Jingming

Chapter 451 It’s an honor to be Ming Dynasty’s dog
"Being a stranger in a foreign land, I miss my loved ones even more during the festive season!"

At the southern end of the long and narrow Tsushima Island, the highest peak is Mount Yatate.

The weather was still very cold and it was snowing heavily. Japanese Bo Yan Shifan was full of passion, looking to the west and reciting poems affectionately.

Next to him was a man who had shaved off the hair in the middle of his head, leaving only his temples and a bun at the back of his head.From his neck down, his clothes are very loose.

After hearing his words, the man asked: "Yan Sang, is this a poem from Shangguo?"

"Exactly." Yan Shifan turned to look at him, "Yitiaojun, this is "Remembering the Shandong Brothers on September [-]th" by Wang Wei of the Tang Dynasty. Now you are also guarding the horse for the next generation. You nobles have to write Chinese characters. Are these poems not what we need to learn?”

Zong Yidiao lowered his head with some shame: "My father has always been a monk. I never thought about my future status. There was no need to learn this in the past."

Yan Shifan smiled: "There have been endless disputes on the island in the past, but now we finally have a communist leader. It is not too late for Yi Tiaojun to start now."

"So my father asked me to follow Yan Sang for more advice. He warned me that your knowledge is unfathomable."

"Unfathomable?" Yan Shifan laughed, "If that's the case, I would have passed the Jinshi exam and become an official in the Ming Dynasty. Why would I risk traveling thousands of miles to come here and recite the verses about missing my family in the wind and snow?"

Zong Yidian stepped aside and extended his hand: "Yan Sang, it's cold, so it's better to go down the mountain and go back to Jinshi City to have a drink at the hot bar. Yan Sang came back from Ming Dynasty, and his father has always been very concerned about Yan Sang's new sales."

"Okay, it's time to pay a visit."

Tsushima is a mountainous island with few fields for farming.

This place has always been just a place to eat near the sea. When the weather is good, you can see Busan in North Korea and Kyushu Island in Japan.

They are no more than a hundred miles apart.

Because of this, the history of Tsushima Island was not peaceful.

At that time, the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty occupied Tsushima Island twice. The Zong family took root in Tsushima Island because the first generation ancestor Zong Ziguo only led more than [-] people to fight against dozens of times the Yuan army here.

The result was of course no surprise. Although Zong Ziguo fell to the ground and fell asleep on the spot, the Zong family moved the Kamakura shogunate and eventually became the guardian of Tsushima for generations.

But the Zong family has actually become a wallflower since then.More than a hundred years ago, when North Korea sent troops to Tsushima, the Zong family surrendered and accepted official posts in North Korea in the Cargill Treaty.

Therefore, the clan was not only a local daimyo recognized by the emperor and the shogun, but also regarded Korea as the clan leader.

With eight counties on the island, Tsushima has become a trade transit point between Japan and North Korea due to its geographical location.Sapphire, pepper, and ivory from Southeast Asia, copper, tin, knives, and lacquerware from Japan, cotton cloth, rice beans, honey, and ginseng from Korea. Under the governance of the 11th generation clan governor and Tsushima Guardian, Tsushima Island prospered for a time. .

At its peak, the island had so many people that they had to be encouraged to get out.At that time, the number of Japanese who went to Miura, North Korea, once reached more than [-], which eventually triggered the Miura Japanese Rebellion recorded in North Korea, which also led to the obstruction of trade, which in turn triggered the civil strife of the clan for more than ten years.

This civil strife lasted until last year. Yan Shifan mistakenly supported Zong Qingyao, the 15th generation governor of the Zong family who had finally won.

Today, the core of Tsushima's power is located in the newly built "Golden Stone House" built more than ten years ago.

In Japan, the term "house-shaped" refers to the residence of a person with a certain status.The highest level can be called an imperial residence, not just limited to the royal family.The next level is the nobles of the public family and the Wu family, such as the guardians of the Zong family.In addition, there is also the emphasis on Gongfanghao.

Yan Shifan only felt chaotic and had the feeling of being forced to a higher level.

In fact, this golden stone house is not big, and there are not many people living around it.

Kinishi Castle is located next to a small harbor on the southeast side of Tsushima Island. It is also built on a mountainside. It is a mountain city.

Next to the harbor, there is the old city ruins of the "pond house shape" that used to be the clan house governor's residence, but now it has developed into a small port city.

There were ordinary low-class people over there, and many of the big shots on Tsushima Island gathered in Jinshishan City.

The largest building in the city is the "Guangjian" in the shape of a gold and stone house. In the eyes of the Zong family warriors, Yan Shifan walked in familiarly, and what he faced was Zong Qingkang, who looked like a monk... Hanging on the niche behind him That painting.

"eagle".

A smile appeared on Yan Shifan's lips. This was also his handiwork. As a gift to Zong Qingkang for becoming the family governor, it was a "famous painting" that Zong Qingkang regarded as a treasure.

Because the creator of the painting was signed by the famous Song Huizong.There are not only signatures, but also praises, which say: "The imperial pen is dripping, writing about the eagle; the golden eyes are eyes, the jade snow is the clothes; the pen is as strong as a sword, and the sharp claws are like awls; how can I untie the rope and fly thousands of miles high?" I respectfully accept your favor, and I only wish to express my praise; Cai You, a bachelor of Xuanhua Palace, praised me."

Look!The monarch of the Song Dynasty personally wrote it, and the important ministers praised it. How much face does it have?The white eagle is lifelike, its rope has been untied, and it is flying thousands of miles high. What does it mean?

In fact, there are quite a lot of folk commercial fakes in the Ming Dynasty.

But Yan Shifan cherished it and offered it in exchange for many benefits.

Seeing Yan Shifan, Zong Qingkang sat there, bent over, and performed a Buddhist salute: "Mr. Yan, I've been waiting for a long time."

"Zong Sang, you are now a guardian, but you still uphold Buddhist rituals?" Yan Shifan returned the greeting and sat in the guest seat.

"I have been a monk for many years and cannot change it." Zong Qingkang looks like a kind old man, but at the age of 66, he hangs this eagle in his room. Naturally, he does not take it seriously.

Originally, the position of family governor was naturally out of reach for him.

Previously, he became a monk at Kokubunji Temple.According to what Yan Shifan now knows, this Kokubunji Temple is not simple. 800 years ago, the then emperor ordered the construction of Kokubunji temples in various places in order to protect the country.Japan is divided into many small countries. It can be said that one country has one Kokubunji Temple.

Mune Haruyasu became a monk at Kokubunji Temple until he was 65 years old, but he was able to win the dispute between his nephews and was invited by the Mune family's retainers to serve as the family governor. Naturally, it was not without some planning.

The construction of this gold and stone house began many years ago. At that time, Muneharuyasu was still a monk at Kokubunji Temple, but this gold and stone house was built next to Tsushima Kokubunji. Isn't there a reason?
Of course, this is now also mixed with some efforts of Yan Shifan.

So Yan Shifan seemed casual when talking to him.

Of course there was the reason that he, as an outsider, had a lot of money and materials, but also because Yan Shifan didn't regard Zong Qingkang as a powerful person at all.

At least it still seems a bit hypocritical: Why pretend to be indifferent to fame and fortune when you are clearly ambitious?

After Zong Qingkang exchanged greetings with him, he started talking about business: "Jun Yan returned to the Ming Dynasty to visit his relatives. I wonder if he brought back any good news? Over in North Korea, the big and small Yins are fighting openly and secretly. Now no one wants to be taken advantage of by the other party. There are only 25 in a year. The boat is really not enough.”

Yan Shifan seemed to be smiling but not smiling: "Zong family servants are only allowed to bring 25 ships, but I, Huizhou Maritime Trade, am a merchant from the Ming Dynasty. Haven't I been exempted from this ban in the past few years? Could it be that Zong Sang can't trust me anymore?"

Zong Qingkang stared at him.

Originally, trade between Tsushima and North Korea was actually no longer subject to the 25-ship limit.However, since the Longevity Ceremony held by the Ming Dynasty a few years ago, North Korea claimed that the Ming Dynasty still held grudges about the Japanese tribute envoys' looting of Ningbo in the past, and specifically pointed out the issue of trade with Japan to the North Korean envoys.The leader of North Korea did not want to offend Ming Dynasty, so he requested that the rule of 25 ships per year set at that time should not be exceeded.

Zong Qingkang also understands this point easily.The powerful officials in North Korea were in power, and the leader of North Korea was worried that the enemy of the Ming Dynasty would lead to the overwhelming army. In that case, he would have to rely more on the powerful officials and even allow them to contaminate military power.And this incident can become an excuse for powerful ministers to accuse each other of factional plots.

But in this way, it can no longer be called a coincidence that Huizhou Sea Trade came to Tsushima at the right time.

Zong Qingkang looked at Yan Shifan's face and always felt that he was mysterious.

He is a young man with good skills and excellent knowledge.Does such a person really have no excellent future in the Ming Dynasty?After staying on Tsushima Island for several years, the Zong family currently has no qualifications to directly trade with the Ming Dynasty official, and it is extremely necessary to rely on him as a middleman for its share of trade with North Korea.

"Of course I trust Mr. Yan. However, if the clan wants to truly get back the [-] territories of the North Omi that General Ashikaga promised, the clan will need more than just some money. Mr. Yan, the one who competes for tribute and plunders the Ming Dynasty is the Ming Dynasty. The Nei family and the Hosokawa family have nothing to do with Tsushima. I don’t know what they are compatible with, the Korean trade, and the muskets. Will there be any gains from returning to the Ming Dynasty this time?"

Yan Shifan still did not answer him, but asked: "Zou-san, the Kitaomi Asai family and the Minami Omi Rokkaku family are related by marriage, and the Kyogoku family who was expelled by the Asai family is the original clan of the Nizi family. I want to get it The real enemy of the [-] territory promised by the Ashikaga Shogunate is the Nishi clan who is very likely to use it to fight for it. Isn't Sou-san worried that the Nishi clan will seize Tsushima Island instead?"

A flash of light flashed in Zong Qingyasu's eyes: "Now that the Nizi clan is fighting with the Ouchi clan and the Mori clan, isn't it a good opportunity? As long as we get back the [-]-kan territory of the North Omi, and have sea trade with North Korea and the Ming Dynasty, the Gyeonggi countries They all rely on Tsushima to obtain a steady stream of money and supplies."

Yan Shifan looked at him and then at Zong Yidian.

Look at the old man's spirit. He is already 66, but he still has the ambition to compete for supremacy.

Who gave him the courage?That was naturally the scale of trade that had opened their eyes to Huizhou Sea Trade in the past few years, as well as the artillery on the escort warships in Yan Shifan's hands and the blunderbuss in the hands of the generals hired by the Great Sea Company.

Yan Shifan reminded him: "Zong Sang, they must have been wary of the amount of goods sold to the Nizi clan, Ouchi clan, and Maori clan. I see that nearly half of the silver mined every year in Yinshan has arrived. Tsushima Island. If my prediction is correct, they are all thinking about Tsushima Island, and maybe they are already building warships."

Zong Qingkang smiled: "Will Mr. Yan watch them attack Tsushima Island? Compared with strangers like them, the Zong family has more trust in Mr. Yan."

Yan Shifan also smiled: "I help Zong Sang resist foreign enemies? Then what can I get if Zong Sang succeeds?" Zong Qingkang put away his smile, and then said seriously: "Yan Jun, I admire your talent very much. . You are a powerful businessman in the Ming Dynasty. You chose Tsushima as a trading base. I know what you want. If you can no longer keep it from me, then after I succeed, if I can build a new What if the shogunate gives Tsushima Island to you?"

"...Give me Tsushima Island?" Yan Shifan couldn't help but laugh, "Zong Sang actually has the ambition to create a new shogunate?"

Zong Yidian was also startled and looked at his father in disbelief.

Zong Qingkang's expression did not change: "Yan Jun said that he is alone. If you are willing to be my adopted son, why not protect Tsushima Island with you in the future?"

"..."

Yan Shifan also put away his smile and looked at him, and Zong Qingkang's eyes became sharp.

Being alone is his own excuse, but Yan Shifan, who has stayed in Tsushima for so long, also knows that Japan treats adopted children very formally.If he has this kind of relationship, it really doesn't matter if he gives him the original family property on Tsushima Island.

but……

Yan Shifan said calmly: "It seems that during the time I left Tsushima, you, who had just become the guardian, spent a lot of time investigating my origins?"

Zong Qingkang bowed and said, "I have absolutely no ill intentions towards Mr. Yan. It's just my sincerity. If I can get Mr. Yan's help to establish the shogunate, I will definitely become the adopted son of the general, and I will not disgrace Mr. Yan's status."

Zong Yidian suddenly felt that his father's attitude was a little low.

Yan Shifan's smile suddenly bloomed again: "My identity? Zong Sang knows my identity?"

Zong Qingkang's eyes were as sharp as the eagle on the painting behind him: "The Ming Dynasty firearms are extremely powerful. If Yan Jun was just a private businessman, how could he have such well-trained guards? Besides, the ancestors of the Zong family were immigrants from Korea. , although you can’t go to the Ming Dynasty, you can find out a few things through North Korea. I still know some of the important ministers of the Ming Dynasty. Yan Jun can carry out such a large-scale trade. I wonder if he has the same ancestry as Yan Weizhong, the Minister of State of the Ming Dynasty?"

"...tsk tsk."

Yan Shifan was speechless.

This is not surprising. For those who know a little bit about the Ming Dynasty but not enough about it, the limit of speculation is that the important ministers of the Ming Dynasty asked the descendants of their clans to go into business and help him gain wealth through power and connections.

Yan Shifan's strength displayed here is indeed strong enough, and Zong Qingkang was not idle after Yan Shifan's trip back last year, and learned some information about the Ming Dynasty from North Korea.

Since there was a man named Yan among the important ministers, and it was Yan Song who initially handled the Japanese tribute case and later appealed to the Zhejiang Shipping Department, it was only natural for him to ask this question.

It seems that without him, Zong Qingkang would not dare to dream of creating a shogunate, and would still say it in front of him.

He laughed again: "Zong Sang wants to get my support, and after success, he can use me to surrender to the Ming Dynasty wholeheartedly and obtain the title of His Majesty?"

"Small overseas countries have always been ministers of the Celestial Empire. Now the heroes have joined forces and are in endless chaos, even invading the higher country. If peace can be restored and more people can communicate with each other, it will be a blessing for Japan, and it will further demonstrate the power of His Majesty the Celestial Empire, and it will be more harmonious. Mr. Yan needs it." Zong Qingkang asked sincerely, "Does Mr. Yan think this is the truth?"

"That's the truth. If I succeed, I can do business in the entire Japan." Yan Shifan laughed, "It seems that Zong Sang and I want to go together."

Zong Qingkang was overjoyed: "Does Mr. Yan agree?"

"It's not okay to be Zong Sang's adopted son."

Zong Qingkang's expression stiffened slightly and he fell silent.

Without such a relationship, how could he trust this person more?This man already had a wife in the Ming Dynasty, which Zong Qingkang knew.

Unexpectedly, Yan Shifan said again: "My father is still alive and I am an only son. How can I be Zong Sang's adopted son?"

"...Yan Jun, are you not alone?"

"I just came to Japan alone, but I am not unaccompanied." Yan Shifan said with a smile on his face, "Didn't Zong Sang mention my father's name just now?"

Zong Qingkang and Zong Yidian both opened their mouths and looked at him in disbelief.

"Yan Jun's father is... just..."

Yan Shifan looked at Zong Yidian: "Why did Zong Sang ask Mr. Yidian to stay with me after I came back this time? It turned out that I had long guessed that I had an extraordinary origin and had such ambitions. Now Zong Sang knows that my father is Regarding the affairs of the Ming Dynasty, I wonder if we still have the original plan?"

Zong Qingkang's face looked uncertain.

The parents and children of the Minister of State of the Ming Dynasty came to Tsushima Island specifically to do business. Is it still a matter of the minister simply seeking wealth?
Zong Qingkang was not sure. Could it be that Ming Dynasty had any thoughts about Japan?
"...Yan Sang just said that he and I wanted to be together?"

Zong Qingkang tried a word, but the title became more respectful.

"Yes, His Majesty also said that if Japan continues like this, it will be a disaster rather than a blessing for Ming Dynasty."

"...Your Majesty... also said that?"

Yan Shifan felt very happy, and his face showed the kind of ease that he could let go and do something: "His Majesty's Holy Edict: Japan's emperor is not the emperor, and the ministers are not the ministers. The war is endless, and the people's lives are in ruins. The livelihood is gone, and the grass is falling again. In order to cause trouble to the Ming Dynasty and the various vassals, Yan Shifan was specially made the Eastern Bodhisattva. With the imperial edict, he ordered the Japanese leader and the general who conquered the barbarians to give me an explanation. He captured the thieves and chieftains in Ningbo who pretended to compete for tribute and plundered the people of the Ming Dynasty and bound them as sacrifices to the Ming Dynasty. Undead.”

"...Uncle Dongying?" Zong Qingkang, who had been sitting upright, stood up now, "Yan Sang, you..."

Yan Shifan was still sitting and asked him with a smile: "The Ashikaga clan cannot capture the Ouchi clan and the Hosokawa clan. Sou-san, can you capture them? If you can capture them, you will be able to conquer the barbarians as a general." It’s time for my uncle to go back and reply.”

Zong Qingkang was stunned for a while, and then he finally knelt down in ecstasy. He was seated in a very formal way, and he even pulled his son with him.

How could he be so virtuous and capable as to dare to be the only son of the Minister of State of the Ming Dynasty and the adoptive father of an earl?

But it doesn't matter anymore, there is a bright opportunity now.

"The foreign minister Zong Qingkang is alone and weak. Without the help of the superior country, it may be difficult to conquer the traitors."

"It's too far to conquer the traitors. How long will it take?" Yan Shifan shook his head, "Why should Zongsang care about the [-] territory of Kitaomi River? My uncle's decree is to first see the Japanese lord and his country. Can the general conquer the barbarians? If they can't do it, the Ming Dynasty will abolish the canonization of the Japanese leader and the general conquering the barbarians. Although they have long existed in name only, someone needs to go there. Lord Yidiao, are you willing to be the envoy? "

Zong Qingkang's expression suddenly changed: Can he still come back?

Yan Shifan smiled and said: "I'm just asking for you. I won't tell them on the spot about Ming's disposition. Zongsang and the Ashikaga clan know that Ming will be detrimental to the Ouchi clan and Hosokawa clan. They are afraid that it will be too late to rejoice. Another meeting I'll give you some help. My uncle's decree is to take back the thieves and bring them to the Ming Dynasty. If you can do it yourself, or together with Nizi Harujiu, that's your ability. If you want to create a shogunate, how can you do it? Just rely on Ming Dynasty for help?"

Zong Qingkang's heart was ups and downs. It seemed that the Ming Dynasty was really going to invade Japan.

But they chose the horse, did they think they had the ability?
Nowadays, among the heroes of all countries, horses are not enough.

Looking at Yan Shifan's calm smile, he felt that he might not care whether the Zong family could succeed or not.

But can you refuse this opportunity?
The Mongols may eventually be defeated by the divine wind of the vast ocean, but Tsushima has never been able to escape the fate of being wiped out.

Yan Shifan, who revealed his identity, brought great oppression to him.

Even if he doesn't become this cannon fodder, Ming's footsteps have already arrived on this island.

And this young man talking and laughing freely in front of him, with such a prominent status, doesn't he worry about his own safety?

Without the actual support of armor or even military strength, they need to take risks and sacrifice their lives first. If the Zong family is unwilling, what if they fall out with him first?
Yan Shifan only had one eye, but the light in his eye was sharper than Zong Qingkang's.

Zong Qingkang hesitated for a while, and finally lowered his head: "The dog is capable of it!"

He had no choice, the clan's foundation lay in the opposite horse.

And Tsushima is an island, only a hundred miles away from North Korea. The huge merchant ships and escort warships of the Ming Dynasty have been able to come here familiarly.

If he were not the pioneer hound of the Ming Dynasty, this young man with a charming smile would probably show his fangs in no time.

The Ming Dynasty, which drove the Mongols to a distant and bitter land, still holds a grudge against a matter nearly 20 years ago, which shows that they have made up their minds: Japan will become the Ming Dynasty's loyal dog again.

It was his honor to choose him.

(End of this chapter)