April of the third year of Jiazhen's reign, AD 1237, Kamakura, Kanto, Japan.
It's the cherry blossom season in Japan. As the political center of the Kamakura shogunate, Kamakura also faces the sea. Cherry blossoms are in full bloom everywhere, or the flowers are gorgeous and spectacular. Or they may be clusters of three or five dotted with green; they may also be lonely and lonely, with a little red among the green clusters, each with its own charm.
But for the Japanese shogunate officials in the Kamakura shogunate, this was the least interesting season. Because, the Song Dynasty, which was in a small state, was about to send troops to Japan.
During the Sui Dynasty, the three countries on the Korean Peninsula, Goryeo, Baekje and Silla, were all vassal states in the Central Plains. They paid tribute through envoys and accepted canonization. Japan also had tribute exchanges, but in its diplomacy with the Sui Dynasty, Japan did not want to be regarded as a vassal country by the Sui Dynasty, but wanted to try its best to maintain an equal status.
In the Tang Dynasty, when the Tang Dynasty became very powerful, Japan was officially changed from "Japan" to "Japan". Japan sent "envoys to the Tang Dynasty" to imitate the Tang system, establish a centralized system, introduce land equalization and rent adjustment, and create a class-field system; implement the household registration and accounting system, and write the "Dabao Order" code with reference to the "Tang Order"; follow the layout plan of Luoyang Ping'an and Pingcheng are the two capitals. Japan's economy and culture developed.
After the decline of the Tang Dynasty, after the end of the 9th century, although the sending of envoys to the Tang Dynasty stopped, there was a wave of Chinese businessmen traveling to Japan, and economic exchanges remained prosperous.
After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Five Dynasties, Ten Kingdoms and the Two Song Dynasties, Japan, which was isolated overseas, developed rapidly, and the Central Plains Dynasty was also politically cold and economically hot. However, until the Kamakura Shogunate era, it never claimed vassalage to the Central Plains, nor sent envoys to pay tribute.
The Kamakura shogunate was the beginning of the Japanese shogunate regime. Its founder was the Japanese military general Minamoto Yoritomo. After Minamoto Yoritomo eliminated his political enemies, he became a figure who influenced Japan's political situation. However, he did not take over the Japanese government in Kyoto. Instead, he established and consolidated his own political power in Kanto, and selected Kamakura, which was in a dangerous situation, as his base, so it was called Kamakura in history. Shogunate.
With the rise of the shogunate, the Japanese royal family was unwilling to lose power and waited for an opportunity to counterattack. In 1221 AD, the royal family and nobles led by Emperor Toba launched a war to overthrow the empire, known in history as the "Jokyu Rebellion." However, the Japanese imperial family was defeated by the Kamakura shogunate, and Emperor Gotoba, Emperor Tsuchimikado, and Emperor Shunde were exiled by the Kamakura shogunate's ruling Hojo Taitoki, thus establishing the absolute superiority of the shogunate.
The establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate marked the end of the era in which the central aristocracy held the actual power of governance in Japan, and the samurai, who had a low status in the aristocratic era, entered the stage of history.
Until the brother-in-law of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty was killed in Hakata Port, Japan, Japan did not take it seriously and did not send envoys to the Song Dynasty. It was not until the Song Dynasty King's Army defeated the Mongolian cavalry that Japan sent its first envoys to worship.
It was not until the Song Dynasty court "evacuated overseas Chinese" that the diplomatic relations between China and Japan were interrupted, and trade was interrupted. It was not until the Song Dynasty newspapers were full of uproar, and the Kamakura shogunate, who was accustomed to being arrogant and self-reliant, that war was imminent.
As the spying information became more and more comprehensive, the Japanese shogunate realized that the situation was serious and might be enough to affect Japan's national destiny.
Because of this, the Kamakura shogunate and the Japanese imperial family, which still had some appeal, were finally able to put aside their old grievances and sit together again to discuss countermeasures to resist the invasion of the Song army.
In the Kamakura shogunate, in the political hall, several Japanese ministers sat around and knelt down, and everyone frowned.
The dark, muscular man in his late forties is called Kujo Taoist. He is the third-generation head of the Kujo clan, one of the five Japanese royal families. His third son, Kujo Norio, was the great general of the Kamakura shogunate who conquered the barbarians. His father-in-law was Kanto Shinji Saionji Kōkyō, known as "the most important weapon in the world," and his grandson was the Emperor of Japan, Emperor Shijo. The peak power of Japanese public families, samurai families, and temples are all controlled by the Kujo Taoist sect.
Another thin sixty-year-old man is the father-in-law of the Kujo Taoist school, Saionji Kōkyō. He is Japan's Taizong Minister and Kanto Shinji. He is also very powerful and popular.
The Kujo Taoist school and Saionji Kōkyū represent the Japanese imperial court, while another man who is nearly half a century old and dressed as a samurai is Hojo Taitoki, the ruler of the Kamakura shogunate and the actual controller of Japan.
The other samurai, who was about forty years old and had a serious face, was a friend of Rokupāra's guide, Fu Zhongyu, and another important minister of the Kamakura shogunate.
The Kamakura shogunate's yifuzhong specializes in handling lawsuits related to the imperial family's possessions, based on the principle of prompt and fair judgment. Utsu Totomo was brave and good at fighting, and was very famous among the imperial family. He was also one of the confidants of the shogunate when he was in power, Hojo Taitoki.
The Kamakura shogunate set up "Rokupora" in Kyoto, which is the "shogunate office in Beijing", and the Japanese imperial court set up the position of "Kanto Shinji" in Kanto, which is the "Kanto liaison officer". Both of them are from Kanto. The liaison agency between the shogunate and the Kyoto court. When the Japanese court had something to do, it would pass on government affairs along the path of the Kyoto court—Kanto Shinji—Rokupola—Kamakura shogunate.
The shogunate and the Japanese court, which were originally estranged from each other, and the four actual controllers of Japan who were at odds with each other, now had to sit together because they felt that the Song army was coming in force and had to work together in the same boat. .
"The news from Liubo Luo's spying is that the Song Dynasty has been increasing its troops in Goryeo recently, and the number of naval forces has reached 100,000. The newspaper of the Song Dynasty said that another 100,000 infantry will continue to march eastward. The army of 200,000, The Song army is coming with great force!"
Liu Bo Luo led all the people in the world to speak with their friends, their faces full of sadness.
At this moment, he felt extremely complicated. Originally, the Japanese court wanted to show weakness to the Song Dynasty, but the Song Dynasty's appetite was too great for them to accept.
"This time the Song Dynasty sent troops to the north because Zhou An, the uncle of the Song Dynasty, was killed in Hakata, Japan. It is better to send envoys again, kill Xing Bian and Guangsuke, pay compensation, make peace with the Song Dynasty, and try to prevent Japan from war."
The Taoist of Sheguan Jiujo looked at his father-in-law Xiyuan Temple's official scripture next to him and spoke softly.
Sheguan is the collective name of Regent and Guanbai. When the emperor was young, the Taizheng minister acted as an administrative official and was called the regent. After the emperor took charge of the government in his old age, the regent was renamed Guan Bai to assist the emperor in taking charge of political affairs. Later, Regent and Guan Bai were gradually mixed and called Shegguan.
The grandson of the Kujo Taoist family is Emperor Shijo of Japan. He is only six years old now. The Japanese court is controlled by the Kujo Taoist sect.
"Do you want Japan to surrender to the Song Dynasty? Baga! Kujo, where has your blood gone?"
The shogunate governor Hojo Taitoki, who was already suffering from various illnesses and exhausted from dealing with court affairs and the emperor's affairs all year round, couldn't help but curse.
"Baga! Hojo, are you trying to lead Japan into war? The Song warships have strong guns and powerful guns. They are all tigers and wolves. Even the Tatar cavalry were defeated by them and fled back to the grassland. Japan and the Song Dynasty are like the Three Kingdoms. How do you fight a 2-year-old child against a strong adult? You self-righteous fool!"
The Kujo Taoist family has been at the top for a long time, and no one has ever been rude to him. Coupled with the heavy troops of the Song Army pressing down on the situation, and the irreconcilable contradiction between the two, he couldn't help but become violent.
"Baga! Kujo, do you want to duel with me?"
As the ruler of the shogunate and the actual controller of Japan, Hojo Taitoki burst into anger and stared at the Kujo Taoist family.
"Hojo, am I afraid of you? Baga!"
Kujo Taoist showed no signs of weakness and seemed to explode at the first moment.
"You all should stop saying a few words."
Seeing that the two of them were red-faced and seemed to be about to fight, Saionji Kōkyō quickly spoke to persuade them.
"It's not that easy. Now the Song Army is across the Tsushima Strait, facing Hakata across the sea. The Song Army's steamships can attack Hakata in half a day. I'm afraid it's too late to negotiate peace with the Song Dynasty now."
From the newspapers of the Song Dynasty and the Song army's heavy deployment of troops along the coast of Goryeo, he could feel that the Song Dynasty's arrival was not good and seemed to want to use troops against Japan.
Kujo Taoist and Hojo Taitoki looked at each other, each withdrew their gaze and stopped talking.
"Hojo, you are in charge of the shogunate, and you have the final say in military matters. When the Song Dynasty army attacks, do you have any countermeasures?"
Saionji Temple's official tone was soft and he continued to speak softly.
Based on his understanding of Hojo Taitoki, Hojo Taitoki will definitely accept the challenge. Otherwise, his prestige in the eyes of Japanese samurai will be greatly reduced, and he may fall to the side of the Japanese court. This is definitely not what the Kamakura shogunate wants to see. .
"The shogunate has ordered the landowners across Kyushu to contribute money and effort according to the amount of land they have, and build a 50-mile-high 2-meter-high and 3-meter-wide base defense fortification along the coast of Hakata to prevent the Song Dynasty navy from landing. Today, Kyushu The imperial family led fifty thousand warriors to gather in Hakata and the sea in Dazaifu, ready to fight against the Song army at any time."
Sure enough, Hojo Taitoki said it hesitantly.
"The Song army has 200,000 soldiers, plus steam ships and firearms. I'm afraid 50,000 warriors are not enough!"
Saionji Kōkyū shook his head, frowned and said:
"If it doesn't work, temples in Japan can send out 30,000 monk soldiers, 10,000 cavalry, and 20,000 infantry. At that time, they will be led by General Kujo Noriyuki to assist the shogunate in dealing with the Song army."
Kujo Noriyuki is the son of Kujo Taoist and the fourth general of the shogunate to conquer barbarians. Although it is just a decoration, it can be inspiring at least.
The words of Saionji Kōsū surprised both Hojo Taitoki and Kujo Taoist. Kujo Taoist wanted to speak, but Saionji Kōkyū shook his head and stopped him with his eyes.
"It would be great if there were monk soldiers to help me! Thank you very much, Your Excellency Xiyuanji."
Hojo Taitoki and Uto Totomo looked at each other with smiles on their faces.
The Kamakura shogunate controlled the imperial family samurai, while the Japanese imperial court held temples and shrines firmly in its hands. The three major temples in Japan, Kofukuji Temple, Enryakuji Temple, and Ninwaji Temple, are all controlled by the Shoseki Kujo Taoist and several of his sons. Monk soldiers are brave and fierce, and their strength should not be underestimated. It would be great if the monk soldiers could go into battle.
"Saionji is right. This is a national war. 50,000 Kyushu warriors and 30,000 monk soldiers are not enough. The shogunate is already mobilizing the imperial family from China and Kanto to go south, and the cavalry from Kanto will also Go to Kyushu to join the war. By then there will be at least more than 100,000 warriors and 50,000 to 60,000 cavalry."
Hojo Yasushi spoke so proudly that his blood boiled. He looked at Uto Douyu, his eyes shining.
"Friend Yudu, when the time comes, you will command the cavalry and repel the invading Song army!"
Uto Douyou quickly took orders. The conversation among several people returned to the topic of how to defend against the Song Army.
After the discussion, Saionji Kōkyō and Kujo Taoist came out. They left the shogunate and rode away.
"Father-in-law, Hojo wants to go to war with the Song Dynasty. Why don't you dissuade him and instead send troops to help?"
After leaving the city and seeing no one around, Kujo Taoist asked in confusion.
"Why do you want to persuade?"
Xiyuanji Temple smiled slightly, looked around, and asked softly.
"If there is a war with the Song Dynasty, Japan will fall into war. It will be a disaster!"
Kujo Taoist was confused and said casually.
"That was the disaster of the Kamakura shogunate, not my Japanese court. Wasn't it enough that the Japanese court was suppressed under the shogunate?"
The smile on Saionji Kosuke's face disappeared. He frowned as he looked at the cherry blossoms all over the mountains and the blue sea in front of him.
"The Song army came with bad intentions. Hojo Taitoki will send all the shogunate's troops to Kyushu to fight the Song army. Regardless of whether Hojo is defeated or victorious, the strength of the shogunate will be greatly weakened. That will be the opportunity for my Japanese court."
Under the surprised gaze of Kujo Taoist, Xiyuanji Kōkyū added another sentence in a low voice.
"Kujo, this is probably the only chance for the imperial court! Japan should be our public Japan, not the Japan of the Kamakura shogunate!"
Japan must return to the era of public aristocracy instead of being manipulated by lowly warriors.
