Chapter 18: Japan's Strategy (VIII)
Xingzi's gaze puzzled the soldier who was distributing the food. He wondered why this Japanese woman was looking at him like that. Could it be that he was too handsome? At this moment, Xingzi was thinking in his heart, why didn't the soldier salute? Could it be that only people in their group had to have this etiquette towards each other?
Most people born in the royal family attach great importance to etiquette. Seeing that the soldier did not move, Xingzi felt that she could not be rude, so she imitated Tang Yi and performed a not very standard military salute. When the soldier saw Xingzi saluted, he instinctively returned the salute. This time, Xingzi saw the soldier's return of the salute and thought she had done it right. She smiled and took the bowl and followed Tang Yi away. The people behind her were all her subordinates, and Tang Yi's subordinates lined up behind these people out of politeness. When these subordinates of Emperor Nisho saw their Queen salute in front of them, they all followed suit and saluted.
The soldier who was distributing the food was even more confused by the behavior of these Japanese. He thought these Japanese were stupid. They had to salute while eating. However, in order not to lose face, the soldier had to return the salute to every Japanese who saluted. Tang Qi's men who were behind him saw this scene and thought that these Japanese were indeed the type who liked to imitate other people's behavior the most. They did not forget to learn from others even when eating.
Tang Qi quickly understood the behavior of the Japanese people including Xingzi, and felt a little amused in his heart, but did not show it. No matter what, although Xingzi was an empress who was about to destroy her country, she could not behave impolitely. China, a country with thousands of years of etiquette, and the great Celestial Empire could not be so magnanimous as to not have this little bit of magnanimity.
Tang Qi is not the kind of person who seeks vanity and face, but when a person has achieved this status, there are some things that he should pay attention to. After all, he now represents not only himself but a large group of people, and even represents the face of a nation. Tang Qi warmly invited Xingzi to sit down at a row of tables. This place was decorated according to the large cafeteria of later generations, and it was also arranged to reflect the equality of all people and the unity of officers and soldiers.
Seeing everyone finding a place to eat and gathering in groups of three, Xingzi was very curious and felt that his eyes had been broadened. Not only did Prince Tang eat the same food as his subordinates, but he also ate with them in such a strange place. Such an approachable prince, his subordinates must be more willing to get close to him. Xingzi suddenly felt a little envious of Tang Qi. People in high positions could live the free and easy life they liked like Tang Qi. Prince Tang was probably the only one in the world who could do that.
Xingzi was well aware of the various rules and regulations of the royal family and the wealthy families. Even an emperor could do whatever he wanted most of the time and had to maintain his etiquette and dignity at all times, as if only in this way could he lead his subordinates. However, Prince Tang was obviously an exception. He was so approachable, but still could not win the support of his subordinates. He was an anomaly.
However, Emperor Nisho did not know that Tang Lu was different from those heirs of royal families and wealthy families. He had trained his servants bit by bit. In addition, he had a soul from later generations, so his actions were certainly different. In addition, the system established by Tang Lu was also different from that of this era. Although Tang Lu did not deliberately establish a people's system or deliberately come up with any rules of equality for all, the only thing he was conscious of was guiding the sprouts of capitalism to gradually develop forward. It was only some of his usual habits and some styles of later generations that created this atmosphere of unity between officers and soldiers.
In a quiet atmosphere, Xingzi finished her meal with a large group of people for the first time in her life. Afterwards, Tang Qi sent them to Heian-kyo and did not detain Xingzi as Emperor Go-Mizunoo had worried. The next day, Xingzi took her men to participate in the negotiations. However, Tang Qi did not start the negotiations immediately. Instead, he asked Xingzi and her men to participate in the military review. Standing on a high platform, Xingzi and her men watched the teams marching in neat steps past the platform, and watched the several army artillery pieces pass by them, and they felt a sense of powerlessness in their hearts.
Not to mention how well-trained these armies were, nor the sharp weapons they possessed, the number and ferocity of these armies alone were not something that the army under the control of the Japanese emperor could contend with. Although Xingzi was young, she understood Tang Yu's intention of letting her participate in the military parade. In the face of such absolute power, their strength was like a sand castle on the beach, vulnerable to the surging waves.
During the subsequent negotiations, the Japanese ministers brought by Xingxia had lost much of their energy. They were not fools. At this point, being able to save their lives was already a good thing. Therefore, they gradually gave in during the negotiations. Tang Qi did not push them too hard. In the end, Tang Qi promised to guarantee the personal safety of the Japanese imperial family and the surrendered ministers. However, all their property would be confiscated. These Japanese ministers would only be able to continue their appointments after undergoing an assessment. As the current emperor, Tang Qi also gave Xingzi a title: the first-class duke of the nobility.
As for the Empress Dowager Mizunoo, Emperor Go-Mizunoo, Tang Lu would not offer her any favors. Firstly, she was in her prime and difficult to control. Furthermore, historically, Emperor Go-Mizunoo lived a long life, reaching over eighty years old. According to his current age, he could still live forty-plus years. This was not a good situation for Tang Lu.
At the moment of the official signing, Xingzi's heart was filled with emotion. It was as if she had suddenly matured. As the current Emperor of Japan, it was only proper for her to sign this agreement. Emperor Go-Mizunoo was the retired Emperor. Although the power of the Japanese imperial family still lay in his hands, he was no longer the official representative.
As Okiko left Heian-kyo for the signing ceremony, Emperor Go-Mizunoo, standing atop the city walls, watched his daughter depart. He could no longer hold back his tears. He longed to be buried alive with the imperial family, but he also feared death, tossing and turning. Ultimately, he chose not to end his own life. Meanwhile, the Japanese ministers who stood atop the city walls with Emperor Go-Mizunoo also wore expressions of sorrow as they awaited news of the final surrender agreement.
Xingzi put down his pen with tears streaming down his face. The ministers who had come over also burst into tears the moment Xingzi put down his pen. Most of Tang Qi's men had smiles on their faces.
Tang Qi, however, did not look happy. In fact, Tang Qi was very kind to them. Since ancient times, few families that lost their country had a peaceful ending. After signing his name, Tang Qi looked at Xingzi and said, "Actually, you should feel lucky. Since ancient times, the royal families that lost their country rarely had a good ending. But I can guarantee that as long as you behave yourself and don't do anything tricky, I will let you live a rich and prosperous life. Even let your descendants live a good life."
Tang Qi's words were a bit of a pity for a girl's pain of losing her country, but more of a warning to them to just live their own lives and not seek their own death. Xingzi wiped away her tears, bowed to Tang Qi and said, "Please rest assured, Prince Tang, I know what to do."
Tang Qi nodded and began to arrange for his men to enter Heian-kyo. At this time, someone went to report to Emperor Go-Mizunoo and his men that the surrender had been signed. The Japanese minister ran all the way to Heian-kyo, crying loudly along the way. At the foot of Heian-kyo City, he knelt in front of the city gate and said, "Your Majesty, we are guilty of death..."
Even though he knew this would be the news, Emperor Mizuo still swayed a few times after hearing it, holding on to the city wall with his hands. He suddenly seemed like a soulless puppet. The Japanese ministers on the walls of Heiankyo burst into tears. One old man shouted, "Your Majesty, it is our incompetence. Let me apologize to our ancestors first."
The old Japanese man suddenly jumped down from the city wall. Emperor Go-Mizunoo looked at the jumping figure with lifeless eyes, opened his mouth but could not say anything. As the old Japanese man jumped off the city wall, several Japanese ministers jumped off the wall of Heian-kyo with the voice of "Your Majesty". Suddenly, the sound of crying became louder. The sun shone brightly on the wall of Heian-kyo, and it seemed so gloomy amid the crying.
The Japanese royal family was destroyed, and the leaders of the foreign countries that had not yet been destroyed had different reactions after hearing the news. Some were confused and at a loss, some were thinking about surrendering, and a small number of people loyal to the Japanese royal family were ready to make moves. No matter what these people thought, they all felt a sense of grief for the other party.
Tang Lu's army took over Heian Jing smoothly. Most of the people living in Heian Jing were Japanese aristocrats. Although their families had long since declined, their aristocratic status attracted the Japanese soldiers who joined the army. Most of these Japanese soldiers were born as Japanese low-class people. As a low-class person, if they could hold a noble woman in their arms, it would be a wonderful and proud feeling.
After entering Anjing, the Japanese soldiers who joined the army started a trend of looting women from the homes of nobles. Tang Yu did not stop this trend, because if any Japanese people were to do any underground tricks in the future, these people would undoubtedly be the Japanese nobles. Therefore, Tang Yu wanted to weaken these Japanese nobles from the beginning, so how could he stop the looting of the Japanese soldiers who joined the army?
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