Hundreds of households in Liaodong, covering the light with one hand

It took about half a month to travel from Nagasaki on Kyushu Island to the Edo Shogunate on Honshu Island.

Today, Qiudong, who was riding a horse, finally saw Edo Castle in the distance, which was almost half the width of Tokyo Bay.

The head of the Matsuura family, who has been following and serving him, introduced: "Since Tokugawa established his residence here, there has been a small village of only 100 households in Edo Castle, which has become the center of Japan and Kyoto. It has been continuously expanded for decades. and repairs, the entire city is now about 5.5 kilometers from east to west and 4 kilometers from north to south. It is surrounded by inner and outer trenches. The outer trench has a circumference of about 16 kilometers. It has two layers of city walls, and the total area of ​​the inner wall is 264 million square meters. The architecture is magnificent, with 20 turrets, 36 gates, and palaces such as Honmaru, Ninomaru, Sannomaru, and Nishinomaru. Edo Castle has gone through decades of vicissitudes."

"Matsuura," Qiu Tong interrupted Zhenxin and looked at the group of people walking towards the mission: "Who are they?"

"Takemitsu Tokugawa was designated as the third-generation shogun to conquer barbarians." Matsuura Jinnobu seemed to be very familiar with this person: "His father was the second-generation shogunate. Now apparently Tokugawa Takemitsu is in charge of the world, but in fact he is the one who is in charge of the world." His father, Tokugawa Hidetada, is still in actual power behind the scenes.”

Because of the arrival of the mission, the entire outside of Edo City has been guarded by the Forbidden Army, and Japanese lower-class people and samurai are strictly prohibited from watching and disturbing the guests from China.

Looking at the vaguely resembling canopy above Tokugawa's newly bald head, Qiu Tong licked his lips, then stepped forward to meet him with a wide grin.

"I have long admired the reputation of Tokugawa Shogun!" Qiu Tong was six and a half feet tall, which was equivalent to 1.75 meters in later generations. However, in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate, he stood out from the crowd like a chicken. Standing in front of Tokugawa Gogumi, he towered over Nearly a head.

Looking down at the third generation of Tokugawa generals, Qiu Tongru, who is dressed in a brocade robe and has a long sword hanging, is like a giant: "X represents China, on behalf of the consul, thank you for welcoming me from afar!"

After some translation, Tokugawa Takemitsu was obviously shocked when he heard the word consul, and then asked in surprise: "Does the consul know that I, Tokugawa Takemitsu, do you?"

"Of course the governor knows that, and he also hopes that Japan can open the door to trade to connect the Chinese with and without!" Qiu Tong secretly thought, the governor doesn't care who is in power in Tokugawa, the most important thing now is to open your trade door!
"How can one be so virtuous and capable? His name has spread to the ears of the Chinese governor!" Tokugawa Takemitsu has studied the Han culture of the Ming Dynasty since he was a child. He also knows that Wang Qi has made a series of great achievements in the opposite continent over the years, and his backhand has changed everything. Chuan Gangguang was in awe.

"How can you be so virtuous?" Qiu Tong reached out and patted Tokugawa Gomitsu on the shoulder: "You will know soon."

After saying that, Qiu Tong and Zheng Yiguan walked straight into Edo City.

Tokugawa, who was standing there, glanced at Matsuura who was standing not far away with his bare vulture-like eyes, then grinned and went after Qiutong.

Mr. Matsuura on the side wiped his sweat, but did not dare to leave. He could only bite the bullet and enter the city.

The Tokugawa family arranged for Qiu Tong to live in the foreign service hall near the imperial city - an official office specially used to entertain foreign envoys.

"The two envoys can have some fun in the city. Tomorrow Gomitsu will take the two of them to meet the head of the family, Tokugawa Hidetada!" Gomitsu made some arrangements, and the retainer Saito Rigo waited on Qiu Michi's side before taking the people away.

"Japan has an emperor, but the shoguns of all dynasties have real power." Qiu Tong sat on the tatami and looked at Zheng Yiguan: "I, Lao Qiu, are a little confused, so why doesn't the Tokugawa family declare themselves emperor?"

Faced with Qiu Tong's question, Zheng Yiguan also showed his hands: "The emperor has been inherited for hundreds of years and has been deeply rooted in the Japanese people. The shogunate is just acting on behalf of others."

"The emperor will be the one with strong soldiers and horses. Unless there is a person like a consul, the emperor can be directly deposed and all ministers will discuss it." Qiu Tong shook his head: "It's like Japan now, where the emperor and his ministers are reversed, which is a bit unbelievable. !”

"Every country has its own traditions," Zheng Yiguan reached out and poured Japan's unique scented tea for Qiu Tong: "However, if we want to open trade between the two countries, we must come and talk to the Tokugawa shogunate."

"Hey, what about Tokugawa who rules Japan?" Qiu Tong twirled the cup in his hand and said coldly: "China accounts for 90% of Japan's annual maritime trade volume, and it is not enough to feed and clothe the parents. This time I will come , It’s just a condition! I don’t believe that the Tokugawa family dares to lift the table.”

"But if 40% of his annual overseas trade volume is too much, isn't it too much?" Zheng Yiguan gritted his teeth: "In this case, He Wanyi will fall out with each other?" "Fear each other?" Qiu Tongyi grinned: "My powerful Chinese ships and cannons are just waiting for an opportunity!"

There was a crash!
Qiu Tong's words made Zheng Yiguan's hands tremble.

----

Edo Daidai is the residence of Tokugawa Hidetada, the second-generation general who conquered the barbarians.

In the ninth year of Yuanwa, because Tokugawa Hidetada gave up the position of general to his eldest son Tokugawa Iemitsu, he followed Tokugawa Ieyasu and became the "Grand Imperial Palace", still living in Edo Castle to conduct dual politics.

"Father!" Tokugawa Gomitsu's voice sounded outside.

"come in."

There was a crash, and the door was opened.

Tokugawa just walked forward with bare knees, stopped when he was ten steps away, and kowtowed to his father.

"Is the person here?" Tokugawa Hidetada looked a little old, sitting behind the table, his voice also had a hint of exhaustion.

"Checked into the foreign service hall," Tokugawa Gomitsu lowered his head and replied honestly: "The Matsuura family has also arrived."

"Last year, the shogunate promulgated the 'Regulations on the Transfer of Daimyo Trade and Fiefdoms', and Nagasaki under Matsuura was also under the jurisdiction of the shogunate, so he was also anxious." Although Tokugawa Hidetada is old, the light in his eyes is still there Fengrui: "But for the shogunate, Nagasaki must be taken back! It is the first stop for trade with China, and it must be firmly held in its own hands!"

"So, tomorrow?" Tokugawa Takemitsu asked tentatively.

"Arrange for them to come to see me," Tokugawa Hidetada took a deep breath: "The emperor of Ming Dynasty has been overthrown by them. If there is a chance, that Chinese consul, this general will admire him very much!"

"There will be a chance," Tokugawa Takemitsu chuckled.

dong dong dong.
The bell on the main platform rang.

"Father, what about Matsuura?"

"Come together and let's hammer it together," Tokugawa Hidetada said as if he had everything under control: "If Matsuura Jinnobu has already been in contact with the Chinese envoy, we can talk about it together tomorrow and see if it is his Matsuura clan. The conditions I can offer are better than those of Tokugawa! In Japan, I don’t have to care about anyone’s face. Even the emperor has to act based on my face!”

"I heard that the emperor wanted to abdicate and pass the throne to his youngest son because of the purple robe incident!" Tokugawa Takemitsu was a little worried.

"Is he willing to do it?" Tokugawa Hidetada sneered: "Just retreating behind the scenes, the Emperor? He's just a shameless old dog." (End of this chapter)