People often use the term "beautiful country and beautiful city" to describe peerless beauty. In fact, it is mostly an exaggeration by scholars.
For those peerless beauties who appear in legends and stories, people always imagine how beautiful they are, how they can charm all living beings, and their reputations have been passed down to this day.
This stems from people's yearning for beautiful things, so they concentrate all the beauty about women on a few people, creating some images of beauties.
In fact, no woman can reach that level of perfection that is almost divine.
Those legendary beauties are actually the product of fate, and many factors contributed to their peerless reputation.
Of course, their good looks are a prerequisite, and the other is their status. For example, most of them are queens. It seems that only kings are worthy of having such beauties. But think about it from another angle, only in that position
, can you be praised by everyone, right?
Moreover, their words, deeds, temperament and other characteristics are the main reasons for their fame.
For example, Baosi never smiles, Xizi holds her heart, Feiyan dances on the palm of her hand, etc. This is the finishing touch. Compared with these, appearance is only secondary.
Empress Xiao is the best example in the world. Her identity, gentleness and intelligence, as well as her extensive knowledge, and her sadness and sorrow from time to time are what are worthy of praise.
Compared with them, Jin Shengman, who comes from the small country of Silla, is not bad in appearance, but other things are not the same.
So the moment they saw her, the courtiers in the palace only praised her appearance, and no one compared her with the words "beautiful city".
Li Po, who was sitting high up, was too far away, and his heart felt even less disturbed.
And he also heard that the envoy from Silla is a beautiful girl, so what? He is not a playboy who likes to pursue novelties. He likes someone when he meets one...
Well, in terms of character, he is pretty reliable.
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This was not the first time that foreign envoys were received after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, but it was the first time that they were formally received in accordance with the formal procedures. It can only be said to be a bit like the founding of the Tang Dynasty.
The absence of visitors from the Turkic royal court clearly means that the relationship between the two countries depends on how well the alliance is held. The long border line between the two countries determines that the process of normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries is very difficult.
As an envoy from the Turks, Ashina Mudan tactfully rejected the suggestion of going to the palace to see the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. When the negotiations for the alliance were about to be finalized, she obviously did not want to put herself in a weak position.
Because he represents the Turkic Khan, the Turks are undoubtedly occupying a dominant position today. The equal exchange has given the other side enough face. It is a no-brainer to want them to grovel as before.
What's more, there are people from the Western Turks coming to worship. The Turkic Royal Court has never officially recognized the control of the Western Turkic Kingdom over the Western Regions. In the Turkic Royal Court, the Western Turks' compatriots are all rebellious among the Turks.
How can we be ranked alongside them in the Taiji Hall?
After hearing that the Western Turks had arrived in Chang'an, Ashina Mudan expressed her anger and protest to Gao Biaoren, the minister of Honglu Temple, and others several times.
He also used his connections in Chang'an to influence the Tang Dynasty to refuse to associate with those of his own clan who had betrayed the gods.
Well, now we can see the effect. The national policies of the Tang Dynasty are not something that the Turks can influence. It seems that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and his ministers have adhered to the foreign policies of previous dynasties and continued on the road of splitting the Turks.
.
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In this context, the Silla people seemed to be just accomplices, but in fact, from the moment Li Po heard that they came to the Tang Dynasty, Silla had become a key factor in the Tang Dynasty's foreign strategy.
A more important part.
A series of operations in the past two years have shifted the center of gravity of the Tang Dynasty to a certain extent. The preferential treatment given to envoys from Silla is an extension of this strategy.
The Hexi region, which was valued by previous dynasties, and the northern border fortress gradually entered a state of maintaining balance. Only the eastern coast began to take action frequently.
This is undoubtedly operating according to Li Po's will, because he knows that above the vast sea, there are wealth and interests that are unimaginable by people in the world.
In comparison, the Hexi Corridor, which is full of wind and sand, is full of desolation, and is only dotted with oases, can only be regarded as small beads in the emperor's crown. No matter how much meaning people later attached to it, and how romantic they imagined it,
None of them could have much practical significance to the Central Plains Dynasty.
At least for Datang now, it's like tasteless...
The places that can be connected by sea are far better than the northwest and grasslands.
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In the Taiji Hall, the process of receiving foreign envoys was repeated again, except that the protagonist was changed from a stout Turkic prince to a Silla girl, which was very pleasing to the eye.
The bell rang again, and the eunuch said in a long voice, "The ceremony is over."
Today's imperial gathering has come to an end, and Li Po will personally give a banquet to entertain the guests from afar.
Before that, someone led Jin Shengman to the side hall of Tai Chi Hall.
Li Po changed into comfortable casual clothes and then walked to his office.
Seeing him coming, the Silla girl immediately stood up and bowed down deeply. She huddled on the ground and turned into a small ball, which made Li Po couldn't help but smile. He thought of the word "bowing down".
This is one of the misunderstandings that many people later made. They thought that people in ancient times were kowtow-headed insects in the Qing Dynasty. People who claimed to be slaves were everywhere. They also appeared frequently in some serious film and television works, which left people speechless.
In fact, kneeling is not popular in the world, and only on some important occasions, or when life is at stake, they will kneel down. Even when common people see nobles, they just bend down a little deeper.
If anyone forces the other person to kneel down to him or someone else, it is an extremely humiliating and vicious incident that is likely to lead to bloody conflicts.
Therefore, even ministers will not kneel down to the emperor easily unless there is a need...
Li Po smiled and said, "Sit down, no need to be polite."
When the girl stood up, Li Po took a closer look and said that she was really good-looking and in good shape. The palace clothes designed by Yuwen Rutong and others... well, they were also very good. They were only for women's clothes.
In theory, the degree of openness is still relatively high, and it is almost catching up with later generations.
When the girl raised her head, she met the "appreciative" gaze of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Her heart skipped a beat, and then she became a little shy. She lowered her head immediately, but she felt a little disappointed. The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty... turned out to be average-looking.
.
Li Po, who looks average, doesn't know that he has met a good-looking person. Otherwise, he must argue that men do not live by their looks. In addition, I must add, are the women over there now starting to like those people?
Is he a man who is neither male nor female?
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Li Po sat down and saw that the girl was still standing there. He waved his hand and said, "Sit down and talk and serve tea."
Jin Shengman is more reserved, and no matter how ordinary his appearance is, he is still the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The court etiquette of the Tang Dynasty cannot be compared with that of Silla.
What are the greeting rituals, regular rituals, kneeling rituals, auspicious rituals, kowtowing rituals, odd bows, complimentary bows, etc. She has only been here for a short time, how can she remember so many?
She then nervously performed a common half-salute in the palace. She bent her left knee, lowered her body, and placed her hands on her left abdomen. Palace officials all performed this kind of half-salute when they saw noble people. It was considered a common courtesy for women at this time.
one.
Li Po took a look and wanted to tell her that you seemed to be gone...
Because she was so nervous, the girl almost fell down when she got up and walked to the seat. Although the palace skirt was comfortable to wear, it was obvious that she was not used to wearing this kind of thing.
When the girl sat down, her face was red, sweat was pouring from her forehead, her expression gradually calmed down, and she was actually giving herself a psychological hint, you are the princess of Silla, don't be afraid, don't be afraid.
This operation did not make Li Po feel happy, but he frowned slightly. The people from Silla were indeed not very reliable.
What kind of status can a person of such an age have in Silla? I sent 10,000 elite soldiers here, and I have to find a reliable person to be the spokesperson of the Tang Dynasty in Silla, right?
This guy... apart from his good looks, he was so confused when we first met him. He didn't seem to be someone who could achieve great things.
"It's not easy for you to come all the way. The Central Plains has never had much contact with overseas countries. You will definitely have a lot of inconveniences when you come here. You have to get used to it..."
The gossip started as usual, to take care of Jin Shengman's mood, so that he would not be incoherent when talking about serious matters. Then Li Po had to think about whether to send someone to sea to Silla.
Sure enough, Jin Shengman became much more normal. Speaking in her stiff but now much fluent Chinese, she said: "Thank you for your attention, Your Majesty. It is Shengman's lifelong honor to meet Your Majesty."
Li Po nodded, his mood stabilized quickly, his psychological quality was still good, and he looked a bit like a messenger.
Then there is no need to talk too much nonsense and invite them to dinner later, "I have not been on the throne for a long time, so I am very happy to see the envoys from overseas.
The Tang Dynasty always showed goodwill to its guests. The Tang Dynasty and Silla faced each other across the sea. They were neighbors on the same sea, so they should help each other even more.
I already know your purpose of coming. I just want to ask, what kind of help does Silla want from Datang?
I heard that you once formed an alliance with Baekje and repeatedly professed vassalage to Goguryeo. Now you want to use the Tang Dynasty as a shield and only send an envoy. How can you gain my trust?"
Li Po's voice was rich and clear, and his series of questions seemed to carry a trace of majesty, which was extremely oppressive.
The girl's heart beat vigorously. Her mental quality was really impressive, and her mind seemed to have never been so clear.
After pondering for a long time, she told herself that this was a decisive moment and she could not say a single word wrong. For the first time, she raised her head and took the initiative to look directly into the emperor's eyes, "Silla people have a saying, every word we say will make a difference."
echo.
Silla people value commitment, but they will never succumb to the claws of tigers and wolves..."
This chapter has been completed!