The struggle of the reborn prince

Husala has great expectations for this 'mission', because their life has not been easy these years. Due to the continuous expansion of the Black Khanate (Xiliao), they are on the verge of being annexed by it. It is said that the lord of the country is ready to surrender to the Black Khanate.And he knew that the Black Khanate was the former Liao Kingdom, and they and the Song Dynasty had become sworn enemies. Once it came true, this source of income would be cut off.So this time he brought more than 100 loads of tribute, ready to make a fortune.

As soon as they arrived in Gaochang, they knew that they had turned against the Song Dynasty, and they had already sent troops to fight against them, so Husala dared not call himself a tribute envoy to the Song Dynasty, but a businessman to Mobei.After passing through Altai, he found that Mobei was also at war. The Song army had already captured Zhenzhou and was at war with the tribes of Mobei. The Tatars entered Monan.

Not to mention the hardships of the road, Husala was also very upset. Once the people of the Song Dynasty knew that Khotan was going to surrender to the Black Khanate, then he would be an enemy rather than a friend. Wouldn't it be a joke to go on an envoy.Fortunately, after they entered the territory of Song Dynasty, they received a warm welcome as soon as they showed their credentials, and they were treated as honored guests, which finally made him feel at ease.And the prosperity and prosperity shown by the re-emerging Song Dynasty made him feel that he had made the right bet, and he firmly believed that he would make a fortune this time!

Under the support of the officials from various places in the Song Dynasty, the Khotan Mission successfully entered the Central Plains, but the good luck seemed to end here.After being charged a "high" fee by the Zhengzhou post office, he rushed to the next post station, but this time he was refused entry. No matter whether he showed his credentials or found the local government, he couldn't solve the problem, and the official attitude was very cold , only treat him as an ordinary businessman.Before leaving, he also reminded him to make up the customs duties so as not to trouble himself.

Husala hit a wall one after another and felt that something was wrong.This is still Da Song's way of hospitality, obviously he didn't take himself as an envoy seriously.But now it must be unwilling to let him go back to China.Not to mention that I have worked so hard to get to Da Song, even those goods can't be thrown into my hands.Thinking about it, maybe in the next few years, those local officials have long been ignorant of the truth. Maybe things will turn around after entering the capital. Anyway, the capital is not far away, so it's better to try your luck.

But it is not easy to walk a hundred miles than ten thousand miles. The post house cannot be used, and the free meals are gone, and the accompanying officials are gone.Don't mention the guarding soldiers, they will always be interrogated for no reason on the way, which makes Husala both annoyed and puzzled.But the officials of the Song Dynasty are very clear, who made him appear in front of the emperor at an inappropriate time, and was criticized by the emperor by name, making him a typical example of defrauding the Song Dynasty for rewards. He was severely reprimanded by the emperor.At this time, no matter how brave you are, no one dares to stand up to the wind and commit crimes to make it boring. They are all stern and strict on the basis of following the rules!

The Khotan mission finally entered the capital, and did not care to appreciate the prosperity of Bianjing.Husala hurriedly went to Honglu Temple to report to submit credentials and present tribute.Sure enough, the quality of the Beijing officials was much better than that of the local officials. An official received him warmly, but told him that Khotan had no subordinate relationship with the Song Dynasty, and had never formally established diplomatic relations.Therefore, he was not recognized as an envoy, and he was asked to bring back the tribute.At the same time, I suggested that he go to Xiangguo Temple or Mahang Street to find a stall and sell the goods.Get some extra money and go home early.

The last glimmer of hope was shattered, and Husala was completely stupid now.He didn't understand why Da Song, who had always wanted face, rejected such a good extra as himself. Could it be that they no longer staged the annual drama of the coming of all nations?He looks around.It turned out that I was not the only one who had the same experience. The 'envoys' from Siam, Annan, Sulu, Nanzhang and other countries also squatted at the door in a daze, at a loss!But they all understand that the wind direction of Song Dynasty has changed...

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The people in the capital also quickly noticed the changes this year. In front of Xuanhe Gate, there was no tall Ao Mountain and countless colorful sheds like in previous years, but there were a few more flower beds than before.And the emperor who worshiped his ancestors and returned to Beijing also chose to enter the city quietly at midnight. It is said that the officials did not want to disturb the people.In the next few days, the emperor did not go around the street by car as usual, but it was rumored that the emperor's light car, Jian Cong, inspected Anjifang and the nursing home successively, gave him clothes and food, and promised to allocate special funds in the next year Renovate the house to improve its condition.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the emperor went to the Invalids Station outside the city to condolences, to visit the disabled soldiers in previous wars, and promised to be supported by the government for a lifetime.He also issued an edict to increase the pensions for the fallen soldiers, improve the lives of their families, and take care of their children during enrollment and imperial examinations.In the next few days, the emperor went to the craftsman camp of the Ministry of Industry, Taixue, various guilds in the capital, and the garrison in Gyeonggi to inspect and condolence one after another without stopping, and sent a large number of New Year's goods...

For the emperor's frequent visits to the grassroots to condolences and propose measures to improve people's livelihood, of course won the support of the majority of the people.But some interested people found that the emperor did not go to any Taoist temples or temples to burn incense and pray for blessings this year, and the concubines in the palace affected by him did not send incense money as in previous years.Acting from top to bottom, the ministers couldn't figure out the emperor's pulse for a while, and they didn't dare to act rashly, which made the "business" deserted on the day when the temples were getting rich, and the merit money received was less than [-]% of the past, which made the monks flustered and worried about themselves. Since Zhenghe years, the policy of preferential treatment for monks has changed.

Sure enough, there were gossip rumors soon that the emperor had ordered the Ministry of Shangshu, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Households, and the Ministry of Officials to cancel the Taoist ranks that had been implemented for many years. Officials at all levels were not allowed to hold temple positions. The property of the Lingxiaoguan Temple established in that year was taken back and rebuilt into schools at all levels. The land was designated as the property of the schools, and the output was used for rural and county schools.

As soon as the news came out, the 'immortals' were panic-stricken. They lived a life like immortals these years. Not to mention receiving state salaries, they also used large tracts of land to hire tenants to cultivate and collect rents, and they didn't have to pay a penny to the state. Taxation, everyone has become a big landlord, a parasite attached to the body of the Song Dynasty.Of course, they were unwilling to lose their former privileges, and they petitioned the Supreme Emperor, asking him to protect the rights of monks and Taoists.But what was unexpected was that the leader, who had always upheld Taoism, refused to speak out. At this moment, he had long realized how absurd his behavior was back then, and he didn't help him when he was in a desperate situation. Why should he speak for the great immortals now.

And this year's New Year's Day's Grand Court Meeting made everyone feel the new pragmatic style promoted by the emperor. Some flashy and cumbersome etiquette was cancelled. The northern tribes are much less than in previous years, and the rewards are also similar to the value of their tribute.The banquet was held as usual, and although the plate-watching, which has always been seen but not eaten, was not cancelled, it was much smaller, and some barely covered the bottom of the plate.On the contrary, the main meals are much richer, not only in many styles, but also delicious, and the amount is just enough to fill you up.

The New Year has always been the carnival season of the Song Dynasty, but this year the number of officially sponsored activities has been greatly reduced, and more participation by non-governmental forces has taken place. Rich and interesting.The Shangyuan Festival Lantern Festival is the first day of the New Year, but this year there is no sea of ​​lanterns in Aoshan and the colorful sheds all over the Xuanhe Gate, which did not make everyone lose their joy, because although the emperor did not appear on the Xuanhe Tower this year, he came to join everyone. Appreciation, and the lanterns hanging in the palace are said to be made by the empresses of the palaces, which makes people feel closer.

This year's Chinese New Year is simplified, so that the Beijing officials of the Song Dynasty do not have to prepare to accompany the emperor to attend various activities during the holidays, so they have a lot of leisure. They can use the holidays to take a good rest, visit friends, and spend time with their wives and children.But it's also some happy and some sad, because the "big harm" in the capital is back again, and they can't afford to offend this person, not only dare not get angry, but also carefully laugh with them, and treat them well...

The second day of junior high school is the day to go to Xiangguo Temple to burn incense. This year the emperor does not advocate it, but many believers want to win a good fortune. Most officials are afraid of being impeached by the censor, but they can’t stop the family members from going. However, the nagging of his wife and children also obeyed.Although Li Gang is a prime minister, of course he can't avoid vulgarity, but in order to avoid people's eyes and ears, he also changed into casual clothes. He had just packed up and was ready to go out.

Scholars in the Song Dynasty already had the habit of throwing stabs at New Year's greetings. Ordinary scholars would be led by horses. Every time they came to a wealthy official's house, they would shout a few times and leave a tattoo to indicate that they had been there. This is a new way of celebrating the New Year in the Song Dynasty.Li Gang didn't take it seriously, there were too many people who wanted to find a family background by themselves, and they just asked the disciples to accept them.But Menzi said that if the man refused to leave, he must go to the mansion to see him. Li Gang just wanted to tell someone to drive him away, but he suddenly felt uneasy and asked Menzi to bring the famous assassin to have a look.

It didn't matter, Li Gang was scared out of his wits, his face was pale, his hands trembled, his lips trembled and he couldn't speak.Everyone was very puzzled. In the Song Dynasty, there were only a handful of people who could scare Li Gang into such a state. The famous thorns only read the words 'Rain Master Comes to Congratulate', and the name was so unfamiliar that no one had ever heard of such a name. figure.

"Hehe, Master Li's family is going out. It seems that I came at the wrong time!" Everyone saw a middle-aged man dressed as a scribe had already barged in. There were only two people behind him. Say hello to everyone.

"Second Master, you see that they have incense candles and seasonal fresh food. They are going to burn incense at Daxiangguo Temple!" The sharp-eyed entourage behind the middle-aged scholar had already seen the incense candles placed on one side and said.

"I see Your Majesty, I didn't know His Majesty was here, so please forgive me!" Li Gang regained his composure at this moment, and knelt down on the ground with a 'Putong' pleading guilty, but in his heart he was thinking about how he would end if he was caught... (To be continued continued..)