Volume 1: Birth! Seven time travelers Chapter 148 Tomorrow's Peace Treaty
"The special envoy of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, Inukai Tōji, pays respect to His Royal Highness the Imperial Highness."
"Hmm~~ Is your Excellency also Japanese?"
"Yes, I am from Bizen, and I used to be the swordsmanship instructor of the Ukita family. After the Battle of Sekigahara, my master family was destroyed, and I became a ronin, and then joined the Kapitan. Due to various coincidences, I am now a member of the Chongmingsha Guard of the Ming Dynasty, serving His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. Thanks to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's kindness, I was given the surname Inukai, and the character 'Dong' in my name was given to me, which became the common character of my Inukai family for generations."
"I see. To be given the surname 'Inukai', your Excellency must be a loyal person."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. I will work hard to live up to your name."
In March 1610, Inukai Tsuji, a Japanese general under Li Guozhu, received emergency training from Zhu Youdong in Nanjing and went to Japan as Zhu Youdong's personal representative. Upon hearing the news, Tokugawa Ieyasu personally summoned the elders of his family to meet with him. At this time, a whole year had passed since Li Guozhu beat up the Shimazu fleet in Ryukyu.
This really can't be blamed on the low efficiency of the time traveler. According to Zhu Youdong's idea, Japan's aggression has decreased a lot under the rule of Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is possible to not provoke the other side, or use various soft means to paralyze the other side, so that the other side can sleep for a while, even if it is only one more year. Therefore, he really wants to open up normal trade between China and Japan as soon as possible, and sign a formal armistice agreement with the Tokugawa shogunate for the war more than ten years ago.
Besides, with the three items of silk, tea and porcelain that are unique in the world in Ming Dynasty plus penicillin, Zhu Youdong is confident that he can beat all other time travelers in trade. And Japan is a major silver producer. Why would he give up such a good opportunity to make money just because the Japanese beat up North Korea more than ten years ago?
However, his idea naturally caused great controversy in the court. When the imperial censors of the Ming Dynasty heard that Japan had invaded Korea and was now plundering Ryukyu, they were all filled with indignation and called for the country to send troops to punish Japan.
At least for now, the imperial censors can just talk about the war. In the eyes of Wanli and his grandson, there are a lot of domestic problems now, and the new army has just started. How can they have a war across the ocean to destroy the country? Besides, how many of those imperial censors who are shouting so loudly really want to fight? Some people are expressing their attitudes to gain reputation. Some people are spokespersons for the southeastern sea merchants of the Ming Dynasty: this is normalized trade with Japan, how can the sea merchants make a fortune by smuggling?
But whether it was out of righteous indignation or out of ulterior motives, the opposition from public opinion was strong. This was the same for both the government and the opposition.
So, Zhu Youdong spent a long time to settle these things.
In the private sector, Jinling Daily has opened a special edition since April last year to explain the benefits and necessity of trade with Japan. However, the effect was not good at first: the people in the Jiangnan provinces were severely harmed by the Japanese pirates! Therefore, it took more than half a year to guide the public opinion.
In official circles, Zhu Youdong's methods were much more brutal: it was easiest to deal with those censors with ulterior motives. The Jinyiwei were responsible for digging up the other party's dirty laundry, and when all the evidence was complete, they would interview the censor: What do you want to do, do you want to be disgraced or change your ways?
The real headache was for the true gentlemen. Zhu Youdong still cherished these upright nerds and personally interviewed and explained to these censors through letters many times.
In short, it was already very fast that Inukai Toji could go on a diplomatic mission to Japan at this point in time!
"Your Excellency, what advice does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty have for you this time?"
"I am not worthy of your advice, Your Highness. You may not believe it, but Your Highness the Crown Prince highly respects you in my Ming Dynasty. In the Jinling Daily of my Ming Dynasty, there was a special edition introducing the history of Japan for more than a month. When introducing you, it really praised you for finally achieving peace in Japan."
"Hahahaha~~" Everyone carried the colorful sedan chair, not to mention that all the countries in East Asia at that time were proud to receive praise from China. When Inukai said this, everyone in the Tokugawa family who attended the meeting was delighted. Even Takechiyo, who was sitting on the side with a vigilant face, had to force out a sincere smile at this time.
"Your Highness, these are the terms written by my Highness, the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. Please take the time to review them."
"Hi." Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Ieyasu stood up solemnly, straightened his clothes, and respectfully took the letter with both hands.
At that time, all the Japanese nobles were proficient in Chinese characters, so Ieyasu saw Chinese in his eyes, but he spoke Japanese without any hindrance.
"1. Japan recognizes Korea and Ryukyu as vassal states of the Ming Dynasty and pledges never to invade them. If a daimyo violates this, the shogunate will destroy him; if the shogunate violates this, all the daimyo of Japan will jointly punish them.
2. The Ming Dynasty and Japan signed a peace treaty, and all hostilities between the two countries shall be terminated from the date of signing the treaty.
3. The Ming Dynasty allows the restoration of normal trade with Japan, and issues ten ship charters each year, half for Chinese and half for Japanese merchants. The Ming side limits the place of shipment and unloading of goods to Yuegang. The Japanese shogunate can determine a good port to undertake this task.
4. The navies of both countries have the obligation to protect the merchants with pilots. Merchants without pilots will be severely punished.
5. If conflicts arise between the personnel of the two countries during trade exchanges, civil disputes shall be adjudicated by the authorities of the country where they are located, while criminal disputes shall be referred back to the two countries for determination of guilt.
6. For the trade between the two countries, no customs duties shall be collected from each other by maritime merchants with ships guided by pilots.
7. This treaty shall come into force after being signed and sealed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty and the Shogun of Japan. It shall be valid for 20 years. After the expiration of the treaty, both parties shall discuss whether to renew the treaty.
After reading Zhu Youdong's handwritten letter, Tokugawa Ieyasu was very satisfied. In his opinion, the two countries will sign a peace treaty tomorrow, and the shogunate's heart that has been hanging has finally been put down. Secondly, the trade between the two countries has also been restored, and the silk, tea, porcelain and even medicines that the Japanese aristocracy urgently needs no longer need to be smuggled. Thirdly, the trade quota is controlled in a relatively small range, and it is traded in fixed ports, which has almost no impact on the stability of domestic rule. Very good! This agreement is really great!
As for recognizing the vassal status of Korea and Ryukyu under the Ming Dynasty, isn't that what should be done? You can't beat them, and you don't want to obey the strong. Are you Japanese?
"I have indeed received the sincerity of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. I am very grateful, but I have a little doubt."
"Please give your instructions, Your Excellency."
"Here, Article 7, the parties to the contract are your country's Crown Prince and me. Shouldn't this be signed between your country's Emperor and me?"
"Your Excellency, it is a bit rude of you to say that. Our Great Ming Emperor is the supreme ruler of the Great Ming in name and in reality. And you, at least, are not the supreme ruler of Japan in name. If our Great Ming Emperor must sign the contract, then your country must also have His Majesty the Emperor sign the contract."
Are you kidding? The Japanese royal family is just a decoration. It is not enough to weaken them at ordinary times, so how can they be allowed to do such a show? So Tokugawa Ieyasu quickly changed his tone: "I see, then there is nothing to modify. I agree with all the above seven points. As for the port mentioned by His Royal Highness, let's set it in Hirado. Please tell His Royal Highness that I will send a capable retainer to Hirado to protect the rights and interests of Ming Dynasty merchants in our country."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your broad mind. I will report the truth to Your Highness the Crown Prince after I return. Please rest assured, Your Highness, that the Ming Dynasty will protect the legitimate rights and interests of Japanese merchants in Yuegang."
…
"Did the other party agree so readily?"
"Yes, Your Highness, but what's wrong? Oh, that's right. If I had known that the other party would agree so readily, I should have raised the price temporarily. This matter is not handled well by me."
In late March, Inukai Tsuji returned to Nanjing. After listening to the entire meeting, Zhu Youdong felt a little surprised.
"It's alright." After waving his hand, Zhu Youdong said, "That's not what I meant. What I meant was that none of the other party's retainers raised any objections to the treaty? Or did His Highness the Ninth Prince not stand up to oppose it?"
"No." Inukai Touji shook his head and said, "That Lord Takechiyo, I saw him this time. He was sitting next to Lord Ieyasu and didn't say a word during the whole process."
"Hiss~~" This is not right. As a time traveler, it is impossible for Takechiyo not to see that this is a treaty that is poisonous to Japan, especially to the shogunate. Apart from other things, the sixth article alone can cause a large amount of silver to flow out of Japan. And the first article is even more fatal: after Tokugawa Ieyasu dies, Takechiyo must use Korea as a springboard to attack the Ming Dynasty. With the existence of the first article, Zhu Youdong has the righteousness to incite the Japanese daimyo to rebel!
"It seems that the relationship between my colleague in Japan and Tokugawa Ieyasu is far inferior to the relationship between me and His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."
