"Fifteen hundred dollars! It's enough to have a good meal and drink at the restaurant in Jinling!" After leaving the restaurant, the deputy couldn't help complaining about the simple meal he had just enjoyed and the lack of wine.
After cursing a few words, he turned to laugh again, which was a kind of gloating: "This shows how difficult the life of the people in the Northern Han Dynasty is!"
Along the way, he saw Han people wearing scant clothes, thin bodies, hungry faces, and sometimes making sarcastic remarks.
Han Xizai had no intention of getting close to this villain mentality. He held a few brand-new Qianyu Tongbao in his hand, looked at it a few times, and sighed: "This money is indeed much more exquisite than our Tang Dynasty Tongbao."
After weighing it, he added: "The weight seems to be a bit heavier."
The deputy envoy watched from the sidelines and silently noted in his mind another sign of Han Xizai's "pro-Han" performance. Han Xizai picked up a copper coin thoughtfully, summoned an entourage, and ordered: "Go and find out how much old money in the Northern Han Dynasty can be exchanged for new money!"
After leisurely waiting for the carriage, Han Xizai returned to the Binyi and saw two accompanying subordinates wandering in front of the door with anxious expressions on their faces.
Seeing Han Xizai, he felt relaxed and relieved, and came forward to greet him: "Mr. Han, you are finally back!"
He was so anxious that he was sweating. When he saw the official wiping away his sweat, Han Xizai glanced at him and asked, "Is there any news about the audience?"
The subordinate was quiet, nodded his head a few times like a chicken pecking at rice, and calmed down his mind before replying: "Someone came from the Han Palace just now and summoned the envoys to the palace for an audience."
Before Han Xizai could say anything, the deputy envoy next to him raised his eyebrows and immediately attacked Han Xizai: "I said you should stay at the Binyi and wait for the summons. If this delay makes the Han Emperor angry and delays important events, I think How can Mr. Han explain it clearly!"
"Didn't I say before that you don't have to accompany me!" Han Xizai glanced at the deputy envoy, looking very calm.
On the side, a subordinate from Binyi paid attention to the discord between the envoys of the Southern Tang Dynasty and the deputy envoys. He did not show any unnecessary expressions, but just took in everything.
After waiting for so long, the deputy envoy was impatient. Han Xizai was neither happy nor sad. He was very elegant and calmly changed into his formal clothes...
The two people entered the imperial city and were stopped directly in front of the palace gate. When questioned, the guard officer gave a cold response: "Your Majesty summoned only Han Xizai, the envoy of the Tang Dynasty, and the rest were waiting for you. Please retreat quickly." !”
After saying this, the young deputy envoy beside him became unhappy: "I am the deputy envoy to Tang Dynasty. I am here on the order of my lord. How can the Emperor of Han not accept me?"
It's a pity that the argument seemed so weak in the face of the Imperial Army officer who had already been explained to him.
"This is unreasonable! This is unreasonable!" In the end, the deputy envoy felt humiliated and angrily stopped at the entrance of Miyagi City.
Han Xizai entered alone, thinking about the situation at the palace gate, and felt worried. He is a very smart man. After careful consideration, he has some insights. After this matter is over, what the deputy envoy will say after returning to the court will inevitably add fuel to the fire. The Emperor of the Han Dynasty seemed to be still playing tricks, and Han Xizai smiled lightly.
"Foreign Minister Han Xizai has an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of the Han Dynasty!" In the Chongzheng Hall, Han Xizai calmed down his mind and bowed to Liu Chengyou solemnly with all etiquette in place.
"The envoy will be excused from the ceremony!" Liu Chengyou stood straight on the throne, looked down at Han Xizai, and ordered in a clear voice.
Pay attention to Han Xizai. He is really handsome and has an extraordinary bearing, living up to his reputation. The last person who had similar feelings for Liu Chengyou was Li Hub. Interestingly, there is a connection between Han and Li, one from the south and the other from the north.
While Liu Chengyou was sizing up Han Xizai, Han Xizai was also sizing up the Emperor of Han in front of him. He is really too young, this is the most intuitive feeling, but his calm face has a sense of maturity beyond his years.
"I heard that the envoy has been in Tokyo for some time. I have been busy with state affairs during this period, and due to secular affairs, I have not been able to summon him. Please forgive me for neglecting the envoy!" Liu Chengyou said casually, neither of them believed in clichés.
"Your Majesty is serious! Your Majesty's diligence in military affairs is a blessing to the people of the Central Plains!" Han Xizai also echoed casually without blinking his eyes.
Just looking at Han Xizai, Liu Chengyou praised: "In the past few decades, there have been countless northern scholars who have traveled south to the south of the Yangtze River. However, the only one who can make a name for himself in the east of the Yangtze River and make his statement known all over the world is Han Gong! When I saw it today, it turned out to be true. False news!"
Facing Liu Chengyou's compliment, Han Xizai showed no emotion on his face and said humbly: "Your Majesty is so complimentary that a foreign minister would not be worthy of it!"
After saying this, Han Xizai took out a gift book from his robe sleeves and held it in his hand: "The foreign minister is going north this time and brings gifts from my Lord!"
Zhang Dejun immediately stepped forward, took the gift list, and presented it to Liu Chengyou.
After ordering someone to serve tea, Liu Chengyou took it without looking at the gift list and placed it on the table without any pretense. He said directly: "The Lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty has such good intentions. I will accept this tribute with a smile!"
Hearing this, Han Xizai's brows suddenly condensed, he raised his eyes and stared at Liu Chengyou, like a sword hidden in its sheath being revealed, and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, what the foreign minister is carrying is brought to your Majesty by our lord, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Gifts, not tributes. The Tang Dynasty and the Han Dynasty are powerful countries that stand side by side in the north and south, and are not subordinate. Please be careful what you say!"
Faced with Han Xizai's correction, Liu Chengyou was very interested and asked: "Sir, he is from the north. Why do you think that the southern ministers belong to themselves? Do you try your best to defend him!"
Han Xizai raised his head and said: "When I enter the Southern Kingdom, I will become a minister of the Tang Dynasty!"
"If I remember correctly, when my husband crossed the south, he separatized the Jianghuai River. The one who disobeyed the king's orders was probably Yang Wu!" Liu Chengyou's voice was very soft, but there was a thorn in his words.
Han Xizai couldn't help but glance at Liu Chengyou, paused, and said: "When my ancestor established the Tang Dynasty, the most important person in the Central Plains was the Shi family..."
There was another direct question that Han Xizai didn't say out loud, out of fear of really irritating the young emperor.
Liu Chengyou reacted calmly, thinking that this person was unwilling to suffer a loss, or that he was unwilling to lose the reputation of his country and his master. After all, he came to the north on behalf of the "Datang".
He straightened up slightly and looked at Han Xizai, who looked calm under his gaze. Liu Chengyou asked, "Tell me, what is the purpose of the Tang Dynasty Lord sent north to Tokyo?"
Faced with Liu Chengyou's knowing question, Han Xizai still answered calmly: "The foreign minister, by order of my lord, wants to work with the Han Dynasty to eliminate the troops and eliminate the chaos, restore the friendship between the two countries, reopen discussions, and communicate with each other!"
"Oh!" He nodded and said in a clear tone, "I'm here to seek peace!"
As soon as Liu Chengyou finished speaking, Han Xizai raised his hand and corrected him very solemnly: "Your Majesty, this is a peace negotiation!"
"The two countries have not started war. There is only a small conflict on the border, and the Tang Dynasty has no worries about defeat. I am ordered to come north with great sincerity by our Lord. In order to ensure the stability of the two countries, protect the peace and tranquility of the people, and communicate with merchants ! Please review it, Your Majesty!" Han Xizai added seriously.
"Let's negotiate peace! It's a big enough difference for a purpose!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand indifferently.
Immediately, his expression turned cold, and his eyes suddenly became cold. He stared straight at Han Xizai, as if to penetrate into his heart: "Since the founding of the Han Dynasty, we have never gone south. Instead, it is you who have repeatedly colluded with thieves on the Huaihe River to cause trouble and harm our country. civil!"
Han Xizai opened his eyes and told lies: "At that time, the Northern Di Di and the Southern invaders were invading, and the Central Plains was in decline. My lord was thinking about China, so he only used his strength to suppress the bandits, bring peace, and ensure peace for one side!"
"If we want to open up the market, why did we close the market last year and seal the borders? No grain from Huainan can enter Huaibei. What does this mean?"
"It's just that there was a disaster in the south of the Yangtze River and there were profiteers hoarding goods in Huainan at that time. We were just cracking down hard and had no intention of targeting your country!" Han Xizai still answered calmly.
"I am marching westward into the Pinghe River. The Lord of the Tang Dynasty is raising troops to invade our territory. How can we explain the actions of such a villain who takes advantage of the situation?" Liu Chengyou's voice was louder and colder.
Han Xizai remained calm and responded calmly: "I heard that the Han Dynasty mobilized troops to quell the chaos. Our troops are only mobilizing normally, which will lead to chaos. We are only protecting ourselves!"
Such an elegant and handsome scholar could talk nonsense without even blinking. Liu Chengyou showed a dull smile, picked up a memorial from the imperial case, and opened it: "This is a memorial I received not long ago. It comes from Xuzhou inspection envoy Cheng Deqin. It is written in February of the second year of Qianyou. Gengyin, the Tang army invaded from the north, led his army to attack, killed 500 people and captured 120 people alive!"
"Is this the sincerity of your country?"
