I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 235 The Special Envoy of the Anda Tribe is Killed! Minister of Rites Pan Sheng: For the Face of the Ming Dynasty
On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, the festive atmosphere in the capital city grew stronger.

Countries and tribes that came to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty also arrived in the capital one after another and were arranged to stay in the corresponding post stations to learn the etiquette of paying tribute.

Compared to the Yongle era, the number of countries and tribes that came to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty was as high as sixty.

At present, there are fewer than ten countries and tribes that pay tribute, all of which are core vassal states such as Korea, Ryukyu, and Siam, plus chieftain tribes in the north, northeast, and northwest.

It's not that other foreign countries didn't want to come, but that the Ming Dynasty wouldn't allow them to come, or wouldn't allow them to pay tribute once a year.

The term "tribute" refers to paying homage to the emperor and offering tribute.

However, the tributes from foreign countries were too meager, while the gifts bestowed by the Ming Dynasty were too precious, with the value differing by hundreds of times.

In addition, the Ming Dynasty implemented a maritime ban policy, resulting in very little foreign exchange, as well as the long distances and instability of foreign regimes.

For example, Japan was banned from paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty because of the Wokou (Japanese pirates) riots. In the second year of the Jiajing reign, two factions on the island sent delegations to pay tribute, which led to a violent clash at the Ningbo Maritime Trade Office.

Some land-based countries in Central Asia typically paid tribute once every five or ten years, and some even avoided contact with the Ming Dynasty altogether.

However, the countries that came to pay tribute were all those that were highly dependent on the Ming Dynasty.

Currently, the main form of foreign trade for the Ming Dynasty is tributary trade.

That is, only by acknowledging the status of the Ming Dynasty as a superior nation and becoming a tributary state of the Ming Dynasty can one be qualified to conduct trade with the Ming Dynasty.

There are three ways to conduct this kind of trade.

Firstly, a return gift.

They paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty, offering local specialties, mostly spices, ivory, coral, pearls, and agate (in small quantities), while the Ming Dynasty reciprocated by bestowing upon them its own specialties, mostly tea, silk, and wine (in large quantities and of high quality).

Secondly, transactions were conducted through the Huitong Hall.

Tribute missions could sell or exchange goods they brought, other than tribute, at the Huitong Hall under the supervision of officials from the Ministry of Rites.

Thirdly, the transaction of surveying and mapping.

The Ming Dynasty would issue tallies (tribute certificates) to tributary states, and merchants from those states could use these tallies to conduct trade at the maritime trade offices along the Ming coast.

The third method is a combination of tribute and market, which is somewhat similar to the trade policy in the North. This approach has allowed overseas private trade to gradually penetrate in.

After the Longqing era, the Ming Dynasty relaxed its maritime ban, which was in a state of "sometimes tight and sometimes loose, sometimes prohibited and sometimes relaxed".

As a result, Ryukyu and Korea, vassal states of the Ming Dynasty, became intermediaries in the Ming Dynasty's foreign trade, reaping substantial profits year after year.

They were as loyal to the Ming Dynasty as sons are to their fathers.

……

That afternoon, Shen Nian received news that an envoy from the Mongol Anda tribe (also known as the Tumed tribe, and subsequently referred to as the Anda tribe) had also arrived in the capital.

The leader of the group was Baji, the fourth son-in-law of Anda.

The Anda tribe has benefited greatly from the trade with the Ming Dynasty in the past two years, so they are more eager for peace in the north than the Ming Dynasty itself.

At the same time, the Anda tribe did not want other tribes to be granted tribute by the Ming Dynasty, especially the Tuman tribe.

Therefore, when the Ming Dynasty was at war with the Tuman tribes, the Anda tribe always provided intelligence to the Ming Dynasty.

Baji likes Chinese culture.

It is said that he was skilled in writing poetry and well-versed in military strategy when he was just over forty years old. He was Anda's most trusted strategist.

If it were a tribute mission as in previous years, he wouldn't come in person; his presence would naturally be to discuss other matters with the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty's attitude towards this was also very friendly.

Cabinet Minister Yin Zhengmao and Minister of Rites Pan Sheng personally welcomed Baji and treated him with the respect due to a tribal prince, showing him great respect.

……

The fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, in the afternoon.

Shen Nian, who was in the Hanlin Academy's lecture hall, suddenly received a notice that Wang Xijue summoned all Hanlin officials in the academy to a meeting in the front hall.

Since Wang Xijue took over the Hanlin Academy, he rarely held meetings. He was a pragmatic official and much stricter than Shen Shixing.

If a Hanlin scholar made a mistake, he would scold him right there in the courtyard.

At this moment, as he is concurrently serving as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, he is very busy. Therefore, summoning Hanlin Academy officials to a meeting at this time must mean that there is an important task to be arranged.

About a quarter of an hour later.

All the scholars from the Hanlin Academy, including those who were responsible for reviewing, editing, writing, lecturing, and reading, came to the front hall.

Wang Xijue got straight to the point: "I have received a notice from the cabinet that tomorrow morning, Baji, the chieftain of the Anda tribe, will come to visit the Hanlin Academy. He will have lunch at the Hanlin Academy before leaving!"

"The Hanlin Academy has always been the face of the imperial court. Tomorrow, we must not let them see anything that is not appropriate to show the image of our Celestial Empire."

"I have two points to emphasize. First, all clerks in the offices must clean the inside and outside of their offices. Books and documents must not be left lying around. Desks must also be tidied up, and all your personal belongings must be put away."

"Secondly, everyone should leave the office on time today and go to bed early tonight, so that the Tatars can see our high spirits and positive energy, instead of us all having dark circles under our eyes, making them think that the people of the Hanlin Academy are all bookworms!"

"Do you understand everything?"

"Your Excellency understands!" The officials all bowed in unison.

Wang Xijue paused for a moment, then looked at Shen Nian and said, "Ziheng, how about we welcome Baji together first thing tomorrow morning?"

“No problem!” Shen Nian said with a smile.

Shen Nian is young and energetic, with a handsome face, making him the best candidate to represent the Hanlin Academy. Wang Xijue would naturally choose him.

Wang Xijue continued, "When Baji comes to the embassy tomorrow, everyone must be very welcoming. The Anda tribe is currently a friend of our Great Ming, but we can't say everything or show him everything, understand?"

"We understand!" The Hanlin officials bowed in unison.

Currently, the Ming Dynasty and the Anda tribe are in a honeymoon period.

The officials of the Ming Dynasty hoped that the Altan tribe would prosper, but they did not want it to prosper too much. If the Altan tribe had the ability to annex all the Tatar tribes, it would become the number one enemy of the Ming Dynasty.

……

It was the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, at dawn.

Wang Xijue and Shen Nian, both dressed in scarlet official robes, with blue-tasseled gold hairpins in their hair and gold leather belts around their waists, arrived at the front hall of the Hanlin Academy ahead of time.

Both men took the matter of the Hanlin Academy's image in the eyes of foreigners very seriously.

The two first inspected the cleanliness of the hall, and then observed the spirits of the Hanlin officials before sitting down in the front hall to wait.

Before long, the sky gradually brightened.

Shen Nian stood up and looked at Wang Xijue, saying, "Brother Yuanyu, something's not right. Baji may not have a sense of time, but Minister Pan is such a meticulous person, he can't possibly be unpunctual!"

Minister of Rites Pan Sheng personally informed Wang Xijue that he should bring Baji to the Hanlin Academy when he went to the yamen, and that unless something unexpected happened, it would be impossible to delay.

It's almost 45 minutes late now.

Wang Xijue frowned slightly.

"Perhaps...perhaps something else has come up. Let's wait a little longer!"

Just then, a clerk from the Ministry of Rites' Reception Office rushed in. "Minister Wang, Scholar Shen, no... something terrible has happened... Baji, the special envoy of the Anda tribe, has been murdered at the Southern Meeting Hall!"

"what?"

Wang Xijue and Shen Nian were both quite surprised.

"Who is the murderer? Why was he killed?" Wang Xijue pressed.

"None of them knew that Commander Cao had already sealed off the Southern Meeting Hall!" the clerk replied.

Immediately, Wang Xijue and Shen Nian exchanged a glance and quickly walked out of the hall. The murder of the foreign envoy at the Huitongguan in the capital was a blatant slap in the face to the Ming Dynasty.

……

Southeast of Zhengyang Gate is the Nanhuitongguan, the largest official post station in the capital.

At this time, the area had been sealed off and placed under martial law by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Cao Wei, the pacification commissioner of the Northern Garrison, and Pan Sheng, the Minister of Rites, are already in the guesthouse.

Wang Xijue led Shen Nian quickly to a courtyard inside the building, where all fifty-four members of the Anda tribe delegation were staying.

soon.

The two met Pan Sheng and Cao Wei, whose faces were gloomy, in the back hall of the courtyard.

Cao Wei informed Wang Xijue and Shen Nian that Baji, the special envoy of the Anda tribe, died around midnight last night. He was killed while he was asleep, when someone used a sharp instrument about the thickness of a chopstick to pierce his heart.

The murderer left no trace, the murder weapon was never found, and the motive for the murder remains unknown.

Cao Wei speculated that the murderer was most likely inside the Nanhui Hall, because it would be almost impossible for someone outside to enter the heavily guarded hall at night.

At present, the Nan Huitong Hall, in addition to the Altan Khan tribe delegation, also has the Ryukyu delegation and the Siamese delegation, the former with 60 people and the latter with 32 people.

In addition, there are more than two hundred guards, laborers, maids and other staff in the building.

"Let's seal off the Nanhui Hall first and thoroughly investigate everyone involved, including the delegations from the Anda tribe, the Ryukyu delegation, and the Siamese delegation!" said Pan Sheng, Minister of Rites.

“Okay!” Cao Wei said.

Upon hearing this, he personally came to the scene. As the Embroidered Uniform Guard was responsible for the defense of the capital, he was certain that they would investigate the matter thoroughly.

Before long, the young Wanli Emperor's order came.

The emperor ordered Cao Wei, the garrison commander of the Northern Garrison, to investigate the matter with full authority, and instructed all other government offices to cooperate fully in solving the case as soon as possible.

After Wang Xijue and Shen Nian finished understanding the situation, just as they were about to leave, a clerk suddenly entered the hall, cupped his hands, and reported to Pan Sheng: "Minister Pan, the special envoys from the Ryukyu delegation, Mao Liangda and the special envoy from the Siam, Rama, request an audience with important matters!"

"Please let them in!"

Soon, a middle-aged man who looked similar to a Han Chinese and appeared to be around forty years old, and another middle-aged man with darker skin, curly hair, and embroidered monk's robe elements on his right shoulder, who looked to be nearly fifty years old, entered the hall together.

It is clear.

The former was Mao Liangda, a special envoy from the Ryukyu mission, and the latter was Rama, a special envoy from Siam.

The two had met Pan Sheng, Minister of Rites; Wang Xijue, Vice Minister of Rites; and Cao Wei, Commander of the Northern Garrison, but had never met Shen Nian.

Seeing that Shen Nian was so young yet dressed in a scarlet official robe, they couldn't help but look puzzled.

"Minister Pan, Left Minister Wang, Commander Cao!" The two bowed in unison.

When the two men turned their gaze to Shen Nian, Wang Xijue spoke first: "This is Shen Nian, also known as Shen Ziheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and a Lecturer in the Hanlin Academy."

"Scholar Shen!" The two men looked surprised, clearly having heard of Shen Nian's name.

Shen Nian bowed slightly in return.

"Please have a seat, both special envoys!" Pan Sheng said.

After the two were seated, Pan Sheng spoke: "You two special envoys, the special envoy of the Anda tribe has been killed. I have already ordered that your delegation not be discharged from the hospital for the time being to avoid danger. What important matter do you have to say that you have come out despite the danger?"

Mao Liangda, the special envoy of the Ryukyu delegation, spoke first: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the murder of Special Envoy Altan Khan. However, this incident occurred in this courtyard. Why is the entire Nan Hui Tong Guan sealed off? We have already discussed with the head of the Ministry of Rites' Department of Foreign Affairs of your country that we can set up a market in the Nan Hui Tong Guan tomorrow to sell goods. Now that the hall is sealed off, how can we sell our goods?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid neither of you will be able to leave the Nanhui Hall until this case is resolved. As for your goods, the Ministry of Rites will help you sell them, how about that?"

The Siamese envoy, Rama, shook his head and said with some dissatisfaction, "Are they treating us like prisoners? We've come from afar, hoping to experience the customs and culture of the Ming capital. If they still can't find anything by the New Year, are they going to keep us locked up here forever?"

The Siamese envoy Rama's Chinese accent was very strange, and Shen Nian had to strain her ears to barely understand what he meant.

"Gentlemen, this is also for the safety of the three-nation delegation. Once the murderer is found, everyone will be released immediately!" Wang Xijue added.

"No, I want to see your emperor. I represent the image of my Siam. If I am imprisoned here as a suspect, it will damage the face of my king!" The Siamese envoy Rama was very dissatisfied.

"It also damages our national dignity!" added Mao Liangda, the special envoy of the Ryukyu mission.

Upon hearing this, Cao Wei, who was standing to the side, revealed a disdainful expression.

He felt that the two were very emotional.

It's obvious they want to take advantage of the upcoming time to do some business in the capital. If they let the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty sell everything on their behalf and keep records, the special envoy next year is very likely to expose their secrets.

Seeing the two speaking so domineeringly, Pan Sheng stood up with a dark face.

"For your safety, I must ensure that no one from the Anda tribe delegation, the Ryukyu delegation, or the Siamese delegation leaves the Nanhui Hall before the investigation is completed. This is the rule of our Great Ming Dynasty towards tributary states!" Pan Sheng stood up and said decisively.

“If you have any complaints, you can write a memorial to His Majesty impeaching this old man!” Pan Sheng turned to Cao Wei and said, “Send the two special envoys back!”

Immediately, the two special envoys dared not speak again and left the courtyard accompanied by two Imperial Guards.

After the two left, Pan Sheng said, "Commander Cao, go ahead and investigate. Don't worry about offending the delegations from the three countries. Our main purpose in investigating this case is to protect the reputation of the Ming Dynasty, and secondly, to find the murderer for the special envoy of the Anda tribe!"

"Your humble servant understands!" Cao Wei replied, bowing.

He was under immense pressure at the moment. If he couldn't get to the bottom of this case before the end of the year, it would be a disgrace for the Ming Dynasty that would be recorded in history.

……

A moment later, Shen Nian and Wang Xijue left the South Meeting Hall.

Shen Nian always felt that the Siamese envoy Rama was a bit strange.

In the past two years, when Ma Ziqiang was in charge of the Ministry of Rites, Shen Nian helped him during the year-end season and also met with the Siamese special envoy.

He felt that the current envoy's tone and demeanor were strange, unlike the Siamese envoys of the past.

Although it was obvious at a glance that he was Siamese, Shen Nian always felt that there was something strange about his temperament, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was strange about him.

……

On the day.

Cao Wei summoned all the officials and clerks skilled in interrogation from the Imperial Prison, the Ministry of Justice, and the Shuntian Prefecture, and questioned everyone at the Southern Meeting Hall, hoping to find some clues.

at the same time.

Security in the capital has been strengthened. The patrol frequency of the soldiers from the Five Cities Garrison has doubled. When high-ranking officials such as Shen Nian travel, they will be accompanied by at least six Imperial Guards.

A murder occurring at the end of the year is a very ominous sign.

(End of this chapter)