Di Ming

Chapter 309 Zhu Yin's Delaying Tactics!
Zhu Yin looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the person who had just given both sides a way out was a large warrior in his fifties. He was slightly plump, with a broad forehead and square jaw. He had a noble and dignified demeanor and looked like a kind and honest elder. Even his voice was deep, slow, and calm.

Judging from his appearance and voice, he is someone who is easy to trust.

This person wears a golden-embroidered feather cloak with a three-leaf sunflower pattern on his shoulders and holds a gold-lacquered folding fan with the four characters "克己复礼" (self-discipline and returning to propriety) on it.

It is none other than Tokugawa Ieyasu, the most important retainer of the Toyotomi clan, whose status is second only to Hideyoshi!

Zhu Yin knew that this was the man who would have the last laugh, replacing the Toyotomi clan to establish the Tokugawa Shogunate, and was even deified as "Tosho Shinkun" after his death.

This is a character like a "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle," almost a Japanese version of Sima Yi.

At this time, Tokugawa Ieyasu was still obediently submitting to Hideyoshi, who was conquering the country by force, and carefully maintaining his image as a kind and loyal retainer.

According to Zhu Yin's instructions, Tokugawa Ieyasu was also a key intelligence target for Huya in Japan. As early as two years ago, when Ieyasu was still in Miyazaki Castle, Huya's Japanese family members had already infiltrated the Tokugawa clan.

He not only sent his son to Hideyoshi as a hostage, but also married Hideyoshi's sister, Asahi-hime, to help Hideyoshi stabilize the eastern region. He actively carried out the Taiko land survey and sword hunting edicts among the daimyo, promising to "guard the eastern region and forever be a bulwark for Toyotomi".

He even left his fiefdom and went to Osaka Castle as a "hostage" to participate in planning the war to invade Korea and conquer Ming China.

Hideyoshi seized his former territories of Mikawa, Tōtōmi, Sunpu, Kai, and Shinano, demolished his Okazaki Castle, and transferred him to the eight provinces of the Kanto region under the Hojō clan. He was also relocated to Edo, a place prone to tsunamis, and he obediently complied with the order.

Hideyoshi had many opportunities to kill Ieyasu, but he was ultimately misled by Ieyasu.

Ieyasu's sincere and submissive attitude, coupled with his powerful influence in the eastern region, quelled Hideyoshi's murderous intent towards him.

He may seem dangerous to Hideyoshi, but as long as Hideyoshi's health is fine, he is perfectly safe.

When Hideyoshi fell ill, sensing danger, he left and returned to the east. Aside from entrusting his son to Hideyoshi at Fushimi Castle, he dared not see him again.

Zhu Yin knew why powerful daimyo like Tokugawa Ieyasu and Date Masamune were all at Nagoya Castle. Historically, at this time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi initiated the "Nagoya Castle Military Council," summoning many daimyo to Nagoya to discuss their next military strategy.

Today, not only the Tokugawa family and Date Masamune, but many daimyo throughout Japan reside in Nagoya Castle. This demonstrates that in present-day Japan, no one dares to defy Hideyoshi.

Upon hearing Tokugawa Ieyasu's change of heart, Zhu Yin immediately seized the opportunity to echo him:
"Lord Ieyasu's words are reasonable; he truly deserves to be called the Taiko's right-hand man. The people of your country kneel before the Taiko willingly, not because the Taiko forced them with force. As a Ming subject, I naturally only kneel before the Emperor of the Great Ming."

"Although the tributary relationship has been severed, the thousand-year bond between China and Japan will not be broken, regardless of war or peace. What does Your Excellency think?"

Zhu Yin was impeccably dressed, composed, and spoke clearly and politely. Coupled with his exceptionally handsome appearance, the dignity of a great nation's envoy was not diminished in the slightest by his youth; on the contrary, he was so captivating that one could not help but be utterly impressed.

In Japan, where appearance is highly valued, Zhu Yin had a significant advantage. His fluent Japanese further endeared him to many.

Speaking Japanese was unavoidable, since Hideyoshi and his entourage couldn't understand Chinese. In this situation, speaking Japanese was the only way to avoid being at a disadvantage.

If they spoke in a pretentious manner in Chinese and then had an interpreter translate and relay their words, it would be difficult to extricate the mission from its predicament.

"Ho ho ho!" Toyotomi Hideyoshi laughed maniacally again, brandishing his military fan. "What a fine way to uphold the thousand-year-old bond between our two nations!"

“As expected of the envoy from the Great Ming Dynasty, Lord Zhihu, I have not been disappointed. Very well, I accept your courtesy. You need not kneel. I apologize for startling the envoy.”

"Then let the music play, and please let the delegation enter the city."

He had already seen the diplomatic note and, of course, knew the Ming envoy's name, courtesy name, and official title. Yet, his arrogant address of the Ming envoy as "Young Tiger Lord" revealed his true intentions.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was not a narrow-minded person; all his actions were purposeful. He deliberately made the Ming envoy kneel to humiliate him, both to establish his authority and to demonstrate his determination to conquer the Ming Dynasty.

He certainly wanted the Ming envoy to kneel in obeisance.

However, if the Ming envoy insists on not kneeling, he will not force him. Because the Ming envoy's fearlessness would only demonstrate his indomitable spirit and shake the daimyo's confidence in conquering the Ming Dynasty.

Why would he do something so foolish and lose so much? Even if Ieyasu didn't try to persuade him, he wouldn't.

Ieyasu was certainly aware of this. He advised Hideyoshi not to help the Ming envoy out of his predicament, but to demonstrate his loyalty to Hideyoshi.

Zhu Yin was not surprised at all when he heard what Toyotomi Hideyoshi said.

As expected, as long as one insists on not kneeling and argues rationally, Hideyoshi will not force them in public.

This man called himself the "Son of the Sun," and was arrogant to the point of madness. But when it came to talent, cunning, and skill, he was absolutely outstanding among the rulers of his time.

With the Japanese army making rapid advances in Korea, his confidence soared, and he began to underestimate the Ming Dynasty even more. However, since he had not yet engaged in a decisive battle with the main Ming army, he could not completely close the door to peace talks. He also had to give the delegation some face, leaving them a way out.

As long as things go well, returning home safely shouldn't be a problem.

However, Zhu Yin held no hope whatsoever that the trip would achieve peace.

Who was Hideyoshi? He was a warmonger who, on his deathbed, still ordered, "We would rather die than not conquer the Ming Dynasty."

At Toyotomi Hideyoshi's command, the samurai made way, and the band then played "Lanling Wang," a piece from the Tang Dynasty, to depict the bravery of the samurai.

Even the welcoming ceremony had to display military might and was full of intimidation, showing that they really didn't take the Ming Dynasty seriously.

Nagoya Castle was a massive stone-walled military castle. The delegation passed the moat and turrets, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his entourage descended from the castle walls and ascended the castle tower.

He was to receive the official letter and gifts from the Ming Dynasty in the Golden Tea Room of the castle tower.

Now that they were closer, Zhu Yin could see Toyotomi Hideyoshi more clearly.

Hideyoshi wore a red-gold tunic haori, with a scarlet background and gold thread woven with floral and bird patterns, and embroidered with five-seven paulownia patterns.

The sword he carried was a famous Japanese sword called "Yakukiri," which was a gift from Oda Nobunaga.

He held a military-style round fan and wrote the Taoist incantation "Lin Bing Dou Zhe Jie Zhen Lie Zai Qian".

What caught Zhu Yin's attention even more was that he was wearing a silver cross, a symbol of the Southern Barbarians (Westerners), on his chest.

But Zhu Yin was not surprised.

Although Hideyoshi disliked Christianity and intended to suppress it, he was very interested in various artifacts from the southern barbarians (Western countries). Wearing a cross did not indicate that he was religious; it was merely an ornament out of curiosity.

According to Zhu Yin, this "man of the world" was only about 1.4 meters tall. Although the Japanese pirates were physically disabled, their average height was still over 1.5 meters. Hideyoshi was 10 centimeters shorter than the average height of Japanese men.

With his dark skin and thin build, it's no wonder Nobunaga jokingly called him a monkey.

However, his eyes were dark and deep, long and upturned, and very bright, earning him the nickname "fox eyes." The Taiko Chronicle describes him as having "a face as dark as charcoal and eyes as bright as torches," which is quite fitting.

He had a round forehead and a full, broad nose, a typical lion's nose. His beard was curly, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly even when he wasn't smiling. Overall, he wasn't ugly.

However, Nobunaga always liked to tease others, so calling Hideyoshi "ape-faced" was a bit too much.

Of course, Nobunaga also admitted that Hideyoshi had "ordinary features but outstanding talent." Oda Nobunaga was extremely arrogant and a very proud man, yet he sincerely acknowledged that Hideyoshi had "outstanding talent," which shows that one cannot judge a book by its cover.

Because of his short stature, Hideyoshi wore a pair of "taka-shita" (high-soled shoes). Even though the soles of his shoes were very high, it was still easy to tell that he was short.

Zhu Yin felt that Ieyasu's assessment of Hideyoshi was more accurate: "He was not handsome, but every word and action of his was imposing."

That's absolutely true.

At this moment, Zhu Yin felt a sense of pressure emanating from Hideyoshi's short stature. This pressure came from the power of someone who had long held a high position, but it was different from the feeling he had towards Emperor Baijin.

The Wanli Emperor wielded immense power and authority over the throne.

Hideyoshi's imposing presence was more personal, a comical yet arrogant aura that instilled a sense of unease and fear, like that of a capricious demon king. As the tea master Sen no Rikyu aptly put it in private: "The Taiko's face is like a scroll hanging in a tea room; from afar, he appears majestic, but up close, he is comical."

While Zhu Yin was sizing up Hideyoshi, the shrewd Hideyoshi was also sizing up Zhu Yin.

Wow! He's a handsome young man, one in a million, a beauty unparalleled in the world.

She is even more radiant than Mitsuhide Akechi was in his youth.

Could he be a dashing young man resurrected from the Wei and Jin dynasties?
Why is someone so young so composed and poised? Is he a child prodigy blessed with wisdom by heaven? By the way, I heard that a child prodigy has emerged in the Ming Dynasty in recent years. Could it be him?

The fact that the Ming Dynasty sent such an outstanding young envoy shows that it truly values ​​its friendship with Japan.

So, is he now submitting the letter of state to the Emperor of Ming?

Not only Hideyoshi, but also Ieyasu and others couldn't help but secretly develop a liking for Zhu Yin. This young man was truly a beautiful man, as radiant as the moon.

However, Zhu Yin, holding the imperial seal, said, "The state gifts and gift list of the Great Ming Dynasty will be sent to the Grand Secretary and your esteemed country immediately. However, the letter of state is a matter of great importance. After I have settled in, I need to burn incense, bathe, fast, and worship the gods, and choose an auspicious day three days later to hold the ceremony of reading the letter of state. I humbly request Your Highness's permission."

"I also have some personal gifts that I will present to His Highness the Taiko when I submit my credentials in three days, as a small token of my respect for him."

This means the state gift will be presented to you first. The official letter will be delivered on an auspicious day three days from now. Oh, and I also have a personal gift for you.

Please do me this favor.

Hideyoshi, Ieyasu, and the others were somewhat surprised to hear this.

Logically, upon arrival, the first thing an envoy should do is present their credentials, which is also the most important step. The credentials reveal the other party's true attitude.

However, the Ming envoy actually requested that the letter be delivered three days later.

However, Ming's reasons are also quite sufficient and sound reasonable.

They didn't know that Zhu Yin did this out of sheer desperation.

Because Emperor Wanli's letter was entirely a warning to the vassal states, displaying the superior attitude of the Celestial Empire and a stern tone.

In form, it was still an "imperial edict".

Neither the emperor nor the court understood Japan, and thus produced an imperial edict that would put the mission in danger and would be counterproductive.

The Ming emperors and ministers thought they could intimidate Japan, but they did not realize that not only would they fail to intimidate them, they would also anger the Japanese rulers.

If this letter of credence were announced now, Hideyoshi, in a fit of anger to save face, might immediately imprison the delegation, revoke their envoy privileges, or even kill them to establish his authority!
However, the official letter is of utmost importance and absolutely cannot be omitted; it must be submitted.

How to do?
Zhu Yin was by no means an inflexible and pedantic person. For his own safety and that of the mission, he certainly could not immediately hold the ceremony of reading the official letter.

Zhu Yin's strategy was a delaying tactic, waiting for a safe window to announce the official letter, using three days to make his moves. In fact, he had already made his moves in advance, but the timing was not yet ripe.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, after reviewing the gift list, was fairly satisfied with the Ming Dynasty's generosity. Little did he know the real reason why Zhu Yin had postponed the ceremony of presenting the credentials by three days. Therefore, he did not make things difficult for him. He said:
“King Chikorok is very thoughtful. So be it. The mission has traveled through mountains and rivers and endured many hardships. They certainly need to bathe, burn incense, and rest for a few days.”

"I will accept the state gifts from the Ming Dynasty on your behalf. Please allow the delegation to rest at the post station in the east of the city."

Zhu Yin breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his hands, saying, "Then thank you, Your Highness. I am truly sorry to have troubled your country by crossing the sea."

Zhu Yin spoke in Japanese, which Zheng Guowang and the others couldn't understand anyway, so he simply spoke more politely and adopted a somewhat humble attitude.

Putting on airs on enemy territory was neither Zhu Yin's style nor a wise move. His primary responsibility was the safety and treatment of the mission.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi chuckled and said, "Mr. Chizora is too kind. You are a distinguished guest in Japan. Mr. Chizora speaks excellent Japanese and seems to know a lot about Japan."

As he said this, his expression seemed nonchalant, but his eyes were full of doubt.

If Zhu Yin doesn't answer well, his suspicions will grow wildly like weeds.

Zhu Yin replied naturally, "Although my parents are Chinese, my adoptive mother is Japanese. I spent five years in Japan when I was young, so Japan is my second homeland. Therefore, my feelings towards Japan are different from those towards other countries."

"I see." Toyotomi Hideyoshi had seen countless people and was a shrewd old man, but after carefully observing Zhu Yin's expression, he saw nothing unusual and believed him.

"In that case, Chikoro-kun is also Japanese. Then there's even less need to be polite."

Tokugawa Ieyasu, Date Masamune, and others were somewhat surprised to hear this.

The conversation between Taiko and Zhu Yin did not resemble a dialogue between the Japanese Taiko and a Ming envoy; it was more like a private conversation.

No wonder. The Ming envoy is such a handsome and charming young man, everyone would be fond of him and wouldn't want to make things difficult for him.

Zhu Yin exchanged a few pleasantries with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, left behind a precious state gift, and was then escorted out of Nagoya Castle to a post station not far east of the castle.

This place was originally a temple, but it was later converted into a post town where daimyo and great samurai from various regions could stay temporarily. The environment is very quiet and serene, and the area is quite large, enough for each member of the delegation to stay.

More importantly, it's only a hundred paces from the walls of Nagoya Castle. Standing on the eastern wall of Nagoya, you can have a panoramic view of this post town.

Hideyoshi placed the delegation here, which both fulfilled the proper hospitality and allowed him to monitor them from a superior position. A simple arrangement, yet subtly concealing his cunning.

The mission is now in enemy territory, surrounded by large armies for dozens of miles around. If it attracts Hideyoshi's killing intent, it will be impossible to escape.

As a distinguished envoy of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yin resided in the most tranquil and beautiful courtyard in the post town, a relatively independent "shoin-zai" (academy-style) residence, elegant and simple.

The house contains tatami mats, a bed, bookshelves, a knife rack, a screen, a tea room, and a bathroom.

Zhu Yin had just settled in when two Japanese girls dressed in white kimonos and wearing katakana hats entered, walking slowly in on wooden clogs.

"Your Excellency, I have been ordered to bathe you."

The two girls were no more than thirteen or fourteen years old. Dressed in white, they appeared quite innocent and charming. However, their faces were covered in exaggerated white powder, and their cheeks were smeared with vermilion "cherry blossom blush," making them look rather unappealing.

Fortunately, they weren't noblewomen and didn't qualify for "black teeth," so their teeth were still white and didn't look so scary.

"No need." Zhu Yin pointed to Wu You and Ding Hongying in the outer room. "I have maids and I'm used to using them. Please convey to your master that I appreciate your kindness."

After saying that, she took out two gold beans and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Here, I'll give you these to buy a hairpin that you like."

After the two Japanese girls left, looking both ashamed and delighted, another person entered Zhu Yin's tea room.

It was the deputy envoy, Zheng Guowang.

"Chikoryu, what were you saying before? You're fluent in Japanese?"

"You are an imperial envoy of the Ming Dynasty, here to deliver a decree. Why don't you speak Chinese? Isn't this beneath the dignity of our Celestial Empire?"

"Furthermore, why wasn't the official letter announced today? Isn't proclaiming His Majesty's imperial edict the most important matter of this trip?"

Since there were no chairs inside, Zhu Yin could only kneel on the couch. He raised his head to look at Zheng Guowang standing in front of him and said with a cold expression:

"You don't know what the official letter says? You've seen these important Japanese figures; they're just like that, so arrogant and unruly. Tell me, what would happen if the official letter were read aloud today?"

"I'm afraid we're not living here, but rather locked up in prison!"

(End of this chapter)