The courtyard of Zheng Zhilong's mansion in Nagasaki was filled with joy.
After many years, the master finally came back. While being rewarded, every servant praised the master for his kindness.
As for the owner of this house, he was sitting in the lobby at this time, accompanied by Tagawa Song, Zheng Zhilong's wife in the Japanese country, looking at the Japanese kneeling in front of him and calling him daddy.
In the past, Zheng Zhilong didn't mind at all whether he was a Japanese or a Mingren. But now, when he saw his second son dressing up as a Japanese, especially the hair, he always felt a little awkward.
Fortunately, at this time, his second son Tagawa Nanaemon was reporting to him on the family situation in Fujian, which made him quite relieved.
After Tagawa Nanzaemon reported on the business and property situation here, Zheng Zhilong seemed to just ask casually: "Is there anything going on here in Japan now?"
He didn't want to tell his wife and son about his mission to Japan this time, because it was so important, and he was afraid something might go wrong. So he just made some insinuations first and looked at the situation before talking about it.
But even though it was a casual question, he felt that he wouldn't gain much.
Jianlu came to the Japanese country and wanted to unite with the Japanese country to attack the Ming Dynasty. If he really succeeded, then when he entered the port just now, there should not be such a welcoming scene.
Moreover, Jianlu must go to Edo to discuss such a major matter, and Nagasaki is too far away from Edo. Even if there is any news, it is unlikely that he will hear it here.
Of course, there is another possibility that the Japanese country rejected Jianlu's alliance request without hesitation, so Jianlu had gone back in despair.
While he was thinking about it, he heard Tagawa Nanzaemon suddenly said with excitement: "Father, my son really has something to do, and I want to send someone to deliver a message to you!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhilong immediately became serious and asked immediately: "What's the matter?"
He could feel it, it must be a big deal, maybe it was Jianlu's matter, otherwise, this son wouldn't have said that he wanted to send him a message!
After all, this is the Japanese country, and he is in the Ming Dynasty. It is not easy to deliver a message.
Therefore, while asking questions, he glanced at Li Ruolian who was pretending to be his personal guard.
However, Li Ruolian didn't react much because he couldn't understand Hokkien at all!
Zheng Zhilong was also experienced, and he immediately guessed it when he saw Li Ruolian's appearance. So, he quickly asked Tagawa Nanaemon: "You are my son, do you know the Ming Dynasty Mandarin?"
Tagawa Nanizaemon was about to report something important. When Leng Buding heard this, he was stunned. But when he came to his senses, he nodded quickly and said: "Yes, of course I will!"
"Okay!" Zheng Zhilong said to him after hearing this, "Then you can speak in Ming Dynasty Mandarin and I will listen!"
"Yes, Father!" Tagawa Nanzaemon quickly agreed, not doubting that he was there, and immediately reported, "Two months ago, an envoy claiming to be the Qing Empire came to Japan and said that he wanted to form an alliance with Japan.
Later I went to Edo, but there was no news..."
Hearing this, Li Ruolian was immediately very concerned and listened with perked ears.
"...But recently, there have been rumors in the local area that the Qing Empire is willing to cede Korea to the Japanese country, saying that the land there is fertile. If the Japanese country has the land of Korea, everyone can have a lot of fields.
Everyone will have something to eat, and with Korean servants, everyone can live like the master!"
"Really?" Zheng Zhilong listened, as if hearing it for the first time, and asked Tagawa Nanaemon, "What was the reaction from the Japanese side?"
When Tagawa Nanzaemon heard this, he immediately continued to report: "The Japanese all know that Korea is a vassal state of the Ming Empire and is protected by the Ming Empire. Therefore, no one believes it and thinks it is a lie. However, some
Rumor has it that the current Ming Empire is already very weak. The Qing Empire rose in Liaodong and forced the Ming army to retreat to the pass. Their governors of Jiliao also surrendered to the Qing Empire. And today's
North Korea is already part of the Qing Empire, and even the jade seal of the King of North Korea was placed in front of the general!"
After a pause, before Zheng Zhilong asked again, he continued: "Many ronin have already set out for Edo, saying that they would jointly petition the general to occupy North Korea. The general will be the greatest general in the history of Japan!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhilong immediately remembered that according to the information provided by the emperor, at this time, there were as many as half a million warriors who had lost their masters. They were all living in poverty and had to do some side jobs to make a living.
He was very dissatisfied with the Tokugawa shogunate, and even in the next few years, a man named Yui Masayuki wanted to organize these samurai to overthrow the shogunate.
When these impoverished warriors heard that there was such a big piece of fat meat to eat in North Korea, it was indeed a very big temptation for them!
Thinking of this, Zheng Zhilong quickly asked: "What is the general's attitude now?"
"We haven't made a decision yet!" Tagawa Nanzaemon heard this and quickly replied, "I heard that North Korea is divided into two factions. One faction thinks this is a God-given opportunity. If they don't take North Korea at this time, they will regret it for the rest of their lives. Also
One group says that the Ming Empire is a behemoth. Although it is temporarily disrespectful, we don’t know what will happen in the future. It is better to be more cautious about this kind of thing!"
Having said this, he paused and added: "But these news were all many days ago. I don't know what's going on now!"
After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong frowned, looked at Li Ruolian quietly, and then asked Tagawa Nanaemon: "Are those envoys from the Qing Empire still in Japan?"
"In Edo!" Tagawa Nanzaemon heard this and immediately replied. Then, there was a hint of eagerness on his face, as if he wanted to say something else.
However, at this moment, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and then a personal guard reported at the door: "Nagasaki's envoy Umekawa Uchiku came to visit and said he wanted to see the master!"
Fengxing is an official position that existed in the Japanese country from the Heian period to the Edo period, similar to the local chief official here in the Central Plains.
Zheng Zhilong had not been to the Japanese country for many years, so naturally he did not know Umekawa Uchiku. However, he was in power in Nagasaki, and he had no official position in the Japanese country. He was not arrogant enough to ignore the Japanese, so he temporarily stopped questioning and hurriedly led the way.
He went out with his son Tagawa Nanaemon.
Tagawa Song avoided it, but Li Ruolian, as Zheng Zhilong's personal guard, followed closely behind.
The Japanese are all like Wu Dalang. When facing Zheng Zhilong, they have no official authority and are smiling all over their faces.
Under the introduction of Tagawa Nanaemon, Zheng Zhilong and Umekawa Uchiku seemed to be old acquaintances, and the atmosphere was good even as they talked and laughed.
However, Li Ruolian was a little depressed. Although he was standing beside him, Zheng Zhilong and the Japanese were talking in bird language, which he couldn't understand at all.
Of course, he also understood that Zheng Zhilong could ask him to use Ming Dynasty official language for his son, but he could not ask this Japanese official to do so, and it was unreasonable.
So, he listened on the side and could only make inferences by observing their expressions.
After a while, Li Ruolian discovered that the expressions of Zheng Zhilong and the Japanese official gradually stopped smiling. Zheng Zhilong seemed to be depressed, unwilling, etc.
I don't know how long it took, but the Japanese official seemed to have received some important information and finally left in a hurry.
As soon as this person left, Tagawa Nanaemon immediately said with an angry expression in Hokkien: "Dad, the imperial court has treated us like this, so why don't we just do the opposite!"
"..." When Zheng Zhilong heard this, he was speechless. He immediately glanced at Li Ruolian, and then immediately scolded him in Mandarin, "What do you know about my lord's affairs? Don't talk nonsense!"
Hearing his use of Mandarin, Tagawa Nanzaemon naturally also used Mandarin, and argued a little unconvincingly: "The child has grown up, and now the matter of Nagasaki is handled by the child. This court..."
Seeing that his "brain-problem" son was about to say something treasonable against the imperial court in front of the commander of the Jinyi Guards, Zheng Zhilong broke out in a sweat and quickly interrupted him, shouting: "You are the wings."
If you get tough, you won't be obedient, right?"
Hearing that they seemed to be quarreling, Tagawa Song, who had been paying attention here, hurried over, scolded his son in Ming Dynasty Mandarin, and then said to Zheng Zhilong with a worried look: "You are tired too, why don't you take a rest first?"
Zheng Zhilong listened and nodded, his face a little ugly.
Tagawa Song saw that his son seemed a little unwilling and seemed to want to talk back, so he pulled him away.
After exiting the room, she said to Tagawa Nanaemon: "Your father has never seen any storms, so he doesn't know what to do. Does he need you to give your father some advice?"
When Tagawa Nanzaemon heard this, he finally stopped talking.
Even for ordinary people, fathers are usually trusted by their children. Not to mention, Zheng Zhilong's experience is legendary. His current achievements are so big in the world, how many people can achieve them.
Even at this rebellious age, Tagawa Nanzaemon admired his father very much under Tagawa Matsu's indoctrination every day.
As soon as they left, one of Zheng Zhilong's real personal guards immediately stood at the door, guarding the door.
In the house, Zheng Zhilong pretended to be rubbing his forehead and sulking, but in fact, he whispered to Li Ruolian: "This Japanese official just now came to check my reputation..."
Before he finished speaking, he heard a cough from the guard at the door. It was obvious that someone was coming.
Therefore, Zheng Zhilong had to interrupt his words, glanced at Li Ruolian, and showed a wry smile.
He had a feeling that this secretive way of doing things happened a long time ago, but he didn't expect it to happen again now.