During the negotiations, the conditions put forward by the Ming State were basically related to commercial trade, while the shogunate put forward more demands to elevate Japan's political status. To put it simply, the Great Imperial Palace hopes that it is an equal existence with the Emperor of the Ming Kingdom.

However, Lu Jiude immediately proposed that the Ming Emperor and the Japanese Emperor were equal in status, and the shogun under the emperor could not be equal to the Ming Emperor, unless the shogun abolished the current emperor and proclaimed himself emperor.

Lu Jiude's understanding of the relationship between the emperor and the shogun made Inoue unable to find a reason to refute it, and it was impossible for Tokugawa Hidetada to shake the foundation of the Tokugawa shogunate's rule of Japan for the sake of a little fame.

When the two sides reached a stalemate, Lu Jiude put forward a suggestion to change the title of Emperor Daming to Marshal of the Great Ming Dynasty on the national documents of both sides, the military position of Emperor Hongwu before he ascended the throne. In this way, the two sides are equal in status.

Tokugawa Hidetada quickly agreed to this workaround, although Inoue immediately hinted in the negotiations that the name of the Great Imperial Palace would appear on the credentials of the two countries, and that it would be before the current shogun, which Rokudo had no objection to.

The Ming Mission, Peternat, and the Great Imperial Palace, Tokugawa Hidetada, all got what they wanted, so there was this celebratory banquet. Only the three generations of generals, Tokugawa Iemitsu, felt that he had been slapped by the Ming Kingdom, and sat on the side unhappy.

It was just a short chat time at the banquet, and Lu Jiude, who was accustomed to figuring out people's hearts in the palace, was already familiar with Tokugawa Hidetada's character, and won the favor of this depressed great palace.

After listening to Lu Jiude's description of Beijing's scenery, Tokugawa Hidetada showed a yearning look, and he couldn't help but say on a whim: "It's better to send an envoy to Ming this time, and let me be the envoy of Japan." ”

"My lord."

"Father."

Tokugawa Hidetada's subordinates and the third generation of shoguns, Tokugawa Iemitsu, immediately spoke out to stop him.

Tokugawa Hidetada immediately sat up straight, lowered his face and said to his subordinates and son: "I'm just joking with the envoy of the Ming Kingdom, why are you so nervous..."

Seeing that the originally relaxed atmosphere at the banquet suddenly became tense, Lu Jiude couldn't help but interrupt and said: "Actually, the envoy also brought some gifts to give to the Grand Imperial Palace and His Royal Highness the General, I don't know if the Grand Imperial Palace is willing to see it?" ”

Tokugawa Hidetada's face suddenly softened, and he said with a smile: "I think that the famous things of the Ming Kingdom brought by your envoy will definitely open the eyes of the people of our country." ”

Lu Jiude smiled silently, and soon a group of servants came in with a hundred colorful brocades, ten sets of fine porcelain, and a set of cloisonné tableware.

The complex patterns and exquisite cloisonné tableware immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the hall, and even Xu Xinsu watched intently.

The cloisonne process matured in the Jingtai and Chenghua years, and has always been the royal thing of the Ming Emperor, and it has rarely flowed out of the palace, especially the whole set of cloisonne tableware like this is rare.

Lu Jiude introduced to the Great Imperial Palace: "The cloisonne utensils in the palace have always been good in the Jingtai and Chenghua periods, but there are not many cloisonne tableware, and our emperor personally selected this set of tableware as a gift to express the friendship of the Ming Dynasty to Japan." ”

The Great Imperial Palace couldn't help but be overjoyed at first, but said with some regret: "It's a pity that I only have one set, how can I enjoy such a treasure exclusively?" ”

Lu Jiude suddenly smiled and said: "Actually, the Great Imperial Palace is also simple, cloisonné needs good copper as a production material, but I am short of copper now." Originally, our emperor wanted to import copper from Japan to restore the manufacture of cloisonné, and ordered me to buy some when I came to Japan.

However, unexpectedly, the merchant of your country said that the shogunate had issued a ban on copper, prohibiting the sale of Japanese copper to foreign countries. If the Great Imperial Office can make it convenient, our emperor will definitely be willing to make another set of the same cloisonné tableware for the Great Imperial Office as a thank you gift. ”

Tokugawa Hidetada was a little hesitant, and the purpose of the shogunate's ban on copper was to mint Kanei copper coins and accumulate raw materials. This is to unify the domestic money law and abolish the copper coins of the Ming Kingdom and the private coins circulating in the market.

Strictly speaking, it was a national policy that the shogunate was to further crack down on the finances of the feudal domains, abolish the copper coins in the hands of the feudal domains, and strengthen the shogunate's control over the domestic economy.

From the One Country, One Castle Ordinance, to allowing Chinese ships to trade freely throughout Japan, and the minting of Kanei Shincoin, this was a series of plans by Tokugawa Hidetada to weaken the daimyo of the foreign domain.

Of course, for those samurai who only boasted of their bravery, they could not appreciate the outstanding political and economic means of Tokugawa Hidetada. They will only be afraid of the exploits of the Oda Demon King, the Toyotomi Monkey, and the Gonkenden known as the Divine Turtle on the battlefield.

And this is also the most depressed place for Tokugawa Hidetada, he quietly consolidated the authority of the shogunate, so that the unruly daimyo all over Japan lost the power to resist the shogunate, but there was no one who understood to cheer for himself, it was really lonely.

If it weren't for the peace treaty sent to the door by the Emperor of the Ming Kingdom, maybe he wouldn't even be able to find a bright spot in his life, which would be too sad.

Tokugawa Hidetada was struggling in his heart, whether to give the Ming Emperor who made him very fond of a return, Lu Jiude suddenly said again: "In fact, the pattern of cloisonne can also be customized, for example, the Great Imperial Office can draw the desired pattern, then the Great Imperial Office can get a unique cloisonne tableware that belongs to you completely." ”

The last insistence in Tokugawa Hidetada's heart suddenly disappeared, and he immediately said: "If the Ming Kingdom purchases no more than eight ships of copper every year, then I can make the decision and give the Ming Kingdom a concession to sell copper." ”

Tokugawa Iemitsu glanced at his father, then at the gorgeous cloisonné tableware in front of him, and finally didn't say anything.

Lu Jiude suddenly owed a debt to Tokugawa Hidetada, and said with a smile: "Thank you for the kindness of the Great Imperial Palace, I finally didn't let me live up to my emperor's orders." In order to negotiate the copper trade and maintain communication between the Ming Dynasty and Japan, I would like the permission of the Imperial Palace and His Royal Highness the Shogun to set up an embassy in Edo as a place where the Ming envoys will live when they leave Edo. ”

"Of course, that's fine, I'll arrange a comfortable home in the city for you." Tokugawa Hidetada said happily.

In the middle of the moon, the feast finally ended. Under the guidance of a team of samurai, Lu Jiude and the others sat in a Japanese sedan chair and returned to their accommodation.

Lu Jiude and Xu Xinsu went back to the inner room to change their clothes and reappeared in the Japanese-style living room. In the dim candlelight, the two sat around with Chen Yuanzan.

"Mr. Baishan, you are in a foreign country, and you can still be loyal to Your Majesty, and Your Majesty will definitely reward you for your merits. Would you like to go back with me now? Lu Jiude said with a smile.

Chen Yuanzan just thought for a while, and then said: "I have lived here for decades, and my parents are probably long gone, and my clan is probably no longer alive."

If I go back at this time, in addition to touching the scene and making myself sad, I am afraid that even the good memories of my hometown will no longer exist.

In addition, I have been in Japan for many years, and I have long been accustomed to life here, and I have a family, apprentices, and friends. I'm too old to endure this kind of parting from life and death.

The villain's reluctant request, please forgive the adult. And to be able to do a little bit for the Ming Dynasty, it is enough to give a wish. ”

Lu Jiude shook his head with some pity, such a Ming man who knows the inside of Japan will definitely make His Majesty happy if he can bring it back to Beijing.

It's a pity that this person is not very famous in Edo, and he can't use coercion to lure him back to China. Now that he refused, Lu Jiude had to give up for the time being.

Xu Xinsu suddenly said: "Mr. Hakuyama has made a lot of friends in Edo, and now I want to set up a permanent embassy in Edo as a residence for the Ming envoys to Japan. I wonder if Mr. Bai Shan is willing to serve as a subordinate official of the embassy and provide advice and assistance to the envoys of the Ming Dynasty? ”

Chen Yuanzan only froze for a moment, and then happily obeyed. After sending Chen Yuanzan away, the two of them just wanted to go back to the room to rest, and Peternats, who lived in the adjacent courtyard, couldn't wait to come to the door.

Although Xu Xinsu went the way of the shogunate and put the blame for the Taiwanese raw silk incident on Bill's head, the shogunate was still wary of the Dutch, so Peternats was not invited to the dinner at all.

Although he sent Bill to prison in Edo, Peternat's heart was still a little confused, so when the Ming envoy went to attend the banquet hosted by the shogunate, he was still in the hotel in trepidation.

When he learned that Lu Jiude, Xu Xinsu and others had returned, he couldn't help but come over to visit, trying to reconfirm whether things had changed.

In the same room, there were still three people sitting around the tatami mats, but the original position of Chen Yuanzan was changed to Peternats.

Peternats, who was tall and long-footed, could not kneel on a straw mat mat and had to sit cross-legged. Before he could sit down, he had already asked eagerly, "Two nobles, what did the King of Japan say at today's banquet?" Will he change his mind and hold me accountable? ”

Xu Xinsu smiled and said, "That is not the king of Japan, but the shogunate who controls Japan." Rest assured, Mr. Peter, that things will not change again, and that the conflict between the shogunate and the Dutch East India Company will no longer involve you. ”

Peter Natz breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a little disappointment: "But Mr. Xu, didn't you say before you came that the king of Japan... Should it be that the shogun will give up the responsibility of the company under the mediation of the Ming Kingdom? ”

Xu Xinsu was a little speechless, and Lu Jiude reacted quickly and said: "At that time, we didn't know that the Dutch East India Company did not pay taxes when it traded in Japan.

Our emperor once said that power and responsibility are equal. Is it reasonable for your company to trade in Japan without paying taxes, but your company has to collect taxes when Japanese businessmen arrive in Taiwan?

And Taiwan is just a place where my Ming temporarily borrowed for you, and I will collect taxes from my Ming Dynasty, when will it be your company's turn to collect taxes? ”