April 5, the fourth year of natural selection (the twenty-fifth year of Qianlong's reign)
The New Imperial City of Guangzhou during the Da Yi Dynasty
Hall of Supreme Harmony
Under the arrangement of the Ministry of Rites, Zhang Rui needs to receive envoys from various countries who can be granted an audience in the Hall of Supreme Harmony today.
It's still early and Zhang Rui hasn't arrived yet. At this time, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was already centered around the door, with people standing on both sides.
It can be seen from the costumes of the people standing in line that the people standing on the left are all officials of the Yi Dynasty, mainly officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War, while those standing on the right are envoys from various countries.
The officials of the Yi Dynasty stood in an orderly manner according to their positions.
The envoys who came to the audience were all officials from the Ministry of Rites and stood in line to guide them. Among them, the principle of priority is to give priority to the vassal states of the Yi Dynasty, ranking first, indicating that they are our own. Next are envoys from countries with friendly relations and diplomatic relations, followed by new countries that need to establish diplomatic relations. If an envoy from a hostile country wants to come to see him, he will have to wait in line outside the main hall to hear the announcement.
Under normal circumstances, all vassal states and countries that have established diplomatic relations can only have a maximum of two envoys present, except for those from new countries that need to establish diplomatic relations.
Since Zhang Rui had not yet gone to the hall, the atmosphere in the hall was relatively relaxed. Even the officials responsible for discipline turned a blind eye to this. So some ministers in the palace and envoys from various countries were greeting each other in a friendly manner, looking peaceful.
Of course, there are not unsociable ones among them. For example, no one pays attention to the newly promoted Japanese envoys. Even those envoys from other countries who have to get close to them because they are standing in front of each other are wise enough to avoid them, for fear of being disturbed. I was misunderstood by the emperor.
Regarding this situation, Takemoto Matsudaira, a senior middle school student, naturally understood what was going on, but he didn't take it seriously. When he first entered the shogunate, he was often isolated, but in the end he stood up with his own strength.
Now, everything is happening again.
In Matsudaira Takemoto's view, Japan's special and powerful position is his own confidence. What's more, he is a veteran of the Japanese shogunate. If he shows weakness in the face of a newly emerging force, how will he face the ridicule of the shogun and his colleagues if this matter is reported back to Japan? ?
Moreover, the fact that the officers and soldiers of the Yi Dynasty killed Tanaka Hamu cannot just be forgotten. Not to mention that Tanaka Hamu has not kidnapped a woman from Yi Dynasty, even if Tanaka Hamu really helped him kidnap a girl from Yi Dynasty, she would be happy. What could he do in the Yi Dynasty, and blame the dignified Japanese envoy for a commoner woman?
"You are a bunch of pretentious villains. I will slap your face hard in a moment. Let's see if these six men dare to fight against the Japanese Empire." Thinking of this, Takemoto Matsudaira's face His disdain became more obvious.
"Matsudaira-sama, what kind of etiquette should we show when we face the Emperor of Daiyi later?" Shinagawa Nobukata, who had been demoted to deputy envoy by Matsudaira Takemoto at this moment, quietly approached Matsudaira Takemoto and asked softly in his ear.
"What do you mean?" Takemoto Matsudaira tilted his face and asked expressionlessly.
"Returning to your lord, when officials from the Ministry of Etiquette came to explain the matter of the interview the day before yesterday, you did not meet with them regarding the matter of guarding Tianzhong, so the subordinates had to explain it to them. They told us that if we want an interview, we must accept the interview. We have to bow before us, otherwise they won’t be able to arrange for us to come in for the interview. In order to be able to come in for the interview smoothly, my subordinates agreed to their request." Matsudaira Takemoto replied expressionlessly, Shinagawa Nobukata didn't dare He had something to hide, so he told the story exactly.
"Of course, those officials also said that the Emperor of the Yi Dynasty did not force the envoys of these countries to kneel down, but at least it must be a chest caressing ceremony or a bowing ceremony. Of course, those officials also said that if we If we can kneel down and worship, the Emperor of Dayi might be more 'kind' to us."
"Salute? Kneel down? Lord Shinagawa, it's right for you to allow them to come in, but you don't have to stick to it. They have wild fantasies, so let's just entertain them." After hearing what Shinagawa Nobukata said, Matsudaira Takemoto's anger arose immediately in his heart, especially when he remembered the tragic death of Tanaka Hagi, and even faster, he shouted in Edo voice at Shinagawa Nobukata in a low voice.
"For emerging countries like the Yi Dynasty that have little strength, there is no need to talk to them about keeping promises. Keeping one's word is for those who have strength. Otherwise, countries like cats and dogs also want me to salute the envoys of the Empire of Japan, then Where do you put the face of the Japanese Empire?"
"So there is no need to pay attention to the matter of saluting later. We are ministers of the Empire of Japan. If we want to salute and kneel down, we must do it to His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the General. Who is Zhang Gouzi in his Yi Dynasty? To put it harshly, Even a slightly powerful bandit who might be killed by the Manchus one day or executed by Lingchi is worthy of being saluted by us?"
"You tell the three of them now that you don't have to salute Zhang Gouzi for a while. I'll take care of anything. Besides, don't forget that the purpose of our mission this time is to fight him on behalf of the Japanese Empire." You have such a silly face. So don’t do anything to disgrace our Japanese Empire.”
Regarding Matsudaira Takemoto's stern orders, even if Shinagawa Nobukata felt that there were many things wrong with it, he did not dare to raise any more doubts.
Otherwise, even if he can survive safely in Yichao, he will not be easy when he returns to Japan. So he could only leave Matsudaira Takemoto's side. Matsudaira Takemoto's intention was conveyed by stepping slightly back and approaching the other three colleagues who were traveling with him.
After hearing the message he conveyed, these three colleagues of Shinagawa Nobukata also showed their worries with Shinagawa Nobukata in their eyes. However, since Matsudaira Takemoto is here, they can no longer treat Matsudaira Takemoto. The order was discussed and discussed. In addition, they knew the purpose of this mission, so they could only respond directly.
At this moment, the three deputy envoys, who had not had time to adjust their bodies and minds, heard the unique eunuch mountain call: "The emperor has arrived. The ceremony is in place."
At this moment, the noise in the hall suddenly stopped. Everyone quickly returned to where they were supposed to stand, tidied up, and waited for the emperor's arrival.
After the eunuch shouted three times, Zhang Rui, who was wearing a gold gauze dragon plate, followed by several eunuchs, entered the inner door of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, passed by the ministers, and walked slowly and steadily to the Taihe Hall. He slowly sat down in front of the dragon chair in the palace.
"Go to court." Zhang Rui said to the eunuch standing next to him.
"Shengchao..."
