New Shun 1730

On the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhengyang, the Canglong Qisu soared in the Zhengnan sky, which coincided with the hexagram of the flying dragon in the sky. It was auspicious and it was time to go boating.

Fourteen cruisers, two troopships, and two fast expedition ships suitable for drawing maps and running routes set sail in Weihai to worship the Heavenly Queen.

The battleship, which cost hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to build, was left in Weihai for training. It was too slow and could only be used as a decoration.

Ten warships and other ships in the fleet will follow Liu Yu to Ryukyu, while the remaining four will stay in Songjiang, Ningbo, Zhangzhou and Guangdong respectively.

Once war breaks out, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send a note to Dutch merchants telling them that they are prohibited from traveling to Japan. By then, the remaining four warships would follow the Dutch ships and capture them if they crossed the line.

Liu Yu's order to each captain was: capture as much as possible without causing casualties to the Dutch. But if there is an accident and someone dies in the Netherlands, then just board the ship and silence them to avoid trouble.

Although warships have never been to Ryukyu before, it is easy to get there. The longitude and latitude can be calculated within such a short distance by using scales, hourglasses, and burning incense.

Historically, the Kang Mazi period of the Manchu Dynasty also used this method to map the longitude and latitude of Ryukyu. [Today's measurement shows that the North Pole of Ryukyu is 26 degrees two and three centimeters above the ground, which is eight degrees and thirty centimeters different from the east-west longitude of Fuzhou]. Although it is not very Accurate, but not too bad.

As for Weihai, the methods are certainly stronger than those of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Professionals have long been to Ryukyu mixed with some merchant ships and measured precise longitude and latitude. Although no warship has ever walked through the entire route, it is as familiar as the bathtub at home.

After completing the fleet separation in Songjiang, the fleet sailed into the ocean.

The sailing formation was commanded by Chen Qinghai, and Liu Yu was drinking tea in the captain's cabin, writing the future translation standards, and thinking about whether the name Peter should be translated into Peter, Pedro, and Pie according to different nationalities. Er, Pizarro are all translated as Peter.

Deputy envoy Zhao Baiquan was extremely bored, flipping through some of Liu Yu's books, curiously looking at Chen Qinghai, who came to report to Liu Yu from time to time, using some words that he knew every word but didn't know what to say when they were connected together. Something about sailing.

The wind direction has been good, and luckily we haven't encountered a typhoon. Based on the accurate latitude and not-so-accurate longitude, we can reach Ryukyu in two days at most.

This time, Liu Yu rarely felt that he was taking off his pants and farting.

After all, the emperor believed that the scope of the Celestial Dynasty was east of Malacca, and the vassals within the scope of the Celestial Dynasty still had to follow procedures and etiquette.

If there is a fight with the Westerners in the future, there is no need to be so polite. It is not impossible to imitate the Dutch and directly raid the anchorage and then declare war, and retaliate in the same way.

The tribute system is shameless. There is no need to be shameless in the diplomatic system.

It's just Ryukyu's attitude towards Dashun in the future. Liu Yu knows that there are more troublesome things in it.

He actually lied to the emperor.

The matter in Ryukyu was much more serious than the emperor thought.

It can be said that from the 37th year of Wanli in the previous dynasty to the present, the Shimazu clan of Satsuma Domain has been playing the Celestial Empire like a fool when it comes to the Ryukyu issue, and the trick seems to be flawless, and the secret has not been exposed so far.

Zhao Baiquan on the side heard Chen Qinghai say that he could reach Ryukyu in two days, and gave Liu Yu a hint with a cough, asking Liu Yu to send Chen Qinghai away.

"Uncle Ying Suo, before I came here, Ping Zhangshi told me that there would be another explanation for my trip to Ryukyu. He told me to ask you when I get close to Ryukyu and not to leak it."

After saying that, he took out a letter stamped with the seal of Tianyou Palace and opened it. It didn't say anything, except that Liu Yu could tell Zhao Baiquan what he could tell, so that Zhao Baiquan would know what he was going to do this time.

Seeing that he was about to arrive in Ryukyu, he thought that since this person was elected, he should not be so pedantic. Liu Yu thought about it and asked tentatively: "Master Zhao, it is the crime of a small country to dynasty Qin and twilight Chu?"

When Zhao Baiquan heard this, he immediately looked dignified, cupped his hands toward the northwest and said, "Ying Suobo's words are ridiculous. Although Qin is strong, it cannot be compared to the princes; although Chu is vast, it dare not claim the king. The princes are fighting each other, and small states are small. If you want to protect your ancestral temple, you will not be guilty if you waver."

"But now that the Holy Dynasty is unified, the whole world is not the king's land, and the shores of the land are not the king's ministers. How can the metaphor of Qin and Chu come about? Ryukyu openly pays tribute to the heaven and secretly communicates with the Japanese country. This is a serious crime."

This is a matter of principle. Zhao Baiquan has been in the Li government for a long time, so he would never dare to make such nonsense metaphors.

But he was not that pedantic. Although he had to correct Liu Yu's words on issues of principle, he actually understood what the court meant.

I originally thought that this time I asked Liu Yu to be an envoy to Ryukyu, because he was going to learn from the previous Ming Yongle Dynasty's ruling king who came to Beijing to plead guilty.

But when Liu Yu said this, he understood that this matter might not be said too strictly. Although the court was dissatisfied with Ryukyu, it did not think that the crime was unforgivable.

Putting aside political correctness, small states are not guilty of the dynasty of Qin and Mu Chu. Who is guilty?

Obviously it was neither Qin nor Chu, but the incompetent Emperor Zhou. Of course, this cannot be said. In this situation, Zhao Baiquan understood that the court was preparing to be an emperor capable of protecting the vassal.

"Uncle Yingsao, this Ryukyu Kingdom pays tribute all the time, and every king needs to be canonized by the Celestial Empire. Although he does not follow the princely etiquette of North Korea, he is still a prince. As a prince of this dynasty, he secretly communicates with the Japanese. This still requires reprimanded.”

"Someone in the court said that the Japanese have a zaifan in Ryukyu to monitor their country. What does Ying Sabo think?"

This incident was deliberately detonated in the court by the emperor. Whether it is true or false is uncertain now, so Liu Yu was sent as an envoy to inquire in order to obtain conclusive evidence.

Liu Yu asked with a smile: "How do you think we should look at it?"

Zhao Baiquan thought to himself that you generals like to fight. You will gain military merit in fighting, you will be promoted quickly, and you can become a general or prime minister in this dynasty. Who knows what you will do?

"Uh...could it be that I want to follow Ban Dingyuanshan's good deeds?"

Liu Yu chuckled and did not answer directly, thinking: Ban Dingyuan?

Ryukyu is just like Ban Dingyuan. The "prime minister" of Ryukyu is appointed by the Satsuma clan. Even the magistrate who greets the angels every time is a Satsuma clan actor. This is not like killing a few " What about the "Hongnu" envoy?

He didn't say anything, fearing that this would make Zhao Baiquan laugh, so he asked, "What do you think?"

Zhao Baiquan could have used other allusions, but he deliberately used the example of Ban Chao killing the Huns envoy in Shanshan. This was because he knew about the debate in the court that day. Liu Yu was criticized for causing harm to the country, and he also used ancient satire to ridicule the present. A story about Zhang Qian and Ban Chao.

Now Liu Yu's smile was a little scary, and Zhao Baiquan couldn't help but sigh and said: "Uncle Ying Suo, there is something I still want to say. In the past Song Dynasty, the struggle between the old and new parties was mostly evaluated by historical theory. The New Party views historical figures, and there is one The old party has another view when it comes to historical figures.”

Liu Yu thought that he was right. This could be regarded as a different view of history. After all, history serves reality. How to evaluate historical figures depends on how reality needs to be evaluated.

At this time, Zhao Baiquan talked about the struggle between the old and the new parties, and Liu Yu couldn't help but said: "In Mr. Zhao's opinion, the statement in the court that day that Ban Gu had harmed the country and Zhang Qian was the culprit was just a talk of party struggle?"

Zhao Baiquan neither nodded nor shook his head, and said with a wry smile: "In the founding of this dynasty, we mostly advocated the learning of Yongjia and Yongkang. The shame and hatred of Jingkang, the resentment of the Eastern captives in the late Ming Dynasty, who was not full of green blood when he was young? Who was not Admire Zhang Qian and Ban Gu?”

"In the court hall that day, they were clearly commenting on Zhang Qian and Ban Gu, but inside they were still debating the imperial government's national policy. Uncle Ying Suo also knew it in his heart."

"Emperor Taizong also said in the past that it would be strange if there were no party strife in the court. Party strife is not terrible. As long as the big strategy is set, the people below put aside the party strife and get things done first, before and after they are done. Argue, but don’t argue while doing it.”

"Taizong's teachings, I often memorize them. But...hey!"

With a deep sigh, Zhao Baiquan knew in his heart that if he could really reach this level, the world would have been in peace a long time ago. The legacy is there, but it is of no use. The parties fight against each other, and in the end they are holding each other back. For example, in the ideal policy, you can fight before the policy is formulated, but you must work in step after the policy is formulated. In Zhao Baiquan's view, it is really just a myth. among.

How Zhang Qian and Ban Gu were evaluated in the court that day was a red line in the party struggle. To recognize Ban Gu and Zhang Qian is to recognize that Dashun should continue to expand externally; to disapprove or even insult it is to oppose Dashun and should continue to expand externally.

It is different from everyone's true senses. Maybe those who scolded Ban Gu and Zhang Qian for harming the country that day in the court did not necessarily disagree with the worship in their hearts. But for the sake of court policy, one can only show disgust.

When governing the country with the decadent moral ideology of the post-Song Dynasty, it is impossible to legitimately talk about rationality and interests. You can only evaluate the ancients from the piles of old papers and use them as arguments.

Zhao Baiquan recognized that Dashun should not continue to expand. He believed that Dashun no longer needed to expand, and any further expansion would be militarism. At that time, the people will not be able to make a living and the people will suffer. What is the point of conquering the border areas? With this money, it is better to exempt money and grain taxes from various places.

But now he was only two days away from Ryukyu, and Liu Yu seemed to clearly tell him that he was going to follow Ban Gu's example of killing the Huns envoys in Shanshan. Zhao Baiquan had no choice but to say: "Uncle Ying Suo, Taizong's legacy on party struggle." , Of course it’s hard to do. I don’t agree with Ying Sao Bo’s idea, but what’s happened is that Ying Sao Bo is the right one. If Ying Sao Bo really wants to do it, I won’t stand in the way.”

"Whether what you have done is right and whether it is worth doing will be discussed after you return to the court after you have done it. Ying Suobo can rest assured that I will not go and tell the Japanese. Although there are party disputes in this court, there are still some bottom lines. He will never fight for the Party to send territory to Xixia like he did in the Song Dynasty."

Liu Yu snorted and said in his heart that you can only represent yourself. As for the court, I don't think so.

Maybe if someone else was involved in this matter, it would be possible to tell the Japanese in advance to withdraw first, which would make Dashun unable to grasp the situation. And I feel at ease that I am doing this for the sake of all the people in the world and avoiding war. There are so many people like this in the history books. Why are there so many people in Dashun? Why should they be different?

Since we avoid specific class interests, even talking about the word "interest" is a bit shameful, and it is easy to control the world, then it can only be a comprehensive reaction against the policies of political opponents, and it is difficult to extract the essence and discard the dross.

Zhao Baiquan had already known Liu Yu's attitude towards this group of people. Hearing Liu Yu's strange smile, he thought for a long time and said, "Uncle Ying Suo, there may be differences in the party struggle, but in fact each party is for the sake of the world, and really I believe that doing so is for the sake of the world. Those who oppose it are traitors."

Liu Yu waved his hand and said: "Farewell, there are so many people in the world. In water works and shipping, some people benefit and some lose. So, who is within the world? Who is outside the world? I always do it for the world and for the world. I You have to look into this carefully.”

"Uncle Ying Suo is biased against us." Zhao Baiquan thought to himself that you are biased against us, and we are biased against you. Since the Tang Dynasty, the imperial examination has been the most fair way to select scholars. Why can you people learn another system through Wude Palace to become officials?

If everyone really has to take the imperial examination... Humph, Zhao Baiquan thought, if only the imperial examination can be taken, you Liu Yu only know practical knowledge, I am afraid you can only be a minor official, how can you look down on me here?

"Ying Suo Bo, I have always known your ability and courage, what you want to do, I can't stop it. Moreover, this time His Majesty has appointed you as the chief envoy, which means that he has promised to follow your way. I, Zhao, will make it clear."

"If Ying Suo Bo wants to be Ban Dingyuan, I will oppose it, and record it. I will report it to the court in the future. I oppose war and aggression, and I oppose border generals to provoke border conflicts. But if Ying Suo Bo does it, I will not stop it, and I will not hinder it. This time, I will not deal with the Japanese, but only with the King of Ryukyu."

"Even if there is merit, I will not do it. Even if I become famous, I will not do it."