September 25, the first year of Jin Zhengda, Tokyo City, Imperial Palace, Daqing Hall.
Jin Emperor Wanyan Shouxu had just ascended the throne. His 26th birthday was much simpler because his father Jin Xuanzong died of illness and he was still in the filial piety period.
There was no celebration between the government and the public, and no envoys from various countries congratulating each other. Instead, Taoist priests and monks from Taoist temples and temples outside the city were invited to chant sutras in the palace to ward off evil spirits and wish the emperor a happy birthday.
During the reign of King Hailing of Jin, a fire broke out in the third year of Zhenyuan (1155). The buildings in the original Song Palace in Tokyo City were burned down, and the Daqing Hall used for grand ceremonies was also built separately. There are two floors facing each other in front of the palace, Jiafu in the east and Jiarui in the west, but their scale is far less than that of the Northern Song Dynasty.
"I congratulate Your Majesty on his birthday!"
In the Daqing Hall, the ministers of the Jin Dynasty, including Pingzhang Wanyan Saibu, Privy Deputy Chizhan Hexi, Councilor Wanyan Heda, Councilor Councilor Li Qi, Shangshu Zuocheng Zhang Xingxin, Minister of Rites Zhang Tiangang and others, raised their glasses together. , congratulations to the gold master Wanyan Shouxu on the throne.
"Zhao Hong, the envoy of the Song Dynasty, congratulates His Majesty on his birthday!"
The new crown prince of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Hong, also did his part.
"The prince of the Song Dynasty enjoys it together, and all the ministers enjoy it together."
Wanyan Shouxu picked up the wine glass and drank with the ministers.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
All the ministers in the palace drank the wine in one gulp. Zhao Hong put down his cup, and Chen Duanchang next to him poured it for him.
The Mongolian army from the Western Expedition is returning intermittently. It is still resting and recuperating, and has no intention of going south. The border is also silent.
The kings and ministers of the Jin Kingdom were also unusually relaxed.
Despite this, there was no singing, dancing, or string music, so it was light and bland. While the new emperor was still in mourning, everything was kept simple.
For Zhao Hong, this trip was a way to relieve boredom and experience the local customs, people's livelihood and hardships.
"Emperor Dajin, I offer you a toast. I wish you a happy birthday and the prosperity of the Dajin Kingdom."
Zhao Hong picked up the wine glass and toasted to Wanyan Shouxu.
This kind, fair, round-faced young man was the famous Emperor Jin Ai in history.
The feud between the Song and Jin Dynasties was irreconcilable. Somehow, facing Wanyan Shouxu, he couldn't hate him.
Several previous Jin Emperors committed crimes and committed crimes, leaving Wanyan Shouxu, the last Jin Emperor in history, with such an unmanageable mess that they were unable to recover from.
"I have been a Jinzi for ten years, a prince for ten years, and a master for ten years. I know that I have done no great evil, and I will die without hatred. Those whom I hate have been passed down from my ancestors for hundreds of years, and I have eliminated them. I will be like the debauched and violent kings from ancient times. If the country is destroyed, this is the only way to destroy it."
This young emperor of the Jin Dynasty, the last emperor of the Jin Dynasty in history and the king of the country's subjugation, hanged himself in Youlanxuan, Caizhou City at the age of thirty-seven when the country was destroyed.
"Your Highness, let's drink together!"
Wanyan Shouxu raised his glass with a smile and drank alone with Zhao Hong.
I am not the king of a subjugated country, but I am in the state of subjugation.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Hong raised his wine glass, and this sentence suddenly came to his mind.
"Xianggong Zhang, it's the birthday of Emperor Jin, why didn't you invite Xixia? I'm a little flattered!"
After Zhao Hong finished drinking the wine, he whispered to Zhang Tiangang next to him with a smile.
"Your Highness, I don't know either. Perhaps it has something to do with the late emperor's funeral, or maybe it's because His Highness's statement was too grand. Your Majesty is curious and wants to see His Highness. Your Highness doesn't know that His Highness's books are selling like hot cakes in Kaifeng City. Scholars and people are flocking to them. Paper is so expensive in Luoyang at that time!"
Zhang Tiangang's explanation left Zhao Hong stunned.
When did his books spread to the Kingdom of Jin?
If these books were obtained by the Mongols, would they be wary of the Song Dynasty?
However, Genghis Khan and Ogedai didn't know a single Chinese character, and they were thousands of miles away in the desert, so they shouldn't be able to do it so quickly.
"Your Highness, I heard that you are talented in literature, why don't you recite a poem to celebrate the birthday of my golden emperor?"
Zhao Hong was preoccupied, and Pingzhang Zhengshi Wanyan Saibu, who looked majestic and showed no self-respect, suddenly spoke to him.
This important clan minister of the Jin Dynasty was calm and resourceful, and was a confidant of the new emperor Wanyan Shouxu.
"Your Highness, just sing a song so that we can also see the style of the scholars of the Song Dynasty."
Another favorite of Wanyan Shouxu, Li Qi, the political advisor, followed.
On the golden owner's birthday, the Crown Prince of the Song Dynasty came to celebrate his birthday in person, which gave the golden country enough face.
Today is a good time to test the quality of this prince.
Zhao Hong looked at Zhang Tiangang beside him, who smiled and nodded, his face full of kindness.
It seems that Wanyan's disagreement with Li Qi was not intentional.
"Emperor Dajin, everyone, I'll have to do this with difficulty."
Zhao Hong pondered slightly, picked up the cup, and drank it all in one gulp.
It seems inappropriate to call him "Chen", and "Gu" is too blunt, so it is better to call him "I am under".
"Emperor Dajin, I wish you blessings as long as the flowing water of the East China Sea, and longevity as long as the old man in Nanshan. May you have this day every year, and may you have this day every year."
These words on occasions in later generations are still relevant in this era.
"Your Highness, thank you very much."
Sure enough, Wanyan Shouxuyuan had a smile on her face and raised her glass to signal.
These southerners, wishing you a long life, are all wrinkled and sound comfortable. No wonder they can't fight.
"Your Highness, the book "Tatar Policy" you wrote is really insightful. In your opinion, what was the situation of the Tatar Western Expedition?"
Wanyan Shouxu was worried about national affairs and never left Mongolia.
The eyes of all the officials in the palace were also cast on Zhao Hong.
"Your Majesty, everyone, the Tatar army has conquered the city and captured the territory, and has been invincible. The Western Expedition will naturally be a great victory, and it will not hurt the bones. Your Majesty, everyone, after the Western Expedition, the Tatar army will conquer the Xia Kingdom first and cut off the Jin Kingdom. Feather Wings, we will invade gold again. We still need to take precautions and take countermeasures."
Zhao Hong made no secret and told everything.
"That's natural."
Wanyan Shouxu and the ministers looked at each other with solemn expressions.
The Mongolian army is at its peak, and the world is so vast, who can be its opponent? Moreover, there is a feud between Mongolia and Jin, and the Mongols will never let it go.
"Your Highness, once the Tatar army invades the south, you, the Song Dynasty, will not collude with the Tatars to deal with me, Dajin, right?"
Wanyan Heda, who was involved in political affairs and a powerful general of the Jin Dynasty, asked coldly.
He had participated in many wars between the Jin Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, but now he felt a little awkward sitting with the prince of the enemy country.
"Your Majesty's words are wrong. Your Majesty has ascended the throne and has ordered an end to border provocations with the Song Dynasty. The Tatars are of no value to the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty still understands the principle of lips dying and teeth falling cold."
Zhao Hong said with a smile on his face.
The Mongolian army is the country's great enemy, and of course he will not help it. At that time, the Mongolian army will attack the Song Dynasty without contacting Mongolia.
Historically, the Southern Song Dynasty was destroyed by the Mongolian army.
"Your Highness, since you said that your lips are dead and your teeth are cold, and the Song family has a great cause, why can't you restore the annual coins and help me with a big fortune?"
It was Wanyan Heda again who continued to ask.
"Sui coins? I'm afraid you can't even think about it!"
Zhao Hong said decisively, without any hesitation.
"Everyone should understand that the Song and Jin Dynasties have been fighting for years. It is not easy to live in peace in this situation."
Zhao Hong's truth made all the Jin Dynasty monarchs and ministers in the palace look ugly. Zhang Tiangang looked at Wanyan Shouxu, who looked gloomy, and said quickly:
"Your Highness, what do you think of our country, the Great Jin Kingdom? Are you also hostile?"
"Your Highness, if you ascend the throne, you will not collude with the Tatars to deal with us, Dajin, right?"
Pingzhang Zhengshi Wanyan Saibu looked grave and then asked softly.
"What if I take the throne?"
Zhao Hong shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Whether he can ascend the throne and whether he can save his life is still unknown.
"Your Majesty, everyone, I hereby solemnly promise that if I ascend the throne of Dabao, I will never unite with the Tatars. Instead, I will fight with the Great Jin Kingdom against the Tatar army. If I violate this oath, I will be punished by heaven and earth!"
Zhao Hong took the matter seriously, half-truth and half-falsehood.
According to his understanding of history, the Mongolian army would have gone south to invade the Song Dynasty without him joining forces with the Mongolian army. He didn't want the Southern Song Dynasty to be a river of blood. The loss of Sichuan's population alone would reach tens of millions.
But, can he overthrow Shi Miyuan and ascend to the throne of Emperor of the Song Dynasty as he wishes?
Zhao Hong's oath made the Jin Kingdom monarchs and ministers in the palace look better.
If that's the case, at least there's no need to worry about the way back.
This prince of the Song Dynasty is quite a man.
"Your Highness, the Tatar army is at its peak. Da Jin has been using troops for many years and the country is lacking in strength. Your Highness, can you help Da Jin resist the Tatar invasion?"
Zhang Tiangang lost no time in speaking again.
"I am just a prince, so I can only advise Emperor Song to see if I can provide money and food to help Dajin. If I ascend the throne, I will do my best to reinforce Dajin."
"Your Highness, I respect you!"
Zhao Hong's words made the golden warrior Wanyan Heda smile and raise his wine glass.
This prince of the Song Dynasty is quite sensible. Judging from the serious look on his face, it shouldn't be a show of force.
"Your Highness, I respect you too!"
Pingzhang Zhengshi Wanyan Saibu and Shenzhi Zhengshi Li Qi toasted together.
"Your Highness, that Li Quan from Shandong, can't you recruit him back to Huainan?"
After Wanyan Heda finished drinking, he frowned and asked again.
Li Quan was recruited by the Song Dynasty. He first resisted the Jin Kingdom and then supported his own troops. If he was not restrained by the Song Dynasty, both the Song Dynasty and Jin Dynasty would have a headache.
"Your Majesty, General, the war between Song and Jin has ceased. We, the Song Dynasty, will not let Li Quan attack the Kingdom of Jin, and Li Quan will not pose a threat to the Kingdom of Jin. Li Quan is arrogant and domineering, and it is like a separatist regime. I, the Song Dynasty, will also have a headache!"
Zhao Hong shook his head, his face full of sadness.
"Your Majesty, our loyal army Peng Yibin is fighting against the Tatar army in Hebei. If he wants to use the road to go south, please give your permission."
"If Peng Yibin doesn't bother the place, that's natural."
Wanyan Shouxu nodded and agreed to Zhao Hong's proposal.
Peng Yibin made trouble in Hebei and repeatedly defeated the Mongolian army. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, not to mention that Zhao Hong has already mentioned it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhao Hong bowed his hands and couldn't help but asked with a smile on his face.
"Your Majesty, you sent envoys to the Song Dynasty to help me. I am very grateful. Your Majesty invited me to come again. Is it just for your birthday?"
This sentence was hidden in his heart, and he would not say it out loud.
"Your Highness, you are overthinking. Your "Tatar Strategy" and "Selected Poems" have reached our Golden Realm and have been praised by the whole court. I also want to see you, and I have no other intention."
Wanyan Shouxu smiled slightly and raised his glass.
"Your Highness, please!"
"Your Majesty, please!"
Zhao Hong raised his wine glass, but his heart was filled with doubts.
He was very worried, worried that someone with ulterior motives had asked him to come here with evil intentions.
Good or bad luck is unpredictable, now the only thing to do is to be careful and take it one step at a time.
I'm just afraid that there will really be a "die before leaving the army, often making the bear burst into tears", then the joke will be too big.
