Chapter 94: Ashikaga Yoshimochi: Father, are you alive?

Loyalty? In these times, the most worthless thing is loyalty.

The Hongwu Emperor called out, "Da Sun."

"Yes!"

The Crown Prince smiled and pulled out a stack of documents: The Muromachi Treaty, The Ming-Japanese Equal Treaty, The Five Islands Voluntary Return to the Chinese Territory Contract, and The Regulations for the Independent Regime of the Ming Dynasty's Vassal Kings.

It detailed that within the ten major port areas of Japan's five islands, only Ming people could live, while Japanese were forbidden from entering. The ten port areas covered an area roughly equal to one-fifth of the entire territory of Japan.

Outside the port areas, Ming-Japanese commoners could live together. Ming military and civilians who violated the laws would be handed over to the vassal king's administration. Serious violators would be repatriated to the port areas, where local regimes had no right to interfere.

Ming people had priority in free trade... Four-tenths of the Five Islands' taxes would go to the vassal king to control, and four-tenths would be paid to the court...

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu broke into a cold sweat.

This was more than just humiliating the country...

Suddenly.

His eyes lit up as he pointed to one line of text, handed it over, bowed respectfully, and asked, "Your Majesty the Emperor, this minister dares to inquire, does this clause mean that within the Five Islands, all major matters are decided by the Shogunate, while minor matters are decided by the Ming Dynasty's vassal king?"

The Hongwu Emperor looked at it curiously and raised an eyebrow. "Correct, follow what is written above."

"Ashikaga, look carefully."

Little Zhu Di pointed to the line below and said with a smirk, "Major matters decided by your Shogunate is fine, but what counts as major and what counts as minor? That is all up to this king."

Ah?

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu looked rather bitter. After these treaties were promulgated and recognized by both regimes, Ming people in Japan had become the pinnacle of nobility, while Japanese had no status remaining at all.

Wasn't this forcing the people to rebel!

The truths he understood, the Ming Emperors understood even more clearly.

The Hongwu Emperor smiled and said, "Every year, we will give you five hundred Ming households, and another five hundred Ming households for the king's mansion to bestow as rewards. Your entire Ashikaga clan will all change to Ming households."

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu breathed a sigh of relief and bowed respectfully. "This minister thanks Your Majesty's grace!"

After the treaty was promulgated, every Ming household became exceptionally precious. Even previous guardian families were inferior in status to an ordinary Ming person.

Moreover, the ten port areas occupied the most important seaports of the five islands, and only Ming household Han people could share this pie.

It could be said that theoretically, every Ming household could cultivate a century-old family.

It was equivalent to having enfeoffment rights, at least resolving the opposition from the next level of the Ashikaga family. As for the bottom-level resistance...

If rebellion is useful, wouldn't they have rebelled?

What were they waiting for?

Look, the Ming Emperor is so thoughtful, it even explicitly stipulates:

Local countries changed to counties, rebels in counties: the main instigator beheaded, followers beheaded, others punished to dig mines in places like the Shizumi Silver Mine, and for serious followers, exiled to Siberia to plant potatoes.

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Little Zhu Di patted him unconcerned. "Why are you making such a bitter face? Wearing this outfit, you don't even look like a local."

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu looked at his own Ming clothes and suddenly realized, excitedly. "Thank you, Your Highness, this minister was foolish!"

The Japanese are lowly, what does it have to do with my Ming Dynasty? My Ashikaga family is Ming people.

"You should also sign one."

Hou Xiaosong was squatting excitedly inside the tent, holding a rope and twisting it back and forth, having a great time.

Suddenly, his fate's back of the neck was pinched, and he blankly wrote his name.

The Hongwu Emperor waved his hand. "Da Sun, take them away."

"Yes!"

The Crown Prince responded respectfully.

The Ming Emperor's entourage of princes and others disappeared in place.

Appeared in the Muromachi Shogunate.

Dozens of samurai noticed the abnormality and quickly surrounded them.

Boom!

A lightning bolt struck down.

Two samurai were instantly paralyzed, the others retreated several steps in shock, not daring to approach.

The Crown Prince said helplessly, "There are still over three thousand samurai in the Muromachi Shogunate. I don't know where Ashikaga Yoshiki is hiding. His figure isn't in the entire small city. You shout two shouts to see if you can find him."

"Hi!"

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu responded respectfully, then scanned around, about to speak.

"Ohatsu-san!? Emperor?"

A surprised voice rang out.

The emperors' princes' gazes looked over. In the distance, a middle-aged man kneeling on the ground, shivering, wearing servant clothes, was extremely shocked.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu probed. "Yoshiki?"

"Ohatsu-san, you, you didn't die?"

Ashikaga Yoshiki ran over excitedly, hugging him and sobbing loudly.

The interpreter translated beside.

Old Zhu Di and Zhu Laosi exchanged glances, somewhat sighful.

Surrender, outside are all Ming troops!

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu pondered, about to speak, but before he could,

Plop!

Ashikaga Yoshiki directly knelt, excitedly saying, "Ohatsu-san, you understand Chinese, quickly tell the Ming Emperor, I want to surrender, I want to surrender!"

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"This little devil is saying what?" the Hongwu Emperor asked curiously.

The Crown Prince pondered. "He says he is an island native."

The interpreter who was about to speak shut up.

In his heart, he sighed: You dare to joke with the Founding Emperor, you're really awesome!

Zhu Gaoxu scratched his head and muttered, "Why do little devils always love to say this sentence."

The Crown Prince chuckled twice.

His Japanese female teachers could only say those few sentences. He didn't like the plot, so naturally, nine out of ten senses were open, and the last one was completely blocked.

"Nani?"

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was stunned and asked suspiciously. "Aren't you resisting in desperation?"

"I wanted to surrender, but the Ming army didn't accept!"

"If the other side asked if I surrender or not, I shouted surrender on the city wall, and the other side said I was cursing!"

Ashikaga Yoshiki wiped his nose and tears, almost crying from excitement, explaining to his young father in broken sentences.

Since his older brother Ashikaga Yoshimi took power, he completely cut off the father Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's established vassal relationship with the Ming Dynasty and implemented a policy of isolation and closed borders.

Although the lower levels of the Muromachi Shogunate had been in contact with Han people, the upper levels hadn't had much contact with Han people. In a short time, there were no Han people who understood Japanese.

And when little devils got excited, their words were quite like dirty words.

The interpreters on the Yongle side, because of Japan's isolation, were basically half-baked.

They completely suffered from being uneducated!

Moreover, from time to time, a dragon robe immortal would pop up and just use lightning to split you.

Unless you understand what they say, you wouldn't dodge and you'd be split long ago!

So, no matter if this young father was a real father or not, as long as he understood Chinese and didn't dislike him, even if he was made a godfather, it would be fine!

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's brain buzzed, and then asked, "Then, what about Yoshimi?"

Yoshimi?

Ashikaga Yoshiki cried even harder.

"Yoshimi, every time he surrendered, the Ming army would actively attack. They weren't in a hurry to exterminate us, they were dragging it out!"

The Hongwu Dynasty's interpreter had a grave face, knowing such matters couldn't be concealed, and quickly translated, "Reporting to Your Majesty, they say the Ming army is dragging it out, and it has nothing to do with them. The Japanese side has always wanted to surrender."

Hmm?

The Hongwu Emperor's expression immediately sank, his cold gaze looking at old Zhu Di.

...