Chapter 433: Sun Chuanting Comes Out of the Mountain
Emperor Chongzhen always gave priority to Zhong Jinwei's request for an audience. However, when he heard that Zhong Jinwei was asking about the domestic situation in Japan, he didn't understand it very well, so he sent the first minister Wen Tiren to ask.
Wen Tiren did know a little bit. He introduced Emperor Chongzhen and Zhong Jinwei: "After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the Japanese ruler Ashikaga Yoshi accepted the title of king of the Ming Dynasty and paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty..."
Zhong Jinwei frowned upon hearing this and interrupted Wen Tiren: "Master Wen, what you are talking about happened a long time ago."
Emperor Chongzhen listened with interest and said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, it doesn't hurt to listen."
Wen Tiren bowed to Emperor Chongzhen in response, and then said to Zhong Jinwei: "Marquis Zhongxing, you are worried about Japan's influence on our Ming Dynasty's North American route in the future. You might as well listen to the historical relationship between Japan and Ming Dynasty first, or have a reference
of."
Zhong Jinwei thought about it, and said a little embarrassedly: "I am still too impatient, Mr. Wen continues."
Wen Tiren smiled slightly, didn't mind, and continued to explain: "Later, the Japanese pirates invaded the coast. In the early years of Yongle, he sent the then eunuch Zheng He to lead a fleet to Japan to ask for the Japanese pirate leaders and ask them to investigate them strictly. The Japanese King Yuan Daoyi was active at that time
Cooperating, we quickly captured and boiled more than 20 thieves alive in response."
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he was surprised and interrupted Wen Tiren: "I have only heard of Zheng He's voyages to the West, but he also once sailed to the East!"
Wen Tiren nodded and kept the same smile on his face, without any intention of mocking Zhong Jinwei for being ignorant: "Yes, Zheng He's voyage to the East was a complete success, and Japan was also very obedient to the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, Chengzu allowed him ten years
I paid tribute once and gave him generous gifts every time. The two sides maintained a courtesy exchange until the Jiajing period."
The problem of Japanese pirates during the Jiajing period should be a well-known fact to passers-by, and this is why Qi Jiguang became famous.
Zhong Jinwei did not interrupt this time, and listened to Wen Tiren's explanation, in case there was anything he didn't know.
"At the end of the Jiajing period, Japanese princes fought fiercely in the Ming Dynasty for the right to pay tribute, which harmed the people of the Ming Dynasty. In the end, it led to a large-scale Japanese pirate disaster. Although it eventually subsided, it made Japan even more coveted the Ming Dynasty. So that
During the Wanli period, they even invaded North Korea twice, attempting to use North Korea as a springboard to plot against the Ming Dynasty. After being finally defeated by the Ming Dynasty and North Korean coalition forces, they ceased their activities and have not made any further moves until now."
After Wen Tiren said this, he stopped talking.
After Zhong Jinwei finished listening, he waited for a while before Wen Tiren continued, so he asked: "Is it gone down there?"
"No more." Wen Tiren nodded.
When Wen Tiren said these things, Zhong Jinwei did not have any news in recent years except for the information that Japan has been coveting the Ming Dynasty, especially the situation in Japan, so he did not get the real answer to his previous questions. Thinking of it
Here, Zhong Jinwei couldn't help but frown again.
Wen Tiren ignored Zhong Jinwei, and concluded to Emperor Chongzhen: "If the Ming Dynasty is strong, Japan will obey; if the Ming Dynasty shows a little weakness, Japan will covet it. This is a fact that history tells us."
Emperor Chongzhen already understood this meaning from Wen Tiren's words. He nodded and sighed: "The Ming Dynasty is surrounded by wolves!"
Wen Tiren was very pleased that Emperor Chongzhen understood this. Only in this way would he not slack off and not become complacent because of the recent achievements.
Wen Tiren's joy is not unreasonable. There was a similar incident in history.
At the end of the Tang Dynasty, the founding king Li Cunxu, known as the Later Tang Dynasty in history, after he achieved success and showed signs of reviving the Tang Dynasty, he became arrogant and greedy, spending all his time with actors, and eventually died at the hands of actors.
At the same time, Wen Tiren also knew that his answer did not solve Zhongxinghou's problem, but only had a general answer.
He thought for a while and then reported to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, there has been no news from Japan for many years, but the southeast maritime merchants of the Ming Dynasty should have contact with Japan. You might as well let the factory guards investigate it."
Hearing what Wen Tiren said, Zhong Jinwei really wanted to slap himself on the head. He also suggested: "Your Majesty, that Zheng Zhilong should know."
Emperor Chongzhen nodded and immediately summoned Wang Chengen, the admiral of Dongchang, to come and see him.
For Wang Chengen, this kind of thing is not difficult. But Zhong Jinwei added: "The sooner this happens, the better."
Wang Chengen looked at Zhong Jinwei and thought that it would be terrible if Marquis Zhongxing added, "It's best if you go in person."
He quickly agreed, and hurriedly excused himself to arrange the matter to avoid being really said by Zhongxing Hou.
Because he knew that if Marquis Zhongxing said this, Emperor Chongzhen would definitely not have any objections and would cry.
Watching Wang Cheng'en leave the palace, Wen Tiren thought for a moment and reported to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, you may be able to find out what the situation in Japan is like from the maritime merchants. But what is the attitude of the Japanese authorities towards the Ming Dynasty? It is not the maritime merchants.
Easy to get information."
When Emperor Chongzhen saw what Wen Tiren said, he knew that he must have some considerations, so he took advantage of the situation and asked: "What about Wen Qing's wishes?"
Zhong Jinwei also looked at Wen Tiren, wondering if he had any good ideas.
"Your Majesty, I suggest that you send an imperial envoy to ask the Japanese king when the tribute will be restored." Wen Tiren said his suggestion.
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he also said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Master Wen's proposal is good. Firstly, you can test Japan's attitude towards the Ming Dynasty. Secondly, you can also take the opportunity to observe the situation in Japan, and then compare it with the information provided by maritime merchants.
It’s more reliable.”
When Emperor Chongzhen saw that both his ministers said this, he naturally had no objection. It was just a matter of sending someone, it was just a trivial matter.
But Wen Tiren immediately added on the basis of Zhong Jinwei's words: "Your Majesty, what Marquis Zhongxing said is reasonable, but this will put higher requirements on the imperial envoy, otherwise it will be difficult to complete the purpose of this mission."
This is not a problem for an emperor. He replied to Wen Tiren: "Leave this matter to the cabinet, select a suitable person as the imperial envoy, and just go to Japan."
After seeing Wen Tiren bowing to accept the order, he turned to Zhong Jinwei and said: "Master Zhong, your wedding is coming soon, so you should put aside the court affairs for a while, otherwise I will owe you a lot."
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he smiled sheepishly and replied to Emperor Chongzhen: "I will do my best until I die."
Emperor Chongzhen and Wen Tiren were amused by Zhong Jinwei's inappropriate answer, but they also understood Zhong Jinwei's thoughts.
After the meeting, Wen Tiren immediately went to deal with the matter of sending the imperial envoy to Japan. After the recommendation of his subordinates, he finally selected a man who was unemployed at home as the imperial envoy to Japan. He was Sun Chuanting.
Under the effect of Zhong Jinwei's butterfly wings, history has changed. Sun Chuanting left the country early, and an unprecedented mission to Japan also happened.