To The Land of Nevernight

In September of the 30th year of Kaiping, two official roads leading to Youzhou and Cizhou were completed.

Yuan Mu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, and Su Wenyun, the right servant of the Ministry of Industry, returned to Beijing together to report to the Holy Spirit.The emperor Long Yan rejoiced and rewarded all the ministers.In fact, the official road in Cizhou should have been repaired a long time ago, but because of the collapse of the Jinghe bridge, no one would dare to cut corners when repairing this road in the future, and strived for perfection, so it has been slowly repaired until now.

After Su Wenyun returned to Beijing, he held the dual positions of the right minister of the Ministry of Industry and the Shaoqing of Dali Temple. He was in the limelight for a while and became a popular figure in Shengjing.

The Su family in Northern Zhili was a prosperous family in the Song Dynasty, but most of the Su family produced military generals, and Su Wenyun, the civil servant, was the biggest official.

After Su Wenyun returned to Beijing, he also had to go to Qinzheng Hall to do business.

Tang Shen inevitably met with the other party a few times, but Mr. Su forgets things too much, so he wouldn't pay attention to Tang Shen again.The two had no more contact with each other, and Tang Shen was happy to be at ease.

The Shaoqing of Dali Temple is an official in charge of crime officials in the world, and no one wants to offend Su Wenyun.

In the court hall, Wang Qin was in charge of Yinyin Division, and he held great power. Tang Shen, as Wang Qin's junior, also rose to the top, and was even more highly regarded by Zhao Fu.But Tang Shen is Xu Wei's Zhongshu Sheren after all.

On this day, a eunuch came to Qinzheng Palace to spread the word, saying that the emperor's birthday was approaching, and the queen mother notified the Ministry of Rites that this year's "Longevity Festival" should be held well.

Meng Lang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, received the order, and the entire court began to get busy.

As a member of Zhongshushe, Tang Shen started to supervise the birthday memorials and gifts presented by local officials according to Xu Wei's instructions.The emperor's birthday gifts are different from ordinary people's birthday gifts. Officials from all over the country will give gifts to celebrate their birthdays regardless of their rank.These gifts pay attention to the three characters "exquisite, rare, and strange". Officials from all over the world have been troubled by how to be "fine", let alone "precious" and "odd".

All of a sudden, Tang Shen received countless memorials, and all the officials wrote the memorials for birthday celebrations as colorful flowers, and looking at the gifts they gave, it was a shabby one.

Zuo Cheng Chen Linghai is also in charge of this year's "Longevity Festival" errands, and Tang Shen inevitably has some contact with him.

Chen Linghai called Tang Shen to the hall, and asked, "How about the congratulatory gifts from officials from various places this year?"

Tang Shen played a sloppy look at these officials: "Returning to Chen Xianggong, officials from Huxi, Jiangnan, North and South Zhili, and Northwest have already sent the notebooks and congratulatory gifts together, and most of the adults in other places have also finished sending the notebooks. It's just that these places are far away from each other. Shengjing is a long way away, and the birthday ceremony is still on the way, so it hasn't arrived yet."

"The Longevity Festival every year, what happens every year, I still know."

The implication is: Don't hide anything from local officials in many poor and remote areas, everyone knows it in their hearts.

Upon hearing this, Tang Shen smiled wryly and said, "The lower officials are still supervising this matter."

Chen Linghai: "You don't have to worry too much about it. Your Majesty is busy with government affairs every day, and the sages are spread all over the world, but there are always places that haven't been spread. Those birthday gifts can be stored in the treasury. How can Your Majesty not know the place?" The distress and hard work of the officials have never been too harsh."

After hearing this, Tang Shen immediately saluted, "Thank you, sir, for your suggestion."

Chen Linghai smiled and stroked his beard: "You were on business for the Wanshou Festival in the first year, and some connections were unclear, so it's okay to just talk about it. Speaking of which, this old man and your husband are also old friends. When the late emperor was still in power, Fu Xi and I As one of the four Confucianists in the world, when I think about it now, the years of those years are still vivid in my mind."

Tang Shen lowered his eyes calmly, and said: "I also heard about Chen Xianggong from my teacher. The master said that Chen Xianggong is best at painting flowers and birds. Among the crowds of flowers, I saw a lifelike oriole bird in the flowers. It’s amazing to be entangled in.”

After leaving Chen Linghai's main room, Tang Shen returned to his own room, his eyes rolled slightly, but nothing unusual appeared, and he continued to inspect the list of congratulatory gifts sent by officials from other places.

More than 30 years ago, there were four highly respected Confucianists who were respected by the world as the "Four Confucianists in the World".These four people are Zhong Taisheng, Liang Bowen, Fu Xiru and Chen Weizhi.

Chen Linghai, styled Weizhi, is taken from The Book of Songs: Xuanniao.

The country is thousands of miles away, and the people of the Wei Dynasty stop, and spread across the world.

Among the four, Zhong Taisheng is admired by the world for his amazing knowledge; Liang Bowen is famous for his extensive reading, and was once known as the bookcase of the Song Dynasty.Fu Xiru is good at calligraphy, and Chen Weizhi is good at painting.At that time, these four people were also the most outstanding group of powerful ministers in the court, but it was a pity that Zhong Taisheng and Liang Bowen, as members of the Songqing party, were hated by Zhao Fu after failing to force the palace, so after decades, only Fu Xiru and Chen Linghai were able to survive.

Tang Shen has some affection for Chen Linghai, mainly because Xu Hui found a secret letter written by Chen Linghai to Liang Song when he was sorting out Liang Song's belongings.In the letter, Chen Linghai advised his good friend not to think about rescuing Zhong Wei from the dungeon, the emperor could not let Zhong Wei leave the dungeon.What the emperor didn't want to do, no matter how many excerpts Liang wrote and how many relationships were cleared up, it would never be possible to achieve.

After the Songqing Party was overthrown by Zhao Fu, only Fu Wei and Chen Linghai among the powerful officials in Shengjing helped Liang Song.

Tang Shen sighed.

A gentleman does something and does not do something.

Doesn't Liang Song understand?

Knowing that you can't do it, it's because this is the belief in Liang Song and other great Confucianists' hearts, and it's their right way!

In October, the Imperial Academy began to revise "History of Song Officials". Fu Wei was very interested in it, and went to the Imperial Academy every day to do business, and gradually became busy.On the sixth day of the lunar new year, Tang Shen came to Shangshu Mansion with empty hands.

Seeing that Tang Shen didn't take any gifts, Wang Qin's butler was surprised for a while, then looked behind him again.

The housekeeper said: "Young master Tang came alone?" I didn't see you coming with a carriage!

In Wang Qin's mansion, the housekeeper and servants would never address the master as an adult, but as a son.

Tang Shen smiled wryly, "I didn't bring it."

The housekeeper was silent, and brought Tang Shen into the mansion.

Seeing that Tang Shen didn't bring anything, Wang Qin raised his eyebrows and glanced behind Tang Shen.

Tang Shen coughed: "Senior brother, don't look at it, I came today and I didn't bring any presents."

Wang Qin said to the housekeeper, "Bring this year's calendar."

The housekeeper immediately went to find a copy of Huang Lilai, Wang Qin rummaged through it for a long time, pointed to the words "the sixth day of October" on it, and said to Tang Shen: "Could it be that I misremembered, little brother, the sixth day of October is not my birthday ?”

Tang Shen: "...It's my brother's birthday."

Wang Qin: "Then it must be that there is a mistake in the almanac. Every year on the first day of the year, Qin Tianjian calculates the year's almanac and announces it to the world. I didn't expect Master Li of Qin Tianjian to make such a mistake. I will see him tomorrow morning I'm going to have to talk to him sometime."

Tang Shen: "..."

Wang Zifeng, you oblique eccentric don't have the ability to give you gifts!

The housekeeper left the room with the almanac, and Tang Shen lost his temper.He and Wang Zifeng have known each other for four years, and they have blown a lot of rainbow farts, and they have probably touched the tiger's butt.Tang Shen snorted softly and said, "Who said I didn't prepare a present for Senior Brother?"

Wang Zifeng smiled: "Where is that?"

Tang Shen: "Bring a pen and paper, I want to draw for my brother!"

At the age of 16, Tang Shen was a senior in high school. Tang Shen has absolutely no problem in learning.But when it comes to piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, he wasted too much, and he couldn't do anything at all.Tang Shen actually said that he wanted to paint, Wang Qin smiled even brighter, and immediately ordered the book boy to prepare pens, ink, paper and inkstones, and wait to see how Tang Shen paints for himself.

After grinding the ink and dipping it in the juice, Tang Shen looked at Wang Qin and began to draw.

At first Tang Shen just got angry and decided to paint on the spot.But as he drew gradually, he became fascinated.

Half an hour later, Tang Shen put away the last stroke, Wang Qin stepped forward, looked at him for a while, then looked up at him: "How long have you practiced in private?"

Tang Shen said helplessly: "I was discovered by my brother. I really don't know what gift to give for my brother's birthday this year. After thinking about it, I wanted to draw a picture for my brother. I am not proficient in painting skills. You have to think about the appearance of the senior brother in your heart, and then draw two more pictures, and it took half a month to draw... to get to the current level."

Wang Qin was moved by it, his lips moved, it was rare that he didn't know what to say.

Tang Shen: "It's just that next year, I really can't think of any birthday gift for senior brother. If you don't do well then, senior brother, don't blame me."

Wang Qin's tone was light and cheerful, "How can I blame you?"

Tang Shen said in his heart: You don't blame me, I gave you the vaccination a year in advance, remember what you said today.

The two had dinner, and Wang Qin said, "There are still some gaps in your painting skills, I will leave it tonight, and I will give you some pointers."

Tang Shen groaned in his heart: "Brother, I passed the Tanhua exam three years ago, and I am no longer your student!"

"Who said you are my student?" Wang Qin said leisurely, "You are my junior."

Tang Shen: "..."

Others talk at night by candlelight, cutting the west window together.When it comes to Tang Shen, it becomes Wang Zifeng to teach him how to draw!

Wang Qin's painting is good, so what does it have to do with Tang Shen?Tang Shen couldn't appreciate the beauty of this kind of freehand painting in ancient times at all. Being able to draw Wang Qin was already the result of half a month of private practice.No matter how good Wang Qin taught him, Tang Shen was miserable, and in the end he simply pretended to be sleepy: "Senior brother, I'm sleepy."

Wang Qin suddenly laughed.

Tang Shen took the opportunity to run to the guest room, closed the door and fell asleep.

Zhao Fu's birthday is celebrated with the whole world, and the world is amnesty.

However, only two days later, the northwest was rushing eight hundred miles, and there was a military report that the two countries were at war, and the Liao people attacked Youzhou City, and the war was raging.

In the court hall, all officials were shocked in an uproar.

On the dragon seat, Zhao Fu slowly narrowed his eyes.After the officials stood up one by one, scolded the Liao people who did not abide by the peace treaty, and asked the emperor to send troops to attack Liao, Zhao Fu became furious, saying: "The Liao people deceive people too much, how can I condone them!"

So, the Song army sent troops, and the two countries fought.

This battle lasted for a whole month.

The benefits of Youzhou's official way are revealed at this time.

In terms of military strength, Song Dynasty has always been far inferior to Liao State. 20 years ago, the Liao Kingdom was able to sign a peace agreement. It was based on the victory that the soldiers and civilians of the Song Dynasty sacrificed everything and almost blocked the lives of the family and the country in exchange for victory.But economically, the Song Dynasty is far better than the five Liao Kingdoms!With the Youzhou official road, the transportation of military salaries is more convenient, even if the Song army can't beat them, they can survive.

When the Liao army attacked Youzhou City, they thought it was just a matter of trouble, and they could take Youzhou in ten days at most.Unexpectedly, after fighting for a month, although the Song army has not won, the Liao people have not been able to capture Youzhou.

Wars cost money. The Liao Kingdom never really thought about swallowing the Song Dynasty now, but just wanted to let the Song people send money and cede land to themselves through the war.Seeing that Youzhou could not be defeated for a long time now, Emperor Liao announced with a high profile that there would be no more fighting, and temporarily stationed troops fifty miles outside Youzhou city, and sent envoys to Shengjing to discuss peace with Emperor Song.

When the news reached Shengjing, the courtiers talked a lot.

Meng Lang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, said: "The Liao people are wolves with ambition, and they must come to ask for money!"

Shen Yun, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishments, said: "Not necessarily. I heard that Emperor Liao wanted to get married."

When this sentence fell, it was like a thunderbolt, it directly smashed through the entire floor of the Zichen Palace, and even hit the heads of those royal relatives who were not present, causing them to complain unceasingly.

Marriage?

Emperor Liao is four in his thirties this year, and he is in his prime, so he is supposed to be a good man.But how cruel the Liao Emperor was!In addition to his main palace, Empress Xiao, in the harem of Emperor Liao, more than a dozen concubines died every year, all of whom were tortured to death by Emperor Liao.If you want to marry the princess, it is tantamount to sending her to her death, or torturing her to death!

The most frightening thing is that Zhao Fu doesn't have an unmarried princess of the right age!

Without a princess, who can you marry?

Pick the grandchildren of the king first, and then the daughters of the officials.

For a while, there were constant cries everywhere in Shengjing City, and no one was willing to send their favorite jewel to the Liao Kingdom to suffer.

These things have nothing to do with Tang Shen, but among the ministers in the Qinzheng Palace, several of them have school-age daughters at home, and they have been sad and sighed these days.One person sighed, and ten people responded with even more frowning faces.

Tang Shen took the brochure and went to the main room of the Minister of Industry to do an errand, when he came out he happened to meet Su Wenyun.

The two stood outside the house and heard Yuan Mu's sigh coming from inside the house.

Yuan Mu doesn't have a daughter of the right age, but Yuan Mu has a granddaughter of the right age!

Su Wenyun laughed: "The court has been in such chaos before the Liao mission came. What if it really comes?"

Tang Shen remained silent, saluted and was about to leave.

At this time, a soldier in military uniform trotted into Ji Wengji's main room, Tang Shen and Su Wenyun glanced at him.Tang Shen saw that the armor worn by this soldier was a bit strange, with a golden mark on his arm.

Tang Shen wondered, "I've never seen a soldier wearing this kind of armor."

Su Wenyun sneered and said, "From the northwest, the Flying Dragon Army."

Tang Shen felt alarmed.

Flying Dragon Army?

Glancing at Su Wenyun, Tang Shen turned and left without saying a word.

When it was time to go to the Yamen in the evening, Tang Shen finally knew why the Flying Dragon Army soldier had traveled thousands of miles from the northwest back to Shengjing.It was a coincidence that all the officials discussed that the mission of the Liao Kingdom came to Beijing for the purpose of marrying the Liao Emperor and marrying a princess back home.Li Jingde, Marshal of Zhengxi who fought against the Liao people in Youzhou City, his wife died of illness three days ago, leaving only a four-year-old child behind.

Li Jingde was fighting on the front line, but his family and relatives stayed in Shengjing.Now that the two armies had ceased fighting and the Liao envoy came to Beijing, Li Jingde just took advantage of the excuse of going home for the funeral, and took the opportunity to return to Beijing to monitor every move of the Liao people.

At this time, Tang Shen suddenly remembered that when he was still the living master, he had said that Zhao Fu had three most important confidantes in the court.

Hubu Shangshu Wang Qin, Dali Temple Shaoqing Su Wenyun, and Zhengxi Marshal Li Jingde!

It turned out that Li Jingde was already married and had a child.

However, General Li is in his thirties this year, and it is quite normal for him to get married and have children.

Thinking of this, Tang Shen was stunned suddenly, inexplicably remembering something...

Wait, Wang Zifeng is also 28 this year, why is he not married yet? !