"What the hell is this from Japan?" Listening to the long list of names that this guy announced like a dish, the three Zhu brothers were a little confused for a moment. Zhu Su wanted to call him Pingsheng, but for a moment, he didn't know what to call him.
Fortunately, Gao Qitong knew the secrets and explained in a low voice: "Your Highness, the 'Fujiwara' that this person mentioned is his surname. 'Takaji' is his family name, and 'Shonagon' is His official position in the Japanese Kingdom of Japan, 'Xinping' is his name."
"You can call him 'Fujiwara Shinpei' or 'Takaji Shinpei'."
"...Why don't we just report our names and we'll end it? Jiligulu said such a long list." Zhu Fang murmured in a low voice. Zhu Su and Zhu Di nodded secretly, feeling the same way.
"Fujiwara Nobuhei, right?" Zhu Su clapped his folding fan lightly while sizing up the so-called "high-ranking envoy of Japan." Although this man was short in stature like other Japanese pirates, he was thin, with pale skin, and his teeth were stained black as if they had no teeth. It really doesn't look like they go out to sea to plunder and make a living. The white robe on his body may be wrinkled and dirty because he was captured, but if he needs to draw his sword to fight frequently, he will definitely not wear such a robe that is not conducive to movement.
"You said you are an envoy from Japan to the Ming Dynasty? Do you have credentials?" Zhu Su asked.
"This... Your Majesty, Your Majesty. I do have credentials, but... when I was kidnapped by the Oida thieves, my credentials were also taken away..." Fujiwara Shinpei's eyes wandered.
Zhu Su frowned slightly. At this moment, Yao Guangxiao, who had been standing behind him, whispered a few words to Zhu Su. After Zhu Su heard this, he laughed angrily: "The thief is so brave. How dare you deceive me!"
"The suspected army that Oida left outside the city was led by you, right? If you were really his prisoner, why did he let you lead the army?"
Fujiwara Shinpei trembled, and quickly lowered his head and kowtowed to Zhu Su: "Your Highness, spare your life, Your Highness, spare your life! I didn't lie! Although I am not an envoy, I am indeed an official under the Emperor! I, the Fujiwara family, have been descended from generation to generation. They all hold important positions, and that lord knows the official system of our country, so he must be aware of it!"
"Moreover! Although I am not an envoy, I do know where the family members of the Japanese pirates and the looted property are hidden! I am willing to lead the Ming army to collect the treasures!"
"He's right." Gao Qi nodded. "Your Highness, the Fujiwara surname is indeed a popular surname in the Japanese court. His family has held high positions in the Japanese country for generations. Among the Japanese who have been sent to China as envoys in the past dynasties, there are also many Japanese named Fujiwara."
"In this case, why do you, a Japanese court official, pretend to be an envoy? And why do you collude with the Oita family?" Zhu Su was not very interested in the so-called Japanese pirates' property. How much treasure can you have if you are alone overseas?
Fujiwara Shinpei gave a flattering smile: "Please forgive me, Your Highness. At that time, the general was going to kill me, so I had to pretend to be an envoy..." As he said that, he looked at Cao Yuan who was glaring at him in the other room. .
"As for why we ended up living under Oita's hand, we need to start with the incident of rebellion in our country a few years ago..."
Immediately afterwards, this Fujiwara Shinpei told Zhu Su and others clearly how he ended up in the hands of Oita Clan Nao. It turned out that a few years ago, the "Southern and Northern Dynasties" of the Japanese country split, and the powerful minister Ashikaga Takauji invaded Kyoto, forcing the emperor to flee south and proclaim himself shogun. On that day, a fire broke out in Kyoto. Most of the ministers loyal to the emperor chose to flee the capital to avoid being killed by Ashikaga Takauji.
"I escaped from Kyoto at that time. After hiding for some time, I wanted to take a sea ship south to meet the Emperor of our country, but I didn't expect to encounter the self-destructive Oita clan."
"Fortunately, the Oita clan has always been a samurai, and he still has some respect for our Fujiwara family. Although he won't let me leave, he doesn't dare to harm my life... Therefore, I have no choice but to commit myself to this thief in order to save my life." Got a life..." Speaking of the heartache, Fujiwara Shinpei burst into tears.
It was also the first time that Gao Qi heard that the Japanese country had been divided into the north and the south, and he could not tell whether what he said was true or false. Zhu Su changed his mind and said with some surprise: "You said you are a close minister of Emperor Go-Daigo?"
"How does Your Highness know the name of the Emperor of our country!" Fujiwara Nobuhei was surprised.
Not only Fujiwara Shinpei, but everyone present was also surprised. Zhu Di asked curiously: "Isn't the King of Japan Huai Liang? Who is this King Go-Daigo?"
In the fourth year of Hongwu's reign, the Japanese envoys used the name "Huai Liang" in their official letter. That's why Zhu Di asked this question.
"That Huairiang is just a prince of the Japanese country, pretending to be the king of the Japanese country, trying to fool our court. Not only that, that Ashikaga Takashi also pretended to be the king of the Japanese country. In the final analysis, he just wanted to take advantage of the tribute system of the Ming Dynasty and defraud us. ." Zhu Su explained.
"What! How dare you deceive me, Daming!" Zhu Di was furious. "You are going crazy against this small country! I will go and conquer it personally!"
Zhu Suxin said that there would be a chance, but he advised: "Fourth brother, don't be impulsive. We are a country of Ming etiquette. We must convince people with virtue. Do you understand?" He turned to Fujiwara Nobuhei and asked: "You Japanese country The current emperor...is his name Emperor Changqing? The one in the north should be called Emperor Kogen, right?"
"What a bullshit emperor... such a loud tone!" Zhu Xi also felt indignant after hearing this.
"Yes, yes." Seeing Zhu Di and Zhu Chong getting angry, the so-called Fujiwara Shinpei did not dare to say anything, lest the two of them would anger him. He smiled flatteringly at Zhu Su and said, "His Royal Highness is really knowledgeable. He even knows so clearly about the affairs of our small overseas countries."
He also didn't expect that Zhu Su knew the situation in Japan so well. He originally wanted to cajole him, but now he didn't dare to speak.
Zhu Suxin said that he knows himself and his enemy. He doesn't know much about the history of Japan, but the opportunities missed by the Ming Dynasty in the early Ming Dynasty are generally clear. And now he is not the only one. Lao Zhu has also known about the civil strife in Japan for a long time. On weekdays, he likes to look at the map of Kunyu and Ten Thousand Kingdoms hanging on the Jinshen Palace, staring at the Japanese gold mountains and silver on the map. Mine is drooling!
Ever since they presented Lao Zhu with a plan to pacify Japan that day, he and Lao Zhu had been thinking about whether there would be any chance for the future of Ming Dynasty to legitimately interfere in Japan's internal affairs... At this time, they actually captured a close minister of the Japanese emperor. Zhu Su could only lament that as soon as he dozed off, God sent him a pillow.
"Generally, I understand." Zhu Su coughed and stood up. "Fujiwara Nobuhei, although you deceived me by pretending to be an envoy, but since you are a Japanese official and are willing to lead my Ming army to collect the Japanese pirates' gold, I have decided to spare you a life."
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you so much, Your Highness!" Fujiwara Shinpei was overjoyed.
"Cao Yuan, find him a place to live. There is no need to restrict his movements, but when he comes in and out on weekdays, your people must be 'guarded' at all times." Zhu Su ordered.
"Yes!" Cao Yuan cupped his fists and accepted the order.
(End of chapter)
