After the Battle of Katsurakawa, the shogunate Ashikaga Yoshiko fled back to Kyoto, in this battle, Akamatsu Yoshinori was killed, Hatakeyama Kikuni was seriously injured, and the other Muromachi shogunate generals were basically hung on the body, even Ashikaga Yoshimochi was also in a panic, accidentally fell off the horse and injured his waist, and then was desperately picked up and taken away by his retainers.

However, escaping back to Kyoto was not the end of the story.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu fought for more than 20 years, and saved more than 100,000 elite soldiers and strong generals for the Muromachi shogunate, but with the battle of Katsurakawa, it was wiped out.

The Ming army, as the victorious side, surrounded Kyoto, but was not in a hurry to attack, but began to carry out large-scale treatment of the wounded and count the merits of the war, Liu Xingzuo and Li Zhong, who had made meritorious contributions on the battlefield, and many Ming soldiers were rewarded or promoted; On the hidden front, such as Niu Zhen and others, who contacted Si Boyi to deliver penicillin to him and spy on Japan's domestic intelligence, Jiang Xinghuo also fulfilled his promise.

Subsequently, the Ming army built a large-scale Jingguan near Kyoto with the heads of the beheaded prisoners and began to besiege the city.

It is a literal "siege", that is, the entire Kyoto Castle is surrounded by a new wall made of planks and earth and stone, and the wall does not need to be thick or good, or even need to be built in every place, but only needs to be roughly fenced first.

The Jurchens surrounded Taiyuan, and the Mongols surrounded Xiangyang, and they were all encircled like this at the beginning, first building a rough idea, and then completely encircling it.

This feeling of seeing oneself isolated from the world and unable to wait for any reinforcements is very tormenting to the mentality of the besieged, and it is obvious that the mentality of the Japanese army in Kyoto City is completely incomparable with the Song army that swore to defend the city.

Soon, with the consumption of materials, the prices in Kyoto City began to skyrocket, and the citizens of Kyoto broke out in the "Rice Riot", and the remnants of tens of thousands of Japanese troops in the city did not even bother to suppress them, except for guarding the shogunate's granaries and armory, they simply turned a blind eye.

As the night fell, the Hananomiya Palace in Kyoto was filled with melancholy.

After the defeated shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori dragged his tired and heavy body back to this familiar land, his eyes had long since lost the brilliance of his recent pursuit of the pinnacle of power, and only endless frustration remained.

In the past, when Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was alive, Ashikaga Yoshinori didn't feel anything.

Deal with the Kamakura Princess, deal with the daimyo who are dissatisfied in various places, deal with the major families within the shogunate, and deal with the emperor. What's so hard about that? Isn't it just a matter of having hands?

However, when he got on it himself, he found it really hard, and he really couldn't.

He couldn't do Ashikaga Yoshimitsu to subdue all opposition forces with such a heavy weight, and even the Muromachi shogunate itself was in turmoil after the defeat, and the prestige that the previous battle for not breaking the barrier had brought to him had long since vanished.

And what did Ashikaga Yoshinori do?

He didn't do anything.

Ashikaga Yoshinori used wine every day to drown his sorrows, and the liquor burned from his throat to the bottom of his heart like a raging fire. However, no matter how much he drank, he could not dispel the pain in his heart.

The Ming army has already besieged the city, he has no way to escape, even if he breaks through, where can he run to? To the south was the Yamato Province occupied by the Southern Dynasty, to the east was the Kanto region occupied by the Kamakura Duchy, and to the north and west were the Ming army and its servants.

His temper became more and more violent, and he was prone to murder at every turn, so that the entire palace was enveloped in fear.

And Ashikaga Yoshinori's subordinates were already dissatisfied with his atrocities, and the shogun they once swore allegiance to the death has now become a crazy executioner. But they only dared to be angry, and could only silently pray in their hearts that this nightmare would end as soon as possible.

But Ashikaga Yoshinori's subordinates can endure it, but it doesn't mean that others can endure it.

General Spoy and Isshiki are ready to make a living for themselves.

The two of them planned to take Ashikaga Yoshinori's head, plus dedicate Kyoto Castle in its entirety, to change their life from the Ming army.

So, the two decided to take a risk, taking advantage of Ashikaga Yoshimori's drunkenness, to lead a group of samurai to infiltrate the palace and kill the shogun who had fallen into a state of "complete madness" in their hearts.

However, the retainers of the shogunate were not idle people, and although they were dissatisfied with the atrocities of Ashikaga Yoshinori, they would not allow anyone to betray the shogunate.

So, when General Spao and others led the samurai to infiltrate the palace, they immediately launched a fierce resistance.

Between the swords and swords, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and the entire palace became a battlefield.

Ashikaga Yoshinori was awakened, dragged his wounded waist and staggered to the Imperial Observatory, where there were many soldiers and horses directly belonging to the Imperial Palace, which was his last safe haven, and as long as he held out until dawn, he could gather the remnants of the "Imperial Horse Return" and kill the rebellious ministers and thieves.

As for the future. A drunk day is a day.

As the widow of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Yasuko Hino was a beautiful and cunning woman, just as she used to be able to calm Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's anger at critical moments, and when Ashikaga Yoshinori fled into the Imperial Shrine, she immediately greeted him, coaxing the shogun like a frightened bird with her gentle voice.

"General, are you alright?"

Kangzi asked with concern, "Those traitors outside have been stopped, you don't have to worry." ”

Ashikaga Yoshinori gasped, his eyes flashing with fear and unease: "They...... They want to kill me......"

"Don't be afraid, General."

Kangzi patted him lightly on the back: "With me, no one can hurt you." ”

Under the comfort of Yasuko, Ashikaga Yoshinori's hanging heart gradually relaxed, and he thought that he was safe, so he fell asleep in the company of Yasuko.

Unbeknownst to him, however, Yasuko soon reached a secret agreement with the outside Shogun Spaoyi to take his life while Ashikaga Yoshinori was asleep.

In the dead of night, a few sturdy servants quietly crept into the room, their hands clutching the burlap sacks, their eyes shining fiercely.

Soon, they quickly put the sack on Ashikaga Yoshinori's head, and then tightened the mouth of the bag with force.

Ashikaga Yoshinori woke up in his sleep, only to find that he could no longer breathe, he struggled and kicked, but all these efforts were in vain, and the servants were usually the female sumo wrestlers raised by the Imperial Terrace, and their hands were clasped tightly to the sack like iron tongs.

Ashikaga Yoshimori's struggle gradually became weaker, and in a dark sack, his eyes were full of fear and unwillingness. However, no matter how much he struggled, he could not escape the fate of death.

A generation of shoguns was strangled to death in his sleep, ending his life full of tragedy.

News of Ashikaga Yoshinori's death soon spread throughout Kyoto, causing an uproar, with some cheering and some devastation.

But no matter how one perceives his death, it cannot change the fact that the era of the Muromachi shogunate is over.

Subsequently, surrounded by the monks and soldiers of Xiangguoji Temple led by Gu Jian Miaokuai, Emperor Go-Komatsu "coincidentally" escaped from Kyoto in embarrassment from the gap in the siege of the Ming army and headed straight east to Kanto.

"A good one just came out of Li Dao's wolf's den, and then entered Cao Cao's tiger's den."

Looking at the people going to the empty building in Ouchi, Japan, Li Jinglong couldn't help but wonder.

"It's better to let him go to Kanto than to stay in Kyoto."

Jiang Xinghuo glanced at the emperor's throne, and did not mean to sit on it and try to feel it.

"Since we are under the banner of supporting Gokame Mountain, it is not good to keep Gokomatsu, so he gave him to Ashikaga Mankane, who was in Kamakura Gongfang, and it can be regarded as being able to continue to maintain the division of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, but this time it is the Eastern and Western Dynasties, and the Kanto and Kansai Dynasties are split."

Li Jinglong said: "It's a bit like something Wei. ”

Seeing that there was no one around, Li Jinglong swaggered and sat on the emperor's throne.

Jiang Xinghuo said with a smile: "You are a five-star general of the Ming Dynasty, how much attention is paid to the influence, and you are not afraid of Your Majesty's suspicion, right?" ”

"It's a pretty comfortable seat."

Li Jinglong patted the seat and laughed: "What are you afraid of, the palace in Annan is not the same." ”

But jokes are jokes, Li Jinglong still knows how to measure, and he reluctantly sat for a while before getting up.

Jiang Xinghuo said at this time: "The team from Guishan is almost here, right?" When it came to asking Gokameiyama to appoint Imagawa Ryōtoshi to the position of Kanto Exploration, the territory of the Imagawa clan was in Kanto, and then the three countries controlled by the Spo clan were ceded to him, so that Kanto would naturally be able to form a confrontation against the Kanto Exploration Question appointed by Later Kameyama and the Kamakura Gongfang appointed by Later Komatsu, and pinch it off. ”

"It's not the Kamakura Duke, Ashikaga Mitsukan gets Komatsu, and he will definitely let him appoint himself as the new shogun."

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu walked in with his pants, sat directly on the emperor's throne with a big grin, and then said: "You have to let them mess up, it's best to fight for four or five hundred years without stopping." ”

There was chaos outside, screams and slashing.

But Zhu Gaoxu added: "But Hou Xiaosong won't be able to arrive for a while, and it will be ten days at the earliest." ”

"Why?" Li Jinglong asked.

Zhu Gaoxu said as a matter of course: "I won't seal the knife for ten days." ”

"If you want to do it in Kanto, you will stir up the feudal kingdoms in the north."

"Also."

Jiang Xinghuo said solemnly: "The Sado Gold Mine and the Iwami Silver Mine must be obtained as soon as possible. ”

Sado Island, located in the northernmost part of Hokuriku Province in the eastern part of Honshu Island, is a lonely small island, which was originally used to exile prisoners, and the current Japanese naval forces have long been destroyed, so it is not a problem for the Ming Dynasty to occupy this place to establish an overseas military base.

The Iwami Silver Mine, on the other hand, is located in Iwami Province in the western part of Honshu Island, a northern coastal feudal kingdom in the middle of the territories of the Ouchi clan and the Yamana clan, and was the territory of the Ouchi clan before the Onei War.

And this place, it is not difficult for the Ming army to control it, the Ouchi clan has not gained a lot of benefits from the Ming army, I hope they can get acquainted, if they don't know each other, then now that the shogunate has been pacified, the value of the servant army has been greatly reduced, and the Ming army doesn't mind helping them get acquainted.

The Sado Gold Mine and Iwami Silver Mine were controlled in their hands, and with the strength of the Ming Dynasty's ocean-going sailors, they would not have been thrown to the Japanese until they were completely hollowed out.

In fact, the Ming army only destroyed the old order of Kyushu Island and the central and western parts of Honshu Island, and the eastern part of Honshu Island and Shikoku Island still maintained the old order.

But Jiang Xinghuo doesn't mind the continuation of the old order in Japan, because these places are already full of contradictions, which is equivalent to the tinkling of a powder keg that has long been shaken, and all Daming needs to do is to light the fuse.

In fact, in Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, Japan started from the confrontation between the Eastern and Western armies in the Yingren Rebellion, and then opened the long Warring States Era, Jiang Xinghuo was fully confident that he would replace the Eastern and Western armies with the Eastern and Western Dynasties, so that Japan would continue to be chaotic for hundreds of years, and as long as there was a slight strong person who wanted to sweep away the signs of the troubled times, it would be good to directly intervene and die.

The Japanese princes all know what the Ming Dynasty is planning, but this is an out-and-out conspiracy that cannot be broken.

Because the interests of the princes are always opposed to each other.

Therefore, for their own interests, they can only humbly kneel in front of the Ming Dynasty, praying for the help of the Ming Dynasty, so that they can save themselves in the internal competition, or stand out.

And as long as Japan is allowed to fall into involution, Japan will never pose a threat to the Ming Dynasty.

As for Go-Kameyama, which returned to Kyoto, it was also a mess.

Later Komatsu ran to Kanto, and the princes on Kyushu Island and Shikoku Island still went their separate ways, and the Ouchi clan and the Yamana clan in the western part of Honshu Island, the two shogunate oppositionists who benefited a lot from this change, obviously would not listen to him, plus the Ming garrison, the emperor, Gokameyama had something to worry about.

But no matter how troublesome Hou Guishan is, what needs to be done still has to be done.

Ten days later, Gokameyama returned to Kyoto, where it was almost ruined, and signed the "Supplementary Contract for Tomorrow's Trade and Navigation" with Jiang Xinghuo.

First, Japan recognized the Ming Dynasty as its sole suzerain, and later Guishan canceled the title, etiquette, and utensils, and all behaviors could only be handled by the standard of the Ming Dynasty.

The second is to cede 16 feudal states or islands, including Sado Province, Iwami Province, Satsuma Province, Osumi Province, Tsushima Province, Iki Province, Goto, Yakushima Province, Tanegashima Island, and Koshikishima Island.

Article 3: According to the previous written agreement, a total of 23 million taels of silver shall be paid to the Ming army for military expenses to assist in suppressing the rebellion, which shall be paid in nine installments.

Fourth, eight commercial ports, including Sakai, will be opened as unarmed treaty ports for free and friendly trade between tomorrow.

Article 5, Ming businessmen and citizens in Japan enjoy the right of preferential treatment and judicial immunity of the suzerain, with reference to the basis of the "Tomorrow Free Trade Contract", the Ming businessmen and citizens are suspected of disputes, and the Japanese side has no right to conduct a trial.

Sixth, in order to protect the stability of the Later Kameyama king's regime, the Ming army was invited to be stationed in Kyoto, and all the necessary military salaries and materials were provided by the Japanese side.

Article 7.

Strictly speaking, the "Tomorrow's Trade and Navigation Supplementary Contract" is a supplementary contract to the "Tomorrow's Free Trade Contract" signed between the Ming Dynasty and the Muromachi shogunate.

Some of the basic clauses in the "Tomorrow's Free Trade Pact" do not need to be changed considering that they are already in place, but the supplementary contract still has major changes in some aspects.

In the previous "Tomorrow Free Trade Pact", the Ming Dynasty regarded Japan as a special tributary state, following the old Korean practice of setting up an angel pavilion in Kyoto, Japan, and setting up consulates in Tsushima, Iki, and Hirado. Well, to put it simply, the tributary will sit at the child's table in the future, because the kings of North Korea and Annam are all counted according to the standards of Prince Daming.

As for the new clauses such as the cession of land, the opening of the port, the garrison of Kyoto, and the compensation for military spending, they are already considered normal operations.

The "preferential rights and judicial immunity of the suzerain" are completely new, and the previous clause was that "whenever a Japanese citizen sues a person, the Japanese side must first check who is who is wrong, and then try to persuade him to stop it, so that a lawsuit will not be completed, and a small matter will not become a major case." In the event of a negotiation or lawsuit, the Japanese side cannot persuade or settle, so it will ask the consul of the Ming Dynasty to find out the matter. As for how the Ming people were convicted, the Ming side should follow the agreed regulations of the "Ming Law" and escort them back to China for trial and punishment", which is equivalent to more unique trade preferences and Japan has no right to litigate against Ming businessmen and people, which is an upgraded version of consular jurisdiction.

In the face of this somewhat harsh contract, the king of Houguishan had to sign it.

If you don't sign it, the Ming army will be able to change to another king when you turn around.

And without the support of the Ming Dynasty, the weak Gokameyama is almost impossible to move an inch in Japan, and I don't know when, a certain guardian daimyo will raise a knife to Shangluo and let him return to his puppet state.

Whether it is a puppet who abdicates or a puppet who is in power, or a puppet with a little autonomy, Hou Kameyama can still carry it clearly.

Of course, the Ming army still has conditions, that is, Prince Tai Zinai, who studied in the Ming Dynasty, is the princess, that is, the first heir to the throne of the king of Japan.

For this, Gokameyama didn't resist much, because in the history of Japan, there is a tradition of queens, and this is his own daughter after all.

Soon, with the signing of the Supplementary Treaty for Tomorrow's Trade and Navigation, the islands and key areas around Japan, as well as the most important of the Iwami Silver Mine and the Sado Gold Mine, came into the hands of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming army began to drive prisoners of war to excavate the Iwami Silver Mountain, a giant silver mountain that would occupy one-third of the future world's production and nearly nine-tenths of the world's current output.

The continuous supply of silver also provided the foundation for Jiang Xinghuo's monetary reform.

In the seventh year of Yongle, the Ming Dynasty officially began monetary reform.

The Daming treasure banknotes that began to be issued during the Hongwu Dynasty era have become a thing of the past.

Ming Dynasty from the north and south of the Zhili, plans to take three years to complete the nationwide exchange of banknotes, the new issue of the treasure banknote called "big clear silver treasure banknote", the same mulberry paper as the printing material, but in order to meet the needs of the banknote miniaturization, changed to six inches long, three inches wide.

The upper end of the ticket is six Chinese characters of "big understanding silver treasure banknote", the amount of treasure banknote is written in the middle, of course, considering that many people are illiterate, so intimate at the lower end of the treasure banknote, according to the face value of the corresponding string of copper coins, surrounded by dragon patterns and sea water patterns.

As for the content at the bottom, it is still Lao Zhu's classic quotation that has been slightly changed into a new version.

"The Daming Bank allowed the printing of Daqing silver treasure banknotes, which were used in circulation with copper coins, and the forgers were beheaded, and the accusers were rewarded with two taels of silver, and the prisoners were still given property. Printed on ×, ×, Yongle ×. ”

The currency exchange ratio of Daming treasure banknotes and Daming silver treasure banknotes is two to one, which is not to evaporate the wealth of the people, but in fact, Daming treasure banknotes are now exchanged for copper coins, and they can only be exchanged for copper coins with half of the face value of the banknotes.

And this is already the effect that Jiang Xinghuo has spent six years to achieve through means such as Daming treasury bonds, salt in banknotes, etc.

If there was no intervention from Jiang Xinghuo, the Daming treasure banknote now worth 1,000 wen would be exchanged for dozens of copper coins, even if it burned high incense, the officials would have to change the copper coins as soon as they were issued or a few people back in line, and the copper coins in their hands would have to be much less.

Throughout the process of currency reform, Jiang Xinghuo also did not forget his original intention, and basically followed his grand plan when he gave a lecture in prison, that is, instead of providing the service of exchanging silver and silver banknotes for silver in accordance with the standards of the Yuan Dynasty's gold and silver leveling treasury, but using Daqing silver banknotes and copper coins as legal tender, and gold and silver were only regarded as precious metals and did not have the status of legal tender.

That is, silver treasure banknotes can buy silver, silver can not buy silver treasure banknotes, and official silver exchange is not provided.

In this way, in the case that Japanese silver is hoarded by the Daming Bank and not imported into the country, the domestic silver price is basically constant due to the small annual output of the domestic silver mine, even if someone buys silver for cellaring with silver treasure banknotes, the Daming Bank can sell at any time, so it will not affect the price of silver, and the domestic silver price has formed a stable currency anchor.

In order to meet the development needs of the entire Daming economy, the bank of Daming Bank will also strictly control the amount of silver put into the market by the bank to affect inflation after referring to the economic growth situation every year.

Jiang Xinghuo said these truths in the edict, summed up in nothing more than two points, the first point is to prevent the normal rise in the price of domestic silver in Daming because of "scarcity is expensive", it is necessary to put a certain amount of silver in Daming Bank every year for balancing, so that the domestic silver price in Daming can remain in a very small fluctuation range, so as to stabilize the currency anchor; The second point is that Daming Bank should control the over-issuance or suspension of currency through the price of the currency anchor according to the changes in the ability of Daming economy to create real value.

In the case that Japanese silver did not enter the domestic market of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty began to use trade means to kill all sides and establish monetary hegemony through the Japanese silver obtained at low cost.

Not only can the Ming Dynasty now allow the official and private trade fleets to earn foreign profits through fist goods such as silk, tea, porcelain, cotton, textiles, etc., but the Ming officials can also use the cheap silver from the inventory of the Ming Bank to buy foreign goods that the Ming could not produce at a very low cost.

Because for foreign merchants, silver was a natural currency that could be used for trade settlements, and there was nothing that was unrecognized from the Timurid Khanate to France.

They didn't know how easy it was for Daming to get this silver, but if they did, they probably didn't care, because the silver was also valuable in their hands.

In the seventh year of Yongle, Zheng He's fleet came to Europe for the second time, landed on the Apennine Peninsula, and at the same time deposed Gregory XII and Benedict XIII, signed the Peace of Pisa, and made the sensible Alexander V the new pope.

In the eighth year of Yongle, the Uliangha tribe (Duoyan Sanwei) who encroached on the territory of the Jurchens gradually became stronger, not only destroying the harmonious situation of the tribes of Nuer Gandusi, but even having an attempt to be nomadic in Liaodong, and in the Liaodong field to carry out snooping, cunning is so, the crime is tolerable. Today, I will send a special message that if you can repent of your sins, you will atone for your previous sins, otherwise you will send troops to rebel, and it will be difficult to pursue repentance."

The Uliang Habu disagreed, and Zhu Di launched the second northern expedition, and the Uliang Habu was defeated and scattered in the valley.

In this battle, the Ming army punished dozens of Wuliangha tribe thieves, beheaded 10,000 people, captured its tribal population, burned its baggage, and collected its cattle and sheep and returned.

Zhu Di's second northern expedition to the Wuliang Habu was actually the consequence that the Jurchens had to bear for ploughing and sweeping the caves, after all, the Han people in this place could not immigrate in large numbers for the time being, and the Wuliang Habu had been recuperating under the protection of the Ming Dynasty since the Hongwu Dynasty, and it had been a large population for forty years, and it was too normal to have this kind of thing under the pressure of the population. However, the Ming Empire is now in its prime, and there is still no need to pay any price for beating the small Wuliang Habu.

In the ninth year of Yongle, Zheng He's fleet came to Europe for the third time, landed in France, quelled the protests against the import of cotton textiles from the Ming Dynasty, and after burning the Louvre, guillotined the crazy French king Charles VI on the streets of Paris, and Zheng He made Jean de Valois, Duke of Turaine, thirteen years old, the fifth king of the French dynasty of Valois.

In the tenth year of Yongle, the Ming Dynasty completely completed important reform measures such as clearing the fields and measuring the gentry, paying grain in one piece, and exchanging money throughout the country.

In the twelfth year of Yongle, due to the first northern expedition to the Tatars, the Warat Department took the opportunity to develop rapidly, and in the eleventh year of Yongle, it was stationed in the Yuqu River to peep into the Central Plains, and the Tatar Department was also born and gathered for several years, and Arutai also returned to most of the blood, in order to solve the threat on the grassland, Zhu Di was determined to conquer again.

In February of the twelfth year of Yongle, the Ming army set out from Beijing, on the third day of the first month of June, Arutai slipped fast, the Ming army did not catch the Tatar department, but defeated the scout cavalry of the Warat Department at the mouth of the Three Gorges, and caught the tongue, on the seventh day of the sixth month, the Ming army marched to Belan and suddenly lost temperature, the Warat army never clashed with the Ming army, the swollen Warat Department with 40,000 people relying on the mountain to resist in three ways, Zhu Di sent Zhu Gaoxu to lead three thousand battalions of cavalry to lure the enemy soldiers out of the mountain, and then ordered the Shenji battalion of the Liusheng Department to launch artillery bombardment, and he also personally led the iron cavalry into the enemy formation, and the Wara army was defeated and retreated, The Ming army took advantage of the situation to pursue, killing tens of thousands of enemies, and the battle was heavily damaged, and did not dare to commit the border for many years after that.

In the thirteenth year of Yongle, Zheng He's fleet set sail again.

This time, the size of Zheng He's fleet reached an unprecedented 420 huge ships, but the number of people was only 23,000, which was basically the same as the previous times.

The plan for this voyage was to escort back part of the fleet led by Wang Jinghong once it reached the Americas to obtain high-yield crops, while Zheng He's fleet continued to carry out the mission of circumnavigating the world, and the fleet had enough supplies to use for three years.

Also in this year, the situation in the Ming Dynasty also changed drastically.

——————

The early spring of the thirteenth year of Yongle, Nanjing.

The night was like ink, covering the East Palace deeply.

In the room of the East Palace, there was only a lone lamp on the desk, flickering with a faint light, barely dispelling the surrounding darkness.

The crown prince Zhu Gaoxu sat in front of the desk, his figure looked particularly heavy in the dim light, and his eyes flashed with anger at this time, as if he wanted to condense all his dissatisfaction into a real flame.

"Teacher!"

Zhu Gaoxu clenched his fists, and the joints were faintly white, showing the excitement in his heart.

Not long ago, the army of the Third Northern Expedition returned to Nanjing, and he was severely reprimanded by Zhu Di for being late to welcome the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di and accused of failing to supervise the country.

This blow is undoubtedly heavy for Zhu Gaoxu, who has worked hard for these years, and he feels that his dignity has been ruthlessly trampled on by Zhu Di, and he is simply being played like a monkey.

"Teacher, over the years, how much effort and effort have I put in for the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Gaoxu's voice was very low, as if it was squeezed out from the depths of his heart.

"The Battle of Jingjing, the Northern Expedition to Tatar, the Western Imperial Timur, and the Eastern Expedition to Japan. How many times I have been in danger, how many times I have fought bloodily, I have suffered for my father in this life, and I have won today's status. However, my father was so strict with me because of a little thing, and even wanted to deprive me of my position as a prisoner. ”

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes even faintly flashed traces of tears, he felt that his efforts were not duly rewarded, but were ruthlessly hit, and he was very indignant.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu, the darkest and unseemly side of his heart was exposed to his most trusted teacher.

His heart was filled with a desire for supreme power and resentment towards Zhu Di.

As the crown prince and master, Jiang Xinghuo, who came to see him, quietly listened to Zhu Gaoxu's story.

At this time, Jiang Xinghuo had already grown a beard, and he stroked his beard and asked.

"And what do you want to do?"

"It's a big deal, come to Xuanwu Gate again!"

Zhu Gaoxu stood up suddenly, if he wasn't afraid of making too many movements, he might even have lifted the table.

"Calm down."

Jiang Xinghuo reprimanded: "What strength does Li Shimin have, what strength do you have?" I'm afraid that if I can't rush in, I will be captured! ”

"What then?"

"I told you that night fourteen years ago."

Zhu Gaoxu gradually calmed down from his anger, and in his mind, he recalled that night fourteen years ago.

That night in the edict prison, Jiang Xinghuo asked him who he admired the most, the first time he lied when he answered, he said that he admired Zhu Di the most, and the second time he answered, he revealed his true thoughts in his heart, admitting that he was two and martial arts, so he admired Tang Taizong Li Shimin the most, but Li Shimin killed his brother and imprisoned his father, but he didn't dare to tell others this idea.

And what Jiang Xinghuo told him was that he would always follow Li Shimin's personality.

"Let you read so many history books, then let me ask you, on June 3, the ninth year of Tang Wude, the day before the Xuanwumen Change, Li Yuan asked Li Shimin, Fu Yi, who explained the astrological phenomena, told him, 'Taibai sees Qin, and the king of Qin should have the world', what did Li Shimin do?"

In fact, this is the darkest moment in Li Shimin's life, even on the eve of the Weishui Alliance, he was not forced to do this, on the one hand, the Qin Palace, which was about to be disintegrated, on the other hand, Li Yuan doubted himself.

Zhu Gaoxu thought for a while and said: "Li Shimin only said that he didn't know what was going on, and said that Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji had an affair with the harem concubines. ”

"Then I'll tell you again, you are different from Li Shimin."

"Don't twist your temper with the emperor, you are stubborn, he will only be more stubborn."

"I pleaded guilty, and then went to the palace to resign from my position as a prisoner."

The change has reached this point, it is already a fact that no one can change, and as long as Zhu Gaoxu does not make stupid mistakes, wait another seven or eight years, everything will be completely free of suspense, and history will be directed in the opposite direction by Jiang Xinghuo.

Jiang Xinghuo sighed deeply, but if he couldn't stop Zhu Gaoxu's impulse, then the ending would be a tragedy repeating history.

At this time, he really hoped that Zhu Gaoxu could stay rational and calm, and not be carried away by anger.

In the end, Zhu Gaoxu's clenched fist slowly loosened again.

"Teacher, I understand."

——————

Jiang Xinghuo left the East Palace and returned to his mansion.

As the most prominent figure in the Ming court, his huge mansion in the core area of Nanjing has been completed for many years.

As Wang Bin slowly closed the heavy side door, the hustle and bustle of the outside world was also cut off, leaving only the quiet and cold silence in the courtyard of the deep house.

The mansion was sparsely lit, with only a few lanterns swaying in the night breeze, emitting a faint and soft glow, like a little starlight, sprinkled on the floor tiles.

Jiang Xinghuo walked quietly, in the courtyard, the rockery stood quietly, the pond was silent, and even the old trees seemed to be in deep thought, standing silently in the night.

There is a faint smell of sandalwood in the air, intertwined with the coolness of the night, which makes people feel an indescribable serenity, and occasionally a few melodious flutes can be heard in the distance.

"Teacher."

Yu Qian greeted him.

The seventeen-year-old boy Lang was dressed in a blue regular dress, the fabric was not gorgeous but cleanly washed, revealing a bit of bookishness, and his figure looked thinner and taller under the slight swaying light, revealing an indomitable energy.

Jiang Xinghuo looked over and was stunned for a moment, his eyes were full of himself back then.

"Wen Shu is finished? Come with me. ”

Yu Qian nodded.

In this mansion, time seems to have frozen, Jiang Xinghuo and Yu Qian's figures loom in the dim light, Jiang Xinghuo paced slowly, as if savoring this rare tranquility and ease.

However, in his figure, there is a vague revelation of an indescribable loneliness.

"I am Qingdu Shanshuilang, and the Heavenly Sect is divided and mad.

It has been granted to the rain and the wind, and the tired clouds are borrowed from the moon.

Thousands of poems, thousands of wines, how many times have you looked at the Hou Wang?

The jade building Jin Que returned lazily, and inserted plum blossoms to get drunk in Luoyang. ”

Jiang Xinghuo stopped in front of the bamboo forest in the cloister, bowed his head and groaned.

He raised his head and looked at the disciples beside him: "I originally wanted to live this life, but the white-clothed prime minister accidentally became a real prime minister, and after so many years of being trapped in the cage, I don't know when I will be able to return to nature." ”

The exhaustion in Jiang Xinghuo's tone was almost undisguised, although he was in a high position, he was always a lonely person.

Only at this moment, those struggles for power and status, and those intrigues in the court, become unattainable.

Yu Qian thought about it, and just said: "I read history books, and I often think about it in my spare time, I don't know if Zhuge Wuhou is out of Qishan Mountain, and takes a break in the thatched cottage in Chengdu, but there will be a day of exhaustion, taking a nap and dreaming that he is still a young man who was in Nanyang Longzhong and slept soundly until the sun was high?" ”

"The world is flowing with water, and it is a dream, and there are about it."

"That's tiring."

Jiang Xinghuo smiled bitterly: "How can there be a reason not to be tired?" A country's military and national affairs are all shouldered on their shoulders, but the fire in their hearts has not been extinguished, and they have to hold on. ”

Yu Qian suddenly smiled and said: "Then the teacher should be a good example, if I have such a day in the future, when I think of today, I will have the strength to carry the burden of 10,000 catties." ”

"Good, good!"

Jiang Xinghuo patted him on the shoulder, showing a rare smile: "You have this ambition, it couldn't be better." ”

"Is the teacher still upset?"

"Much better."

Jiang Xinghuo continued to move forward: "It's just that things are people, so friends wither, it's inevitable to sigh." ”

Daming has changed a lot over the years, and the people around Jiang Xinghuo have also changed a lot.

He has the ability to reach the sky, but after all, he can't beat time.

Yuan Heng, the secretary of Taichang Temple, was in Yongle for eight years and died at the age of seventy-five.

Mr. Zheng Shan, Gao Xunzhi, held on to his breath and completed the masterpiece "History of the Spring and Autumn Period", which was divided into economic and historical streams, and died of illness at the age of 70 in the tenth year of Yongle.

Gao Xunzhi's old friend, Mao Dafang, who had played "hide and seek" with Ji Gang for many years, was also captured by Jinyiwei in Jiangbei in the same year.

Kong Xilu also succeeded in developing penicillin at the end of this year, and then drove west at the age of 85.

The successive deaths of these old friends inevitably brought quite negative emotions to Jiang Xinghuo, especially when the old monk also embarked on a fleet sailing around the world, I don't know if he can see each other again, which also made Jiang Xinghuo's mood more and more gloomy.

And Jingqing's two daughters have been raised by him, one is married to Zhu Zhanji, and the other is married to Zhu Gaoxu's eldest son Zhu Zhanji.

Sister Jiang Xuan also has a good home, married to the neighbor Xu Jingchang, the two met as a teenager, and now the husband and wife are in love, Dingguo Gong Xu Jingchang is not only his disciple, but also one of the most important supporters, although Jiang Xinghuo is reluctant, it is not easy to say anything.

The little beggar who picked up in the snow back then, also became a monk of the Great Heavenly Realm Temple, this time with Yao Guangxiao went to sea together, halfway in Nantianzhu to learn Buddhist scriptures, I don't know how long it will take to come back.

What made Jiang Xing angry the most was that his aunt also died of illness at the beginning of spring.

When Jiang Xinghuo had the impression more than ten years ago, my aunt's lungs had been bad, and she had been coughing badly, and she had taken a lot of medicines and supplements over the years, but there was no improvement. When he was critically ill, he even used penicillin, which had just been developed, but it still didn't help.

Many people have left his life, which makes Jiang Xinghuo even more invisible.

Jiang Xinghuo was originally a traveler in the long river of time and space, he was already used to this kind of loneliness, but this time he abandoned the boat and went ashore, he met too many people, and also had a lot of beauty and concern, so that he invested too much emotion and expectation, just like the traveler in "The Story of the Peach Blossom Spring", when he faded from the prosperity again and became alone, there was a kind of loneliness that could not be hidden.

He's changed a lot, but there's a lot more he can't change.

Therefore, with the intensification of the struggle in the court, Jiang Xinghuo inevitably felt exhausted.

But there are some things he can't tell Yu Qian.

Yu Qian is going to participate in the imperial examination this year, and he has already won two yuan, and now the imperial examination has been revised after joining the Xunzi doctrine and the re-annotation of the Six Classics, and the homework burden is quite large.

Moreover, thanks to Jiang Xinghuo's support, science has gradually developed, a large number of schools and research institutions have been established, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, geography and other disciplines have shown a trend of vigorous development and integration with practice, and the trend of positivism has continued to spread among the intellectuals.

Yu Qian is also very interested in these things, so Yu Qian actually seems to be busier than him every day, from morning to night.

Jiang Xinghuo, who was in a slightly better mood, told Yu Qian to rest early and prepare well for this year's imperial examination, so he changed his clothes and went out.

He still has friends to talk to.

Fortunately, Jinglong did not sleep.

Li Jinglong really didn't sleep, not being dragged up from bed by Jiang Xinghuo.

Mochou Lake, painting on a boat.

"The water is surging and the mountains are stacked, where is the young Zhou Lang? Unconsciously ashes disappeared, poor Huang Gai turned injured.

The broken Cao's canopy is extinct for a while, and the river water of the fierce soldiers is still hot, so as to teach me to be miserable!

This is not the heroic blood that the river has shed inexhaustibly for 20 years! ”

Li Jinglong, who was relieved of his post as commander of the Ming Army stationed in Japan, was already slightly drunk at this time, staggered to the dancing girl, and sang the Yuan song with a wine glass.

Sometimes Jiang Xinghuo really envies Li Jinglong, the so-called "born as a relative of the emperor and the country, and grew up to be a wanderer", he is now forty-six years old, not to mention the proper maintenance, he can still insist on the heartless night flute, what stands out is that he has a good attitude and doesn't want to do so much.

"Jiang ~ Lang!"

Li Jinglong saw Jiang Xinghuo coming, and called in a joking tone.

"Brother Jiujiang." Jiang Xinghuo arched his hand.

Li Jinglong personally set the wine, and the two sat down on the low couch next to the painting boat.

Seeing that Jiang Xinghuo seemed to have something on his mind, Li Jinglong didn't ask, just continued to sing his "King Guan Goes to the Meeting Alone".

"If you want to live the sun and the moon in ancient and modern times, we are also sick! Time is like a horse whipping, and the floating world is like falling flowers and flowing water.

If you want to establish a meritorious career in ancient and modern times, there are also Shun five people and Han Sanjie? ”

The moonlight shined through the window lattice, and Li Jinglong only cared about pouring wine for Jiang Xinghuo.

"The two dynasties are separated by several years, and they don't pay those who can see, but they grow old early.

Drink a few glasses of heart, bring the wine, and stay drunk all night. ”

The two clinked glasses, and Jiang Xinghuo smiled bitterly: "It would be nice if I could really get drunk all night." ”

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Xinghuo drank until the cup was dry, but he was not half drunk, he just stayed up until the middle of the moon, but he was a little sleepy.

The two leaned on the couch and stared at the moon outside the window in a daze, and no one spoke for a long time.

"What's going on in Japan now?"

"The East and the West stand side by side, there is no year and no big war, no month and no small war, I have already explained to the British Gong Zhang Fu."

Jiang Xinghuo nodded, and didn't ask again, Japan's Warring States Period has arrived in advance, and with the intervention of the Ming Army stationed in Japan, reunification is absolutely impossible, and any force with this sign will be ruthlessly suppressed by the Ming Dynasty.

And Zhang Fu has now grown into the pillar of the younger generation of the Ming army, after serving as the commander of the Ming army in Annan and experiencing two northern expeditions, he finally attacked the British duke, and this time the commander of the Ming army stationed in Japan is also a matter of course.

It's just that the contradictions between sea and land have initially manifested themselves in today's Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, and Li Jinglong was relieved of his post as commander of the Ming Army stationed in Japan.

And Zhang Fu was also quite alienated from Zhu Gaochu, but was very close to Zhu Gaochi.

In short, the governor's office of the five armies is also infighting, and the annual military expenditure is all that, and the shipbuilding base is given to the naval division, and the army division will make armor and swords less. Of course, the new flintlock guns and cardboard shell fixed ammunition are such things as sea and land rush to get them.

"Are you still thinking about the affairs of the DPRK?"

"How can you not want to?"

Jiang Xinghuo looked at Li Jinglong beside him, and at some point, the other party's sideburns also had a few strands of gray hair.

"Up and down, the contradictions are getting deeper and deeper, and they are becoming more and more awkward."

The main trade road network in China has been built, from the south to the north by a main road through, and there are capillary-like branch trade roads next to it, the cement pavement not only brings convenient traffic, but also brings a huge increase in trade volume and efficient transportation of goods.

In terms of overseas trade, the merchant ships of the Ming Dynasty have spread all over the world, from the Ottomans to Europe to Japan, and the annual tariff income brought to the Ming Dynasty has exceeded the total fiscal revenue ten years ago.

The Ming controlled all the key waterways on the route, established a fleet anchorage with overseas bases and fortresses as the core, and this time also began to explore South America in an attempt to complete a global voyage.

The cake is getting bigger and bigger, but there are more and more contradictions.

The new social classes of merchants, townspeople, and factory owners began to seek a voice to match their wealth, and the opening up of the world also made it more and more difficult for the imperial court to govern the people.

The decline of Cheng Zhu Lixue means that the liberal mind and the practical science that have been applied to the world have once again restored the three-legged state, and various deviant ideas have also begun to appear.

For the imperial power, the emergence of these new things has begun to cause visible damage to the foundation of the imperial power, so the conservatives who intend to reverse the reform have repeatedly gained power in many incidents, and the Qi Wang family within the reform faction has also used these things to constantly put pressure on Jiang Xinghuo.

But so what?

At this time, Jiang Xinghuo was facing the same situation as Zhu Gaochi in his previous life.

There is no other way but to endure.

When Zhu Gaoxu was extremely angry, he was able to blurt out "Xuanwumen again" in the East Palace, but Jiang Xinghuo knew very well that this was impossible.

Zhu Di is not Li Yuan.

In other words, Zhu Di is not his enemy.

Jiang Xinghuo's feelings for Zhu Di are very complicated, it is Zhu Di who has changed the trajectory of his life, without Zhu Di's support, there will definitely be no changes in today's Ming Dynasty, although the two use each other, although there are constant contradictions, but after more than ten years, no matter how you say it, it does not have to be a life-and-death situation.

And Jiang Xinghuo knew very well that this Yongle Emperor, sitting in that position, was also helpless.

Now that the merits of "governing the Tang and Song dynasties and the Han and Tang dynasties" are in sight, the change of the law is irreversible, and the hidden dangers of the change law to the imperial power are also gradually revealed.

Queen Xu has been dead for many years, and Zhu Di's mental state has not improved, but is worse than Jiang Xinghuo, and he is even more irritable during this time.

What can we do besides suppression?

This situation may only last until Zhu Di dies of natural causes to be relieved.

Poisoning this kind of thing, Ashikaga Yoshishi has the conditions to do it, it does not mean that Zhu Gaoxu has the conditions to do it, after all, the palace environment of the Ming Dynasty is not the era of the Ming Immortal Sect, and now in the Yongle Dynasty, Zhu Di's diet and daily life are strictly controlled and absolutely safe.

Besides, don't look at Zhu Gaoxu's shouting, but if he really wants to make him attack his father with the deepest feelings, Zhu Gaochu will definitely not be able to do it, so Zhu Gaoxu will never forget the Xuanwu Gate Li Shimin After the change in Xuanwu Gate, but Li Yuan paid a good tribute as the emperor, Li Yuan scolded him, and he didn't dare to fight back if he had a guilty conscience.

However, although the current situation is bad, it is not enough to risk the death of a mutiny.

Maybe for Zhu Gaoxu, the authority, his father was too strict, making him feel that his position as the crown prince was about to be removed, but in fact, from Jiang Xinghuo's point of view, Zhu Di was certainly violent, but according to the historical experience of his previous life, he only needed a "forbearance" formula.

As long as there is no mutiny, Zhu Di will not abolish the prince.

"My aunt has died, and I have made up my mind. It's time to get some rest back to Jingting Mountain. ”

Jiang Xinghuo told Li Jinglong his plans, his aunt treated him very well, like a mother, according to the etiquette of this era, Jiang Xinghuo has every reason to go back to keep filial piety, as for how long, it all depends on how long he plans to avoid the political whirlpool that is getting deeper and deeper in the Yongle Dynasty.

As for the love, it is impossible to win the love.

After more than 10 years of development, the current Ming Dynasty has formed a system, such as the examination law, the gentry integrated payment, accounting law, social security, and improved education. All the reform of the law has been on the right track, even without Jiang Xinghuo's intervention, as long as it continues to develop along the original track, it will not take the wrong path.

"Do you have any regrets over the years?" Li Jinglong suddenly asked.

Jiang Xinghuo suddenly felt a little sleepy, looking at the dusky moonlight, thinking about it, he has really done a lot of things over the years, and he is not particularly sorry for anyone, which is not really regretful.

It's just that the moment he closed his eyes, a shadow suddenly appeared in Jiang Xinghuo's mind.

He only learned about the events of that year after Queen Xu died of illness, and at that time he was going to travel to Jiangnan together, but it was Xu Huizu who pulled Xu Miaojin to kneel in front of the tablet of Xu Da, the king of Zhongshan, and said something, which changed Xu Miaojin's mind, not what pressure Zhu Di gave him.

But if you miss it, you miss it after all.

There are always regrets in life, but they are all the paths they choose.

Seeing that Jiang Xinghuo didn't reply, the snoring gradually started, Li Jinglong rubbed his eyebrows, got up and put on the old thin jacket for him, sat on the couch, and quietly looked at the sleeping Jiang Xinghuo.

Li Jinglong knows very well that Jiang Xinghuo's personality is different from him, he can have wine today and get drunk today, Jiang Xinghuo can't, after drinking so much wine, Jiang Xinghuo can't relieve his sorrows.

Pain is the background color of Jiang Xinghuo.

Li Jinglong struck the knot with his hand, and silently hummed in his heart the words that Jiang Xinghuo sold him when they first met on the Qinhuai River.

"Love him Mingyue is good, and being haggard is also related to the intermittent dream of the skirt. How much hatred does the west wind have, it can't blow away the eyebrows~"

(End of chapter)