New Shun 1730

The voice of the imperial edict continued to tell of the rudeness of Japan. Although the war had not been started, the righteousness had been established and the war was a foregone conclusion.

As the core of this incident, Liu Yu had known about it for a long time. If he had known it earlier, he would not have been able to cheer up no matter what.

The only thing that could cheer him up was what the "beyond the rules" that the emperor had not mentioned before meant.

Thinking of the rules, Liu Yu could not help but look up at the Korean envoys not far away, feeling annoyed.

As the genuine Jiedushi of Jinghai, he would have to entertain the Korean envoys tomorrow to thank them for their "help in Shibian Jinghai" and lay the foundation for the Korean issue after the war against Japan, and continue to scare the Koreans.

He thought that if the emperor had not "followed the rules" earlier and had shown the courage to break the rules today, the Korean "rebellion" incident back then would be comparable to the Donghak Party uprising, and it would be the perfect opportunity to interfere.

However, there were a few knowledgeable people in the court, but they were of little use. Considering the benchmark of Korea as a vassal, the emperor did not dare to make big moves, fearing that one hair would affect the whole body.

And this hair was the longest one among the less than ten hairs left after baldness.

At the beginning, sending three to five thousand soldiers and horses, either to help the King of Korea or to help the "rebels", what conditions can't be negotiated now?

Why is it so troublesome?

They must stick to the old rules. This time, it is good. After the military reform, the army is invincible in East Asia. At the beginning, three thousand soldiers were enough to turn Korea from a tributary state into a puppet state, but now they have to talk nonsense with Korea.

…………

It was the first time that the Korean envoys saw that the emperor could do such a thing. He actually directly reported to the people, and couldn't help thinking of that sentence.

He doesn't look like a monarch, and he doesn't see what he is afraid of.

Seeing the people's anger, and thinking about the Ryukyu son's hope that the emperor "allows the garrison and the dispatch of thirty-six surnames", he couldn't help but feel sad.

Thinking of what he had done in China this time, he shook his head secretly and sighed in his heart.

The Korean envoy thought, Confucius said: Duke Wen of Jin was cunning but not right, while Duke Huan of Qi was fair but not cunning.

The glorious Celestial Empire is now using the tactics of Duke Wen of Jin, which is not the right way.

The emperor incites the masses and does not have the style of a king.

If it is really for the purpose of maintaining the rites and laws of the vassal state, this is the right way like Duke Huan of Qi.

But listening to what Ryukyu said, it is stationing troops and asking Japan to recover Ryukyu's property and compensation. Isn't this Duke Wen of Jin seeking hegemony in the name of respecting the king?

Duke Huan of Qi also sought hegemony, but his original intention was benevolence and righteousness, and he really wanted to respect the king and repel the barbarians.

Duke Wen of Jin also sought hegemony, but his original intention was to seek hegemony, and he used the power of the emperor to establish a hegemony in the name of hegemony.

Zhuge Liang used Shen Shang's tactics to govern Shu, but he was kind-hearted; Wang Anshi used Shen Shang's tactics to seek profit... Today, the emperor claims to be kind and righteous with trickery. How could no one in the great Celestial Empire see the difference?

Is the Celestial Empire really going to war with Japan because of the vassalage and oppression of Ryukyu?

Did Ryukyu really come to the capital willingly and tie himself up to plead guilty?

Thinking of this, the Korean envoy felt an indescribable sadness in his heart, thinking that there was not a single person in the court who would give honest advice that was unpleasant to the ear. I am afraid that if this continues, the Celestial Empire will perish.

Mencius said: "He who uses force to pretend to be kind is a hegemon, and a hegemon must have a great country; he who practices virtue and benevolence is a king, and a king does not need to be big. Tang used seventy li, and King Wen used a hundred li. He who conquers people by force is not convinced by the heart, because his strength is not enough; he who conquers people by virtue is convinced by the heart and sincerely, just like the seventy disciples who conquered Confucius. The poem says: "From the east to the west, from the south to the north, no one will not be convinced." This is what it means."

The Celestial Empire is trying to be hegemonic, and he who is hegemonic is not the style of a king.

Using force to pretend to be kind, how can it last? Not practicing benevolence and righteousness but using hegemonic tactics, purely taking it by force, how is it different from the Mongols and the Eastern Barbarians?

Thinking about the conditions that Dashun asked for Korea, I felt even more miserable. I thought to myself, lend me Busan and Wonsan today; wait until I become strong tomorrow, and cede Liaodong to you, what else can I say?

Tang used seventy li, and King Wen used a hundred li. Conquering people by virtue is a sincere and happy thing. But now Dashun is suppressing people by force, and it will be retaliated in the future.

He sighed quietly, thinking about his own reasoning in his heart, and his evaluation of Dashun at this time was even lower.

If this is the case, Korea is prosperous in Neo-Confucianism, and it is also a vassal state.

If Zhou died, there were seven kings; Han died, there were three emperors. When Tang collapsed, there were also seven or eight people who embraced Shu and faced south.

Since the Celestial Empire was hegemonic, it was not as righteous as Korea. Now, I think, what is the difference between my Korea and one of the seven powers in the Warring States Period; one of the three kingdoms; one of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms?

Today, I will submit to Shun with force, and when its power declines tomorrow, I can conquer it with force. It may become a unified Qin; or it may be divided into three kingdoms of Wei and Shu; or it may be like the separatist rule of the Ten Kingdoms, it is unknown!

Another example is the Southern Song Dynasty. Although the country was narrow and the people were weak, they even bowed to the Jin people and said that they were ministers, but they were still the true king of the Xia Dynasty, and no one called Jin the legitimate dynasty.

Using force to suppress others is not permanent. The Ming Dynasty still had the disaster of Jiashen. When the power of Dashun is weakened tomorrow, it may be replaced as the orthodox.

Correct the spirit of the world and show the benevolence of the king.

Now Dashun has lost the kingly way of the Xia Dynasty. It is purely relying on hegemony. It also promotes Western learning and makes friends with the Western barbarians for diplomacy. It demoted Yanshenggong to Fengsihou. Now it has demoted the king of Ryukyu to Viscount. I am afraid that Dashun has lost the mandate of heaven.

"Yi" says: The emperor comes from Zhen.

Zhen comes from the east.

The emperor is Yang.

Yang comes from the east, and the morning sun is bright, so it is said that the emperor comes from Zhen.

Could it be that... the destiny of heaven has changed, the artifact has moved east, and a hundred years later, the mandate of heaven is in Korea?

Now that they are doing things in an unfavorable way, using many overbearing ministers, and learning more Western knowledge, there must be a lot of dissatisfaction among the scholars.

Over time, when there is a change in the world, the banner of "Mingjiao righteousness" will be raised, and then a heroic ruler will be sent down from heaven to Gyeongbokgung Palace, and it may not be impossible to achieve the goal of King Wu!

Thinking of this, the Korean envoys were excited.

But the excitement lasted only a moment, and they thought of reality again.

Although Dashun has abandoned the kingly way and acted in a hegemonic way, it will be backfired in the future, but it is at its peak at this time and cannot be attacked.

The current plan is to sign the treaty of "lending" the land to Dashun first, and then ask the Emperor of Dashun to write a statement to indicate that Korea's secret use of Ming as the legitimate dynasty can be forgiven, so as to prevent Dashun from taking the opportunity to cause trouble.

The huge gap between reality and ideal, perhaps fantasy is the best way to smooth out the humiliation at this time.

The Korean envoys have received an invitation from Liu Yu, and they want to thank Korea for its support for his immigration and border affairs in recent years as the Jiedushi of Whale Sea. Several times, the immigrants' ships have to take shelter from the wind and waves on the coast of Korea.

Although the Korean envoys who came to the capital this time did not meet Liu Yu, Korea and Dashun have had a lot of exchanges in recent years, not just tribute and enthronement, so the Korean envoys often heard the name of Liu Yu among the ministers.

Many ministers in the court who are friendly with Korea do not have a high opinion of Liu Yu.

They all say that this person often uses hegemonic tactics and has no benevolence. According to Sima Guang, a person with both talent and virtue is called a saint, a person with neither talent nor virtue is called a fool, a person with virtue better than talent is called a gentleman, and a person with talent better than virtue is called a villain.

When choosing people, a fool with no talent and no virtue is not recommended, nor a villain with talent better than virtue.

The Korean envoys have a sense of moral and cultural superiority towards Liu Yu.

But he also knows that this trip to Ryukyu is led by Liu Yu.

As for whether the former Ryukyu King "took the initiative" to come to the capital to apologize, and what happened in Naha, although I have never seen it in person, I can guess a little.

In addition, the "borrowing land" issue that Dashun and Korea have been discussing recently was also supported by Liu Yu behind the scenes, and he was also the Jiedushi of Jinghai, and he had sent people to Korea to survey the coastline before.

Although there is a sense of superiority in morality and culture, this sense of superiority can only comfort oneself at this time and is of no use.

It is meaningless to fight for such a person who can directly use force in a vassal state, or even hijack the monarch of a vassal state, with morality.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but groan in my heart, and I don't know what kind of difficulties I will encounter at the banquet tomorrow.

I also know that the Celestial Empire will eventually have to save face, and the matter will be finalized by the Li Government, which understands the rules and regulations, but before the Li Government officially discusses it, let this person have a private banquet first...

Although it cannot be said to be unceremonious, it is probably meaningful.

At noon on the second day, the chief and deputy envoys of the Korean envoys came to the newly built Yingsuo Earl's Mansion in the capital, and Liu Yu personally welcomed them at the door.

After the greeting, Liu Yu was like a familiar person. He took the Korean envoy's hand and said with a smile: "This duke was ordered by the emperor to govern the Whale Sea and settle in the border. In recent years, I have been taken care of by the Kingdom of Korea. A few days ago, the court sent people to Korea. I originally intended to go as the chief envoy, but the sudden news of Japanese pirates in Ryukyu really couldn't get away."

While smiling, he welcomed the Korean envoys into the mansion together. After they sat down, Liu Yu said again: "As the saying goes, it is impolite not to return the favor. The poem says: Throw me a papaya, and I will repay you with a jade pendant."

"I have been governing the Whale Sea and have bothered you a lot. Today is the time to repay you. Today I am sending a fortune to Korea. The envoy may as well listen to it?"

The Korean envoy was stunned, thinking that there is such a good thing? I am afraid that the weasel is not paying New Year's greetings to the chicken, and he has no good intentions.

Thinking that there must be something fishy going on, the Korean envoy immediately replied: "Ying Suo Bo is joking. We are all ministers of the emperor. How can we disobey the emperor's orders? Although Ying Suo Bo is the governor of Jinghai, he is not a feudal Jinghai; Korea provides convenience for ships to repay the emperor, not for Ying Suo Bo's personal feelings."

"Ah...you can't say that." Liu Yu smiled and made a long sound.

"Is my return to Korea for personal feelings? It's not for official business. A few years ago, the Korean rebels started an uprising with the story of "Candle Shadow and Axe Sound". After this incident, I heard that Korea wanted to reform the military system and service system? Any reform cannot avoid the word money. Although this thing is vulgar, there are few gentlemen in the world who speak righteousness. My benefit is to give Korea money to reform the military service system. Is it a private matter?"

"First, if there is another rebellion, if there is no army, it cannot be suppressed, and then it will ask the Celestial Empire to send troops. Second, the Japanese are nearby , and there are foreign Christians taking advantage of the situation. This also requires Korea to have weapons to protect itself. "

"If there is another Japanese rebellion like the previous dynasty, if Korea can protect itself, it can be regarded as sharing the worries of the emperor."

"How can this be called a private matter? It is clearly a public matter. Since you are a minister, you should share the worries of the emperor. Worrying about what the emperor has not considered is the duty of a minister. If Korea fails to reform the military tax and cannot protect itself, this is probably not the right way, right?"

Speaking so high-soundingly, the Korean envoys could not say anything, and could only choose to listen, and they became more alert in their hearts.

He thought that this person knew everything about our internal affairs, and even knew that the military service system would be reformed after the rebellion of Li Linzuo. I am afraid that he has a lot of ideas.

Thinking of the Ryukyu incident, it was this person who helped to break the kingship of Ryukyu, and this person had long been eyeing Ryukyu. Now seeing that he knows a lot, it is not gratifying, but worrying.