In the ice and snow, Tang Yinzheng, as an envoy of the Ming Dynasty, was walking on the road to Hanyang, the capital of North Korea.
Apart from Xu Jing, the only people around him who could talk to him were Liu Gui, a member of the Jinyiwei family sent by Zhang Zhou. For Liu Gui, who was born in the south, this was also his first time in such a bitter and cold place.
"Brother Bohu, you are going to Gyeonggi Province soon. It is said that they will welcome you as an envoy, but where is the envoy they are welcoming?"
After staying at a nearby post house, or a private house, Xu Jing went to find Tang Yin.
The person who worked the most tirelessly along the way was Xu Jing. Only Xu Jing's eyes kept shining with the enthusiasm before departure. Along the way, he made all kinds of criticisms for Tang Yin against those who greeted North Korea.
It was as if he was the official envoy of the Ming Dynasty.
On the contrary, Tang Yin seemed to be very talkative.
Tang Yin held a pen in his hand. He was going to write a letter back to Shenyang and then bring his letter back to the capital through Lu Wan and others. However, after picking up the pen, Tang Yin could not write a thousand words.
Tang Yin said: "The man named Zhong who came with us said that they will send a minister as an envoy, who is said to be a confidant of the North Korean monarch. In addition, they will also send people to give some wine and food."
"That's right." Xu Jing sighed, "We spent our own money on food and drink along the way. When we got to this place, we didn't even have room to spend our money. I don't know how Master Zhang in such a small country thought he was qualified to compete with me, the Ming Dynasty." Send troops together to annihilate those Jurchen aliens in Jianzhou?"
Tang Yin still looked very reserved.
At this time, Liu Gui came in from the outside. Because the door was a sliding door, Liu Gui almost took down the door when he opened it.
"Slow down," Tang Yin said.
Liu Gui came in and said: "They have sent the leading people, saying that they will pick up the two adults to their capital tomorrow, and also said..."
"What did you say?" Xu Jing asked on Tang Yin's behalf.
Liu Gui said with a bit of a bad smile on his face: "They also said that a woman is here. I asked them and she said that she is the daughter of Leji who is equivalent to our Ming Dynasty Jiaofang Division. She came specially to condolences to the two adults."
Upon hearing this, Xu Jing's eyes looked a little strange. He glanced at Tang Yin and said, "Bohu, you see that North Korea's arrangements here are very thoughtful."
It seems that Xu Jing feels that Tang Yin is uninhibited and should be very keen on this kind of style.
Tang Yinze looked uninterested and said: "For a daughter of a foreign race, who doesn't even understand the language, what kind of thoughtful arrangements are there? Besides, what's the errand you came to do today?"
Xu Jing said angrily: "They have such an arrangement, which can be regarded as a sincere intention. Along the way, I feel that North Korea is quite proficient in the language of the Ming Dynasty. The writings of the Ming Dynasty can be seen everywhere. I hope their courtesy can be higher."
Tang Yin said: "Send the message and we will continue our departure tomorrow morning. It doesn't matter whether the envoys they come to greet come or not, and it doesn't matter where they meet. There is no more waiting here!"
Xu Jing asked: "Why are they so divided?"
"We have delayed our errand. This involves the Liaodong War, so we cannot take it lightly." Tang Yin was very anxious.
Zhang Zhou gave him one month to reach Hanyang, but he walked for one month and four days, and there were still two or three days to go from Hanyang. This was tantamount to failing to fulfill the emperor's order.
As for women...it's not that Tang Yin doesn't think about it, it's that he despises the foreigners in his heart. Besides, the other party is just a happy girl. To him, this is very inconsistent with his identity.
…
…
As they marched early the next morning, the team was followed by two carriages.
One carriage was said to be carrying a gift for Tang Yin, and the other was carrying a woman. Even if Tang Yin refused to accept it, the woman would still have to accompany Tang Yin into Hanyang City.
After walking for half an hour, Tang Yin received a report that the envoys from North Korea had also arrived.
Tang Yin could only temporarily stop the team and went to meet him, but he saw that there were many people coming from the other side. There were four to five hundred soldiers and horses. Except for the two horses at the front, everyone behind them was wearing black and white commoners. Military uniforms, infantrymen holding flags.
The other party dismounted and hurried over to greet Tang Yin. He saluted Tang Yin and said in pure Chinese: "I am sending you a soldier, Cao Yanshu Chengjun, and I have met Mr. Tang."
Xu Jing didn't quite understand.
Tang Yin said: "I am just the head of the Ming Dynasty's military department. You don't need to come to greet me with a verdict."
"It should."
Cheng Jun looked at Xu Jing and said, "Who is this?"
Tang Yin pointed at Xu Jing and said, "This is Xu Jing, the deputy envoy accompanying the army."
"I've met Mr. Xu." Although Cheng Jun didn't know who Xu Jing was, his status as a deputy envoy in the Ming Dynasty's envoys was certainly extraordinary.
Then Cheng Jun and Tang Yin each mounted their horses, and they led the team towards Hanyang City.
Ming's cavalry and the Korean infantry brought by Cheng Jun were almost walking side by side.
The horses on the Ming side were also carrying artillery, which made the North Korean soldiers look sideways. They were obviously not as neatly marching as the Ming team.
Cheng Jun said: "Envoy of the Tang Dynasty, you must have seen along the way that the Jianzhou Guard ignored the laws of the superior state and repeatedly invaded our Korean land. After invading the border, they robbed more people and even burned the autumn grain in my border fields. , snatch the village..."
Cheng Jun poured out his bitter words in front of Tang Yin, as if he wanted to make people and gods angry with Jianzhou Jurchen.
After describing their losses in an exaggerated way, he said: "In the middle of last year, the king of our dynasty had already expressed his request to the Ming Dynasty, requesting to send troops to frighten the barbarians in Jianzhou. He did not think about the enlightenment of the Ming Dynasty. He really should not exist in the Ming Dynasty. The border of Liaodong became an obstacle to the exchanges between Ming Dynasty and North Korea."
Tang Yin said in a calm tone: "I am walking with the Dingliao Right Guards. I have not passed through the territory of the Jianzhou Guards, and I have not seen any losses from you."
This made the scene very embarrassing for a while.
But beside Cheng Jun, on another horse, a person who looked like a scribe was listening to the conversation between Cheng Jun and Tang Yin, while writing down their conversation with a pen.
Even Tang Yin and Xu Jing were amazed by this kind of person's "superpower", being able to ride a horse and work as a clerk at the same time...
When this person heard Tang Yin say this, he looked over with surprised eyes, as if he was surprised that the Ming envoy could be so direct?
Xu Jingze smiled and said, "Continue writing?"
The man was also in a dilemma, wondering whether he should record it truthfully.
Seeing that Xu Jing's attitude was a little narrow-minded, Cheng Jun couldn't help but explain: "Two envoys, please forgive me. Our king of Korea attaches great importance to welcoming the envoys of the Ming Dynasty, and specially sent someone to record every word and deed of the envoys. The writing... Nowadays, the use of proverbs is basically not allowed in North Korea. If you want to check, you can take it away at any time for verification."
North Korea created its own script in the fifteenth century, but until the mid-twentieth century, Chinese was still the mainstream script in North Korea.
Although North Korea also promotes its own characters because of nationalism, because they are imitating Chinese phonetic notations, their use is obviously not as high as Chinese characters, and in the era of Yeonsangun, because some people used proverbs to write His evil deeds were recorded, especially after the Wuwu Shi disaster in the eleventh year of Hongzhi. Lord Yanshan forbade the powerful to learn proverbs, and proverbs were only used for translating Chinese.
Tang Yin said: "I hope to see your monarch as soon as possible to discuss important matters."
Cheng Jun asked tentatively: "Are you going to send troops to establish slaves? As I know, you brought so many artillery and soldiers and horses to discuss sending troops. Your Excellency also forgive me, in my territory of Korea, We are still divided into two factions: the main war faction and the main peace faction. The so-called main peace faction is to build fortresses on Ping An Road and other places to prevent the slave slaves from advancing in my direction."
Xu Jing asked with a smile: "Is your Excellency the one calling for war or peace?"
Cheng Jun was about to say something, but when he looked at the clerk who was responsible for recording his words and deeds, he seemed to be wary for a moment and said: "I serve as a judge for the soldiers. I am more likely to obey the orders of the king and the court. As a result, there is no right to decide between war and peace.”
Tang Yin said: "Since you can't decide, then I will talk to your king."
…
…
That night, the group still stayed in a place close to the People's Court.
Tang Yin entered the room early and declined Cheng Jun's invitation to drink, eat and listen to music, while Xu Jing went to socialize first and came back with Liu Gui.
When entering the door, Xu Jing was still talking: "Look at those North Korean soldiers who can only sleep in the wild. Aren't you afraid that they will freeze to death in this weather?"
Liu Guidao: "Master Xu, I think they all make fires. I guess it's because the tents are not enough."
"Ha ha."
Xu Jing walked into the house while laughing.
I heard Tang Yin comment: "In a place like this, it's pretty good to have tiles covering your head. Have all our soldiers over there been settled?"
Xu Jingdao: "Have seen it. They brought dried meat and cooked broth. It tasted very good. Their soldiers were very greedy when they saw it outside. It seemed that many of them could only eat some wild vegetables. It is said that last year, There was also a drought in their territory, and there was almost cannibalism.”
Tang Yin frowned and said: "That's it, I really can't expect them to provide much assistance."
Xu Jing asked: "Don't you mean that their purpose of existence is just to conquer the east and attack the west?"
Liu Gui asked from the side: "Two adults, I dare to ask, that means that if we are in the east and are responsible for helping the Ming soldiers to attract Tatar attacks, wouldn't we..."
Xu Jing smiled and said: "Standing in the fortress, what is there to be afraid of?"
"Huh?" Although Liu Gui is not afraid of trouble, he is also afraid of death. He can endure such a hard job with Tang Yin. Who asked Zhang Zhou to help him get fame and fortune?
But the problem is that he is not good at fighting. When he followed Wang Shouren, he was just messing around. Who would have thought that he would actually make a name for himself?
Tang Yin said: "Did Duke Lai Guo give me a tips bag before he left?"
"Is this a clever plan for marching?" Xu Jing was very interested.
Tang Yin shook his head and said: "It does not involve the march, but it involves the structure of monarchs and ministers in North Korea today, including the names of his main ministers, and their tendencies in war and peace."
"What about this military judgment?" Xu Jing asked curiously.
"He is in charge of the battle. Although he is the military judge, equivalent to the Minister of War in the Ming Dynasty, the person who most advocates sending troops in North Korea is a man named Li Kejun. It is said that he has a close relationship with Cheng Jun, and Li Kejun has a good relationship with Ping'an Road. He has experience in leading troops and is from a family of military generals. But Duke Lai also explained that the drought in their territory last year was very serious. Because of this, the Korean monarch had previously said that he would go out to conquer the Jurchens, but it has not happened yet. "
With the help of Zhang Zhou's "tips", Tang Yin is naturally very familiar with the personnel structure of North Korea today.
Moreover, Zhang Zhou also told him that the current king of North Korea is a "ruthless character" and he will soon be unpopular.
Of course, some things were not explained through the tips bag. Before leaving, Zhang Zhou had a talk with Tang Yinshen.
Xu Jing asked: "Since their disaster is so serious that people are almost eating each other, can they still be expected to send troops?"
Tang Yin said: "Before, it was just their wishful thinking. Now with the support of the Ming Dynasty, as well as the great help of His Majesty and Duke Lai, it is equivalent to the Ming Dynasty giving them an order to send troops. How can they refuse? But we must also be careful about their words. Official... It is said that in North Korea, the style of admonishment is prevalent and can often influence the king's thoughts."
Xu Jing nodded and said: "As long as we don't let us go to war with other scholars."
"Are you scared?" Tang Yin looked up at Xu Jing.
Xu Jing shook his head and said, "I'm afraid that if a scholar encounters soldiers and talks about sending troops with a group of foreigners, I always feel like he's playing the piano to an ox."
Liu Gui said with a smile: "I think what Mr. Xu said about playing the piano to cows is very good. Those people are just a group of cows. No one looks normal. We, the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, are still tall and powerful. We expect them to come and fight." Tatars, it’s still unrealistic.”
…
…
Tang Yin arrived at Hanyang City in the afternoon of the next day.
Although the city could not be said to be filled with empty streets to welcome the people, there were still many people who came out to greet the envoys of the state. The enthusiasm of North Korea was something that Tang Yinye and Xu Jing did not expect.
In fact, they did not receive very high treatment along the way. Now they probably know that it is not that North Korea does not want to receive them well, but because their northern region has experienced drought, and the local officials have no ability to receive them well. On the contrary, the capital This place is where the North Korean dignitaries live. They are more willing to establish political ties with the Ming Dynasty and are more willing to welcome the Ming Dynasty's envoys.
Cheng Jun rode into the city with Tang Yin and looked very proud.
Cheng Jun said: "After hearing that the Ming Dynasty's master, the Duke of Lai, spent a year severely teaching the barbarians on the grassland, I, the people of North Korea, also agreed that it is necessary for the Ming Dynasty to help us clean up the border areas. The Korean people's admiration for the Ming Dynasty is increasing day by day. If there is a chance, I hope that the Duke of Lai will come to our country in person, and our country will definitely welcome him as a master."
"Hehehe..."
Xu Jing laughed beside him.
Xu Jing was probably thinking about it.
Do you expect Zhang Zhou to come? I'm afraid you don't know how powerful he is.
If someone like Zhang comes, he will probably subdue them completely by destroying the dead and destroying them. Then I'm afraid you won't have enough coffin boards.
Tang Yin and his party arrived at the Imperial City, the capital of North Korea.
Because there were all low houses along the way, Tang Yin originally didn’t take the imperial city of Joseon too seriously, but when he saw the imperial city of Joseon, he immediately felt that Joseon seemed to have many differences in architecture compared to the Ming Dynasty. They have something in common, and the architecture is also similar.
At the entrance of the Korean Imperial Palace, a group of people, led by a man in red official robes, were waiting for the arrival of the Ming Dynasty envoy.
Cheng Jun reminded him from a distance: "The Tang envoy, that is our Councilor Yin Bishang. He is opposed to sending troops. He is equivalent to the chief minister of the state and has a good reputation in the court. You should be careful. "
In fact, Cheng Jun said this while avoiding the secretary, which was equivalent to a private warning to Tang Yin.
Tang Yin nodded.
He already knew from the tips given to him by Zhang Zhou that Yin Bishang's status in North Korea was very high now. It was also because after the Wuwu Shifu Shilin sect was suppressed in the eleventh year of Hongzhi, Yin Bishang became the king of Yanshan. The most authoritative minister next to him... Of course, his glory can only last for another three years.
…
…
North Korea received Tang Yin as an envoy.
And Tang Yin will not enter the Joseon Palace immediately. Instead, a gorgeous post house will be prepared for him next to the palace, modeled on the Ming Dynasty Huitong Pavilion, which is specially used to house the envoys of the Ming Dynasty. , if you come from anywhere else, you are not qualified to live there.
Except for a few people with official positions such as Tang Yin and Xu Jing who can move in, even the soldiers brought by Tang Yin do not need to be outside the city. Instead, they can bring artillery and other artillery into the courtyard, occupying all the houses in the courtyard. Originally, North Korea wanted Ming soldiers to live in the nearby Guanyi, but Tang Yin refused.
Tang Yin directly asked the extra soldiers to station themselves in tents in the yard.
Later, the North Korean side sent charcoal and firewood, as well as exquisite food.
Tang Yin and Yin Bishang met in the main hall of the post house.
Yin Bishang said: "I heard that the Ming Dynasty's artillery was indestructible, and last year it was used to destroy Duoyan's troops in Liaodong. I wonder if it was brought by the Tang Dynasty?"
Tang Yin looked at Cheng Jun who came with Yin Bishang.
Although Tang Yin knew very well that one of the two was a war-fighter and the other was a peace-maker, neither of them had obvious political opinions. It seemed that Yin Bishang was the main war-fighter.
Tang Yin shook his head and said: "The ones I brought were all light cannons with average power. But in the middle of last year, the Ming Dynasty made a surprise attack on Weininghai and severely damaged the Menggoljin Department of Huoshan. They used this kind of cannon, with a range of one mile. .”
"...How can such a small cannon shoot so far?" Yin Bishang obviously didn't believe it.
Cheng Jun asked: "Does Ming want to bring the technology of this cannon to us?"
Tang Yin said: "It's not that Ming Dynasty is unwilling to give you the technology to cast cannons. It's because your abilities are not enough to cast cannons. This requires very good charcoal, the kind that has no smoke after burning, and it also needs to be used." With a large number of craftsmen and technologies, in the past, only Lai Guogong controlled such technologies in the Ming Dynasty."
"Mr. Lai Guo...how is your health?"
Yin Bishang was mature and prudent. Faced with the braggadocio of a young man like Tang Yin, he was a little at a loss what to do, and finally asked a question that sounded very different.
Even Chengjun couldn't help but look at Yin Bishang.
It seems to be saying, if you ask how Duke Lai is doing, don't let the envoys of the Ming Dynasty misunderstand that we hope that the awesome Duke Lai will die soon.
(End of chapter)
