Tokugawa Iemitsu!

Among the generals of the Tokugawa shogunate, he was definitely an important figure in connecting the past and the future. As the third shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, Iemitsu was both the first person to defend the shogun and the end of the pioneering.

Just three or two sentences may not be able to say what he has done, in fact, Tokugawa Iemitsu has nothing else in the past ten years, about three things: one, revise the laws of the samurai family, and determine the obligation to attend and account, this move not only "exploited" the daimyo's money, but also "exploited" their time. Either staying in Edo, on the way to Edo, or on the way back to the territory. In the end, it even led to some daimyo being overshadowed by the retainers because they were away from home for a long time. This is also the so-called "Ieyasu built the foundation, Hidetada contributed bricks, and Iemitsu capped", which was the final shape of the shogunate system, and it can even be said that it was he who laid the foundation for the Tokugawa shogunate's 200 years of country. As for the second, extinguish the Shimabara Rebellion, which was manipulated by foreign forces. If there is any other achievement, it is that the lockdown order was perfected and the crisis of being indoctrinated by the Red Hair Sect was avoided, which almost changed the fate of Japan.

In addition, he attaches great importance to agricultural issues, well, under his governance, the Japanese people can finally eat gruel and pickles, well, this cannot but be said to be a great "progress".

However, such a successful "third generation of rights" often faces major tests, such as the last Shimabara Rebellion, which was a difficult thing to pacify.

And now, a new great test is once again in front of him!

In the exchanges with the Celestial Empire, it was often Japan that sent tribute envoys to the Celestial Empire, and very few envoys from the Celestial Empire came to Japan, and the last time they came, it was to canonize Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

The envoys of the Celestial Empire actually came to Japan again!

However, the arrival of the envoys of the Celestial Empire made Tokugawa Iemitsu look a little nervous.

"Wouldn't it be too rude for me to receive the envoys of the Ming Kingdom in such a hurry."

Tokugawa Iemitsu thought this way, not only because he had a plan in his heart, but also because there was a precedent to follow.

The scene when Toyotomi Hideyoshi greeted the Ming Dynasty delegation was a grand one. Even specially built a "Qianta" hall, 1 tatami is equal to 1.62 square meters, that is, 1620 square meters of government hall to receive the mission. But what came out of the rush was a tofu scum project, a heavy rain could not support it, and a wall collapsed, causing the government hall to be a little tilted, which is simply the Japanese version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In short, a lot of human and financial resources were spent, and as a result, excessive crowd power was extracted, and even a large number of desperate and fugitives appeared.

Toyotomi was really attentive to the hospitality of the mission, and did his best, but as a result, the whole country complained. This can also be seen how much he values the mission.

And now Tokugawa Iemitsu found that there was no such hall in Edo Castle to receive Ming envoys. That's why I feel rude, after all, people have only been back to Japan for decades.

"Your Excellency, when Toyotomi built the Thousand Tata Hall, it caused a lot of complaints from all over the country, and Your Excellency doesn't have to follow Toyotomi's old story!"

The old middle Hotta Masamori's answer made Tokugawa Iemitsu think in his heart,

"Why don't you want to think about how beautiful Toyotomi was back then, accepting the canonization of the Celestial Empire in Japan! Among so many people, he is the first one! ”

Even when Tokugawa Iemitsu was a child, he had heard how happy Toyotomi Hideyoshi was that day after receiving the Ming canonization book and gold seal, how he happily changed into the crown of the prince-level four-clawed dragon given by the Ming Dynasty, and then came out wearing the Ming Dynasty royal clothes again.

How proud Toyotomi was at that time! It is unthinkable that he, a guy from a small ashigaru background, actually got the canonization of the Great Tomorrow Dynasty. Of course, the canonization of Da Ming also elevated his status. Let anyone who questioned his identity be speechless anymore, after all, he was canonized by the Emperor of the Great Tomorrow Dynasty.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi didn't care about the "king of Japan", he cared about the recognition of his rule in Japan by the Daimei Dynasty.

However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was able to get the treatment, but his grandfather did not get it, and even his grandfather was obsessed with it until he died. But he didn't dare to ask the Ming Dynasty for canonization, and Toyotomi's canonization was bought with the lives of tens of thousands of people. After the victory of the Eastern Army in the Battle of Sekigahara, his grandfather constantly sent envoys to try to improve relations with the Ming Dynasty and open tributary trade, and obtained the canonization of the Ming Dynasty, but he was never successful.

Now that the angel is coming, how can Tokugawa Iemitsu not be excited, doesn't this mean that he can open a tributary trade with the Celestial Empire, of course, if he can accept the canonization of the Ming Dynasty, it would be great.

"We must not slack off the envoys of the Ming Kingdom, Hotta, and I can't restore the tribute to the Ming Dynasty, but my grandfather and father's lifelong legacy ah!"

Even under the premise of strictly closing the country, the Tokugawa family still wanted to restore the tribute, of course, for the three generations of their ancestors and grandchildren, this was related to their legitimacy, after all, the legitimate shogunate was "compatible" with tribute. Otherwise, it will certainly not be orthodox.

In fact, in the East of this era, everyone is vying to be the good son of the "Ming father", the father does not recognize, but also to find a way to recognize it, as for the so-called canonization of Toyotomi as the king of Japan, his description of "tearing up the edict" is just a modern Japanese to give themselves a long face, the intact original edict is still in the Osaka Museum in the 21st century.

In fact, it is true that the monarchs and ministers of the Ming Dynasty did not take Japan and Toyotomi Hideyoshi too seriously, but Toyotomi and Japan took the canonization of the Ming Dynasty as a matter, as for "I want the king to be the king" Yunyun, it is a nonsense recorded in the "Foreign History of Japan" two hundred years after Hideyoshi's death, in fact, Hideyoshi, who participated in the canonization ceremony at that time, is close to the west in the "Xianchao Manuscript", which clearly records that Hideyoshi "was overjoyed, wearing the official uniform of the Ming Dynasty, holding the gold seal, and shouting three long live".

Later, why did it suddenly break up?

This is probably because of Wanli's sentence "Xu Feng is not allowed to pay tribute", so that the two sides did not reach a consensus in Kanhe trade. Perhaps, after being canonized in history, Toyotomi, who happily put on the four-clawed dragon robe of the Prince of the Ming Dynasty, said to the Ming envoy:

"I recognize your emperor as my father, so I have to give some benefits."

The envoy said:

"It's good to be able to recognize our emperor as a father and a king, how many people don't have a chance. Still thinking about what benefits? ”

Although there are 100,000 grass and mud horses galloping in his heart, although he seems to have blown away the envoys of the Celestial Empire. But Toyotomi still happily left the book of Zhao and the small seal of the party.

Why not throw it away?

Reluctantly!

Counting back to the time of the ancestors, when the Muromachi shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was sealed, it was also a joy.

Actually, Tokugawa Iemitsu also wanted to...... Even if the merchants of the Ming Kingdom would continue to bring goods to Nagasaki, there would be no need for tributary trade at all, even if the country is closed now, it doesn't matter whether there is trade or not. But his heart was still thinking of the small seal of the "King of Japan".

Prince Huailiang of the Southern Dynasty had.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu had.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi had a ......

As far as the Tokugawa family is concerned, this ...... What kind of system.

Little seal!

My father doesn't have that little seal, and my grandfather doesn't have that little seal, but now that the envoy of the Celestial Empire is here, will he bring that little seal?

"Also, Hotta, immediately send messengers to inform the local daimyo of this matter and tell them that the envoys of the Celestial Empire are coming!"

Looking at the general's appearance of being a little happy, but also a little suffering from gains and losses, Hotta Masamori's heart couldn't help but sigh.

He was able to understand the general's feelings.

Even if the Japanese no longer admit that they are vassals of the Celestial Empire, but deep down, they are all eager to be recognized by the Celestial Empire, of course, this Celestial Empire must be the real Chinese Celestial Empire, and the Mongols are the kind of Hu barbarians who are barbaric.

Perhaps, just like a woman, she says no, but the body is honest, even if it is the generals and retainers who say - I am here for trade, for small money. But in fact, everyone knows in their hearts that it is for the small seal!

What is the purpose of informing the world of the news of the visit of the envoy of the Celestial Empire?

In order to tell the world about the Ming Dynasty - look, my Tokugawa family is the orthodoxy of Japan, and even the father of the Ming Dynasty has approved it!

All right!

For the generals, this is a good thing!