"I didn't expect such an opportunity to fall on my head as well!"

In the Shao Er family hall, Shao Er Zhenlai ignored the national letter, but after learning the intention of the Ming Dynasty's envoy, he took the lead in reading the trade book.

From porcelain to raw silk, brown sugar, iron...... All the goods made Shao Erzhen Lai salivate.

Kyushu Island is not rich in resources, so since the Han Dynasty, the forces here have established maritime trade with the Central Plains, but due to the immaturity of shipbuilding skills, this trade route has not been taken seriously.

After the Sui and Tang envoys learned a lot of technology and brought them back to Japan, the frequency of Japanese trade with the Central Plains became more and more frequent over time.

After the Yuan Dynasty, due to the melee between the Northern and Southern Dynasties of Japan, a large number of merchants played the identity of Japanese robbers, both merchants and thieves.

Their existence also gave Chikumazen Shao Erzhen Lai a headache, but as the Daming Ping Washui Division began to encircle and suppress the Wako, the East China Sea and the Daming Sea were cleared for a while.

Because of this, Shao Er Zhenlai undoubtedly knows the strength of the Ming Sailor very well, and he thinks that he has not provoked the Ming Dynasty, so in his opinion, the national letter is not important, and trade is the most important.

After he finished reading the trade papers, he slowly opened the national letter written in both Chinese and Japanese.

It's just that in the face of the content of this national letter, Shao Erzhenlai's face changed, and he scolded: "Huailiang, that idiot! ”

The person who was scolded by Shao Er Zhenlai was Prince Huailiang, the general of the Southern Dynasty's expedition to the west who had slaughtered the envoys of the Ming Dynasty.

At the beginning, in order to solve the problem of the Japanese invaders, Zhu Yuanzhang specially sent five envoys to Japan.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang did not know that Japan was divided into the Northern and Southern Dynasties at that time, so the envoys sent undoubtedly went to the Southern Dynasties and were received by Prince Huailiang.

It's just that in the face of the Ming Dynasty, which had just established the country and succeeded in the Northern Expedition, Prince Huailiang, who was also unaware of the situation in the Central Plains, thought that Zhu Yuanzhang did not respect him, so he killed three of the five envoys.

Yang Zai and Wu Wenhua, who survived, were also detained for a long time before being released.

Faced with such a situation, Zhu Yuanzhang endured this breath and sent Laizhou Tongzhi Zhao Zhi and others again in the third year of Hongwu to edict Japan.

Although Huailiang was clear about the strength of the Ming Dynasty, he sent an envoy to the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute to the famous horses and things, and returned more than 70 people who were plundered in the two counties of Ming and Taiwan.

However, within a few days of Huailiang's good days, he abdicated under the conquest of the Ashikaga shogunate and retired to Chikugo.

In the sixteenth year of Hongwu, he died of illness in his hermitage, and he has been dead for eighteen years now.

If it weren't for the national letter of the Ming Dynasty, Shao Erzhen Lai would probably have forgotten about this loser.

But now, the Ming Dynasty clearly demanded in the letter of state that Huailiang and Japan must apologize to the Ming envoys who were killed.

If Japan is willing to apologize, then the Ming Dynasty can canonize Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as the king of Japan, and at the same time will open an exclusive market to Japan on Hideki and Sado Island, hand over a certain amount of tax silver to the shogunate, and issue 20 yuan of inter-market trade qualifications.

Shao Erzhen scolded Prince Huailiang because this loser of the Southern Dynasty actually died and left a bunch of troubles, but as for the apology, he was completely sure in his heart.

Unlike the arrogant Southern Dynasty, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu of the Northern Dynasty always wanted to join the tributary trade of the Ming Dynasty and gain the recognition of the Ming Dynasty.

As far as the young two Sadari knew, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu had been planning to send the merchant Fat Fu and the monk Zu A as envoys to the Ming Dynasty as envoys, so as to join the tributary trade of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, if the Ming Dynasty is really willing to open up trade, and it is still exclusively open to Japan, then Ashikaga Yoshimitsu will never be stingy with a few islands and rents.

As for apologizing to Daming, it was just a matter of catching a few Southern Dynasties to replace the dead ghosts.

Thinking about everything clearly, Shao Erzhen Lai immediately said to his retainer Fukuoka Jingyi: "Let the port ring the bell, let the kitchen prepare the best dishes, I will feast the angels of the Heavenly Empire!" ”

"Yes!" Fukuoka Jingyi knelt and nodded, then got up and ordered someone to go to Fukuoka Port to ring the bell.

At dusk, the bell rang and was heard from the harbor to the sea.

Hearing the bell, Zheng He prepared to go to Fukuoka to meet Shaoji Zhenyori, but his move was stopped by Yang Zhan.

"The Japanese have learned from the past, anyway, there are officials from the Ministry of Rites who are proficient in the Japanese language on the ship, so it is better to send them to negotiate."

"It's fine." Hearing Yang Zhan say this, Zheng He didn't know what to say, but an official from the Ministry of Rites came and asked for his name.

"Xiaguan Bohai Huang Wei, the word Xingyi, is the deputy envoy of the seventh grade."

A young official in his early twenties came to the deck to make a gesture, Zheng He didn't expect it to be an official from Bohai, but he didn't have any insight into it, and just told Huang Wei how to deal with it.

After hearing this, Huang Wei repeated it to Zheng He, and until Zheng He was satisfied, he went to the port of Fukuoka under the escort of ten sand boats.

Under the greeting of Fukuoka Jingyi, Huang Wei successfully landed.

It's just that in the face of the more than 200 "giants" brought by Huang Wei, Fukuoka Jingyi said embarrassedly: "Fukuoka is very safe, can the angels' guards be reduced?" ”

When Huang Wei heard this, he looked at the lineup that looked like 200 adults to 1,000 children, and turned back to Fukuoka Jingyi and said kindly: "How about this official lead twenty guards to go?" ”

"Yes, you can." Fukuoka Jingyi didn't expect the angel to speak so well, so he nodded hurriedly.

Seeing this, Huang Wei also only selected twenty navy from Liaodong to go to Shao Er's mansion with him.

Since the castle tower has not yet appeared, the residences of the guards in various places are just three or four small buildings called by the museum, and the same is true of the Shao Er clan's home hall.

However, it is still a tall house for Japan, but it is a little low for Huang Wei.

Although he was born in Bohai, Huang Wei is a serious Han Chinese, and because Zhu Gaoxu is willing to spend money, Huang Wei, like most Bohai students, has no shortage of food and clothing, and is about five feet four inches (172cm) tall.

Facing the ceiling that was almost reaching to the end, Huang Wei could only endure the discomfort, and under the leadership of Fukuoka Jingyi, he saw the young Erzhen Lai who was sitting on the main seat and was as tall as a child.

"The head of the Shao Er family, the guardian of Chikuzen Country, see His Royal Highness the Angel!"

Shao Erzhen Lai is in the middle of a struggle with the Ouchi clan at the moment, so for him, a behemoth like Da Ming is definitely a thigh that can't be thicker.

He was well aware of the importance of Chikuzen Province, and if the Ming Dynasty really wanted to establish a city in Oki and Sado Island, then the Tsushima Strait would become an obstacle for them.

At this time, if you choose to take refuge in the country of Chikuzen, then Daming will definitely choose to invest in yourself.

As long as he can still master Chikuzen Province, the shipping lanes of the Ming Dynasty will be very safe.

Shao Erzhenlai's thoughts had been guessed by Zheng He and them beforehand, after all, they had already known the predicament of the Shao Er clan from the mouths of the widows.

However, whether to accept the loyal dog of the Shao Er clan or not, you have to see how loyal this loyal dog can be.

"The deputy envoy of the Ming Rite Department is the seventh product, and on the orders of the Son of Heaven and Zheng Zheng, he came to discuss important matters with the head of the Shao Er family."

Huang Wei returned the salute, and then sat down in the lower right position under the guidance of Fukuoka Jingyi.

Although he is a Han from Bohai, Huang Wei has been learning Japanese etiquette in the Siyi Pavilion since last year, so he is very skilled in kneeling in the first place.

He didn't take the lead in speaking, because it wasn't Da Ming asking for people right now, but Japan and Shao Erzhen asking Da Ming.

Shao Erzhen Lai also understood, so he sat down in Huang Wei and said at the same time as the meal was served:

"My Shao Er clan has always admired the Celestial Empire, especially the Ming Emperor, and it is a noble existence that my Shao Er clan admires."

"It is really a blessing for me to be chosen by the angel as a place to stop this time."

Shao Erzhen is humble in his words, because he is very aware of the situation of Shao Er's clan now.

He was in his forties, and his heir, Shao Ermanzhen, had not shown any remarkable talent.

Once he unfortunately died, the young man would definitely not be able to stop the invasion of the Ouchi clan.

But if the Shaoer clan climbs the high branches of the Ming Dynasty, then I am afraid that he will not only be able to hold the position of the guardian of Chikuzen Province, but also take the position of Chikugo and Fengzen, Hizen Province, and even Kyushu Guardian.

"The head of the family has a good reputation, the reason why we chose to land in Chikuzen this time is also because of the credibility of the Shaoer family, after all, you also know that the previous Southern Dynasty didn't seem to welcome us......"

Huang Wei seemed to have something to say, and Shao Erzhen Lai also laughed when he heard this: "The Southern Dynasty that the angel said has fallen, and the situation of the Southern Dynasty royal family is not good. ”

"The Shao Er clan was also very indignant about the traitor Huai Liang of the Southern Dynasty who murdered the angels, and he also thought about rescuing the angels, but he failed because of the obstruction of the Ouchi clan."

"Is that so?" Huang Wei pretended to be surprised, but he was chuckling in his heart.

For him, who has been working in the Ministry of Rites for more than a year, Shao Erzhenlai's idea is not too obvious, it is nothing more than wanting to use the power of Da Ming to defeat the Ouchi clan.

In normal times, Huang Wei didn't bother to pay attention to Shao Erzhenlai, but now that he arrived in Japan at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, he continued to support the local guard.

If you can master the Shaoji family, then even if you can't set up a city port division in places such as Hiki and Sado, you can also set up a city port division in Chikuzen.

As soon as the opening was opened, the guardians and nobles of the entire Japan would trade with the Ming Dynasty through the city.

"I heard that the angel brought twenty exploration charms, I wonder if I can give one to the Shao Er family?"

After all, he hadn't experienced too many political struggles, and after a few words, Shao Erzhen Lai revealed his true purpose.

"This ......" Huang Wei pretended to be embarrassed, but Shao Erzhen Lai hurriedly kowtowed: "Please!" ”

"This ...... All right. Huang Wei sighed: "After the trade with the Shaoer family is over, I will talk to the envoy about it after returning to the fleet, but whether it is successful or not depends on the envoy, after all, all the forces on the ship have their favorite families." ”

"Has the Celestial Empire sent a lot of people?" Shao Erzhen Lai asked cautiously when he heard this, although he saw hundreds of Ming ships, but because of the distance, he could not judge the true number of the Lower Oriental Fleet.

"After all, our trip is to seek justice for the slaughtered adults, so the imperial court sent one of the three fleets of the navy to escort it."

"At present, there are more than 3,000 warships and 140 horse ships on the sea, and more than 20,000 people in the navy."

Huang Wei's words made Shao Er Zhenlai gasp.

He had already seen the twenty soldiers who were in charge of guarding Huang Wei just now, if there were still 20,000 people like that on the sea, then not to mention Chikuzen, even the entire Kyushu would not be able to stop this force.

"Fortunately, I chose to wait for the right time......"

At the same time, Shao Erzhen Lai couldn't help but ignite hope.

Only one of the three fleets can have such a power, and if he can get the support of the envoy, the Ouchi clan, the Maori clan, and the Shibukawa clan will have to surrender under the banner of the Shaoji clan!

"If the angel doesn't dislike it, I can give the Nokoji Island in Hakata Bay to the angel, and even if the Ashikaga shogun is unwilling to open up the Hidden Gun and Sado, the Celestial Empire can also set up a city in Nokojima."

In order to leave the power of the Ming Dynasty, Shao Er Zhenlai was even willing to hand over his sea portal to the Ming Dynasty.

Noko Island floats above Hakata Bay and blooms with flowers all year round, and although it covers an area of just over 200 acres, the island can dock thousands of boats as long as it is cleaned up a little.

Daming didn't know much about Fukuoka, so he thought that the bay near Fukuoka was Hakata Bay, but in fact Fukuoka was a region, and the town that Daming called Fukuoka was actually the Hakata area of the Fukuoka area.

However, Shao Erzhen Lai didn't plan to correct Huang Wei, anyway, they liked to call whatever they wanted, as long as they were willing to stay.

"That's so thankful."

Huang Wei also smiled when he heard this, and at the same time took out a gift list from his sleeve.

"This is a gift list from the envoy to the head of the family, please take a look at it."

Shao Erzhenlai's eyes lit up when he heard this, and Fukuoka Jingyi also hurriedly stepped forward, took the gift list with respectful hands, and handed it to Shao Erzhenlai.

Shao Erzhen took it with both hands and carefully disassembled it.

The gift list was not too thick, only a piece of thin paper, but what was written on it made Shao Erzhenlai's hands tremble.

1,000 catties of cycads and 30 pieces of silk, 200 catties of raw silk, 100 catties of brown sugar, and 100 pairs of bow horns made Shao Er Zhenlai excited in his heart.

In this era before the invention of daikai, light armor such as carcass and hasumaki began to become mainstream, and the cheap ashigaru gradually replaced the samurai on horseback as the main force in warfare.

Therefore, the gift list of 1,000 catties of cycads and 100 pairs of bow horns is a very rare and valuable item in the whole of Japan, not to mention 30 horses of silk and 100 catties of brown sugar, and 200 catties of raw silk.

Not to mention the value of silk and brown sugar, just take out the raw silk, the local raw silk in the Ming Dynasty is about 150 wen a catty, while the internal price in Japan is 1,000 wen a catty, and some areas can even be sold for 3,000 wen a catty.

These 200 catties of raw silk are worth no less than 600 yuan for Shao Er Zhenlai, which is enough to feed 200 full-time soldiers.

As for the value of this gift list, it allows Shao Er Zhenlai to support no less than a thousand full-time soldiers.

You must know that although the Shao Er family has more than 200,000 people under its rule, there are only a few thousand full-time soldiers, and Da Ming casually solved the finances of 1,000 full-time soldiers, which made Shao Er Zhenlai shocked at the same time, and his heart was more determined to grasp the idea of Da Ming's thigh.

"The angel is out of money, if there is a place where it is useful, speak as much as you like."

Shao Erzhen Lai bowed his head and bowed, with a humble posture.

Seeing this, Huang Wei only smiled and said, "Right now, the head of the family is needed to send a letter of state to the envoy and help the mission turnover." ”

"Please leave it to you!" Shao Erzhen Lai spoke resolutely, and then began to change cups with Huang Wei, trying to get closer to the two sides.

Seeing this, Huang Wei did not pretend to be high, but talked with Shao Erzhen Lai, and at the end of the banquet, the two became friends.

If it weren't for Huang Wei saying that he had to return to the fleet, Shao Er Zhenlai would even plan to leave him to rest and arrange a concubine for him.

Before leaving, Shao Er Zhenlai handed over the list of goods needed by the Shao Er family, and asked people to prepare more than 14,000 yuan for trade.

This money hollowed out the Shao Er family, but as long as the trade was successful, Shao Er Zhenlai could completely sell the goods to the countries in the southern part of Honshu Island to protect them, and he could earn tens of thousands of yuan as soon as he sold it.

If the Ming Dynasty could maintain long-term trade with him in Chikuzen, Shao Er Sada Lai would even be confident that the banner of the Shao Er clan would be planted all over Kyushu Island.

"Huang Jun, then I'll send you here, please be careful on the way, please leave the affairs of the national book and the city to me, I won't let you down."

On the dock, Shao Erzhen Lai spoke earnestly, and Huang Wei also said goodbye to him with 'sincerity' and stepped on the sand boat to return to the fleet.

In a short time, their sand boat disappeared into the night, drifting away towards the distant lights of the sea.

Seeing them go away, Shao Er Zhenlai also happily turned his head and said to Fukuoka Jingyi: "Jingyi, this time you must personally take people on a trip, and you must tell the general about the state letter and the situation of the Ming official fleet, and tell the general that the Shao Er clan firmly supports the Ming Dynasty to open a city in Yinqi and Sado." ”

"Hey!" Fukuoka Nodding his head when he heard this, he prepared to make a detour to Kyoto that night with dozens of cavalry on Japanese ponies.

In the following days, Huang Weidu traveled back and forth between the fleet and Fukuoka, and the Ming army also landed on Nogu Island, where they expanded their docks and built houses.

In the subsequent exchanges, Huang Wei also seemed to be moved by Shao Er's "sincerity", and promised to open a hidden subordinate city division on Nenggu Island, and stationed 500 Ming troops, if the Shao Er clan encountered danger, holding the Shao Er family master token could mobilize them to resist the enemy for the Shao Er clan.

However, once they are killed, the Shao Er family also needs to give a pension of fifty yuan each.

Faced with such conditions, Shao Erzhen Lai nodded in approval without a moment's hesitation, after all, in his opinion, the combat effectiveness of the five hundred Ming army was comparable to three thousand ashiba.

Anyway, he doesn't need to pay military salaries, only when they are mobilized and killed do they need to be caressed, then he can use these five hundred Ming troops as the last hole card of the Shao Er family.

I believe that with them, the Ouchi clan will not dare to be so rampant anymore.

As soon as he thought of this, he began to be complacent, and Fukuoka Nobuyoshi, who had accepted his instructions, also made a detour to Kyoto.

On May 18, Fukuoka Nobuyoshi successfully arrived at Kyoto Castle in this era.

With the establishment of the Ashikaga shogunate, Japan entered the Muromachi period, and Kyoto once again became the center of Japanese politics.

After half a century of management by the Ashikaga family, the layout of Kyoto has changed dramatically, and the entire castle is divided into two parts, Kamikyo and Shimokyo, which are divided into two parts in the north-south direction, and Nijo Street, which runs east-west, replaces Suzaku Taiji as the most important street in Kyoto.

Kamigyo is home to many noble residences, including Rinari, the residence of the emperor, while Shimogyo is the main industrial and commercial area of Kyoto.

It's not the first time that Nobuyoshi Fukuoka has been to Kyoto, but this time it's been five years since he last came to Kyoto.

Five years have passed, and Kyoto has become more prosperous, with a population of 200,000, which is considered a relatively prosperous capital even in the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, Fukuoka Jingyi has not been to Daming, but he can see the prosperity of Daming from Daming's shots.

Therefore, even after seeing the prosperity of Kyoto, Fukuoka Jingyi felt that it was not as good as Daming, and he also had the idea of going to Daming once in his lifetime.

"Please wait here for Taizheng's summons."

At the foot of Kitayama in Kyoto, when Fukuoka Nobuyoshi was taken outside the Kitayama Temple, he could see the bustling Kitayama Mountain Gate.

From the time Ashikaga Yoshimitsu exchanged his territory in Kawachi Province with the Saionji family to obtain this mountain villa, which was then called Kitayamadi, Kitayama was renamed Kitayamaden.

Although it was only the private residence of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, it was comparable in size to the imperial residence where members of the imperial family lived, and it became the political center of the Ashikaga shogunate.

Seven years ago, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu relinquished the position of shogun to his son Ashikaga Yoshinori, but he still held real power and was in charge of the affairs of Kitayama Temple.

The reason why Fukuoka Jingyi did not go to Ashikaga Yoshinori was not because Ashikaga Yoshinori had no real power, but because Ashikaga Yoshinori did not have a friendly attitude towards Daming.

In contrast, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu understood the importance of trading with the Ming Dynasty and gaining the support of the Ming Dynasty.

Fukuoka Nobuyoshi waited for a long time, and finally saw a figure walking down the mountain road.

He walked to the mountain gate and nodded to Fukuoka Jingyi: "Taizheng ordered to summon you, cheer up, and pay attention to etiquette." ”

"Yes!" Fukuoka Nodding his head, and followed the retainer to the Golden Pavilion of the Kitayama Temple.

The Golden Pavilion is built on a pond and is three stories high, the first floor is called "Hosui-in", with a plate gate on the east and west sides, and five on the north side supporting an earthen wall.

The second floor is called the Chaoyin Cave, and the third floor is called the final roof.

From afar, Fukuoka Jingyi saw the top covered with gold leaf, and he couldn't help but feel a trace of greed in his heart.

It was only after he was led into the Golden Pavilion that he immediately calmed down, and under the guidance of the samurai, he walked up to the top of the third floor, and met Ashikaga Yoshimitsu sitting on the balcony, in his early forties.

He dressed as a monk, but he was dressed in great luxury, and the tatami mats he sat on were a green pattern of weaving that only the emperor and the emperor could use, which showed his ambition.

"Retainer of the Shaoji clan, Hakata samurai Fukuoka Jingyi in Chikuzen, see Taizheng!"

Fukuoka Jingyi knelt and bowed, and after hearing this, the ordinary-looking Ashikaga Yoshimitsu pretended to pay all his attention to the pool outside the Golden Pavilion, and only after a while did he speak:

"I heard that the official ship of the Ming Dynasty docked at Hakata in Chikuzen, and you also brought their credentials?"

"Hey!" Fukuoka Jingyi took out the trade book and the Daming national book in his arms, and said at the same time as the samurai picked it up:

"This time the Ming official ship is not an ordinary envoy ship, there are more than 100 of their official ships, each of which can carry thousands of people, this time they came to open a city ship, and to Huai Liang to murder the Ming envoys."

"Therefore, there are 20,000 soldiers and horses accompanying the official ship this time!"

"......" When he heard that Daming actually brought 20,000 soldiers and horses, whether it was the samurai who received the letter of state, or the Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who was originally absent-minded, they all looked at Fukuoka Jingyi in surprise.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu turned and sat upright, and took the trade papers and letters from the samurai.

He looked at everything at a glance, frowned, and at the same time, he also gave an order to the samurai, who was still in shock: "Gather all the people of the righteous holder, the steward, the attendant office, the question office, and the government office to come to the Golden Pavilion to discuss matters." ”

"Hey!" The samurai, who came to his senses, hurriedly responded and ran out of the Golden Pavilion in a hurry.

Soon, the news of the arrival of the Ming Dynasty and the official ship fleet began to spread in Kyoto......

"Ming Taizong Record": "In May Dinghai, Zheng He sent a letter of state to the capital of Japan, and the king Daoyi heard the letter of the Heavenly Dynasty, and he was sincerely afraid, and he paused his head and said carefully. ”

(End of chapter)