"This is impossible. No country would agree to sign such a vassal state treaty."
East King Godara said with great certainty.
The vassal-state treaties formulated by the Ming Dynasty were too harsh, and they only mentioned things that the vassal-states needed to do. There were very few responsibilities that the Ming Dynasty had to fulfill towards the vassal-states.
"His Majesty the Ming Emperor, this vassal state treaty is too harsh and we, the Kingdom of Java, will not agree to it."
Someone immediately stood up and expressed his attitude.
"Yes, yes, we will never agree~"
“Too harsh~”
"Although the Ming Dynasty is powerful, we will never accept such a harsh treaty."
Someone started, and others stood up and said.
"Once this vassal state treaty is signed, it will really be a vassal of the Ming Dynasty."
Emperor Gokashiwara read it carefully and couldn't help but shake his head in his heart.
Although the Japanese country wanted to learn from the Ming Dynasty's strategies to strengthen the country, they were also willing to learn from the Ming Dynasty. It didn't matter whether they respected Confucianism, learned Chinese characters, or even changed their surnames to Chinese.
After all, the Japanese country has been constantly learning Chinese culture, and Chinese characters are also the official writing in the Japanese country.
But this vassal state treaty is more than just these contents. For the Japanese country, especially the ambitious Japanese country, it cannot be controlled by the Ming Dynasty.
But thinking about it again, it seems that the current Japanese state is also firmly controlled by the Ming Dynasty.
Izumo Kingdom and Hyogo-no-tsu both have Ming Dynasty troops stationed there. If there is any trouble, Ming Dynasty can directly intervene in the affairs of Japan.
As for the canonization of monarchs, this is already the case. The treaty has been signed long ago. The emperors of Japan need to be canonized by the emperor of Ming Dynasty. This time he came to Ming Dynasty to ask for the title from Emperor Hongzhi. Basically, the emperor of Ming Dynasty is the same.
The supreme monarch of Japan.
Japan seemed to have no other choice.
As for the ambassador of North Korea, Pu Yuanzong, he read each item carefully, and it seemed that it was not harsh at all. Isn't that the current relationship between North Korea and the Ming Dynasty?
The king of North Korea needed to be canonized by the Ming Dynasty, and the country of North Korea paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty every year. Businessmen from the Ming Dynasty traveled freely to North Korea, and now there are also some businessmen from North Korea traveling freely to the Ming Dynasty.
North Korea uses Chinese characters, respects Confucianism and Taoism, and learns from Chinese civilization.
"Our country, Korea, has been a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty for generations!"
Park Yuanzong decisively stood up and expressed his stance.
If you don't want to, forget it. Anyway, we in North Korea are willing to do it a hundred times or a thousand times.
Daming’s legs are so thick, why can’t they hug him tightly?
The Ming Dynasty's national power is so strong, and there are many benefits to becoming a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. What reason does such a big brother have to refuse?
The Chinese civilization is so brilliant and brilliant, why not accept it?
Anyway, North Korea made a decisive choice. They have always been a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, and they will always be a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty.
"Okay~"
Emperor Hongzhi has been watching the expressions of these people.
The ambassadors of those countries in Southeast Asia can see everything clearly.
At this moment, he finally truly understood what Liu Jin said.
The reason why countries in Southeast Asia sent people to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty was purely to obtain huge rewards from the Ming Dynasty. They did not sincerely want to become vassal states of the Ming Dynasty.
The people of the Ming Dynasty have always thought that these countries were vassal states of the Ming Dynasty.
In fact, these countries have never recognized this.
They are just for the good things from the Ming Dynasty, such as silk, porcelain, cloth, tea, etc. They are not at all interested in learning your Chinese civilization.
If the Ming Dynasty does not repay the money several times, will these countries still come to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty?
Don't even think about it.
These countries are very realistic and will not do anything that is not beneficial.
Now that the Ming Dynasty's vassal state treaty has come out, everything has been exposed.
For Ming Dynasty, the only real younger brother was North Korea.
The people of Annan and the Japanese state were constantly hesitating at this moment, hesitating whether to sign the Ming Dynasty vassal state agreement.
"Yin Shizhongzhen, do you think our Japanese country should sign it?"
Emperor Gokashiwara looked at Yoshitada. He represented the shogunate. The current Japanese shogunate still had great influence. This matter still needed to be discussed with them.
"Sign, why not sign~"
"What's the difference between the current Japanese state and whether we sign this agreement or not?"
Yin Shizhongzhen replied almost without thinking.
The power of the Ming Dynasty made him have a profound influence, and becoming a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty was not a bad thing. Anyway, the current Japanese country has actually been firmly controlled by the Ming Dynasty.
"Hmm~"
Emperor Gokashiwara nodded slightly, and then immediately said loudly: "We, the Japanese country, are willing to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty from generation to generation~"
"Okay~"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he immediately smiled happily.
After all, it was Korea and Japan that were most affected by Chinese civilization. As for Annan, it was also greatly affected, but Annan is not honest yet and is a bit ambitious.
North Korea and Japan expressed their positions one after another, while ambassadors from other countries remained unmoved.
The purpose of their coming to Ming Dynasty is very simple. One is to obtain generous rewards from Ming Dynasty and make a small fortune. In fact, they hope to establish a good relationship with Ming Dynasty in this way. In this way, if Ming Dynasty expands in the Nanyang region in the future, it will still cost a lot.
Show some kindness.
As for becoming a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, they have no interest at all.
In the past, the Ming Dynasty was a vassal state. For the sake of benefits, it didn't matter. Anyway, the people of the Ming Dynasty were enjoying themselves. It only had benefits for them and no harm.
The Ming Dynasty was far away from Nanyang, so it would not have much influence or deterrence on them.
But things are different now.
If they sign this vassal state agreement, they will really become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, and they will be a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty for generations.
What's more important is that from now on, we must learn everything from the Ming Dynasty, learn Chinese civilization, learn Chinese characters, respect Confucianism and Taoism, change Chinese surnames, etc. These are absolutely unacceptable to them.
Especially for many countries in Southeast Asia that already believe in Islam, this is absolutely unacceptable.
It is extremely xenophobic in itself, and now it needs to change its blood, and the whole country will be violently turbulent.
They just like the silly Ming Dynasty and their porcelain, tea and silk, but have no interest in learning all aspects of the Ming Dynasty.
"His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, we have come all the way and worked hard to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty. Is this how you treat our countries?"
The ambassador of Siam stood up and said very dissatisfied.
"How can we, Ming Dynasty, fail to forgive you?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he asked calmly.
"this…"
Hearing what Emperor Hongzhi said, the other party was immediately speechless. It seemed that Ming Dynasty had never done anything sorry to them. When they came to Ming Dynasty, they were treated with high courtesy from the beginning to the end.
"His Majesty the Ming Emperor, such an agreement between vassal states is unequal, and we in Siam will never agree to it."
The other party thought for a while and said.
"Didn't you see the first point above?"
"Based on the principle of voluntariness, if you Siamese don't agree, don't sign it. We, the Ming Dynasty, did not force you to sign it."
Emperor Hongzhi immediately laughed.
"But...but we are here to pay tribute, this tribute~"
When the other party heard this, he immediately said anxiously.
"If it is not a vassal state of our Ming Dynasty, then there is no tribute. Our Ming Dynasty does not lack the things you pay tribute to, so you can take them back."
Emperor Hongzhi said indifferently.
The cabinet chief ministers Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian, Zhang Mao, Ji Zhong, Liu Daxia and others who were accompanying him all couldn't help but sigh.
Everything is very clear.
As Liu Jin said, these countries did not come to pay tribute at all, but actually came to collect the wool of the Ming Dynasty.
Now that Ming Dynasty wants to further confirm the relationship with them, none of them are happy and unwilling to sign the vassal state agreement, but they still want to get benefits from Ming Dynasty.
"Bring back?"
The Siamese envoy was dumbfounded. After working so hard to bring the tribute, the Ming Dynasty actually didn't want it and asked him to take it back.
How should I explain to the King of Siam this time?
In the past, every time I came to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, I always came back with a full load.
"His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, our Sulu country is willing to sincerely reconcile with the Ming Dynasty, but this vassal state agreement is too harsh, and we, the Sulu country, have no way to agree to it."
East King Godara stood up and said.
"It doesn't matter if you don't sign. The Ming Dynasty and Sulu still have friendly relations. However, the tribute is exempted. If there are friendly exchanges with each other, there is no need to pay tribute."
Emperor Hongzhi smiled and replied.
In fact, the meaning is very obvious. The Ming Dynasty has established three levels in terms of external relations. One is the vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. After signing the agreement, it becomes the vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. From now on, it will be the most loyal and die-hard ally of the Ming Dynasty.
Secondly, there are countries with general friendly exchanges, such as Sulu and Siam. We just have contacts with each other. In the future, don't pretend to pay tribute and try to defraud me of benefits.
And you'd better be polite to me, Daming, from now on, and don't offend me in any way, otherwise Daming won't be polite to you.
The third category is countries that are hostile to Ming Dynasty. For such countries, Ming Dynasty will directly go to war with you.
Hearing Emperor Hongzhi's words, the Eastern King Godala breathed a sigh of relief. At least it was a country that had friendly relations with the Ming Dynasty and would not become an enemy of the Ming Dynasty. As for wanting to gain benefits from the Ming Dynasty through paying tribute, I am afraid that it would not be possible.
"We in Luzon are willing to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty~"
At this time, the Luzon envoy who had been kneeling on the ground knelt on the ground and looked at the Ming Dynasty's vassal state agreement. After reading it, he shouted out very decisively and directly.
