The tenth year of Hongzhi (1497), first month, inside Kaiyuan City of Liaodong Garrison, at the headquarters of the garrisoning military inspector, the tribute ceremony.
The biting spring wind of Liaodong blew across land where the accumulated snow had yet to melt. Outside the gate of the military inspector's office, an eighteen-foot-tall bright-yellow seated standard snapped in the wind, representing the authority of the Son of Heaven of the Imperial Ming. Beneath the great standard stood another fire-virtue red flag, inscribed with "Imperially Appointed Inner Official Luo, Garrisoning Kaiyuan," declaring who truly held the right to speak in northern Liaodong.
"Grand Eunuch Luo, please! This way into the hall! Forty-eight Jurchen chieftains in all from Jianzhou, Haixi, the Eastern Sea, and the Huntong River are already waiting outside the hall, and the tribute goods have all been inspected and accepted in advance."
"Mm. Assistant Commissioner Chen, has this headquarters' main hall, Huaiyuan Hall, been arranged according to proper ritual?"
"Grand Eunuch Luo, rest assured. Everything was arranged according to the Ministry of Rites' Rites for Foreigners. This lower official inspected it personally. There is absolutely no overstepping of bounds or breach of etiquette!"
"Mm, well handled. Assistant Regional Commander Cui, what about your side?"
"Rest easy, Grand Eunuch! This lower official has already sent trusted men with two hundred elite soldiers to stand guard outside the headquarters gate in person, to overawe the gathered Jurchen barbarians!"
"Good! The court cherishes distant foreign tribes in two ways. First is to carry out ritual propriety and teach and transform the foreign tribes—this is Assistant Commissioner Chen's responsibility. Second is to proclaim military might and overawe the assorted Hu—that is Assistant Regional Commander Cui's hard work. As for receiving tribute gifts and bestowing return gifts, that is within our own duty, and only