Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 89 Tribute Girl and Loyalty

After seeing the signature, Zhu Changluo's doubts disappeared. Because Zhu Changluo knew that in two years, the Western Party of Korea would launch a coup, depose Gwanghaegun Lee Hwon, and support Yangyanggun Lee Jong to take the throne.

"The Korean tribute ships have arrived in Tianjin. Should we let them enter Beijing?" Wei Chao asked.

Wang An interjected, "Master, the tribute ship from the Atlantic Kingdom is still waiting in Tianjin."

"Master, ancestor. The tribute from the Koreans is a little different." Wei Chao said.

"What's the difference?" Zhu Changluo picked up the memorial he had put down.

"There are people on board the Korean ship," Wei Chao replied.

"Someone? Who?" Zhu Changluo didn't react for a while.

"My lord, she is a tribute girl." Wei Chao replied.

"A tribute girl?" Zhu Changluo was even more confused.

"My Lord, yes." Wei Chao had been in the imperial palace for decades, but he had never heard of any Korean tribute women being sent to Beijing. So, his initial reaction upon seeing the term in the memorial was confusion. But to avoid a confrontation with the Emperor, he made a special trip to the Imperial Archives to search through old records. Finally, before the Emperor returned, he understood the special origins of this tribute woman.

Wei Chao cleared his throat and said, "The tradition of Korea sending tribute women to the upper kingdom began during the Yuan Dynasty, when Korea was called Goryeo."

"Stop, just talk about this dynasty." Zhu Changluo raised his hand to interrupt him, thinking: Why don't you start from the Qin Dynasty?

"Okay." A hint of resentment flashed in Wei Chao's old eyes. "The Yuan Dynasty lasted a hundred years. During that time, Goryeo sent a large number of tribute women to the Yuan court, almost becoming a routine. So after Taizu inherited the Yuan Dynasty's mandate and founded the Ming Dynasty, Goryeo sent envoys to inquire whether they would continue to send tribute women."

"Taizu initially rejected Goryeo's request, but with his grand vision and foresight, he finally agreed in order to stabilize the situation in Jianzhou." Wei Chao only found records of first rejecting and then agreeing, but this did not prevent him from flattering Taizu by taking advantage of the situation in Liaodong.

"That makes sense." Zhu Changluo nodded. It was common for exchanges to deepen communication and eventually form political alliances.

Wei Chao was greatly encouraged when he saw the emperor's approval. "However, the Li family replaced the Wang family, and Goryeo became Joseon. The local political situation was unstable, so the matter of sending tribute girls to the Ming Dynasty was delayed. It was not until the Yongle reign of Emperor Chengzu that tribute girls were brought to the capital."

"Forget it, just continue." Zhu Changluo sighed. He saw that Wei Chao just wanted to show off his knowledge after he took it out.

"Emperor Chengzu was a man of great strategy and talent, his power revered throughout the world. Soon after he ascended the throne, Korea became a vassal of the Ming Dynasty and paid tribute. In the sixth, seventh, and fifteenth years of the Yongle reign, Korea offered tribute women three times."

"In the sixth year of the Yongle reign, the eunuch Huang Yan declared the tribute women too ugly to be looked upon. Therefore, he ordered the Korean side to reselect them. Six months later, the Korean side finally selected several beauties. Among them, Wang was named Zhaorong, Li was Zhaoyi, Lü was Jieyu, and Cui was Meiren. Meanwhile, Zhang, Quan, and Ren were given the title of Guifei."

"So many?" Zhu Changluo was a little surprised.

"Although there are many, with the exception of Consort Quan, none of them are as good as the women of the Central Plains," Wei Chao said, as if it were a matter of course. "So, in the seventh year of the Yongle reign, Huang Yan returned to Korea and selected Zheng. Zheng was outstanding in appearance and well-versed in Chinese etiquette, so she was highly favored." "In the fifteenth year of the Yongle reign, Korea sent envoys to pay tribute, offering two women, Han and Huang."

"Taking the initiative?" There is a precedent for this.

"My lord, yes." Wei Chao nodded and said, "During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, Korea offered tribute women eight times, with dozens of women each time."

Zhu Changluo complained in his heart: Dozens of people, how can I bear this?
However, his doubts did not last long. He then heard Wei Chao say, "Most of these tribute girls were not beauties, but cooks or maids."

"I see." Zhu Changluo opened the twelve-leaf fold and read from back to front. After a few lines, he saw the description of the tribute women: "I have heard that Your Majesty wishes to give you the privilege of tasting the local vegetables and game of your country, and has therefore selected two female chefs for the palace."
"When was the custom of tribute girls abolished?" Zhu Changluo asked.

"My Lord, it was abolished during the reign of Emperor Yingzong," Wei Chao replied, "Emperor Yingzong not only returned all the Korean women remaining in the palace, but also issued an edict declaring that Korea no longer needed to send tribute women."

At this point, Zhu Changluo finally understood what Li Zong meant by sending an envoy to Beijing to offer a tribute girl:

During the reigns of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di, the Northeast was unstable, so the emperor hoped to stabilize the northern border through "marriage" with Korea, and asked Korea to offer tribute women. Korea also regarded this as a symbol of goodwill and even loyalty to the Ming court.

While Korea had its fair share of beautiful women, they were few and far between. Consequently, they simply dispatched cooks and maids to Beijing to work as cooks or domestic helpers, prioritizing quantity over quality. By the time Zhu Qizhen came to power, Korea had fully sided with the Ming and remained extremely loyal to the court. Furthermore, Korea had fully assimilated to the Sinic culture and institutions. The Ming no longer needed to rely on the unethical system of "tribute women" to control its northeastern vassal states.

However, Prince Yeongyang Yi Jong and his supporters, the Western Party, were plotting a coup against the current King, Prince Gwanghae Yi Hun. Although the borders of Jianzhou remained under Nurhaci's control, it was difficult for the Ming court to directly intervene in the political changes within Joseon.

However, North Korea was already a fully sinicized vassal state, and its rulers needed the approval of the suzerain to supplement their legitimacy. In other words, if the suzerain's approval was not obtained, the coup was illegal.

If the emperor did not enthrone the new king, Li Zong would not be able to use this opportunity, and the new regime would have no legitimacy. The opposition could then launch rounds of coups under the banner of restoring order.

To bolster his regime's legitimacy, Yi Jong's memorial was written with remarkable humility, reveling the reverence and admiration of a "subordinate state" for its "father." First, on behalf of Joseon, Yi Jong reiterated the Celestial Empire's grace in restoring Joseon during the Imjin Japanese Invasion and the Dingyou Second Invasion. Then, on behalf of Joseon, he addressed the emperor, urging forgiveness for Joseon's disobedience stemming from a minor military failure. To pave the way for the coup, Yi Jong even resorted to dredging up a century-old precedent to demonstrate his loyalty through concrete actions.

The current king, Gwanghaegun Yi Hun, was secretly disloyal, while Yangyanggun Yi Jong was desperately trying to demonstrate his loyalty. For Zhu Changluo, the choice was easy: "Wei Chao, reply to Yangyanggun Yi Jong in your personal name. Tell him that I really enjoyed the Korean food he sent me and ask him to do his best."

"As you command." Wei Chao didn't understand what the so-called "work hard" meant. But since the emperor didn't tell him, he didn't ask.

"Master, where is the North Korean delegation?" Wang An asked.

"Let them come to Beijing. As for the tribute girls, you can settle them according to the old rules." Zhu Changluo replied.

"Yes, sir." Wang An received the order and picked up the pen to start writing the note.

(End of this chapter)