Therefore, the treatment and courtesy the Xixia envoys received in the past few days were beyond the standards, even surpassing those of the Liao envoys. Not only did they meet many high-ranking officials of the Song Dynasty, they even met the Prime Minister.

Zhang Yue was ordered by the emperor to entertain the Xixia envoys. He did not choose to be in the embassy, ​​but in the lively place of Mahang Street.

In the first month of the first lunar month, Bianjing held the Guanpu Festival for three days.

Maxing Street, Panlou Street, Zhou Dongsong Gate, Zhou Xiliang Gate and the southern area are all decorated with colorful sheds, which are the most prosperous and lively places. Near the colorful sheds, people sell crowns, combs, pearls, hair, face, and clothes.

, flowers, collar wipes, boots, toys, etc.

Men and women in Bianjing would choose their favorite goods under the colorful shed. The market under the colorful shed was open all night long and didn't end until daytime the next day.

Zhang Yue came out in the evening. At this time, horses and cars were passing through the streets, and people from high officials to ordinary people were going to Guanpu or to enjoy the toys.

Zhang Yue raised his eyes to look at the wine shop. Women also came in and drank with the men in a generous manner.

The place where Zhang Yue met with the Xixia envoys was a singing and dancing place on Mahang Street.

After Zhang Yue entered, he saw five or six young dancers dancing with umbrellas at a waterside pavilion, while a singer beside them was playing and singing with a pipa.

Nowadays, the popular ditty in Bianjing is no longer Liu Ci, but Su Shi's ditty.

Dancing to clear the shadows, how does it seem to be in the human world... Almost everyone in the community can hum a few songs.

After Zhang Yue, the Xixia envoy sat down in the elegant room on the second floor, the envoy saw this scene and couldn't help but said: "Nine out of ten of the bustling and bustling places in the world are in Bianjing City."

The envoys and other Song Dynasty officials on the side all laughed when they heard this.

Zhang Yue also had the same plan. Since you want to see how our Song Dynasty is doing, I will simply let you see it openly.

"Your Majesty, please take a seat!"

Zhang Yue and the other party sat in the front row, and other officials from the Song Dynasty and Xixia sat on the two rows of chairs behind them.

Everyone came to the pavilion to enjoy the singing and dancing, and they all felt that the joy of life had reached its peak.

This Xixia envoy wears a small golden crown on his head, a narrow red robe, and a gold quilt around his waist. His name is Li Qing, and he is a Han Chinese. His status in Xixia is not high, about the same as a county magistrate in the Song Dynasty, but it is said that he is very respected.

Li Bingchang trusts.

In the past, it was absolutely unimaginable to be able to sit on an equal footing with a prime minister like Zhang Yue.

However, Li Qing showed no sign of timidity at all, and he still talked eloquently in front of the prime ministers of great powers.

Zhang Yue asked in a seemingly casual manner: "Does the leader of your country also like to use Han people?"

Li Qingdao: "Why do you say this when Mr. Zhang is the prime minister? Our country's rulers are not divided into Chinese and Yi. Both Han and Fan ministers are treated as one family and treated equally."

"If this is really the case, why would your lord change it to the Han system? As far as I know, the first emperor of the Xia Kingdom (Li Liangzuo) changed the Han system. When your envoy met with the late emperor at Zhengdan, I remember that he wore a fish pendant around his waist.

The bag is gone now."

Li Liangzuo had carried out sinicization reforms at that time. At that time, Fu Bi claimed that he had obtained Chinese land, used Chinese manpower, claimed Chinese titles, imitated Chinese officials, appointed Chinese talents, read Chinese books, used Chinese cars, and traveled in China.

system'.

Li Qingdao: "This was later changed by the Empress Dowager. It was not the intention of the king. If it were not for my heart's desire to be Hanized, there would be no need to send me here. I would ask the Emperor of the Song Dynasty for help."

"Help?"

Li Qing nodded and said: "That's right. The Song Dynasty had a war with Xia last year. The Song Dynasty heard about the border and the city. Moreover, our country was hit by natural disasters last year and many people in many places had no income. Therefore, we asked the Emperor of the Song Dynasty to allocate money.

Add relief.”

"If this is the case, our Lord is willing to permanently submit to Han culture and change to the Han system. From now on, there will be no war between the two countries."

Zhang Yue thought to himself, well, why didn't you say you were here to beg for alms. You should have said it earlier, why didn't you say it earlier.

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty said that he truly admires Hanization, but why does the state document claim that he does not use the surname of this dynasty, but the surname was given by the previous dynasty?"

Li Qingdao: "This has been stated clearly in the ceremonial letter of the late lord, and my lord will not reply again."

"Then how can I see your Lord's sincerity?"

"Changing to the Han system shows our Lord's sincerity, otherwise we would have to attach the Liao system to the Song Dynasty!"

Faced with Li Qing's threat, Zhang Yue couldn't help but laugh and said: "Yes, but there is one more thing Xixia must give up the land of Lanzhou."

Li Qing's eyes flashed and he said: "It's hard for someone to do this."

Seeing that the other party's refusal was not firm, Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to rush to reply. We don't have to miss this wonderful song and dance on such a beautiful occasion."

Judging from the performance of the Xixia envoy, Zhang Yue thought to himself that Li Bingchang really wanted to negotiate peace.

After watching a night of singing and dancing that night, the Xixia envoys, escorted by Song Dynasty officers and soldiers, returned to the post house in the west post of Duting.

In order to worry about any accidents, the team guarding the Xixia envoys numbered hundreds of people, which was comparable to the ceremonial guard of the prime minister.

Zhang Yue saw this scene in the courtyard and was thinking for a moment. At this time, someone asked: "Ms. sir, how was your talk with Ambassador Xia?"

Zhang Yue saw that the person speaking was Sun Gu, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture.

"It's the governor! Why didn't I see you just now?"

Sun Gu said: "The officials asked me to take care of the safety of the Xixia envoys and the confidentiality of their comings and goings. How dare I neglect it. That's why I have been arranging these things these days, but I am ashamed to accompany them."

Zhang Yue laughed when he heard this.

A mere Xixia envoy not only had a husband accompany him, but even the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture was alarmed.

"Just ask the people below to handle these things."

Sun Gudao said: "That day I saw that the officials were very interested in provoking civil strife in Xixia and used Li Bingchang to oppose the Liang brothers and sisters. Even if this strategy was successful, it may not be able to destroy Xia. It is not a solution once and for all. Once the matter is exposed, Song Xia will

From then on, there was a constant feud. From then on, there was a continuous flow of swords and weapons, and there was no peace in all roads in Shaanxi."

"I am so worried that I am waiting here to ask Mr. Zhang what he means."

Zhang Yue saw Sun Gu's intentions and said truthfully: "To be honest with Sun Fuyin, the Xixia ruler does have the intention to use the power of this dynasty to eradicate the Liang brothers and sisters."

Sun Gu became pale after hearing this and said: "This is bad. I also listened to what Mr. Zhang said that day in front of the emperor. Li Bingchang has no chance of winning at all. The senior officials in the country will not support him."

"Once Li Bingchang is defeated, the Liang brothers and sisters know that we support their leader, why don't they raise an army to hold them accountable?"

Zhang Yue was silent when he heard this, and Sun Gu said: "Xiangong Zhang, your Majesty has long had the ambition to destroy Xia. You must not tell the truth to him about this matter. This is for the sake of the common people and the country. Sun begs Xianggong Zhang."

Before Zhang Yue agreed, someone on the side said: "Why did Mr. Sun say this?"

But when someone walked out, the person speaking was the official who accompanied Zhang Yue to receive the Xixia envoy today. He was also Zhang Yue's former aide Xu Xi.

Xu Xi was recommended by Li Xian and Tong Guan, and was appreciated by the officials. He was promoted to Zhongshu and studied official affairs in the Ministry of Household Affairs. This time when the Xia Kingdom came as an envoy, the emperor asked Xu Xi to accompany him throughout the whole process to spy on Xia Kingdom's reality.

Zhang Yue knew that Xu Xi had great ambitions to make great achievements. He must have been lobbying the officials these days, saying that Li Bingchang really wanted to join the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, he persuaded the officials to alienate the relationship between Li Bingchang and the Empress Dowager Liang and his son, thinking that they would plot Xixia's plans in the future.

Now, after listening to the entire negotiation between Zhang Yue and the Xixia envoys, he was about to chase out and have a few words with Zhang Yue, when he happened to see Sun Gu chatting with Zhang Yue.

Xu Xi immediately came forward to expose it.

Sun Gu glanced at Xu Xi, not wanting to argue with him, and immediately got on his horse and left after having a good meal.

Zhang Yue looked at Xu Xi who had penetrated him and couldn't help but said: "Dezhan, Dezhan!"

Xu Xi lowered his head and said: "Xianggong Zhang showed great kindness to Xu, but Xu thought that at this time, Xianggong Zhang should report this to the officials and should not hide anything."

Zhang Yue said: "Did I say I wanted to hide it?"

Xu Xi said: "I judge a gentleman with a villain's heart. I'm worried that my husband doesn't want your majesty to accomplish the unparalleled feat of destroying Xia!"

"Asshole!"

Zhang Yue scolded angrily, Xu Xi's expression changed drastically, and he knelt down in front of Zhang Yue hastily!
Chapter completed!