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The warship was fast, turned a corner, and returned to the port of Edo ahead of the two ships sent to the Ming Dynasty.

Before they even docked, the Japanese on the boat couldn't help but shout to the officials waiting for news on the shore: "The ship sent to the Ming Dynasty as envoy is back! Lord Umechuan Shangyi is back!"

The people on the shore couldn't help but be overjoyed when they heard the news. One of the officials immediately got on his horse and galloped towards the city.

In the past month, the pressure on the Tokugawa shogunate from the remnants of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and those rebels has been increasing. As a last resort, in order to boost morale, the Tokugawa shogunate has spread the word that the shogun has long sent an envoy to the Ming Dynasty to ask for help. . This time, I have prepared heavy gifts and paid tribute sincerely. I will definitely get the Ming Dynasty to send troops, and at least the remnants of the Manchus will be killed.

There are also those rebels who are all subordinates of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's grandson. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was the chief culprit who invaded Korea that year, and he also fought with the Ming army. Speaking of which, he also had enmity with the Ming Dynasty. Maybe if the Ming Dynasty sent troops, he could also destroy Toyotomi Kunimatsu.

It is precisely because of this background that everyone in Edo is eagerly looking forward to the good news coming back soon. Therefore, whether it was the Japanese on the warship or the Japanese on the shore, they were all overjoyed when they saw that the ship was returning from an envoy to the Ming Dynasty.

Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu was convening his retainers to discuss matters. He was troubled by the war on the front line, especially the large number of Jianlu cavalry, which avoided the main force and invaded the rear, seriously affecting the stability of the rear. Even here in Edo, there are many more refugees.

At this moment, I heard a report coming from my subordinates, saying that Umekawa Shangyi was back.

"Finally back?" Tokugawa Iemitsu was overjoyed when he heard this, and quickly ordered, "Hurry, let Umekawa Shoi come to see this general!"

"Hi!" His subordinates agreed quickly and quickly ran to deliver the order. This kind of thing that makes everyone happy is full of enthusiasm when doing it.

Tokugawa Iemitsu stopped discussing the war, and waited with a smile, and said to all his subordinates: "I know that Umekawa Shoi is very articulate, and he is the Su Qin of our country!"

After hearing this, his retainers, no matter what they thought in their hearts, at least on the surface, they all flattered him with a smile.

"The general is far-sighted, and I admire you greatly!"

"This is also because the general knows how to make good use of people. Others are absolutely incapable of this ability!"

"Haha, when the Ming Dynasty sends troops over, those rebels and rebels will probably be scared to death! This is all the result of the general's strategizing!"

"..."

Everyone was carrying the sedan chair, and Tokugawa Iemitsu laughed happily as he listened to the compliments of his retainers. The depression I had felt these days was gone. So, he ordered that wine be served to celebrate.

However, even though the banquet was served here, Meichuan Shangyi still didn't come, which was a bit abnormal. Because judging from the time, it’s time to arrive.

Seeing Tokugawa Iemitsu's frown, his retainer automatically made up his mind and helped explain.

"Don't worry, General. The Emperor of Ming Dynasty must have rewarded you with many things, so he came late!"

"Yes, the emperors of the Ming Dynasty are very honorable, and the rewards will definitely be generous!"

"General, maybe we already have military expenses for the coming year, so we don't need to raise additional funds!"

"..."

After listening to their words, Tokugawa Iemitsu felt that they were very reasonable. The worries he had just disappeared and he smiled again. He waved and said: "It's hard work for Umekawa Shogi-kun on this mission to the Ming Dynasty. Everyone, Wait a minute, let’s wait until he arrives to start the banquet!”

Since he said this, his retainers naturally would not object and all agreed.

After a long while, Umekawa Shoi still didn't appear. Tokugawa Iemitsu frowned a little again. What on earth was going on?

"General, would you like to go down and take a look?" Someone saw this and asked tentatively.

After hearing this, Tokugawa Iemitsu was about to agree when he saw that the men he had sent out earlier had returned with a panicked look on his face.

Suddenly, the lobby fell silent.

I saw the man kneeling on the ground, kowtowing and reporting: "General, Lord Meichuan Shangyi has committed suicide in the cabin..."

"What?" Tokugawa Iemitsu was shocked when he heard this. He felt a little bad and shouted sharply, "What's going on?"

When the retainers heard the news, they were also shocked. Their eyes widened and they stared at the man kneeling on the ground, waiting for further news.

The man did not dare to raise his head, held something in his hands and said: "Sir Meichuan Shangyi failed to complete his mission and was too embarrassed to see the general. This is his suicide note and the credential of the Ming Dynasty!"

Tokugawa Iemitsu didn't believe his ears when he heard it. You know, his tribute this time has been carefully prepared. According to past experience, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty will definitely be happy and should agree to send troops!

He thought so, frowned, and walked over quickly without asking the attendant to forward it to him, and copied his credentials and suicide note.

Tokugawa Iemitsu ignored the suicide note and unfolded his credentials first to read it.

At this time, the upper echelons of the Japanese nation all understood Chinese characters, and Tokugawa Iemitsu could understand the contents of the ceremonial certificate without translation.

It doesn't matter if you don't see it. After taking a look, I was a little dumbfounded.

It was written in the certificate of credence that based on the past evil deeds of the Japanese country and the purpose of the Ming Dynasty Taizu, the Ming Emperor decided that the Japanese country should make compensation and apologize before deeming the Japanese country to be a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. There's no problem with apologizing. The key is compensation. Damn it costs more than 10 million taels. How is it possible to get it?

If the Japanese country was not in chaos, maybe we could still get together these more than 10 million taels. But the key question is, if there is no chaos in Japan, why should we give more than 10 million taels to Ming Dynasty? Now that we have been fighting for such a long time and spending money like water, maybe we can still scrape together more than ten million taels?

When Tokugawa Iemitsu saw this, he was very angry. Mingguo obviously had intentions and wanted more than 10 million taels in compensation! What does Meichuan Shangyi do for a living? How can he agree to such conditions? Is there any shit in your brain?

With this in mind, he looked at Meichuan Shangyi's suicide note again.

In this suicide note, what Umekawa Shoi saw and heard after he landed in Tianjin Port showed that the common people, military personnel, and civil servants of the country had a special hatred for the Japanese country because of the events of that year, especially the Korean War. In order to give his son a As soon as the people gave an explanation, they demanded compensation, and the amount was half of the Ming Dynasty's annual treasury revenue. But Meichuan Shangyi felt that it was only more than one million taels of silver. If the Ming Dynasty could send troops, he thought it was worth it, so he agreed. However, he never expected that the Ming Dynasty's treasury revenue had reached more than 20 million taels.

There were some words at the end, mainly about how Umekawa Shoi regretted and so on. Tokugawa Iemitsu didn't want to read it at all, so he tore up Umekawa Shoi's suicide note, and at the same time, his eyes turned red, and he shouted loudly: "Damn, Damn it, damn it! I still want to die to apologize, in a dream! Go and cut him into pieces for this general!"

The reason why the Japanese committed seppuku was that they were afraid that their bodies would be incomplete after death and that they would not be seen by Amaterasu.

When people in the lobby heard Tokugawa Iemitsu's roar, they understood that Umekawa Shoei had definitely done something very stupid, otherwise the general would not have been so angry!

But they were a little curious, what stupid thing did Umekawa Shangyi do to make the general so angry?

They didn't know clearly at this time, but Tokugawa Iemitsu understood very well. Because of this idiot Meichuan Shangyi, there was no room for change in the Ming Dynasty. It would be good if the Ming Dynasty did not come to attack the rebels and rebels. If the people of the Ming Dynasty start to make trouble again, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty will probably blame himself for betrayal and playing tricks on the Ming Dynasty. When the time comes, there will probably be more Send troops to deal with yourself.

Not only did this fail to attract reinforcements, it could even lead to revenge from the Ming Kingdom!

Umekawa Shangyi, Ba Ge, bastard...

After a period of commotion and having to face the chaos of the war, Tokugawa Iemitsu thought for a while and then ordered: "Send Miyamoto Musashi to come see this general!"

Unlike Tokugawa Iemitsu who was upset, Emperor Chongzhen was very happy. No, Liu Maogang, Minister of Transportation, reported that the railway track from Beijing to Tongzhou has been laid and can be opened to traffic.

This is the first train opened to traffic in the Ming Dynasty and the first train opened to traffic in human history, which is of great significance. Emperor Chongzhen immediately issued an order that he and the empress would lead civil and military officials to the scene to celebrate the opening of the train.

In addition, in recognition of the contributions made by Ming craftsmen, Emperor Chongzhen issued an order to abolish the hereditary system of craftsmen. From then on, the status of craftsmen was like that of farmers, and it was entirely voluntary.

In the past, the hereditary system of military households changed after the reform of the guard system. Some military households got rid of the military household system and became local government officials. However, it was not complete.

This time, Emperor Chongzhen clearly decreed that the hereditary system of craftsmen since the founding of the country would be abolished. The reason is that craftsmen have made great contributions, one of which is this train.

As a result, Emperor Chongzhen's decree immediately caused a sensation all over the world. Whether it's the train or the changes in the household registration of craftsmen, they have all become the hottest topics.

"Have you heard? That train is about to open to traffic. The emperor and the queen personally led all the civil and military officials to see it. It's really incredible. This train must be awesome!"

"No, this train is made of iron. Did you see that there are so many irons spread on the ground? It is said that it is as strong as an ox and can pull a lot of things!"

"The emperor and the empress have gone there in person, so you must go and see the train open with your own eyes!"

"..."

The people in the capital are all eager to join in the fun. Anyway, the major events in the capital in the past few years can mobilize their enthusiasm. Now that such a big thing has happened, it would be strange not to participate.

Compared with the people in the capital, since there are no trains in other places, they focus more on the abolition of the craftsmanship system.

"Have you heard? From now on, craftsmen will no longer be craftsmen. Your Majesty is merciful. Craftsmen have finally made it through!"

"What craftsman is not a craftsman? What do you mean?"

"There are no more craftsmanships. Those craftsmen no longer have to be recruited by the government to work shifts!"

"No way, hasn't it been like this since the founding of the People's Republic of China? Why would the craftsmanship certificate be abolished?"

"You are really ignorant. The emperor decreed that craftsmen made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty. Well, it seems that the reason is that the train in the capital is about to open to traffic. What train? It is a fire-breathing car..."

"..."

Around this topic, people throughout the Ming Dynasty began to discuss the contributions made by craftsmen. Counting from the beginning of the steam engine, they were all weighing how much contribution the craftsmen made, which made the emperor issue such an unprecedented decree.

So the controversy arose.

Because some people believe that the steam engine was invented by the emperor and cannot be attributed to the craftsman. Including cement, hot air balloons, etc. But some people believe that this is inseparable from the efforts of the craftsmen and is indeed meritorious.

Generally speaking, merchants generally support this decree. Just the changes brought about by the steam engine and the profits brought to merchants, especially when so many vassals in Southeast Asia are in urgent need of products, they feel that the craftsmen have made a great contribution.

Other lowly people strongly support this decree because they see hope. If the craftsman status is abolished, will they have a chance in the future?

Generally speaking, the scholar class was not interested in this decree. They felt that the emperor was too kind to the craftsmen and violated the ancestral system. However, due to Emperor Chongzhen's popularity, the big shots in the court were all the emperor's lackeys, and not many people dared to openly oppose it.

If it had been in the past, they would have dared to object based on the word "ancestral system." Once this magic weapon is sacrificed, few emperors will do it. But now, those officials who used to threaten the emperor by calling "ancestral system" no longer know where they are.

However, one thing that is rather strange is that there is a folk legend that the former emperor liked to do carpentry work, and the current emperor even likes all kinds of craftsman's work. Because of his love for the house, the current emperor is determined to abolish the craftsmanship system.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard the secret report from the factory guard, he couldn't help shaking his head in amazement. Even such a reason could be involved, and he was convinced.

But it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter if there is such a misunderstanding, Emperor Chongzhen thought in his heart, anyway, the spirit of craftsmanship will continue to be promoted and encouraged in the future. Folks believe that it is also conducive to improving the status of craftsmen.

Thinking this, his mind returned to the opening of the train.

This day is the designated time for the train to open to traffic, and it’s time to harvest a wave of achievement points!

Emperor Chongzhen predicted that if he and the queen went there with all the civil and military officials, the scene would definitely be lively. But he didn't expect that the enthusiasm of the people in the capital would exceed his expectations.

When that day came, the railway line was densely packed with people. From the capital to Tongzhou, people were all along the railway line, ready to see what the train was that the emperor valued so much!

On August 15th of the eighth year of Chongzhen, Emperor Chongzhen and his empress led the civil and military officials to witness the opening of the first train in human history. This was originally a very happy thing, but Emperor Chongzhen did not expect that something unexpected happened, which made him a little worried.

Thanks to dick117712, StarkQidian for the reward!