Chapter 686

After the morning court the next day, Zhao Xu met with Xiao Wuna, the envoy from the Northern Liao Dynasty and Pochao Xinde. This time, this high-ranking official from the Northern Liao Dynasty, no longer had the arrogance he had sent before, and seemed very calm.

But Pochao Xinde was like the subordinates of the Northern Liao envoy, very silent. Except for the initial call to worship, Xiao Wuna was almost always talking to Zhao Xu.

After listening to Xiao Wu's words for a long time, Zhao Xu, with a solemn face, finally spoke slowly. "Xiao Xuanwei, since you are a minister of Northern Liao, you should know that Northern Liao and our Song Dynasty are brotherly countries. Since you are brothers, why should you speak for the Western Xia barbarians?"

Xiao Wuna expressed his serious expression. "I heard from the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. My emperor thought that although Xixia was a barbarian, his country was a subordinate of our Great Liao Dynasty. He lived in Xia for a long time. Although he had some friction with the Great Song Dynasty, he was just a small border quarrel. Now, the Great Song Dynasty has launched a large army to attack, seize its city-state, and plunder its people..."

"Enough!" Zhao Xu couldn't help but change his expression and slapped the table hard. "Xiao Wuna, I treat you politely because you are an important official in Northern Liao, but don't be too arrogant and talk nonsense in my Song Ting."

"Did my Song Dynasty launch an army first to attack, or did he launch a border provocation in Xixia first, destroy our Suide City, and plunder tens of thousands of people first?"

Xiao Wuna hesitated for a moment and bowed slightly. "Song State has always been kind and righteous, and he has been so arrogant that he scolded him and returned his population and property. Besides, after that, the Song Dynasty did not destroy the Xixia army in Hongde Village and captured tens of thousands of them. In this way, the two of them were not owed each other..."

"Xiao Xuanwei, this is a matter between me, the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia, and it has nothing to do with you, the Great Liao, right? You said that Xixia is your subordinate to the Northern Liao, and I remember that Xixia is also my Great Song Dynasty." Zhao Xu took a deep breath and restored his calmness.

"That's the past. Now, Xixia has made a memorial to our Great Liao Dynasty. My emperor also issued an order to grant Princess the title of Xixia..."

When Zhao Xu heard this, he couldn't help but feel shocked. He never expected that the young king of Xixia, Li Qianshun, was so decisive, had thought of such a way to win the trust of Northern Liao. No wonder the Northern Liao Association frequently sent envoys to the south to stand up for Xixia.

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After Zhao Xu received these two envoys, he couldn't help feeling exhausted. Now it seems that Bei Liao was completely standing on the side of Xixia. Judging from the attitude of Xixia envoys, he looked like his obedient son was about to advance and retreat with his father.

However, the requests made by Northern Liao made Zhao Xu seriously consider that before, Suide City was broken and the number of people who were plundered by Western Xia was robbed.

However, after the great defeat of the Jianing Military Office in the Song Dynasty, most of the people who were still in the Jianing Military Office were able to return to their hometown in Suide City. However, there were 3,000 young women, nearly 10,000 young and craftsmen, who had been sent to Xingqing Prefecture one earlier.

After the Northern Liao envoy asked the Song Dynasty for prisoners of war but failed, the Northern Liao envoy finally made another suggestion.

Xixia means that she is willing to return these people who have been captured from Suide City, but the Song Dynasty also needs to take out the prisoners of Xixia war that they had captured before for exchange.

This is the thing that makes Zhao Xu the most painful. The people of the Song Dynasty naturally cannot ignore it. However, when Zhao Xu thought of releasing the soldiers who originally belonged to the Western Xia, he was very unwilling to do so.

Even if it is only 13,000 prisoners of war, if it is released, it will be 13,000 less powerful labor in the Song Dynasty, and 13,000 more elite warriors in the Western Xia.

After all, the ordinary people who were captured were ordinary people from the Song Dynasty, but they had to exchange them for the Western Xia army. Such exchanges seemed to be at a disadvantage, but if they were not replaced, if the news was released, my emperor would probably be slammed by the people of the world.

At the first moment, after the envoy left, Zhao Xu quickly walked towards the Spring and Autumn Palace where the Empress Dowager Gao Taotao was. Although the Empress Dowager had already opened the curtains and stopped obeying the government, Zhao Xu encountered difficult problems every time, but when he came to Gao Taotao, he could always give him some good ideas and answers.

What’s important is that Gao Taotao only gave himself advice, and he considered it from the perspective of the Song Dynasty. This attitude made Zhao Xu pay more and more attention to this elder with extremely rich political experience.

"Empress, the official family is here..." Xu Degong heard the words of the little eunuch who was coming to report, so he quickly entered the room and reported to Gao Taotao, who was enjoying a fresh and precious thing. In the words, he couldn't help but feel a hint of joy.

After all, Xu Degong is not the Empress Dowager. Before the Empress Dowager withdraws the curtain, Xu Degong always feels that once the curtain is removed, the consequences of the elderly around him, such as the Empress Dowager...

But unexpectedly, after the Empress Dowager removed the curtains and stopped obeying the government, His Majesty came more frequently, and he was still very respectful to the Empress Dowager. In addition, His Majesty did not intend to settle accounts with his old servant Qiu Hou.

Finally, Xu Degong's care has become much more secure. Every time His Majesty comes, he will serve him carefully, but from time to time he can also give His Majesty a good smile or two of his kind smiles.

"The official family is here at this time? It seems that it is an urgent matter." The Empress Dowager raised her head and looked at the sky. Logically, the emperor would not come to disturb her during her temporary lunch break.

Soon, a quick sound of footsteps was heard, and Zhao Xu's young and sunny face appeared in Gao Taotao's sight.

"My grandson has seen the emperor and grandmother. My grandson knows that he should not disturb you at this time. But this matter is really a headache. And once the news is leaked, it will cause a storm in the government and the country. Therefore, my grandson takes the liberty to come here at this time..." After entering the room, Zhao Xu explained embarrassedly.

"It's okay. Now you don't need to go to bed late and get up early as before. You don't sleep occasionally at noon, and you don't feel sleepy." Gao Taotao held Zhao Xu's hand and signaled him to sit beside him and smiled.

Soon, Zhao Xu told the Empress Dowager Gao Taotao about the process of meeting with the envoys of Western Xia and Northern Liao and the conditions proposed by the envoys of Northern Liao one by one.

Gao Taotao couldn't help but frowned with some difficulty. "What a Northern Liao Dynasty, I actually used such a method, but I, the Song Dynasty, really cannot refuse to agree. Otherwise, the court would break its trust in the people..."

"It's hard to weaken Xixia to this kind of appearance. Although the other party put forward this condition, I, the Song Dynasty, could only agree, but my grandson felt unwilling to accept it."

"This is the reason." Gao Taotao was also unwilling to give up, and his expression suddenly became much heavier. "And, the Ai family was very suspicious. This was just a test..."

"Test, what are they testing?" Zhao Xu asked in surprise.
Chapter completed!