Panmen, located in the southwest corner of Gusu City, like the other four gates, is a land and water double gate.
The area near the door was already crowded with people, and at a glance, the crowd was full of moving heads.
In the river outside the door, an endless fleet of boats began to enter the city.
More than a dozen military ships entered first, and then a huge building ship passed through the water gate. The flags and flags on the ship were fluttering and the guards of honor were arranged, indicating that this was the ship of King Yan.
"Here he comes, he comes, it's really His Highness King Yan!"
"His Highness did not abandon us, we can be saved now..."
"I have already said that His Highness is a good person and cannot believe those who gossip..."
"Where is it? Where is it? Who is King Yan? Why didn't I see it?"
"Can't you see the big words on the ceremonial guard... Oh, I can't read, that's okay."
In the Song Dynasty, even if the emperor was traveling in a car, the common people would not be asked to avoid or kneel down to greet the emperor. As long as they did not cross the cordon, they could watch casually.
At this time, when the people saw the Yanwang ship, they did not show any respect. Instead, they cheered and shouted, pointing, just like watching the fun. Those who were a little more sophisticated would at most bow and clasp their hands. present.
Zhao Mengqi, who was not aware that he had been issued a "good guy card", heard the noise around him and climbed onto the roof of the building, waving to the people.
Compared to wide robes and long sleeves, Zhao Mengqi still prefers simple clothing, but he must respect etiquette in public and not be too casual, so he prefers to show off in military uniform more and more.
He is now dressed the same as he was on the day of the sacrifice to heaven. He is wearing golden armor and a fiery red silk cloak. He is still not wearing a hooded hat, and his ponytail is fluttering in the wind. He looks heroic and free and easy.
When Zhao Mengqi first appeared on the roof of the building, the people didn't react for a while and felt a little confused.
"Hello, fellow Gusu elders!"
Zhao Mengqi waved to all directions and kept saying hello loudly.
"It's your highness, it's your highness..."
Someone woke up and shouted excitedly.
"Ah, is this His Highness King Yan? He is so handsome and majestic!"
This was obviously nonsense. From such a distance, it was impossible to see Zhao Mengqi's face clearly.
"Your Highness is so accommodating. He even said hello to us first... Long blessings, Your Highness!"
Several young students were a little surprised and hurriedly bowed back to each other.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! Look here, look here quickly, I am twenty-eight years old and as beautiful as a flower!"
A group of warblers and swallows waved colorful embroidered handkerchiefs, showing off their charm, hoping to attract King Yan's attention.
"The King of Yan is actually wearing armor. It turns out that the rumors are true. The King of Yan is indeed good at martial arts... Hey, even though the country is big, if it is warlike, it will perish."
The old Confucian scholar shook his head and sighed, dissatisfied with King Yan's emphasis on martial arts.
"Dad, I'm so hungry. Is that glittering gold? Can it be exchanged for lots of meat buns?"
The little boy was riding on his father's shoulders, drooling as he looked at the golden light on the ship.
"Hmph! It's already this time, but you still dare to be so arrogant. I'll see how you get frustrated later!"
In the market building, the pot-bellied gentry spoke with disdain, wishing that King Yan would fall into the water and drown immediately.
The Confucian Temple is not far from Panmen. It takes two turns in the waterway in the city and continues driving for three or four miles.
Wu Qian and his officials had been waiting here early. When they saw Zhao Mengqi getting off the boat, they came up to greet him and saluted him.
Xie Tang was also among the waiting crowd. At this time, he found that behind King Yan's ship was a large number of cannon boats with no end, and the draft was very deep. They were obviously loaded with heavy objects. He felt something bad in his heart. premonition.
Could this King Yan really have brought food again?
In his daze, he didn't realize that King Yan had already walked in front of him.
"Are you Xie Tang? According to civil etiquette, should I call you cousin?"
King Yan, what does this mean?
To build a relationship so that I can show him some favor during the negotiation?
Xie Tang was stunned for a moment, but looking at King Yan's expression, he seemed to be a little amused, but it didn't look like it.
"I am Xie Tang. Your Highness is joking. There is a difference between monarch and minister. How dare I call you brother."
Zhao Mengqi raised his eyebrows and smiled, and took a deep look at Xie Tang, "Don't you dare? I think you are quite bold, haha. I hope you can make the right choice today..."
Xie Tang's expression calmed down and he pushed back, "I am stupid, I don't know what your highness means by this. But since your highness invited me to meet you, you must have made me understand."
Zhao Mengqiyun said calmly, "Haha, that's natural. I will make it clear to you today."
"The food shortage is serious now, and the people are crying for food. Your Highness is very anxious to see this. The gentry in the city are also eager to have an honest discussion with Your Highness to discuss solutions. Please come in and discuss in detail." Xie Tang waved his hand towards the lobby of the Confucian Temple.
"There's no hurry." Zhao Mengqi waved his hand, his face still calm, "I didn't come here empty-handed. Some time ago, I was fishing in Taihu Lake and unexpectedly got some items. I want everyone to appreciate them together."
Xie Tang didn't know why, and subconsciously turned his head and glanced at Lu Wencai and others behind him, but it was obvious that the large group of gentry behind him didn't understand what King Yan wanted to do.
Objects in Taihu Lake?
It’s nothing more than some stones. Although Taihu stones have always been loved and admired by literati, what is their use at this time?
King Yan can't be so imaginative as to use these stones to exchange food for us, right?
Zhao Mengqi ignored them and casually ordered his subordinates to start unloading the goods.
As the sergeants carried the baskets off the boat, moved them to the center of the square in front of the Confucian Temple, and dumped the contents out, the crowd kept screaming, getting louder and more noisy.
"My dear, they seem to be all gold and silver..."
"They all look old. Could they be fished out of the lake?"
"In just a short while, a small mountain has been piled up. It looks like there are many more behind. How many are there in total?" Xin
"What does King Yan mean? Are you planning to spend money directly to buy our food?"
"Hey! According to the current price of food, the food we have is not worth tens of millions of guan. Who would be willing to sell it!?"
The powerful men were whispering, but Zhao Mengqi seemed not to have heard anything. He sat on an imperial chair, crossed his legs, and sipped tea slowly.
Xie Tang was still a little nervous at first, fearing that what was unloaded was food. But when he saw that it was gold and silver, he was surprised, but he felt reassured.
It doesn't matter if it is a mountain of gold and silver. If King Yan doesn't publicly promise never to cross the border today, he will never let himself and others release a grain of food.
With the efforts of thousands of sergeants, it took more than half an hour to unload all the belongings.
In the huge Confucian Temple Square, a real mountain of gold and silver rose from the ground and appeared in front of everyone. Even though many of the people present were wealthy people, they were still shocked.
Zhao Mengqi stood up, walked to the Gold and Silver Mountain, picked up a gold collar, weighed it and played with it.
"I guess everyone is curious about how much money there is here."
Zhao Mengqi looked around as he walked, "Rough statistics show that there are more than 400,000 taels of gold, more than 7 million taels of silver, and countless gems and jades..."
"Perhaps, compared to the wealth of all the gentry in Hepingjiang, this is nothing. However, this is only a part of what was robbed by the Jin people back then."
He threw the gold collar back to the "mountain" and picked up some jewelry, including bracelets, crown combs, hairpins, earrings, bracelets, rings, pendants, all of which were deformed to varying degrees, but once See, it is used by the people.
"You heard it right, these money are the harvest from Jin Wushu's massive burning, killing and looting when he invaded Jiangnan more than 120 years ago. Part of it, if Chen Sigong had not led his army to stop it, would have fallen into the hands of the enemy. In the alien’s pocket.”
"I believe that you will never forget that when the aliens invaded, cities such as Gusu City, Changshu City, Wujiang City, etc. were razed to the ground one after another. Groups of gentry and common people had their heads missing and turned into corpses. Dry bones."
"You are all rich, but if you lose protection, you are like a child walking around in the busy city with a lot of money. When the iron hooves of the aliens come, you can only be slaughtered by others. All your money will only become the trophies of the aliens. , you, or your descendants, can only become the dead souls of the alien race!"
"You should all have heard how ferocious the Mongols are. Once they capture a city, they massacre another city. When they pass by, they plunder another land. They take this as a pleasure and work tirelessly."
"Their first chief, Temujin, said that the greatest joy in life is to defeat the enemy, drive him away, seize his possessions, see his closest relatives shed tears, ride his horse, and accept his beautiful wife and daughter. "
"If it weren't for the tens of thousands of soldiers guarding the Song Dynasty, how could you people still be living in peace, drinking, singing and dancing!?"
"The food in your mouth, the armor on your body, and the sword in your hand must not be supported by taxes. But you gentry and wealthy people are extremely wealthy, but you still do everything possible to evade taxes and pass it on to those who have eaten but failed to eat. The poor people of Dun.”
"I really don't know what you are thinking. Are you all pigs? Are you trying so hard to accumulate wealth because you are worried that when the Mongols come, you will be unhappy if you get too little!?"
"Actually, you all understand these truths. It's just that greed has blinded your minds and made you deliberately turn a blind eye."
"I am telling you this today, and I don't expect many of you to understand it. I just solemnly tell you that if your family, your country, your country is destroyed, your home will not be saved!"
"I'm trying to reason with you now, but if you are still stubborn, I won't let you wait until the aliens come to rob you. The Mongolians' knives are hard, and my knives are not soft either. It's really urgent. Instead of letting the aliens rob you, Go, why not come and get it first!"
"Do you think that Gu can't do it? You think that Gu can't command the soldiers without money and food!? Haha, if Gu becomes really ruthless, he will even be afraid of himself! Perhaps with just one word, Gu can make the entire Gusu City All the people have become my soldiers."
"You guys, do you want to know that sentence?"
At this time, Wu Qian hurriedly ran out, "Your Highness, be careful what you say!"
"Haha, don't worry, Mr. Wu, I'm just joking with them."
Zhao Mengqi clapped his hands, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. He was harmless to humans and animals, and there was no trace of the gangster spirit just now.
But the officials present were all horrified, and many of the gentry were as pale as dead people, and the silks and satins on their bodies were soaked with cold sweat and became extremely heavy.
