Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 305 Presentation of Credentials
But Zhezong thought of something at this time, so he joked: "The emperor's uncle is newly married and is not at home with the beautiful lady. Why does he come to me in such a hurry? Could it be that the emperor's uncle was angry and came to me to seek comfort?"

After saying this, Zhezong burst into laughter.

Zhao Mu also stood up and said: "Of course not. Your Majesty, I have something important to report to Your Majesty. The emperor's brother asked the King of Zhennan to pick up Wei Chen and go to Guanyi early this morning. The Dali Kingdom has already sought a vassal title from the Song Dynasty. Wei Chen After a short talk with the emperor's brother, I brought this letter of credence. I have specially entrusted it to your majesty to read it."

"Oh? Even though the emperor's brother told me about this matter yesterday, I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. I thought they had to wait until after the Battle of Song and Liao before making plans. Uncle Emperor, hurry up! Follow me to the imperial court Study. You and my uncle and nephew will talk in detail." After saying this, Zhezong took Zhao Mu and ran to the imperial study without caring about the emperor's majesty.

Just as she was walking to the corridor, Empress Meng of Zhezong saw the emperor, and immediately saluted and said: "I have seen the emperor!"

But Zhe Zong didn't even look at her, he simply said "Okay!" and then pulled Zhao Mu directly past her eyes.

Zhao Mu was dragged by Zhe Zong and it was difficult for him to salute her.

When Queen Meng saw that Zhe Zong was hanging out with Zhao Mu again, she couldn't help but snorted, and then angrily walked to the Queen Mother's palace.

After arriving at the Imperial Study Room, Zhe Zong didn't even bother to change his clothes, so he sat directly in front of the Long Book Table. Zhe Zong said: "Uncle Emperor! Please give me the credentials of Dali Kingdom!"

This time, Zhao Mu did not wait for the eunuch to forward it, and directly handed over the letter of credence written by Duan Zhengchun.

Zhe Zong's answer surprised Zhao Mu, but Zhao Mu didn't say anything more after hearing the words.

Although Queen Meng was young and beautiful, Zhezong did not like her because she was a political marriage arranged for him by the Empress Dowager Gao. Zhezong's favorite woman was Liu Jieyu in the harem. Even though Empress Meng tried every means to please Zhe Zong, Zhe Zong always kept a distance from her.

Zhezong said while looking at Dali's credentials: "There is nothing to lose. The emperor doesn't need to pay attention to that woman."

Zhao Mu said at this time: "Your Majesty, I seem to have seen the Queen just now. I did not bow to the Queen, which is wrong."

Zhezong quickly read Dali's credentials and said, "Okay! Dali is finally willing to become a vassal. The emperor's uncle has contributed a lot to this. I will grant him the title of emperor's uncle."

At this time, Zhao Mu quickly waved his hand to stop him and said: "This is just a matter of the minister's duty. Your Majesty does not need to seal it for the time being. The reward minister your Majesty gave has not yet been used. If he receives the honor again, he may be criticized by the court."

Seeing this, Zhe Zong sighed and said: "Hey! It's a pity that I just gave the post of Taiwei to that idiot with no merit. Otherwise, I would definitely make the emperor's uncle a Taiwei. In this way, the emperor's uncle can also go to court to discuss politics and share my worries. "

Zhao Mu heard this and said, "I would like to thank your Majesty for your kindness, but I really don't want to be an official. But as long as your Majesty calls me, I will definitely come when you are called." After hearing Zhao Mu's words, Zhezong asked: "Oh? What is this, Emperor Uncle? Why? If other people in the court were too late to be happy when they heard that I was going to confer an official title, why did the emperor's uncle refuse to become an official? Concubine Chai of the Dongping Palace had asked Aunt Shoukang to mention it to me several times. She wanted to give it to Dongping. The prince asked for an official position, but I have always ignored him. I want to confer the title of imperial uncle, why doesn't the emperor refuse?"

Zhao Mu smiled and said: "Haha, this is naturally because the minister is lazy. If he were an official, he would have to get up early for every court meeting. The minister only wants to be rich and noble and does not want to be an official. Therefore, the minister does not have much power regarding official titles. Great interest. If Your Majesty wants to reward a humble minister, then you should reward him with something vulgar, as I like vulgar things."

After listening to Zhao Mu's words, Zhezong couldn't help but laugh. He pointed at Zhao Mu and said with a smile: "Hahaha. They say that a man's true character is true, and the emperor's uncle is his true character. Hahaha." But then Zhezong changed the topic and said, "Emperor Uncle, I enjoy wealth and rank, but I still have to be an official. Today at the court meeting, the civil officials said something to me that made me angry. And those military officers who support me, such as King Zhongxiao, General Yang and others, they are all generals who can fight, but they are very clumsy. They are far less eloquent than the emperor's uncle. Sometimes I really want to have a capable minister who can always be by my side to protect me. With this official title Uncle Emperor, it’s better not to refuse this matter.”

After hearing this, Zhao Mu said: "Then I am disrespectful. I just hope that your majesty can give the vassal an official title that can go to court to listen to politics, but has no real power. Going to court every day is already very hard, and I really don't want to manage politics."

Zhe Zong smiled and said: "Haha, if others want to be officials, they must have real power. Only the emperor's uncle. Oh! Forget it! In that case, I will make the emperor's uncle the Minister of the Ministry of War. Now I have all the military power matters in the Song Dynasty. Privy Council. Most of the titles in the Ministry of War are false, so the emperor’s uncle should serve as Minister of War."

Zhao Mu said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. However, the official title of Minister of the Ministry of War should be conferred upon me after my triumphant return. With your Majesty's cultivation, I rose from a small county prince to the heir apparent within one year." At yesterday's wedding, His Majesty was so kind to me, and as a prince, I raised ten dragon flags for him, which must have caused a lot of criticism in the court. If His Majesty were to be promoted to Weichen again, I'm afraid it would be I can’t escape the chatter of the officials.”

Hearing this, Zhezong recalled the "fear" of being quarreled to death by the officials, and he said: "Okay, I just wronged the emperor's uncle."

Zhao Mu replied: "It is your duty and blessing to share your Majesty's worries. How can we talk about grievances?" Then Zhao Mu changed the subject and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know the conditions proposed by the emperor's brother. Should we accept?"

After Zhezong thought about it, he said: "The conditions he proposed are not excessive. I think they can all be granted. Does the emperor have any suggestions?"

Zhao Mu said: "I can't talk about suggestions. I feel that I can give Dali another favor."

Zhe Zong asked: "What kind of grace? Could it be that the emperor's uncle planned to let me, the Song Dynasty, send a princess to marry?"

Zhao Mu shook his head and said: "That's not true. Wei Chen has always been very disgusted with and pro-Anbian's strategy. Let a weak woman bear the weight of a country. Doesn't this mean that there are no men in our empire? Wei Chen has always supported the use of swords and iron hoofs. The barbarians conquered all the barbarians. Even the barbarians want the princess of my dynasty. Are they worthy? These barbarians who don’t understand the ethics and education only deserve to be dragged to build the Great Wall!"

Zhe Zong pursed his lips, smiled, nodded and said, "Uncle Huang's words are deeply rooted in my heart."

Zhao Mu continued: "There are many Han people in the southern part of the country, and they are different from those barbarians in the north who are aggressive and violent. They have always been educated by our Central Plains. I feel that I can give Dali a great favor, that is, allow Dali to control The imperial title and reign title are retained internally. They are even given the power to entrust themselves internally. Externally, Dali is a vassal state of our Song Dynasty, but internally Dali is still a country."

Hearing this, Zhezong couldn't help but frown and said: "As the saying goes, 'There are no two days in the sky, and there are no two kings in the people.' Uncle Emperor, isn't this honor given by us a bit too big? I am the emperor, so Dali is also called the emperor internally. , then how is this different from Liao? Is it possible that we have to sign another Chanyuan Alliance?"

(End of this chapter)