When Cao Mansion's carriage arrived at the Imperial City, most places in Bianjing were still in the silent night.
Only the Imperial Street near the Imperial City was brightly lit and steaming with steam. The people nearby were setting up stalls to sell breakfast to the officials.
The weather in November of the imperial calendar was already very cold, but Cao Bin was in good health and didn't care. He threw his fox fur cloak on the carriage and jumped out of the carriage wearing purple court clothes.
"Master, what did the princess do to eat?"
The sedan chair asked while helping Cao Bin organize his court clothes.
Cao Bin glanced at him with disgust and said:
"There are also two roasted lamb legs and a steamed duck, which is enough for you!"
When the sedan heard this, he immediately laughed happily...
At this moment, several officials trotted over holding meat buns and cooking cakes. The fastest one said with a flattering smile on his face:
"Congratulations to the Marquis for his brave new achievements, eradicating traitors and purging the court in one fell swoop!"
"Yesterday, I wanted to pay my respects, but unfortunately the Marquis was not at home, so I had to leave the courtesy of meeting him and plan to visit again on another day."
Cao Bin wanted to say something casually, but when he heard this, he couldn't help but patted his shoulder and said with a smile:
"This is the joy of the country, you are not bad, I am optimistic about you."
After saying that, he walked towards the imperial city surrounded by everyone.
The official was flattered by Cao Bin's words, as if he was hit by a huge surprise, and he didn't react for a long time.
Some of the others were envious, while others secretly regretted it:
"Well, I visited yesterday. I heard that the Marquis was not here and I went home directly. If I had known..."
Everyone knows that after this coup, Cao Bin's rise has become unstoppable.
In the past, Cao Bin was only sought after by officials of his own line. Now many officials who like speculation, especially those who are somewhat involved with Wang Yanling, are eager to have a relationship with Cao Bin.
With the fall of Wang Yanling and a major change in the government, there will definitely be a large number of officials promoted and demoted. Even if they don't expect to be promoted, they don't want to be demoted to a place where nothing matters.
In fact, how did they know that the relations in the Hou Mansion were all guided by Pang Ji and others and controlled by Uncle Fu, and the gift was not received because the Hou Mansion was short of money.
That shows that this person still has some value and is worth winning over and protecting, so he releases a little signal.
If there is no valuable official, even if he wants to give gifts, Uncle Fu will not accept them.
At this time, Kou Zhun had just had his teeth checked and was about to enter the palace. When he saw Cao Bin being surrounded by many officials, people on both sides were trying to please and flatter him, he couldn't help but snorted, feeling unhappy in his heart.
Coupled with the incident at Princess Zhaoyang's residence yesterday, he was now extremely unhappy with Cao Bin.
So, if you have any pointers:
"It's gratifying to be successful as a young man, but indulging in alcohol and sex will ruin a good future!"
"The threat of Liaoxia is very close at hand. Can Marquis Zhongjing think of a way to defeat it? What preparations have he made?"
After saying that, without waiting for Cao Bin's response, he put away his teeth and went into the palace.
Cao Bin looked around and asked as if nothing had happened:
"Will I indulge in wine and sex? I think Kou Zhiyuan is jealous and slanders me."
The surrounding officials laughed and nodded in agreement:
"Master Marquis has so many things to do and is so busy that he can't take time off. How could he indulge in wine and sex? Master Kou must have misunderstood. He misunderstood..."
Under the compliments of all the officials, Cao Bin walked into the middle hall of the Tailu Courtyard, greeted several important ministers who had arrived early, and started chatting with Taijun She on the main couch.
Looking at Cao Bin's appearance, She Taijun couldn't help but sigh when he thought of what it was like when he first entered the officialdom a few years ago.
It has only been a few years, but the other party has already taken the main seat in the waiting courtyard, which can only be occupied by several husbands. There is quite a feeling that things are different and people are different.
However, the eighth sister was pregnant and the Yang family also had hope. She was still in a happy mood. For the sake of this child, she specially sent several of the eighth sister's sisters-in-law to Huaidong to take care of her...
Seeing that they were talking happily, Kou Zhun was so angry that he could only flick the coals in front of him to vent his anger.
He originally thought that after Cao Bin entered the room, he would ask him about Ji Liao and Xia, but he did not expect that Cao Bin did not care about the matter at all, making him feel that all his efforts were in vain.
"Boom, boom, boom"
With the sound of bells and drums, it was already time to go to court, and all the officials hurriedly got up and arranged their shifts to go to Chui Gong Hall.
After Queen Mother Pan took Pang Yanyan to the throne to receive the ceremony, she lightly opened her red lips and said:
"Now that the government is unstable and affairs are complicated, the top priority is to dismantle the Liao and Xia's intention to take advantage of the Song Dynasty."
As she said that, she looked at Cao Bin expectantly:
"Cao Qing's family, you said yesterday that you would talk to the envoy in person, but have you already made a plan?"
Cao Bin smiled disapprovingly and replied:
"Don't worry, Madam, there won't be any trouble in Liaoxia!"
Queen Mother Pan nodded and said:
"Okay, I will summon two envoys..."
Kou Zhun couldn't help shouting after hearing this:
"My dear, wait a minute. I would like to remind Marquis Zhongjing that even though the envoys of Liao and Xia can be bullied, the monarchs and ministers of Liao and Xia should not be despised."
"I also hope that Marquis Zhongjing will restrain his temper a little, so as not to make Liao and Xia feel humiliated and trigger a war between the three parties. If this is the case, it will be of no benefit to our Song Dynasty."
In the end, he couldn't help but speak earnestly.
Hearing this, Queen Mother Pan also thought of Cao Bin's temper, and couldn't help but feel nervous, and hurriedly warned:
"Kou Zhiyuan said it right. Cao Qing should restrain himself and not act recklessly."
She didn't want to go to war with Liao Xia as soon as she won the throne. If she started the war at this time, even if she won, both sides would lose. It was really not a favorable opportunity for the Song Dynasty.
Hearing Queen Mother Pan's answer, Kou Zhun was a little flattered.
This was the first time that Queen Mother Pan had listened to advice like this, and she also had implicit praise, which moved him quite a bit. It was obvious that Queen Mother Pan felt the same way about Cao Bin's harm.
At this time, he had an inexplicable feeling of confidant.
When the ministers heard what he said, they also felt that it was reasonable and hurriedly tried to persuade Cao Bin, leaving him quite speechless.
Are you the kind of person who acts recklessly?
In the final analysis, the years of suppression by Northern Liao made them too wary of the Liao-Xia Alliance, so even if they were willing to fight to the death, they often unconsciously amplified the disadvantages of the Song Dynasty.
It was useless for Cao Bin to explain to them. Only by letting them see Liao Xia's true attitude would they understand.
Seeing that Cao Bin was finally persuaded by herself and her ministers to give in, Empress Pan couldn't help but smile and wave her hands:
"Okay, I still trust Cao Qing. Let's summon the Liao and Xia envoys now!"
After Queen Mother Pan discussed the bottom line with the ministers, the envoys from Liao and Xia also arrived, but the Xixia envoy had been replaced by Wei Mingwei Ge from Zhang Yanshou.
He had been working hard for days and arrived in Bianjing at midnight last night. After sleeping for an hour or two, he was invited to the palace. At this time, his eyes were all red.
After saluting, Yeluyi couldn't wait any longer and said carelessly:
"The Queen Mother, the Song Dynasty is already in civil strife. Have you agreed on how much money you want to lend me to the Liao Dynasty?"
Hearing this, Brother Wei Mingwei suddenly became energetic, his eyes suddenly became a little brighter, and he had already encouraged Yeluyi secretly.
Queen Mother Pan glanced at Cao Bin and said:
"Forgive me, Ambassador Liao, but our Song Dynasty is also financially strapped, so I'm afraid it will be difficult..."
Cao Bin shook his head and interrupted:
"It's not that it's difficult to borrow, it's that you can't borrow a penny. I can lend the Song Dynasty's money to Jiao Siluo, or temporarily lend it to Goryeo, but I won't lend it to Liao."
"Because you don't pay back the money you owe. If you want to borrow it again, you can first pay back the money you owed me Da Song last year. If you don't have money, return the land!"
When the ministers heard this, they were immediately speechless. Is this your restraint? Even if you have to charge a lot of money and pay back the money on the ground, you still have to be tactful, right? In contrast, this is the rhythm of taking the initiative to start a war...
Sure enough, when the Liao envoy heard this, he was so angry that he shouted:
"Cao Bin, you are insulting me, Daliao...Okay, okay, okay, just wait for my Majesty to send troops!"
After that, he rolled up his sleeves and left:
"Your Majesty, let's go and send troops to attack the Song Dynasty!"
