Zhurou

Chapter 235 Drinking

Qi Yuan immediately stopped and stared at the wooden box.

The man opposite slowly put away his smile, raised his eyebrows, held the wooden box with his left hand, supported his thumb with his middle finger for leverage, and gently tapped the corner of the box twice.

This action is really provocative.

The deputy envoy next to him frowned when he saw the other party's behavior, and was about to move forward while cursing, but was stopped by Qi Yuan.

For some reason, although the box was not very big and looked nothing special, and in fact no one knew what was inside, the more Qi Yuan looked at it, the more uneasy he felt.

He has always behaved arrogantly ever since he came to the capital. Even when he was in front of the Emperor of Jin and all the civil and military officials in the court, standing in the Chuigong and Zichen Palaces, he was still very high-handed. But now he suddenly felt panic-stricken for no reason and grabbed the person next to him and was about to turn around.

The man opposite grinned again when he saw this, and handed the wooden box to a eunuch next to him. He had only handed it halfway when he said something that scared the eunuch so much that he stopped.

He laughed, placed the wooden box on the ground beside him, and then followed him into the hall.

The deputy envoy was so angry that he kept cursing.

Qi Yuan ignored it.

It was noon at this moment, the sun was very strong, and there was no shelter where everyone was standing. The sunlight from the sky made it difficult to open their eyes.

The eunuch leading the way saw that the delegation did not move, and stood aside nervously for a while. After a while, he finally could not help but stepped forward to urge them. Just as he was about to open his mouth, he heard someone talking in the hall not far away. The voice was very loud, and then there were many other voices echoing, making a buzzing sound. However, they were too far away and could not hear clearly.

When he turned around again, he saw that the beggar had a grim look on his face and was stretching his hand as if to support his waist.

Qi Yuan touched nothing with one hand and failed to catch the long sword that he always carried with him. He also felt his throat itchy and extremely thirsty, and he involuntarily took a few more steps towards the Chuigong Hall.

  ***

In the Chuigong Hall, civil and military officials stood in groups. They saw several people entering the hall from outside, and the ceremonial officer reported a list of official titles and the names of four people.

The four entered the hall and bowed. Before they could speak, Zhao Hong couldn't help but ask, "Who is Li Yan?"

The man with the ring-shaped eyes stepped forward first.

Zhao Hong asked loudly again, "We met the Di soldiers in..." He couldn't remember the place name for a moment, and couldn't help but look down at the report in his hand, "We met the new bandit leader Zong Gu in Xiping... But... Is it true?"

The man at the bottom of the stairs replied, "I guarantee this with my life, this is not a lie!"

Zhao Hong was speechless for a moment. He had so many questions to ask, but for some reason he didn't dare to. He quickly looked to the left and the screen in front of him. After waiting for several breaths, Zhao Mingzhi still didn't turn around. He was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on his face. He couldn't help but whispered, "Sister!"

Behind the screen, Zhao Mingzhi could no longer conceal his astonishment. He did not care about his brother's request for help, but only looked at the so-called commander of the cavalry and infantry of the camp, Li Yan.

That was not really Li Yan, or rather, that was more than just Li Yan. Although he was wearing court robes, he was particularly tall. The ordinary round-necked, wide-sleeved long robe on him somehow looked like a tough outfit, especially his pair of black leather boots, which made a clanging sound when he walked. Although he only took a few steps into the palace, he could already smell the air of a hero - he was clearly the one who had walked with him before, the one who loved eating, drinking and horses.

Even though he had heard from Pei Yong that this person had another identity, he didn't know the details after all. When he suddenly saw him today, especially when he came to the capital with such news, Zhao Mingzhi was stunned for a moment. When he heard Zhao Hong calling his name in a low voice, he reacted and didn't turn around, but continued to ask: "Has Zong Gu surrendered?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the already silent hall became even quieter.

Li Yan, who was originally standing at the steps with a serious look on his face, was stunned. He didn't say anything for a long time and subconsciously looked up at the screen.

He just raised his head, revealing a slightly confused look, and then he quickly lowered his head and replied: "Your Majesty, the Marshal deployed troops in Taiyuan and Yinzhou, and led troops to Yuexiangqingjun and Xiping, setting an ambush between Xiping and Xingqingfu, disguising themselves as Di people, and took the opportunity when Zong Gu went south to quell the rebellion to intercept him halfway and have already killed him."

He spoke so clearly, without any questionable content, but everyone in the hall showed disbelief after hearing it. Even Zhao Hong, who had known something about it before, swallowed his saliva, but still felt hot all over.

Even though Yang Ting was so cunning, he couldn't help but blush and asked anxiously, "Is it the new emperor's bone of the Northern Dynasty?!"

"It was because of falling off the horse that my brother Qimu died. He succeeded the new emperor. This time he also fell off the horse and was shot to death by arrows under the command of the marshal himself."

Even standing in the Chuigong Hall, Li Yan could not hide his smug look, and as he spoke, his eyebrows moved, as if he was dancing with joy.

This news was too outrageous, and no matter how decisive he was, people still couldn't believe it.

Zhang Yi felt like he was still in a dream.

Just now, the Di people's delegation was still in the palace urging the two countries to get married, and boasting about the bravery of the new emperor. Although I know that there are many exaggerations, the Di people are strong in military and horse, and have long been popular. They have always had the upper hand. It's just that the Di people have violated the border in the past, and I never thought that the Jin people would be able to cross the border and go north...

  And that Zong Gu - is it so impossible to not be killed?

This matter is too weird, but who dares to make up a story about it?

Zhang Yi's mind was struggling, so he asked without thinking, "Do you have any proof?"

Li Yan looked at him in surprise, not knowing whether he was trying to recognize his face or what he was doing. He then pointed at the three people behind him and introduced them one by one. They were from different armies. In fact, he was just repeating what the ceremonial officer had reported before. Then he said, "You three all participated in the ambush on your comrades this time, and serve as witnesses."

Then, he pointed outside the palace gate and said, "In addition, I have brought back the skull of the ancestor. You can see it with your own eyes to confirm it."

He had never been to the capital before, and had no one to introduce him, so naturally he did not know the appearance of Zhang Yi and the other officials of the two governments.

When Zhao Hong heard this, he had no time to care about anything else and urged, "Bring it in quickly!"

In fact, he had no idea how he recognized Zong Gu's appearance, but when he heard the word "human head", although he was afraid, his excitement and joy had suppressed his fear to the bottom.

Soon, the small wooden box was brought in by Huangmen, but the man was afraid to hold it in his hands and tried to open it several times but failed.

Li Yan turned the wooden box over and found that there was a small lock hanging from the bottom. He opened it with the key in his palm, revealing an oilcloth package soaked by ice water.

Without the eunuch's help, he personally carried out the package, untied it in a few moves, and found a head with a rancid smell inside. However, with the slightest movement, maggots crawled and fell to the ground. Not to mention that Zonggu had just succeeded to the throne, even for someone like Qimu who had been in office for a long time, most people in the court didn't know him, and few knew him. But when the head appeared - this time it was a real "appearance" in the literal sense, almost everyone in the hall could no longer stand still, and no matter how disgusting it was, they all wanted to get closer, and even the arrangement was messed up for a while.

As for Yang Ting, Zhang Yi and others, they ignored their manners and came over to stare at it twice. Even Zhao Hong, who was sitting on the throne, bravely stood up to look.

"Zhang Shumi, in the second year of Youning, you were..."

Without waiting for the person behind the screen to finish his words, Zhang Yi shouted, "It must be Zong Gu Wuyi. When he was young, he was trapped in a pack of wolves and fought with the leader of the wolves. Although he managed to escape in the end, half of his right ear was bitten off by the wolf's teeth..."

He pointed to the right ear of his head and said, "This is the scar and the half of the severed ear. There is also a fake ear made of gold, silver and gems by his craftsmen..."

After saying this, he turned over, bowed his head and kowtowed, saying: "God bless our emperor, God bless the Great Jin!"

Then the whole court was filled with cheers, and countless people bowed and kowtowed.

Li Yan was standing, and when he heard the person behind the screen talking, his ears pricked up. He secretly raised his eyes to look, but only saw a vague figure behind the partition, which he could not recognize at all. He was unconsciously tiptoeing to listen to her more carefully, but was interrupted by Zhang Yi. He then realized that this person was Zhang Yi, the Deputy Envoy of the Privy Council. When his voice came, everyone in the hall knelt down in unison. How could he hear any other sound? At this time, he had no choice but to kowtow as well, cursing this Zhang again and again in his heart.

  ***

Outside the Chuigong Hall, Qi Yuan and a group of Di envoys stood not too far away, and heard the shouts that were very scattered at first, but then became more and more orderly. The almost deafening sound made them feel as if they were back in the morning before dawn, when they were surrounded outside the Duting Posthouse by countless Jin people and forced to listen to many insults.

Although he felt nervous at that time, he was actually contemptuous. He felt that the people on the street were no different from the southerners that Xingqing Prefecture had abducted before. They were just kept here and would continue to be their slaves and animals in the future.

But at this moment, the cry came inexplicably, and the reason was unknown, and the ecstasy contained in it was simply impossible to ignore.

——What exactly happened?

Clearly according to the information sent back by the spies, the two governments argued over the amount of annual tribute until late at night yesterday, and they were definitely willing to make sacrifices for the sake of peace. Regardless of whether it was the State Affairs Hall or the Privy Council, most of the prime ministers were actually happy to see the princess go north to marry, and were not only willing to go along with it, but some were even willing to help from behind.

Qi Yuan did not dare to stay any longer. He turned around without being urged by the eunuch and walked quickly on the way back to Duting Posthouse. He and several other members of the delegation observed the streets and alleys of the Jin people. Although there were still many indignant voices insulting the annual tribute and marriage, they were not a big deal after all, and he did not hear any other news.

After finally returning, he tried to gather his own spies in the capital to send back news, but still got nothing. He was at a loss for the time being and had to shout at the officials in the post station, asking when the Hanlin scholar would come back and urging him to see the emperor again. He only sent a secret letter back to Xingqing Prefecture in private, asking whether any unexpected situation had occurred.

  ****

Not to mention that in Duting Posthouse, Qi Yuan and other members of the Di delegation were completely confused. In the Chuigong Hall, after the other officials had dispersed, he was left behind along with the two officials. Li Yan, who kept answering all kinds of questions from the front line, was also extremely confused.

He did not hesitate at all and answered ten questions sincerely. There were many things that did not need others to mention, as he explained them clearly like rice pouring out of a bamboo tube.

Li Yan returned to the court this time by imperial decree. Except for him and his entourage, no one in the capital knew the situation on the front line. It was through the questions asked by many officials in turn and his answers one by one that the court got a general idea of ​​the situation of the battle between the two armies.

It turned out that Pei Yong had already divided his troops and made preparations to march north when he was ordered to lead his troops to Beijing to rescue the emperor. After that, several small groups of troops disguised themselves as merchant caravans or border residents, and quietly sneaked into Xingping and Yinzhou under the guise of the Xiangqing Army, finding a hidden place to set up camp and figure out the main roads.

When Qimu was killed and Zonggu succeeded to the throne, the Jin army, which had been well prepared, disguised itself as a Di tribe and attacked Zonggu's original direct forces stationed in Xingping, provoking wars in many places.

Zong Gu had just taken office and his position was already unstable. At this moment, he did not have enough troops under his command, so he had to urgently recall the troops heading south. However, at this time, Zong Mao had been attacking Xuzhou for a long time but failed, and was being controlled by the reinforcements of the Jin Army.

He received a recall order from Xingqing Prefecture. With his ability, it should not be difficult for him to withdraw his troops safely. However, he was ambushed several times along the way. Finally, he was blocked by Pei Yong who led his troops himself. During the battle between the two armies, he was shot and killed by an arrow from the Shenbi bow.

The Di army was defeated and suffered heavy losses.

Zong Gu would not wait in vain for Zong Mao to return with his troops. According to the tradition of the Di people, the brave have always been respected. He had led his troops to Xingping to quell the rebellion, and everything was going very smoothly. However, when he returned victoriously, before he had time to rest, his soldiers and horses were exhausted, and he ran into the ambush set by Pei Yong and was shot to death by a volley of arrows.

As Li Yan spoke, he could not help waiting for the person behind the screen to speak to him, but there was no response. Instead, the young Emperor Zhao Hong nodded happily again and again, saying that he wanted a reward and giving him many compliments.

As for the other officials, after asking so many questions, they all became a little bored.

Anyone can see that Zong Gu's head is already here, and there is no capable person to succeed to the throne in Xingqing Prefecture. Various forces are fighting each other, and it is unknown how chaotic it will be. In the short term, they will definitely not be able to provoke Da Jin again.

We have just seized this opportunity. If we cannot completely exempt the annual tribute and then take back the prefectures and counties that we once ceded, it would be totally unacceptable.

Even if it weren't for years of war and constant disasters, the Jin Dynasty would not have been able to launch any more wars. If it had taken advantage of this opportunity to lead its troops to attack, it might have been possible to achieve victory in one battle.

But as to whether or not to fight, almost all the officials present made it clear that fighting was not allowed.

After a whole day of struggling in the palace, when Li Yan finally left, the moon was already hanging above the treetops.

It was his first time in the capital, and he didn't recognize many people. Yang Ting and others were proud of their status, and since they had no friendship with anyone, it was naturally impossible for them to approach and talk to him. Only a few generals of the imperial guards and other military commanders stopped the other three who had come to the capital with him, and allowed him to leave the palace smoothly.

There were already men waiting outside with horses. When they saw him coming out, they hurried forward to greet him and asked, "The eunuch is finally out!"

Li Yan opened his mouth and shouted: "No matter what else, whether there is dry food or not, let me eat a few bites first!"

The subordinate had never expected this, and hurriedly took out a pancake from his pocket and said, "This is my leftover. If the eunuch doesn't mind..."

Li Yan took the pancake without saying a word, ate it in two or three bites, and swallowed it whole with water.

"The chief eunuch has made such a great contribution, isn't there a royal banquet in the palace? How could he be so hungry?!" the subordinate couldn't help but say.

"It's all steamed and stewed. There are people everywhere. No one moves their chopsticks. They just keep urging people to drink. The wine is mostly water and not enough alcohol. The taste is very bland. How can I pick up any food? I have to go hungry! This imperial banquet is really not a good one!"

He swallowed the last bite of his pancake and said, "I met someone today, his voice is very similar to..."

Li Yan shook his head and smiled when he said this, "I'm afraid I heard it wrong because I was running so hard. By the way, I have to hurry back this time and don't have time to ask my second brother. I'll go back to the escort agency and ask if they know where Xiao Zhao lives. And tell her that my third brother has come back and is going to treat her to a drink!!"