Tokugawa Ieyasu had never felt so depressed before. Even when he was suppressed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi through diplomatic means, he had never felt so depressed.
"Everything happened so suddenly, and there was even the Ming Kingdom holding me back. I couldn't make any arrangements at all. That's why I'm in such a passive position. It's such a good opportunity, but I can't make a move on Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Officer Wei, think about it. Whether we overthrow the Toyotomi Clan or not, we still have to face a lot of problems. There's also the Ming Army behind us. Once we start fighting with Toyotomi Hidetsugu, the Ming Army will definitely not let us go!
So, we have to make an agreement with the Ming Army in advance not to let them participate in our war. That's the most important thing! The direct descendants of the Toyotomi clan have all been wiped out in Korea. As long as we defeat Hideyoshi, Toyotomi Hidetsugu and Maeda Toshiie will be isolated and helpless. No one in the entire Western country can help them. We will send a letter to the Dongguo first to let them prepare. When the time comes, we will attack Kyoto from two sides. I'm not afraid that the Toyotomi clan will not be finished.
But if we don't make an agreement with the Ming Army, we will have to face two enemies. We will be attacked from the front and the back, and we will not be able to take care of everything. At that time, whether the Ming Army lands or Toyotomi Hidetsugu sweeps through the Dongguo, we will suffer heavy losses. The whole of Japan will be in chaos again. The Ming Kingdom will gain more, and we will lose more. Speaking of this, do you know what to do? Your Excellency? "
"Do you mean that I should accept these terms and become a sinner of Japan?"
Tokugawa Ieyasu looked embarrassed and angry. "Although I want to be the ruler of Japan, it's precisely because I want to be the ruler of Japan that I can't accept any losses in Japan. Otherwise, how can I explain to the Mikado and the people of the world? Tell the Mikado that he is no longer the Mikado and has become a king. Tell the people of the world that their country is no longer complete. Even the people of five countries will become slaves under the rule of the Ming Kingdom? How can I have the face to rule Japan?! "
Kuroda Rusui carefully read through the Daming's demands and said, "These terms are so harsh. I think this is the Ming Country's intention. They want to give us room to discuss and hide what they really want. In my opinion, what the Ming Army wants the most is nothing more than the silver mountain and the reparations, as well as the three outlying islands. As long as it doesn't involve Country R, we can let it go. But if it involves Country R, we must fight for it."
"Argue with reason?"
Tokugawa Ieyasu pointed at the seven clauses and said angrily, "How many clauses don't need to be debated? Could he just give up on Ma Yinqi and Zuo Du? Could Shijian Yinshan also give up? Absolutely not! "
"Compared to losing more, compared to losing a great opportunity! Sir! This is the price we must pay no matter what! If we don't pay or even overthrow the Toyotomi clan, once we really anger the Ming Kingdom, they will attack us from the sea. We won't be able to stop them from landing. When that happens, we will lose more than just this!
Even if the Ming Kingdom doesn't find trouble with us, won't Toyotomi Hideyoshi? It's not like you didn't see the intelligence brought by the spy. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is already convinced that we will harm him. That's why he wanted to send the 100,000 troops to North Korea. He will definitely make a move against us! We are already riding a tiger and can't back down. The arrow is already nocked on the bow and has to be released! "
Kuroda Rusui saw through everything very clearly.
Tokugawa Ieyasu still couldn't accept the reality of ceding land and reparations.
"We have always been on equal footing with the Ming Kingdom. We have never been a vassal state and have never shown weakness to them. Once this precedent is set, will the Ming Kingdom stop and not ask for more? If we admit that we are a vassal state and lower our national status, or even cause the Emperor to lose his title and become some Japanese King or Guard, can you accept that?
"The current situation is that we have to accept it even if we don't want to. We can fight for these terms and discuss them. When the final result is out, we must accept it in exchange for the Ming Kingdom's support and stabilize our internal affairs. Then, we will continue to have enough power to take back what we lost! We have no choice but to pay the price! "
Kuroda Rusui squatted down and held Tokugawa Ieyasu's hand.
"I also feel humiliated and indignant, but this is something we must do! Think about King Goujian of Yue. Didn't he also endure great humiliation before he could rise up and wash away his humiliation? You think of yourself as Goujian! At least you haven't been forced to eat the Ming Kingdom's Emperor's feces, right? "
Tokugawa Ieyasu's face alternated between green and white. After a while, he bit his lips and spat out a few words — Shijian must not be lost! Fat Qian must not be lost either!
Kuroda Rusui nodded. "Don't worry, I will try my best to mediate with the Ming Army and fight for their support. You should reorganize the army as soon as possible and prepare to enter the Ming Army. Toyotomi Hideyoshi will summon you to the Ming Army soon. Remember, you must stay calm. Don't make a move before Toyotomi Hideyoshi!"
Tokugawa Ieyasu took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
Things happened suddenly and time was tight. Kuroda Rusui did his best. He spent an hour refuting and defending the unreasonable parts of the terms and conditions proposed by the Ming Army. He refuted most of the terms and conditions, leaving only the three trade routes, the establishment of concessions and the consulate in Daming, as well as the cession of the Malay Islands. He refuted everything else and refused to accept it. Then, he called the two people who had been on the diplomatic mission and asked them to go again.
The two looked at Kuroda Rusui.
"It's already midnight. The commander of the Ming Army should be asleep."
The two wanted to sleep too. They were too tired. However, Kuroda Rusui glared and shouted angrily, "Either go or close your eyes forever!"
The two were so scared that they scurried out of Kuroda Rusui's residence. Then, they boarded a small boat and sighed as they went to the Ming Army's fleet. They began their second diplomatic mission. Although the journey was very short, it was also very torturous. At least, they felt very uncomfortable. After being discovered by the Ming Army, they were captured and tied up. They repeatedly said that they were here to find Commander Chen, but they were still tied up and brought to the flagship.
Chen Lin had already tidied up and was about to sleep. Older people slept less and were light. She was just a little sleepy when she was woken up. When she woke up, she heard that the two people from before had come again. Chen Lin was so angry that she pulled out her sword and was about to cut them. Thankfully, the guards stopped her and suppressed her anger.
"Bring them up! F * ck! Can't you let me have a good sleep? "
The two of them were brought up with an unlucky look on their faces. They presented Kuroda Rusui's reply, saying that this was Tokugawa Ieyasu's idea. Chen Lin opened it and took a look. Not bad, it was all in Chinese, and she could understand it.
However, when she saw the content, she was immediately unhappy.
"I, General Daming, have proposed seven terms. You guys are good. You only accept three trade routes, the establishment of a concession and Daming's consulate, and the cession of Horse Island? I, Daming, can easily obtain these things. Do I need your approval? How dare you bring this kind of thing to me?! Go back and tell Tokugawa Ieyasu! You can't refute a single word of the seven terms! Otherwise, I'll write to Toyotomi Hideyoshi tomorrow and tell him everything that happened today! "
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