Vo Huy Tan or Vo Huy Lien was born in 1749 (the year of snake) at Mo Trach village, Duong An district, Hai Duong province. As a pre-eminent young scholar, at the age of 20 (1768), he won the top doctoral examinee in the doctorate degree test under the era name Canh Hung of Le Dynasty in which Phan Huy Ich also took part. (Mandarin Phan Huy Ich had worked for Trinh Lords during the later Le Dynasty but then served Tay Son Dynasty). The newly top examinee became famous all over the region and was appointed as an academic civil mandarin in the Imperial Academy.
In 1789, after the glorious victory over Qing invaders, Emperor Quang Trung intentionally planned to resume a friendly foreign policy with Qing Dynasty for sake of his whole people’s peaceful and prosperous life. The emperor issued a royal decree to look for talent and virtue individuals who would be in charge of the diplomacy. Vo Huy Tan was recommended. As receiving the emperor’s summons, he dodged because he was still attached to the Le Dynasty. Highly value the talent, Emperor Quang Trung issued a summons again. This time, after being admonished by his father – Vo Huy Dinh, Vo Huy Tan accepted to see the emperor at the capital. He was nominated as Great Academician with rank of Earl. No sooner had he assumed the task than the Qing Dynasty sent an invitation diplomatic letter. He was promptly sent to China as an envoy of Emperor Quang Trung.
In his diplomatic trip northernwards, Vo Huy Tan shown his sharp-witted reaction with promptly fine reply and excellent poems under the inspiration of a scenery's beauty, winning high compliment of the Chinese Manchu King Qianlong and lofty admiration of the Manchu feudal intellectuals. Take an example about his swift of thought.
One day, while sitting at a guest-house in Beijing, Vo Huy Tan saw a book which listed of tributes from our country. On the book, Qing clerks referred him as a mandarin of barbarian region. Discontented with such insult, he promptly wrote a 4-verse poem which meant in Chinese scripts, the word “barbarian” had the same radical with word “you”; Vietnam had familiar culture and institutions with China; The Chinese king (disdainfully) called us Annam country; So, the use of the word “barbarian” was not actually untruthful (because it also implied themselves).
Reading the poem, the Qing intellectuals understood implications of the Vietnamese envoy. Yet, they couldn’t pick holes because of the flexible language in the poem.
With such diplomatic achievements, Vo Huy Tan was promoted to the post of head of Ministry of public works by Emperor Quang Trung. The emperor actually loved and admired his talented servant. Hence, he delegated Vo Huy Tan to take charge of diplomatic trip to China as the emperor’s envoy again. This trip was very important because the Chinese king wanted Emperor Quang Trung himself to go to China. How awkward was the situation! However, Emperor Quang Trung finally found a solution. A large delegation including talented individuals such as Ngo Van So, Phan Huy Ich, Dang Van Chan, Nguyen Tien Loc, etc. lead by Vo Huy Tan served a “fake emperor” to go northwards, bringing tributes to the Qing Dynasty. The “fake emperor” was Pham Cong Tri, a courtier bore more than a passing resemblance to Emperor Quang Trung.
This time, the Chinese king insistently summoned Emperor Quang Trung to China in order to firstly show his overpowering majesty and secondly to attend his 80th birthday anniversary. The King Qianlong gave a ceremonial welcome and exceptional treat to the diplomatic corps. Then, he invited them to visit Tengwang Pavillion, the famous tower built in the year 654 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) on the bank of the Ganjiang River. The famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Bo, wrote a famous essay here, "Notes on Tengwang Pavilion", which made the pavilion even more well-known. A local mandarin asked the Vietnamese envoy to compose poems which inspiration was drawn from the natural beauty. Vo Huy Tan instantaneously wrote a poem whose words were quite unpretentious but meaning was profound.
Finish its task, the diplomatic corps bid the Qing farewell, heading home. The fake emperor Pham Cong Tri was bestowed bonnet and gown, turban and belt together with ten thousand of silver teals. He was also offered a portrait drawn by a famous Chinese painter and dedicated by the Chinese Manchu king. Vo Huy Tan was given souvenirs such as royal pen and gown of the third-rank mandarin in Chinese feudal hierarchy.
The diplomatic trip was successful. The two countries then became friendly to each other. Being accredited with such big success, Vo Huy Tan was reckoned among meritorious mandarins. Together with Ngo Thi Nham and Phan Huy Ich, he continued to specialize in diplomatic relations. He, thus, was treated well by Emperor Quang Trung.
In 1795, Vo Huy Tan was exceptionally promoted to the post of Thuong tru quoc thi trung, equally present-day prime minister. He died of a fatal disease in 1800, at the age of 51, leaving the main work “Hoa Nguyên tuy bo tap”.
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