3rd year of Jiazhen in Japan, 1237 A.D., April, Japan, Kanto, Kamakura.

It is the season of cherry blossoms in Japan, and as the political center of the Kamakura shogunate, Kamakura also faces the sea, and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom everywhere. or clusters of green; is also lonely, a little red in the green bushes, each with its own charm.

But for the officials of the Kamakura shogunate, this is the most uninteresting season. Because, the Great Song Dynasty, which was covered with water, was going to use troops against Japan.

During the Sui Dynasty, the three kingdoms of the Korean Peninsula, Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla, were all vassal states of the Central Plains, and they were envoys to pay tribute and accept canonization. Japan also had tribute exchanges, but in its diplomacy with the Sui Dynasty, Japan did not want to be regarded as a vassal state by the Sui Dynasty, but wanted to maintain a reciprocal status.

In the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty was strong, and Japan was officially changed from "Wa State" to "Japan". Japan sent "envoys to the Tang Dynasty" to imitate the Tang system, establish a centralized system, introduce the uniform field system and rent regulation, and create the Bantian system; Implement the household registration and bookkeeping system, and refer to the "Tang Order" to write the "Dabao Order" code; In accordance with the layout of Luoyang, Ping'an and Pingcheng are planned. Japan's economy and culture developed.

After the decline of the Tang Dynasty, after the end of the 9th century, although the sending of Tang envoys stopped, there was a wave of Chinese merchants floating to Japan, and economic exchanges remained prosperous.

After the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and the Two Song Dynasties, Japan developed rapidly, and the Central Plains Dynasty was also politically cold and hot, but until the Kamakura Shogunate period, it never declared itself a vassal to the Central Plains, nor did it send envoys to pay tribute.

The Kamakura Shogunate was the beginning of the Japanese shogunate regime, and its founder was the Japanese military commander Minamoto Yoritomo. Minamoto Yoritomo became a figure in Japan's political situation after destroying his political opponents, but he did not take over the government of Kyoto, but established and consolidated his own power in the Kanto region, and chose Kamakura, a dangerous situation, as a base area, so it was historically called the Kamakura shogunate.

The shogunate rose, and the Japanese imperial family was unwilling to lose power and waited for an opportunity to fight back. In 1221, the Imperial Nobles led by Emperor Toba launched a war known as the "Shoku War". However, the Japanese imperial family was defeated by the Kamakura shogunate, and Emperor Gotoba, Emperor Tsuchigomon, and Emperor Shuntoku were exiled by the Kamakura shogunate's ruler, Hojo Yasutoki, thus establishing the absolute superiority of the shogunate.

The establishment of the Kamakura shogunate marked the end of the era in which the central aristocracy held the de facto rule of Japan, and the samurai, who had a very low status during the aristocratic era, stepped onto the stage of history.

Until the brother-in-law of the emperor of the Song Dynasty was killed in the port of Hakata in Japan, the Japanese side did not think so, and did not send an envoy to the Song Dynasty. And it wasn't until the Great Song Dynasty broke the Mongolian iron cavalry that Japan had its first envoy to worship.

It was not until the Great Song Dynasty court "evacuated overseas Chinese", interrupted Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, and interrupted trade, and it was not until the Great Song Dynasty newspapers were boiling and hanging overseas, and the Kamakura shogunate, which was accustomed to arrogance and self-reliance, suddenly discovered that war was imminent.

As the news of the spy became more and more comprehensive, the Japanese shogunate realized that the situation was serious and might be enough to affect Japan's national fortunes.

Because of this, the Kamakura shogunate and the Japanese imperial family, which still had some appeal, were finally able to put aside their old suspicions and sit together again to discuss how to resist the invasion of the Song army.

In the Kamakura shogunate, in the government hall, several Japanese ministers knelt around and knelt, and everyone frowned.

The black strong man who is nearly forty years old is called Kujo Taoist, and he is the third-generation head of the Kujo clan, one of the five Japanese public families, and he is also the Japanese national regent, under one person, above ten thousand people. His third son, Kujo Yoritsune, was the Kamakura shogun, his father-in-law was the Kanto Shinji Saionji Kokyo, who was known as the "heavy weapon of the world", and his grandson was Emperor Shijo, the emperor of Japan. The pinnacle of the power of the Japanese national government, samurai, and temple shrines was controlled by the Kujo Taoist sect.

Another thin sixty-year-old man is the father-in-law of the Kujo Taoist Saionji Gongjing, the Minister of the Imperial Government of Japan and the Kanto Shinji, who is also a high-ranking and hot-looking man.

Kujo Taoism and Saionji Kokei represented the Japanese court, while another man dressed as a samurai, who was nearly half a hundred years old, was Hojo Yasutoki, the ruler of the Kamakura shogunate, the de facto controller of the Japanese state.

Another samurai with a serious face in his forties was a friend of Rokuboro's Yoshifu Utto, another important minister of the Kamakura shogunate.

The Kamakura Shogunate's Shogunate was dedicated to handling lawsuits related to the Imperial Family's possession, and was based on the principle of prompt and fair adjudication. Utsu was a brave and good friend, and was very famous among the imperial family, and was also one of the henchmen of the shogunate's ruling Hojo Taitoki.

The Kamakura shogunate set up the "Rokupora", or "shogunate office in Kyoto", and the Japanese imperial court set up the position of "Kanto Shinji", that is, "Kanto liaison officer", which was the liaison between the Kanto shogunate and the Kyoto court. When the Japanese imperial court had something to do, it passed on government affairs according to the path of the Kyoto Imperial Court-Kanto Shinji-Rokubora-Kamakura Shogunate.

The shogunate and the Japanese court, which were originally full of estrangement, and the four actual controllers of Japan, who were at odds with each other, now had to sit together, all because they felt that the Song army was menacing, and they had to work together, and Annai had to fight outside first.

"The news that the six Polo spies have returned, and the Great Song Dynasty has been increasing its troops in Goryeo recently, and the number of sailors has reached 100,000. The newspapers of the Great Song Dynasty said that there were still 100,000 foot soldiers who would march eastward one after another. 200,000 troops, the Song army is menacing! ”

Six Polo led all the friends to speak, and his face was full of sadness.

At this moment, he has extremely complicated feelings. Originally, the Japanese court wanted to show weakness to the Song Dynasty, but the Song Dynasty's appetite was too great for them to accept.

"The reason why the Great Song Dynasty went north to use troops this time was because Zhou An, the uncle of the Great Song Dynasty, was killed in Hakata, Japan. It is better to send envoys again, behead Xingbian and Guangsuke, pay compensation, and make peace with the Great Song Dynasty, so that Japan can avoid war as much as possible. ”

The Seki Kujo Taoist looked at his father-in-law, the Xiyuan Temple Scripture, next to him, and spoke softly.

Regent is the combined name of the regent and Guan Bai. When the emperor was young, the Imperial Minister was appointed regent on behalf of the Imperial Minister. After the emperor became older and became pro-government, the regent was renamed Sekihaku and assisted the emperor in taking charge of political affairs. Later, the regency and the sekibai gradually mixed, and it was called the regent.

The grandson of Kujo Daoist is Emperor Shijo of Japan, and he is only six years old now, and the Japanese court is completely controlled by Kujo Taoism.

"Do you want me Japan to submit to the Song Dynasty? Yaga! Kujo, where is your blood? ”

Dealing with court affairs all year round, as well as the emperor and other matters, the shogunate ruling Hojo Taishi, who was already sick and exhausted, couldn't help but scold.

"Yaga! Hojo, are you going to bring Japan into war? The Song army ships were strong and artillery, all of them were tiger and wolf divisions, and even the Tatar iron cavalry were defeated by them and fled back to the grassland. Japan and the Great Song Dynasty are like three-year-old children and strong adults, how to fight? You self-righteous fool! ”

The nine Taoists have been in the top position for a long time, and no one has ever been rude to him. Coupled with the pressure of the Song army's soldiers, and the irreconcilable contradiction between the two, he couldn't help but be rude.

"Yaga! Kujo, are you going to duel with me? ”

As the ruler of the shogunate and the de facto controller of Japan, Hojo Yasutoki exploded in anger and glared at Kujo Daoist.

"Hojo, am I afraid of you? Yaga! ”

The nine Taoists did not show weakness, and it seemed to explode at one point.

"You all have to say less."

Seeing that the two of them were red-faced and red-eared, it seemed that they were about to fight, and the Xiyuan Temple Gongjing hurriedly opened his mouth to persuade him.

"It's not that easy. Now the Song army is across the Tsushima Strait, across the sea from Hakata. The steamships of the Song army were able to attack Hakata in half a day. Now to negotiate peace with the Song Dynasty, I'm afraid it's too late. ”

From the newspapers of the Song people and the heavy troops deployed by the Song army along the coast of Goryeo, he could feel that the Song Dynasty was not good at coming, and it seemed that they wanted to use troops against Japan.

Kujo Taoist and Hojo Yasutoki glanced at each other, each withdrew his gaze, and said no more.

"Hojo, you are the shogunate ruler, and you have the final say in military affairs. The army of the Song Dynasty is coming, do you have any countermeasures? ”

Xiyuan Temple Gongjing spoke softly and continued to speak softly.

Based on his understanding of Hojo Taitoki, Hojo Taitoki would definitely fight, otherwise, his prestige in the eyes of the Japanese samurai would be greatly reduced, and perhaps he would fall to the side of the Japanese court, which was by no means what the Kamakura shogunate was willing to see.

"The shogunate has ordered the landowners in all parts of Kyushu to contribute money and efforts according to the amount of land they have in their possession, and build a fortification along the Hakata coast that stretches for 50 miles to resist the landing of the Song Dynasty sailors. Today, the imperial family of Kyushu brought 50,000 samurai to Hakata and the sea in Dazaifu to meet the Song army at any time. ”

Sure enough, Hojo Yasutoki hesitated to say it.

"The Song army has 200,000, and there are steamships and firearms, and 50,000 warriors may not be enough!"

The Xiyuan Temple Gongjing shook his head, frowned and said:

"If it really doesn't work, the temples in Japan can send 30,000 monks, 10,000 cavalry, and 20,000 foot soldiers, and then they will be led by the general of Zhengyi, Kujo Yorijing, to assist the shogunate in dealing with the Song army."

The son of the Kujo Taoist and the fourth shogun of the shogunate, Kujo Yoritsune was just an ornament, but it was inspiring.

Saionji Kokyo's words surprised both Hojo Taishi and Kujo Taoists. The Kujo Taoist wanted to speak, but the Saionji Gongjing shook his head, and his eyes stopped him.

"It would be great if there were monks and soldiers to help! Thank you, Your Excellency. ”

Hojo Taitoki and Utsu looked at each other, both smiling.

The Kamakura shogunate controlled the samurai, while the Japanese court held temples and shrines firmly in its hands. Japan's three major temples, Kofuku-ji, Enryaku-ji Temple, and Ninna-ji Temple, are all in the hands of Seki Kujo Taoist and his sons. The monks are brave and ruthless, and their strength should not be underestimated. It would be great if the monks could fight.

"Saionji is right. This is a national war, and 50,000 Kyushu samurai, plus 30,000 monks, is far from enough. The shogunate was already mobilizing the imperial families of China and Kanto to go south, and the cavalry of Kanto would also go to Kyushu to fight. At that time, there will be at least more than 100,000 samurai, and 50,000 or 60,000 cavalry. ”

Hojo Yasutoki was full of enthusiasm, and he looked at Utsu Tongyou, his eyes lit up.

"Yudu Tongyou, when the time comes, you will lead the cavalry and repel the invading Song army!"

Yudu Tongyou hurriedly received the order. The topic of several people returned to the topic of how to defend the Song army.

After the deliberations were over, the Saionji Gongjing and the Kujo Taoist came out, and the two left the shogunate and left on horseback.

"Father-in-law, Hojo is going to war with the Song Dynasty, why don't you persuade him, but instead send troops to help?"

Out of the city, seeing that there was no one around, the nine Taoists asked puzzledly.

"Why persuade?"

Xiyuan Temple Gongjing smiled slightly, he looked around, and asked softly.

"If there was a war with the Song Dynasty, Japan would be in the flames of war. That would be a disaster! ”

The nine Taoists were ignorant and said in a daze.

"It was a disaster for the Kamakura shogunate, not for my Japanese court. Under the shogunate, wasn't it enough that the Japanese court was suppressed? ”

The smile on the face of the Saionji Gongjing disappeared, and he looked at the cherry blossoms all over the mountains and the blue sea in front of him, and his brows furrowed.

"The Song army is not good, and Hojo Taitoki will send all the troops of the shogunate to Kyushu to fight the Song army in a decisive battle. Regardless of whether Hojo was defeated or won, the shogunate's strength would be greatly weakened. At that time, it was my chance for the Japanese Imperial Court. ”

In the surprised gaze of the nine Taoists, the Xiyuan Temple Gongjing added another sentence in a low voice.

"Kujo, this is most likely the only chance for the imperial court! Japan should be the Japan of our public government, not the Japan of the Kamakura shogunate! ”

In Japan, we must return to the era of public aristocrats and not be manipulated by lowly martial artists.