When Liu Dahai was drifting at sea, he practiced various etiquettes over and over again in the cabin. People always have dreams! Liu Dahai's current dream is to continue to be the official given by Liu Pei. If he can continue to do so,

The bigger it would be, the better! Of course, it would be best if it could be the Minister of Rites!

Liu Dahai remembered that Wang Changde once told him, don't underestimate your identity as an envoy! Because everything you say and do after you go out will represent the face of the Ryukyu King! Although the Ryukyu King is nothing in the Ming Dynasty court, he is after all

A king. Therefore, Liu Dahai didn’t want to make mistakes, so he had to practice more when no one was around!

When the ship docked in Tianjin, Liu Dahai immediately went to the inn and sent a message to Beijing to say that the Ryukyu envoy was coming. After resting for one night in Tianjin, he took a convoy and rushed slowly to Beijing.

When he arrived outside Beijing, he looked at the majestic city wall and lamented for the first time how little he saw and heard. The dense flow of people was so terrifying that Liu Dahai, who came from the small place of Macau, felt a little suffocated.

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When the Ming Dynasty was founded, Beijing, the former capital of the Yuan Dynasty, had a population of just over 14,000 households. After more than a hundred years of development, during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, Beijing was already "populated and filled with goods."

.Even traditional urban areas can no longer accommodate the population and can only expand outward one after another, which is the so-called "outer city".

Since then, the "outer city" has been a gathering place for businessmen from outside the capital, and a large number of commercial stores have sprung up. When the Ming Dynasty investigated during the Jiajing period, Beijing's permanent population exceeded one million. During the Tianqi period, it exceeded 120

One hundred thousand.

Moreover, this number was also very "shrunk" in the Ming Dynasty, because it only came from the permanent population of the capital. However, Yu Shenxing, a great scholar of the Ming Dynasty, estimated that at that time, "the people from all directions in Beijing were six or seven out of ten." That is, 100%

More than 60 of them are immigrants. "Wanshu Miscellaneous Notes" even records that one almshouse in Wanping County alone takes in thousands of widowers and lonely people every year.

"Shun Tian Fuzhi" has more statistics: Beijing's population during the Wanli period consumed 500,000 pigs and 300,000 sheep every year. Such a scale is comparable to that of a modern city!

The markets in Beijing are hot all year round. On the first, fifteenth and twenty-fifth days of every year, all kinds of goods can be placed for three or four miles at a time, and even the entrance to the criminal department is full. According to the Ming Dynasty writer Feng Menglong

The description said that it is simply "a gathering of people, uniting the sound of the four mountains and five mountains."

"Wanshu Miscellaneous Notes" describes the Jietai Temple Market on the outskirts of Beijing and even marvels: From a distance, it looks like clouds in a painting.

Outside the city gate, Liu Dahai saw an official waiting with a clerk. He also saw the flag of the Ryukyu King, and waved to this side with a smile.

Liu Dahai hurriedly jumped off the carriage, straightened his clothes before walking slowly over.

As he came closer, Liu Dahai immediately raised his hands and said, "The foreign minister has been ordered by the king to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty. I wish your majesty good luck and good health!"

The official opposite also raised his hands and said, "My emperor is in good health! I would like to ask my envoy!"

The two of them completed a set of etiquette there meticulously. China's reputation as a country of etiquette is not false. Etiquette comprehensively covers all aspects of life. Take the meeting of envoys from the two countries as an example. They must first greet each other's monarch.

The person who asked the question must be the party with a lower status. Then the other party asked the question. After that, there was a long list of polite words similar to the ritual. Those who talk about having a sense of ritual in life all day long must be very happy in the Ming Dynasty, because every day

Too many rituals!

After the whole ceremony was completed, the Ming official handed over his hand and said: "I am Wang Wencheng, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites. My pseudonym is Yuhua. I see that the envoy is very friendly. I am afraid this is the first time I have come to Beijing?"

Liu Dahai said: "Xiaoguan Liu Dahai, whose pseudonym is Qibo. I have met Wang Langzhong! Speaking of Beijing, Xiaguan has been famous for a long time. When I saw it today, it was indeed extraordinary! It is really prosperous!"

Wang Wencheng smiled reservedly and said: "Beijing is the capital of our dynasty, and its natural weather is extraordinary! The envoy has time to spare, so I will definitely accompany the envoy to have a good time!"

Then the two of them started chatting. This is how it is in official circles. Eighty sentences can't get to the point, and it has to be covered in clouds and fog. The two sides just stood there, talking in circles. Finally, they felt that they had gone around enough.

Wang Wenchengcai said: "The envoy came from afar and was tired of traveling and traveling, so he went to the post house to rest first. The best courtyard has been arranged for the envoy."

Liu Dahai quickly raised his hands and said, "Thank you, thank you."

The two went directly to the city and went to the inn. When they arrived at the inn, Liu Dahai discovered that Wang Wencheng was really not lying, and the best courtyard was indeed arranged for him. But this is not surprising, because Ryukyu is a small and weak country, and it relies on the Ming Dynasty for everything.

, so the kings of the past dynasties were extremely respectful to the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, such an obedient vassal state must be welcomed by the Ming Dynasty court as an example. Even when the Ming Dynasty held meetings, the Ryukyu envoys were placed relatively high in the front.

Wang Wencheng accompanied Liu Dahai into the room. The servant served the two people tea and then left. Liu Dahai cupped his hands and said: "Master Wang, there are many low-level officials who are not polite. I hope you will never laugh. In addition, I'm sorry.

When an official comes to Ming Dynasty, he still needs to ask adults for advice on some matters."

Wang Wencheng smiled and said: "It doesn't matter! I will try my best! Moreover, Ryukyu has always been respectful to the Ming Dynasty, so it is very easy to do anything."

After speaking, Wang Wencheng gave Liu Dahai some instructions on how to walk through various yamen.

Things. Finally, he said: "That's all. The most important thing is that Mr. Liu will hand in his credentials tomorrow. In the remaining time, you can walk around the capital and see the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty."

This is the situation. At this time, Ming Dynasty was the largest country in Asia. Envoys from other countries wanted to ask the Ming court to do something, so they naturally had to submit their credentials first. However, it is easy to deliver the credentials. As for when they can see the envoys,

It's another thing. If you're lucky and run it properly, you'll be called to court in about ten days. If you're unlucky, it's normal to wait for a month or two in vain.

After the two people finished talking, Wang Wencheng pretended to leave. But how could Liu Dahai let him leave so easily, or leave empty-handed? Besides, Wang Wencheng's pretense of leaving was just waiting for Liu Dahai to give him a favor. The Ministry of Rites itself was

Qingshui Yamen didn't have much extra money. And everyone knew that receiving envoys from the vassal state was a lucrative job, so everyone rushed to do it. Wang Wencheng also spent a lot of effort to get the job.

After Liu Dahai stood up and stopped Wang Wencheng, he took out a super small white cloth bag from the cage placed by the servant, turned around and walked towards Wang Wencheng. Wang Wencheng looked at the palm-sized bag and felt a little angry in his heart! You slap-sized bag?

How many taels of silver can I hold in my bag? Are you looking down on me? Let’s wait until you deliver your credentials tomorrow and see how I can manipulate you? Don’t think I’m just a doctor, I still have ways to manipulate you as an envoy of a vassal state!

After Liu Dahai came over, he did not directly hand the cloth bag to Wang Wencheng, but opened it in his hand in front of him, revealing a stack of colorful papers inside. Liu Dahai didn't seem to see Wang Wencheng's eyes that wanted to spit fire,

He held the pieces of paper in one hand, pointed with the other and said: "Mr. Wang, this is a bank note issued by the department store. You can take this bank note and exchange it directly into cash in the department store. It is very convenient.

.”

When Wang Wencheng heard Liu Dahai's words, his anger naturally disappeared, and he began to carefully look at the colorful pieces of paper in Liu Dahai's hand. There were not many pieces of paper, about ten pieces of paper, with the top one saying

Fifty taels of gold and fine silver!

Wang Wencheng saw that the thickness of the banknote was almost five hundred taels of silver. At that moment, he was surprised and happy. Naturally, he was happy that a large amount of silver had been credited to his account, which could be regarded as a windfall. To his surprise, he understood that what Ryukyu wanted was something special.

It's small, otherwise I wouldn't be so generous. I don't know whether I can contribute to it, so if I take the money, it won't be a laughing stock if I can't get it done!
Chapter completed!