mtlumby2d Chapter 258: Sakura Mansion
Chapter 258: Sakura Mansion
Eunuch Ma was startled and looked back, only to see the Imperial Master standing behind him on horseback, looking at him with a smile, and next to him was Major General Chu.
"Imperial Master, how come you came from the capital?" Eunuch Ma asked in surprise.
Gu Xi said:
"Our carriage is moving fast, and we have been waiting for Eunuch Ma for a long time. Let's go, we can enter Beijing now."
After saying that, Gu Xi whipped the eunuch Ma's horse on its butt with the whip in his hand. The horse felt pain, neighed, and ran towards the direction of the capital.
"Ah, ah, ah!"
Eunuch Ma was speechless. If it weren't for his good riding skills, he would probably have been thrown off the horse. He didn't know what kind of hobby the imperial teacher had that made him have a special liking for his horse's butt.
*
Upon hearing that the imperial teacher was bringing former Japanese dignitaries to the palace for an audience, Emperor Jichang immediately notified all civil and military officials.
In the main hall, Takemoto Qinshou and others said in the few broken Chinese words they had learned along the way:
"Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Seeing them kneeling on the ground obediently and with an expression of submission, Emperor Jichang's vanity was satisfied, and he then asked:
"You are from the Japanese island. I wonder how big that island is? How many people are there?"
However, Takemoto Kinshou and the others had only learned a few words of greeting on the way, so they did not understand what Emperor Jichang said. They looked at each other, and then spoke a lot in Japanese.
Gu Xi wore translation headphones and understood what they said:
"Your Majesty invited us to Anning Country as guests. I wonder when you will let us go back? We want a large ship like yours."
Emperor Jichang and his civil and military officials looked at them in confusion, not understanding what they were saying.
Gu Xi translated seriously:
"Your Majesty, they are saying that the Japanese island is just a tiny place with only a few fishing villages, and it is very poor and backward. They see that our Kyoto is prosperous and they never want to go back."
She also wanted Sakura Mansion as her fiefdom, but of course she had to devalue Sakura Mansion to the point of being worthless first, so that Emperor Jichang would not be reluctant to give it up.
Emperor Jichang said with satisfaction:
"Okay. After all, they are former nobles of the Japanese Kingdom. I will confer the title of earl to some of their princes and the title of viscount to other ministers. With their salaries, they can live a good life in the Anning Kingdom, which is definitely better than living in the Japanese island."
Gu Xi used translation software to translate Emperor Jichang's words for the Japanese people.
Takemoto Tsutomu started to babble again:
"Your Majesty, we love the big ship of Anning Kingdom so much. We can choose not to go back, but can you give us a big ship so that we can send some things back to our relatives at home?"
Gu Xi knew what he was thinking. He was just trying to steal a ship first and then find a way to escape.
Emperor Jichang looked at Gu Xi again with doubt:
"Master, what they are gesturing at seems to be a ship. What are they talking about?"
Gu Xi carefully translated:
"Oh, he said they came here on a big ship and were very seasick. They don't want to take a ship again. They are unfamiliar with the capital, so he hopes that Your Majesty will give them more guards to protect their safety, preferably to accompany them day and night."
Well, Gu Xi was worried that they would run away.
Emperor Jichang laughed loudly:
"Alright! Although Japan is a tiny country, it is still a country. I will not favor one over the other. I gave a house to the Turks, and I will give them one too, and arrange a hundred guards to guard it."
The Japanese were sent to the imperial residence by a group of guards and placed under house arrest.
Emperor Jichang said:
"National Master, you have made great contributions in pacifying the Japanese. What reward do you want?"
He said this first, which could not only demonstrate his magnanimity as an emperor, but also test the thoughts of the imperial teacher.
Gu Xi raised his eyes to look at Emperor Jichang and silently said: Use mind reading.
Emperor Jichang thought: "Qi Dasheng has accomplished another feat of destroying a country. If we ask other ministers, someone will definitely ask for a title of king. But if we ask him directly, he probably won't dare to ask for such a request. If he really asks for it based on his merits, he must have ulterior motives."
Gu Xi chuckled in his heart, thinking that the dog emperor even had calculations behind his rewards to others.
"Your Majesty, the success of Japan this time was entirely due to your majesty's divine power. The Japanese emperor did not dare to compete with your majesty and ended his life on his own. I just took advantage of the opportunity and do not dare to take credit for it, let alone ask for your majesty's reward."
Gu Xi was very satisfied with her current life and did not want to break up with Emperor Jichang. Even if she could kill him, what would that do? None of his sons were good, and it would not be good for the country to support any of them.
Emperor Jichang felt a little relieved, thinking that this imperial teacher was quite sensible.
He could do without the imperial teacher, but after all, he had made great contributions, so as the emperor he had to reward him.
Then Emperor Jichang glanced at all the ministers.
"My dear ministers, what do you think I should give to the Imperial Master?"
When the ministers heard that Emperor Jichang was talking about rewards, they didn't need to think about official positions or titles.
Minister of War Yuan Guangjin stepped out of the queue and said:
"I think that the Imperial Master did not ask the court for military pay and food when he went to Japan, so he must have paid for it. It would be better to reward him with gold and silver. As for the amount, let the Ministry of Revenue calculate it."
He was very proud now. As expected, the imperial teacher defeated the Japanese pirates without asking for a single penny from the court, and severely slapped the faces of those ministers who had argued with him.
Emperor Jichang turned his attention to the Minister of Revenue. He actually didn't want to give the imperial teacher too much money.
The Minister of Finance, Cai Li, was very tactful and started crying poor:
"Sir Yuan, there has been a severe drought this year and many taxes have not been collected. The treasury is now empty and the maximum amount of silver we can take out right now is 10,000 taels."
Yuan Guangjin frowned.
"Ten thousand taels? I'm afraid it's not even enough to feed the eight hundred soldiers led by the Imperial Master."
What you mean is, are you sending away beggars?
Chu Zhao walked out of the queue and said:
"I have a proposal."
Emperor Jichang frowned.
The National Master comes from the Chu Family Army, and must have a good relationship with Chu Zhao. Would he not ask for an exorbitant amount of money on behalf of the National Master?
"Tell me what you have to say." Emperor Jichang glared at Chu Zhao warningly.
Chu Zhao gave Emperor Jichang an understanding expression and said:
"Your Majesty, the title of the Imperial Master is the Duke of Zhenguo, so he should have a fief. Although it was easy to pacify Wodao Island, and although Sakura Prefecture is very poor, it is after all the territory conquered by the Imperial Master. For the long-term stability of Sakura Prefecture, it is better to give it to the Imperial Master as a fief."
After saying this, he winked at Emperor Jichang, indicating that he was on His Majesty's side.
Gu Xi glared at Chu Zhao angrily, but said nothing.
Emperor Jichang's gaze lingered on the two men's faces for a moment, then he laughed and said:
"Lord Chu, what you said makes sense. The title of Duke of our dynasty can have a fiefdom. Sakura Mansion was named by the Imperial Master. Since the Imperial Master and Sakura Mansion are so closely related, I will grant Sakura Mansion to the Imperial Master as a fiefdom."
A small overseas island, desolate and barren. The places where they exiled prisoners were much better than there. Giving Sakura Mansion to the national teacher as a fiefdom was both a reward and the same as no reward.