The Red Mansions

Chapter 1296 Jia Heng: This wind must not rise!

next day

The golden morning sun from the east shines through the window lattice inside the house, and the embroidered shoes placed on the side of the bamboo couch, with the lotus flowers embroidered on them, are pure and bright.

Jia Heng stood up and looked at Emperor Mingzheng Xingzi who was lying next to her. She was a beauty in her late twenties, with a mature charm and sweet features. At this moment, her curved eyelashes trembled and she opened her eyes. Run Weiwei's beautiful eyes.

"Jia Jun, are you awake?" A soft and greasy voice sounded, with an indescribable laziness.

Jia Heng said softly: "Get up and change my clothes."

"Ah."

Emperor Meisho's rosy face looked like he was drunk, and there seemed to be infinite attachment in Mingli's brows.

While talking, Emperor Mingzheng helped Jia Heng get up.

Jia Heng put on his clothes and looked at the beauty whose features were like Yamato Nadeshiko's. He pinched the beauty's plump cheeks and said softly: "I have something else to do, so I can't stay here for too long."

This is actually different from the Ming Dynasty's Lan Yu who insulted the Beiyuan Princess. This is a congenial feeling.

And Emperor Mingzheng said softly: "Go, Jiajun, I will wait for you here."

Jia Heng nodded and left without saying much.

Before Emperor Mingzheng turned around and came to the bed, his eyes fell on the red plum blossoms blooming on the sheets. The beauty's cheeks suddenly became hot, and she gently stroked her charming face, feeling an inexplicable feeling in her heart.

After Jia Heng finished speaking, he stood up, left the shogunate's residence, and came to the front yard. At this moment, Li Shu came from outside and reported: "My lord, Jinyi Mansion has set up an office in Edo, and they will organize manpower in the next few days." , conduct training and investigation to investigate the situation in Japan."

Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "When the Jinyi Mansion handles matters in the Japanese country, it must have both an open and secret government office. The former is in the eyes of the Japanese vassals, and the latter should be conducted underground."

Li Shu's face paused slightly, and he raised his hands and said yes.

Jia Heng said: "In addition, we need to recruit some Japanese people, both men and women, as spies and detectives."

He could use Emperor Mingzheng to help him spy on the entire Japanese vassals, especially some female spies.

Why not just call him a ninja?

In this way, it is better to accompany Emperor Meisho for a long time. At least to accept him, gain his heart, and get his help, his control over the Japanese country will be stronger.

Li Shu heard what Jia Heng said and wrote it down one by one.

At this moment, a guard in Jinyi outside reported: "My lord, His Royal Highness the King of Wei is waiting for your lord in the study."

During this period, Wei King Chen Ran was almost inseparable from Jia Heng, eager to learn the skills of marching and fighting from Jia Heng.

Jia Heng nodded and headed to the study.

In the study -

King Chen Ran of Wei had been waiting for a while. He was now picking up the tea cup, sipping the tea with his head down. Hearing the footsteps outside, he looked up and said, "Zi Yu, here you go."

Jia Heng greeted him and said softly: "His Royal Highness, King Wei, I've been waiting for a long time."

"We didn't wait long." Wei Wang Chen Ran looked curious and asked: "Zi Yu, I heard that Emperor Meisho arrived at Edo Castle yesterday?"

Because during the past two days, Mu Sheng led the Denglai Navy to be stationed in Edo Bay and needed to build barracks.

To some extent, in order to win over the military, King Chen Ran of Wei took several staff to Edo Bay to inspect the navy generals under Mu Sheng and others.

Therefore, I have not been in Edo Castle these days and only came here last night.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said, "The Emperor of Japan arrived at Edo Castle yesterday."

Wei Wang Chen Ran's face paused slightly, and he tsked his tongue and said in wonder: "This is still a female emperor. The Japanese country is indeed a barbarian land. How dignified is the hen Si Chen?"

The last time this kind of queen took the throne was Wu Zhou during the Li Tang Dynasty, but she returned the throne to the Li family not long after. Overall, it was more like an old grandmother guarding the world for Li Tang, and then returning the artifact to Li Tang. Shi.

Jia Heng said: "The land of Japan is not so particular. Moreover, the emperor does not care about worldly affairs. He is more of a Buddha statue in the temple and does not participate in government affairs."

King Chen Ran of Wei only said a few words of emotion, and said nothing more. He asked, "How does Ziyu plan to deal with the aftermath of the Japanese country."

After such a long time, it was obviously time for the master to return to the capital, and Wei Wang Chen Ran did want to return to the divine capital earlier.

This is probably the mentality. If you have made great achievements in Japan and Korea, if you don't go back to show off and let Emperor Chongping win the prize, then this trip will be in vain.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "In another month, the funeral affairs of the Japanese country can be completely sorted out."

Before leaving, he said not to scare the monkeys, but to intimidate the Choshu and Satsuma clans so that they would not dare to make any further changes.

King Chen Ran of Wei nodded and said, "Have there ever been troops stationed on the Jeolla Road side of North Korea?"

Jia Heng said: "I plan to send a navy general to be stationed in Jeolla Province with Li Daoshun and others, as a way to provide support for the future. After the East China Sea Navy is established, we can conduct joint exercises and unified command with North Korea and Japan."

This is the big naval plan he conceived. It can only be trialled in the East China Sea initially. Once Liaodong is pacified, it can be rolled out in all directions.

Wei Wang Chen Ran nodded and said: "That's good, it can save my big man a lot of troops."

Under his sharp eyebrows, Jia Heng's eyes flickered, and he said warmly: "Your Majesty, I wonder how the naval defense of the port has been established over there, Little Prince Mu?"

Wei Wang Chen Ran said: "Preparations have begun. According to Ziyu's instructions, the camp area and the seaport will be integrated. When will Ziyu go over to take a look?"

It can be said that this Japanese port is a small town with complete facilities.

Of course, the Japanese country must still solve the physiological needs of the soldiers at the harbor. It is conceivable that towns will rise up around the harbor.

Just like the US military stationed in Japan after World War II.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Go and take a look in the past few days. In addition, in addition to Nagasaki, the ports of the Kyushu Islands in Japan are open to our Han Dynasty. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will also transport a large amount of goods over to earn benefits from sea trade. With one return trip, I, the great Han, will be able to control the entire Japanese country."

It is foreseeable that due to the economic and trade exchanges between the two countries, the penetration of Chinese culture into the Japanese country will become even more powerful.

Then, after Liaodong is completely pacified, we can start to clean up the "people with lofty ideals" in the Japanese country, abolish vassals and establish counties, assimilate language and culture, and completely turn the barbarians into Xia.

It can be said that if Asahi can completely turn Asahi into summer, he will be famous in history and his life will be lived in vain.

Chen Ran, King of Wei, then said: "Ziyu, I met with the Tokugawa Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ietsuna, at Edo Bay. He offered to pay military expenses to our country to maintain the domestic garrison expenses. I just want to be able to continue The Tokugawa family governs."

Jia Heng sneered and said: "Wishful thinking! Ignore it. After the war, the Japanese country will be governed by a joint shogunate."

If we really continue to support the Tokugawa shogunate, then it is possible that the Choshu and Satsuma vassals will launch a campaign to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate and overthrow the Han Dynasty.

Wei Wang Chen Ran said in surprise: "Join the shogunate?"

Jia Heng said: "Divided into vassals based on regions and taking turns in power, we can implement strategies of differentiation and provocation."

Then, Jia Heng revealed his follow-up plan.

Wei Wang Chen Ran's eyes flickered and he praised: "Zi Yu's method is really a wonderful idea. The Holy Emperor rules from the top of the arch. If there is any failure in governance, it can all be blamed on the shogunate."

Jia Heng said softly: "In fact, the same was true for the Japanese countries in the past."

If the Han Dynasty developed a new class of people with the development of sea trade, events like the Glorious Revolution would also break out. If future generations became false kings and cabinets took turns in power, the world would be very different from now on.

At that time, it was the Chinese Empire that colonized the world.

It's too far to think about this now. No one can lead this change except him.

……

……

On the other side, Edo Bay, the inn

In the next few days, Jia Heng forwarded the preparations for the establishment of the Japanese shogunate to the Tokugawa family governor through Tokugawa Tsunaju.

Edo Castle, the Shimazu family’s mansion—

The Shimazu family once went to Edo to meet the Tokugawa shogunate, so they had a foothold in Edo. Now they were sitting in the hall, entertaining the feudal lords of Kyushu.

In addition to the retainers of the Shimazu family, there are also the feudal lords of the Kyushu clan sitting below, sitting behind red lacquered wooden tables, with dishes and plates of seasonal fruits and vegetables placed on the tables.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa's eyebrows were broken, his eyes wandering around, and he said: "Everyone of the great names, what do you think of the Han army stationed in Edo?"

The governor of the Kuroda family, the lord of the Chikuzen domain, shook his chubby body and said: "The Han army is overwhelming, and we have no other way except to avoid the sharp edge."

The governor of the Matsuura family, the lord of the Hirado domain, loudly said: "In terms of force, the Han army is not much stronger than our samurai, but with the fire blunderbuss in their hands, it is difficult for us to resist them."

"Yeah, I heard that even the Jurchens couldn't withstand cannons. I looked at the hole that was blown out of Edo Castle. It was almost a big hole in the city wall." The feudal lord of the Ogura Nitta Domain, The head of the Ogasawara family looked solemn and agreed.

"There are also those short muskets, which are much stronger than the bird muskets in our hands." At this time, the lord of the Oka Domain, the governor of the Nakagawa family, said.

For a while, everyone was talking and whispering among themselves.

After everyone calmed down, Shimazu Mitsuhisa glanced at the feudal lords below with a calm look, and said: "Our feudal clans must have such firecrackers, so that we will never have to fight against foreign barbarians again."

Everyone said yes.

Having said that, fighting against foreign barbarians is not even mentioned.

While everyone was discussing, a servant quickly entered the hall and said, "The Tokugawa family sent someone over and said they wanted to talk to the governor."

After several days of drifting at sea, Tokugawa Nobutsuna had led his retainer samurai back by boat. Under the guidance of Tokugawa Tsunashige, they returned to a Tokugawa family mansion in Edo City.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa frowned and whispered: "A member of the Tokugawa family? Let him in."

After a while, an old man with a stooped figure and white beard and white hair was seen entering the banquet hall with the support of two servants.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa stared at the old man and said, "Matsuhira Nobutsuna."

The person who came was none other than Matsudaira Nobutsuna, one of the six ministers of the Tokugawa Shogunate, who once assisted Tokugawa Iemitsu.

Matsudaira Nobutsuna raised his white-bearded head and said with a smile: "Governor Shimazu, General Tokugawa asked me to say hello to Governor Shimazu." Mitsuhisa Shimazu sneered and said sternly: "I'm quite good. , I wonder if General Tokugawa is good? Isn’t it a good feeling to be driven to the sea?"

Matsudaira Nobutsuna looked unconcerned and said: "The Tokugawa family governor also wanted to protect the overall situation. He expected that Han soldiers and horses would land in our country and expel the Jurchen Tatars. He couldn't bear the innocent deaths of our Yamato warriors, so he took the initiative to withdraw from Edo." city."

Shimazu Mitsuhisa's eyes were cold and solemn, and he said in a deep voice: "The failed escape is said to be a voluntary withdrawal, which is really shameless."

Matsudaira Nobutsuna's expression did not change and he said in a pale voice: "Governor Shimazu, please calm down."

Shimazu Mitsuhisa sneered and said, "Why did General Tokugawa come here to look for me?"

Matsudaira Nobutsuna said: "Discussing about the new shogunate?"

"New shogunate?" Shimazu Mitsuhisa looked surprised.

Matsudaira Nobutsuna said: "The Han Chinese Duke of Wei, I heard that this time he will form a joint shogunate in his country. They will no longer have one surname. They will be in power and in opposition every five years."

Shimazu Mitsuhisa asked: "Are you going to take turns to be the boss?"

Matsudaira Nobutsuna said: "What General Tokugawa means is that if the Shimazu family is willing to unite, the Tokugawa shogunate can put aside their past grievances and run the shogunate together."

The vassals of Japan in the Edo period were roughly divided into Ou vassals, Kanto vassals, Tokai vassals, Koshinetsu vassals, Kinki vassals, Chugoku vassals, Shikoku vassals, and Kyushu vassals according to their regions.

Because of the previous Battle of Tanba, the Tokugawa shogunate lost all the vitality of the vassals that closely surrounded itself, so that it became unbalanced with the power of the Kyushu vassals.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa sneered and said: "The Tokugawa family has lost Edo City, but they still have the nerve to join forces with me here."

After hearing this, Matsudaira Nobutsuna persuaded him earnestly, saying: "Now that the Han army is stationed, it is time for us to unite to defend the emperor."

Shimazu Mitsuhisa shouted fiercely: "When the Emperor was deeply under siege by the Jurchen Tatars in Kyoto, where were your Tokugawa family? Didn't the Emperor surrender to me as a big man in the first place?"

Matsudaira Nobutsuna said in a loud voice: "Could it be that the Governor of the Shimazu family has just watched the Yamato clan become slaves of the Han people from now on?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the hall had different expressions on their faces.

It can be said that even if they have such doubts in their hearts, no one dares to say it out because the Han army is still stationed in Edo and it is uncertain when.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa's ferocious eyes showed a hint of amusement, and he said: "With these words of the Matsudaira family, are you calling on us to betray our trust and attack the Han army?"

Matsudaira Nobutsuna shook his head and said: "It's just to save the nation and prevent our Yamato clan from being destroyed."

Shimazu Mitsuhisa's eyes flashed coldly and he said, "See you off."

Matsudaira Nobutsuna cupped his hands, turned and left.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa fell into a brief silence.

……

……

Tokugawa Shogunate Residence

Jia Heng and Wei Wang Chen Ran were drinking tea and talking at the moment. After listening to what Li Shu said, his face was as gloomy as iron and he said in a deep voice: "Sure enough, we are thinking of joining forces to expel our Han soldiers."

Wei Wang Chen Ran frowned and asked, "How does Ziyu plan to deal with it?"

Jia Heng said in a deep voice: "Have someone call Tokugawa Tsunashige over, hand over Tokugawa's retainer Matsudaira Nobutsuna and others, and severely punish the relevant criminals."

Wei Wang Chen Ran hesitated and said: "Will this affect the friendship between our Han Dynasty and the Japanese country?"

Jia Heng said: "Even if it affects us, we have to do it. The Tokugawa family wants to incite the Japanese vassals to fight against our Han Dynasty. This trend must not rise!"

As Jia Heng sent someone to call Tokugawa Tsusushige, the contact person between the Tokugawa family and the emperor, Emperor Gomitsu also learned of the matter and immediately came to the hall of the shogunate's residence to inquire about the situation.

Emperor Hou Guangming asked: "Duke Wei, what is going on?"

Jia Heng said: "The Tokugawa family is so determined to instigate a relationship between my country and your country. Their intentions are to be punished."

Emperor Goguangmei was silent for a moment.

At this moment, the servant reported: "Tokugawa Tsuna is back."

Tokugawa Tsusushige quickly entered the hall and said: "I have met His Excellency Duke Wei, and I have met His Majesty the Emperor."

Jia Heng looked cold, his majestic eyes fell on Tokugawa Tsunashige, and he shouted, "Why didn't the Tokugawa family governor come to see me when he came to Edo?"

Tokugawa Tsunashige said: "When Edo City was destroyed, many Tokugawa families were separated in the war. After my brother came to Edo, he still asked people to search for the children of the Tokugawa family. Therefore, we delayed the work and asked the guards to Your Excellency, please forgive me."

"Are you busy uniting with other feudal lords to drive away us Han people?" Jia Heng sneered and shouted.

Hearing this, Tokugawa Tsunashige suddenly changed his mind and said, "How dare you do this?"

Jia Heng sneered and said: "Yesterday, at Shimazu Mitsuhisa's banquet, he spoke nonsense about my big man and wanted to contact the Kyushu and Satsuma vassals to resist my big man. Isn't this true?"

When Tokugawa Tsunashige heard this, his heart couldn't help but "thump", and he denied repeatedly: "This is absolutely not the case."

Jia Heng threw the report in his hand to the ground and said: "Shimazu Mitsuhisa hosted a banquet for the feudal lord, and Matsudaira Nobutsuna acted as a lobbyist. Is this absolutely not the case?"

Tokugawa Tsusushige took the report and saw that it recorded the words of everyone that day, and his expression changed.

The Emperor of the Later Light, Shao Ren, who was on the side, opened his mouth to smooth things over and said: "Gong Wei, please calm down. I will give the big man an explanation for this matter."

There seemed to be anger surging on the young and handsome face of Emperor Gomitsu, and he said sternly: "Send someone to inform the Tokugawa family that Tokugawa Ietsuna has resigned from his post as governor and committed seppuku."

Tokugawa Tsunashige, who was originally looking troubled, was shocked and said, "Your Majesty, my brother has not committed a capital crime?"

Emperor Gōkomei said solemnly: "Isn't it a capital crime to abandon Edo Castle and suffer the persecution of the people by the Tatars?"

Tokugawa Tsunashige was speechless for a moment, so he said yes, then left the shogunate's residence and went to look for Tokugawa Ietsuna.

After Tokugawa Tsusushige left, Emperor Gōko Mikado apologized repeatedly: "Your Excellency, Duke Wei, is a member of the Tokugawa family, and he is still determined to lose the power of the shogunate."

Jia Heng said: "It's okay. The governor of the Tokugawa family really wants to apologize to the emperor and the Japanese subjects who died in vain."

Emperor Gomitsu said yes again and again, and then without saying much, he left the hall citing physical discomfort.

King Wei Chen Ran said: "Zi Yu, are you not afraid that using this persecution will cause the Tokugawa family and other feudal lords to hate me, the great Han?"

Jia Heng said: "If you don't uphold the majesty of my big man, will they stop being hostile?"

King Wei worried: "If they unite, we will also be in trouble."

Jia Heng said: "It is impossible for them to unite for the time being, because my big Han has not made any move to annex, but only garrisoned troops. This is a long-term war. They will integrate the internal affairs first."

It is conceivable that power struggles will continue to arise in the future around the shogunate, the feudal lords, the emperor, and even the Han Dynasty.

However, the Han Dynasty has no energy to deal with the Japanese affairs for the time being, so he can only lay a foreshadowing first.

The Tokugawa family's estate in Edo Castle——

After listening to what Tokugawa Tsunashige said, Tokugawa Ietsuna's face was as gloomy as water. He pondered for a moment and said in a hoarse voice: "The Emperor wants me to commit seppuku and confess my guilt?"

At the scene, all the retainers had expressions of surprise on their faces.

"Brother, when things have reached this point, someone in the Tokugawa family must be responsible for this." Tokugawa Tsuna said with a heavy sigh.

Matsudaira Nobutsuna said in a loud voice: "It has nothing to do with the general, it's all an old man's instigation. If I commit seppuku, I should be the one to apologize."

"His Majesty the Emperor's will, Edo Castle was destroyed, and someone in our Tokugawa family must be responsible for it." Tokugawa Tsusushige shook his head and said.

Tokugawa Ietsuna was silent for a while and said firmly: "Then I will be responsible for this."

As he spoke, he looked at Tokugawa Tsunushige with warm eyes, as if he looked at Tokugawa Tsunushige when he was a child, and said: "Fourth brother, you have come to be my successor."

Tokugawa Tsunashige met Tokugawa Ietsuna's calm eyes, and for some reason, his heart felt sour.

After that, Tokugawa Ieyasu didn't say much, turned around and went to the ancestral hall, and took out a sharpened long sword. This was the saber that Tokugawa Ieyasu had given to Toyotomi Hideyoshi when he followed Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the battle.

Tokugawa Ietsuna held a piece of cloth and wiped the long knife, wiping it carefully with meticulous movements. He raised his eyes to look at Tokugawa Tsunashige who was kneeling not far away and said: "In the future, the Tokugawa family will be handed over to the fourth brother. .”

Tokugawa Tsunage was shocked and said: "Second brother."

The eldest son of Tokugawa Iemitsu died at birth, while the second son, Tokugawa Ietsuna, grew up and took great care of Tokugawa Tsunashige.

Tokugawa Ietsuna waved his hand and said with a hearty smile: "Needless to say, for the glory of the Tokugawa family, my fourth brother and I will work hard."

As he said that, he thrust the long knife into his abdomen, stirred it horizontally, and blood spurted out for a moment. The veins on Tokugawa Ietsuna's forehead popped out, his facial expression was almost twisted in pain, and he let out bursts of muffled groans.

But after a while, blood flowed from his mouth, and he stopped moving much.

When Tokugawa Tsunashige saw this scene, tears were streaming down his face.

At the same time, Matsudaira Nobutsuna, a close confidant of Tokugawa Ietsuna, also hanged himself in his room.

At this point, the Tokugawa family's lobbying of various vassals to oppose the Han was given a serial number.

Tokugawa Tsusushige looked at this scene, his eyes moved slightly, and he suddenly understood something.

This is the bitter trick of the second brother and Matsudaira Nobutsuna. They use their own blood and lives to help themselves gain trust in front of the Han people, preserve the vitality of the Tokugawa family, and remind themselves not to forget to expel the Han people.

It was also a warning to the Choshu and Satsuma clans.

……

……

(End of this chapter)