My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 201 Japan made a fortune, but at what cost?

The negotiation process went more smoothly than expected. Cui Wenyuan was no longer smiling, but rather a little serious.

But he was trying his best not to laugh out loud.

Your Majesty has already decided on the agreement with the Northern and Southern Dynasties. It is called negotiation, but in essence it is no different from asking the Japanese to kneel down and obey your orders.

The core of the agreement consists of five clauses:

First, the Northern and Southern Dynasties jointly recognized that Japan became a protectorate of the Ming Dynasty. Once the Japanese mainland was invaded or civil unrest occurred, it could seek military protection from the Ming Dynasty to maintain the stability of its mainland. The Ming Dynasty could also decide whether to take the initiative to intervene depending on the urgency of the situation.

Of course, the right to interpret this level of crisis lies in the hands of the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, when the national interests of the Ming Dynasty are damaged, if necessary, Japan can be asked to provide necessary assistance or send troops directly.

This was also the most unacceptable point for the envoys of the two dynasties, but they had to accept it under the temptation of huge trade profits. Moreover, apart from accepting it, they had no other choice.

The Ming Dynasty just asked Japan to provide necessary assistance. Doesn’t this mean that the Ming Dynasty also recognized Japan’s strength? Otherwise, why would it add such a clause?

Second, any interaction between Japan and other foreign countries of the Ming Dynasty must be reported to the Ming Dynasty in advance, and at the same time, the exchanges with other countries must be conducted in the name of the foreign countries of the Ming Dynasty.

Although this one is a bit frustrating, it is not unacceptable compared to the first one.

Third, the market between Ming Dynasty and Japan was fully open, and both sides could exchange what they had. Ming Dynasty products could enter Japan without any obstacles, and the same was true for Japanese products.

This is what the Japanese envoys are most looking forward to. It is also the main purpose of their trip, to obtain the qualification to trade with the Ming Dynasty!

Although the Ming Dynasty added a few clauses to this one, which they considered to be somewhat unimportant.

That is, only the Ming Dynasty has the right to decide what kind of goods can be sold to Japan, and the Ming Dynasty also has the right to decide what kind of Japanese goods can enter the Ming Dynasty market.

In the view of the envoys of the two dynasties, if they wanted to do business with the Ming Dynasty, they naturally had to obey the arrangements of the Ming Dynasty. This addition was really inexplicable.

All they had to do was ensure that they could buy the coveted goods of the Ming Dynasty, such as liquor, frosted sugar, silk and cloth, without any hindrance.

As for the last one, whether Japan trades with the Ming Dynasty or with tributary states of the Ming Dynasty such as Ryukyu and Annan, it can only use the Ming Dynasty's currency - Baochao. At the same time, if Japan wants to obtain Baochao, it can exchange it with gold, silver and other items from the Ming Dynasty.

Both dynasties had no objection to this clause, and in order to obtain the right to trade with the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible, they quickly agreed to it.

Seeing that the Japanese envoy agreed so readily, Yang Siyi sneered in his heart. These guys seemed to think they had gotten such a great advantage.

In their minds, the small currency was probably only used for buying and selling, but as a dignified Shangshu, he knew clearly what kind of terrifying power currency had.

By then, when Ming's goods flood the entire Japanese market, the treasure notes will also enter circulation in Japan, which will then trap Japan. Then Ming can use the treasure notes to ruthlessly reap this island country at any time!

The point of this article is not that Japan has to exchange gold, silver or other valuable items with the Ming Dynasty for treasure notes, which is of course what Japan is most concerned about, but that they simply do not understand the binding of commodities and treasure notes. Yang Siyi has learned this set of monetary theories from His Majesty. Japan uses the currency of the Ming Dynasty for trade, which means that Japan has invisibly bound treasure notes and commodities on its own. As long as it wants to do business, it cannot do without treasure notes.

This also means that Japan's right to mint coins will be completely in the hands of the Ming Dynasty!
The Ming Dynasty only needed to print some paper called Baochao, without any soldiers, to control all the assets in the Japanese archipelago at will.

This is the power of finance!

After the agreement was signed and stamped with the envoy's seal, as long as it was stamped with the seals of the shogunate and the emperor after returning, it would mean that the tribute trade system between the Ming Dynasty and Japan was officially established!

Sugawara Tadatsugu and Sasaki Yoshimasa were still a little bit unbelieving, as if they were dreaming. The only thing that made them feel a little regretful was that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty incorporated the whole of Japan into the tribute and trade system of the Ming Dynasty, but did not mention the emperor's enthronement.

But then he thought that His Majesty the Emperor had not conferred an imperial title on the other side, and he felt relieved. What he couldn't get, the other side couldn't get either!

However, both the North and the South were also thankful in their hearts that during the formal negotiations this time, the Ming Dynasty did not mention the issue of the Japanese pirates, and they also tacitly did not bring it up themselves.

Their thoughts were seen by Cui Wenyuan, Yang Siyi and others, but they did not say anything.

Originally, His Majesty was going to include the issue of Japanese pirates in the agenda, but was stopped by Monk Daoyan.

At first, His Majesty was a little confused, but when Monk Daoyan explained his reasons, everyone was relieved and even felt a little fear!
This bald monk was really born for chaos. No wonder His Majesty ordered the Jinyiwei to arrest him and put him in prison with great fanfare. At first, the civil and military officials thought that this monk had done something unforgivable and found it quite incomprehensible.

But now it seems that Your Majesty made a good decision to capture him. If this monk is kept in the Ming Dynasty, Chunchun will be a disaster!

It would be better to send them to Japan to harm them.

Daoyan’s reason was simple. If there were no Japanese pirates, how could the Ming Dynasty find an excuse to send troops to Japan for armed intervention at any time?
Everything has to have a reason, right?

This led to the first article of the agreement: "When the national interests of the Ming Dynasty are harmed, Japan can be asked to provide necessary assistance, and Japan can also be directly dispatched if necessary"!
In this necessary situation, of course, the Ming Dynasty has the final say.

The consultation and negotiation process was completed smoothly. Zhu Yuanzhang also gave face by holding a grand banquet to entertain the envoys. This time, the envoys from the two dynasties finally met the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

At the banquet, envoys from both dynasties expressed their loyalty to the Ming Dynasty, and the emperor and his ministers had a very pleasant conversation. However, envoys from the Southern Dynasty, such as Sugawara Tadatsugu and Ono Hideyo, always seemed more excited for Sasaki Yoshimasa and others, and seemed a little ecstatic.

Since they were negotiating with Ming officials in Wenhua Hall, and the people from the Northern Dynasty were in Wuying Hall, they were not clear about what specific agreement the people from the Northern Dynasty had reached with the Ming Dynasty.

The reason why Sasaki Yoshimasa was so excited was that His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming heard that Emperor Go-Komatsu was fond of studying Buddhism, and would send the eminent monk Master Daoyan to Osaka, where the Northern Court was located, to discuss Buddhism with Emperor Go-Komatsu.

At that time, they will also visit General Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and pray for the general.

In the eyes of Sasaki Yoshimasa and others, this means that the Ming Dynasty seems to be more inclined to believe that Emperor Go-Komatsu, who was respected by their Northern Muromachi shogunate, is the orthodox of Japan!

Otherwise, why would they send a high monk to return to Osaka with them?

(End of this chapter)