As the saying goes, a new king means a new look, and all the officials also hope that the court will have a new look. Therefore, on this day, all the officials cheered up and went to the court to pay homage to the emperor and the queen mother.
For a Beijing official like Zhang Yue who was not a court official, this was a rare opportunity for him to enter and leave the palace.
After resigning as the late emperor's economic official, Zhang Yue seldom set foot in the palace, but he was happy to do so. At least he could enjoy his leisure time in the prison's one-third-acre land.
After Zhang Yue paid his congratulations to the palace from afar, he did whatever he had to do. The most important thing was to eat.
Zhang Yue had been looking forward to this day for a long time...
Zhang Yue looked at the banquet map and was about to find his seat, but when he saw that he was not going to the banquet hall, but to the Chongyuan Pavilion to receive the Xixia envoys, he couldn't help but wonder, what was going on?
Zhang Yue immediately asked the official of the temple who had arranged the banquet, and only then did he find out that it was Zhongshu who had arranged for him to serve as a famous literary official to accompany the Xixia envoy.
Zhang Yue was suddenly enlightened after hearing this. At the same time, he complained that the temple department was too unreliable and did not inform him in advance.
When he arrived at Chongyuan Pavilion, he saw that the banquet was already starting. Zhang Yue knew that he was late, so he entered from the side and chose an inconspicuous place to sit down.
I have nothing to talk about with the Xixia envoy. Talking and drinking will not delay the mood of eating.
After Zhang Yue sat down, he saw that the escorts sitting at the main seat at the banquet were several officials from the Honglu Temple and the Host and Guest Department of the Ministry of Rites. As for the man wearing a golden crown and a narrow scarlet robe, he was the Xixia envoy.
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The accompanying envoy kept offering wine and food to the Xixia envoy, but he saw that the Xixia envoy stopped and ignored him and sat there with his hands folded on his chest.
Zhang Yue asked the official on the side: "What does this mean?"
The other party was accompanying the Xixia envoy from Huanqing Road to Beijing, so he did not know Zhang Yue. He said to Zhang Yue: "The Xixia envoy doesn't want to eat chopsticks because he thinks the food provided is meager."
Zhang Yue looked at the food table in front of the other party. There were all delicacies from the mountains and seas. There were more than a dozen dishes and a table full. Isn't this satisfying?
Zhang Yue said: "Could it be that you are deliberately provocative?"
The official said angrily: "Of course, the Western thieves are extremely hypocritical and cunning. After the late emperor died of illness, last year his leader Li Liangzuo sent an envoy to express his condolences, but on the other hand he invaded Qinfeng and Jingyuan 2nd Road and raided my familiar house.
Harass my frontier archers and kill and plunder tens of thousands of people and animals!"
"This spring, we sent people again to ask for seasonal clothes and gifts for the king. Shaanxi officials like us are all indignant, but even so, the imperial court requires us to treat the Westerners with courtesy at all times, so as not to cause quarrels with the Xia people. What do you think?
Are you angry or not?"
Zhang Yue was furious after hearing this.
It is simply a loss of power and an insult to the country.
Yesterday, I slapped you twice and kicked you twice, breaking two of your ribs. Today, I came to your house like a normal person, eating and getting food. You entertained me with wine and meat, but they thought your food was too bad.
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How mean is this!
But I saw the Xixia envoy said: "Last year I came to congratulate the new king on his enthronement. Why was he not allowed to see me in the palace, but only at home?"
The chief escort said with a smile: "Therefore, there are rules for the summer envoys to be seen outside the imperial ceremony gate and to pay tribute to the palace."
The Xixia envoy said loudly: "Then why can the Liao envoy meet? I understand that the Gao envoy cannot?"
The escort continued to laugh and said: "The Liao Kingdom is the country of my brothers, and the Xia Kingdom is my vassal. The positions are different, and the etiquette is also different."
The Xixia envoy sneered when he heard this.
Zhang Yue knew that this was not the case. When the Liao Dynasty came to see him, Han Qi and others only went to Deqing Gate for discussion.
However, the Liao envoy Yelu Gu insisted on meeting the Emperor, and the Song Dynasty replied that he would just send you his credentials. The Liao envoy still refused, saying that if you don't let me see the emperor, I won't give you my credentials.
The Song Dynasty said, when your Emperor of Liao died, we sent condolences to the Liuhe River but they didn't even allow you to see the city gate of Liaojing. Now you insist on seeing our Emperor. What do you mean?
After a final talk, the Liao envoy cursed and presented the letter of credence, but the emperor was still worried about Liao's accountability, and finally met with the Liao envoy in person.
In the end, in order to cover up the loss of face, the officials made up the story, but when the Liao envoy saw that the Song Dynasty emperor was actually older than his own emperor, he was very upset and told his officials that this time he would serve the Song Dynasty as his elder brother.
Later, in order to balance the Xixia envoys, the emperor also met with the Xixia envoys, but only outside the door.
The Liao envoy left satisfied, but the Xixia envoy was not satisfied and even had a grudge, thinking that you Song people looked down on us Xia people.
At this time, when the escort saw that the Xixia envoy was silent, he thought that he had once again 'defeated' him with the wisdom and art of words, so he immediately ordered the imperial chef to serve a few more dishes.
The imperial chef personally brought the dish to the front and said, "This is the newly roasted mutton. Please enjoy it!"
This is what the chef is serving!
Escort took a piece and put it into his mouth and said with a smile: "It melts in your mouth, it's just right. Please enjoy it, Ambassador Xia!"
The Xixia envoy crossed his arms and looked at the roasted mutton and said: "How can the sheep of your Song people compare to the sheep of our Dabai Gao Kingdom!"
After saying this, the Xixia envoy finally took the mutton into his mouth, chewed it a few times and said, "I wonder if you all know about me, Lord Xia?"
"My lord was not yet a week old and suffered a sudden death. However, after he personally took over the great government, he took back the military power. Qi Fan forced me to do it, and when he detected Pang's rebellion, he was punished. He followed the etiquette of the Han Dynasty and updated the customs of the Han Dynasty. He is wise.
The divine power is ten times that of your Lord Song."
An official of the Song Dynasty who was the escort said angrily: "Envoy Xia, please don't go too far to bully others, which will cause my lord to be furious. He will lead millions of troops and drive you into his lair in Helan Mountain!"
Ambassador Xia laughed loudly and said: "I don't know whether our dynasty has a million-strong army, but my lord, one hundred thousand cavalry, can conquer the Changchun River in a matter of seconds..."
Before the man finished speaking, he saw someone pouring a drink in front of him!
The Xia envoy was shocked and angry. He looked up and saw a young Song Dynasty official: "Who are you..."
Before he finished speaking, another glass of wine was poured on his face.
The Xia envoy was shocked and said: "I have one hundred thousand cavalry..."
The young official across from him threw another drink at him, but he ducked out of the way.
At this time, the Song Dynasty officials in the palace secretly complained, "It's broken, it's broken, it's broken, it's broken, it's broken, it's bad, it's all bad, it's what I'm worried about. Isn't something going to happen?"
But when he saw the young Song Dynasty official opposite, he looked at him and said: "The Erxia people come when they come and fight when they fight! There is no need to keep a hundred thousand cavalry on your lips all day long!"
The Xia envoy said: "It is your envoy who has announced in advance that he will raise a million troops to defeat our Dabai Kingdom."
The other party said: "You said it first and did not humiliate my lord, so it is right for you to lead your companions. The fault lies with you, not with me!"
Ambassador Xia wiped the wine from his face and sneered: "Okay, I will tell my lord what you said? Since you are so arrogant, how dare you leave your name?"
The other party asked: "What's your last name?"
Xia Shi laughed angrily and said, "I am the coach Wu Zong!"
The other party sneered and said: "You are really a Han Chinese. You still act with a Han surname, but you don't know who your ancestors are. Your name has the surname "Zong" but you are betraying your ancestors!"
"Talking to you is really a waste of my time, but since you asked, tell Lord Xia that the person who insulted your envoy today is Ura Cheng Akira!"
Wu Zong, the Xia envoy, turned pale when he heard this. He had certainly heard of Zhang Yue's name, and even Li Liangzuo, the leader of the Xixia Kingdom, had heard of it.
Li Liangzuo admired Han culture and was familiar with the articles of Ouyang Xiu, Zhang Yue and others. Unexpectedly, he met here.
