prosperous age

Wei Guangde also traveled to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in his later years, and naturally he also applied for a passport, but he used it rarely.

Many years ago, there was a rumor circulating on the Internet that American passports were very powerful because it said, "No matter where you are in the world, the powerful United States of America is always your strong backing. Please remember that you are an American citizen."

Later, when Wei Guangde got his own passport, he realized that almost all passports were the same.

Yes, when signing diplomatic agreements, each country will use clauses to define the rights and obligations of passport travelers.

So, the actual text on the passport should be "The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests relevant persons to provide the United States citizen/national with convenient travel and provide legal assistance and protection when necessary."

Well, it was still the Ming Dynasty, the United States of America had not yet appeared, and their ancestors, the English, had not yet arrived in New York, so it was still a barren land.

Probably, only Indians were there dancing around bonfires.

However, despite this, Wei Guangde still knew that according to international relations, it was necessary for his country to protect and help foreign citizens holding passports in accordance with diplomatic agreements.

At the same time, if you hold a foreign passport, even if your passport is lost, it is easy to find information and reissue the documents as long as you have your name.

In this era, if you want to look up something quickly, you can only remember the government office that issued the passport, whether it was Yuegang or Songjiang Prefecture, or later Tianjin or Guangzhou, and then give it a number, which will make it easier to find.

In this way, even if there are people from the Ming Dynasty who are stranded outside for various reasons, they can easily get help as long as they see Ming Dynasty travelers.

Wei Guangde mentioned the concept and purpose of a simple passport to Zhang Juzheng. Zhang, who only nodded slightly, was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's just a pass, why make it so complicated?"

Yes, in fact, when Wei Guangde mentioned the passport, he had already vaguely guessed the purpose of the passport, but he felt that using a wooden sign was a bit extravagant.

Moreover, carving a passport on a wooden plaque is actually very troublesome.

However, it seems like a good idea to call the travel permit for going abroad a passport.

Didn’t you hear that it would be engraved with “provide help and protection” to the people of the Ming Dynasty?

“Those who can go abroad should not mind this expense, and the local government will also receive some income from it.

After all, if we go out, we will represent the reputation of our Ming Dynasty."

Wei Guangde just smiled and said.

"Someone is coming."

Zhang Juzheng suddenly shouted to the outside.

The meeting was originally just to discuss sending spies to Europe to spy on Europe's economic and technological intelligence, but it seemed that the wind direction suddenly changed.

After a while, the clerk outside the Prime Minister's office came in, and Zhang Juzheng ordered: "Go to the Silver Bureau and ask them to call two craftsmen over to return the woodcarving."

"Yes."

The clerk agreed and went out to look for someone immediately.

"Shandai, you said this thing is called a passport, I have no objection, but it's just a brand, anyone can make it, what if someone counterfeits it overseas?"

Zhang Juzheng said.

This involves the issue of anti-counterfeiting, which is actually mainly misuse.

Don’t think that this loophole can only be filled by pasting photos and inputting fingerprints in later generations. In fact, various countries in ancient times had some ways to deal with it.

Don’t forget that the “floating tickets” used by Wei Guangde and others when they took the imperial examinations had not only their names but also their physical characteristics on them.

In the era when there was no photography technology, this method was used both at home and abroad to prevent counterfeiting.

It is said that in the West, early passports would indicate the user's hair color, eye color, skin color and other information for simple identification.

Even with the advent of photography technology, because photos are black and white, this information will still be recorded in passports for a long time to facilitate identification.

Zhang Juzheng mentioned this because he was considering that a piece of paper tape worn on the body would easily wear out, making the handwriting illegible.

Wei Guangde suggested using wooden boards, which could preserve the information for a long time, but the recorded information would be incomplete and was not suitable.

"You can use two wooden boards, engrave the information you just mentioned on them, and then open the other board to find a silk book inside, with more reliable information and a seal."

Zhang Juzheng said, "This is more like a document issued by the government."

As soon as Zhang Juzheng said this, Wei Guangde thought of passports in later generations, which were almost the same.

Using wooden boards can also protect the silk books inside, which is a good idea.

So Wei Guangde nodded in approval.

"It just so happens that the Ministry of Rites is still negotiating the details, so let the Silver Bureau produce the physical object as soon as possible and add the clause of providing assistance and protection to the subjects."

Protecting citizens of other countries was something that never happened before.

In fact, even now, the mobility of people is very low. Who would travel around for no reason, let alone go abroad.

Even moving across regions within the country requires a travel permit, so only those who have passed the imperial examinations can travel around with their diplomas.

When merchants go out to do business, they have to go to the county government to get a pass, otherwise they will not be able to move forward.

"The envoys from the vassal states have all arrived. Give them a copy of the passport. The court will protect the safety of their citizens who carry similar passports, and they must also ensure the safety of the people of the Ming Dynasty."

Wei Guangde continued.

Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng were talking in low voices. Liu Shouyou and Yu Dayou looked at each other. Yu Dayou immediately said, "Two elders, then our men..."

As soon as he opened his mouth, Wei Guangde waved his hand and said, "Navy officers and soldiers and Jinyiwei all have wooden identity cards. This is their official identity. There is no need to get passports, which are for ordinary people.

Don't forget, your subordinates are very capable. With the official certificate, they borrowed troops from Sulu and conquered half of Luzon.'

"Haha, Shandai is absolutely right."

Zhang Juzheng also laughed.

After hearing the two elders' jokes, Yu Dayou and Liu Shouyou stopped talking.

Indeed, all of their subordinates were officials. Even if they were just small soldiers, they were still people of the imperial court, and they were one level higher than the vassal states.

Not long after, a eunuch from the Silver Bureau came with two craftsmen to ask for a meeting.

After everyone came in and paid their respects, Wei Guangde explained in detail what they were going to do.

"Do you understand when it can be done as soon as possible?"

Wei Guangde asked with concern.

"Master Wei, from what you said it's actually very simple. Just two wooden boards with a piece of silk cloth glued in between."

A craftsman said with a slight hesitation.

"Almost, but it's better to connect two wooden boards instead of two wooden boards connected by silk cloth."

Wei Guangde suddenly thought of the secret memorials used in the palace, and that style would definitely not work.

Modern books have a variety of binding methods, such as round spine hardcover, square spine hardcover, hollow hardcover, etc. Just like the various book binding styles we use now, ancient books and documents also have many binding styles.

The binding styles commonly used in ancient times include scroll binding, whirlwind binding, butterfly binding, back binding, thread binding, and sutra-fold binding used for memorials.

Jingzhezhuang is also called Fanjiazhuang and Zhezizhuang, so sometimes the emperor's lines in film and television dramas will refer to memorials as "zhezi".

Like the memorials commonly seen in movies and TV dramas, memorials are long scrolls of documents that are folded left and right at a certain width and covered with a book cover. This binding method is not only used for memorials, but also for many Buddhist scriptures and Taoist scriptures in ancient times.

Nowadays, most of the memorials received by the Cabinet are in the form of sutras and jingzhe, which is a unified format after being copied by the Ministry of Public Security. The memorials sent to the Ministry of Public Security by foreign officials are mostly in the form of scrolls or sutras and jingzhe.

The reason why many people are used to scroll binding is because it is simple.

After writing the memorial, stick one end on a bamboo tube and wrap it up, which can effectively protect the written document.

Of course, you can also frame it with a better special scroll and then submit it. This is mostly the style used for congratulatory messages on solar terms.

"It's simple and can be made easily. We'll go back one... well, it will be delivered in half an hour."

Obviously, there was nothing much to say about this thing in the eyes of the two craftsmen. "It's just the words to be carved on the wood board. Please let me know clearly, sir."

Hearing what the craftsman said, Zhang Juzheng stood up, walked to the desk, spread out the rice paper and quickly wrote down what Wei Guangde had said before.

The word "Ming" is written on one side, and "The Ming Cabinet asks the government of all countries to provide necessary assistance and protection to those holding this card" is written at the bottom.

On the other hand, Zhang Juzheng casually made it in the appearance of a "floating ticket", which was actually his own record of the imperial examination that year.

After writing, Zhang Juzheng handed the paper to Wei Guangde to read.

In fact, we were in a hurry and hadn't decided on the style in detail beforehand.

But this is not a big deal. It can be modified gradually later. Just come up with a real product first.

The two craftsmen were now looking at the small wooden box on the desk, which was used by Zhang Juzheng to collect ink sticks.

Well, the famous masters who made Hui ink in the Ming Dynasty were Luo Xiaohua, Cheng Junfang, Fang Yuru and Shao Gezhi from the Ming Dynasty Ink She School.

Among them, Luo Xiaohua, Luo is the surname, Xiaohua is the pseudonym, and his given name is Wenlong, with the courtesy name Hanzhang.

Yes, the number one among the four famous ink makers in the Ming Dynasty was Luo Wenlong who joined the Yan family.

Despite its bad reputation, Luo Wenlong's ink was still top-notch stuff in the Ming Dynasty. Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng often collected ink sticks made by Luo Wenlong.

When the Luo family was ransacked, little Huamo often moved to the homes of the powerful and wealthy in the capital.

However, the two craftsmen were certainly not guessing whether there was Luo Xiaohua's ink stick in the box, but were whispering that they could make what the elder wanted according to the shape of the box cover.

They are just two small copper bars. They are readily available in the silver workshop. They have made many packing boxes for the ladies in the palace.

"That's it. Just write the previous text in Latin and Arabic below and have the Siyi Pavilion translate it and engrave it immediately."

Wei Guangde looked at what Zhang Juzheng wrote and immediately spoke.

"can."

After the two men agreed, they handed the papers in their hands to the two craftsmen, gave them some detailed instructions, and called a secretary to go to the Siyi Pavilion to find someone to translate.

"Make this thing as soon as possible and send it to me right away. It will be useful."

Finally, Zhang Juzheng gave another reminder.

After the others left, Wei Guangde said to Liu Shouyou: "Although the people you sent out all have Jinyiwei badges, the spies who are lurking for a long time must also be equipped with this thing.

After all, you are here to gather intelligence, so you must stay here as an ordinary person, but don’t forget this.”

Hearing this, Liu Shouyou immediately nodded in understanding and said, "I understand. I will definitely consider this carefully."

"Brother Uncle, this is the first passport of the Ming Dynasty. It's yours, haha. It was issued by the palace. It's number one, no problem."

Just now, when Wei Guangde saw the passport written by Zhang Juzheng, he had already guessed that the features written on it were what he looked like when he was young.

Hence this joke.

"hehe."

Zhang Juzheng just chuckled, and then said to Liu Shouyou in a serious tone: "We must select the right people to go to Europe, and we must not let anything go wrong."

In fact, the Silver Bureau delivered the passport sample much later than the originally stated half an hour, mainly because of the delay at the Siyi Hall.

It took more than an hour before the things were delivered to the cabinet.

Yu Dayou, Liu Shouyou and others had already left. Zhang Juzheng called Wei Guangde, Zhang Siwei, Shen Shixing, and the Minister of Rites Xu Xuemo to review and modify the passport sample before finalizing it.

“Sizhong, the Ministry of Rites should quickly complete a charter on protecting the overseas rights and interests of our Ming subjects, and the Cabinet will expedite the process and submit it to Your Majesty.

Once it is finalized, the diplomatic missions of various vassal states will be informed, and the passport samples will be produced and sent to them as soon as possible by the Silver Bureau."

Zhang Juzheng said to Xu Xuemo.

"Sir Prime Minister, those who hold this certificate are naturally subjects of the Ming Dynasty. What about those who don't have it?"

At first, Xu Xuemao didn't understand what he was called to do. He was still in the government office thinking about the text of the agreement signed with the three European countries.

Now I know that the Cabinet is going to add more content to the agreement. Although it seems useless, it still needs to be implemented.

After all, it was the cabinet's decision and he couldn't shirk his responsibility.

"It depends on whether it's lost or not. The situation is very complicated. If it was taken out before, it definitely doesn't exist, so we need to reissue it.

If it is lost, please remember the name, issuing office and number, and you can get a reissue after verification.

There is another possibility left, that is, without a passport, you naturally cannot be considered a citizen of the Ming Dynasty.

All citizens of the Ming Dynasty who go abroad must register their passports at the government office at the place of departure for verification. "

Wei Guangde immediately said, "Merchants from all over the country can go abroad to do business and get a pass to the foreign trade port issued by the local government. If they want to leave the country from here, they have to apply for a passport."

Wei Guangde explained his meaning clearly, and Xu Xuemo also understood it.

The procedure is simple. Looking at the exquisitely crafted passport in my hand and thinking about the inquiries I will face from foreign authorities after going abroad, I feel very proud to take this out.

"When Chinese people go abroad, they look very impressive with this brand."

Xu Xuemo couldn't help but say.

The Ministry of Rites took care of the rest of the affairs.

Xu Xuemao brought a sample of Zhang Juzheng's passport back to the Ministry of Rites, called the officials involved in the negotiations, and told them the cabinet's arrangements.

Needless to say, the officials of the Ministry of Rites also thought this thing was very good.

"When I go abroad, I can say that I am a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, but it is troublesome without proof. With this item, I can show my identity when I show it. It is very good."

"The workmanship is so exquisite that I'm afraid those barbarians will steal it and keep it for collection."

In the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, from officials to ordinary people, the people from the vassal states and Europe were all bumpkins, southern barbarians or western barbarians, and they were all looked down upon with their eyes wide open.

This is completely different from the later worship of foreigners. It is said that during the Ming Dynasty, there were beggars in Yuegang who refused to accept charity from foreigners, as they felt it was a loss of face for the Ming people.

"Master Zhao, take this item to talk to the European delegation and include this in the agreement.

From now on, when foreigners come to our Ming Dynasty, they must show their passports, and we will protect them. Those without passports will be arrested and imprisoned. "

Xu Xuemo opened his mouth and gave orders. (End of this chapter)