Chapter 584: Japan is a place that has existed since ancient times (Fourth update, please subscribe)
The Ming Dynasty is so strong!
For Ito Hirobumi and others, they have been in unprecedented shock since the day they entered the Ming Dynasty.
After crossing the Pacific Ocean and arriving in the New World on the same day, they learned that the United States was also Japan's main victim. Japan's door was blasted open by the United States.
The United States was actually bombed by the Ming Dynasty!
Bombard the United States and capture the Americans!
Then the United States shamelessly admitted defeat!
From then on, the Ming Dynasty left a strong impression on them.
After arriving in Ming Dynasty, the shock they felt was beyond words.
From Linhai to Nanhua, they saw not only the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty, but also the astonishingly powerful industry of the Ming Dynasty. In the industrial zone of Nanyuan, which stretched for dozens of miles, there were towering chimneys everywhere, and the endless factory buildings were filled with roaring machines. Even at night, the factories were as bright as day under the illumination of electric lights.
This is not some bizarre world; it is clearly... an industrial power that advocates science.
In the wasteland south of Nanhua, they witnessed military exercises again. Tens of thousands of troops were conducting military exercises on the vast land of the Patagonia Plateau. Heavy artillery roared, infantry advanced, and in the sky, airships roared in and razed everything on the ground to the ground.
All of this belongs to the Ming Dynasty!
Daming...
This word sounds so far away!
When they first heard about the Ming Dynasty, it was still called "Nanhua" at that time, and they were stunned for a long time. If they hadn't learned from Westerners that "Nanhua" was a South American "cockroach", they would probably have fought with the Ming Dynasty in Ryukyu.
Fortunately, they did not act recklessly at the time - there was no other way. The lesson learned in the first dozen years since the founding of the country that they would suffer losses if they acted recklessly was too profound.
The Satsuma clan acted recklessly, but what was the result?
The ship was destroyed and people died!
As a result, the South-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed. Now it seems that it was a wise decision to admit defeat!
Meiji was indeed wise!
Now, we have finally arrived in Yingtian!
Fortunately, Yingtian City did not exceed the cognition of Ito Hirobumi and others - it is a Western city!
“This is Western style!”
Sitting in the BMW car provided by the Ming government, Ito Hirobumi and others finally found some of the "Western scenery" they had imagined.
But at this moment, Ohbo Kurimichi said from the side.
"Yoshi, we all thought that Nanyuan and Nanhua were symbols of the Ming Dynasty's prosperity. But today, it seems that Yingtian is the symbol of the Ming Empire's prosperity!"
"Why is that?"
"Mr. Ito, look outside this window, it's full of Western charm, and there are many Westerners walking on the street. Who would have thought that a few years ago, this was the capital of Argentina and the people of Argentina, but today, this is the capital of the Ming Dynasty. The so-called Argentines are just a group of people who lost their country. The power of the Ming Dynasty! This city!"
For a moment, the whole car was filled with voices of approval. What "Western charm"? It was clearly the mark of a loser!
Finally, the Japanese delegation's convoy arrived at the imperial palace - this palace was Western-style, and of course it was also... well, a proof of the Ming Dynasty's military power, because it was once the presidential palace of Argentina.
I finally see the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Do I need to kowtow three times and bow nine times?
Just as Iwakura Tomomi and others were considering what etiquette to perform, they saw the Ming Emperor in military uniform sitting on a chair with a smile on his face.
Iwakura Tomomi and others hurried forward and performed a Japanese-style 90-degree bow.
"His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is well and healthy!"
In fact, for a moment, he wanted to kneel down, but after seeing the white naval uniform on the Ming Emperor, he immediately changed his mind.
Emperor Zhu nodded and smiled:
"Gentlemen, please don't be so polite. Tomorrow, the emperor and his subjects will meet again after more than 200 years. Why should we be so distant? Although I revived the Ming Dynasty in America, it is also the orthodox Chinese. Japan, Korea, and Vietnam are all vassals of the Ming Dynasty! You just need to behave like a subject!"
Hearing this, Iwakura Tomomi, Ito Hirobumi, Ōbo Kurimichi and others were all trembling in their hearts. Kido Takayoshi, who was also one of the three great men of the Meiji Restoration and had a somewhat impulsive personality, immediately said loudly:
"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is surprised by what he said. When did Japan become a vassal of the Ming Dynasty? We are all subjects of the Japanese Empire. Why should we pay homage to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"
"Are the Japanese taking advantage of the fact that the Ming Dynasty was in decline and wanting to go back on their word and become its vassal?"
Emperor Zhu's face turned stern, and his majesty, which was intimidating without even getting angry, was overwhelming everyone.
Emperor Zhu is very tall!
The Ming Dynasty is very strong!
The invisible pressure made Kido Takayoshi's heart tighten, but he still spoke.
"Japan has never submitted to the Ming Dynasty. How can it regret it?"
In fact, to be honest, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang had nothing to fear regarding something like a vassal state in name only, but this was related to the future "legal legitimacy" of the Ming Dynasty over Japan.
"Mu Qing, what you said is wrong. More than 200 years ago, Emperor Shenzong conferred Japan as a vassal state. Japan submitted a letter of submission at that time. Hideyoshi also accepted the conferment of the Ming Dynasty and the three treasures of the Ming crown, court robes, and gold seal given by the Ming Dynasty. Even the Tokugawa family once wanted to pay tribute in the name of being a vassal of the Ming Dynasty. Why, once the shogunate is overthrown, will you no longer recognize your old master?"
Everyone was stunned. Not to mention the others, even Ito Hirobumi was dumbfounded and hurriedly explained:
"Your Majesty, there must be a misunderstanding. For thousands of years, Japan has only respected the Emperor. Even the shogunate is only a minister of the Emperor. Since they are the ministers of the Emperor, how can they be called subjects of the Ming Dynasty?"
"Humph, the imperial seal and the imperial letter are all here. Do you want to regret it?"
With a cold snort, Emperor Zhu said,
"Well, you and your subjects have been disloyal for more than two hundred years, but I still remember our old friendship and do not want to pursue your crimes. After you return to Japan, it will not be too late to verify it with the daimyo and the Tokugawa family!"
In fact, Iwakura Tomomi and Ōho Kurimichi were not pretending to be confused - they didn't know anything about this at all!
Different from the Joseon Dynasty, which believed that "being a dog of the Ming Dynasty is the greatest honor", Japan has never officially paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty.
It’s not that the Japanese don’t want to submit, the most important thing is that there is an ocean between them.
The emperor is far away from the mountains, isn’t he?
However, it is not to say that the Japanese did not pay tribute to the Emperor Jiajing. The Muromachi shogunate did pay tribute to the Emperor Jiajing, but in fact, this was just a trick played by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. He paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty in the name of the King of Japan and asked for canonization. His purpose was nothing more than to defraud tribute trade.
Of course, this incident is certainly not as important as the Ming Dynasty's enthronement of Toyotomi Hideyoshi as the "King of Japan". At that time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi put on the robe of a prince of the Ming Dynasty in front of daimyos from all over the country, received the golden seal, received the title, performed five bows, kowtowed three times, and received cheers from the crowd.
There is no way to wash away this matter. All the daimyo of Japan were watching at the time. After the Tokugawa family took over the world, they also used the golden seal to send a letter to the Ming Dynasty.
But it doesn’t matter whether they admit it or not, as long as we have this historical background, things will be easy.
The Japanese themselves have plenty of "physical evidence". In this regard, Japan is much more honest than the largest country in the universe, Smecta. Even in the 21st century, they still openly display the gold seal to the world.
As for whether the Japanese will recognize Toyotomi Hideyoshi as the minister in the future, this is of course not up to them to choose.
In this world, fists rule the world. As long as Japan is strong enough, it will surely be the world's number one power "since ancient times"!
(End of this chapter)
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