The Siyi Pavilion is located outside the left gate of Chang'an, close to the Hanlin Academy. When Yongle was first established, it was once under the jurisdiction of the Hanlin Academy, and was later transferred to Honglu Temple. Its purpose was to cultivate various translation talents. However, with the beginning of the maritime ban, the Ming Dynasty
The exchanges with foreign countries are becoming less and less, so there is no great use here. It is difficult to learn a small language itself, and coupled with the difficulty of finding a job, gradually, the translation skills of the students in the Siyi Museum are getting lower and lower, and it soon becomes
A place where noble sons and daughters are gilded.
When he learned that Xian Ruxing was coming to visit, Yu Xian, the young minister of Honglu Temple, hurriedly greeted him at the door with his subordinates. Yes, there was not even a serious person in charge here, only the young minister of Honglu Temple was in charge. It can be seen from this that
How little attention the court paid to it.
He had heard about Master Xian for a long time, but when he actually met him, Yu Xian was still shocked by her young age. He immediately realized what he was doing, and hurriedly stepped forward and said enthusiastically: "Master Xian, long live, but what oral instructions have you given me?
"
During the Zhengde period, the emperor often sent his adopted sons Gan'er to run errands and deliver messages. As the "treacherous sycophants" around His Majesty, Yu Xian should have thought that it was Jiajing who asked Xian Ruxing to come find him.
"No, this matter has nothing to do with Your Majesty. It's just that I am a little curious about this place and want to come and meet some people."
Unexpectedly, Yu Xian became even happier when he heard this, and his worried heart finally fell. Who didn't know that Xian Ruxing was the most favored person around the emperor, and the relationships he sent from left to right were in vain, and the ministers in the court were worried that his reputation would be damaged.
He didn't have such worries as a fifth-grade official, so he immediately answered: "Hai, you told me earlier. If you weren't from Fan, just tell me what you want to see, blue eyes, green eyes, white skin.
I'll find all those with dark skin!"
"I'll thank you in advance." Xian Ruxing smiled and said, "Speaking of which, how many envoys live in the Siyi Pavilion? Are they from each country?"
"No," Yu Xian explained: "Now there are mainly some Lu fans from North Korea and Myanmar, which means more people are allowed to enter Beijing from the two countries. Japan also used to have them, but since the chaos there,
, I won’t let you come. Those little bastards kept shouting when they left. If it weren’t for the inconvenience of wearing official uniforms, I would have given them two punches.”
Thinking of the Ming Dynasty officials' reputation for being "rich in martial arts," Xian Ruxing nodded, gave Yu Xian a thumbs-up, and praised, "Shaoqing is such a sweet-tempered person."
"A prize, a prize, a prize," Yu Xian said proudly, putting his hands behind his back. He talked a lot, but now that he was determined to express himself, he talked even more. Soon, Xian Ruxing had an overview of the entire Siyi Pavilion.
Funny to say, the place with the most foreigners here is not the residence of the embassy, but the staff.
Because the level of translators they trained was so poor that they could not be used at critical moments, so the Seiyi Pavilion began to hire foreign envoys. For small countries such as Xitian, Babai, Siam, etc., there were almost no envoys and several envoys. Of course.
, it is unclear whether there is an issue of free money.
When Xian Ruxing asked if there were any big cannibals, Yu Xian was stunned for a moment, thought for a long time, and said in a daze: "It seems that I haven't received a big cannibal for almost a year."
This time it was Xian Ruxing's turn to be confused. She described the other person's appearance according to Dong Xiaoyi's description. After hearing this, Yu Xian suddenly said: "Ah, isn't this Senas? He is an envoy sent by Lumi, but he seems to be arriving soon."
Is it the day to leave? Who, tell Mr. Sai to come out."
Soon, a man with dark blond curly hair and blue eyes appeared in front of everyone.
When Yu Xian saw him, he joked: "Senas, haven't you always wanted to meet a big shot in our court? Now the opportunity has come. This is the Xianxian Master next to our Majesty, but she regards you as a big cannibal, haha, it's okay
Please explain it clearly, pretending to be an envoy will cost you your head."
The man's face changed slightly, and he spoke broken Beijing dialect and stammered: "Yu, Shaoqing, Master Xian... hello."
Seeing him like this, the two of them instantly understood that something was wrong.
"Can you please Shaoqing prepare a separate room for the poor Taoist?"
Just in case, Xian Ruxing still kept a subordinate, but obviously, even without such a person, Senas was so frightened that he was shaking all over and couldn't even say a complete sentence. After a long time, he said "Wow"
He cried loudly and fell to his knees on the ground.
Xian Ruxing: "..." It seems like she hasn't done anything yet.
Senas cried till the sky was dark and the earth was dark, as if he wanted to vent all the grievances he had suffered.
Speaking of which, I don't blame him for being like this.
Unlike the Tang and Song Dynasties, when foreign merchants were everywhere, the Ming Dynasty treated foreign merchants a bit strangely. Zhu Yuanzhang himself hated commercial activities very much and stipulated that "anyone who dares to trade with each other privately will be subject to strict laws." Of course, the people can restrain foreigners.
He couldn't manage it. So he changed his mind. Whenever merchants came to the DPRK, they only had to present the various goods they carried as tributes to the emperor, and the Ming Dynasty would give them generous rewards that far exceeded the value of the goods.
At this time, the Ming Dynasty had six words engraved on its forehead: You are stupid, you have a lot of money, come quickly!
Sure enough, as soon as they heard about this good thing, small countries around came to collect wool one after another.
At that time, the leader of Wala also sent a tribute team of 3,000 people, hoping to give the Ming Dynasty a hard meal. However, Zhu Qizhen, the Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, suddenly became more serious and ordered his people to count them one by one.
In the end, it was discovered that the number of people was actually only 500, and in the end the court only gave rewards to 500 people.
This move made Ye Xian angry. Just as the saying goes, everyone eats from the big households, so why can't he eat from it? Are you targeting me tomorrow? So he led troops to invade the border, and then Zhu Qizhen
Under the instigation of the eunuch Wang Zhen, he "conquered personally", and everyone knew the result: a prosperous empire was destroyed in one battle.
These are just the representatives. In fact, there are countless jokes about "paying tribute". In the end, the Ming Dynasty also learned a little bit wiser and stipulated that not everyone can enjoy such treatment, and only a few people with close contacts can send missions.
Come to pay tribute, and there is a certain number of people required.
For example, Rumi, also known as the Ottoman Empire in modern times, is now one of the powerful countries in the Mediterranean. It is qualified to send envoys to the Ming Dynasty.
As a hybrid of Dashi and Franji, Senas could only rush to the border of the Ming Dynasty alone, stop and wait for the real foreign envoy to pass by, then secretly join the envoy's team through bribery, pretending to be Lu charming and enter the border.
From Dashi to the Ming Dynasty, the journey was extremely arduous. Senas walked for two years. However, when he arrived, he was dumbfounded. The Ming Emperor only gave them rewards and imprisoned them in the Siyi Pavilion to eat and drink well.
Providing food means not allowing them to move.
This is not business at all!
Senas roared in his heart! As the youngest son in the family, he has never been taken seriously by his elders. He heard that his ancestors had shown their talents in the distant eastern continent and made the family's first fortune, so he also ambitiously wanted to come and do business.
However, this was the result. After several years of wandering, coupled with the psychological pressure of being punished if his identity was discovered by Daming, if it were not for his beloved cat by his side, he might have collapsed long ago.
But, it’s pretty much the same now.
Xian Ruxing looked helplessly at the foreign young man who was crying with runny nose and tears. After a long while, he said: "But it's better? Get up and talk when you're better."
Seeing that this beautiful oriental woman didn't seem to have any intention of disposing of him, Senas felt a little relieved. He stood up with sobs and choked up: "Priest Xian, I just want to make some money and live a good life, and be useful to your country."
I don’t have any bad intentions, please believe me!”
"Let's put aside whether you believe it or not. Let me ask you, since you are here to do business this time, did you bring anything here?" Xian Ruxing asked expectantly.
Senas was startled, then reacted immediately, bursting with ecstasy, "Yes, I know from the records of my ancestors that Easterners like our spices the most. I specially brought two carts with me this time to ensure that they can be made into expensive spices."
Incense! If you buy it, you won’t have to worry about sales.”
"ha!"
Xian Ruxing didn't say anything, but the guard behind her couldn't help but sneered and muttered: "Guan Gong is playing with a sword in front of the gate."
"What?" Senas was puzzled.
"Nothing," Xian Ruxing shook his head, "Are there any specialty crops, such as beets and sweet potatoes?"
Xian Ruxing described to him what these two things looked like.
Beet itself is produced in the Mediterranean. After hearing this, Senas immediately said that he often eats it. If he didn't bring it this time, he can get it later. As for the sweet potato, he has also seen it, but the Frangi people keep a close eye on it. It is said that it only grows in a certain place.
Planted in the ground, it is difficult for outsiders to approach.
With his life no longer in danger, the businessman's mind was spinning rapidly. Seeing that Xian Ruxing was not interested in the goods he brought, he immediately began to increase his other values.
"Priest Xian, you also know that I have Frangi blood. It will not be a problem to go there. If you really give me time, one and a half years, one year! I can bring you the finished product!" Senas gritted his teeth and looked at Yu.
Xian's attitude towards Xian Ruxing, he knew that he was not an ordinary person. If he didn't seize this opportunity now, he would lose it in the future.
Maybe I can be like my ancestors, no! surpass my ancestors!
Senas's eyes were shining, staring at the female Taoist expectantly.
But what disappointed him was that in the face of his promise, the other party always maintained an unchanged smile and never raised his eyebrows.
Senas gritted his teeth and said, "Priest Xian, I am willing to convert to your sect and become a devout believer!"
Xian Ruxing: "..." This is thinking of myself as a missionary.
Now along with the great voyage, the Catholics have begun their missionary work all over the world. Senas has been in contact with them before and was annoyed, but naturally everything is easy to negotiate when it comes to money.
"No need," Xian Ruxing said calmly. China's local Taoism has always followed a high-level line. Regarding religious beliefs, whether you believe in it or not, forget it if you don't. The main thing is to have a stable mentality.
There was nothing valuable about the other person, so his interest weakened. After asking a few more questions, he let him go.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Yu Xian's uneasy face. Seeing this, Xian Ruxing felt relieved and comforted: "Yu Shaoqing, don't worry, I know what to do."
Yu Xian breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Lu Mi's envoys had sneaked into the cannibal group. If they continued to investigate, he would inevitably be punished. Fortunately, Taoist priest Xian was a humane person and quickly apologized and thanked him.
"I find Senas useful, but I hope Yu Shaoqing won't deal with him first."
"Okay, okay, I will strengthen the security of the Siyi Pavilion these days, don't worry Xiangu." Yu Xian quickly promised and did not dare to talk about anything else.
After returning to the palace, Xian Ruxing and Zhu Houcong recounted what happened, saying that although the maritime ban was too sensitive and could not be fully opened now, the envoys on the road could be loosened. At least the Ming Dynasty could no longer be taken advantage of like this.
Zhu Houcong himself was not very big-minded and had always criticized the Ming Dynasty's tribute system. When he heard Xian Ruxing's suggestion, he immediately raised it in the court.
At first, he didn't really care much. After all, paying tribute was a trivial matter. Unexpectedly, Yang Tinghe was the first to jump out and object. He bluntly said that paying tribute was a rule set by Taizu. For a while, the emperor first
Violating the ancestral precepts, Lu Song, the Deputy Qianhu of the Imperial Guard, was allowed to directly supervise the capital camp, and then changed the tribute that had lasted for hundreds of years. This was really against the ancestral laws.
Anyone with long ears can hear these remarks. What about paying tribute is just incidental. The key point is all in the previous paragraph. It can only be said that Yang Tinghe is worthy of being the elder of the four dynasties. The emperor only made a slight movement to see the root cause and immediately began to write the article.
The tube group pulled together.
Jiajing was so upset by what he said that he sneered: "So the ancestral precepts cannot be changed? Then why did the Emperor Xiaozong abolish the "Regulations on Punishment" promulgated by Taizu during the Xiaozong period?"
Zhu Yuanzhang stipulated in the punishment regulations at that time that officials who were corrupt could be punished with the death penalty of being skinned and stuffed with grass. However, Emperor Xiaozong Hongzhi felt that it was too cruel and changed the maximum penalty for corruption to banishment and exile. For this, he received the civil and military honors of the Manchu Dynasty.
Support. Now that Zhu Houcong has mentioned this matter, his intention is very clear, he is scolding them for their double standards.
After all, he was still young. Originally he was only competing with Yang Tinghe for power, but now he was shooting at everyone regardless of enemy or friend.
Mao Cheng, the Minister of Rites, frowned and said: "Your Majesty, this is Xiaozong's benevolent policy, but as for paying tribute, he wants to allow foreign businessmen to ruin the folk customs. On that day, they also invaded our dynasty on the pretext that the tribute was unfair. Even for such a Yingzong.
If this matter remains unchanged, Your Majesty will be the first person to do so?"
The old man doesn't use curse words when he curses. As for Zhu Qizhen, Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, although he is the direct ancestor of the current emperor, in fact, everyone has a tacit understanding to avoid talking about this emperor. We really can't afford to embarrass this person.
Mao Cheng's meaning is also very obvious, which is to tell Zhu Houcong that you are not even as good as Yingzong Zhu Qizhen now.
After Zhu Houcong heard this, he immediately stood up in the court and almost stood up to quarrel with them. However, he could not argue with so many people with one mouth. He was so angry that his face turned purple. In the end, he reluctantly left the court under the persuasion of the good old Liang Chu.
After returning home, he immediately overturned the table. Seeing this, Huang Jin was worried that Jiajing would be angry, so he quickly went to ask the fire extinguishing master Xian Ruxing.
Xian Ruxing felt a little speechless after hearing this. He shouldn't be so insulting. It would be better to take Zhu Qizhen as an example.
Zhu Houcong was sitting on the steps with tears streaming down his face. Since he ascended the throne, except for the initial fuss over asking for his father's title, he went to bed later than a dog and got up earlier than a chicken. In order to save money for the court, he worked extremely hard.
He's so pretty, even though he's a filial piety, he doesn't even have new clothes, yet he's still being roundly criticized as a coward. How can he feel so aggrieved?
Xian Ruxing felt heartbroken when she saw her child looking so shameless. After a few words of comfort, she said she would handle the matter herself, and promised to make the courtiers bow their heads and agree.
"Then where do you want to start?" Zhu Houcong asked.
"Well..." Xian Ruxing said mysteriously: "I want to ask your Majesty for a job.":,,.