Chapter Seventy-Two: The Grand Court Assembly, Part Two
Chapter Seventy-Two: The Grand Court Assembly, Part Two
The matter concerning Yu Qian was but a minor interlude. After the civil officials, it was time for the foreign envoys. This was the first time since Zhu Qizhen’s ascension that he received foreign emissaries. The envoys from various nations were nearly all present, lending the assembly an air of universal homage. Though the voyages to the Western Ocean had ceased, making it impossible for some small Western countries to attend—after all, even if they wished to come, they lacked the means for long-distance travel—the expected delegations were still in attendance.
Those who appeared indistinguishable from Han Chinese were the envoys from Korea and Vietnam. At this moment, Korea was under the reign of King Sejong, its most prosperous era, yet Korea remained compliant and caused no trouble. Annam was similarly respectful in appearance.
Yet Zhu Qizhen felt deeply displeased. The aftermath of Marquis Anyuan Liu Sheng’s death continued to stir unrest in the court. Liu Sheng, the Ming commander who fell in battle, died in Annam, along with tens of thousands of soldiers. This bitter loss weighed heavily on Zhu Qizhen’s heart. If it were up to him, he would never have allowed the Annamese to appear here. Though the Annam envoy knelt in apparent reverence, Zhu Qizhen was thoroughly uncomfortable. However, the Grand Empress Dowager wished to avoid warfare and did not desire renewed conflict with Annam. Thus, Zhu Qizhen could only acquiesce.
His dealings with the Annam envoy were mere formalities. Then came the envoy from Oirat, who, contrary to the Mongol image, sported curly hair, a thick beard, and a white cloth wrapped around his head. Zhu Qizhen recognized him instantly as an Arab—or rather, a Hui.
Zhu Qizhen knew in advance that many of the envoys he would meet this time had Oirat backing. For example, Hami, Bie Li Ba Shi, and other Western vassal states. Owing to the court’s tradition of generous rewards for those who offered tribute, and the scarcity of resources on the steppe, Oirat sought to control as many envoys as possible, especially in Hami, a strategic location whose prince was related to Toghon, the Oirat leader, by marriage.
The route from the Western regions to the Central Plains inevitably passed through Hami. Moreover, Oirat’s stronghold was in the Western regions. After the brief prosperity under Toghon and Esen, Oirat retreated to the west, known among the Mongols as the Western Mongols. Oirat’s entrenched position in the Western regions was evident. Thus, it was common for Hui individuals to serve within Oirat. As for how many envoys from the Western regions to the Central Plains were actually Oirat people, it was difficult to say.
Some things are known but must be treated as if unknown. After all, Ming’s influence does not reach the Western regions. Zhu Qizhen had expected the meeting with the Oirat envoy to be a mere formality, but the envoy was defiant. After bowing to Zhu Qizhen, he loudly declared, “Your Majesty, Mongolia is a great nation of the north, with lands stretching ten thousand li and a million archers. Why are we placed after Korea and Annam?”
Though Toghon aspired to usurp the Golden Family’s power, he still presented himself under the Mongolian banner. At these words, Zhu Qizhen felt little, but Hu Ying, the Minister of Rites, frowned immediately. Positioned close to Zhu Qizhen, along with the Three Yangs and several dukes, Hu Ying was responsible for arranging today’s ceremonies. The error was naturally his responsibility. As he pondered how to remedy the situation, Zhu Qizhen spoke boldly, “The fifteen nations exempted from conquest were decreed by the Great Ancestor; your country is not among them.”
“Good,” someone whispered softly. At such a grand ceremony, no one dared speak loudly, but Zhu Qizhen’s words were privately applauded. Among the Ming dynasty, their backbone was the hardest. Perhaps the cabinet, considering the empire’s overall strategy, wished to avoid large-scale conflict—those reasons had already been discussed, and need not be repeated. But they would never allow the prestige of the Celestial Empire to diminish before the Oirat envoy.
The Oirat envoy was momentarily speechless. He knew not how to rebut, nor was he truly intimidated by a child. Yet, as it was the Ming Emperor who spoke, he understood Zhu Qizhen’s intent: Mongolia was not exempt from conquest; a child who misbehaves risks a spanking.
The cabinet knew Ming’s current strength; compared to the Yongle era, both soldiers and generals were lacking. But Oirat did not know. The might of Yongle’s armies had not yet faded. The Mongols once chased by Emperor Taizong had not all perished, so they dared not argue.
“Your servant was discourteous,” the Oirat envoy bowed and said, “Before coming, the Prince of Huai instructed me to convey his wish for our nations to forge friendship, for the nine border regions to be at peace, so both peoples may enjoy prosperity.”
“He requests a Ming princess to marry the heir of the Great Prince of Huai, offering ten thousand warhorses as bride price.”
“Outrageous!” Hu Ying shouted. The kindly old man’s brows and beard bristled as he declared sternly, “There has never been a precedent for our princesses to marry abroad. Do you not recognize the might of Ming?”
The Oirat envoy, showing some backbone, gritted his teeth and replied, “This is a gesture of goodwill from the Prince of Huai. I beseech Your Majesty to consider the suffering of war and the welfare of the people. Would not kinship between our nations be a great blessing?”
Zhu Qizhen suddenly laughed. He said, “Envoy, your words are truly amusing. Setting aside the fact that our dynasty never marries princesses abroad, even if such a precedent existed, your nation shows no sincerity.”
“How exalted is a Ming princess! How could she wed the Prince of Huai’s heir? If you wish to marry a Ming princess, have your Prince of Huai become the Mongol Khan first, then we shall talk.”
“Attendants!”
Shi Jing stepped forward and said, “Your servant is here.”
Zhu Qizhen commanded, “Drive him out. Order the Oirat envoy to leave the capital immediately, with no further delay.”
Shi Jing replied, “As you command.”
Shi Jing despised this envoy deeply. Besides, among the Ming princesses of marriageable age, only Princess Shunde remained. If the court agreed, it would be tantamount to robbing him of his wife. After Shi Jing expelled the Oirat envoy, none of the remaining envoys dared stir further trouble.
The grand assembly concluded swiftly. Ministers from all factions immediately took their pastries to stave off hunger, for everyone understood that the more sumptuous the feast, the less it filled the stomach.
Zhu Qizhen felt the same. Today, more than ten thousand civil and military officials, at the very least, had passed before him, though many lower-ranking ones presented themselves in groups. Still, Zhu Qizhen had to sit upright and dignified, never slipping in decorum for a moment.
Since the common people could not see the emperor, their impressions were shaped by the reports of local officials. Should Zhu Qizhen commit even a minor breach of etiquette, it would be exaggerated tenfold in rumor.
His whole body was numb and sore. While he stretched, a young eunuch approached with a tray of drinks and pastries, allowing Zhu Qizhen to assuage his hunger.
At this moment, Wang Zhen approached and said, “Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Hu requests an audience.”
Zhu Qizhen responded at once, “Invite him in.”
Hu Ying entered, bowed deeply, and declared, “Your minister Hu Ying greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor.”
“Master Hu, dispense with ceremony,” Zhu Qizhen said. “You are a veteran of three reigns and my elder. No need for formality. Please, sit.”
Hu Ying remained standing. “Today at the grand assembly, the Oirat envoy’s insolence was my fault. I come to beg forgiveness.”
Zhu Qizhen hastily helped him up. “Grand Secretary Hu, you need not be so concerned. Oirat has always been unruly. How could this be blamed on you?”
Only then did Hu Ying rise slowly. He knew the Oirat envoy had come with premeditated intentions. Hu Ying had previously instructed the envoys on what to say and what not to say, much like a military parade where the slogans were set in advance. The emperor might exercise some spontaneous authority, as he did today by showing favor to Yu Qian, putting him on the spot. But the subordinates did not have such freedom.
Overall, the Oirat envoy’s performance was an accident for Hu Ying as the organizer of the grand assembly. Though the main responsibility did not lie with him, he still came to offer an apology. This was the cunning of a seasoned minister. After all, little was truly known about the young emperor’s character.
A new sovereign brings new ministers. Hu Ying had no desire to retire so soon, and so sought to make himself more visible before the young emperor.