The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Hundreds of high and low officials belonged to their respective positions, civil and military officials each had their own ranks, but Su Jin had nowhere to go, didn't know where he should be, and no one told him, so he had to stand at the end near the entrance of the hall; The door is well ventilated, but in this winter season, ventilation may not be a good thing. After a while, Su Jin's legs were cold and his upper and lower teeth began to fight.

Finally, a servant came out of the side hall gate and stood on the steps under the throne and shouted: "The emperor is here!"

Su Jin got up his spirits and stretched his head to watch, only to see two guards raised the curtain of the passageway on the left side of the hall high, one of them was wearing a crown of heaven, wearing a yellow dragon robe covered with crimson gauze, and walked out slowly .

All the officials knelt down on the ground, and after Zhao Zhen sat down on the throne, they kowtowed in unison and shouted: "Long live my emperor! Long live!"

With a smile on his face, Zhao Zhen waved his hands and said, "Everyone loves you!"

All the officials got up one after another and stood up. Zhao Zhen said: "Give Lu Xiangci a seat!"

The servant moved the brocade stool and put it on the first place on the left hand. After Lu Yijian came out to thank him, Shi Shiran sat on the brocade stool.

Zhao Zhen swept his highness and ministers with both eyes, and saw Su Jin standing at the bottom from a distance, with a smile on his face, he looked back and said: "My dear friends, if you have anything to discuss today, please come forward and wait for it." Now that the discussion is over, I still have a few things I would like to ask all of you to discuss."

All the ministers were well aware of what Zhao Zhen said about the court discussion.

After a brief silence, an official from the train on the right stepped forward and saluted: "Chen Du Yan has something to announce."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Du Aiqing, what's the matter?"

Du Yan said: "The head of the ceremonial house affiliated to the Privy Council reported the matter, and the Liao Kingdom sent someone to send an official letter, saying that in the near future, envoys will be sent to pay homage to our emperor with the letter of state. I ask the emperor to show me."

Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "The people of Liao just arrived in winter last year, and now they send people here. What is their purpose? Can the official letter explain the reason?"

Du Yan said: "Your Majesty Qi Zou, there is no mention in the official letter. I have ordered Qian Chen, the owner of the house, to find out the reply. I think there is no need to worry too much. It is nothing more than a ceremony between the host and the guest.\\..\\"

Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "Liao envoys are different from you. The ceremony to be greeted should follow the national system, and it is fine to treat it with a grand ceremony. You can receive it at Honglu Temple with full power. When the envoy arrives, you can lead the court to deliver it to the country. Book."

Du Yan bowed and said, "Observe the edict." After saying that, he turned around and wanted to retreat, when suddenly someone from the official column on the right came out and said, "Qizou Your Majesty, I have objections to this matter."

Zhao Zhen was taken aback, and said, "Chen Aiqing, what objection do you have?"

This person is tall and thin, with a thin appearance. He is Chen Zhizhong, the deputy privy envoy. He is also a veteran of the two dynasties.

"The minister is in charge of the defense of the east and west routes of Hebei. In recent days, the East Hebei Road has sent an investigation report. There are Liao soldiers and horses gathered around the Beigujin Pass in Bazhou and Waqiao Pass in Xiongzhou. It seems that there is no way to go. When the Liao people came to make an envoy, I am afraid that something will happen."

Zhao Zhen was stunned and said, "Why didn't Privy Du mention this?"

Du Yan glanced at Chen Zhizhong speculatively and said: "Your Majesty Qizuo, what Deputy Envoy Chen said was indeed reported, but it happened when the Liao people mobilized troops and horses at the border, so there is no need to make a fuss; In the land of the Liao people, they deployed soldiers and horses to garrison the border, just like our garrison and dispatch of the two armies in Baoding and Xin'an on Hebei East Road.

Zhao Zhen sighed, nodded and said, "That's the reason, but we need to be careful and watch carefully."

Du Yan said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that there will be no mistakes."

Chen Zhizhong said coldly: "I don't think so, this time it seems to be different from usual, the generals leading the troops of the Liao people are Yelu Zongyuan, the emperor's younger brother, and Xiao Hui, the general Xiao Hui, these two are famous generals of the Liao Kingdom, Yelu Zongyuan Zong Yuan is the Generalissimo of the Liao Army, and it is said that there are [-] elite palace tent troops and [-] tribal troops assembled this time, which shows that the menace is coming, we must guard against it."

All the ministers took a breath. In the past, most of the troops stationed on the Liao-Song border were tribal troops and Jingzhou troops. The so-called tribal troops were actually the retinues of princes, ministers and tribal leaders. The daily border guards of the Liao Kingdom recruited these troops. The army goes to guard, firstly to reduce their threat, and secondly, it can also give these princes and ministers a chance to make meritorious deeds; while the Jingzhou army is just some civilians, similar to township bravery, the number is huge, but they are only recruited during wartime, and their combat effectiveness is also low. Not strong.

As the most elite palace tent army, it is the emperor's guard, under the direct control of the emperor, similar to the imperial army of the Song Dynasty, regardless of equipment and combat power, it is superior to other arms; and their duty is to defend the capital and protect the emperor, generally not For large-scale battles, these troops will never be transferred from the capital.

Now that the 50 palace tent troops of the Liao Kingdom have been transferred out, [-] have been handed over to Yelu Zongyuan to lead them. There must be articles here.

Zhao Zhen's expression was not good, and he said in a low voice: "Chen Aiqing, have you found out about this matter?"

Chen Zhizhong said: "I just got the report last night. I planned to ask Privy Du to take a look at it this morning, but Privy Du discussed other matters with Prime Minister Lu while he was in court. I will not let you know in the future."

Du Yan stared and said: "Vice Envoy Chen, it's your fault, but you didn't come to tell me about such a big event, isn't this teaching me to deal with injustice in front of the emperor?"

Chen Zhizhong hurriedly said: "Private Du, don't be angry, it's the fault of being an official."

Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "Maybe this matter is really strange. Liao people are like this. Could it be that they really want to use troops against me, Song Dynasty? Dear dear friends, who will explain it for me."

There was a buzzing sound in the hall, and all the ministers discussed one after another, each guessing and guessing the intention of the Liao people. Zhao Zhen looked at the crowd, his eyes fell on Yan Shu, and said, "Yan Aiqing, what do you think of this matter?"

Yan Shu stepped forward to salute and said, "Your Majesty Qi Zuo, I don't think you need to pay too much attention to it."

Zhao Zhen said: "Oh? How do you say this?"

Yan Shu said: "The Liao people had an alliance with our Great Song Dynasty, so it is absolutely impossible for them to use troops without warning. Besides, if the Liao people intend to attack our Great Song Dynasty, how can they send people to send official letters and order envoys to come and pay homage?" , I think there must be other reasons; but it is unlikely that the two countries will fight each other immediately."

Zhao Zhen nodded, feeling that what Yan Shu said made sense, and all the officials in the court nodded in agreement; if the Liao people had no intention of sending troops to embarrass the Song Dynasty, then there was no need to worry, and the atmosphere immediately eased a lot.

Lu Yijian gently stroked the white beard under his chin and nodded slightly. Seeing Zhao Zhen's eyes shot at him, he stood up with a cough, turned around and scanned the audience, everyone stopped talking immediately, and the hall was silent.

"Lu Aiqing, what do you think?" Zhao Zhen said.

"Qizou Your Majesty, the old minister basically agrees with Yan Sansi's words, but the old minister has a few points to add." Lu Yijian spoke slowly, not waiting for Zhao Zhen to ask, and continued: "My Great Song Zhenzong signed an alliance with the Liao people in Chanzhou So far, there has been no military incident on the border between the two sides for nearly 40 years. The following are all snot, this is the result of decades of good relations between the two countries, not fake."

Some of the ministers nodded silently, while others shook their heads slightly, disapprovingly.

"After the Holy Mountain ascended the throne, he upheld the former emperor's ambition to establish friendship with the Liao people, followed the Chanzhou agreement and never exceeded it. Although the Liao lord changed, he would not break his promise and tear up the covenant and use troops against our Song Dynasty. Therefore, the veteran thought that this move Don't make a fuss; Your Majesty can wait for the Liao envoy to arrive and ask again to find out the reason."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "The words are reasonable, and it is not appropriate to overreact, otherwise the Liao people will be frightened, which will damage the friendship between the two countries, but it is enough to pay close attention to the border movements."

Lu Yijian said: "That's exactly what the old minister meant. If I, Song Dynasty, overreacted, I would fall into the trap and be questioned by the Liao people. It would be difficult to explain."

All the ministers nodded in agreement, and they all breathed a sigh of relief. Both Yan Shu and Lu Yijian said that the matter was fine, which gave Zhao Zhen and the ministers a reassurance.

Amidst the voices of agreement, someone gave a 'chi' laugh, the voice was very loud, the laughter was full of sarcasm, and it sounded unusually harsh.

Everyone turned their heads to see who was laughing, hundreds of pairs of eyes shot straight to the end of the hall, a young man was wearing a blue official robe, standing there nondescriptly, the smile on his face was still there, and his hand was still covering his mouth before he had time lay down.

The one who laughed was Su Jin. Su Jin couldn't help being funny when he heard what Lu Yijian said about the Chanzhou Covenant and the friendship between the two countries; As a college student of liberal arts, Su Jin still had some impressions of this covenant. It was an out-and-out covenant of humiliating power and humiliating the country, but these people brazenly praised it and showed it as merit.

"My lord, what's so funny about this matter?" Lu Yijian's face was as dark as water, and he asked coldly. Originally, he wanted to trouble Su Jin today, but he didn't expect to jump out to make trouble before it was his turn. .

Su Jin didn't expect that everyone would be so united with his enemy with a chuckle, but he was a little caught off guard. Seeing Lu Yijian's question, he quickly suppressed the panic in his heart, bowed his hands and said, "My subordinate Su Jin has met Lu Xiang."

Lu Yijian said indifferently: "I know you are Su Jin, the old man is asking why you are laughing, above the court, the monarchs and ministers are discussing important national affairs, but you are here with a sarcastic smile on your face, it is really inappropriate."

"Yes, yes, do you understand the rules?" Pang Ji, with a black beard and a pie face, quickly agreed.

"I'd like to ask Special Envoy Su, what made you so happy with what Lu Xiang and the emperor said just now." The dark and thin Du Yan also stared at Su Jin and scolded angrily.

Yan Shu and Ouyang Xiu shook their heads and sighed secretly. This Su Jin simply doesn't know how to behave. You should stand in a proper manner in the hall. Before it's your turn to speak, you sneer. It's not because you are making yourself uncomfortable. what?

Seeing Lu Yijian and the others acting menacingly, Su Jin felt a little thumping in his heart, cursing himself why he had to laugh so much, causing trouble for no reason.

But looking at it like this, if you don't give an explanation to prevaricate, these people will not spare themselves.