes in Your Excellency General's war plan."
"As far as I know, the population under the control of the Tatars exceeds 50 million, which is three times that of your country. The Tatars have 50,000 cavalry, 150,000 infantry, and thousands of warships. Their artillery can Long range, accurate shooting, and more firepower than all European countries. They have controlled Ryukyu and are colonizing Australia. It has become a restricted area for Europeans, and Europeans will be sold as slaves by them..."
There was an uproar in the room, and the counselors and retainers looked sideways and looked at the rude Englishman with hostility.
Tokugawa Iemitsu smiled and said nothing, signaling to all the retainers and guards to be calm.
"What Mr. Brown means is that Japan cannot defeat the Tatars? I, the general, cannot eliminate the Tatars for the world?"
Vic Brown nodded noncommittally.
Tokugawa Iemitsu smiled and said: "Hahaha, there are more than 270 countries in Japan's five territories and seven provinces. Each vassal has a total of 300,000 soldiers and horses to march westward with all its strength. 300,000 vs. 200,000. The advantage is mine."
Vic Brown couldn't help laughing when he heard that I had an advantage of 300,000 to 200,000.
Hattori Hanzo Masashige, who was kneeling next to Tokugawa Iemitsu, suddenly drew his sword and stood up suddenly.
"Go to hell!"
Tokugawa Iemitsu loudly rebuked:
"Be honest, don't be rude!"
Hattori Hanzo retreated angrily.
"Mr. Brown, you don't know much about the Tatars, and you are frightened by the strong Tatar troops. In fact, there is no need to do so."
Vic Brown looked surprised.
The shogun explained:
"In ancient China, there was a battle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu. Liu Bang was weak and Xiang Yu was strong, but Liu Bang relied on wisdom and won in the end. Therefore, as a general, you must use your wisdom more often."
All the retainers looked at the shogun with admiration.
When Tokugawa Iemitsu succeeded three generations of barbarian generals, he relied on wisdom.
When Tokugawa Iemitsu was young, his mother Ae despised him, and his father General Hidetada was deceived by his fox demon wife and also despised his son.
The servants, the warriors, and the great names from all over the world are all just like grass on the wall.
Seeing that the general doted on Iemitsu's younger brother Kunimatsu, they all defected to Tokugawa Kunimatsu. At that time, Tokugawa Iemitsu could not even eat a piece of fresh whale meat.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, Tokugawa Ieyasu determined his position as the third general to conquer the barbarians for the third generation of Iemitsu in order to stabilize his rule.
Then, his younger brother Tokugawa Kunimatsu committed suicide inexplicably while on a trip to Ueno and Takasaki.
Edo scribes liked to compare Tokugawa Iemitsu to Japan's Li Shimin.
Probably to boast that the general would also achieve great achievements like Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.
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【Beginning of Ming Dynasty from Saerhu】【】
"Now I think that the Tatars have ten defeats and the Japanese have ten victories."
Tokugawa Iemitsu recalled the theory of Guo Jia's ten victories and ten defeats in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" he had read, and explained in detail to his British allies:
"The Tatar soldiers have strong horses and strong horses, but they are actually the weakest of crossbows. The Liu thief was extravagant and extravagant with many rituals. Soon after he usurped the throne, he built Tianxin City and tried his best to use all the strength of the world. I let nature take its course and was diligent and frugal. I only ate one saury for each meal. This way is better than one also."
"The Tatars rebelled, abolished the imperial examinations, and slaughtered the world's scholars. I obeyed and led the world. I gave many preferential treatment to the famous names of the vassals, and I was elegant and good at the scribes. This righteousness is better than the other two."
"At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the government failed to be harsh. The Liu thieves severely punished the law. They frequently ransacked homes, exterminated clans and massacred countless cities. Orders were changed day by day. I implemented benevolent government for the world and knew the system from top to bottom. This governance is better than the other three."
"Liu Thief's temperament is generous on the outside and jealous on the inside. He uses people with suspicion and uses them with suspicion. Kaiyuan's old troops rebelled or died. Not even one of them survived. Even his brother-in-law was killed...but I am only a man of talent." Take, for example, the fallen samurai, the remnants of the Toyotomi family, the emperor’s henchmen, and the heretics who believe in Catholicism. As long as he has real talent and knowledge, he will be reused by the shogunate. This is better than the four."
"Liu is a traitor who does not distinguish between loyal and adulterers. He is trapped in the affair between his children and lusts after women. He has been taken advantage of by the enemy several times. I am a woman of kindness. I am not interested in money and do not care about women. I only like to wield a knife on weekdays. Eating tempura with a sword, this benevolence is better than five."
"The Tatar ministers fought for power, slandered and confused, the ministers killed each other, and Shenyang rioted, which made the world laugh. I governed my subordinates well, used both grace and power, compiled the "Kuan Yong Order", confirmed the public authority, and stipulated that the warriors should be responsible for "civil and military bows and horses" "Study, this is better than the six."
······
"I have ten victories, and the Liu thieves have ten defeats. Therefore, it is easy to defeat the Tatars."
The British officer listened patiently to the translator as he finished translating the convoluted theory of ten victories and ten defeats.
All the shogunate retainers and guards said in unison:
"The general has foresight and Japan can rest easy."
Tokugawa Iemitsu restrained his inner joy and said to the Europeans with a look of compassion:
"Mr. Brown, in the East, fighting in the East is not just about the comparison of strength on paper, not about one or two artillery pieces. Tatar and Qi are paper tigers. The outcome of the war depends on people's hearts in the final analysis. People's hearts are against each other, do you understand? ?”
"The traitor Liu has acted rebelliously in China, and the world has long been angry. I am ordered by the emperor to carry out a crusade with the Xingyi Division. Just like when King Wu defeated Zhou, the Tatars turned against him in the face of battle. It is foreseeable."
"The day we land in Korea will be the time when the Tatars collapse, so I hope that the East India Company can be the icing on the cake. I have ordered Shimabara Domain and Satsuma Domain to attack first. In the next few days, I will also personally lead the shogunate army to cross the sea from Kyushu and go to China, kill Liu Zhaosun and avenge my father..."
Before the shogun finished speaking, a hoarse old voice suddenly came from the door.
"General, there is no need for you to go to North Korea. He is already here."
Everyone looked towards the door, and the person who came was none other than a powerful man from Nagasaki's racecourse.
"who?"
The Tokugawa family couldn't care less about the rudeness of their subordinates, and said with a surprised look on their face.
"Liu Zhaosun, he has already reached Kyushu. Lord Nabeshima died in battle yesterday..."
Not only was Tokugawa Iemitsu not afraid, but his eyes were full of excitement, as if a vampire had smelled fresh blood.
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【Beginning of Ming Dynasty from Saerhu】【】
"At the end of Qiannu's life, you can't enter Lu Zhenye. The end of Tatar Qi is here. Let all the Tatars come in. I will kill Liu Zhaosun with my own hands!"
"The poor monk will kill him too."
The 121-year-old Master Chun Shen stepped out of the Venetian mirror hanging on the wall, like a person from another world.
Note:
1. It is recorded in the "Old Questions and Answers" that records the testimonies of shogunate servants that Tokugawa Iemo's "meal only consisted of whitefish, soup, salted vegetables, and one side dish, and occasionally two dishes" and "he often ate boiled tofu and was frugal in his diet." "Vegetarian" "also eats pickled vegetables, prunes, etc."
