Chapter 253 Yan Kuan’s Question
Yan Kuan hurriedly hurriedly took more than half a month to finally reach Shangjing City.
The next day, the Emperor of Liao summoned Yan Kuan. Yan Kuan sternly questioned why the Liao violated the covenant and sent a small group of cavalry to disguise themselves as horse bandits to harass the Song Dynasty border.
It's not that Yan Kuan is that brave. Before his mission, officials warned him not to lose his momentum.
If he is submissive, not only will the officials not let him go after he returns, but he will also be scorned by others.
Yan Kuan had no choice but to question him sternly.
Fortunately, what he worried about did not happen. Faced with his questioning, Emperor Liao did not get angry.
Actually, Yan Kuan was overthinking it. In recent years, the Song Dynasty would send people to question him almost every year, and the envoys who came almost always told the same thing as Yan Kuan.
In the eyes of the Liao people, it was just a quarrel between the sexes, so how could they be angry because of this.
The Liao officials above the court still did not acknowledge it as before.
Not only that, he also said back that the Song Dynasty and Xixia had made peace beforehand, and repaired and strengthened the border cities with the intention of tearing up the alliance and launching troops against the Liao Kingdom.
Yan Kuan naturally refused to admit it, saying that the border city had been in disrepair for a long time, and it was only during the Song Dynasty that the city was repaired, and he had no intention of raising troops.
Liao officials retorted that the Liao and Song Dynasties had a fraternal covenant of non-aggression, and it was impossible for the Liao Kingdom to launch troops against the Song Dynasty.
The Song Dynasty's city repairs were a sign of distrust of the Liao Kingdom and threatened the border security of the Liao Kingdom. They should be stopped immediately and one hundred thousand two-year-old coins should be added every year as compensation.
Otherwise, the Song Dynasty will tear up the alliance first, and the Liao Kingdom will send troops.
Naturally, it was impossible for Yan Kuan to agree. Besides, he had no control over such a thing.
Being able to serve as the Minister of Rites, Yan Kuan still had some eloquence. He quoted the classics and reprimanded the ministers of the Liao Kingdom, quite like a rhetorical debate among Confucian scholars.
In fact, Yan Kuan also had a taste of it at this time. The Liao Kingdom should have no intention of raising troops, otherwise it should directly send troops to the border as it did in the past, forcing the Song Dynasty to increase the annual coins.
Therefore, Yan Kuan was very relaxed. When he was arguing with the Liao ministers, he was even thinking about it. He was debating hundreds of Liao officials in the Liao court today. When he returned to the Song Dynasty, the news spread. It will become a good talk, and maybe it will leave a mark in history.
“Okay!”
The Emperor of Liao, who had been silent until now, stopped the argument and said: "There is no point in arguing about this matter. Moreover, the envoy of Song can't make the decision. When you go back, tell Emperor Song of Liao's intention. Let's see. Does he want war or peace?"
The Liao Emperor did not give Yan Kuan a chance to speak and said, "Someone is here to send the Song envoy back to the inn!"
After that, he announced his resignation. Left the palace.
Yan Kuan had no choice but to return to the inn under the escort of Liao officials.
“Barbarians are barbarians, and they don’t understand any etiquette. The Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom are brother countries, the Song Dynasty is the brother, and the Liao Kingdom is the younger brother. The official family is the eldest son of the Liao Emperor, and we are the envoys to represent the official family. , the Emperor of Liao didn’t even have a banquet!”
After Yan Kuan returned to the inn, facing the inquiries from other officials, he recounted his performance in meeting the Emperor of Liao, and then expressed contempt for the Liao Kingdom.
When the Tanyuan Alliance was signed, it was agreed that the two countries were brotherly countries and should be treated as brothers. The current Liao emperor is one generation younger than the official.
"Why should Mr. Yan have the same knowledge as the barbarians? I heard that some of the food eaten by the barbarians are half-cooked. How is it different from animals?"
"Yes, it would be best if the Emperor of Liao did not hold a banquet. , otherwise if we really have to serve half-cooked food, we will lose etiquette if we don’t eat it. If we eat it, won’t we become beasts?” All the officials of the country have shown the great style of our country, the Song Dynasty, how magnificent it is! It will become a good story in the future!”
No matter what the accompanying officials thought, after hearing Yan Kuan's narration, some began to disparage the Liao Kingdom, while others began to flatter him.
After hearing this, Yan Kuan felt very proud and said with a smile: "You are right, it is okay not to hold a banquet. However, the Liao Emperor asked us to go back and report to the officials. What do you think should be done? "
"Mr. Yan, we have been ordered to send an envoy. We can't make the decision on this matter. We can only go back to the Song Dynasty to report to the officials for a decision." A clever official said.
The rest of the people were hesitant when they heard this. They had just arrived in the Liao Kingdom and had not achieved any of the goals assigned by the officials. It would be inappropriate to go back like this.
Just as they were thinking about how to make a decision, they heard a voice outside the door: "Sir, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites in the South Courtyard of Liao wants to see you."
"Huh." Yan Kuan heard this and said coldly: "I am the right minister of the Ministry of Rites of the Song Dynasty. The Liao Kingdom sent a left minister here. Do you think this is equal? Let him wait!"
The Liao Kingdom was different from the Song Dynasty. The Liao Kingdom respected the right, while the Song Dynasty respected the left.
He, the right minister, and the left minister of the Liao Kingdom looked equal.
But that’s not actually the case at all.
The Liao Kingdom had two chambers, the North and the South. Both chambers had the Privy Council and the Prime Minister. They also had six ministries and departments such as Taiwan, courtyards, temples, and prisons.
The South Courtyard was used to house Han officials, most of whom had no real power.
Not to mention the minister of rites in the south courtyard, even if the minister of rites came, he would not be equal to him.
The ones from the North Campus are about the same.
And he was still an envoy on behalf of heaven. The Liao Kingdom sent the kings of the North and South Houses to be considered qualified.
"Mr. Yan, the Liao Kingdom sent people here at this time. Maybe they have other intentions. It's better to meet them." An official reminded. Most of the Southern Court officials were Han officials, and their identities were very sensitive. If they didn't get an order, they would avoid Song Dynasty officials. How could they come to them on their own initiative?
"Of course I know. I just want to show him off and wait until we meet to gain the upper hand." Yan Kuan said.
"Gong Yan's clever plan should be exposed to people like them who have forgotten their ancestors."
After Yan Kuan's words fell, another burst of rainbow farts came out.
Yan Kuan laughed loudly and waited for a while. Feeling that the time was almost up, he went to the front hall to meet the left minister of the Ministry of Rites of the South Academy of Liao Kingdom.
Although the Liao Kingdom was somewhat poor in etiquette, it did not treat the envoys of the Song Dynasty poorly in terms of housing.
When the Tanyuan Alliance was signed, the two countries also had a honeymoon period. The Liao Kingdom also set aside an exclusive residence for the envoys of the Song Dynasty in Shangjing, and equipped it with servants to take care of it all year round.
However, Yan Kuan did not trust the servants arranged by the Liao State, so he always discussed matters with them in the hall in the courtyard where he lived.
When Yan Kuan came to the front hall, he saw a man about forty years old, dressed in a late Tang Dynasty style, sitting in the hall.
At the end of the Tang Dynasty, the world was in chaos, and most of the clothing styles still retained the style of the late Tang Dynasty.
After the founding of the Song Dynasty, clothing styles changed.
However, the Han people here in the Liao Kingdom have never accepted the rule of the Song Dynasty, so naturally they will not wear the style of the Song Dynasty for the re-examination.
Although it merged with Khitan and there were some changes in clothing, it was not much different from the style in the late Tang Dynasty.
When the man saw Yan Kuan walking in, he stood up and gave a Han salute, and said with a smile: "Hongze, the left minister of the Rites Department of the Lower South Courtyard, met the Song envoy!"
Yan Kuan returned the salute. , said: "It is my first time to come to Liao Kingdom. I am not accustomed to the climate and feel a little unwell. I have kept Hong Shilang waiting for a long time."
Hong Ze looked worried and said: "I wonder if your health has improved? If you are still unwell, I will ask Your Majesty to send an imperial doctor to take a look at your Majesty."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Hong, for your kindness. I will accompany you." The doctor has already seen him. It’s okay. Please take a seat!”
Hong Ze didn’t seem to be in a hurry, smiling and chatting with Yan Kuan.
While chatting, I realized that the two of them were actually fellow villagers.
Hongze is from Jiangdu, and his ancestors fled to Youzhou to escape the war.
At that time, the sixteen states of Yanyun had not yet been dedicated to the Liao Kingdom.
Later, as the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were dedicated to the Liao Kingdom, they also became Liao citizens.
Although the two of them did not feel like they were crying when they saw a fellow villager, they looked like they were very close to the fellow villagers.
After chatting for a while, we started calling him "Brother Yan" and "Brother Hong Xian".
Hong Ze looked very excited when he met a fellow villager and said: "Brother Yan and I are from the same hometown, so I won't talk in circles. I came here this time because I have something I want to talk to Brother Yan alone."
Yan Kuan hesitated when he heard this. After all, Hong Ze was an official of the Liao Kingdom. If he spoke alone, he would be criticized if he did anything wrong.
After all, there were officials from the Song Dynasty who took refuge in the Liao Kingdom.
Hong Ze seemed to see Yan Kuan’s worry and smiled: “I’m not worried, so what does Brother Yan have to worry about? Brother Yan, don’t worry, what I say will only affect Brother Yan. It’s beneficial.”
After hearing this, Yan Kuan was silent for a while and said, “You all go down!”
"Yes!" The servant serving in the room bowed and left.
Yan Kuan looked at Hong Ze, waiting for his next words.
"Brother Yan, now it's just the two of us, what comes out of my mouth and what comes into your ears. I'll tell you something directly. The horse bandits who looted the border of the Song Dynasty in recent years are indeed from the Liao Kingdom. They were sent here," Hong Ze said in surprise.
"Ha." Yan Kuan sneered when he heard this and said sarcastically: "The Liao Kingdom has done some sneaky things, but they don't even dare to admit it."
"Brother Yan, there is no need to be so angry. , listen to me first.”
Hong Ze paused and said: "It's not that my emperor doesn't admit it, but that he can't admit it. The situation in the Liao Kingdom is different from that in the Song Dynasty. The nobles of the Liao Kingdom all have certain military power, and these military powers are fully controlled by them. Although For large-scale mobilization, we need to ask for instructions, but they sent a small group of cavalry to plunder."
"If you don't want to go deep, you can ignore it." In fact, the two countries have an alliance, and the annual gift of coins has never been delayed. A few years ago, when the Liao Kingdom suffered a disaster, the gift coins were exchanged for grain and given to the Liao Kingdom in advance. However, the Liao Kingdom sent people to pretend to be horse bandits every year. The plundering of the people on the border of the Song Dynasty was covered up with just one sentence?"
"Brother Yan, how do you think this situation should be investigated? If we deal with them, we have military power. It will lose people's hearts. My emperor is also very embarrassed, so this is the only way." Hong Ze said with a smile.
"Brother Hong Xian, are you here just to talk to me about this?" Yan Kuan said calmly.
The horse bandits were sent by the Liao Kingdom, and it was not unknown to the upper echelons of the Song Dynasty.
Just now he showed anger and made some sarcastic remarks, but it was actually because of his identity.
From his standpoint, he had to do this. He was not very angry.
(End of this chapter)