In Zhang Shiyu's words, His Majesty the Emperor of the Song Dynasty was like Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty who was caught between two powerful ministers, but he was trembling and uttering the most arrogant words in the world.
The Emperor of the Liao Dynasty was the proud son of heaven, the head of the largest country in the Eastern Territory. A single word could determine the life or death of a country. His millions of cavalry were majestic, and the land pointed by his banners sank. Suddenly hearing Zhang Shiyu's heart-breaking words, the Liao Dynasty
All the civil and military officials of the country shouted angrily!
The envoys from Goryeo, Xixia, and Beishan were all trembling with fear. Only Zhang Shiyu smiled and drank until his glass was dry. He ate the mutton heartily and kept praising Liao's mutton as the most beautiful flavor in the world.
Only his voice echoed in Nuo Da's golden tent. Even the most beloved Xiao Guanyin held his breath and said nothing, just because of Yelu Hongji's calm face.
"So the Song Dynasty is ready to tear up the "Chanyuan Alliance"? In that case, Zhang Shiyu, take your gifts and leave Chun Naibao. This is my last show of respect to the Emperor of Song Dynasty."
Xiao Guanyin was beside the emperor, and only she could see the emperor's temples beating. What he said was true. This was indeed the limit of what he could endure. Xiao Guanyin knew clearly that as long as Zhang Shiyu said more
A distasteful word may cause Liaodong to be stained with blood.
Zhang Shiyu put down the leg of lamb in his hand, wiped his hands with a cloth, stood up and saluted Yelu Hongji: "Zhang Shiyu thanked your majesty for not killing him. When I received this errand, I knew that I would not be able to leave the Liao Kingdom alive."
, To be honest with your majesty, I have already held funerals in Tokyo of the Song Dynasty. Now that your majesty allows the envoys of the Song Dynasty to leave Daliao alive, it is beyond Zhang Shiyu's expectation.
Thinking back to those days, since the establishment of the "Chanyuan Alliance", the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom have not heard of war for fifty years. Although there are minor frictions on the border, peace is the mainstream between the Liao and Song Dynasties. The "Chanyuan Alliance" is still alive.
Countless people, whether in the Liao Dynasty or the Song Dynasty, have benefited a lot."
Yelu Hongji's face relaxed and he asked coldly: "In that case, why did the Song State tear up the alliance and restart the war? Does Zhao Zhen think that he is strong enough to face the Liao cavalry?"
Zhang Shiyu took two steps forward and said angrily: "It's not fair!"
Seeing Zhang Shiyu's anger, Yelu Hongji had a smile on his face. He nestled his body in the arms of a plump singer, tried his best to make himself comfortable, played with the golden cup in his hand and said with a smile: "Unfair? When the wolf eats the sheep.
Have you ever said fair? You think it's unfair, and my generals also think it's unfair. A piece of covenant firmly bound my tiger-like generals and gave Song Guo peace. In my opinion, this
This is the greatest fairness."
Zhang Shiyu said indifferently: "The alliance between the two countries must be fair and cannot be defined by force..."
Before Zhang Shiyu finished speaking, Yelu Hongji burst into laughter. Not only did he laugh, but all the civil and military officials of the Liao Kingdom also laughed, and even the tribes of Goryeo, Xixia, and Beishan also laughed...
Xiao Ke laughed and stood up from his seat, pointed at Zhang Shiyu and said: "I have only heard that the border is fought out, but I have never heard that the border is negotiated. This has been like this since ancient times, wherever the Liao soldiers and horses go.
, are all our territory in Daliao, how can we discuss this matter?"
Zhang Shiyu suddenly smiled and said: "The words of the Privy Councilor sound familiar to me. The same words seem to have been said by Yun Zheng, our Deputy Privy Councilor. His original words were: "The truth is only within the range of the eight-niu crossbow, and the border is only within the range of the eight-niu crossbow.
In the hearts of soldiers, how big the hearts of soldiers are, then how big the frontiers of the Song Dynasty will be." Because of this sentence, the officials once ordered the general to study behind closed doors, but in my opinion, the general is relatively dull and does not
I didn't understand the good intentions of the officials.
So, I am very much looking forward to you being able to discuss territory matters with General Yun! I think you and General Yun will definitely be able to reach a satisfactory result. By the way, who is the best opponent to discuss border issues with General Yun?
None of them were very good. One stayed in Lifanyuan and drank all day long, while the other became a wax statue and placed it in Wucheng Hall.
Haha, when it comes to border affairs, I am indeed not as good as the general."
Yelu Hongji seemed to be no longer angry. He waved his hand and said to Zhang Shiyu: "Tell Yunzheng to send over the stolen coins, tell Di Qing to send over the stolen coins, and then tell the Emperor of Song that starting from next year,
The annual coins are divided into three parts and each part must be no less than the year before. This is my last gift to the Song Dynasty."
Seeing that Yelu Hongji had made up his mind, Zhang Shiyu had no choice but to say goodbye and leave. It was obvious that the Liao people did not intend to stay and participate in the whole fish feast and the whole goose feast.
After being sent out of the golden tent by the chamberlain, Zhang Shiyu looked up at the gray sky. The snowflakes fell on his face and turned into water in an instant. He looked back at the singing and dancing in the golden tent, shook his head and returned to his tent.
The deputy envoy who had been crying saw Zhang Shiyu coming in and quickly grabbed his sleeve and said, "When will the Emperor of Liao kill us?"
Zhang Shiyu looked at the young eunuch and said, "I can't die. I will return to the Song Dynasty tomorrow!"
After the eunuch was ecstatic for a moment, his expression changed again. He stared into Zhang Shiyu's eyes and asked, "Have you ever made it clear what the official meant?"
Zhang Shiyu smiled and said: "Aren't you scared? Why do you think of asking about this again? If I can't explain it clearly, we can live. If I can't explain it clearly, we will die. How do you choose?"
Eunuch Zheng Bin stood stunned for a long time before gritting his teeth and said: "Speak clearly!"
Zhang Shiyu smiled and patted Zheng Bin on the shoulder and said: "I originally looked down on eunuchs the most. You have made me have a different view of eunuchs. Don't worry. Let's make it clear. If your majesty only plans to give half of the yearly coins to Liao in the future, I will
We have been brought here, from now on it will be up to Yun Shuai and others to see if they can withstand the Liao attack."
Zheng Bin swallowed hard and didn't know how to answer. His adoptive father Zou Tong asked His Majesty for this almost fatal mission. Zheng Bin wanted to cry when he thought about the words his adoptive father said before leaving.
, I didn’t expect that it would be so difficult to do an errand in the palace. According to the words of my adoptive father, there are no good or bad errands in the palace, only important or not. As long as it is an important errand, you will have to do it even if you behead someone.
If I didn't have any risk-taking plans, I shouldn't have taken that stab in the crotch.
Zhang Shiyu was not in the mood to discuss national affairs with a eunuch. He didn't care whether this trip would cost him his life. Anyway, the emperor's orders had to be fulfilled. He just couldn't figure out why the always cowardly Majesty would be so strong this time!
Such a rough discussion with the Liao emperor about the removal of the Sui coins was basically a plan to start a war with the Liao Dynasty.
No one would believe that Di Qing and Yunzheng had snatched the coins, and no one would think that the emperor had lost control of the army. No one would believe that the Song Dynasty would continue to send half of the coins to the Liao Kingdom.
There is no difference between not sending it.
After a night of tossing and turning without a good rest, Xiao Ke appeared outside the tent after dawn and invited Zhang Shiyu to go for a walk. As for the rest of the delegation, they had already begun to prepare their bags to leave Liaodong.
Xiao Ke and Zhang Shiyu walked into the heavy snow...
"Brother Zhang, is Song really ready for war? The peace that you and our country have maintained for more than fifty years will disappear from this moment."
Zhang Shiyu smiled and said: "Not necessarily, we should still have room for negotiation."
Xiao Ke said with a smile: "It's impossible, there is no room for negotiation. From the moment the coins you sent are less than half, the relationship between you and me is destined to rely on war, and this matter has gone beyond
The two emperors are within their control. War will start next year at the latest. Brother Mingdao, why don't you stay in Liao Kingdom? His Majesty appreciates your courage very much."
Zhang Shiyu cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, foreign minister, for your appreciation. It's just that Zhang Shiyu's food is old and he cannot serve foreign emperors. Even if he eats bran-thick vegetables in Tokyo, I am happy with it."
Seeing Zhang Shiyu's extremely determined attitude, Xiao Ke sighed and said: "The Emperor of the Song Dynasty always likes to take credit and blame others. If the war between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty fails, you will definitely be pushed out and become the target of public criticism."
Zhang Shiyu said with a smile: "This is the role of ministers. Brother Xiao is worrying too much."
After finishing speaking, he dusted off the snow on his body and saw that the envoys were ready to leave. He handed over his hands and said goodbye to Xiao Ke. Seeing that the matter could not be accomplished, Xiao Ke had to return to the golden tent to report the matter to Yelu Hongji.
Yelu Hongji smiled and said: "That's how it should be. If he agrees, I will look down on him. Zhao Zhen has no other abilities, but he still has the ability to win people's hearts and let the minister's spitting stars fly into his face."
This kind of thing is not allowed here, but there is no problem with him. I can't hide in the palace and be afraid of seeing the ministers. If I do it, it will be a sign of weakness and can be bullied. But Zhao
After Zhen did it, all the officials respected him even more. Daliao lacked the land for such people to survive.
Just like the white snow outside, we Khitan people need more patience and perseverance than the Song people to survive this harsh winter..."
General Gui Nu knelt down and begged for his orders: "Such a person can only do harm to us in Daliao, but no good. Why don't we let Lao Nu send people to execute this person on the road? There will be no trace left behind."
Yelu Hongji smiled and said: "If I need to kill people, it is enough to order them to be hacked to death with a knife. There is no need to play tricks."
Xiao Ke actually agreed with General Gui Nu's approach. He originally wanted to ask General Gui Nu to do this in private. The land of Liaodong was full of bandits. It would be great if the envoy's death could be blamed on Keribao.
Now, the stupid General Gui Slave has clearly asked the emperor for orders. In this way, he and General Gui Slave will no longer be able to participate in this matter. Otherwise, it will be a kind of blasphemy against the imperial power.
Nothing can be done, so I have to stand aside with half-closed eyes and act like a Bodhisattva! (To be continued)