"My lord, this request is too embarrassing." A face has sunk, "The name of the emperor has been used in our country for thousands of years, and it is really impossible to change it rashly......"

"Of course, it is a good thing to respect the ancients, but sometimes everyone has to adapt to the times and not be muddy." Zhou Pu was completely unmoved, still calm, "The title of the emperor is really difficult to be tolerated by my great man, and it is even more suspected of violating the dignity of my emperor." ”

"But we have not offended the dignity of the Son of Heaven of your country?" Nijo Yasudo immediately defended, "The reason why we use the title of emperor is precisely because we have been influenced by the culture of the Central Plains, and the "Historical Records" of your country contains that after Qin Shi Huang unified the world, he wanted to give himself an honorific title, and Prime Minister Li Si and others discussed with the doctor and said: 'In ancient times, there was an emperor, an earthly emperor, a Thai emperor, and the most noble minister of the Thai emperor died with the honorific title, and the king was the emperor of Thailand', and the first emperor was still not satisfied with the honorific title, so he chose the title of emperor for himself. It can be seen that in the history of your country, the emperor's honorific title is higher than that of the emperor, and the use of the title of emperor by the monarch of our country is already an expression of respect for the emperor of the Central Plains. ”

Although the two Kang roads were quoted by the side, Zhou Pu was still unmoved.

"In any case, having the word 'emperor' is very inappropriate, and it is really difficult for our court to accept it. I've called these titles in private before, but that's just a personal habitual term, and it's really not something to use in an official setting. Since your kingdom has said that it will rely on the grace of heaven, and that it will be submissive to the Son of Heaven for generations to come, why will you not even change the title of a taboo? ”

He suddenly became entangled in the issue of the title, naturally with ulterior motives. The title of Emperor has been used by the Japanese court for thousands of years, and has been regarded as a symbol of the imperial court, and if he can force the other party to change the title, it will show the repressive power of the Han Dynasty over the Japanese court - and even if the other party insists on refusing to agree, he can obtain other concessions by temporarily abandoning the request.

"We have called Your Majesty this way for generations, if we don't call the Emperor, then how should we call it!" Nijo Yasudo pleaded loudly. "It's hard for us to obey this request."

"Didn't you already have a name before the emperor?" Zhou Pu asked rhetorically, "In the Wei and Jin dynasties, the monarch of your country once sent an envoy to the Central Plains and received the imperial seal of the then monarch of Cao Wei, and now he has changed back to the title of the king of the Wa, isn't it also respectful?" ”

His slightly teasing cross-examination made Nijo Yasudo feel more and more uncomfortable. "The name of the Wawang contains a derogatory meaning, and it is difficult to accept it!"

"If you feel that you don't want to accept the title of King Wa, then you can think about using another name, in short, with the title of 'Emperor', forgive us for being unacceptable," Zhou Pu's expression also became grim, "If your court thinks that this request is too difficult to accept, then don't agree, anyway, we don't want to make it difficult for others!" ”

This unscrupulous threat made the two ministers on the left and right speechless for a while, and the two of them looked at each other again, and it was difficult to make up their minds for a while. They didn't prepare for this sudden request in advance, and they didn't know what to do.

However, the envoy of the Han Dynasty is already waiting for the result, and it seems that if he does not give a satisfactory answer today, the negotiations may not be able to continue.

After thinking about it for a while, Ichijo Kaneya decided to discuss it with Nijo Yasudo again.

"Please wait a minute, the stakes are high, and we need to unify our opinions." No matter how Zhou Pu answered, he beckoned and took the two Kang Dao to the corner.

"Youfu, what do you think this request should be?" He tentatively asked Nijo Kangdao.

"Everything is in the hands of adults." Nijo Yasudo gave an answer that made him laugh and cry.

In fact, he had already thought about agreeing in his heart, but he just wanted to find Nijo Kangdao to share the responsibility, but he didn't expect Nijo Kangdao to be more tactful than him, and he didn't want to show his agreement at all.

But in fact this is already the default.

Ichijo Kaneya waited for a long time, but he still didn't wait for Nijo Kangdao to express his opinion, so he had to speak helplessly.

"Right now, we really have to ask for people, a little false name, I don't think we should be entangled anymore, the left and right are just an imperial word, change it, change it. We want others to help us so much, it is impossible not to pay some price, as long as we can achieve the final goal, some pain can still be endured. ”

Although he said it lightly on the surface, of course, this matter could not be an easy thing to do, and the imperial court removed the imperial character from the emperor, which in the eyes of the people of the world could only be regarded as the imperial court discarding its dignity in order to restore the country, and there was no doubt that it would weaken the legitimacy of the imperial court and cause great harm to the authority of the imperial court.

For the time being, he is only thinking of fooling the past, and when the time comes, he will be downgraded in the documents of exchange between the two countries, and he will continue to use the original title in the domestic documents.

"The matter has come to this point, and there is no other opinion to be put forward below, so I can only look forward to the Lord Zuofu!" Nijo Yasuchi sighed, seemingly a little unwilling, but he didn't say anything else.

Then, the two of them returned to Zhou Pu's face.

"Your Excellency, after our deliberations, your country's request ...... We decided to accept it. Ichijo Kaneyao looked at each other very seriously, "Presumably adults can see our sincerity and sincerity to the **** Son of Heaven, right?" ”

Actually agreed directly? Zhou Pu was a little surprised.

He suddenly put forward such a high condition, originally as a means, even if he couldn't reach it, he could ask for the price to pay back on the spot, at least to gain some initiative for himself, but I didn't expect these people to just say two words of defense and directly agreed, this is really ...... It seems that although these people talk impassionedly, they may not be loyal to their own emperor.

However, since they agreed, this can be regarded as a result, at least their subservient attitude has been tested.

"Then what title does Lord Zuofu think is the best?" Zhou Pu asked with a smile.

"If you abolish the emperor's character, you should be able to use the king, right? It's always taboo to call the king of Japan, right? Ichijo asked cautiously, "I've heard that that's how Goryeo handles." ”

"This ...... It should be ok. "Although Zhou Pu did not receive instructions from China, there is indeed a precedent for this matter, so he can also allow it in advance." However, can we accept it, can the monarch of your country accept it? ”

"In order to restore the country, no matter how big the hardship is, we can endure it, let alone a matter in name?" Ichijo smiled wryly, "His Majesty the Emperor has given us carte blanche to do so, so what we're talking about, um......"

When he said this, he suddenly realized that His Majesty the Emperor's four words were out of place, so he immediately slurred his mouth, "He is acceptable, as for the country, I expect that there will definitely be opposition at that time, but as long as we use our hearts to appease, it should be able to be appeased......"

"It's really touching to be a big friend. In this case, then there is no reason why our country should not help your court, as long as we are sincere and united, great things can be expected! ”

"I just hope that day will come soon!" Ichijo said helplessly and expectantly.

After reaching a preliminary consensus on the most important issues, there were not many conflicts between them, and then, the three of them carefully discussed the contact information of Zhou Pu after returning to Kyushu, especially the way of reporting before the Han army marched, which was particularly important, because these people in Kyoto would use this method to rescue the two Majesties in the future.

By the time they finished talking, it was already close to midnight, and under the order of Ichichi Kaneya, Zhou Pu was sent back with Hashimoto Minoru Kiyoshi, while Ichijo Kaneyao and Nijo Yasudo stayed.

Ichijo Kaneya looked up at the sky, it was completely dark, and the starlight was very dim, and the deep darkness seemed to be able to swallow everything.

This deep darkness swallowed up his previous excitement and the anger he had just had, and he was now calm, just staring blankly at the night sky.

Nijo Yasudo didn't speak, he stood next to him, and the robes of the two people fluttered slightly in the night breeze, and for a while there was a sense of dust.

"I remember you told me about it here...... I don't know how long it was, but Ichijo Kaneya finally spoke.

"Looking back now, it's like a lifetime away, I really didn't expect it to progress to this level all of a sudden!"

"Then does Lord Zuofu think it's good or bad?" Nijo Yasudo asked slowly, "I see that the adults look strange and seem to be a little uncertain. ”

"Blessings and misfortunes depend on, misfortunes and blessings lurk, and the cycle of cause and effect, how can we explain it clearly!" Ichijo Kaneya suddenly sighed, "If it was before, I thought it was a great thing, but today, it seems that this may not be the case." The shogunate is a wolf, but we use the evil tiger to drive them away, but I am afraid that it will be controlled by the hungry tiger in the future......"

"The evil wolf is close to us, and we have to grab everything, and the evil tiger is far away from us, at least there are many fewer things that can be robbed, and there is still a difference." Nijo Yasudo retorted. "It's just a false name, I think it doesn't matter if I obey them."

"They're just asking for a name now, but what about in the future? Won't you want anything else in the future? In the future, we will be controlled by others, but I am afraid that we will still have to fight for the tiger. Ichijo Kaneyi lowered his gaze, "I'm afraid we're going to really suffer infamy in the future." ”

"It's better to be a tiger than a lonely ghost floating in the wind!" Nijo Yasudo said firmly, "Since the Great Han needs us to maintain Japan, then at least we will have a place to stand, and it is better than having to rely on people now." Think about it, with our identity, the shogunate set a year of family but only two or three thousand koku, not even a samurai banner, let alone a daimyo...... Can we endure such humiliation? ”

"Naturally, you can't ......," said Ichikaneya, gritting his teeth. But if we follow them in everything, sooner or later we will become the **** in the eyes of the world, and then we will not even be able to maintain the place we have finally found. ”

"Where can you think so much now!" Because he was afraid that Ichijo Kaneyao would be shaken, Erjo Kangdao hurriedly stopped, "Lord Zuofu, now is not the time to hesitate!" ”

"I didn't hesitate, but now the situation is a little unexpected, and some things have to be thought about." Ichijo Kaneya shook his head, "We must give an explanation to the people of the world, at least so that they don't hate His Majesty the Emperor." ”

"Those who achieve great things are not informal, as long as they can regain power, even if they pay a price, what is it?" Nijo Yasudo was a little puzzled.

"No, no." "The authority of the imperial court depends on the authority of the Emperor and the Emperor, and if their authority is damaged, the imperial court will be damaged, and if they are damaged, how will the public deal with itself?" So we have to find a way to minimize this loss. ”

Then, he said his thoughts, "Lord Youfu, when the Han Dynasty calls, and our secret treaty is made public to the world, I will take all the responsibility on myself, help His Majesty the Emperor to clear up the relationship, and then resign and retire to the mountains and forests, and then the court will rely on you." ”

"Lord Zuofu?" Nijo Yasudo was shocked, "What's the trouble with this?" ”

"As an elder of the Fuji clan and a member of the imperial family, if the imperial court really regains power, and I continue to lead the state government, it will not only be incompatible with etiquette, but also easy to provoke suspicion," Ichijo Kaneyao replied calmly, "So since I must go to the throne, then I will simply take the blame with me, so that His Majesty the Emperor and you will be much more relaxed." ”

"But...... But people in the world won't believe everything, it's just that you just insist on doing it! "Nijo Kangdao is still hard to accept.

"Even if you can cheat one more, it's good, then you will have less pressure, and it will be easier for you to act in the future." A pair of hands were put together, and the sleeves of the wide robe also hung down, "As long as you can work hard and strengthen the foundation of the imperial court, then it will not be in vain for me to make this sacrifice." ”

"But ......," Nijo Yasudo wanted to say something.

"If I look at Chinese history, they have only been in a dynasty for two or three hundred years...... It's completely different from our thousand-year-old heritage. Before he could finish speaking, Ichijo Kaneyao directly interrupted him and said to himself, "No matter how strong the dynasty is in the early days, the world's martial arts will quickly decline in the middle period, and the martial and enterprising spirit will be worn out, and it will be difficult to recover until the final demise." 400 years before the Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos in the middle; Three hundred years of the Tang Dynasty, after the Anshi Rebellion in the middle, it has also completely declined, the Song Dynasty has Jingkang, and the Ming Dynasty has Tumubao, they are all like this, and I think the Han Dynasty will still be like this today...... Although the situation is stronger than people now, we are alone overseas after all, and the Central Plains cannot be reached. As long as we endure humiliation and wait for change, it will not be many years before the Han Dynasty will be in civil strife and decline, and the day when we will completely regain Japan is not far off. We can wait for thousands of years, and it is nothing to wait for a few more generations, not to mention that we will have a deeper foundation and financial and material resources at that time. ”

"Lord Zuofu is right, this is exactly what I think in my heart." Nijo Yasudo hurriedly agreed. "Although it is a shame to change the name, as long as we endure the humiliation and burden, there will always be a time when the clouds will open and see the moon, and I think it should be soon, the Han is so dependent on force, there will definitely be a day when things will be reversed."

"I hope so." Yi also smiled wryly, "Although I may not be able to see this day, I can at least look forward to it, so as not to feel guilty in this life." ”

"I don't feel guilty." Nijo Yasudo replied with his head held high, "If you want to get something, you have to pay some price, and as long as you achieve your goal, even if you pay a small price, why not?" ”

"You're determined...... Ichijo Kaneya was a little stunned, but he was quickly relieved, "Okay, that's fine, the court will need people like you to maintain it at that time, people like me...... Even if you are relegated, it is nothing. ”

Because he saw that one Kan Ya had made up his mind, the two Kang Dao no longer persuaded him, but was silent.

Ichijo turned back again, looking at the lights of thousands of homes in the distance, and the deep palace wall hidden behind a little glimmer. From time to time, Xiao Sheng's voice could be heard from the temple hall, which was the sound of those they had brought with them to cover up their secret meeting, indicating that everyone was indulging in fun. It's just that now he always feels a little blocked in his heart.

I wonder what His Majesty is doing now? What will you think of us then?

It's just pointless to think so much, it's better to stagger like a drunk. In this life, like duckweed, who is not involuntarily?

"The palace wall is dark and the moon is dark and the eyes are dizzy, and there is no ignorance in the wilderness?" He blurted out.

This poem was originally recited by Emperor Kirizuku in "The Tale of Genji", expressing the grief after the loss of his lover, but now it seems to be very appropriate to use it here.

"The crane cries and breaks the dawn, and then the whole universe will be cleared." After being stunned for a moment, Nijo Kangdao immediately made up a poem and replied to the other party.

The meaning of his next poem changed abruptly, and the first sentence was sad and declining, but suddenly became excited.

"You're really ......," Ichijo Kaneya laughed. Good, good! ”

After discussing this time with the ministers of the imperial court, in order to avoid exposure, Zhou Pu no longer had direct contact with the first and second Kangdao, but only occasionally passed a message through Hashimoto Shiqing, and then exchanged information on both sides, and usually stayed at Hashimoto's house, but he was also happy.

Because the Mitsui family's caravan still had a few days to leave, he simply wandered around the famous places of interest near Kyoto, including the famous Kinkakuji Ginkakuji Temple, under the leadership of Minoru Hashimoto and others.

It wasn't until the Mitsui family's caravan restarted that he set out on his way back to Kyushu.

However, compared to last time, this time his actions were much more regular, and everything was about rushing back to Kyushu as soon as possible.