I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 210 We are the filial sons of the Ming Dynasty!

Two officials whose attire was different from that of the Ming Dynasty came to the Lifanyuan Yamen.

They were dressed in colorful silk official uniforms with no patches on the chest but only embroidered patterns, and wore black gauze hats on their heads. They eagerly requested to visit Song Yingchang, the director of the Lidong Bureau of the Lifanyuan.

Song Yingxing was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing. During the examination for the Scholar-in-Chief, he wrote a policy paper on strengthening coastal defense and pacifying foreign vassals. He was noticed by Li Chunfang and was selected to work in the Lidong Bureau of the Lifan Yuan.

When Song Yingxing heard the clerk report that the Joseon Kingdom had informed the envoy Shen Yiqian and the deputy envoy Zheng Renhong that they wanted to visit him, he immediately understood that the news had reached the ears of the Joseon envoys.

The previous King Yi Ho of Joseon died of illness in June of the first year of the Longqing reign. Because his only son, Crown Prince Sunhae, died early, his queen Shim followed the will and made Yi Ho's nephew, Haseonggun Yi Gyun, the successor to the throne and changed his name to Yi Sun.

Then the Korean king and his ministers sent the chief envoy Shen Yiqian and the deputy envoy Zheng Renhong to the capital of the Ming Dynasty to express their condolences and ask for a title. They set out by water in September and arrived in Dagu in October. Following the guidance of Ming officials, they went to the Lifanyuan to present the letter of credence.

"Please go to the guest room in the front hall for tea. I'll be there soon." Song Yingxing ordered.

"Yes."

Shen Yiqian and Zheng Renhong sat in the guest room, feeling restless.

They had been waiting for the Ming Dynasty's edict of enthronement, and then would follow the Ming Dynasty envoys back to the capital of Korea.

I never expected that I would suddenly hear a bolt from the blue.

Cui Shuren, the judge of Ningbyeon Protectorate of his country, led his troops across the Bomun River under the banner of helping the Ming Dynasty to suppress the Jurchens. However, he was encountered by Ming Dynasty troops who were leading the suppression there. He was immediately disarmed and an urgent report was sent back to the capital. It is said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty in the Western Garden was furious and asked the Lifanyuan to revise a letter to the Korean monarch and his ministers, questioning why they dared to invade the border.
Raise troops to invade!

Shen Yiqian and Zheng Renhong were so scared that they broke out in cold sweats. This crime was not a small one. It was equivalent to saying that the Kingdom of Korea was declaring war on the Ming Dynasty.

How dare the Kingdom of Korea declare war on the Ming Dynasty!
The two of them cursed Cui Shuren countless times in their hearts.

Then he went around to gather information and at the same time helped to smooth out relationships through North Korean businessmen doing business in Beijing.

The two of them came to the Lifanyuan today to test the waters and see if there was any room for improvement.

After a while, Song Yingxing came in.

"Envoy Shen, Deputy Envoy Zheng, what is it that you two are looking for me about?" Song Yingxing pretended to be confused.

Shen Yiqian and Zheng Renhong looked at each other, and Zheng Renhong said, "The foreign envoy came to visit us this time to inquire about the matter of our border officials raising troops to invade the border."

Song Yingxing's eyes flashed, and he said, "The Xiyuan Silijian issued an order, asking us to prepare a letter to the emperor, select envoys, and go to your capital to question this matter."

Zheng Renhong asked carefully, "Please let me know, our country has just experienced a national mourning, the new emperor has just been established, the Celestial Empire has not yet been crowned, and the local areas have not yet been pacified. I am afraid that the border officials have evil intentions and are making trouble. Please investigate carefully."

When Song Yingxing heard this, he felt that it did make some sense.

The previous king of Joseon died of illness in June, and the new king who ascended the throne is his nephew. Moreover, according to Your Highness, Joseon is a country where small temples are crowded with evil spirits, shallow waters are filled with turtles, and internal officials fight to the death for no reason.

At the time of transition from the old to the new, it is indeed hard to guarantee that some ambitious people will engage in small actions behind the scenes, and then the blame will be put on the king and his ministers far away in the capital of Korea, which is indeed a bit unfair.

However, Song Yingxing did not show it, but continued to say seriously: "My two foreign envoys, I am in charge of the Eastern Li Bureau, and I have done an investigation. Since the Hongwu period, your country took advantage of the fact that my Emperor Taizu was busy expelling the tyrannical Yuan Dynasty and had no time to look east. You raised troops and marched eastward along Changbai Mountain, embezzling large tracts of land from Helan Prefecture, Shuangcheng General Administration Prefecture, Xiguan General Administration Prefecture, and Nanjing Wanhu Prefecture in the former Yuan Liaoyang Province."

Shen Yiqian and Zheng Renhong were both angry and anxious. Why were they still settling old scores from more than two hundred years ago?
Shen Yiqian could not help but answer: "Minister Song, during the Hongwu period, our King Shenwu (Lee Seong-gye) raised troops to help Emperor Taizu drive out the tyrannical Yuan Dynasty. Those lands were granted to our country by Emperor Taizu as a reward for his merits." Song Yingxing spread his hands and said, "Do you have the imperial edict of our Emperor Taizu?"

Yes, you said it was given by Emperor Taizu as a reward for merit. What's the proof? At least you should show me an imperial edict, right?
Shen Yiqian and Zheng Renhong were dumbfounded.

This happened more than two hundred years ago. Korea has experienced many internal conflicts and the capital has been burned down more than once or twice. Many documents have long been lost. Where can they find them now?
Besides, even if we produce a copy of the imperial edict, and you, the Ming Dynasty, say that you cannot find the original copy in the inner court storage and deny it, what can we do?
You will turn around and accuse us of perverting the will.

You were in charge of the rebellion, and I heard that the Nanjing Palace was burned down and many imperial edicts were lost.

But you can't say it that way, and you can't talk about it that way, it's not clear.

Zheng Renhong said: "Korea has been very respectful to Ming and has strictly observed the etiquette of a minister, not daring to be negligent in the slightest. Ming has also treated Korea generously and with great kindness.

For two hundred years, Northeast China has been peaceful. During the Chenghua period, our country wiped out the Jianzhou Jurchens, put down the rebellion and pacified the people. Our country gladly responded and made great efforts.

My lord, you must not allow the blood-thicker-than-water friendship between our two countries to be ruined because of the reckless behavior of some villains, or else the foreign vassal states will find out and laugh at you."

The meaning of his words was very clear. For two hundred years, North Korea has always regarded Ming Dynasty as its own father and served it cautiously. Even if they had no merits, they had worked hard.

The son took a little land from his father, what a big deal! We are all family, there is no need to fight and kill each other. If the news gets out, Japan and Annan, the two unfilial sons of the Ming Dynasty, will laugh at us.

When Song Yingxing heard this, he thought it made sense.

He thought for a moment and replied, "I will report this to the Minister of Rites and the Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs, Fang Gong first."

The Lifan Yuan was directly managed by Li Chunfang, but he was also a cabinet minister and had to manage the Ministry of Personnel, so the specific affairs of the Lifan Yuan were under the charge of Fang Fengshi, the Minister of Rites and the Chancellor of the Lifan Yuan.

Fang Fengshi was on duty at the Lifanyuan. After hearing what Song Yingxing said, he pondered for a moment and then summoned Shen Yiqian and Zheng Renhong.

The two men also expressed sincerely and humbly that Korea was the most obedient and filial foreign vassal son of the Ming Dynasty, and they should never do anything that would bring pain to their relatives and joy to their enemies because of a small mistake.

After listening to them, Fang Fengshi shared Song Yingxing's attitude and felt that what the two said made a lot of sense.

"Well, two foreign envoys, I will submit a memorial to Xiyuan to explain this matter. I believe that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will summon me soon. Well, you two will wait in the Lifanyuan for the next two days. Then follow me to Xi'an Gate to hand in the sign. If His Royal Highness needs to summon you, you don't have to run around anymore."

"Thank you for your mercy, sir! On behalf of the king and his subjects of Korea, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Minister Fang and Minister Song for their help in our country's affairs."

The next morning after Fang Fengshi submitted the memorial, someone from Xiyuan came to tell Fang Fengshi, Song Yingxing, and the chief and deputy envoys of Korea, Shen Yiqian and Zheng Renhong, to go to Xi'an Gate of Xiyuan to hand in a sign that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wanted to summon them.

Shen Yiqian and Zheng Renhong were both surprised and happy.

What surprised me was that the Crown Prince, who was in power during the Ming Dynasty, handled government affairs with such swift and decisiveness.

If such a courageous monarch, combined with the various legends about him, really had a prejudice against North Korea and intended to retaliate, North Korea would really not be able to bear it.

The good news is that I finally have the opportunity to meet the Crown Prince, who is actually in power in the Ming Dynasty. If I can convince him, the Kingdom of Korea can be spared a major disaster.

The two of them sat in the sedan chair nervously, following Fang Fengshi and Song Yingxing, and arrived at the Xi'an Gate of Xiyuan.

(End of this chapter)