Chapter 396: The Khitans are fighting

At this time, in the eyes of the Liao and Xixia people, the Song Dynasty was obviously the type of blackmail who was stupid, had a lot of money, and was quick to come. The root cause of this situation was not that the Song Dynasty was weak in nature, which involved the issue of fundamental interests.

For the Xixia and the Khitans, their main way of survival was not production, but plunder. That is, because the production was relatively backward, the benefits gained by plunder were even greater. However, the Song Dynasty was different. Because of its high production level, its wealth was not the Khitans, which were comparable to those of the Xixia people. In a peaceful environment, the value created by production was enough to enjoy.

Once a war breaks out, it is necessary to recruit strong men. In this way, a large number of production populations will lead to a decline in production. Moreover, the huge military expenditure brought by war often exceeds millions of coins. If you win, you will not be able to plunder much wealth, but once you lose, the losses will be even more difficult to estimate.

Under such circumstances, seeking peace is the most helpless choice for the court. It exports annual monies every year. Although it is not nominally good, it is the smallest way to stop loss of interest; but once the war begins, the losses of interest will be uncountable.

When Shen Ao saw the criticism from the Ministry of Rites, although he felt that the bones of the Ministry of Rites were a little soft, he also knew that this was the best solution at the moment. How could the two countries have a bad relationship with each other be compensated by 800,000 silver?

Zhao Ji must have known this very well, so although his face was extremely bad, his eyes were full of murderous intent, he finally sighed and smiled bitterly: "I'd better paint first, Yang Jian, you send this memorial back to the Ministry of Ceremony."

Yang Jian took the memorial and sent it back. This means that the emperor already knew what to do, and the Ministry of Rites will consider it.

Shen Ao smiled, feeling uncomfortable for some reason. What was disgusting in the past happened to him. Although he could understand Zhao Ji's difficulties at this time, he always felt strange. Just as Yang Jian was about to go downstairs, Shen Ao suddenly said: "Your Majesty, why not let Weichen deal with this matter. Weichen knows some of the customs of the Khitan and may be able to mediate with the Khitan envoy."

"You?" Zhao Ji was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled bitterly. Shen Ao's style was too casual. The Khitan was not a Nipola. If Shen Ao negotiated, it would be a big problem if the Khitan envoy was beaten.

Zhao Ji was about to refuse, but the moment his eyes touched Shen Ao's eyes, Zhao Ji couldn't help but hesitate again. He clearly saw a little confidence in Shen Ao's clear eyes. This confidence was never seen among the officials of the Ministry of Rites who negotiated with the Khitans. Should he believe that Shen Ao can do this well?

Zhao Ji sat down absent-mindedly and picked up the teacup, thought deeply. After a while, he said: "I passed on my oral orders to be the imperial envoy to negotiate with the Khitan envoy. The two countries should mediate, and the attendant Shen Ao will deal with it."

Shen Ao hurriedly said, "I obey the order."

It was unprecedented in the history of the Song Dynasty. It was not easy for Zhao Ji to make this decision! He took a deep breath, but felt relieved. He looked at Shen Ao deeply and said, "Remember, don't let me down."

Shen Ao said with gaze: "Please rest assured, I will definitely live up to my mission."

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After going down Wansui Mountain, Yang Jian sent it all the way and complained: "Chen Ao, Chen Ao, aren't you taking trouble to yourself? This Khitan envoy is the most arrogant and domineering person. He can't beat or scold him, and he has to say good things in front of him. If others can't recommend it, you can just take trouble to you."

Chen Ao did not argue with him, but said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Yang, it's okay. This Khitan envoy has been famous for a long time, and I really want to meet him."

Yang Jian sighed. It was useless to persuade him again, so he said, "You should do it yourself."

Chen Ao arrived at the Ministry of Rites, and the emperor's oral order had already been sent first. When the Minister of Rites heard that His Majesty wanted the imperial envoy to take charge of the matter, he felt relieved at first, and felt that the mountain-like burden had finally been lifted. He was about to celebrate, but the imperial envoy was Chen Ao, and his face turned green for a moment.

The Khitan envoy has a transcendent status. It can be said that even the princes in the city of Bianjing would never dare to be as domineering as they did; there is a reason for others to be arrogant. The Khitan envoy represents the entire Khitan. As long as the Song Dynasty avoids war in one day, the Khitan will have enough reasons to continue to be arrogant and no one dares to provoke him.

The moment he learned that the imperial envoy was Chen Ao, the Minister of Rites Yang Zhen couldn't help but be stunned for a moment; Chen Ao? The superintendent Chen Ao? He not only saw this person, but also knew very well about his deeds, especially the incident of the slap-beating prince of the Mud and Bharat who still remembered it freshly.

Such a young man dared to mediate with the Khitan envoy? A Khitan envoy is enough to make people feel troubled. In addition, a guy who is afraid that the world will not be in chaos will be afraid that the Song and Liao countries will have to fight each other until March.

After hearing the palace's newspaper, Yang Zhen was about to touch the forehead and say celebrating, but when the word Chen Ao was heard, he almost didn't feel angry. After finally breathing a sigh of relief, he heard from the sect's report: "The scholar Chen Ao asked for a visit."

Yang Zhen smiled bitterly, tried hard to show some majesty, stroked his beard and said, "Please come in."

Chen Ao came in loudly and was about to salute, Yang Zhen hurriedly left his seat to stop him. Speaking of which, the relationship between the two was complicated. The Ministry of Rites was in charge of the Imperial College, and the Imperial College supervised the Imperial College. Chen Ao was the Imperial College student. According to principles, Chen Ao should call himself a student in front of Yang Zhen. But on the other hand, Chen Ao is a bachelor's degree, and in front of Yang Zhen, he should call himself a subordinate official, but Chen Ao now has another mission. As an imperial envoy, he represents the emperor, so it seems embarrassing to meet these two people.

"The imperial envoy does not need to be polite." Yang Zhen and Chen Ao were polite and asked the minor officials to serve tea cups. Chen Ao was straightforward and asked about the Khitan envoy. Yang Zhen said: "This Khitan envoy has a great origin. He is a royal family member of the Liao Dynasty. His Han name is Yelu Laide. This man was originally a general of the Liao Dynasty's imperial guards, but he didn't know what. The Liao Dynasty sent him to serve as an envoy. According to my opinion, this should be the main demonstration of the Liao Dynasty to us."

After all, Yang Zhen was an old bureaucrat. He analyzed such diplomatic matters with great analysis: "So when the country arrived in Beijing, I felt that this year I was afraid that there would be no peace, so I would be forced to prevent accidents. Who knew that it was a big mistake, and this matter was still there. The Khitan took the opportunity to ask us for more annual monies. However, this matter is also very strange. In previous years, when a famine occurred in the Liao Kingdom, people would send people to provoke and use this as an excuse to increase annual monies. However, according to the news I received this year, several roads in the South Court of Liao Kingdom were harvested. They were so eager to increase annual monies, but I don't know why."

Chen Ao nodded. Things were almost cleared out. Something happened in Liao Kingdom, but no one knew what was going on. So the Khitans came this time and the lion spoke up. Unexpectedly, they provoked Shanggao Hou. Shanggao Hou became popular, so they started fighting with the Khitans. After all, this is the land of the Song Dynasty. Shanggao Hou was a local snake. He beat the Khitans. They seized this opportunity and asked for excessive demands, almost doubled the annual monies, and even released news that if they did not agree to the conditions, the two countries would fight.

Yang Zhen said worriedly: "The Khitans are coming in a fierce manner, so you must not engage in barbarism with them. Since they are negotiating, they can give in to what they can. If everyone has a step, they will not be able to fight this battle. What do the imperial envoy think?"

Chen Ao smiled unanimously, put aside the topic and said, "I wonder if Shang Gaohou is here?"

Yang Zhen said: "I have already called me, and I will arrive immediately. The Khitans asked us to hand over the murderer. Oh, it's okay for others. Shanggao Hou can't hand over it."

After waiting for half a stick of incense, the gate came to report: "The Marquis Shanggao is here."

As soon as the doormen left, Shanggao Hou came in loudly. He was about twenty years old, and he was only older than Chen Ao. He had a fierce back and a look of fierceness. He walked with a pair of circular eyes beneath his thick eyebrows and was surrounded by a muffled voice: "I don't know what the Lord asked me to come?"

Yang Zhen complained in his heart, first asked the man Gao to sit down. When the man Gao saw Chen Ao, he said, "I know you, you are Chen Ao Chen Talent! Haha, I didn't expect to meet here today, and I sat in the outer hall at the Duke Qi Mansion and had a drink with you. Do you still remember Chen Talent?"

Chen Ao had an impression of this guy and said with a smile: "Remember, remember, the Marquis's style is still the same."

After recounting the old for a while, she left Yang Zhen aside. Chen Ao suddenly raised his face and said, "Mr. Marquis, I'll ask you, where did you go last night?"

The Marquis of Shanggao was stunned and said, "I got on the flower boat."

Chen Ao asked again: "Did you have a conflict with someone?"

The Marquis Shanggao curled his lips and said, "How did the Shen Caizi know? I met a few Liao people who were ignorant last night. This Marquis looked angry and beat them up."

The whole story was found out. It turned out that the Marquis Shanggao and a few friends went to the flower boat to drink and invited a singer to sing songs. It was when the wine was in full swing, and a few Liao people suddenly rushed in and said that the sister on the flower boat was here, so they wanted to ask the woman to follow them. Marquis Shanggao usually didn't mess with others, so they could not bear this anger. In addition, the ancestors of this Marquis were originally founding dukes and had fought with the Liao people. They looked down on the Liao people since childhood, so they shouted and scolded them.

At first, these Liao people cursed each other in a few half-baked Chinese words and cursed the Lord Shanggao, but later they spoke Khitan words and wanted to draw their swords when they reached out.

When things came to this point, Shanggao Hou rushed over with several partners, seized their swords, punched and kicked, and then left.

Beating someone on the flower boat is not a big deal for this little marquis. Therefore, the people from the Ministry of Rites called him this morning, and he didn't know what happened. Until Chen Ao asked, he looked at Yang Zhen's stern face next to him, and understood in his heart. He probably the person he beat last night was quite good. He said in anger: "If they didn't draw their swords, this marquis wouldn't have attacked him. Chen Caizi, don't you?"

Yang Zhen interrupted with a wry smile, "Mr. Marquis, you have caused a big disaster."

Shanggao Hou said angrily: "What trouble can you cause? Did you teach the Khitans to draw their swords and kill me so that you won't cause trouble? What is the reason?"

Yang Zhen glared at him and said, "You...you..." He couldn't speak for a moment. Shang Gaohou's approach was understandable. If it was a lawsuit, Shang Gaohou would take it. After all, it was the Khitans who took action first and even used the knife.

Chen Ao said from the side: "Mr. Yang doesn't have to get angry, that's all..." Chen Ao paused and said: "The Marquis did a good job. The Khitans dared to be so arrogant when they arrived in our territory. It's a lesson."

Shanggao Hou was overjoyed and said excitedly: "Work with me, but I don't even look at me, I have been practicing guns and sticks since I was a child, so it's hard for a few people to get close to me! Shen Caizi, next time I have the chance, I will show you."

"It must be, but playing with a gun is boring. It will look good when you fight with your opponent." Chen Ao said with a big smile.

Shanggao Hou's eyes lit up. He really shouldn't behave like a person. Chen Caizi had this kind of preference, so he said, "Jinlianfang, does Chen Caizi know? There are the most merchants there, and these people are the most unruly. Chen Caizi needs to see it. Next time I will take you there, and when I meet a few people who are not good at it, let Mr. Chen watch a good show."

Yang Zhen could not have imagined that Chen Ao would help Shang Gaohou speak, and he was even more angry and said, "Scholar Chen, don't forget that you are the imperial envoy, and the officials asked you to appease the Liao envoy, you...you..."

Chen Ao remembered that he was an imperial envoy and quickly said seriously: "Shang Gaohou, do you know that you are guilty? Do you know that you fought last night as an envoy of the Liao Kingdom? Humph, it's really outrageous. Can the envoy of the Liao Kingdom be defeated? Your behavior is so bad. This imperial envoy must deal with you strictly."

Shanggao Hou said, "So that person is the envoy of the country?"

Chen Ao continued, "You only know now? It's too late to regret. Humph, you beat an international friend for no reason and the crime is unforgivable. Now I am the imperial envoy to punish you to go home immediately, face the wall and think about your mistakes. You are not allowed to drink or meet guests within three days. When will you figure out where you are wrong before you can go out."

The Marquis Shanggao smiled and said, it was indeed unforgivable to have no alcohol allowed for three days and meet guests. It really made the young Marquis uncomfortable and quickly made a statement of dying: "Yes, yes..."

Yang Zhen said to Chen Ao: "The imperial envoy, the sentence is too light. You need to ask the marquis to go to the Wanguo Pavilion in person to apologize to the Khitan envoy. In this way, we have room for maneuver and ask the Khitan people to calm their anger."

After hearing this, Shanggao Hou said furiously: "Apology? Lord Yang, what do you mean?"

Chen Ao quickly patted the shoulder of the Marquis Gao: "Mr. Yang is joking. The marquis of this dynasty went to apologize to the Khitan barbarians. This is a matter of insulting the national system. How could Lord Yang not tell the difference?"

Yang Zhen snorted coldly and said, "Encipal Chen Qin, what medicine are you selling in your gourd? Shanggao Hou beaten the Khitan envoy. Why did you protect him in every way?"

Chen Ao became angry at this moment and said with a brow: "Mr. Yang, this imperial envoy maintains the majesty of our Song Dynasty, not just to protect Shanggao Marquis? On the contrary, you are the one who eats the Junlu, so why do you speak to the Khitans in every way?"

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Chapter completed!