Funing Hall

Xie Wenrui also came back in the evening, but he went directly to the palace to meet His Majesty. Although Zhao Cong had already prepared dinner in Funing Hall, when he heard that he was back, he immediately invited him in happily.

I haven't seen him for several months, and Xie Wenrui has been darkened a lot.

When he came in, he saluted Zhao Cong with a smile on his face.

Zhao Cong also laughed: "Wen Rui is in a good mood!" He looked him up and down, "It's quite dark."

"I often train soldiers by the sea, so I get tanned." Xie Wenrui smiled a little embarrassedly.

Zhao Cong knew that Xie Wenrui was thin-skinned, so he stopped teasing him, woke him up, and asked about things on the way.Xie Wenrui said roughly, and then said: "Your Majesty, the minister hastily entered the palace, and this matter cannot be delayed."

"You said."

"I wonder how much Your Majesty knows about the Jurchen Wanyan clan?" Xie Wenrui asked first.

The Jurchen family only emerged in the past ten years, and it was gradually known to some people in the Song Dynasty in the past five years. Going forward, this family rarely interacted with others. They did not submit to the Liao Kingdom, but they also wandered around the border of the Liao Kingdom.Liao wanted to recruit them, but couldn't.

The Jurchen people are very fierce, and for the Liao Kingdom, hard work is a thankless task.Moreover, the Jurchen family has always been mediocre and has not shown any special ability.It wasn't until a few years ago that the royal family of the Liao Kingdom began to fight among themselves, and the Jurchen clan began to develop rapidly. The Liao Kingdom had no time to take care of it. When it wanted to take care of it now, although the Jurchen was still not as good as Liao and Xixia, it was no longer the original Jurchen.

The Liao Kingdom sent people to negotiate with Jurchen, but Jurchen said that they wanted to surrender to Song Dynasty.

Confessing himself to the Great Song Dynasty was what Xie Wenrui told Zhao Cong in private with Wan Yanliang, the leader of the Jurchen, according to Zhao Cong's intention.Fortunately, they were put on the bright side in a blink of an eye.This not only forced Da Song to grant them the status of a vassal state, but also lowered Liao's face, and provoked Da Song and Liao by the way.

It was precisely because of this that Xie Wenrui rushed back and asked His Majesty what to do.

As for how much do you know about the Wanyan clan?Zhao Cong had never dealt with the Jurchen people, and even the nearest Liao Kingdom had little contact with the Jurchen.He has never been to the Jurchen, and almost all the impressions he has come from his previous life, and it is only by relying on those memories that he can arrange these things.

Seeing that he was silent, Xie Wenrui said again: "The first time I returned to the Liao Kingdom, it was Your Majesty who instructed me to pay attention to the Jurchen family. This time I went to Dengzhou, and I was ordered by Your Majesty. I know that Your Majesty knows Jurchen very well. .It is only this time that I personally deal with the Jurchen clan, that I found the Wanyan clan very interesting."

Zhao Cong nodded, this is true, it is true only when he saw himself with his own eyes, and everything else was just fantasy.

"Wan Yanliang wants to be a minister to our Great Song Dynasty, and he keeps saying that he admires the style of the Great Song Dynasty. At the beginning, I thought he was just like those envoys from the Liao Kingdom, but it was just a matter of lip service. Unexpectedly, when the minister went to Jurchen a while ago, they You really admire our Great Song Dynasty! Wan Yanliang is now reforming the official system and imitating our Great Song Dynasty in everything."

Jurchen was backward and had no ability to govern the country. It was a matter of course to learn from the sound Song Dynasty.

Xie Wenruizi also knew this truth, but said: "Wan Yanliang is modest and prudent, and he is eager to learn, and he has a lot of pictures. Your Majesty, do we still want to accept the Jurchen as your vassal? According to what I saw, I am not afraid of raising sheep, but I am afraid of raising a snake." After finishing speaking, he looked at His Majesty's thoughtful expression, and said, "Naturally, I only know how to fight, and I don't know much about these things. If there is something wrong, Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Hearing the word "punishment", Zhao Cong came back to his senses, and said with a smile: "It's okay, you are right. I never thought that the Jurchen clan could accomplish things like this. Before they became ministers, they knew how to provoke us and the Liao Kingdom. Wen Rui is at ease, I know it well."

Xie Wenrui breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that His Majesty really regarded Wanyan Liang as a good person.

Zhao Cong thought to himself, no one is a vegetarian, Wan Yanliang used him and the Liao Kingdom, and according to what Xiao Shiyi said, he can also play tricks.

Zhao Cong wanted to keep Xie Wenrui to have dinner with him, Xie Wenrui smiled and said, "I'm covered in dust, I dare not bother Your Majesty anymore."

Zhao Cong didn't insist on staying, and said: "Yeluqin, the envoy of the Liao Kingdom, has arrived in Kaifeng, and now he is staying at Dutingyi."

Xie Wenrui paused, he already knew, after all...he happened to meet Gu Ci.

Zhao Cong thought about the matter between him and Gu Ci, and thought to himself, he wondered whether what Xiao Shiyi said was true or not.He picked up the teacup, and said unintentionally: "After this matter is settled, you can write a private letter to Gu Ci. If you want to stay in Kaifeng, I will find a way to let him stay."

Xie Wenrui was very excited when he heard that, and said with a smile, "Yes!"

Sure enough, something happened.

Zhao Cong continued: "How old is Gu Ci?"

"Your Majesty, he is two years older than the minister."

"It has been very difficult for him these past few years. When he stays, I will give him a marriage."

"Your Majesty..." Xie Wenrui was dumbfounded.

Zhao Cong shook his head secretly, what an idiot.Zhao Shiqi was pretending to be an idiot, and he was faster than anyone else when it was time to make a move.This one is good, Gu Ci is still uncontrollable even now.He stopped teasing poor Xie Wenrui, and instead planned to give Xie Wenrui a small gift.

He waved his hand, and said to Rantao who came in: "Yeluqin, the envoy of the Liao Kingdom, and I are old acquaintances. Although we can't see each other tonight, I have some dishes for him. You choose some delicious dishes, and don't let Fulu go." That's it. Just in time, Wen Rui is going home, so send it on my behalf."

After Xie Wenrui was stunned, he was overjoyed again.Due to Gu Ci's current identity on the surface, they can't even meet with each other in a fair and honest manner, which is good now.He saluted, turned around and followed Rantao out.

Yeluqin was in Hualou, lingering and forgetting to return.

Gu Ci wandered the street for a while, and returned to the Duting post when he arrived at the meal point.As soon as he entered, the guards brought by the Liao Kingdom said to him: "My lord, the emperor of the Song Dynasty sent someone to deliver something."

"Do you have proper hospitality?"

"The next official led him in, and the people who stayed in the Duting Station accompanied him."

Although it was not very appropriate, but it was not rude, Gu Ci nodded, straightened his clothes, and walked in.Unexpectedly, when he walked into the hall, the person who suddenly looked up at him was Xie Wenrui.

Zhao Cong felt that he had done a good deed, and he had a smile on his face while eating.

Zhao Shiqi, who had just returned from the outside, asked in surprise, "Why is Your Majesty so happy?"

Zhao Cong said it again, and Zhao Shiqi smiled: "Your Majesty helped him like this, but Xie Wenrui, such an idiot, still can't understand it. Do you believe it, Your Majesty?"

"Then it really depends on his own good luck, it's all for this sake!"

Zhao Shiqi saw that he hated iron but not steel, and said with a smile: "It's better for me?"

Zhao Cong glanced at him: "You are the best."

The two laughed together.After laughing, Zhao Congcai told him again what he had said to Xie Wenrui. Zhao Shiqi went to personally interrogate Zheng Qiao's son and wife today, and got a lot of news, so he told Zhao Cong one by one.The two talked softly and discussed political affairs. On the way, Rantao came in to add rice and soup for Zhao Shiqi. Seeing them like this made him happy, and he only hoped that summer like this would happen every year.

After Yeluqin settled down, Zhao Cong was in the Zichen Palace, bringing officials from the fifth rank up to meet him in person.After seeing the ceremony, he went to the side hall to hold a banquet, Yeluqin felt extremely comfortable.Five years ago, he was an envoy, and Zhao Cong was a young emperor who could not govern himself. He really wanted to watch the excitement, and Zhao Cong treated him kindly.Now that he is the Prime Minister of the Liao Kingdom, Zhao Cong is in charge of the government, but he still treats him like this.

From this one detail alone, we can know that Zhao Cong is an emperor who really puts people in his heart.

Naturally, as an emperor, no one is simple, and no one is really kind.But Zhao Cong had at least done enough on the surface. If the Empress Dowager of Liao Kingdom could achieve Zhao Cong's three points, he would not be so resentful.

The more Zhao Cong treats him like a spring breeze, the more comfortable and uncomfortable he feels in his heart. He said to Gu Ci with emotion: "When our late emperor was here, I had some small thoughts in my heart, but I didn't do anything. I did my best to help you. The late emperor did things. If the Empress Dowager has three points of Zhao Cong and can know how to repay her kindness, I would not be like this!"

"The queen mother is indeed too anxious. It is human nature to throw it away after use, but she can't bear it even for a year."

Yeluqin drank too much wine in the palace, and sitting on the couch at this moment, he said angrily with red eyes: "I should give it to me, but he won't give it to me! I will take it myself!"

A few days ago, Yeluqin wanted to go into the palace to discuss this matter with Zhao Cong every day, but Gu Ci stopped him because the time was not yet ripe.At this point, Gu Ci didn't stop, Yeluqin trusted him very much, so he rested early and planned to enter the palace tomorrow.

The next day, after Yeluqin entered the palace, he first talked to Zhao Cong about the contract between the two countries.

On the eve of Zhao Cong's ascension to the throne, the two countries fought. After he ascended the throne, Song Dynasty won the war. In order to seize power, the Empress Dowager Sun did not want to cause trouble, so she took the initiative to sign a contract and buy peace with money.

It started with Yuanzhao, the first reign name changed by Zhao Cong after he ascended the throne, and the contract was signed for ten years.It has been exactly ten years since the first year of Yuanzhao to the present five years of Kaixi.This matter was supposed to be discussed at the end of last year, at the beginning of this year at the latest, but because the Liao Kingdom hadn't finished fighting at that time, no one came to discuss this matter in detail.

Until now, he has stabilized for the time being, and only kicked Yeluqin, who was an eyesore, to Song Dynasty.

Yeluqin conveyed the meaning of the Empress Dowager of the Liao Kingdom, and did not expect to add more, but only wanted to maintain the original status of the contract to jointly protect the peace of the two countries.

When Yeluqin came, he saw the completely different Xiang army and forbidden soldiers, and he knew that this time was not that time, and that old woman, the queen mother, was still dreaming, Da Song is still afraid of fighting with you now?She also won back then, and it was the old woman, Empress Dowager Sun.Thinking of these old women, Yeluqin felt angry.

And as he expected, Zhao Cong was naturally unwilling, and Yeluqin waited for him to refuse.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Cong's refusal was very interesting, Zhao Cong called him distressed: "Officer Liu—" Yeluqin's Han name was Liu Youqin, when he heard that he was called, he immediately said: "Your Majesty, tell me."

Zhao Cong sighed: "Emissary Liu and I have known each other for many years, and you also know my temperament. Although the signing of this treaty was not my original intention, it was decided by the Queen Mother back then. But in the end, it has made our two countries peaceful until now. Song and Liao We have always been friendly, and there are often trade exchanges at the border, and I am very willing to continue according to the original treaty."

Yeluqin nodded.

"Emissary Liu also knows that we have always had few horses in the Song Dynasty. Over the years, I have spent a lot of money on the treasury for the horses. This money is really not in hand. Irrigate the fields, build roads and water, and prevent disasters. Without silver?"

Yeluqin continued to nod his head, which meant he was crying poor.

"It's just that I have a good relationship with the Liao Kingdom. Even if I don't have some, I can still afford the various things that I give to the Liao Kingdom every year. Even if the envoy Liu doesn't come this time, I will send someone to the Liao Kingdom." How could the plan fail to keep up with the changes, and envoy Liu also knew that Jurchen was going to surrender to Song?"

Yeluqin nodded, but also wondered, why bring this up?That matter was sent by Jurchen to tell the Queen Mother, and he was very displeased that he was bypassed.

Zhao Cong said distressedly: "I'm a peaceful person. The Jurchen family surrendered to Song. This means trusting the Song Dynasty and trusting me. I'm very happy. I'm going to give them some. Unexpectedly, Jurchen insisted that the Liao Kingdom should be regarded as the leader. For example, they say they want the same." Zhao Cong sighed again, "Emissary Liu, this is so difficult!"

The corners of Yeluqin's mouth froze, what does Zhao Cong mean by this?

Jurchen wanted the same things as the Liao Kingdom, but the Song Dynasty couldn't provide them, so they had to cut off what was given to the Liao Kingdom?Although Yeluqin wished to see the empress dowager deflated, it was too embarrassing!What are Jurchens!Ten years ago, they leaned on their late emperor's feet and said they wanted to be a minister, but their late emperor didn't bother to ask for it.Now it's terrible, I can bear it!

That shabby guy, still expecting to be compared with their Daliao? !

Zhao Cong looked at him: "I don't know what to do, how about envoy Liu to help me think about what to do?"

No matter how much Yeluqin hated the queen mother, he could not ignore the prestige of a country.

His bottom line is that the contract must be renewed, even if it is reduced to [-]%, he still has to sign it.

The bottom line in Zhao Cong's heart is also very clear, he will not continue with the messy things done by the Queen Mother, and the treaty must not be signed.He, Zhao Cong, did not owe the Liao Kingdom. Although these things are not very much, they can't hurt the root cause, but why should he give them good things for nothing every year?

Looking at Yeluqin's troubled face, he thought that this person had something interesting, and he simply said: "Officer Liu, I am not afraid of you laughing when I say a word. There are so many officials in the Liao Kingdom, I just want to be close to you."

Yeluqin was even more puzzled, what does this mean?

Yeluqin was puzzled, Zhao Cong was not in a hurry, such a matter could not be settled after a discussion, he invited Yeluqin to have a meal, and then let him go back.

As soon as Yeluqin returned to the Duting post, he told Gu Ci what Zhao Cong had said to him, and asked, "Why did he have a relationship with me all of a sudden?"

Gu Ci held a piece in each hand, he was playing chess with himself, after hearing this, he didn't put down the piece, looked up at Yeluqin, and said with a smile: "Sir, are you stupid?"

"Ah?" Yeluqin was not angry either.

"When you came, what did you say on the way? After you arrived in Kaifeng, what did you say? Your own interests, and the interests of the Liao Kingdom, there is nothing wrong with your choice of country. Who doesn't love their own country? It’s just that my lord, this country belongs to the queen mother now, if you give her benefits, she will thank you? Her brother, the left minister who is now in power, will thank you? You helped them save the face of the Jurchen and quarrel with the emperor of the Song Dynasty Turn, they can only applaud."

Yeluqin let out a "hum", thought for a while and said, "But Wan Yanliang, that bad bastard! How dare you grab something from us?"

"My lord, don't you find it interesting that the emperor of the Song Dynasty told you this today?"

"How interesting?"

"Looking at Kaifeng's peacefulness through singing and dancing, does it look like it's declining?"

"All the way, very rich!"

"Exactly, the Song Dynasty had a lot of silver. The Song Dynasty emperor was just like you, and he only cared about his face. Before the Jurchen became a minister, he talked like the Queen Mother of Liao Kingdom. This is also for his face. Can the Song Dynasty emperor feel at ease?"

Yeluqin frowned: "Even if I want to seize the opportunity, this treaty..."

Gu Ci smiled, lowered his head and continued to play chess: "If one day, the queen mother finds someone to kill the lord, even if today because of your insistence, the treaty is finally signed, who will remember you? When they sang for it, how about you? A pair of bones?"

Sometimes Gu Ci's words can be very stinging, Yelu is unhappy, so angry that he doesn't talk to him.It's just that he thought for a long time, and finally came to Gu Ci again: "Zhao Cong said a lot of twists and turns, so what does he mean!"

Gu Ci put down the sunspot in his hand, without even raising his head: "He would rather give you the same amount of money privately every year than sign this contract. He would rather cooperate with you than be humiliated by Jurchen."

"...But this contract." As the royal family of the Liao Kingdom, Yeluqin wanted to rule the world after all, and was unwilling to give up this opportunity.

Gu Ci had no choice but to put down the pawn and looked at him: "My lord, you should obey the emperor of the Song Dynasty and unite with him in secret. On the surface, you told the queen mother that the contract could not be signed, because there were Jurchen at work, and the queen mother only hated Jurchen, so you just No one can blame you for procrastinating on the contract matter. You can still do what the emperor of the Song Dynasty wanted. Now that you have done what the emperor of the Song Dynasty wanted and helped him solve such a matter, can he not help you? If you ascend to a high position, do you still worry about these contracts?"

Yeluqin understood.

Gu Ci stared at him, and spoke clearly: "My lord, do you want a prosperous Daliao who completely disagrees with you? Or do you want a Daliao who can be caught in your hands and do whatever you want?"

Make a wedding dress for others, or weave a piece of cloth for yourself that may not be able to fit your body.

Such a choice is very good.

No longer able to upper body, practice a few more times, you can always make clothes to wear.If you blindly make it for others, then it will be frozen for a lifetime!

Yeluqin made a decision that night, and the next day he entered the palace again and had several hours of secret talks with Zhao Cong.

No one knew what they talked about, but Yeluqin had a bitter face when he came out, and everyone thought that some matters between the two countries had not been settled yet.

They didn't know that as soon as Yeluqin got into the carriage, he laughed comfortably.

He has reached a temporary alliance with Zhao Cong, and Zhao Cong's actions are very generous, which is very much in line with his wishes!