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 greet them, and Marquis Jinghai led the navy to protect them.
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 country.
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.
He slowly knelt down and picked up the sand, first kowtowed to the capital, and then kowtowed to the direction of his ancestral graves, sobbing uncontrollably.
On the fleet, flags were rustling, gongs and drums were noisy, and lion dances were performed 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, who had a weathered face and some 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 officials 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 majesty of the Ming Dynasty and ordered them to do so.
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 frighten them, so do not dare to disobey any orders!"
"To make the barbarian countries fear their power and embrace their virtues, they will issue the Zhonghua Zhengshuo wherever they go, promote culture and education, and let the emperor speak out, and connect them to Wuwai. The sea will be clear and peaceful, and the foreign people will rely on it to settle down, and leave it to the sea map.
Order them to prepare goods for trade!"
"I came back from this dynasty 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. I work hard to serve those who are near. A gentleman does not take anything. He does not run out of troops and does not tire the people. His rituals and music are civilized 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 in front of Danbi and held out an imperial edict, saying: "The virtuous and handsome men helped Ji Xianliyi, and were ordered to sail into the Western Ocean, seal the barbarian countries, and pay tribute through the southwest sea route. They have 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, Marquis of Jiangyin, was promoted to the rank of Guanglu. He was appointed to the Shangzhu Kingdom. He was appointed as the military commander of the Imperial Governor's Office to take charge of all matters concerning the ocean. He was promoted to Duke of Haiguo. He also received an additional salary of 5,000 dan. He was posthumously granted the title of Duke of Bohai to his late father. He was promoted to Honorary Officer.
The doctor, who also knows the affairs of the governor's office, Zhu Guo, will be rewarded...
"I bow down to 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 as 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 in their hands, including frankincense, dried blood, aloe vera, myrrh, anthocyanin, styrax oil, wood beetle and the like, figs, lettuce, pumpkins, loofahs, watermelons, bitter melons, muskmelons, pistachios, walnuts, and sunflowers.
, corn, tomatoes, sesames, 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 gems of all kinds, including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, aventurines, pearls, crystals and turquoises, large pieces of cat's eye, various exotic gems, 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."
"Spiritual creatures hidden in the mountains and hidden in the sea, treasures sunken in the sand and living on the land."
"Yes, it's just gold, silver and jewelry. I wonder if those crops and livestock can be beneficial to people's livelihood."
"The princes of the four barbarians held the robes and presented them to each other, looking at each other on top of 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 been seen before. The hall of Yiyi was filled with palaces and emperors. It was so spectacular!
"
There is also an imperial censor admonishing him: "Although he declared his power in foreign lands and spread it throughout Southeast Asia, which was 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. He also spreads 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. It is better to 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 promised and went to arrange the arrangements.
Zhu Biao could hardly stop smiling at this time. In fact, almost all the crops he wanted were obtained. Although they still need to be carefully cultivated, improved and selected, they are 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 clothes, I went outside the Wuying Hall. Many civil and military officials gathered to watch. The official secretary sighed and said: "There are many rare treasures in the world, such as lions, rhinoceros, celestial horses, sacred deer, white elephants, turkeys and other exotic animals. They are so valuable for the palace."
, the emperor takes pleasure in it!"
Zhu Yuanzhang also looked around with 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 things inside can't be seen?"
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. It depends on the gods."
The Minister of Rites was surprised and asked: "Qilin! Is this the Qilin, the divine beast of good fortune and auspiciousness?"
After saying this, he knelt down to congratulate Lao Zhu. Zhu Biao had already guessed what it was and stopped him quickly. The other officials who were about to follow him to congratulate him all stopped when they saw this.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't believe what he said, so he just ordered someone to lift the colorful 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 brilliant, the red clouds and purple mist are shining, the toes do not touch things, the soil must be chosen when swimming, comfortable and leisurely, moving according to the rhythm, listening to the harmonious sounds, the music is in harmony with the bells, and the beasts are 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 slightly tugged on his father's sleeves, shook his head slightly when he looked sideways, and then looked at Guo Chong, Li Jin and others on the outermost side.
Guo Chong responded 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 foot 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 the south of the Huaihe River, and it is a tangerine when it grows in the north of the Huaihe River. Although the unicorn is a mythical beast, it wanders in barbarian lands and has no descendants from China to support it. 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 said in disgust: "This beast looks like a deer, but it has a long neck, 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 it clear that the lin can be tied to a 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 was chanted in poems, written in the Spring and Autumn Period, and mixed in biographies of hundreds of schools of thought. Even women and children know that it is auspicious."