Zhang Yuzheng, who was the Minister of Rites, walked to the front of the palace and asked the Dongmu envoy: "You are a cruel person when you speak, but a barbarian when you are silent. Why did the Dongmu Kingdom send you as an envoy to our court? Your country, Dongmu, claims to be a country of etiquette. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be devaluing yourself by coming to my court as an envoy?”
Shao Xi secretly gave a thumbs up in his heart, he was right! Since you look down on us, you still come over here and complain, aren't you asking for trouble? Even if you want to gain a sense of superiority, you have to see if your strength allows it! Isn't it enough to be beaten by Jing Yuanguo for so many years?
The envoy did not give in, and replied: "A gentleman does not quarrel with villains. Even if there are evil neighbors at home, he should go to congratulate him on every festival. But if the evil neighbors ask me to enter the house and kneel down, I will You must not obey. Visiting is out of etiquette, and being unyielding is a sign of integrity. How can we lose integrity just because our evil neighbors are fierce?"
The other party's words were sharp, and it was clear at first glance that he was well prepared. This made it clear that he was not visiting as an envoy, but that he came here sincerely to cause trouble, wanting to humiliate the Jingyuan Dynasty in front of the other states.
For many years, the Dongmu Kingdom has been contacting the small states around the Jingyuan Empire to compete for land with the Jingyuan Kingdom, but they were beaten back every time.
When Xiao Baiting, the first ancestor of Jingyuan, founded the country, Dongmu was the main competitor. However, it fell behind in the later wars and had to withdraw its defenses before being able to settle down and monopolize the two states. However, it has not given up for many years. Thinking about making a comeback.
Zhang Yuzheng did not give in at this time and said: "Since you claim to be a gentleman and know etiquette, you should know that when you go to other people's homes, you should kneel down and worship the elders of the family. If you don't even abide by this most basic etiquette, how can you talk about a country of etiquette? How can you be free? Claiming to be a gentleman?"
This envoy from the Dongmu Kingdom did not seem to be an idle person. When he heard what Zhang Yuzheng said, he immediately retorted: "Treat a gentleman with a gentleman's sincerity, treat a villain with a gentleman's courtesy, and interact with a gentleman with sincerity." Treat each other from the heart. When facing villains, you just treat them with the courtesy of a gentleman. How can it come from your heart? It's just that you don't have the same experience as villains."
"Hypocritical! What a hypocrite! He calls himself a gentleman, but he is just a hypocrite!"
Shao Xi was just watching the fun, but when he heard this, he felt very unhappy and couldn't help but slip out a sentence. As a result, everyone in the hall turned to look at him.
When it was discovered that something was wrong, it was already too late. Not only the officials and foreign envoys in the hall, but also Xiao Changyi who was sitting above were looking directly at him.
Shao Xi felt bad. Wouldn't he be causing trouble for himself by interrupting in such a situation? This is how to do? How does it end?
Now that he is riding a tiger, he has already said the first sentence in front of everyone. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if he just shrinks back like this? And it’s not just his own face that he loses.
Thinking of this, Shao Xi felt relieved and simply stood up and walked to the hall.
"You just said that you should treat a gentleman with a gentleman's sincerity and treat a villain with a gentleman's courtesy. Is it possible that the gentleman's way of your Dongmu country is so hypocritical? The way of a gentleman is to treat each other with sincerity. This sincerity will not distinguish between the other party. Who are you? You should be sincere to gentlemen, and you should also be sincere to villains. This is a true gentleman. It varies from person to person. If you are hypocritical or arrogant, you are a hypocrite. Now you treat the gentleman with sincerity, isn't it hypocritical? You still have the nerve to say so. ?”
Shao Xi took a breath and continued: "Instead of being a hypocrite, it is better to be a true villain. At least a true villain shows his true face to others, does not pretend, is not false, is frank, and is comparable to those hypocrites. In comparison, he looks more like a gentleman."
The envoy was caught off guard by Shao Xi's words. He didn't know how to refute for a moment, so he just asked: "A gentleman is a gentleman, and a villain is a villain. How can it be true or false? How dare you, a child with a yellow mouth, dare to do this here?" Isn’t it ridiculous to talk nonsense, talk nonsense about the way of a gentleman, and misinterpret the principles of our ancestors?”
"A gentleman should mean what he says, be polite in his mouth, and be polite in his heart. If he talks about benevolence, righteousness, and morality, but his belly is full of male thieves and female prostitutes, how can he be a true gentleman? Treating others with sincerity means treating others with sincerity, and treating others with courtesy means treating others with courtesy. If you are not sincere in your heart, you will be a true gentleman. What is a hypocrite if you are not a hypocrite? Now that you are on a mission to my court, you should be sincere in your heart. Now you are talking about the way of a gentleman, but your heart is full of dirty thoughts. Isn't this a hypocrite? I am a child with a yellow mouth. Everyone understands this, but you don’t, isn’t your life in vain?”
"you……"
"What are you doing? Since you are an envoy of one country and go to other countries, you should have peace in mind. Now you are so rude. If you cause war between the two countries and the world is in ruins, you are unkind; since you are an envoy, That is to say, you are sent as an envoy on behalf of the country, the monarch, and the people. If a war breaks out and the people are killed, the monarch is harmed, and the country is uneasy, you are unjust; if you are on an envoy to another country but are unruly and utter arrogant words, it is rude; It is unwise for you to make the people of your country and your country suffer because of your quick words. Did the monarch send you as an envoy to provoke a war? If so, why did you bring a letter of credence instead of a letter of war? No. To fulfill your own monarch’s wish for peace, you are dishonest; how can a person who is unkind, unjust, rude, unwise, and unfaithful have the dignity to stand here?”
The envoy was speechless by Shao Xi's rebuke, and his teeth were itching with hatred. He held it in for a long time before he finally said, "You are a yellow-haired boy, a mere fourth-grade official. What qualifications do you have to teach me a lesson here?"
Shao Xi was amused by him and continued to reply: "It's the father's fault if you don't teach. If you don't teach strictly, it's the teacher's laziness. Reading is to make you sensible and virtuous, not to let you talk about it. Since Neither your father nor your teachers have taught you benevolence, justice, etiquette, wisdom, and trust, so let me, a yellow-haired boy from a barbarian country, teach you. Don’t you call yourself a country of etiquette? Even this principle requires a barbarian country. Do you still have the nerve to teach you? It’s a good thing that I, a fourth-grade official, am here to teach you. If someone else teaches you, I’m afraid you’ll have to learn it again in the next life.”
Shao Xi's continuous output like a machine gun stunned Dong Mu's envoy to the point where he completely lost his temper. His face turned red and he stood in the palace with great embarrassment.
Seeing that the opponent's health bar had bottomed out, Shao Xi planned to quickly finish the attack and end the battle completely.
Shao Xi turned around, knelt down to Xiao Changyi solemnly, and then said: "Your Majesty, since the envoy of Dongmu is unwilling to kneel down, a gentleman will not force others to do anything. I, the Jingyuan Dynasty, repay all the states with sincerity. We only seek peaceful coexistence and peace in the world. As for those hypocrites who talk about the way of a gentleman, but do sloppy things in private and instigate others to start wars, I believe that all countries in the world have sharp eyes and will be able to distinguish between right and wrong."
Xiao Changyi felt so happy at this time! Originally, Dong Mu's envoy was unruly and rude, but he was already unhappy and unhappy. Although Zhang Yuzheng stood up to argue with him, it can only be said that they are evenly matched. If the argument continues, there will be no result and nothing will happen.
The purpose of the Dongmu envoy's trip was to humiliate himself in front of many foreign envoys. If he endured it, he would lose his face. If he got angry and killed him, it would be equivalent to confirming what he said. Cruel and unkind, the conclusion of a barbarian country is that it dug a hole for itself.
But at this time, Shao Xi stood up and defended the other party until he was speechless. The embarrassed person turned from himself to the Dongmu envoy, which made Xiao Changyi secretly feel great.
Xiao Changyi waved his hand generously and said with a majestic face: "What Ai Qing said is reasonable. I think our Jingyuan Dynasty is a great country. How can we be like others and still care about such a small matter? There is no sincerity, even if you kneel down and worship me, you still feel uncomfortable with it, so just avoid it."
Shao Xi exclaimed in his heart, "Good guy! You're more ruthless than me! I was scolding them for being insincere, inconsistent, and playing tricks. You just scolded them for being shameless and petty!"
"Your Majesty is truly a wise king in this world! He is indeed kind-hearted, righteous, courteous, thoughtful, sincere and trustworthy. He is also upright and magnanimous. He is truly a blessing to all people in the world. .”
Shao Xi's words sounded like he was praising Xiao Changyi, but in fact he was insinuating that the Emperor of Dongmu had no virtue, no righteousness, was conceited, ignorant, dishonest, cunning, and narrow-minded. disaster, disaster in the world.
This means not only Xiao Changyi, but everyone present with a more lively mind understands its meaning, and the envoys of Dongmu Kingdom naturally understand it as well.
But this is a hidden disadvantage. You have to eat it even if you don't eat it. Why don't you feel happy when others praise your emperor? If you're not happy, you're being petty.
At this time, the Dongmu envoy's face was as ugly as pig liver. If you don't kneel now, it means you don't know etiquette and are petty and have ulterior motives; if you kneel, you have lost and you have completely surrendered; if you just throw away your sleeves and leave, okay! That means you are narrow-minded, have no grace, and are incompatible with Dongmu's national style.
Shao Xi looked at the envoy like a stroke patient who had been bedridden all year round and had just stood up. His legs were stiff and he was standing there, neither standing, nor kneeling, nor walking. He looked like he was about to fall, and he felt in his heart. Secretly laughing, just one word - yes!
Zhang Yuzheng walked forward with a bit of gloating, stretched out his hand in the direction of where the envoys from each state were sitting without being disrespectful, and said: "Your Majesty Kuande, please do not kneel. If there is no national letter or national ceremony, please go directly Take your seat!”
Let’s just say these people are doing a lot of harm! How to bury someone who has been killed? If an envoy goes on a mission without even bringing his credentials and gifts, isn't that going to be a disgrace?
"Our country of Dongmu has outstanding people and countless treasures. How can we not have any gifts? The gift given this time is rare in the world and extremely precious. I am afraid that you in Jingyuan Kingdom have never heard of it or seen it."
Shao Xi was dissatisfied when he heard it. He dared to brag in front of me that you are a treasure. I would like to see what you said is in the sky and on the earth.
"Then please ask your envoy to take out the treasure so that everyone can open their eyes!"
Dong Mu's envoy proudly presented his credentials and a small gold box.
The uncle next to Xiao Changyi stepped forward to check, and after confirming that there was no danger, he presented the credentials and gifts to Xiao Changyi.
After Xiao Changyi opened the gold box and took a look, he handed it to Eunuch Zan and asked him to show the contents in the box to everyone in the hall.
When the box was handed to Shao Xi, he looked up and couldn't help laughing.
"That's it? This is the treasure of your Dongmu country? Can you stop teasing me?"
