Compete for the Song Dynasty

On the morning of the first day of the third day, Wang Pang prepared and waited for the guards sent by the palace to pick him up.

Today's clothes were carefully selected by Yuexia, watching Wang Pang change clothes and walk out of the room, Yuexia was stunned.

I saw Wang Pang's hair tied up on his head, tied up with a white silk scarf, wearing a snow-white gown with straight breasts, and a wide belt with silver silk embroidered moon and auspicious cloud patterns around his waist, on which was only adorned with a white jade pendant.The outer cover is a pure white fox fur cloak, and the snow-white slender fox on the cloak trembles slightly in the breeze.

Looking at Wang Pang's face again, the features are handsome and sharp.There is a slightly unruly face in the delicate features, but under a pair of sword-shaped eyebrows is a pair of black and white eyes, full of passion, nose like hanging gall, red lips and white teeth, slightly upturned like a smile that is not a smile.Unexpectedly, looking at Yuexia, he felt that the deer was bumping in his heart, and his face was full of red clouds.

Wang Pang smiled slightly and squeezed his eyes towards Yuexia and said: "Why do you think that your husband is so handsome and I really like it?" Yuexia was caught by what he said, and turned away shyly.Just now Wang Pang teased her a few more words, Lu Shenyan came in and said that the guards who picked up Wang Pang had arrived. [

Wang Pang followed the guards to the South Royal Garden, and only after entering the garden did he see the grandeur. The Forbidden Army courtyard in the city was lined up, and the high seats in the middle of the viewing platform were the seats of the Emperor Renzong and the Empress. The Emperor had not come yet.Behind the seat should be the prince, prince, princess, and wife of Zhijun.It's not Renzong's character, but seeing Zhao Zongshi standing behind Renzong, I remembered the recent news that Renzong wanted to establish a prince,

The two shorter viewing stands on the east and west of the main stage are the seats of envoys from various countries.The second thing is the seats of civil and military officials. Chief Shi saw that Wang Pang had arrived, so he arranged for his seat. Naturally, it was relatively close to the side, but he could still see it clearly.

At this time, officials and envoys took their seats one after another.With a clear sound, the band played.Then came the emperor's chariot.Emperor Renzong went to watch the Empress Dowager and sat down on the throne.The king saw that today the emperor is wearing a crown of heaven and a red robe.Very dignified.

From the other side of the king's watch stand, the envoys of these countries are distinguished: the ambassador of Daliao wears a golden crown, the tip of the back eaves is as long as a large lotus leaf, wears a purple narrow robe, and a gold scorpion (the ornament on his belt) is worn around his waist. Wrapped with a gold belt, it is like the Khitan etiquette when an ambassador in Hanfu pays respects by standing on his left foot, kneeling on his right foot, and kneeling with both hands on his shoulders.The deputy envoy bowed down in Chinese rituals.

Xia Guo's ambassador and deputy envoys all wore short golden crowns, crimson narrow robes, and bowed with their hands crossed.

The envoys of Goryeo (now North Korea), Nanfan, and Jiaozhou have the same etiquette as the Han nationality.

The Huihe envoys all had long beards, high noses, wrapped their heads in silk, and wore loose robes.

The Khotan envoys all wore felt hats with small golden flowers, gold silk war robes and belts, and brought their wives.

The five surnames of the Nanban entered the court with black felt in a vertebrae bun, and they used the monk's ceremony.

In addition, envoys from Chenla (now Cambodia), Dali, Dashi (Persia) and other countries also traveled thousands of miles to congratulate the Song Dynasty.They all bowed down like the emperor according to the etiquette of the Han people.

Seeing this scene, the king couldn't help sighing, it's the first time I've seen such a spectacular scene in this life, let alone that in the previous life, I could only watch handshakes and the like on TV.

However, during the observation, Wang Pang found that there was no ambassador of the Japanese Nu Kingdom, and he was wondering what the devil did, and the archery competition began.

The envoy of the Liao Kingdom was trying to shoot arrows with a crossbow. He first placed the crossbow about 200 meters away from the grass target, and then a Liao man with his feet bound and his head in a brocade jacket stepped forward and stepped on the crossbow. , Dancing, nocking, aiming, after a set of movements, it is extremely proficient.

The Liao envoy walked up triumphantly, took aim, and released the trigger in his hand, and the crossbow bolt shot out like lightning, hitting the red dot in the bull's-eye, which immediately attracted everyone's applause.

When the applause subsided, a Song general also came forward. He was a tall man with thick shoulders and a round waist. He looked like a man who had been trained for a long time, and his two sleepy eyelids were occasionally opened, and his eyes were straight. It was sharp and sharp, and his eyes swept across the crowd who had just finished applauding, and everyone in the crowd suddenly felt a little chill all over their bodies.

When the crowd stopped shouting, the Song general stepped aside the crossbow, swirled, nocked and aimed the arrow in one go without the help of others.In an instant, the arrow flew out and hit the bull's-eye as well.The cheers were thunderous.

Wang Pang couldn't help asking an official sitting next to him who this person was, and the official said, "This person is the son of Zhong Shiheng, Zhong Er. The deputy envoy of Zuo Zangku, who is appointed as the magistrate of Qingdong City by virtue of his father."

When Wang Pang heard Zhong Er's name, and heard Zhong Jianzhong mention this fifth uncle in Yanzhou, he felt a little admiration in his heart.

But the ambassador of the Liao Kingdom laughed heartily, stepped forward and cupped his hands to Emperor Renzong and said, "May I ask if the archery general just now is a jerk?"

Renzong sat on the throne behind the stage. He had seen the situation under the stage clearly. Seeing the envoy of the Liao Kingdom approaching, he said: "Xiao Ying, the envoy of the Liao Kingdom, this is the first time that the Liao Kingdom sent you to visit me to celebrate the New Year. No wonder you don’t know me as General Chao. The general who just tied was General Chong’er.”

Renzong used the word tie to show the demeanor of a great country. Everyone can see clearly that in Liao Kingdom, two people shoot arrows. One of our generals has already hit the target. I have already given you face.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Ying, the ambassador of the Liao Kingdom, looked up to the sky and laughed loudly. After laughing, he said, "I think this time I won the victory of Daliao."

Renzong smiled and said, "Let's listen to the truth."

Xiao Ying said with a disdainful expression: "Although this is the first time for me to come to the Central Plains, I heard that it was this general who came to compete with me in the imperial archery last year. Our Liao Kingdom will come here to have an ambassador. They can all be shot, so is this kind of general the only one after General Di of the Great Song Dynasty?"

After he finished speaking, the team of Liao envoys burst out laughing.

Seeing that this man was so arrogant, Wang Pang felt that the envoy of the Liao Kingdom was deliberately making things difficult. It turned out that there were naturally archers among the forbidden army. It would be wrong to say that no one could shoot arrows, but it would be wrong to say that this general of the Song Dynasty was the same as the ambassador. Generals at the same level, it's different when they come to compete.It can't be compared with soldiers who practice day and night, that is to say, they lose their appreciation.

So Renzong smiled and said, "I have to answer these questions."

Xiao Ying said: "Suwen, the civil servants of your country can change their words, if the emperor doesn't agree with what I said, then it's fine, it's a tie?"

Renzong saw the appearance of the Liao envoy Lai, and it was a tie. What's the matter?

I thought to myself: I heard that the Liao envoy was going to make things difficult for this imperial shooting, and it really is.He had seen Wang sitting at the end a long time ago, and the distance is not too close, but among these officials wearing purple and green court uniforms, Wang's white clothes are particularly eye-catching. This handsome and tall young man, walking It will attract attention everywhere.Renzong had a plan in mind.

Emperor Renzong ordered Wang Pang to stand up, and then said to Xiao Ying of Liao Kingdom: "Maybe you have heard of Wang Pang Wang Ruo?"

Xiao Ying shook her head: "I have heard about your country's civil servants and generals, but I have never heard of Wang Pang."

After Renzong finished speaking, he ordered people to call Wang Pang.Wang Pang walked to the front of the stage and said: "Caomin Wang Pang kowtowed to the emperor." Renzong gave Wang Pang peace.

Xiao Ying saw that Wang Pang was indeed young.And he called him a grassroots person, so he walked around Wang's side and looked around twice.Seeing that the young man next to Wang is very handsome, but he doesn't look at himself, anyway, he is also an ambassador.Then he asked Renzong: "I don't know why the emperor called this child?"

Renzong asked: "My lord, did you hear what the Liao ambassador said just now?"

Wang Pang was most annoyed by others calling him a child. He looked at the ambassador of the Liao Kingdom. This Xiao Ying was tall and tall, but a little fat. He was about 50 or [-] years old like me. He had a square face, a flat nose and a big mouth. , Shy belly.

"Caomin heard it, but still didn't understand what he said he won."

Xiao Ying sneered and said: "As soon as our country surrenders, we can open our bows. There are many wild soldiers and many generals. Your country only has one or two generals. Isn't this a victory?"

Wang Pang sighed and said, "Ambassador, do you know that if you have one soldier and one general, you may not be able to match my Song general? You have many soldiers, but I have more people in Song Dynasty."

Wang Pang went on to say: "Common people like me will shoot arrows, I'm afraid you won't have enough soldiers."

Xiao Ying squinted at Wang Pang coldly, thinking that this little child would speak outrageous words, he just disdains him psychologically.Among the envoys of various countries, there was also a lot of discussion, Wang Pang thought to himself that he could not use the crossbow. Seeing Xiao Ying's disdain, he said: "Do you dare to compare the bow and arrow with me?"

Xiao Ying said, "What's so difficult about this?" Renzong ordered people to set up archery targets, each with a bow and three arrows, each with a bullseye.

Xiao Ying knew in her heart that she underestimated the enemy, but seeing that she hadn't lost, she said: "This is one shot by one person, at most it will be a tie."

Which Wang Pang asked with a smile: "Excuse me, Mr. Xiao Guigeng."

Xiao Ying laughed loudly, stroked her beard and said, "Little baby, this old man is twice your age."

Wang Pang also laughed loudly: "According to the calculation made by Ambassador Xiao just now, isn't the ambassador considered a loser?"

Except for the envoy of the Liao Kingdom, all the other envoys were watching the excitement. The officials of the Song Dynasty were naturally annoyed by Xiao Ying's arrogance. Seeing Wang Pang asking Xiao Ying's age, Xiao Ying cast herself into a trap, so she followed the words and let Wang Pang find him. The handle is also to relieve anger.Hearing this remark roared with laughter.

Renzong also smiled. Seeing Xiao Yingying, he said, "This imperial archery is for entertainment. It's not about winning or losing. Even so, it's a tie. Everyone wants to celebrate."

Seeing what Renzong said, Xiao Ying smiled to show Liao's demeanor, and returned to her seat.Emperor Renzong bestowed Han costumes and brocade jackets on the envoys of the Liao Kingdom.He also rewarded the king's side, silver saddles, horses, clothes, gold and silver utensils.

The matter of Wang Pang’s imperial shooting was passed down among the envoys of various countries, not to mention how the envoys from various countries talked about Wang Pang when they returned to their country. After the imperial shooting, Wang Pang came out from the South Royal Garden and rode the horse rewarded by the emperor on the Royal Street. The people in the city have already learned that the king is accompanied by the Liao envoy who shoots and plays.They all cheered on both sides of the palace, and there are even people here who have known and heard the name of Wang Pang for a long time.

Wang Pang was riding on a tall horse, full of vigor.Behind him, a pair of eyes of envy and hatred are looking at him, and in the near future, that person will soon become the new king

(Note in this article: Although the folk service in the Northern Song Dynasty is colorful, but strictly speaking, the common people can only wear white, especially for this kind of occasion, since the Southern Song Dynasty, white is forbidden to wear)