After listening to Shi Diwen's explanation, Shi Chengxin did not continue to insist on his opinion.
He knew that his father's consideration was for his own benefit, but at the same time, he also understood that in his father's heart, his ability was still inferior to that of his elder brother.
He hoped to leave Hangzhou, leave his father's wings, and serve as a local governor to demonstrate his abilities. But in Shi Diwen's eyes, it seems that he is not strong enough to be qualified for such a position.
In those areas newly occupied by Haihan, Shi Diwen believed that the risks were too high and were not suitable to serve as a springboard for Shi Chengxin's official career. Therefore, he would rather sacrifice the near and seek the distant, and use his contribution to provoking the Japanese Civil War to give Shi Chengxin an easier resume. position.
But he didn't dare to express these thoughts in front of his father. Since childhood, the two brothers have been taught by Shi Diwen to "obey orders", which has caused him to subtly put his father's arrangements above his personal thoughts.
Regardless of right or wrong, we must unconditionally carry out the instructions given by our father.
Shi Diwen continued: "When the matter in Japan comes to an end, I will apply to the executive committee and try to choose a place in Yangzhou and Ningbo for you to be a consul for a few years."
With Shi Chengxin's current qualifications and age, he is still far away from becoming a consul at the administrative level of Yangzhou and Ningbo. But in Shi Diwen's view, this gap can be made up in other ways. As long as the trip to Japan goes smoothly, it is no problem to lift Shi Chengxin to a position that was originally out of reach.
While the father and son were talking, a subordinate reported outside the study that a visitor had come to visit Shi Diwen.
Shi Chengxin went to the door and took the greeting card and came in. Shi Diwen took it and opened it, smiled and said: "The Japanese are indeed very well-informed."
Shi Chengxin said: "Japanese? Haven't they all been notified? Why are they coming to you at this juncture?"
Shi Diwen said: "We deliberately did not notify this store."
Shi Chengxin said in shock: "The Tokugawa Shogunate? They got the news so quickly!"
Shi Diwen said: "The Tokugawa shogunate raised a lot of people in Hangzhou, and these people are not just freeloaders. They must have noticed the movements of various vassal agencies in Hangzhou in the past few days. Even if they haven't Knowing the inside story, they will never wait for the situation to develop in a direction that is not favorable to them.”
"Ningxin, go and bring this person here. I also want to see what the Tokugawa shogunate thinks of my visit to Japan."
The scale of the Tokugawa shogunate's institutions stationed in Hangzhou was much larger than those of the local vassals. There were more than 20 permanent diplomatic personnel, as well as businessmen, scholars, monks and other personnel stationed in various names. The scale was Maintained at the level of dozens of people for a long time.
Among the personnel stationed in Hangzhou, there are naturally indispensable spies under the cover of various identities. Their task is not only to collect various intelligence and military trends about Haihan, but more importantly, to monitor the institutions of other local vassal states in Hangzhou to prevent these local forces from secretly colluding with Haihan and joining forces to fight against the Tokugawa shogunate.
It is no secret that Haihan secretly supported some vassal states in southwestern Japan. It's just that the Tokugawa shogunate knew that it was not strong enough and did not dare to openly fall out with Haihan. It could only secretly try to suppress the ambitions of other vassal states.
However, recently, personnel from these vassal states stationed in Hangzhou have been intensively visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Haihan, but the Tokugawa shogunate did not receive any news from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They must have heard about Shi Diwen's visit to Japan through some channels.
If Shi Diwen only visited local vassal states during his visit to Japan without meeting with the Tokugawa shogunate, it would be a diplomatic failure with a major impact on the shogunate. Under such circumstances, it's damned that the diplomats of the shogunate can still sit still. Masato Masuyama, who came to see Shi Diwen, could be regarded as an old acquaintance of Kaihan. In his early years, this person participated in the negotiation of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between the two countries in Edo, and served as the Tokugawa shogunate the year before. representatives went to Donghai Region to discuss arms purchase matters with Haihan.
After Haihan announced that he would move the capital to Hangzhou, Masuyama Masato also moved the shogunate's diplomatic mission from Ningbo.
He had met with Shi Diwen many times, and they had some diplomatic relations. This was probably the reason why he dared to take the initiative to visit.
Moreover, Masato Masuyama's other identity is the uncle of the current shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna. What he said can represent the attitude of the shogunate, and he is indeed qualified to have face-to-face talks with Shi Diwen.
After Masuyama Masato met with Shi Diwen, he did not intend to go around in circles. After sitting down, he went straight to the topic: "Master Shi, I heard that you will visit Japan in the near future, but why didn't you notify the shogunate about this?"
Shi Diwen said: "The destination of my visit this time is the Sasebo base. I don't intend to go to Edo, so I didn't notify you specifically."
Masuyama Masato had already learned about Shi Diwen's destination from other sources. It might be true that he did not plan to go to Edo, but he was planning to visit the southwestern vassals, but Shi Diwen deliberately skipped it. Obviously, he did not want to go to Edo. Masato Masuyama explains why.
Masuyama Masato shook his head and said: "Master Shi, you and I both know that your destination is not only the Sasebo base, but also the southwestern vassals. Why do you need to hide it?"
Shi Diwen smiled and said: "This is not a cover-up. I don't mention it, I just don't want to embarrass the shogunate. But whether the shogunate knows it or not, it will not affect the itinerary that has been made."
Seeing that he had no taboos, Masuyama Masari asked directly: "May I ask, sir, what is the purpose of this trip?"
Shi Diwen said: "I have no obligation to explain to you, but considering our past friendship, I can reveal some news to you. This visit to the Kyushu region is mainly to discuss in-depth cooperation with the southwestern vassals in the field of trade. ”
Masuyama Masatoshi said: "Master Shi, the total trade volume between the southwestern vassals and your country is not as good as Osaka or Edo, or even Nagasaki Port. Why waste time and effort on such a small thing?" As for the results? If Mr. Shi is willing to reward me, I would like to invite you to visit Edo on behalf of the shogunate.”
"Whether it is trade or other fields, as long as it is a mutually beneficial project, the shogunate is willing to discuss it with your country."
Zengshan Masato obviously smelled some dangerous atmosphere and did not believe that Shi Diwen's purpose of visiting the southwestern vassals was so simple. He immediately offered what he thought was a more favorable condition, hoping that Shi Diwen could change his situation. The destination of this visit.
As long as Shi Diwen can visit Edo, the shogunate will have more room for maneuver. No matter what benefits the southwest vassals have promised Haihan before, the shogunate can try to win over Shi Diwen through talks and change Haihan's attitude toward the southwest vassals. The attitude of the feudal lord.
Shi Diwen smiled and said: "It is precisely because the current trade volume with the southwestern vassals is not large that it is necessary to cooperate deeply and expand the scale of trade. The southwestern vassals have many goods that they want to buy from our country, but in the past, due to various reasons , has not been able to establish smooth trade channels. My visit this time is to solve the problems that exist in the middle. ”
"As for the trade between our country and the shogunate, there will be no conflict with this, and our country has no intention to reduce the scale of trade with the shogunate because of this."