📖 Maritime Merchant Notes

Since the establishment of the port at Zhenhai Bay for trade, foreign merchants have come in numerous numbers. With language barriers and differing customs, disputes are frequent and inevitable. I am but a humble official of the Maritime Merchant Commission, possessing only a rudimentary understanding of foreign tongues and a modest knowledge of the merchants and envoys from various countries. Thus, I write this brief record to document my observations and the interesting affairs of exotic lands, for the benefit of those who come after.

July 28th, Year of Gengchen I have heard that the market sold a thousand copies of an art book from Japan in a single day. After purchasing and perusing it, I found the figures depicted with bulging muscles, robust and powerful, unlike ordinary people, with eyes as large as fists and hair-like bristles. The style is indeed peculiar. Despite this, the plot was full of twists and turns, captivating the reader. After finishing one volume, I eagerly anticipate the next. I have learned that the book is titled Youthful Battle Spirit, and the name alone stirs the blood. Indeed fascinating. A young man saw me holding this book and exclaimed, "2D Admirer," seemingly calling me a "Today Admirer" to him. Is this how young people make friends nowadays so direct? August 5th, Year of Xinsi The day before yesterday, while preparing for the provincial exam, I was so engrossed in reading that I did not notice a merchant from Japan waiting beside me to handle some business. As I read the line, "To die now brings death, to undertake a great job also brings death; if we must die, should we not die for a great job?" The merchant followed with a sigh, "This is great!" It seems visitors from Japan are also well-versed in Chinese classics and should not be underestimated!

Aug 11, the Year of Jimao Rumors suggest that Goryeo plans to redraw "Listening to the Wind: Secret Tales," but the public response has been poor. Some loyal readers have even written to the author, urging them to revoke permission for the redraw. I visited the book market and found the characters' appearances drastically altered. Some men were now slender and tall, with waists so narrow they seemed graspable in one hand; others had broad shoulders and hulking frames, their necks as thick as their heads, which looked quite comical. The robust ones looked like two-door cabinets, rigid and rectangular, absurdly towering. (Attached is a small character portrait) (A line of delicate small script) "Traveling from the left shoulder to the right shoulder might take a quarter of an hour."

February 25th, Year of Dingchou I have heard that the street play Wan Wan's Tale is quite popular in Champa, yet somehow, the Champa troupe has transformed this tale of love and entanglement into a story about a dashing prince and a charming nun. They have even incorporated Marquis Mingzhao into the play, which is truly audacious. However, having once glimpsed Marquis Mingzhao from afar in Bianjing, I must admit he indeed possesses a majestic presence and unparalleled charm. No wonder the young women of the world are so enamored with him. June 7th, Year of Wuyin The day before yesterday, a Champa caravan docked at Zhenhai Bay. With the Clerk on leave, no one could understand the Champa language. We were at a loss until a colleague summoned someone from the Western Guangnan. This person did not speak Champa, and his Mandarin was difficult to discern, yet he could communicate with the merchants. Today, I asked the Clerk, and it turns out that the western Guangnan lies adjacent to Champa. Although they also use Mandarin, it is mixed with local dialects, which we, who have long spoken the Central Plains Mandarin, naturally cannot understand. However, their dialect bears some resemblance to the Champa language, allowing the two to communicate with effort. (a scribbled annotation) "If we hire a person from Western Guangnan as a boatman, would it save on translator expenses?" (a line neatly written in Yan script) "I was born in Guizhou and have spoken only the language of the Central Plains since childhood. This person is likely from the Yong or Qin prefectures." (a line of flowing cursive script, with the ink spill still fresh from recent use) "During the Xining era, there were frequent disputes between Yongzhou and Champa, with thousands dead and wounded. Today, people from different places yet speak the same language this is the tragic outcome of war."

October 9th, Year of Guimao Recently, the Zhenhai Bay market is about to open, attracting many Dayi ships. Rumors speak of wealthy Dayi merchants who come not for profit, but to wander through this international market. This group is dressed in luxurious attire with white hats, adorned in gold and silver, exuding opulence. A boatman guided them and was casually rewarded with a jewel, which he then presented to the Exam Proctor, earning ten taels of silver in return! Many market workers, inn runners, and fabric merchants have also received rewards exceeding ten taels, with dozens of such cases. Now, the entire Zhenhai Bay is abuzz, searching for these white-hatted, richly dressed, high-nosed, and deep-eyed Dayi merchants. After all, their casual rewards equal half a year's salary for an average official. I, too, am quite envious... (a line of slightly messy semi-cursive script) "When will such immense wealth come my way?"

May 22nd, Year of Xinsi A merchant from Tianzhu came here and saw carriages passing by, with only three to five people seated inside, which piqued his curiosity. He asked a local merchant, "This carriage is spacious. Why are there only five passengers?" The local merchant, puzzled, replied, "How many should there be? There are only five seats inside the carriage." The Tianzhu merchant said, "The carriage is quite large and can hold fifty people: ten inside, ten on the roof, five on horseback, five on the beams, and twenty hanging on the sides." The local merchant found this amusing and asked him, "Hanging on the carriage is extremely dangerous. Who would dare ride on the sides?" The Tianzhu merchant shook his head, "Carriage fares are expensive, making it difficult for the poor to afford. If more seats were added, everyone could ride. Inside seats would cost one hundred, horseback seats eighty, roof and beam seats fifty, and hanging seats only ten. This way, the coachman earns several times more, and the poor can also ride. Isn't that wonderful?" The local merchant was deeply impressed, thanked the Tianzhu merchant, and hurriedly left. (a line of annotation, written in a sharp style) "It seems like everyone is happy, but what about the safety of those hanging on the sides?"

July 9th, Year of Dingchou Recently, many Roman merchants have contracted a strange black spot disease. Their accompanying physicians were at a loss and came to Zhenhai Bay seeking remedies. They happened upon a traveling Sylph disciple who, after checking the pulse, was cautious not to prescribe medicine due to unfamiliarity with the illness. The disciple noticed the patients' pulse indicated blood heat and meridian damage, and thus advised them to make Jade Elixir with stewed apples to counter the plague and alleviate fevers. However, due to language barriers, the Roman merchants only partially understood and simply bought some apples from the market to eat. Surprisingly, within a month, the strange illness was cured. The cured Romans were extremely grateful, believing it to be a miracle, and spread the word that "eating apples can keep illness away, no longer needing doctors." But as the saying spread, it somehow evolved into "doctors will leave when they see apples," and eventually "doctors fear apples." The rumor spread from Roman merchants to Song merchants, and then to other uninformed Romans, becoming "doctors fear apples, just like blood-sucking demons fear garlic." (written in a crooked manner, resembling the handwriting of someone just beginning to learn characters) "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"

June 17th, Year of Wuyin Recently, the nobles of Bianjing have taken a great liking to Persian lion cats, prompting frequent visits from Persian merchants who bring these cats across the seas. Among them was one Persian cat merchant who developed a fever and sought medicine at the pharmacy. The doctor prescribed Schizonepeta to reduce internal heat. But somehow, the cats raised by the merchant drank all the medicinal soup and then clutched the herbs, rolling on the ground as if in a drunken state. The merchant was terrified and quarreled with the doctor, causing such a commotion that it became the talk of the neighborhood. The doctor, left with no choice, publicly brewed a pot of Schizonepeta, intending to drink it to prove his innocence. However, once the Schizonepeta was brewed, cats filled the entire street. Even the merchant's own Persian cats escaped their cage and gathered around the pot to drink the medicinal soup. Everyone was amazed by this strange phenomenon. The doctor also drank the medicine himself and felt no discomfort. As for the cats, aside from appearing drunk, they were perfectly fine lively and energetic again the next day, though now constantly lingering around the pharmacy. The merchant, for reasons unknown, was overjoyed. Instead of blaming the doctor further, he bought a large quantity of Schizonepeta. His intentions remain unclear. (a line of annotation, in small and beautiful script) "Recently in Bianjing, those who buy cats from Persian merchants receive cat wine as a gift. It always works for luring cats. Now I understand why."

Sep 2, the Year of Jimao An envoy from Tambralinga presented a peculiar beast as tribute with a long nose and large ears, its strange and peculiar appearance drew crowds in the streets. Some called it the "Tambralinga Steed," others called it a "Giant-Eared Qilin." It was said the Tambralinga people rode this beast... Truly brave souls! Jun 21, the Year of Xinsi Recently, rumors spread of a Tambralinga dancer performing at Scarlet House in Hangzhou. Wealthy merchants flocked to meet her, only to discover she was actually a man yet one whose appearance was indistinguishable from a woman's, even surpassing many renowned beauties. Despite the rumors, talented and romantic scholars still splurged lavishly to witness her performances. (A line of graceful, flowing cursive script) "Fortunate to behold such beauty like a fairy from Gushe, graceful and ethereal. Why constrain such enchanting allure with mere distinctions of male and female?"