Edo Castle, Japan, the Shogun's Mansion.

In the council chamber of the Shogun's Palace, the forty-eight-year-old Tokugawa Iebare, dressed in a black draped crown, sat cross-legged on a bamboo mat.

He was the third shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate and the de facto ruler of Japan.

In front of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the civil and military officials of the shogunate sat straight on both sides, and in the front position, sat the elder Sakai Tadakatsu, the old Naka Matsudaira Nobutsuna, Abe Tadaaki and other important ministers of the shogunate, as well as some feudal lords close to the Tokugawa family.

The Elder was the temporary highest position in the shogunate, responsible for overseeing government affairs and participating in the determination of important policies.

Lao Zhong was the direct official of the Shogun, responsible for the administration of the whole country, and was the highest official position of the shogunate on occasions that were not set up by the elder, and was generally elected among the powerful daimyo (princes).

At this time, Tokugawa Iemitsu's face was gloomy, as if he could drip water, and the officials of the shogunate were also angry.

The news from the Ming side came, and the Ming Emperor not only split the clan of the lord of the Xiaguan domain in public, but also issued an ultimatum to Japan, saying that Ryukyu was the territory of the Ming Dynasty!

The ultimatum is not only sharp, but also full of threats, don't say anything unexpected, doesn't that mean, don't blame me for not greeting you in advance when the time comes?

From the attitude of the Ming Dynasty, the officials of the Tokugawa Shogunate clearly felt the insult of the Ming Dynasty to Japan!

"General, you must not order the withdrawal of the Ryukyus!" Elder Sakai Tadakatsu said angrily.

There was a murmur in the council chamber, and the officials of the shogunate were all opposed to such a humiliating abandonment of the Ryukyus.

For some officials of the shogunate, Ryukyu was their fundamental interest, especially for feudal lords such as Satsuma.

After Tokugawa Iemitsu issued the Decree of Seclusion, Nagasaki was only opened as the only port for Japan's foreign trade, and many feudal lords were unable to satisfy their interests and had to extend their hands to the Ryukyus to control the trade there.

At this time, the Ryukyus entered a golden age, and trade with Fujian, Taiwan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Japan was highly developed, and it was a cash cow for some coastal feudal lords in Japan.

Now that someone is thinking about their cash cow, how can it work?

Tokugawa Iemitsu hesitated, and he asked, "What is our chance of winning this battle?" ”

A feudal lord close to the Tokugawa family replied, "It's not big, if the Qing Kingdom sends troops with us, then the victory rate will increase a lot." ”

There were also shogunate officials who recognized the situation and opposed sending troops: "We can manage the Ryukyus through political means and negotiate with the Ming Kingdom, so that the soldiers will not have to shed any more blood." ”

These people knew that with the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army, it would be impossible to resist the attack of the Ming Dynasty, whether now or in the near future, and Ryukyu would sooner or later fall into the arms of the Ming Dynasty.

Immediately, the daimyo of the main battle jumped out with a blushing face and said thickly: "What if Ming Guo doesn't back down!" ”

"Then use this time to strengthen the defenses of the Ryukyus and fight them to the death!"

The old middle Abe Tadaaki bowed and said: "General, the Musashi Kunibu Shinobi Domain is ready to go in Edo, they are the most loyal guards of the shogunate, and I also ask the general to hand over the combat mission of defending the dignity of Japan to them!" ”

Encouraged by some feudal lords, Rao Tokugawa Iemitsu was reluctant to go to war, and he was also a little shaken at this time.

As a leader, who wants to follow himself regardless of the interests of those below?

What's more, the Tokugawa family is now older, and his body is getting worse and worse, and his son Tokugawa Ietsuna is only ten years old, in case he suddenly hangs up, these feudal lords are dissatisfied with the Tokugawa family, what should I do if I jump out and fall the curtain?

Reading out the ultimatum of the Ming Kingdom again, Tokugawa Iemitsu suddenly laughed angrily.

Emperor Ming didn't care about the consequences at all? This is pushing me into Qingguo's arms!

Tokugawa Iemitsu asked, "What's going on on in the Kiyokuni side?" ”

The old middle Matsudaira Nobutsuna said: "The regent of the Qing Kingdom, Hong Chengchou, issued a statement that the actions of the Ming State were illegal, and he made it clear that he supported my shogunate!" ”

"Good!"

Tokugawa Iemitsu said: "It's just that it's useless to support it, let them send troops to assist, and show the sincerity of support!" ”

The Qing Dynasty has always advocated joining forces with Japan to resist the Ming Dynasty, and shouted slogans all day long, and now is the time for them to test their cooperation!

In the end, Tokugawa Iemitsu decided to resist the Ming army entering the Ryukyus first, so as to test the strength of the Ming army and see how many catties and taels they had!

If it can't be defeated, then if it can't be defeated, the shogunate's attitude of protecting the interests of the daimyo of each domain must be displayed, anyway, the vanguard is the southwestern Satsuma feudal clan that has always secretly opposed the shogunate!

.......

The weather in April is getting hotter, and the palaces in the Forbidden City of Nanjing are tall, and most places have no trees, which makes it even hotter.

After the Xia Wanchun case ended, Empress Xu Chenyun showed the demeanor of the mother of the country and summoned the Li family in the harem to calm her heart.

In this case, the biggest victim is Li, who was violated by the Japanese people, although she did not succeed, but was stripped of her pants by the Japanese people, and her reputation was ruined.

In this era of strict feudal dogma, in the violence of neighbors pointing fingers and gossip, her husband was also humiliated, feeling that he had a prairie on his head and threatened to divorce her, and the Li family had no place to stand.

Empress Xu Chenyun personally came forward to comfort the Li family and arranged for him to do some chores in the palace at the Tianxia Times office.

First, the emperor came to the rescue, and the queen took it in, and a newspaper published a special feature praising his kindness, and the reputation of the Li family gradually improved, and even some people were enviable, and even her husband regretted it a little.

In recent days, Zhu Cihong has not been idle, and summoned Xia Wanchun in the inner garden to commend him for his righteous and courageous deeds.

was personally summoned by the emperor and rewarded with snacks, Xia Wanchun was very excited.

Under the guidance of the eunuch, Xia Wanchun walked out of the palace along the inner garden path through the Xuanwu Gate, and when he passed by a pavilion, he saw a palace girl wearing a long skirt sitting in the pavilion.

This woman is fourteen or fifteen years old, slim and elegant, with graceful manners, and a pair of bright autumn eyes happened to look at Xia Wanchun, and the two came to look at each other.

Xia Wanchun was stunned, thinking that it was a concubine, so she didn't dare to slack off, so she hurriedly bowed her head and saluted.

The eunuch who led the way stepped forward and saluted: "The slave has seen Her Royal Highness the eldest princess!" ”

It turned out to be the eldest princess, Xia Wanchun thought with her head down.

Princess Zhaoren Zhu Yuyu looked at Xia Wanchun curiously, and actually walked over with a long skirt, her face was happy, and she said, "But Shanghai Xia Wanchun?" ”

The eunuch reminded Xia Wanchun in a low voice: "This is Your Majesty's sister, Princess Zhaoren. ”

Xia Wanchun saluted again: "Grass people Xia Wanchun, I have seen Her Royal Highness the eldest princess!" ”

Zhu Yujiao returned the salute a little shyly, with curiosity on her pretty face, and said softly: "This palace has heard of you, you are brave and courageous, and you are a good man!" ”

"Her Royal Highness the Princess......" several palace maids reminded anxiously.

Zhu Yujiao felt out of shape, and her face was blushing, as if she had been smeared with a layer of rouge.

Xia Wanchun only felt a strange fragrance coming to his nose, his heart moved, he raised his head slightly, and the two glanced at each other again.

Xia Wanchun also saw Princess Zhaoren's face, and saw that the princess had light makeup, shy and few words, and looked pure and beautiful, with an indescribable elegance and gentleness.

Xia Wanchun only felt that his heart was beating faster, it was difficult to breathe through his mouth and nose, and he felt suffocated......

Similarly, Princess Zhaoren also saw Xia Wanchun's handsome appearance, although it was a little worse than the imperial brother, but it also made people's hearts hit like a deer.

The two of them looked at each other for only a few seconds, as if they had been staring at the same world for decades.

Finally, Princess Zhaoren blushed and disappeared in a blink of an eye.

Xia Wanchun stared blankly at the disappearing shadow, and didn't come to his senses for a long time.

"Master Xia, it's time to leave the palace, and our family will send you on your way."

The eunuch who led the way pushed him and rolled his eyes.

"I'm tired of my father-in-law." Xia Wanchun, who came back to his senses, smiled awkwardly, and looked in the direction where Qianying disappeared from time to time.