One Piece of Song Dynasty

Chapter 785 Wang Lun’s visit to Japan (Part )

For the princes who have given up competing for the position of crown prince, these properties are the foundation of their lives given by Li Xin. They can also be regarded as compensation given by Li Xin. If they do not commit suicide after Li Xin's death, these properties will definitely keep them wealthy. .

After arranging these matters, Li Xin called Wei Hong, Minister of Transport, and Fu Yu, Minister of Industry. Since the Railway Group Company was to be established, the future responsibilities of the Railway Department of the Ministry of Transport would become planning railway construction and researching railways. Development policy, and the purpose of calling the Minister of Industry was that Li Xin also wanted to reform the country's mineral resources. All minerals would be nationalized and private mining would be prohibited. Private individuals who wanted to mine could only invest in establishing a joint venture with the imperial court.

After another two days, the five princes finally thought about it. In the end, only the second son Li Qingling and the fourth son Li Yanze chose to compete for the position of prince. However, they had not completed their studies, so Li Xin would not let them go. place.

After receiving the reply, Li Xin immediately named his eldest son Li Xiaolong the King of Lu. Of course, Li Xiaolong is now also the captain of the North Sea Fleet warship. Li Xin will only give the other sons the title of King after they complete their studies.

After receiving Li Xin's order, Wang Lun followed the envoy sent by Japan and boarded the ship to Japan. Wang Lun stood on the bow of the ship with his hands behind his back, cocking his head to face the wind, watching the waves of the vast sea, and sailed south from Dengzhou. The rumored Dongdao seems to be on the horizon. This is where his future lies. His mood becomes more and more agitated. Now Wang Lun has been knighted because of his achievements in several missions to the Kingdom of Jin. The title of Viscount, after the knighthood, of course Wang Lun If he wanted to go further, everyone wanted fame and fortune, but if Wang Lun wanted to go further, he could only rely on diplomacy to fight for the interests of the Tang Dynasty. After all, he was not a military attaché and could be awarded a title based on military merit.

A few days later, people saw land on the ship, and there was another burst of cheers on the deck. Everyone began to change their official uniforms, and Wang Lun was no exception. They were envoys and represented the face of the new Tang Dynasty.

However, everyone was still too happy. The voyage was far from over. According to the Japanese envoy, the ship had to go north along the coast, and then enter the domestic sea of ​​Japan from the strait waterway between Kyushu and Honshu, so that it could get closer to Japan. Port call at Heian Kyo.

Along the way, I encountered a Japanese ship and asked about it. After the Japanese envoy’s explanation and the envoy’s seal, I was let through smoothly. At this time, the wind was light and the sailing speed slowed down. People lowered the sails and sailed slowly.

Several days later, Wang Lun and others arrived at Watanabetsu-Osaka Port at the mouth of the Yodogawa River, and then met Japanese officials. The chief and deputy envoys and Japanese envoys translated and changed ships to follow the officials to Heiankyo.

In fact, Wang Lun and others did not need an interpreter. The officials received by the Japanese could speak Chinese, and their historical records were also written in Chinese characters. Civil servants could more or less read and write, and those who could not write would not be able to become officials.

In this way, Wang Lun and others abandoned the interpreter. The interpreter could only talk to civilian officials. Officials did not need an interpreter, so they talked directly with the officials, and their relationship became much closer.

When they arrived at Ping'an Capital with the ship, everyone instantly felt a sense of déjà vu, as if they were back home instead of in a foreign land. The architectural layout in front of them was basically similar to the picture of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty.

The buildings in Japan are relatively low, and the etiquette for officials and common people is more ancient than that of the new Tang Dynasty. The sleeves and collars are also looser, similar to the Tang Dynasty clothes two or three hundred years ago.

The familiar feeling made Wang Lun have a very good impression of Japan. He said to the deputy envoy: "I never thought that Japan was also a land of kings. The envoys sent to Tang Dynasty in the pre-Tang Dynasty thought so. If we follow the rules of the Central Plains, this trip should go smoothly. too much."

The deputy envoy smiled, and the situation was obviously much better than expected, and said: "What you said makes sense."

Wang Lun and others were taken to a low mansion to hand over the credentials of the Tang Dynasty, and then they were settled down without seeing the Emperor of Japan.

Seeing this, everyone's mood sank. It was very different from what they expected. Wang Lun found that the officials in this country were relatively reserved and cautious, and generally did not get clear answers to questions. On the contrary, the Japanese businessmen and guides were easier to get along with, but the businessmen understood. There are too few things, and I can only get some information that everyone knows, but it is of no use to others.

In fact, Emperor Sutoku's life at this time was not easy. As early as when Emperor Sutoku came to the throne, his father, Emperor Toba, was extremely dissatisfied with the abdication. After the death of his grandfather, Emperor Shirakawa, Emperor Toba began to alienate Emperor Sutoku. Two years ago, in 1139, Emperor Toba gave Prince Tihito, his son born to Fujiwara Tokuko, to Emperor Sutoku as his adopted son, and he became the crown prince three months later.

And just on September last year, Emperor Sutoku's concubine Hei Sabu gave birth to the emperor's first prince, Prince Shigehito. This caused Emperor Sutoku's middle palace to be equivalent to Queen Fujiwara Seiko and his father. The displeasure of Regent Sekishiro and Fujiwara Tadamichi made Emperor Sotoku's situation even more difficult. If history continues, Emperor Sotoku will be forced to abdicate by his father, Emperor Toba, in the near future, and his adopted son, Prince Taijin, will take over. The title is Emperor Konoe.

While waiting for the summons for several days, Wang Lun often talked with guides and local people and recorded various things.

He wrote in the dossier: The power of the country's ruler has fallen to the side, and the Fujiwara family, a relative of the family, has long held the real power. The "head family", "lord family" and nobles who own the land live in Heian Jingyuan and hold fiefdoms. Heian Jing is singing and dancing, and the place is actually controlled by Shoda officials. and samurai control.

The ministers and nobles do not engage in military affairs and have not known each other for many years. They will be ashamed to lead troops. The local affairs are managed by warriors. In the long run, they will be separated from each other and great chaos will occur.

At this time, a Japanese official visited the hotel, claiming to be the adopted son of Fujiwara Tadamichi, but in fact he was Fujiwara Tadamichi's younger brother, who was in his twenties.

Danagon is an official position established under the Japanese Taizongguan system. It is the fourth-level sub-official, equivalent to the Huaimen subordinate official of the prime minister during the Chinese feudal dynasty. The official position is equivalent to the third or fourth rank, and the highest is the third rank.

His duties are to provide assistance to the three ministers and participate in political affairs. He is also a close servant of the emperor, reporting government affairs to the emperor and announcing the emperor's edicts to the emperor. He can also perform duties when the left and right ministers are away; in addition, he is also the great minister. Qing, responsible for the etiquette of major festivals and other matters.

According to the Dabao Order, the quota for Danayan is four. When the Fujiwara clan came to power, this number was no longer enough to place confidants, so in order to expand the number of people, the post of Kōdai Nagon was created.

Fujiwara Yorinaga looked at Wang Lun, paused for a long time, bowed and said in Chinese with a rough but smooth accent: "If any official in our country is not in good hospitality, I will pay it back to you."

.