At night on the same day, in Ganghwa Bay, several large ships were slowly sailing into Incheon Port.
When the ship docked in the port and the people in Ming Dynasty robes slowly walked down, the Koreans who had already prepared themselves immediately swarmed up under the leadership of the leader.
Following Yang Ben, Zhu Guan, the head of the Host and Guest Department of the Ministry of Etiquette, who had been to North Korea once, said to Yang Ben: "The person who is coming to meet you should be North Korea's Yi'an Lord Li He, who has the power to know North Korea's Minister of State Li Chenggui.
younger brother."
Yang Ben was shocked. He did not expect that North Korea would send such an important person to greet him. He had asked Zhu Guan before, and no one with such a high status had ever come to greet an envoy from the Ming Dynasty before.
After the two parties walked in, Yang Ben saw Li He finishing his salute and immediately took a few steps to catch Li He. Just kidding, he knew what he came to North Korea to do. If Li Fangyuan accepted the Ming Dynasty's will, he would be equivalent to the prince of the Ming Dynasty.
, Li He is also equivalent to the prince or duke of the Ming Dynasty; he is now representing the Ming Dynasty as an envoy and can receive a courtesy, but that can only stop there.
Li He didn't know what Yang Ben was thinking. After Yang Ben supported him so that he couldn't salute, he didn't have to continue saluting. After all, his status was higher than Yang Ben's.
Li He said a few words, and then walked hand in hand with Yang Ben to the carriage prepared aside. People on both sides got on the carriage and returned to Seoul.
Naturally, Yang Ben and his party stayed at the post house specially arranged by North Korea for envoys from the Ming Dynasty. Li He took his own people and Jin Hanlao, who had returned to North Korea with Yang Ben, into Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Although it was getting late, Li Fangyuan still did not rest, but waited here for the arrival of Li and the others.
Li He and Mr. Jin Han walked into the palace where Li Fangyuan was. When they saw Li Fangyuan sitting on the couch, they immediately saluted and said, "I have met the king."
Li Fangyuan waved his sleeves and said, "No need to be too polite. Mr. Jin Han, has the Ming Dynasty agreed to crown me the King of Korea?"
Jin Hanlao adjusted his clothes, then bent his body as if to salute, and then said: "Your Majesty, the Emperor of Ming Dynasty agreed to canonize your Majesty as the King of Korea, but,"
After Li Fangyuan listened to the first half of the sentence, he was just about to show a happy expression when he heard the word but, and he immediately said: "What but?"
Jin Hanlao hesitated for a while. Although he knew that Li Fangyuan must be recognized by Ming Dynasty to be able to maintain it, he couldn't speak directly and it was better to be more tactful.
The current situation is different from that in history. In history, Li Fangyuan went through two princes' rebellions and decided to officially become the king only after he was sure that he could control the situation in Korea and that Emperor Jianwen would recognize him as the king of Korea.
Now Li Bangyuan has adopted a bolder strategy, directly inheriting the throne in one step. However, this means that he can only control the Seoul-Pyongyang area, as well as Lixing. Moreover, in these places he controls, there are also people who support Li Chenggui and are dissatisfied with Li Bangyuan's usurpation of the throne.
. He didn't dare to kill these people, which would make the areas he could control even more unstable.
Li Fangyuan has now become an ant on the hot pot, and may be doomed at any time. That's why he attaches great importance to Ming's recognition.
Jin Hanlao hesitated for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty wants to give the surname Zhu to the Korean royal family."
After listening to Jin Hanlao's words, Li Fangyuan was stunned for a moment before he realized that he meant to give him the surname Zhu. At this time, Li He also realized what he said and shouted: "How can this be done!"
Although Li Fangyuan did not speak, his mood could be seen from his gloomy face.
Li Fangyuan used great perseverance to suppress his emotions and said, "Does the emperor of Ming Dynasty have any other requests?"
Jin Hanlao said: "Also, North Korea must send troops when the Ming Dynasty fights. No matter how many or how little, they must send troops."
Li Fangyuan then asked: "Are there any other requirements?"
Jin Hanlao said: "No more."
Li Fangyuan said to Mr. Jin Han: "Go and call brothers Li Fangyi, Li Zhilan, and Min Wuji and Min Wuxie."
Then he said to Li He: "Third uncle, you also stay here."
Mr. Jin Han immediately went out to look for someone.
After Jin Hanlao left, Li He said to Li Fangyuan: "Your Majesty, you must not agree to Ming Guo's request! Although my Li family is not a famous family, I cannot give up my surname easily. My Li family has a long history...
…”
At this point, he suddenly got stuck. Although Li Chenggui has always claimed that he is a real Korean since he succeeded to the throne, and traced his ancestry to Li Han, Sikong, Silla, in fact, they have no idea where their ancestry is.
of.
When Li He was born, he still had a Mongolian name, and he and Li Chenggui were both born in the Shuangcheng Mansion of the Yuan Dynasty (today's Xianxing). There were many Jurchens here, as well as Mongols who came later. They
I don’t even know whether I am a Korean, a Jurchen or a Mongolian, or maybe a descendant of all three.
It's okay to deceive ordinary people by saying that the Li family has a long history, but it's pointless to deceive your own people.
Li He was stuck, and Li Fangyuan said softly: "I understand what Third Uncle said. No matter whether the Quanzhou Li family we promote is true or false, we can't give it up easily."
However, after he said this, he stopped talking. He lowered his head and sat on the couch thinking about something. Li He sat aside, not knowing what to say, so he just stayed there.
After a while, Li Fangyi, Li Zhilan, and brothers Min Wuji and Min Wuxie came over. Mr. Jin Han walked into the hall with them, saluted Li Fangyuan and said: "Your Majesty, Lord Yi'an (Li Fangyi), Lord Qinghai (
Li Zhilan), and the Min brothers are here."
Li Fangyuan raised his head and said: "Sit down, all sit down." As he said this, he clapped his hands, and the maids came in to place tables and fruits, and then filed out again.
Li Zhilan and others sat down one after another. Li Zhilan greeted Li He again, and first said: "Your Majesty, why did you ask me to come here?"
Li Zhilan's original name was Tong Doulan Timur. There is conclusive historical data that can prove that he was a Jurchen. He was probably from the same family as Tong, one of the eight major surnames of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Speaking of which, the biological mother was Tong.
Xuanye is probably related to him.
Li Zhilan and Li Chenggui are sworn brothers, and Li Chenggui trusts Li Zhilan very much. However, he probably never dreamed that Li Zhilan would support Li Fangyuan after Li Fangyuan's coup. Li Zhilan's support is also the reason why Li Fangyuan was able to quickly calm down the situation in the capital. Therefore, Li Fangyuan attaches great importance to Li Zhilan
Opinion.
Li Fangyuan said: "The Ming Dynasty agreed to canonize me as the king of Korea, but they asked that I, or the entire Li family, be given the surname Zhu."
Li Fangyi immediately jumped up and said: "This, this, we can't..." But he immediately remembered the current difficult situation and knew the serious consequences if he could not get Mingguo's recognition, so he did not continue to speak.
Li Fangyi is Li Fangyuan's third brother and the only one among Li Chenggui who supports Li Fangyuan, so Li Fangyuan also attaches great importance to him. And Li Fangyi is also very likely to change his surname to Zhu, so Li Fangyuan also wants to know what he will say.
.
Li Fangyuan saw Li Fangyi stop mid-sentence, and looked at Li Fangyi's troubled expression, and understood his hesitation. This made Li Fangyuan himself even more hesitant.
But Li Zhilan didn't care about his last name, so he said, "That's it? Then why don't you agree?"
The pure Koreans Min Wuji, brothers Min Wuxie and the Li family who have an in-depth understanding of North Korea all know that the surname is still very important. The Li family has been promoting the Li family name in Quanzhou for several years. If they want to abandon this surname, they will definitely make the local people unhappy.
Looking down on the powerful will also affect the subsequent appeasement of the local government.
So Min Wuji said: "Qinghaijun, you think too simply. Surnames are not that simple for us Koreans."
The Min brothers are the brothers of Li Fangyuan's first wife, Princess Jingning, and they are also from a wealthy family in Lixing. Their family was the only local wealthy family to express its support for Li Fangyuan after Li Fangyuan's coup. So Li Fangyuan would not expect them to call their brothers here today.
The idea is just to show that he attaches great importance to the Lixing Min family.
After listening to Min Wuji's words, Li Zhilan laughed. He said: "You people are all blinded by superficial things. Huanzu (Li Zichun, the father of Li Chenggui) only surrendered to Goryeo more than forty years ago. Before that, he had been
If you serve as an official under the Mongols, do you think the local wealthy people in Korea will not know about it?"
"During the reign of the late king, the local big families openly or covertly resisted the former king. If the surname was changed to Zhu, would any of them dare to do anything more drastic besides resisting?"
"If someone really does that, they are despising the Ming royal family. Do they dare to despise the Ming royal family?"
"Since the worst outcome is just the same as before, there is nothing to hesitate about."
No one spoke for a while. Although Li Zhilan's words made sense, Min Wuji still felt that Li Zhilan's thinking was too simple. He said: "Qinghai Lord, the Ming Dynasty has not interfered with my affairs in Korea before, and it may not interfere in the future."
"If the local wealthy families see that the Ming Dynasty is just giving him a false name and no other help, then they may not think of other things."
Li Zhilan asked: "What else will happen? Do they dare not to recognize the king's throne?"
Min Wuji said: "I don't dare, but they may unite to resist the central government's decree."
Li Zhilan said: "They have been resisting the central government's decrees, which is not surprising. But the king can always destroy their alliance and then implement the decree. They are not monolithic and easy to deal with."
Then Li Zhilan looked at Min Wuji, who was about to continue to refute, and said: "Moreover, we have no other way now. We must obtain the support of the Ming Kingdom, otherwise we will not be able to survive. Do you have other ways?" Li Zhilan directly exposed it.
If they understand their situation, they will be doomed without external support.
As soon as Li Zhilan said these words, 3 was speechless. Not only him, but also everyone else had nothing else to say. They were not stupid and knew that the current situation was very bad. Although a wealthy family somewhere suddenly supported them and let them
It is possible for them to overcome the difficulties, but the hope is slim.
At this time, Li Fangyuan seemed to have made up his mind and said: "Uncle Qinghai is right, I have no other way to think of. In order to gain the support of the Ming Dynasty, I can only agree to change my surname!"
It was obvious that he was very unhappy and reluctant, but he knew that he had no choice but to accept it.
Li Zhilan said at this time: "Does Ming Guo have any other requirements?"
Jin Hanlao said: "The Ming Dynasty also required that once the Ming Dynasty goes to war, North Korea must send troops to participate in the war. Regardless of the number, they must send troops."
Li Zhilan said: "What does this mean? We haven't asked for the number of soldiers yet. How can we just send a few people to go around the battlefield?"
Jin Hanlao shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Li Zhilan asked: "What about the others?"
Jin Hanlao said: "There are no other requirements."
Li Zhilan pretended to be over the top and said to Li Fangyuan: "Since the Ming Dynasty has no other requirements, the matter has actually been settled."
"But don't agree to the envoys of the Ming Dynasty right away. If you don't accept the order tomorrow, send someone to discuss it with the envoys of the Ming Dynasty again to see if you can get more benefits from the Ming Dynasty. In one or two days, we will still
I can afford it."
Li Fangyuan did not comment on Li Zhilan's last few words, but said: "You all should stand down."
Everyone retreated. Li He seemed to want to say something to Li Fangyuan, but in the end he retreated without saying anything.
Li Fangyuan trembled, then stood up and led the palace maid to a palace door, and then walked in.
There was an old man in his sixties in the palace, and several palace ladies were serving him beside him. When they saw Li Fangyuan walking in, they all saluted.
Li Fangyuan waved them out. After a while, the old man and Li Fangyuan were the only two people in the hall.
Li Fangyuan said: "Father." It turned out that this old man was Li Chenggui.
Li Chenggui did not look at him, but lay with his eyes closed. But he still said: "What's wrong? Ming Dynasty still refused to make you the king of North Korea?" Although he was under house arrest here, he didn't know everything.
Li Fangyuan smiled bitterly and said: "That's not the case, but they put forward conditions."
Li Chenggui said: "What conditions make you so embarrassed? Does it have to be the place on the south bank of the Yalu River or the people?"
"If the Ming Dynasty wants local leaders or people, it must not be given. Those heroes and generals will not support it."
The heroes and generals of North Korea will not support it, not only because that is the place they conquered, but also because their fields, mountains and forests are there. Once the place is returned, all their wealth will be gone.
Li Fangyuan said: "If Ming Dynasty made such a request, it would be simple, then I wouldn't have to be so entangled. But their request is a hundred times more complicated than this."
