Ruan Yuan had almost finished observing from above, and motioned to Stangdong to announce the topic of today's discussion.
After Stangdong introduced it, Ruan Yuan said in summary:
"You are the bridge between the palace and the people, and your image is the image of the palace that the people see directly.
"I have proposed that everyone change into uniform uniforms. I think it is necessary.
“But how to choose this championship uniform, I want to hear everyone’s opinions and opinions.
"Everyone can speak freely without any worries."
As soon as Ruan Yuan finished speaking, a man wearing a blue and black gown raised his hands and said very seriously:
"My subordinates think that since we are officials of the Ming Dynasty's vassal country, we should refer to the usual standards of the Ming Dynasty vassal country.
"Informal generals wear the uniform of a student. After passing the imperial examination and becoming a formal general, they wear the official uniform of the ninth rank."
At the end of the man's words, his voice trembled slightly, and he seemed very excited.
Several other translators wearing long gowns expressed their agreement one after another.
But there are also people who oppose it, and the ones who oppose it the fastest are not those wearing Thai and Western clothes and new formal wear.
They are still hesitating and considering from what angle they should start and express their opinions.
The first person to stand up and object was Standong, who was also wearing a Ming-style gown:
“You have to be an official to wear official uniform, at least you have to be an official who has not entered the mainstream.
"General officers can only be regarded as officials, and if they pass the examination, they can only wear tattered clothes like the students.
"Are you trying to overstep your bounds by wearing official uniforms?"
Several other captain-shirted translators were visibly startled.
Why did you say it was transgression? Aren’t all officials in the Ming Dynasty wearing official uniforms?
At the same time, Stangdong had turned to Ruan Yuan:
"My subordinates think that all general officers who have passed the county examination can just wear student uniforms."
Now Ruan Yuan was a little surprised.
Strictly speaking, it is indeed transgression for officials to wear official uniforms.
At the very least, one must have an official body to wear official uniforms, even if it is just an official body that has not entered the mainstream.
But that was before the Renwu Dynasty.
After the Renwu Dynasty, the two systems of officials and officials in the Ming Dynasty were merged into one system by Emperor Shizu.
Officials are also selected through merit examinations, and they are all formally established and receive salaries from the court.
The key is that they can all be promoted upwards, and all officials are from civil service backgrounds.
There is no substantial difference between the "unqualified" officials in the past, that is, civil servants who have no rank but have positions and official status, and ordinary officials.
In many vassal states, even in the Ming Dynasty itself, most officials wear official uniforms, which has become a common phenomenon.
The imperial court never asked about it, and the emperor saw it often, and had been accustomed to it for hundreds of years.
Now Stangdong, a Thai-Spanish man, has jumped out to take things seriously.
He suggested that translators also wear Ming Dynasty costumes, but strictly follow traditional rules.
Ruan Yuan evaluated Stangdong's characteristics in his mind, smiled and waved his hand and said:
"You don't need to be so serious, and you don't need to be so nervous, it's just a discussion now.
"Dangdong, you sit down first, and everyone else will talk about it, so don't worry."
Seeing Ruan Yuan being so kind, the other translators relaxed a little.
A man named Marshall, wearing Thai and Western clothes, was ready and spoke proactively:
“My subordinates believe that the main task of us translators should be for ordinary farmers.
“They are usually more traditional and conservative, and our image is best not to be too special and radical.
“When wearing traditional Ming Dynasty costumes directly in counties, villages and towns, the characteristics of outsiders are too prominent.
"This may increase the gap between us and the people, so my subordinates suggested that traditional Thai and Western clothes should be used as uniforms."
This time Ruan Yuan frowned slightly. Although what you said makes sense, this is now the Dongyi Kingdom of the Ming Dynasty.
The purpose of Changshi Mansion is not to live as the locals do, but to control, integrate, and change this place and integrate it into the Ming Dynasty.
However, Ruan Yuan did not show it, but continued to look at other people at the scene.
This time, a young woman named Erica spoke immediately, loudly reminding and asking questions in a very targeted manner:
"I think everyone should pay attention to their identity. This is the Dongyi Kingdom of the Ming Dynasty, and we are the representatives of the Taixi people.
"We will not take advantage of this rare opportunity to learn from the culture and system of the Ming Dynasty and help the Taixi people truly become enlightened and civilized.
“Instead, should the Ming Dynasty be allowed to accommodate the conservative, decadent, backward, and disgusting traditions of the Thai people?
“Do you Thai men just want to see us wearing those barbaric clothes that expose our breasts?
“Do you think we women are not qualified to sit with you?
"Your ignorant thinking is the biggest obstacle to Taixi's progress!"
Several men, including Marshall, were shocked. They didn't expect Erica, a woman, to be so aggressive, and so direct and radical.
The female elites present were not ordinary Thai and Western women. They all came with the mentality of becoming officials.
Moreover, their admiration for the Ming Dynasty's system and culture far exceeds that of ordinary Thai and Western men.
Similarly, they have natural resistance and resentment towards European men who control the main power in European society.
From the very beginning, they had been eyeing the three men wearing Thai and Western clothes.
The men headed by Marshall subconsciously wanted to scold Erica, a crazy woman.
But thinking about this woman's first words, they immediately flinched.
This is now the territory of the Ming Dynasty. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, women can take the exam to become officials just like men.
They can sit at the conference table with men for meetings.
Another man named Byron, wearing Thai and Western clothes, tried to change the angle and use retreat to advance:
"I don't recommend that women participate in activities in the countryside. American folklore is too dangerous for women."
Erica responded without hesitation:
“Our task is to act as translators for Ming officials and soldiers, and each county has a hundred elite soldiers from Ming Dynasty.
"If being with them can't guarantee our safety, then you Thai and Western men won't survive either.
"And you men can use guns, and we women can also use guns. We may not be the ones who need protection!"
Ruan Yuan looked at the scene and almost started to argue. He quickly raised his hand and stopped it more seriously:
“Speak your opinion and don’t attack each other specifically.
"Tell me, Ai Tongshi, what are your opinions on clothing?"
Facing Ruan Yuan's inquiry, the attitudes of several female translators immediately changed. Erica answered with a smile:
"Reporting to Lord Changshi, my suggestion is to directly use the official uniform of the ninth rank of the Ming Dynasty."
Ruan Yuan nodded slightly, indicating that he understood their thoughts.
The ordinary male translator wearing Ming Dynasty clothes obviously yearned for Ming Dynasty. His voice trembled with excitement when he mentioned the Ming Dynasty official uniforms.
Stangdong also yearned for the Ming Dynasty, but he had an extremely conservative tendency.
Female translators may be the most radical. They always wear official uniforms and don't even need the tattered shirts of student officials.
Ruan Yuan analyzed the differences between these people in his mind and said in summary:
"Now there are three opinions: the tattered shirts of the Ming Dynasty members, the official uniforms of the ninth rank of the Ming Dynasty, and the Thai and Western traditions.
"Does anyone else have any other ideas?"
Most of the group of translators shook their heads, and then looked at the last group, a few people who had never spoken.
Thomas Stockton has been thinking about it for a long time, and now he finally speaks out as a representative of the symptoms of perforation:
"Sir, I believe that what the previous few said has some truth, but it also has certain limitations.
"We are now the Dongyi Kingdom of the Ming Dynasty, so our uniforms must have the characteristics of the Ming Dynasty.
“At the same time, the people in the countryside here are more conservative, and our uniforms should be easier for them to accept.
"With this combination of two sides, the most suitable attire is the 'New Ming-style Thai-Western formal attire' we wear.
“They have a distinct traditional Thai and Western style and should be regarded by farmers in the Thai and Western countryside as the new popular trial wear in the city.
“It won’t make them resist, and it may even arouse curiosity, which makes our work more convenient.
"But they are not traditional Thai and Western costumes. Their design and production all come from the design ideas of the Ming Dynasty.
“The key is that they were designed by His Highness Prince Dashi himself, and they can be regarded as clothes designed by His Highness for the Taixi people.
"If there is any kind of clothing that can be used as the attire of civil servants from Dongyi, Taixi and Guotai, it is undoubtedly the new formal attire."
Most people in the Ming Dynasty like to compromise and have a natural moderate mentality. Stockton also made a compromise.
The eyes of the three men who supported the traditional Thai and Western costumes lit up.
They do not recommend wearing Ming Dynasty clothing directly, but it is too weak to support Thai and Western clothing.
Now that the centrists have stepped forward, it seems that they can cooperate with them.
The new formal attire is barely Thai and Western attire.
After brief consideration, they expressed their agreement one after another.
The men who supported the Ming Dynasty student uniforms and official uniforms could not object to Prince Dashi's design, so they did not speak rashly.
But Ms. Erica frowned and asked:
“His Royal Highness Prince Dashi’s new Ming-style formal attire is indeed a very excellent design.
“The clothing style and aesthetic level of the Thai and Western people have been raised to a huge level as a whole.
“These new formal attires, with simple yet elegant designs, have become popular throughout the West and Yinzhou in just a few months.
“But it is a great pity that His Highness does not design women’s clothing specifically.
"If these clothes are to be used as the uniform of translators, what should we women do?"
If Zhu Jingyuan heard this comment, he would be extremely speechless.
Most of the clothes I design are women's clothing, okay?
That capitalist suit was men's clothing, but it didn't sell at all and didn't become popular at all.
Who would have thought that Thai and Western men in this era would be so fond of skirts, stockings, and high heels.
Your Majesty, I am also speechless, okay?
But people at the scene didn't think there was anything wrong with these words.
Short skirts, stockings, and high heels are originally men's clothing, while women's clothing only includes maxi dresses.
Ruan Yuan was thinking about whether to ask Zhu Jingyuan for his opinion.
However, if you want to ask, you should do it in private, and ask during the report. Now it is better to pay more attention to the status of these translators.
So Ruan Yuan continued to ask:
"Ai Tongshi, do you have any ideas? About the uniforms of female translators?"
Erica basically didn’t hesitate:
"I thought we could wear Ming-style female official uniforms."
Ruan Yuan nodded very slightly again:
"I understand. I'll think about it. Let's go get busy first."
Ruan Yuan said he was going to consider it, but actually he already had a basic judgment in his mind.
Back in the office, I summarized my thoughts and sent them to the Dashi King's Mansion.
