The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 562: Those Overseas Heroes Who Persevered

Outside the Nuanning Hall of Tangquan Palace, the three groups of people who were allowed to meet the emperor met.

The shogunate representatives Tanuma Ochi, Hayashi Jyusai, and Oda Nobufu stared at a group of people from the Satsuma domain with a bit of arrogance.

"As expected, you Western Army soldiers are all ungrateful wolves who can never be tamed. Tosho Daigongen should have expelled you all and let you become ronin overseas!" Tanuma Ichi said with gritted teeth.

Shimazu Tadamichi of Satsuma Domain was quite nervous when facing the bigwigs of the shogunate, but suddenly he remembered that he was in the great country of China, so he immediately straightened his back and snorted coldly.

"Does the shogunate think that the existence of the Satsuma Shimazu clan is a gift from you? If Nori-kata (the Grand Minister of State) could have wiped out the Shimazu and Mori clans, would he have held back?"

"He's not that kind!"

While they were bickering, Princess Tsukayama of Ryukyu, Shang Kuanshi, the daughter-in-law of Cai Wen, the 'Zhang Juzheng of Ryukyu', was gloating over the representatives of the shogunate and the Shimazu clan.

"Wakoku's persecution of the Ryukyu Kingdom has finally come to an end today, because the Great Emperor of the East, the father of the Ryukyu, Korea, and Wakoku, has returned. You will be severely punished for your arrogance and usurpation!"

These words made both groups of Japanese shudder.

After a while, although he had decided to surrender unconditionally, Satsuma Domain's Saigo Kichibei, who still felt a little insecure and looked down on the Ryukyu people, could not help but whispered:
"It's a pity that the emperor of China has already swallowed up his four sons: Annan, Siam, Cambodia, and Nanzhang. Burma, which can't even be considered an adopted son, is almost finished. Does Ryukyu think it can be more special than other sons?"

Shang Kuanshi narrowed his eyes and looked at Saigo Jibei fiercely, "Just for that, you deserve to be killed!"

"Did the king swallow up Annan, Siam and other countries? No, this is clearly a wandering son returning to his family, back to his father's arms!
Shimazu Tadamichi looked at Shang Kuanshi seriously. For the first time, he felt the pressure from his peers from this old woman in her sixties. So he turned around suddenly and slapped Saigo Kichibei in the face.

"Baga, if you dare to say such disrespectful words to your father and your father again, you will be punished by seppuku!"

"Hai, I said something wrong!" Although he was slapped, Saigo Kichibei almost took on the posture of Red Bean Paste Private Marseille at the speed of light, with an extremely good attitude. At the same time, he also warned himself in his heart that such a mistake must never be made again.

Seeing that he could not induce the Satsuma representative to say something even more irrational that would give him a handle, Shang Kanmu stopped the verbal battle.

Just at this time, the eunuch came to inform them that they could have an audience, so the three groups walked into the hall at the same time.

Tanuma Yizhi, who was very experienced in high-end political struggles, played a trick. He deliberately squeezed into the middle and walked to the front at a faster pace, creating the appearance that he was the leader of three groups.

Damn, you can play it like this!

When the monk Shimazu Tadamichi saw this, he immediately quickened his pace and moved forward.

So Mo Zibu, wearing his ochre-yellow uniform, looked in shock as the three groups of envoys almost scrambled and squeezed each other, rushing in directly from the door like a swarm of hornets.

"How dare you be so disrespectful in front of the palace? Where are the guards?"

Seeing them in such a mess, the eunuch in charge of guarding Mo Zibu from the Imperial Stables shouted loudly, and the big Han generals from the Palace Front Department and the golden-armored guards from the Imperial Stables immediately stepped forward with weapons in hand to intercept them.

Now, the three groups of people were frightened and did not dare to continue fighting forward. Instead, they knelt on the ground and apologized repeatedly.

"This foreign savage does not know the etiquette of the Celestial Empire. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Mo Zibu waved his hand indifferently, "Get up. If you serve me loyally in the future, there will be no distinction between foreign vassal states and the Celestial Empire. You can all be my children."

After hearing these words, the three groups of people showed joy on their faces, but they still knelt on the ground and did not get up because Mo Zibu did not let them get up.

"Are you the fourth-generation grandson of Cai Wen, the prime minister of Ryukyu?" Mo Zibu sat on the throne with a majestic look on his face, and then pointed at a young man kneeling beside Ryukyu Princess Tsugayasu Shang Kuanshi and asked.

The young man immediately dropped from his kneeling position to a prostrate position, his head touching the ground. With some trembling, he replied in standard Nanjing Mandarin, "I am Cai Rulin, the fourth-generation grandson of Cai Wengong, the Prime Minister of the Ryukyu Kingdom."

"Look up." Mo Zibu raised his hand and said, "What classics have you studied? Have you learned any martial arts?"

As the last prime minister from one of the thirty-six surnames of Fujian in history, Cai Wen was actually very capable.

He was able to develop the economy and improve people's livelihood internally, stabilize the Satsuma domain externally, and restore the tribute system of the middle decades.

He also asked Emperor Qianlong to confer the title on Prince Shangmu, and successfully forced the Satsuma Domain to return part of its power to the Ryukyu Kingdom in order not to anger the Qing Dynasty.

It can be said that without Cai Wen, Ryukyu would have been completely annexed by the Satsuma Domain even before the Meiji Restoration.

With this ability, even if one was born on the mainland, one would have the strength to enter the cabinet.

Therefore, Cai Wen was later recognized as the first of the five great men in Ryukyu. When he died, King Shangmu of Ryukyu personally went to his residence to bury him and even fainted from crying.

Such a person, who is Chinese, would naturally be highly praised by Mo Zibu.

Cai Rulin is fifteen years old this year and understands a lot of things. This is going to be a good thing for him!
So when he heard the emperor ask this, his young face immediately flushed red like a boiled shrimp. He raised his head and said loudly:

"I have been learning Shangshu from my father and grandfather since I was young, and my grandmother also taught me with the Ryukyu royal family's collection of books. I wouldn't say I have mastered it, but I am quite familiar with it.

As for martial arts, I have learned the true art of Zheng's Tang boxing, and I am also quite proficient in gunmanship.

However, Ryukyu lacks the number of self-propelled firearms that our motherland has, so the common people are accustomed to using matchlock guns and have not learned the art of using guns and swords."

The so-called Tang Fist is a Chinese boxing improved by the Zheng family, the most martial artist of Fujian. It was later taken away by the Japanese and evolved into karate.

So after hearing this, Mo Zibu laughed and stood up. As for karate, he had practiced it for a few years before traveling through time. Although it was jokingly called the board crushing art, some of its moves were still usable in actual combat.

With little access to traditional martial arts, Mo Zibu relied on the mediocre kung fu he had learned in an amateur boxing gym over the years before crossing over. He had even managed to beat up a few black men who were slacking off and stealing project materials.

"Come on, perform it for me!" Mo Zibu said with a smile.

When Cai Rulin heard that the emperor was so interested, he excitedly demonstrated his skills with punches and kicks in the hall.

You know what, he really practiced very hard, and his punches were so powerful.

"Li Cunyi, what do you think? Is he worthy of your attention?" Mo Zibu asked Li Cunyi, the martial arts master beside him, the founder of Liquan and the commander of the Palace Front Division.

Li Cunyi nodded slightly, clasped his hands and replied, "Your punches are powerful and your moves are skillful, but it looks like you haven't had much experience in actual combat. Your lower limbs lack strength, and your steps are a bit unsteady.

He also likes to use some moves that look fancy but are easy to be exploited, like the front kick just now, where he raised his leg too high."

It was very pertinent, but Li Cunyi understood that it didn't matter whether Cai Rulin could fight or not. What mattered was that the emperor had to find a reason to reward or even promote him.

So when he saw Cai Rulin's embarrassed expression, he immediately said:
"If this person were my personal disciple, he would definitely be unqualified. However, among ordinary young people, he is already an outstanding one."

Mo Zibu laughed heartily and said to Cai Rulin, "Boy, don't be dissatisfied. Commander Li is one of the best masters in the world. To receive such an evaluation from him is already very outstanding."

Cai Rulin was overjoyed and quickly knelt down to express his gratitude.

"Prime Minister Liang, why don't you test this boy's chancellorship?"

Mo Zibu was never very proficient in the Confucian classics, so he asked Liang Guozhi, the top scholar, to test him. Liang Guozhi was even more cunning, deliberately choosing questions that were difficult to answer, and then using subtle guidance to guide his questions.

Cai Rulin was still very smart and quickly followed Liang Guozhi's guidance and answered questions fluently.

Well, now all the elements are gathered together, and Mo Zibu showed an expression of praise on his face.

"Thirty-six surnames of Fujianese have crossed to Ryukyu since the Hongwu period, bringing Chinese culture and educating the Ryukyu people. It has been five hundred years since then.

It is rare that you still remember the motherland of your parents and always know your roots. Despite all the hardships, you are still struggling to hold on.

During the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor was constrained by many factors and did not have time to rescue Ryukyu. This was a dereliction of duty as a monarch and father, and the fault does not lie with you.

Now that our Great Yu Dynasty has driven out the Tartars and revived the Han people, you can rest assured that the good days for the Chinese in Ryukyu have arrived."

Hearing the emperor's words, all 36 Fujianese surnames in the Ryukyu delegation burst into tears.

Zheng Zhou, the descendant of Zheng Tuo, the Ryukyu Prime Minister who was murdered by the Satsuma Domain, choked up and said, "With your Majesty's words, my ancestor, Zheng Tuo, can finally rest in peace. Their bloodshed to protect the Ryukyu Islands for China was worth it."

Mo Zibu nodded and said, "Your ancestor Zheng Yu was a loyal, brave and heroic hero, truly a good man of China. I have decided to posthumously confer upon him the title of Earl, the title of Zhongshan, and the posthumous name of Zhongzhuang.

According to the law, you can be granted the title of General Guarding the Nation. If you can achieve military merit in the future, it is not impossible for you to be granted a title and nobility."

Zheng Zhou was so grateful that he burst into tears and was so excited that he couldn't speak. He just banged his head on the ground.

When Princess Shang Kuanshi of Jinjiashan heard this, an expression of uncontrollable joy suddenly appeared on her face.

Zhongshan is not the Zhongshan County in Guangdong in later generations, nor is it the Zhongshan Kingdom in the pre-Qin period, but the Zhongshan of the Zhongshan Dynasty in Ryukyu.

The emperor posthumously awarded Zheng Yu the title of Earl of Zhongshan, implying that Ryukyu would be handed over to the control of the thirty-six Fujian families.

What? You ask Shang Kuanshi, a Ryukyu princess, why she wants Ryukyu to be controlled by the thirty-six surnames of Fujian people?
That's because in Shang Kuanshi's heart, he didn't consider himself a Ryukyuan at all, but rather considered himself a Chinese.

Moreover, her maternal ancestors were indeed Chinese from the thirty-six surnames of Fujian. At the same time, she married a Chinese from the thirty-six surnames, so naturally she sat on the side of the thirty-six surnames of Chinese.

Only her half-brother, Prince Shanghe of Dugushan, stood beside her, with a somewhat uneasy look on his face.

Shang He is a direct descendant of the royal family, and all his wealth and honor depend on the Shang family, the royal family of Ryukyu. If the emperor allows the thirty-six surnames of Fujian people to completely control Ryukyu, the status of these royal families will inevitably decline.

This can also be regarded as the difference in interests between men and women.

"It wasn't easy for your great-grandfather Cai Wen. Even in the midst of a whirlpool, he was able to hold a bowl of water not only level but also steady. Not everyone can do that."

Mo Zibu sighed twice about Cai Wen. This man, the last Prime Minister of Ryukyu among the thirty-six surnames of Fujian people, was really not an ordinary person.

"He is indeed a descendant of a famous family, and he is handsome and well-rounded. He is also a man of both civil and military talents." Mo Zibu pointed at Cai Rulin and said to Liang Guozhi with a smile:
"Prime Minister Liang, why don't you see if there are any suitable noble ladies from your Kuaiji Liang clan? It would be great if we could create a good match for them."

Liang Guozhi's Kuaiji Liang family was a large family with two or three hundred members, so they could definitely find a few suitable unmarried girls.

As for Cai Rulin, judging by her appearance, she is not married yet. As for whether she has an engagement or not, Mo Zibu doesn't care at all.

Whether Cai Rulin is engaged or not, the marriage must take place. The Cai family only needs to follow orders and get married. Mo Zibu has a lot to consider when he randomly arranges marriages.

To strike a balance, Liang Guozhi understood that the Fujianese had too much influence in Ryukyu and were always bold. They would do anything to make money. They had done a lot of things that skirted the line over the years, and the emperor had long wanted to suppress them.

Therefore, the emperor simply arranged for the Cai family, the first of the thirty-six surnames of the Fujian people in Ryukyu, to marry into his Zhejiang aristocratic family, so that the influence of the Zhejiang people could also penetrate deeper into Ryukyu.

"Your Majesty, my elder brother has a granddaughter who is virtuous, well-educated and well-mannered. She is the perfect match for Master Cai."

Liang Guozhi agreed with a smile. Although Cai Rulin was a Chinese from outside the country, his great-grandfather was a powerful man in a country and his mother's family was the royal family of Ryukyu. His status was a bit low, but he was still barely worthy of the Liang family, a family of scholars and officials.

"The Emperor's kindness is as great as the heavens and as deep as the seas. Even if the Cai family sacrifices their lives, it will be difficult to repay him!"

While Cai Rulin was still a little confused and didn't know what this meant, his grandmother Shang Kuanshi had already fallen to the ground, sobbing and kowtowed to express her gratitude.

Who is this Liang Guozhi?

Born as a top scholar in the Qing Dynasty, he held a cabinet position during the Qing Dynasty and was in charge of the logistics of the Second Jinchuan Campaign.

During the Xin Dynasty, Dayu became a cardinal minister of the inner court, the emperor's right-hand man in government affairs, and one of the leaders of the Jiangnan gentry and wealthy merchants in the court.

By marrying the niece of such a figure, everything in the officialdom and upper class of Dayu would be open to his grandson.

This kind of sudden rise in status is more valuable than any reward.

"Get up!" Mo Zibu laughed and waved at Cai Rulin, signaling him to stand up.

However, this seemingly ordinary action made Liang Guozhi shake his head slowly and imperceptibly, and Shang Kuanshi's cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.

Because her grandmother was still kneeling on the ground. If Cai Rulin stood up at this moment, wouldn't it give the emperor the impression that he was unfilial? Even if he married Liang's daughter, his future would be worrying.

This! Is the real test!

Shang Kuanshi was extremely nervous. As the saying goes, serving the king is like serving a tiger. One word from him can send him to heaven, while one action can send him to hell. This feeling was too exciting.

Cai Rulin almost stood up. He did not see Liang Guozhi shaking his head slightly, but out of the corner of his eye he suddenly saw his grandmother's white hair bowing to the ground, and he immediately bowed to the ground as well.

"I thank Your Majesty for your grace, but my grandmother hasn't risen yet. How can a grandmother kneel while her grandchildren stand tall? Please allow me to continue kneeling."

Suddenly, tears welled up in Shang Kuanshi's eyes because of excitement. Finally, finally, he passed this level!

"Oh, I oversaw this!" Mo Zibu pretended to be suddenly enlightened, and he was quite satisfied in his heart.

However, satisfaction with Cai Rulin only accounted for a small part of their feelings. The most satisfying thing was that he easily grasped the joys, sorrows, anger and happiness of the people present, fully allowing them to feel what it was like to jump wildly from heaven to hell.

This is a very clever way to control people, and Mo Zibu only figured it out in recent years without any guidance.

"Get up, all the Ryukyu envoys!" Mo Zibu said with a smile:

"Shang Kuanshi, you are filial to your father-in-law and have made great contributions this time. You have also taught such an outstanding younger generation. You are a meritorious person to China!"

"Come here, give Shang Kuan room a seat!"

"Slave, I bow to thank the great emperor for his grace, but I do not deserve his praise."

Shang Kuanshi, who had just stood up, immediately prostrated himself again, but this time, the tears that flowed were tears of sweetness after bitterness.

(End of this chapter)