The Prince of Yu helped the two up, saying, "It's not your fault, masters. Who could have predicted that Old Yan Song would be so ruthless?"
The two sat down again, still trembling from the bizarre turn of events, and remained silent.
The Prince of Yu hesitated several times, thinking about the huge stir Yan Song had caused by defying the Emperor. Now that the danger had passed, the Emperor was likely to unleash a storm. He couldn't help but ask, "Grand Secretary Xu, do you think the Emperor will severely punish Yan Song and Yan Shifan afterward?"
Xu Jie and Li Chunfang shook their heads, exchanging wry smiles. They thought, "You still haven't seen the danger. Your Zhu family almost capsized this time..."
Xu Jie, known for his good temper, said slowly, "Your Highness, the imperial decree has already removed Yan Song from his position as chief grand secretary. I don't think there will be any immediate trouble. However, we too must do something..."
"Mmm,"
This reminded the Prince of Yu, who immediately said, "Should we write the eulogy? According to the intent of the imperial decree?"
Li Chunfang smiled and said, "Your Highness, I think the Emperor will have Yan Song write the eulogy."
Seeing the Prince of Yu's slight embarrassment, Xu Jie immediately smoothed things over, "Your Highness, it's not about that... Do you remember? The Governor-General's office of Zhejiang and direct regions previously sent the ultimatum from France, and then incited twelve countries to declare war on the Great Ming? This matter was originally difficult to resolve, and coupled with Yan Fenyi's statement that the Emperor and Zhu Mo did not respect the ways of the sages, many strange phenomena occurred...
Now, Zhu Mo has established a public office, tried a batch of Japanese pirates, calling it a war crime, and that 'Warning to the World' has already spread far and wide. We must admit, this matter was done correctly and is defensible. Were the people on the island considered good citizens by the twelve countries from the start? Zhu Mo found Hu Zongxian, and together they issued a circular to all countries. The Ministry of Rites and the Cabinet have not yet responded...
Uh, Your Highness, let us handle this! As long as Your Highness agrees, Brother Shilu and I will draft a memorial, agreeing to Zhu Mo and Hu Zongxian's circular. Then, in the name of the Cabinet, we will officially instruct the Ministry of Rites to reject the declarations of war from all countries, stating they are baseless and will not be accepted by the Department of Host and Guest."
Li Chunfang looked at Xu Jie with admiration, thinking, "You, Xu Jie, are indeed quick to change course..."
However, he said with a smile, "Precisely so. Your Highness, rather than spending effort on the eulogy, it would be better to focus on this diplomatic correspondence, explaining the ways of Yao and Shun to all countries. Yan Fenyi will find it difficult to write the eulogy... That is simply the Emperor's opportunity for him to atone for his sins..."
The Prince of Yu nodded, instantly grasping the key points, and said, "That's right, Grand Secretary Xu and Master Li can work hard on this... I, however, cannot quite grasp the principle of Yao and Shun's teachings..."
The two old men immediately began to discuss.
At the same time,
At Zhenhai Garrison, Liu Yingjie and his subordinates were still interrogating the remaining Japanese pirates. Every time they compiled four hundred people, they would print a batch of pamphlets and publish them in the gazette, which would then be circulated nationwide through the postal system. Each time, a notification would also be sent to all countries, with envoys dispatched by the Ministry of Rites to deliver them.
Yan Song had already taken leave due to illness. Xu Jie, without hesitation, once again took the lead in the Cabinet. With their cooperation, matters proceeded very smoothly.
...
More than ten days later,
In Shuri, Ryukyu, as dusk began to fall.
Suo Zha and Mao Longxuan had waited all day, but the allied parties still had not all arrived.
Moreover, those who had arrived had been of lower caliber. From Joseon, Yun Won-hyung had not sent his confidant Kim Hyo-won this time, but rather an official stationed in Japan, who possessed no envoy status at all. From Li State, Zheng Jian had only sent a Grand Master from the Crown Prince's estate. From the Japanese pirates, as usual, it was the exiled daimyo Arima Harunobu. As for the other countries, they had not come at all this time.
The few of them sat by the dim candlelight, with a rather desolate air. Suo Zha had not been able to sleep for days since receiving the circular from Zhu Mo. Just as he was beginning to feel a little better, he heard that Yan Song had fallen ill. Had that Zhu Mo, by conducting a ritual to Confucius, miraculously brought down that old fox?
He had read the circular several times and had also spent the night reading "The Warning to the World of the War Crimes of the Zhoushan Public Office." Each reading felt like a stab to his heart.
After all, there were over a thousand French people on the island. Although not all were Portuguese, and more were Spanish and Dutch mercenaries, who in the East could distinguish them?
Others might not understand, but he was very familiar with it. Zhu Mo's "Zhoushan Public Office" was very similar to the Inquisition, which could use religious authority to exercise jurisdiction over heretics of various countries. However, the religion of the Ming Dynasty, according to Zhu Mo, was the "Way of Yao and Shun"!
Furthermore,
What troubled him most was that the governor was responsible for any danger encountered by his country's mercenaries, especially its merchants, in foreign lands. In places without a governor, the commercial representative and the fleet commander were responsible. Suo Zha, coincidentally, was the Far Eastern Commercial Representative and the Commander of the Far Eastern Fleet of the East India Company. One could imagine how the usually overbearing and ruthless Regent Prince Henry would deal with him. In the eyes of many of his countrymen, he, Suo Zha, had failed to secure this lucrative territory in the Far East. It was an utter disgrace to his ancestors! At the same time, how many people were eyeing this fat post?
If he did not resolve this crisis within two or three months, his end was imminent. The newly appointed governor or commander would surely not let him return alive.
He could never understand—
How could this Ming person, Zhu Mo, be so familiar with Western affairs? He had established a court of inquiry and was adept at utilizing diplomatic procedures. Even in the West, he would be considered a significant figure.
At this moment,
Looking at the dim light, he felt he had to do something. Even if no one else came, even if he were alone, he had to fight the Ming dynasty. So he said solemnly,
"Everyone, let's officially begin the meeting. The topic for discussion today is this document sent by the Ming envoy Zhu Mo..."
He picked up the circular, threw it down with a rustle, and continued,
"I believe you have all received it... What do you all think? What do the envoys, Lord Yun Won-hyung and Lord Zheng Jian, think?"
The faces of several people were quite grim. Those of lower rank had come merely to make an appearance and were now lowering their heads and feigning ignorance.
Arima Harunobu, being an exile, had nothing to fear. He snorted and said, "General Suo Zha, I believe this circular is completely contrary to the rules of diplomacy! You can choose to ignore it, and the previous declaration of war remains valid!"
Looking at his resolute expression, Suo Zha felt a little comforted, thinking, "These Japanese are reliable. All the Easterners are slippery; only these warriors are useful!" But looking at his expression, the situation in Japan was likely not good either.