Zhang Shixing saw Hosokawa Goro and waved to him desperately, Hosokawa Goro finally saw him too, and waved at him, and saw Zhang Shixing running with the big boat, so he pointed forward and motioned him to meet him at the port.

Zhang Shixing ran towards the port of Naha, Tang Ying and the main island of the Ryukyus were connected by a rainbow embankment, Zhang Shixing ran across the rainbow embankment, came to the port, the Japanese tributary mission of the Ming ship had docked, Hosokawa Goro was standing at the pier, with his hands in his hands, waiting for him with a smile.

Seeing Zhang Shixing running over panting, Hosokawa Goro stepped forward to greet him and said, "Brother Zhang, we met again in less than two months, it's really fate." ”

Zhang Shixing stepped forward and bowed his hand and said, "Hosokawa-kun, it's really a meeting between mountains and rivers, why are you here again?" ”

Hosokawa Goro blushed and said: "We didn't see the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty last time, and after returning to Japan, we were reprimanded by my family's daimyo, so we organized a group to go to the Ming Dynasty for the second time to ask to see the new emperor Yongle Emperor, hoping that this time our wishes can come true." Passing through the Ryukyus, we replenish some freshwater vegetables before purchasing some sulfur and other things. Brother Zhang, how are you doing here, and what are you doing? ”

Zhang Shixing smiled bitterly and said, "I'm helping with fishing in Tangying." ”

Hosokawa Goro's eyes widened in surprise, and he said, "Brother Zhang, you are so capable, how can you be reduced to fishing for a living?" ”

Zhang Shixing said: "Occasionally, I live here temporarily, I have nothing to do, and I should help with fishing." ”

Hosokawa Goro asked, "Then what are Brother Zhang's plans in the future?" ”

Zhang Shixing said: "I still want to go back to Daming." ”

Hosokawa Goro thought for a while and said, "Brother Zhang, with your martial arts, it is better to go to our Hosokawa Domain in Japan, and I will recommend it to the head of the family, and it will be reused." The temple in Ryukyu is too small for you to show. As for you wanting to go back to Daming, I see that the current situation is still unclear, and if you go back, there will be more luck and less luck. ”

Zhang Shixing patted Hosokawa Goro on the shoulder and said, "Thank you Brother Hosokawa for your kindness, but my family is in Daming, I will definitely go back to see it and make plans." ”

Hosokawa Goro suddenly understood his intention and asked, "Brother Zhang came here, did you want to go to Daming with the ship?" ”

Zhang Shixing nodded again and again, and begged again: "Hosokawa-kun, I ask you for help again and take me to Daming." ”

Hosokawa Goro smiled and said, "Zhang Jun, I'm a businessman, I already lost money last time I brought you to Ryukyu, and you can't let me lose money again this time." ”

Zhang Shixing's face turned red, and he bowed and said, "Thank you Hosokawa-kun for your help, I will double the ferry fare this time." ”

Hosokawa Goro smiled and said, "Zhang Jun is polite. How many of you are going to Daming this time? ”

Zhang Shixing raised a finger and said, "I'm the only one." ”

Hosokawa Goro said: "How are you going to pay for the boat fare, is it silver money or a specialty?" ”

Zhang Shixing thought for a while and said, "Specialty." ”

Hosokawa Goro said: "For the sake of old acquaintances, then twenty catties of sulfur, or two horses." We will leave at noon the day after tomorrow, and you must come on time. ”

Zhang Shixing said: "A word is a certainty. ”

After some more gossip, Zhang Shixing took his leave, returned to the Temple of Literature, and told everyone about it.

After hearing this, Zhu Yunwen frowned, and said: "We are here to help, Zeng Gong is only in charge of three meals a day, and there is no money left over for us, where is the money to buy sulfur or horses?" ”

Huang Zhan said to Zhang Shixing: "It's better to invite Shen Gong and Zeng Gong together and think of a way." ”

Zhang Shixing said: "I told Brother Shen about this before, and he seems to be very disapproving. ”

Wang Shu said: "Let's persuade together, maybe we can let the two of them help us." ”

Zhang Shixing said: "Then ask Brother Wang to go on a trip." ”

So Huang Zhan went to invite Zeng Zihe, Wang Shu went to ask Shen Daocheng, Zhang Shixing prepared some wine and food, and after a while, the two came, and everyone sat together.

Zhu Yunwen raised his wine glass and said to Zeng Zihe and Shen Daocheng: "Please come here today, the poor monk has something to ask for, please ask the two to help." ”

Shen Daocheng had already understood what Zhu Yunwen said, so he bowed his head and remained silent.

Zeng Zihe didn't understand what was going on, and when he saw Zhu Yunwen solemnly, he asked, "Master Kongwen, please speak, I will definitely help if I can." ”

Zhu Yunwen pointed to Zhang Shixing and the others: "My apprentices' home is in Daming, and they have been away for a long time, and they miss it very much, so I want to send my eldest apprentice Zhang Si back to Daming to visit relatives and friends." It happened that the Japanese mission went to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, and they also agreed to Zhang Si to take a boat, but they needed to pay 20 catties of sulfur or two horses, but we were penniless, how could we afford to pay the boat fee, so we asked the two to help. ”

Zeng Zihe was taken aback when he heard this, and said, "I'm a poor teacher, how can I have so much money to spare." ”

Everyone turned to Shen Daocheng again, Shen Daocheng smiled bitterly, and said: "I am a fisherman, and he is half a catty and eight taels, which is only enough for his own livelihood." ”

Zhang Shixing saw that he was insincere, stood up, and said with a deep salute: "Brother Shen, we came here to take refuge, thanks to Brother Shen and Brother Zeng, we are very grateful, since you are powerless to help, let's think of a way." ”

Shen Daocheng also got up and arched his hand and said: "I really can't do anything, I can't help, I'm ashamed of my brother." With that, he got up and took his leave.

Zeng Zihe also said goodbye, and the two went out of the backyard hand in hand.

Huang Zhan complained to Zhang Shixing: "Let's beg him for a while, maybe he will help." Here, our eyes are black, no one recognizes, now who should we turn to for help? ”

Zhang Shixing shook his head and said: "Shen Daocheng is a person who practices martial arts, he has a strong temperament, he can't ask for it, if he wants to help us sincerely, he will come back, if he doesn't want to, he will never come to the door again." ”

After a while, Shen Dao really turned back to the small courtyard, he stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Shixing's hand and said: "Brother Zhang, it's not because my brother doesn't want to help you, I'm really worried about your safety, although I don't know your identity, but with your knowledge and martial arts, you have a certain position in the Ming Dynasty is not low, and at this moment the situation in Daming is undecided, and your life and death are uncertain after you go back, wouldn't that harm you." ”

Zhang Shixing held his hand tightly and said, "Brother Shen is a true brother, but if I can't go back and see, life is better than death." ”

Shen Daocheng sighed and said, "In that case, I'll take you to meet someone." He will be able to help you. ”

Zhang Shixing said yes, and walked out of the Temple of Literature with caution.

Shen Daocheng took Zhang Shixing out of the Tang camp, walked across the Hongdi, went to the main island, walked all the way to the east, walked for about an hour, came to a small city surrounded by stones, walked into the city, came to the front of a big house, he patted the door, the door creaked, a middle-aged manservant walked out, Shen Daocheng bowed and saluted: "Lin Bo, is Mr. Cheng here?" ”

That Lin Bo said: "Yes, please come in." ”

After speaking, he led Shen Dao and Zhang Shixing into the house, which is a two-entry courtyard, a typical style of a large house in southern Fujian.

Lin Bo led the two to the hall, put fragrant tea on the table, the two sat quietly in the hall for a while, and after a while, a person came out of the back of the hall, dressed as a Ryukyuan man, but a middle-aged scribe with the appearance of Chinese.

The middle-aged scribe was on the throne, looked at Shen Daocheng and said with a smile: "Old Shen, you have nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace, let's talk about it, ask me for help if you have anything." ”

Shen Daocheng pointed at Zhang Shixing and said: "This Brother Zhang is from Ningbo Mansion, and I want to go back to see it recently, but I can't pay for the boat, so I want to ask Mr. Cheng for help." ”

Mr. Cheng asked, "How much is the boat money and to whom?" ”

Zhang Shixing said: "Twenty catties of sulfur or two horses, pay to the Japanese envoy Hosokawa Goro." ”

Mr. Cheng asked again, "How did you come to Ryukyu?" ”

Zhang Shixing paused for a moment and said, "I also came on Hosokawa Goro's boat." ”

Mr. Cheng sighed and said, "It's a little interesting, so how much did you pay him for the ship when you came?" ”

Zhang Shixing said: "A few ginseng and a few catties of Chuanxiong." ”

Mr. Cheng looked at him carefully and asked, "Brother Zhang, why did you come to Ryukyu, a small overseas country?" ”

Zhang Shixing thought for a while and said, "I wonder if Mr. Cheng heard that my uncle in the Ming Dynasty usurped the nephew's throne, and the mountains and rivers changed hands?" ”

Mr. Cheng nodded and said, "I've heard a little." Could it be that Brother Zhang is an old minister of the former dynasty and came to take refuge overseas? ”

Zhang Shixing shook his head and said: "I am not qualified enough, but the new emperor ascended the throne, the killing was too indiscriminate, and the implication was too wide, and Fang Xiaoru, a scholar of Hanlin, was killed by the ten clans, so a few of us went into the empty door and avoided living overseas." But several of our relatives and friends are in Daming, so I want to go back and have a look. ”

Mr. Cheng said, "Where are your friends now?" ”

Zhang Shixing said: "They are now temporarily living in the Tangying Confucian Temple. ”

Mr. Cheng said, "Okay, I'll visit a few people tomorrow." With that, he picked up his teacup and drank his tea.

That Lin Bo immediately came over and whispered to Zhang Shixing and the others, "Mr. Cheng is going to rest." ”

Zhang Shixing and Shen Daocheng gave Mr. Cheng a deep salute and said, "Then we will leave for the time being." ”

Zhang Shixing and Shen Daocheng walked out of the door, and Zhang Shixing asked Shen Daocheng: "Brother Shen, what is the origin of this Mr. Cheng, can he really help us?" ”

Shen Daocheng said in a low voice: "This Mr. Cheng is the governor of the Zhongshan King's Mansion, and he is also from China, and the Chinese in Ryukyu ask him for help with big and small things. ”

Zhang Shixing was startled and said: "Zhongshan is a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, so it pays tribute every year, if he tells the imperial court about our Xingzang, wouldn't we be in danger." ”

Shen Daodao: "No, Mr. Cheng is a decent person, and he will not do such a thing after the second journey." You can rest assured. ”

Having said that, Zhang Shixing's heart was still up and down, he returned to the Tangying Confucian Temple, and told everyone about seeing Mr. Cheng, Zhu Yunwen said: "After Chengmen is a Confucian, he will never do anything to lose his conscience, you can rest assured." ”

The next day, Mr. Cheng really took a small sedan chair and took Lin Bo to the Confucian Temple to visit Zhang Shixing and others.

Mr. Cheng said with a spring breeze on his face: "In the next journey, I don't know that the guests are coming to the disdainful place, and they are far away, so I hope to beg for forgiveness." ”

After speaking, Lin Bo on the side put down the gifts, which were all some Ryukyu food and pastries.

Everyone sat around a table, and Cheng Fu looked around and said, "Looking down, you are not mortals, why are you here?" ”

Zhu Yunwen smiled bitterly and said: "Born in troubled times, how dare you call it extraordinary, it's just a matter of sacrificing your life." ”

Cheng Fu said to Zhu Yunwen again: "I don't think the master is a monk, but like a member of the Ming royal family." ”

As soon as he said this, Zhu Yunwen was taken aback, and the rest of the people also looked at each other, not knowing what to do.