Chapter 1899: Host as Guest

Ever since getting on the boat, Zhu Gaoxu had been muttering about going to the big island that Fang Xing mentioned, but the first stop of the fleet was to go to Champa.

There was a Ming army stationed in Champa, and when the fleet came into view, the lord of Champa had already rushed to the seaside, leading his men to wait.

"Is Eunuch Zheng here? Good!"

"The middle school just happened to hoard some things, and even caught some rare birds and animals, waiting for the fleet."

The Lord of Champa was beaming with joy. According to the past practice, after the consolation, there was a sale, but those rare birds and animals were an exception. Zheng He would definitely exchange them with heavy rewards.

Especially rhinoceros horn, ivory and Canaan incense, these are things that Ming people like and can be counted as tributes.

There were 300 Ming troops stationed here, led by a Deputy Qianhu named Wang Bian.

Wang Bian had an interpreter under his command to simultaneously translate the words of those officials, and Wang Bian felt helpless.

"Da Ming belongs to Shangguo, some things can only be turned a blind eye. Besides, the goods traded here can be sold at a good price when returned to China. In the end, Da Ming made money."

The fleet is slowly approaching, and the sails are everywhere, blocking the line of sight. In this sea area, Zheng He is the only one with such a scale, so the lord of the country led people forward and stood on the edge of the pier.

Wang took a closer look and asked in confusion, "Why are there so many boats this time?"

When the treasure ship began to dock, Wang took people over to meet it and collected the cables.

After the pedals were set up, the drums on board were loudly played, and Zheng He appeared in the lead.

The lord of the country greeted him first, ready to receive the will, but when he saw Zheng He on the pier, he turned around to give way to the people behind him, and he was shocked.

who?

The king's eyes turned, and he saw a tall man wearing a nine-piece crown suit. This man jumped up directly without walking on the plank. After landing, his right foot felt a little uncomfortable.

This is the prince of Daming!

The ruler of Champa, who had already collected many rules of Ming Dynasty, remembered what happened last time, and hurriedly led people forward to salute.

And the king also came, he saluted and said: "I have seen His Highness, I have seen Eunuch Zheng, and I have seen Uncle."

"you know me?"

Zhu Gaoxu was impatient, he waved his hand and it was over, Fang Xing went to ask Wang Bian.

Wang then said excitedly: "Uncle, the next official came all the way from Jiaozhi to change shifts."

Unless the garrison of Cochin is new, it is rare for Fang Xing not to know him.

Fang Xing nodded, and asked a few casual questions, Zheng He over there was about to announce the decree.

I don't know which old gentleman made the will, and the writing is full of flowers and flowers, which makes people feel sleepy after hearing it.

——Da Ming is here again, to visit you. You have to be good...

After reading the decree, the king was already a little scared, he got up and glanced at Fang Xing behind him, then smiled and invited the delegation to enter the palace.

He beckoned, someone pulled his royal chariot.

The so-called imperial chariot is a small chariot pulled by two scalpers. Zhu Gaoxu just shook his head when facing the invitation.

When the decree was read out, someone had already got a few horses ashore, Zhu Gaoxu and others got on the horses, and the king got into the bullock cart and went all the way to the palace.

The buildings I saw along the way were very small, and you basically had to bow your head to get in. After seeing the tall palace, the feeling of depression finally dissipated.

After going in and sitting down, Zheng He had the matter of exploring the waterway in mind, so he exchanged a few words, and then asked someone to bring the list for the lord to have a look at.

It's just a program, the master can't understand it, the interpreter next to him is giving all kinds of introductions, and someone next to the master uses chalk to record it on the sheepskin.

After the translation is finished, there is a banquet, mainly mutton and chicken, and the drinks are served in jars.

There was also a jar of wine in front of Fang Xing, looking at the lees inside, it was clearly rice wine, the color of the wine was cloudy.

An attendant brought a thin bamboo tube, Fang Xing didn't need to teach, just inserted the bamboo tube into the jar, and after the lord above took a sip, the banquet was considered to have begun.

Fang Xing took a sip of the wine, and the wine was mixed with fermented rice, which was quite delicious.

The cooking methods of mutton and chicken are a bit out of date,

Fang Xing reluctantly ate a few pieces of meat, and then saw a plate of nuts, so he got them and ate them, thinking they tasted like chestnuts.

Wang Jinghong on the side said in a low voice: "This is the core of jackfruit. Xinghe Bo can take some back if he wants to."

Fang Xing nodded to express his gratitude, but he didn't want to take it. He didn't know if it would have any side effects.

After drinking for a while, the lord above started chatting with Zheng He. As for Zhu Gaoxu, he didn't dare to take a second look.

Fang Xing didn't pay attention, until Zheng He's tone changed, then he put down the bamboo tube and looked over with everyone.

"The lord was worried too much. Before he came out, His Majesty explained that people in various countries have a difficult life. There are many deaths and injuries in rounding up exotic beasts, and the cost is not small. So from this time on, these things should stop."

The king said through the interpreter: "But this is the whole heart of Xia Guo! Could it be that Daming is so blunt?"

These words are a bit direct, and there is no meaning of detour at all.

Zheng He's eyes turned and gradually turned cold, and he said: "Your Majesty's will has been issued, and Daming's heart for your country is on board. If the lord likes it, you can exchange it, but it must be gold and silver, and there is a ship. The team will buy some food, and that counts."

Zhu Gaoxu had already finished drinking a jar of wine, and when he felt that the hospitality here was not thoughtful, a servant came with an earthen jar.

Seeing him pouring something into the wine jar, Zhu Gaoxu thought it was wine, but when he took a sip, he found it was actually water.

"Business is business. If Daming wasn't there, Jiaozhi would have come here long ago!"

While on the boat, Zheng He and Fang Xing advised and reminded Zhu Gaoxu many times to pay attention to etiquette.

After hearing this, the king immediately panicked, and hurriedly agreed to trade.

Zhu Gaoxu wanted to break the bamboo tube in his hand, but finally held back. He saw that the Zhancheng officials used bamboo tubes to stir the wine jar, so he followed suit. After taking a sip, he couldn't help but said: "Fang Xing, take some." Come drink."

Stir the distiller's grains below, this is the second-course wine, but it is bland.

Fang Xing blinked, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, at least you can drink it when you get back."

The host's banquet, you actually think that wine is not good, you have to bring your own wine, your face is slapped.

The interpreter on the lord's side had already told Zhu Gaoxu what he had said, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.

Fang Xing casually ate the jackfruit core, and said, "The guest can do as he pleases, and the host can do what the guest wants. You can change things."

Daming can't lose face, so no matter how inappropriate Zhu Gaoxu said, Fang Xing has to help him get it back.

The king nodded stiffly. In the Daming Mission, he was most afraid of Fang Xing.

Then someone brought Daming's good wine, and the atmosphere finally became lively again.

When everyone was drunk, Zheng He took the opportunity to finalize the details of the trade with the king, and then he was about to leave.

The lord spoke to Zheng He in a low voice, and then everyone left one after another.

After leaving the palace, Zheng He said: "It is said that the local corpses have committed evil recently, let us be careful."

Then Zheng He explained the dead body: it is a woman, a woman without pupils, the head of this woman will fly around at night, and it will go away when it smells feces, and then the evil spirit can invade people's stomachs.

"It is said that if someone moves the headless body, and the head flies back and cannot find the body, the corpse will die."

Fang Xing only felt chills all over his body, looking at Zhu Gaoxu, he was very excited.

After returning to the arranged residence, everyone washed and rested, only Zhu Gaoxu had to drag Fang Xing with him.

So when everyone saw Fang Xing's eyes were watery and he was yawning profusely the next morning, they couldn't help laughing.

Fang Xing was also very helpless, he watched all night, not to mention some dead bodies, not a single fly was seen. And Zhu Gaoxu slept like a dead man as soon as his son passed, leaving him to stay awake all night.