Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 2306: Fengshan (III) The Diplomatic Mission Arrives in Beijing

As the first sailboat of the Japanese delegation cut through the waves and slowly sailed into Tianjin Port, the rising sun on the skyline was announcing the arrival of a new day in a solemn way.

The sea surface sparkled as if covered with broken gold, and the outline of Tianjin Port gradually became clear in the morning light. This is a busy and vibrant port, and its hustle and bustle and vitality show the pulse of this great empire.

Shimazu Tadatsune stood at the bow, his eyes penetrating the morning mist, trying to capture every detail of this strange country. As a general who had led troops in various battles on the Korean battlefield, he hoped to find out the source of the Ming Dynasty's strength through his own eyes.

He saw the helpers on the docks busy like ants, with the huge cranes rising and falling and cargo being loaded and unloaded quickly. In the port's trading area, the cries of merchants, the calls of boatmen, and the clanging sounds from the blacksmith's shop in the distance intertwined to form a vivid picture of the Ming Dynasty market.

Tokugawa Hidetada stood beside Shimazu Tadatsune, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and awe. "Mr. Tadatsune, look at the silk over there, how bright the color is, how fine the texture is, it is worthy of being from the Ming Dynasty." He pointed to the rows of neatly arranged silks, the colorful fabrics shone with an alluring luster in the sun.

Shimazu Tadatsune nodded, but his eyes were attracted by the porcelain on the other side. The porcelain had elegant shapes, delicate patterns, and glazes as warm as jade. Each piece seemed to be a top-notch work of art. He couldn't help but think that such exquisite craftsmanship was probably rare in Japan.

At this moment, a group of Ming soldiers wearing mandarin duck battle robes inside and armor outside appeared at the dock. Their arrival immediately attracted everyone's attention. These soldiers marched in an orderly manner with serious expressions. The Wanli II rifles behind them and the goose-feather knives on their waists reflected a cold light in the sun.

The Ming army did not often wear armor during their daily patrols, usually only cloth armor, or even no armor at all in many cases, only a pair of mandarin duck battle robes. The appearance of this army wearing armor today is obviously not a coincidence.

Indeed, their main mission was to escort the Japanese delegation, but beyond that, it was also to demonstrate the power of the Ming Dynasty.

The leading general was quite young, probably in his early twenties, but very tall. He walked up to Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada with a stern face, and said in a steady and powerful but emotionless voice: "I am Ma Yi, the commander of the independent cavalry battalion of the first cavalry brigade of the third regiment of the Imperial Guard. I am here to escort your delegation to the capital on the orders of the Prime Minister Gao. My independent battalion will ensure the safety of your delegation, and please behave yourself and don't make things difficult for me."

Because before coming to the Ming Dynasty, the Japanese delegation had received special training, so they naturally knew about the Imperial Guard, which was known as the "No. 1 Army in the World". If nothing unexpected happened, this "Imperial Guard Third Town First Cavalry Independent Battalion" should have 1,117 cavalrymen under its command.

More than a thousand cavalrymen are not that important in the Ming Dynasty today, but in comparison, if they were placed in Japan, they would be a terrifying force that was enough to sweep away at least 20,000 foot soldiers. Although Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada had never seen the power of the Ming cavalry on the Korean battlefield with their own eyes, the Liaodong cavalry led by Li Rusong forced the main force of tens of thousands of Japanese troops to make it difficult to advance in the Battle of Pyeongyang with just that few people, and they were almost blown up by Li Rusong's counterattack before his retreat. The entire Japanese army knew this but kept silent about it.

It was precisely this battle by Li Rusong that directly caused the entire Japanese army to be afraid of the Ming cavalry like tigers and wolves. Without an advantage of more than five times the number of troops, they did not dare to fight against the Ming cavalry.

Therefore, when they heard that the person who came was a cavalry commander of the Imperial Guards, Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada immediately stood in awe, stepped forward and bowed deeply to express their gratitude. Their respect for this young general was not only because of his position, or even because of the great reputation of the "Ming Army Cavalry", but also because of the inviolable majesty he exuded.

Ma Yi nodded slightly. The humility of the two Japanese envoys made him calm down a little. He waved his hand and said, "In that case, please follow me."

As the delegation landed, the Ming army's escort team also began their work. They formed a passage on both sides and led the Japanese delegation through the bustling crowd. After leaving the port area, they rode their horses at a horse farm and escorted the delegation towards the capital.

It turned out that because Tianjin Port was extremely prosperous, this horse farm was built by Jinghua as a "parking station". Today, a cavalry regiment was ordered to come, so they temporarily requisitioned this horse farm to park their war horses. Fortunately, the order was given by Gao Youshi. The Tianjin Port Horse Farm said that it would only take a few hours, and even the silver was not confiscated, and the horse feed was given for free, which made Ma Yi very grateful.

The Japanese delegation naturally did not understand the reason and thought that the horse farm was owned by the Ming army. They looked at each other in private, extremely shocked at the wealth of the Ming army.

When they officially set out on the journey, the scenery along the way dazzled the members of the Japanese delegation. They saw the golden wheat in the farmland, heard the flute played by the shepherd boy, and felt the bustling crowds in the market. Every scene was telling of the prosperity and wealth of the Ming Dynasty.

When passing through a small town and stopping for a rest, Shimazu Tadatsune was attracted by a blacksmith shop. He stopped and carefully observed how the blacksmith forged pieces of raw iron into fine farm tools. The skilled movements, precise strength, and the perfection of the final product made him marvel.

Tokugawa Hidetada was attracted by the bookstore nearby. He walked into the store and flipped through the exquisite books. It seemed that what was printed between the pages was not ink, but the faint light of wisdom. He was deeply attracted by these carriers of knowledge.

The books sold in an ordinary bookstore are richer than the collections of Japanese noble families. This made him realize the profound cultural heritage and huge educational system of the Ming Dynasty. Such a strong contrast shocked Tokugawa Hidetada - Taiko dared to hope to conquer the Ming Dynasty! This is really ignorant and fearless...

As night fell, the delegation rested at an inn. This inn called Yangcunshuiyi was simple but clean, and the food was not luxurious but delicious. Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada sat in the west courtyard of the inn in silence, looking up at the starry sky, wondering what they were thinking.

After a long while, Shimazu Tadatsune sighed and asked quietly, "Based on what you have seen today, what do you think of the Ming Dynasty, Lord Hidetada?"

Tokugawa Hidetada said bitterly: "Wealthy and prosperous, with strong soldiers and horses."

"Can you be the master of Japan?" Shimazu Tadatsune asked again.

Tokugawa Hidetada fell silent, and after a long while he slowly said: "You can be a match for the Japanese master, but you can't be the Japanese master."

Shimazu Tadatsune narrowed his eyes slightly and asked again, "What do you mean by that, Lord Hidetada?"

"He is strong enough to be the master of Japan, but because he is too strong, even if Japan is willing to help him, he will not be taken seriously." Tokugawa Hidetada suddenly turned his head and looked at Shimazu Tadatsune, saying: "Sir Tadatsune, what do you think of the Ming generals who are escorting us today?"

  Shimazu Tadatsune pondered for a moment and said, "He is well-mannered and has a good command of the army. He is still young, so I think he must be from a family of generals." Tokugawa Hidetada nodded solemnly and sighed, "Your Excellency Tadatsune has a good eye. I have secretly inquired about it. This man's father is named Ma Lin, and Ma Lin's father is named Ma Fang. Three generations of grandparents and grandchildren are all famous cavalry generals in the Ming army. In particular, since Ma Fang, the Ma family has relied on the Imperial Pavilion as a backer in the court. Their status... is like that of the Seven Spears of Jianyue under the command of the Taiko." [Note: According to the previous chapter, "Imperial Pavilion" is a special honorific for Gao Youshi in Japan.]

Shimazu Tadatsune nodded and said, "It has lasted for three generations, it is indeed the style of a general family."

"That's not what I meant to say." Tokugawa Hidetada shook his head slightly and reminded him, "Mr. Tadashi, didn't you notice that although this person treated us with courtesy, there was hostility in his eyes..."

"What's the surprise?" Shimazu Tadatsune interrupted, "Master Hidetada, have you forgotten how long it has been since Japan and Ming stopped fighting? Master Ma Yi is a cavalry general, so he is probably from the north. Even if he has not been to the Korean battlefield in person, there must be old friends in his family or the army who have been there, and maybe they died there.

In this case, it is understandable that he has some prejudice against us. Since Japan has surrendered, it is time for us to sincerely change our ways and seek forgiveness so that both sides can put aside their past grudges. Could it be that Mr. Hidetada still wants to continue to harbor such hatred?"

Tokugawa Hidetada was speechless for a moment. After a while, he stood up and sighed, "Perhaps what Lord Tadatsune said is right... It's getting late, please allow me to leave. My apologies." After saying that, he bowed slightly and left.

Shimazu Tadatsune frowned slightly, watching Tokugawa Hidetada's back disappear into the night, his eyes flickering, and it was unknown what he was thinking.

The next day, the delegation continued their journey. As they got closer to the capital, the scenery they saw became more and more spectacular. On both sides of the wide official road, there were lush trees and colorful flowers. Occasionally, some farmhouses could be seen, with fruits and vegetables planted in front of and behind the houses, showing the prosperity of the people in the capital.

Finally, the delegation saw the outline of Beijing from afar. It was a majestic city with tall and thick walls, towering towers, and fluttering flags. At the city gate, the soldiers were heavily guarded, holding weapons and watching every person passing by vigilantly.

Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada's heartbeats accelerated involuntarily. They knew that this was not just a simple trip, but a clear expression of Japan's submission to the Ming Dynasty, and also the beginning of another exchange.

As the Ming cavalry escorted the delegation's carriage and slowly entered the capital, the entire Japanese delegation was shocked by the prosperity of the city. The streets were wide, shops were lined up, and pedestrians were everywhere. The shops along the road had flags flying, and all kinds of goods were on display, from gold and silver jewelry to the four treasures of the study, from rare medicinal materials to specialties from various countries. It was really everything you could want.

When the delegation entered the administrative district from the market area, the style suddenly changed. The blue bricks and black tiles revealed the accumulation of years and the solemnity of the empire. There were fewer shops on both sides of the street, and the crowds of people changed from ordinary people to officials in various official uniforms, as well as servants of the nobles and high officials. Various accents intertwined together, forming a magnificent and solemn picture.

Fang Congzhe, the left vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, a refined middle-aged official, was already waiting in front of the Ministry of Rites. He was wearing a crimson official robe, a jade belt around his waist, and a black gauze hat, looking solemn and friendly.

Seeing Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada getting off the car, he walked forward slowly, smiled and bowed, "I am Fang Congzhe, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. I am here to greet you two at the order of the Prime Minister. The capital is crowded, and the Prime Minister has ordered me to prepare better accommodation for you. Please follow me."

Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada hurriedly returned the greeting, but before they could get a word in, Fang Congzhe got on his own carriage. The two had no choice but to get back on the carriage and let the convoy follow Fang Congzhe's carriage south through Zhengyang Gate into the South City, then turn east for several miles and arrive at Xizhao Temple near Guangqu Gate in the South City of the capital.

The environment here is quiet, with towering ancient trees and melodious temple bells, giving people a feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle, which is in sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle just now.

After both parties got off the car, Fang Congzhe explained: "The Prime Minister specially selected this place, hoping that you can find a quiet place away from the busy official duties." What else could Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada say? They could only express their gratitude with many thanks. Fang Congzhe seemed very busy, so he briefly introduced the place and left.

  The guest rooms in Xizhao Temple are elegantly decorated, and the furniture shows the exquisite craftsmanship of the Ming Dynasty. Shimazu Tadatsune and Tokugawa Hidetada were very satisfied with this arrangement, and they thought it was a manifestation of the Ming Dynasty's respect for them. But after thinking about it carefully, they felt a little strange. Why did the people who received them along the way seem to be "following the orders of the high-ranking minister" instead of "following the imperial edict"?

The next morning, the morning sun shone on the red walls and yellow tiles of Xizhao Temple, which seemed particularly warm. Shimazu Tadatsune got up early, tidied his clothes, and prepared to go to Gao Youshi's residence to pay a visit as Fang Congzhe had instructed him to do yesterday.

He felt both excited and uneasy, because today would be the day for him to have a direct conversation with the top official of the Ming Dynasty.

The location of Gao Youshi's Nanning Marquis Mansion is rather strange. It is located on the shore of Shichahai outside Di'anmen. In front of the gate, a pair of imperial white marble lions are majestic and magnificent, showing the owner's status and authority.

When Shimazu Tadatsune entered the mansion, he saw the rockery and flowing water in the courtyard, as well as lush flowers and trees, which looked like a scene of literati and scholars. However, on the other side of the Shichahai Sea, there was a tall building with a strange shape, which seemed to be of Western style. He was led into the building and learned from the plaque in front of the door that the building was actually called "Rixin Building".

Shimazu Tadatsune suddenly realized that the nickname of Yuge actually came from this building. Soon, he was taken to a study on the third floor. In the study, a tall man in a bright red silk dragon robe was sitting behind a rosewood desk, playing with a jade ruyi in his hand, looking calm and unhurried.

Shimazu Tadatsune had met Gao Youshi once in Korea, so he would not admit his mistake at this time. He took a deep breath, took three steps forward, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "Shimazu Tadatsune, a foreign minister from the wilderness, pays homage to the Emperor. May the Emperor be blessed with good health and good fortune."

Gao Youshi knew from the letter that the Japanese had given him a special honorific title of "御阁" and was not surprised. He just smiled and motioned him to sit down: "Master Shimazu has come a long way. Thank you for your hard work. Please stand up and sit down."

Shimazu Tadatsune quickly stood up and returned the greeting, following the direction of Gao Fusi's finger, and sat down halfway on a rosewood chair. He felt the majesty in Gao Fusi's calmness, as well as the confidence that he inadvertently revealed. Then he began to wait for Yuge's questions.

  However, what he didn't expect was that Gao Youshi didn't ask any specific questions. Instead, he asked casually, "Does Master Shimazu have anything to tell me?"
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