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

Kujo Masataka stepped down from the throne, but he did not feel relieved at all.

"Persuading the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to withdraw his troops" is easier said than done!
He knew the temperament of that huge empire too well. It called itself the Celestial Empire and regarded Japan as a barbaric land.

This time the Ming Dynasty came with great force and was clearly well prepared. They could not be dismissed with just a few carts of gold, silver and treasures.

"Young Master, have you really decided to go to Ming Dynasty?"

Back at the mansion, Kujo Masataka's trusted samurai, Kato Danzo, asked with a worried look on his face.

Kato Danzo followed Kujo Masataka for many years and was loyal to him, treating him like a brother.

"At this point, is there any other solution? Are we really going to watch the Ming cavalry trample our homeland?"

Kujo Masataka frowned, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"But... the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the King of Nalu are not easy to deal with. If you go..."

"I understand that this trip is likely to be dangerous."

Kujo Masataka took a deep breath. "But someone has to do it, right?"

Kato Danzo opened his mouth and wanted to persuade him again, but in the end he just sighed. He knew that no one could change what Kujo Masataka decided.

Kujo Masataka turned and walked into the study and began to prepare for his mission to the Ming Dynasty.

He knew very well that the journey to Ming Dynasty would be extremely dangerous.

Needless to say, the Ming Emperor was furious, and the legendary and decisive Prince Lu of the Ming Dynasty was even more chilling.

It is not easy to persuade them to withdraw their troops.

He ordered people to find a large number of books about the Ming Dynasty, and carefully studied the history, culture, and preferences of the Ming Emperor and Prince Lu, trying to find a breakthrough.

At the same time, he also began to prepare tribute.

He knew that in order to impress the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, in addition to sincerity, he also needed enough "gifts".

Although Japan is a poor country, it has accumulated many rare treasures over the years.

Gold, silver, pearls, agate, coral, ivory...all kinds of treasures are dazzling and shining with alluring light.

In addition, he also carefully selected hundreds of beautiful Japanese girls as one of the "gifts" for this mission.

These girls have been carefully trained. They are not only proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but also know how to please men.

Kujo Masataka believed that as long as the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the Prince of Lu were normal men, they would never be able to refuse these "gifts".

Of course, in addition to these overt preparations, Kujo Masataka did not forget the secret arrangements.

He knew very well that the journey was full of dangers and no one knew what would happen.

He secretly gathered a group of loyal warriors, disguised them as followers, and protected him secretly.

These warriors were carefully selected. Each of them is highly skilled in martial arts and loyal. They are his last trump card.

After everything was ready, Kujo Masataka led a large delegation and embarked on a journey to the Ming Dynasty.

The mighty fleet, loaded with Japan's hopes and humiliations, slowly left the port and headed towards that powerful and strange country.

Looking at his hometown gradually moving away, a complicated look flashed in Kujo Masataka's eyes.

This journey is dangerous, but he has no way out.

For the sake of Japan, he had no choice but to move forward, even if there were mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead...

The sea is vast and the waves are rough.

In Yingtian Prefecture, in the imperial study of the imperial palace, Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in casual clothes, sat upright on the dragon throne.

His thick brows were furrowed, and he held a memorial tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Below, civil and military officials were lined up on both sides. The atmosphere was so depressing that you could hear a pin drop.

"My dear ministers, the Japanese pirates sent envoys to the court. What do they want to do?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's loud voice broke the silence in the hall, carrying with it a bit of suppressed anger.

"Your Majesty,"

The head of the civil officials, Prime Minister Li Shanchang, stepped forward, bowed and said:

"The Japanese pirates sent an envoy this time because they are afraid of the might of our heavenly soldiers and want to ask for peace."

He stroked his graying beard, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes, "In my opinion, why not take this opportunity to promote the style of our Ming Dynasty as a country of etiquette and force them to withdraw their troops and pay tribute forever!"

As soon as Li Shanchang finished speaking, a cold snort was heard from the ranks of generals.

The burly Xu Da strode out of the line and said in a rough voice:

"Old man Li, are you getting senile? The Japanese pirates have been aggressive and have repeatedly invaded the seas of the Ming Dynasty. Now they are just defeated and you want to ask for peace? Humph, in my opinion, we should just kill them all at once!"

As Xu Da spoke, he waved his fist as big as a casserole, as if he wanted to smash the Japanese pirates who were thousands of miles away to pieces with one punch.

"Xu Da! Don't be rude!" Zhu Yuanzhang scolded in a low voice, but his eyes were full of admiration.

Didn't he want to completely wipe out the Japanese pirates to prevent future troubles?
But now the war is tense and the treasury is empty. It would be best if we could defeat the enemy without fighting.

"emperor,"

Tang He, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stood up. His face was serious and his tone was heavy:
"I think we need to be cautious about this matter. The Japanese pirates are cunning and treacherous. This time they sent an envoy, perhaps just a delaying tactic. We must be on guard!"

"Tang He, are you worried about your precious daughter?" Li Shanchang's sarcastic voice sounded, with a hint of sarcasm.

Tang He's daughter was the princess consort of Prince Lu Zhu Tan. Zhu Tan led the troops in this eastern expedition. If the Japanese pirates were really just delaying the attack, wouldn't he be in danger?

"Li Shanchang! You..." Tang He became furious when he heard this and was about to explode when Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

"Alright, shut up!" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the dragon chair and shouted angrily, "You are making so much noise, how can you behave like that!"

The hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Tang He, please continue." Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said in a deep voice.

"I think,"

Tang He calmed himself down and continued;
"Just in case, we should immediately send more troops to Japan to support His Royal Highness Prince Lu. At the same time, we must also make full preparations to prevent the Japanese pirates from pretending to surrender!"

"Add more troops?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Now the treasury is empty, how can we add more troops?"

"This..." Tang He was speechless for a moment.

"emperor,"

Liu Bowen stood up, bowed and said:

"I think we can follow the example of the previous dynasty, lift the ban on sea trade, and encourage private commerce to fill the national treasury."

"Lift the maritime ban?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

……

The debate in the imperial study was still going on, while the Japanese delegation, thousands of miles away, was now anchored at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Kujo Masataka stood at the bow, looking at the vague land in the distance, his heart filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

"Your Highness, the territory of the Ming Dynasty is ahead."

An attendant walked up behind Kujo Masataka and whispered.

Kujo Masataka did not speak, but took a deep breath. An inexplicable sense of oppression surged into his heart, making him feel suffocated. "Pass the order, all ships, dock!"

In the dim morning light, the majestic Yingtianfu city gate slowly opened.

A gorgeous carriage decorated with golden nanmu wood drove into the ancient capital, surrounded by dozens of warriors.

Inside the carriage, Kujo Masataka was wearing an exquisite kimono embroidered with golden auspicious clouds.

However, there was no trace of complacency on his handsome face. Instead, it was filled with anxiety and uneasiness that could not be concealed.

"Your Highness, the palace is just ahead. You don't have to worry too much. His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty has always been kind. This time you come here in person to apologize and offer tribute. His Majesty will certainly show leniency and forgive our sins."

An older warrior whispered soothingly, trying to ease the depressing atmosphere in the car.

Kujo Masataka forced a smile, but his heart was filled with bitterness.

He came to Ming this time, ostensibly on behalf of Japan to apologize and seek peace, but in fact he came to find out the truth.

Some time ago, Japanese pirates repeatedly invaded the coast of Japan, burning, killing, looting and committing all kinds of atrocities, making the people along the coast of Ming Dynasty suffer terribly.

The Ming Dynasty's Prince Lu was furious and mobilized the Ming army, determined to wipe out the Japanese army in one fell swoop.

Although their Japanese army was fierce, they were as vulnerable as chickens and dogs under the iron hoof of the Ming navy. They were defeated step by step and suffered heavy losses.

Seeing that they were about to be wiped out, the Japanese army finally remembered the majesty of the Ming Emperor and quickly sent him to ask for peace.

In addition to a large amount of gold, silver and treasures, Kujo Masataka also brought a letter of surrender, which was full of sincerity.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude made him feel a little uneasy.

At the morning court session, in the magnificent hall, civil and military officials were arranged on both sides according to their ranks, and the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

Under the guidance of the envoy, Kujo Masataka trembled as he walked up to the hall, knelt on the ground, and said in the unskilled official language of the Ming Dynasty:

"I, the foreign minister Kujo Masataka, pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Our Emperor admires the Celestial Empire and has specially sent a foreign minister to offer tribute to show his sincerity..."

As he spoke, he signaled to his entourage to present the tributes, including gold, silver, jewelry, exquisite calligraphy and paintings, that they had brought.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright on the dragon throne, his face as gloomy as water, without saying a word, but just looked at Kujo Masataka coldly, his eyes as sharp as a knife, as if he could see through him.

Kujo Masataka felt cold all over, with cold sweat soaking through the clothes on the back, and he didn't even dare to breathe.

"Are you speaking the truth?"

It was unknown how long it had been before Zhu Yuanzhang finally spoke. His voice was low, but it seemed to carry an invisible pressure that made Kujo Masataka almost unable to breathe.

"Every word I say is true. I would never dare to deceive Your Majesty!"

Kujo Masataka kowtowed quickly, his voice trembling slightly.

"Okay, in that case, you can stay at the inn first and wait for my order."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said lightly.

"This……"

Kujo Masataka wanted to say something, but was pulled up by the official from the Ministry of Rites next to him, who signaled him not to say anything more.

He had no choice but to kowtow to thank the emperor for his grace and followed the officials from the Ministry of Rites out of the hall.

After returning to the inn, Kujo Masataka immediately summoned his followers to discuss countermeasures.

"Your Highness, what is the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty up to? Why is he so reluctant to agree to our request?"

A warrior asked anxiously, his tone full of uneasiness.

"Yes, in the past, when Japan invaded the border of the Ming Dynasty, as long as we expressed our apologies and presented some gifts, the Ming Emperor would forgive us. Why is it that this time..."

Another warrior echoed this, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"Could it be that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty wants to take this opportunity to completely eliminate our country of Japan?"

A warrior suddenly said, with a hint of fear in his tone.

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became more solemn.

Yes, if the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty really wanted to destroy Japan, then wouldn’t they be walking into a trap by coming here this time?

Kujo Masataka had a gloomy face and said nothing. His mind was in turmoil, with all kinds of thoughts coming to his mind one after another.

At this moment, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Who?"

A warrior asked warily.

"My lords, my master is the Minister of Rites. I have specially prepared some wine to entertain you. Please do me the honor of moving forward."

A flattering voice came from outside the door.

Kujo Masataka and the others looked at each other, and there was a hint of intention in their eyes.

Could it be that the Ming court wanted to negotiate with them in private?
Thinking of this, Kujo Masataka suddenly became alert and quickly ordered his followers to open the door.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, sir, to lead the way."

Kujo Masataka said to the people outside the door with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of urgency that was difficult to conceal.

Kujo Masataka and his party followed the servant through twists and turns, through the streets and alleys, and finally stopped in front of a magnificent mansion.

The minister smiled and made a "please" gesture, saying:
"My lords, you have come from afar and must have worked hard on your journey. Please come in, please come in!"

Kujo Masataka and others walked into the mansion with doubts, and found that a banquet had already been set up in the courtyard. An official wearing purple official uniform, a black gauze hat, with a fair face and two mustaches was sitting in the main seat, looking at them with a smile.

"I am Hu Weiyong, honored to be the Prime Minister of the Secretariat."

The official stood up and bowed, his tone was kind and without any airs.

Kujo Masataka and others hurriedly returned the greeting, but they were even more confused.

Hu Weiyong is the prime minister of the current dynasty, second only to the emperor. How could he condescend to entertain the Japanese envoys?

Could it be that there is some conspiracy behind this?
Hu Weiyong seemed to see their concerns and said with a smile:

"Don't worry, my lords. I have heard that Japan has a long history of culture. When I met you today, I found that you are indeed handsome and extraordinary!"

"I have studied Japanese culture quite a bit, so I specially prepared a banquet for you today. Firstly, I want to express the Ming Dynasty's enthusiasm for guests coming from afar, and secondly, I want to have a good discussion with you about Japanese culture. I hope you will not refuse."

Seeing that Hu Weiyong was so frank, Kujo Masataka and others could not refuse and sat down one after another.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Hu Weiyong's conversation became humorous.

He quoted from classics, from Japanese waka and haiku to the spirit of bushido, and then to the tea ceremony and flower arrangement, and he was well versed in all of them.

Hearing Kujo Masataka and others nodding their heads and praising him, his original wariness gradually dissipated.

Instead, there is the joy of finding a close friend.

"Speaking of which, I also admire your country's Oda Nobunaga very much! This man is a man of great talent and strategy, and his martial arts are unparalleled. It's a pity that he was killed by his own people. It's really a pity!"

Hu Weiyong put down his wine glass and said with regret.

"Prime Minister, have you also heard of Oda Nobunaga?"

Kujo Masataka asked with some surprise. Oda Nobunaga was a household name in Japan.

I didn't expect that someone in the Ming Dynasty would know about his deeds. (End of this chapter)