Ye Zhao gradually got used to sleeping in the same room with Iori Weiyue, and the gentle breathing of the beauty seemed to have a hypnotic effect, always making him sleep soundly and deeply.

On the ship to Edo, Iori Reedsuki also hugged the futon and spread it on the metal floor of Ye Zhao's bed in the cabin, but Ye Zhao was startled, and she had no choice but to find a spring bed for her, so as not to go all the way and break her body.

Reedi Yue Iori was not used to sleeping in bed, and one day she fell down in the middle of the night, making Ye Zhao snicker, but she also pretended to be asleep and didn't see it.

The visit of the regent of the southern country is said to be such a big event, and the Edo wharf gathers a welcoming crowd of people, and the whole wharf is full of ribbons and flowers. However, the southern infantry and shogunate samurai were extremely guarded, and the welcoming crowd was blocked a few hundred paces, basically out of the effective firing range of rifles, and the small hand muskets suitable for stabbing were even more useless.

Emperor Takamei traveled from Kyoto to Edo, and together with the shogun Tokugawa Ieshige and the shogunate Daiji Ii Naobu, he greeted the Chinese regent at the docks.

Wei Yue Iori had never seen such a grand occasion, she was left on the ship by Ye Zhao to wait, but when she helped Ye Zhao change into the yellow brocade robe, her beautiful eyes flashed a little stunned.

Tokugawa Ieshige was young, Ye Zhao didn't take it seriously, and it was naturally Emperor Komei and several important ministers of the shogunate who needed to be carefully observed.

That night, Emperor Komei, Tokugawa Ieshige, etc. set up a banquet in the Honmaru Palace of Edo Castle to entertain the Chinese regent, the so-called Honmaru, that is, the Shogun's Imperial Palace, the Honmaru Palace is divided into three districts, Central Ao, and Ooku, Ooku is the harem of the Tokugawa shogun, and all the king's harem is the same, men are forbidden to enter and exit, completely closed management, in addition to the general's wife and concubine, there are female officials and palace maids called "female middle", in the heyday, there are more than 1,000 women in the Great Aori.

Ha Zhao was placed in Chuo, to the right of the Edo castle tower, which was a military castle building that arose from the Sengoku period, and was also the residence of the lord of the castle and a symbol of the power of the feudal lord.

Ye Zhao lived in Zhongao with Ma Bowen, the consul of Nagasaki who accompanied him on his visit, and at the same time, Bai Laoheng and fifty guards with knives from the palace accompanied him.

From the perspective of the imperial family and the shogunate, the safety of the Chinese regent is naturally the top priority, if the Chinese regent is assassinated in Edo, I am afraid that the entire country will be wiped out, which is also the reason why Ye Zhao was arranged to live in the general's mansion, a few steps away from the castle tower, you can clearly observe the reality of the castle tower, how can it be so easy for outsiders to enter?

Although it is safe, but there is also a lot of attention to the food and refreshments, and it is difficult to say that there are no maids and attendants in Tokugawa Honmaru who are hot-headed ethnic elements.

The whole general's mansion is stacked with wide and continuous cedar roofs, silk and bamboo are pleasant, and the style of the palace is really pleasing to the eye.

Iti Naobi's visit did not surprise Ye Zhao, Tokugawa Ieshige was young, and the emperor had no real power, and the real ruler of the country was actually the shogunate elder Ii Naobi.

This elder has been assassinated by the Shoyi faction three times this year, and the most dangerous one is that his face was bruised by a firebolt projectile, and life and death are only a thin line.

Sitting at the wooden table, Ye Zhao sipped tea while looking at Jing Yi Zhibi.

At the age of more than forty, he is dressed as a typical official in the Edo period, with wide sleeves, a small black gauze official hat and streamers that symbolize his status, and he also has a distinct color of the book, with a round face, shrewd, strong and ruthless as if engraved on his face.

"Your Highness, what you said at the banquet was that you sent scholars from your country who are proficient in the way of economics to assist the shogunate of the country, called advisors, I don't know how many rights this adviser has?"

Jing Yi asked respectfully, saying that his unique etiquette style, whether he despises you from the heart, warns of you or fears you, he will be polite and polite.

Although Jing Yi Naobi can write Chinese, he doesn't speak much Chinese, so he naturally has a translator on his side.

Ye Zhao said: "The so-called advisers are naturally scholars, whether your country adopts their suggestions or not, they are all listened to, this king just hopes that this country will be prosperous and stable, and will make some achievements and assume some responsibilities for Yadong." ”

Jing Yi Zhibi nodded silently, before meeting, I really couldn't imagine that the regent of the Southern Dynasty of China was so young and handsome, this terrible enemy, really did not disappoint, what was he thinking, you can't guess at all, would he really help his country get out of the current predicament?

In the dispute between the shogunate and the imperial family, which side will he support?

There is no doubt that whether it is the shogunate or the imperial family, as long as they can get the full support of the Chinese, they will inevitably become the final victor in this contest.

"Mr. Jing Yi, this king has come to this time, and he has a lot of feelings, and the two countries are separated by water, and I hope that Mr. Jing Yi will work hard to eliminate the misunderstanding of the people of your country about our country."

Ye Zhao's voice was gentle and quiet.

Jing Yi Naobi's face was also calm, and he bowed down and said, "Definitely!" As long as the country can survive this difficulty, Ii Naobi will mobilize all feudal domains to clean up the chaotic people! ”

Ma Bowen, who was sitting on the side, glanced at Jing Yi Zhibi and scolded the old fox in his heart.

Jing Yi suddenly asked: "Your Highness, there has been a call for the abolition of the feudal domain and the county in the country recently, I wonder if Your Highness will support this appeal?" ”

The abolition of feudal prefectures meant the abolition of the daimyo system and the abolition of the feudal system, and the foundation of the shogunate's rule would not exist.

Ye Zhao said: "This is your country's internal government affairs, and I will support your majority." ”

Jing Yi Naobi bowed slightly, and said: "Your Highness said that you will visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Jing Yi Naobi first wishes Your Majesty a happy journey." ”

Ye Zhao smiled: "Accept your auspicious words." ”

After Jing Yi retreated, Ye Zhao glanced at Ma Bowen.

Ma Bowen immediately took out a letterhead, presented it to Ye Zhao with both hands, and said: "This is a secret letter written by Ogasawara Nakagan to his subordinates, please take a look at it." ”

Ogasawara Nakagan is the lord of the Ogura Domain of Bunzen Province, and he is also one of the overlords of Kyushu Island, and he is also close to Nagasaki, among the daimyo that Ma Bowen contacted, Ogasawara Nakagan is the most ambitious, and he has an ambiguous attitude towards the imperial family and the shogunate, and he is also the most unambiguous in the fight against various resistance organizations, and in Bunzen Province, there is basically no existence of resistance armed groups.

Ye Zhao pulled out the letter and looked at it a few times, it was a secret letter asking Ma Bowen to help him buy firearms.

In troubled times, there will certainly be many heroes, and when the Meiji Restoration, the two camps of the imperial family and the shogunate went to war, and there were even cases of samurai rebelling to establish a republic and assume their own president.

The Ogura clan was one of the main forces that resisted the imperial overthrow during the Meiji Restoration, but in fact, what really opposed it was the system of abolishing the feudal domain and the prefectures.

"Ogasawara Nakagan, what's going on with this person?" Ye Zhao asked lightly.

Ma Bowen did not hesitate: "He is ambitious, two-faced, and has the grand ambition of rejuvenating his country." ”

Ye Zhao laughed, it is not unreasonable for Ma Bowen to use this vassal lord, who said that China can produce Wang Jingwei? People are very strange animals, sometimes ideals are the same thing, but being controlled by people and pulling the string away, often can't turn back.

Abolish the feudal county? That will certainly not make it go smoothly, and the longer the feudal daimyo system exists, the more beneficial it will be for China.

"Well, let's deal with him first, it may be useful in the future." Ye Zhao put down the letter, Ma Bowen hurriedly picked it up, lit it with an oil lamp, and said: "Lord, I will go to the Kyoto Imperial Palace tomorrow, and my subordinates will bring Miss Weiyue?" said that his attendants and maids are their eyes and ears. ”

Ye Zhao nodded slightly.

The next day, the Chinese Regent's motorcade and Emperor Komei's motorcade sailed to Kyoto.

The Kyoto Imperial Palace's Kenrei Gate was opened to welcome the Chinese regent, and it was the first time that it was open to foreigners, just south of the Imperial Palace's Shichenden, where the Emperor's holy car passed.

The Kyoto Imperial Palace is a huge palace complex, although it is not as good as the Qianwang Palace in Nanjing. It's just that I have a unique style of dormitory, the palace is short, the wooden building structure is numerous, and the houses are connected by covered walkways or verandahs, which are far less majestic than the Chinese imperial palaces.

Ha Zhao's residence was arranged in Nijo Castle, that is, the shogun's residence in Kyoto, and now the entire Nijo Castle has been taken over by the Naka[***] people and has become the residence of the regent.

In the evening, when Emperor Xiaomei entertained Ye Zhao at the tea party set up in the imperial palace, Iori Weiyue also arrived in Kyoto, and Ye Zhao took her to the banquet.

The carriage is a carriage, but the groom is replaced by a Chinese, on the way to the emperor's palace, Rei Yue Iori looks natural, carefully helps Ye Zhao arrange his clothes in the carriage, looking at the ruby gold dragon crown worn on Ye Zhao's head, the golden light is dazzling, plus the yellow dragon brocade robe, the end is as rich as jade, handsome and graceful. Wei Yue Iori didn't ask out loud, but quietly helped Ye Zhao put down his sleeves, and went to touch Ye Zhao's official boots to see if he was comfortable and comfortable.

Ye Zhao smiled: "Okay, this cold thing is without you, as if something is missing." And he said, "That you may know that I am the regent of the south." "If you want to come to geisha training, it is indispensable to educate on current affairs, especially in Nagasaki, where guests talk a lot about Chinese customs and customs, and it is also one of the topics that the regent wants to come to.

Wei Yue Iori hummed softly, still helping Ye Zhao tighten the brocade belt around her waist, thinking that in her eyes, it didn't make much difference whether the main family was an ordinary merchant or a regent in China.

Ye Zhao smiled slightly and said, "Do you know what I look like?" ”

Wei Yue Yiori tightened Ye Zhao's belt and said: "Your Highness Tao Wuluo, Wei Zhen Yadong, Rakshasas, British, French, Dutch, have all suffered defeats under you, and it is rumored that you have a four-room Fujin Niangniang, and a beautiful Fujin Niangniang is a businessman. You are born to the British Lord, a Chinese of the Southern Dynasty, and your family worships the Immortal Temple to pray for your blessings. "The endorsement is generally eloquent, but it is like a treasure. I think I learned it all when I was in the art museum.

Ye Zhao smiled and said, "It's not that exaggerated, besides, you still call me sir." ”

"Yes." Kimono Beauty softly agreed.

Emperor Xiaomei set up a tea party to entertain Ye Zhao in the imperial culture of the Imperial Pond Garden, the Imperial Pond Garden is 8,000 square meters, the three islands in the pond, the name of the middle island is Penglai, like a turtle, the pine tree is planted on the back, and the pine turtle celebrates his birthday.

The Imperial Institute of Culture is located in the west of the pool, and it is a pleasure to enjoy the beautiful landscape with tea.

The interior is empty, with Chinese landscape paintings hanging on the walls, and the open sliding doors that offer a direct view of the pool, and the white sand in front of the pool, which is also the emperor's proudest place.

Sitting face-to-face with Emperor Yuben and drinking tea, Ye Zhao did not have a ripple in his heart, he has been in this world for a long time, and the powerful are like clouds in him, because he is one of the most powerful people in this world.

When Emperor Xiaomei first saw Wei Yue Iori, he was obviously stunned, the extremely beautiful woman was the person next to the Chinese regent?

However, he quickly put away the different colors, and when Ye Zhao introduced Wei Yue Iori, he only said that she was his own interpreter.

Emperor Xiaomei is handsome and elegant, but his demeanor is inevitably a little procrastinating, perhaps because of the existence of the shogunate, the royal family has always been the most powerless royal family in the world, and for hundreds of years, it has developed a unique lazy temperament.

Ye Zhao smiled and talked to Emperor Xiaomei when he also glanced at Wei Yue Iori a few times, after all, Emperor Yuben is a god-like existence in the hearts of the people, and it is a spiritual symbol with symbolic significance.

Reedsine Iori just knelt quietly beside him, beautiful in kimono, as beautiful as a flower, and partial, as if she was born with a graceful temperament.

It is a famous "Qianjialiu" who makes tea for Ye Zhao and Emperor Xiaoming, a short and fat man, but his hands are extremely skilled, and his every move is full of artistic sense, but Ye Zhao feels that compared to Weiyue Iori, this famous family is a little more showy, and a little less natural beauty, although Ye Zhao does not know much about this tea ceremony, but since he was a child, coupled with his status, the level of appreciation is naturally different, some things, tea art, flower arrangement, everything is the same, the level of the level is the same.

The black tea bowl used by Ye Zhao is a famous vessel, called "the sea of clouds", and the Han Dynasty tea ware, with a black cloud texture floating on the persimmon red background, and was finally owned by the Tokugawa family, but yesterday it was transferred to Ye Zhao by the Tokugawa family.

The silk and bamboo outside are pleasant, the flowing water is murmuring, and the sound of tranquility is refreshing.

Looking at Emperor Xiaoming, Ye Zhao smiled and said: "Your Majesty, when the situation in your country is stable, I very much hope to see your country, under the leadership of Your Majesty, be able to make achievements in the affairs of Yadong and assume responsibilities equivalent to your country's status." ”

Emperor Xiaoming's eyes lit up, his face was slightly eager, and he asked, "What does Your Highness mean?" ”

Ye Zhao said: "Asia is the territory of my Oriental people, now the west is advancing eastward, the eastern countries are in decline, the first evil in Asia is the Rakshasas, you and I are the northern frontiers, are disturbed by it, if your country can be far away from the Rakshasa and close to China, I will be happy to admit that your country is a stable branch of Yadong." ”

The vague diplomatic rhetoric, used today, is very much a prerequisite for the emperor to think about it and gain an equal status recognized by the Chinese, which is a prerequisite for the country's self-improvement.

At present, it seems that China is still an independent country, but in fact, its domestic and foreign affairs are bound by its eastern neighbors, so let's say that the call for buying warships has risen in China; first, the treasury has dried up, and second, it is even more afraid of arousing the Chinese's disgust and has taken drastic action. But if you have the support of the Chinese, it will be different.

Moreover, the Chinese regent is even more faintly in favor of the royal family.

However, Xiaoming also knows that if you want the Chinese to support, you must eliminate the armed groups against the Chinese in the country and calm the anger against the Chinese.

He groaned, silent.

Ye Zhao smiled and tasted tea, in fact, the strategy was very clear, that is, it could not be made to have a strong central political axe. Nowadays, they are all factional, and it is not bad to occasionally fight a civil war, and the more chaotic the mix, the better. However, if we do not make the people's livelihood miserable, it will easily cause great changes, and the people will overthrow the old system from the bottom up and establish a unified new order.

(To be continued)