A letter of credence from the capital of the Zhou Dynasty once again made Liangzhou excited. September was the 70th birthday of the Empress Dowager of the Zhou Dynasty. Emperor Zhou invited envoys from Xiliang to congratulate each other. This was a political signal that the Zhou Dynasty began to face up to this issue.
The powerful neighbor to the west could not get what they used to be able to do even by paying tribute even though they had traveled thousands of miles to get it, but they actually got it in a war.
The Zhou Dynasty was really cheap, and it was a matter of beating but not eating. This was the consensus of the Xiliang court.
The Eastern Zhou Dynasty’s envoys numbered a hundred people. It is said that the chief envoy was a minister of the Ministry of Rites, and he was led by a dignified third-rank official. This also shows that the Zhou people attached great importance to it. There were two opinions in Xiliang on how to welcome the envoys. One was
The king of the country personally went out of the city to greet him at the ten-mile pavilion. He responded with the etiquette of his superior country. One way is to send officials of the corresponding level to greet him. It can't be too cheap. After all, we won the recent war, and became the great Zhou Dynasty.
Brothers are always qualified.
The civil servants in Xiliang are mainly Han people, and they always regard the Central Plains Dynasty as their suzerain state, consciously or unconsciously. This is a deep-rooted concept. Even those ambitious guys understand that they cannot show off their talents too much at this time, and it is very important to keep a low profile and bide their time.
It is necessary. Since Dazhou sent a minister here, it was a sign of goodwill. We, Xiliang, are also considered a country of etiquette, so we should treat each other with courtesy.
:: Yuan Feng had his own ideas. The envoys from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty came in no time, which shows that the imperial court still attached great importance to this powerful neighboring country. From the moment they entered Gansu, the envoys were closely monitored by the Xiliang Military Commandery Department. Yuan Feng
Feng Geng obtained the detailed list of the envoys through Fan Liangchen.
This minister's surname is Han. He was recently filled. He was promoted after the old minister retired. There is nothing surprising about the minister himself. The important thing is that there are several officials in the mission who were seconded by the Ministry of War.
The official is only said to be a member of the Ministry of Rites to the outside world. In fact, the purpose of his visit is very clear. He is just trying to find out the truth.
Since they want to see it, let them see it as much as they can. Aren't the civil servants debating the standards of welcome? Let's have a military parade to welcome the envoys of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Ten miles west of Liangzhou, the location of the Ten Mile Pavilion was temporarily built into a military parade ground. It was originally a wilderness, and the place was cleaned up. Ten thousand Xiliang elite soldiers gathered here, with bright armor and brand-new battle equipment.
Robes and flags, polished weapons gleaming, tens of thousands of people stood in the wilderness in silence, only the sound of the wind blowing the flag, they were waiting, waiting for the envoys from the Central Plains.
Gradually, a team appeared vaguely in the east. From a distance, he saw a large number of troops standing here. Yuan Feng looked over with a telescope, but saw that the team paused for a moment and still drove over. He smiled slightly and looked at Zhao Ding'an.
Said: "Let's get started."
The envoy came in a meandering way and stopped only a stone's throw away from the Xiliang army. Without a telescope, they could see the Emperor's Talisman flying high in front of the convoy. Those Eastern Zhou people had serious expressions. They must be trying to maintain their dignity.
Because no one can remain calm in front of such an iron team.
A horseman ran out of the envoy team, holding the emperor's talisman. Don't ask, he is here to reason. We are here for peace. How can you fight with each other? Zhao Ding'an did not give him a chance to speak. With a wave of the flag, the army
The conch trumpet sounded, the war drums beat in unison, and the iron-walled army split into two halves in an instant. Their movements were uniform, and thousands of people moved in exactly the same pace.
Twenty thousand pairs of military boots stepped on the ground, and clouds of smoke and dust rose up. The sound of neat footsteps was like thunder. One after another, the earth seemed to be trembling. What was even more trembling was the hearts of the envoys of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Even the imperial guards in the capital did not
They are so elite, the Xiliang people are trying to intimidate us.
Ten thousand elite soldiers were divided into several square formations, with people like walls and spears like forests. They were fierce and murderous. Only an army that had experienced the test of blood and fire could show such power. Several guys with military attaché background in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty mission watched with cold eyes.
Everything, the weapons and equipment of the Xiliang Army, the armor rate, and the physique of the sergeants were all within the scope of their observation.
Twenty-one cavalrymen galloped over. Each knight sat straight on his horse, as steady as a mountain, with a scornful look in his eyes. The two ends of his body were raised like an eagle's Caucasian cloak, which made him even more majestic.
Their horses were all extremely tall and powerful Arabian purebred horses, much taller than the Mongolian horses. It happened that these soldiers were all carefully selected handsome young men. They were really like jade horses and dragons. The envoys of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty couldn't help but secretly think.
Applaud, so handsome!
The first person was Zhao Ding'an. The young man was now married and had a mustache on his upper lip. He looked more mature and steady. He led his sons and ran to the front of the mission. He reined in the horse, and the horse neighed and raised its front hooves.
, scratched in the air for a few times before stopping, Zhao Ding'an hung the riding whip on his wrist, clasped his fists and said loudly: "The Lord of Daliang, under the command of General Zhao Ding'an, is here to greet the envoys of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
Minister Han was stunned for a moment before he was pushed out by the crowd. The third-grade civil servant's face turned pale. He didn't know whether he was frightened or angry, but he responded expressionlessly.
Zhao Ding'an led the way, and the mission followed suit, marching toward Liangzhou in a lane composed of 10,000 elite soldiers. The pressure from both sides of the road made people shudder. The military attaches observed the Xiliang soldiers at close range.
From these simple faces, what they saw and what they thought was beyond ordinary people.
The delegation stayed at Guanyi, and the food and accommodation were all Central Plains style. This Xiliang Kingdom was originally a country composed of Han people in the northwest. It had the same culture and race as the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. There was not much difference in food, clothing, housing and transportation. In addition, the food and drinks with the characteristics of the Western Regions were appropriately arranged.
It also gave the mission a little more exotic feel in addition to the feeling of being at home.
Of the mission of more than a hundred people, only ten were sent from the capital, and the rest of the entourage were seconded from Gansu. This move was also to shorten the journey time, to reach Xiliang as soon as possible, and to provide information to Xiliang
People left enough time to prepare gifts and went to the capital to attend the Wanshou Festival, which was the birthday ceremony of the Empress Dowager.
Yuan Feng received the envoy in the Grand Marshal's Mansion, which was renovated from the former Liangzhou Mansion. On both sides of Danbi, there were two rows of elite hussars. They were all black and white, without a trace of hair. They were fat and shiny.
The war horses are all excellent Arabian purebred horses, which are a head taller than the ordinary Mongolian horses. The soldiers on the horses are even more powerful, with shiny breastplates on the outside, black nets on the inside, and bright red helmets.
The euphorbia, which is eight feet long, shows the true character of a Liangzhou man.
Yesterday the show was for infantry, and today the show is for cavalry. The whole country is extremely militaristic. The envoys of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty secretly slandered, but stared greedily at these rare horses in the Central Plains. Since ancient times, the Central Plains has not been able to produce good horses.
The loss of the horse area greatly reduced the combat effectiveness of the Central Plains regime and lost to the nomads. The Song Dynasty was ultimately defeated because of the loss of the sixteen states of Yanyun and the horse-producing areas in the northwest. No matter how much steel was used, the infantry was not cavalry.
This is already the consensus among Central Plains military strategists.
The Great Zhou Dynasty also lacked horses. In order to fight the Mongols in Mobei, the emperor established a horse administration and imported horses from the northwest and southwest. However, the channels were not smooth. There were not many excellent Sanhe horses and Qiang horses in the Zhou army, and the Ili horses were even more
They are rare. Most of the Zhou army's cavalry usually use Yunnan horses imported from the southwest. They are short and thin, just like donkeys. They have to be treated as treasures and are not dared to ride when marching. They are only mounted when fighting.
Horses are extremely important strategic materials, and they are also famous items that dignitaries love to collect. It is the dream of the Central Plains nobles to own an Ili horse. It is a famous horse known as the Pegasus. As for the Dashi thoroughbred, it is even more so.
Things that are unthinkable, in a word, even if you have money, you can't buy them.
Arabian purebreds, large food horses, and Bedouin horses are all the same kind of horses. They grow in the desert. The harsh environment only allows the best horses to survive. This is also the reason why this kind of famous horse is created.
This kind of horse is fast, has strong endurance, is beautiful, smart, and will not be frightened by sudden noises. It is simply a natural war horse. Until now, it only existed in legends. If you get a few by chance, you can only keep them in the palace.
It is difficult for ordinary people to see him.
Yesterday I saw twenty-one Arabian purebred horses outside the city. The envoys of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty thought that these were Xiliang's family assets and specially brought them out to show off. Only when I saw them today did I know that, good guys, there are five hundred horses on both sides of Danbi.
There are so many, and they are all pure-colored horses with no stray hairs.
Grandpa, can people still live like this?
Several officials seconded by the Ministry of War were already crazy about horses, and now they are even more crazy. If it weren't for the rules, they would like to go over and touch these legendary horses to see if they are really like the legends.
Stallions have only twenty-three vertebrae, one less than a normal horse.
Although the officials don't know much about horses, they can still see the good news. These are rare and good horses that are hard to find for a lot of money. If you can get one or two to bring back to the Central Plains, that will be great. If you can fool them,
The people of Xiliang voluntarily donated hundreds or even thousands of horses to the cave. They dare not think about it anymore. The emperor will not be happy to death!
Only Minister Han's expression remained unchanged and unmoved, standing proudly under His Majesty Dan. Behind him, an attendant lowered his head and held a tray. On it was a bright yellow scroll, which must be the credential of the Emperor of Zhou Dynasty, but looking at Han
The minister's enthusiasm probably meant that he was not preparing to go to the palace to submit his credentials, but was waiting for someone to greet him.
An official from the Xiliang Ministry of Rites came forward to invite Han Shilang to the palace. Han Shilang said proudly: "How can you be disrespectful to the imperial edict of His Majesty the Emperor of the Zhou Dynasty? I ask His Highness the Lord of your country to kneel down to receive it in person."
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. The Lord of Xiliang was asked to come down to the palace and kneel down to receive him. This ceremony was to make Xiliang consecrate Zhou Dynasty to the Kingdom of Heaven. As long as it came from the palace of Zhou Dynasty, it didn’t matter whether it was a letter or a gift from the emperor.
Is it possible that objects, or envoys who come with orders, must kneel down and worship?
If the people of Xiliang refused to do this, it would be tantamount to insulting the face of the Zhou emperor. The consequence would be that trade would be interrupted again and the cloud of war would once again hang over the northwest.