Because he was receiving the envoys of the vassal domain, Yinxi was dressed very formally, wearing a two-layer crown of golden dragons, decorated with eight eastern pearls, and a ruby on the top. Dressed in a stone blue five-clawed dragon python robe, embroidered with a group of five-clawed dragons on both shoulders and back, a string of coral pearls strung up by a string of golden silk is hung on the chest, the waist is tied with a golden yellow court, four pieces of gold inlaid jade version, each piece is embedded with two east pearls, and the end seat is high and collapsed, which is extremely conspicuous.

Arai Junmei only glanced at it when she entered the house, and didn't dare to look more, although it was a glance, but also had a general impression, the 'Eight Sages King' praised by the hundred officials of the capital has a mustache, white skin, narrow eyes, quite a god, although the expression is solemn, but it gives people a sense of goodwill, I think it is very affinity.

Under the introduction and guidance of the host and guest director of the Ministry of Rites, Arai Junmei and his entourage respectfully stepped forward to salute, Qing Guo is so the kingdom of the Celestial Empire, Yinxu is the king of the county, and his status is precious, compared to the shogun of Edo, it is also better, and they do not have the slightest resistance.

After the ceremony, Yinyu raised his hand slightly and said, "The Edo Treaty was signed last year, so why has it been delayed until now?" ”

"Back to the King of Lian County." Arai Kimimi bowed and said: "The country is ruled by the shogunate, and it is said that the matter of paying tribute is very important, so I must ask the king of our country, the king does not live in Edo, but in Heiankyo, and he comes and goes, delaying the season of going to sea, and after the beginning of the year, he comes to the pilgrimage early." ”

Arai Junmei spoke Jiangkou, and the two Fan family children who were temporarily invited had a great difficulty listening to it, so they could only guess and stammer.

Listening to the other party's words, the Japanese interpreter couldn't help frowning slightly, and hurriedly whispered this situation to Arai Kimi, Arai Kimimi nodded slightly, already understanding that the other party's interpreter may only be familiar with the dialect of Nagasaki, because Japan is only open to the outside world of Nagasaki Port.

After a little silence, he slowed down his voice and said it again in official language, and so on. The children of the Fan family roughly understood, and then re-translated.

As soon as he saw this situation, Yinxi knew that the two translators were not effective, and he didn't talk nonsense at the moment, so he said directly: "The Japanese mission came to make a pilgrimage, and the matter of asking for peace and relatives has been handled by officials of the Ministry of Rites in accordance with the rules, why do you ask to see this king?" ”

Listen to the translation. Arai Junmei pondered for a moment, and then said straight to the point: "Last year, I paid a tribute of 2.2 million taels of gold to the Heavenly Empire, and the currency system of the Celestial Empire was on the verge of collapse. ”

Collapse of the currency system? Suspension of war reparations? Yin Xi couldn't help but listen to it, this year's spring drought in several northern provinces, Zhenwu did not spend a penny of the national treasury, and helped alone. The silver flowed out like flowing water, although a lot of donations were raised, God knows how much Zhenwu had paid for himself? Again. The military workshop in Tianjin Zizhulin, the royal academy of the third child, I heard that the scale of government and school in various places will be expanded, as well as the Praetorian New Army, Australian immigrants, which place does not need a large amount of silver? The discount of 600,000 taels of gold is more than 9 million taels of silver, suspended? Will Zhenwu agree? That's hell around.

After groaning slightly, he pondered and said, "This king can go up to heaven for you to hear this matter." However, this year's spring drought is severe, affecting several provinces, and the possibility of the emperor's permission is relatively slim. Japan has always been rich in gold and silver, with only millions of taels of gold, so why did the currency system collapse? ”

Arai Kimimi has also learned about the situation of this drought in the past few days, and she has little hope for the suspension of compensation, so she raised it. It's just to pave the way, but he listened to Yinxi say that Japan is rich in gold and silver, and he had to explain it, so as not to be insatiable in the greed of the Qing country, and after a little silence, he said in a deep voice: "The rich gold and silver in the country is purely misinformation, and the country is just a few small islands hanging overseas, and several gold and silver mines on the island have been exhausted after decades of excavation. …,

In recent years, the country's foreign trade has been paid for in gold and silver, resulting in a large outflow of gold, silver and copper, and the currency system is already in jeopardy, and last year's huge tribute was even worse. ”

It seemed that the Edo shogunate was already empty of the treasury, and after a little muttering, Yinyu said: "In this case, this king will play for you, and you should wait patiently." ”

Sit tight? When will this be? Knowing that Zhenwu would not allow it, why waste time on this? The opportunity is rare, Arai Junmei doesn't want to be sent away so easily, besides, he also wants to find out what Qingguo's intentions are, at that moment, he bowed down and said: "Lianjun Wang Gaoyi, the lower officials thank you first." ”

As he spoke, he paused slightly, and then muttered: "If His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Qing Dynasty is not allowed to suspend the tribute, can he provide a little additional assistance?" ”

Aid? It can't be asking for money, so what kind of assistance is there? Firearm? Soldiers? Yin Yu smiled slightly and said: "Tell me about your difficulties specifically, this king will play together, the emperor doesn't know the reason, how to help?" ”

For the current situation in Japan, Arai Junmi has no intention of hiding at all, as soon as the peak season of commerce and trade arrives, everything cannot be concealed, there is no need to conceal it at all, besides, if you want to get the assistance of the Qing State, you must always show some sincerity, yes, although he knows that Yinxi is asking about the details of Japan, but he still said frankly: "Since last year's claim to the minister's tribute, the treasury has been empty, and the currency recasting that is being implemented has been interrupted, so that prices have risen and the currency system has been chaotic. Even the king of Zhongyumen is also changing one after another, and great changes are imminent. ”

Hearing that Japan was in chaos on its own, Yinxi couldn't help but be overjoyed, this is definitely good news, and after a little hesitation, he asked, "What assistance do you need?" ”

Arai Kimimi groaned for a while, and then spoke: "Edo has a large population, and there are not only samurai, but there is a lack of weapons, can the kingdom help a batch of artillery and gunpowder, in addition, food, iron, medicinal materials, and cowhide are also in short supply at present. ”

Although grain, iron, medicinal materials, cowhides, and so on are all war materials, they are not impossible to help, but artillery and gunpowder are the basis of the navy's hegemony, so how can they be easily given away? Yin Yu groaned slightly, the Edo Shogunate is now in turmoil, but it is a rare opportunity to take advantage of the fire to rob, and try to see what kind of attitude they have?

After thinking about it for a while, Yinxi said tentatively: "It is the responsibility of the Celestial Empire to maintain the normal ruling order of the vassal state, but Japan is a newly attached vassal state, can you send people to study in Beijing?" ”

Pledge? Arai Kimi's eyelids jumped, the shogun Tokugawa family is only six years old, and they want to take the shogun as a hostage? What does Qingguo want to do? Completely control Japan? There is no reason for this, there are dozens of large and small vassal states of the Qing State, and even Korea, which is close to Liaodong, they have not interfered in the internal affairs at all, and they have never heard that the Qing State has interfered in or controlled other vassal states, why is it so harsh on Japan? Is it just because he has refused to belong all these years?

This also doesn't make sense, all the Chinese dynasties and dynasties for the vassal states are in line with the king does not rule the Yidi, the coming does not refuse, and the go does not chase the purpose, even if there is a grudge before, as long as you are willing to attach, it will not be pursued, why make an exception for Japan? It's a huge amount of compensation, it's a forced peace, and now it's a pledge, what is the reason behind this?

Arai Junmei frowned slightly, the reason behind this is incomprehensible for a short time, but this condition is absolutely unacceptable, even if the Edo Shogunate is cut off in the hands of him and Mabe Kanbo, he can't agree! After a long silence, he squeezed out a smile and said: "The culture and etiquette of the kingdom are broad and profound, and the country has always admired it. ”

Seeing that he deliberately pretended to be confused, Yinxi was not too much, he was just a temptation at present, knowing his attitude, it was enough, and he groaned slightly, and he smiled and said: "This is very good, this king will play the emperor recently, please wait a few days." ”…,

Out of the hall, Yin Xi looked up at the sky, and saw that it was only at the beginning of Shen, so he got on the sedan chair and went straight to the palace, Zhenwu was extremely concerned about the situation in Japan, and the current situation of the Edo shogunate was not very good, this matter still had to be decided by Zhenwu as soon as possible, and he naturally did not dare to delay at will.

Qianqing Palace East Warm Pavilion, Zhenwu finished reading the folds, is ordering to pass the meal, the palace rules, the emperor is two meals in the morning and evening every day, of course, he can also add meals anytime and anywhere, the time of the general summer dinner is three to five o'clock in the afternoon, although he does not like the dishes in the imperial dining room, but can not be cut, always open a small stove, it is inevitable that people take advantage of it, although these things are small, but they must be noted.

Although he is the emperor, his daily meals, dishes are completely not up to him, let alone like a restaurant, his meals, according to the usual first by the imperial tea room officials to make a list of meals, after the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs review, record, can be cooked, what to eat is completely up to him.

Meals are generally eight main dishes, four side dishes, plus hot pot, porridge, soup, etc., together there are about 20 products, the imperial dining room is basically done first, and it is for this reason that the speed of serving in the imperial dining room is first-class, and the will of the meal is transmitted.

The eunuchs in the dining room immediately came in with three tables on their backs, the finished characters were arranged, and the table sheets were laid out, and then a team of eunuchs with red lacquer boxes lined up to come in, and quickly brought all kinds of dishes, meals, soups, etc. to the table, and placed them in accordance with the prescribed positions, and the irrelevant personnel retreated one by one, leaving only the eunuchs who served the food.

Only then did Zhenwu step into the dining table and sit down facing east, facing west, with four eunuchs standing behind him with their hands down, and an elderly eunuch standing aside, responsible for serving him vegetables. This can't be eaten, you have to wait for the eunuch in the dining room to put a test card on each dish to test for poison, and after the test, the eunuch will taste each dish with his own mouth, which is called "tasting food", and then it is his turn to start eating.

Of course, during this time, he is not nothing to do, the little eunuch will come over with the meal card at this time, the so-called meal card is also a green card, which concubine to summon at night, at this time the brand will be turned over, because the concubine who is fortunate to be summoned also has to take time to prepare, at least in the diet, do not eat leeks, garlic and other things. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly passes, and your support is my biggest motivation. )