Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 279 The Demands of the Vassal States

The 23rd day of the tenth month in the second year of Qiming. Frost's Descent.

Chang'an City has entered its most splendid yet shortest season of the year. The leaves of locust trees, ginkgo trees, and sycamore trees, bathed in the last warmth of autumn's sun, have turned a golden and ochre hue, and a gust of wind sends them rustling down all over the imperial road. The palace servants sweep them every morning, but they can never get them completely clean, so they simply leave a few side paths unswept, letting the fallen leaves pile up, rustling softly underfoot, creating a unique and charming scene.

The Sifang Pavilion outside Taiji Palace has been busier than the fallen leaves over the past month.

This inn, originally built in the previous dynasty specifically to receive envoys from all directions, had been abandoned for decades, with its walls crumbling and its buildings leaking. Last year, the Court of State Ceremonial requested permission to renovate it, and Chen Xing approved 5,000 strings of cash to completely renovate the main courtyard, east and west wing courtyards, rear quarters, kitchen, and stables, and also added a banquet hall that could accommodate a hundred people. Now, this inn is finally truly "fully booked".

The Goguryeo delegation moved into the east wing.

The Champa delegation occupied the western courtyard.

Further afield, the monks and envoys from Japan were arranged in a quiet, secluded courtyard in the rear quarters—they were not used to living with others and had to chant sutras every morning, so the Honglu Temple specially allocated the most secluded courtyard to them.

In addition, there were tribute envoys from Balhae, merchant representatives from Ryukyu, and even a wandering monk who claimed to be from Bagan, carrying a small jade Buddha, saying he wanted to "pay homage to the Buddha's teachings of the Celestial Empire".

The steward of the four courtyards shuttles between them every day, and his voice is almost hoarse.

The first to arrive was the Goguryeo delegation.

On September 27th, an urgent message arrived in Beijing from the Liaodong Protectorate: King Yeongryu of Goguryeo dispatched his cousin Gao Jianwu as the chief envoy, leading a delegation of over 120 people, carrying 100 tribute horses, 500 sable pelts, and 100 catties of ginseng. They had already crossed the Liao River and would enter the pass in a few days.

Goguryeo was a long-established powerful state in Northeast China, with a history spanning over four centuries. During its previous dynasty, it clashed with the Central Plains on several occasions, and also repeatedly submitted to the Central Plains and paid tribute. After the fall of its previous dynasty, Goguryeo seized the opportunity to expand northward, seizing all of its former territory in Liaodong, and confronting the new dynasty of Xingqi along the Liao River for several years. It wasn't until Chen Xing personally led an expedition to the northern deserts and killed the Snow Wolf King that King Yeongnyu of Goguryeo curbed his northward expansionist ambitions and instead sent envoys to establish friendly relations.

This envoy's mission was of extremely high caliber. His cousin, Gao Jianwu, was the most trusted member of the royal family of Rongliu, holding the title of "Da Dui Lu," and rarely left the country in previous years. His personal trip to Chang'an this time clearly indicated that he had important matters to discuss.

On the ninth day of the tenth month, Gao Jianwu and his party arrived in Chang'an.

The Court of State Ceremonial received him according to the protocol for a marquis: a colorful canopy greeted him outside Kaiyuan Gate, and imperial guards lined both sides of the Imperial Street, accompanied by the resounding beat of drums and music. Gao Jianwu rode a tall horse, dressed in the most magnificent purple robe of Goguryeo, wearing a golden crown, followed by 120 splendidly armored attendants and 100 fine horses from Liaodong. The horses' coats were glossy, their manes flowing, attracting the covetous eyes of horse traders from Taiyuan and Longyou.

Gao Jianwu rode his horse across the street with his head held high, but his eyes were secretly taking in the legendary capital city.

The streets were wide and straight, with neat walls on both sides, and shops lined up one after another. The flow of people was bustling but not noisy. There were Western merchants dressed in foreign clothes, Persian travelers with turbans, Uyghurs with high noses and deep-set eyes, and dark-skinned southerners of unknown origin. They mingled with the people of the Central Plains, hurrying along, each speaking their own language, but all heading in the same direction—to the market, the shops, and the warehouses.

"This is Chang'an..." he murmured to himself.

Hearing this, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies smiled slightly: "If Your Excellency wishes to go sightseeing, I can arrange for someone to accompany you tomorrow. However, His Majesty is hosting a banquet in the Linde Hall tonight to welcome you."

The banquet at Linde Hall was an unforgettable experience for Gao Jianwu.

Inside the palace, the lights shone brightly, and the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air. On the throne, the legendary "Enlightened Emperor" sat casually in a black robe, but his gaze reminded him of the cold stars of Liaodong in the deep winter—bright, cold, and capable of seeing through everything.

During the banquet, Chen Xing exchanged only a few pleasantries with him: "Has Liaodong received enough rain this year? The hundred horses that Goguryeo presented as tribute, were they raised in the best horse farm in the capital? I've heard that your nephew—the eldest son of King Rongliu—is exceptionally skilled in martial arts. Would you be willing to come to Chang'an to study in the future?"

Gao Jianwu answered each question, but his mind grew increasingly cautious. The emperor didn't ask about tribute, borders, or any sensitive topics; he only asked about these trivial matters. But the more this was the case, the less he dared to let his guard down.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Chen Xing asked, seemingly casually:

"Besides paying tribute, is there anything else you wish to discuss with Lu on this trip?"

Gao Jianwu felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the real topic was about to be discussed.

He rose and bowed solemnly:

"Your Majesty is wise. I have come here for two reasons: first, to congratulate Your Majesty on Your Majesty's ascension to the throne and the unification of the realm; second,..." He paused, "My King intends to send his heir to Chang'an to study at the Imperial Academy. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Sending a crown prince as a hostage was the highest form of loyalty a vassal state could show to its suzerain state. For four hundred years, Goguryeo had never sent a hostage to any Central Plains dynasty. King Yeongnyu's act was tantamount to publicly acknowledging Seonggi as a superior state and expressing his willingness to remain a vassal.

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly:

"I welcome the Crown Prince to study in Chang'an. There are students from Goguryeo in the Imperial Academy, so my prince will have another companion. However, studying is studying, and there is no need to call him a 'hostage.' I have no rule of detaining hostages here."

Gao Jianwu was taken aback, then bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty is benevolent; I thank you on behalf of my king."

After Gao Jianwu withdrew, Chen Xing sat alone on the throne, his gaze slightly somber.

Jia Wen emerged from the side hall and said softly, "Your Majesty, Goguryeo sending a hostage is both a sign of weakness and a test. They are afraid we will settle scores later—after all, they took advantage of the chaos to occupy so much land in Liaodong back then."

Chen Xing nodded: "I know. That's why I won't accept the word 'hostage'. Let their people come, study, make friends, and broaden their horizons, just so they don't feel like I'm holding them hostage. In a few years, when the Goguryeo students in the Imperial Academy return, bringing back news from Chang'an, bringing back our dynasty's classics, systems, and customs, they will be more useful than any hostage."

Jia Wen was slightly taken aback, then bowed deeply: "Your Majesty is wise."

Before the Goguryeo delegation had even left the capital, the Champa delegation arrived.

Champa, located in what is now south-central Vietnam, was an important transit point for trade in the South China Sea. When Shen Qing's fleet visited Champa this summer, the King of Champa intended to send envoys in return. Unexpectedly, when the news reached the capital, the King's younger brother, Indravarman, volunteered—he had long heard of the prosperity of Chang'an and wanted to see it for himself.

Thus, this mission was somewhat "incongruous": nominally a tribute mission, it carried three ships full of goods—agarwood, rhinoceros horn, ivory, hawksbill turtle shell, and something never seen in the Central Plains before: Champa rice seeds.

"Your Majesty," Indravarman said, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness as he presented the rice seeds, "this rice is drought-resistant, early-maturing, and can be harvested in sixty days. It grows in any terrain. If it can be promoted in the south of your country, it can be harvested two or even three times a year. I am willing to impart to you all the methods of cultivation."

Chen Xing gazed at the handful of golden rice, a slight stirring in his heart.

As a time traveler, he naturally knew the significance of Champa rice to Song Dynasty agriculture. However, he remained outwardly calm, only nodding slightly.

"This is excellent. I will have the Ministry of Agriculture test its cultivation. If it proves to be remarkably effective, I will reward it handsomely."

He paused, then looked at Indravarman:

What do you want?

Indravarman was taken aback, not expecting the emperor to be so direct. He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking:

"Your Majesty, although Champa is small, it controls a vital passage in the South China Sea. My king wishes to form a brotherly alliance with the Celestial Empire and open its ports for your merchant ships to dock and resupply. I only ask that Your Majesty... allow Champa merchants to pay slightly lower taxes when trading in Guangzhou and Mingzhou, and to treat them the same as Persian and Arab merchants."

A slight commotion arose in the hall.

Champa's conditions, to put it simply, were: we are willing to be a "service station" during the Age of Exploration, but you must give us "most-favored-nation treatment".

Chen Xing looked at his shrewd younger brother and suddenly smiled.

"Granted," he said. "Starting next year, Champa merchant ships sailing to Guangzhou will be subject to a 50% reduction in customs duties, in accordance with Persian customs. In addition, I will order the Maritime Trade Office to designate a dedicated berth for Champa merchants in Fuxu Port."

Indravarman was overjoyed and immediately knelt down in worship.

Behind him, the members of the Champa delegation looked at each other in disbelief that things had gone so smoothly.

What Indravarman didn't know was that Chen Xing had his reasons for agreeing so readily.

Champa controls the South China Sea and is a vital passage to Malacca. If a stable supply point could be secured there, imperial merchant ships could sail south without worrying about finding reliable ports or fresh water along the way. As for halving tariffs—that small amount of tax revenue is negligible compared to the strategic value of opening up the South China Sea shipping route.

"This is a worthwhile deal." That evening, Chen Xing said to Jia Wen in the Wenhua Hall, "Use a little tax silver to exchange for a permanent bridgehead in the South China Sea."

Jia Wen stroked his beard and smiled: "Your Majesty, this old minister has already calculated the costs and benefits of this deal. As for Champa, once Indravarman returns, he will surely be able to persuade his brother to open the port. As for Shen Qing, next year one or two warships can be permanently stationed in Champa, ostensibly to protect merchant ships, but in reality..."

He stopped there and didn't continue.

Chen Xing smiled slightly and looked out the window.

In the darkness, the lights of the Sifangguan Pavilion twinkled. The Goguryeo delegation, the Champa delegation, and those "civilian representatives" who had not yet formally presented their credentials each harbored their own thoughts and desires. Some sought safety, some sought profit, some sought Buddhist teachings, and some simply wanted to see this legendary imperial capital.

But they came nonetheless.

What gave the Court of State Ceremonial the biggest headache was the mission from Japan.

The official name of the Fusang mission was "Kentoshi" (envoys to Tang China) – although the Tang Dynasty had long since fallen, the Fusang people still used the old name. The head of the mission was a monk in his early thirties, whose Dharma name was Ennin, and who was said to be a high-ranking monk in Fusang. He brought with him a dozen monks, several boxes of Buddhist scriptures, some Japanese brocade, sulfur, and a chrysanthemum-patterned katana that was said to have been used by successive emperors.

Ennin's aspirations are unique.

He sought neither official titles nor trade; he only asked for permission to reside at the Great Ci'en Temple in Chang'an for three years, to copy Buddhist scriptures that had not yet been transmitted to Japan, and to learn about the latest Buddhist schools of thought in the Central Plains.

The Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies dared not make the decision himself and could only report it.

After listening, Chen Xing remained silent for a moment, then asked, "How many men did he bring?"

"There were fourteen monks and six attendants."

"Does copying scriptures take three years?"

"According to him, many Japanese Buddhist scriptures are missing, especially commentaries on the Faxiang and Huayan schools, which are almost non-existent. He thought... he would copy as much as he could."

Chen Xing suddenly laughed. He said to Jia Wen, "Prime Minister Jia, do you believe it or not, after this Ennin returns to Japan, he will establish a sect on Mount Hiei and take on a bunch of disciples. And those disciples' disciples will remember that he once came to Chang'an hundreds of years later."

Jia Wen stroked his beard: "Your Majesty's observation is absolutely correct. The Japanese are indeed very diligent in learning new things."

"Granted," Chen Xing said. "Send him to the Great Ci'en Temple. The paper and ink he needs will be supplied by the Honglu Temple. Also, tell the abbot of Ci'en Temple to treat him well and not let them feel that we have neglected our guests from afar."

At the end of October, Sifangguan reached its peak of being fully booked.

The Goguryeo delegation had not yet set off, the Champa delegation was still purchasing goods, and the Japanese monks had just moved into the Great Ci'en Temple when another new group arrived—

An envoy from the Bohai Kingdom.

The Balhae Kingdom, located in the northeast and north of Goguryeo, was a state established by the Mohe people and had existed for two hundred years. They had historically maintained good relations with the Central Plains, paying tribute annually during the previous dynasty. After the fall of the previous dynasty, Balhae was cut off from the Central Plains by the Khitans, losing contact for several years. Now that the Khitans were weak, the King of Balhae hurriedly sent envoys south to restore old friendly relations.

Upon arriving in Chang'an, the Bohai envoy first went to the Court of State Ceremonies to present his letter of credence. The letter was written in an extremely humble tone, stating, "Your subject, King Daqinmao of Bohai, respectfully presents this memorial to Your Majesty the Emperor." The list of tribute items was quite long: fine horses, sable furs, gyrfalcons, pearls, and a Mohe scimitar that was said to be the "national treasure of Bohai."

When Chen Xing received the Bohai envoy, the envoy knelt on the ground, his forehead touching the ground, and dared not raise his head for a long time.

Chen Xing personally helped him up and asked, "How is the King of Bohai? Have you been terribly bullied by the Khitans these past years?"

The envoy was taken aback, and his eyes suddenly reddened.

He never expected that the emperor, far away in Chang'an, would know the suffering of Bohai.

"The Khitans... the Khitans have been extorting us year after year," he choked out. "My king cannot bear this humiliation and only hopes that the Celestial Empire will restore our old friendship and uphold justice for Bohai..."

Chen Xing patted him on the shoulder:

"Go back and tell your king that starting next year, Xingqi's merchant caravans will regularly travel to Bohai. They will bring silk, tea, and ironware in exchange for your horses, furs, and gyrfalcons. If the Khitans dare to obstruct us, although my navy cannot land, I can cut off their salt and iron routes."

The envoy prostrated himself on the ground and wept bitterly.

In early November, the first batch of envoys from vassal states began their journeys back home.

Gao Jianwu, accompanied by his son—a shy fourteen-year-old boy—bid farewell to the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial outside Kaiyuan Gate. The boy would remain in Chang'an to study at the Imperial Academy. He spoke haltingly in Chinese, but his eyes were full of curiosity and anticipation.

Indravarman returned laden with goods. His fleet was loaded with silk, porcelain, tea, and a trading license stamped with the imperial seal. Before departing, he said to the officials of the Maritime Trade Office who saw him off, "Next year, ten Champa ships will come to Guangzhou."

The Bohai envoy was the one who left in the most hurry. He carried a letter written by Chen Xing in his arms, wanting to return to the capital before the roads were completely closed in winter, and tell their king: Chang'an still remembers Bohai.

Ennin stood atop the tallest tower of the Great Ci'en Temple, gazing at the setting sun, and softly uttered a Buddhist mantra.

Behind him, a dozen or so Japanese monks were bent over their desks copying scriptures. The scent of ink mingled with the fragrance of sandalwood, drifting out the window and into the deepening night.

The ninth day of the eleventh lunar month, Minor Snow.

The first snow of winter fell in Chang'an. The snow was light, fine and scattered, covering the imperial road, palace eaves, and pagoda spires in a thin layer, which melted quickly.

Chen Xing climbed the corner tower of the imperial city alone. From here, the entire city of Chang'an was laid out before him. The markets and neighborhoods were orderly, with wisps of smoke rising from chimneys, and oxcarts carrying goods slowly made their way through the streets and alleys. The sounds of people in the market could be faintly heard.

"Your Majesty," Jia Wen said softly, having caught up with them at some point, "Winter has arrived, and the Sifang Pavilion is quiet now."

Chen Xing didn't turn around, but asked, "Prime Minister Jia, have you counted how many envoys from vassal states have come in the past few months?"

Jia Wenlue pondered for a moment: "Goguryeo, Champa, Balhae, Fusang, Liuqiu... and that wandering monk from Bagan. Also, Sakya Pandita from Yanqi in the Western Regions has come again, this time bringing three times the goods as last year."

Chen Xing nodded slightly.

He gazed at the streets and alleys still bustling with activity amidst the light snow, and at the official roads leading in all directions in the distance, and suddenly said:

"Prime Minister Jia, we've finally succeeded on this path."

Jia Wen bowed deeply but did not reply.

He knew that the "road" His Majesty was referring to was not just the official road connecting Chang'an to Luoyang, not just the sea route to the South China Sea, and not just the newly reopened Silk Road.

That is a broader road.

At one end of the road is Chang'an.

At the other end of the road lie names that once existed only in ancient books and legends: Goguryeo, Balhae, Champa, Fusang, India, Arabia, Fulin...

They are walking towards Chang'an one by one along this road.