The first-class concubine of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 77

There was a rustling sound, and snow fell outside the window.

The heavier the snow, the colder the wind.

It was cold the next day, and the capital was covered with heavy snow. When they opened the door and left, the whole world turned silvery white.

Liu Wei glanced at the heavy snow in the sky, couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, and then prepared to go to the post house of Honglu Temple to discuss business matters with the envoys of the Southern Tang Dynasty and Wu Yue, but just as he opened the door of the mansion, Seeing Zhan Qing standing outside the door, the heavy snow fell on his shoulders and hair, making him almost a snowman, standing upright outside the door, only rubbing his hands once in a while.

Seeing Zhan Qing in this place, Liu Wei couldn't help being taken aback: "Guard Zhan, aren't you in the post house of Honglu Temple? Why did you come here, and you didn't enter the mansion when you came?"

Zhan Qing turned his head abruptly when he heard the voice, seeing that it was Liu Wei, he cupped his hands quickly and said, "My lord, I'm under the order of the street sage last night. From now on, I will be responsible for protecting you. The sage of the post house has sent another person."

Zhan Qing didn't explain how long he had been standing here, nor did he explain why he didn't knock on the door to enter the mansion. It seemed that these were not important to him. He just needed to let Liu Wei understand that he would follow Liu Wei in the future. .

After Liu Wei heard Zhan Qing's words, he immediately understood that it must be the assassination yesterday that made Zhao Kuangyin feel that his safety was a problem, so he asked Zhan Qing to protect him.

Liu Wei looked Zhan Qing up and down, he is a nice person, although Liu Wei didn't think there was any problem with being alone, but he still nodded: "In that case, let's go to the post house together."

After hours, the streets were piled with thick snow, only one or two children who got up early were playing in the snow, there were few pedestrians in the bustling capital, Liu Wei and Zhan Qing entered the post house, Nan Tang and Wu Yue The envoys of the two countries have already got up, and after seeing the ceremony, they sat down in the living room of the post house.

There is a three-five stove in the living room, and there is good wine. Liu Wei sat at the head and said: "Since we are discussing business, we should lose the politeness of the officialdom. Regarding business matters, everyone may wish to express each other's opinions. Then make a comparison and summary, if everyone has no objection, I will write it down and hand it to the Great Song Emperor, what do you think?"

Han Xizai, Qian Weikai and others looked at each other, and then nodded in agreement.

The matter of trade is not a trivial matter. For this reason, the envoys of various countries have already prepared their drafts on the way here. Now it is very convenient for them to speak independently. Because the Southern Tang Dynasty was sandwiched between the Great Song Dynasty and Wu Yue, it was the first to express their opinions.

After Han Xizai of the Southern Tang Dynasty finished speaking, Zhou Qing of Wuyue also explained Wuyue's request and related examples. After the envoys of the two countries finished their speeches, there was already a conflict because of the relationship of interests, but fortunately the conflict was not very serious. Big, we can resolve it after mutual consultation.

And after the envoys of the two countries finished speaking, Liu Wei finally told the relevant cases he had prepared in advance. When he finished speaking, the envoys of Southern Tang and Wuyue were all stunned for a moment.

"Master Liu, I agree with what you said just now that the neighboring states and counties should conduct business with each other, but I'm afraid it's inappropriate to sell this refined salt into my Southern Tang Dynasty." Zhang Jie said bluntly with his brows frowned slightly.

After what Zhang Ji said, Qian Weikai, the king of Dongyue of Wuyue, also immediately said: "Master Zhang is very true. We have to negotiate other regulations. It is difficult to deal with the refined salt. I, Wuyue, are rich in salt. If you are big Song's refined salt hits the market, and I'm afraid it will be messed up."

Qian Weikai was not polite at all when he spoke, as if he was not afraid that the Song court would be angry at all.

Liu Wei saw that both Zhang Ji and Qian Weikai objected, but he didn't rush to explain or persecute him immediately. After all, he knew very well that the people in Nantang and Wuyue were not stupid, and they knew very well what would happen when refined salt entered their two countries. Such consequences may not be obvious at the beginning, but when it comes to a critical moment, it is extremely likely to lead to riots in their country. How could they not stop such a danger in time?
Liu Wei had expected that they would object, so he wanted to figure it out slowly.

But at this time, Han Xizai was very calm, and even had a slight smile on his lips, as if he didn't understand the crisis that the entry of refined salt into Nantang would bring to them.

"To tell you the truth, my Great Song Dynasty's sale of refined salt into your Southern Tang and Wuyue countries is a matter personally formulated by my Great Song Emperor. If this is not possible, then our business will be impossible."

As he said that, Liu Wei glanced at Shi Bo from Southern Tang, and then turned to look at Wang Gui from Wuyue. They are all businessmen, and they probably don't want to see the failure of trade between the three countries.

Shi Bo and Wang Gui glanced at each other, but they are both very deep-rooted people in the city, so they behaved fairly calmly, and they didn't intend to speak. They are businessmen, and unless it is necessary, they usually don't speak up power.

The living room was silent for a while, except for the sound of wind and snow outside from time to time, and occasionally the crackling sound of the stove.

Seeing that none of these people opened their mouths, Liu Wei smiled lightly and said, "Since we can't reach an agreement on this matter, let's discuss it later." After speaking, Liu Wei stood up and said goodbye.
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The snow was strong and the wind was cold, and after Liu Wei left, Han Xizai got up and went back to the house with a slight smile. Seeing him like this, Zhang Ji hurriedly followed. Shi Bo was a little embarrassed, and after smiling at the people of Wuyue Kingdom, he also retreated. .

However, after Han Xizai returned to his room, Zhang Ji followed him in and said, "Master Han, you can't enter Nantang with fine salt, otherwise Nantang will be in danger!"

Han Xizai tightened his clothes after sitting down in the room, and said, "How can I not know what Mr. Zhang said, but you heard Liu Wei's words just now, the emperor of the Song Dynasty must sell the refined salt to me in the Southern Tang Dynasty. Yes, is it possible that we can still refuse?"

"Hmph, why can't we refuse? Let's just swear to the death."

Seeing Zhang Ji being so angry, Han Xizai secretly sighed, thinking he was still too young.

"Master Zhang, if we disagree, do you know what the consequences will be?"

"This..." Zhang Ji was at a loss for a moment, but he quickly said, "At worst, I will die. This refined salt official will never agree to sell it into Southern Tang."

This time, Han Xizai really sighed.

"My lord Zhang, it doesn't matter if you and I die. It's terrible. I'm afraid that there will be a situation of subjugation in the end. Although my Southern Tang Dynasty has been on good terms with the Song Dynasty all these years, when did the Great Song Dynasty stop the idea of ​​destroying my Southern Tang Dynasty? They are There is no excuse! If the negotiation fails, they will attack me in Nantang. This is the worst result. Besides, there is another result, that is, you, me and the entire Southern Tang mission will never return Arrived in Nantang."

"Do they dare to kill us? Dare to kill our envoys from the Southern Tang Dynasty?"

Han Xizai shook his head with a smile: "It's impossible to kill, but it is extremely possible to detain us here and not let us leave."

Zhang Ji felt a chill in his heart. He suddenly thought of Su Wu of the Han Dynasty, the unyielding man who had been detained for 19 years. He respected Su Wu very much, but he was unwilling to have him detained in this place.

After all, there is only one Su Wu in this world, and Zhang Ji will never become Su Wu.

Silence, a long silence, and then, Zhang Ji said: "Could it be... don't we have other options?"

Han Xizai smiled and shook his head: "Actually, there are many ways. We already know the deliciousness of the refined salt of the Song Dynasty, and if we can find a way to make refined salt, then even if the refined salt of the Song Dynasty enters the Southern Tang Dynasty, what can we do?"

"Get the recipe for refining refined salt?"

After Zhang Ji finished speaking, he turned his eyes to Hanxue outside the house, and suddenly showed a slight smile.

Qian Weikai was very angry. He never thought that the Song court would want to fundamentally control Wu Yue, which he absolutely could not accept.

"Damn it, it's so hateful, no wonder that Liu Wei was not in a hurry to discuss with us, but let us live in the post house first. It turned out that he wanted us to taste the food made by their Song Dynasty refined salt. Yesterday he even invited us I went to drink, treacherous, treacherous."

Qian Weikai was very angry, but Zhou Qing seemed very calm, until Qian Weikai finished his anger, he said: "My lord, we have already tasted the taste of the refined salt, and we have indeed eaten the meal seasoned with refined salt before eating it. Others are just like chewing wax, but this matter is not easy to solve, we... I'm afraid we have to obediently obey."

When Qian Weikai heard Zhou Qing's words, he frowned and said, "What do you mean, how can we agree to such a condition?"

Zhou Qing shrugged helplessly: "But we have to agree if we don't agree. You don't know the king's weakness. He doesn't care about things like refined salt. If we anger the Song Dynasty because of this, then the Song Dynasty emperor only needs to follow the country. The Lord communicates a letter, then we will rest and return to the country; the prince is a man of great ambition, how can he stop his ambition because of this incident?"

Zhou Qing's words frightened Qian Weikai like a thunderbolt, and his eyes suddenly lost consciousness. He can't stay here, he still has to win the position of the king of Wuyue, and he has to do something. Can't go home because of things?
The wind was blowing cold, Qian Weikai looked at Zhou Qing: "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Zhou, but what should we do now?"

Zhou Qing smiled lightly: "There is nothing we can do about this matter. For the current plan, we can only adapt to the situation. Fortunately, this matter also involves the Southern Tang Dynasty, and the ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty has a little more backbone than our Wuyue ruler. We just have to get behind them."

After Zhou Qing finished speaking, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. He knew very well that their situation was not good at this time, but he was not very worried. Many things, if you don’t do it yourself, others will do it yourself. If others can do it for you, then he Why take the risk?
Sitting in the house, Qian Weikai suddenly felt an indescribable feeling when he saw the faint smile on Zhou Qing's face. At this time, the wind outside the window was colder and the snow was thicker.

There is snow in the capital, and the snow is astounding.

Before dusk that day, Han Xizai, the envoy of the Southern Tang Dynasty, secretly went to Qin's Restaurant to meet Liu Wei without telling the other envoys of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)