Di Ming

Chapter 310 The stars shift and the world changes; something comes from nothing!
When Zheng Guowang thought of the emperor's letter, and then recalled the arrogance of the Japanese king and others, as well as the numerous Japanese warships in Hakata Bay, his expression hardened and his eyebrows furrowed.

Zhu Zhihu did the right thing; it was Zhu Zhihu who was a bit confused.

She was sent as a deputy envoy to gain merit; as long as she returned home without failing her mission, she would be rewarded and promoted.

We're not here to die!
"I was being presumptuous, but Brother Zhihu is much more thoughtful." Zheng Guowang smiled and sat down opposite Zhu Yin, but not upright; instead, he sat cross-legged.

On the table was a Japanese tea set, somewhat different from those used in Central China. But Zhu Yin clearly understood Japanese tea ceremony; as he brewed the tea, he said:
“I have lived overseas, and my father was a maritime merchant. What’s so strange about me knowing Japanese? If I hadn’t been fluent in Japanese and understood their meaning in time, we would have been forced to kneel before Toyotomi Hideyoshi.”

"What?" Zheng Guowang's face darkened. "The Japanese king wants us to kneel? The Ming Dynasty is the Celestial Empire! This is outrageous!"

She suddenly felt a chill of fear. What would have happened if she had been forced to kneel back then?
This is an insult to the national system, a trampling of etiquette, and a subversion of moral principles!

The Ming Dynasty was a superior nation, and the envoy of the Ming Dynasty represented the emperor and the court. The system was prestigious, and the envoy was above the king of Japan.

Logically, it should be the Japanese king who bows to the Ming envoy. Didn't King Seonjo of Joseon bow to the envoy and even offer gifts?
What are the differences in status between the Japanese king and the Korean king?
Who would have thought that the Japanese king would be so arrogant and rude, actually turning the tables and making the envoy kneel and bow to him!

If the Ming Dynasty envoy kneels before him, it is equivalent to the Ming Dynasty and the Emperor kneeling before him.

What crime is this? Deceiving the emperor and disgracing the nation!

Even she, the emperor's brother-in-law, would be dismissed from her post and stripped of her official rank, never to be employed again. Zhu Yin, as the chief envoy, would face anything from imprisonment and exile to public execution!
"The Imperial Envoy is right." Zheng Guowang looked at Zhu Yin with upright eyes, cupped his hands and said, "Brother Zhihu is indeed more mature and experienced, and adaptable to changing circumstances. I am no match for him."

Although she and Zhu Yin held different positions and were political enemies, she still admired Zhu Yin's talent and courage.

"But if the credentials aren't read aloud today, when will they be? We can't simply disobey the imperial decree and refuse to submit the credentials, can we? If we don't submit the credentials..."

“Of course we have to pay,” Zhu Yin said calmly, pouring Zheng Guowang a cup of tea. “Whether you stick your neck out or not, you’ll still get stabbed.”

"The Emperor's edict was stern in tone, and I had previously expressed my objections and requested that it be revised accordingly. However, the Grand Secretary was adamant, and the Emperor did not heed my advice. With both the Emperor and the Grand Secretary ignoring it, I had no choice but to accept it."

Zhu Yin was speechless as he said this.

The letter primarily conveyed the wishes of the Emperor and the Grand Secretary. In their view, the letter was already quite lenient and courteous; where was the severity?

His honest advice was dismissed as mere drivel by the emperor and the chief minister.

“I didn’t want to get involved in this mess.” Zhu Yin shook his head and smiled bitterly. “Brother Yueying, although we have disagreements and differing political views, you know me. I don’t think this trip to Japan for peace talks will yield any results.”

"The court intends to leave a door for peace talks. In case the army is defeated, there will be a way to open up peace negotiations. It is a way out and a delaying tactic. The emperor and the court do not expect to subdue the enemy without fighting. However, this letter from the court has put the delegation in a dangerous situation."

“But once the imperial edict is issued, the emperor’s command is hard to disobey. Even if it means going through fire and water, or sacrificing one’s life, I will go even if it means facing thousands of enemies. Even if I die in Japan, I will serve the court.”

"Brother Yueying, to be frank, we should be prepared to die for our country."

Zheng Guowang's expression was grave. "Brother Zhihu, is it really that dangerous?"

Zhu Yin picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea. “You don’t understand the Japanese. They are even more afraid of power than the Hu people. In terms of their perverse behavior, cunning thoughts, cruel nature, and arrogant attitude, few in the world can match them, and they cannot be judged by common sense.”

"The imperial court's insistence on using this edict is a grave misjudgment of the situation in Japan and will inevitably provoke them."

Zheng Guowang nodded. "I have already discovered it. Their atrocities in Korea are countless and outrageous; they are indeed more brutal than the Mongols."

Zhu Yin said, "How dangerous this trip is depends on how we do it. If we follow the established procedures and act rigidly, we will surely face more danger than good."

He put down his teacup and tapped his finger on the table. “If you want to return home safely, the only way is to be flexible! Brother Yueying, trust me, and you will naturally turn misfortune into good fortune.”

Zheng Guowang cupped his hands and said, "I would be grateful for your guidance, Brother Zhihu! As long as it does not dishonor the dignity of the Ming Dynasty, I will listen to you."

Zhu Yin smiled and said, "Brother Yueying, there's no need to be nervous. Since I understand Japan and know both myself and my enemy, I naturally have a plan."

He pointed to the imperial edict in the box, "His Majesty's edict is written in black and white. Although most Japanese people cannot understand Chinese, most of them can recognize Chinese characters. They may not understand the language, but they can read it. Therefore, the letter of state delivered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi could not possibly be this imperial edict!"

Zhu Yin knew that in history, Emperor Wanli had also bestowed very harsh gifts upon Toyotomi Hideyoshi, even bestowing upon him the title of King of Japan, which enraged Hideyoshi so much that he almost executed Shen Weijing.

But under what circumstances?

This occurred against the backdrop of the Ming army defeating the Japanese army and inflicting a major setback on the Japanese in Korea. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, having experienced the power of the Ming cavalry and artillery and suffered losses on the battlefield, dared not actually execute the envoy.

But what about now? The Japanese army hasn't even clashed with the forces that have entered Korea yet, and Hideyoshi is at the height of his arrogance. What will he think when he sees this imperial edict?

Zheng Guowang frowned and said solemnly, "Brother Zhihu, you want to tamper with the imperial edict? That's a serious crime. Brother Zhihu, if you want to tamper with the imperial edict, I certainly cannot agree to it. This is deceiving the emperor and forging an edict; you wouldn't have enough heads to lose even if you had two."

Zhu Yin's smile was inscrutable: "How dare I alter the imperial edict? However, this edict from His Majesty is addressed to the King of Japan, isn't that right?"

“That’s right.” Zheng Guowang said with some doubt, “Isn’t that short and ridiculous Toyotomi Hideyoshi the King of Japan?”

Zhu Yin shook his head and chuckled, "Toyotomi Hideyoshi was not the King of Japan. The Japanese king's usurpation of the title of Emperor was something he learned from Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. This usurper has been in power for many generations; his ancestor might have been Xu Fu, and he now lives in Heian-kyo, which is now known as Kyoto."

"As for Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he was actually a powerful minister. Hmm, similar to Wang Mang and Cao Cao. That so-called emperor was a puppet with no real power."

In fact, given Japan's dual system, it is certainly not appropriate to compare Hideyoshi to Cao Cao, but Zhu Yin could not find any other analogy.

"I see!" Zheng Guowang understood and said with great surprise, "So the person who usurped the title of Emperor was the King of Japan, not Toyotomi Hideyoshi."

This was the first time she had ever heard of the Japanese emperor being called "Ten-ō" (天皇). She had previously thought that the leader of the Wokou (Japanese pirates) who invaded Korea was the Japanese emperor.

In fact, not only the Japanese Emperor, but even Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself was unaware of her existence beforehand. Not only her, but at that time, very few of the court officials knew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Zhu Yin nodded and smiled, "Indeed. So, to whom should we proclaim His Majesty's edict? To the Japanese king in Kyoto who has usurped the title of Emperor, or to the powerful minister Toyotomi Hideyoshi?"

Zheng Guowang, with an expression that said, "Is that even a question?", replied matter-of-factly:
"It must be that Japanese king in Kyoto who usurped the title of Emperor. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was just a powerful minister in Japan, not the king. If the imperial edict were issued to him, wouldn't that be treason? Where is the established order and morality?"

"The official title of the letter is 'Imperial Edict of the Emperor of the Great Ming to the King of Japan.' Even if the King of Japan has become a puppet with power in vain, he is still the rightful King of Japan. The edict should naturally be proclaimed to him."

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "This is a matter of course, and even Toyotomi Hideyoshi would have no objection. He was not the King of Japan, nor did he consider himself the King of Japan."

"So, let's just go to Kyoto and proclaim His Majesty's edict to that damned Emperor. The Japanese King is just a puppet, and the Japanese court nobles are just figureheads. Even if the Ming Dynasty's letter is stern, they can't do anything about it."

Zheng Guowang almost slammed his fist on the table in admiration, and couldn't help but laugh, "Brother Zhihu, what a brilliant plan! Doesn't this count as bullying the weak and fearing the strong?"

Zhu Yin touched his nose. "Bullying the weak and fearing the strong? That's not true. Aren't we acting under imperial decree? Even His Majesty thinks we're doing the right thing."

Zheng Guowang flashed a row of pearly white teeth, even revealing his dimples. "Brother Zhihu is absolutely right. However... even if we go to Kyoto to deliver the edict to the King of Japan, wouldn't that anger Toyotomi Hideyoshi?"

"Although he is a powerful minister, he is still a subject of the Japanese king. Shouldn't he at least consider the king's reputation? If the Japanese king is wronged, isn't Japan wronged? Even if he's just pretending, Toyotomi Hideyoshi should at least feign anger, right? Could he use this as an excuse to demonstrate his loyalty and take action against us as well?"

Zhu Yin glanced at Zheng Guowang with a hint of admiration. She was thoughtful enough to think of this; no wonder she was a woman who had passed the imperial examination.

“Brother Yueying’s concerns are valid,” Zhu Yin said. “Therefore, I need three days to plug this loophole. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is indeed a powerful minister, but he also has to consider the dignity of the Japanese emperor; otherwise, the daimyo will question his disrespect for the imperial family.” Zheng Guowang asked, “What is a daimyo?”

Zhu Yin explained, “Japanese nobility is divided into the Imperial Family, court nobles, and daimyo. Daimyo are feudal lords. Nowadays, the Imperial Family and court nobles are all puppets, while the daimyo hold power in the court and the provinces. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is the most powerful daimyo, the leader of the daimyo alliance, and was appointed as Kanpaku…”

Now that he's in the same boat as Zheng Guowang, Zhu Yin naturally has to give her a little background information.

Zheng Guowang said, "Thank you for enlightening me, Brother Zhihu. I feel that this Shogun is somewhat similar to Yilijin of the Khitan and Dubojilie of the Jurchen?"

Zhu Yin nodded: "Indeed, the Yilijin of the Khitan and the Bojilie of the Jurchens are similar. However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was not a shogun. He came from humble origins and was not qualified to establish a shogunate. Yet his power was actually greater than that of a shogun."

"In the next two weeks, we need to get Toyotomi Hideyoshi to agree to let us go to Kyoto to see the King of Japan. I have already asked people to find connections and have merchants bribe Hideyoshi's wife, mother, and close retainers to curry favor with him and persuade them to speak on his behalf."

"Including Hideyoshi himself, I will present him with his favorite Tang Dynasty items. I've heard that Hideyoshi is magnanimous in small matters but ruthless in big ones. We should downplay the importance of the imperial edict and handle it with ease, so that he will be magnanimous."

"As long as Hideyoshi agrees to let us go to Kyoto to meet the King of Japan, we won't need to come to Nagoya Castle anymore. We can then sail back home directly from Ine Bay near Kyoto."

“That is indeed a good idea.” Zheng Guowang’s expression relaxed. “Paving the way with gold and silver is often the most effective. I can cover half of the gold and silver that Brother Zhihu spent.”

She knew that Zhu Yin's wife, Ning, was extremely wealthy and had no shortage of money. But one thing is one thing; this was money Zhu Yin had paid for himself, and she should share some of the burden.

The Zheng family was also not short of money.

“Money is a small matter, don’t worry about it.” Zhu Yin picked up his teacup. “As long as we go to Kyoto and keep a low profile, don’t spread the contents of the imperial edict, and send generous gifts to the Japanese king and nobles to shut them up, everything will be fine. The key is how to gain Hideyoshi’s trust and get him to agree to let us go to Kyoto.”

Zheng Guowang said with a wry smile, "We've come here to negotiate peace? We've only come here to create problems for ourselves! The Emperor and the Grand Secretary... sigh! Sun Tzu said to know yourself and know your enemy, but how can the court know its enemy?"

"This trip will not only be a wasted trip, but we may also be ruined in Japan."

Zhu Yin stood up and stretched his legs. "Complaining about these things now is useless. We will definitely talk, but you and I should both know that it is definitely not going to work out. So, for you and me, the outcome of the talks is no longer important."

"The important thing is to return home safely and report back to the court."

He turned to look at Zheng Guowang, his eyes gleaming, "There's something I need Brother Yueying's cooperation to accomplish together."

Zheng Guowang thought for a moment, "Brother Zhihu, are you planning to draft a letter of state to Toyotomi Hideyoshi?"

Zhu Yin clapped his hands and laughed, "Brother Yueying understands me very well, that's it. Since His Majesty's letter is for the King of Japan in Kyoto, what will he give to Hideyoshi? Hideyoshi will be looking at the letter in three days."

“Let’s just double it. Send the imperial edict to the King of Japan, and we’ll also forge a letter of state in the name of the cabinet and deliver it to Hideyoshi.”

"In this way, His Majesty's edict is given to the so-called Emperor, and the 'Cabinet's' official letter is given to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Both of them have a share. Moreover, we are not forging an edict, but merely forging Cabinet documents."

"Haha!" Zheng Guowang couldn't help but laugh at Zhu Yin's method. "Brother Zhihu is indeed a young genius. What a brilliant move of shifting stars and creating something from nothing!"

“We dare not forge an imperial edict, but what’s so bad about fabricating a cabinet document? It’s an urgent matter. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is the Prime Minister of Japan, whose position corresponds to the Ming Dynasty’s cabinet. Wouldn’t it be more in line with diplomatic etiquette to accept a document from the cabinet?”

She admired Zhu Yin even more.

Zhu Yin's methods were interconnected, turning this thorny and difficult matter into a manageable and easy one, greatly reducing the risk.

Forging an imperial edict is a crime of deceiving the emperor, a crime no one can bear. But forging official cabinet documents is a different matter entirely.

Forging cabinet diplomatic documents is also a crime, but it is completely incomparable to forging imperial edicts.

She and Zhu Yin can both handle this kind of thing.

Zhu Yin smiled slightly, confidently saying, "I have prepared the blank official documents for the Cabinet. The seals are all there, and they are no different from real Cabinet documents. All that's missing is the writing."

How could Zheng Guowang refuse? She readily agreed, saying, "I understand what Brother Zhihu means. I'll write the cabinet documents, and we'll share the responsibility!"

Zhu Yin was finally satisfied. "Alright, Brother Yueying, please."

Forging cabinet documents and passing them off as official letters is a crime, though it is not the same as forging an imperial edict, and the crime is much less serious.
If Zheng Guowang isn't dragged into this, will he do it all by himself?
With Zheng Guowang involved, not only could he no longer impeach himself, but the Zheng family would also have to cover up the truth, and the emperor and the cabinet would not pursue the matter.

He pulled a blank document from the box, which indeed bore the seals of the cabinet ministers, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of War.

The cabinet did not have a special official seal, but it had the official seals of the chief minister and the deputy minister, plus the official seals of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War, which were enough to fool the Japanese by pretending to be official documents.

Zheng Guowang glanced at it and couldn't help but secretly praise Zhu Yin's foresight.

Soon, Zheng Guowang had prepared the ink and picked up his brush, saying:

"Straight as a string, one dies by the roadside. As envoys, we are not Fu, Ban, Chen, or Wang. Right now, we can only compromise our principles. A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Only by preserving our lives can we serve our sovereign and the court."

Zhu Yin nodded: "That's right. Only by preserving our lives can we repay the Emperor."

Zheng Guowang didn't realize that Zhu Yin had mispronounced "repay" as "reimburse".

At that moment, Zhu Yin carefully considered the wording, and Zheng Guowang wrote it down, together concocting the so-called cabinet documents.

Zhu Yin slowly said, "...Japan and Korea are separated only by a strip of water, their education is widespread, their culture is refined, and they are both part of China, certainly not barbarian countries... Now that the Western barbarians have come from the east, our two countries should live in harmony, form an alliance, and jointly resist the southern barbarians and western barbarians. How can we bear to wage war against each other, causing pain to our friends and pleasure to our enemies..."

"...I have heard that Taiko Toyotomi was a man of extraordinary talent and strategy, who diligently served the royal family by eliminating treacherous officials. In just over a decade, he restored peace to Japan and truly was a hero of his time..."

Zheng Guowang paused here, frowned, and looked troubled. "Brother Zhihu, are such words too much of a compliment to this person? Our Celestial Empire..."

Zhu Yin shook his head. "It's not an overstatement. To Japan, this man truly deserves to be called a peerless hero. Although he's their hero and our enemy, putting aside our differences, it's a fair assessment. Hmm, you continue writing..."

"...But what has Korea done wrong? Why such haste to destroy each other? They launch a sea campaign, turning their neighbor into an enemy... They see no trace of the three thousand miles of land, only bloodshed and devastation, smoke and fire rising everywhere, countless lives lost. Heaven have mercy..."

Confucius said, "If distant people do not submit, then cultivate virtue to attract them." Mencius said, "If a ruler loves benevolence, he will be invincible... Killing someone to bring peace is permissible. Attacking a country while loving its people is permissible. Therefore, the ancients valued virtue and despised warfare. Those who assist the ruler with the Way do not use force to conquer the world..."

"Korea is a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty and a friendly neighbor of your country. Why not cease hostilities, let peace prevail, and restore our friendly relations?"

"In the past, Duke Jing of Qi relinquished the land grant to restore the friendship between Qi and Lu, and Yanzi mediated through banquets to stop the Chu army from attacking. Instead of a hundred-year-old feud, the two states now enjoy a thousand-year-old friendship. For brotherly states to now wage war is like brothers fighting each other, like soldiers in arms. Your Excellency should think carefully..."

"Japan, as instructed by Emperor Taizu, is a 'nation not to be conquered.' Since the Han Dynasty, friendly relations have existed for over a thousand years. The Great Ming Emperor is benevolent and compassionate, extending forgiveness far and wide, and bestowing benevolence extensively. How could he bear to harm his neighbor, turn against them, and cause endless war and calamity?"

"If Your Excellency were to lay down your arms and cease hostilities, wouldn't that be tantamount to restoring peace, and wouldn't that be a blessing for the world? Then our Great Ming Dynasty would be willing to resume trade relations, reopen the door to tribute, and forever forge an alliance between China and Japan..."

After finishing his writing, Zheng Guowang couldn't help but say, "Brother Zhihu's article is dignified and upright, upholding national dignity, yet it is also calm and composed, without a trace of anger. If Toyotomi Hideyoshi still has any conscience after reading it, wouldn't he be ashamed? (Not self-praise)"

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "This is the so-called cabinet letter. In three days, we'll use it to appease Toyotomi Hideyoshi! How would he know it's fake? Anyway, he's not the King of Japan, and the Emperor didn't give him any imperial edict."

Zheng Guowang put down his pen, clapped his hands and laughed: "Excellent! Zhu Lang's brilliant plan today will surely become a legend in the future!"

(End of this chapter)