Before Liu Ming arrived in Kyoto, Muromachi had already received a letter from the Ming army. The contents of the letters were also known to the Muromachi Palace.

The rest of the month passed, but Muromachi Ashikaga Yoshinori and others did not reply. It's really because of a dilemma, there is no choice.

The Sanjo Cottage in June is lush with vegetation. The noise of cicadas and summer insects, one after another, seems to reflect Ashikaga Yoshitori's state of mind. Even when he was closed, he couldn't find a moment of peace.

The sun has set in the west, but it will be even more lively when it comes to the side party. Maybe only in the second half of the night will there be no distractions here.

Ashikaga Yoshimori sat on a balcony in the backyard, looking at the clouds in the sky, and the plants and trees in the house, trying to find a solution from the science, the mind, or Zen Buddhism, but it seemed to be in vain.

Now in his current situation, he has almost no way out.

If Ashikaga Yoshinori accepted a humiliating treaty for peace, he believed that not only would his power be lost, but he might also lose his life; On the other hand, a civil war may break out, and it is unclear whether the Muromachiden will be able to quell the rebellion again as it wishes, given the sharp decline in prestige at this time.

Ashikaga Yoshinori is in his thirties and in the prime of life. The former ambitious general of Zhengyi now looks very melancholy and even depressed.

At that time, the origin of Japanese civilization was undeniably from the Chinese mainland, and it was impossible for the Japanese top leaders not to pay attention to it. In the Song Dynasty, the science of science and mind, and even the tea ceremony, soon spread to Japan once they came out; Since the Ming Dynasty, books such as "Persuasion" and "Internal Training", as well as tea utensils, have also been introduced quickly, which have had an impact on today's Japan.

The concept of the Ming civil service system is conservative and peaceful, but the ideology is the same; In contrast, Japan's problems are the opposite. After many years, Japan was not able to complete its true unification. After the existence of the Muromachiden, there were many promulgations of the code of ethics and behavior that the samurai should abide by, but it was still not possible to concord the wishes of many forces.

Because Japan lacked a large class of scribes, they regarded morality and worldly norms as ideals and demanded that the scholars follow them all. And the doctrines imported from China also lack a kind of spontaneous tenacity and tenacity. So much so that the current forces in Japan are still mostly only concerned about their own advantages and disadvantages.

During the Kamakura period, the victory against the Motoko still caused dissatisfaction among the Imperial family (similar to the warlord feudal town); The reason for this was that the shogunate was unable to reward them for their merits, which broke the established rules of interest between the central and local governments.

War may divert many contradictions, but if the war is lost, the contradictions will be exacerbated.

Now that the major defeat against the Ming Kou is a major defeat, the situation facing Japan will only be doubly serious.

The two generations of Muromachi den generals, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and Yoshimori, are committed to improving the authority of the central government and striking at strong protection. After a series of struggles and consolidation, politically, Japan barely entered a sustainable state of moderate prosperity. However, the intervention of the forces of the Ming Kingdom has changed the situation, which will inevitably lead to the emergence of contradictions and problems that have not been eradicated.

First of all, the most direct conflict was that once Muromachiden abandoned Kyoto, it would soon face a rivalry with the forces of the Kanto Kamakura Principality. Will the public give up their own selfishness when the country is dying? This result is very doubtful!

Then, there is a risk that the issue of the North and South Koreas, which has already been resolved, will be repeated. The forces that supported Emperor Minami were likely to regain their submission to the Muromachiden.

In the subtleties, the choice of the shogun, the conflict between Ashikaga Yoshinori and his younger brother Yoshitsugu, can also brew big problems. New and old hatreds between other forces cannot be ignored in times of turmoil.

The Spo clan, the Hosokawa clan, and other major clans were originally powerful forces supporting the Muromachi Temple, but they had already detected the signs of the Muromachi Hall and wanted to weaken and destroy them, so what would they do at this time......

As for the feasibility of surrendering to Akiko, Ashikaga Yoshinori had considered it before the war.

When Ouchi Morimi and other governors persuaded the shogun to start the war cautiously, Ashikaga Yoshinori weighed the strength of the Ming army and the danger of defeat. But Ashikaga Yoshinori still chose to take risks, not to say, not to be forced to helpless.

Once the weakness of the Muromachi Temple is exposed, it will bear the wrath of the main battle faction; The authority of Ashikaga Yoshinori will also inevitably decline immediately, and he will bear the responsibility of "bringing disaster to the country because of incompetence."

A while ago, when Ouchi Mori met Kamiraku, Ashikaga Yoshinori did an inconspicuous little thing: he introduced his half-brother to Ouchi Morimi...... In fact, Ashikaga Yoshinori had already considered the possibility of defeat and the consequences of his own resignation. He wanted Ouchi to be able to support his brother as the heir; And not the half-father Ashikaga Yoshitsu (Yoshimitsu's only son-in-law).

At this moment, a servant walked out of the door, came to the viewing platform, bowed his head and whispered, "My lord, there is urgent news." ”

Yoshiji came back to his senses from his meditation and took the letter and read it. The content is that several warships of the Ming Dynasty, carrying envoy flags and scepters, have passed through the Kanmon Strait and are on their way to Nambakyo. The envoy was Liu Ming, a civil official of the Ming State Pedestrian Division.

Ashikaga Yoshimochi thought for a while and said, "Summoning the eyes of Yasui, taking the Muromachi palace guards, and going to Namba Kyo to greet the 'peace envoy'. ”

An Yun is Yizhi's uncle, and let him go to meet the envoy, which can not only ensure the safety of the envoy Liu Ming, but also contact Liu Ming first to understand the attitude of the Ming Kingdom......

A few days later, Yasumo hurried back to Kyoto, went to the Sanjo Mansion, and met with Yoshichi alone.

The meeting place is in a closed tea room.

Fa Yanyu reported: "The terms of the Ming Kingdom's peace are not much different from what was stated in the last letter. However, on the issue of protecting the 'Emperor', the envoys of the Ming Kingdom made a concession and allowed our country to retain the name of the Emperor in Japan.

Liu Ming threatened our country, if he acted recklessly, the Ming army would be able to calm 'Luoyang'. They seem to have some understanding of the situation in our country, and mentioning the move of Muromachiden to Kanto will inevitably provoke a rebellion in the Kamakura principality. At that time, the upper and lower halls of the Muromachi Hall would be in the dilemma of being attacked from both sides.

The shogunate that ruled Japan would collapse completely, and the Japanese Diet would fall into a situation of division and separation. The Lord's agreement to negotiate peace is for the sake of the overall situation and long-term consideration, and it is a credit to Japan, and future generations should praise it. ”

Ashikaga Yoshitsu listened and said: "This person is both soft and hard, and has a three-inch tongue that is not rotten. ”

At this time, the wooden door actually remembered the sound of two knocks on the door, and Ashikaga Yoshinori immediately frowned. He was talking to his confidants, how could anyone disturb him at such a time?

After the wooden door was opened, a close attendant knelt outside the door and bowed down and said, "My lord, the four governors of Spo, Hosokawa, Akamatsu, and Uesugi ask to see you." ”

Ashikaga Yoshinori suddenly suddenly, no wonder the attendants would not care about annoying the lord and came to disturb him. These four people are the most powerful people in the Muromachi Hall below the general of Seiyi, and no one dares to slack off.

Yi Zhi said: "Bring them to meet." ”

The attendant bowed again and said, "Yes." ”

An Yunfa said: "The lower official will avoid it first." ”

"There's a house next door. ”

After waiting for a while, the four generals arrived together. Among them, Spo and Hosokawa were the defeated generals in the battle against the Ming Ko, but they were not only the leaders of the Muromachi Palace, but also the powerful guardians of the daimyo; It is impossible for the emperor and the general of the expedition above to pursue their guilt.

After the group knelt down and bowed, Si Bo Yizhong asked: "I heard that the envoy of the Great Ming Kingdom has gone to Luo?" ”

Yi Zhi said: "Yes." On the original terms, they made concessions to the emperor's issue. ”

Uesugi leaned forward and said, "Ming Kou marched into 'Luoyang', and our army may not be able to defend it. He was trusted by the shogun and was in charge of the Kanto region, but after the Muromachi Hall moved eastward, he was afraid that he would not be able to restrain the public side. Be cautious in this matter. ”

Yi Zhi was noncommittal, if he had a choice, he would have made a decision a long time ago, and he would not have waited until now.

Hosokawa bowed and said, "Shikaenin Tenzan Doyoshi (former shogun Yoshimitsu) once relinquished the position of the great shogun of Zhengyi, ceded the position of the shogun (Yoshichi), and retired to the screen to take charge of the Muromachi Palace.

There is no escaping this. There is a strategy below, the general first agreed to the request of the Ming people and was crowned the king of Japan; Then he resigned as the shogun of Seiyi and gave way to Master Yoshien, the half-brother Ashikaga Yoshikyo. It may be possible to resolve the crisis at this time. ”

When Ashikaga Yoshinori heard this, he was suddenly a little moved.

The current situation has extinguished his former ambitions, and it has become a luxury wish. At this time, there was suddenly a glimmer of life, and he inevitably had a kind of luck expectation. If Yoshienka can succeed him as the general of the Seiyi, Ashikaga Yoshinori will be happy to unload his heavy responsibilities and retire safely.

But can it really be that easy? Ashikaga Yoshinori was inevitably a little skeptical and preoccupied.

He didn't refuse immediately, he really didn't want to confront the four people in front of him.

If it had been before, it would have been Spo and a few others who should have been afraid and guarded; But now the offense and defense have changed momentum. Japan is a place of strength, and Ashikaga Yoshinori has lost his prestige, and the forces that can be mobilized have been reduced, and in the blink of an eye, he is no longer able to form an advantage over these powerful guards.

Ashikaga Yoshitoshi said, "I already know all the kindness of you. However, it is a matter of urgency, and I will think about it for a few days, and wait for the news. ”

The four of them bowed, got up and retreated. Ashikaga Yoshinori also knelt on his throne and returned the salute to them.

After a while, An Yunfayan, who was listening next door, returned to the tearoom. An Yun said, "Why didn't the lord agree to their suggestion?" ”

An Yun is the uncle of the two brothers Ashikaga Yoshinori and Yoshien; For An Yun's eyes, it is a very good situation for the two brothers of the Ashikaga family to be in power, and the difference is not very big.

Ashikaga Yoshinori glanced at his uncle, as if repeating the excuse just now: "I'm going to think about it for a few days, and you just wait for the news." ”

An Yunfa listened, bowed and saluted, and left the place.

The tearoom was suddenly deserted, and Ashikaga Yoshinori picked up the tea bowl in front of him. No one had the heart to drink tea from the guests who came just now. The tea was already cold, and Ashikaga Yoshitsu held it in his hand for half a circle and took a sip gently.