Episode 28 Which Way Does Ryukyu Go?

These days are the most embarrassing time for Xiuxiu, the meeting is over, Ryukyu is going to be **, the Ryukyu King Shanggui has become the person in the spotlight of the world, and Xiuxiu, the princess of the Ryukyus, has definitely become the most sought after person in the media, even more eye-catching than the king himself. And Xiuxiu has always been very vague and even taboo in this regard. In the past, she could not admit it and escape, but later she was officially named the princess of the Ryukyus, and her identity "turned positive", it was difficult to hide, and she gradually learned to face it.

But there has never been such a thing as now, and all of a sudden, his father has become the focus of the world's spotlight. It was so natural that her illegitimate daughter was suddenly pushed to the forefront of attention, and for a long time, she couldn't escape into the background. Because of Ryukyu**, as an official Ryukyu princess, and her husband as the prince of the Ming Empire, she must appear in front of the stage in large quantities, which cannot be avoided.

And Xiang Xiaoqiang was also very embarrassed. He is not like Xiuxiu, although Xiuxiu is an illegitimate daughter, but after all, she is a daughter, just nod and admit it. There's nothing unclear about that. But Xiang Xiaoqiang is Xiuxiu's husband, so he doesn't have to call Shanggui "father-in-law", right? Okay, even if you call Shanggui "father-in-law", do you still want to call Shanggui's concubine, that Concubine Chen? This Xiang Xiaoqiang is not easy to accept. He also knows what Concubine Chen did to Xiuxiu. Shang Xiaojun personally pulled Xiuxiu up, and it was natural to call her "mother-in-law", if Concubine Chen was called "mother-in-law" here, where would Shang Xiaojun be placed?

It's funny to think about it to Xiang Xiaoqiang, such a big prince, a commander who has been on the battlefield several times and is accustomed to wind and waves, is clearly entangled in this matter at this juncture.

Fortunately, Shang Gui also knew each other very well, but he called Xiuxiu "Xiuxiu", and Xiuxiu also called him "Father" half-pushed and half-called him, but Shanggui didn't dare to call Xiang Xiaoqiang "virtuous son-in-law", and called him "Wangye" affectionately as usual. It's just that Concubine Chen also came to join in the fun, and she was very hot with Xiuxiu, pulling her to ask for warmth, as if she was her own daughter, and she also called Xiang Xiaoqiang several times "virtuous son-in-law", which gave Xiang Xiaoqiang and Xiuxiu goosebumps. It wasn't until Shang Gui secretly glared at her that she realized it, laughed a few times without embarrassment, and then withdrew.

……

Xiang Xiaoqiang brought Xiuxiu to congratulate Shang Gui and also talked to him about his future plans.

Shang Gui's words, what he was most worried about was not the Ming garrison in the Ryukyus - this was Shang Gui's welcome, with a sense of security. What Shang Gui is most worried about is whether the Ming Dynasty will engage in democracy in the Ryukyus? He felt that it was not impossible, because now that Daming himself had announced that he was going to take this road, he would not be able to piggyback on the Ryukyus with "color output".

This was sensitive and was not discussed at the meeting. Because if you want to engage in democracy, that's good, you can put it on the table and say that everything is going on in the sun, it doesn't matter. If we don't practice democracy, then we won't be able to talk about it on the table, and we can only operate it in the dark. Japan's surrender was too sudden, and there was no communication between the Ryukyu royal family and the Ming government before. Therefore, Shang Gui thought that he was Xiang Xiaoqiang's "father-in-law", and Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't care if he didn't see him or not, at least he wouldn't harm himself. So I took this opportunity to pull him to inquire.

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled secretly when he heard it. Although this "father-in-law" old man usually looks like an old man, this time he really got to the point. He was born a prince in exile in a foreign country, and later inherited the "throne", and there was no one to rule him, to put it bluntly, he was like a rich man who inherited the family business, but the name was noble. Now, suddenly, overnight, all the imaginary has become real, and the "king" who has been in exile for half his life is suddenly about to deserve his name and return to China to take power.

At this moment, what Shang Gui is most afraid of is that this power, which he has been looking forward to for half his life, will slip away from his eyes again. He has been a "rich man" in Daming for half his life, but he doesn't want to return to Ryukyu to have a constitutional monarchy and let him continue to be a "rich man". It's better to be a rich man in Nanjing, there is still such a big world of flowers. What does the Ryukyus have.

Regarding this point, Xiang Xiaoqiang has a number in his heart. Although the Ming cabinet has not yet reached a final conclusion, Xiang Xiaoqiang participated in the imperial meeting and was also one of the main decision-makers.

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said:

"Lord Wang...... Why, is democracy bad? If you look at the richest and most powerful countries now, which one is not a democracy? …… Even if the Ryukyus are small countries, if you look at the small democracies in Europe, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Monaco, ...... Which is not rich and oily? Don't you want Ryukyu to develop like that? ”

Shang Gui was stunned, his face slowly turned a little red, he licked his lips, and smiled awkwardly:

"This ...... Hahaha, how could I not want to? Look at what you say. It's just that...... Just ......"

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled:

"It's just that 'democracy is good, but it's not necessarily for the Ryukyus,' isn't it?"

"Yes, yes," Shang Gui suddenly became happy, as if he had caught a life-saving straw, "Lord Wang, what you said is yes!" Think about it, what is the situation in Europe? What is the situation in the Ryukyus? It's different! It's not comparable! Not suitable! ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled with interest:

"Where doesn't it fit?"

Shang Gui froze again all of a sudden. However, Shang Gui is Shang Gui after all, and he is also well-educated and knowledgeable. He immediately snapped his fingers and analyzed:

"Look, Lord Wang, since the Enlightenment in the 18th century, Westerners have been bathed in 'freedom, equality, and fraternity' for one or two hundred years, and now these things have long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, so it is also the desire of the people and the trend of the times! What about us in the East? …… Uh, ahem, what about our Ryukyus? Our Ryukyu is neither like Japan nor like the Ming Dynasty, both the Ming Dynasty and Japan began to open their doors and learn from the West decades ago, and after the unremitting persistence of several generations of monarchs, the constitutionalism has been carried out to this day, and it is also a great achievement. What about our Ryukyus? In the second half of the 19th century, when the Ming Dynasty and Japan were both founding the country to learn from the West, we were forcibly occupied by Japan, and after decades of enslavement and education, the people knew what freedom and equality were! Alas, the national conditions are different, and what cannot be done is not feasible......"

Xiang Xiaoqiang watched this old man keep the power in his hands, and when he talked about it, he didn't plan to entertain him anymore. He nodded with a smile and sighed:

"Alas, when I heard the prince say this, it seems to be true...... The national conditions are different, and the quality of the people is also different, so it cannot be generalized. What is suitable for our Ming people may not be suitable for the people of the Ryukyus......"

Shang Gui hurriedly agreed:

"That's true!"

Xiang Xiaoqiang continued to laugh:

"Don't hide it from the prince, the sour rotten scholars in our cabinet don't think so, they are not as pragmatic as you and me, they think about the evaluation of them by later generations, and how they will be written in history textbooks decades later......"

Shang Gui's face immediately looked a little sad.

Xiang Xiaoqiang sighed:

"However, my speech still has some weight, and the Imperial Council will be held several more times, and I will try to analyze and analyze the interests with them more. After all, in this world, the relationship between countries and countries is always two words: interests! When a politician ignores this and only cares about making a name for himself, he is not a qualified politician...... Alas, in general, it is necessary to use enough 'national interests' for them to weigh it well, so that they give up the romantic thoughts in their heads. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang is talking here, in fact, how can Shen Rongxuan's ministers be as romantic as he said. At the Imperial Council, the cabinet had already coincided with Xiang Xiaoqiang's intentions: not to practice democracy in the Ryukyus, but to maintain the monarch of the Ryukyus**. It is necessary to thoroughly support Shanggui as the spokesman for the interests of the Ming Dynasty in the Ryukyus. If democracy is practiced in the Ryukyus, the Ryukyus will have to elect a prime minister, elect parliamentarians, and form a parliament...... Then the Ryukyu government will not be able to control it in the future. The prime minister and parliamentarians were elected by other Ryukyu people, so why should they be of the same mind as you? Before making a decision, the first thing people consider is "whether the Ryukyu people are happy", not "whether the people are happy". Otherwise, there are not enough votes, and it will be difficult to get out of office.

And if you want Ryukyu to wear the same pants with Daming forever, then you have to let Shang Gui say the same thing in Ryukyu, I am the world. In this way, Shang Gui knew that if he and his family wanted to take power in the Ryukyus, they had to be the only one who was the head of the horse. Otherwise, Da Ming changed his face and supported the domestic opposition in the Ryukyus to get him down. For this reason, Shang Gui will not hesitate to sell the interests of Ryukyu to the Ming Dynasty.