One month later, in the Japanese royal palace.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu looked at the conditions for a ceasefire brought to the Ming Dynasty by the Japanese envoys.

His face was gloomy.

He originally thought that as long as he expressed his willingness to submit to the Ming Dynasty, the matter would be settled.

I didn’t expect Daming’s appetite would be so big.

We also want to occupy the four countries of Japan.

Even the 90 million taels of silver was a huge sum that Japan could hardly afford.

Although it is possible to pay it back in installments, how long will it take to pay back such a large amount of silver?

In comparison, the other conditions are unimportant, the main ones being the cession of cities and compensation.

This was the condition given after paying more than 170 envoys and marrying a Japanese princess.

Otherwise it would be more demanding.

At present, the main hall of the Japanese royal palace seems a bit empty. Most of the Japanese envoys are temporarily appointed Japanese officials.

But there are also thirty or forty people who are real people in the Japanese court.

Compared to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Emperor Go-Komatsu looked much more relaxed.

It is true that Japan belongs to him in name, but the actual control has long been out of the hands of the emperor, especially after the previous war between the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

It seemed to be a showdown between two emperors, but in fact it was a showdown between two shogunates.

Moreover, the envoys sent to the Ming Dynasty this time gave Ashikaga Yoshimitsu the opportunity to weaken the faction loyal to the emperor again.

This made Emperor Go-Komatsu angry but helpless.

What’s the difference between the current emperor and a puppet?

He was hoping that there would be chaos now, because only in chaos would the people of Japan think of the emperor, and only then would Emperor Go-Komatsu have more opportunities to gather enough daimyos who were loyal to the emperor.

So in this regard, Emperor Go-Komatsu did not have any opinions.

"Your Majesty, what do you think of the Ming Dynasty's conditions? Should our country agree to them?"

After being angry, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu returned to the whole.

In his opinion, Japan was his world, and he had originally planned to give up his position as shogun to his nine-year-old son next year.

Then he became a monk and served as the Prime Minister as a monk.

The Daijodaijin of Japan was equivalent to the position of Taishi or Prime Minister, assisting the emperor and commanding court officials.

But under the current circumstances, it is impossible for him to give up his position, and there is no reason to support him to do so.

This gave the emperor and his officials an excuse to stop Japan from leaving Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu on the grounds that Japan was temporarily unable to leave him.

However, even at this time, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu still wanted to dig a hole for Emperor Go-Komatsu.

At present, the only possibility for the Ming Dynasty to sign the treaty is to agree to it, but who will agree to it is also a problem.

Whoever agrees will be the sinner of Japan.

When Emperor Go-Komatsu heard Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's question, he immediately became indignant:

"The Ming Dynasty is really too much of a bully. It actually proposed such harsh conditions. Unfortunately, many people in Kyushu Island of Japan are now under the fiery rule of the Ming army."

"Every time I think of this, I toss and turn late at night, unable to fall asleep, and feel deeply powerless."

Emperor Go-Komatsu naturally would not respond to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's question, as it was completely irrelevant to the question.

Upon hearing this, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu continued to ask: "It seems that His Majesty the Emperor is about to agree to the treaty with Ming Dynasty."

Emperor Go-Komatsu continued: "The Ming Dynasty is powerful and relies on the power of firearms. Our army is completely unable to confront them head-on."

"Even if the city walls were as solid as a rock, they would collapse and shatter in an instant under the artillery fire of the Ming army, and there would be no resistance at all."

"If our country can find the method of Ming Dynasty's firearms, we will surely be able to defeat the Ming army. However, the Ming army is very well prepared. Even if we get some firearms now, we cannot imitate them."

"Now that the Ming Dynasty occupies six of our countries and Goryeo occupies two, most of Kyushu Island has fallen into the hands of others. It is also the harvest month in October, and the grain produced in Kyushu Island will definitely be taken away by the Ming army."

Later, Komatsu said a lot of things, giving various suggestions on the current situation, implicitly indicating that Japan was now out of options, but he did not directly answer Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's question.

The meaning is very clear. I won’t say it anyway. If you want to say it, you can say it.

If you don't tell me, then let's just delay it and see who is more anxious, you or me.

In the Japanese world, the only things that truly belonged to the emperor were the temples. The shugo daimyo in various places were nominally loyal to the emperor, but in reality they had the choice to obey or not obey Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's orders.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu also understood that although the emperor had no power, there was no point in forcing him to speak.

In any case, the signed treaty must be stamped with the Emperor's seal.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu looked at the court officials who had no intention of speaking, and then he said:

"At a time when Japan was in trouble, the Ming and Goryeo invaded our country. The Ming army had firearms to help, so how could our warriors resist with flesh and blood?"

"There is an old saying in the Central Plains Dynasty that blessings often come with misfortunes. For our country of Japan, this may seem like a huge crisis, but in fact, it also contains many opportunities."

"When the Ming Dynasty garrisons troops on Kyushu Island, the relationship between our country and the Ming Dynasty will inevitably be strengthened. At least in the tribute trade with the Ming Dynasty, our country can gain a lot of profits."

"Besides, after this, we Japanese can also legitimately travel to the Ming Dynasty. The secret of the firearm will one day be born in our country."

"So far, everyone should encourage each other!"

Finally, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu stood up and bowed to the ministers from a distance.

These words and actions, expressed with deep sadness and a persistent vision for the future, immediately won the favor of all the ministers present.

When Emperor Go-Komatsu saw this, a deep fear and helplessness flashed in his eyes.

After that, Emperor Go-Komatsu took out the imperial seal, and in the presence of many court officials, he wrote the conditions of allegiance on the letter of credence and then stamped it with the seal.

This letter will be sent to the capital of the Ming Dynasty as quickly as possible by a specially dispatched envoy accompanied by a large number of warriors.

For Japan, the sooner the better.

The faster the time goes, the faster the war will end, and the people of Kyushu Island will be able to return sooner.

It is now the end of August, and we just have to see if we can harvest some rice by mid-October.

…

September 18th, the 26th year of Hongwu.

In the Fengtian Hall, Zhu Ying was standing on the Golden Throne Hall, with Zhu Yuanzhang sitting on the Dragon Throne behind him.

Below were the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty.

Outside the Fengtian Gate were the Japanese envoys who were holding letters of credence and had reached the capital of the Ming Dynasty at the fastest speed.

This time, traveling day and night, and with the transportation from the Daming Post Station, it only took twenty days, and we arrived at the Daming capital last night, September 17th.

Under normal circumstances, the Ming Dynasty should wait for a few days before holding the signing ceremony.

However, after learning that the Japanese envoys had arrived, Zhu Ying decided to accept Japan's surrender on the next day, September 18th.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang didn't understand why his eldest grandson came to him overnight, he said that tomorrow was a good day, so he directly arranged a surrender ceremony for Japan.

But I just let him do as it pleased with this little matter.

Only Zhu Ying knew clearly in his heart that, as a person from the previous life, what this special day of September 18th represented.

This is to constantly remind ourselves of the sufferings that the Central Plains people once endured in another tributary of history.

Also, we should not have any soft thoughts towards Japan.

They are a bunch of ungrateful wolves. No matter how good you are to them, it will be meaningless as they will never be fed.

The only thing we should do is to educate them, let them integrate into the Ming Dynasty, and make them proud of being the people of the Ming Dynasty and ashamed of being Japanese.

As for those who have ulterior motives, just throw them into the sea to feed the fish.

Outside Fengtian Gate.

Minamoto Tomonobu held a wooden tray in both hands, on which was Japan's letter of surrender.

At this moment, his face was full of excitement.

If someone who didn't know the situation saw his expression, they would think that this was not a surrender ceremony, but that he had made some contribution and was preparing to receive a reward.

Not only Minamoto Tomonobu, but also the other five Japanese envoys following behind him, had expressions of joy and excitement.

Their excitement had nothing to do with Japan's surrender; it was simply because their lives were saved.

Who could have known the shadow that had been hanging over the Japanese envoys at Tianjie Temple these days.

Some time ago, before the Japanese princess was favored by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the bodies of all the Japanese envoys who were beaten to death by the order of Zhan Hui were placed in the residence of Tianjie Temple.

And it was strictly forbidden to be buried in the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

This resulted in the place where the Japanese envoys lived being filled with corpses, and after just a few days, it became stinking.

It was a complete physical and mental torture.

Later, it was Minamoto Tomonobu who, after the Japanese Princess Kōko entered the Kunning Palace, proposed to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince that the Japanese envoy be cremated and the ashes brought back to Japan.

Only after obtaining permission from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was we able to get out of this situation.

Minamoto Tomonori waited respectfully behind the Fengtian Gate.

Because it’s not the auspicious time yet.

The Japanese envoy on the left subconsciously looked at Minamoto Tomonobu, as if asking something.

Minamoto Tomonobu nodded slightly, and the Japanese envoys who had been paying close attention almost cheered.

It is said that there is news that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was favoring Princess Xiangzi last night.

It was at this time that news about the Japanese letter arriving in the capital reached the palace.

At Princess Xiangzi's tactful and sincere request, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince issued an order late at night, confirming that the ceremony of accepting the surrender of Japan would be held today.

"The auspicious time has arrived. The Japanese envoys are to enter the Fengtian Palace to meet the emperor!"...

With the loud shouts passed down by word of mouth from the eunuchs, the Fengtian Gate slowly opened.

Yuan Youxin quickly placed the wooden plate on the ground, knelt down and kowtowed, shouting: "The envoys of the small country respectfully obey the imperial edict of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty."

Then he picked up the wooden plate and stood up, and walked forward under the guidance of the eunuch.

In the Fengtian Hall.

The ministers were excited.

No one expected that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would actually achieve such a great victory in the war against Japan.

You know, in previous wars, if you won, you won, and it would place a huge burden on the national treasury. Every time a war was fought, there were a large number of deaths, and a large amount of pensions had to be paid.

Japan, a country that suffered two defeats even during the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, is located on the vast ocean.

In fact, most of the ministers were not optimistic about the war against Japan, and felt that it would be a waste of money and manpower for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

An army of 500,000 is 200,000 more than the Mongol army of 300,000. If they fail, it will greatly shake the foundation of the entire Ming Dynasty's rule.

That is to say, Your Majesty is now shocking the world and doting on the Crown Prince. If it were any other dynasty throughout history, the mobilization of so many soldiers would definitely be opposed by all the ministers.

Moreover, even Your Majesty was dissuaded by Liu Ji back then.

However, facts now prove that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's decisions and policies are very correct.

Although the Ming army suffered certain losses, the losses were maintained at a very low level compared to the national war.

Needless to say, there is a burden in terms of food and wages, but compared with the prosperous Ming Dynasty today, this burden is nothing. At most, it is just the annual income in previous years.

Today's Ming Dynasty has reached a new height in taxation, especially the increase in commercial taxes, and the profits created by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce are no longer a big deal.

The most important thing is that in this negotiation with Japan, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince advocated collecting 90 million taels of silver in compensation from Japan.

Although the debt had to be repaid in 20 years, for the Ming Dynasty, it was equivalent to transferring all the costs of the war to Japan.

In comparison, Japan's cession of three cities seems less important.

As for other matters like trade rights, the civil and military officials in the court didn't care much about them.

As for consular rights, there is no need to explain it. It is related to the people, or to be more precise, the businessmen.

Even now, merchants are of extremely low status in the eyes of court officials. Only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will seek some benefits for them because of their former status as merchants.

When the Japanese envoy, holding the Japanese letter in his hand, slowly walked into the court after kneeling three times and kowtowed nine times outside the Fengtian Hall, it meant that the future war would give the Ming officials a new perspective.

That is compensation enough.

It seems that some of the words of saints, such as magnanimity and tolerance, are not as comfortable as compensation.

That’s 90 million silver coins.

Such a huge amount made every court official feel suffocated.

"Today is such a special day." Zhu Ying couldn't help but sigh meaningfully.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly behind him.

He thought that his eldest grandson was talking about the bad temper he had when the Ming Dynasty was founded, which was finally completely relieved today, so he also smiled and said:

“Today is truly a special day.”

Seeing that the Japanese envoy had already knelt in the Fengtian Hall, holding high in both hands the Japanese letter on the wooden tray, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly to Liu He, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department next to him.

Liu He immediately took out the imperial seal, carefully opened the silk wrapped around it, and respectfully presented it to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Zhu Ying picked up the jade seal, walked down from the Golden Throne Hall, and walked step by step to the front of the Japanese envoy Minamoto Tomonobu.

Opening the letter from Japan above, you will see the specific compensation conditions written in Japanese and Chinese.

At the bottom right, the seal of Japan has been stamped.

When Zhu Ying picked up the jade seal and stamped it on the Japanese letter, it meant that this historic moment had been completed.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was full of excitement at this moment. He did not hide it at all.

Many of the ministers knelt on the ground and shouted three times:

Long live the Ming Dynasty, long live your majesty!!!

Even though Zhu Ying had a good heart and was never easily disturbed by big things, her face turned red when she heard the call.