Prime Minister

Chapter 443: Humiliating Xia Envoy
The first year of Zhiping.

A new year signifies a new beginning.

The so-called new look of the new king, all the officials also hope that the court can have a new look, so today the officials cheered up and went to the pilgrimage to meet the emperor and the queen mother.

For a Beijing official like Zhang Yue who is not a court official, this is a rare opportunity to enter and leave the palace.

Zhang Yue seldom set foot in the palace since he was dismissed from the post of the late emperor, but he was willing to do so, at least he was happy to be free on the one-acre-three-tenths of land in Jiaoyin Prison.

After Zhang Yueyuan paid his congratulations to the court, he should do what he should do, and the most important thing is to eat.

Zhang Yue had been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Zhang Yue looked at the banquet picture and was about to find his seat, but saw that he was not going to the banquet hall, but to the Chongyuan Pavilion where the Xixia envoys were received, and he couldn't help but wonder, what's going on?

Zhang Yue immediately asked the officials of the shrine department who arranged the seats, and only then did he find out that it was Zhongshu who arranged for him to accompany the Western Xia envoy as a famous minister of literature.

After Zhang Yue heard this, he suddenly realized, and at the same time, he complained that the temple department was too unreliable in handling affairs, so he didn't inform himself in advance.

When he came to Chongyuan Pavilion, he saw that the banquet was already started, Zhang Yue knew that he was late, so he entered from the side, and sat down in an inconspicuous place.

I have nothing to talk about with the Xixia envoy, wouldn't talking and eating wine delay the mood of the feast.

After Zhang Yue sat down, he saw that the escorts at the banquet were several officials from the Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites. .

The escort envoy kept urging the Xixia envoy to drink and eat, but he saw that the Xixia envoy stopped paying attention and sat there with his arms folded.

Zhang Yue asked the officials beside him, "What's the meaning of this?"

The other party was the escort who accompanied the Xixia envoy all the way to Beijing from Huanqing Road, so he didn't know Zhang Yue. He and Zhang Yue said: "The Xixia envoy thinks that the food provided is meager, so he doesn't want to eat chopsticks."

Zhang Yue looked at the food table in front of the other party. There were all kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas. There were more than a dozen dishes, and the table was full. Isn't this satisfactory?
Zhang Yue said: "Isn't it a deliberate provocation?"

The official said angrily: "Of course, the Western Thieves are extremely hypocritical and cunning. Since the late emperor died of illness, last year his lord Li Liangzuo sent envoys to express his condolences, while on the other hand he invaded Qinfeng and Jingyuan Roads and copied my acquaintances. Disturb my frontier archers and kill tens of thousands of people and animals!"

"This spring, we sent people to ask the Lord for his time and gifts. We and other officials in Shaanxi are all indignant, but even so, the imperial court wants us to be courteous to Western personnel in every way so as not to provoke the Xia people. What do you say? Don't be angry."

Zhang Yue was also furious when he heard it.

Simply humiliating the country.

He slapped you twice yesterday, kicked you and broke two ribs, and today he came to your house like a normal person, eating and taking food.You are entertained with wine and meat, but people still think your food is too bad.

How cheap is this!

But seeing the first Xixia envoy said: "Last year I came to congratulate the new king on his ascension to the throne. Why are you not allowed to see the palace, but only the door?"

The chief escort at the top said with a smile: "Therefore, there are rules for making Xia envoys to meet outside the gate of the emperor's ceremony, and to make speeches at the Chuigong Palace."

The Xixia envoy said loudly: "Then why can the Liao envoy be allowed to meet in the palace? I understand that the envoy from the Gao Kingdom can't?"

The companion continued to laugh and said: "The Liao Kingdom is the country of my brothers, and the Xia Kingdom is my subject. The status is different, and the etiquette is also different."

Xixia envoy sneered upon hearing this.

Zhang Yue knew that was not the case, when the Liao Kingdom used to come to meet, Han Qi and others only went to Deqing Gate for discussion.

But the Liao envoy Yelugu insisted on seeing him, and the Song Dynasty replied that you should send the letter of credence, but the Liao envoy still refused, saying that if you would not let me see the emperor, I would not give you the letter of credence.

The Song Dynasty said, when your Liao emperor died, we sent condolences to Liuhe and returned them. You were not even allowed to see the city gate of Liaojing, but now you insist on seeing our emperor. What do you mean?
At the end of the talk, the Liao envoy presented the letter of credence cursingly, but the emperor was still worried that the Liao state would be held accountable, so he finally met the Liao envoy in person.

In the end, in order to cover up the lost face, the officials made up the story, but the Liao envoy saw that the emperor of the Song Dynasty was actually older than his own emperor, and said to the left and right very annoyed that this time he would use his elder brother to do things about Song again.

Later, in order to balance the Xixia envoys, the emperor also met the Xixia envoys, but only outside the door.

The Liao envoy left satisfied, but the Xixia envoy was dissatisfied, and even had a grudge, thinking that you Song Dynasty people looked down on us Xia people.

At this time, the escort saw that the Xixia envoy was silent, thinking that he had once again 'conquered' the other party with the wisdom and art of words, so he immediately ordered the imperial chef to serve a few more dishes.

The imperial cook personally came forward with the dish; "This is freshly roasted mutton, please enjoy it!"

This is the chef's dish!
The escort took a piece and put it in his mouth and said with a smile: "It melts in the mouth, it's really just right, summer envoy, please enjoy it!"

The Xixia envoy crossed his arms and looked at the roasted mutton and said, "How can the sheep of your Song people compare to the sheep of our Dabaigao country!"

After speaking, the Xixia envoy finally took the mutton into his mouth, chewed it a few times and said, "I wonder if you know my Lord Xia?"

"My lord was not yet a week old, and suddenly suffered a serious accident, but after taking over the great government, he took over the military power. Qi Fan is strong and I do it, and when he detects Pang's rebellion, he will be punished. Follow the etiquette of the great Han to become more fanciful, wise The martial arts are ten times stronger than your Lord Song."

The official of the Song Dynasty, who was the escort, said angrily: "Xia Envoy, don't deceive others too much, and make my lord angry, lead a million soldiers, and chase you into the lair of Helan Mountain!"

The envoy Xia laughed loudly and said, "I don't know if there are millions of troops in your dynasty, but my lord's [-] cavalry can ride through the long distance..."

This person hadn't finished speaking, but someone poured a glass of wine in front of him!
Envoy Xia was startled, but when he looked up, he was a young Song Dynasty official: "Who are you..."

Before he finished speaking, another glass of wine was splashed on his face.

The envoy Xia said angrily, "I have one hundred thousand cavalry..."

The young official on the opposite side poured another glass of wine, but the other party dodged to avoid it.

At this time, the officials of the Song Dynasty in the palace complained secretly, it was broken, it was broken, and they were worried about what would happen, isn't this going to happen?

But seeing the young Song Dynasty official on the opposite side looking at him, he said: "Erxia people come as soon as they come, and fight as they please! You don't have to hang around [-] cavalry all day long!"

The Xia envoy said: "It was Er envoy who first mentioned a million troops to pacify our Dabai country."

The other party said: "It was you who spoke first and did not insult my lord, so there is a right to lead the companion. The mistake is to make you, not me to lead the companion!"

The envoy Xia wiped the wine from his face, and said with a sneer, "Okay, I will report your words to my lord? Since you are so arrogant, how dare you leave your name?"

The other party said: "What is your last name?"

Xia Shi laughed angrily: "I am Wu Zong, the coach!"

The other party sneered and said, "You are really a Han. You still act with a Chinese surname, but you don't know who your ancestors are. The name has the word Zong, but you forget your ancestors!"

"It's a waste of my tongue to talk to you, but since you asked, tell Lord Xia that the person who insulted your envoy today is Nai Pu Chengzhang!"

Xia envoy Wu Zong turned pale when he heard the words, he must have heard of Zhang Yue's name, even Li Liangzuo, the lord of Xixia.

Li Liangzuo admired the culture of the Han people, and he was most familiar with the articles of Ouyang Xiu, Zhang Yue and others. Unexpectedly, he met here.

(End of this chapter)