Chapter 967
Refusal and Agreement
Pan Yun silently watched him disappear into the palace, knowing that he had returned to his residence and locked himself away.
Zhang Zijin lived in the palace, but rarely appeared there.
Emperors throughout history had gotten used to it; his only responsibility was to keep the palace from being disturbed by strange people and monsters.
When the late emperor fell into enemy hands, the empress dowager personally knelt down and begged him to help save him, but he did not leave the palace even for a moment.
He is only protecting the Zhu family bloodline in the palace, and only targets supernatural beings and demons; he doesn't care about the power struggles of mortals.
Pan Yun's interference in state affairs is already a violation of the laws of cultivators, but she will have to bear the consequences of her actions.
His coming to remind her today has already crossed the line. However, it would be a real pity if someone with such talent were to perish because of worldly affairs.
The connections between people are truly wondrous.
Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu were born and raised in the palace. He secretly watched them grow from infancy to adulthood, but he had no feelings for them at all.
As for Pan Yun, he couldn't help but go easy on her when they first met, and when they met again, he couldn't help but step in to protect her...
Zhang Zijin sighed, sat on the futon, closed his eyes, and decided to go into seclusion to process these emotions.
He summoned the young Taoist and instructed him, "Go and ask Pan Yun when she will leave the capital. I am going into seclusion."
The young Taoist priest immediately went to the Imperial Observatory. It wasn't until evening that he met Pan Yun and immediately returned to report: "The Imperial Preceptor said that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, she will remain in the capital for the next few months."
After the emperor's birthday celebrations, the garrison troops in various regions investigated military farmland and embezzled military funds. In addition, more craftsmen from all over the country came to the capital to present artifacts. Pan Yun also wanted to study energy conversion machines more, because whether it was steam, electricity or various natural forces, they all depended on energy conversion.
Therefore, she is unlikely to leave the capital in the short term unless there is an unforeseen event.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zijin immediately felt relieved and went into seclusion.
With Pan Yun in the capital, she can usually handle any unexpected situation. If she can't handle it, she has a way to wake him from his seclusion.
Zhang Zijin had not secluded himself for many years.
After all, he had to protect the palace, and no one knew when or where a demon or monster might appear, so he had to keep one eye open even when he slept, let alone go into seclusion.
Adhering to the friendly principle of mutual help, Pan Yun agreed to help him guard the palace, allowing him to concentrate on his seclusion.
Except for some more dangerous research that needs to be conducted at testing grounds outside the city, most other research can be completed in the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Observatory within the palace.
Therefore, Pan Yun spent less time outside the city.
After the emperor's birthday celebrations, first the high-ranking officials from various regions who had come to the capital to offer their congratulations left, followed by delegations of envoys from various foreign countries.
They naturally wanted to bring back gifts when they left.
In the past, the Ming Dynasty would reciprocate with generous gifts. In addition to the official gift list, some foreign countries would also request additional gifts in return.
For example, the Oirat Mongols repeatedly used excuses such as snowstorms, droughts, and various other disasters to demand grain, salt, tea, and even silk and weapons.
This year, only Japan and the Jurchens submitted petitions and lamented their plight.
The Japanese, or Wa (Japan) in its official name, submitted a petition stating that the country was plagued by constant warfare and the people were suffering greatly. The shogunate had devoted a great deal of manpower and resources to suppressing pirates and protecting maritime trade for the suzerain state, so they requested some support from the suzerain state.
Zhu Qiyu readily agreed, stating that the Ming Dynasty could provide a navy: "The pirates have wreaked havoc on the southeast of our Ming Dynasty, the southern part of Korea, and the western and southern parts of Japan. They are truly despicable. I know that the Shogun is young and I am afraid that he is not up to the task. Please accept my advice."
Chen Huai immediately stepped forward: "Your subordinate is here!"
"I hereby order you to personally go to Quanzhou and select 8,000 naval troops to accompany you to Japan to suppress the pirates. You must wipe out the pirates at sea and ensure the peace of our Great Ming and the surrounding three countries." Oh, besides Korea and Japan, Ryukyu is also troubled by the Wokou pirates.
Chen Huai immediately agreed.
The Japanese delegation quickly refused, saying that the sea journey was long and Japan was plagued by miasma, and they were afraid that the Japanese soldiers would not be able to adapt to the climate and water. They said that the Japanese would be happy to provide them with material support.
Zhu Qiyu remained silent.
Pan Hong, an official of the Court of State Ceremonial, immediately said: "Your Majesty treats all peoples of the world equally, and even foreigners are loved as if they were your own flesh and blood. The people along the coast of Japan have suffered from pirates for many years, and Your Majesty is deeply saddened by this. A mere strait cannot stop Your Majesty's love for the people."
Basically, the message is the same: if you cry, we'll send troops to quell the rebellion.
The Japanese delegation was extremely frustrated.
Currently, there are Ming Dynasty soldiers stationed at Onsenzu-cho Port and Nanao Port. Although the number is small, their influence is still significant.
In last year's naval battle, they suffered a crushing defeat. Besides the formidable strength of the Ming Dynasty's navy, all the land-based forces attacking the two ports were driven back.
Despite having fewer than a thousand soldiers stationed at the two ports, they mobilized nearly 20,000 men but failed to capture them.
Their defense of the city was brilliant, and more importantly, the local people in the port actually joined them in resisting the large army sent out by the shogunate.
I've heard that Han Chinese are now building schools in ports, just like in the Ming Dynasty, where school-age children can study by paying a small fee.
Good heavens! That is the language of the superior nation, the language of the superior nation, and the books of the superior nation. Only nobles can learn it. Now, even the poor and lowly, those without surnames, can learn the same language and books as them. If this is not stopped, I'm afraid the citizens of both ports will become citizens of the superior nation.
Japan's request was temporarily put aside.
The Jurchen delegation lamented that last year, the Oirat army marched south, enslaving the Jurchen people and plundering their cattle and sheep, causing heavy losses to various tribes. Therefore, the Jurchen delegation requested the emperor's support.
The Jurchen delegation was different. They did not belong to any foreign state, but to a tributary state. After the Xuande Emperor's reign, the court had almost no control over the Nurgan Regional Military Commission, and each tribe was autonomous. If it weren't for Pan Jun's strong request, and the fact that the Jurchens were present in the eastern army of the Oirat Mongols last year, the court would not have specifically ordered them to form an delegation to the capital to offer birthday greetings.
When facing them, Zhu Qiyu was much gentler and more amiable. After listening to their explanation, he nodded in agreement.
However, the items were not given directly to the Jurchen delegation to take away.
He decided to provide them with a batch of grain, salt, and cloth, and send envoys to accompany them north to personally appease the various Jurchen tribes.
The Nurgan Regional Military Commission is different from Japan. Japan is very little dependent on the Ming Dynasty, and it is separated by a strait. At most, Japan will inform the Ming Dynasty when it changes its king or general...
Oh, no, after the Xuande era, Japan stopped reporting to its suzerain state when a new king or shogun was appointed.
Therefore, the Ming Dynasty always had very little control over Japan.
Nurgan Regional Military Commission was different; it was a tributary state of the Ming Dynasty, and legally, it belonged to the Ming territory. Therefore, the emperor proposed sending envoys to appease the various tribes, and Fan Cha hesitated for a moment before giving no objection.
After Esen declared himself Khan, the conflict between the Jurchens and the Oirats intensified, and they indeed needed the support of the imperial court to fight against the Oirats.
Fan Cha raised his smiling face and warmly welcomed the envoy.
Zhu Qiyu's lips curled slightly. He glanced around but didn't find a suitable candidate, so he decided to postpone the selection process.
The envoys sent to the Jurchens needed not only courage but also wisdom. The Grand Preceptor said that they had abandoned control of the Nurgan Regional Military Commission for too long and now needed to make up for it by regaining control of that vast northern land. (End of Chapter)