As the rising sun rose, Tokugawa Iemitsu and his followers followed the officials of the Ministry of Rites to enter the Forbidden City from Yingtianmen. In front of them was a wide and majestic square, which made the Japanese mission members dazzled.

Walking on this square, looking at the magnificent city walls and statues around, I have to sigh that this is the real atmosphere of a great country. Compared with the shogunate Dao, it is like a chicken coop.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites saw that they had never seen the world, and did not urge them, nor would they mock them. They had seen many envoys from such small countries, and they were still so scared that they couldn't walk here. Japan has not come to pay tribute for a hundred years, and no one has ever remembered the grandeur of the Forbidden City in Nanjing.

After entering Fengtian Hall, the emperor sat upright on the dragon chaise. The two rows of civil and military ministers looked serious and stared. Tokugawa Ie-gun stretched his neck and looked up. There was indeed a child on the dragon chaise.

Next to the emperor was a young man, with a red robe and jade belt, a round-brimmed and high-top rattan hat, a black lacquer, a silk-covered silk-covered and gold-shaped circle.

The little emperor talked to him from time to time, with a playful and sweet smile on his face, and his admiration was revealed. Tokugawa's family thought secretly that this must be the actual ruler of the Ming Dynasty, the regent Wang and Xuanyan.

Tokugawa Iemitsu used fluent Chinese and made a statement, mainly thanking the Ming Dynasty for its enthronement, and presented a list of gifts, including a thousand taels of gold, ten horses, a hundred fans, two pairs of screens, ten waists of swords, ten knives, and one combination of inkstones.

Zhu Linhao's first time seeing a Japanese aristocrat dress, he felt everything was fresh, and he wanted to try it in the hall immediately.

"Your clothes are good, can you take them off for me?"

Hou Xuanyan coughed dryly, stood up and laughed, "General Tokugawa, Your Majesty is humorous and loves to joke, don't take it to heart."

"Before Your Majesty, I was originally a minister of a small country, but fortunately I was able to become the lord of Japan. In this way, Your Majesty is His Majesty of the entire Japan. Since there is an order, I dare not refuse to obey it." After saying that, I was about to take off my clothes.

On this hot day, Hou Xuanyan probably didn't wear anything inside. Besides, Japan doesn't have close-fitting pants, if something is exposed... there is still a four-year-old child here, and he is still a little loli.

Hou Xuanyan hurriedly stopped him and said, "Your Majesty already knows the loyalty of the general. The next day, he will be enthroned from Japan. The temple is a majestic place in front of the temple, and it is not advisable to untidy clothes."

Tokugawa Iemitsu then gave up. The civil and military officials in the court endured the hilarious impulse and looked down on these Japanese people. However, Hou Xuanyan became alert. Those who accomplished great things were not limited in detail. Japan was a small place, independent of the vast sea, and was able to rise by this kind of forbearance spirit of silence. To be honest, this is not funny, but it is worthy of admiration.

Tokugawa Iemitsu was the only one who could not bear it in Japan, but he took the initiative to bring a group of ministers to Jinling, the Ming Dynasty to learn and learn from it. Moreover, this person was an executor of the country-locking order not long ago, and he was the first-class person to follow the times.

Because of Tokugawa Iemitsu's ability to bend and stretch, Hou Xuanyan made a temporary decision to set up a state banquet to entertain the Japanese mission, which was also considered a appreciation for this forbearance.

Before the banquet, the guests and hosts were having fun. Hou Xuanyan said to Tokugawa Iemitsu: "You are both Japanese and I, Han people, have been well-known for thousands of years. Although there are misunderstandings, it has been cleared. Recently, I have helped me attack North Korea and have worked hard and made great contributions. This friendship will definitely be remembered in our Ming Dynasty."

When Tokugawa Iemitsu heard him talk about North Korea, his face turned red and he said humbly: "Your Highness Regent, what happened to North Korea..."

Hou Xuanyan interrupted: "That Zhang Yong is a powerful general in Gansu. He did evil in the Central Plains many times, and we were unable to cure him. However, you finally delayed the main force of 70,000 Qing soldiers, which is a great contribution. When we pacify Liaodong in the future, we will attack both sides, and we will be given the title of North Korean Li Nie."

Tokugawa Iemitsu did not expect Hou Xuanyan to speak for him. His face was so touched that he felt a little warm. However, thinking of the shame of Nagasaki's opening of the port, he still cut off his affection for Hou Xuanyan and firmly determined his ideal of learning and surpassing it.

At this time, a guard outside suddenly came to Hou Xuanyan and said something with his ears. Hou Xuanyan's expression changed immediately, and his eyes around him kept glancing at him intentionally or unintentionally. Seeing this, he calmed down to see him.

Seeing that he had not spoken for a long time, Gu Yanwu was anxious and didn't know what big thing happened, so he asked in a low voice: "Prince?"

Hou Xuanyan loosened his eyelids and said in a deep voice: "Just just heard that the Japanese soldiers from North Korea attacked the Qing army camp at night, and almost all the troops were wiped out. Sakai Nobumitsu died in battle..."

"What?!" Tokugawa Iemitsu stood up in vain, his face turned red and white, and he was extremely annoyed. He also had the responsibility for this failure and Sakai Nobuhiko's death. He should not command the generals at a distance from a distance. This is a taboo in military strategists.

Hou Xuanyan stood up and comforted him: "It is common for victory or defeat, and the general does not need to panic, so you can return to the country to stabilize the people's hearts quickly."

When Tokugawa Iemitsu was reminded by him, he woke up that his main force was all in North Korea. If Japan was destroyed, there would be many powerful vassals with ulterior motives. Now that he is not in China, wouldn’t he give them the best chance?

"Prince..."

"Go back, no matter what happens in Japan, my navy will be on your side."

Tokugawa Iegawa bowed heavily, turned around and left, and the Japanese behind him followed closely. There were no guests at the banquet, Hou Xuanyan gathered his mind and smiled and said, "Everyone continues to have a banquet, just treat it as a summer banquet!"

The banquet was until evening when Hou Xuanyan got drunk again and led the emperor back to Houtingzhong.

The heatstroke in Kunning Palace is too strong, and the little emperor Zhu Linhao has moved to the Qianqing Palace, next to it is the Chunhe Palace and the Imperial Garden.

The little emperor hated his complicated dragon robe very much. After removing it, he looked like a monkey with a golden hoop, jumping around without a girl. First, she was lively and active by nature, and second, she was guided by spiritual medicine. She told her every day how novel and fun the prosperous world outside was, which made her envious life outside the palace since she was a child.

Hou Xuanyan also understood the meaning of the elixir, so he turned a blind eye. Sitting on the rattan chair, Hou Xuanyan closed his eyes and pondered. Zhu Linhao turned around around him, feeling boring, and then went to find the palace maid to play with him.

Japan was defeated in Korea, which he had never expected in advance. The Japanese pirates made the whole Jiangnan uneasy back then, and they thought the Japanese were very powerful. Who knew that they would be weak when they met the Qing soldiers. In this way, their plans might change again. They would just log in to the North Korea to fight, or simply give up the main attack on the Songjin battlefield.

A pair of soft and soft sniffed on his shoulders, and Hou Xuanyan gently sniffed it with a girl's orchid musk smell, refreshing.

"Master, drinking all day is not good for your health. Although Master is strong now, he will inevitably have a time to get old." His voice was crisp and sweet, and he knew it was a elixir at first sight.

Hou Xuanyan pulled her into his arms and sighed, "Before the conquest of Liao, we were full of confidence, and we thought we were on the three sides to advance together, and we were foolproof. Who knew that the old turtle Shang Kexi had blocked me for half a year with Shanhaiguan, so that I had not made any progress. Jingbei was fighting again by the Rakshasa ghost. Now Mobei is also fighting. Today, we have the news that the Japanese soldiers in North Korea were almost wiped out. Alas..."

The girl in her arms wore a bun without a tie. Her long hair was as loose as mercury, her hair was like a waterfall, and her body was a goose yellow silk skirt that made her look slim and delicate, as beautiful as a zhilan.

Xiao Lingyao was meticulous and had no choice but to know anything about military affairs. He pressed his cheek against the man's chest and said softly: "You are not upset. Ping Liao is only delayed for a few days. The Northern Expedition has been fought for four years, so we are not unable to afford it. I have already arranged the matters in the court. As long as the front line breaks through Jinzhou, I will pick up the merits of breaking Chenyang and taking over the Qing royal family. This merit is the last east wind."

Hou Xuanyan listened to the laughter of the little emperor outside and looked at the high walls of the imperial city around him. After careful consideration, he was really not in a hurry. Ping Liao fought slowly, with fewer casualties and fewer soldiers, and he could also be casual outside for a while. After the palace, the besieged city, was really not as happy as he imagined.

Thinking of this, Hou Xuanyan felt a little better. He rubbed the girl in his arms and asked, "Duke Zhu Dadian of Wei is old. I have been fighting for so long. It's time to take a break. In Japan, who do you think can go to the court?"

"I'm going to make the decision on this kind of thing. Yao'er hasn't dealt with adults much, so how can he know everyone's talents?"

Hou Xuanyan frowned and thought deeply. He thought about this for a long time, but there was no suitable candidate. The sent person must be mature and polite, capable of making decisions, and loyal. And he cannot be too high in official positions, because at the level of Zhu Dadian, no one in the court is willing to go to poor places in Japan to suffer. After thinking about it, this matter is very difficult. Zhu Dadian has returned to Korea, and Japan has just experienced a crushing defeat in North Korea. The domestic situation must be turbulent, and people need to be sent immediately.

Lingyao saw that he was frowning, but after all, he couldn't bear it and didn't care about avoiding suspicion. He whispered: "Master, what about Gong Zifang, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?"

When Hou Xuanyan heard this, he said, "Wow, Gong Laosan is his confidant. At that time, the remnants of Jiading were the highest prestige except himself. They brought Jiading people to make a good fortune for themselves in Fuzhou. When they were about to stop, they resolutely gave up all of them and exchanged them for three ships of gunpowder, which directly helped him counterattack Hong Chengchou. Moreover, he was a business genius, and he would definitely be able to fulfill his ideas well in Japan and gain the greatest benefits for the Ming Dynasty merchants.

I was in the dark under the lamp, so I wanted to make things easier for civil officials and military generals, but I missed my direct confidant.

Hou Xuanyan pretended to be angry and said, "Okay, you dare not hide your weakness. What's the point?"

Lingyao pouted and blinked his eyes, "There are rumors outside that the demon fox is charming, so that he should not be careful, so as not to be beaten and killed in advance as Wu Zetian."

"You dare to talk back and get me a golden rope!" Hou Xuanyan solved the big problem, and was enlightened by her to figure out the dilemma of conquering Liao. As the saying goes, people have no long-term plans, and they will have a desire.

Lingyao's pretty face turned red, and he turned around and walked towards the bedroom. Hou Xuanyan smiled and said, "How should you get it?"

On the soft carpet of Chunhe Palace, the little girl stretched her arms out, her calves bent up, and her round buttocks were thrusting backwards, and she slowly climbed up.

After a while, he came to Hou Xuanyan with a golden rope in his mouth, even his ears turned red.

...

the next day.

In the palace, Hou Xuanyan sat under the stone lion at the door and personally welcomed Gong Zifang.

A luxurious and exquisite carriage, pulled by four solid white horses, stopped in front of the palace.

A smart middle-aged man jumped out of the car. It was obvious that his body was getting a little fat. He finally got comfortable these days, and Gong Zifang's life, who was revengeful, gradually became more and more enjoyable.

"Uncle San!"

Hou Xuanyan shouted loudly, and Gong Zifang discovered that the former eldest son Hou's current prince was greeting him at the door.

Gong Zifang felt a chill in his heart...

"Prince, the official just had a child and married a concubine. His life was pretty good. In addition, his health was getting worse. If you have any hard work, please look for others in terms of past contributions..."

Hou Xuanyan laughed and scolded: "I know I can't hide it from you, the old fox. Before I could speak, the third uncle knew it."

Gong Zifang knew that Hou Xuanyan had decided, and he could not escape his life. He said with a bitter look: "To be honest, it is not difficult to guess at this. Master Hou, you are polite and you will know that you will be beaten to a hard life. When you are fine, the prince always calls himself me, Gong Laosan, or even Saner. He has to wait until no one goes to the exhausted errand, and then he remembers that we have uncle and nephew."

Hou Xuanyan laughed treacherously and said, "Uncle San, you are just filthing innocence. I, Hou Xuan, have the most etiquette in my life. How can I call myself "Laozi" like the Shijinger? To be honest, this time Japan is defeated and domestic turmoil, I must have a pillar of the country like the third uncle to curb the situation. Duke Wei is old and can no longer bear this position. I have recommended Uncle San as the governor of Japan, and can mobilize the Denglai Naval Division and Songjiang Naval Division, and negotiate with your Majesty on my behalf. Such power is simply a glorious family, but it can leave a tribute to the descendants. When I think of using your relationship with me, I will go through life and death several times since the bamboo forest. Such beauty will not make you feel at ease, and I can't sleep well. You are better, but I doubt me."

Gong Zifang was frightened and screamed strangely, "Young Master, my eldest son, this is absolutely impossible. You have the heart to throw me into the place outside of Japan, so we will meet in a few years. Maybe I can't hold on to the return of the court, and we will be farewell forever."

Seeing that he was not in the air, Hou Xuanyan changed his face and cursed: "Gong Laosan, you have to go even if you don't go today. Let me tell you the truth. I have prepared the ship for Japan. When you came out, my personal soldiers had already gone to your mansion and notified your family to help you pack your greetings. After a while, I will explain to you and you can get on the boat directly, and you don't have to go back home. After that, I will ask you to come back ten or eight times a year, otherwise you will die in Japan.
Chapter completed!