One Piece of Song Dynasty

On the morning of the third day, Li Ruoshui and others came to the military tent to thank Zong Han.

Li Ruoshui thanked him and said, "Yesterday I tried to offend Taiwan's strictness by using state affairs. I hope Taiwan will be kind and considerate of all living beings, and have good alliances at heart. If we can achieve peace early on, the world will be very lucky."

Zong Han said: "When your dynasty is now, it is like playing chess. If most of them are defeated, they will make up for the rest. If you care about it, it may bring down the whole situation and everyone will lose. It is unknown."

Li Ruoshui argued: "If this dynasty cares about it, how can it be willing to rent and pay taxes from three towns to serve the dynasty?"

Zong Han waved his hand and said: "No need to argue cleverly." After saying that, he bowed in return and asked Li Ruoshui and others to sit down.

Zong Han asked: "Send the lieutenants to come from Jinlu?"

Wang Lu replied: "Someone came from Jingxing Road."

Zong Han asked again: "I heard that this road is dangerous and cannot be opened to traffic. Is that true?"

Wang Lu replied: "Of course."

Zong Han said: "Last year, I heard that Jie Zhi had deployed troops to guard Jingxing Road, but the troops collapsed without a fight. How could it be that the danger was not enough to rely on, and the troops were useless?"

Wang Lu replied: "Last year, Commander Jie was ordered to gather at two roads in Hebei. The archers and armor soldiers along the border disbanded after hearing that the two countries had made peace. They did not collapse without a fight. What's more, Commander Jie never guarded Jingxing Road. I’m afraid the rumors are wrong.”

Zong Han then asked: "When the envoys arrived, the Yellow River was not yet frozen."

Li Ruoshui replied: "The river must be extremely cold to freeze."

Zong Han asked again: "Where are the envoys and deputies, and what do they do for a living when they are in the village?"

Li Ruoshui replied: "A certain person is from Bianzhou."

Wang Lu replied: "A certain person is from Biandu."

Li Ruoshui said: "When a certain deputy was in Xiangjing, he made a living by reading."

Zong Han said to Wang Lu: "Since the deputy envoy knows the book, why should he be a military attaché?"

Wang Lu replied: "I failed in studying because of Wu Bian."

Zong Han knew something about the culture of the Central Plains, so he immediately wrote a poem and a couplet: "Recently, I gradually feel that the family tradition is good, the sound of children reading and the sound of women weaving."

Li Ruoshui asked: "May I ask the Prime Minister and Marshal if the Xianlitai family members are safe?"

Zong Han frowned and replied: "My hometown is in Shenzhou. All my flesh and blood were killed yesterday when the Khitan conquered Liaodong. I just got a little girl recently."

Wang Lu said: "This shows that the military revolution is not a good thing." Wang Lu then said: "Tao Yuanming once said that although a weak woman is not a man, a good comfort is better than nothing."

Zong Han looked at Wang Lu for a long time, thoughtfully.

Zong Han still refused to agree to the peace negotiation, which made Li Ruoshui and others very anxious. They discussed it for a long time after returning to their residence, but still had no solution. That night, Xiao Qing came to meet him again and said: "Just now, the Prime Minister said: This time, the Deputy Sha Zhonggeng is smart, but he is unwilling to say everything he has discussed."

Li Ruoshui said: "The imperial edict given by a certain person is just that. I dare not lie about it. I hope that the Grand Master will see the Prime Minister and inform him."

Xiao Qing replied: "As agreed." After saying that, he left.

On the morning of the fourth day, Li Ruoshui and others went to see Zong Han again. Li Ruoshui said: "I came here to discuss peace this time to facilitate the two countries. I already know what I mean. I hope that the Prime Minister and the Marshal will comply with it soon."

Zong Han said: "Waiting for the answer in the credential."

Li Ruoshui asked: "The peace meeting is a big matter. I'm afraid that the document will not be all the twists and turns. Can I ask the Prime Minister and Marshal to give an interview?"

Zong Han said: "It seems that there is nothing more to say."

Wang Lu said: "I respectfully convey the emperor's sincere intention and come to discuss peace from afar. I must get a clear reply from the Prime Minister and Marshal. Returning in this way will not dereliction of duty."

Zong Han heard this and said: "If we don't get the land and people in the three towns, there will never be peace."

Wang Lu asked: "If the Prime Minister insists on not sending a return envoy, what can we do?"

Zong Han said: "The deputy is not allowed to go back temporarily."

Li Ruoshui sighed and said: "Even if someone goes back, how will he dare to see the emperor of this dynasty? Even if we meet, what will he write as a poem? I hope the Prime Minister and Marshal Ququan the beauty of the two countries."

Zong Han waved his hand and said, "No need to be so long-winded."

Li Ruoshui saw that Zong Han was very determined and had no room for negotiation, so he had no choice but to retreat.

On the morning of the fifth day, Li Ruoshui and others came to see Zong Han again. Just as they were about to talk about the peace talks, Zong Han waved his hand and told them to sit down. Zong Han said: "The letter of credence has been prepared." Zong Han ordered his officials to take the letter of credence and pass it to Li Ruoshui. Li Ruoshui had no choice but to accept it.

Zong Han said: "The envoys and lieutenants returned in a short time. When they arrived in the capital, they repeatedly told me that the emperor of the dynasty had sent me a mission to present Chen Han and gifts. I was very grateful. Because of the march, there was nothing to pay tribute to. Wang Rui Cha. There is no need to mention the rent and tax for the three towns as ordered. If someone is sent to deliver the land and the people quickly, they will return to the army to make peace. If not, I will send troops to Bianjing to discuss it. "

When Li Ruoshui heard this, he stood up quickly and wanted to express his opinion. Zong Han's face darkened and he said, "I've said it before, there's no need to say it again."

Seeing that the situation was irreversible, Li Ruoshui said: "Rong Ruoshui will wait until the next day, and I will go as soon as I say goodbye to the Prime Minister."

Zong Han said: "There is no need to talk about this ritual. It can be done now."

Li Ruoshui and others saw that Zong Han had issued an order to expel guests, so they had no choice but to say goodbye to Zong Han. They returned to their residence with a depressed mood, packed their things and prepared to hit the road. Soon, two translators came and said: "The prime minister of the country has sent word to the envoy that he has come all the way. I have nothing to thank him for. A white horse with a silver saddle and bit, three hundred flowers, and a combination of fragrant medicines are given to the envoy." "A black horse with a silver saddle and a bit, three hundred flowers and flowers, a combination of incense and medicine, and give them to the deputy envoy. There are also a hundred bottles of wine and two hundred coins to reward the officials."

Li Ruoshui and others did not dare to accept their firm words. At this time, Xiao Qing came to see him off and said, "This is a gift we received from envoys. It cannot be broken but it is a regular thing." Li Ruoshui had no choice but to accept it.

Xiao Qing accompanied Li Ruoshui and others for about five miles, then dismounted and bought three glasses of wine to say goodbye. Li Ruoshui and Wang Lu reluctantly drank a cup with worried faces. Xiao Qing said: "The Prime Minister ordered me to pay my respects to the envoys again and again. They came from a long way. Because of the march, I had nothing to do. I hope to see them."

Li Ruoshui said: "I am here to meet the family of Marshal Taishi Shangshutai, Prime Minister of the Netherlands. If you are accompanying an envoy to see the Prime Minister, please mention Ruoshui and others to thank you."

Xiao Qing said: "I would like to accept the order."

Li Ruoshui and others left Yuci on September th, and did not return to Tokyo until November th. It only took them fifteen days to go, but a month and a half to return.

At that time, Song Qinzong not only sent Li Ruoshui as an envoy to the Jin Army in the West Route, but also sent Liu Cen as an envoy to the Jin Kingdom and Zongze as an envoy to the Jin Army in the East Route. Their missions were all to request peace from the Jin people. Liu Cen traveled through mountains and rivers to the Northeast, and the result was of course one can imagine. Zongze failed to make the trip, and the post of peace envoy was later taken over by Wang Yun.

Zongze is a veteran minister. He is sixty-six years old and has worked in the local area for a long time. He had retired and later served as the general magistrate of Bazhou. Yushi Zhongcheng Chen Guoting and others knew Zongze well, and they jointly recommended him to Song Qinzong as the peace envoy.