The lean Yuan Chonghuan and the chubby envoy Lingyang Jun sat together, one fat and one thin complementing each other.
After half an hour of friendly negotiations, the two finally reached an agreement on sending troops to North Korea.
Yuan Chonghuan had already given the North Korean envoy a gift of five hundred taels of silver in advance.
After opening up the relationship, it will not be so difficult for the chubby North Korean businessman to betray his country's interests.
"Have you seen Xu Xiake? He looks like a refugee. He is thinner and darker than me."
Yuan Chonghuan spoke very unauthentic Mandarin in the Ming Dynasty, so he had to make gestures to the Koreans.
"Mr. Xu is a master of the Ming Dynasty and is good at Feng Shui. There is a large mine in Maoshan County, North Korea. He will assist in the mining. You will transport the ore to Yanji, and we will send people there to buy the iron ore at a price. In the future, it can only be sold to Kaiji. It turns out that it is no longer allowed to be smuggled to slaves."
"There are also Daxia Island, Shenmi Island, and Jiao Island south of Dandong and at the mouth of the Yalu River. Look, they are here."
Yuan Chonghuan stretched out his finger to show the North Koreans that on the map full of freehand style, Liu Zhaosun had marked the treaty ports.
"These islands are all uninhabited, and it would be a pity to leave them in the hands of Lord Ayang. We want to lease them and use them as a place for business and trade, so that Korean citizens can purchase goods from the Ming Dynasty."
The fat businessman looked at Yuan Chonghuan blankly.
The mining operation was barely acceptable, since Ping Liaohou promised to pay him anyway. Leasing an island is a bit sensational.
The North Korean envoy took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat on his forehead, then asked bravely:
"What about the third one?"
Seeing that this man was very polite, Yuan Chonghuan smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Hahaha, your Majesty, there is no need to panic. The third item is a happy event."
"General Liu will marry Jin. In March next year, Jin will return to Ning, and Marquis Ping Liao will accompany him. Jin lost his father when he was young, and Marquis Ping Liao hopes that Jun Lingyang can receive him grandly, so don't neglect it. By then, Marquis Ping Liao will be there. A great gift to Korea."
The messenger nodded, and it seemed like relatives were chatting.
"That's natural. Marquis Pingliao has condescended to take charge of you, and the small country has flourished. Don't worry, sir, you will not lose your etiquette."
"May I ask Mr. Yuan, how much is the rent for the three islands? How long will the lease last?"
Yuan Chonghuan stretched out five fingers.
"I'll give you five hundred taels of silver every year and lease it for fifty years!"
~~~~~
On that day, Yuan Chonghuan signed an alliance with the North Korean envoys, establishing terms such as mining and trade. Since the 47th year of Wanli was the Jiwei year, it was known as the "Jiwei Treaty" in history.
When we left the military camp that night, snow particles fell from the dark night sky, making a rustling sound on the fish scales.
Liu Zhaosun and Yuan Chong rode back to the city. Before they reached the city gate, the snow particles turned into heavy snow, and a thick layer quickly accumulated on the ground. It was already the beginning of Haishi when Liu Zhao and Sun returned to their house despite the snow.
Yang Qing'er, Jin Yu Ji and others rested early. He filled himself with hot water to wash himself and soaked his feet, so that his frozen body was slightly warmed.
Liu Zhaosun pushed open the ajar door. The candlelight in the room was still flickering, and books were scattered on the bed and quilt.
Gently shake the snow off the armor.
He worked so hard, overcame thorns and settled in Liaodong, just to protect the person in front of him.
A corner of the quilt was lifted, revealing a patch of white flowers underneath. The North Korean girl was deeply asleep and still talking in her sleep in a low voice.
Her rosy face looked even more soft and pretty, which was different from her usual heroic demeanor.
Liu Zhaosun smiled slightly and covered her with the slippered quilt again. Jin Yuji fell into a deep sleep and did not wake up.
He couldn't help but want to pinch her face again.
Seeing that the fire in the corner of the room was extinguished, he added more coals to the stove.
With the candlelight burning like a bean, I picked up "The Complete Biography of Shuo Yue" that Jin Yuji had just read, and flipped through a few pages. There was a low drumbeat on the street, and it was midnight.
After closing the book, a burst of tiredness came over me. I hurriedly took off my armor and lay down gently next to Jin Yuji.
Just as he closed his eyes, Jin Yuji's lotus-rooted arms climbed up from behind and rested on Liu Zhaosun's neck.
Liu Zhaosun knew that the girl was pretending to sleep just now, so he pinched her fingers, which made Jin Yuji scream in pain.
"Jingzhe is getting married, don't make trouble."
"Why do officials have to wait until they get married?" Jin Yuji looked at Liu Zhaosun with sleepy eyes, like the moonlight in autumn.
"In order to straighten you out in the future, so that others won't talk nonsense."
Liu Zhaosun made nonsense, but in fact he didn't know the reason for doing so.
Either they feel sorry for Jin Yuji's life experience and don't want her to suffer any further injustice, or they are anxious about Kaiyuan's future, worrying that everything will be destroyed in the next second.
Jin Yuji was moved. At this moment, Liu Zhaosun was breathing heavily. She suddenly hugged the official tightly and said in a sweet voice:
"The slave family is not afraid of gossip! That day, Mrs. Gaoming said that she would enter the bridal chamber with you. She can, why can't the slave family? In the past few times, the officials were secretive and used excuses to delay. Could it be that Long Yang is really good? The slave family today We must verify the authenticity..."
I don’t know how Jin Yuji tested the authenticity that night. The author has neither seen it nor remembered it. This is a suspicious case and I dare not compile it.
At dawn the next day, heavy snow fell, and Kaiyuan City was covered in silver.
After Liu Zhaosun finished washing, he looked up at the falling snow. The snow in the yard had already covered his calves.
"Suffered."
At present, the mountains are blocked by heavy snow. It is very dangerous to walk in the mountains on horseback, let alone on foot. It will definitely not be possible to reach Kuandian in less than ten days and a half.
When he was in Saarhu, he walked through the mountain roads around Kuandian twice and knew the dangers on the road.
"It seems that Kang Yingqian's wish has been fulfilled. He will not be able to leave Kaiyuan a year ago. I don't know what happened to Qiao Dazui."
Liu Zhaosun raised his head and sighed. The tower in the distance was almost covered with heavy snow. He silently accepted the reality. Returned to the house and began to enjoy the rare long vacation.
As soon as he left the courtyard gate, he suddenly heard a banging sound coming from the street, like the explosion of a firecracker. Liu Zhaosun was shocked. Which troops would appear in Kaiyuan City at this time?
When I was confused, I looked up and saw that it was children setting off firecrackers outside.
He grinned, his battlefield syndrome getting worse.
The Chinese New Year will be here in a few days, and there are more vendors selling candied haws and pastries along the street, attracting more children.
This was the first time Liu Zhaosun celebrated the New Year in the Ming Dynasty. He felt that the customs and habits were similar to those of later generations, but there were more red tapes.
The people of Kaiyuan, who had experienced two bloody battles, cherished the rare peaceful life now. Many people had prepared New Year's goods early. Liu Zhaosun estimated that many forces would come to visit him during the New Year.
On the last seven days of the forty-seventh year of Wanli, Pingliao Marquis Liu Zhaosun hung out with Yang Qing'er and Jin Yuji every day.
The three of them would hang out together or drink from a pot. Before going to bed every day, Liu Zhaosun would tell Jin Yuji a story. She had already finished reading the ones he bought from the capital last time. What Liu Zhaosun was telling her now was "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" by Pu Songling. Jin Yuji was frightened to death every time, but she still pestered Liu Zhaosun to tell her the story.
The days passed quickly.
It's New Year's Eve in a blink of an eye, and Kaiyuan City is bustling with activity, and the city is filled with roars, drums, and spring smoke.
Everyone wants to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new year as soon as possible. Kaiyuan in the forty-seventh year of Wanli was too tragic. I hope General Liu can make everyone have a good life in the new year.
The happiness of Liu Zhaosun's family of three has reached its peak.
After a sumptuous midnight meal, the three young men stayed up all night playing horse-drawn games. Liu Zhaosun lost all his silver coins, and Jin Yuji also lost five coins, all of which were won by Yang Qing'er.
The three of them drank hot tea, and Liu Zhaosun walked into the small courtyard holding the hands of the two girls. The morning stars flickered for a long time.
It is already the second year of Taichang.
Lewen
