Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 343 Wedding Night! And I have to help her undress?

"International students" are not a modern phenomenon.

As early as the Han Dynasty, noble sons from the Xiongnu and Western Regions countries were sent to the Central Plains to study.

These people were called "Hu Sheng" and also played a part in "retaining hostages".

The Han Dynasty court arranged for them to study at the Imperial Academy in Chang'an, where they listened to Confucian classics and observed rituals and ceremonies.

In a sense, this was also a policy of appeasement towards neighboring countries during the Han Dynasty.

During the Tang Dynasty, this became even more frequent. Countries such as Japan, Silla, and Balhae frequently sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty. The Imperial Academy of the Tang Dynasty even set up a special "Guangong Examination" and allowed the sons of vassal states to participate in the imperial examinations. Examples of such envoys include Abe no Nakamaro of Japan and Choi Chi-won of Silla.

During the Song and Yuan dynasties, even the sons of Arab and Persian merchants came to study.

It can be said that the "international student" system has existed since ancient times, and Zhang Yunxiu's proposal of this policy is not entirely unfounded.

However, even though the envoys from the vassal states were well-prepared, it still caused an uproar.

"Students studying abroad? Does the Great Nation want us to leave hostages in the Ming Dynasty?!"

"This is not appropriate. Our country has not sent scholars to the Ming Dynasty for many years."

"Although there are precedents from previous dynasties, how can we be sure that the Ming Dynasty's demand for scholars today is not an attempt to emulate the Han Dynasty's policy of sending hostages?"

The envoys were in an uproar, some surprised, some angry, and some terrified.

For most people, the academic aspect of international students is secondary; the political aspect is much stronger.

The Ming Dynasty is not considered powerful now. The vassal lords are nominally submissive, but in reality, they each have their own ulterior motives. Many of them are here to try and gain some "advantages" from the Ming Dynasty.

However, what the envoys did not expect was that the Ming Dynasty seemed to really want to be the "Celestial Empire".

In previous years, many vassal states would have strongly opposed it, or even turned their backs on it. After all, everyone knew that the Ming Dynasty would find it difficult to easily wage war now.

However, after touring the Ming Dynasty for the past few days, everyone had different feelings—the Ming Dynasty was far more powerful than they had imagined.

Therefore, after hearing Zhang Yunxiu's words, most people merely grumbled a few words and turned their attention to the Wanli Emperor, hoping to get his decision.

Emperor Wanli glanced at the envoy, his brows furrowing with displeasure. He spoke slowly.

"You have all heard of this scientific way and praised it highly. You have come from all corners of the world, hoping to find a way to make the country rich and powerful."

The saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." You have already received the rewards from our Great Ming Dynasty, so why are you hesitant to ask me to send scholars to study here?

"Do you think it's easy to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty?"

Emperor Wanli had always been critical of bestowing generous rewards upon vassal states, but he could not change this due to ancestral precepts and established practices.

Seeing that these people had taken the goods but had no intention of doing anything, he was immediately angered.

For a moment, all the envoys present were silent, as if trembling with fear, and said nothing.

Although Emperor Wanli was somewhat unreliable, he still maintained the majesty of the Ming emperor.

However, one person was extremely stubborn. He pushed his way out of the crowd, cupped his hands in greeting to the emperor, and said...

"Your humble servant Ruan Wenzhong pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty!"

He lowered his head, seemingly obedient, but his eyes were full of disdain as he spoke, word by word.

"I hope the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty knows that although the academy in our country is good, the system of 'international students' must never be opened. If our country insists on opening it, it will surely discourage the vassal states of the world."

"The superior state is the elder brother, and the vassal state is the younger brother. How can an elder brother bully his younger brother?"

The Wanli Emperor was furious, but since the envoys were all present, he could only glare at them and say...

"What do you mean by bullying? Ambassador Ruan, please make your point clearer."

His sullen appearance gave the impression that Ruan Wenzhong was about to be punished because he couldn't give a clear explanation.

Nguyen Van Trung, however, did not seem afraid. He had seemed unreliable before, but since he was sent to the Ming Dynasty by Annam, he must have some skills. He immediately spoke confidently.

"There are only three aspects to bullying."

He bowed respectfully, but his words carried a barb.

"Firstly, there is the language barrier. The official language of the superior country is indeed beautiful and elegant. Take my Annam for example, whether it is the monarch or the minister, everyone takes pride in learning Chinese characters. However, writing and speaking are very different. Even in my Annam, which was once educated by the superior country, there are very few people in the country who can read and write and speak a sentence of official language well."

If Annam was like this, one can only imagine what the other vassal states were like; they couldn't even understand each other's languages, so how could they possibly learn the classics?

Ruan Wenzhong, who usually seemed to be feigning madness, suddenly revealed his sharp edge at this crucial moment, catching everyone off guard.

The envoys present dared not look at Nguyen Van Trung, nor did they echo his words, but their eyes were full of hope.

Their words truly expressed their heartfelt sentiments.

Seeing that the situation was not right, Yu Youding, the Minister of Rites, immediately spoke up to dissuade him.

"Ambassador Ruan, is this acceptable?"

But Ruan Wenzhong ignored him and continued to speak vehemently.

"Secondly, the journey is long. Not to mention Mecca, Samarkand, and Rummenigge, even for people from Annam, Korea, and Tibet, the journey to the capital of the Ming Dynasty is about several thousand miles, and it takes at least three months to travel through the provinces they pass through."

May I ask Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, if a superior nation wishes to establish a system of 'students studying abroad,' how dare a small nation disobey? The scholars sent must be the best of the nation's youth, and even the king's son could be sent.

But the journey is so arduous, can Your Majesty bear to leave the scholars of this small country separated from their families by thousands of miles, unable to accompany them?

The superior state constantly emphasizes the principles of filial piety and righteousness. If a scholar cannot serve his parents at their side, is he not an unfaithful and unfilial person?

"Thirdly, Annam and its vassal states are all small, weak, and impoverished. Sending their most talented sons to the superior country would be like draining a pond to catch all the fish."

But before he could finish speaking, he heard the Wanli Emperor snort coldly.

"How dare you, Ruan Wenzhong, use sophistry to slander the policies of our Great Ming Dynasty!"

With a thud, Ruan Wenzhong suddenly knelt down before the Wanli Emperor. His body was on the ground, but his words were not at all yielding.

"These are my heartfelt words. I believe that if Your Majesty wishes to spread the way of science and promote the Confucian way, you should educate the people with benevolence and righteousness."

"Enough!" The Wanli Emperor was utterly enraged, glaring at him. "Ruan Wenzhong, do you really think I can't punish you?!"

Ruan Wenzhong kowtowed and said, "If the Emperor of the Supreme Kingdom wants to punish me, I dare not disobey. However, I beg Your Majesty to enlighten me on what crime I have committed. If Your Majesty wishes to cut off my fine head for this, then take this head."

"This foreign subject has only one request: that his crimes be written down and conveyed to the King of Annam. I believe Annam would not dare to refuse."

His words sounded flawless, even somewhat aggrieved, but to the Wanli Emperor, they were not at all what he meant.

After his words, Nguyen Van Trung became a member of the vulnerable group, a small country that upheld Confucianism and benevolence but was bullied.

Did he then become a tyrant who bullied the weak and oppressed the strong, and a great power that abandoned benevolence and righteousness? Yet the envoys from various countries all showed signs of agreement, and Ruan Wenzhong's words seemed to have struck a chord with them.

Emperor Wanli became even more furious upon seeing this change.

"Guards! Bring them here!"

But before he could finish speaking, he heard Zhang Yunxiu speak up to stop him.

“Your Majesty, there is no rush to punish Ambassador Ruan. It seems that Ambassador Ruan has some misunderstanding. It will not be too late to explain it to him.”

Zhang Yunxiu could naturally see that this Annamese envoy had ill intentions and wanted to deliberately provoke the Wanli Emperor.

Killing the other party is indeed a satisfying revenge, but even the emperor cannot ignore it. Whether it is Annam or the vassal states of Korea, if the Ming Dynasty wants to maintain its status as a suzerain state, it must act like a suzerain state.

The Ming Dynasty was the first to raise the issue of "international students." Not only did it act unreasonably, it also frequently attacked and killed envoys. Annam might not dare to send troops to attack the Ming Dynasty, but did the Ming Dynasty have the courage to conquer Annam?
If the Ming Dynasty cannot demonstrate absolute military power and can only express "impotent rage" towards an envoy, then other vassal states will inevitably harbor resentment.

However, if the other party is not dealt with and is allowed to cause trouble at will, not only will the "study abroad" matter fall through, but the prestige of the Ming Dynasty will also be greatly diminished.

It's really difficult to handle.

Upon hearing Zhang Yunxiu's words, Emperor Wanli regained some of his composure. He glared fiercely at Ruan Wenzhong and exhaled as he spoke.

"Then Shiyuan, you should explain it to him properly."

This kind of thing is obviously best left to Zhang Yunxiu, who is experienced in this area.

Zhang Yunxiu took two steps forward, a smile on his face, his composed demeanor revealing the style of an old "master of arguments".

Yu Youding, who was standing to the side, was stunned for a moment. For some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of relief.

Ruan Wenzhong trembled slightly, but quickly regained his composure and looked at Zhang Yunxiu.

"Lord Zhang, please speak freely. If you insist on punishing me, I will gladly accept it without complaint."

He wanted to try the same trick again, but Zhang Yunxiu didn't take the bait at all. He smiled slightly and asked in return.

"Ambassador Ruan raised many questions about 'studying abroad,' which sound reasonable. However, Ambassador Ruan forgot a key point: the Western Hills of the Great Ming are now prosperous, and various scientific disciplines are advancing rapidly. Numerous inventions are emerging one after another, and the lives of the people of the Great Ming are getting better and better. Spreading knowledge abroad is not a necessary thing."

Zhang Yunxiu narrowed his eyes and looked at the assembled envoys.

"If you do not wish to, our Great Ming Dynasty will never force you."

He understood the logic behind this matter: the so-called cultural victory and the dissemination of Ming Dynasty knowledge were never anything necessary.

If possible, the Ming Dynasty could conquer a small country without bloodshed by utilizing its culture and economy.

If that doesn't work, given the current momentum of development of the Ming Dynasty, it's probably not a pipe dream to conquer these countries by force within ten years.

Does the Ming Dynasty need to be in a hurry?

The ones who really need to be anxious are these envoys from the vassal states.

After witnessing the prosperity of the capital and the vigorous development of various technologies in the Western Hills, will they still be able to sit still?

Upon hearing this, the envoys from the vassal states fell silent.

The Tibetans were the first to get restless. Yeli quickly stepped out from the crowd, his eyes pious and his demeanor respectful. He took a few steps and arrived in front of the Wanli Emperor and Zhang Yunxiu, bowing and kowtowing three times and nine times to the two of them.

Yeli's eyes were clear, almost without any impurities, and he spoke with utmost sincerity.

"The Tibetan envoy, Yeli, representing the three Dharma Kings and five religious kings of Tibet, sought the path of science from the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty. The Tibetans are willing to send fifty outstanding young people to the Great Ming Dynasty to study."

“Of course,” Yeli added. “I have no right to make decisions. All matters still need to be discussed and decided by the princes. However, I believe that the princes will have no objections to this matter.”

In Yeli's view, not only was there no objection, but even the kings might argue endlessly about it, and these fifty people might not be enough.

As soon as Ye Li finished speaking, while the others remained silent, the Annamese envoy Nguyen Van Trung was the first to speak out, shouting loudly.

"No! Never!"

In negotiations like these, the worst thing is someone turning against you at the last minute. Nguyen Van Trung almost forgot about the Tibetans. He gritted his teeth, looking utterly disappointed.

"Studying abroad is a serious matter with many difficulties, so it is absolutely impossible to promote it!"

He looked at the other envoys, as if trying to persuade them.

“If you are all interested in learning the laws of the Great Ming Dynasty, I have an idea.”

Ruan Wenzhong then looked at the Wanli Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness just now. I have just thought that there is a compromise in this matter."

Since the Ming Dynasty wishes to promote science, wouldn't it be better to follow the example of spreading Confucianism and Taoism by sending leading scientists to our countries to teach and disseminate their knowledge? Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu was both angry and amused. How could this person even think of such a thing?

Zhang Yunxiu understood the other party's ulterior motives. They were simply worried that the scholars sent to the Ming Dynasty would be tempted by the Ming Dynasty's allure. It would be fine if they stayed in the Ming Dynasty, but if they were loyal to the Ming Dynasty, they would have to return to their homeland.

Then the Ming Dynasty truly became the supreme suzerain state.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch. Why would the Ming Dynasty teach advanced technology to the vassal states without them paying a price?
The reason why Confucianism could do this was that the development of Confucianism itself had become a shackle for Xishan. Zhang Yunxiu wanted to weaken the power of Confucian scholars and also let this mature theory of Confucianism quickly occupy the public opinion field of various countries.

These two are simply incomparable!

Zhang Yunxiu slowly took two steps forward, which startled Ruan Wenzhong, who retreated repeatedly, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"What does Lord Zhang intend to do! I am an envoy from Annam. In times of war, envoys are not to be killed. You cannot attack me!"

Zhang Yunxiu's reputation for killing a high-ranking official in the imperial court had already spread to Annam through misinformation.

Zhang Yunxiu squinted his eyes and smiled as he spoke.

"Ambassador Ruan, you've got both substance and face. My Great Ming has done everything, what need do we have for your vassal state?"

Such meticulous attention to detail! Does Ambassador Ruan expect me to help you undress on your wedding night?

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Zhang Yunxiu's slightly vulgar words immediately stirred up a commotion. Many envoys, who had been confused at first, burst into laughter after hearing the vivid metaphor.

It turns out that bawdy jokes are the fastest way to spread information.

"you!"

Ruan Wenzhong was furious; his head swelled up like a big red gourd, and he jumped up and down cursing.

"You've gone too far! I'll fight you to the death!"

(End of this chapter)