Li Tianhao once again came to Yanjing as the Xixia envoy. Entering Yanjing City, I saw that the population was at its peak, merchants gathered together, and the prosperity seemed to be even higher than the last time I came. I can't help but marvel in my heart, feeling that Yanyun's development is really rapid! Then a burst of fear surged into his heart. Yan Yun was already very tyrannical and developed so rapidly. Given time, would anyone in the world be able to fight against him?
Li Tianhao turned around and saw a three-story teahouse on one side of the street, which was bustling with people. Li Tianhao suddenly felt something in his heart.
The group followed Yan Yun's reception official into the guest house and settled down.
Later that day, Li Tianhao received the summons from King Yan, so he changed into his official robe and followed Yan Yun officials to the lobby of King Yan's palace with his credentials. At this time, King Yan Yang Peng was sitting high on the throne, and several civil and military officials were lined up on the left and right. Basically, Li Tianhao had seen them when he came last time.
"On behalf of His Majesty the Emperor of Daxia, I would like to extend my most sincere greetings to His Majesty the King of Yan!" Li Tianhao bowed, looking much more respectful than the last time he came. This is how it is between countries, benevolence, justice, morality and the like are all bullshit. Only whoever has a stronger fist can gain respect and who is the boss. The winner is a prince and the loser is a bandit. If you lose, even if your morals are extremely high, then that's it. It's just a bandit. If you say you are a bandit, you are a bandit. If the Yanyun Army had been defeated in the Battle of Hedong before, haha, I'm afraid Li Tianhao would have a different face now.
Yang Peng smiled and said: "I also greet your Majesty the Emperor."
"It's His Royal Highness the King of Yan!" Li Tianhao then held up the credential, "This is our country's credential. Please read it for His Highness the King of Yan." Jiang Li immediately went down to the hall, took the credential, and came back to forward it to Yang Peng. Yang Peng picked up the credentials, opened it, read it again, smiled slightly, put down the credentials, and said to Li Tianhao: "Peaceful coexistence is my wish. It is a pity that some people in your country always like to use weapons rashly, but in the end it is not harmful. Kill yourself!" Li Tianhao was quite embarrassed. Yang Peng added: "Since your country wants to make peace, I naturally have no reason to disagree." Li Tianhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and saluted: "The benevolent and righteous demeanor of King Yan is really admirable!"
Qian Neitian said: "If your country wants to make peace, it can't just be a matter of one sentence. What conditions do you plan to use in exchange for peace?"
Li Tianhao said: "Our country is willing to surrender to Yan Yun all the people it has robbed in the past few years, with a total number of more than 200,000, as a sign of sincerity in making peace. And we hope that the King of Yan can transfer the people in Hexi to All the land will be returned to our country as Yanyun’s sincerity in making peace.”
Qian Letian sneered: "This is too cheap! There are four to five million people in the three states of Hexi, a lot of land, and a lot of wealth. Your country actually wants to exchange more than 200,000 plundered people back. Your country What a good calculation, I'm afraid there is nothing so cheap in the world!"
Li Tianhao said: "The three states in Hexi are originally our country's land..."
"The three states in Hexi, including in fact all the land in Xixia, have always been the territory of the Central Plains Dynasty!" Yang Peng said calmly.
Li Tianhao said: "Those are all things in the past. Our country of Daxia has been established for a long time. The emperor of the Central Plains at that time has recognized it, so our Daxia no longer belongs to the Central Plains Dynasty! As for the three states in Hexi, since they were previously occupied by the Khitans, then It belongs to the Khitan people. Later, the Khitan people gave it to us, Daxia, so it naturally belongs to us, Daxia! King Yan is a great hero, so he must not be arrogant!" Li Tianhao hoped that these words would stop Yang Peng.
But Yang Peng didn't buy his blame. Yang Peng was only practical. He didn't care whether a hero was a hero or not. He wouldn't be a hero without any benefit. "Not just in Hexi, but in the whole of Shaanxi and Gansu, we have never recognized it." The land that belongs to the Khitan people and their ancestors will be taken back sooner or later!" Li Tianhao couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart when he heard Yang Peng's unwavering words. Yang Peng glanced at Li Tianhao and said, "You Xixia people shouldn't be idiots. Can't you see that the Khitan people handed over those lands to you just to bring disaster to Jiangdong? You don't want to let go of this hot potato. Do you think you can swallow it with me?" Yun contends?"
Li Tianhao said proudly: "I have been in Xixia for more than a hundred years, and I have millions of armors. If I fight back with all my strength, even Yanyun will be hard-pressed to resist! It's just that His Majesty the Emperor of our country doesn't want people to die, but it's not because he is afraid of Yanyun! King Yan, don't bully others too much." !" Yelu Hanyu, who was dressed in military uniform, yelled angrily: "How outrageous!" But Li Tianhao was unyielding.
Yang Peng smiled faintly, "Xixia has eaten the bait of the Khitans and is unwilling to let go. Let's do this. You and I each take a step back. We don't ask you for Shaanxi and Gansu, and you don't want to talk about the three states of Hexi. , but the population that you took captive must be returned."
Li Tianhao shook his head, "No, if we don't return the three states of Hexi, we can't return the people to you!" He glanced at Yang Peng and said, "It's like doing business, you can't just take the goods for nothing and not pay the bills!"
Yelu Hanyu said angrily: "Don't make any mistake. It's not us who are asking you for peace, but you who are asking for peace from us! We have taken a step back, don't be ungrateful!" Li Tianhao said loudly: "Ruruotan. If we don’t get along, our monarchs and ministers in Great Xia will definitely fight back. That means millions of troops are approaching the river, huh..."
Yang Peng said calmly: "Don't always talk about your million-strong army. I really don't take it seriously! No matter how strong your million-strong army is, it can't be stronger than the million-strong army of the Liao Kingdom. After several fierce battles, The Khitans have suffered a huge defeat. They even lost the Central Plains and Shanxi! To tell you the truth, the reason why I am willing to have peace talks with you is simply because our main target is the Khitans and not you Xixia. If you don’t know what to do, What must be said is that millions of troops are approaching the river, huh, I, Yan Yun, have no choice but to adjust the established policy, from targeting the Liao Kingdom to targeting you Xixia! Change from destroying Liao to destroying Xixia!" In the last sentence, Yang Although Peng's tone was calm, the murderous and bloody meaning contained in it was chilling.
Li Tianhao couldn't help but feel flustered and remained silent for a long time. Yang Peng said: "Our conditions are what I just said. Of course you agree, it doesn't matter if you disagree." Li Tianhao knew that it was useless to say anything. "I can't make the decision on this matter. I must report it to His Majesty the Emperor of our country." Yang Peng nodded and glanced at Li Tianhao, "I will send an envoy back to Xixia with you to have a good discussion on this matter." "Yes. I excuse myself." Yang Peng nodded, and Li Tianhao saluted Yang Peng and left. .
Li Tianhao came out of Prince Yan's Mansion and let out a long sigh. He looked back at Prince Yan's Mansion, and for some reason, he couldn't help but feel palpitations in his heart. After gathering my mood, I boarded the car and went back to the hotel.
Halfway through the car, I lifted up the car curtain and looked outside. I saw that the shop next to me was crowded with people, and the streets were full of people. The noisy sound made me feel irritable.
After a while, a three-story teahouse not far away came into view. Guests came and went, which was also a very lively scene. Li Tianhao's heart moved and he quickly shouted: "Stop!" The carriage stopped. Li Tianhao got off the carriage, looked at the teahouse in front of him, and said to a follower beside him: "Tell everyone to go back first." So the follower said to everyone: "You go back to the guest house first!" Everyone responded and went to the guest house. OK. Li Tianhao led his entourage into the teahouse.
As soon as I entered the teahouse, my first feeling was: there are so many people! The first floor was already packed, with three or five guests sitting at each table, drinking tea and chatting, making it very noisy.
The two of them followed the stairs to the second floor. The second floor was equally crowded and noisy. However, at this moment, several customers near the window paid their bills and left, so the two of them walked over and sat down. The tea doctor quickly wiped the table clean with a large rag, and then collected the remaining tea soup and cups from the guests in front of him. He bowed and asked, "What do you two gentlemen want?"
Li Tianhao didn't mean it, so he said, "Whatever." Dr. Cha took a look at their clothes, said "wait a moment," and went down to make arrangements. After a while, Dr. Tea came back with a pot of phase difference, a plate of peanuts and a stack of fennel beans. He put it down on the table, said "use it slowly" and left.
The attendant immediately poured a full cup for Li Tianhao, and Li Tianhao picked up the teacup and took a sip. At this moment, a voice came from the table next to him: "Hey, our life is getting harder and harder!" Li Tianhao followed the sound and saw that the people at that table were all young people who looked like scholars. If you just listen to one person's anger and no one takes it seriously, what great achievements can you make! Despite the lively commotion now, I think it's just like Wang Mang, who won't be around for long! One person said with a self-deprecating smile: "It's not that we don't take scholars seriously. It should be said that we don't take Confucian scholars like us seriously!" "
The first person said angrily: "If you don't take us Confucian scholars seriously, you don't take the saints of Confucius and Mencius seriously! If you don't take the saints of Confucius and Mencius seriously, you are an unscrupulous person! What can an unscrupulous person do?" Do it?"
The other person lowered his voice and said with fear: "Don't say this, it will be bad if others hear it!" The first person glared and said: "What are you afraid of? Can't we say what he did?"
The reason why Li Tianhao came to the teahouse was just to know something about Yan Yun. Now that he heard the words of these Confucian scholars who were quite dissatisfied with King Yan, he couldn't help but feel happy in his heart. At this time, I heard one of them say: "We are now under the low eaves and have to bow our heads! Oh, saying this only makes us more depressed. Drink tea and drink tea!" Then there was a sound of drinking tea.
Li Tianhao thought for a while, stood up and walked over, clasping his fists and saying, "Masters, please be polite." The Confucian scholars turned around and saw a middle-aged man wearing exotic clothes, but they didn't take it to heart. They did not notice that Li Tianhao was wearing the official robes of Xixia. After all, the color and style of Xixia's official robes were so different from those of Yanyun and the imperial court that ordinary people could not tell at all.
Several Confucian scholars bowed their hands to Li Tianhao. One of them, a handsome Confucian scholar wearing a black Confucian shirt, said, "Sir, what advice do you have?" Li Tianhao said with a smile on his face: "I am a Party member and have admired the culture of the Central Plains for a long time, so I came to the Central Plains specially. Study, seeing that all the gentlemen are scholars, so I took the liberty to come to meet you!" Several Confucian scholars laughed, and the handsome Confucian scholar in black sighed, "Sir, you are really interested, but it's a pity that you have come to the wrong place! You have to study. Chinese culture should go to Bianjing, not here!"
Li Tianhao looked very puzzled, "I don't know why? I heard that King Yan is a great hero. I want to come to China to have the essence of Chinese culture, so I don't want to come thousands of miles away. But why does the young master say that I shouldn't come here?" Woolen cloth?"
A skinny Confucian scholar in white sneered: "The culture that even you foreigners yearn to admire is nothing more than a worn-out shoe for King Yan. Are you in the wrong place?" The Confucian scholar in black glared at the Confucian scholar in white: "Stop talking nonsense!" The scholar in white knew that he had made a mistake and quickly closed his mouth, feeling quite uneasy.
Li Tianhao asked curiously: "From what this young master said, it seems that King Yan doesn't care about scholars?"
The scholar in black said: "You can't say that." He looked at Li Tianhao and said, "There is no need to ask too many questions about these things, as they are of no use to you. In short, if you want to learn Chinese culture, it is better to go to Bianjing. But if you’re doing business, you can’t go wrong by coming to Yanyun!”
Li Tianhao saw that the scholar in black was very wary and knew that he could not ask anything, so he clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Master, for informing me." The scholar in black clasped his fists and said, "You're welcome!" Li Tianhao returned to his seat at the table and drank. Cha thought about it. Early the next morning, Qian Letian came to the guest house and met Li Tianhao. After the two sides exchanged some greetings, Qian Letian said: "Our envoy has been prepared. I wonder when your Excellency will set off?" Li Tianhao said: "The sooner the better. I will go and say goodbye to His Highness King Yan!" Qian Letian said He waved his hand and said, "No need, King Yan left Yanjing early this morning." "Oh? I wonder where King Yan went?"
Qian Letian said: "Went to Yuguan." Li Tianhao was very surprised. He naturally knew that Yuguan was one of the key passes at the junction of the north and the pass. He didn't understand what King Yan's intention was in going to Yuguan at this moment? He now subconsciously regards Yan Yun as his enemy, so Yan Yun's every move will arouse his special attention and thinking.
"What is Mr. Li thinking about?" Qian Letian asked. Li Tianhao came back to his senses and said with a smile: "Nothing." Then he frowned and asked: "Should I wait until King Yan comes back before leaving?"
Qian Letian smiled and waved his hands and said: "There's no need! King Yan told you before he left that he wants me to greet you with full authority on behalf of King Yan!" Li Tianhao nodded and said: "Then it's hard work!" After a pause, "I plan to do it tomorrow. We will set off back to Daxia early in the morning." Qian Letian nodded, "Okay, I will see you off tomorrow."
Then he stood up. Li Tianhao also stood up quickly. Qian Letian clasped his fists and said, "Master Li, have a good rest. I'm taking my leave." "I'll see you off, sir." Then he and Qian Letian left the guest house. The two said goodbye at the gate, and Qian Letian boarded the carriage. Li Tianhao looked at Qian Letian's carriage with a thoughtful expression on his face.
Yang Peng and his party entered Yuguan and went straight to the gate of Yuguan's camp. Lin Chong and others who had just received the news rushed out from the gate to greet them. Yang Peng got off his horse, walked through the door and came to the lobby surrounded by everyone. Yang Peng stepped into the upper chamber, turned around, and all the generals worshiped together: "Greetings to His Highness King Yan!"
Yang Peng smiled and said: "Brothers, there is no need to be polite!" Everyone felt warm in their hearts, straightened up and looked at Yang Peng. Yang Peng sat down and saw everyone standing, so he said, "Everyone, please sit down!" Everyone sat down. Yang Peng looked at Liu Zhiliang and asked, "Liu Zhiliang, is there anything new in Korea?"
Liu Zhiliang clasped his fists and said: "I just received news this morning that the princess of Liao led an army to repel the Japanese army that besieged Xijing in Goryeo. The Japanese army retreated sixty miles. Now the armies of the two sides are confronting each other. According to intelligence, the Japanese are constantly coming from the country. Mobilizing troops and supplies to Goryeo, the exact number is unknown, I only know a lot."
Yang Peng looked thoughtful and asked, "Is there any news from the martial arts practice?" Liu Zhiliang shook his head, "Not yet." Yang Peng said, "As soon as there is any news from the martial arts practice, tell me immediately." "Yes. "
Yang Peng glanced at the generals and said with a smile: "You all go about your own business, there is no need to accompany me as an idler." Everyone smiled, and Liu Zhiliang said to the generals: "Everyone, go and do your own thing! "Everyone bowed to Yang Peng and exited the hall. Liu Zhiliang turned around and said to Yang Peng: "My younger brother immediately packed up the camp for my elder brother to live in!"
Yang Peng waved his hand, stood up, walked to Liu Zhiliang, and said with a smile: "We have set up a military camp outside the city. I can live there." "But..." Yang Peng said: "It's too hot in the city. It's cooler outside. If you have anything, come and report to me outside the city." Seeing Yang Peng's insistence, Liu Zhiliang said nothing more and clasped his fists in agreement.
Yang Peng and his party left Yuguan on horseback and came to the camp on the outskirts. The camp is located on the bank of a creek, in a pine forest, and is surrounded by a green screen-like mountain range. Although the sun is scorching, it is very cool in the camp. A gust of wind blows, bringing with it the coolness of grass and green water. The fragrant fragrance makes people feel particularly comfortable from the skin to the internal organs.
Yang Peng returned to his tent and saw Yelu Hanyu kneeling at the desk not far away, preparing a kind of food unique to the grassland. Yelu Hanyu changed out of Han Chinese clothes and put on a dress unique to Khitan women. The attire is less feminine, but more wild. At this moment, Yelu Hanyu really looks like a Khitan woman waiting for her husband to return in a tent.
Yang Peng felt tenderness in his heart, walked forward, knelt down next to her, and kissed her cheek, "Why are you alone here? Where are the others?" Yelu Hanyu said with a smile: " It was a rare trip for them, so they were so happy that they went sightseeing!" The two people were talking about Chai Yonghui, Yang Tong, Zhao Jinxi and others, as well as the princess Zhao Lihua. That day, everyone heard that Yang Peng was going to Yuguan, and they all Very depressed, Yang Peng naturally felt uncomfortable when he saw this scene. Suddenly, he had an idea and thought that there was no danger in going to Yuguan and the distance was not too far. Why not take them all with him? Not only do things, but also travel around, isn't it the best of both worlds? Thinking of this, Yang Peng told his thoughts to the girls, who were all overjoyed when they heard it. So Yang Peng went to Yuguan this time, and all the princesses from the Yan Palace also came. The reason why Yang Peng did not live in the traveling camp but in the camp outside was to make it easier for everyone to play.
While the two were talking, a woman's voice came from outside the tent. The voice should be Zhao Lihua.
The two of them looked toward the door, and saw the curtain lifted, and three graceful women walked in. The one at the head was Zhao Lihua, and two personal maids followed behind her. When Zhao Lihua saw Yang Peng, she was very happy and wanted to go up and talk to him, but she controlled her impulse. After all, Yelu Hanyu was present. She was embarrassed and unwilling to show too much enthusiasm. Yingying bowed: "I have met King Yan!"
Yang Peng walked up to Zhao Lihua, helped her up, and said with a smile: "It's not a formal occasion, so there is no need to be so polite!" Zhao Lihua glanced at Yelu Hanyu and smiled slightly, "Brother, I will help Princess Yelu prepare lunch." Yang Peng smiled and nodded. Zhao Lihua came to the side of Yelu Tri and smiled slightly, "Princess Yelu, let me help you." Yelu Tri smiled, "Okay," pointed to a bucket of milk next to him, "Please invite Princess Lihua Boil the milk and give it to me." Zhao Lihua agreed, and then asked the two palace maids to carry the bucket of milk down. The women were doing physical work, and their delicate and timid appearance was really touching. .
Just as the three people left, two more people came in, sisters Jin Xiuying and Jin Xiuwen, carrying a bucket of water. Putting down the buckets, the two women wiped the sweat from their foreheads. Only then did they see Yang Peng and hurriedly bowed: "I have met His Highness King Yan!" Yang Peng asked with a smile: "What did you do?" Jin Xiuying said: "Fetch some clean water according to the instructions of the princess." At this time, Yelu Hanyu called out: "Bring the water here quickly!" The two women responded, and immediately worked together to lift the bucket of clean water to Yelu Han. Next to Yu, things started to get busy under the command of Yelutri.
Yang Peng felt that he, a grown man, couldn't just watch the women do their work, so he rolled up his sleeves and said, "I'll help too. What do I do?" Yelu Hanyu looked at Yang Peng while working and said with a smile, " Why are you, a grown man, doing this! Just don’t get in the way here, go out for a walk, come back during dinner, and I’ll keep it as a surprise for you!”
Yang Peng chuckled. Yelu Hanyu turned her head and concentrated on her work, instructing the Jin sisters to do this and that from time to time. Seeing that he couldn't help, Yang Peng left the tent. When I came to the creek and walked along it, I couldn't help but think of the war that is happening in Goryeo. Yang Peng felt that things were really confusing! He smiled bitterly and sighed involuntarily.
Li Tianhao and Yang Peng's envoys hurried on the road and soon arrived at the capital of Xixia, whereupon the two sides began a new round of bargaining. The right prime minister rushed back to the mansion through his good offices, wrote a secret letter, called for his confidant, and ordered him to be sent to the right general's barracks immediately. After receiving the secret message from Prime Minister You, Li Yuanzhong, the right general, immediately led his 100,000 troops to leave Jianing Military Division and secretly go south, directly driving towards Yan'an Prefecture.
What happened after all, let’s see what happens next.
