……，…… Next, if you want to prepare to contact the Ming court and determine the candidate for the envoy to the Ming Dynasty, Zen Buddhism is absolutely inescapable.

Among the schools of Buddhism, Zen Buddhism is a very special lineage. If the Nara Buddhism and Heian Buddhism were supported by the imperial court and had a distinct "protectorate" color, and could be called national Buddhism and aristocratic Buddhism, Zen Buddhism (mainly Rinzai Buddhism) could be called samurai Buddhism, which flourished because of the samurai's promotion and protection after they came to power. In the Kamakura period, the shogunate imitated the system of the Southern Song Dynasty's Five Mountains and Ten Temples, and established the "Kamakura Five Mountains" in Kamakura, which was later expanded to Kyoto and established the "Kyoto Five Mountains"; By the time of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in the Muromachi period, the "Five Mountains and Ten Brakes" officially became customized, thus laying the foundation for the prosperity of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.

Zen Buddhism had a great influence on the samurai, especially during the hundreds of years when the samurai were in power. From the Kamakura period onwards, the shogunate's foreign relations and the mutual diplomacy of the daimyo were basically all carried out by Zen monks as mediums and bridges, and they assisted in formulating foreign policy. During the Muromachi period, the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism was a sect believed in by the Ashikaga shogun's family for generations, and the famous Zen monks were highly used by the Mifu and often participated in military and diplomatic affairs, or as envoys of the shogunate to mediate between the shogunate and local daimyos, or as envoys to China and Korea. The development of foreign trade was also first proposed by the Ashikaga Honshi, who had been awarded the title of the emperor's national teacher seven times and was known as the "Emperor of the Seven Dynasties", and then whether it was the shogunate, the Ouchi family or the Hosokawa family, the exploration trade of the Ming Dynasty was all based on Zen monks, and the Tenryuji Temple and Sokokuji Temple in Kyoto's Gozan have always occupied an important position in the exploration trade.

In addition, the five mountains of Zen Buddhism studied Chinese poetry and were familiar with Chinese culture, and the "five mountains" they created were different from the Heian aristocracy, which had a very profound impact on the culture. (Ikkyu is Zen!) ）。 Whether it is calligraphy, painting, sculpture, and gardening art that have existed for a long time, or the flower arrangement, tea ceremony, Noh, and haiku that flourished after Heian, you can see the shadow of Zen Buddhism. For example, the tea ceremony of "harmony and tranquility" inherited and carried forward by Qianzong Yi can be said to be completely in line with the purpose of Zen Buddhism. Even the popular death sentences of the samurai family originated from the poetry of Zen Buddhism.

It can be said that the famous cultural monks and diplomatic monks of the Warring States period were basically from Zen Buddhism. The former has Dream Window Boiled Stone, Ikyu Zongchun, Dalin Zongtao (Takeno Shao Ou Heishi, Tsuda Zongji, Qianzong Yi Jieshi), etc., the latter has Taiyuan Xuezhai, Kuaichuan Shaoxi, Ankokuji Huiqiong, Takimoto Temple, and later formulated the "Forbidden and Public Laws", and Nanguangfang Tianhai and called the "black-clothed prime minister" and others.

However, in recent decades, with the decline of the shogunate and the suspension of the Kankai trade, the Kyoto Goyama, which was the foundation of Zen Buddhism, has gradually declined. Of the two temples that once dominated the trade between the shogunate and the Hosokawa family, Tenryuji Temple, the head of the five mountains in Kyoto, was opened by the Ashikaga clan and Yumegashi Kaishi, and was formerly responsible for the construction of foreign trade ships, which was burned to the ground in the Onin War. The second seat of Goyama, the Sokokuji Temple opened by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and Yumegashi Kaishi was even more miserable, and was burned down by the Western Army as the position of the Hosokawa family during the Onin War, and then because of its participation in the exploration and trade of the Hosokawa family, it finally regained some vitality, but in the 20th year of Tenmon (1551), it was involved in the dispute between the Hosokawa family and the Miyoshi family, and it was all burned down again, and it is still a ruin.

Niwa Nagahide and I had originally wanted to choose an envoy to negotiate with the Ming Dynasty between the two temples, but after learning about the above situation, we had to give up our plans and look for a suitable monk in Kyoto again. However, even the two temples that led the exploration and trade are still so withered, what about the rest of the temples? The two have been busy for more than half a month, but the result is still empty.

Almost in desperation, I thought of one person: Hatakeyama Yoshishu, the former abbot of Rokuen Temple and the current guardian of South Hanoi.

The status of Rokuenji Temple is very special, and it is the head of the mountain tower of Sokokuji Temple, which was founded by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. There is a position in the temple called "Luyuan Monk", which is the de facto highest position of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, which can decide the confirmation of the temple grid, the appointment and dismissal of the abbot, the security of the temple leader, and the disposal of lawsuits in Nanzen Temple and all Zen temples under the five mountains. This position was also created by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu to ensure the shogunate's control over Zen Buddhism, and the first Shikaen monk was a master disciple of Yumegashi and one of the "twin masters of Zen Buddhism", Sukai Nakatsu (from the Tosa Kunitsu Noke family), and then the abbot of Shikaenji Temple or the abbot of Sokokuji Temple.

When Hatakeyama Yoshishu was still called Ashikaga Shusong, he was serving as the abbot of Shikaen Temple, and naturally he also served as the monk of Shikaen Temple. He should know a lot about the details of Zen Buddhism. So, I communicated with Niwa Nagahide and decided to ask Hatakeyama Yoshishu for advice.

Hatakeyama Yoshishu is currently staying in Kyoto, and he did not disappoint us. After listening to our request, he immediately recommended a suitable candidate.

"Master Renru Jiyao, the head of Nanchan Temple, should be able to take on this position!"

"His Royal Highness Hatakeyama, can you elaborate?" Seeing that he said the name without thinking, Niwa Nagahide asked a little uneasily.

"His Royal Highness Niwa should know that Nanzen-in Temple is the head of the tower of Nanzen-ji Temple, which used to be the palace of Emperor Kameyama and the birthplace of Nanzen-ji Temple," Hatakeyama Yoshishu smiled disapprovingly, "As for Master Renru Jiyao, he has already received the mantle of Ichizan National Teacher......"

Hearing him say that, at least I'm relieved. Nanchan Temple is a Bege temple of Zen Buddhism, and its status is still above the five mountains. There are two major towers in the temple, one is the South Chan Temple, and the other is the Jindi Courtyard that the "black-clothed prime minister" Jindi Yuan Chongling was later in charge of; Yishan National Teacher is a monk of the Yuan Dynasty, Yishan Yining, is the messenger sent to Yueben after the failure of Kublai Khan's second expedition, and later stayed in Yueben, became the third patriarch of Nanchan Temple, and passed down the learning of Zhuzi, and was given the title of National Teacher by the Garden Emperor.

Since he has these two trademarks on his body, the level of Renru Jiyao is definitely not bad.

Seeing that Niwa Nagahide still had some doubts, I hurriedly thanked Hatakeyama Yoshishu and settled the matter first: "His Royal Highness Yoshishu's recommendation is naturally very reliable. ”

"His Royal Highness Xuanjing has won the award." Hatakeyama Yoshishu smiled.

"Well, without further ado, how about we go for a visit at once?" I said to Niwa Nagahide.

Seeing that I seemed to trust Hatakeyama Yoshishu very much, Niwa Nagahide hesitated for a moment, nodded and agreed to my proposal: "It's okay." ”

"Wait! I suddenly remembered something," Hatakeyama Yoshishu suddenly frowned, "The last time I saw the master was ten years ago, when the master was already eighty years old...... Although the master's body is tough, he may not be alive now, right? ”

"What?" I couldn't help but exclaim, "How can this be? …… So what to do? ”

Is! Ten years ago, he was eighty years old, so what do you say he does? Not everyone is as alive as the old monster of Tianhai!

"Your Highness Xuanjing, don't worry," Hatakeyama Yoshishu advised, "If the master passes away, I have another candidate...... When he visited, there was a fifteen-year-old apprentice beside the master, whose legal name was Xixiao Chengcheng. The master once said that he said that the one who could inherit the mantle must be this young disciple. ”

Is Xixiao accepted? This is also a famous monk...... He was the ancestor of Zhongxing of Xiangguoji Temple, a political adviser to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and successively served as the abbot of Xiangguoji Temple, the abbot of Nanzenji Temple, and twice served as the monk of Shikaen. After the battle of Wenlu, he made peace with the Ming Dynasty, that is, he replied to the canonization of the envoys of the Ming court; Before the Battle of Sekigahara, he was ordered by Tokugawa Ieyasu to go to the Uesugi family to negotiate, and then brought back the Naoe form written by the idol superstar Naoe Kane, which was comparable to Chen Lin's scolding of Cao Yuwen before the Battle of Guandu, which led to Tokugawa Ieyasu's conquest of the Uesugi family, and then pulled the prelude to the Battle of Sekigahara.

Such a person is naturally worth looking forward to.

"Thank you very much!" I nodded to Hatakeyama Yoshishu, "Let's go to Nanzenji Temple to visit." ”

Leaving Hatakeyama Yoshishu's mansion, Niwa Nagahide looked at me and said thoughtfully, "His Royal Highness Xuanjing, it seems that he has a lot of trust in Hatakeyama Kingo!" ”

"Really?" I thought about it, and the performance just now would indeed give people such an impression.

However, the reason why I trust his candidate is not because I believe in Hatakeyama Yoshishu without reservation. The main reason for this is that he is supported by historical deeds and knows that he recommends monks with outstanding talents.

"But I always have some doubts," Niwa Nagahide frowned slightly, "Ten years ago it was fifteen years old, that is, now it's twenty-five...... Even if you are really talented, is it too young to take on this heavy responsibility? ”

"Maybe!" I smiled, "Anyway, how about going to Nanzen Temple first?" ”

Later, we went to Ruilong Mountain, and to our great surprise, Renru Jiyao was really alive (in history, he died without illness the following year at the age of ninety-one). It's just that with his age, let alone now, even if he crossed the sea to Daming ten years ago, I'm afraid it will be enough to choke. Fortunately, there is also Xixiao acceptance, and he has indeed inherited his mantle, Chinese language, Chinese studies, and Chinese poetry. Niwa Nagahide was originally skeptical, but after some temptation, he couldn't help but admire.

And so it was settled. When I arrived, Niwa Nagahide and I jointly made a proposal to Nobunaga, recommending Nishixiao to serve as the chief envoy of the diplomatic mission to Ming.

In October of the first year of Tensho (1573), a delegation of eighteen people led by Nishixiao Chengsui to the Ming Dynasty left Kyoto and rushed to the "Janet" in Sakai Town. After that, the group will rush to Otomo's house in Kyushu, get in touch with the North Korean side through Otomo's house, and then be escorted by North Korea to Yanjing to present their credentials to the Ming court. It's a bit tedious, but it's also a no-brainer. At present, the Ming Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty have not yet established diplomatic relations, and they must negotiate through the DPRK, which is a subject state of the Ming Dynasty and a country with diplomatic relations with the Ming Dynasty. When the Yuan court first presented its credentials to Yuben, it was also served by the Goryeo Dynasty.

On the body of Nishixiao, he carried a letter of state stamped with the imperial seal of the emperor, as well as a petition for the exploration of trade that Niwa Nagahide and I had drawn up. As mentioned earlier, the Sekibun was drawn up in the name of the Regent's Office, and it was not stamped with Nobunaga's seal of "Tianxia Buwu", only the seal of the Regent's Office, which I had made temporarily. As for the signature, since Niwa Nagahide does not have an official rank, it is in my name.

At this time, Xixiao's acceptance showed some immaturity. I am now in the official position of Captain Saemon and the service of Awaji Guardian, and he honestly wrote the line "Kongo joins the army, Danshu Taishou Genji courtier Xuanjing" according to the Tang name of the two positions, which made me can't help but shake my head, almost dumbfounded. It seems that although he is proficient in Sinology, he is not familiar with Chinese customs! It is said that the official position of the samurai family is not high, but in China, power and official position are directly proportional, and my official position of "Zuo Jinwu joined the army and Danzhou Taishou" was reported, and it is estimated that it will really be considered a local petty official, and how can it represent the regent's office?

After a little consideration, I crossed out the two official positions he had written, and re-wrote a line of Chinese characters: "Zuo Jinwu, General of the Naval Division, Envoy of the Awaji Festival, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Governor of the Four Prefectures of the Military, and the Grand Governor of the Nanhai Province March, Yuan Xuanjingshang."

That should do the trick...... I blew the ink stains dry and handed him the draft papers.

"Transcribe it, and send it to me to print." I commanded.

Xi Xiaocheng looked at it, and his tone revealed admiration: "I didn't expect His Royal Highness the Captain Saemon to be able to speak Chinese...... It's not very standardized, but the meaning of the text is very well grasped, which is really surprising! ”

"The master praises." I understood what he meant, and smiled slightly.

These official positions are not written casually, and it requires a considerable degree of understanding of the official system of the Tang Dynasty to be possible. As an abbreviation, Zuo Jingo is a clever evasion of the rank of position, because the general of Zuo Jinwu Wei (Zuoemon Governor), General Zuo Jinwu (Zuoemon Sa), and Zuo Jinwu Wei joining the army (Zuoemon Captain) can all be referred to as Zuo Jingo; Awaji guards the name of the Tang Dynasty as the Taishou of Danzhou, but in terms of authority, it is equivalent to the festival of the Tang Dynasty as an important town; The acting secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs said that I used to be the chief of the castle town, formulated the three-goods system, and presided over the financial reform of the family; The military governor of the four states refers to the position of the commander of the army of the Shikoku side that I am currently holding, so it is logical that the next general manager of the Nankaido march will be in place.

As for the lack of standardization, it is because I use simplified Chinese characters.

"May I ask His Royal Highness Captain Saemon, do you have any other instructions?" Seeing that I was so familiar with the system of the ancestors of the Ming Kingdom, Xixiao's attitude became very sincere.

I thought about it for a while and instructed him: "This year is the first year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, which coincides with the ascension of the new emperor to the throne, and it is also the first year of the reign of Zhang Juzheng, the first assistant of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, after arriving in the DPRK, please urge the DPRK side to send a mission to Yanjing as soon as possible...... If you can arrive before the end of the first month of next year and send New Year's greetings to the Ming court, then the Ming court will be regarded as a great auspicious time for the distant country. After that, it will be very easy to qualify for the exploration trade! ”

(To be continued)