He Yuanjun, an old man, was poured a lot of wine by Li Chouxin when he entered the Yunli Pavilion, and he was drunk after a while. He looked at the dancing girl half-recumbent on the table and laughed foolishly.
Seeing that He Yuanjun was almost drunk, Li Chouxin hired a sedan to take He Yuanjun back to his house, while he leisurely returned to the courtyard.
Li Chouxin returned to the courtyard, only to find that it was already late, but several people in the courtyard had not rested yet, and they were all sitting in the courtyard waiting for Li Chouxin to come back.
"Brother Chouxin, you are finally back. We are all worried about you!" Si Yao said first.
Seeing Qin Yin and Se Yu, they wanted to say something, but Li Chou Xin didn't give them a chance to speak, and said, "Sisters, don't worry. With my ability, Li Chou Xin, it's not easy for this Dongyi person to defeat me. , you’d better rest early.”
After Li Chouxin finished speaking, she urged the girls to go back to their rooms, leaving Zhang Xiaopan alone in the courtyard.
"Xiao Pan, please work harder tonight and keep an eye on the Dongzhi Palace. I'm afraid they will make other moves."
Zhang Xiaopan said: "Master, leave the matters outside the palace to me, and you can just deal with the people inside the palace with peace of mind." After Zhang Xiaopan said this, he left quickly.
Li Chouxin returned to her room, thinking about the behavior of the Dongyi Mission and the Dongzhi King in recent days, sorting through everything, and seemed to have discovered some clues.
Early the next morning, Li Chouxin changed her clothes and prepared to enter the palace.
King Tuoxi only brought three people into the palace and ordered the other entourage to wait at the palace gate with tributes.
One after another, all civil and military officials have gathered in Jinluan Hall, waiting for Emperor Li Zhun to go to court.
Following Eunuch Zheng's loud shout, Li Zhun came out and sat on the dragon chair. He looked very calm, but Li Chouxin still saw a hint of worry in Li Zhun's expression.
King Dongzhi stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Dongyi envoy is already outside the palace. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Li Zhun said: "Xuan!"
Eunuch Zheng shouted again: "Xuan Dongyi's envoy has entered the palace!"
I saw Tuoxi King Sangfu walking into the palace with Sang Yu, Shui Chengjing and Gong Yilang without any regard for the civil and military officials, which made everyone dissatisfied.
"After all, it is a small Dongyi country. If it does not respect etiquette, it will not be as good as my etiquette country."
"Yes, this Dongyi man takes himself too seriously."
Many courtiers were talking in low voices, but Li Chouxin stood behind and dozed off, not paying attention to what happened.
When Sang Fu and others arrived at the imperial court, they did not kneel down, but stood facing Emperor Li Zhun.
"Bold, since you are the envoy here, why don't you kneel down when you see His Majesty?"
Eunuch Zheng shouted loudly.
I saw Sang Fu saying: "The Dongyi people only kneel down to worship the Lord of Dongyi, otherwise they will be said to be soft-hearted when they return to the parliament. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Eunuch Zheng wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Li Zhun: "That's all, my big country doesn't care about the kneeling of other small countries. If you don't kneel, don't kneel. Let them go."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Zhun continued: "King Tuoxi, the date agreed upon by the two countries for the meeting is still far away. Why did you come early this time? What's the reason?"
King Tuoxi also said: "Your Majesty, there are three things to do here. One is to pay annual tribute, the other is cultural exchange, and the third is territorial negotiation."
Li Zhun was also confused by this, and asked: "It's understandable to pay annual tribute, but why are the last two things?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I heard that your country is vast, rich in resources, has outstanding people, and has many outstanding scholars and warriors, so I specially brought three people, all of whom are young talents from Dongyi, and want to compete with your country. Let’s negotiate this third territorial issue based on a win-lose agreement,” Sang Fu said.
"King Tuoxi just says it clearly, there is no need to beat around the bush, just say it straight away." Li Zhun said impatiently.
Seeing this, Sang Fu replied unceremoniously: "Your Majesty, what I mean is that you and I will compete in three games. If Dongyi wins, your country will have to cede the three states of the East China Sea to Dongyi. I promise not to do it again." How about attacking the eastern border of your country and if we, Dongyi lose, pay ten times the annual tribute for three consecutive years?"
Hearing what Sang Fu said, all the ministers criticized him one after another.
"King Tuoxi, you actually dare to make such a calculation. You are so ambitious. You, the barren land of Dongyi, cannot afford ten times the annual tribute. You have no intention of losing at all. You are too disrespectful to let me go." It’s in my eyes.”
Sang Fu smiled slightly, thinking that he had never planned to lose in this competition, and would not lose. The three states of the East China Sea will eventually belong to me, Dongyi.
"Your Majesty, please don't agree. If the three East China Sea states are given to Dongyi, it will be like handing over the east gate of our country to Dongyi. There will be endless troubles."
Li Zhun was in a dilemma and asked the ministers: "What do you think, dear ministers?"
Seeing the opportunity coming, Li Changji said: "Your Majesty, I think that among the hundreds of officials in my court, who is not a talented person in the world? If they are afraid of Dongyi, it will make the people of the world feel cold. I think this is more appropriate. Let the world know that the style of my dynasty cannot be shaken by just any cat or dog."
Li Changji was indeed a talented person. After his words, all the ministers were filled with righteous indignation. When most of them saw the prime minister, they all said the same thing, and they all made suggestions to the emperor to take over the competition and show the prestige of our country.
Only Li Chouxin fell asleep leaning against the door wall behind Minister Duan, paying no attention to the shouting in front of him.
He Yuanjun was also very angry. He staggered forward and said: "Your Majesty, although I am old, I really can't bear to face such provocations. Even if I risk my life, I still have to compete with them. Please forgive me." allow."
Looking at He Yuanjun's appearance, Li Zhun was very pleased, but this He Yuanjun was already old. If he were more than 20 years younger, he would definitely be the cornerstone of the imperial court and the pillar of the country. Li Zhun couldn't help but sigh.
At this time, Li Zhun suddenly remembered Li Chou and asked the ministers, "Where is Chang Li?"
Everyone looked around, but no one saw Li Chouxin, because Li Chouxin was blocked by the pillar at the end, and fell asleep again at this time, so there was no movement for a long time.
Li Changji said at this time: "Your Majesty, this Li Chou must be afraid of the Dongyi envoy, so he didn't dare to come to court at all. Please ask your Majesty to punish him."
Li Zhun looked around reluctantly and said, "That's all, we'll discuss Li Chouxin's matter later. For now, let's think about how to deal with Dongyi's challenge."
Seeing everyone in the audience extremely angry, Li Zhun said: "King Tuoxi, I don't know how this competition is supposed to work?"
Seeing this, King Tuoxi smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the rule is very simple. It is to send three people on each side to compare. Of course, if your country has capable people, you can also fight against three people from our country. The first two rounds of literary competition, the third round Martial arts competition, after all, the way to govern a country in the world is nothing more than civil and military affairs, I wonder what your majesty wants?"
Li Zhun looked at He Yuanjun and saw He Yuanjun nodded, so Li Zhun said: "In that case, please ask the Dongyi envoy to come up with a question."
"Mr. Shui Chengjing, please!" Sang Fu said to the person behind him.
Behind him, a scholar-looking middle-aged man walked out. He looked very proud with his mustache.
"My water becomes a mirror, please give me some advice!"
He Yuanjun stepped forward and asked, "I wonder what this gentleman wants to compete for?"
"I have heard that your country is a great cultural country and has excellent poetry and couplets. So this time I will try to learn the art of couplets in your country. I have a first couplet, and I would like to ask the old man to respond."
"A young man wrote an article with tears in his eyes, asking which strategy in Xijing was better, but Shui Chengjing came from behind."
Hearing this couplet, He Yuanjun's face darkened. He did not expect that someone in this small Dongyi country could write such a couplet. It is indeed difficult to find a solution to the problem if we deal with it rashly now.
Seeing that He Yuanjun was silent, King Tuoxi Sangfu smiled and said: "Didn't this old man swear just now? Why is he so late to say no? If you can't stand up to him, it will count if there are others who can stand up to you. Are all the ministers in your palace? Are you a loser?"
Seeing Sang Fu being so arrogant, everyone was angry but helpless. After all, not everyone could match this couplet.
"Your Majesty, I owe you a holy grace. This couplet is really difficult to understand. I think even Mr. Shui Chengjing may not have the second couplet." He Yuanjun said.
Shui Chengjing looked proud and said: "Yes, this couplet does not have a second couplet, so I would like to ask someone from your country to respond."
"This man is really arrogant. He dares to compare himself to the sages and go even further. How arrogant!"
"Isn't that right? Coming from behind, you are really brave!"
"Your Majesty, if no one from your country can challenge you again, I, Dong Yi, will win this round." Sang Fu urged again.
"The old man has a passion to save the world and the country. Although he has no good cure for Dongyi, he has Li Chou and will never have to worry about it."
Before Li Zhun could answer, a voice came from behind the pillar at the end of the hall, which happened to decipher the connection.
Everyone looked around angrily and saw Li Chouxin walking out with sleepy eyes.
"Your Majesty, Chou Xin didn't sleep well last night. There was a lot of noise in the palace just now, so he fell asleep behind him without paying attention. Please forgive me." Li Chou Xin said to the emperor.
Seeing Li Chouxin stand up, He Yuanjun relaxed his frown and said with a smile: "Brother Chouxin, I knew you wouldn't miss it. I didn't expect that you could defeat this Dongyi envoy in such a sleepy state. It seems that this Mr. Shui Chengjing is not an unattainable person!"
"Li Aiqing, it's good if you come, it's good if you come, as long as I don't punish you." Li Zhun was also very happy.
At this time, Shui Chengjing was still immersed in the second couplet written by Li Chouxin, with a twisted look on his face. He still couldn't believe that someone could match his couplet, and even slapped himself hard in the face.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible. How can you write such a second line at such a young age? I don't believe it."
He Yuanjun said: "If you lose, you lose. If you don't even have the courage to admit defeat, it seems that Mr. Shui Chengjing is in vain as a scholar."
Hearing this, Shui Chengjing felt even more frustrated. She felt dizzy and fell to the ground and fainted.
Shui Chengjing's move shocked the Dongyi envoys, as did Li Changji, but the emperor Li Zhun and the ministers became happy.
"It seems that Mr. Shui Chengjing is not only short-sighted, he is also small-minded."
"That's right, he was so arrogant just now, and now he's so embarrassed."
Listening to everyone's discussion, Sang Fu's face was full of anger, and he ordered Gong Yilang to drag Shui Chengjing out of the palace, and everyone calmed down a little.
"Your Majesty the Emperor, it was just the first round, there are still two rounds to go."
"King Tuoxi just asks the question. With Li Aiqing here, it seems you are the ones who should be worried." Li Zhun replied.
Sang Yu stood up at this time.
Everyone looked at her and praised Princess Sangyu's appearance. Although her face was half covered by a silk scarf, her natural beauty could not be blocked. Her figure was graceful, luxurious, and slender. It was hard not to be tempted by her.
"You are Li Chouxin. I've heard some stories about you, and you do have some talent. But it depends on whether you can accept the challenge from this princess." Sang Yu said after seeing that Li Chouxin was indeed a talented person.
"Princess, please enlighten me." Li Chouxin did not take the princess seriously at all.
"Okay, since we lost the couplet, let's compare poems with you. If you win, there will be no need to compete in the third round of martial arts competition." Sang Yu still looked proud.
"Sorrowful hearts are all ears."
The trumpet sounded solemnly across the long sea,
A thousand men and a strong army can still defeat ten thousand.
One day, I will break through the eastern gate,
The sword pointed at Kyoto and filled with cold light.
As soon as Sang Yu's poem came out, the wolf's ambition emerged.
"Bold enough to compose such a poem in front of His Majesty. This clearly shows that he does not take our dynasty seriously."
"You are so reckless! This is your determination to send troops to invade our country!"
Sang Fu said: "Poetry has been about emotions since ancient times. If a great and powerful country doesn't even have this kind of magnanimity, what's the point?"
When Li Zhun heard this, although he was furious, he still said: "In that case, does Li Changzai have any countermeasures?"
Li Chouxin nodded, looked at Sang Yu, and said, "I didn't expect that the princess, a female prostitute, would be so ambitious. I admire her! Let's listen to Chouxin's poems."
Thousands of generals and troops are hiding in China,
The sound of the trumpet shook the sky and Longquan came out.
A little loyalty and three feet of blood,
Even if the intruder is far away, he will be punished.
Sang Yu took a few steps back, shocked by the momentum in Li Chouxin's poem.
Sang Fu was shocked, who is this person? There is such a passionate and heroic spirit. After reciting a poem, the momentum of the entire court changes accordingly. Everyone exudes an aura of inviolability. It is really difficult to understand and believe.
"I wonder what the princess thinks?" Li Chouxin asked.
Before Sang Yu could answer, a minister said.
"Li Changzai's poem is far superior to Princess Sangyu's poem in terms of momentum, determination, and attitude towards the enemy. Even the artistic conception is much superior. Li Changzai naturally wins this round. "
"That's right, this poem should be copied and recited in the army. It will definitely boost morale. No matter who the enemy comes to invade, they will definitely be killed."
Listening to the comments from others, Sang Yu came back to his senses and said, "I am the princess who lost."
Li Changji, who was standing by, didn't know what to say. He had a drooped face and didn't dare to look directly at Sang Fu and the others. After all, if he spoke at this time, he would be the target of hundreds of officials.
Li Chouxin said at this time: "Since we have won two games, I still ask your country to fulfill the three-year tribute agreement."
Sang Fu looked troubled at this time and stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, this ten times annual tribute is really difficult for me, Dongyi. Even what is sent now is pieced together with great difficulty. If Dongyi The people are pressing hard, and a mutiny will inevitably occur. If we really send troops to attack, I think Dongyi is brave and good at fighting, but it will not be good for your country. Please be generous, Your Majesty, and reconsider?"
Li Zhun thought about Sang Fu's words, and there was indeed some truth to them. So he said: "I wonder what King Tuoxi thinks about it?"
Sang Fu said at this time: "Your Majesty, originally it was like trying three rounds, but since I, Dongyi, lost the first two rounds, I would like to ask your majesty to be generous and please try the third round. If Dongyi wins in the third round, Please allow your majesty to allow annual tributes to continue as usual, and there is no need to cede territory. If your majesty's people win, how about it all be left to your majesty's decision?"
Li Chou thought to himself that King Tuo Xi really had a good plan.
As expected, Li Zhun said: "Since Li Aiqing won the first two rounds, let's listen to Li Aiqing's opinion."
Li Chou thought for a while, but he couldn't take advantage of this Dongyi man, so he said: "King Tuoxi, I have an idea. I wonder if Dongyi can agree. If he agrees, he might even be able to waive the annual tribute."
Upon hearing this, Sang Fu asked curiously: "What can we do?"
Li Chouxin smiled and said: "If our dynasty wins in this last round, then let the princess marry our dynasty. As for who to marry, it is up to us. Maybe your majesty will be happy, and Dongyi will not need to be admitted in the future." The annual tribute is due. If Dongyi wins, the annual tribute will be waived for three years. From now on, the annual tribute will remain unchanged. How about everything remains as usual?"
Sang Fu thought about it, and it seemed reasonable, and said, "I wonder who you are sending to fight?"
Li Chouxin smiled and said, "Since I won the first two rounds, I will naturally fight against you in the third round."
Hearing that it was Li Chouxin who was going to fight, Sang Fu thought that Li Chouxin, a scholar, was not a threat, so he readily agreed and asked the emperor, "What do you think your majesty does? Li Changzai has done what he said."
Li Zhun looked at Eunuch Zheng beside him and saw Eunuch Zheng smiling and nodding, so he said, "It counts."
After receiving a positive reply, Sang Fu couldn't wait to compete, but Li Chouxin said: "Don't worry, I always keep my word as a great dynasty, but since it is a contest between two countries, it is better to sign the documents to avoid disputes later. "
Sang Fu thought he had a chance to win, so he agreed without hesitation and signed the competition document sent by Eunuch Zheng.
Then the two sides moved to the school field and the competition began.
The commander of the imperial army asked what weapons the two sides would use. Li Chouxin chose a sword, and Gong Yilang chose a knife.
The fight between the two was about to break out, but at this time Li Chouxin had already noticed that the sword in his hand had been tampered with, and the weight and material were wrong. He turned to look at Gao Yu, and saw a trace of a sinister smile on Gao Yu's face.
However, it doesn't matter whether Li Chou uses a sword or not. Now he can easily win with just the sword energy in his hand. He doesn't even have to clash with Gong Yilang's sword. However, Gao Yu's treacherous plan may come to nothing.
Gong Yilang received Gao Yu's hint and said arrogantly: "Li Chang is here, in the school competition, the sword has no eyes, death and injury are inevitable, please be careful."
Li Chou smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. Since the sword has no eyes, please be careful."
After the two of them talked, Gong Yilang took the lead to attack Li Chou Xin. Looking at Gong Yilang's posture, he was already made of steel and iron, full of brute force. Li Chou Xin was not frightened or panicked. He jumped into the air and swung a powerful sword. The sword intention was like a bright light that swept away all the dust and headed towards Miyaichiro. Sang Fu, who had a chance to win, suddenly changed his face, but it was too late. The sword intention collided with Miyaichiro. , Gong Yilang was so weak, he was directly hit by the sword and flew three to four feet away. He didn't even touch a hair on Li Chouxin, and died on the edge of the school field.
Seeing this scene, Sang Fu was frightened in his heart, but he had to accept it. He said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I, Dong Yi, are willing to admit defeat and will fulfill my promise. Please be kind and forgive us and other crude people for their incompetence." present."
Li Zhun said happily: "It doesn't matter. Since Dongyi has fulfilled the agreement, I will also be generous. On the day of the princess's wedding, I will announce that Dongyi will be exempted from the three-year annual tribute. We will discuss the annual tribute after three years."
Sang Fu looked unwilling, but still bowed and thanked him.
Sang Yu stared blankly at Li Chou Xin, completely impressed. However, Li Chou Xin was not interested in the princess at all and ignored her completely.
Seeing that he couldn't get any favors, Sang Fu hurriedly left the palace with the envoy and headed back to Yudong Garden.
Li Zhun left Li Chouxin behind and headed towards the imperial study.
