"Official family..." The Empress Dowager pulled Zhao Xu's sleeve: "Since the Western envoy has admitted his mistake, it is better to go back and see him, lest outsiders say that I, the Song Dynasty, do not understand etiquette..."
Zhao Xu shook his head and said: "The sage said: Don't look at anything that's not polite, don't hear anything that's not polite, don't speak anything that's not polite, don't move anything that's not polite..."
"My grandson is the Son of Heaven, and he must act according to the rites!"
"The envoy of the West has been discourteous and will not see you again!"
"Otherwise, how will all the barbarians in the world think of me, the Song Dynasty?"
As soon as Confucius' words were taken out, the effect was indeed very powerful.
Neither the Empress Dowager nor Empress Dowager Xiang spoke anymore.
And Zhao Xu's words reached the palace.
After hearing this, the ministers also worshiped in the direction of Funing Hall: "Your Majesty, the Holy Ming Wu Guo!"
They care more about reputation than Zhao Xu!
In particular, the Right Prime Minister Han Jiang knew the Privy Councilor Li Qingchen and others.
Even if the Cishengs of the Two Palaces wanted to summon the Western Envoy today, they would resolutely push back!
It should be noted that no scholar-bureaucrat is willing to offend on matters related to honor and integrity.
This made Wei Ming Mo Duo, who had been kneeling outside the hall, completely dumbfounded.
When the deputy envoy Lu Ze and Chen Yujin saw this, he whispered to him in Dangxiang dialect: "Ding Nu, why don't we discuss it after we go back?"
Wei Ming Mo Duo also wanted to stand up at this moment.
but……
The moment his knees were about to rise, he knelt down again.
"No..." Weiming Moduo shook his head and said: "The Queen Mother and the Prime Minister sent me to the Southern Barbarians to negotiate peace..."
"If the peace negotiation cannot succeed..."
Does Weiming Moduo know what will happen?
"Not to mention the matter of the Northern Dynasty..." He said in a low voice: "If the Northern Dynasty and the Southern Barbarians really form an alliance..."
"The Kingdom of Dabai Gao has perished!"
“Emperor Jingzong’s foundation will be in jeopardy!”
His surname is Wei Ming, and he and Dabai Gaoguo are both prosperous and devastated.
When Dabai Gao Kingdom was destroyed, Wei Mingjia would certainly also be destroyed along with it, leaving no chickens or dogs behind.
It has to be said that although Xixia is located in a remote area, it has the smallest population, the smallest territory, the worst economy, and a complete mess culturally among the three regions of Song, Liao, and Xia.
However, Xixia's loyalty and cohesion are unparalleled among the Three Kingdoms.
Especially the core ruling group, since Yuan Hao, has always gritted its teeth and persisted no matter how difficult it was.
He could even pounce on him from time to time and bite his opponent hard.
Therefore, Weiming Moduo endured it alive.
He just knelt in front of the temple and remained motionless.
When the surrounding imperial guards saw this, they quickly entered the palace to report to the Prime Minister.
After hearing this, Right Prime Minister Han Jiang snorted: "If he likes to kneel, let him kneel until he dies!"
In any case, Xixia was the first to be rude.
The Song Dynasty was a state of etiquette, and without any investigation, it was already full of grace.
Han Jiang also didn't believe how long the Yi Di villain could kneel down.
Then he led the officials in the capital and walked out directly from Wei Ming Mo Duo and others without even looking at them.
…
noon.
Zhao Xu finished his lunch and was about to take a rest.
The Queen Mother came.
Zhao Xu went up to greet her, saluted, and then asked curiously: "Queen Mother, why are you here at Funing Palace at this time?"
"Just now, the envoy from Xixia was kneeling in front of the Chongzheng Hall..."
Zhao Xu knew that this was something the Xixia Party nobles could do.
In modern times, Zhao Xu has seen the endings of Song, Liao, Jin and Xia.
The Liao Kingdom died of internal strife, but there was still a force that was unwilling to surrender. Under the leadership of Yelu Dashi, they crossed the desert into Central Asia and established the Western Liao Empire that dominated for a while.
The Jin Kingdom, which destroyed Daliao, also fell into civil strife at the end of its dynasty.
However, Wanyan Shouxu and Wanyan Chenglin, the last emperors of Jin Aizong, did not disgrace Wanyan Aguda after all.
One committed suicide and died for his country, and the other died on the battlefield while charging.
And Xixia?
It is the most tragic force of resistance!
Facing the fierce attack of the Mongol Empire in its heyday, the party members fought almost to the last soldier.
According to modern historical records, the Dangxiang people were trapped in an isolated city, surrounded on all sides, with food and drinking water almost cut off.
But still resisting.
The reason for the final surrender was that an earthquake had occurred, causing the city to suffer huge losses, and it was no longer possible to resist.
According to unofficial records and legends, Genghis Khan even died at the hands of a fierce Xixia royal woman!
In comparison, the ending of the Song Dynasty really made Zhao Xu's blood pressure soar.
The living treasures of Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan are already embarrassing enough.
Wan Yangou's wonderful performance almost gave Zhao Xu a heart attack.
It was when the Southern Song Dynasty fell, Lu Xiufu and the young emperor jumped into the sea and died, finally regaining a little bit of integrity.
Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Zhao Xu's expression and said, "Sixth brother, why don't you issue an edict and order someone to take him to a shaded place and provide him with drinking water and food?"
Zhao Xu nodded: "That's what the Queen Mother said!"
The weather is so hot and the sun is so fierce.
If something happens to the Xixia envoy on his knees, the impact will be bad.
However, a quarter of an hour later, the minister who was sent to convey the order came back and reported: "Empress, everyone... If Xishi Yan Lianggong Cisheng and everyone do not forgive him, he will kneel and die in front of Chongzheng Hall... to apologize with death. ... He also said that he would use his blood to atone for the sins of the Queen Mother and King Xia..."
Zhao Xu and the Queen Mother looked at each other.
Zhao Xu's political acumen, which he had honed after taking office in his previous life and was further refined in modern times, was immediately activated!
"That's not right..." Zhao Xu paced and said, "That's not right!"
Party nobles have backbone!
The prince-in-law who was captured and sent to Bianjing was so famous that he still refused to agree to write a letter back home to the Queen Mother of Xixia. He boasted about the military power of the Song Dynasty and even kept scolding him. This is the best evidence.
However, party members are not fools.
On the contrary, Dangxiang people are very smart and good at learning.
Even Yuan Hao, who was known for his paranoia, knew not to offend Song Liao at the same time.
so……
"Shi Deyi..." Zhao Xu looked at Shi Deyi, who was silent beside the Queen Mother: "Go and check, who has Xi Envoy seen these days?"
"Especially before entering the palace today, who did you see?"
"yes!"
Shi Deyi took the order and left.
…
The midsummer sunshine in the Central Plains is more vicious than the midsummer sunshine in Xingqing Mansion.
Wei Ming Mo Duo's clothes were all wet with sweat.
But he still insisted on kneeling in front of the palace gate.
Deputy envoy Lu Ze and Chen Yujin also knelt with him.
Big beads of sweat slipped from his forehead.
The food and water sent by the Nanman king were placed in front of them.
However, Wei Ming Mo Duo, Lu Ze and Chen Yujin didn't even look at it.
Even if their already thirsty throats are filled with smoke.
However, long-term experience in the Hexi wilderness has sharpened their spirit and will.
Allowing them to control their bodies with strong willpower.
Keep them from succumbing to the temptation of water and food.
The sun is getting hotter and hotter, and the temperature is getting higher and higher.
Their bodies were a little shaky.
Dehydration is increasing and threatens to kill them at any time.
They know this too.
But Weiming Moduo had no choice - he had to bet that Nanman would not dare to let him die in Bianjing!
Finally, a voice, like the sound of nature, rang in the ears of Wei Ming Mo Duo: "The Emperor of the Song Dynasty has a decree: if the envoy reads the west sincerely, he will be pardoned for his rudeness!"
"Please wake up the envoy..."
Wei Ming Mo Duo trembled, endured the discomfort in all his organs, and thanked God again: "Foreign ministers, I offer my thanks to Heaven!"
Then, he asked: "When will the emperor allow foreign ministers to perform Hajj again?"
"Let the envoy return to Dutingyi first!" The minister replied: "The emperor will choose a day to summon..."
Weiming Moduo shook his head: "The emperor still refuses to forgive the foreign ministers..."
"The foreign minister has no choice but to die to apologize..."
He knelt here, risking his own life, not only betting that the Southern Barbarians would not dare to let him die here, but also betting that if the Northern Dynasties knew how strong he was, they would consider, hesitate or even refuse.
At this time, a childish voice came from the palace: "The envoy will enter the palace again tomorrow!"
"Let's go back to Dutingyi and have a good rest today!"
Wei Ming Mo Duo was ecstatic.
He knew he made the right bet.
He immediately kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
…
In the Chongzheng Hall, behind the curtain, Queen Mother Xiang listened to the respectful words of the Xixia envoy, and said to Zhao Xu with satisfaction: "Sixth brother, although this Xixia envoy is rude in front of the palace, he is still a man and a loyal minister!"
Zhao Xu smiled and nodded: "He is indeed a loyal minister!"
It's just that he was a loyal minister of the bandit family, and his surname was Weiming!
His loyal ministers are my enemies.
"But Queen Mother..." Zhao Xu said: "I think the reason why the Western envoy is so well-behaved is because he heard the news that our court and the Northern captives were talking about the exchange of coins for children..."
"This is why you are so arrogant in front and respectful in the back..."
"He's scared!"
"I'm afraid that we, the Song Dynasty and the Northern Captives, will attack from between us!"
Shi Deyi had just found out.
The envoy from the west has been at Dutingyi to inquire about the envoy from the north these days.
Before entering the palace today, I happened to meet Xiao Jie, the consoling envoy from the Northern Dynasty who came to the palace for pilgrimage. According to the descriptions of those present at the time, the envoy from the north had a very bad attitude towards the envoy from the west!
At that time, the envoy's expression had already changed!
Putting these clues together, Zhao Xu would naturally think that the Xixia people might have misunderstood what was being discussed between Song and Liao.
Empress Dowager Xiang didn't know much about military matters, but she trusted Zhao Xu very much, so she asked, "What are Sixth Brother's plans?"
"I want to test him..." Zhao Xu said: "If we can really test him out, maybe we can force the Western thieves to surrender to our court unconditionally..."
"In this way, the people along the border can live in peace and harmony, and the world can be at peace!"
When Queen Mother Xiang heard this, she immediately became happy: "If this is the case, Queen Mother Xiang will definitely be happy too!"
The land owned by the Western thieves is just a barren land with no people in it.
The two palaces have always felt that if they like it, let them live there...
Just don't come to plunder or harass the Song Dynasty border.
For this reason, the two palaces can even agree to restore the annual gifts of the Qingli Peace Conference.
Just treat him like a beggar!
Zhao Xu smiled and said: "This is also my expectation..."
This is about digging a hole.
If you use Liao people to scare Xixia, you may be able to scare them for a while.
However, Xixia is not a fool!
They will ask the Liao Kingdom. Of course, the Liao Kingdom people cannot help the Song Dynasty deceive Xixia - they will only add fuel to the fire and sow discord.
In this way, what will Xixia do after knowing that he has been deceived?
Based on the character of the Dangxiang people, Zhao Xu could guess it - he would get furious and then raise an army out of anger!
This plays right into Zhao Xu’s plan!
Today, the new book "Kuanfu Hanshi" by my long-time friend Qiyuejiang has been uploaded. Readers who like it can check it out. Qiyuejiang's historical and literary skills are obvious to all, and I believe it will not disappoint.
(End of chapter)
