The atmosphere in the office hall of Jinling Martial Arts Hall was depressing. Zhao Hong, who was in the first place, had a gloomy face, and the surrounding ministers Zhou Ping, Wei Liaoweng and others all had solemn expressions.
The kimono-clad Japanese envoys Saionji Yamano and Miura Keikazu, who were under Tsukiyo's head, were frightened.
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the death of Zhou An, the uncle of your country, was nothing more than an accident. Please, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, temporarily calm down his thunderous wrath!"
The Japanese envoy Xiyuanji Shanwang had no choice but to explain to Zhao Hong.
The two of them returned home and reported to the Kamakura shogunate. When Hojo Taisei was in power, they were asked to carry their credentials and compensated 10,000 guan as Japan's attitude.
"Accident?"
The mountain watcher of Xiyuan Temple quibbled, and Wei Liaoweng, the Minister of War, sneered.
"Japanese envoy, is the life of my uncle the Great Song Dynasty worth only 10,000 guan? Five years have passed, and the murderer is still at large. Japan seems to have forgotten this matter. A weak country has no diplomacy, you are bullying me, the Great Song Dynasty is incompetent ?"
After the meeting, the Japanese envoys were expelled, and when they came back again, they only brought a bland letter of apology from the emperor and a compensation of 10,000 gu from Japan.
Ten thousand guan, not very lethal, but extremely insulting.
And the imperial seal of the Japanese emperor on the national certificate was not stamped casually by the officials of the Kamakura shogunate. The Emperor of Japan is just a puppet with no authority. Isn't this fooling people?
"It is natural and right for Japanese envoys to kill people to pay for their lives and debts to repay debts. I, the Song Dynasty, also have another saying, a gentleman's revenge is never too late in ten years. Japanese envoys, how do you plan to deal with it?"
Zaifu was really virtuous and didn't feel any pain or itching, so he followed up with another stab.
The national power of the Song Dynasty was booming, and the military was at its peak. He, the prime minister of the Song Dynasty, became more and more rude to other countries.
"This this……"
Looking at Xiyuan Temple Mountain, he looked troubled and hesitated. He faced Zhao Hong with an apologetic smile on his face.
"I also ask the Emperor of the Song Dynasty to make it clear that if the Song Dynasty has any claims, I will allow Xiao Chen to go back and report to me, the Emperor of Japan, and do his best to satisfy the wishes of the Song Dynasty."
The Song army defeated the Mongolian cavalry. The country was strong, the soldiers and horses were strong, and the warships of the Song navy on the ocean were intimidated. In addition, the Song Navy was stationed along the coast of Goryeo, and they conducted exercises every day to show off their power. Therefore, the Japanese envoy also lowered his profile and tried his best to cooperate with the Song people's demands.
"Compensation? Do I, the Great Song Dynasty, lack your ten thousand yuan? No amount of money can buy my brother's life, right?"
Zhou Ping spoke angrily and committed murder.
"Your shogun, Taitoki Hojo, exiled three emperors and turned the emperor into a puppet. His talk of reporting to the emperor is sheer nonsense! Did Taitoki Hojo not come to the court to plead guilty, because he wanted me, the Song Dynasty, to send troops to Japan?"
Zhou Ping was indignant, and Xiyuan Temple Shanwang was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to explain it.
Although the emperor is in power in Japan, the Kamakura shogunate actually controls everything. As the shogunate, Hojo Taitoki was of course the actual controller of Japan.
The people of Song Dynasty even knew this, which shows that they knew a lot about Japan and couldn't hide it even if they wanted to.
"Emperor Song, how can we resolve this matter? Please tell me clearly."
Another Japanese envoy Miura Keikazu suppressed the anger in his heart and spoke with a dark face.
In the past few years, the Song Dynasty Navy built a naval base on the coast of Goryeo and recruited troops. Now it seems that it is aimed at Japan. I hope the Emperor of the Song Dynasty will not open his mouth and let Japan go.
Zhao Hong looked at Zhou Ping and nodded lightly.
"Two Japanese envoys, please listen carefully: First, the two perpetrators, Xing Bian and Guangshu, will be bound and brought to our country in the Song Dynasty, and they will be punished in the Ming Dynasty; second, the compensation will be 2 million yuan, and they will be transported to Da Song by themselves before the end of the year. Song Dynasty; thirdly, Hakata Port and the surrounding thirty miles were leased to Song Dynasty for 50 years; fourthly, Japan's market was completely opened to Song Dynasty, allowing merchants of Song Dynasty to trade freely in Japan. If you do not agree to it, Either way, the two countries can only fight!"
Zhou Ping took out his national letter and read it one by one.
The two Japanese envoys were frightened when they heard this. Miura Kagewa blushed and said angrily.
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, you are trying to force someone into a difficult situation. Do you really want to use troops against Japan? Eight..."
Miura Keikazu was so angry that he almost blurted out the word "Baga".
"Shut up!"
Zhao Hong slapped the table and scolded him sternly.
"Go back to Japan immediately! Tell Yasushi Hojo to wash your neck and wait to be slaughtered!"
With an angry look on his face, Zhao Hong stood up, walked out and left.
"Two envoys, grab it, don't lose it!"
With a gloomy expression, Zhou Ping thrust the certificate of indemnity into the earth-colored Xiyuan Temple Shanwang, and left together with Wei Liaoweng Zhen Dexiu.
"Please! You two!"
The official of the Ministry of Rites said coldly, and Xiionji Shanwang and Miura Kagewa looked at each other.
"Baga! This is unreasonable! It's too much to bully someone!"
Miura Keikazu said angrily.
"Stop complaining and return home quickly to report to the general. See if there is room for easing things?"
Xiyuanjishanwang said with a sad face.
"What are you afraid of? In the worst case, the two countries will go to war. Am I, Japan, still afraid of China?"
Miura Keikazu's attitude was tough and he turned around and left.
"China is a powerful country with strong ships and powerful guns, but it is difficult to deal with it!"
Xiyuanji Shanwang shook his head and left listlessly.
Emperor Song's conditions were too harsh, and the rulers and nobles of the Kamakura shogunate would definitely not agree. In this way, war between China and Japan may be inevitable.
In the Humble Administrator's Garden, in the imperial study, several ministers came in one after another, followed by Tian Yi who had been waiting for a long time.
However, state affairs came first, and Tian Yi chose to remain silent when the ministers frowned.
"Your Majesty, is it too hasty to raise troops for the death of our uncle Zhou An? After all, Japan is not the Central Plains, and the troops are unknown, which is a taboo in the use of troops. Your Majesty, think carefully."
Zhen Dexiu frowned, worried.
The Northern Expedition has not yet taken place, and he is already thinking of launching troops against Japan. What is this if not a great success?
"I just want Japan to refuse, otherwise why use troops? The army is unknown? In the year of Dinghai, the Tatar army invaded the Song Dynasty. Is the army famous? Japan's murder of my great uncle of the Song Dynasty is a better reason to use troops than what the Tatars did."
Zhao Hong said coldly to Wei Liaoweng.
"Wei Gong, don't ask or tell. There is no need for a reason to start a war against Japan! The purpose is to spread the news about the use of troops to Japan, concentrate the troops, and kill them all. When the Northern Expedition ends, it may be the day to launch troops against Japan!"
For this historically evil neighbor, he had no reason not to take a risk. Even if Japan cannot become a part of China, it is still acceptable to have a hearty burning, killing and looting.
"Your Majesty, if we launch troops against Japan, the trade between the two countries will be interrupted, and our maritime trade in the Song Dynasty may be greatly affected. We need to consider the long term."
Zhao Hong nodded lightly as he was truly virtuous and mature.
"In this case, don't advertise the use of troops against Japan in the newspapers for the time being. Tell me about the Song Dynasty maritime merchants and give them half a year to finish processing their goods in Japan as soon as possible, sell off their properties in Japan and return to China as soon as possible. For Japanese businessmen and people in China, first Don’t drive them away, wait until the Chinese businessmen in Japan return to China.”
If some Japanese sons-in-law or "pro-Japanese" are unwilling to return to China, then let nature take its course and congratulate them on finding their ancestors and returning to their roots.
Zhao Hong was determined to launch troops against Japan, but Zhen Dexiu and Wei Liaowen had no choice but to accept the order.
"Among the many territories and overseas trade of our Song Dynasty, Japan is insignificant and not worth worrying about."
Zhao Hong pointed to the map on the wall without looking at it, obviously very familiar with it.
"Korea has timber, Nanyang has improved rice, fruits, spices, Australia and Africa have gold, silver, copper and iron, India has saltpeter, the Ryukyu Islands have sulfur, and China has war horses. What I need in the Song Dynasty is not Japan. Therefore, we use troops against Japan. , there is no pity.”
Tian Yi asked cautiously.
"Your Majesty, the conditions are so harsh, I'm afraid Japan will not agree. Does Your Majesty really want to use troops?"
The emperor had been preparing for several years to use troops against Japan. Since Japan has nothing, isn't the emperor going to be aggressive?
"Your Majesty, since Japan has nothing and has no value, why does your Majesty need to use troops against Japan? My uncle is gone and his life cannot be resurrected, so why should your Majesty be persistent?"
Sure enough, Prime Minister Zhen Dexiu could not help but persuade him again.
Zhao Hong's overseas colonization was all because it was profitable. Why did the emperor become wanton again when it came to Japan?
Could it be that the emperor really wanted to use troops against Japan in order to avenge his brother-in-law?
"Japan's worries are not in the present, but in the future. I want to eliminate any potential harm for our descendants of the Song Dynasty! I have made up my mind to use troops against Japan, so please stop trying to persuade me!"
Zhao Hong reiterated his tough attitude.
"Your Majesty, is it better to use troops against Japan than to launch a surprise attack? In this case, Japan must be prepared, but it will be detrimental to the use of troops."
Since the emperor could not change his mind, Wei Liaoweng could only check and fill in the gaps to ensure that there were no major hidden dangers in the use of troops.
Forced by the Song Dynasty Navy to build a naval base in Hepo, Goryeo, Japan built a stone wall along the coast of Hakata Port to cope with possible future wars.
"The more fully prepared Japan is, the better. It is best if all the armies of the Kamakura shogunate are concentrated in Hakata. That way, they can complete their efforts in one battle and annihilate Japan's main force in one fell swoop!"
Zhao Hong was very excited, while Zhen Dexiu and Wei Liaowen looked at each other, both worried.
The Northern Expedition had not yet begun, and the use of troops against Japan was again on the agenda. Unconsciously, the emperor became a war maniac.
"Mr. Zhen, please make arrangements for my maritime merchants and expatriates in Japan as soon as possible."
After Zhao Hong finished his instructions, he suddenly asked:
"The envoy from Dai Viet has returned to the country. Is there any movement over there in Dai Viet?"
After the meeting, the envoys from Dai Viet did not meet the Emperor of the Song Dynasty alone like envoys from other countries. Instead, they chose to return home immediately. There was no news from Dai Viet later.
"Back to Your Majesty, according to the news from the Coastal Rearrangement Department, Dai Viet seems to be reorganizing its troops and training its navy. It seems that it is preparing for war."
Wei Liaoweng played softly.
Needless to say, what Dayue did was to prepare the Song Dynasty to use its troops.
"Your Majesty, for the Northern Expedition, it is better to wait until the end of the Northern Expedition before using troops against Dai Viet."
When it comes to using troops externally, Zhen Dexiu is as cautious as ever.
"Even in the Northern Expedition, the navy will not be used much. The purpose of the Song Dynasty navy is to use troops overseas. It cannot just show off muscles and show off. As a soldier, war must be fought. No matter how pampered you are, you will become a veteran soldier."
Zhao Hong looked at Zhen Dexiu, the murderous look in his eyes made Zhen Dexiu's heart tremble.
His students are getting angry again.
"Send an order to Wu Qian, and ask the Coast Guard to send troops to Da Viet, and order the city to cooperate. Let Guangdong and Guangxi block the attack on the southern border. From south to north, encroach and swallow up Da Viet, and return Da Viet to the rule of the Song Dynasty!"
At this time, the country of Dai Viet, with the replacement of Chen and Li, was the weakest era in Vietnam's history, and even the small Champa dared to bully it. If we don’t take it back now, when will we wait?
Recovering Annan's hometown also serves as a reminder to Dali and others to take back the Central Plains Dynasty, the old land of the Han Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty. No one should be left behind.
