Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 603 Reception and Testing (Part 1)
While Yuan Keli and Mao Wenlong were talking, three Korean envoys also came over.

“Councilor Gao,” Wu Yunqian said, not daring to disturb Yuan Keli who was deep in thought, so he walked over to Gao Bangzuo, who was not participating in the conversation, and asked in a low voice, “Is the court still sending more troops to Zhenjiang?” Liu Yingyuan and Li Qingquan also turned their gazes in this direction upon hearing this.

Gao Bangzuo stiffened, momentarily unsure whether to respond to Wu Yunqian. He licked his lips and turned to Yuan Keli, casting a questioning glance at him. Gao Bangzuo remained silent, but this gesture, so clearly suggestive, still made the perceptive Wu Yunqian sense something amiss.

Yuan Keli spoke again, still addressing Mao Wenlong: "Guerrilla Mao."

"Your subordinate is here," Mao Wenlong replied immediately.

"Please send a capable man to Phoenix City to wait for Lieutenant General Zhang. Once Lieutenant General Zhang arrives in Phoenix, immediately invite him to come see me," Yuan Keli ordered.

"Yes." Mao Wenlong instinctively agreed, while also glancing at Wu Yunqian subconsciously. He didn't understand why Yuan Keli insisted on bringing this up in front of the Korean envoy.

"Kong Youde." Mao Wenlong casually pulled over a young personal guard. "You should have heard what Councilor Yuan said, right?"

Kong Youde was visibly taken aback. "Should I go?"

"Otherwise what?" Mao Wenlong glared at him.

"Oh. Okay, okay!" Kong Youde realized what was happening and immediately accepted the order with an awkward smile.

Kong Youde was about to mount his horse, but suddenly stopped. "My lord, could you please give me a token? Otherwise, I'm afraid General Zhang won't listen to me."

"Take this." Yuan Keli took off the jade pendant he always wore and handed it to Kong Youde. "This is my own waist token, but it should be enough."

Kong Youde took the plaque and looked down. He found that the jade plaque had only three large characters on it, apart from some simple carvings: "Elder Jie Huan".

"Don't lose it!" Mao Wenlong glared at Kong Youde again. "Or I'll beat you to death!"

"As long as I'm here, the jade pendant is here!" Kong Youde immediately gripped the jade pendant tightly.

"There's no need to be so nervous; it's not anything valuable." Yuan Keli smiled kindly. "Thank you for your help."

Kong Youde hadn't expected that a high-ranking official like Yuan Keli would be so magnanimous, and his goodwill towards him immediately increased. He chuckled and, clutching the jade token, said with a smile, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all."

"Hehe my ass, hurry up and go!" Mao Wenlong waved his hand.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Kong Youde lightly leaped onto the horse's back using the stirrups. "My lord, shall I go by myself, or should I bring some men with me?"

"You two," Mao Wenlong casually pointed to two more of his personal guards. "Go with him!"

"Yes!" The two guards also mounted their horses.

The three riders were excellent riders and quickly maneuvered around the somewhat chaotic crowd. Watching them go, Mao Wenlong shouted again, emphasizing, "Don't lose Yuan Canzheng's plaque!"

"Yes!" The reply echoed from afar, accompanied by the distant sound of horses' hooves.

"Three envoys, it's not lunchtime yet. Please come in and have some tea." Yuan Keli looked at the Korean delegation and waved towards the entrance of the post station not far away. There, the obsequious post station manager had been standing for quite some time.

Wu Yunqian looked embarrassed. He clearly wanted to ask something more, but the words that came out were only, "Thank you all for your kindness."

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The largest reception room in the inn, where Yuan Keli and his group ate breakfast, had been furnished differently.

The previous round table was gone, replaced by a long table made of pine wood. Along the two long sides of the long table were six sets of fine porcelain teacups with tea leaves already placed on them but no water yet added, several plates of very rare pastries, and a complete set of writing implements.

The writing implements were prepared for Li Qingquan, the scribe of the mission. His primary duty was to meticulously record the daily itinerary, diplomatic activities, and observations along the way. These records were to be compiled and submitted to the King for review after the mission concluded. Afterward, these records would be preserved as permanent national archives. As for the Ming Dynasty, it would be quite good if they could simply record the arrival and departure dates of the envoys to the capital, and the official activities they participated in. Of course, if the envoys submitted a memorial to His Majesty the Emperor after arriving in the capital, and the Emperor responded, that would certainly also be recorded.

The first person to enter the reception room was a courier carrying an empty teacup and two kettles of hot water.

The two of them deftly refilled the seven teacups, one on each side. As they left, the old postmaster bowed and led the group to the courtyard where the reception room was located.

"You all wait outside." Lu Wenzhao stepped aside, blocking the old postmaster from entering the courtyard. Yuan Keli and the others continued walking towards the reception hall.

"And this tea." The old postmaster shrank back, smiling obsequiously as he looked up at Lu Wenzhao.

"We'll take care of it." Lu Wenzhao beckoned to Lu Jianxing, signaling him to guard the courtyard.

"Yes." The old postmaster was truly confused. Yuan, the councilor, had been staying at the post station for quite some time, but the old postmaster still couldn't figure out the true identities of his attendants. These people were servants, yet they, especially the leader in front of him, were allowed to sit at the table and eat with Yuan. They were officials, yet they never wore official robes and were always running around serving others.

Similar doubts also lingered in Wu Yunqian's mind.

After entering the reception hall, everyone took their seats in turn. Yuan Keli sat in the head seat, and Gao Bangzuo in the second seat, which was perfectly reasonable. After all, Yuan Keli was the current official, and Gao Bangzuo was the former official; even if they were of the same rank, there should still be a distinction between host and guest. However, the two seats that followed were quite puzzling. It was strange enough that Lu Wenzhao, dressed simply, was allowed to sit in the reception hall, but what was even more shocking was that his seat was actually in front of General Mao Wenlong! The highest-ranking military officer stationed in Zhenjiang was sitting behind a servant—this was something Wu Yunqian could not imagine.

Yuan Keli noticed Wu Yunqian's confusion and immediately understood what he was wondering about. However, Yuan Keli had no intention of "explaining." With May approaching and the training camp nearing its end, the eastward-bound army had already assembled, and the southward-bound reinforcements were about to arrive. At this moment, there was no need for concealment.

“Councilor Yuan,” Wu Yunqian spoke first. “When His Majesty departed from the capital, did you have the honor of seeing His Majesty’s countenance?”

"It is an honor to meet you," Yuan Keli said solemnly.

Wu Yunqian was somewhat surprised. Although the imperial resignation was a necessary procedure for high-ranking civil officials when they were sent to remote areas, it did not mean that they would be able to see the emperor. Especially during the Wanli reign, the so-called imperial resignation was actually just bowing and kowtowing from afar in front of the main hall and the imperial steps, shouting "Long live the emperor!" Envoys were no exception. In the past thirty years, every year on the day of the emperor's birthday, envoys would travel three thousand miles from the capital to the capital to congratulate the emperor, but most members of the missions, including Wu Yunqian, had never seen the emperor.

Although Wu Yunqian hadn't expected a positive answer when he asked the question, and had even prepared a prelude for a potential negative response, Yuan Keli, having met the emperor, abandoned the formalities and directly asked the obligatory question that a Korean envoy must ask when formally meeting a Ming official: "Is His Majesty well?"

Regardless of whether the emperor was in good or bad health, and regardless of whether the official hearing this question had recently seen the emperor, the Ming Dynasty official in charge would invariably give the same standard answer after hearing this question: "His Majesty is in good health," and then politely ask in return: "Has Your Majesty been in good health lately?"

Wu Yunqian sensed an unsettling undercurrent in Yuan Keli's expression, but he could only smile and reply, "Thanks to His Majesty's divine protection, Your Highness is in good health. Thank you for your concern, sir."

"Hehe." Yuan Keli couldn't help but chuckle.

"Upon hearing of Councilor Yuan's sudden appointment, I was caught off guard and could only offer a small gift. It was hasty, and I hope Councilor Yuan will forgive any disrespect I may have received." As he spoke, Wu Yunqian took out a gift list from his sleeve and handed it to Yuan Keli.

Yuan Keli's eyebrows twitched slightly, but without even looking at him, he waved his hand and refused, saying, "I am here by order of the Holy Emperor to prepare for the local affairs, and I will only do my best. I have already received the Emperor's favor, how dare I accept any more foreign gifts? I am sincere in leading the Wu vassal state."

“Councilor Yuan is so sincere and incorruptible, I am deeply impressed.” Wu Yunqian had already anticipated that Yuan Keli would not accept the gift. He bowed respectfully, put away the gift list, then stood up and walked to a small box that had been carried into the reception room by government servants. The box had already been opened, and Wu Yunqian directly took out a small book titled “Qiutan Collection” from it.

“This book, ‘Qiutan Collection,’ is a collection of my own writings, containing my humble works from the past few decades.” Wu Yunqian presented the book to Yuan Keli. “It is a small gift, and I hope you will not refuse it, sir.”

"Is Qiutan the self-chosen name of the Wu envoy?" Yuan Keli nodded slightly, picked up the collection of writings, and gently turned a few pages.

"That is my humble pen name," Wu Yunqian said modestly.

“Envoy of Wu,” Yuan Keli said, looking down, half his face buried between the pages of his book. “I have a question I would like to ask you.”

“Please speak freely, Councilor Yuan. I will tell you everything I know.” Wu Yunqian lifted his robe and slowly sat down. Now, all he could see was Yuan Keli’s official hat and forehead.

“I left the capital at the end of March and only recently arrived in Zhenjiang,” Yuan Keli raised his head slightly, his clear old eyes looking steadily at Wu Yunqian over the edge of the book. “How did Envoy Wu know I was coming? And why did you prepare such a nearly brand-new collection of writings?”

“Please forgive me, Councilor Yuan. It wasn’t anything special. Before I went on my mission to the Celestial Empire, I paid for someone to make some copies myself.” Wu Yunqian pointed back to the box he had just seen. “I’m not blaming you, but besides the one you have, there are several more in that box.”

"Hahaha, I see." Yuan Keli closed the book and put it down, then turned to look at Gao Bangzu sitting next to him. "I thought I had taken the liberty of snatching the gift that the Wu envoy had prepared for Councilor Gao after my sudden arrival."

Gao Bangzuo chuckled and replied, "It seems a bit odd that it was specially prepared for me, doesn't it? If I remember correctly, in previous years, your country's envoys would usually enter the country in late May or early June. The Emperor's birthday and the Temple's birthday are both in August, only six days apart. Why did you envoys arrive at the end of April this year?"

Wu Yunqian had traveled to the capital, visited Japan, and even spent decades navigating the treacherous officialdom of Korea, a place known for its "small temples with strong demons and shallow waters teeming with turtles." He immediately understood that the two Ming officials before him must have reached some kind of tacit agreement to ascertain his purpose in coming.

After a moment's thought, Wu Yunqian revealed his prepared statement: "I have heard that the Celestial Empire's military campaign has been a great success, defeating 100,000 enemy troops in Shenyang. Before heading south to the capital, we would like to go north to Shenyang to witness the grandeur of the Celestial army, so we have moved up our travel dates."

"Go to Shenyang," Yuan Keli picked up the conversation, feigning surprise, "It seems that I am fortunate to have the same idea as you envoys."

"Did Councilor Yuan also make a special detour to the north?" Wu Yunqian asked.

“Yes, I originally intended to go directly to my post. But when I passed through Guangning, I was delighted to hear of the great victory in Shenyang, so I changed my mind at the last minute.” Yuan Keli lowered his head and took a sip of tea. “I suggest that when you go to Shenyang, it would be best to detour through the East Gate or the North Gate to enter the city.”

"Are the west and south gates under renovation?" Wu Yunqian asked.

“That’s not it.” Yuan Keli put down his teacup and looked at Wu Yunqian. “Let alone the west and south gates, the enemy attacked Shenyang for half a month, suffering thousands of casualties, and they didn’t even touch the main moat on the east side. They just filled in a few ditches. The reason I suggested that you go around to the east and north gates is because there are two mounds of Jingguan there. These two mounds of Jingguan are quite tall, about two zhang high.”

"A two-zhang-tall mound of Jingguan!?" Wu Yunqian exclaimed in awe. Li Qingquan, who was taking notes, also paused for a moment.

“Yes, the imperial court has always been strict in its assessment of merits. Even the slightest head injury disqualifies one from being recognized as the first to receive the highest honor. It's a waste to simply bury those who can't be recognized; it would be better to pile them up outside the city to create a spectacle, serving as a warning against such treachery.” Yuan Keli paused. He feigned regret and changed his tune, saying, “No, no. You certainly won't see them. It's already summer; those corpses will rot after being buried.”

Wu Yunqian's eyes twitched slightly, as if he were hallucinating the stench of thousands of corpses rotting together. "That's a real pity." Wu Yunqian had no interest in the Jingguan (a mound of corpses), but at this moment he could only go along with it against his will.

“There’s no need for Envoy Wu to feel too sorry,” Yuan Keli continued. “You will be returning in the autumn. If our army achieves another great victory then, the mound of skulls can be preserved for the winter. Envoy Wu can then view it up close.”

Wu Yunqian swallowed hard, forcing a smile as he nodded. "Are the heavenly soldiers about to launch another attack?"

"Why did Envoy Wu suddenly ask about this?" Yuan Keli asked with a smile.

"The imperial court has now amassed 200,000 troops in Liaodong, with armor piled up like mountains and cannons as dense as iron ridges. Moreover, the imperial army has just defeated the Jurchen rebels at the gates of Shenyang, and morale is at its peak," Wu Yunqian said. "So I wonder, will the imperial court press on and take Hetu Ala in one fell swoop?"

(End of this chapter)