In the summer of the eighth year of Hongwu's reign, Marquis Jiangyin, who had gone to sea, finally returned with his fleet. The emperor ordered civil and military officials from coastal areas to go out to sea to welcome him, and Marquis Jinghai led the navy to protect him.
The Marquis of Jiangyin's trip was full of dangers. Thousands of people were lost due to natural disasters, man-made disasters, military difficulties, illness, etc., including himself, who developed a high fever after being assassinated in a small country and almost died in a foreign land.
Surrounded by a crowd of civil and military officials, Wu Liang, the Marquis of Jiangyin, slowly walked down from the deck. When he stepped onto the country, he finally couldn't help but burst into tears.
Slowly he knelt down and picked up the sand, first kowtowed to the capital, and then kowtowed to the direction of his ancestral graves, bursting into tears.
On the fleet, flags were rustling, gongs and drums were noisy, and lion dances were celebrated on the shore. The ocean-going soldiers were joyful and noisy. Many took off their clothes and waved bare-chested in response, but more of them covered their faces and wept.
There are so many difficulties that I want to tell others now, but I end up speechless. In the end, I just muttered: "I'm back, I can go home."
………
"Xuan, the Marquis of Jiangyin has an audience!"
Wu Liang, with a weathered face and gray hair on his temples, wore a new imperial robe and a crown, and walked into the Fengtian Hall with a jade guide in his hand. The civil and military ministers watched with attention, and there were many admirers.
Today's court meeting was almost exclusively for Wu Liang. Wuying Hall had already begun to arrange a banquet. When his report was over, the banquet began. It was obvious that the Holy Master was very happy.
"The Wei minister Wu Liang, Marquis of Jiangyin, went on an overseas mission for more than two years. He passed through forty-eight countries including Champa, Java, Chenla, Old Port, Siam, and Guli. He made them aware of the mighty power of the Ming Dynasty and ordered them to wait for it. All countries must abide by the rules and regulations, do not violate the rules, do not bully the weak, and do not bully the weak. If there is disobedience, use force to intimidate them. Therefore, you will not dare to disobey any orders!"
"To make the barbarian countries fear their power and cherish their virtues, issue the Zhonghua Zhengshuo wherever they go, promote culture and education, and let the emperor speak out, and connect them to Wuwai. The sea lanes will be clear and peaceful, and the barbarian people will rely on them to settle down. They will leave behind the sea charts. Order them to prepare goods for trade!"
"I came back today and came to see you again. I have sincerely received the emperor's protection and the crown prince's care. I have been able to accomplish things smoothly. My husband works close by to serve far away. A gentleman does not take anything. He does not run out of troops and does not tire the people. The civilization of rituals and music is brilliant in foreign lands. , so that everyone under the light of the sky can be transformed into virtue, which is not the same as the heaven and earth of my emperor!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed, and Zhu Biao stood on Danbi and held out an imperial edict, saying: "The virtuous man Ji Xianliyi was ordered to sail the sea to the Western Ocean, seal the barbarian countries, and pay tribute through the southwest sea route. He has made great achievements, which shows your loyalty and respect. I am very pleased... I have entrusted you with all the affairs of state in the Western world. However, you are wise and old, and cannot bear the weight of my entrustment, so you should be careful about it."
"Wu Liangte, the Marquis of Jiangyin, was granted the title of Guanglu Doctor, Shangzhu State, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army in the Dadu Governor's Office to take charge of all ocean affairs. He was promoted to Duke of Haiguo. He also received an additional salary of 5,000 dan. He posthumously awarded his father the title of Duke of Bohai and was promoted to Honorary Officer. The doctor, who also knows the affairs of the governor's office and Zhu Guo, will also be rewarded...
"I thank you for your holy grace, long live my emperor!" Wu Liang, Duke of Haiguo, said thanks with red eyes.
After that, the envoys from the forty-eight countries came to the meeting in strange attire. Some of them were blond, blue-eyed, red-haired, blue-eyed, or black as coal. Many civil and military officials saw foreign races for the first time, and they were all moved and amazed by the strangeness of the barbarians.
The envoys all carried tributes, including frankincense, blood drain, aloe, myrrh, styrax, styrax, wood beetle, etc., figs, lettuce, pumpkin, loofah, watermelon, bitter melon, muskmelon, pistachios, walnuts, and sunflowers. , corn, tomatoes, sesame, potatoes, peanuts and other crops, as well as spices such as sappan wood and pepper, and green materials such as sumac and leaves.
There are even more rare jewelry of all kinds, including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, aventurines, pearls, crystals and turquoises, large pieces of cat's eye stone, various exotic treasures such as Yagu, red coral trees, etc.
Outside Wuying Hall, there are caged rhinos, six-legged turtles, zebras, yellow and black tigers, camels, black bears, black apes, white deer, lions, leopards and other animals that are not suitable for presentation in the hall.
There were 1,327 kinds of these things alone, and it took 234 ships to transport them back. What was presented to the court were only small and portable ones.
All the ministers whispered to each other and praised: "Today we know that the universe is vast and boundless, and there are all kinds of wonders in the world."
"A spiritual creature hidden in the mountains and hidden in the sea, a treasure sunken in the sand and living on the land."
"Yes, it's just gold, silver and jewelry. Those crops and livestock may be beneficial to people's livelihood."
"The kings of the four barbarians, holding their robes and offering bowls, looked at each other. On the day of the banquet, there was a dance in the sky. They looked at the palace and sighed that they had never happened before. The hall of Yiyi was filled with kings and emperors. It was so spectacular! "
There is also an imperial censor admonishing: "Although it has spread its power to foreign lands and spread to Southeast Asia, which is unprecedented in previous generations, it is not too much to use the dignity of the celestial dynasty to bully the barbarians and blaspheme the national system, and to use gold and silk as a tool to attract people." …”
The emperor waved his hand to stop him after he heard half of it. The censor also knew that this was not the right time to give advice, so he sighed and returned.
"Giving a banquet to Wuying Palace!"
"My Holy Emperor!"
The civil and military officials and the ignorant envoys were invited to the Wuying Hall, while the emperor and the prince moved to the Huagai Hall to change clothes. On the way, the emperor ordered: "Put the tribute treasures into the treasury carefully."
Zhu Biao advised: "Father, the capital has not been bustling for a long time. Why not place these rare treasures outside the palace gate for the people to watch and enjoy together."
"Haha, that's fine, just do as the prince says."
"Promise." The eunuchs following behind agreed and went to arrange the arrangements.
Zhu Biao could hardly stop smiling at this time. It was true that almost all the crops he wanted were obtained. Although they still needed to be carefully cultivated, improved and selected, they were finally available.
The purpose of placing these treasures outside the palace is to let the people know that there are so many rare treasures overseas, and they can make them rich and noble.
After changing his clothes, he went outside the Wuying Hall, where many civil and military officials gathered to watch. The Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs sighed: "There are so many rare treasures, such as lions, rhinoceros, celestial horses, sacred deer, white elephants, turkeys and other exotic animals. They are so abundant in the palace." , the emperor takes pleasure in it!"
Zhu Yuanzhang also looked around with great interest, pointing to a certain animal and asking questions from time to time. An official who had accompanied Wu Liang to sea was responsible for answering and explaining its habits.
When he finally saw a tall cage covered with colorful cloth, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Why, the people inside can't see the light?"
The official said excitedly: "Your Majesty, there is nothing rarer than this for me to get from this trip. This is a tribute from the king of Malin Kingdom. It is called Jilin, depending on the gods."
The Minister of Rites asked in surprise: "Qilin! Is this the Qilin, the divine beast of good fortune and auspiciousness?"
After saying this, he was about to kneel down and congratulate Lao Zhu. Zhu Biao had already guessed what was going on and hurriedly stopped him. The other officials who were about to follow him to congratulate him all stopped when they saw this.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't believe it when he heard what he said. He just ordered someone to lift the colored cloth, and a beast was suddenly revealed. All the civil and military observers frowned. This beast was five feet tall, with an elk body and horse hooves, and horns. Although it was tall, it was not seen. Miraculous.
But there are always officials who like to compose: "The literary talent is bright, the red clouds and purple mist are shining, the toes do not touch things, you must choose the soil when you travel, relax slowly, move according to the rhythm, listen to the harmonious sounds, the music is in harmony with the bells, and the beast is benevolent. , Once encountered in ancient times, according to its spirit, it ascended to the heavenly mansion."
"This beast comes from the Su in the southwest and the Margin of the sea. It is also called Qilin. It is the auspiciousness of the country!"
Zhu Yuanzhang did not respond, and was a little entangled in his heart. No matter whether this thing was a real auspicious beast or not, speaking out could always appease the people.
Zhu Biao tugged on his father's sleeve slightly, shook his head slightly when he looked sideways, and then looked at Guo Chong, Li Jin and others on the outermost side.
Guo Chong reacted the fastest and was the most knowledgeable. He immediately said: "According to the "Rui Ying Tu", the Qilin has a sheep's head, wolf hooves, a dome, five colors on its body, and is one or two feet tall. This beast can be seen If it has no divine aura, it may not be a unicorn."
An official retorted: "The orange is a tangerine when it grows in Huainan, and it is a tangerine when it grows in the north of Huaihe. Although the unicorn is a mythical beast, it wanders in a barbarian land without the support of Chinese descendants, so it is naturally different from ordinary races."
Zhu Yuanzhang was not in the mood to listen to their noise, and it happened that the "Qilin" made a mess, so he disliked it and said: "This beast looks like a deer, but the neck is long, so it can be called a giraffe. How can it be found in a place where barbarians are overseas?" Auspicious mythical beast.
"The Holy One has made a clear judgment that the lin can be tied to the leash. It is no different from a dog or a sheep. It is definitely not our Chinese mythical beast."
"Lin's spirit is Zhaozhao. It has been sung in poems, written in the Spring and Autumn Period, and published in biographies of hundreds of schools. Even women and children know that it is auspicious."
…
(End of chapter)
