The Imperial Street from Nanxun Gate to Xuande Gate is ten miles long and 220 paces wide. It is not only the only way for emperors to drive in and out, but also for envoys from various countries to visit. It is also a symbol of the prosperity and strength of the Song Dynasty.
On both sides of the Royal Street Avenue are two crystal-clear waterways with jade banks. It is early spring, and the lotus flowers in the water are green and refreshing. The peaches and plums on both sides of the bank are fragrant, and the pears and apricots are blooming. It is a season of brilliant spring flowers. It is spring and the scenery is bright today.
Crowds of people flowed under thousands of flowers and trees, literati and poets admired the flowers and recited poems, dignitaries took prostitutes on spring outings, prodigal princes and grandsons looked for flowers and willows, poets and scholars made a living by painting. Naturally, vendors and stall owners shouted loudly, and beggars and pickpockets walked through it... Royal Street
It was as bustling and lively as ever at all times.
A luxuriously decorated carriage, escorted by the Forbidden Army, slowly passed through the crowd. The people in the carriage kept looking at the world outside through the window. It was not until he slowly closed the window that the noise outside gradually faded away.
become smaller.
"We haven't seen you for two years. I'm fine in Kyoto." Chen Ke, who was dressed in a crimson official uniform, sighed quietly as he looked at the imperial street of Bianjing that made him dream.
"There are still big changes, but you can't see them on the surface." Opposite him, Zhao Zongji, who was sitting in a purple robe and jade belt, said with a serious face: "Industry and commerce are prosperous, prices are rising, and people's sentiments have become a bit strange."
"Don't say it's because of me." Chen Ke smiled bitterly and rubbed his nose.
"It's because of you that when Dian Copper came to Beijing, big families spent a lot of money, and the number of copper coins on the market suddenly increased several times." Zhao Zongji said seriously: "Can it still be the same as usual?"
"Okay, don't be so serious. This should be just a temporary fluctuation," Chen Ke said with a smile: "The economic aggregate of the Song Dynasty is there. It can be tolerated."
"I hope so." Zhao Zongji whispered: "You know, in the past year, there has been a saying in the capital that by introducing Yunnan copper into the country, you are turning 'money shortage' into 'money panic'. Because you are worried about copper coins
It is becoming less and less valuable. The wealthy people throw all the money they have accumulated for decades onto the market. This not only causes soaring prices and luxury and waste, but also makes the people who are not already wealthy become more and more embarrassed. It is also said that
If it is not stopped, it will inevitably cause the people to live in dire straits and lead to great chaos."
"Scaremongering!" Chen Ke spat harshly: "The lack of circulating currency in the market was the shackles that fettered the Song Dynasty for decades. If you break it, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. How can you stop eating because of choking!" After a pause, he suppressed his anger.
Said: "I bet that those people are exaggerating. When I go back and do some research, I will see if prices are soaring only in Bianjing, or if it is the same across the country. If it is the former, then it is normal. If it is the latter, then it is abnormal."
"Relax, it is inevitable for people to be jealous when they are popular." Zhao Zongji smiled and said: "You alone have taken all the limelight of the Song Dynasty in the past two years. Do you think others can not be jealous? As long as there is a problem, you will be jealous."
Naturally, there will be people vying to discredit you."
"I see..." Chen Ke sighed and said, "I said, neither the officials nor the wealthy husband mentioned the Dian copper and money shortage..." He was a free and easy person who would not get entangled in one thing. He shook his head.
, then he threw it to the back of his head and said: "Let's not talk about that anymore. Let's focus on the present. How are you? Are you nervous?"
"Nervous? These two words have never been in my dictionary." Zhao Zongji said with a nonchalant expression.
"That must be a dictionary with missing pages." Chen Ke smiled and said, "I will give you a new one another day."
"Fuck you." Zhao Zongji spat.
"Thank you." Chen Ke suddenly said softly.
"Why are you thanking me?" Zhao Zongji looked at him: "It's inexplicable."
"I know that this negotiation has too much stake. No one wants to come forward." Chen Ke said softly.
"You think I'm willing to stand out." Zhao Zongji smiled bitterly and said, "I was forced to do nothing."
"what's the situation?"
"I haven't been doing very well in the past two years." Zhao Zongji sighed quietly: "In the clan school, I was repeatedly beaten by Zhao Zongshi..."
"I remember you said that you are better than him." Chen Ke said.
"That's because he usually hides his clumsiness. Once he shows his true ability in studying and learning, I still can't beat him. And there are experts behind him to guide him. He can always find out the thoughts of the officials, and he will naturally be successful." Zhao Zongji sighed and said:
"In addition, the master who teaches the class is also extremely biased. How do you think I can compare with him?"
"Then what?"
"There is another key figure here. Zhao Zongshi's wife Gao Taotao was also raised by the officials and the queen since she was a child. She is very favored by the officials. In the past two years, she has spent a lot of effort to ease the officials' attitude.
.The officials do not like to hold grudges, and they have a deep relationship with Uncle Wang of Runan, and now they have reconciled as before."
"In other words, you are falling behind again?"
"I've been falling behind, how can I ever be ahead?" Zhao Zongji said depressedly: "To be honest, I have tried my best in the past two years. But the gap is getting bigger and bigger. My father said that the key is that there is someone behind Zhao Zongshi, and I don't have one."
." He paused and said, "So this time, I am determined to give it a go. If I can get this job done, it will be better than saying ten thousand good words."
"Relax," Chen Ke comforted softly: "The days are still long, and the outcome is far from known. But you are right, there is no one above us, this is a flaw, and there is no way to solve it at the moment, so we can only put the sign first
If you start a fight, you will naturally be noticed by the officials and officials. Then slowly wait for the opportunity and reverse it little by little."
"Yes." The carriage drove into the Liao Embassy Posthouse. Zhao Zongji nodded heavily and said, "Let's see how I perform!"
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Because the antipathy of the people in Bianjing towards the Liao people had reached its peak in more than ten years, the Kaifeng Prefecture had to surround the Liao Embassy Post House with a wooden fence and send heavy troops to guard it to prevent anyone from approaching.
After verifying the identity, the gate was opened and the carriage drove directly into the courtyard.
In the courtyard, the Khitan people also looked at the senior officials of the Song Dynasty who got off the car with unkind expressions, as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
Zhao Zongji had a straight face, not even looking at the ferocious Khitan soldiers. Accompanied by a kind of entourage, he strode into the main hall of the embassy post.
In the main hall, a man wearing a mink hat, a mink tail hanging down, a sword and a golden horse was sitting there. When he saw the Song people coming in, he had no intention of getting up.
Zhao Zongji was immediately angry. His and Chen Ke's identities were not the same, but they were accompanied by eunuchs who were the representatives of the official family of the Song Dynasty!
Since the envoy can act as an envoy, he is naturally familiar with etiquette, so he should salute the eunuch. Now he is pretending to be sick to avoid saluting, which is clearly showing his attitude - I don't take you Song Dynasty seriously. Now it is different from before.
It’s the same, do you understand?
Zhao Zongji looked at the envoy coldly and said in a deep voice: "Yelu Derong, have you forgotten the etiquette?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Yelu Derong was the name of the Liao envoy. He rubbed his knees casually and said, "Someone's feet hurt and I can't stand up. I can only sit down and answer the question."
"More than ten days ago, when the officials received you, I saw you walking as fast as flying." Zhao Zongji reminded him.
"It's an old habit, and when it comes to this time, I get sick." Who said that the Khitan people are down-to-earth, and they are no less cunning than the Han people.
"If you don't salute, you can't announce the decree, and if you don't announce the decree, you can't have a conversation." Zhao Zongji snorted coldly and said, "Let's wait until your legs and feet get better, or someone with better legs and feet comes over, and then we can talk." After saying that, he cupped his fists.
, turned around and left.
Just when he was about to step out of the hall door, he heard a voice behind him: "Wait a minute!" Zhao Zongji breathed a sigh of relief. If the Liao envoy had been stubborn, he would have been in trouble.
But the Khitans still felt guilty after all, which showed that they didn’t even have the trump card to pressure negotiations and were just bluffing...
The people of Song Dynasty turned around, and with the help of two attendants, Yelu Derong stood up slowly and paid homage to the envoy of Song Dynasty.
When Zhao Zongji saw this, he was determined. As long as the Liao people still abide by the etiquette of the Song Dynasty, they have no idea of going to war. The rest is nothing more than bickering.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The two sides sat down and introduced their entourage as usual. After learning Chen Ke's identity, Yelu Derong suddenly changed his color and said: "Are you the brother of the murderer?"
"What kind of murderer?" Chen Ke sneered: "I heard that the Khitans keep their promises the most and respect warriors the most. It turns out that these few virtues are all lies."
"Nonsense!" Yelu Derong said angrily: "We Liao people respect our promises and respect brave men, but we really can't be serious about it!"
"Then I'm surprised, the two parties have signed a life and death certificate!" Chen Ke said aggressively: "Your Xiao Yan has signed and pledged it, and several people have testified, why don't you admit it? What's more, you are still the envoys of the Liao Kingdom, how can it be that the Liao Kingdom
Guolian doesn’t have such credibility!” After a pause, he smiled contemptuously and said: “It’s a life-and-death duel regardless of the death or injury, and of course everyone has their own destiny! If my brother died in that scene, I would only do it with dignity.
I challenge you, and I will never cheat like you!"
In terms of being sharp-tongued and sharp-tongued, ten Khitans tied together can't compare to one Chen Ke, not to mention that they were already in the wrong...Chen Ke once again raised the matter to the level of a country's credibility and reminded them what a man is.
Revenge. If the Khitans continue to entangle themselves, they will despise themselves.
Sure enough, Yelv Derong's expression changed, and he suppressed a sentence: "We think so too, but you Song people won't give us a chance to continue the duel!"
"Hahaha..." Seeing that the Liao people's excuses had been blocked, Zhao Zongji said in time: "Why don't you give it to me? If you want to have a duel, we can arrange it at any time!"
Yelu Derong was speechless. Xiao Yan, who was killed by Liu Lang, was already the number one expert in the mission. If he wanted to send more powerful experts, he would have to recruit experts from China. However, several months had passed.
The water could not quench his thirst. He stopped lingering and said: "A duel is certain, but right now, we just want to return to our territory."
