Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

The emperor’s somber expression froze on his face.

The Minister of Rites, trying to stifle his emotions, accidentally jabbed his finger into his eye and let out a painful “hiss.”

The other officials were dumbfounded.

Were the envoys from this small country deceiving them?!

[Ah-ha! I knew it! I’ve seen this decree before. It clearly states that from early April to late September, people are forbidden from eating beef, horse, dog, monkey, or chicken. As for wild boar, deer, or bear? If you can hunt it, you can eat it.]

The Wokou Country Envoys, oblivious to these thoughts, didn’t realize they were nearly stripped bare.

One envoy, tearfully recounting their so-called “meat prohibition order,” said: “Even without this decree, Wokou Country is so poor that meat is rare. Even the shogun can only eat tofu, polished rice, and pickled radish.”

[Yes, yes, they just didn’t mention that this shogun is particularly frugal. As for other daimyo and generals, they feast on salted swan, wild goose stews, and more lavish dishes.]

The Wokou Country Envoy wiped away tears and looked gratefully at the old emperor. “Son of Heaven of Da Xia! We are deeply grateful for your generosity! We Wokou People have never tasted goose before, and thanks to Your Majesty’s immense blessings…”

Heh.

His gaze toward the Wokou Country Envoy turned icy.

How dare you scam me out of money…

The old emperor asked again, “Are your samurai, generals, and daimyo truly unable to eat meat?”

The Wokou Country Envoy replied, “Respected Son of Heaven of Da Xia, you may not know this, but before the meat prohibition order, most of us ate cherry-blossom stew, cherry-blossom hotpot, or dishes flavored with maple leaves, peonies, and cypress. Meat was truly rare.”

A minister who had visited Wokou Country leaned in and quietly confirmed to the emperor: “Your Majesty, that is indeed the case. When we were there, we rarely saw any butcher shops.”

The emperor’s expression softened slightly.

If that’s the case, then saying they are impoverished isn’t entirely wrong.

[Pfft—]

[The old emperor isn’t seriously believing this, is he? Hahahaha!]

The old emperor: “…”

The minister who had visited Wokou Country broke into a cold sweat.

Xu Yanmiao, don’t say nonsense!

I’ve never deceived His Majesty!

[The cherry blossoms and sakura hotpot? That’s right. To circumvent the meat ban, the Wokou Country called horse meat “sakura.” “Sakura sashimi” and “sakura hotpot” are just horse meat dishes!]

The minister who had been to Wokou Country breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, the one deceiving His Majesty is the Wokou Country, not me.

[Oh, oh, and then there’s “red leaves,” which is venison! Haha! And “peony” is wild boar meat! “Cypress” is chicken meat!]

The emperor’s gaze toward the Wokou Country envoy grew colder and colder.

So, that’s why there are so few butcher shops.

—They just renamed them. Of course, they wouldn’t call them “meat” shops anymore.

The emperor’s icy glare landed on his envoy, who almost wanted to kneel immediately and explain—if not for Xu Yanmiao being there.

The envoy had indeed been to Wokou Country, but he was led straight to the emperor by the Wokou Country reception team. Along the way, there was little room for deviation. Just like how Wokou Country envoys were escorted by the Ministry of Rites officials in Da Xia, confined to the official residence with limited freedom of movement, and only allowed out every five days.

In such circumstances, and without prior arrangements, it was genuinely hard to uncover the inner workings of Wokou Country, let alone ascertain whether they could eat meat.

The emperor let out a cold chuckle.

“As for this matter of tributes…”

[Ah! That’s right! And the tributes!]

The emperor’s face momentarily went blank.

For a fleeting moment, he really wanted to knock Xu Yanmiao unconscious.

He absolutely, truly, didn’t want to know every little detail about how he had been deceived!

Xu Yanmiao, don’t you know the saying, “It’s best not to see or hear too much if you want to live in peace”?

[Whew! The Goryeos offered gold and silver as tribute, but the emperor refused. He said Goryeo was too remote and must have spent excessively to acquire those treasures from elsewhere, so it wasn’t necessary.]

[He held the same attitude toward other vassal states. Honestly, the emperor’s intentions were quite kind.]

The emperor paused.

…Was that a compliment?

Rare!

For a moment, the emperor’s mood improved, and he even found the deceitful Wokou Country less irritating.

[Too bad the Wokou Country overstepped their bounds.]

“…”

And just like that, his mood took another nosedive.

[Tsk, tsk, the Wokou Country have discovered the Iwami Silver Mine in recent years, yet not a trace of silver appears in their tributes to Da Xia.]

[Instead, they tell the emperor their silver for trade is purchased from elsewhere and use it to exchange for Da Xia’s copper coins…]

Xu Yanmiao faltered for a moment before launching into a string of somewhat chaotic mental calculations. Before the Da Xia officials could react, Xu Yanmiao had already reached a conclusion—

[Holy smokes! If the Iwami Silver Mine produces over 5 million taels a year…]

H-how much?!

The Da Xia officials’ eyes were already bloodshot.

Five million taels of silver a year?!

“I’ll curse your ancestors!” Yongchang Marquis couldn’t hold back and swore aloud.

Such a massive silver mine, practically within their grasp, and they knew nothing about it!

[In less than 30 years, Da Xia will face a copper shortage and might even have to start importing Wokou Country copper.]

[Talk about local specialties~]

[Better a humble gift with heartfelt sentiment than a lavish one devoid of sincerity, eh~]

Da Xia officials: “…”@@novelbin@@

Stop it. Just stop it already.

Author’s Notes:

Japan’s Meat Prohibition Edict:

“From now on, no one shall engage in fishing or hunting, nor construct traps, snares, or other such devices. From the first day of the fourth month to the end of the ninth month each year, no one shall consume the meat of cattle, horses, dogs, monkeys, or chickens. Other meats are not prohibited. Violators will be punished.”

— Chronicles of Japan

[Translation: Starting in 676 CE, from April 1st to September 30th each year, consuming the meat of cattle, horses, dogs, monkeys, or chickens was prohibited, but other meats were exempt from this ban.]

Japan’s General Meat Consumption History:

Ordinary Japanese people began eating meat relatively late in history. Among meats, chicken has the longest history of consumption, though it spans only about 400 years, and even then, it was mostly reserved for holidays as a special feast. As for cattle, sheep, and pigs—these “four-legged beasts”—they only began to enter the Japanese diet in the late 19th century during the “Westernization” period and even then were adopted slowly and cautiously. The reasons were twofold: the influence of Buddhist beliefs and a deep-seated cultural aversion to the taste of four-legged animal meat, which was deemed too “wild.”

For long stretches of history, the staple Japanese diet followed the “one soup, one dish” model, consisting of rice, soup, and a single side dish—often just pickled radish or salted cucumber. The soup was usually a plain miso broth without a trace of oil.

— Details of Japan 2

Regarding Korean Tributes:

“In the year Xinyou, His Majesty remarked to his ministers: Korea is a remote land, and the gold and silver they bring as tributes are not items they could produce locally. These treasures must have been purchased from elsewhere at great expense. From now on, let the king of Korea know that local goods will suffice as tributes to express sincerity.”

— The Annals of Emperor Xuanzong, Ming Shilu

Japanese Tribute Items:

• Horses, helmets, armor, swords, waist knives, spears
• Lacquered and gold-decorated folding screens, gold-specked cabinets, gold-specked writing desks, gold-specked boxes, gilded powder containers, gilded pen cases
• Gilded bronze kettles, gold-specked wooden washbasins, gold-leafed fans
• Agate, crystal prayer beads, sulfur, sappanwood, and cowhide

— Da Ming Hui Dian

Four horses, two large swords with gold-embellished scabbards and hilts, 10,000 catties of sulfur, 20 pieces of agate (various sizes), three sets of gold-leafed folding screens, 100 large swords with black lacquer scabbards and hilts, 100 spears, 100 long swords, one suit of armor, one inkstone with its box, and 100 fans—recorded as presented.

— History of Chinese Diplomacy

Ming Dynasty’s Return Gifts:

During the Yongle period, the Ming court bestowed on the Japanese king items such as crowns, robes, silk fabrics, gold, silver, ancient artifacts, and paintings.

In the 10th year of the Xuande reign, the return gifts included:

• 20 bolts of silk, 8 bolts each of gauze and fine satin, 2 (units of brocade), 200 taels of silver for the king
• 100 taels of silver for the queen

In the 20th year of the Chenghua reign:

• 20 bolts of silk, 20 bolts each of gauze and fine satin, 4 (units of brocade), 200 taels of silver for the king
• 10 bolts of silk, 8 bolts each of gauze and fine satin, 2 (units of brocade), 100 taels of silver for the queen

For the envoy and deputy envoy:

• One gold-threaded kasaya robe, gilded silver hooks and fasteners, one gauze cassock, one gauze robe, 2 bolts of silk, 1 bolt each of gauze and satin, 6 bolts of silk, 10,000 copper coins, and one pair of boots and socks each.

For items sent beyond the official tribute:

• Goods carried by the envoys for private trade or purchased en route by officials were paid for at fair value. Goods deemed unsuitable were allowed to be traded privately.

— Da Ming Hui Dian

Non-Tribute Levies During the Hongwu Era:

“For tribute goods brought by vassal states and local chieftains during New Year’s Day, Winter Solstice, and sacred festivals, all items were displayed in the palace courtyard. For additional goods meant for trade with China, officials would levy six percent as a tax, paying the assessed value, while exempting the rest from taxation.”

— Annals of Emperor Taizu, Ming Shilu

Tribute Protocols Under Emperor Yongle:

“At the beginning of the Yongle reign, seals and decrees were granted. From then on, during each year’s sacred festivals, New Year’s Day, and the Crown Prince’s birthday [adjusted to the Winter Solstice during the 10th year of Jiajing], envoys were dispatched to present tributes. Gratitude and consolation visits were conducted irregularly. For major events in the court, envoys were sent to proclaim decrees in vassal states. If a king requested official recognition, envoys were sent to conduct the ceremony. Among all vassal states, Japan’s tribute protocol was regarded as the most respectful and cautious.”

— Da Ming Hui Dian

A Warning Against Misconduct:

“In the Han and Tang dynasties, distant states paid homage. The Sui emperor’s campaigns in the East were a precedent. But today, unless deceived or insulted, how could I ever wage war, troubling those from afar? If one oversteps their bounds and stirs unrest, calamity will inevitably follow.

From now on, let the goods be humble but the sentiments deep; avoid making the goods plentiful but the sentiments shallow.”

— Annals of Emperor Taizu, Ming Shilu

A Reflection on Governance:

“Lying in the study, I hear the rustling bamboo. Could it be the sound of the people’s suffering?”— Presented to Senior Official Bao Zhongcheng at the Weixian Bureau, “Painting Bamboo”