On the second day, Zhao Xu came to Chongzheng Hall surrounded by the two palaces.
As the musicians played, the Liao envoy Xiao Budaye arrived at Chongzheng Hall with a large delegation carrying baskets of thank-you gifts.
The Song-Liao alliance lasted for hundreds of years.
For hundreds of years, each other's kings have sent envoys to each other to congratulate each other, and the etiquette has always been in place.
Even so, this time the Liao envoy came to thank him and brought unprecedented gifts.
Zhao Xu looked at the gift list and felt a little dazed.
The gift list is densely packed with gifts starting with gold, which is enough to show the sincerity of the Liao Kingdom and the impatient mood of the Liao people.
This is understandable!
After all, that is three million dollars of free money!
Of course the Liao people came with generous gifts.
However, what pleased Zhao Xu the most was the crop clearly marked on it: twenty kilograms of watermelon seeds!
This is an unexpected happy event.
Of course, Zhao Xu understood that today's watermelon and the modern watermelon that is rich in sugar are two different things.
Most of today's watermelons are white.
The only use of watermelons now is as a source of clean water.
As for eating? Even as a fruit?
That’s thinking too much!
For watermelons to evolve into modern watermelons, it doesn’t take hundreds of years of evolution, so don’t even think about it!
However, this is still an unexpected surprise for Zhao Xu!
Because, the future of navigation will be especially when traveling to and from places like Japan, Cochin, and Luzon. Keeping dozens of watermelons in the cabin can save lives - these are the most critical reasons why watermelons spread in the Mediterranean in the first place.
Putting down the gift list, Zhao Xu said: "The envoy from Liao came to the palace..."
…
Xiao Budaye, dressed in Khitan clothes, walked into Chongzheng Hall.
Then, he came to the palace, raised his head slightly and glanced at the young master of the Southern Dynasty who was sitting on the throne, then he bowed respectfully: "By the order of the Emperor of Liao Dynasty, the foreign minister Xiao Buda also wishes to express his best wishes to the Emperor of Song Dynasty. The Queen Mother, the Queen Mother, and the Emperor wish you all the best..."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" A young child's voice said in my ears: "Please envoy, please convey my respect to His Majesty the Emperor of Liao..."
Xiao Buda also tried his best to look at the throne, but unfortunately he couldn't see clearly.
You can only vaguely see a small figure sitting on the throne.
He was wearing Chu yellow uniforms and a small futou, sitting quietly on the throne.
I remembered what Yeluju and others said yesterday.
Xiao Buda also slowly straightened up and said: "His Majesty the Emperor of the Song Dynasty's gratitude will be conveyed to the foreign ministers..."
"This foreign minister has been ordered to come here. In addition to thanking the Empress Dowager of the Song Dynasty, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty the Emperor for sending envoys to celebrate our Lord's birthday..."
"I came here under the imperial edict to discuss the matters that His Majesty the Emperor promised to our envoy Yeluju and others..."
Having said this, Xiao Buda also looked at the figure of the young monarch on the throne.
"The foreign minister dares to ask Your Majesty if you are really willing to use the annual coins that your country gives to our country every year to be converted into Jiaozi and given three million coins a year?"
After saying that, Xiao Buda became nervous.
In the face of a fortune of three million dollars a year, no one can help but be nervous.
This is three million strings per year!
The number of Southern Dynasty products that can be bought is several times that of the past!
Everyone in the country was alarmed by this money.
The people of Bohai, who have always been unruly, are eager to try and get a piece of the pie.
Under such circumstances, can the money be obtained? Can it be used successfully?
It has become the cornerstone of maintaining the internal stability of the Liao Kingdom!
Then I heard the young man on the throne say: "This is natural..."
"I heard that Daliao was short of money and thought of the centuries-old alliance between the two countries, so I came up with this idea..."
"If the Emperor of Daliao agrees to my conditions... the new treaty between Song and Liao will be confirmed..."
"After the two countries exchange letters of alliance, they can be implemented immediately. The first batch of exchanges can be seen in the first month of next year..."
Xiao Buda also listened and swallowed hard.
Immediately he bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, my lord, the Emperor of the Liao Dynasty, has granted full power to the foreign ministers..."
"If your Majesty is willing, today, the alliance can be renewed..."
What are the conditions proposed by the Southern Dynasty?
Three million yuan and 230,000 yuan tax?
Isn’t there still 2.77 million yuan left?
Still a huge sum of money!
The Liao people didn't even look at other details, and they didn't bother to look at them.
Now all they can think about is Brother Kong Fang, and they can suddenly consume 2.77 million copper coins every year.
The entire Liao Kingdom was in great joy.
Now, I have only one idea when I go to the capital: the nights are long and the dreams are many, so make a decision as soon as possible!
Come to Nanchao next year to buy, buy, buy...
Many people have even prepared shopping lists.
Jianzhan, fine tea bricks, Shu brocade, porcelain from the Southern Dynasties, Buddha statues...
And none of these people are easy to mess with.
There were people from the Queen's family, as well as Yi Li Jin and Xiang Wen from the Fifth and Sixth Academy Departments, and naturally the princes from the palaces were also included.
From Taizu's Hongyi Palace to Xingzong's Yanqing Palace.
Each family has already made a list, and they are just waiting for the money to come in to buy.
"Good!" The young man on the throne applauded, stroking his hands.
Xiao Buda didn't know why, but after hearing the young emperor's approval, instead of being happy, he felt like he had jumped into a hunter's trap.
"What kind of medicine are you buying in the gourd of the Southern Dynasty?" Xiao Buda also thought.
However, no matter how many questions he had, it was useless now.
This treaty must be signed!
If he doesn't sign, he will be torn apart by everyone when he returns!
Therefore, Xiao Buda could only bow his head and bow again: "Only... foreign ministers must obey the will of His Majesty the Emperor..."
…
Zhao Xu looked at the Khitan envoy in the palace.
He slowly closed his eyes, feeling extremely proud.
This will only be the beginning...
Next, we must find a way to lure all the gold and silver reserves of the Liao Kingdom to the Song Dynasty.
In the end, even if the Liao Kingdom discovered that they were working so hard for the Song Dynasty, it was already too late.
At that time, Zhao Xu no longer needed to make excuses with them.
This is conspiracy!
As long as the Khitan people corrupt quickly enough, it will be impossible for them to escape from the consumerist trap that Zhao Xu weaved for them.
So, can the Khitans resist consumerism?
Zhao Xu recalled the cultural relics of the Liao Dynasty and the remaining temples of the Liao Dynasty that he had seen in modern times.
He knew that it was impossible for the Liao people to resist because they were already used to it!
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality!
Therefore, Zhao Xu ordered his right minister Han Jiang to discuss the details of the peace treaty with the Liao envoy.
At the same time, Zeng Bu, the ambassador's companion, was summoned to the palace. After the discussion between Han Jiang and the Liao envoy was completed, the palace drafted the details of the covenant.
It all happened very quickly.
In just half an hour, a new covenant was made.
Most of the clauses are quoted from the Old Testament.
The Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty were still fraternal states. They sent envoys to congratulate each other at four seasons and festivals every year.
Only the Sui coin part has been modified.
Because the Song Dynasty took the initiative to show its sincerity, the Liao people also generously stopped worrying about nouns.
Accepted the name given by the Song Dynasty to Jiaozi who gave to Daliao - "gift".
It is neither a donation nor an acceptance, it is completely a gift out of brotherly friendship and the relationship between the two countries.
The new covenant stipulates that the Song Dynasty will donate 200,000 taels of silver and 300,000 pieces of silk to Liao every year as a reserve fund. Based on this, a batch of Jiaozi with a face value of 3 million guan will be issued every year to prepare for It was used by the Liao Dynasty to purchase goods from the Song Dynasty.
At the same time, the Song Dynasty will tax 237,700 guans after the printing of Jiaozi is completed.
In addition, these Jiaozi were not paid directly to the Liao Kingdom.
Instead, the emperors of Song and Liao sent their own envoys to jointly supervise.
Every time it was used, the emperor of the Liao Kingdom needed to write a letter to the relevant market, explaining the things to be purchased and the quantity, and then the Liao Kingdom would shop in the market accompanied by the Song Dynasty.
After shopping, Song Dynasty paid Jiaozi to the merchant.
The merchants took the jiaozi and went to Bianjing to exchange it for copper coins.
Xiao Bada naturally had no objections to these regulations.
He and his representative Yelu Hongji are the most supportive of these proposals from the Song Dynasty! You may even think that this is a must!
Why?
Because these regulations, although they seem cumbersome and verbose, make it clear that only the Emperor of Daliao can use the money!
Therefore, in Yelu Hongji's understanding, this even made him happier than giving him three million copper coins directly!
Why?
Because although the money is in the Song Dynasty, it needs his order and approval before it can be used.
In other words, this is completely his personal property, Yelu Hongji.
Neither the prime minister nor the nobles in the north, nor even the palace troops of the previous emperors, could use the money beyond him.
Isn't this just the Song Dynasty helping the Liao Dynasty stabilize and strengthen the imperial power?
Especially considering the ages of Yelu Hongji and Yelu Yanxi, with this provision, even if Yelu Hongji passes away and Yelu Yanxi is forced to ascend the throne at a young age, as long as he can control the money, as long as the Song Dynasty only recognizes He is the only legitimate emperor of Liao Dynasty.
Then, those guys in the country who are ready to take action will be at ease!
This is the reason why Yelu Hongji hurriedly sent Xiao Buda to go south!
That's why Yelu Hongji sent such a generous gift this time.
This is why he was willing to give watermelon, a crop currently monopolized by the Liao State, to the Song Dynasty, together with the planting and cultivation technology mastered by the Liao State.
It should be noted that in the past, people in the Liao country had always taken watermelons very seriously.
It is regarded as a strategic material like iron and steel and is strictly controlled.
Because this thing is a great blessing to the cavalry.
In cavalry battles, if you carry a watermelon on horseback, you can go deep into the arid wasteland without having to worry about water for three to five days.
When you are thirsty, open a watermelon.
In this way, a clean water source is at your fingertips, and at the same time, watermelon itself can fill your stomach and replenish some energy.
For the cavalry, this is a great help!
Now, Yelu Hongji is willing to send such treasures to the Song Dynasty, which shows his sincerity.
The news that the Song-Liao alliance was officially concluded immediately spread from the palace.
The whole Bianjing immediately became a sensation!
Countless dignitaries and wealthy people who had made preparations in advance finally let go of their worries.
Everyone was gearing up and thinking about how to get the last copper out of the Liao people's pockets.
And with this shareholder trend, a tabloid different from all the tabloids in the past appeared on the streets of Bianjing.
It is beautifully printed, with clear handwriting and different layouts.
This tabloid not only published the new content of the Song-Liao Covenant.
A special section was also opened to comment on the contents of the covenant.
It also has a name: Bianjing New News.
The most important thing is... as soon as this so-called Bianjing New News came out, it completely crushed other tabloids just in terms of quantity - tens of thousands of Bianjing New Newspapers, as if they were popping out of the ground. Night fills every tile and hook in Bianjing City.
So, it was an instant success!
Note: In the late 19th century, a genetic mutation occurred in watermelon, which turned it into the watermelon it is today.
Now everyone knows why black slaves eat watermelon, right? Because watermelon was not sweet in the past! It can only quench your thirst.
PS: In China, watermelon was initially a crop monopolized by the Liao Kingdom. After the fall of the Liao Dynasty, it slowly spread to the Southern Song Dynasty.
It was also white-flesh at first, but during Wen Tianxiang’s era, red-flesh watermelon appeared, but it still didn’t contain much sugar.
(End of chapter)
