New Shun 1730

Outside Zhengyang Gate.

There are no soldiers with guns.

The emperor's ceremonial guards are too dangerous to carry guns. Although the guards are all "own people" and carefully selected, the era of ten thousand enemies has passed, especially after the emperor knew about the rifled gun Minié bullet. It is better to have no guns nearby when he is leaving the palace.

Anyway, the Western envoys had "watched the Chinese military drill performance" yesterday. Judging from the performances of several battalions selected by the Beijing camp, the tactical system is very different from that of Western Europe.

In order to prepare for these envoys, the new, lighter and faster artillery system reform was first implemented in the imperial army.

The integration of boring machines and brass technology, the six-pound gun replaced the four-pound gun and the eight-pound gun, and the heavy gun, which was close to the weight at the end of the Seven Years' War, was also demonstrated.

The "queue formation conversion speed" was enough to shock the European envoys at this time, announcing that Dashun had abandoned the pure linear formation and moved towards a tactical system different from the mainstream at this time.

Some diplomatic envoys who know military affairs may think that this is a tactic adapted to local conditions by Dashun, which is to deal with the vast number of Tatar nomadic cavalry, or to fight in small battles in non-plain mountainous areas.

As for this tactical system, or the current pure linear formation, which one is more suitable for plain battles in Western Europe, Dashun has not been tested in actual combat after all.

They did fight against Junggar, but at this time, the evaluation of Russia's Kalmyk cavalry by various countries was not very high, and it was not the last highlight of the Mongols in East Prussia.

However, judging from the discipline and the luxurious brass cannons of the imperial guards, these foreign envoys determined that this was an army that was not inferior to the French army.

So such an army that emphasizes rapid changes in formation and is obviously intended to deal with the vast number of cavalry as imaginary enemies seems to be naturally confirmed by Dashun's diplomatic strategy of being pro-French and pro-Swiss.

Thinking of the fourth Russo-Turkish war that had not yet ended before they came to Dashun, the image of a land power that wanted to take advantage of Russia's exhaustion to stab a knife came to mind.

Since the Westerners had already seen everything they should have seen, there was no need to deploy musketeers for the imperial procession outside Zhengyang Gate this time, but a palace procession with bright helmets and armor.

Li Gan was in the middle, the Western envoys were watching the ceremony on the side, the civil and military officials had already lined up, and the people were watching from afar.

The last time Dashun had such a grand occasion was when it recovered the capital and pacified Liaodong.

At that time, Emperor Gaozong Li Laiheng, in front of the people, used his prestige to demote Duke Yansheng to a worship marquis and presented a large plaque with the words "If it were not for Guan Zhong, I would have been wearing my hair loose and my clothes on the left."

In the blink of an eye, decades later, there was such a grand occasion again. Especially when the self-tied Zhongshan King Shang Jing came from a distance and the people cheered, Li Gan felt extremely satisfied.

He thought that Liu Yu had done a really beautiful thing, both for the face and the inside.

If the Celestial Empire used its military power, it would be easy to demote or deprive him of his title.

But letting the King of Ryukyu come to Beijing by himself, especially in front of the envoys of Western countries, was not only for the emperor's face, but also to tell the Western countries about the relationship between the Celestial Empire and its vassal states.

Capturing him was violent.

Coming to apologize by himself was the benevolence and righteousness of the Celestial Empire. People still have a kind heart and come knowing that they are guilty.

Although the emperor knew that the King of Zhongshan came this time because of the fleet of Weihai and the purge of Satsuma and pro-Japanese factions that Liu Yu suddenly launched in Ryukyu.

But others didn't know.

So it really had a bit of the flavor of "King Wu ruled the country with benevolence and righteousness, cultivated virtue and the world was willing to serve as his subjects", which was simply the highest pursuit of the emperor in religious doctrine.

In his heart, he couldn't help thinking that it was right to let Liu Yu "act at his own convenience" at the beginning. If it were someone else, they would either just talk about the truth or, because of the dignity of the Celestial Empire, they would not directly send troops to detain the civil and military officials of Ryukyu like Liu Yu did.

But this matter should be kept low-key. Only one Liu Yu is enough. If all the military and civil officials take Liu Yu as an example, but fail to learn the essence, and provoke border conflicts to seek merit, that would be bad.

In the distance, the King of Ryukyu was wearing the clothes of a county king and tied himself up symbolically with a rope. He could not use a thorn stick on his body, because carrying a thorn stick to ask for guilt is a match between a general and a minister, which is not suitable for the emperor.

Whether the King of Zhongshan is guilty or not must be determined by the emperor.

So before the crime is judged, the King of Zhongshan is still a king, and the clothes and hats are still retained.

Shang Jing only imagined the prosperity and population of the Celestial Empire and the majesty of the emperor from the words in the book, but even if he had imagined it, when he really came to this step, the sense of oppression created still made his legs tremble.

This was a way to survive from death. If the emperor was furious, only a petty official would be able to kill him. Even if he hid in Ryukyu, what would happen? The fleet would arrive in no time. Ryukyu couldn't even beat Satsuma, so how could it resist the Celestial Empire?

The nervous sweat soaked Shang Jing's clothes. He finally moved in front of the emperor, knelt on the ground, and cried in Chinese with a strong Minnan accent: "I, Shang Jing, know that I am guilty of a serious crime. I ask for the punishment of the Holy Emperor."

The interpreter kneeling beside him read out the crimes Shang Jing said in Chinese one by one.

When he was in Ryukyu that day, Zhao Baiquan stood from the perspective of etiquette and law, and believed that from the five aspects of heaven, earth, monarch, parents, and teachers, the crime of the Ryukyu king could be determined to the point of "punishing nine clans".

Some sins can be forgiven, and some sins cannot. The law of the country serves as an example. If even sins such as "disloyalty and unfilial piety, being without a king and father, and deceiving the king and neglecting one's superiors" can be forgiven, then the etiquette and law may be in chaos. Only the etiquette and law can make a dynasty. Without etiquette, there is only law. It can only be China.

Shang Jing felt like a mirror in his heart.

Therefore, some sins must not be confessed. If you admit it, there will be no way out.

Fortunately, when Liu Yu was in the Great Purge of Ryukyu, his loyal minister Cai Wenpu committed suicide in order to save the King of Ryukyu, which provided an opportunity for the King of Ryukyu to lie.

So Shang Jing determined his crime as "As a vassal, even if you pretend to commit yourself to the Japanese country, it is wrong; you cannot sacrifice your life for righteousness, which is also wrong. That's why I come to plead guilty."

Why had it been concealed before? That is a matter of ancestors and has nothing to do with me.

Why didn't he report it after he ascended the throne? Because before I came to the throne, I took advantage of Cai Wenpu's study abroad in the Imperial College to avoid the Japanese eyes and ears and secretly reported it to the Celestial Empire. However, who knew that this person was actually a traitor and kept it secret.

This is an obvious lie.

Shang Jing knows that he is lying, and he also knows that the emperor knows that he is lying, but if he wants to survive, he must risk the crime of "deceiving the emperor" again and put all the responsibility on Cai Wenpu, who has died for him.

The court did not know this, but people who were among the civil servants at this time had also dated Cai Wenpu back then, so they knew that this person should not be the one.

But at this time, it’s better to pretend to believe.

Otherwise, bringing out the tortoise and the turtle will involve many people.

If Shang Jing is lying, then are the angels and deputy envoys who were enthroned King of Ryukyu last time guilty?

Are all the civil and military officials in the Ryukyu Kingdom guilty?

Knowing that Shang Jing was lying, the court could only pinch their noses to admit it and save face for each other.

Otherwise, there is only one solution to this matter: kill the Ryukyu royal family and the nine clans, cleanse all the pro-Japanese families, and then directly transform them into counties.

But Chao Zhong settled the account and felt that it was really not worth it. The poor people in that poor place ate banana leaves and cycad seeds, and directly transformed Ryukyu into counties, fearing that "the feudal lords would be surprised."

Another thing... Dashun, as a dynasty, especially in recent years has gained an understanding of the external environment and plowed the Western Regions again, so that the group of empty countries that cheated tribute from the previous dynasty no longer exist; they deceived themselves and had fun. The Western tributary state was changed to diplomacy again.

As a result, there are really not many sects left. Even if we try our best, we can't even get ten together, and it really doesn't look good.

Regardless of whether it was for reasons of lizi or face, it was still necessary to keep Shang Jing and Ryukyu as a tributary state.

But we can't just let it go, as it won't show China's control.

The emperor handed over this issue to the Li government. The Li government came up with the idea of ​​"punishing Ryukyu and pardoning its owner" and downgrading Ryukyu.

Facing Shang Jing kneeling in front of him, Li Gan wanted to lie again and again, but it was a pity for the loyal minister who died for you.

"Ryukyu was originally a vassal vassal that protected the East China Sea, but now it has done something like this. I cannot but punish it."

"For one thing, Ryukyu has been paying tribute since the Ming Dynasty. It was defeated by the Sarhu in the Ming Dynasty, and everything outside the pass was lost. The Central Plains was in danger of sinking. Even though you are a vassal, you don't send a single soldier to defend the great power of Chinese etiquette."

"For this crime, the kingdom should be reduced to a principality."

"Secondly, the new dynasty was established, and it was the righteousness of protecting the world. Ryukyu knew that the new dynasty was established, and it was the dynasty's righteousness to protect the world, but it still concealed the affairs of the Japanese, so that everyone who knew about it would laugh at the dynasty."

"For these two crimes, the principality should be reduced to a princely state."

"Thirdly, Japanese studies are flourishing in Ryukyu but they don't care about it, and Chinese studies are declining in Naha but they don't care. Chinese studies in the country are declining day by day, while Japanese studies are getting more and more prosperous. Although Japanese people also talk about Confucius and Mencius, it is not the right way. If you don't follow the rules, you will go astray. "

"For these three crimes, the prince's kingdom should be demoted to the state of uncle."

"Fourth, in order to welcome the Pseudo-Ming Dynasty, I ceded territory to the Japanese country and asked for money. I don't hate you for serving the Pseudo-Ming Dynasty. At that time, our dynasty was not close to the sea, and I am afraid that Ryukyu did not know about it. After all, I did not serve the Donglu. This crime can be forgiven. However, I hate you. To cede land for a mere nine thousand taels of silver, you must know that the country is priceless. This is a serious crime! If you are not guilty, your descendants will do it as a small crime in the future. If you cut off a city today and an inch of land tomorrow, how can the country last? "

"For these four crimes, the uncle's kingdom should be reduced to a sub-state."

"These four sins are beyond my ability to forgive. As for you, you have had the intention, but you are powerless. Now that the angel has arrived, you can correct it early, and you are aware of your sins. I will rule the world with benevolence and righteousness. This sin can be forgiven."

"Sir, I still guard the Ryukyu ancestral temple."

After that, the guards around him stepped forward and took off the prince's clothes that Shang Jing was wearing in front of everyone.

Shang Jing knew that his life was spared, and he also knew that his position was saved. The moment he was stripped of his royal title, Shang Jing already knew how to repay the emperor.

Since the emperor proposed the four sins of reducing the Ryukyu Kingdom to the Ryukyu Kingdom, it is obvious that the reward must start from these four aspects.

Since the first major crime was that as a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, he failed to send troops when the world changed, then he naturally had to put forward in a very sensible way, "I hope that the Celestial Empire will send people to help Ryukyu train troops, and that the Celestial Empire has the right to recruit Ryukyu soldiers."

By analogy, the four sins are sins, but the rewards that the Celestial Empire wants can also be deduced from the four sins.

After figuring out the key, there was no room for Shang Jing to crawl on his knees with only the inner lining left on his clothes, and he shouted: "I, Shang Jing, thank the Lord for your kindness."

The sound of kowtowing made the Western envoys watching on the side finally understand what the Celestial Empire meant by the so-called vassal state.

The emperor clearly punished the king, and after being punished, the king still thanked the emperor... The taste of it is not in the etiquette of kowtow, but in the word "thank you".

At least, this cannot be applied to the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the princes of various places to understand the legal relationship between the Celestial Empire and the vassal states, which is difficult for them to understand.