Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 2088 - 1526: Envoy to Ming, Japan’s Tribute

The skies over the sea were clear, and Ningbo Port appeared vast and open, devoid of the usual multitude of civilian ships. Guided by several pilot boats, eight Ashikaga Shogunate-flagged tribute ships gradually approached the harbor.The Sun and Moon Flags of the Great Ming Navy fluttered high, with nearly forty patrol ships lined up on either side, subtly encircling the Japanese tribute fleet at the center. At this moment, the Tiger Squat Cannons, crossbow cannons, and fully armed garrison soldiers on the patrol ships silently conveyed an aura of vigilance and intimidation.

"Oh, the regulations of the Ming Dynasty are truly grand! They dispatched so many naval ships to intercept us, made us wait offshore for two days, then forcibly boarded our ships for inspections, confiscating our bows and swords... It seems they’re treating our Shogunate’s tribute fleet like a group of pirates!"

"Ha! Officer Mitsuhide, the Ming Dynasty always operates like this. The more official the matter, the stricter the regulations, all to prevent any slightest mishap! Japanese ships arriving at Ningbo cannot dock as freely as Tang ships at Sakai Port... Next, when the Guardian Supervisor of Ningbo arrives with the Emperor’s decree and ceremonial guards, we still have to disembark three times and kowtow to receive the decree as vassal envoys..."

Yao Fu Shouhuang, the Envoy to Ming, wore a Shogunate official uniform and a long hat, standing at the bow of the flagship "Tenryu-ji." He looked kindly at the complaining Hosokawa retainer, the young fleet "Officer" Miyoshi Mitsuhide.

According to the tradition of sending tribute, each tribute fleet would include one Envoy to Ming and one Vice Envoy to Ming, along with one or two Civil Service and Military Position officers, as well as several translators.

The Envoy to Ming and the Vice Envoy to Ming were usually selected from the Shogunate and the court, typically coming from the "Five Mountains Zen Temple" around the Capital City. Yao Fu Shouhuang was genuinely from the Five Mountains Zen Temple, not only proficient in Tang Wen but also from a noble family, truly a court official.

Regarding the "Civil Service" roles, they were usually performed by monks, while the "Military Position" roles were typically filled by Samurai. This particular tribute trade, though under the Ashikaga Shogunate’s banner, was actually orchestrated behind the scenes by the Hosokawa family. The four hundred elite warriors escorting the fleet were primarily drawn from the Hosokawa family.

Hence, the "Officer" of the tribute fleet was a trusted mid-level retainer of the Hosokawa family, Miyoshi Mitsuhide. This time, the "Civil Service" role was given to the wealthy merchant Sen Kiyoshi, who was from the Tiantai Sect and contributed the most gold and silver...

"Of course, Officer Mitsuhide, you represent the Hosokawa leader, and are not the official Envoy to Ming or Vice Envoy to Ming... If you do not wish to kneel to the Ming people, you could feign illness and stay on the ship..."

Yao Fu Shouhuang gently smiled, offering a well-intentioned suggestion. Miyoshi Mitsuhide was silent for a moment, then looked towards the other side, at Sen Kiyoshi in monk robes who was constantly gazing towards Ningbo Port, and solemnly asked.

"Sen Juzuo, will you disembark and kowtow to the Ming people?..."

"Ah?..."

Sen Kiyoshi was momentarily stunned, looking at the serious Miyoshi Mitsuhide. Then he rubbed his nose and laughed softly.

"Buddha bears witness! Officer Mitsuhide, of course, I will disembark... This Ningbo, with its ten-mile Glorious Street, thriving with prosperity, is the most flourishing city of the Ming Dynasty! Among them, many Buddhist temples, which I have longed to visit after studying the texts, I must visit one by one..."

"As for kneeling to the Ming people, it’s no major issue. The bowing is towards the ceremonial of the Ming Emperor, not those eunuchs... The Ming Emperor expelled the Yuan Invasion, possesses great riches, and is a prominent figure like the reincarnated Ming King, born with an aura of Buddha’s light. Paying respectful homage for the sake of the tribute mission naturally brings only benefits, without any drawbacks... And when we arrive at the Shuntian Prefecture, it is said that we have to perform the ritual of three kneelings and nine bows, repeatedly saluting the Ming Emperor before the court’s officials..."

"... Three kneelings and nine bows?!... Oh, Buddha! Since you all are disembarking, then I have no choice but to disembark! I want to see well for myself, what the so-called extremely powerful Ming Dynasty’s ’Samurai’ are truly like!..."

"Haha! Sen Juzuo, where did you hear that Ningbo is the most flourishing city of the Ming Dynasty?..."

Upon hearing Sen Kiyoshi’s response, Officer Miyoshi Mitsuhide gritted his teeth without speaking, while Envoy to Ming Yao Fu Shouhuang chuckled softly. Sen Kiyoshi blinked, pointing to the continuous houses and high buildings on the shore, and also replied with a smile.

"’Ningbo’s grand palaces and great halls, lined along the banks. Those with purple stone pillars take up almost half, and its marvelous views and splendid sights are countless’... This is naturally a top-tier city of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Oh! So, Sen Juzuo, you have read the Korean Cui Bo’s ’Floating Sea Records’? This is a newly published book from the last two years, sent from the Sanpu Japanese House to Sakai Port, only circulated among a few nobles in the Capital City... Sen Juzuo’s extensive knowledge and experience had indeed been underestimated by this humble monk..."

Envoy to Ming Yao Fu Shouhuang was somewhat surprised, quietly reassessing this wealthy merchant from the Tiantai Sect. Sen Kiyoshi felt a sense of shame inwardly; if it wasn’t for the Shandan Golden Chief’s generous request for Ming Dynasty classics, he wouldn’t have purchased these new and old "Tang’s Books," nor would he have idly perused the freshly published Korean ’Floating Sea Records’ during the northbound journey.

"Amitabha! We will stay in Ningbo for three months, selling the attached goods, then proceed north along the Jinghang Grand Canal to the Shuntian Prefecture Capital, to meet the Ming Emperor. Along this journey, Hangzhou Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, Yangzhou Prefecture, and the faraway Yingtian Fu are all cities even more prosperous than Ningbo! And the end of this tribute route, Shuntian Prefecture, is ten times the size of Luojing, the true center of the world, the most flourishing place under heaven!"

Speaking of the Ming Dynasty’s Capital in Shuntian Prefecture, Yao Fu Shouhuang’s face was filled with genuine yearning and longing for the splendor of the Ming Dynasty. The so-called "up to Luo," "up to Luo," in the mouths of Kyoto Dukes, naturally refers to Japan’s Capital City. In fact, the official name of Kyoto at present is directly borrowed from the Tang era’s "Luoyang."

As a monk from a noble background, Yao Fu Shouhuang received Han cultural education from a young age, imprinting a deep mark on his heart. This majesty of the central court gathering the world’s wealth and commanding regions is a dream that remains unattainable for the impoverished Dukes of the Kyoto court in Japan.

"Indeed! Southeast’s distinguished place, the Three Wu Cities, Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times... The numerous grand cities of Ming, the scale, it’s truly awe-inspiring and admirable! Unfortunately, we can only travel along the tribute-designated canal and can’t visit other major cities. Only the high-rise, infinitely scenic Ningbo City gives us sufficient time to explore thoroughly and seek opportunities before Buddha..."

Mori no Kiyoshi gazed at Ningbo Port, expressing his agreement. As a disciple well-read in the Tang’s Book, he understood the common Celestial Empire admiration among Kyoto nobles.

Since Mongol Yuan conquered the Southern Song, representing the rightful heavenly mandate they failed twice in Eastward Japan expeditions. Japan has now achieved complete political and military independence from the Tang and Song era perception of vassal states. Yet the cultural admiration rooted in the Han Culture Circle remains deeply embedded in the hearts of Japan’s upper aristocracy, maintaining substantive cultural vassalage and worship. From the Heian Era till today, the upper nobles take pride in knowing Tang Wen and Tang language. Until the establishment of the Edo Shogunate and the Ming and Qing Dynasties changeover, when Zhu Shunshui traveled east to Japan, this cultural Celestial Dynasty illusion would be shattered...

As of now, the Samurai Mitsuhide Miyoshi standing nearby widened his eyes, listening to two "men of culture" speaking "Tang Wen verses" he couldn’t understand, with shame and bewilderment appearing on his face as "a crude Martial Family." But soon, he gritted his teeth, closely observing the Ming patrol Naval Forces "escorting" the ship fleet, looking at the numerous large ships and the thousands of Ming officers and soldiers, and spoke angrily.

"Ha! These Ming Navy Forces may be strong, with numerous large ships...but those ’Samurai’ on the ships seem far from elite, completely lacking any imposing aura!...I believe the Ming people rely only on having more ships and more people! In an actual boarding combat with swords and guns, even if they outnumber us fivefold, these Ming Navel Forces may not be opponents of our Hosokawa Samurai!..."

"Haha! Officer Mitsuhide, you’re mistaken! These Ming Naval Forces are essentially coastal garrison soldiers, akin to peasant soldiers conscripted by local aristocratic families...but our tribute ship fleet has elite Banner soldiers, assembled by the leader of the Hosokawa...how can they compare?"

Listening to Mitsuhide Miyoshi’s monologue, Yao Fu Shouhuang shook his head with amusement, reflecting on the combative nature of Japan’s Martial Families. Even faced with a colossal force like Ming, the petty officer from the Hosokawa clan can conceive such ridiculous ambition for competition? Foolishness is indeed fearless.

"Amitābha! In the prosperous Jiangnan, the Ming people traditionally do not establish Samurai Banners, but set many garrisons, numbering hundreds of thousands of peasant soldiers. Their actual ’Banner Samurai’ likewise number tens of thousands, stationed in the northern Nine Borders...according to historical records of envoys to Ming, those ’Banner Samurai’ battling annually along the Great Wall against the Yuan Invasion, are the true elite of the Ming Nation!..."

"Officer Mitsuhide, when we arrive at Shuntian Prefecture in the winter solstice...you’ll witness the genuine elite troops of the Ming nation, especially those Ming Mahui troops that are invincible, riding horses across the terrain!..."

"...Ming Mahui troops?!"

In the expansive and solemn Ningbo Port, the tribute envoy of Japan were engaged in casual conversation, while Ming flags onshore increasingly proliferated. The first was the "Yin County Government" blue banner, then the "Mingzhou Prefecture Government" green banner, followed by the "Zhejiang Prefecture" black banner, each larger and taller than the last.

When the largest top banner, symbolizing the Emperor’s presence, appeared faintly in the distance, the envoy to Ming, Yao Fu Shouhuang, finally jolted, disembarking with the group to respectfully and submissively await.

"Sen Juzuo, the gift prepared for the Guardian?"

"Already packed, two gold coins, each weighing one jin. Carefully wrapped in silk bags, looking inconspicuous..."

"Hiss! Two gold coins?! That’ll do...not bad, not bad indeed! Sen Juzuo, you’re truly generous!..."

Soon, the grand yellow flag arrived in a majestic manner, sharp and full of dignity, resounding across the entire Ningbo Port. Officials of all levels bowed and performed courtesies, commoners kneeled and kowtowed. The Japanese tribute envoy dutifully advanced, bowing and paying respects towards the high Emperor’s flag!

"Holy Emperor above! Shogunate tribute envoy mission, Yao Fu Shouhuang/Mori no Kiyoshi/Mitsuhide Miyoshi, respectfully greet the flag of Emperor of the Great Ming!..."

After a series of vassal envoy ceremonial salutation, Ningbo’s Guardian Lin Huai weighed the heavy silk bag in his sleeve, a flash of surprise crossed his face. Then, with a gentle smile, he glanced at the "obedient" Japanese monks, then turned to the equally indifferent Zhejiang Governor Wang Zhe, with a smile.

"Well! These envoys have truly shown their goodwill!...Mr. Wang, why not have the staff count the tribute items carefully for the service of the Holy Emperor...while you and these vassal envoys accompany our family to the Guest House in the city for a rest and tea?"

"Indeed. As Lin the Supervisor says...the vassal tribute has always been Market Department’s internal affairs. The governor’s office just needs to supervise the Japanese ships and cargo to avoid incidents...as for specific arrangements, given my official responsibilities, I won’t be personally involved!"

Zhejiang Governor Wang Zhe politely returned the courtesy, maintaining a proper yet distant stance as he bid farewell to "Lin the Supervisor." Before leaving, he looked meaningfully at the remaining "translator," silent Shi Wende. Then, just as he had arrived, he got into his sedan chair smoothly, surrounded and guided by hundreds, with resounding banners, and departed~~