It is related to the fate of a country, so even the emperor has to be cautious about Northern Qi's attitude. Shen Yi did not expect the emperor to make a decision today. After chatting for a few words, he said goodbye and left the Manlu Palace.
When we left the Manna Hall, it was still noon.
This was a bit beyond his expectation. Originally, Shen Yi thought that it would take a long time to resolve the matter between the Yang family and his son at the meeting today.
However, it is a good thing to end the morning early. Shen Yi can also go back to the Yamen of the Ministry of War and take a nap.
After returning to the Ministry of War to have lunch, Mr. Shen was dozing off in his private room when there was a knock on the door outside.
Fortunately, Master Shen was not asleep yet. He just yawned, then got up and walked to the door of the public room and opened the door. As soon as he opened the door, Master Shen's sleepiness disappeared and a smile appeared on his face: "Why are you here, senior brother?"
The person who came was none other than Zhang Jian, a member of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
After Zhang Jian was invited into Shen Yi's office, she looked around, then found a chair and sat down, smiling and saying, "The teacher asked me to take a look at you."
As he said that, Zhang Yuanwai also yawned and said, "When I entered the Ministry of War just now, there were people who blocked me from entering. I said he was your senior brother Ziheng, so he let me in."
"It seems that Ziheng, you have done well in the Ministry of War."
Shen Yi did not answer, but poured Zhang Jian a cup of tea and asked with a smile: "Master, what do you want to see me for?"
"What else can happen?"
After Zhang Jian took a sip of tea, he said helplessly: "Isn't it because of what happened at today's meeting?"
At this point, he lowered his voice and asked: "Teacher, I want to know, what you did at the court meeting today, Ziheng, was your Majesty's instruction, or was it your own initiative?"
Shen Yi did not hide anything and said honestly: "I want to speak on my own, and His Majesty did not give me any prior permission."
"Um…"
Zhang Jian nodded and said, "I think so."
At this point, he put down the tea cup in his hand and said: "Just now at the Ministry of Finance, the teacher told me that you have a calm temper and you probably won't be so impulsive. I told the teacher that most of you, Ziheng,
Sometimes he is calm, but sometimes he does some outrageous things."
Mr. Shen sat down in his seat and said slowly: "I do do some outrageous things sometimes, but at today's meeting, I don't think there is anything outrageous."
"That Qi Ren is bullying people too much."
Shen Yi said in a low voice: "At the court meeting, he talked shamelessly about being a great state and a great emperor."
"Who recognizes him as a superior state and as a great emperor?"
Zhang Jian coughed and sighed: "There is no such thing as a great emperor, but during the reign of Emperor Sejong, there was indeed a term for Shangbang. At that time, there was a great disparity in national power..."
"But during the reign of Emperor Xianzong, we won several battles, and the term Shangbang was no longer mentioned."
Shen Yi narrowed his eyes and said softly: "Since I didn't mention it when Emperor Xianzong was the emperor, no one can mention it in the future, and no one is allowed to mention it."
"Do barbarians deserve to call themselves superior?"
Zhang Jian sighed and continued: "What the teacher means is, do more things and talk less. You are still young, so don't attract too much attention."
Zhao Changping's advice is very valuable advice for newcomers in the workplace. It can even be said to be good advice. However, at Shen Yi's current point, it is no longer needed and cannot keep a low profile any longer.
He just smiled slightly and said, "I have taken note of what my uncle said."
"But there are some things where someone has to stand up and speak out. Otherwise, if the spirit of a country is gone, how can we talk about the Northern Expedition?"
After the two senior brothers chatted for a while, Shen Yi looked at Zhang Jian and asked, "Senior brother, is there anyone you know in the Ministry of Rites?"
"Yes, yes."
Zhang Jian looked at Shen Yi with a strange expression: "Ziheng, what are you going to do?"
Mr. Shen smiled and said: "I don't want to do anything, but in a few days, something may trouble my colleagues in the Ministry of Etiquette..."
…………
Three days later, the Rites Hall.
The Host and Guest Department of the Ministry of Etiquette is responsible for diplomatic affairs, so the guild hall of the Host and Guest Department is mainly used to receive foreign vassals.
The envoy of Northern Qi lived here.
At this time, Pei Yuan, the minister in charge of the host and guest department of the Ministry of Rites, was talking to the Northern Qi envoy in the guild hall.
Minister Pei poured a glass of wine for the envoy from Northern Qi, with a kind smile on his face, and said in nonsense: "Brother Zhu, are you used to living in Jiankang these days?"
"Habit."
Zhu Man took a sip of wine, looked at Pei Yuan, and grinned: "Secretary Pei will take us to the Qinhuai River to sleep with women. What are you not used to?"
When Pei Yuan heard this, the smile on his face did not diminish, and he did not look embarrassed at all. Instead, he smiled and said: "Since Brother Zhu is quite satisfied with Pei's reception, it's time for us to talk about serious matters."
Pei Shilang coughed and continued: "I have made it clear to Your Majesty that it is impossible for Concubine Shu to go back with Brother Zhu, but the Emperor of your country will have a birthday soon, and I have always been generous to the Emperor, so I can give you some birthday gifts."
Isn’t it good to give the great gift to Brother Zhu and take it back to Yandu, so that you and I can do business together?”
Zhu Man put down his wine glass, glanced at Pei Yuan, and said: "The title of Minister Pei is wrong. You should call my Majesty the Great Emperor."
Pei Yuan finally showed a look of embarrassment. He glanced around to make sure there were no outsiders around him, took a deep breath and said in nonsense: "That's a congratulatory gift to the great emperor."
Zhu Man nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "I have to say that Mr. Pei's words are really good. Among the young nobles in Yandu City, there are few young nobles in Yandu who speak so well."
The "right speech" in his mouth refers to Zhuli Zhenyu.
More than sixty years ago, the Zhurizhen tribe from the north went south, robbed half of Dachen, and established a country in Yandu. From that time on, the Zhurizhen tribe's own tribe was called "nobles" by the Northern Qi Dynasty, and
Zhuli’s true speech is called Right Speech.
However, in order to facilitate the rule, Northern Qi began to promote Chinese decades ago. Now, even the royal family of Northern Qi mostly speak Chinese in their daily speech.
Only some "old nobles" can speak the so-called Right Speech.
Minister Pei smiled and said, "When I was young, I lived in Yandu for some time, so I learned a little bit from it."
Zhu Man nodded. After thinking for a while, he said: "Shilang Pei has entertained you very well these days, so I won't embarrass you. After all, you prepare three hundred thousand taels of silver for the Southern Dynasty, and five taels each for silk and silk."
Ten thousand horses, and some beautiful maids, and let your little emperor personally present the congratulations."
Having said this, Zhu Man paused and gritted his teeth and said: "What's more important is that you want the man named Shen from your military department to kowtow to me in public and apologize!"
"Then I will no longer pursue you for the rudeness of the Southern Dynasty, as for Princess Izumo."
Zhu Man snorted lightly: "I won't force you to take him back to Yandu."
Pei Yuan was stunned.
After a while, he regained his composure, looked at Zhu Man, and said, "Your Majesty, would you like to discuss it again?"
"Nothing is negotiable."
Zhu Man's attitude was extremely arrogant and he said directly: "Your little emperor of the Southern Dynasty is the son-in-law of the great emperor of our dynasty. The great emperor has a fifty-year-old birthday and only allows you to give away 300,000 taels of silver. This is already an advantage for you."
"Don't you people from the Southern Dynasties always put the words loyalty and filial piety on your lips?"
Zhu Man glanced at Pei Yuan sideways and said, "Give me a birthday gift to the great emperor. It is both loyalty and filial piety!"
Pei Yuan glanced at Zhu Man silently, sighed and said: "Your Majesty, money is a trivial matter. Pei can go and talk to the Ministry of Household Affairs, but I will give you the congratulatory gift personally to His Majesty, and ask me to give it to the officials."
Make him kneel down..."
He sighed and said, "I'm afraid it's absolutely impossible to talk about it."
"It's okay if we can't talk."
Zhu Man smiled arrogantly: "If I can't negotiate, then let me, the Daqi cavalry, negotiate with your little emperor in the future!"
Pei Yuan gave a bitter smile, and just as he was about to speak, an official from the Ministry of Etiquette hurried in, bowed his head to Pei Yuan and said, "Sir."
Pei Yuan glanced at him and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Shang Shu Zhou has important matters..."
The man lowered his head slightly and said.
"Please return to the Gift Department immediately."