King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

The sea was surging with waves, and Zhu Tan was doing nothing.

Sailing on the boundless ocean, there is nothing but sea in the distance, stretching as far as the eye can see.

When I first saw the sea, I felt happy and happy, with the sky high and the sea vast.

But if you really sail on the boundless ocean for a long time, it will really bring people an indescribable sense of panic.

Zhu Tan had this feeling too, it was a feeling of being completely grounded, as if he couldn't fly but was hovering in the air, not knowing when he would fall.

Although ironclad warships are indestructible, they are staffed with experienced sailors, and even the sergeants have trained for months and have very high quality.

But this feeling of loss always lingered in Zhu Tan's heart and never dissipated.

Helplessly, during the days of drifting on the sea, Zhu Tan could only think over and over again about his future plans, thinking about what to do after Ryukyu, how to attack Japan, and what means to use to extort money from them.

Yes, it’s a rip-off.

Otherwise, why would Zhu Tan submit a memorial to the old man, asking him to allow him to go to Ryukyu?

Ryukyu was a tiny country consisting of several remote islands with poor resources, but it was divided into three countries that were at war with each other.

If the wars in Japan during the Warring States period were like a dozen villages fighting each other, then the Ryukyu Rebellion was just three villages fighting each other, except that one village was relatively larger.

There are not many minerals in the Ryukyu Islands, the land is relatively barren, and the people are extremely poor.

However, Japan has been harassing the Ming Dynasty's border for many years, and it must have stationed troops in Ryukyu to rest on weekdays. This stationing is definitely not in vain.

You have to pay to stay in an inn when you are away from home.

Unless the people of Japan are all idiots, who are harassing the Ming border while attacking Ryukyu and cutting off their own retreat, there must be something fishy going on between them and Ryukyu.

However, among the three kings of Ryukyu, Zhu Tan still doesn’t know which one has a connection with Japan.

Or maybe all three?

Random guesses floated in Zhu Tan's mind for three days. On the morning of the fourth day, the shouts of sailors were heard outside.

"I saw the island!"

Zhu Tan was awakened by the shout. He got up dazedly and saw Ma He walking quickly. When he got close, he bowed and said, "Your Highness, we should have arrived in Ryukyu."

"Oh."

Zhu Tan slowly stood up and rubbed his swollen temples.

He had been sleeping on the boat these days, and the sleep was not very comfortable. He had been tossing his days and nights, and his eyes were a little swollen.

"Your Highness, do you need me to change your clothes?"

Zhu Tan is still wearing comfortable casual clothes, which is actually pajamas, and his hair is a little messy. He doesn't look like a prince of the Ming Dynasty at all, but rather the image of a playboy.

It is definitely not appropriate to meet foreign envoys in this image, as it would be an insult to the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Tan sighed lightly and said, "Serve the meal, let's eat first and talk later."

"Yes."

……

"My Lord, My Lord!"

Zhongshan Province, Urasoe Castle.

Zhongshan.com Wu Ning had just woken up from his sleep, with two smooth thighs still pressing on his body, when he heard a shrill sound coming from outside, which made him very annoyed.

Wu Ning frowned, roughly pushed away the beautiful concubine who was pressing on him, stood up angrily, and shouted outside: "What's the matter!"

"Your Majesty! The people from the Ming Dynasty are here!"

"Huh? So fast?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Ning suddenly panicked and subconsciously reached for his clothes. But then he thought again, he was also the king of a country, conferred a title by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, so there was no need to panic. So he stopped and asked.

"How many people came?"

"No, I don't know!" said the panicked voice outside the door, "I only saw a big ship."

“A very, very big ship!”

"Look at you, you look so ignorant!"

Wu Ning said disdainfully: "How big can a big ship be?"

“Can it be as big as a mountain?”

An hour later, when Wu Ning, neatly dressed, arrived at the port with his officials, his jaw almost dropped when he saw the huge warship slowly approaching.

He never dreamed that there was such a big ship in the world, as big as a mountain.

Not only him, but all the officials and soldiers from Zhongshan Kingdom who came to welcome Prince Lu of the Ming Dynasty were also frightened. They were standing at the port in a humble manner, and the morale that had just been aroused was gone.

When Wu Ning was away, he warned his men that he was the King of Zhongshan and should be on an equal footing with the Prince of Daming, so he asked them not to target people from Zhongshan.

But after seeing the Ming warships, they sadly discovered that the pitiful dignity in their hearts was not worth mentioning at all in the face of real military force.

To be on equal footing with the Prince of Lu in the Ming Dynasty is just a daydream.

Watching the steel behemoth slowly approaching the shore, Wu Ning felt his hands trembling slightly.

His face was pale now, and he kept thinking about all sorts of things in his mind, feeling extremely frightened.

He thought that the Ming Dynasty had such huge warships. If they really wanted to attack their Zhongshan Kingdom, would the thousand or so men under his command be enough to fill their teeth?

What should he do if the Prince of Lu of the Ming Dynasty asked him to hand over his territory?
Kneel down and surrender?

The ironclad warship slowly approached the shore, and the military flag of the Ming Dynasty Shandong Regional Military Commission on the warship fluttered in the wind.

At the front of the warship, there was a golden dragon flag that symbolized the Ming Dynasty royal family. On it was a five-clawed golden dragon with a green face and fangs. There was no trace of peace in it, and it looked more like a ferocious beast with extremely strong fighting power.

The dragon flag fluttered in the wind, and the golden dragon on it seemed to roar, making everyone who saw it afraid.

A group of officials from Zhongshan State stood at the edge of the port, looking at the huge warships that occupied the entire port and the Ming soldiers in full armor on the warships. They felt fear in their hearts and had an urge to kneel down and kowtow.

It was only because King Wuning of Zhongshan was standing nearby that they restrained themselves and did not kneel down immediately.

At this time, the warship's gangplank slowly extended out and landed directly on the shore. Hundreds of fully armed Ming soldiers filed down and lined up on the shore.

The ministers of Zhongshan State who had originally planned to step forward to greet them were pushed back by these soldiers, as if this was the territory of the Ming Dynasty and they, the natives, were the guests.

But even though the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were so brutal, the people of Zhongshan Kingdom, including Wuning, had no complaints. They just waited and watched from afar.

At this moment, the figure of a white-faced young man appeared above.

When Wu Ning saw this, he immediately wanted to kneel down and kowtow, but was held back by the young man behind him. He only heard the young man whisper.

"Your Majesty! You are the King of Zhongshan!"

"Yes, yes, I am also a king!"

Wu Ning then remembered that he was also a vassal king appointed by the Ming Dynasty and did not need to perform the kneeling ceremony at all.

But looking at the towering Ming warships and the hundreds of fully armed Ming soldiers in front of him, he felt like kneeling down and kowtow.

"Prince Lu of the Ming Dynasty, under the order of the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, is visiting the Ryukyu Zhongshan Kingdom!"

"Where is the ruler of Zhongshan?"

The young man spoke loudly, his voice was a little sharp, like a knife stabbing into the hearts of all Zhongshan people.

Wu Ning's heart moved, he took a step forward and said in a deep voice: "I am Wu Ning, the ruler of Zhongshan!" "The King of Lu of the Ming Dynasty..."

"His Royal Highness Prince Lu is here in person, why don't you kneel!"

Ma He stood on a high place, frowned slightly, and spoke in a loud voice.

When Wu Ning heard this, he wanted to kneel down immediately, but was held back by the young man behind him. He listened to the young man's deep voice.

"The King of Zhongshan was appointed by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He is on the same level as the Princes of the Ming Dynasty. Why should he kneel?!"

"Are you also the King of Zhongshan?"

As soon as the young man said this, Ma He frowned immediately, with murderous intent in his eyes. He stared at the young man and shouted, "Kneel down!"

thump!
With a loud shout, everyone except King Wuning of Zhongshan fell to their knees and prostrated themselves on the ground.

The Ming Dynasty’s aura is too strong, they simply can’t withstand it.

In fact, Wu Ning was also trembling, looking upwards with a dull gaze, not knowing whether to kneel or not.

Seeing that those people were kneeling on the ground and dared not look up, Ma He was slightly satisfied, and then he sang along in a deep voice.

"Welcome to the Ming King Lu!"

"Welcome to the Ming King Lu!"

Everyone below followed suit and shouted. Amid the shouts, Zhu Tan slowly walked out.

He was wearing a gilded dragon robe with a five-clawed golden dragon baring its fangs and claws on his chest. The golden crown on his head and the jade belt around his waist made him look noble and superior.

Zhu Tan had a blank expression on his face. He glanced down calmly, then took a slow step and walked down.

Ma He immediately supported Zhu Tan from behind, as if he was afraid that Zhu Tan would fall.

After getting off the warship, Zhu Tan took a look at the only person still standing, King Wuning of Zhongshan.

This burly man with a dark face didn't look like a king at all. If it weren't for the shabby dragon robe he was wearing, Zhu Tan would have thought he was an opera singer.

"Are you the King Chadu of Zhongshan?"

"I, your servant, the king..."

Wu Ning was confused by this question and didn't know how to start for a moment.

At this moment, the young man kneeling beside Wu Ning kowtowed and said, "Your Highness, King Chadu passed away last year. The one in front of you is the current King of Zhongshan, Wu Ning."

died?

Zhu Tan frowned slightly when he heard this. This seemed to be different from what he remembered.

However, Zhu Tan didn't know much about the history of Ryukyu, he just had a general understanding of it.

Ryukyu was unified in the fourth year of Emperor Xuande's reign. At that time, a man named Sho Bashi destroyed the Zhongshan Kingdom, unified Ryukyu, and established the first Sho Dynasty. Emperor Xuande conferred the title on Sho Bashi and recognized his status.

I have some impression of Zhu Tan in Wuning. Historical books say that he was extremely licentious and unworthy of a ruler. He was overthrown after being king for only a few years, and the ruler of Zhongshan Kingdom also changed.

Thinking of this, Zhu Tan's expression changed. He did not look at Wu Ning, who was a little embarrassed and frightened in front of him, but looked around the scene and glanced near the port.

On both sides of the port are low shacks made of bamboo and wood, and they are not very densely packed.

In the distance, you can see rows of coconut trees swaying in the sea breeze.

The personal visit of Prince Lu of the Ming Dynasty must be a big event. Even if Prince Wuning of Zhongshan is ignorant, he will definitely arrange a grand welcoming ceremony.

However, the total number of officials and soldiers at the port did not exceed three hundred. Even if the residents near the port were included, there were no more than a thousand people at most.

This scale, well...it’s hard to describe.

"I was not aware of this matter, so please forgive me, King Zhongshan."

Zhu Tan was still well-mannered. Although he felt a little disappointed, he still had a smile on his face.

The Ming army has shown its might and he is not in a good mood. No one knows what the people of Zhongshan Kingdom will think.

Hearing Zhu Tan say this, Wu Ning felt extremely terrified and immediately said, "Your Highness Prince Lu, you are too kind."

"You have come a long way, and I have already prepared a banquet in the city. Your Highness Prince Lu, please move on."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Tan nodded and chuckled. Wu Ning immediately turned around, made way, and prepared to let Zhu Tan go first.

At this time, the soldiers under Zhu Tan's command immediately moved, and formed two rows at a very fast speed, separating Zhu Tan, Wu Ning and other bystanders. In this way, they built a passage, making it impossible for the people from Zhongshan Kingdom on both sides to get close.

King Wuning of Zhongshan's face changed, but he dared not say a word, for fear of angering King Lu beside him.

He was not stupid. He knew that the hundred or so soldiers around Prince Lu were only a small part, and the other large number of Ming soldiers did not disembark.

If King Lu was really angered, the soldiers he brought would be enough to destroy his Zhongshan Kingdom countless times.

Therefore, King Wuning of Zhongshan followed Zhu Tan carefully, as if he was the guest.

The two of them were protected by soldiers all the way and went directly into Wuning's palace.

How to describe the capital of Zhongshan Kingdom?

It is roughly equivalent to a slightly larger village in the Ming Dynasty, with several hundred households.

There are a few streets and shops in the city, but that’s all. It cannot be compared with the towns in the Ming Dynasty.

The Wuning Palace was built in a rather nice way, at least it's not as dilapidated as the outside.

Zhu Tan even saw a cluster of tightly furrowed flowers in the courtyard of the palace. This thing was not a native product of the Ryukyu Kingdom. He wondered where Wu Ning got it from.

After entering the mansion, Wu Ning let Zhu Tan take the main seat. After they were both seated, Wu Ning spoke to the outside.

"Pass the meal around!"

Soon, several servants came in quickly from outside, dragging wooden trays in their hands, with plates of dishes placed on the table, which made Zhu Tan grin secretly.

What are these things?

There are more than a dozen dishes, most of which are seafood.

It’s okay to bring up fish and shrimp, but what’s the point of bringing up kelp as well?
"Your Highness Prince Lu."

At this time, Wu Ning picked up the wine glass, stood up, bowed slightly, and said softly: "It is an honor for Zhongshan State to have you here."

"Xiao Wang offers you a drink."

After saying that, Wu Ning didn't wait for Zhu Tan to speak, and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, which made Zhu Tan frown slightly.

The King of Zhongshan has no knowledge of etiquette at all. He drank the wine before the distinguished guest even spoke. Are you trying to defeat your distinguished guest?
However, Zhu Tan did not get angry. He still had to give the face he deserved.

So he picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and almost vomited.

This wine is not as clear and refreshing as the wine of the Ming Dynasty. Instead, it tastes sour, as if it was not fully fermented, and is closer to the taste of vinegar.

He grinned slightly, put down his wine glass, and said softly, "King Zhongshan, please sit down."

"You are the king appointed by our father, so you don't have to be so polite to me."

Wu Ning grinned upon hearing this, turned around and sat down, and then said, "Your Highness Prince Lu, are you coming to Zhongshan Kingdom on behalf of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Tan's heart moved slightly when he heard this, and then he laughed softly.

"Bring it."

"My father said that the King of Zhongshan should cooperate with me to conquer Japan." (End of this chapter)