For Ning Yu, Zhu Shunshui is not a very unfamiliar name, when he traveled to Japan in his previous life, he once saw Zhu Shunshui's cemetery in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, which reads 'Ming Zheng Junzi Zhuzi Tomb', so he became interested in this person, and later checked the information and found that this person's integrity is enough to shine through the ages.

Where is the country in the twentieth year? It was also reported that Donghu had set up a puppet official.

Looking at the genius of the Han family, the sea is long at night.

Ning Yu recited this poem softly, which was written by Zhu Shunshui more than 20 years after he went to Japan. The meaning of grief in the poem is overflowing.

Ning Luoyuan, the shadow person in charge who was standing on the side, kept his head down, although he didn't understand the meaning of this person's existence very well, but the emperor's exclamation was enough to explain its importance.

"Your Majesty, this time the Japanese went to our court to envoy and brought the descendants of Zhuzi with them, but for some reason, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only has Japanese envoys for the record, but there are no descendants of Zhuzi...... According to the shadow report, the descendants of Zhu Zi are already in Nanjing. ”

Ning Yu thought about it for a while, and quickly understood, and sighed: "I'm afraid that this is 'more timid in the hometown', my Da Chu is not Da Ming after all, so it is inevitable that there will be some discomfort, let him take a look at it in the people, and if he sees it, he will come to see me, let the spies disperse." ”

"Yes."

After sending Ning Luoyuan away, Ning Yu put aside the matter of Zhu Shunshui in his heart, no matter what this popularity is, it is all over after all, but it is the fact that the Edo shogunate sent people to Nanjing has always revealed a bit of mystery in it.

Now the military intelligence department and the shadow spy force, after all, are only concentrated in the country, and there is not much involvement in foreign countries, so Ning Yu was also a little unable to react after receiving the news of the Japanese envoy's visit to China - according to the current information, the Edo shogunate is carrying out the reform of the security and is at a critical juncture.

The so-called Toho Reform is a series of reform measures being carried out by Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth shogun of the Edo Shogunate, such as streamlining the organization, abolishing the official position of the flag and the hereditary system of Yuroku, and restoring the Takahara hunting, which was prohibited during the Tokugawa Tsunayoshi era, and strengthening the intensity of its training.

Of course, in the economic aspect, Tokugawa Yoshimune also had great achievements, he stabilized the long-term turbulent rice price in Japan, and also restored stability to Japanese society, so in these aspects, Ning Yu also paid more or less attention to it.

According to the current limited information, Tokugawa Yoshimune, the general of the Seiyi who set off the reform of Xiangbao, has been in power for more than eight years, and he succeeded to the throne in the sixth year of Zhengde, and the shogun's family was no heir at that time, so he was a shogun who succeeded as a virtuous marquis.

As far as Ningyu is concerned, relations with Japan will affect the overall plan in the future, so it is very crucial, and he also attaches great importance to Japan's visit this time.

.......

"Foreign Minister Matsudaira Tsunayoshi commands!"

In the post area of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi knelt on the ground, holding a Huang Chengcheng holy decree in his hand, the meaning of which was very simple, let Matsudaira Tsunayoshi go to meet the emperor tomorrow, and behind him, there were several Japanese samurai, all of whom were humble and respectful.

Du Qiuyan, the secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stood in front of Matsudaira Tsunayoshi, with a smile on his face very appropriately, "Your envoy, please get up, this holy decree has been delivered, and please also ask your envoy to meet the emperor tomorrow and present his credentials." ”

This set of Matsudaira Tsunayoshi naturally did not feel unfamiliar, he stood up, but his head was still slightly lowered, and said humbly: "Your Majesty has an edict, and the foreign ministers should be cautious, and they will never dare to exceed half a point, and they will also ask Lord Shangshu for guidance." ”

Du Qiuyan laughed, he stroked his long beard and whispered: "Your Majesty still knows you very well, this time you only need to abide by the rules, and everything in the future will be undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so you don't need to worry too much." ”

Before Matsudaira Tsunayoshi came to Nanjing, he had also heard about some of the changes in the current Great Chu, this so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs was nothing more than the Honglu Temple in the past, although he didn't know why it was changed so nondescriptly, but he didn't care too much about it in his heart, he was always a lord of the Heavenly Empire.......

"Lord Shangshu's kindness, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi is grateful!"

Seeing that everything was said about this, Du Qiuyan asked in a low voice, "The person who came with you ...... Have you ever been in the post house area? ”

Matsudaira Tsunayoshi showed a little surprise on his face, but he had been separated from Zhu Yuyan since he got off the ship, but he didn't expect that every move was in the eyes of Shangguo, which made Matsudaira Tsunayoshi a little panicked, and quickly knelt down again.

"Returning to Lord Shangshu, this person is indeed on the same boat as me, but he just happened to be walking along the way, and he was separated from the ministers and others as soon as he got off the boat, and please know."

Du Qiuyan didn't dwell too much on this issue, and he didn't have any doubts about Matsudaira Tsunadashi's words, so he left. On the contrary, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi himself fell into doubts, could it be that the Celestial Empire didn't know Zhu Yuyan's identity?

But whether he knows it or not, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi didn't take this matter too seriously, but went forward to prepare, planning to deal with tomorrow's audience, for Ning Yu, the emperor, he still did some homework, if he was not prepared, I am afraid it would be difficult to complete the task handed over by the general.......

The next day, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi confidently brought the Forbidden City Palace to the Imperial Palace, and after many inspections, brought the Fengtian Hall to meet the emperor.

"Foreign Minister Matsudaira Tsunayoshi, this time on the order of Tokugawa Yoshimune, the great general of the expedition, has come to see His Majesty."

Ning Yu glanced at this guy dressed as a warrior, and said softly: "Your envoy, please get up, this time you have come from afar, is there something important?" ”

Matsudaira Tsunayoshi didn't dare to look up at Ning Yu, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, this time the foreign ministers have come to the Celestial Empire, in the name of the Great General of Zhengyi, please allow my Edo Shogunate to restore tributary relations to Great Chu, strengthen trade ties, and reduce or reduce tariffs in consideration of the hardships of the country, so as to achieve the good of the two countries." ”

At present, there is actually a certain trade path between Ningchu and Japan, but because of the relevant policies of Ningyu, the tariffs levied on foreign countries have increased a lot compared with previous years, so some businessmen have begun to hope to use the shogunate diplomacy to realize the possibility of reducing tariffs.

Ning Yu glanced at Matsudaira Tsunayoshi deeply, "The matter of tariffs can be discussed, but I have one thing, but I hope that your envoy can give you a solution." ”

"Please speak up to Your Majesty."

Matsudaira Tsunayoshi faintly felt that something was wrong in his heart, so he had to reply hard.

Ning Yu said softly: "Where is the current Ryukyu King Shangjing?" ”

King of the Ryukyus!

Matsudaira Tsunayoshi instantly understood, and said stubbornly: "The foreign minister is an envoy of the Japanese Edo shogunate, and he really doesn't know anything about other countries. ”

"Other countries?"

Ning Yu sneered, "If I guessed correctly, the current Ryukyu Kingdom is still in the hands of your Japan, but in order to seek tributary benefits, your Shimazu Domain will make the Ryukyu Kingdom stand on its own and supply to the Qing court every two years, but don't think that I don't know, all the benefits of tributary trade have been swallowed up by Japan, and the Ryukyu Kingdom is just a puppet." ”

As soon as these words came out, it caused an uproar among the ministers in the palace, and they stared at Matsudaira Tsunayoshi, who was silent, with a bit of murderous aura in their eyes, and the seriousness of this matter can be seen.

At this time, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi could only choose to keep silent, because after this matter was pierced, he had no reason to quibble, and Japan's wolf ambitions had long been exposed in this matter.

Speaking of this, we have to mention the special status of the Ryukyus itself. In the history of China, Ryukyu has always been a very important existence, from the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang to the Ryukyu Zhongshan King Chadu issued an edict, the Ryukyu Beishan, Zhongshan, Nanshan three kings began to pay tribute to the Ming government, Ryukyu became a vassal of the Ming Dynasty.

At that time, in order to solve the difficulties of sea navigation in the Ryukyu season, Zhu Yuanzhang specially gave the Fujian people who were good at shipbuilding and navigation technicians 36 surnames to move to Ryukyu. Those who practice seafaring, teach general affairs, and always prepare for the guide', and then Ryukyu became a model representative of the Ming Dynasty feudal system.

Later, in the fourth year of the Ming Dynasty, a strong conflict broke out between the Ming Dynasty and Japan because of the tributary issue, so that the Ming Xianzong kicked Japan out of the tributary system in a fit of anger, and at that time the tributary system was essentially a trade relationship, so Japan, which had no tributary qualifications, had a serious impact on its economic development.

Especially later, with the outbreak of the Imjin War, the relationship between Japan and the Ming Dynasty became worse and worse, which made Japan begin to play the idea of Ryukyu, preparing to invade and occupy Ryukyu, and then use the skin of Ryukyu to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty and obtain the benefits of tributary trade.

Therefore, shortly after the end of the Imjin War, the Satsuma Domain, with the support of the Tokugawa Shogunate, sent the general Kayama Hisadaka to lead 3,000 elite soldiers to launch a surprise attack on the Ryukyus, but the Ryukyu Kingdom was not ready for the relevant preparations, so it was soon defeated by the Satsuma Domain's army, and even Shuri Castle was breached, resulting in the Ryukyu King Shoning being captured by the Satsuma army, and there is even a record of "like a family diary, a document from generation to generation, and seven treasures, all lost".

Later, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty was powerless to intervene, and the Ryukyu King Shōnin was also forced to sign the "Fifteen Articles" in Japan, in which the Ryukyus became a vassal state of the Satsuma Domain, and even matters such as succession to the throne and official appointments had to be reported to the Satsuma Domain.

Although Ryukyu ostensibly became independent with the entry of the Qing court, it actually existed as a vassal state of the Satsuma Domain, seeking the benefits of tributary trade.

For the ministers of Ningchu, they don't know much about the twists and turns in this, but for the Ningyu Ningda Emperor from later generations, they know the intentions of these Japanese well, and now the shogun sends envoys to restore tributary trade, which is essentially a test of Ningchu, if Ningchu agrees, it is the best, even if he does not agree, he can use the shell of Ryukyu to seek benefits.

Under Ning Yu's questioning, a trace of cold sweat broke out on Matsudaira Tsunaki's face, he wanted to defend one or two, but when the words came to his mouth, he was speechless, so he had to whisper: "These things are all done by the Satsuma Domain, and they have nothing to do with the general, and now the general's admiration for the Celestial Empire can be seen by the sun and the moon, and I hope Your Majesty knows." ”

Ning Yu snorted coldly, "I know, and my people will also know, if you want to resume tributary trade, please show some sincerity from your country, if you don't make the Ryukyu problem clear, this matter will not be over." ”

"Your Majesty, now that the Ryukyu Kingdom is part of the Satsuma Domain, there is nothing the Shogun can do...... Pay off Your Majesty's discernment. ”

Matsudaira Tsunayoshi was anxious to shake off the pot, and hurriedly threw out the real gainers in a panic, anyway, the relationship between the general and the Satsuma clan has always been very bad, and in this reform, it was also the Satsuma clan that was at the forefront of opposition.

Seeing that Matsudaira Tsunayoshi said this, but he fell into Ning Yu's hands, he smiled: "Since your envoy said that this thing was all done by the Satsuma Domain, it has nothing to do with the general of Zhengyi." Can it be explained that my Great Chu sent troops to the Satsuma Domain, and the general of Zhengyi will not interfere? ”

Seeing Ning Yu's interpretation, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi was a little panicked, no matter how many grievances and hatreds there were between the Edo shogunate and the Satsuma Domain, but after all, it was an internal contradiction, once a behemoth like Da Chu was introduced, I am afraid that the whole Japanese people would be punished by heaven! This black cauldron is something he Matsudaira Tsunayoshi can't afford!

"This ...... Your Majesty, this matter needs to be properly discussed....... Why bother to meet each other? The foreign minister came to the Celestial Empire with sincerity, and he hoped to get His Majesty's size! ”

Matsudaira Tsunayoshi stammered, a Chinese dialect that was not very fluent in the first place, was spoken in fragments, but it made the ministers in the palace frown, no matter how much they didn't understand the reason for this before, now they understand it somewhat, to put it bluntly, it was purely a thief who ran to the owner's house to talk about cooperation!

Ning Yu did not want to fight against Japan on this, firstly, it was the current enemy or the Qing court, and secondly, the time was not ripe enough, so his idea was actually to bury a thorn in the gap between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Satsuma Domain, and compared to the Satsuma Domain, which would lead the Meiji Restoration in the future, the Tokugawa Shogunate, which has now tended to decay, is a better partner for Ning Yu.

Thinking of this, the expression on Ning Yu's face eased a little, "Your envoy came with sincerity, I am naturally clear in my heart, it's just one yard to one yard, if the general of Zhengyi wants to pay tribute to our country, he needs to solve the thorn in the eye of the Satsuma Domain, a thorn in the flesh, this is not only the need of my great Chu, but also the top priority of the general Zhengyi at the moment......"

Hearing Ning Yu say this, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi was a little moved in his heart, he was only worried about introducing the Great Chu forces into Japan, so he prevaricated, but he didn't have the slightest good impression of the Satsuma Domain, because in Japan, it has always been the Satsuma Domain that has secretly led the downfall, and it is also the general's biggest enemy!

It can be said that there is a basis for the cooperation between the Shogun Seiyi and the Celestial Empire in dealing with the Satsuma Domain, but Matsudaira Tsunayoshi is worried that once the Celestial Empire extends its hand to the Satsuma Domain, will it continue to develop in Japan? This is a responsibility that he cannot afford.

"Your Majesty, this is a very important matter, and I ask Your Majesty to allow the foreign ministers to repair the book and return to Edo and the general of Zhengyi, so that you can give Your Majesty a reply!"