On the sixth day of the fifth month of the first year of Longwu, envoys from France and Genoa on the continent of Europa crossed the ocean to meet the Chinese emperor.

Emperor Xiao Ruxun issued a decree to entertain the envoys and personally received them.

However, there were some disputes between the two sides over the etiquette of the meeting.

Xiao Ruxun's confidant, Zhang Yue, the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, who temporarily acted as the head of the Ministry of Rites, proposed that when the Emperor received them, because it was the first official reception, they needed to bow five times and bow to the Emperor in accordance with Chinese etiquette to show their respect for the Emperor.

The envoys of France and Genoa objected to this.

Although Matteo Ricci told them to follow Chinese etiquette, they questioned it when they heard it.

"Our highest etiquette is to kneel down on one knee as a sign of respect, so why do we kneel so many times in China?"

Matteo Ricci explained: "This is an ancient Chinese etiquette, and on formal occasions, such etiquette is needed to determine the respect and respect of the subjects for the Great Emperor, His Majesty the Great Emperor calls himself the Son of Heaven, exercises power in place of God, and his status is second only to God, which can also be understood as our God." ”

"How can such a thing happen?"

The envoys learned more about the authority and power of the Chinese emperor.

However, they disagreed on whether or not to accept such an etiquette, and the envoys of Genoa felt that it was degrading to their dignity, and the envoys of France did not find it unacceptable.

Then Xiao Ruxun ordered to meet with the French envoys and leave the Genoese envoys in the post house.

At this moment, the envoy of Genoa panicked, and the emperor talked with the French envoy alone, for three days in a row, and every day he talked about returning late, and then he looked very happy, and the envoy of Genoa was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.

If you can't get along with anyone and can't get along with money, isn't it just kneeling?

I admit it!

The envoy of Genoa said that he was willing to accept the etiquette of five prostrations and three prostrations, and asked for an audience with the emperor.

was then rejected by Xiao Ruxun.

I don't see you.

Now the envoy of Genoa was even more panicked, and the envoy of France was also sneering at him.

He was summoned by the emperor every day, gave a feast, had a pleasant conversation, and did not know how happy he was.

What's more, he was able to eat the miraculous Chinese food that was rumored to be known in Europe.

This kind of cuisine he had never tasted in France, and the two Chinese chefs who had gone to Genoa a few years ago only cooked Chinese food for the governor of Genoa and his distinguished guests, and also taught them to use Chinese magic tableware.

The Doge of Genoa was proud of this, and he flaunted it in his official residence all day long, and others were envious of it, but only the kings and great nobles of the friendly countries of Genoa had the privilege of enjoying it.

Although a new nobleman like him was very favored by the king, he was not in enough position to eat, and the governor of Genoa did not look at him seriously at all.

He's only heard others describe the tableware called "chopsticks", which is said to be a strange tableware composed of two long, thin sticks.

Every time he heard the great nobles discussing how delicious and delicious Chinese food was, he was fascinated by those other descriptions, a feeling that no matter how much veal he ate, he couldn't compare.

Not only that, but the places where you live and the daily necessities you use are either made of gold or silver.

And the expensive and fine porcelain, the toothbrushes that worked well, the nice rooms, the beds, the futons woven from silk......

Oh my God, it's such an expensive thing as silk to make bedding and sheets, and tablecloths!

How rich is China?

How powerful?

Not only that, but in addition to the food, there are also a variety of pastries that are sweet and delicious.

The white, red, green, yellow, sweet smell made him want to stop.

Expensive tea leaves in Europe not only have to be soaked in hot water, but also reluctant to pour them out afterwards, and have to find a way to eat them, while in China you don't drink plain water at all, any glass of water is tea, fragrant and long.

The incense is lit indoors, and there is a fragrant feeling inside and out, and I feel comfortable when I go in, and I sleep very sweetly.

By the way, there is also a Chinese breakfast, in addition to the main meal, there is also a very delicious breakfast, called steamed buns and dumplings, as well as porridge and tea eggs, this kind of food is unheard of, but it is so delicious.

Oh my God, do the Chinese live in heaven?

He felt that the qualification he had worked so hard to obtain to envoy China this time was so correct and worthwhile.

For this day, he has been preparing for a long time, ready to suffer some not very good treatment, but who knew that good luck would fall from the sky, he just knelt down a few times to get such an honor, this is really ......

China is amazing!

He thought so.

I feel that the whole person is in the ideal township.

The more he thought about it, the more he saw the envoy of Genoa, whose face was blue, he couldn't help but have the idea of mocking him.

Therefore, he did not mock the Genoese envoy once or twice, mocking him for having only coarse tea and light rice every day, and without incense and silk supplies, let alone being able to go around with the Chinese officials to watch the magnificent scene of the Chinese capital.

That stupid guy didn't even want to kneel, and now he knows that he is in a hurry, and he says he is willing to kneel, but people don't care anymore, he doesn't need it, you go home!

If you don't know how to respect your negotiation opponent in business, what kind of business do you still have?

It just so happens that trade with China is monopolized by our country! We sell as high as we want!

We can become the richest country in Europe through trade with China, equip the most powerful army, and even form an alliance with China, get China's friendship, and develop and strengthen our country!

In that case, neither Spain, nor the Netherlands, nor England will be our opponents!

He was full of confidence.

Then he learned that in order to gain the favor of the Chinese emperor, the Genoese guys actually raised the price of Chinese goods by five percent without authorization, and then they were received by the Chinese emperor, and performed five bows and three bows to the emperor, and confessed to the Chinese emperor!

These guys are too ruthless, aren't they? A direct price increase of five percent?

He immediately went to the palace to see the Emperor, only to receive news that His Majesty was discussing the details with the envoys of Genoa, and asked him not to go in and disturb him for the time being.

He was, angry by these shameless Genoese people who had no bottom line!

The lower the purchase price of Chinese goods, the higher the profit, of course, because the price itself is very expensive, and if it continues to rise, the price will be higher and more difficult to accept.

Of course, the lower the better.

But those guys in Genoa actually made another mistake to make up for their mistakes, these stupid guys!

Once the price is raised, it can't be lowered, don't these guys know?!

He literally wanted to strangle those stupid Genoese!