Hearing that some envoys from the Kezhi Kingdom in the South China Sea came to the same hall, Ye Xiaotian didn't care about bickering with Uncle Li Guo, so he led Mao Wenzhi and Hua Yunfei to welcome him out. There was no time to remove the boiling pot, so he closed the door tightly, but he didn't care about the smell of wine in his mouth, anyway, with his official position, he would not be too close to the envoy.
At this time, Guan Shangshu from the Ministry of Rites, Grandpa Xu, the Duke of Wei, and Gu Sanye from Zhenyuanhou's Mansion and others were already surrounded by a tall-nosed and concave-eyed man wearing a bright and different dress, with a white cloth on his head and many beads on his neck. The old man walked in. Officials, relatives, and royal relatives are all three types of people, which can be regarded as giving these envoys extremely high treatment.
Guan Shangshu had his own reasons for doing this. It was a long time since the Ming Dynasty had no South China Sea foreign countries come to the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty. They came from afar, which shows their respect to the heavenly kingdom. Naturally, they should reciprocate and be more grand.
Another thing is that Guan Shangshu has already learned of their identities. The envoy sent by Kezhi Kingdom this time is actually the prime minister of the country. An envoy with such status should be more grand.
A few of them accompanied Prime Minister Kezhi, and there were a large number of attendants behind him, and among the attendants, there were many faces of foreign countries, all of whom were followers brought by Prime Minister Kezhi. This country of Kochi is a small country in the Indian Ocean. It was still an independent country at that time, but it has become a state of India in later generations and no longer exists.
Guan Shangshu said with a smile: "I remember that during the Yongle period, your country sent envoys to the DPRK three times successively to pay homage to my Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The third time was a prince from your country who came to the DPRK with me on a treasure ship of the Ming Dynasty. He died of illness and left behind The will will be buried at the foot of Qixia Mountain."
The old prime minister of Ke Zhi Kingdom could speak Chinese. Although his tone was blunt and exotic, he could still be understood. After hearing what Guan Shangshu said, the Prime Minister Ke Zhi said, "Yes, I am facing the Ming Shang Kingdom. I have always admired them. Especially our current Majesty the King admires the Celestial Dynasty even more, but now there are western pirates blocking the sea area. After I landed in Guangzhou, I heard some things. It seems that the Ming Dynasty also knows their existence. They are called Frangji. Because of these Frangji pirates, my king sent envoys to the east twice, but they were all robbed by pirates. This time I brought a large number of entourage warriors, and I broke through their blockade."
Guan Shangshu said: "These pirates are really hateful. They occasionally come to our Daming Sea to make trouble and are defeated by our navy. It's just that when they are defeated, they flee to the sea. It is not easy to be destroyed. I don't want them to be so arrogant in the South China Sea. I will report to the emperor."
As Guan Shangshu said, he glanced forward and saw Ye Xiaotian leading Mao Wenzhi and Hua Yunfei to meet him. Guan Shangshu coughed and said: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, came from a long distance to meet my Son of Heaven. It is not easy to travel thousands of miles. You should settle down first. I will report to the court as soon as possible and arrange for you to go to Beijing."
Prime Minister Ke Zhi said: "Master Lao Shangshu, I'm going to pay homage to the tomb of our prince..."
Guan Shangshu stroked his beard and said: "Prime Minister, don't worry, I have made arrangements, and I will arrange for you to go to worship as soon as possible. The prime minister will take a rest first. Tonight, I will hold a banquet for the prime minister at the Chongyi Building with Duke Wei and Uncle Li Guo." Take the wind."
When Guan Shangshu said this, he turned to Ye Xiaotian, who was waiting quietly, and said, "Are you the ambassador of the same embassy?"
Ye Xiaotian hurriedly said: "It's the next official!"
Guan Shangshu said: "Hello, welcome the envoy of Kezhi Kingdom. I am a kingdom of heaven, a state of etiquette, and I must not lose my courtesy."
Ye Xiaotian quickly agreed, and bid farewell to Prime Minister Ke Zhi with Duke Wei, Uncle Li Guo and others. Ye Xiaotian led Prime Minister Ke Zhi to settle down. Fortunately, although the posthouse in the same hall has not been opened for decades, the guest house is still being repaired every year, and the room is always cleaned, and all the utensils are complete.
Guan Shangshu, Wei Guogong, Li Guojiu and others left the meeting hall, and agreed to meet at the Chongyi Building in the evening. Seeing that the time was almost up, they didn't bother to go back to their respective residences. They were about to go to Shangshu's mansion together, and come to pick up Ke together in the evening. Prime Minister Zhi saw a green-robed official jumping up and down from the hall with his skirt in hand.
Guan Shangshu saw that he recognized the ambassador from the same embassy just now, he couldn't help frowning, and stopped, Li Xuancheng was about to board the car, when he saw him coming out, he stopped, wanting to hear what he had to say. Ye Xiaotian ran to Guan Shangshu, cupped his hands and said, "Master Shangshu."
Guan Shangshu said: "What is it?"
Ye Xiaotian said: "My lord, this hall has not opened for seventy-two years, I'm an official..."
Guan Shangshu frowned, and said, "Why don't you open for seventy-two years? Do you consider it a business? As an official of the court, you have to think carefully about every move you make."
Ye Xiaotian said: "Yes, yes, it's been seventy-two years... I haven't received any foreign envoys. Cough! My lord, there is only one cook in the hall now, and the food is really uneatable..."
Guan Shangshu suddenly said: "It turns out that this is the matter. Envoy Ke Zhi and his entourage will have dinner at the Chongyi Building tonight. There is no rush. When I go back, I will immediately dispatch a group of famous cooking masters to the Huitong Building."
Ye Xiaotian said: "That's great. Also, there are only a few people in the same hall, and we are too busy just cleaning the building on weekdays. Now that there are so many people staying at once, everyone is too busy. "
Guan Shangshu nodded and said: "I can save it, how about it? After I go back, I will ask the host and guest department to transfer a group of people to serve the cleaning. Then I will transfer some dancers and musicians from the Jiaofang department for entertainment. "
Ye Xiaotian said: "Yes! Thank you, my lord, and this... The posthouse is poor and empty, and the officials want to entertain foreign guests, so they don't even have any new or good tea."
Guan Shangshu heaved a sigh of relief, and said impatiently: "Besides these, what else, you can talk about it together."
Ye Xiaotian said: "Also, if you want to entertain people, you have to have money. The hall doesn't support idlers, but it hasn't saved any money for decades."
Guan Shangshu said: "I will allocate it to you immediately."
Ye Xiaotian said: "Also, an interpreter, there must be an interpreter, there is no interpreter in the same hall of the Xiaguan, how can we communicate with this foreign guest?"
"this… "
Guan Shangshu was a little embarrassed when he heard this. The same hall has not been used for decades, and there is no interpreter at all at ordinary times. Could it be possible to go to the capital to call in an interpreter who understands the language of Kezhi
Guan Shangshu frowned and thought for a while, then said: "Is this an interpreter who knows the language of Ke Zhi? I can't find it for a while. I will send someone here to inquire and find an interpreter. Fortunately, Prime Minister Ke Zhi understands our language. , you get over it, during this period, if you have anything to do, just talk to Prime Minister Ke Zhi directly."
Ye Xiaotian doesn't ask about these things, once he neglects the foreign guests, it is his responsibility, now he has asked Guan Shangshu for instructions, if there is any problem, he has nothing to do with it, so Ye Xiaotian doesn't say more, just give gifts to Guan Shangshu leave.
Uncle Li Guo also boarded his car, opened the curtains, thought quietly for a moment, and suddenly smiled: Diplomacy is no small matter, especially since Kezhi Kingdom has not come to court for nearly two hundred years, and now they have come across the ocean , can be an example for the countries in Southeast Asia, the imperial court must attach great importance to it, if Ye Xiaotian makes some mistakes at this time...
A ruthless look suddenly passed between Uncle Li Guo's eyebrows!
※※※
Ye Xiaotian took Hua Yunfei and Mao Wenzhi into the room of Prime Minister Ke Zhi, and saw that Prime Minister Ke Zhi was standing in front of the antique shelf, admiring the antique porcelain on the shelf with great interest.
Ye Xiaotian cupped his hands and said, "Master Prime Minister, do you still get used to living in this place? If you need anything, just ask."
Prime Minister Ke Zhi turned around, seeing that it was the ambassador of the same hall, he hurriedly smiled and said: "I am used to it, I am used to it, this hall is very elegant and quiet, I like this elegant and quiet atmosphere very much. Papapa!"
Prime Minister Ke Zhi said, he raised his hand and clapped three times. There were two attendants standing outside the door, one was from Ke Zhi Kingdom and the other was sent by the Ministry of Rites. After entering the living room, he touched Prime Minister Ke Zhi's chest and saluted.
Prime Minister Ke Zhi said, "Bring the gift."
This small country of Kezhi really admires Da Mingchao very much. Based on the idea that many people will not be surprised by courtesy, they have prepared many gifts. They have traveled along the way like a boy who spreads money. Anyone who comes into contact with them will give them away. One serving, of course, they will also watch people order dishes, and the gifts they give vary according to the status of the other party.
After a while, the three attendants of the Kezhi Kingdom came in with a gift each. From the looks, it should be the unique fabric of the Kezhi Kingdom. The patterns and colors are very exotic. One of them brought two pieces of cloth, and the other two were One horse, Ye Xiaotian and the others are also treated differently.
Prime Minister Kezhi personally held up a piece of Kezhi cloth, and said to Ye Xiaotian and the others with a smile: "Thank you very much, Ambassador Ye and your two attendants for your warm hospitality to us. I am very satisfied with your arrangement. This is a small gift. If it’s not a respect, please accept it.”
Hua Yunfei quickly took it with both hands, and Prime Minister Ke Zhi picked up another horse. Mao Wenzhi followed Hua Yunfei's example and took it with both hands respectfully. Prime Minister Ke Zhi picked up the horse again. Two pieces of cloth, said to Ye Xiaotian: "Ambassador Ye, this is for you."
"Thank you!"
Ye Xiaotian stretched out his hand to catch it, but when he raised his arm, he suddenly felt unbearable pain, the pinching by Uncle Li Guo just now was too hard, probably sprained his muscles, and he still hasn't recovered yet. Prime Minister Ke Zhi was still standing there holding a gift, Ye Xiaotian couldn't keep him waiting, so he stretched out a hand and hurriedly took the gift.
When Prime Minister Ke Zhi saw his actions like this, a strange look flashed in his eyes.
The attendant sent by the Ministry of Rites standing at the door couldn't help but think to himself: "Even Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Duke Wei and Uncle Li have extraordinary respect for Prime Minister Kezhi. Ambassador, I am so sorry that Prime Minister Kezhi offered me a gift with only one hand to receive it, if I offend him, tell Lord Shangshu, he will not be able to eat it and walk away!"