The Concierge Hotel is extremely quiet in the summer night. The breeze blows through the treetops, the chirping of insects is hidden in the dark corners, and the music that comes from the guest houses from time to time is particularly clear.
After staying in the Concierge Hotel for so long, Handerang was almost familiar with the surrounding environment. He silently walked towards the Khitan's temporary embassy without anyone's guidance.
Along the way, seeing the exquisite pavilion decorations that could not be concealed even under the darkness, I could not help but feel elevated. Even the imperial city of Shangjing was not as majestic and peaceful as the small Concierge Hotel Dahan. China is truly unparalleled in terms of construction and creation.
In the corridor, when they turned the corner, two short figures came into view. When they saw Han Derang, they immediately bent down and bowed, mouthing a strange greeting, with a very kind and polite attitude.
He reached out to avoid hitting the smiling person. Although Handerang remained a little reserved, he still smiled back and nodded. The two of them bowed again and left slowly. Looking at the two people's backs as they tiptoed away, it seemed that they didn't even dare to take a big step, Han Derang couldn't help but feel a little interested.
Han Derang knew that these two people were Japanese envoys to the Han Dynasty who came to the west from Japan. As China regained its unification, its national power became increasingly stronger, especially when it began to expand overseas. After the footprints of Han businessmen and people traveled across Northeast Asia, Japan naturally Unable to sit still, they imitated their ancestors and sent envoys to the court, intending to bathe in heaven's grace and continue to absorb the culture of the Central Plains as nutrients.
At present, Japan is in the Heian period, the plantation economy is expanding, and the politically powerful Fujiwara family is constantly fighting among themselves, which is not peaceful. However, when it comes to sending Han people, they are still quite active. They send more children of noble elites to study in Tokyo.
Of course, due to the strength of the Han Dynasty and the Han fleets that cruised in the waters of Northeast Asia from time to time, Japan had to open up to the Han Dynasty. In addition to political respect and obedience, the economic exchanges between the two countries were becoming increasingly frequent. At least Japan's financial Precious metals like silver and copper are very popular.
Like a few countries, Japan also established an embassy in Tokyo to coordinate Sino-Japanese relations, manage repatriated Chinese students, and listen to instructions from the Celestial Empire at any time. In addition, he spent a lot of money to rent a building in the Concierge Hotel. The Japanese envoys who could enter and leave the Concierge Hotel at this time were obviously of high status, at least not ordinary nobles.
Although he didn't have much contact with them, Han Derang was quite moved by the reverence of these Japanese dwarfs and the strong-willed mentality that emanated from his bones. At least among the many foreign envoys in Beijing, the Goryeo Kingdom, which almost regarded the big man as their biological father, was able to achieve the most perfect gesture of complete surrender.
After returning to the room, sitting down, having tea and a few snacks, Handrang sat behind the desk. Smooth desks, comfortable seats, and a complete set of four treasures of the study. These things are hard to find in Mobei.
Closing his eyes, he briefly recalled what he saw and heard in Tokyo today. After a while of thinking, Hand let his pen splash down with ink and continue to record his feelings on this trip.
Just when he was writing like flying, his entourage came to report that Xiao Tongjun asked to see him. Upon hearing this, Handerang immediately ordered the guests to come in and got up to prepare tea in person. It was obvious that he valued Xiao Tongjun.
Soon, a tall man with thick beard and thick eyebrows, and a kind-hearted face walked in. When he saw Han Derang, he bowed his hands and saluted: "Prime Minister Han!"
This man's name was Xiao Taolin, who was the commander-in-chief of the Pishi Army at the time, and was now one of the pillars of the Mobei Khitan's powerful faction and military aristocracy. During the Han-Liao War, he followed Yelv Xiezhen to fight against the Han in the northeast. After the fall of southern Liaoning, he also defended Tongzhou until the Han army moved north and completely wiped out Yelv Xiezhen's remnant Khitan army. In the end, Xiao Taolin had to take in some of the defeated soldiers, completely withdraw from the Northeast, and embark on the journey back to the West.
Because of his unyielding performance in the war against the Han Dynasty and his considerable general skills, Xiao Taolin, who was still young at the time, was valued by the Khitan Lord Yelv Xian and promoted to the rank of Pishi general.
In the ensuing Mobei Rebellion, Xiao Taolin led his army to fight. Due to his bravery and repeated military exploits, he pacified more than ten Mobei tribes who were anti-Khitan.
After Yelvxian died of illness, the Khitan was in internal turmoil. Xiao Talin was stationed in the northwest to guard against the Naiman. When he heard about the chaos, Xiao Talin behaved very calmly and did not take part in it at all. He only restrained his subordinates and increased their vigilance to prevent the Naiman people from taking advantage of the situation.
After Han Derang, Brother Yelvxiu and others came to power, they recognized Xiao Talin's performance and praised him greatly. Of course, in the fierce confrontation with the Han, the Khitan lost a large number of elites, leaving only three or two big cats and kittens, so they naturally paid special attention to them.
Later, Xiao Taolin was transferred back to the royal court. Amid the harassment from the Shiwei people in the east, he joined hands with Brother Yelvxiu to defeat Shiwei. In the following years, Xiao Talin was stationed in the northeast to suppress Shiwei.
It was not until last year that Xiao Taolin was transferred back to the royal court again and was appointed commander of the Pishi Army. After several changes, the Khitan military has also undergone tremendous changes compared to before. The Pishi Army is still an elite force directly under the royal court, but it is no longer divided into two parts. Like the Suwei Army, they are both under the Khitan regime. Command the most elite army.
However, the strength of the troops has been greatly reduced. The total number of the two pro-armies is less than 20,000. There is no way. The country is poor and the people are poor. There are internal and external troubles. It is really difficult to support too many troops. And there is always a way to completely return to the nomadic era. Unwilling to do so. Of course, under the pressure of reality, they had to bow their heads and bend down. The Pishi Army led by Xiao Talin also began to take on the task of livestock production.
This time, Han Derang went south to envoy the Han Dynasty, and Xiao Talin accompanied him. Not only did he attach importance to the performance of this trip, but he also considered using the relationship between Xiao Talin and Xiao Siwen to help him. After all, Xiao Talin is also Xiao Siwen's nephew, and that level of kinship is real.
"How is it?" Inside the room, Han Derang looked at Xiao Talin who was thirsty for tea and asked with some concern: "Have you seen your uncle?"
After hearing the question, Xiao Talin took another sip of tea, chewed and swallowed a few tea leaves, then sighed and said: "Today is my third visit to the house, and I finally met my clan. Uncle! It’s a pity that my clan uncle seems to have completely forgotten his identity and thinks of himself as a Han official."
"Xiao Siwen is unwilling to help?" Handerang frowned slightly.
Xiao Taolin shook his head and said with a wry smile: "He was full of excuses, saying frankly that he was soft-spoken and weak-minded. He just comforted me and asked us to wait. When the old emperor of the Han Dynasty remembers us, he will naturally receive us. Isn't this right? nonsense?"
"Xiao Siwen is the vassal envoy of the Han Dynasty. It is his duty to make good friends and liaise and coordinate when we come south this time. However, he avoided it like this, but he was disadvantaged!" Han Derang sighed, even if the city government No matter how profound and self-cultivated he is, he can't help but show an expression of distress at this moment, with a little bit of complaint in his tone.
The two were silent for a while, but Xiao Talin couldn't help it. Seeing Han Derang who was immersed in thought, he said: "Prime Minister Han, we are sincere, but the Han court refuses to see us. It is really disgusting to treat us with such contempt and indifference. We have to do it again." Are you going to suffer this humiliation if you wait any longer?"
"For the sake of our country and our people, what's the point of this grievance? How to fulfill our mission is what we are thinking about right now!" Han Derang said seriously.
When Xiao Talin heard this, he put away his dissatisfied expression and whispered: "What should we do next?"
"Since Xiao Siwen's road is blocked, we can only wait!" Han Derang thought for a while, and soon showed a relaxed smile: "We insist on asking for meetings every day, and take advantage of this period to have a good feel of this place." The style of Tokyo and the people's hearts are not something that Mobei can see."
Unfortunately, I got infected, my body is weak and I really can’t move.
(End of chapter)
