King of Song

Chapter 43 Mission to Liao Kingdom
Grant Jinshi's background, and serve as the master book of the eighth rank Honglu Temple!

Back at Jiangnan Residence, Gao Da and the others were very pleasantly surprised. In a blink of an eye, Mr. Lin became an official, and he has been superior to others since then.

Everything was expected, Meng Ruoying was not surprised, she smiled lightly, happy for Lin Zhao.At the same time, I couldn't help but feel a little sad when I thought of my elder brother who was aiming to be named on the gold list.

Gu Yuelun smiled sweetly: "Cousin will be an official from now on! But, isn't this Jinshi going to take an exam? Why does Cousin have one in a blink of an eye..."

Gao Da laughed and said: "Miss Gu, you don't know anything about this. Jinshi is of course required to take the exam. But if you have outstanding talents, the official can reward you directly, and you don't need to take another exam. Mr. Lin's poetry and prose skills are obvious to all. This time He also solved the murder case of the Liao envoy and made great contributions, so it is only natural to reward a Jinshi with a background!"

There are indeed such examples in the Song Dynasty. For example, in the first year of Xining, Wang Anshi's younger brother Wang Anguo was granted a Jinshi and rank.Later, in the third year of Xining, Chen Zhiyan, a commoner, was given a Jinshi background.I was recommended by Wang Anshi, and I have a similar experience to Wang Anguo. Will the government and the opposition classify me as the side of the new party?Thinking about the fierce party struggles in the Great Song Dynasty in the future, Lin Zhao shook his head, not wanting to get involved in this muddy water...

"So that's how it is!" Gu Yuelun said with a smile: "My cousin has achieved this, so write a letter to Dad quickly, and make him happy too!"

"Hey, don't worry!" Lin Zhao stammered: "Don't write a letter yet, let me know when I come back, so that uncle won't worry."

"Where is cousin going?"

Lin Zhao sighed and said, "Do you think that since a Jinshi was born, the eighth-grade sesame official of the master book of Honglu Temple is easy to be? In September, the Liao Lord's birthday, the imperial court will send a mission to celebrate the birthday, and at the same time negotiate the suicide of the envoy. Choose someone who is familiar with it." The person involved in the case is going with me, unfortunately I was shot, so I have to go to Liao Kingdom..."

"What? A mission to the Liao Kingdom?" Meng Ruoying was also surprised when she heard the news, and she was even more worried.

In the minds of ordinary Song people, the image of the Khitan people has always been relatively bad, and the Liao Kingdom is a dangerous place surrounded by tigers and wolves.Now that Lin Zhao is going to that kind of place, how can people not be worried?
Lin Zhao shook his head and said, "It's all right. There is a saying that the two countries should not be beheaded when they fight each other. Besides, Song and Liao are brothers. They are in peace and there is the Chanyuan Covenant!"

"You're stupid. You just solved the case and offended the Khitan people. After all, it's still dangerous. Why didn't you refuse?" Meng Ruoying didn't think much about it, and said something selfish.

"I resigned!" Lin Zhao shook his head and said, "But the official's mouth is open, how can I resign? The so-called "eating the king's salary, worrying about the king's worries, so I will go through it honestly!"

"But the Liao Kingdom is far outside the Great Wall..." Meng Ruoying's worry was already written on her face, and Gu Yuelun also said with tears in her eyes, "Cousin, you are going so far away..."

Lin Zhao smiled softly, and said softly: "Don't worry, don't worry! I will take care of myself and come back safely. But you, you take care of the restaurant when I am away, just wait for me to come back obediently. Miss Meng , but don’t embezzle my share while I’m not here!”

"I'm such a money fan only after I'm an official!" Meng Ruoying finally burst into laughter.

Lin Zhaodao: "Okay, cousin, let's cook some good dishes! I'm going to get upset when I think that I won't be able to taste your cooking in a few months!"

"Okay!" Gu Yuelun hurried to the kitchen as a farewell party for his cousin.

"Yuelun is too young and innocent, please take care of her during this time!" Lin Zhao asked softly.

"Don't worry, it's you who must take care of yourself!" Meng Ruoying's expression darkened involuntarily, but her eyes were full of affection...

"Don't worry, wait for me obediently!" Lin Zhao reached out and stroked the back of Meng Ruoying's head gently. It might be a little too much on weekdays, but today Meng Ruoying didn't think it was a pest at all...

Lin Zhao knew in his heart that it was difficult to refuse this mission, but it was also an opportunity.Otherwise, how can I be an official in an instant as a commoner?It is impossible for a Jinshi who is not a serious imperial examination to be promoted step by step. After all, he can only find another way. What he has to do now is to seize every opportunity!
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After the rain, the weather cleared, and the roads on the ground gradually dried up after a few days. Naturally, it was time for the mission to set off. Lin Zhao also finally saw the two envoys.

Zhang Zongyi, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, is an ordinary official. He looks humble and respectful. There are not many bright spots in him. It is no problem to ask him to go on an envoy to celebrate his birthday, but if he talks about deeper issues, he will probably be under pressure.Lin Zhao always felt that Mr. Zhang seemed to have a bit of helplessness on his face. It was no wonder that several people wanted to go to the drudgery of the mission.I don't know if he offended Prime Minister Chen and was avenged by the public.

He didn't have any opinion on the deputy envoy Zeng Gong. It can be seen that Lin Zhao...has never heard of it at all, but after learning about his deeds of killing the Kaifeng government in seconds, as well as the support of the officials, Wang Anshi, and even Wen Yanbo and others, he kept his mouth shut. said.To be born as a Jinshi, and to be the master of Honglu Temple, is a leap to the dragon's gate!Zhang Lang, who was born in the imperial examination, still looked down upon him to some extent, but he restrained himself very well and never showed it.

What Lin Zhaorao is interested in is Zeng Gong, a disciple of Ouyang Xiu, one of the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties, and really wants to see and see.Although being famous is not as good as meeting each other, Lin Zhao couldn't help feeling a little disappointed after the actual meeting.I thought he was a romantic and suave talent, but after meeting him, he turned out to be a middle-aged man in his fifties.

After understanding it, I realized that I took it for granted. This is the third year (1019) when Deputy Envoy Zeng gave birth to Tianxi, and the second year of Jiayou (1057) when he was 38 years old.Although he and Ouyang Xiu are in a master-student relationship, they are actually only twelve or thirteen years apart in age. The empiricism that is taken for granted kills people!However, the experience of Mr. Zeng made Lin Zhao understand a truth. It is definitely a great honor to have a Jinshi background at his age. It is a high starting point and should be cherished!
"Meet the two seniors!" After all, Zhang Zongyi and Zeng Gong were at their ages, and they were more than enough to be their own fathers. Therefore, Lin Zhao behaved humbly and respectfully as a latecomer.

"I finally met Mr. Lin, you are really young!" Zhang Zongyi had a vague feeling that it seemed a bit too childish to send a young boy on an envoy!

But Zeng Gong said with a smile: "You are young and promising, you are so talented!"

"Where is it, the senior has praised it absurdly!" Lin Zhao was very grateful to be praised by Zeng Gong.

Zhang Zongyi also nodded. Although he was the official envoy in name, the prime ministers had already greeted him, and Zeng Gong took the lead this time.In terms of the significance of being an envoy, his existence may not be as good as that of Lin Zhao.

This mission was unusual. Before leaving, the emperor sent Prime Minister Chen Xu and Hanlin scholar Wang Anshi to see him off by the Wuzhang River.

It is worth mentioning that the route of the mission has been changed this time. Firstly, the flood in Heshuo has not receded, the roads are difficult to navigate, and there is a risk of armed conflict near Xiongzhou.Second, Yelu Hongji, the master of the Liao Dynasty, was not in Shangjing, but was hunting in Nabo (Khitan language, Liao Emperor's camp) near Liaoyang Prefecture, Tokyo, Liao Kingdom.The matter is of great importance. In order to see the Liao Lord as soon as possible, the mission must rush to Liaodong as soon as possible.After weighing the balance, the mission decided to start from the Wuzhang River, go to Qizhou along the Guangji Canal, then go to Dengzhou by land, and go directly to Liaodong by sea.

Chen Xu said: "The three of you are sent as envoys by order, and you should act properly, not to insult the state system, and to live up to the emperor's grace!"

"Follow the teachings of your husband!" There are always polite words in etiquette.

Wang Yu also followed, and he did not forget to tell him: "Dongyang, you must be bold and careful when you go on an envoy this time. It is your duty to keep the success without any mistakes. If you have a good performance, it is a credit. In short, judge the situation and be careful in everything." .”

"Thank you, brother Yuanze, for your warning, I will pay attention!"

Meng Ruoying and Gu Yuelun also came to see them off in person, both teary and reluctant to part.Lin Zhao comforted: "It's okay, don't worry, I'll be back when winter comes, and then we'll go back to Jiangning for the New Year together!"

"Okay, cousin must keep his word!" Gu Yuelun didn't quite understand at the beginning, but after listening to Gao Gao and others' discussion, he realized how dangerous the trip to Liao Kingdom was, and he became even more worried.

"Well, when did my cousin lie to you, don't worry!" Lin Zhao nodded slightly.

"Be careful, wait for you to come back..." Meng Ruoying hesitated for a moment, and said with tears in her eyes, "Wait for you to come back for the New Year!"

Watched by the beauty's tearful eyes, Lin Zhao boarded the boat, and when passing by an elegant courtyard, a pair of beautiful eyes behind the bamboo curtain of the attic watched the fleet leave.

There were a total of 400 officials of the mission, including the escorting sergeants and servants, who were divided into more than ten ships, and they left Bianjing City in a mighty way, and went to Liaodong...

(End of this chapter)