Chapter 1591: There Must Be a Righteous Cause

1591. Chapter 1591: There Must Be a Righteous Cause

But even so, the state letter still should not have been given to him, because it was meant to be presented to the Son of Heaven of the Great Han for his personal perusal.

"If you have it on your person, then even if you refuse, I could still take it and read it." Just as he was still hesitating, the Crown Prince spoke again, "So why put yourself through the discomfort? Bring it here and let me see it. I am only going to look at it, and once I've finished, I will naturally return it to you. In truth, I already know the gist of its contents—it is nothing more than a request for the Great Han to dispatch troops, is it not? I merely wish to read the letter itself."

Although his tone was very calm, that aura of silent, inherent authority grew even stronger, and Hashimoto Sanemura felt a chill of fear in his heart. He thought it over and realized he truly had no other choice now, so he took from his bosom that letter he treasured like a precious jewel and had intended to deliver to the Son of Heaven of the Great Han, and handed it over.

After an attendant brought it before him, the Crown Prince snatched it up in one motion, then tore open the letter and held it in his hands to read.

He had received many years of education, and although literary studies did not occupy a large proportion, he had at least acquired basic literary cultivation. He found this letter to be quite well-written, and in the end, he could not help but softly read it aloud.

"This text is written with both sound and sentiment, its emotion profoundly deep—it truly stirs one to the very core." He sighed, then returned the letter in his hand to Hashimoto Sanemura. "As the Crown Prince of the Great Han, when I think of the present dire predicament of your nation's Court, I feel it as keenly as if it were my own. I wish that my Imperial Father could immediately dispatch troops to relieve your nation's Court of its troubles and restore its legitimate rule over the realm!"

"Th-thank you, Your Highness!" Hashimoto Sanemura was overjoyed and thanked him profusely, no longer even caring whether he was truly the Crown Prince or not. "If we could receive Your Highness's aid, our humble nation would be eternally grateful!"

"The letter says that if our nation can truly dispatch troops and defeat the Shogunate, allowing your nation's Court to regain political power, your nation intends to compensate our nation with some gold and silver mines... Are these words true?" the Crown Prince asked again.

"Our humble nation is a small country overseas, poor in resources and sparse in population. The only things we can boast of are a few gold and silver deposits. If the Great Han can dispatch troops to rescue our nation from fire and water, then the Great Han would be our nation's benefactor, and no amount of compensation would be too great for such a life-giving favor. If our nation's order can truly be restored, our nation is willing to become a vassal state of the Great Han, loyal and devoted for generations without end, and it is only natural that some gold and silver mines be offered to His Majesty, to be disposed of at His Majesty's will." Hashimoto Sanemura replied with great deference, following the script he had prepared in advance. "Our nation's Court has long been coerced and oppressed by the warrior Shogunate. These warriors not only show no respect whatsoever to our nation's Court, but are also notoriously infamous towards other nations, their hearts filled only with slaughter and plunder. Several decades ago, they crossed the sea and invaded Goryeo, causing a calamity of immense proportions, and were only driven back with great difficulty by the Great Ming. To prevent such a thing from happening again, we earnestly beg the Great Han to rid our nation of this great scourge!"

In truth, the one who invaded Goryeo was Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He never established a Shogunate to become the Seii Taishogun; instead, he affected elegance and single-mindedly sought to become a Court noble, ultimately receiving a surname from the Emperor and attaining the pinnacle of Court officialdom—the Grand Minister of State. His invasion of Goryeo could rather be said to be an invasion by the Japanese Court. Conversely, it was the Tokugawa house, which did establish a Shogunate, that, having learned from the Toyotomi house's lesson, turned towards national seclusion and never entertained the thought of invading the mainland. However, Hashimoto Sanemura had no intention of explaining these details to the Crown Prince; he only needed to stir up the Great Han's antipathy towards the warrior houses.

"The Great Han has a vast territory and abundant resources, rich in every kind of produce and mineral. It has never lacked for mere gold and silver mines." The Crown Prince shook his head, appearing dismissive of the other's words. "However, that your nation's Court has been bullied by the Shogunate to this extent is indeed something that rouses righteous indignation. I sincerely hope that my Imperial Father will issue an edict and send forth heavenly troops to restore order to your nation."

Hearing the Crown Prince speak thus, Hashimoto Sanemura was naturally overjoyed. However, although he lacked experience in governance, his mind was not dull, and he knew that words about only wanting to help Japan restore order and not wanting any mines, gold, or silver were just lip service and could not be taken seriously at all.

As the situation began to improve, reason gradually returned to him, and he began to feel very puzzled by the day's experiences. He sensed that his being sent to Goryeo was no accident, but a deliberate outcome.

If he thought about it that way, there were simply too many suspicious points. Why did the Nagasaki trading post deliberately send him here? Why was this person claiming to be the Crown Prince of the Great Han in Goryeo? And especially... why were so many Great Han soldiers suddenly assembled here? Who exactly were they going to deal with?

"Your Highness, on my way here, I heard the people escorting me say that we are in Goryeo. Is this true?" he asked with a serious expression.

"They actually told you such a thing? I will certainly deal with them later." The Crown Prince's expression changed slightly, then quickly returned to normal. "That is correct, we are currently in Goryeo."

"Then I must further ask Your Highness, where exactly in Goryeo are we right now? And for what matter has Your Highness come to Goryeo?" Hashimoto Sanemura pressed on with his questions.

The Crown Prince was momentarily troubled and exchanged a glance with Zhang Daoyan.

"The envoy is weary from the long journey. Please rest well today, and we can discuss any matters tomorrow." Zhang Daoyan said with a smile. "The envoy must also be anxious to go to the Great Han capital. We will have ships heading to the capital in a few days. With His Highness's approval, the envoy can then hurry to the capital to have an audience with His Majesty."

Although he still had too many doubts in his heart that he wanted answered, from the faces of these people, Hashimoto Sanemura understood that they were unwilling to reveal much to him right now. When under another's roof, one must bow one's head. He had no choice but to suppress his doubts and follow the guiding attendant out of this residence, walking towards the lodgings arranged for him here.

"He has indeed become suspicious." After he was taken away, the Crown Prince sighed softly. "It seems we really cannot muddle through this."

"With the journey being so strange, and having seen so many openly displayed fleets and soldiers, even a fool would become suspicious, let alone a clever man." Zhang Daoyan smiled wryly. "Your Highness, I fear we cannot keep this envoy in the dark."

"If we can't keep him in the dark, so be it. We would have to explain things clearly to them sooner or later anyway." The Crown Prince pondered for a moment. "Tomorrow I will go find him and tell him why I have come to Goryeo, and why the Great Han's grand army is assembled in Goryeo. I will tell him everything that can be told."

"That... would that not be unwise?" Zhang Daoyan hesitated. "Your Highness, the Japanese Court sought us out to request our aid. They want to borrow troops. But if they learn that we had already decided to send troops against Japan before this, it might affect their perception. If they become unwilling to cooperate with us because of it, that would be troublesome."

"They have fallen to such a state—can they still bargain with us? We have decided to send troops to strike the Shogunate. No matter the reason, it is ultimately a good thing for them, is it not?" the Crown Prince countered. "The decision of my Imperial Father and the Cabinet is to support the Japanese Court after the war to restrain the powerful clans and daimyo across the land. I do not believe they will refuse such an arrangement. Besides, our army's arrow is already on the bowstring. Even if they refuse to agree or cooperate, what can they do? It is they who are begging us, not we who are begging them."

"Your Highness is most perceptive." Although he still had some reservations in his heart, seeing that the Crown Prince had already made his decision, Zhang Daoyan naturally would not say more and bowed his head in acknowledgment before withdrawing.

Inside the crude dwelling, the Japanese Court's envoy, Hashimoto Sanemura, spent another restless and uneasy night. He had entered this village heavily guarded by the grand army, but his heart was solely focused on how to fulfill his mission. The previous day's experiences had been far too bizarre, so he lay awake the entire night.

Early in the morning, still in a daze, he was roused by the soldiers guarding him. The soldiers' expressions were grim, their attitude extremely rough and harsh, and they no longer answered any of his questions. Because they had divulged information to him yesterday, the soldiers who had escorted him had all been punished. With the grief of seeing their comrades suffer, no one was willing to say even half a word more to this Japanese man.

Very soon, he was escorted before the youth who had yesterday claimed to be the Crown Prince of the Great Han.

"How did the envoy rest yesterday?" Compared to the somewhat listless Hashimoto Sanemura, the Crown Prince was far more spirited. As soon as he saw Hashimoto Sanemura, he asked with considerable warmth, "It seems you are still quite fatigued. Why not join us for some breakfast shortly? Though simple fare, it can help refresh the spirit."

"Thank you... Your Highness." Because he still harbored some doubt about the other's identity, Hashimoto Sanemura uttered this form of address with some difficulty. "May I ask Your Highness, can the few questions I wished to ask yesterday be answered today?"

"You are truly impatient." The Crown Prince smiled faintly. "Very well, since the envoy is so earnest, there is no harm in telling you. This grand army assembled here is for an expedition against Japan, to chastise your nation's Shogunate. I have come to Goryeo precisely to command these troops and prevent any disorder."

"Wha... what?!" Because the information he heard was far too shocking, Hashimoto Sanemura could not help but cry out, then stared at the Crown Prince in disbelief. "Your Highness... are these words true?"

"The envoy has already seen so many clues—could you truly not have guessed this? That rather disappoints me." The Crown Prince still smiled. "In dealing with others, we value showing sincerity above all. Since the envoy has asked, I have told you plainly and honestly."

Though his smile was warm, Hashimoto Sanemura could feel no warmth whatsoever. He only felt his mouth dry and his heart pounding wildly. "... May I ask Your Highness, when did your nation make this decision, and for what purpose does it wish to chastise the Shogunate?"

This question was of immense importance. Although the Court's purpose in borrowing troops from the Great Han was indeed to chastise the Shogunate, if the Great Han had already decided to dispatch troops beforehand, the Court's position would become awkward. If the Great Han was sending troops because of the conditions proposed by the Court, their appetite could still be gauged. But if they had already decided to send troops on their own, who knew where their appetite lay?

In the worst-case scenario, not only would the Court fail to gain the initiative in borrowing troops, but it also risked being treated as an enemy by the Great Han alongside the Shogunate. In that case, one truly would not know whether to hope for the Shogunate's defeat or not.

"Why is the envoy so anxious?" The Crown Prince still smiled, appearing completely at ease. "The envoy took such great risks to slip out of Japan, all for the purpose of persuading our nation to send troops to subjugate the Shogunate, was it not? Now, without the envoy needing to waste any more breath, we are already prepared to subjugate the Shogunate. The envoy should feel relieved."

"Since... since you had already planned to dispatch troops not because of our humble nation's Court's request, then your nation must have had its considerations long ago. I beg Your Highness to speak plainly!" Although he knew full well that his situation was already very precarious, with the weight of his mission upon him, Hashimoto Sanemura still boldly pressed the question.

"Very well, since the envoy is so anxious, there is no harm in telling you plainly." The Crown Prince remained composed and continued according to the thoughts he had formulated the day before. "We have had dealings with the Shogunate for many years and have truly had enough of their arrogant self-importance and reckless, willful behavior. The Shogunate's trade with our nation was originally a good thing, but instead of using this opportunity to mend relations between our two countries, they frequently obstructed trade between us, repeatedly bullied our nation's merchants, and openly solicited bribes from our nation's officials, causing significant losses to our nation's commerce. What is particularly egregious is that recently, the Shogunate, under various pretexts, suddenly cut off copper exports to our nation, causing widespread complaints from top to bottom. For these reasons, my Imperial Father had no choice but to make the painful decision to launch a punitive expedition to teach the Shogunate a lesson and make them learn restraint."

As a great and mighty nation, to openly say it was launching a punitive expedition out of covetousness for another country's gold and silver would somewhat injure its dignity. Therefore, although discussions within the court were very blunt in private, on the surface, some pretexts still had to be found. Fortunately, with many years of interaction between the two countries, commercial frictions were naturally continuous, making it relatively easy to find some pretexts. For instance, the Shogunate's sudden cutoff of copper exports this time was a very good pretext—although, in truth, the Great Han had already decided to send troops against Japan before the Shogunate cut off copper exports.

"Furthermore, my Imperial Father is sending troops because he truly cannot bear to see the Shogunate's usurpation of power and bullying of your nation's Court, causing chaos in your nation's order. He believes that the fundamental reason the Shogunate acts so recklessly and without scruple is that they are treacherous ministers and rebellious sons who seized power by sidelining the Court, and therefore fear nothing." After stating the reasons, the Crown Prince also timely offered some reassurance. "So it cannot be said that he has not considered your nation's Court at all."

"Then... how does he intend to treat our humble nation's Court?" Hashimoto Sanemura asked in a trembling voice.

"Naturally, to restore your nation's order, allowing your nation's Court to reclaim its rightful governing authority and once again rule Japan legitimately and rightfully." The Crown Prince answered without hesitation. "I can tell you plainly: our original plan, should we be victorious, was to compel the Shogunate to relinquish power and return supreme authority to your nation's Court."

"This... this..." Hashimoto Sanemura was momentarily at a loss for words. "Your Highness, are these words true?"

"Does the envoy not believe me? What need have I to deceive the envoy?" the Crown Prince asked with a cold laugh. "Your nation is an ancient country of a thousand years, with millions of subjects, and has long possessed its own culture and customs. To fully occupy your nation, our country would have to spend untold amounts of money, grain, men, and horses, and exhaust vast energy and financial resources—and to what end? As long as your nation's order can be restored, I presume your nation's Court will feel gratitude towards us, yes? At that time, as long as you show respect to our nation and no longer allow trade between our two countries to be beset with obstacles, that will suffice."

This reasonable and logical explanation from the Crown Prince finally swayed Hashimoto Sanemura. Whether out of reason or personal desire, he was willing to believe that everything this youth said was true.

"Your Highness means that if your nation dispatches troops and defeats the Shogunate, as long as our nation's Court is utterly respectful to your nation and no longer obstructs commerce between our two countries... your nation is willing to support our nation's Court?"

Suddenly, he realized he had not said enough and hastily added another line, "Of course, the gold and silver mines we promised will certainly be presented to the Son of Heaven of the Great Han."

"Naturally so. As long as your nation's Court is so deeply understanding of righteousness, our nation will certainly reciprocate." Seeing the other so readily compliant, the Crown Prince nodded with a smile. "Does the envoy still have any doubts now?"

Thinking that his mission had been accomplished just after setting foot on the mainland, before even entering the borders of the Great Han, Hashimoto Sanemura suddenly felt as if a great burden had been lifted, as if his body had become several degrees lighter.

He knew that the Great Han would certainly not be so easy to deal with, but that was at least a matter for after the war. As long as the Shogunate fell, the Great Han would ultimately need a regime in Japan to maintain domestic order. And besides a grateful Court, what better choice did they have? As long as they could curry favor with the Son of Heaven of the Great Han, the court nobility would surely have their day in the sun.

There was now only one thing to worry about.

"Then may I ask Your Highness, when does your nation plan to dispatch troops, and how many troops does it intend to send?" He solemnly asked the Crown Prince again. "Your Highness, although the Shogunate is fierce, obstinate, and tyrannical, they have, after all, held power for a long time and have operated in our humble nation for many years. Many treacherous ministers and rebellious sons who disregard the sovereign serve them as their masters; their strength must not be underestimated."

"We will certainly not underestimate them. Since we have decided to subjugate the Shogunate, we will naturally do so with the utmost seriousness." The Crown Prince answered immediately, then beckoned to the side. "You have probably seen it already: we have assembled many troops in Goryeo and have been gathering armaments and supplies both at home and abroad. We will spare no expense to crush the Shogunate and bring peace to the realm."

He would not tell the other party that this expeditionary force of the Great Han numbered only a few thousand men, lest the other become alarmed. These court nobles, who had been removed from worldly affairs for centuries, naturally understood nothing of military matters, nor did they know of the flourishing might of the Great Han's armaments and their overwhelming superiority over other nations. If they heard that the Great Han's army numbered only this much, they would likely retreat on the spot.

At the Crown Prince's beckoning, several attendants quickly came over.

"Take us to the training grounds. I wish to accompany the envoy in observing the grand army's drills." The Crown Prince gave a brief command.

The Crown Prince's order was swiftly carried out. Led by a group of guards, the Crown Prince, Hashimoto Sanemura, and the others left the village where they were staying and arrived in the open wilderness.