Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 179: The Era of Two Emperors! Execution by Law!
The general's mansion was immersed in a joyful atmosphere.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu arranged singers and dancers to entertain.

The children of some officials and nobles also appeared at this peaceful and friendly banquet.

They frequently flirted with the generals of the Ming army, hoping to gain their favor.

At this point, Japanese officials were already very clear.

With the signing of the Ming-Japan Friendship Agreement, exchanges between the Ming Dynasty and Japan will inevitably become extremely frequent in the future.

You know, the agreement also includes a clause that the Japanese court will hire Ming officials to serve and consult on political affairs.

In the future, Ming Dynasty will not only be the suzerain state of Japan in name only, but will also exercise effective control.

Only if you can get the support of the Ming generals now can you preserve your family's status forever in the future.

Zhu Yunhuan did not ask about this.

If the officials and nobles of Japan are willing to offer their daughters, that is their own business.

A few weak women alone won't change anything.

On the contrary, it will make Japanese officials and nobles more tied to the Ming Dynasty, thereby strengthening the Ming Dynasty's influence and control over Japan.

After a night of celebration.

The next day, Zhu Yunhuan submitted another formal note to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

In order to maintain the friendship between Ming and Japan, the wandering Japanese warriors who once destroyed the relationship between Ming and Japan and went to Ming to burn, kill and loot must be severely punished.

He still keeps this account in mind.

If the Japanese pirates dare to go to the Ming Dynasty to commit evil and kill people, they must be held accountable to the end.

Do they think they can avoid punishment by fleeing back to Japan?
joke!

Now that the Ming Navy has arrived, they will not let those people go.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu naturally agreed to Zhu Yunhuan's request.

After all, this is a very good reason.

He immediately issued an order to arrest the warriors who had been to the Ming Dynasty and committed evil.

This is no secret among the Japanese people.

After those warriors came back, they would brag everywhere about how many people they had killed in the Ming Dynasty and what gold, silver and treasures they had robbed.

They never thought that the Ming Dynasty would come to Japan to arrest people and punish them.

Naturally, I don’t think it should be concealed.

At this time, once Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's order was issued, all those things became "evidence".

In order to show his sincerity to the Crown Prince of Ming Dynasty, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu started to investigate the case very diligently.

As for the warriors' previous burning, killing and looting in the Ming Dynasty, it was entirely encouraged by him, so of course he had long forgotten about it.

Soon, a wave of reporting and investigation swept across Japan.

In order to prove their innocence, some warriors reported other warriors for having committed thieves in the Ming Dynasty.

These reports were immediately supported by the Japanese government.

At this time, the Japanese government has adopted the attitude of digging three feet deep to find all those people.

Once discovered, they were immediately executed.

For a time, Japanese prisons were overcrowded and the execution grounds were busy every day.

The once arrogant Japanese warriors were now silent and timid.

Warriors who have been to the Ming Dynasty all know that their end is approaching.

Many people simply committed suicide by disembowelment.

Those who have not been there secretly consider themselves lucky.

From then on, the practice of Japanese samurai going to Ming Dynasty to engage in smuggling trade, burning, killing and looting was completely reversed.

Under the severe crackdown by the Japanese government, no samurai dared to do such a thing anymore.

Without these foreign Japanese invaders, the bandits and robbers in the Ming Dynasty would have lost their support.

The Japanese pirate rebellion that had plagued the Ming Dynasty's coastal areas for many years was finally put to an end!
The problem of Japanese invasion in the Ming Dynasty was finally solved fundamentally.

……

Just when people in Japan were busy arresting and killing people, Zhu Yunhuan came to the famous Daikaku-ji Temple in Kyoto.

In the temple, he saw the abdicated Emperor Go-Kameyama of Japan.

"I am the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty!"

Standing in front of the former emperor of the Southern Dynasty who had become a monk, Zhu Yunhuan had a bright smile on his face.

"I believe that you are the legitimate descendant of the Emperor of Japan and the descendant of Amaterasu."

"You shouldn't be a monk in a temple, but should go out and preside over the government of Japan."

After ordering the guards to drive away all the outsiders, he directly stated his purpose.

Emperor Hou Guishan's eyes lit up, then dimmed again.

He shook his head gently: "I have become a monk and no longer care about worldly affairs."

He was originally the emperor of the Southern Dynasty of Japan, but was eventually defeated by the army led by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and was forced to recognize that Emperor Go-Komatsu, the emperor of the Northern Dynasty supported by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, was the legitimate ruler of Japan.

He gave up his power and became a monk.

Of course, there is another agreement.

That will be the future emperor of Japan, who will be chosen from the descendants of both of them and will take turns.

Zhu Yunhuan laughed loudly, stared at him and said, "Don't you really want to take back the power that belongs to the Emperor?"

The reason why Japan was divided into the Northern and Southern Dynasties was because an emperor did not want to be controlled by the shogun and wanted to hold power himself.

As a result, the Shogun enthroned a new emperor, the Northern Emperor.

As a result, Japan entered a period of confrontation between the Northern and Southern Dynasties that lasted for several decades.

Taking back power from the Shogun has always been the goal of successive emperors of the Southern Dynasties.

It’s a pity that the Shogun’s power is too strong.

In the end, they were unable to win the battle and had no choice but to abdicate.

Seeing that the other party still did not answer, Zhu Yunhuan asked again: "You don't think that Emperor Go-Komatsu will really pass the throne to your descendants according to the agreement, right?"

"Wake up, that's just a trick to fool you temporarily."

"After a few years, all the remaining forces under you will be disintegrated and eliminated, and your lineage will no longer have any value."

"At that time, it would be a natural thing to abolish the throne of your lineage forever."

Emperor Go-Kameyama sighed, "So what?"

How could he not know what Zhu Yunhuan said?
The so-called alternating selection of heirs by both parties is nothing but self-deception.

He was looking for a decent excuse to hand over power.

"I can let your lineage take the throne again." Zhu Yunhuan sat down in front of him, took a sip of tea, and smiled faintly: "In today's Japan, I want to make you the emperor, even Ashikaga Yoshimitsu would not dare to object!"

The room fell silent.

After a long silence, Emperor Go-Kameyama said, "Why did your Highness do this?"

"There is order in the hierarchy, and distinction between the noble and the humble." Zhu Yunhuan said, "You are the direct descendant of the Emperor's lineage. My Ming Dynasty has always upheld orthodoxy, so naturally we must support you."

The room was quiet again.

After a while, Emperor Go-Kameyama said, "Although the Ming army is very powerful, if you depose Emperor Go-Komatsu, it will inevitably lead to another civil war." "How long can the Ming army stay in our country?"

Zhu Yunhuan shook his head and said, "I don't intend to abolish him."

"What I mean is that you two are both emperors and rule together."

"Neither side should fight."

Although Ashikaga Yoshimitsu had surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, such people were prone to capriciousness.

Maybe after the Ming army leaves, he will change his mind.

Zhu Yunhuan didn't want to lead his troops to fight again.

After much deliberation, he decided to support the emperor in taking power.

What Zhu Yunhuan valued was that Japan had two emperors.

In this way, the two sides will restrain each other and have to obey the orders of the Ming Dynasty.

"You are originally a family, but there were some misunderstandings before, and you have been fighting for decades."

“Now that we have reconciled, we should govern together.”

Emperor Go-Kameyama fell into deep thought.

Zhu Yunhuan was not in a hurry. He drank tea and waited slowly.

After a long while, Emperor Go-Kameyama asked, "What are your conditions?"

Zhu Yunhuan smiled slightly.

Since the other party asked for conditions, then you have to agree.

Right.

Compared to having all power taken away by Emperor Go-Komatsu, living a lonely life in a temple, and having his descendants never be able to inherit the throne, Zhu Yunhuan's suggestion was very tempting.

In the past, abdication was a desperate and helpless choice.

Now that we have the opportunity, we certainly can’t miss it.

"It's very simple."

Zhu Yunxun said: "In order to maintain the friendship between Ming and Japan for generations, all the emperor's descendants will be sent to study in Ming in the future."

"Only after gaining the recognition of the Ming Dynasty can you return to inherit the throne."

"The throne of the Emperor will be born from your descendants, and will last for ten thousand generations, and will never change. However, you must obtain the canonization and approval of the Ming Dynasty before you can officially ascend the throne."

He smiled slightly and said, "This is all to ensure that the friendship between Ming and Japan will last forever."

"If you think there is no problem, I can take you back to the Imperial Palace now and let you ascend the throne of the Emperor again."

"As for the agreement signed between Ming Dynasty and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, you two emperors can just sign it again."

"I believe that with the approval of the Japanese emperor, the Ming-Wa friendship agreement will be more solid."

After a moment's silence, Emperor Go-Kameyama said, "I can agree, but I'm afraid Emperor Go-Komatsu won't agree."

Zhu Yunhuan laughed loudly: "Do you think he is willing to be a puppet controlled by the shogun forever?"

"It is better to be one of the two emperors with real power than to be an emperor who is locked in a cage by the shogun for generations."

"To be honest, I had already met with Emperor Go-Komatsu before I came here, and he agreed."

In fact, there has always been irreconcilable contradiction between the Emperor and the Shogun.

The Northern Dynasty emperor did not seize power from the generals simply because he felt he could not do it, not because he really did not want to do it.

Emperor Go-Kameyama was stunned for a moment, then bowed and said, "Then everything will be at the discretion of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

……

a few days later.

The Imperial Residence of Japan.

Emperor Go-Komatsu formally met with the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

In fact, the two sides had met a long time ago.

Zhu Yunhuan didn't care about all the rules and rushed into the imperial palace to meet the person he wanted to meet.

But in formal occasions, Japan still has to maintain superficial decency.

In the minds of the Japanese, the emperor is the representative of God on earth.

It would be more accurate to say that the emperor is a god rather than a man.

It is also based on this concept that the emperor cannot deal with people easily.

Therefore, all power was held by the Shogun.

Of course, these are all names and excuses.

In fact, the shogun who holds the military power "uses the emperor to command the princes."

Relying on the military power in his hands, he is above the civilian government.

Today, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, with all the civil and military officials in the court, solemnly and formally paid homage to the Emperor and met with the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

After complicated ceremonies and performances, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu brought officials to meet the Emperor.

Just as he was about to worship, he suddenly froze.

Because Emperor Go-Kameyama was also standing next to Emperor Go-Komatsu.

Not only that, he was wearing clothes that only the emperor could wear.

"This..." Before Ashikaga Yoshimitsu could react, he was captured by the Ming soldiers.

"What are you doing?" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu struggled frantically.

Zhu Yunhuan walked out of the room.

"The Shogun has been stealing the imperial power for hundreds of years."

"Deceiving the emperor and seizing divine power to act recklessly is a heinous crime."

"I was asked by Emperor Go-Komatsu and Emperor Go-Kameyama to capture the traitor."

"From now on, the shogunate will be abolished, and the two emperors will jointly rule the country."

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was horrified and shouted, "Your Majesty! You must not be deceived by a villain!"

"Shut up!" Emperor Go-Komatsu said, "You have always treated me as a prisoner. When have you ever really respected me as an emperor?"

"Now that the Ming angel is here, he should arrest you."

Not to mention Emperor Go-Kameyama, who cursed endlessly.

Normally, the emperor and the generals act like respectful subjects and wise rulers, but that is all pretend.

At this moment, the true thoughts in one's heart are revealed.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu could only turn to Zhu Yunhuan and say, "Your Majesty, the Great Ming Crown Prince, I have no disrespect for you, why do you treat me like this?"

"Those who offend our Ming Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away they are!" Zhu Yunhuan said coldly: "These days, you have killed many Japanese pirates who have invaded our Ming Dynasty."

"But it was under your instigation and indulgence that they went to the border of the Ming Dynasty and did something that was outrageous to both humans and gods."

"Speaking of which, you are the culprit."

"Since I have led a large army here, I must avenge the innocent people of the Ming Dynasty who died in vain. How can I tolerate you?"

Zhu Yunhuan shouted sternly: "Come here, take Ashikaga Yoshimitsu to the Ming warship, escort him back to the Ming Dynasty, and then publicly try him and punish him according to the law."

……

(End of this chapter)