Di Ming

Chapter 308 Toyotomi Hideyoshi!
The Japanese commander-in-chief came out of the city to greet him. This was perfectly normal. Zhu Yin was not Shen Weijing; he was the true envoy of the Ming Dynasty, an imperial commissioner representing the Ming Emperor.

Even in a conflict between enemy states, the arrival of such a high-ranking envoy should be received by the enemy general.

Zhu Yin stared intently at Ukita Hideie as he saw him appear.

Ukita Hideie's body armor was covered by a gorgeous jinhaori (sleeveless overcoat), and he wore a ferocious demon mask on his face. Coupled with his exaggerated and visually striking horned helmet, he looked both majestic and mysterious, both luxurious and stylish.

The rank of Japanese officers was immediately apparent. Whoever wore the most ornate tunic and kimono, and had the most extravagant helmet, was the highest-ranking officer present.

Many of the samurai and soldiers under Ukita Hideie wore amulets inscribed with "Namo Myoho Renge Kyo". Although they outwardly believed in Buddhism, they were evil spirits at heart and had slaughtered countless Koreans.

As the capital of Joseon, Seoul naturally had spies from the Tiger Fang faction.

According to Huya Intelligence, 15,000 Japanese troops were stationed in Seoul, of which 9,000 were the direct troops of Ukita Hideie, and the remaining 6,000 were detachments left in Seoul by Konishi Yukinaga, Kato Kiyomasa, Kuroda Nagamasa, and others.

Besides the strategically important city of Seoul, nearby key locations such as Hwaseong (Suwon), Kaesong, and the major granary at the port were also garrisoned by troops led by Kobayakawa Kagetaka.
The Japanese army stationed 30,000 troops in the Gyeonggi region of Korea alone. Including the army in Pyongyang, Busan and other places, as well as the navy along the three coastlines, the total strength was over 100,000.

Although its forces are relatively dispersed, it firmly controls the Korean Peninsula, the Tsushima Strait, and the Korea Strait.

The Japanese army at that time truly lived up to its reputation as the progenitors of later Japanese armies. In Seoul, they installed the treacherous Korean minister Kim Myeong-won as "King of Joseon," establishing a puppet regime and attempting to rule Joseon through a puppet government.

Truly a lineage that has been passed down through generations.

Zhu Yin wore a python robe bestowed by the emperor, a vermilion cloak, and a seven-beam cloud dragon crown, the highest rank of the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, exuding the air of a noble minister of a celestial empire. Holding the imperial insignia, he led the delegation, and his mere presence commanded respect and authority as an envoy of a great nation.

At this moment, the atmosphere suddenly froze.

The young and distinguished envoy of the Ming Dynasty stood in the cold wind. The Japanese commander-in-chief, riding a white horse, sat upright. The two silently gazed at each other across the distance, their eyes meeting and clashing in an invisible way.

Ukita Hideie was only twenty years old. He originally thought he was already "young and in a high position", but he did not expect that the envoy of the great Ming Dynasty was actually younger than him, clearly just a boy.

"Rei しい!" Ukita Hideie couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "Tama no Ru し!"

Her beauty is captivating, like a piece of fine jade.

He was a dreamlike, handsome young man, as pure as the bright moon. He had the beauty of cherry blossoms, his face radiant with the glow of evening dew, his boundless charm standing tall among men.

However, this handsome young man possessed a noble demeanor and composed temperament that were beyond his years, like a nobleman who had stepped out of an ancient painting from the Heian period, capable of warding off evil spirits.

Perhaps this is what Prince Kōka of The Tale of Genji is like.

Japanese nobles placed great importance on appearance, often judging people by their looks. Compared to the Chinese emphasis on "body, speech, and writing," they placed even greater importance on personal image. They stubbornly believed that the more beautiful a person was, the more noble their character.

Zhu Yin was indeed an impeccably handsome man, and his identity as a time traveler and his high position at a young age made his temperament unparalleled in the world.

When Ukita Hideie saw Zhu Yin's demeanor, he couldn't help but feel a little ashamed of himself.

He met Asai Nagamasa when he was a child. He was praised as having "beautiful features, like a crane under the moon".

He had also met the handsome man Akechi Mitsuhide, who was known as the "Kirin of Mino".

Nagamasa and Mitsuhide were both renowned beauties. However, in Ukita Hideie's eyes, they seemed somewhat inferior compared to this Ming Dynasty envoy named Zhu Yin.

This immediately made Ukita Hideie, who was originally hostile to the Ming envoy, feel more favorably toward him.

Then, he saw Zheng Guowang, the deputy envoy behind Zhu Yin, and was equally surprised.

This deputy envoy is truly beautiful. Unfortunately, although she is beautiful, her demeanor and temperament are far inferior to the chief envoy's, and she is too effeminate, like a woman.

Ukita Hideie had little interest in Sino-Japanese peace talks. Unlike Konishi Yukinaga, who came from a business background, he was a true samurai.

However, as a subject, he also had no right to stop the Ming Dynasty's envoy from negotiating peace with the Taiko. According to the rules, he only had two choices.

The first option is to settle the delegation on the spot, then send someone to inform His Highness the Taiko. If His Highness requests an audience, then the delegation can be sent to Japan. Only if His Highness refuses the delegation can the delegation be expelled.

However, this possibility is very small. After all, the delegation was sent by the Ming emperor, and they should be received. In any case, a direct refusal would certainly be inappropriate.

Secondly, at the delegation's request, the delegation should be sent to Japan first. How to negotiate and what to discuss would be entirely up to the Taiko (Prince Taiko). This was the most appropriate and suitable course of action.

At this moment, seeing Zhu Yin's demeanor and bearing, he felt a good impression of him and became even more inclined to send Zhu Yin's delegation to Japan.

……

Ukita Hideie did not invite the delegation into the city. He settled the delegation at the Chongli Gate and then sent people to search their luggage.

Only after finding nothing amiss did he send the mission some food, formally acknowledging their status.

Ukita Hideie didn't even invite Zhu Yin to speak. He knew the Taiko was a suspicious and distrustful man, much like Cao Cao, the Emperor Wu of Wei.

He was the adopted son of the Taiko, a sensitive position. If he were to have private contact with Ming Dynasty officials, it would arouse the Taiko's suspicion.

Zhu Yin was aware of the situation and did not proactively request a meeting with Ukita Hideie. His goal was simply to get the delegation accepted and then send a ship to Japan.

However, Zhu Yin still sent some gifts, including milk candy, aphrodisiacs, opium pipes, and opium. He even thoughtfully explained how to smoke opium.

Ukita Hideie also sent some return gifts to Zhu Yin, including a folding fan with a gold-painted jade handle.

Furthermore, to show his respect for Buddhism, he specially presented gifts to the accompanying monastic community, hoping to receive initiation from a Western master in the future.

The next day, Zhu Yin's delegation boarded a Japanese cargo ship specially dispatched by Ukita Hideie to transport grain and troops, flying the "Hachiman Daishobu" flag, and set off from the Han River, heading straight into the sea.

Once at sea, one could frequently see numerous Japanese warships, including Sekibune, Kobayashi, and Atakebune. However, no Japanese ships were attacked or intercepted.

Several days later, a diplomatic briefing was received from the Ma Domain.

.........

November 9th, the 20th year of the Wanli reign.

The mission, which had been traveling from Beijing for more than a month, finally landed at the "Send-to-Ming Envoys Pier" in Hakata Bay. Upon landing in Hakata Bay, they saw that the bay was filled with sails, all of which were Japanese warships.

The moment they set foot on Japanese soil, everyone was a little nervous, including Zhu Yin.

This is an enemy country!
The delegation checked into the Hongluguan that day. The next day, under the "escort" of the Japanese army, they traveled along the Chikuzen Post Road to Nagoya, a hundred miles away.

Nagoya is now the headquarters of the Japanese army. Toyotomi Hideyoshi did not reside in Osaka Castle, but personally took command of the hundreds of thousands of troops that invaded Korea from Nagoya on Kyushu Island.

Therefore, to meet Toyotomi Hideyoshi and hand over the letter to initiate peace talks, one must go to Nagoya.

A day later, Zhu Yin finally saw a large castle built against the mountain by the sea.

This is the wolf's den where Hideyoshi now resides, Nagoya!

Last year, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the construction of Nagoya Castle in Hizen Province as the frontline headquarters for the invasion of Korea.

The city was located in Tangjin Bay, only 400 li from North Korea, making it convenient to mobilize land and sea troops and supplies.

With Toyotomi Hideyoshi stationed at this seaside castle, Zhu Yin was saved a lot of travel time; it was much closer than going to Osaka Castle.

Zhu Yin also knew that the castle tower of Nagoya Castle contained a "Golden Tea Room," where Hideyoshi met with generals, held tea parties, and coordinated various forces.

Jesuit missionary Frois once recorded: "The regent was stationed at Nagoya Castle, overseeing the battle day and night, like an eagle watching the peninsula." This monkey, who called himself the king of the world, would stay at Nagoya Castle for more than half a year until his son Hideyori was born the following year, when he would happily return to Osaka Castle.

Although the mission had set foot in Japan, it remained on the coast, seeing only naval ports, fortresses, and barracks. They did not encounter any Japanese villages or towns.

Upon arriving at the city gate, they saw Toyotomi Hideyoshi's horse seal, "Senjō-gao-tan," and a large banner embroidered with the "Five-Seven Paulownia Pattern."

Zhu Yin looked at the "Tung Blossom" flag fluttering in the cold wind, his mind racing with thoughts.

During Japan's Sengoku period, the paulownia crest was the most noble family crest of samurai families, bestowed by the imperial court, second only to the chrysanthemum crest reserved for the imperial family.

The Ashikaga clan had a 5-7 paulownia crest, while the Oda clan had a 5-3 paulownia crest, and the Toyotomi clan also had a 5-7 paulownia crest.

But regardless of the type of paulownia pattern, the person with the right to use it is the head of the samurai family.

Japan is a country that highly values ​​formal aesthetics, and even during the Warring States period, it adhered to various forms of etiquette.

As they got closer, they saw hidden spots on the city wall, including Tokugawa Ieyasu's "Golden Fan" horse mark, Maeda Toshiie's "Again" horse mark, and Date Masamune's "Bird Hat" horse mark.

What does this mean? It means that at this very moment, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Maeda Toshiie, Date Masamune, and others are all in Nagoya Castle!

Nagoya Castle already knew about the arrival of the Ming delegation. Upon seeing the Ming envoys arrive, they immediately played music, lined up in procession to leave the castle, and even bombarded the large barrels of their muskets, making quite a commotion.

It looked like a welcome, but anyone could see it was a demonstration! It was meant to intimidate the delegation.

Squads of clearly marked warriors surrounded the entire delegation, their conch shells whistling sharply and piercingly.

"Stop!" Zhu Yin raised the banner symbolizing the imperial envoy, and the entire delegation immediately stopped in place.

Zhu Yin looked up at the city gate with a cold gaze, and saw a Japanese general standing at the city gate wearing a Nanban tunic (Western armor), a crescent-shaped helmet, and a jinbaori embroidered with Sanskrit. He was noticeably taller than the average Japanese pirate.

Behind him was a horse stamp with a "bird feather hat" design, which prominently featured only one eye.

It was him? Zhu Yin immediately knew who this person was.

It's the one-eyed dragon, Date Masamune!
Date Masamune then shouted in Japanese, "His Highness the Taiko has ordered that, in accordance with the rites of the divine kingdom, the Ming envoy be made to kneel and pay homage!"

Zhu Yin, who understood Japanese, immediately sneered upon hearing this.

As expected, the Japanese pirates were unreasonable to the core, actually demanding that the esteemed envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty perform a kneeling ceremony!
Tolerable or unbearable.

Logically, Toyotomi Hideyoshi should have paid his respects to this Ming envoy. After all, Japan had been a tributary state, and in a broader sense, it could be considered a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty.

However, after a long and brutal period of Wokou raids, Japan had long lost its awe of the Ming Dynasty and instead looked down on it, believing that although the Ming Dynasty was large, its military strength was weak and could be conquered!

At this point, making the delegation kneel down, though contrary to the natural order, is in line with the Japanese pirates' national character of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

Zhu Yin knew very well that if he led the delegation to kneel down today, not to mention how he would get through the psychological hurdle, he would inevitably be imprisoned and questioned when he returned to China!

This matter concerns the national system; dismissal is the lightest punishment.

Zhu Yin immediately adopted a solemn expression and loudly proclaimed in Japanese: "I am here on behalf of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty to represent your country, carrying the official documents and credentials of the State. The proper etiquette must not be disregarded!"

"Your country is a land of etiquette, not a barbaric wilderness. How can you behave in such an impolite manner?"

The Japanese people around him were all astonished when they heard him speak Japanese.

Who would have thought that this handsome young envoy speaks Japanese so well!

A voice cried out from the city wall, and a short, thin old man in rich clothes emerged from the pillars. He held a folding fan and looked down at Zhu Yin below the city wall with a pair of indifferent and cold eyes.

Zhu Yin looked up and met the short old man's gaze, which seemed almost tangible and incredibly oppressive.

He couldn't help but feel a slight tremor in his heart.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi!
When Toyotomi Hideyoshi appeared, all the samurai below the castle knelt down. Even Date Masamune bowed and did not dare to raise his head.

"Taiko 様!"

"All people under heaven!"

Toyotomi Hideyoshi waved his folding fan, dismissing everyone from formalities, and then continued to look down at Zhu Yin with interest, a half-smile on his face.

It was a powerful confidence born from complete control.

Zhu Yin handed the banner to the deputy envoy Zheng Guowang, and with neither servility nor arrogance, bowed to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was high above on the city wall, and said loudly:

"Zhu Yin, Imperial Envoy of the Ming Dynasty to Japan, Vice Minister of War, and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, greets His Highness the Taiko!"

When the rest of the delegation saw him bow, they simply bowed in return. The high-ranking Tibetan monks of the monastic community, however, clasped their hands together and chanted Buddhist mantras.

No one knelt down.

An unnamed high-ranking samurai, gripping the hilt of his sword, shouted: "How dare you, Ming envoy, not kneel before the Taiko-sama!"

"In the nineteenth year of the Tensho era, His Highness the Taiko issued the 'Proclamation of Conquest of the Ming Dynasty,' acting on the mandate of Heaven to conquer the disobedient. Although your Ming Dynasty is large, it is a country that the Taiko must conquer, yet you dare to be so disrespectful!"

"Since you have come to sue for peace, you should kneel down!"

Zhu Yin almost laughed in anger upon hearing this. Arrogant, so arrogant!

Emperor Taizu listed Japan as a country that would not be conquered, but you Japanese have instead regarded our Great Ming Dynasty as a country that must be conquered!
At this time, the Ming Dynasty had not yet officially sent troops to Korea. Korea was on the verge of collapse, and the Japanese army's confidence soared. They had not yet been severely defeated by Li Rusong and were at the point of utter contempt for the Ming Dynasty.

He led the delegation himself, yet he ended up being the one seeking peace.

The emperor's decision to send me to negotiate at this time is a terrible one. Shouldn't we at least send a large army into Korea and inflict heavy losses on the Japanese before making any further moves?
Another great samurai shouted, "Our Japan is a divine nation protected by Amaterasu Omikami! That is why His Highness the Taiko acts on behalf of the gods to punish and establish the Eight Paths of Military Power! Who dares to disobey?"

"If you come to sue for peace, only kneeling and bowing will show your sincerity!"

Seeing that Zhu Yin could speak Japanese, they simply took the initiative to rebuke him and show their loyalty in front of the Taiko.

Zheng Guowang couldn't understand Japanese, but seeing these people shouting and yelling aggressively, he couldn't help but feel furious.

How dare the Japanese pirates be so disrespectful to the Ming Dynasty envoys!
Zheng Guowang couldn't help but shout in Chinese: "How dare you! How dare you be so disrespectful to angels! Do you want to be enemies with the Great Ming Dynasty?!"

"Japan is nothing but a piece of our territory; our army can wipe it out in the blink of an eye!"

Zhu Yin's face turned green.

Grandma, what trouble are you causing? Do you know how arrogant Toyotomi Hideyoshi was? He's riding high right now, do you think he'd fall for your nonsense?
Zhu Yin quickly said, "Your Highness, if we kneel before you today, we will all lose our heads upon returning home. Then there will be no chance for peace talks between our two countries. I have heard that Your Highness is a man of great magnanimity and noble character, and that heroes follow you. How could you possibly make things difficult for Chinese envoys?"

Toyotomi Hideyoshi chuckled coldly, thinking to himself that this young man was truly extraordinary, so composed. Just as he was about to test him further, a voice suddenly spoke:

"Taiko, in Ieyasu's view, kneeling is unnecessary. Everyone in the world kneels to you willingly, so why force an envoy? If you are forced to kneel, you will not kneel in your heart."

"Ho ho ho!" Toyotomi Hideyoshi laughed loudly, his short and thin body making his laughter surprisingly loud and deep.

"Ieyasu, your words resonate most with me!"

(End of this chapter)