The Marquis of Guan Nei, Huasanlang, took office with more than twenty soldiers. It seemed that he was not afraid of the 1,500 cavalrymen hovering like ghosts in the territory of the Northern Han Dynasty. Anyuan County was considered the territory of Chu King Liu Yan, and to outsiders
It seems that what Hanasaburo wants to do is not just training soldiers.
In Xiao Luan's view, Liu Ling's actions were simply child's play. Not to mention whether Hua Ling, a general in charge of the army, could shoulder the important task of resisting the party members, there was still a local prince there, and they were constraining each other to see whether they could achieve anything.
It's really debatable. Even if the King of Chu Liu Yan was magnanimous, Xiao Luan didn't think that a royal family would just watch an outsider become bigger and stronger in their own territory.
Besides, Liu Ling sent his cronies to the border to train new soldiers, while another confidant, General Zhao Er, was seriously injured and was recuperating. Without the help of his right-hand man, wouldn't he be afraid of being plotted by political opponents in the court? Xiao Luan really couldn't figure out why.
Liu Ling would be such an idiot. This would never happen in the Liao Kingdom.
The intrigues between several princes of the Liao Kingdom had reached the point of incompatibility, but His Majesty the Emperor Yelu Xiongji turned a blind eye and let it go. Xiao Luan understood why Yelu Xiongji did what he did. The wolves on the grassland
When a new Wolf King is born, he must go through many difficulties and defeat all his opponents before he can gain the recognition of the old Wolf King. Although Yelu Xiongji has already identified the successor as the current King of Nanmian Palace, Yelu Ji, but let the other princes give it to him.
He is still happy to see results if his son exerts a little pressure.
But after arriving in the Northern Han Dynasty, Xiao Luan's inherent understanding was completely overturned. Why was there no smoke of war between the brothers of the Northern Han royal family? Liu Ling actually cut off his followers and became an official in another prince's land.
, and the second brother, as the emperor, actually agreed casually. Isn't Emperor Xiao afraid that Liu Ling will monopolize military power? Isn't King Liu Yan of Chu afraid that he will lose his territory? Isn't the loyal king Liu Ling afraid that his beloved general will rebel or be killed if he comes under the command of King Chu?
This is a group of weird people, Xiao Luan thinks so.
No wonder the regime in the Northern Han Dynasty was so weak. How could people with no fighting spirit develop the country? In Xiao Luan's view, the Han people will never be as good as the grassland wolves. Who would be merciful when the grassland people face the enemy? Even if they are
If your brothers become enemies, they will also raise their sharp scimitars to each other. Wolves want to bite their opponents, and they also have to accept challenges from other wolves. Wolves without notches on their ears will always be looked down upon by their peers, because
A wolf with intact ears can only mean that it is a coward and has never fought.
Is a wolf that has put away its fangs still called a wolf?
Xiao Luan looked at the monarchs and ministers of the Northern Han Dynasty with the eyes of pitiful people, and he found that being a Khitan was something to be proud of.
"Dingyang Khan, I wonder how the preparations for Sui Gong are going? It has been three days since I arrived in Taiyuan. Although I am grateful for your Majesty's hospitality, I still have a heavy responsibility on my shoulders.
His Majesty the Emperor has asked Khan Dingyang to atone for his sins. I must know whether the annual tribute is ready. If it is, I plan to count the number and return to Youzhou. The King of Nanmian Palace is still here after being entrusted by His Majesty.
Youzhou is waiting for me to return to my hometown." (Note 1)
Xiao Luan said to Emperor Xiao respectfully.
But the disrespect in his tone still made Emperor Xiao frown. Although the Northern Han Dynasty was just a vassal state of the Liao Dynasty, just like the Bohai Kingdom and Goguryeo, the Northern Han Dynasty was also a country with an emperor, not a so-called king.
!Although the emperor of Daliao is nominally the co-lord of all the vassal states, the Northern Han Dynasty is different from other vassal states of Daliao. For example, the Bohai Kingdom has been destroyed by the Liao's cavalry. The current Bohai King is Yelu Shan, the third brother of Yelu Xiongji.
.And Goguryeo surrendered. The Goguryeo people now only have a king but no emperor.
Although the Northern Han Dynasty was nominally a vassal state of Daliao, it was still a sovereign country after all.
Emperor Xiao frowned and said, "Master Xiao, have you forgotten what I mentioned to you yesterday?"
Xiao Luan smiled sarcastically and said: "Dingyang Khan, I also know that the Han Dynasty is indeed very poor now, but the number of annual tributes was personally determined by His Majesty Yelu Xiongji. His Majesty always sticks to his word, and whatever he says will be whatever it is.
.Dingyang Khan, I don’t have the courage to face His Majesty’s questioning, can you?”
Xiao Luan said with admiration: "Wherever your Majesty's riding whip points, millions of wolf riders will pounce on that place. Even when he is silent, your Majesty's eyes can still kill those who disobey his will. I don't dare to do that.
Do it, Dingyang Khan, do you dare?"
Hearing Xiao Luanchi's threat, Emperor Xiao sneered: "I think Mr. Xiao should also understand that if the forest is burned in order to get more prey, the hunters will catch nothing in the coming year! The fattening sheep
If they are killed, there will be no wool produced in the next year. Your majesty is so kind, will you just watch the people of Han starve to death? Are the people of Han not your majesty's subjects?"
Xiao Luan was unable to answer because of Emperor Xiao's words. He naturally thought that the people of Han were just sheep raised in captivity in Daliao, and even the emperor in front of him was just a sheep. However, Xiao Luan agreed with Emperor Xiao's words, and he also
Knowing that if the Northern Han Dynasty were pushed too hard, it would be counterproductive. If the original annual tribute amount was used, the Northern Han Dynasty could still add a large amount of income to Daliao every year. According to this year's annual tribute amount, I am afraid that it would be enough in one fell swoop.
Forced the Northern Han Dynasty to death.
Naturally, no one except Xiao Luan knew that doubling the annual tribute was not an order from Yelu Xiongji, but an order from the Nanmian Palace King. The reason why the Nanmian Palace King Yeluji did this was simply because he was afraid of the Northern Han Dynasty.
The national power of the Han Dynasty gradually became stronger, thus threatening the security of Daliao. However, he had seen along the way that not only was the Northern Han Dynasty so impoverished that it was difficult to stand up, but its military was not as strong as rumored. It had been defeated by the Xixia cavalry.
When the bullying reached home, there were party cavalry less than a hundred miles north of the capital Taiyuan, but the Northern Han army was unable to do anything.
He had the right to reduce the annual tribute of the Northern Han Dynasty at his discretion. This was the right given to him by Yeluji, the king of the Southern Palace. But he did not like Emperor Xiao's aggressive attitude. If Emperor Xiao had not used cold words and sarcasm, but used gold, silver and jewelry
If a beautiful woman comes to discuss things with him, there is actually a lot of room for negotiation.
"Dingyang Khan, I am just a servant who is here to collect the annual tribute according to your majesty's order. I can't help you with this kind of decision-making. The Khan can write the request into a memorial and send it to you by express delivery 800 miles away.
If I go to Youzhou, maybe His Majesty will be merciful."
Emperor Xiao sneered: "Send it to Youzhou? Do you think, Mr. Xiao, that I don't know that your Majesty is not in Youzhou now? Mr. Xiao, you and I are arguing about things that we know well. Doing so will do nothing to the Liao and the Han.
Use it."
Xiao Luan wanted to speak, but the loyal king Liu Ling coughed and said: "Master Xiao, the amount of annual tribute is huge, it will definitely be difficult to collect in three days. Besides, the food and grass have to be transported from Qingzhou Prefecture, and there are a lot of things on the way.
Victims of the riots, even if the food transport team is not hindered, it will take another four days to transport food to Taiyuan."
He turned around and said to Emperor Xiao: "Your Majesty, please calm down. This matter has been planned by me. The details should be discussed between me and Mr. Xiao. Your Majesty, rest assured that Mr. Xiao is kind-hearted and will definitely understand our current difficulties."
Liu Ling glanced at Xiao Luan, and since Liu Ling sent someone to deliver a pair of jade bracelets last night, he decided to save some face for Yang Khan.
"It is my duty to make atonement for the Khan. I hope the Khan will not mind if there is any disrespect in the language."
Emperor Xiao snorted coldly and said to Liu Ling: "Prince Zhong, please accompany Mr. Xiao to talk. I still have something to deal with."
Liu Ling bowed and responded. Emperor Xiao did not speak to Xiao Luan and walked away surrounded by the maids and eunuchs. After Emperor Xiao's back disappeared, Liu Ling sat down next to Xiao Luan and said with a smile: "Xiao Luan"
Why do you do this, sir?"
Xiao Luan sighed and said: "I'm just angry about why Khan made things difficult for me, a low-level official running errands. His Majesty decided on the annual tribute, how can I change it without authorization? It's understandable that Khan feels sorry for the people, and I do too.
We need Khan’s understanding, don’t we?”
Liu Ling said with a smile: "That's natural. Brother Huang is just too troubled these days. Disasters are happening all over the country of Han, and the Li family of Dangxiang is bullying others too much. Mr. Xiao should understand. In fact, Brother Huang still values Mr. Xiao very much.
, isn’t it true that yesterday we ordered people to select a good piece of land in Taiyuan City and ordered craftsmen to build a palace for Mr. Xiao? Yesterday I took a look and saw that it was such a big piece of land, five times bigger than my palace.
!”
Liu Ling said with a smile: "In the future, if Mr. Xiao has free time, he can go to Taiyuan to recuperate for some time. After the mansion is built, I will have all the maids and servants. My Majesty's kindness to Mr. Xiao."
Doting on me makes even my younger brother jealous."
Xiao Luan was moved and said: "In this case, I wrongly blamed the Khan. Hey, it's also my fault that I couldn't hold back my anger just now. In fact, His Majesty Yelu Xiongji also said that if the Han country is really in difficulty, it is okay to reduce it as appropriate."
Liu Ling suddenly became excited. He stood up and clasped his fists and said, "If you can facilitate this, I will thank you deeply!"
"Thank you very much", these five words fell heavily on Xiao Luan's ears.
Liu Ling said in a low voice: "After Mr. Xiao's new home is built, it will naturally need to be decorated. I will privately send you five thousand taels of silver to support your family."
Xiao Luan waved his hands and said: "This is impossible, how can I still make the prince spend money?"
Liu Ling smiled and said: "How can it be considered a waste of money? If Mr. Xiao can say a few nice words in front of His Majesty the Liao Dynasty, he will be a great benefactor of my Han country. I don't think I can express my gratitude for this."
"correct,"
Liu Ling said close to Xiao Luan's ear: "Tonight I will arrange a family banquet at the palace to thank you, Sir Gao Yi. The beautiful lady I have worked so hard to invite is already waiting for you at the palace."
Xiao Luan's eyes lit up, and then he laughed and said: "Your Majesty is still kind to me. I will try my best to deal with His Majesty's affairs regarding Sui Gong."
Liu Ling said: "We won't talk about state affairs tonight, we will only talk about romance."
Xiao Luan said: "Yes, yes, yes, we only talk about Fengyue."
Note 1: Dingyang Khan is the title conferred by the Emperor Yelu Xiongji of the Liao Dynasty to the Xiaodi Emperor Liu Zhuo. It is made up by the author, so please do not go into details. (To be continued)
