This year, Emperor Tianzha of the Liao Kingdom celebrated his birthday and sent a special invitation to the Southern Dynasty court, inviting the Southern Dynasty to send officials to attend the celebration. The Southern Dynasty is the name of the Liao Kingdom for the Northern Song Dynasty.
After the Chanzhou Alliance, the Liao Kingdom and the Northern Song Dynasty shook hands and made peace, and the two sides became brotherly countries. Whenever there was a happy event, they would send missions to each other to celebrate.
This time, the Liao Kingdom sent an invitation to the Northern Song Dynasty. In addition to inviting the Northern Song Dynasty to participate in the birthday celebration of Emperor Tianzha, it also had another purpose, which was to consolidate friendly relations with the Northern Song Dynasty. Because at this time, the Jin Kingdom, which was prosperous in the northeast, was at war with the Liao Kingdom.
The Jin Kingdom was a country founded by the Jurchens. It was very brave and had won successive victories in the war with the Liao Kingdom. The Liao Kingdom was in danger of being destroyed.
It was under this circumstance that Tong Guan went to Liao as an envoy on behalf of the Northern Song Dynasty.
After receiving the invitation letter from the Liao Kingdom, Emperor Huizong spent a lot of time thinking about who to send as ambassador to the Liao Kingdom.
In fact, this matter is not complicated. All you need to do is dispatch a certain number of officials.
However, Emperor Huizong felt that the ambassador sent to Liao this time must be powerful and majestic and must be able to control the Liao court, thus showing the majesty of the Song Dynasty.
In addition, this matter later became a complicated matter because Tong Guan took the initiative in front of Emperor Huizong and asked to be an ambassador to the Liao Kingdom to celebrate Emperor Tianzuo's birthday.
The reason given by Tong Guan was to check the military strength of the Liao Kingdom.
Prior to this, Tong Guan had won many victories in succession against the Qingtang and Xixia, which greatly pleased Emperor Huizong. He was promoted to Privy Councilor, Inspector of Schools, Commander-in-Chief of the Northwest Military, and many other positions. His military authority was temporarily reduced. No one can match him.
Tong Guan is an ambitious person. Because Tong Guan had won many victories in Qingtang and Xixia, his ambitions expanded. He felt that since he could use troops against Qingtang and Xixia and win, he could also use troops against Liao; if everything went well, he could use troops against Liao. It is not impossible for the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun that Shi Jingtang gave to the Khitan during the Later Jin Dynasty to be recovered. Tong Guan thought to himself that if the territory of Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures was really taken back, he would become the biggest contributor since the founding of the Song Dynasty.
Regarding the recovery of the territory of the Sixteenth State of Yanyun, it was the dream of the Song Dynasty. From Taizu, Taizong to Zhenzong, they always thought about regaining the Sixteenth State of Yanyun. Especially Emperor Taizong, who was besieged by Liao soldiers and horses because he had recaptured the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun and went to the front line in person. If Dalang Yanping of the Yang family had not been a stand-in, he might have died long ago.
Tong Guan thought to himself, if the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, which had been lost to the Khitan since the Later Jin Dynasty, were recaptured in his own hands, how much credit would that be? !In the next thousands of years, my achievements and my image will probably be a towering monument that no one can match. At that time, who dares to look down upon me as an eunuch? ! Who dares to underestimate me as a eunuch? ! You are not eunuchs or eunuchs. Go and recover the territory of Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures and show it to me, an eunuch and eunuch.
Tong Guan was filled with ambition and excitement because of this thought.
At this time, the Liao Kingdom sent an invitation to the imperial court for the birthday celebration of Emperor Tianzuo, inviting the imperial court to send a delegation to the Liao Kingdom to participate in the birthday celebration of Emperor Tianzuo of the Liao Kingdom. According to the usual practice, the imperial court indeed sent a mission to Zhongjing of the Liao Kingdom to congratulate Emperor Tianzuo of the Liao Kingdom on his birthday.
Tong Guan felt that this was an opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so he went to court to see Emperor Huizong and proposed to serve as an ambassador to the Liao Kingdom and to investigate the military situation of the Liao Kingdom.
At that time, Emperor Huizong was considering sending a mission to the Liao Kingdom, thinking of sending a tall and mighty person to show the majesty of the court. Now I saw that Tong Guan took the initiative to ask for the tassel. I also saw that Tong Guan was tall, mighty and majestic, with a thick beard on his chin. He was very popular. Moreover, in recent years, Tong Guan has continuously used troops against Qingtang and Xixia and won consecutive victories. He indeed has military talents. It is also appropriate to give Emperor Tianzha an opportunity to celebrate his birthday and understand the military situation of Liao Kingdom. Thinking like this, but without thinking deeply, Emperor Huizong agreed to Tong Guan's request and decided to send Tong Guan as ambassador to lead a delegation to Zhongjing of Liao Kingdom to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Tianzha.
As we all know, Tong Guannai is an eunuch. The ministers of the imperial court were shocked when they heard that Huizong sent Tong Guan as an envoy to Liao Dynasty. They wrote letters one after another, saying: There are so many talents in the Song Dynasty, why should a eunuch be sent as an envoy? Sending eunuchs as envoys to other countries has never been heard of since ancient times. It damages the national dignity and loses the national integrity. Moreover, it is an insult and contempt for other countries. This is not feasible.
As soon as the ministers objected, Emperor Huizong hesitated; however, Tong Guan insisted on sending an envoy to the Liao Kingdom, which made Emperor Huizong very embarrassed.
Seeing that Emperor Tianzuo's birthday was coming soon, he had to quickly send an envoy to celebrate the birthday of Lord Liao. Otherwise, it would be a long journey and he would not be able to arrive in time. It would be rude to miss Emperor Tianzuo's birthday celebration. After much deliberation, Emperor Huizong adopted a compromise approach and appointed Zheng Yunzhong, a bachelor of Duanming Palace, as the envoy to congratulate the Lord of Liao on his birthday, and Tong Guan as his deputy, to go to Zhongjing of Liao Kingdom to congratulate Emperor Tianzuo on his birthday.
In this case, the ministers in the court still objected and did not agree to send Tong Guan, believing that this move would harm the national character and lose the national system.
Faced with this situation, Huizong personally took care of Tong Guan and comforted the ministers softly: "The Khitan heard that Tong Taiwei was very good at using troops and defeated the Western Qiang, so he wanted to see him. A gentleman has the beauty of a man. What's more, I am a great king of the Song Dynasty. ?! Therefore, I sent Lieutenant Tong to go there, in the name of celebrating his birthday, but actually to investigate the military affairs of his country. This is the best policy, so please don’t stop him anymore."
When the ministers saw what Emperor Huizong said, they could no longer insist on their objections.
As a result, Tong Guan was able to go to Liao as an envoy.
Later, Zheng Yunzhong and Tong Guan, together with the Song Dynasty envoy, set out from Bianjing and meandered northward. Along the way, they inevitably showed off and showed off their prestige as officials in the capital.
When local officials heard that Privy Tong Tong Taiwei had arrived, they all waited at the border of their offices to welcome Tong Guan's arrival.
Why do local officials praise Tong Guan so highly? The reason is that Tong Guan always likes the set of welcoming and sending off.
During the Chongning period, Tong Guan was appointed as the envoy of the Xihe Lanhuang and Qinfeng Road economic and pacification systems. He was the highest military officer on the northwest front line of the Song Dynasty. He had overwhelming power, and he was extremely powerful. No matter where he went, he would always be the frontier general. Everyone is welcome and sent off, but Tongguan Ma leads the way. At that time, there was a man named Qian Ang, who was the magistrate of Qinzhou and the pacifier of Qin Fenglu. He couldn't stand Tong Guan's vanity and exaggeration, so he humiliated him on the spot.
However, how many people are as upright as Qian Ang? Therefore, while the joke about Tong Guan being humiliated by Qian Ang was being circulated, everyone also knew the way Tong Guan was greeted and sent away. From then on, wherever Tong Guan went, local officials greeted him grandly to please Tong Guan.
Now, Tong Guan sets off from Bianjing. Along the way, Zheng Yunzhong, a bachelor of Duanming Palace, was obviously the envoy to congratulate the Lord of Liao on his birthday, and Tong Guan was his deputy. However, Tong Guan was extremely high-profile, riding a tall horse, walking in front of Zheng Yunzhong, as if he was the envoy to congratulate the Lord of Liao on his birthday, and Zheng Yunzhong was his deputy. . Tong Guan accepted the greetings from local officials calmly, regardless of Zheng Yunzhong's feelings as the chief envoy.
Tong Guan is a military official, and Zheng Yunzhong is a civil official. When a scholar meets a soldier, he cannot explain politely. What's more, the gentle Zheng Yunzhong met the strong and domineering Tong Guan. Therefore, Zheng Yunzhong had no choice but to be humble and follow Tong Guan's temperament. That Tong Guan, who will be outside, can't help but be handsome, show off, and domineering, so majestic.
Tong Guan and Zheng Yunzhong led the delegation to celebrate the birthday of the Lord of Liao. They traveled day and night, and after seven or eight days, they arrived in front of the Marco Polo Bridge on the outskirts of Yanjing, Liao State.
When Tong Guan and Zheng Yunzhong's large envoys arrived in the Liao Kingdom, they naturally aroused the attention of the Liao people. On both sides of the road, there were many Liao people wearing strange clothes and three-point hairstyles. They had long necks and their eyes were running wildly, looking at the advancing delegation of the Song Dynasty to celebrate the birthday of the Lord Liao in surprise.
Suddenly, a man walked out from the crowd, knelt down in the middle of the road, and shouted loudly: "Ma Zhi, an old citizen of the Central Plains, pays homage to Ambassador Tong."
Although Tong Guan was the deputy envoy to celebrate the birthday of the Lord of Liao, in front of the envoy Zheng Yunzhong, he thought that he was the envoy and everything was decided by him. Zheng Yunzhong was just a supporter and a foil. Therefore, along the way, Tong Guan shouted and stood up in front of the envoy who was not the envoy.
At this moment, Tong Guan was riding a tall horse and was walking at the front of the team, accepting the admiration of the Liao people. Suddenly a man walked out and knelt in the middle of the road. Tong Guan was really frightened and he stopped hastily. Got the horse. After hearing the man shouting: "Ma Zhi, an old citizen of the Central Plains, pays homage to Mr. Tong," Tong Guan immediately became proud, and the fright he just felt disappeared.
Tong Guan lowered his head and said to Ma Zhi who was lying on the ground: "I am Tong Guan, the privy envoy of the Song Dynasty and the inspector of the school. Who are you? Why do you want to see me?"
Tong Guan did not report that he was the deputy envoy to celebrate the birthday of the Lord of Liao, but reported that he was in the imperial court. Obviously, the job description for this trip included a subtitle, which Tong Guan was unwilling to do.
Who is this Ma Zhi? Why do you want to meet Tong Guan?
It turns out that Ma Zhi originally served as Guanglu Qing and Deputy History of Ningbian Prefecture in the Liao Kingdom. Later, he abandoned his official position and returned to his hometown. He returned to Youzhou and agreed with his sworn brother Jia Shizhong to sell horses as a business for the time being. When the opportunity arises, return to the motherland of the Central Plains.
Ma Zhi's ancestor was a Han citizen in the Central Plains. He himself had long yearned for the Heavenly Kingdom and wanted to use his talents to obtain an official position in the Heavenly Kingdom. Not long ago, Ma Zhi heard that the Southern Dynasty had sent a delegation to celebrate the birthday of the Lord of Liao, including Lord Tong Guantong, so he waited by the road every day, waiting for the arrival of the Southern Dynasty, and made friends with Lord Tong Guantong to create conditions for him to return to his homeland.
Now, the Southern Dynasty delegation was in front of them. How could Ma Zhi let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? So he crossed the road, knelt down and shouted loudly: "Ma Zhi, an old citizen of the Central Plains, pays homage to Ambassador Tong."
Ma Zhi, who was kneeling in the middle of the road, heard that the person riding on the horse and riding at the front was Lord Tong Guantong. He looked up and saw that Tong Guan was tall and powerful, with a majestic appearance and a flowing beard. He was indeed an extraordinary person. , not like the eunuch in the rumors.
Ma Zhi knew that the man on the horse was Tong Guan, the deputy envoy sent by the Song Dynasty to the Liao Kingdom to celebrate the birthday of the Lord of Liao. He also heard Tong Guan ask why he wanted to meet him, so he thought it was an opportunity and hurriedly shouted: "Ambassador Tong! You listen to me!"
After the call was finished, Ma Zhi sang in a tragic tone:
"A hundred years ago, something happened and the country changed its owner.
I hate that Shi Jingtang betrayed his country and sought glory.
I think we were originally neutron citizens;
Now he has become a barbarian Liao people.
I endured the humiliation and served as an official in Liao State.
He served as the third-rank official of Guangluqing.
Living in the heart of Liao Dynasty and thinking about it at night in Song Dynasty,
My chest is filled with the love of my motherland and my eyes are looking southward.
I hope that the Heavenly Master will march northward to conquer,
An envoy from my motherland is here today.
When I see a small man, I look up to the sun and the moon when I see a great commander.
If you have any clever ideas to offer, please listen. "
When Ma Zhi met Tong Guan, he spoke very respectfully, told his situation and wishes, and finally said he had a clever plan to offer.
Tong Guan was flattered by Ma Zhi and was scratching his itch. His vanity was satisfied and he was so happy that he let Ma Zhi lie down. He also got off the horse and came to Ma Zhi to ask about the situation in Liao. How is the national strength?
Due to time constraints, Ma Zhi briefly talked about the situation in the Liao Kingdom, and then offered Tong Guan a great "eternal plan".
