My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 182 Tai Chi

"Baga, didn't you say that with this blueprint, we can make Ming Dynasty firearms? What on earth is this?"

In the Imperial Palace, in Kitacho's residence at this time, the envoys of the Muromachi shogunate gathered around a piece of paper and studied it carefully. However, the more they looked left and right, the more confused they became. They had no idea what was drawn on the paper.

10MM, 5MM, are these symbols that look like hieroglyphics really words?
The envoys from the Northern Dynasties who went to the Ming Dynasty were all fluent in Chinese, but they had never seen these strange symbols before.

The shogunate governor, Sasaki Yoshimasa, looked at what the spy brought back from Liu Sanwu and questioned the spy:

"You damned loser, ten ounces of gold, and this is all you got back?"

The Kanrei of the Muromachi shogunate's main responsibility was to assist the Shogun in handling various affairs, and his status was second only to the Shogun. As for Sasaki Yoshimasa, his Sasaki family also held a pivotal position in the shogunate. He was also the head of the Sasaki family, and his status in the Northern Court could be said to be second only to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

The fact that Ashikaga Yoshimitsu sent him as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty was enough to show how much importance he attached to the issue of seeking enfeoffment and trade.

However, the group had been in Ming Dynasty for quite some time but still had not seen the emperor of Ming Dynasty, which made Yoshimasa Sasaki a little angry.

The only good news was that His Majesty the Emperor did not meet those guys from the Southern Dynasty, which made him feel a little better.

Before coming to Ming Dynasty, Yoshimasa Sasaki had already learned how powerful Ming Dynasty's firearms were. Therefore, after arriving in Ming Dynasty, he had been trying every means to acquire the manufacturing technology of firearms.

Once the Muromachi shogunate mastered this powerful firearm, wouldn't it be invincible in the Japanese archipelago?
By then, no matter whether it is the cowardly emperor of the Southern Dynasty or the daimyo of local separatist regimes, they will all submit to the shogunate!
"Please forgive me, sir. That Ming official is the head of the Military Equipment Bureau. He gave me this blueprint. He also told me that these blueprints are top secrets of the Ming Dynasty. He risked being beheaded before giving them to me."

"Then why don't you ask, what does this drawing mean?" Siboyi continued to question.

"I asked, but the person in charge refused to say anything more, unless..."

"Unless what?"

Yoshimasa Sasaki asked impatiently, and the others were also staring at the spy closely.

"The leader said that unless we Japanese have a high level of comprehension, we won't be able to understand it!" the spy answered tremblingly.

"Baga bagashi, what on earth is this bastard leader up to?"

Yoshimasa Sasaki was immediately furious. He stood up angrily and smashed the teacup in his hand to pieces.

"He is just a director of the Ministry of Works, not a senior monk in a temple. What is he thinking?"

"Please calm down, Lord Kanrei." The Northern Dynasty's Grand Minister Sasaki Michio stood up and comforted Sasaki Yoshimasa.

Like the Southern Court, the Northern Court also retained a court institution that nominally belonged to the emperor, and also had official positions such as the Daijo Daimin and Zuo Daimin. However, the court affairs of the Northern Court were controlled by the shogunate, and the court of Emperor Go-Komatsu was more of a symbolic function and had no real power.

Although he had no power, his status was quite high, so Sasaki Michio also came to the Ming Dynasty as an envoy.

After all, the Northern Dynasty's goal was to ask the Ming Dynasty for a title for Emperor Go-Komatsu, and the diplomatic mission was also under the name of the emperor, so it would be unreasonable not to send a representative of the emperor.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty only recognized the emperor, not the shogunate. Even though Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was all-powerful in the Northern Dynasty, in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, he was just a powerful minister.

"Master, I think there must be a deeper meaning behind what the chief said!"

Michio Sasaki was not as impatient as Yoshimasa Sasaki. After all, he had been suppressed by the shogunate for so many years and had become accustomed to suppressing his temper.

"Then tell me, Master Taizheng, what exactly does the chief mean?"

"I am familiar with Chinese historical materials and know the Chinese character very well. Since ancient times, Chinese officials have never spoken too directly. They like to beat around the bush and hide their true intentions, leaving others to guess."

Michio Sasaki sat on the chair and felt a little uncomfortable. He took out a cushion and put it on the floor, then knelt down and sat down. He felt much more comfortable.

"So what you mean is that the head of the Armament Bureau is saying something else?" Sasaki Yoshimasa was not a fool, and he immediately understood what Sasaki Michio meant. Everyone followed suit and found a cushion, then knelt on the floor, and only then did they feel a little more at home, and they felt much more comfortable.

"I understand that the salaries of Ming officials are very low, which has led many officials to make money by making up various excuses, and accepting bribes from subordinates is one of them.

But they claim to be clean-handed scholars, and on the surface they disdain money. They will not directly ask their subordinates for bribes, as that is not in line with their etiquette and will be despised by other scholars. Therefore, they usually use suggestive words to indicate that it is time for their subordinates to give them money! "

Michio Sasaki's analysis made everyone suddenly realize.

"So, what the boss said about enlightenment is a hint that we should continue to give him money?" asked Yoshimasa Sasaki with his eyes wide open.

"That's true, otherwise the master wouldn't have said such confusing things."

"Damn you, these greedy Ming people!"

Sasaki Yoshimasa was getting angry again, "Isn't ten taels of gold enough to satisfy his appetite?"

"Master, please keep your voice down. Be careful, the walls may have ears!"

Michio Sasaki quickly dissuaded him.

"Damn it, can the people of the Ming Dynasty know our language?"

"The Ming Dynasty is full of talented people, and there should be quite a few who can speak our language. And most importantly, those guys from the Southern Dynasty understand our language!"

"Those bastards in the Southern Dynasty are more despicable than those in the Ming Dynasty!"

Although he was still extremely angry, Yoshimasa Sasaki's voice was obviously much softer.

"The Ming Dynasty has teased us like this, we must take revenge!
Since the head of the Armament Bureau likes money, we will continue to give him money. We must obtain the skills to manufacture firearms!
Also, we must hurry up and continue to put pressure on the Honglu Temple. The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty has sent envoys to Japan many times since more than ten years ago, which shows that he hopes to establish a tributary relationship with us. We can also take advantage of this and must meet their emperor before the Southern Dynasty!
We must not let those bastards from the Southern Dynasty laugh at us!"

At the same time, in the Honglu Temple, Cui Wenyuan was facing Ono Hideyo, and he was very relaxed and contented.

He called the servant, poured tea, then picked up the teacup, blew on the tea leaves, took a small sip, and felt very comfortable.

"Hey, Master Ono, this is top-quality tea, only available in the Ming Dynasty."

Cui Wenyuan had no idea how the Japanese addressed each other, so he just followed the Ming custom and addressed them by their surnames and official titles.

Ono Hideyo had no choice but to pick up the teacup and take a small sip. The tea was good, much more fragrant than Japanese tea, but now he had no intention of tasting it.

Although he hated the Ming Dynasty to the core, he had to put on a smile at this moment.

"Master Cui, we came to the Ming Dynasty with sincerity, but the Emperor has been unwilling to see us. What is the Emperor thinking? Please tell me frankly, Master Cui!"

"Alas, Your Majesty is in a difficult situation too!"

Cui Wenyuan sighed pretentiously. With His Majesty's reminder, he naturally knew exactly what the Left Minister of the Southern Dynasty was thinking.

No matter what the Ming Dynasty does, they will not leave until they achieve their goal, so what Cui Wenyuan has to do is to practice Tai Chi.

Of course, he can do better.

"You are here, and the Northern Dynasty's Emperor Go-Komatsu has also sent an envoy. You are all Japanese, so it is not appropriate for Your Majesty to meet any of you first!"

(End of this chapter)