What you may not know about Tran Quoc Tuan
Do you know that Trần Quốc Tuấn – the main character of “Love Story in the Spring Days’, was not only a wise militant in history, but also shrewd in his conduct? During spring 1281, when Đại Việt’s envoys returned from the Yuan Empire, a Yuan general named Sài Xuân brought his men along to escort the envoys. In an arrogant manner, he crossed the Dương Minh gate without hesitation, and used his rod cane to beat the guards when they tried to stop him. The Emperor ordered Trần Quang Khải to go to the embassy to greet Sài Xuân, but Sài Xuân sprawled about on the floor and did not bother to come out. Trần Quốc Tuấn heard the news and asked if he could go instead. He shaved his head, wore Buddhist robe and went into the embassy. Thinking that the man was a monk from the North, Sài Xuân stood up, bowed his head and asked him to sit down. Quốc Tuấn brewed tea and had a drink with the general. When Quốc Tuấn came back, Sài Xuân had to see him off. . Speaking of the relationship between Trần Quốc Tuấn and Trần Quang Khải – they could barely stand each other at first. Once, Quang Khải went to war along with the Emperor, leaving his imperial counselor position in the court empty when the envoy from the North arrived. The Emperor’s father expressed his wish to elevate Quốc Tuấn to the administrator position so that Quốc Tuấn could greet the representative. Quốc Tuấn asked if he could meet the envoy and not receive the elevation, since he was afraid of disappointing the Emperor and Quang Khải. Another time, when Quốc Tuấn came to visit Quang Khải, the other man did not return home until the end of the day. Quang Khải disliked bathing, but Quốc Tuấn liked scented bathing, so Quốc Tuấn joked: “You’re dirty; let me help you take a bath”, and took off the other man’s robes. While using scented water to wash the man, Quốc Tuấn said: “I am honored to bathe the imperial counselor”, to which Quang Khải replied: “I am honored to be bathed by the general”. From then on, their relationship strengthened. One was the imperial counselor, and the other was the ultimate general; in the assistance of the Emperor, those two did their work best.
------------------------------------ Source: Complete Annals of Đại Việt Summarized by Kim Nhu Nguyen Translated by Ann Phyan Art: Character designs from Love Story in the Spring Days (by Hương Giang)
