Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 578
Zhao Zan came back to his senses, took a deep breath, calmed down a little, got up and sent him to the tent, just in time to see an envoy from the Tang Dynasty coming out of the tent of Feng Xin, the general of the imperial army, bowing his head and bowing his head to salute himself, Feng Xin was standing at the door He was talking to him with a smile all over his face, when he caught a glimpse of Zhao Zan, and seeing Xu Xuan walking out of Zhao Zan's tent, Feng Xin gave him a knowing smile, cupped his hands far away, and then turned to return to the tent.

Seeing this, Zhao Zan couldn't help shaking his head secretly: "The disaster is imminent, and these officials in the Southern Tang Dynasty have already started to find their own way out. This is also good, so that no one will suspect that Xu Xuan and I talked just now."

After returning to the tent, Zhao Zan had a solemn look on his face, and muttered to himself: "Prince Jin and Pan Meimei are very courageous, but based on what Xu Xuan said just now, this is just the guess of Ye Chen and the Huaxia Weifu Intelligence Department." , Whether this is really the case is still uncertain, but this kind of thing naturally needs to be prepared for a rainy day."

Han Xizai and Xu Xuan arrived in Kaifeng within a few days, and first presented Li Yu's begging teacher to Song Emperor Zhao Kuangyin.When Zhao Kuangyin looked at it, he saw that the expression was gorgeous and the sentiment was sad, which was quite touching.It says:
The minister is insignificant and frail, and he inherits the photo, secluded in the remote, loyal and self-sufficient.Only with one heart, we will know the Lord.Called by Bimon, he took his own way.The king's master is everywhere, and he is invincible in every direction, and the road is difficult, and the sky is true.Looking north at Tianmen, my heart hangs on Wei Que, and my lord is also my son.Small ministers are thin, so are my monarch's foreign ministers.Forbearance makes one day, then forgets to return to education, howls and swallows, sees abandonment?The nature of the minister is really ignorant, and his talent is the same.I can't bear to be rewarded by the dynasty and blame the world, and to humiliate the ancestors.It's just that the minister can't bear to do it, and the sage can't bear to make the minister do it!What's more, fame, reputation and body are ruined, which the ancients detested and feared.What people fear, ministers dare not fear.But His Majesty forgives it leniently.The minister also heard of birds, beasts and small things, and he still mourned for people.Monarchs and ministers are righteous, and loyalty can be merciless!If the traces of the minister's advance and retreat are not ugly, and the loss of the clan and society does not come from the minister's body, then the minister's life and death wishes have been fulfilled, and there is no such thing as luck!It's just the luck of survival, and the whole country is actually bestowed!How can it be that the whole country is bestowed, and the whole world is really encouraged!Empress Dowager, learn from what he said.

Zhao Kuangyin finished reading the essay, threw it aside casually, and said with a faint smile: "It's a beautiful article, but it doesn't make sense."

So he ordered to summon the envoys of the Southern Tang Dynasty.Zhao Pu, Zhao Guangyi, Lu Yuqing, Lu Duoxun and other ministers all advised Zhao Kuangyin to be prepared, saying that Han Xizai and Xu Xuan are both learned and talented people in today's world, who know everything about astronomy and geography, and are also famous debaters in the world. Worried about being asked later and being speechless.Zhao Kuangyin smiled contemptuously and said, "I have my own way, so you don't need to worry too much."

Zhao Kuangyin sat on the throne of the Chongzheng Hall, Xu Xuan and Han Xizai kowtowed at the big ceremony after walking, and Zhao Kuangyin waved them down.

Han Xizai's eyes flashed, and his face was upright and angry. He seemed to be self-reliant and eloquent, but he confronted Zhao Kuangyin face to face and said: "Since ancient times, the righteous kings have encouraged teachers to fight hard. It needs to be known as a teacher. Today, my Southern Tang monarch is innocent, but His Majesty has launched an army to conquer, so is it not a teacher without a name?"

Zhao Kuangyin looked at him coldly, secretly amused in his heart: What a rebellious and pedantic scholar's opinion!
But Zhao Kuangyin didn't interrupt him, but listened to him quietly.This Han Xizai talked about the past and the present, eloquently, his lips were dry and his tongue was dry, and his mouth was spitting. Da, just like a son honoring his father, he has never done anything wrong, but His Majesty refuses to let him go. It is an unjust act and a violation of common etiquette to start a division against the Tang Dynasty."

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly laughed and asked, "Since you said that Li Yu treats me like a son and a father, do you think that father and son can be divided into two families? Isn't this contrary to common etiquette?"

In one sentence, Han Xizai choked so hard that he couldn't speak a word.Zhao Kuangyin saw that they had nothing to say, so he ordered to see off the guests. Han Xizai was ashamed and silent, but secretly happy in his heart. He had already shown all his talents in front of Emperor Song today, and in the end he deliberately showed his flaws to let Emperor Song catch him, thus ensuring today's success. The debate will not make him unhappy, which has laid a good foundation for becoming a Song official in the future and being able to be appreciated by the Song Emperor.He thinks that since he entered the Chongzheng Hall just now, he has grasped the whole process very well, especially the integrity he has shown has always been full of loyalty and righteousness, which has been perfectly achieved, that is, he has not hated Emperor Song, and will make Emperor Song think that he is He is loyal to the emperor and the country by nature, and has the purpose of being a great talent.

Han Xizai was thinking this way, but Xu Xuan suddenly said, "Your Majesty has seen my Southern Tang Lord's begging master, what does your majesty think?"

Zhao Kuangyin glanced at Xu Xuan, but pretended to be confused and said: "Your master is talented, and the writing is very good, but I have read it several times, but I don't know anything. I don't know what he wants to say."

Xu Xuan was bored, but blushed and continued to chatter endlessly.This time Zhao Kuangyin became impatient. He didn't have time to listen to his sour clichés, so he suddenly darkened his face and angrily said, "Stop talking, it's useless to say more. Even if Nantang is innocent, but the whole family is The general trend of the world. How can you allow others to sleep soundly on the side of the couch?"

Seeing Zhao Kuangyin's sudden anger, Han Xizai and Xu Xuan were terrified, but they did not kneel down in public to plead guilty. The integrity of the scholar-bureaucrats was very good, but the two of them had no choice but to leave when things got to this point.

Back in the concierge courtyard of Honglu Temple, Han Xizai was very satisfied when he recalled his performance or performance today, especially in the end when Xu Xuan annoyed Emperor Song, which highlighted his excellence, and he would definitely leave a good impression in Emperor Song's heart. impression.

"However, this is still not enough. If the 5 taels of silver Wuyue bank notes brought can be sent out, then we can be completely relieved."

"Zhao Pu has always been greedy for money, and he is the head of the Song Dynasty's hundred officials. His words carry a lot of weight in front of Song Emperor. Ask him for help in this matter, and it should be possible."

After frowning and thinking for a while, Han Xizai muttered to himself, a flash of determination flashed in his eyes.

Most of the territory of the Southern Tang Dynasty was already in the hands of Song State, and the country was about to perish. Naturally, Song State would not value the mission sent by it, so no one was arranged to guard it, and there was no restriction on its freedom of entry and exit.

Han Xizai sneaked out from the back door of the Concierge Courtyard with a few confidantes in the mission, found a clothing store, changed clothes, and then hired a carriage to go to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

These days, Zhao Pu and Zhao Guangyi fought openly and secretly, instigated the impeachment of the censors who could influence and control each other, splashed dirty water in front of Zhao Kuangyin in various ways, spread some rumors, and so on.

Such an ending was not what Zhao Pu wanted to see. In the past few days, he summoned the counselors and followers of the mansion to think hard about a way to bring down Zhao Guangyi, but he has not found an effective strategy. Instead, he felt that His Majesty was getting more and more dissatisfied with him I became more and more worried.

"Master, the king of Jin must be extremely cautious in his actions recently, and he will no longer reveal any clues and flaws to us. Therefore, if the method of bringing down the king of Jin cannot be imagined for a while, it is better for the king to find a way to maintain or enhance his weight in His Majesty's heart." Prime Minister. Said the old counselor surnamed Zhu who was most trusted and valued by Zhao Pu in the mansion.

When Zhao Pu heard this, his eyes lit up slightly.yes!I have been thinking about Zhao Guangyi's problems these days, and in the end, both sides will suffer, and His Majesty has also realized that he secretly ordered Zhao Guangyi to pour dirty water. The favor that Tian lost with His Majesty has been regained.

Thinking of this, Zhao Pu nodded slightly, affirming what the old counselor surnamed Zhu said.Seeing this, the other counselors understood what Zhao Pu meant, and immediately began to make suggestions following the straightforward thinking.

Huangfu pondered for a while, and said: "At present, in His Majesty's heart, the most important thing is to expand the territory. If Xianggong can make new achievements in this area, he will be able to restore His Majesty's favor in one fell swoop."

At this moment, a housekeeper came to report that the envoy of the Southern Tang Dynasty, Han Xizai, came to visit.

Zhao Pu was slightly surprised, but then his heart moved, thinking of a certain opportunity or possibility, and said: "Invite Han Xizai to the study, and I will meet him now."

Half an hour later, Han Xizai walked out from the back door of the Prime Minister's Mansion, got into the carriage, and heaved a long sigh of relief.The matter of asking Zhao Pu for help went much smoother than he expected.It’s just that Zhao Pu had a lot of scruples about the last 5 taels of silver at first, and hesitated for a while. When he repeatedly promised that no one would know, and Zhao Pu found out that it was a huge fortune of 5 taels of silver, Zhao Pu gritted his teeth and accepted it.

For this reason, Han Xizai still laughed at Zhao Pu secretly in his heart at the time: people who are greedy for money can't change their shit. Often able to suppress the rationality of such people.Han Xizai had been prime minister in the Southern Tang Dynasty for more than 5 years, and he was born in the top family in the south of the Yangtze River. His experience in handling people's hearts when he was an official and receiving gifts was better than that of Zhao Pu.

Just as Han Xizai was rushing back to the Concierge with joy in his heart, Xu Xuan finally got the note he had been waiting for for a long time in the Concierge Yuan from the Huaxia Weifu Intelligence Department in the Concierge Yuan's hands.

There was only one sentence on the note: Han Xizai intends to surrender, just now he met Zhao Pu in secret, talked secretly for half an hour, and gave Zhao Pu 5 taels of silver.

After reading the note, Xu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself that he performed well when he met Emperor Song today. He managed to offend Emperor Song and make him angry in front of all his officials. This time is just right for him. .

Thinking of this, Xu Xuan casually lit the note with the oil lamp in the house, watched it burn to ashes, and then went out.

(End of this chapter)