Zhongshu Province.
Hu Weiyong looked at Niu Liang, the Minister of Rites, and asked, "Why did the Champa Kingdom send envoys here?"
Niu Liang was neither humble nor arrogant, and saluted solemnly: "According to the envoy, the Annan Kingdom raised troops to occupy the city, and was defeated by the army of the occupying country. I came here to win the victory."
"Victory?"
Hu Weiyong frowned slightly.
It is not absurd to win the battle in Champa and come to Ming Dynasty to win.
In the second year of Hongwu's reign, Zhu Yuanzhang sent officials carrying the imperial edict to capture the city. The king of Champa, Ata'a (Zhi Peng'e), sent envoys to congratulate him and pay tribute to elephants, tigers, etc.
Soon after, Zhu Yuanzhang sent officials from the Zhongshu Province and deputy envoys from the Huitong Pavilion to carry an imperial edict, canonizing the king of Champa as the king of Champa.
At this point, the Ming Dynasty and Champa established a suzerain-vassal relationship.
In the third year of Hongwu's reign, Taizu sent envoys to Champaign to pay homage to the mountains and rivers, and issued an imperial edict in Champago.
In the fourth year of Hongwu's reign, the king of Champa, Ata'a, asked the Ming Dynasty to provide weapons and strengthen the armed forces of Champa to avoid being invaded by Annan.
In August of the sixth year of Hongwu, an envoy sent to Champa made a statement: "The sea pirates Zhang Ruhou and Lin Fu claimed to be marshals and plundered the sea. They were defeated by the king. Zhang Ruhou and others drowned, and they obtained 20 ships and 70,000 pieces of wood. Jin, pirate Wu Si and others are here to offer it."
Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and rewarded him.
From these points of view, the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Champa Kingdom is very close.
Only three months had passed, and the Champa Kingdom once again sent envoys. Such frequent exchanges made their intentions suspicious.
Hu Weiyong knocked on the table and asked slowly: "Niu Shangshu, is it really so easy to succeed in this matter?"
Niu Liang had reservations: "From the current point of view, this should be the case."
"Then let's arrange a good reception at the same hall."
Hu Weiyong took a deep look at Niu Liang. He was unwilling to have a heart-to-heart relationship with him and was defensive when he spoke.
Niu Liang's expression changed slightly: "Prime Minister Hu, the Huitong Pavilion is the official office of the Ministry of War. The Indecent Affairs Department can intervene."
Hu Weiyong waved his hand and told Niu Liang to step back.
Indeed, the Huitong Pavilion is a place for entertaining foreign envoys. At first glance, it seems that it should be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, but in fact it is really under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War.
Huitong Pavilion is actually an ekiden institution.
Since the capital, there have been post offices in all directions. In Jinling it is called the Huitong Hall, and outside it is called the Shui Ma Post and Delivery Station.
Therefore, Huitongkan’s first mission is Ekiden.
Documents issued to local places within Jinling often need to be sent out through post agencies, and the specific department responsible for the delivery is the Huitong Library.
However, the Huitong Hall is also responsible for the reception of foreign envoys. The Ministry of Rites is responsible for a very limited part, including welcoming, teaching etiquette, and managing envoys' transactions.
Greeted at the port office outside the city or in the city.
The etiquette is taught at Tianjie Temple.
The management of envoy transactions is in Wumanyi.
These three functions are not within the Huitong Pavilion, so the people from the Ministry of War are really responsible for taking care of them.
Those in the imperial court are most afraid of messing up the rules and overstepping their duties. Niu Liang is the person who specializes in helping Lao Zhu establish etiquette and rules, so he naturally knows that the rules must not be broken.
Niu Liang walked out of Zhongshu Province, looked back, and blew out two streams of hot air from his nose.
The murder knife is very invisible.
No one dares to let down their guard above the court.
Hu Weiyong reported the matter to Zhu Yuanzhang and reminded: "Your Majesty, this envoy who captured the city seems to have a profound meaning when he came to say victory."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while, then understood, and said with a smile: "What a victory document, I'm afraid what they want is to conquer the imperial edict, or they want to see the Ming Dynasty's attitude towards Annan's invasion of the Champa Kingdom. Today's Champa Kingdom is not as good as Annan is weak and now has a great victory, so naturally it wants to take this opportunity to continue the conquest, but it is just because it is worried about the Ming Dynasty that it sends envoys here."
Hu Weiyong was suddenly stunned and admired: "It's so smart for your Majesty to have such a joint."
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Hu Weiyong: "Overseas countries are blocked by mountains and seas, and it is difficult to communicate with intelligence. The year before last, envoys from Annan came to say that the Champa Kingdom was invading. This year, the Champa State said that Annan was invading. It is difficult for the court to decide what the twists and turns are. For now As a strategy, we should send envoys to the two countries and issue edicts to them to stop their troops and calm their people, and not to disturb each other."
Hu Weiyong nodded in agreement, and finally said: "I'm afraid this edict cannot be obeyed."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed: "The imperial court's fleet is limited, and it carries food to the north, so it cannot sail southward. At the moment, we can only persuade peace, and hope that the two countries can stop fighting."
Hu Weiyong listened to Zhu Yuanzhang's sigh and knew that this was unrealistic.
The only worry about Champa is that the Ming Dynasty will send troops to help Champa. If Ming only expressed its stance to persuade peace, then the worry about Champa would not exist.
Everyone knows that it is generally impossible for peacemakers to participate in fights.
Besides, at this time, the majesty of Ming Dynasty was not enough to make Champa and Annan truly submissive. After all, Ming Dynasty's main energy was always on the north. Its own enemy had not yet been solved, so how could he care about his two younger brothers.
"Your Majesty, there is a lot of instability along the coast. Japanese pirates and pirates invade the border from time to time. One of the things that happened in the past was the occupation of the city and the elimination of pirates. For a long time, the people along the coast have suffered greatly. Should we build a coastal guard station..."
Hu Weiyong took the opportunity to make remarks.
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment and then said: "Since the Huangdu Shipping Department was dismissed in three years, I decreed the establishment of three shipping departments in Quanzhou, Fujian, Mingzhou, Zhejiang, and Guangzhou, Guangdong to take charge of Japan, Ryukyu and Champa. , Siam, and Western countries to pay tribute and trade. Due to the serious Japanese invasion, I ordered Japan to pay tribute and open the city once every ten years. More than two years have passed, how is the trade in the three cities?"
Hu Weiyong was stunned for a moment. He did not expect that Zhu Yuanzhang would ask about the Shipping Department, so he quickly said: "I don't know much about the trade conditions of these three Shipping Departments, so I will go back and send a message to inquire."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "If there is no income from tribute and trade, then there is no need to exist. Someone is making trouble on the sea. Let's make a decision after asking clearly."
Hu Weiyong agreed repeatedly.
The Municipal Shipping Department is owned by the province, and its tax revenue is directly integrated into the provincial tax account. If the Ministry of Accounts wants to know, it also needs to send people to the local area to find out and find out.
Jurong, county government.
Gu Zhengchen was looking forward to arriving at the twelfth lunar month as early as possible and waiting for the seal from the imperial court so that he could go to Jinling to reunite with his family for a month. He was just looking forward to the end of November and it would be the twelfth lunar month. All the work arrangements were in place and he was getting ready. After packing their luggage, Zhang Pei and Yao Zhen scratched their heads and looked at Gu Zhengchen, feeling very strange.
"Master, are you going on a long trip?"
Yao Zhen asked doubtfully.
Gu Zhengchen packed a package and said with a smile: "It's almost December, and the imperial government office has sealed it for a month. Let's go back to Jinling now."
Yao Zhen and Zhang Pei looked at each other. Zhang Pei took a step back, coughed, and whispered: "Master, November has indeed passed, but next is a leap November. It is still far from December. One month..."
"Xia Mi?"
Gu Zhengchen was stunned.
I’ve heard of leap February, but never heard of leap November. You don’t know how to play with me...
