Di Ming

Chapter 307 The Ukita Hideie Family!
Zhu Yin was not surprised at all when he heard the noise outside.

The Joseon king and his officials frequently used seduction as a tactic against Ming Dynasty envoys, and it always worked.

Compared to gifting local specialties such as ginseng, mink fur, horses, gold and silver utensils, calligraphy and paintings, gifting a beautiful woman is the most cost-effective and effective gift.

Whenever a Ming envoy arrives, the Eastern Kingdom will send a woman.

This could be considered a "perk" for Ming Dynasty envoys. Being sent to Korea was a "lucky job," and the emperor and the court turned a blind eye, only intervening when things went too far.

These Korean women who were sent away were certainly beautiful, but without exception they were all "lowly women," "gisaeng" (female entertainers), or female entertainers born to concubines. In the eyes of the Korean king and his officials, they were simply commodities for entertainment.

These beauties also had a spy mission: "to discern the envoy's joys and sorrows, and report back to the court."

Zhu Yin replied without hesitation, "No need, I don't need a woman to warm my bed."

Zhu Yin certainly didn't need it. Even if he were twenty, let alone fifteen, he couldn't agree.

I am not ill.

The woman outside paused for a moment before respectfully saying, "Yes, the angel of worship outside the Shanxian Gate."

All that could be heard was the sound of a head hitting the ground, followed by the sound of footsteps fading into the distance.

The same scene also took place outside the room of Deputy Envoy Zheng Guowang.

"Warm the bed?" Zheng Guowang's voice carried a hint of impatience, as she was just untying the cloth band wrapped around her chest and had just breathed a sigh of relief.

"I have no need for bed warming, you may leave!"

Hearing the unfriendly tone of the Ming Dynasty's deputy envoy, the courtesan outside the door turned pale with fright, quickly bowed, and went back to report.

...

Inside the main hall of the "Xingzai" (temporary residence), King Yeon and his ministers were still discussing the Ming envoys, worried that if the Ming envoys went to Japan, they would sacrifice the interests of Korea during the negotiations.

Although Zhu Yin clearly stated that the negotiations were for the purpose of getting the Japanese army to withdraw and for the sake of Korea, they still had doubts.

"What?" Li Yeon asked in surprise, "Neither of the two Ming envoys, the principal and the deputy, need beauties to warm their beds? What kind of logic is that?"

Even ministers like Ryu Seong-ryong and Kim Sung were stumped. Left State Councilor Yoon Doo-su ​​said with a strange expression:

"Both angels are very young, teenagers, and should be quite interested in women. But they don't want beautiful women to serve them in bed, is it possible that..."

Li Yan immediately revealed a gossipy look, and a little excited, "Does Yin Qing mean that both angels might be gay?"

Liu Chenglong stroked his beard and said, "In my opinion, while men who are fond of homosexuality are not uncommon, the angel's refusal does not necessarily indicate a preference for men; it could also be a testament to the restraint of a gentleman bound by propriety..."

Li Yin shook his head. "Zhu Yin is only a teenager, and Zheng Guowang is only around twenty. How can they be considered gentlemen of propriety? They are most likely just attracted to men."

"How about this, select two more handsome and charming young boys, have them bathe and send them over."

"Your order is obeyed!" Someone immediately went to carry it out.

Half an hour later, two handsome young boys, dressed in Hanfu and holding folding fans, were brought to the doors of the main and deputy Ming envoys' rooms respectively.

The male prostitutes sent to Zhu Yin's gate were even younger, at most thirteen or fourteen years old. The ones sent to the deputy envoy were slightly older, but only fifteen years old.

Both boys were carrying fans, not even considering what season it was, just for the sake of elegance.

"Master," the young boy outside the door said timidly, "I'd like to grind ink, wash brushes, and serve you at your side..."

Zhu Yin's face turned green, and he roared, "No need! Go quickly! I have my own attendants! Go now!"

When Zheng Guowang opened the door and saw the handsome boy outside, he glanced at him and smiled gently, asking, "How old are you?"

His attitude was noticeably better than when he treated the woman who was supposed to warm his bed.

The boy could barely understand her words. He gestured with his hands three times and said in Chinese, which Zheng Guowang could hardly understand, "I am fifteen years old."

Zheng Guowang seemed quite amiable towards the male prostitute, but she still waved her hand and said, "I don't need you here. Go back."

The boy blinked, and for some reason, he felt that the Ming Dynasty envoy in front of him was like a beautiful and gentle older sister.

But he only thought about it; he didn't really believe that Zheng Guowang was a woman.

That's impossible.

"Yes, sir!" The young boy could only quietly retreat.

Zhu Yin stood by the window, watching the scene not far away, and chuckled to himself.

Zheng Guojiu maintained a stiff, masculine facade, but subconsciously revealed his true nature as a woman.

Zheng Guowang's actions just now clearly gave him away. Fortunately, the other party was just a young boy who didn't notice anything amiss.

Zhu Yin understood that the Joseon king and his ministers were going to great lengths not only to offer sexual bribes, but also to probe his intentions in going to Japan. They wanted to know his true purpose in going to Japan.

...

Upon receiving the news, King Seonjo and his ministers were even more puzzled.

In the past, Ming envoys rarely refused such "good intentions." Why did they refuse this time? Were they impervious to reason? Or did they only want gold and silver?

Jin Cheng said, "Your Highness, what cat in the world doesn't eat fish? Since the angels have rejected female lust and male prostitution, then we can only suffer financial loss; it's unavoidable."

Yi Yeon smiled bitterly and said, "This is the only way. It's a pity that the emperor's residence has very little wealth left, yet I still have to send gifts to the angels."

"In my opinion, the chief envoy should send one hundred taels of gold and ten catties of ginseng. The deputy envoy... should send half of that."

At this point, Li Yen felt a pang of heartache. The court didn't have much money left; every bit given away was a loss.

That night, a gift of one hundred taels of gold and ten catties of old ginseng was delivered to Zhu Yin's room.

Sure enough, this time Zhu Yin pretended to refuse for a moment, then reluctantly accepted it.

Zheng Guowang naturally accepted the gift.

Upon hearing this, the King of Joseon couldn't help but smile wryly and say, "In the end, he still loves money."

Yin Doutai muttered to himself, "The Emperor is said to love money, and this envoy he sent also loves money. It seems..."

Li Yeon's expression changed. "Minister Yin, watch your words! If this reaches the Emperor's ears, it will be a grave disrespect!"

"Yes!" Yin Doutai quickly bowed his head. "It was a slip of the tongue by your subject. Please punish me, Your Highness."

Li Yan waved his hand, his relaxed, chubby face full of fatigue and helplessness.

He's only forty years old, but he looks like an old man.

"Enough. What I am worried about now is the state of Korea and the story of Emperor Xuanzong. It is truly a case of internal and external troubles."

"If the angels pass through Hamgyeong Road and see the Crown Prince (Gwanghae-gun), will they secretly collude with him?"

At this point, a sharp glint appeared in Li Yeon's cloudy eyes, "With the tacit approval of the imperial envoy, will the Crown Prince, like Emperor Suzong's ascension to the throne in Lingwu, directly ascend the throne in Dingzhou and make me abdicate?"

Liu Chenglong said, “Your Highness is absolutely right. I have long known that the Crown Prince has ulterior motives. If the Crown Prince succeeds in resisting the Japanese pirates, he may look down on the court and no longer have loyalty and filial piety towards Your Highness. The father-son relationship will become cold, and it is inevitable that the story of King Sukjong will repeat itself.”

"He dares!" Li Yen roared. "I am not dead yet! I gave him military power, and I can take it back at any time!"

"Does he really think that the Japanese army's inability to cross the Taedong River is due to his merit in resisting the Japanese? That's all thanks to the natural barrier of the river! Any prince could have held the Taedong River! Humph!"

Yin Doutai said, “Your Highness, the Ming delegation has nearly five hundred people and several hundred horses. The daily provisions are also a considerable amount. If the envoy doesn’t ask the Crown Prince for provisions, who else can he ask? He will definitely have to see the Crown Prince. Besides, the Crown Prince is guarding the Daedong River. Without the Crown Prince’s military order, the delegation cannot cross the river.”

“What’s so difficult about that!” Liu Chenglong said. He also didn’t want the Ming envoy to meet Guanghai Jun. “Your Highness is the king, and the temporary capital is the court! Your Highness can just write a royal decree and send it to the envoy. With the royal decree, the envoy can directly mobilize grain and ships from the Anju camp.”

"Excellent!" Li Yin clapped his hands. "Minister Liu's plan is brilliant! I wholeheartedly agree!"

“In this way, the angel can cross the river from Anzhou without having to go to Dingzhou to see the Crown Prince. He can directly supply provisions to the Anzhou camp by my royal decree, thus incurring my favor and not showing any bias towards the Crown Prince. Without the angel’s support, the Crown Prince would not dare to declare himself king.”

"Draft an edict immediately!"

Who is the garrison commander of Anzhou Camp?

Liu Chenglong smiled and said, "Your Highness, Hong Mingyan, the garrison commander of Anzhou, is in charge of 5,000 troops at the river defense fortress."

Li Yeon nodded: "Draft an edict for Hong Mingyan, instructing him to allocate 500 shi of grain to the Celestial Empire's delegation and then send the delegation across the river."

"I obey the decree!" Chief Eunuch Liu Chenglong immediately accepted the decree and drafted the edict.

Jin Cheng, somewhat disapproving, offered his advice:
"Your Highness, Prince Gwanghae was appointed Crown Prince Regent and Generalissimo of the Army during a time of crisis, responsible for the frontline battles against the Japanese pirates and protecting the safety of the capital. Anju Fortress is also under his jurisdiction. If the court bypasses the Crown Prince and issues an edict directly to the garrison commander of Anju, wouldn't that affect the Crown Prince's resolve to fight the Japanese pirates…?"

Before he could finish speaking, he was startled into stopping by the cold gaze of the King of Joseon.

Li Yeon coldly said, "If the imperial court can influence a general's will to resist the Japanese pirates by issuing a direct edict, then we might as well not have that will at all."

"Hong Mingyan is the Crown Prince's general, but more importantly, he is my subject! I have to consider the Crown Prince when issuing an edict to him? Then who is the ruler of Joseon? Is the court in Uiju or Jeongju? Huh?!"

Jin Cheng trembled and quickly knelt down, "Your subject was confused, Your Highness, please forgive me!"

...

Early the next morning, Yi Yeon's royal decree for the garrison commander of Anju was handed to Zhu Yin. Zhu Yin had not expected that Yi Yeon would directly grant him a royal decree allowing him to replenish supplies and requisition ships at the Anju river defense camp.

Originally, he was going to Jeongju to resupply in Gwanghaegun's army.

Zhu Yin was incredibly astute; he immediately understood why Li Yeon was being so "warm-hearted."

It turned out that she was afraid that if she went to Jeongju, she would meet with Crown Prince Gwanghae.

Protect your child as you would a thief!
If it had been another Ming envoy, and he had been bribed by Gwanghaegun, who was fighting against the Japanese pirates at the front, he might have tacitly allowed Gwanghaegun to establish himself as emperor.

The solution was simple: submit a memorial to the emperor, stating that the Crown Prince of Joseon was deeply loved by the army and the people, while the King of Joseon was incompetent and foolish. In order to carry out the great plan of resisting the Japanese pirates, the Crown Prince should be allowed to ascend the throne ahead of schedule.

After all, the main person responsible for the collapse of North Korea was King Seonjo of Joseon.

To safeguard the overall situation of resisting the Japanese pirates, the Ming court would likely agree. This is because the ascension of Gwanghaegun and the abdication of King Seonjo at this time would indeed be more beneficial for the fight against the pirates.

Yi Yeon had anticipated this, fearing that his son might collude with Ming envoys to establish his own independent regime, which is why he orchestrated this whole affair.

What a loving father and filial son! Even in this state, they're still thinking about their own power.

However, Zhu Yin was too lazy to point it out and was happy to cross the river directly from Anzhou, "graciously accepting" Li Yeon's good intentions.

And very politely, he said, "I will cross the river from Anzhou, but not go to Dingzhou."

Seeing that Zhu Yin was so sensible, Emperor Yi Yeon and his ministers were overjoyed.

Overjoyed, Li Yen presented Zhu Yin with another generous gift: a copy each of the Diamond Sutra and the Tao Te Ching, written in gold foil and gold powder.

Worth a fortune.

Of course, Li Yeon did not forget to give a gift to the deputy envoy Zheng Guowang.

Nurhaci saw this and grew increasingly contemptuous of the Korean monarch and his ministers.

Before the mission departed, Yi Yeon said sadly, "If the angels see Seoul, please convey my longing to you on my behalf."

After breakfast, Zhu Yin led the delegation forward again. At the same time, he ordered the Tiger Tooth organization, which was active in Korea, to inform the Japanese generals that the Ming delegation had entered Korea, so that the Japanese side could prepare to receive the delegation.

Even though the Ming Dynasty was still powerful, when a Ming delegation went to Japan, Japan, no matter how arrogant, had to discuss how to receive them according to diplomatic protocol and could not take hostile measures against the delegation directly.

With the Japanese army blockading the Tsushima Strait and controlling the sea, going to Japan naturally required permission from the Japanese army stationed in Korea; otherwise, it would be impossible to meet Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Zhu Yin did not want to see Konishi Yukinaga, the commander of the First Army that occupied Pyongyang, but rather Ukita Hideie, the adopted son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

This man was only twenty years old, yet he was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army invading Korea, the nominal supreme commander. Generals such as Konishi Yukinaga, Kato Masakiyo, and Kuroda Nagamasa were under his command.

Ukita Hideie was the governor of Bizen, Mimasaka, and Harima provinces, a daimyo with a stipend of nearly 600,000 koku, one of the five highest-ranking elders of the Toyotomi clan, and the youngest of the five.

His status was not much different from that of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Maeda Toshiie, and others. As Hideyoshi's adopted son, Ukita Hideie was the most qualified general in the Japanese army in Korea to represent Hideyoshi.

More importantly, the Ukita Hideki family are Buddhists.

this point is very important.

Because the delegation included many eminent Tantric monks, Ukita Hideie would at least not object to meeting these monks.

Konishi Yukinaga was different.

Although the bank president was originally an Osaka merchant who favored Sino-Japanese peace talks and the reopening of trade, he was a Christian and a member of the "Christ Names," with the Christian name Augustine.

His First Army included not only many Christians but also Western missionaries.

If he saw so many monks going to Japan, he would likely try to sabotage it. Even if he didn't, the Western missionaries and Christians around him would.

Moreover, Shen Weijing, the peace envoy previously dispatched by Shi Xing, is currently negotiating with him.

Konishi Yukinaga might not welcome a higher-level delegation.

Since Zhu Yin was going to see Ukita Hideie, he naturally had to go to Seoul. Ukita Hideie, as the nominal commander-in-chief, was currently stationed in Seoul.

If Ukita Hideie agrees to send the delegation to Japan, the delegation can take a boat directly on the Han River to Kyushu Island in Japan, saving half of the land journey!

...

Zhu Yin led his delegation slowly southward through the bitter winds and rains of the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea does have official roads running north and south, but due to the continuous cold rain, the roads are muddy, making travel very slow. One can only travel fifty li (about 25 kilometers) a day.

Along the way, all I could see were empty houses on both sides of the official road, abandoned market towns, ruins of fields and houses, and fields that should have been planted with wheat seedlings overgrown with weeds.

Even the sound of dogs barking is rarely heard.

They occasionally encountered a few Korean civilians, but they all hid as soon as they saw the delegation from afar. Only in the mountains and forests far from the official road could they see smoke rising from chimneys.

The further south you go, the more desolate the scene becomes. Every now and then you see corpses lying stiffly by the roadside, with wild dogs and wolves braving the cold rain, their bodies soaked, tearing out the entrails of the bodies, their long snouts smeared with human blood.

On several other occasions, when they finally saw a densely populated area, they encountered North Korean troops looting the people's food, causing chaos and disorder.

A Korean general shouted, "You're only short of food, but Daedong and Jiangnan are hell on earth. The Japanese pirates kill everyone they see. You should be grateful that the King and the Crown Prince are protecting you. Why are you still worried about food rations!"

It took the mission four full days to reach Anzhou, north of the Datong River.

At this point, the mission's provisions would only last for two more days.

Zhu Yin sent a messenger with the edict of the King of Joseon directly to the Anju camp to meet with the defense commissioner Hong Myung-yeon.

Upon seeing the king's order, Hong Mingyan couldn't help but sigh.

He's also short of food.

Who doesn't lack food these days?

But the king's command was there, and even if he was short of food, he had to obey the king's command.

Therefore, Hong Mingyan had no choice but to obediently allocate the provisions and respectfully deliver them to the mission. He also personally arranged for boats, raised the mission's flag, and escorted the mission across the river.

After crossing the Taedong River, you'll reach Pyongyang, which was known as "Chang'an" during the Goguryeo period.

Zhu Yin raised his binoculars and saw that Konishi Yukinaga's Christian cross flag was hanging high in Pyongyang, and there were also large cannons on the city walls.

Not long ago, the Japanese army carried out a massacre in Pyongyang, turning the river red with blood.

As soon as the mission arrived in Jiangnan, it was immediately surrounded by the Japanese army.

Zhu Yin presented the delegation's credentials and seals, which the Japanese army carefully inspected before allowing them to pass.

None of them had the authority to prevent the Ming Dynasty delegation from meeting the Taiko.

Especially when they saw the mysterious and solemn Tibetan monks, many warriors were filled with awe and dared not offend them.

The mission continued south, and what they saw along the way was even more desolate and horrific, utterly appalling.

The bodies of the murdered North Koreans are almost everywhere, feeding many stray dogs that are plump and strong with bloodshot eyes.

Many of the female corpses were naked, their deaths extremely tragic and humiliating. Corpses could be seen everywhere: under trees, in front of buildings, by wells, and in fields.

Even though the weather is cold, many places still reek of foul odors.

Vast stretches of villages were deathly still, like ghost towns. Occasionally, one could see the corpses of North Korean rebels hanging from trees, as well as piles of severed heads.

Not to mention the Han Chinese in the delegation, even the barbaric Jurchen warriors felt somewhat uncomfortable upon seeing this.

The brutality of the Japanese army exceeded their imagination.

Zhu Yin was mentally prepared, knowing this was standard Japanese tactic. The Korean king and his officials should resent their own cowardice and incompetence rather than the cruelty of the Japanese.

As for the Jurchens, once they entered the pass, they did the same things as the Japanese army, such as the Yangzhou Massacre and the Jiading Massacre.

Whose fault is it? If you don't value force, don't blame other races for being brutal.

The accompanying Dharma King, Living Buddha, and Rinpoche also got busy. These high-ranking Tantric monks would chant sutras and perform rituals whenever they saw a corpse by the roadside, to help the departed soul go to the cold forests of the eight directions or to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Eight days later, after passing through Hwangju and Kaesong, they finally arrived at Hanseong.

At this time, the Toyotomi family's five-seven paulownia-patterned flags were hanging high on the walls of Seoul.

Seoul!

Seoul was the capital of the Joseon Dynasty, and now it is the stronghold of the Japanese general Ukita Hideyoshi, who led the invasion of Korea.

The delegation swaggered to the city walls, presented their credentials, and handed over their official documents.

After waiting for a full half hour, suddenly three loud booming sounds came from the city gates, and then the city gates were opened wide.

Squads of short, stocky Japanese samurai, dressed in full armor, carrying banners and holding thousand-piece gourd-shaped horse stamps, marched out of the city to the accompaniment of military music.

They escorted a high-ranking warrior riding a white horse, wearing magnificent armor and with the Five-Seven Paulownia crest tattooed on his chest, as he strode in.

Ukita shows his family!
(End of this chapter)