Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 617
I don't know when, in the inner city of Beijing, several special buildings stood up like a knife, and the strange appearance was reduced to a joke for a while.

But after the building took shape, and several high-nosed Xiyi walked out of it, the news that there were hell monsters in the inner city spread like wildfire, causing a sensation.

"Rare and strange!" A few older people put on airs and drank high foam: "This is Xiyi. They came to the capital during the reign of Tianqi, and there were not many of them during the reign of Chongzhen!"

The Chinese are like this. Once they learn that their ancestors have it, they immediately lose their surprise.

In just a few months, the people of Beijing had gotten used to this group of green-eyed Xiyi in robes.

Gathering all financial and material resources, Ambassador Santos, the first Portuguese embassy to be completed, is looking out of the window with a sad face, unsure of his mind.

"What's the matter, Santos, you are the count of Portugal, who else can make things difficult for you in this embassy?"

At this time, the lady in the Baroque style, long dress embroidered with lace is like a swollen mushroom.

He wore a pink rose hat on his head, which seemed to be in consideration of Daming's style, and the large area of ​​his chest that was exposed had been covered up, making him look weird.

"Ines, my wife, you are so beautiful today." Santos admired, and then said helplessly: "It's just that in the east, there are always endless difficulties."

"After the embassy was completed, I submitted requests to the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Kingdom to meet the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, but was rejected again and again."

"What should I do, ma'am, this Ming country is really too difficult."

Santos, Portugal's first ambassador to the Ming Dynasty, had a sad face.

"Oh, my lord count." Madam didn't take it seriously, but showed a bright smile instead:

"In Beijing, it's much better than Lisbon."

"Broader, more people, cleaner city, wide roads, people and horses go their own way, there are no dirty sailors, a lot of silk is placed in the shops for people to choose, it's really great here..."

Faced with his wife's amazement, Santos smiled wryly.

Where do women understand the importance of politics.

"My wife, as long as I can meet the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, the reward will be worth half of our net worth."

"By the way, today is a grand parade in the Ming Dynasty, let's go and see it!" The madam said excitedly, pulling her husband and walking outside.

"I heard it was a parade after the election of officials."

Santos's ambassadorship is not for nothing, but he knows a thing or two about it: "This is a celebration worthy of national revelry."

After saying that, he also became interested, and with a few guards, under the surprised eyes of passers-by, he came to a restaurant and booked a good seat by the window.

As soon as the husband and wife sat down, there was the sound of firecrackers in the distance, followed by the sound of gongs and drums, and the sound of shouting, followed by Jinshi who rode on horseback.

Scholars are dressed in student blue robes, with a single-tailed leather belt wrapped twice around the waist of the official uniform, and black gauze hats on their heads, with two streamers made of soap gauze hanging down.

It is very different from the operas in later generations.

Of course, as the leading number one scholar, he is dressed in red, with hairpin flowers and big red flowers, which is extremely bright and conspicuous, and he can be recognized in the crowd at a glance.

The flags and drums open the way, the cheers are thunderous, the cannons are shaking the sky, and the streets are decorated with lights and festoons, which is very lively.

Men, women, young and old cast desperate and eager gazes, wishing to replace it with their own bodies.

On the side of the road, those scholars in robes showed anticipation and longing; children liked to be lively, and were taught by their parents to pay more attention to their studies.

"I heard that if you pass the exam, if you are admitted by the emperor, you will be able to serve as the mayor of a city."

"All the cities in the Ming Dynasty have no autonomy. Those dirty and greedy businessmen can't take power at all. They are all held by young people selected by these emperors."

"They come from all over the country. They may be farmers, businessmen, craftsmen, fishermen, etc. As long as they pass the exam, they can hold official positions and occupy every corner of Ming Dynasty. They will gradually grow up and even become the prime minister of a country... ..."

"As far as I know, although the emperor's cabinet is full of nobles, they are newly conferred nobles..."

Santos grimaced and murmured.

"Ah?" The wife was taken aback, covering her red lips: "Where's their ancient nobleman?"

"How can the emperor govern the country without the support of the nobles?"

"Nobles?" Santos shook his head and said with a smile: "As far as I know, the nobles of the Ming Dynasty only have the right to command the army and cannot hold official positions."

"The emperor and civil officials don't think that the nobles are capable of taking on important responsibilities. In other words, those who have not passed such examinations and screenings in everything cannot be called officials and hold power."

"It's terrible."

The wife exclaimed: "I can't imagine what a country without nobles would look like."

"Isn't it right in front of you?"

Santos smiled wryly.

As a person with immediate interests, this feeling is too real to be true.

A country without nobles is better off than them.

After watching a Jinshi parade, the ambassador and his wife returned to the embassy to avoid becoming a monkey being watched.

Immediately afterwards, Santos got the good news that the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was willing to meet him, and there were also ambassadors from Spain, Portugal, and England.

Even the embassies of these people were not successfully built.

"I want a cinchona tree."

The young emperor said in an unusually firm tone.

"In Taiwan, thousands of miles away from Beijing, there are hundreds of thousands of people suffering from malaria."

"The cinchona tree is what Daming needs."

"What can I get, Your Majesty."

Santos was unhurried, and even a little happy: "What can Portugal get?"

"If Macau can be returned, I think your dream will come true."

The moment the cinchona tree was discovered, the Western colonists were reluctant to give up, and immediately chose to transplant it into Europe and cultivate it with all their heart.

So these saplings had already taken root and sprouted in Europe at this time.

"Macau?" Zhu Yixi sneered and said, "I won't give you any chance to make progress."

"However, Ambassador of Portugal, I will give you more silk, raw silk share."

This sentence hit Santos' weakness in an instant.

"And, if you can get it through personal relationships, I will reward you with 1000 taels of gold, or a hundred bolts of precious silk."

slam-la-

This sentence completely penetrated Santos' bottom line, and he chose to surrender.

Facing the Spaniard, Zhu Yixi said frankly:
"I heard that sweet potatoes taste soft and sweet."

"In order to value the friendship between our two countries, Daming needs sweet potatoes from Manila to increase the delicacy of Daming."

(End of this chapter)