Money can make the world go round, and Zhu Di repeatedly made compromises for the one million taels of silver.
For example, this year's tribute ceremony has changed. The original procedure for accepting worship and gifts from various countries in Fengtian Hall has not changed.
This is the most formal and Zhu Di's favorite ceremony, a highlight moment to truly appreciate the coming of people from all directions.
The envoys would kneel down one by one and offer tribute gifts. He chatted with these envoys and gave them gifts in return.
The emperor's pride will be greatly satisfied at this moment. Of course, the money taken out is also quite a lot.
However, no money will be given this year. They will only be given a piece of light paper, a trade verification certificate issued by the Ministry of Household Affairs.
But after this traditional ceremony is completed. It will soon turn to the second event, which is the military parade and civilian appreciation at the small school field.
This is the highlight of Xu Qin's arrangement.
He put on the green robe of a fifth-rank official early in the morning and went all the way to Fengtian Hall. Under the supervision of the censor, line up according to your position.
Today is the Great Court Meeting, and there are officials outside Fengtian Hall. On weekdays, there are only thirty or forty people attending court, which is still a lot to talk about. Generally, whoever has nothing to do will see the emperor every day to play.
Anyone who can go to court every day is not a minor official. Or someone with a low level but a lot of power.
It is not easy for ordinary officials to attend court every morning.
But I got them all today, as long as I don't die and still have breath. This is the highlight of the day for the boss. With his slutty character, do you dare to support him?
Do you still want to hang out in the Ming Dynasty?
So early in the morning, people outside Fengtian Hall were all crowded, and under the supervision of the supervisory censor, they stood in position, writing east and west.
Xu Qin originally belonged to the military ministers' side, but today he was wearing the robe of a civil servant and could only stand on the east side.
Old man Li Zhigang has been here a long time ago, but he is a minister of six departments. Behind the great scholar, they, the doctors, have to wait in the back row.
The sun passed over the glazed tiles of Fengtian Hall, and a magnificent solemnity spread down.
Golden glazed tiles and huge vermilion pillars. The white marble steps and the colorful carved beams and painted buildings.
In the haze of light, it looks like a palace in the Nine Heavens.
People look so small compared to the entire Fengtian Temple, even a little depressed, making people want to lower their heads unconsciously.
Xu Qin looked at the magnificent building, felt the solemn atmosphere, and suddenly felt a sense of pride.
"The palace of the Nine Heavens is open and closed, and the clothes and hats of all nations are worshiped." He finally understood the magnificence of this poem.
What a great nation and what a confident culture. He was a little touched at this moment.
When he saw certain looks, the emotion disappeared.
For example, the look in King Han's eyes that looked like a knife reminded him that he had offended this person.
Soon the ceremony began. The emperor wore a full set of dragon robes and a crown, sitting on a high dragon chair.
The ministers knelt down and worshiped, and then foreign envoys began to meet. A total of twenty small countries came to pay tribute, and the gifts they sent were all kinds of things.
The people from the Ministry of Rites read out the tribute list one by one, and Zhu Di sat on it and listened quietly. These things were just for show.
Before this, the Shipping Department and the Ministry of Rites had already reviewed and valued the money. In previous years, the reward would be seven to eight times or ten times.
This year, after the envoys knelt down and offered gifts, Zhu Di gave a few words of encouragement, and then the Ministry of Rites issued a verifiable trade share.
It’s still eight times or ten times the share. Zhu Di observed carefully that these envoys seemed to have no objections and were even very happy.
His heart was finally relieved. He didn't understand that such a piece of paper could solve the problem? In the past, real money was taken out.
Just when he breathed a sigh of relief, it was the Japanese mission's turn that something happened.
Japan's tribute items mainly include swords, artworks and agate, as well as sulfur, copper ingots, etc. In fact, copper ingots were the favorite of the Ming Dynasty.
Because Japan's smelting technology was not up to par, the copper ingots contained a large amount of silver, and the Ming Dynasty could earn a lot of silver after being resmelted.
After Dongping Feifu went through the process and knelt down to worship, he could leave after Zhu Di said a few words of encouragement.
But he spoke.
"The great emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Xu Qin, an official in the Ministry of Rites, not only deducted the supplies from the Huitong Hall, but also beat me for no reason. Please make the decision for me, the great emperor."
Dongping Feifu knelt on the ground and refused to get up. He pointed at the injury on his face and said.
Zhu Di is so angry, and Xu Qin is such a troublemaker. You should clean up after getting into trouble. Isn't it causing trouble for me at this time?
"Oh, this happened. I will investigate and deal with it. Go down." Zhu Di said lightly.
"Great Emperor, I want to know what will be done. The Ming Dynasty cannot treat us envoys harshly. If you don't give me an explanation, I will report to General Ashikaga not to pay tribute from now on."
Japanese envoy Dongping Feifu said stiffly.
Zhu Di frowned, he was so brave, he dared to force me in front of so many people.
"Oh, what kind of explanation do you want?" Zhu Di's voice turned cold, and all the officials in the Ming Dynasty fell silent.
But Dongping Feifu was not afraid of death, because a man from the Ming Dynasty had told him the emperor's inner desire.
Now the great emperor wanted to surpass his father and wanted all nations to come to court, so he did not hesitate to attract envoys from various countries with ten times the benefits.
As long as he seizes this point and threatens him, he will not let down all the envoys for a fifth-grade official.
So as long as you are tough enough and threaten not to pay tribute, the person who beats you will be dead.
"As an official envoy to Japan, I admire the Ming Dynasty and naturally want to pay tribute every year. However, the minor ministers of the Ming Dynasty treat me harshly and even beat me for no reason.
I hope that the great emperor can bring order to the chaos and kill these sycophants who have embarrassed the great emperor and affected the relationship between the two countries. "
Dongping Feifu recited this passage. Yes, this person taught him this passage.
The great emperor of the Celestial Kingdom will not give up coming to the DPRK from all directions, let alone affect the views of other countries on the Ming Dynasty. I will definitely kill that person in order to save face.
So that person is dead.
The anger in Zhu Di's heart is already burning. A small Japanese envoy actually wants me to kill the Ming Dynasty nobles to give you an explanation?
Am I a foolish king?
But this matter is also difficult, after all, envoys from various countries are watching. Failure to deal with it will really affect the image of the Ming Dynasty.
"Since you have made a complaint, I will naturally interrogate you. I cannot believe everything you say. Who are you talking about?"
Zhu Di began to pretend to be confused. He knew what happened better than anyone else, but he could only pretend that he didn't know so he had room for maneuver.
"Back to the great emperor, it's Xu Qin, the chief guest of the Ministry of Rites." Dongping Feifu said loudly.
Xu Qin was almost as cold as a grandson. He spent the whole night with his two maids last night, and each of them scored twice. He didn't sleep well to begin with.
Now that it was so cold, he naturally couldn't bear it as he lacked Yang Qi, so he looked forward to the ceremony ending quickly so that he could proceed to the second step and warm himself up.
At this time, he was standing there dazedly.
"Xuan Xu Qin comes to see you." The eunuch's sharp voice sounded.
Xu Qin was woken up by Yu Lin, the doctor of the Fine Dining Department next to him.
"Your Majesty wants to see you, what trouble have you caused?" Yu Lin, who loved to watch the excitement most in his life, said with gloating at this time.
Xu Qin looked up at the sun in the sky, shrank his shoulders and thought for a while.
"I guess he was sued by the Japanese envoy. There is no one else but him. I'll go to the main hall to warm up."
Xu Qin said, stamping his feet that were numb from the cold, and wandered towards Fengtian Hall.
"Xu Qin, the Japanese envoy sued you for stopping the supply, alienating the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the vassal state, and beating him for no reason. He wants me to kill you or you will not come to pay tribute. What do you say?"
Zhu Di's voice came down from the high dragon chair.
When Xu Qin heard this, it was as he expected. It was the stupid Japanese pig who complained, but this was a bit level.
He stabbed Zhu Di in the heart with a knife, and it seemed that he was really going to kill himself, but it was really warm inside this hall.
"No, that's great. I just happened to save some rice." Xu Qin was talking nonsense, just to stay warm for a while.
"His Majesty the Great Emperor has clearly seen that, envoys, please listen. He is only a fifth-rank minister of the Ming Dynasty. He dares to despise the envoys like this. Don't we and other vassals feel chilled? How can we be willing to pay tribute in the future?"
Dongping Feifu excitedly began to perform. He wanted to arouse the same hatred of envoys from other countries. He wanted to arouse the murderous intention of the Ming Dynasty emperor.
It's just that the other envoys were indifferent, and they even seemed to be watching the fun. No one responded to him at all.
"But a fifth-grade minister, what gives you the confidence to be so arrogant? How dare you despise the officials of the Ming Dynasty?
My fifth-rank minister is nobler than your general. Is your Japanese daimyo qualified to replace my fifth-rank official? "
Xu Qin opened his mouth like a poisonous snake and first despised Japan mentally. Combat the arrogance of Dongping Feifu.
If you look down on me, a fifth-rank official, why should I look down on your township and county magistrates?
Xu Qin squirted, and Zhu Di suddenly felt so happy?
