Trials of the Middle Kingdom

Chapter 2: MYSTERIOUS FOREIGNERS IN GUANGZHOU

THERE WAS QUITE A COMMOTION throughout the city as word spread like wildfire concerning the recent arrival of mysterious foreigners from an unknown land. They have harbored in Guangzhou and have already begun establishing relations with the city and the officials who have arrived from Beijing. The League of Martial Scholars, being naturally well-informed, had many allies in the city's high and low places serving as keen eyes and ears. Consequently, news surrounding the activities of the mysterious foreigners came to them fairly quickly. "They sought to establish long-term trade relations, dealing with medicines, special spices, and knowledge," Xin recalled in the League's report.

Sun Xin made his way through narrow alley ways and corridors deep into the heart of the city to investigate this commotion. The local government headquarters stood in the distance and a crowd was gathering around the complex as a procession of oddly dressed figures made their way through the street. Armed guards kept the crowd at bay as curious onlookers craned their necks to observe the arrival of a foreign embassy. Dozens of them, very tall, wore elaborate garments adorned with ornate accessories and carried with them unfamiliar flags and banners. Xin again took to the rooftops for a fresher perspective of the scene. The procession was accompanied by tall soldiers clad in heavy plate armor of dark metals and silver. Their heads were covered by a helmet of horns and their faces obscured by angular plates of metal. At the fore of the procession was a hooded and cloaked swordsman clad in light armor, abbreviated in form from those worn by the accompanying guards. Underneath the armor he wore robes of red and on his hip hung a long, slightly curved blade with no scabbard.

The procession was taken as a surprise to Xin and the observers since foreign delegations of this size were hardly ever allowed to leave the harbor premises. The faces of the foreign delegates, however, were in plain view and they walked haughtily under the shade of broad parasols to preserve their pale complexion. To his shock they did not resemble the faces of men. Very pale, they were, with eyebrows high and arching, eyes red as fire, and their ears pointed and curved along their temples. Xin continued to observe them until they entered the government office while the city's prefects remained posted alongside the government guards. The hooded swordsman turned and unexpectedly directed his gaze towards the rooftop where Xin was perched. He smiled and nodded before returning to join the delegation that proceeded indoors.

Xin took a breath and left the scene in haste. The arrival of the Foreigners was of great significance and unbeknownst to the people of the Ming; their easy access to their land would have unforeseeable consequences.

In the academy's main office and behind locked doors, the Scholars convened concerning the recent events taking place within their own city. "I take it you have seen the parade of Foreigners in the streets leading to the office of the magistrate? I have already heard they are nothing like us," remarked Lu Guanying.

"I have seen them. They walk like men and behave like men... but they are not. The people are fearful of them. They carry the stench of treachery," replied Xin with his arms crossed and head lowered, hat covering his face.

"After ousting a century-long occupation under Menggu warrior horsemen, the Middle Kingdom receives a new threat from the sea. What is it they want?" Tian Qiu questioned while rubbing his chin.

Headmaster Guanying continued. "According to my contacts in the prefecture, the foreigners claim to only wish to trade and establish intimate diplomatic relations. In fact they have already won the favor of the governor and magistrate of the province despite the imperial policies concerning the tribute system imposed on foreigners. I have also just received word from our contacts in the capital. Surprisingly our illustrious emperor somehow felt compelled to allow the foreigners to trade on equal terms."

Whispers and murmurs echoed in the hall of the Scholars. Many of them considered this imperial decision to be controversial. Such a decision was unthinkable. Has the emperor gone mad? This drastic change in policy was unprecedented in the history of the Middle Kingdom. All other nations arrived as inferior powers to pay tribute to the Emperor as a gift in exchange for trading rights and diplomatic relations. What allowed these barbarians to have the right to negotiate on equal terms was a mystery even to the listening eyes and ears of the Scholars.

Sun Xin grunted. He was unamused at the prospect of foreigners meddling in the already-complicated situation in the Middle Kingdom. The horsemen continued to raid the North and Wo pirates of Riben plagued the coasts. "If these barbarians become hostile, the empire may not have the immediate resources required for an adequate defense of the empire," he stated."I do not trust the snow-skinned foreigners. They carry themselves with an aura of superiority that I find unbecoming."

"The citizens, however, can only wait upon the decisions of the authorities. This unexpected leverage the foreigners seemed to so quickly possess over the government was curious indeed. Just how the capital and the emperor will continue to react to their arrival remains to be seen." Lu Guanying massaged his forehead. "The best we can do is observe these recent changes and be wary of their intentions. Our counterparts at Hanlin Academy close in the capital may be able to provide further insight about the activities of the foreigners in the country. We cannot risk what nearly happened when mere horse nomads sat on the Dragon Throne." A courier urgently entered the council chamber. His clothes were dusty from a long journey on horseback and he smelled of the noon day sun. With both hands, he presented a sealed document to Lu Guanying. He unsealed the document and began to decipher the encrypted message monogrammed with a symbol that could have only come from Chancellor Wu Chan of the Hanlin Academy- an imperial institution that provided the emperor with secretarial tasks as well as the most intelligent staff to take government duties whenever the need arose.

Upon reading the letter, Headmaster Guanying paused and sighed. "Well this just answered some of our questions. Our pale guests have made appearances in other cities along the coast. Not all too different from what we are seeing." He said. "This changes many things. It is vital we know their intentions before it is too late for us to take preventive action."

Tian Qiu the polymath was more curious than concerned than the rest of the Scholars. He was fascinated with the arrival of these foreigners and was enticed by the wealth of knowledge they could offer in the many disciplines he practiced. "Why do we cloud them with such suspicion? Is there not so much we can benefit from them? They apparently have the means to arrive on our shores from a distant and unknown land. If they are sophisticated enough to have accomplished such a feat then maybe they may not be so indifferent to our ways," said Tian Qiu with uncharacteristic optimism.

"Whatever cultural sophistication they may possess could only serve as a greater capacity to wage war against us... greater in comparison to the enemies we already know," Sun Xin replied.

Lu Guanying nodded and took a deep breath. "We can only wait... and trust that our government would exercise more vigilance and discretion concerning the foreigners' intentions than what they have demonstrated thus far."

Tian Qiu rubbed his bare chin in thought, still curious about the foreign visitors.

Shang Jian, a renowned strategist and tactician naturally maintained close ties to key officers within the military. "I have close connections with key commanders stationed in the garrisons along the coastline. Should the foreigners so much as imply hostile behavior, I am confident that imperial forces will be ready to administer judgment on land or on the sea." Shang Jian was ever at the ready to employ military force whenever necessary to defend the interests of the Empire.

Late into the afternoon, Sun Xin stood from an elevated balcony on the city's tallest structures. He extended his spy glass and peered through the lens. A handful of the foreigners' angular and curvaceous ships laid anchored offshore, sails raised and folded, cannon-like weapons protruding from port and starboard. A curved canopy arched over the deck of the ships acting as a sort of protective barrier. Was it perhaps a shield against the harsh sun of the open seas? The foreigners were pale after all. The ships were large and imposing, especially for being mere vessels of voyage, and were similar in size to some of the largest warships in the Ming Imperial Navy. Some of the foreigners could still be seen moving about the decks in rhythm hauling cargo and supplies of sorts. They moved purposefully and did very little conversing. Even the way they moved seemed almost unhuman and devoid of any sort of expression. Lu Guanying was right. The only thing they can do was be patient and alert. Perched on the highest tier of the city's pagoda,Sun Xin surveyed the ships until the sun had set. The air grew cold.

The autumn season was upon them.