The Ouchi Clan and their Smuggling (13)

    Arriving at Beijing, the delegation started rehearsing the ceremony of being presented to the Emperor.   On March the 7th, the ambassador, vice-ambassador, 2 chief traders, and some accompanying priests entered the Imperial Palace with a chief translator, and had an audience with the Emperor.  They offered a tributary letter on the 8th, and tributes on the 11th to the Ministry of Rites.  They also rose to the occasion as they had ceremonies, banquets, and receptions.

     On May the 1st, the ambassador and other delegation officers were honored with Chinese gowns as to their ranks.  Having completed around 70 days’ delegation stay tasks, the delegation left Beijing on May the 9th.  Their return trip was in scorching heat with cicadas and frogs baying at them.

     Ming Officers had been sent to Nanjing in advance to prepare the expense for sulfur and the prize copper coins for the delegation.  The delegation officers were given the money and coins at Longjiang, an outer canal harbor of Nanjing, on July the 30th.

     In mid-August, the delegation went back as far as Chang-zhou and Su-zhou.  Sakugen purchased a lot of souvenirs there: a pair of chased iron products, a collection of philological literature, a box, a small ivory incense case, 6 Indian ink sticks, a brass chain, a stamp pad, a Chinese iron ring, a small golden Chinese ring, 2 picker cases, a blue ceramic sake cup, a bottle, a mat, a leather box, 2 red carpets, and etc.  He also bought 5 meal boxes for mission officers who were left in Ningbo.