I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 819: Just figure it out!

The setting sun shone in through the window, illuminating the table, walls and the people inside with an orange-red color, as if a sunset cloud had fallen into the room.

The man stood up and said with a bow, "I am Wu Chang, a third-rank Jiayi official, a royal official, and the chief minister of the Honglu Temple. I am sorry for the insolence of inviting the two envoys to come here."

Marcelo and Leon quickly bowed in return: "Master Wu, you are too polite."

In the minds of the two, the Minister of Honglu Temple who was in charge of foreign affairs of the Ming Dynasty and wanted to have talks with them was named Wu Dui. How come he was replaced by Wu Chang?
Marcelo asked hesitantly, "Excuse me, where is the other Lord Wu?"

"My predecessor, Wu Dui, is now the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, the father and mother of all officials."

Marcelo and Leon looked at each other in surprise, and Leon asked, "Master Wu, from now on, we are going to have a meeting with you?"

"Yes, I will talk to you. Please take a seat, both of you."

After Marcelo and Leon sat down, Wu Chang said, "I have already ordered the dishes. I guarantee they will suit your tastes. Serve, mate!"

The dishes were served in a continuous stream, filling the round table.

Marcelo and Leon took a quick look and found that they were indeed their favorite dishes.

The two men were not alarmed. They had been in Ming Country for so long and had been under other people's scrutiny. They must know very well what they liked to eat.

After the guys left, Wu Chang waved his right hand and signaled Marcelo and Leon: "You two, please feel free to do as you please."

"Thank you, Master Wu."

"These days, you two have been touring various places in our Great Ming. Are you satisfied?"

Marcelo replied: "Watch it."

"Have you figured it out?"

"What did you figure out?"

Wu Chang smiled and pointed to the private room where he was sitting with his right hand. "This restaurant is called Cangmang Pavilion. It is just average in construction. It can't compare to the luxury of the restaurants in the capital or the elegance of the restaurants in the south of the Yangtze River, but it has a unique view.

Do you know why this restaurant is called Cangmang Pavilion?"

Marcelo and Leon shook their heads honestly.

Lord Wu, we can't even write a few Chinese characters, and hearing idioms is like listening to a foreign language. How can we possibly understand these allusions?

Wu Chang stood up and walked to the window. He stood in the sunset with his hands behind his back, reciting loudly with his voice fluctuating.

"Look, the Luan River is in the distance, the water is rippling like thousands of fish scales, the sunset glows half the river red, and the mountains converge, the dusk is all vast and dark." Wu Chang turned around and pointed at the scenery outside the window, "Look, the Luan River is in the distance, the water is rippling like thousands of fish scales, the sunset glows half the river red, and the mountains converge, the dusk mist is all vast and dark."

Marcelo and Leon shook their heads awkwardly.

We really don't appreciate your culture's charm, artistic conception, etc.

Wu Chang laughed loudly: "It seems that you two cannot appreciate the culture of our Great Ming that has been passed down for three thousand years. But if you two do not understand the holy will of the Holy Emperor of the Great Ming, then you two have come to this Ming country in vain."

Marcelo's Adam's apple twitched up and down a few times, "Master Wu, please give me some advice on the will of the Emperor of your country."

"I, the Holy Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, have arranged for the two envoys to travel all over the Ming Dynasty and visit various industries, such as industry, commerce and agriculture, so that you can see the prosperous scene of the Ming Dynasty. This is to make you two think clearly about what to talk about with the Ming Dynasty."

Wu Chang's eyes suddenly became extremely sharp, staring at Marcelo and Leon: "You two, have you figured it out?"

The room became extremely quiet.

After several minutes of silence, Marcelo finally replied, "I figured it out."

Wu Chang raised his head and laughed, "It's good that you have figured it out.

The most feared thing in this world is people who have no self-awareness! Later, the Honglu Temple will arrange for the Right Shaoqing to have a full-time meeting with the two of you and have an open conversation.

Well, today I am inviting you two to a banquet, just to meet you and discuss business, and then, let’s have a good meal.”

Marcelo and Leon forced a smile on their faces: "Thank you, Lord Wu, for the dinner."

Wu Chang looked at Marcelo and Leon, who had unwilling expressions on their faces, and smiled coldly in his heart. The smile on his face was still as warm as the spring breeze. He pointed at the sunset outside the window and sighed.

"The sunset in Luanzhou is also so beautiful. Marquis Marcelo, Baron León, is the sunset in Portugal also so beautiful?"

Marcelo and Leon were stunned, not understanding what Wu Chang meant, and just answered casually: "Master Wu, the sunset in Portugal is also so beautiful."

“It would be nice if I had a chance to go and see it.

Now that the sea routes are open and sailing ships are fast, I believe there is a chance.

By then, there will be talented tourists from our Ming Dynasty who will go to Duizhou to see the sunsets in Portugal, Spain, France and England, and paint a few pictures after coming back.

This official has also seen the beautiful scenery and traveled to Duizhou in his mind! "

Marcelo and Leon thought of the Ming battleships that were as tall as city walls and the gun muzzles that were as densely packed as a honeycomb, and were shocked. Is it a good thing or a bad thing for the Ming people to go to Europe?
But on second thought, with the strength of the Ming Navy, who in the world can stop them?

Thinking back on what he had seen and heard in these days, Marcelo suddenly realized that these visits arranged by His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Ming Dynasty were meant to completely dispel the fantasies and hopes in his previous heart.

Not to mention Portugal, even if the entire Christian world and the Muslim world united together, they would not be able to defeat the Ming Dynasty alone.

What's more, it is impossible for the Christian world to unite with the Muslim world, and even the Christian world itself cannot be united.

When this thought arises in your heart, the world and heaven become vast in an instant!
Marcelo turned his head to look at the beautiful sunset outside the window, squinting his eyes and said: "At this time in Portugal, the setting sun shines over the Atlantic Ocean and passes over the steep and tall peak of Mount Estrela, making the Portuguese fields warm and soft, like a mother's embrace.

And the intoxicating scent of lavender
Sir Wu, if you have the chance to go to Portugal, please come to my manor and I will treat you with the best wine in the Iberian Peninsula."

"it is good!

'The late sun makes the mountains and rivers beautiful, and the spring breeze makes the flowers and grass fragrant.'

The magnificent land of the Ming Dynasty and the warm land of Portugal are worthy of our toast.

Both of you, please!"

"Master Wu, please!"

On the second floor of Building A, the VIP building of Luangang Guesthouse, Zhu Yijun, wearing a new short-sleeved casual suit, stood in front of the window, holding the window frame with both hands, watching the sunset shining on the Luan River.

"A ray of setting sun spreads over the water, half of the river is rustling and half of the river is red."

In the twilight, the breeze blew silently through the window, rolling up the documents on the desk not far from the room, making a rustling sound. A line of titles could be seen on the rolled-up documents.

"The Imperial Items of Official Ranks and Grades in the Official System Reform Plan of the Imperial Court in the Fifth Year of Wanli"

And the text below.

".The Prime Minister and the Chief Military Commissioner of the Cabinet are all granted the rank of Guanglu Dafu, the first rank; the Left and Right Chancellors of the Cabinet, the Left and Right Military Commissioners, and the Chief Censor are all granted the rank of Zishan Dafu, the second rank.

The ministers of the six ministries of the Cabinet, the left and right censors of the Censorate, the chief minister of the Supreme Court, the commander-in-chief of the five armies of the military government, and the governor-general were all granted the official rank of second-grade Zhongfeng Daifu.

The left vice minister of the six ministries of the cabinet, the chief ministers of various temples, the left and right deputy censors of the Censorate, the junior minister of the Supreme Court, the associate governor of the five military commanders, and the governors were all granted the rank of third-rank Jiayi doctor.

The right vice minister of the six ministries of the cabinet, the left junior minister of the various temples, the deputy commander-in-chief of the five armies, the provincial governor, the prefect of Shuntian and Yingtian, and the prefect of Zhili prefecture were all granted the rank of third-rank Dazhong Dafu.

The Chief Secretary of the Cabinet, the Right Junior Secretary of the Temples, the Chief Secretary of the Military Government, the Chief Secretary of the Censorate, the Left and Right Censors of the Censorate, the Minister of Public Administration, the Left Counselor of the Provincial Administration, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, the Military Commissioner, and the Associate Governor were all granted the rank of Zhongshun Doctor of the Fourth Grade.

The Left Counselor of the Tongzhengsi, the Right Counselor of the Buzhengsi, the Chief Inspector, the Deputy Censor, the Deputy Military Commissioner, the Provincial Governor and the County Magistrate... were all granted the rank of Fourth Grade Imperial Court Official.

The Langzhong of the six ministries and the various temples in the cabinet, the Canzheng of the six departments of the provincial government, and the county governors were all granted the title of Fengzhi Dafu of the fifth rank. "

Zhu Yijun looked out into the distance and saw the sun gradually sinking into the west. The dusk outside was getting darker and darker, so he reached out and closed the window.

Six gas lamps were already lit in the room; the darker it was outside, the brighter it was inside.

Zhu Yijun walked back, saw the document on the desk, picked up the brush, and wrote his comments on the heading of the first page of the document.

"Approve it immediately."

Then he signed his own unique signature, "Guo Yi."

"Your Majesty."

Qi Yan shouted in a gentle voice at the door.

"What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty, Liang Menglong and Liang Qianji are waiting outside."

"please come in."

"According to the order."

After a while, the door was pushed open, and Liang Menglong, wearing a red official uniform and a black gauze hat, stood at the door, crossed his hands and said, "I am Liang Menglong Liang Qianji, the second-rank Zishan official, the official of the imperial court, the right military envoy, the governor of the Eastern Expedition, the commander of the navy and army of Genxunzhou, and the governor of Xiashang and other states, and I am here to see His Majesty the Emperor."

"Flat body, give me a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Qi Yan, serve a bowl of lotus seed and white fungus soup to Lord Mingquan as well."

"According to the order."

"I thank His Majesty the Emperor."

Zhu Yijun looked at Liang Menglong. His slightly dark face was solemn and dignified, and his eyes were slightly bloodshot, but particularly bright.

"I remember that the sea transport from the southeast to the capital was opened by Lord Mingquan in the 42nd year of Jiajing, when the Japanese invasion in the southeast was somewhat quelled."

"In reply to your Majesty, that is only my duty as a minister."

Zhu Yijun waved his hand and continued, "Everyone says that the Ming Navy was built by famous ministers and generals such as Duke Daichuan (Liu Tao), Duke Beishan (Lu Tong), and Marquis Tong'an (Yu Dayou), but I know that without Duke Mingquan, the Ming Navy is like a backboneless army."

"Your Majesty's words make me feel extremely terrified."

"There is no need to be overly nervous. It is I who feel guilty towards you and the Ming Dynasty who feel guilty towards you. According to the national system I have established, no one can be granted a title unless he has made outstanding military or national contributions.

Lord Mingquan worked hard for the Ming Navy, but because he had no chance to lead troops into battle, he was unable to make military achievements. Therefore, despite his great contributions, he received no reward.

I am ashamed. "

Liang Menglong quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty's words make me feel uneasy. I am ashamed to accept death."

"Please sit down, Lord Mingquan." Zhu Yijun waved his hand, motioning Liang Menglong to sit down.

"I gave Duke Mingquan an opportunity to expand the territory of Ming and make military achievements, but he ended up choosing the most difficult task. I feel even more guilty.

Lord Mingquan, I am sorry for you."

"Your Majesty, governing Xinzhou and opening up new territory for future generations of the Ming Dynasty is a great achievement that will benefit the country and the people for generations to come. It is my honor that Your Majesty has chosen me. I will do my best to accomplish this mission!"

Zhu Yijun said happily: "Okay! Has Lord Mingquan done his homework these days?"

Liang Menglong was about to answer when Qi Yan walked in with two bowls of Tremella and lotus seed soup.

The peony bowl with gold rim is from Zhu Yijun, and the flower branch bowl with silver rim is from Liang Menglong.

"Mr. Mingquan, let's eat and talk at the same time."

"According to the order."

After they finished their bowls of white fungus and lotus seed soup, they rinsed their mouths and wiped their lips. Liang Menglong took the initiative to say, "I have carefully read the detailed military and political information of the two continents of Gen and Xun these days, and have repeatedly looked through the maps drawn by the Surveying and Mapping Bureau. I have a rough idea in my mind.
He also had a detailed chat with the military and political assistants appointed by the imperial government. He also had a chat with the selected staff of the government in batches, giving them tasks and asking them to make corresponding preparations.
The initial plan I have drawn up focuses on the Obsidian Kingdom established by the remnants of the Xia and Shang dynasties in the central and southern parts of Genzhou.

This country was brutally massacred and destroyed by Spain thirty years ago and became their Viceroyalty of New Spain.

A blood feud that must be avenged!

The Ming Dynasty should demonstrate its virtue as the legitimate descendant and the authority of the suzerain to the survivors of the Xia and Shang dynasties in the Gen and Xun continents, and it should start from now on.

If the name is not right, the words will not flow!

The Ming army has a legitimate reason to avenge the destruction of the country and the massacre of the descendants of the Xia and Shang dynasties, who are of the same lineage as the Yan, Huang and Miao peoples!"

Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "Okay, Lord Mingquan, why don't you elaborate on your strategy so that we can have a good discussion."

"According to the order!"

(End of this chapter)