After bidding farewell to Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo, Zhao Hongrun wanted to return to the palace immediately.
Because if what is expected is true, the Imperial Court's Etiquette Department will receive the chief envoy of the Chu State, Lord Guling Xiong Qi, in the Zichen Hall as a prince.
However, after careful consideration, Zhao Hongrun gave up the plan of rushing in.
After all, the Ministry of Rites is normally responsible for welcoming envoys from foreign countries. Although Zhao Hongrun has taken up a post in the court, he is not a member of the Ministry of Rites. It's definitely not a polite thing to do.
This was just like when he instigated the Junshui Camp to withhold the money and goods from the Chu State and did not allow the Ministry of Revenue to move them without publicly distributing the post-war benefits. It was an act of trespass that challenged the prestige of the Ministry.
The Ministry of Personnel was offended, the Ministry of War was offended, the Ministry of Husbandry was offended, and the six ministries of the imperial court were offended. Zhao Hongrun had offended half of the ministries. In fact, in the final analysis, it was just that Zhao Hongrun sometimes couldn't understand the practices of these ministries.
But it is undeniable that someone who interferes in the internal affairs of the six departments of the imperial court just because they don't like it will easily be disliked by others. Therefore, Zhao Hongrun decided to first send He Miao, Zhu Gui and other Zongwei to the Ministry of Rites to inquire about the situation.
If the negotiation goes well, there is naturally no need for him to come forward; but if the negotiation does not go well, to be more precise, then Guling Lord Xiong Wu is really just like Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo said, because he is unbalanced in his heart and intends to come here to find trouble. Then, Zhao Hongrun would have to find a time to intervene in this matter that would not offend the officials of the Ministry of Rites.
To put it bluntly, it means: wait and see for a while.
While Zhao Hongrun was watching, Shangshu You of the Ministry of Rites had personally entered the palace from the south gate of Daliang with Chu envoys headed by Gu Lingjun Xiong Wu.
It has to be said that the Ministry of Etiquette gave very high standards for welcoming guests. Not only did they dispatch a guard of honor with brightly-colored armors, but the drums and music were also played. Amidst the music specially used to welcome guests, Guling Lord Xiong was welcomed. We, the envoys sent by the State of Chu, arrived at the Zichen Hall in the imperial palace.
Although Emperor Wei did not show up, the Ministry of Rites invited Prince Hongli of the East Palace to serve as the officiating officer. After all, Lord Guling Xiong Wu is the son of King Xiong Xu of Chu, and he is also the powerful king of the city with an army of hundreds of thousands. Even if He is a minister of the Ministry of Etiquette, and he is not qualified to be the officiating officer in terms of his status.
After receiving the invitation from the Ministry of Rites, Prince Hongli of the Eastern Palace readily accepted the request.
No wonder, although the Prince of the East Palace had previously chosen the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Personnel as a political bargaining chip, who made the Ministry of Rites still a "terrain without one"? Therefore, there was an opportunity to show favor to the Ministry of Rites, which was outside the country. Naturally, Hongli, the crown prince of the East Palace, would not let him go easily.
Of course, these are the considerations of Luo Yao, the aide around Prince Hongli. As for Prince Hongli himself, he prefers this kind of grand ostentation that can highlight his status as the "Prince of the East Palace". To put it bluntly, he likes anything that can expose him. A grand event that can greatly increase your popularity and prestige among the government and the public.
It is precisely because of this that Hongli, the Crown Prince of the East Palace, stood at the south gate of the palace, waiting for the arrival of Lord Gu Ling Xiong Wu. Otherwise, as the Crown Prince of the East Palace of the Wei Dynasty, he would not have to go to this point.
It has to be said that in order to complete this task of welcoming foreign dignitaries, Prince Hongli restrained a lot of his past arrogance.
No, when Lord Guling Xiong Wu walked down from the welcoming carriage with a sullen face, Prince Hongli took the initiative to greet him. He cupped his hands and said with a smile: "I am here to welcome Lord Guling!"
Not to mention, although Prince Hongli's talents may not be as good as those of his other brothers, in terms of etiquette, even the most picky etiquette officer may not be able to fault him.
He is twenty-six years old this year. Because he has been pampered for a long time, at first glance he is even more aristocratic than Zhao Hongrun. He is more than enough to serve as the prince of a country.
And for this, even Luo Yao, the aide beside Prince Hongli, was very satisfied.
Unfortunately, Xiong Wu, the Lord of Guling, who was in front of Prince Hongli of the East Palace, although he was the chief envoy of the Chu State, it was obvious that he was not just here to make peace with the Wei State. Otherwise, on this occasion, Gulingjun Xiong Wu definitely will not remain gloomy.
What's going on?
Luo Yao, a staff member of the East Palace, noticed the gloomy look on Guling Lord Xiong Wu's face and couldn't help but feel a little alarmed.
Because he seemed to see endless resentment in the eyes of Guling Lord Xiong Wu, which made him very puzzled.
No wonder, after all, few people in Daliang knew about the "Wei-Chu Truce Zhengyang Peace Treaty" signed by Zhao Hongrun with Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo and Chu scholar-bureaucrat Huang Xu. Naturally, the Wei people didn't know about Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo either. In order to reduce his own losses, he used the military exploits of his brother Gulingjun Xiong Wu as a bargaining chip to trade with Zhao Hongrun.
At that time, as Xiong Tuo, the king of Yangcheng, said, King Xiong Xu of Chu was just eager to have a truce with Wei, and didn't care who among his sons took advantage and who suffered, so that Xiong Tuo took advantage of him. Without Guling Lord Xiong Wu present, a peace treaty was signed with Zhao Hongrun.
Subsequently, the peace treaty came into effect, and the army under Zhao Hongrun gradually retreated from the territory of Chu. Xiong Wu, Lord of Guling, who had occupied most of the Song County in Wei, had to withdraw under the order of his father, King Xiong Xu of Chu. .
It was obviously fat that was already in the mouth, but he had to spit it out. One can imagine the anger in Gulingjun Xiong Wu's heart.
"Are you Ji Run?"
Xiong Wu, Lord Guling, who got off the carriage, immediately asked with a gloomy face.
Hearing this, the Prince of the East Palace, Hongli, frowned and felt a little dissatisfied. He said to himself, I condescend to welcome you here, but you still talk to me in such a rude questioning tone?
Enduring the dissatisfaction in his heart, Prince Hongli of the East Palace just shook his head and did not have an attack.
Seeing this, his aide Luo Yao promptly announced the name of his highness: "My highness is the prince of the East Palace of the Wei Dynasty, Ji Li."
Guling Lord Xiong Wu snorted coldly when he heard this. The anger in his eyes was slightly reduced, but his tone was still as rude as before: "Where is Ji Run? Ask him to come see me!"
What on earth is going on here?
After hearing this, all the Wei people present, including Prince Hongli, staff member Luo Yao, and many officials from the Ministry of Rites, were all secretly speechless.
After thinking about it, Luo Yao said respectfully: "If Mr. Gu Ling wants to meet His Highness Prince Su of Wei, I will arrange it after the banquet..."
But before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Guling Lord Xiong Wu.
"No need! I don't have time to be polite to you Wei people. You ask Ji Run to come see me immediately!" After saying that, Guling Lord Xiong Wu had a look of anger on his face, and he gritted his teeth and cursed: "He If you have the guts to leave me behind and make a private truce and peace treaty with Xiong Tuo, don’t you have the guts to come and see me? Fortunately, this is still the capital of your Wei Kingdom!"
Don’t have the guts? That His Highness Prince Su doesn’t have the guts? Hey!
Many of the Wei people who were present to greet the guests sneered secretly, wishing that Su Wang Hongrun was here to give this arrogant Chu man some color.
I have seen arrogant people, but I have never seen anyone so arrogant. His Royal Highness the Prince of the Eastern Palace of the Wei Dynasty obviously condescended to welcome him, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites also gave him a prince-like reception, but this Guling Lord Xiong Wu did not do anything.
He didn't appreciate it. In front of the south gate of the palace, he kept asking his Highness Prince Su of the Wei Dynasty to come out and see him.
It’s so arrogant!
That’s not true!
Seeing this scene, the expression on the face of Sheyou, the Minister of Rites, also darkened.
Although this gentleman is a minister of the Ministry of Rites and not an official of the Ministry of War, you must know that he supported the Wei Dynasty in declaring war on Chu from the beginning.
To put it simply, Sheyou was not afraid of the Chu State from the beginning, not to mention that now their Wei State's Su Wang Hongrun defeated the Chu State and deployed nearly 100,000 heavy troops on the Wei-Chu border in Yingshui North County. He was even more worried in his heart.
It is full of confidence.
"When Lord Guling comes here, are you seeking peace? Are you declaring war?"
I believe this statement from the Minister of Rites was enough to surprise many Wei people around him, because perhaps they never expected that the Minister of Rites was actually tougher than many officials in the Ministry of War.
After hearing what Sheyou said, a hint of anger flashed in the eyes of Guling Lord Xiong Wu, and when he was about to speak, a voice suddenly sounded from behind him: "Of course we are here for peace!"
"..." Everyone present turned around and saw another carriage driving slowly towards here. From the carriage, Xiong Tuo, the Lord of Yangcheng, and Huang Er, a scholar-official from Chu State, walked out.
And the person who just spoke was none other than Huang Arsenic.
I saw Huang Er take a few steps, salute to the East Palace Prince Hongli and the Ministry of Rites Shangshu You and say: "I am the deputy envoy to your country this time, Huang Er... Mr. Xiong Wu, Lord Guling, has been in recent days.
The horses and carriages are tired and my mind is agitated. I hope all the gentlemen in your country will forgive me."
Xiong Wu is not a fool. He knows very well how huge the power is behind the scholar-official Huang Er, so he will not offend this Ji Lian nobleman foolishly.
As expected, his eyes turned towards Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo.
However, Xiong Tuo, Lord of Yangcheng, was too lazy to pay attention to him, looking left and right for traces of Zhao Hongrun. When he found that the latter did not appear for some unknown reason, he met Xiong Wu's gaze with his eyes, and smiled.
The ground hummed.
Not to mention, Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo is in a good mood at the moment, because Zhao Hongrun has already given a reply about that batch of armaments. Although they have not mentioned the matter of food and grass, they believe that if Zhao Hongrun can handle that batch of armaments,
What's the problem with armaments and just some grain and grass?
Therefore, the purpose of Xiong Tuo's trip to Daliang, the capital of King Wei, has been achieved.
And the reason why he came to Wei's palace with Huang Er right now was simply to watch a good show. He wanted to see the Wei people, whom he had always disliked, and Xiong Wu, whom he also disliked, biting each other.
However, since Zhao Hongrun has not arrived yet, this makes Xiong Tuo a little disappointed.
After all, in his opinion, the show can only officially begin when His Royal Highness King Su of Wei arrives.
What's going on? This situation... isn't quite right.
Whether it is Du You, the Minister of Rites, Luo Yao, a staff member of the East Palace, or even Hongli, the crown prince of the East Palace, I believe that many Wei people present at this moment have vaguely noticed that there may be internal differences in the Chu envoy team.
"Everyone please."
After suppressing the confusion in his heart, Du You, the Minister of Rites, invited these Chu people into the palace and took them to the Zichen Hall. (To be continued.)