Chapter 215 Li Yunchu
Zhao Xing sneered in his heart when he heard this. The eldest princess of Xixia was afraid that she didn't know about it at all and was deceived.
Xixia does have the intention of making peace, but it also wants to open mutual trade with the Song Dynasty and reduce the border garrison.
There are millions of people in Xixia, but hundreds of thousands of troops.
According to the Xixia military system, men between the ages of sixteen and sixty must serve in the military. Excluding women, almost all people are soldiers.
This is already a militancy, and the Xixia military system is very similar to the Fu military system, so it can persist.
For the Song Dynasty, reducing tens of thousands of garrison troops would only save some money. It was useful, but the actual significance was not particularly great.
But it is of great significance to a small country like Xixia.
The reason why the eldest princess of Xixia came with her was to show Xixia’s sincerity.
Even if word of what we are talking about now spreads and Princess Xixia knows about it, it is estimated that these Xixia envoys will also deceive her, just to stabilize the Song Dynasty.
After returning to Xixia, if the Emperor of Xixia expresses his love for her again, I am afraid that the eldest princess of Xixia will agree to the marriage.
But this is fine, Zhao Xing does have some things he can take advantage of.
It is almost impossible for him to know some secrets of Xixia from the eldest princess of Xixia.
Even if the two countries make peace and the eldest princess of Xixia becomes his woman, she may not be able to tell if she was deceived by the emperor of Xixia before.
But if the eldest princess of Xixia knew that all this was a scam, it might not be possible.
Thinking of this, Zhao Xing said nothing more.
"Prince, please don't talk nonsense!" The official scolded Zhao Xing, looked at Su Wenchang and smiled: "I need to consider this matter."
"It should be." Su Wenchang He bowed and said: "The foreign minister is waiting for news from His Majesty the Song Dynasty."
"Yes!" The official nodded slightly and said, "Mr. Honglu Temple, send your envoy back to Honglu Temple. If Whatever your needs are, please try your best to satisfy them!"
"Yes!" The minister of Honglu Temple responded and led the Xixia envoys away.
"What do you think of the words of the Xixia envoy?" the official said in a deep voice.
“Your Majesty, the barbarian land of Xixia is narrow and sparse, and trading with it will not be of any benefit to the Song Dynasty. On the contrary, it will be of great benefit to Xixia. I think we should not agree.”
< br>"Your Majesty, I do not agree with what Mr. I feel...”
……
For a moment, the hall seemed to have become a vegetable market, and it was extremely noisy.
Zhao Xing heard someone say that kindness should be given to the barbarians so that the world would be peaceful. He really wanted to ask him if he was stupid because of his studies.
When has Huairou ever had peace since ancient times?
They always attack first. Those barbarians are frightened by being beaten, so being gentle will be of use.
Barbarians are called barbarians because they are wild and untamable.
The more gentle you are, the more they will think you can be bullied.
The official had a headache due to the noise, so he pressed his hands. After the hall became quiet, he looked at Han Zhang and asked, "What do you think of this, your Majesty?"
"Your Majesty, minister I think I can agree or not. The grassland occupied by Xixia was annexed by the Liao Kingdom. Even if they could sell some horses to the Song Dynasty, the number would be limited. However, trading with Xixia could not only repair the relationship between the two countries, but also reduce the number of troops. Allies make the Liao Kingdom fearful. I heard that after the new king of the Liao Kingdom came to the throne, the calls within the Liao Kingdom to send troops to invade the border have become louder and louder in recent years," Han Zhang said.
As for Zhao Xing’s previous proposal to return Xixia to Lingzhou City, Han Zhang did not say anything.
Because it is impossible to return Xixia, even if it is returned, it is useless for the Song Dynasty.
Although Lingzhou City is important, when Lingzhou City was lost, several surrounding cities were also lost.
If Xixia gave Lingzhou City to the Song Dynasty, and several surrounding cities faintly surrounded Lingzhou City, the Song Dynasty would need to send a large number of troops if it wanted to defend it.
Once Xixia cuts off its food supply, it becomes a turtle in a urn.
Unless Xixia is willing to give several cities near Lingzhou City to the Song Dynasty.
But Xixia’s land area is not large. It is impossible for Xixia to give such a large piece of land.
"Father, I think you should agree." Zhao Xing said.
"Oh?" The official said in surprise: "Why does the prince say that?"
"Father, if the two countries do not open mutual markets, can they prevent merchants from trading? It is better to blockade than to open up trade. , at least the court can still get some benefits from the mutual trade," Zhao Xing said.
If Song and Xia didn’t open a mutual market, wouldn’t there be anyone smuggling?
Before the Song Dynasty, agriculture was emphasized and business was suppressed. As a result, those wealthy families made a lot of money.
In the Ming Dynasty, maritime trade was banned and maritime trade became the exclusive preserve of wealthy families.
Everything is like this, it is better to open it up than to block it.
Smuggling is difficult to control, and you don’t even know what is being sold.
Although opening a mutual market cannot eliminate smuggling, as long as no contraband is sold, many people would rather pay some taxes than smuggle.
Zhao Xing knows this well because he is also smuggling.
Sheng Wei also sold glass products and mirrors to Xixia.
However, because the smuggling route is difficult, the quantity transported each time is not large, and there are still damages.
After all, the border between Song and Xia was mountainous and the roads were rugged, so there was no convenience in trading on the mutual market.
The imperial court can get some benefits no matter what.
The most important thing is that opening a mutual market will allow Xixia to explore other places with peace of mind, which will make it more convenient for him to plot Hehuang. "Yes." The official nodded slightly, without saying whether he agreed or not, and said, "I will consider this matter again and withdraw from the court."
…………
“Princess, Bianjing is really prosperous. Many things are rare in Xixia and can be seen everywhere in the Song Dynasty.” The little maid said with excitement.
“They are all profiteers!” The eldest princess of Xixia looked angry.
It is true that many things in Bianjing City are rare in Xixia, especially the mirror. She got one at the beginning, which was a treasure and cost almost a thousand taels of silver.
However, these things are very cheap in the Song Dynasty. She just went to Liuli Pavilion and a mirror about the same size as hers only sold for a hundred taels.
Many things are like this, ten times or even ten times cheaper than in Xixia.
"Princess, let's buy more when we go back." The little maid said.
"Buy whatever you want. Others will think that we have never seen the world, so we are not embarrassed." The eldest princess of Xixia glared.
In fact, she had this idea at the beginning. If she bought it back, wouldn't she be able to make a fortune.
As a result, the little maid was always startled, and others looked at her strangely.
"Okay, it's getting late. It's time for Su Shangshu to come back. Let's go back and ask about the situation." said the eldest princess of Xixia.
Although the little maid wanted to continue shopping, the princess had spoken and she did not dare to say more.
The eldest princess of Xixia returned to Honglu Temple angrily. When she learned that Su Wenchang had returned, she went to inquire about the situation.
Su Wenchang did not elaborate, but said that he would still have to wait for news.
The eldest princess of Xixia didn't care much about this. She was a little tired after shopping for a long time, so she went back to her room directly.
"Princess, the Crown Princess of the Song Dynasty sent an invitation in the morning, asking the princess to go to the East Palace for a banquet in the evening." When a maid saw the princess coming back, she quickly took out an invitation and said.
"If you lose it, I won't go."
When she thought of Zhao Xing, she felt disgusted and didn't want to go at all.
“Yes!” The maid bowed after hearing this and was about to leave.
"Wait!" The eldest princess of Xixia stopped the maid and said, "She is just a princess. If I don't go, she will think I'm scared. Give it to me!"
She felt that if she didn't go, It was inevitable that he would lose his momentum.
…………
At the end of the Shen Dynasty, the eldest princess of Xixia came to the East Palace in a carriage.
Zhang Guifen was waiting at the gate of the East Palace with a smile.
The eldest princess of Xixia got off the carriage and was a little surprised to see Zhang Guifen waiting at the door.
“I’ve met the Crown Princess!” the eldest princess of Xixia saluted.
"The eldest princess doesn't need to be polite." Zhang Guifen smiled and said: "Please come inside!"
The eldest princess of Xixia nodded slightly and followed Zhang Guifen into the East Palace, looking around curiously.
“I wonder what the eldest princess’s maiden name is?” Zhang Guifen asked.
"My name is Li Yunchu." Li Yunchu said.
Xixia belongs to the Dangxiang tribe. Their original surname was Tuoba. In the Tang Dynasty, they were given the surname Li, and they continued to use Li as their surname.
"Yunchu? What a good name." Zhang Guifen praised and said with a smile: "We are of the same age. I ask you to call you sister, do you mind?"
"Don't mind. ." Li Yunchu shook his head.
“It’s still early, how about I take you to visit the East Palace first?” Zhang Guifen asked.
"I have also learned some Han culture. Guests do as they please. Besides, I'm not hungry now." Li Yunchu said.
She was also a little curious about the East Palace. The scenes she saw along the way were not much worse than those of the Xixia Palace.
Going to the Royal Palace yesterday was even more shocking. However, she only saw a small part of the palace. It was also good to visit the East Palace.
“That’s better.” Zhang Guifen smiled.
Li Yunchu didn't understand what Zhang Guifen meant by getting better, and looked at her with some confusion.
Zhang Guifen didn't mean to explain, so she led Li Yunchu around, introducing her to her from time to time, and asking about her preferences.
"The Crown Princess keeps asking me about my preferences, what do you mean?"
When we walked to the garden, Li Yunchu couldn't bear it anymore.
At first she thought Zhang Guifen was just looking for something to talk about, but Zhang Guifen asked about everything about food, clothing, housing and transportation, and she asked in great detail.
No matter how nervous she was, she felt something was wrong and looked at Zhang Guifen warily.
Zhang Guifen smiled and said: "I have no other intentions. After all, you are from the Xia Kingdom. It is better to prepare in advance if you ask in more detail, so as not to make you uncomfortable when you enter the East Palace in the future."
"Wait! "
Li Yunchu interrupted Zhang Guifen and said angrily: "Why enter the East Palace? I haven't agreed to the marriage yet! Princess, I think you are a good person, why did you marry the prince of the Song Dynasty? But I also heard that you Han people are all matchmakers who are ordered by your parents to marry whomever you want. This is different for us in Daxia."
Zhang Guifen was very unhappy with Li Yunchu's disparagement of Zhao Xing. However, he still endured it and pretended to be surprised: "But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that in the court today, your envoy had already said that he wanted to make peace with the Song Dynasty."
"It's just intentional!" Li Yunchu corrected him. : "The emperor said that it depends on me whether we want to get married or not. I don't want to marry the crown prince of the Song Dynasty."
(End of this chapter)