After the Ming army eliminated the Zong clan and the Japanese in Tsushima Island, there were envoys such as Qian Xili, whose whereabouts are unknown. After that, there will be no communication between the two countries tomorrow.

If we look at the Ming Dynasty's contacts with Japan in the second year of Wude according to past experience, people can speculate that most of these things will end up in the end. During the Hongwu period, because the Japanese delegation was suspected of participating in the Hu Weiyong case, the relationship between the countries was tense for a while, and there was no result later.

Guy is a long way away from the water, and it is inconvenient to come and go; And it is difficult for the court of any country to make a big move just because of the right and wrong of the truth and the joy and anger of the upper echelons. After all, the cost is too high, the cost is too high.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Annan, Japan, and various Tusi in the southwest border have repeatedly provoked the Ming court, and there has never been a follow-up. Only Emperor Taizong urgently needed to show his martial arts, and judged that there was an opportunity for the Hu clan to take advantage of the chaos in Annan; Because of the attack on the men and horses escorting Chen Tianping, a large-scale campaign to conquer the southern country of Annan was launched.

Therefore, the upper echelons of Japan may also think that there will be no big war. This time, however, Japan seems to have misjudged the situation. Zhu Gaoxu's decision to launch the war against Japan was not mainly because of the detention of envoys and other issues, and his reasons are difficult for the world to understand.

Nearly a month has passed since the second court meeting.

Under the emperor's determination, another group of confidants and advisers supported Zhu Gaoxu and gave advice to him, so the imperial court finally decided to start a war against Japan.

There are still many opposing voices in the DPRK and China, and some ministers advocate that the focus of military affairs should be on the Mongolian direction, and that war should not be waged on all sides; But the emperor of the Ming Dynasty at this time still had the power to make arbitrary decisions.

The edict was also issued, in which it accused the Japanese national muro-machiden, the 20th National Congress of the old and new crimes. Including shielding the Japanese to plunder the army and civilians, illegally detaining the envoys of the Ming Dynasty, massacring and killing the officers and soldiers of the Ming Navy Division for no reason, bullying the monarch, and plotting to assassinate Taizu.

At the same time, the imperial court sent an envoy to Seoul, the king of Korea, and ordered the king of Joseon, Li Fangyuan, to hoard 20,000 troops in Busan Town for March before the first day of the fourth month of the third year of Wudeok at the latest. And before the first of July, the dispatch of another March grain continued. And the Ming court will repay the king of Korea in the form of gifts. Both the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household sent officials to Korea to supervise the effective implementation of the matter.

Then the military headquarters issued a military order, deploying the naval fleet, which should capture Iki Island by the end of the second year of Taketoku, and build a fortress and warehouse in the port.

After the eunuch Wang Jinghong returned to Beijing with the Western sea fleet, the main fleet of the Ming Dynasty had been gathered in Liujiagang and Longjiang Port in Taicang. The imperial court expects that the main force of land and water for the conquest of Japan will set sail in early March next year.

The ministers repeatedly summed up the reasons for the failure of the Yuan army's expedition to Japan, and chose to set off in early March, one because the monsoon was conducive to navigation, and the other was because there were few typhoons on the west coast of Japan in March and April.

In terms of grain and grass supply, the Ming Dynasty united with the Korean State to be responsible for grain and straw, and also made long-term and full preparations.

Compared with the rash dispatch of the Yuan army, the rashness of the enemy, and the Japanese army composed of a large number of prisoners and surrendered troops, and the sea ships mainly made up of flat sand boats, the ability to resist wind and waves is very poor; This time, the Ming army was obviously not a good person.

The warships of the Daming Naval Division are all kinds of sophisticated sea ships specially used for navigation, and the steeped ships are stable and strong; The sailor has sailed several times and has rich sailing experience, including star positioning, nautical chart drawing and other means of navigation technology. The 20,000 soldiers of the land division are also the elite of the Beijing camp; And during the attack on Thanh Hoa Province in Annam, he had experience in landing operations.

Now the imperial court is ready to select a famous general to lead this army, so that it can launch a well-prepared attack on Japan.

Of course, Zhu Gaoxu will not recruit in person, and this time he does not need the persuasion of the minister, and he himself does not want to take risks. Zhu Gaoxu dared to go deep into the grassland to march north, but he was unwilling to go to sea. Even though the ships of the Ming army were large and stable, in this era, the risk of navigation was still very high, because every time from Zheng He to Wang Jinghong went to sea, the ships and men were damaged.

Wang Jinghong, who returned to China this year, even brought back a group of Ming officers and soldiers who disappeared several years ago. It was a few seagoing ships from the Yongle era that were lost in the wind and waves and capsized, and the people drifted to a small island off the coast of Siam. By the time Wang Jinghong's fleet found them, the Ming officers and soldiers had almost become savages, and some even married natives on the island and had children, and they were all brought back to Beijing. Most of the soldiers have families in the country, and the native women have no choice but to be concubines.

Now that the decision of the imperial court has been completed, all Zhu Gaoxu can do is wait for things to progress.

Only then did he begin to work on what he had promised before, promising the Qin family and Concubine Xian to find a way to redeem Yao Fang and the others.

In the Dongnuan Pavilion, Zhu Gaoxu summoned Hu Hu alone and told Hu Hu to take charge of one thing.

"This matter cannot be in the name of the imperial court, and the people of the Yao family are not appropriate. Hu Butang went to meet the people of the Qian family and asked them to send a few people to Hakata Port by boat to send the letter of ransom to the Japanese government. You tell the Qian family that the ransom was raised by the scholars in the court. But in fact, there is no need to let everyone pool the money, and if the matter is settled, I am willing to allocate this money from the inner government. ”

Hu Hui bowed and said: "The minister must finish this matter." ”

At this moment, the eunuch Wang Gui walked to the side of the screen and stood there with a bow. Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu beckoned.

Wang Gui stepped forward, presented an envelope, and said: "Your Excellency, the General Political Envoy has received an official letter from the prefect of Laizhou Prefecture, but the letter and signature inside are Yao Fang. The slave maid thought that the emperor might want to see the letter as soon as possible. ”

When Hu Hu heard this, he also looked sideways.

Zhu Gaoxu immediately tore open the envelope and took out the letter paper from the inside.

Yao Fang's letter was sent from the town of Busan, and was sent by sea to Wendeng County, the capital of Laizhou, through officials of the Joseon state, and then handled by officials of Laiju Prefecture and passed on to Jingshi.

It turned out that Yao Fang was not arrested. After the group arrived at Hakata Port, they went to Tsuya-gun, and Yao Fang smelled that something was wrong with the situation at that time, but persuaded Qian Xili to no avail. Yao Fang managed to find the Japanese Ouchi Katsu he knew before, got a warning from Ouchi Katsu, and accepted Ouchi Katsu's shelter and hiding.

After Yao Fang promised Ouchi two million copper coins, he went to the town of Busan, North Korea.

Although Yao Fang's friendship with Ouchi Katsu is limited, it is a fact that Ouchi Katsu saved Yao Fang. Therefore, Yao Fang planned to keep his promise and try to raise two million copper coins for Ouchi Katsu's people to bring back.

Because of the need to raise money, Yao Fang did not return to China immediately, so she wrote a letter back first.

Yao Fang prepared to ask for a meeting with Concubine Zhuang's father, Li Fanggan, through the Ming officials in Korea, and borrowed money from Li Fanggan. After returning to China, he will raise money to return the debt to Li Fanggan.

After reading the letter, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but show a hint of joy on his face. He glanced at Hu Hu, who was still in front of the imperial case, and handed the letter to Hu Hu.

Although Yao Fang caused trouble for Zhu Gaoxu, somehow, Zhu Gaoxu did not dislike this person; What's more, Yao Fang is still Yao Ji's eldest brother, and he was and is running around for Zhu Gaoxu's affairs.

"Yao Fang is still very alert, and she deserves to have been a brocade guard for many years." Zhu Gaoxu said.

Hu Hui echoed: "What the Holy Lord said is extremely true. He said that, still without saying goodbye, as if waiting for something.

Zhu Gaoxu said suddenly: "The thing I just said still has to be done." Qian Xili is my protégé, and he is also in danger for the Ming court, so he should try his best to rescue. ”

Hu Hui bowed and said: "The minister obeys the order, and thanks to retire." ”

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Wang Gui, handed the letter over and said, "Send it to Concubine Xian's Palace, so that Concubine Xian can also feel at ease earlier." Send another eunuch to level the Hou Mansion and tell the Qin family. ”

Wang Gui hugged the dust and said, "The slave obeys the order." ”

…… In the palace of Concubine Xian, after reading the letter, Yao Ji's heart suddenly felt like a big stone had fallen, but she said to Wang Gui: "My eldest brother has never let me worry about it. ”

Wang Gui said with a smile: "It's finally a disaster, this matter is better than anything else." Yao Fang has a sister like Concubine Xian, which is also his blessing. By the way, the Holy Decree that the slave and maid have sent someone to Pingyi Houfu to report safety, please be relieved by the virtuous concubine. ”

Yao Ji said: "Thanks to Concubine Zhuang's father." Even if it's thousands of miles away, it's a good thing that someone takes care of it. ”

Yao Ji asked someone to send off the celebrant and eunuch Wang Gui, and then walked around the Xianfei Palace for a while.

Li Meiren's mind was ingenious, so she asked, "Concubine Xian, do you want to go to Concubine Zhuang?" ”

Yao Ji listened and smiled: "You are the worm in my stomach, you know everything." Your ears are also smart, and when I talk to Wang Gui, you listen very carefully. ”

Li Meiren smiled and said: "It's still a good discipline for the mother." ”

These female officials were not chosen by Yao Ji herself. After Zhu Gaoxu ascended the throne, he appointed many female officials to manage the affairs of various palaces. Some Zhu Gaoxu seems to have been lucky, and some probably don't know each other at all. This Li Meiren is the latter. But Li Meiren lived in the palace of Concubine Xian, and was soon drawn by Yao Ji by her side.

Yao Ji walked around and found a basket of citrus in the small room next to the dining room, and immediately pointed to it and said, "Ask the two eunuchs to carry it up and follow me to Concubine Zhuang's Palace." ”

Li Meiren was a little surprised: "This citrus is just an ordinary thing, not too rare." ”

Yao Ji said, "That's the best." Otherwise, dare to love me to bribe Concubine Zhuang? ”

Li Meiren was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly echoed: "Niangniang's heart is more precious than anything else. ”

Yao Ji said: "It's good to have a heart, this kind of thing doesn't seem deliberate, it's just a small gift for sisters to walk around." Besides, she is all the imperial concubine, can she still lack food and clothing in the palace? ”

Li Meiren suddenly remembered something, and suddenly said: "North Korea is in the north, and it doesn't seem to grow citrus, so I guess it's a rare thing." Concubine Xian Niangniang is really thoughtful. ”

Yao Ji listened and smiled without saying a word. Even if Li Meiren was a woman, when she saw Yao Ji's smile, she was slightly stunned.

(Tianjin)