The first-class concubine of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 89

When the capital is windy and cold, there is still warmth in the Southern Tang Dynasty.

The land of Jinling is as luxurious as ever.

When Han Xizai and his envoys returned, it was just after the twelfth lunar month. At this time, the plum blossoms were in full bloom and the wind was slightly cold.

Han Xizai's mood was always heavy, the closer he was to Jinling, the heavier he was, and the closer he was to the palace, the more nervous he became.

Zhang Ji accompanied Han Xizai, and when he was about to enter the palace, he suddenly stopped: "Master Han, you have done enough for Nantang, this time you enter the palace, why not tell your intentions, maybe ...Maybe with the Lord's favor and trust in you, you can still save your life."

Han Xizai seemed to have aged a lot suddenly, and after hearing Zhang Ji's words, he smiled lightly: "No, what I planned is related to the luck of the Southern Tang Dynasty. It is worth it in exchange for the prosperity of the Southern Tang Dynasty."

Han Xizai's words were dignified. After Zhang Ji heard it, he knelt down in front of Han Xizai with a plop: "Master Han is wronged today, but he will succeed in the future. Even if I risk my life, I will make an affirmation for my lord."

Han Xizai smiled: "If Mr. Zhang has this heart, I have fulfilled my wish. If so, let's go to the palace."

The cold wind was slightly severe, and the palace walls of the Southern Tang Dynasty were more prosperous and solemn than those of the Song Dynasty. Han Xizai couldn't help but sigh softly as he walked along the road. If the ruler of a country only knows how to enjoy himself, what hope does the country have?

Han Xizai had been in the Great Song Palace. The Great Song Palace was more solemn than magnificent, and he knew the emperor of the Great Song somewhat. He was rich in the whole country, but he never liked extravagance. In such a comparison between the monarchs, it is natural that they are superior or inferior.

Zhang Ji also seemed to understand why Han Xizai sighed, so he also sighed softly.

Amid the two sighs, they finally entered the palace and arrived at the Southern Tang Hall.

At this time, above the main hall of the Southern Tang Dynasty, there were civil and military officials of the full court, and their lord Li Yu was sitting on the dragon chair. Li Yu was a very handsome man, and he could be called chic, but when he was sitting on the dragon chair, It doesn't look like a king in any way.

A king should be majestic, but Li Yu is not. He is indifferent, his smile is indifferent, and his anger is also indifferent. Everything about him seems casual and poetic.

Han Xizai and Zhang Ji went to the main hall, and after bowing down, Li Yu said with a smile: "The two lovers are envoys to the Song Dynasty, and I think there is already a result, so let's present the memorial."

Han Xizai obeyed, and then handed over the memorial. Li Yu glanced at it casually, and felt that the Southern Tang Dynasty did not suffer a lot from the trade between the two countries, so he put down the memorial and said, "Yes, the two lovers can finish it safely The country's lord is very pleased to be on the mission, the two of you have traveled a long distance, and you are already extremely tired, why don't you go back and rest, and wait for the weather to clear up for that person, and then we will write poems and lyrics between us."

Li Yu is a person who likes poetry, and Han Xizai and Zhang Jiqia can be regarded as his bosom friends, but just after Li Yu finished speaking, a voice suddenly came from a place in the court: "Master, I don't know if I can let my younger brother and Many ministers take a look at the terms of trade."

The speaker was in his 30s and looked very handsome, even more handsome than Li Yu. It was Li Congshan, the younger brother of Li Yu, the king of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Li Congshan was the seventh son of Li Jing. The prince of the Southern Tang Dynasty died At that time, someone in the court recommended Li Congshan as the prince, but Li Jing did not agree.

For this reason, Li Yu was very jealous of Li Congshan, but he was his younger brother and King Zheng, so it was difficult for Li Yu to refuse his request. After slightly nodding, he passed on the memorial that Han Xizai had just submitted.

But at this time, both Han Xizai and Zhang Ji's hearts sank.

The memorial was passed around in the hands of the ministers, and after each minister read it, his face changed. It was not until the last minister read it that Li Congshan finally couldn't help but said: "My lord, there is no need for this trade clause." The danger of destroying me in the Southern Tang Dynasty!"

As soon as Li Congshan's words came out, Li Yu couldn't help being taken aback for a moment, then frowned slightly, and said, "Brother Wang, how can you be alarmist? The Great Song Dynasty is just doing business with me in the Southern Tang Dynasty. Is there any danger of the Southern Tang Dynasty's extinction?"

Li Congshan didn't feel any timidity because of Li Yu's words, and he still stood up and said: "My brother just read that in the terms of this trade agreement, there is one item that allows the sale of refined salt from the Song Dynasty in our Southern Tang Dynasty, and it must not be stopped. Only this One is enough to destroy me in Nantang."

As soon as Li Congshan finished speaking, a minister stood up and said: "What the prince said is very true. Since ancient times, the salt eaten by the people has been controlled by the imperial court, because this kind of things are what the people need. If the price fluctuates, It is easy to cause panic among the people, and besides, the profit of salt is huge, if you allow the refined salt of the Song Dynasty to be sold in our Southern Tang, wouldn’t it be an impact on our Southern Tang market?"

"What's more serious is that I heard that the refined salt refined by the Great Song Dynasty tastes very good, and it is easy to be addicted to it. If I, the people of the Southern Tang Dynasty, cannot live without refined salt in the future, what should I do?"

The ministers of the DPRK expressed their opinions one by one. Li Yu, who seemed relaxed and calm at first, was a little at a loss at this time. He was obsessed with poetry on weekdays, and he knew these ways of governing the country. After being sold into the Southern Tang Dynasty, it seemed that he would soon be unable to be the lord of the country.

This made him worry and disbelieve, could a little salt be able to destroy Nantang?

But the ministers of the DPRK and China did not seem to be joking.

After a long time, Li Yu looked at the ministers in the hall and said, "How do you think you should solve this matter?"

"The revision book told the emperor of the Song Dynasty that trade is possible, but this is absolutely not acceptable." Li Congshan's words were firm, without the slightest hesitation.

But Li Yu hesitated.

"Revising the book and telling the emperor of Song Dynasty to reject this matter, will it cause war?"

Li Yu just wants to be a happy king, he doesn't want to have a war with Song Dynasty.

"If you fight a war, you will fight. Is it possible that I, Nan Tang, are afraid that they will fail in the Song Dynasty?"

Li Congshan was the leader of the main combat faction in the DPRK. As soon as Li Congshan spoke, the others immediately ordered that they were not afraid of going to war with the Song Dynasty.

His Highness and hundreds of officials were discussing, but Li Yu was a little angry, and suddenly scolded: "War and fight, you know how to fight every day, don't you know that many people will die in war? Don't you die in war? Well, since this matter It has been decided, so there is no need to talk about it, isn't it just selling salt in our Southern Tang territory."

Li Yu's words were easy, as if Da Song sold salt and cloth or other things in his Southern Tang Dynasty.

The ministers of the DPRK and China glanced at each other. They knew Li Yu's temper very well. He didn't like ministers annoying him with these things. If he was offended, he would turn his face and be ruthless.

When the ministers of the DPRK and China understood this, they suddenly turned their target to Han Xizai.

All along, Han Xizai has been very low-key, but in the eyes of these ministers, his low-key looks more like useless. This time when he was an envoy to the Song Dynasty, what he did was a bit useless.

"My lord, the refined salt matter is so important, but the two ministers Han Xizai and Zhang Ji agreed in such a muddle-headed way. This is no different from betraying the country. I request that these two be arrested and punished."

Li Congshan has always hated Han Xizai and Zhang Ji, because these two people are famous, and Li Yu likes to hang out with them very much, so Li Congshan thinks that the reason why Li Yu is addicted to poetry is influenced by these two people, maybe After killing these two people, he still has a glimmer of life in Nantang.

Han Xizai and Zhang Ji had expected this situation, so when many ministers criticized them, they behaved calmly.

Li Yu was a little anxious. Han Xizai and Zhang Ji were very talented. They often wrote poems and lyrics together. After their crimes were punished, who would accompany him to write poems and lyrics in the future?
But Li Yu is very clear that in today's situation, if you don't make a decision, you may not be able to give up.

After some hesitation, Li Yu turned his attention to Han Xizai and Zhang Ji, and said, "You two lovers, what's going on?"

Zhang Ji glanced at Han Xizai, but Han Xizai stood up very calmly and said, "My lord, the old minister of refined salt has tasted it, and it tastes very good. The old minister thought that if he could sell it in my Southern Tang Dynasty, the people in my Southern Tang Dynasty would also like to sell it." I can enjoy the joy of delicious food, but many ministers feel that this action is harmful to my Southern Tang Dynasty.

After Li Yu heard Han Xizai's words, he immediately laughed and said, "It turns out that Aiqing is only for the appetite of our people in the Southern Tang Dynasty. There are excusable circumstances, and the circumstances are excusable. I think you ministers must have taken this matter too seriously. "

In Li Yu's view, the introduction of refined salt into the Southern Tang Dynasty is not a big deal. As long as Han Xizai can find an excuse for his actions, he will not really deal with Han Xizai.

But what Li Yu didn't expect was that as soon as he finished speaking, many ministers immediately stood up again. They meant that they would not stop until Han Xizai and Zhang Ji were not dealt with today.

Seeing this situation, Han Xizai knew that it would be difficult for him to escape, so he stood up and said, "All the crimes are the veteran's fault, and have nothing to do with Mr. Zhang. If the lord really wants to punish, he will only punish the veteran."

Li Yu also felt that the matter was difficult. After hearing Han Xizai's words, he felt that this was the way to keep Zhang Ji, so he could only nod his head: "In this case, let's put Han Xizai in prison for now. As for how to convict, we will discuss it later."

Now Li Yuken imprisoned Han Xizai, then Han Zaixi said that everything started from him, and many ministers could not talk about punishing Zhang Ji; so until Han Xizai was imprisoned, this matter was not over.

Li Yu was unhappy because of this matter, so after Han Xizai was detained, he coldly announced his retreat from the court. After the retreat, when Li Congshan left the palace and was about to return to the mansion, he suddenly heard someone shouting from behind: "Prince Zheng, I don't know if I can take a step to speak?"

(End of this chapter)