The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Eastern Warm Pavilion,

Yan Chengjin reported the matter in detail, and Emperor Hongzhi frowned: "Li Long has repeatedly paid tribute to our dynasty, and his intention is obvious. How could he hijack our merchant caravan?"

Your Majesty was obviously deceived by Li Long.

You can't blame Emperor Hongzhi.

Other tributary states pay tribute once a year, but Li Long sends envoys four or five times a year. He is very good at flattering.

According to Han Simen, Li Long is just like what is mentioned in history. He forcibly conscripted the wives and daughters of ministers for his pleasure, and countless female doctors were killed.

Ministers and people are all troubled by him, but they try to please the Ming Dynasty in an attempt to get protection.

"Your Majesty, do you still remember the envoy Han Simen? According to him, this man is as violent as Xia Jie and Shang Zhou, who indulges in wine and meat, bullies the people, and is promiscuous. Even the most vulgar words in the world are not enough to describe one ten-thousandth of him.

Please send 100,000 troops to rescue Wang Bushui and others."

Yan Chengjin, are you crazy?

It takes 100,000 people to rescue a merchant, and not so many troops to fight the Tatars.

Liu Jian said: "No, Li Long sent envoys to pay tribute every year, and he should be protected by our Ming Dynasty. How can we use troops against him? Moreover, the court and the tributary states have an agreement to resist foreign enemies and not interfere in the government."

Emperor Hongzhi nodded. Li Long paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty. If we send troops to him, who will pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty in the future.

"Korea intercepted the refined salt, and I am afraid it will not be able to pay the tax silver promised to your Majesty." Yan Chengjin said.

After Wang Shouren's training, the Beijing Camp is no longer the same as before. With the addition of the red cannon, it is not difficult to capture Seoul.

It's just whether your majesty is willing to use troops.

If Korea has always been controlled by Yeonsangun, the refined salt business cannot be operated. Among the neighboring countries, the closest to Liangxiang is Korea, except for Tatar.

And Korea loves to eat pickled vegetables and soybean paste, which requires a lot of refined salt.

Emperor Hongzhi stood up, frowned in deep thought, and walked down the steps with his hands behind his back.

"It's not worth it to send troops once and spend countless money just to get back the refined salt."

The implication is that you should accept the change.

Yan Chengjin thought that Emperor Hongzhi might not send troops.

What he cared about most was the waste.

Moreover, Emperor Hongzhi was a peace-loving person. He would defend against the invasion of the enemy, but he would not necessarily take the initiative to invade the enemy country.

The weight of Wang Bu Sui and others was not worth sending an army.

"Yeonsan's action was to deceive the emperor and deceive Your Majesty. According to the law, he should be punished. I beg Your Majesty to send an envoy to get the people and silver back."

Yan Chengjin took a step back and got Wang Bu Sui back first.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded.

The order of the secretariat was sent to the Ministry of Rites. Zhang Sheng was a little worried. It was not easy to find an envoy who could speak Korean.

"It's a long way from Tianjin Port to Korea. Please arrange it as soon as possible, Mr. Zhang." Yan Chengjin said.

Zhang Sheng was suspicious: "The silver may be recovered, but the people may not. It has been more than a month. Think about it. You have captured a few useless merchants. Will you keep them alive?"

"My Lord, please arrange it as soon as possible."

Killing and robbing, if Yeonsangun really wanted to be afraid of the Ming Dynasty, he would have killed Wang Bushui to silence him. A small caravan disappeared at the border and would not attract the attention of the court.

Yan Chengjin knew that if he could not rescue Wang Bushui by sending envoys this time, it would definitely cause disputes between the two dynasties.

Yeonsangun killed Ming merchants for no reason, and Emperor Hongzhi would not let him go easily.

It is just right for Emperor Hongzhi to send troops to Korea and replace a Korean king, so that Liangxiang can trade with Korea in the future.

Zhang Sheng was worried and frowned: "The Ming Dynasty rarely sends envoys to Korea. I have to find someone who can do it."

"I have a suitable person, and the Ministry of Rites can send another person."

Yan Chengjin immediately sent someone to Liangxiang.

Han Simen was guarding the gate of the Liangxiang Shipyard. He felt that he had become a drunkard, eating and sleeping all day.

The people of Liangxiang were of excellent quality and did not come to the shipyard to cause trouble.

The shipyard paid him three silver coins a day, which was half of the workers in the shipyard, but Han Simen disdained the money.

Every day, vendors would come to the shipyard to set up stalls. He had noticed one of the women, Liu, and heard that she was a widow.

Han Simen felt sorry for her and would buy some radishes from her every day and pickle pickles himself.

"Han Simen, come with me to Beijing. Lord Yan wants to invite you." The yamen said.

Han Simen was suspicious. Lord Yan had left him here and never cared about him.

An hour later, Han Simen came to the capital. Hearing that Yan Chengjin was going to send him back to Korea, he looked embarrassed: "Lord, I don't want to go back to Korea. Can I change someone?"

Yan Chengjin was surprised.

You are Korean!

Do you think you are a Ming Dynasty person?

"I live a comfortable life in Liangxiang. Now, under the control of Yeonsangun, everyone in Korea is in danger. You have not been to Korea, so you cannot experience it yourself. The plight of the people is far more brutal than what I told you. Seoul is already a hell on earth." Han Simen said.

After more than a month in Daming, although he was a gatekeeper, it was a happy thing.

He did not have to worry about the door being smashed open in the middle of the night and the imperial guards dragging him into the cell.

He did not have to flatter Yeonsangun every day and smile carefully.

He could sleep well every night, and vaguely looked forward to seeing the woman who often came to set up a stall.

"Your son Han Jun is not cared about?" Yan Chengjin could not help asking.

Han Simen smiled: "Jun'er is a low-ranking official, not involved in party disputes, and should be fine."

Yan Chengjin looked strange and took out a note: "Good news from your son, he was promoted."

Han Simen took the note and looked pale. The higher the official position, the more cautious one must be. Yeonsangun specifically targeted ministers. If they did not obey, they would be tortured by slashing into pieces or breaking bones.

"How could Jun'er take my position?!" Han Simen's face was pale.

Yan Chengjin felt a little guilty: "Put this aside first. I will discuss with you how to deal with it this time."

From the moment he exposed Yeonsangun's atrocities, Han Simen was a traitor, and Yan Chengjin trusted him.

A moment later, Han Simen put on the long-lost Korean official uniform and set off for Korea.

...

Seoul,

Wang Bu-sui had been imprisoned in a dark and damp dungeon for more than half a month.

He transported 30,000 kilograms of refined salt from the Liaodong border and arrived at Yishi in Korea. He could not sell much after selling it for a few days, so he went deep into Pyeongan Province. Unexpectedly, he was caught by the officials.

He could not understand what these people said.

The laborers brought were arrested and none of them came back. Wang Bushui guessed their fate.

At this time, the yamen runners pulled them out and came to the execution ground.

"Boss, they... seem to be executioners."

"You... you don't know for me either." Wang Bushui was scared to death.

Ten people held silver swords and lined up in a row. The cold wind blew out, and Wang Bushui and others felt cold on their backs and fainted.

An official shook his head and sighed, and shouted loudly, and Wang Bushui and others were taken to the execution platform.

Han Jun heard that a caravan was brought from Ping'an Road, so he came to see it, but recognized Wang Bushui and had seen him in Liangxiang, Daming.

"Chan Gan Man!"

Wang Bushui closed his eyes, his body trembling constantly, but he didn't see the sword fall for a long time, and he was scared out of his wits: "You... you niang, can you be quick!"

"Are you Lord Yan's servant?" Han Jun bowed and asked in a low voice.

Wang Bushui was not convinced: "How...how can you talk like that? At least he is a housekeeper!"

"You...you are Han Damen's son?"

Han Damen?

Han Jun was puzzled: "My father's name is Han Simen."

Wang Bushui explained: "Your father is now the gatekeeper in Liangxiang, and he is called Han Damen."

Han Jun's face turned green. Their family is a big family in Gyeongsang Province, and his father is the head of the family. In Daming, he has to be the gatekeeper. Tears can't help but flow down.

Wang Bushui saw that it was bad, and he was counting on this kid to save his life.

"Don't worry, your father is doing well, the shipyard still pays him three cents, and he has fallen in love with a young widow. If you miss him, I will take you back to Liangxiang to see him."