Following Mr. Nahan's instructions, Wanyan Zongbi first went to the famous Li Jingduan Clothing Store in Bianliang to pick up a Central Plains scholar's uniform custom-made the day before yesterday. He changed out of the leather jacket he wore all year round and found a shaver.

The shaving shop shaved off all the beards on the face, changed the messy braids on the head into a Central Plains bun, and even put on a scribe's scarf. Although it looked weird, it looked like the Northland before the change.

Barbarian is completely different now.

After finishing cleaning, he went back to the inn to pick up three important gifts: a dongzhu pagoda, a black mink fur coat, and a white fox fur coat. He hired a beautifully decorated carriage and arrived in front of the residence of Zhao Zhifu, the second prime minister of the Song Dynasty.

Although Zhao Zhifu was far less powerful than Prime Minister Cai Jing, he was not someone a prince from a foreign barbarian tribe could just meet whenever he wanted. After passing the old medicine bottle in, Wanyan Zongbi waited uneasily at the door. Fortunately, his

With good luck, Prime Minister Zhao Zhifu was in the palace. After seeing the medicine bottle, he remembered an old incident and on a whim, he asked Wanyan Zongbi's two followers to stay in the concierge outside to let him in.

The servant passed on the message, and Zhao Zhifu was still playing with the half-old medicine bottle. He opened the first drawer on the left hand side of the desk, and there was a porcelain bottle exactly like the one in his hand. Although this porcelain bottle looked crude in the Central Plains,

, but in the northern Liao Kingdom, Jurchen, Five Kingdoms and other tribes, such exquisite porcelain from the Central Plains can only be owned by the leaders and nobles of the tribe.

At the beginning, Zhao Zhifu had just emerged in the court of the Song Dynasty. Because he belonged to the new party that advocated the northern expedition to the Liao Kingdom and regained Youyan, he was too sharp. As a result, he was framed by the political opponents of the old party and sent him as an ambassador to the Liao Kingdom.

The people of Liao will naturally treat this ambitious young envoy well. Not only will they take him around in circles in the Liao Kingdom, tripling the distance, but they will also specially invite him to the Tokyo Road further north to participate in the alliance's northern alliance.

Barbarian fish head feast.

It was a day when dripping water turned into ice, but the fish head banquet was held in the wild. Zhao Zhifu was wearing a leather jacket he brought from the Central Plains. No matter how he stamped his feet and rubbed his hands, he felt that his whole body was frozen and the cold wind was blowing on his face.

Like a knife, he insisted on dealing with the Liao people without losing his demeanor as an envoy from a great country. His exposed skin was almost so cold that he could no longer feel the pain.

Without antifreeze grease, Zhao Zhifu, who didn't know what was going on, would have ulcers on his head and face due to the sudden freezing. However, just as Zhao Zhifu left the table to relieve himself, a leader of the Xiaoman tribe quietly followed him out and sent him off.

Give him a bottle of anti-freeze plaster and secretly tell him that the Liao people invited him to attend a fish head banquet held in the wild just to give him frostbite. Zhao Zhifu immediately applied this extremely effective secret plaster on the fish head banquet.

, the people of the Liao Dynasty were amazed when they saw that the envoy from the Southern Dynasty was talking and laughing freely without showing any signs of frostbite, and they did not trouble him too much after that. When he returned to the court, he gained the trust of the officials because he fulfilled his mission, and

After that, Zhao Zhifu was also very careful not to give others leverage, and finally survived the era when the old party lost power and the new party came to power, and rose all the way to the position of deputy prime minister.

After going on an mission, Zhao Zhifu was convinced that he was a lucky person and had good fortune, so the barbarian leader whom he had never met helped him to escape his fate. The bottom of the half-old medicine bottle in front of him was carved with a knife.

The totem of the Yan tribe is exactly the same as that of the past.

"Master Zhao." Wanyan Zongbi seemed to have read some books, unlike his father who looked like a barbarian.

Zhao Zhifu saw that although he was full of barbarian spirit, he still looked towards China. He nodded slightly in his heart, but with a faint expression on his face, he said: "What is your relationship with Aguda?"

"It's family strictness." Wanyan Zongbi followed the instructions of the master and exchanged a few words with the enigmatic Prime Minister Zhao. Then he turned to the topic and said: "If the Song Dynasty can help our Jurchen tribes to resist the Liao people,

We will definitely regard the Song Dynasty as Zhengshuo, pay tribute and serve the Celestial Empire. The prime minister's great kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by our Wanyan Department."

Zhao Zhifu closed his eyes slightly. The official's intention of the Northern Expedition to regain Youyan has become more and more obvious. If the Jurchens in the northern Liao Kingdom can contain the Beiyuan Army, we will gather the elite troops of the three major camps in Hedong, Hebei and Xijing for the Northern Expedition.

It is still possible to defeat the Liao army south of Yuguan in one fell swoop, and then defend in danger to recapture Youyan. According to the secret report from the Privy Council, the Liao army has 300,000 troops on Xijing Road, Nanjing Road, who can fight a battle. If they add more

Shangbeiyuan has hundreds of thousands of elite cavalry. If the Song Dynasty's Northern Expedition army cannot win quickly, I am afraid that the tragedy of Yongxi's Northern Expedition will repeat itself.

"I was sent as an envoy to the Liao Kingdom, but fortunately my commander Aguda saved me by giving him medicine. Zhao is not an ungrateful person. His troops were not resentful of the oppression of the Liao people and resolutely raised troops to rebel against the Liao. Naturally, I appreciated it. It was just a matter of dispute between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom.

We have not used weapons for nearly a hundred years. Forming an alliance with the Jurchen tribe is a major military matter. As the prime minister, I cannot repay personal favors with public weapons. If the Jurchen tribe can really contain the Liao Kingdom, I, the Song Dynasty, will support your army with some gunpowder, armor, and food.

Isn't it okay?" Zhao Zhifu smiled slightly. He saw the naked desire of the barbarians in Wanyan Zongbi's eyes. If he was from the Central Plains, he would at least know how to cover it up. Zhao Zhifu paused, changed the subject, and asked: "Wanyan

How many warriors does the tribe have that can go into battle now? How many warriors are there on horseback, and how many armors are there?"

Wanyan Zongbi was stunned and responded: "There are about five thousand soldiers, more than three thousand horses, and five hundred pairs of armor."

"It's a little missing." Zhao Zhifu thought to himself, but Wanyan Zongbi seemed to see what he was thinking, and said again: "I don't dare to deceive Mr. Zhao. Every Jurchen man is a warrior who dares to fight. If the Song Dynasty

By supporting my food and grass by sea, the people who used to farm can also practice fighting, and the army can quickly expand to 15,000 soldiers." Seeing that Zhao Zhifu seemed disapproving, he paused and said, "Sir, do you know that there is a saying?

The Jurchens are less than ten thousand and they are invincible. With food and grass, we can buy war horses from the Mongols to the west of the Xianbei Mountains. The Liao Kingdom's iron-smelting, armor-making and weapons-making workshops are in Liaoyang Prefecture. As long as Liaoyang Prefecture is captured, weapons and weapons will be destroyed.

You can have as much armor as you want."

"If there are not even ten thousand Jurchens, they are invincible?" Zhao Zhifu repeated these disrespectful words towards the Song Dynasty with disdain in his heart, but he did not take it seriously. This Jurchen barbarian tribe must be so brazen. The Jurchen tribe relied on only five

Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of armors dared to disobey the Liao Kingdom. I think it was because of the bitter cold in the north. Even if the Liao people conquered the Jurchens, they would gain nothing even if they won. Therefore, the Liao court did not seriously deal with these barbarian tribes, just like the Song Dynasty did to the Jurchens.

The barbarians in the southwest also have a headache.

Zhao Zhifu pondered for a moment, stroked his beard, and said slowly: "If we, the Song Dynasty, support you in Wanyan tribe's food and grass, would you be willing to attack the iron mines, iron smelting workshops and workshops that make armor and weapons that harass the Liao Kingdom?"

I don’t really expect you to take Liaoyang Mansion, but you can’t passively avoid the war. The food and grass of the Song Dynasty are made by the people, and the Jurchen tribe must play a role in containing the Liao people." Zhao Zhifu calculated that there were many people in the Liao Kingdom.

In order to overwhelm the barbarians who were dissatisfied with this, the Liao army engaged in frequent intimidation and battles in the name of hunting. Armor, weapons, arrows, and arrows were consumed much faster than those of the Song Dynasty. As long as Liaoyang's iron ordnance could not support them,

, will greatly affect the Liao army's ordnance replenishment.

Wanyan Zongbi immediately patted his chest and promised: "Don't worry, Mr. Zhao, our Jurchen tribe and the Liao people have been at war for generations, and their hatred is as deep as the sea. As long as we have food and grass, we will immediately train our troops and prepare for war. We will capture Liaoyang Mansion within two years."

Zhao Zhifu smiled slightly, once again deepening the impression that the Jurchen barbarians liked empty words, and said: "Since you have a way to exchange horses, you are willing to exchange more for me and deliver them in Shandong by sea." In this era, war horses were the most important military equipment.

In terms of resources, Song State now mainly purchases war horses from Xia State. Liao State is very wary of Song State's purchase of war horses. If the Jurchen channel can be used to increase a channel for exchange for war horses, it will be of great benefit to Song State.

Wanyan Zongbi was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately clapped his thigh and said: "Our clan will do our best to handle the mission of Mr. Zhao!" Although Liaodong is remote, it is not closed. Wanyan Zongbi also has experience in trading goods, so he thought next:

By exchanging horses with the barbarians during the Song Dynasty, the tribe would surely reap many benefits.

Zhao Zhifu waved his hand to stop him and thanked him profusely again, and said in a deep voice: "Although your father and I have an old relationship, forming an alliance with the Jurchen Kingdom to fight against the Liao Dynasty is not something I can decide by myself. However, as long as it is beneficial to the Song Dynasty, I will

We will do our best to promote it.”

Wanyan Zongbi smiled and said: "Master Zhao is too modest. If the princes in the court could see Wanli half as well as the adults, the Liao Kingdom would have already become a vassal of the Song Dynasty. I, the Wanyan tribe, feel the same great virtue, and every household will give it to you."

Set up a memorial tablet for longevity."

Probably because he felt a bit like an old friend, Zhao Zhifu patiently listened to Yan Zongbi's half-baked compliments before serving tea to see the guests off.

When Wanyan Zongbi left Prime Minister Zhao's Mansion uneasily, Zhao Xingde also left the Forbidden City. In the past half day, he visited the Inner Bow, Sword, Gun and Armor Armory, Tea and Wine Bureau, Hanlin Calligraphy and Art Bureau, Houyuan Zuo, Medical Officer Bureau and other forbidden cities.

In the yamen inside, he saw many technical masters and artifacts that were not common in the outside world at this time. In Houyuanzuo, he met Meng Kui, the superintendent responsible for the construction of the official White Jade Palace. He was the most proficient in construction technology officials Zhao Xingde had ever seen.

, but because the White Jade Palace was just a plaything to please the officials, Meng Jianzuo did not have a good reputation among the imperial students, and he did not have a strong backer. Even the Yushitai had some criticisms of him.

When Zhao Xingde saw him, Meng Kui was immersed in changing the design of the balcony of the Ducheng Painting and Calligraphy Academy into construction drawings that conformed to the craftsman's architectural style at that time. He only raised his head and said hello to him lightly, but it was Meng Kui's son Meng Yuan.

He had a close relationship with Zhao Xingde. Because Meng Kui was a favored minister of the official family, Meng Yuan studied in the imperial school. However, he was quite envious of the more undisciplined life of the imperial students, and volunteered to lead Zhao Xingde through the rest of the journey.

Meng Yuan was far more familiar with Da Nei Yamen than his virtuous senior brother Song An, and he was like a living map. Zhao Xingde struck a chord with him, exchanged famous invitations, and asked Meng Yuan to attend the meeting together.

At the founding meeting of the Neo-Confucian Society two months later, when Meng Yuan heard that there was an opportunity to make friends with the scholars of Taixue, he was overjoyed and agreed.

In the days that followed, Zhao Xingde studied scriptures and continued to write his book stickers to earn some money. As for the matter of proposing marriage to the Li family, his master and his wife took care of it for him. Zhao Xingde, the person involved, was happy and free, and only occasionally thought about it.

For pride.

Both parties wanted to get engaged, but the procedure was quite cumbersome. First, Chao Buzhi drafted a proposal for marriage instead of Zhao Xingde, which included the names and official positions of three generations of the Zhao family. Posts were exchanged with the Li family, and neither party had objections.

, this is recognition that she is well-matched. Then Mrs. Li prepared eight kinds of fine wine, finely forged bouquets, silk and silver collars, and sent them to the girl's house. In return, the Li family gave two bottles of water, three mouthfuls of live fish, and a pair of silver collars.

Chopsticks. Originally, there was a blind date and hairpin insertion process, because Zhao Xingde and Li Ruoxue were familiar with each other, but it was omitted. Next, they had to formally propose to the girl’s family through a government-approved matchmaker. The Chao Mansion represented some generals of the Zhao family

Jewelry, fine wine, etc. were given as betrothal gifts, and the Li family gave back some crafty needlework items made by Li Ruoxue and the maids in the mansion. This was considered the first betrothal gift.

After that, there were two betrothal gifts, with some time between them, so it was inconvenient for Zhao Xingde to move to the Li Mansion for a while. Whenever he listened to Chao Buzhi's lecture on the study of Ci and Fu in the Li Mansion, he met Li Ruoxue, and both parties became more reserved.

He was as carefree as before, and the corners of his eyes and brows occasionally met, but there was an added touch of touching emotion.

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, it is the Dragon Boat Festival. All the shops in Bianjing are already filled with peach blossoms, willow branches, sunflowers and other seasonal flowers and trees. Cattail leaves are hung on the walls, mugwort is nailed on the doors, and there are peach blossoms, willow branches, sunflowers and other seasonal flowers on the counters and stalls.

It was full of rice dumplings, water dumplings and other seasonal snacks. Although the wedding ceremony had not yet been completed, both the Li Mansion and the Chao Mansion sent servants to Zhao Xingde to present seasonal items for the Dragon Boat Festival, including the mahogany square box sent by the Chao Mansion.

There were three delicacies, sweets, rice dumplings, and papayas in it, but the mahogany box sent by the Li family contained mugwort, calamus, perilla and other items. The items sent by the two families were not the same, nor were they the same.

The two ladies had discussed it in advance. At this time, Chen Dong, Zhang Bing and others who were familiar with Zhao Xingde in the Imperial College knew that Zhao Xingde was about to be engaged to Dr. Li's daughter-in-law, and they all congratulated him.

After Chen Dong, Deng Su and other imperial eunuch students made various contacts, the founding meeting of the Neo-Confucianism Society was held in Panlou, one of the seventy-two main stores in Bianjing, inside Xishuimen, because it is close to Xishuimen and Jinmingchi.

, you can not only eat the best river delicacies, but also go to Jinmingchi after the banquet to watch the dragon boat racing and review of the Suwei Imperial Army. There are ninety-five students from the Imperial Academy of Imperial College, plus Meng Yuan who was invited by Zhao Xingde, a total of

Ninety-six people attended the meeting.

Zhao Xingde arrived at the meeting a little late. When he walked up to the second floor of Pan Building, he saw more than ten accommodations, all of which were already occupied. The doors of these accommodations had red paper pasted with the words "cultivation", "clearness" and "knowledge".

, "promises", "establishing the heart", "benmin", "wealth" and other words, according to the arrangements of Chen Dong and other initiators, in addition to Chen Dong, Deng Su, Zhang Bing and Zhao Xingde, four people are the liaison persons for the Neo-Confucian Society meeting

In addition, each topic has a group of people who are in charge of the discussion. Chen Dong is the leader of the Xiu Shen Zhai, Deng Su is the leader of the "Yue Li" Zhai, and Zhang Bing is the leader of the "Ben Xin" Zhai.

, and although Zhao Xingde was proficient in classics, he was assigned to be the chief of the "Government of the Army" because he had accidentally shown his archery skills in the past and was appointed as his master by the Taishi Bureau of the Hanlin Academy.

At this time, the scholar-bureaucrats all valued literature over martial arts, and many scholars from other Yages were joining the group. Looking at the empty "Zhibing" room, Zhao Xingde couldn't help but look embarrassed. Chen Dong happened to see this and felt that something was wrong.

He couldn't help but walked over with a smile on his face and said in a low voice: "It's really embarrassing to let Yuan Zhi take charge of this deserted issue. When Neo-Confucianism flourishes in the future, the Privy Council and the Sanya Imperial Guard will entrust Yuan Zhi." Zhao Xingde heard this.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. The Neo-Confucian Society has set up the Twelve Chambers Council, which aims to use the Qing Council to influence major court affairs. It even hopes to support each other in the future and push fellow members to high positions in the Privy Council of the Political Affairs Hall. According to the court's practice, civil servants

Whether you can be admitted to the Privy Council only depends on the official's will and the strength of the court, and has little to do with whether you know the military. Zhao Xingde does not think that he, a mere "military administrator", can influence the ruling giant in charge of the Privy Council.

You guys, I'm afraid other scholars think the same way, so they should stay away from "ruling the army".

He cupped his hands to Chen Dong with a wry smile, and looked at Meng Yuan beside him. This man was quite discerning. His father, Meng Jianzuo, was quite unpopular among the imperial students and went to other rooms to discuss matters.

I was afraid of being laughed at. When I saw Zhao Xingde looking over, I immediately patted my chest and said, "I am also quite interested in the art of marching and forming formations. Since Brother Zhao is in charge of the 'Government of Soldiers' room, I will join in."

Zhibing'zhai is ready!"

When Chen Dong saw that someone was finally willing to join the 'Governing the Army' team, he immediately patted Meng Yuan on the shoulder and said, "Good brother!" He chuckled, looked at the other scholars next to him, and leaned into Meng Yuan's ear and said:

"Although Mr. Meng is not a classmate of Taixue, he has become a sympathizer after joining the Lishe Society. If someone is in trouble and comes to sue me, I, Chen Dong, will never break up with him!"

Meng Yuanzha saw this person talking so affectionately, and couldn't help but think of the legend that many Tai students had the habit of cutting off their sleeves. His expression changed slightly, he took half a step closer to Zhao Xingde, forced a smile, and said to Chen Dong, "Thank you very much."

Brother Chen will take care of you."

When Chen Dong saw that people had almost arrived, he ordered the servants in Pan House to close all the screens that separated the various seats on the second floor, so that the entire floor could be seen at a glance, like a grand hall. He also took a silver cymbal and started beating it with clang.

.Suddenly, the scholars who were chatting happily stopped talking and laughing, and looked at the main table where Chen Dong was sitting in the middle. Together with Dr. Pan Louzhong, the tea and wine doctor, and the woman in Tsing Yi who was pouring wine for the guests, were waiting for orders next to them.

The idle people in the neighborhood, the singers singing songs and drinking wine, and the vendors selling seasonal fresh fruits all fell silent with a look. The second floor of Pan Building, which was originally noisy, became as quiet as a Taixue school.

Seeing that everyone understood the rules, Zhao Xingde was secretly happy that he had lost a lot of effort in maintaining order. He heard Chen Dong clear his throat and said loudly: "Today, all the sages have arrived, and the whole house is full of distinguished people. I, the scholars of this generation, are here to pass on the learning of the saints."

, tomorrow and the earth are the most important principles, and the society of Neo-Confucianism. All the people in our society should cultivate themselves and observe etiquette, care about the country and the people, live in the court to assist the king, and work in the states and counties to benefit the people. We are the friends of gentlemen, and we depend on each other.
Chapter completed!