My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 297 Invite a King?

Su Ze picked up his pen and wrote a memorial to the throne:

"Your Majesty's sagacious virtue shines forth, and you have shown compassion to distant peoples. Now, regarding the tribute request from the Kingdom of Luzon in Manila, there is much debate in the court. The officials, bound by the principle of 'distinguishing between Chinese and barbarians,' have accused the kingdom of being 'uncivilized' and sought to sever its tribute ties, citing the lack of a ruler and the dominance of Chinese merchants. I believe this argument is erroneous!"

"The Chinese system of tributary states is based on political hierarchy: vassal states consider themselves inferior and acknowledge the Celestial Empire as their suzerain before paying tribute; otherwise, their territory, being part of the Chinese territory, should be governed by the prefecture-county system."

Su Ze's words are actually quite simple: vassal states pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty because they regard the Ming Dynasty as their master. It is precisely because the culture of vassal states is backward that they are only vassals, not counties of the Ming Dynasty.

In modern terms, these vassal states were underdeveloped regions, which is why they needed the international order even more.

"The distinction between Chinese and barbarians is not based on the superiority or inferiority of civilization, but rather on the shared cultural origins that form the bond. In the past, when the Zhou dynasty established feudalism, the feudal lords paid homage to the king, not because they were foolish or barbaric, but because they respected the Zhou rites due to their low rank. If a feudal lord overstepped his bounds, the emperor would launch a campaign against him and establish his own rule by dividing the land."

Since they were debating the classics, Su Ze brought up the example of Zong Zhou.

Among the states of the Zhou Dynasty, there was also a state like Chu. It was precisely because the Zhou emperor enfeoffed the state of Chu that the Huguang region became part of the Central Plains.

Su Ze then presented his "Method for Identifying Dependent States":
The Analects says, “When substance prevails over form, it is rustic; when form prevails over substance, it is pedantic. Only when substance and form are in perfect balance can one be a gentleman.” The current court’s focus on the “regentless state” of Manila (form) while neglecting its practice of Han rites and adherence to Confucianism (substance) is putting the cart before the horse.

Su Ze raised a classic Confucian issue—the theory of substance versus form.

The concept of "culture and substance" has been interpreted by Confucian scholars throughout history and no longer has its original meaning.

"Wen" refers to the external form, and "Zhi" refers to the internal essence. The theory of Wen and Zhi is a discussion of the relationship between external form and internal essence.

Su Ze applied the theory of "literary substance" to the state, proposing a new theory of "literary substance".

The first category is countries like the Ming Dynasty, which are ruled by virtuous men.

In essence, he practiced monarchical rule and followed the rites of the Chinese civilization, which is what is meant by "a gentleman is refined in both manners and substance."

The second category includes countries like Manila and Luzon, as well as other vassal states of the Ming Dynasty.

While it may not completely copy the Ming Dynasty's system outwardly, it internally adheres to Confucian principles and learns from the Ming Dynasty's advanced culture, which is "substance over form leads to rusticity."

Such "wild countries" can be improved through education and culture.

The third category includes countries like Japan, and Annam can be considered a similar category.

This is what is known as "if literature prevails over substance, then history will be lost".

On the surface, they learn from the Han dynasty's system, but in reality, they do not respect the Ming dynasty's rule. These "historical states" are hypocritical and cunning. The Ming dynasty not only needs to educate them, but also needs to punish them.

Suze then went on to explain, using the concept of "culture and substance," the reasons why Manila-Luzon could serve as a vassal state:
"Ritual is the form, loyalty is the substance. Although the Manila City Council has no monarch, it respects the Ming Dynasty, and Chinese language education is prevalent in the country. The people admire the king's rule. This is because the Chinese ritual and law are the substance of the country's governance."

"It is called literature, but in reality it is substance. If the title of 'king' (literary) must be the requirement for tribute, then the grasslands pay tribute to the Khan, so can they be called 'king'? However, the court accepts its tribute precisely because it adheres to the true nature of the Central Plains' calendar."

Finally, Su Ze wrote:
"The vassal states are like vessels, and the Chinese nation is like the craftsman. The form of the vessel may differ (municipal council), but its essence must be based on the craftsmanship (Confucian rites); wherever the craftsmanship extends, all vessels return to the same source. If we cling to the outdated text of 'feudal lords claiming kingship' and abandon the essence of 'cultural return to the heart,' we are binding the court to the old and simple rites of Zhou. How absurd!"

Finally, Su Ze proposed the "ultimate goal":
"If all nations promote education and culture, and all become states of virtuous men, then the world will be in harmony, and history can be written in its entirety!"

When the whole world can become a country of virtuous people like the Ming Dynasty, that will be the end of history, and we will have fully entered the era of Great Harmony!
Finally, Suze requested the court to agree to allow Manila and Luzon to pay tribute and to recognize them as a vassal state.

"Memorial on Clarifying the Great Righteousness of the Imperial Clan and Strengthening the Foundation of the Nation"

After writing all this, Su Ze put the memorial into the "Portable Ming Dynasty Court" app.

——[Simulation Start]——

Your memorial entitled "On Clarifying the Great Righteousness of the Imperial Clan and Strengthening the Foundation of the Nation" was sent to the Cabinet, and the cabinet ministers all highly praised it.

The Longqing Emperor was also very interested in your theory of literary style and substance in your memorial, and ordered it to be discussed by his ministers.

Although many in the court and among the people favored you, the emperor still ignored your memorial and did not receive the envoy from Manila and Luzon due to the constant opposition.

——[Simulation End]——

[Remaining Prestige: 1120.]

[To fully approve your memorial, you need to pay 300 prestige points. Do you wish to pay?]

Goodness, he talked so much, and then had to put it aside because of the controversy?

As expected, your decision-making system is incredibly inefficient. Without your magic touch, it would have been too late by now!

Su Ze just didn't understand why, since they were all doing the government's work, the one who did more always suffered the most injustice.

Sigh, we still need a cheat code!
Su Ze selected "Yes," and now it was up to the system.

[Prestige points have been deducted, remaining prestige points: 820. Please complete the petition in real life as soon as possible.]
-
Longquanyi, the capital region.

The mission was to enter Beijing the next day, but Lin Yuantu, the head of a Chinese merchant family and the chief envoy of the Manila tribute mission, looked anxious.

Throughout the journey, although the delegation received the treatment due to a tributary mission, they were never received with the proper courtesy and hospitality.

When they arrived at Longquanyi, they were only entertained by two officials of the seventh rank from the Court of State Ceremonial. These two officials did not even dare to speak much with the members of the Manila delegation.

Lin Yuantu took note of this obviously problematic attitude and began to investigate further.

From the newspapers, he learned about the Ming Dynasty's attitude. To this day, the Ming Dynasty has not made it clear whether or not it will accept tribute from Manila and Luzon.

This really worried Lin Yuantu.

Manila paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty for a simple reason: it hoped to receive the treatment of a tributary state and obtain trade privileges.

Chinese merchants in Southeast Asia and the old nobles on Luzon Island all understood the importance of the Ming Dynasty's trading rights. Even the princely lords around Manila knew that they could obtain greater profits by selling their goods to the Ming Dynasty.

This is also the fundamental reason why the thirty-three parties were able to sit down and form a municipal meeting.

Anyway, these regimes in Southeast Asia all belong to the Mandala system, so they don't mind having another father figure above them.

It's not shameful to be a dog of the Ming Dynasty.

But if the Ming Dynasty refuses to pay tribute to the Kingdom of Luzon in Manila, then what is the point of the Manila City Council?
Deeply concerned, Lin Yuantu immediately convened a meeting of the Manila delegation.

This tribute mission to the Ming Dynasty was of great importance, so all thirty-three families in the delegation sent plenipotentiary representatives.

The municipal council has authorized them to make any decisions on behalf of the State of Manila Luzon.

Lin Yuantu convened this special meeting in his room at Longquanyi.

"Gentlemen, as you have all seen, the Ming Dynasty is in a very difficult situation. It is not possible to stop paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty."

Everyone nodded.

Whether they were representatives of Chinese merchants, former nobles of Luzon, or representatives of princely states.

Along the way, they saw far more things than they had ever imagined.

The ports of the Ming Dynasty were prosperous beyond imagination, and the Ming Dynasty fleet was advanced and powerful.

Along the way, the delegation followed the Ming Dynasty fleet and docked at several coastal ports of the Ming Dynasty. Every time they thought they had seen the most prosperous port in the world, they were soon amazed by the prosperity of the next port.

By the time they arrived at Lai Chau Port, the Manila delegation was completely numb.

What they once took pride in as their port was seen by the Ming Dynasty as nothing more than a fishing village. The towering lighthouse in the Ming port could illuminate dozens of miles away; in terms of material things, Manila still had a chance to catch up.

The Ming Dynasty's port's ability to control merchant ships and cargo left all members of the mission in awe.

With so many merchant ships coming and going every day, guiding them to port, loading and unloading cargo, and being responsible for port security and sanitation were tasks that Lin Yuantu and others considered almost impossible to accomplish.

However, every port in the Ming Dynasty was able to operate in an orderly manner, or even more than orderly, but highly efficient.

It’s so shocking!
After disembarking in Laizhou, the mission continued its journey to the capital.

The bustling town and the crowded streets are a testament to the prosperity of the Central Plains that Lin Yuantu's ancestors left behind when they left Fujian.

However, none of these records can compare to what they have seen.

What a huge market!
Rice, sugarcane, and spices grown near Manila are all commodities needed by the Ming Dynasty.

The ironware, cotton cloth, and silk produced in the Ming Dynasty were so cheap that they could be transported back for personal use or sold to the Spanish, generating a substantial profit.

Establishing tributary relations with the Ming Dynasty was the common goal of the mission.

Now that they had reached a consensus, Lin Yuantu gritted his teeth and said:
"I have a solution."

The members of the delegation were all worried about the tribute issue, but when Lin Yuantu said he had a solution, they hurriedly said:

"Envoy Lin, what are you waiting for? Tell me already!"

Lin Yuantu pretended to hesitate for a moment, and finally said:
"Isn't it because the Ming Dynasty has a different system in Manila and Luzon that it refuses to accept our tribute?"

Everyone nodded.

Lin Yuantu gritted his teeth and said:
"In that case, if we elect a ruler, wouldn't that allow the Ming Dynasty to accept tribute?"

The crowd erupted in uproar, and a representative of a Chinese business family with an adversarial relationship with Lin Yuantu spoke up:

"Lin Yuantu, do you intend to declare yourself the ruler of the country?"

Lin Yuantu snorted coldly and said:
"I knew some scoundrels would say that, but I have no desire to be a ruler!"

The municipal council system of Manila-Luzon was formed due to the chaotic and complex situation within Manila.

Chinese merchants, the old aristocracy, and the princely states reached a delicate balance of power.

Chinese businessmen have the greatest influence, but they are not united.

The princely states were the weakest in terms of power, but had the largest population.

The old aristocracy was caught between the two, yet it was able to echo the other city-states of Luzon.

Neither side can drive the other side out of the city.

Lin Yuantu said:
"We can welcome a prince from the Ming Dynasty to be the ruler of Manila!"

"Then it is only natural for the Ming Dynasty to accept our tribute!"

After Lin Yuantu finished speaking, everyone was stunned.

To welcome a prince from the Ming Dynasty to be their ruler?

But upon closer reflection, it does seem feasible.

Lin Yuantu said:
"We request the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty to appoint a ruler for our Manila-Luzon Kingdom."

Lin Yuantu then added:

"I have heard that the Ming Dynasty manages its vassal kings very strictly and does not allow them to leave their territories easily."

"When Manila welcomes a vassal king, the obligation it has to fulfill is to pay taxes to him."

Now the Chinese businessmen understood.

The Ming Dynasty strictly managed its princes, allowing them to enjoy wealth and honor but not to wield power.

Even if he himself requested that a prince of the Ming Dynasty become the ruler, the Ming emperor would not allow this "ruler" to truly rule Manila.

The Manila City Council only needs to pay taxes to the monarch.

As for paying taxes, everyone present was a businessman, so naturally they had ways to pay less.

By finding a nominal ruler for oneself, one can actually gain the benefit of paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty.

In other countries, they probably wouldn't treat it so lightly.

But Manila-Luzon was a newly established merchant republic, and these issues were not problems for them at all.

Let's vote!

Lin Yuantu did not give everyone much time to think and coordinate, but directly used his position as the temporary meeting chairperson to conduct the vote.

In the end, out of the thirty-three votes, thirty voted in favor and three abstained, thus passing this crazy proposal.

But soon, a new problem arose before everyone.

How do you write a memorial requesting a king to govern yourself?
The entire delegation consisted of merchants, chieftains of local states, and former nobles of Luzon; none of them knew how to write a memorial to the Ming Dynasty.

Everyone looked at each other, and then Lin Yuantu spoke:
"We should ask the officers of the Ming Dynasty navy for help; aren't they also staying at the post station?"

Then everyone remembered that officers from the Ming Dynasty navy had accompanied them to the capital; they were there to report on the voyage to the Ming court.

Surely some of these officers could write memorials to the Ming Dynasty?

So a group of people rushed out of the room and came to the room where the Ming Dynasty navy was staying.

After hearing the demands of the Manila-Luzon delegation, Zhang Jingxiu was also at a loss.
Do you want a vassal king to be your ruler?

How should this memorial be written?
Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, no one has ever written such a memorial, has they?

However, Zhang Jingxiu also knew the important geographical location of Manila. If the Ming Dynasty did not accept Manila's tribute, the plan to develop Southeast Asia would be hindered.

With this in mind, Zhang Jingxiu decided to go all out and started writing as soon as he picked up a pen.
-
The next day, the two guests from the Court of State Ceremonial arrived at Longquanyi. After receiving the memorial from the Kingdom of Luzon in Manila, they were also stunned.

As the host and guests of the receiving delegation, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and take the memorial back to the Court of State Ceremonial.

After reading the memorial, Grand Herald Wang Shizhen and Chief Clerk Shen Yiguan became excited and immediately took the memorial to the Office of General Affairs and Postal Service.

While the entire capital was still debating Su Zewen's theory of substance and style, the cabinet ministers who received the memorial from Luzon in Manila were overjoyed.

He picked up the memorial and said:
"Esteemed ministers, it is precisely because of the far-reaching influence of His Majesty that the Kingdom of Manila and Luzon admires His Majesty's rule."

"Such good news should be presented to His Majesty by my cabinet ministers together in the palace!"

The senior officials all praised it:
"As it should be!"

(End of this chapter)