The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 297 Aftermath and Return

The enthronement ceremony was held as scheduled.

Under the witness of all the daimyos of Japan, brother Katsuhito took that step tremblingly, as if all his energy had been drained out of him.

What is different from the enthronement ceremonies held by previous Japanese emperors is that today's ceremony should be most appropriately called the "Investiture Ceremony."

Because the people who received the enthronement were not only the elder brothers Katsuhito, but also the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshihide.

Chen Kuan, the Ming angel, stood in front of the two men, holding the imperial edict of the Ming Emperor Zhengde.

The brothers Ashikaga Yoshihide and Katsuhito knelt on the ground with a dazed look on their faces and accepted the enthronement from the Ming Dynasty.

There would be no accidents, and the Ming army would not allow any accidents to occur.

In addition to the five thousand soldiers left in Hyogozu, who are commanding the Japanese to build and renovate the naval base, and the soldiers stationed at key checkpoints throughout Japan, there are now a total of 20,000 Ming soldiers in Kyoto. This is a powerful military force that can suppress any rebellion!

No matter how dissatisfied or desperate these Japanese were, they could only watch helplessly as the two most powerful people in the Yamato Kingdom knelt down before the Ming angels right under their noses and accepted the Ming Dynasty's enthronement!

Shengren accepted the enthronement and became the King of Wa, or simply the King of Wa.

Ashikaga Yoshihide accepted the title and became the twelfth shogun of the shogunate.

Immediately afterwards, the two of them made their statements in public and read out the "Zhengde Xinwei Treaty" that would bring them eternal infamy!
But the two had to do this because their families were currently inside the Kyoto Imperial Palace, with knives at stake by the Ming army!

If you dare to make any unusual movement, your entire family will be killed and your head will be beheaded as a sacrifice to the gods!
This is the warning given to them by Marquis Zhongshan!
Things had come to this point, and seeing with their own eyes that the Ming court was still sending troops in an endless stream, the brothers Ashikaga Yoshihide and Katsuhito were completely desperate and no longer had the courage to fight.

So the two of them could only read out the humiliating terms, one by one.

Every time they read out a sentence, the Ming army soldiers would sing it out in turn to ensure that all the Japanese nobles and common people watching the ceremony could hear it!
When the last clause was read out, brothers Ashikaga Yoshihide and Katsuhito were already in tears.

The nobles, daimyo and Japanese commoners present looked dazed and in a trance.

They didn't expect that the two most powerful people in Yamato would choose to... sell out their country!
That's right!

It's treason!

What’s the difference between this and selling out one’s country?
These damn clauses, one by one, are clearly intended to turn Yamato into a slave state of the Ming Dynasty!
The Yamato Kingdom was not allowed to have armed forces, so the Ming Dynasty sent heavenly soldiers to garrison there. There were also "Ministers stationed in Japan" and "Generals stationed in Japan". Not only did they have a superior status in the Yamato Kingdom and were in charge of everything, but they could also mobilize and plunder all of the Yamato Kingdom's resources at will, including minerals, gold, silver, money and grain, and even the people of the Yamato Kingdom!
what is this?
Yamato completely lost its sovereignty!

From today on, Yamato will become a slave state of the Ming Dynasty!

For a time, many Japanese were unable to accept this. They roared, yelled, cursed, and cried angrily... trying to express their inner dissatisfaction in this way, trying to persuade His Majesty the Emperor and the Shogun to change their minds.

However, before Ashikaga Yoshiwune and Katsuhito could speak, the Ming army, which had been prepared, started the massacre.

The Rumi guns were fired one after another, killing all those who were making noise and trouble, no matter if they were nobles or common people, one by one, without any mercy!
This sudden scene frightened all the Japanese present so much that they froze in place, their mouths tightly shut, not daring to move or make any sound.

Even though their faces were splattered with blood, even though someone beside them had fallen in a pool of blood, they could only cover their mouths tightly, stand there in horror, and let their tears continue to fall.

When Liang Chu, the minister to Japan, saw this scene, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Lord Tang, I understand that you hate these nobles, but how innocent are these Japanese people? Why do you..."

"Are you an idiot?" Tang Hao looked at Liang Chu coldly. "Those people who were yelling and cursing just now are undoubtedly radical elements who are against the Ming Dynasty's control over Japan. They will definitely become rebels in the future!"

"I helped you, the Minister to Japan, to solve the problem in advance, and you still have the nerve to question me here?"

"Liang Chu, if you don't stand firm, I don't mind taking you back to the capital. You can just give up this job!"

When these words were spoken, everyone looked at them sideways.

Chen Kuan still had no expression on his face.

This attitude seems to be saying that Marquis Zhongshan is indeed qualified to depose Li Liangchu.

In fact, as long as Tang Hao goes back and has a chat with the Emperor, Liang Chu may not be able to keep his position.

Liang Chu's face changed drastically and gradually turned pale.

The position of "Minister to Japan" seems to be a tough job as it involves governing a country in a barbarian land overseas, but it is actually not the case.

First, the imperial court stipulated that the minister to Japan had the same status as the provincial governor of the Ming Dynasty, and was a second-rank frontier official in charge of Japan's civil affairs, land tax, household registration and other matters. He was required to work together with the Censorate to handle major matters. At the same time, the provincial governor was also responsible for promulgating the central government's orders.

Not to mention that Japan is separated from the Ming Dynasty by a vast ocean. Even if a government decree is issued, it will be delayed due to inconvenient transportation. Therefore, the minister stationed in Japan is undoubtedly a real frontier official who can completely rule the entire Japanese people.

In addition, in view of the current unstable situation in Japan, Liang Chu holds the dual posts of governor and censor, which means that he, as the minister stationed in Japan, is the head of the civil servants in Japan and a frontier official of superior status.

As for Liang Chu himself, he really needed this opportunity.

Because people like Liang Chu, Fei Hong, Mao Ji, Jin Gui, etc., they were all Jinshi in the middle and late Chenghua period, and then entered the Hanlin Academy to gain experience. After the Hongzhi Emperor ascended the throne, the Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao went out to study, and they, the most outstanding people in the Hanlin Academy, got the opportunity to go to the East Palace to lecture to the Crown Prince, thus having a "half-teacher" relationship with the Emperor Zhu Houzhao.

But a half-teacher is always just a half-teacher. The real imperial teacher is only Yang Tinghe.

At this time, Yang Tinghe had become the chief minister of the cabinet and the head of the civil officials and gentry of the Ming Dynasty.

Compared with the same period, who would be willing to be suppressed by Yang Tinghe like this?

It is very common for scholars to look down on each other and compete for official careers.

So Liang Chu was naturally jealous, and he also wanted to seize the opportunity to rise to the top.

Then this time, being the minister to Japan is undoubtedly the best opportunity for Liang Chu.

Even if he governs Japan for five years, or even ten years, Liang Chu is only forty years old now, and will be only fifty years old by then. With his great achievement of helping the Ming Dynasty integrate with Japan, and his "half-teacher" friendship with the Emperor, he, Liang Chu, can definitely go straight into the cabinet and serve in the same palace with Yang Tinghe again and continue to compete!

This is Liang Chu’s ambition, and it is also the real reason why he is willing to come to this overseas barbarian land!

Among the lecturers of the same period, Yang Tinghe has already become the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, and Fei Hong has also been promoted by the court to be the Chief Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate and one of the Nine Ministers of the Court because of the power behind him. Jiao Fang and other people were promoted by His Majesty the Emperor to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue because of their shamelessness and flattery...

Therefore, facing the threat from Zhongshan Hou Tang Hao, Liang Chu was really a little panicked.

"Please forgive me Lord Tang, I am just a little...not used to it yet!"

Liang Chu bowed his head and surrendered, and Tang Hao was too lazy to continue to blame and embarrass him.

"If you're not used to it yet, get used to it as soon as possible."

"Do you think this position belongs to you alone? You don't know how many people are watching from behind, waiting to plot against you and bring you down!"

Tang Hao reminded meaningfully: "Don't forget, the Iwami Silver Mine has long been known all over the world, and I don't know how many people are ready to kill us with red eyes!"

"Liang Chu, if you were smart, you would recognize the current situation!"

Iwami Silver Mine!

Someone wants to plot against me?

Upon hearing this, Liang Chu's face turned even paler.

He wanted to continue asking what was going on, but unfortunately Chen Kuan interrupted them at this moment.

"Do business first!"

"It's your turn now!"

When it comes to etiquette, the old eunuch still has a firm grasp of it!
Liang Chu did not dare to hesitate and could only keep the matter in his heart.

Then he and Zhu Dangchu stepped out and stood beside the Katsuhito brothers and Ashikaga Yoshitsugu. "I am Liang Chu, the Ming Dynasty's minister to Japan. In the future, all civil affairs in Japan will require the approval of this official!"

"I am the general of the Ming Dynasty stationed in Japan. All military affairs of Japan in the future must be referred to me before they can be carried out!"

Although Zhu Dangxu was not good at speaking, he was not a fool. He just imitated what was said and read it out loud.

One is in charge of Japan's national affairs, and the other is in charge of Japan's military affairs. In other words, these are the two giants that will tower over Japan in the future!
The elder brothers Ashikaga Yoshihide and Katsuhito bowed to each of them, acknowledging their future...superiors.

A group of Japanese nobles, daimyo and common people knelt on the ground in a trance, bowing to the two... Ming people who would hold all the power in Yamato from now on!
From then on, the enthronement ceremony ended.

Liang Chu and Zhu Danglu also officially began to get busy.

The Japanese Empire had just been established, and they still had a lot of things to do.

For example, Zhu Dangluo, the general stationed in Japan, was the first to meet with a group of generals under Tang Hao, because these generals would not stay in Japan. Even the 10,000 soldiers of the Beijing army who followed Tang Hao to defeat Japan would follow Zhongshan Hou back to Beijing to receive rewards.

Therefore, Zhu Dangxu would have to rely on himself for all matters from now on. He had to complete a smooth transfer of power, and then quickly arrange his confidants to garrison various places in Japan. Fortunately, Tang Hao had already helped him complete this step, and it was just similar to the rotation of Ming Dynasty soldiers.

In addition, there is the problem of the Japanese auxiliary soldiers. These warriors have no moral bottom line. They choose to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty just because they are afraid of death. As a result, when they attack the city and massacre the city, they are even more cruel and ruthless to their own people. They burn, kill, loot and do all kinds of evil. They also rape and kill women at will. The Ming Dynasty soldiers dare not touch this, but these auxiliary warriors have no scruples and completely release their nature.

Therefore, Zhu Dangqie’s next major task is to reorganize these auxiliary troops, eliminate those damn beasts among them, and retain the essence while removing the dross.

The two of them were busy for half a month, and then they had to stop.

Because the military handover has been completed, Marquis Zhongshan is about to lead these meritorious soldiers back to the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Dangqi and Liang Chu were eager to squeeze out time to have a secret talk with Marquis Zhongshan, because they had discovered many difficulties and obstacles in the administrative process, and the only person who could help them now was Marquis Zhongshan Tang Hao.

So on the eve of Tang Hao's return to Beijing, the two of them came to visit together.

The room still has the same configuration.

Chen Kuan, Tang Hao, Liang Chu and Zhu Dangluo.

The reason why I have to find Chen Kuan is because my identity and status are different now.

Liang Chu and Zhu Dangluo became powerful figures in Japan. If Tang Hao met with them privately again, it would probably arouse the suspicion and fear of Emperor Zhu Houzhao. So he simply called the old eunuch Chen Kuan and asked him to report whatever they talked about to Zhu Houzhao.

After the four of them sat down, Liang Chu, the minister to Japan, began to complain.

"Lord Tang, this is such a lousy job!"

"The constitution of Japan is completely different from that of the Ming Dynasty. It is just like the Shang and Zhou dynasties in the history of the Central Plains, when a great noble led a group of small nobles to rule Japan."

"Previously, this great noble was the royal family of Japan, and later it became the Japanese shogunate. In this shogunate, there was not just one great noble, but several great nobles who jointly ruled. Then they began to fight openly and secretly. As a result, the local daimyo completely lost their confidence and respect for the central government, and everyone wanted to get involved and set up their own shogunate..."

"I sent out an order from Kyoto, but those bastards just pretended to obey it and did not follow through. Do we really need the imperial court to send a group of officials to Japan?"

Tang Hao looked at Liang Chu with a smile, then suddenly yelled: "Are you bored or have nothing to do?"

"Return the county to Japan. Do you believe that I will abolish you now?"

Lord Zhongshan suddenly lost his temper, and the three of them trembled with fear.

Even Chen Kuan glared at Tang Hao in reproach, "Don't send us away and let us die in a foreign land!"

Liang Chu's face was filled with panic, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Logically speaking, he was so conscientious in his duties, why was he scolded by the Marquis of Zhongshan...

"First, the power to govern the people is given to the King of Japan and the Shogun, so what does it have to do with you, Liang Chu, the Minister to Japan?"

"Earlier, when you said at the enthronement ceremony that all civil affairs of Japan needed to be handled by you, I couldn't help but want to scold you, but the occasion was not appropriate."

"You still don't understand. The first priority of the minister to Japan, as I have reminded you before, is to eliminate Japanese culture and purify Japanese children. To put it more bluntly, it is to open schools to promote Confucianism. As for other civil affairs, what do they have to do with you?"

Liang Chu was stunned when he heard this and opened his mouth to refute.

"To put it bluntly, whether the Japanese live a good or bad life has nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty!"

"Wakoku is just a slave state of our Ming Dynasty, and these Japanese people are just slaves of our Ming Dynasty. Why do you care so much about slaves?"

"If you treat them well and let them live a good life, will they be grateful to you as the Minister to Japan and forget the hatred of the Ming Dynasty colonizing them? It's ridiculous!"

Tang Hao looked at Liang Chu coldly, then glanced at Zhu Dangqiu.

"The word 'colonization', you two must remember it well!"

"The essence of so-called 'colonialism' is plunder. On the one hand, they allow and recognize the independence of colonies and semi-colonies, and on the other hand, they exercise control by cultivating or supporting agents. Economically, they provide 'aid', through loans with harsh conditions, unequal trade, and the organization of multinational corporations, to control the economic lifelines of these countries and plunder them. Militarily, they provide military 'aid', establish military bases, station troops, send military advisers, help train troops, etc. in these countries, and implement disguised military occupation... In order to achieve this series of strategic goals, instigating a coup, provoking a civil war, supporting a puppet regime, etc. are all acceptable!"

"Whether it is sending garrisons or building ports, our ultimate goal is to colonize Japan. We will use these means to plunder all of Japan's resources, including minerals, gold, silver, money, grain, and even population, and send them back to the Ming Dynasty to change our increasingly corrupt Ming Dynasty. We will use the interests of Japan to change the current situation of the Ming Dynasty, and then truly revive the Ming Dynasty!"

"So don't use your political ambitions in this place. Japan has always maintained its backward and weak status quo. This is the most beneficial to our Ming Dynasty. Do you understand?"

Liang Chu nodded in a trance. Tang Hao's colonial remarks had a great impact on the Confucian thought he had been studying. It was like a hammer hitting him hard, leaving him confused and at a loss.

But Liang Chu couldn't find any words to refute!
Because what Tang Hao did was obviously wrong. According to Confucianism, it was undoubtedly wrong. But the problem was that what he did was beneficial to the Ming Dynasty!
The Ming Dynasty was becoming increasingly corrupt and declining, and this was a predicament that was obvious to all knowledgeable people.

So is it really wrong to colonize Japan to save the Ming Dynasty?

Liang Chu couldn't get an answer.

On the one hand, there is the Confucian thought that he upholds and advocates, and on the other hand, there is the interests of family and country. What can he choose?
"Liang Chu!" Tang Hao warned coldly: "Think carefully about what I said to you, and think carefully about what is beneficial to the Ming Dynasty!"

"I will give you a year to adapt. If you still can't figure it out and disappoint others, then I'll let a smart person take this position!"

Liang Chu trembled and fell into silent thought.

Then Tang Hao looked at Zhu Dangqi and said in a deep voice: "Those auxiliary soldiers, kill the main culprit first, and kill one out of ten of the rest, and the military discipline will naturally be established!"

"Don't care about the lives of these Japanese. Use thunder and lightning to intimidate them. Do you understand?"

Zhu Dangqi accepted the order with a shudder and nodded hastily.

"As a general, you cannot be soft-hearted. This is the most basic principle!"

"You still have a long way to go, and this can be considered as an experience. When I see you again, I hope you, Zhu Dangxu, can stand on your own!"

Zhu Dangqi's eyes turned red when he heard this. The only reason he could escape a useless life of eating and waiting to die was all because of the Marquis of Zhongshan in front of him.

"Don't worry, my Lord. I will never let you down!"

"The Japanese will not fall into chaos, or I will commit suicide to apologize!"

Hearing this, Tang Hao smiled with relief.

The next morning, the fleet set sail.

With the farewell of Liang Chu and Zhu Dangluo, Tang Hao led the meritorious soldiers and embarked on the journey back home.

Looking at the vast ocean, Tang Hao couldn't help but feel a little excited.

I don’t know how Shu’er is doing.

And my own...bloodline!
(End of this chapter)