The entire Jinluan Palace was silent, and all the officials did not even dare to vent their anger louder.
Ming Chengzu sat on the dragon chair, holding the desk in front of him with both hands, gently shaking his head from side to side, and sighed again.
"Since I came to the throne, I have been adhering to the king's principles, winning the hearts and minds of the people, and training soldiers and horses. I know well that it was not easy for Taizu to conquer the Ming Dynasty, and I also understand that it is even more difficult to guard the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. Why do I wake up early and insist on going to court early? This is
I want to govern the well-being of the people of the world. I understand that the strength of a court must be the strength of the army. The military attachés who have followed me through life and death, I have promoted them to important positions and given them glory and wealth. Why? I only protect my loyal soldiers and brave generals.
The Ming Dynasty was prosperous for centuries."
"And today, after reading the report sent back urgently from the coast of Zhejiang by Captain Ziyi, I know that I was wrong. I gave high officials and generous salaries to those who made military exploits, but did not give them corresponding encouragement and supervision.
As for their selfishness, they have forgotten my favor and that they are generals of the Ming Dynasty."
"Zhejiang Dusi Commander Zhao Wuming's secret activities in other places, so far I don't know, but most of the thousands of households in Songmenwei have been arranged by him to become his relatives. What does he want to do?
?He wanted to create a private kingdom connected by blood."
Ming Chengzu's eyes widened with anger, and his sharp gaze swept over the officials kneeling on the ground in the hall one by one.
"We just dealt with a Dingxihou in the west, and Zhao Wuming appeared in the south. What do you want to do? Do you really think that I have lost my sight and cannot be used again?"
Facing the accusations made by Ming Chengzu, all the officials were filled with fear and endless self-blame.
They all said in unison: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live."
"Long live?" Ming Chengzu smiled bitterly, "I don't dare to hope for long live. I just want to eliminate these black sheep in the court during my lifetime, build a powerful Ming army, and enhance the prestige of our country."
"My emperor is mighty, Ming Dynasty is mighty."
The officials began to agree again.
Ming Chengzu waved his hands, and the expression on his face obviously softened: "How should we deal with Zhao Wuming? With the purple-clothed captain leading Dongchang there, I don't need to worry too much. I believe Dongchang will definitely find him.
All the charges were brought back to Beijing to await trial by the court. However, the Japanese pirates who invaded our coast of the Ming Dynasty were actually acted by the army of the Ryukyu Kingdom. What do you, my beloved ministers, think about this matter?"
The officials knelt on the ground and looked at each other.
Does the Emperor intend to start a war with the Ryukyu Kingdom?
"The Ryukyu Kingdom actually covets the richness of our Ming Dynasty. It secretly sends troops to act as Japanese pirates, harass our Ming Dynasty fishermen, and plunder our Ming Dynasty's supplies. It is obvious that our Ming Dynasty does not take it seriously. In my opinion, our Ming Dynasty should send envoys to Ryukyu Kingdom to ask for help."
I want to speak out and demand compensation," an official said hurriedly.
"These are not enough. In my opinion, after the above statement, one more thing must be added: Promise not to invade our Ming Dynasty coastal areas again." Someone else started to speak up.
While speaking, a military attaché raised his head too much: "Your Majesty, the Ryukyu Kingdom dares to send troops to pretend to be Japanese pirates to harass the people along the coast of our country, the Ming Dynasty. Such behavior is no different from invading our country. In order to enhance the prestige of our country, this kind of attack on the Ryukyu Kingdom
This is a provocative act, and I, the Ming Dynasty, should respond with force. I boldly request the emperor's permission to lead troops to conquer the Ryukyu Kingdom."
"Yes, conquer the Ryukyu Kingdom and promote the prestige of our Ming Dynasty."
"Piece the Ryukyu Kingdom and promote the prestige of our Ming Dynasty."
For a time, seven or eight military attachés seconded the proposal at the same time.
Ming Chengzu smiled and nodded slightly: "That's what I have in mind. If I really want to send troops to Ryukyu, I would even like to lead the expedition myself."
At the same time, he straightened his body vigorously.
Seeing Ming Chengzu's deliberate and unintentional chest-thumping action, a group of military attachés hurriedly shouted again: "My emperor is mighty."
When Ming Chengzu heard these words, his frustration at misunderstanding Zhao Wuming was immediately diluted a lot.
They were about to discuss the next step of sending troops to the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Li An, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, who was kneeling on the ground, frowned and raised his head: "Your Majesty, I have something to report to you."
"Li Aiqing, please speak."
With a smile on his face, Ming Chengzu seemed to be in a very good mood at this moment.
"The Ryukyu Kingdom has become a vassal of the Ming Dynasty and sends envoys to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty every year. Now, although it is confirmed that the Japanese pirates who invaded the Ming Dynasty were committed by the Ryukyu Kingdom's army, I think it is still necessary to find out these Ryukyu Kingdom troops.
Did he come to our Ming Dynasty to plunder the people on his own, or was he appointed by the Ryukyu Kingdom's court? Our Ming Dynasty is a country of etiquette, and we believe in the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. It is appropriate to be polite first and then to fight."
Looking at Ming Chengzu, Li An put his hands together cautiously and stated his opinion.
Anyone can see that at this moment, the emperor has decided to attack the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Although there is nothing wrong with what he said, there is still a hint of refutation of the emperor's decision to go to war.
If you don’t give the emperor face, will the emperor give you face?
Will Long Yan be furious and scold himself next? Li An has no idea at all.
However, I am also the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the backbone of the imperial court. I watched the emperor send troops indiscriminately because of his own temporary preferences, regardless of the normal diplomatic relations between the Ming Dynasty and the Ryukyu Kingdom, leaving a unilateral tear to the world.
Talking about the diplomatic agreement is not what a loyal minister should do.
Ming Chengzu's face darkened, and before he could say anything, the military attache below who advocated attacking the Ryukyu Kingdom had already cast a look of contempt at Li An.
He arched his hands and gave a hypocritical salute to Li An: "May I ask, Lord Shangshu, if our army of the Ming Dynasty dares to go to other countries to burn, kill and loot without the emperor's order?"
"Of course I don't dare." Li An said loudly, "Although I am in charge of the Ministry of Punishment and in charge of punishments in the world, I also know that the Ming army cannot leave its defensive position without the emperor's will and the military symbols of the Ministry of War."
"As long as it is an army, it must obey the decision of the government. This is the bounden duty of military commanders. Do you think, Lord Shangshu, that the army of the Ryukyu Kingdom will secretly come to our coast to rob the people without the instructions of the Ryukyu Kingdom court?
of?"
The military attache's words were full of criticism against Li An.
Li An smiled lightly and replied with a calm expression: "It seems that the general still didn't understand what I said. I didn't say that these Ryukyu troops came to invade our country privately, nor did I say that they didn't come privately.
Yes. I am just reminding the Emperor that before sending troops to the Ryukyu Kingdom, we must find out whether these Ryukyu Kingdom troops are here under orders. If they are here under orders, it means that they are tearing up the principle of diplomatic relations and violating our Ming Dynasty.
The attack on the Ryukyu Kingdom is an act of great justice."
"Then what if they came privately?" The military attaché snorted coldly, "Do we forgive them without knowing why?"
Li An laughed: "General, what you said is a bit contradictory. You said before that the army will never send troops to other countries without the order of the court. Now you ask me, what should we do if they come privately?
Let's do it. Let's not talk about it. The army did not send troops privately at all. If it was really private, there is only one possibility. They escaped from the Ryukyu Kingdom and they were deserters. Speaking of deserters, the general should understand better than me.
The imperial court's hatred and treatment of deserters was to draw a clear line with deserters and to encircle and kill them with heavy troops. Judging from this, if these Ryukyu Kingdom troops really came privately, then they were deserters and enemies of the Ryukyu Kingdom's court.
.We will blame the Ryukyu Kingdom for their crimes and unilaterally tear up the diplomatic agreement. Do we want to leave a reason for other countries to speak out and lower the prestige of our Ming Dynasty?"
"You, you are using strong words to make excuses." The military attaché was so angry that his neck flushed and his face flushed. He turned his head and refused to look at Li An at all.
But Li An hadn't finished what he said, so how could he stop expressing himself because the other party turned his head.
"General, don't be angry. We are officials in the same dynasty, and I am just discussing the matter. The general asked me just now, if the other party came privately, would we have to forgive them without explanation. The general should know that the purple-clothed captain brought Dong
The factory captains were encircling and suppressing Japanese pirates along the coast. These Japanese pirates who dared to invade our Ming Dynasty, no matter who they were, invaded our Ming Dynasty people, tempted more than a thousand of our Ming Dynasty army to rebel, and even drove out hundreds of households in Jiangwan. With the general
Knowing Captain Ziyi, will he forgive these Ryukyu troops pretending to be Japanese pirates?"