The prince is more stable

Chapter 110 Liao Envoy Enters the Court
Many years ago, Fan Wencheng was exiled to Dengzhou. Although he had never seen it in person, he wrote "Yueyang Tower Inscription" in his sorrow, saying "Worry about the world before you worry about yourself, and be happy about the world after you are happy about yourself."

Many years ago, during the reign of Emperor Renzong, in the second year of Jiayou, there was an imperial examination that became famous in later generations as the "Millennium Dragon and Tiger List". Among them was a Jinshi named Zhang Zai.

He later wrote the four lines of Hengqu, saying "Establish a mind for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, carry on the lost knowledge of the ancient sages, and bring peace to the world for all generations."

The Song Dynasty was weak, and its scholars were spoiled.

But we have to admit that this is also an era where sparks of thought burst forth and civilization shines brightly.

Of course, Zhao Xiaoqian did not consider himself to be that noble. After living two lives, his awareness was not necessarily very high. He was still an ordinary man who was obsessed with wine, sex, money and anger.

But at this moment, as he was being worshipped by the people, he couldn't help but feel a warm current flowing through his heart.

Relieved, surprised, and a little ashamed at the same time.

It was indeed he who advised Zhao Xu on the idea of ​​anti-corruption, but his original intention was not to serve the people.

Zhao Xiaoqian was a pragmatic person, and everything he did was just to solve problems.

Solve Zhao Xu’s problem and solve the Song Dynasty’s problem.

To his shame, he inevitably stood on the side of the ruler, and solved the problem of refugees outside the city only to eliminate the hidden dangers of instability.

At this moment, facing the people kneeling down, Zhao Xiaoqian felt a little ashamed.

Before Chen Shou could stop him, Zhao Xiaoqian had already jumped off the carriage and helped the old man up with his own hands.

"Don't bow to me, and don't thank me. I can't bear it. If you want to thank me, why not face east and thank the emperor, thank him for his grace. It is the emperor's will that has earned you a life."

After saying this, Zhao Xiaoqian took the lead and faced the direction of the imperial palace, kneeling down on both knees.

Seeing this, the refugees also bowed three times towards the palace.

The matter of being kneeled down to by the people must be handled properly, otherwise he will inevitably be accused of "buying the hearts of the people" by court officials. This is a serious charge and Zhao Xiaoqian cannot afford it.

Let's all bow to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty together. That's all. Everything is due to the Emperor's grace.

After standing up, Zhao Xiaoqian said to the old man, "Just wait patiently for the court to allocate land to you. Farm well in the future, and you will eventually have a promising life."

The old man bowed tremblingly. "Some say there was a corrupt official in the court who embezzled the money for river management. I, the common people, dare not question the cause. I only know that it was you, the Crown Prince, who spoke out for justice and gave honest advice to the government, which led to the arrest of the corrupt official and the distribution of land to us, the humblest people."

"You are the benefactor of our lives. We, the common people, will erect a longevity tablet for you, Prince, and offer incense and offerings day and night. A kind person like you deserves a long life and blessings for generations to come."

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed heartily: "That's not necessary, I don't believe in that. Everyone, please don't delay your meal. Living a good life is better than anything else."

After chatting with the refugees for a while, everyone realized that they could not delay the prince's itinerary, so under the old man's command, the refugees silently made way.

After Zhao Xiaoqian saluted everyone, he boarded the carriage. Chen Shou and other imperial guards escorted the carriage forward.

The refugees stood in the middle of the road, silently watching the carriage go away. Even after the carriage disappeared from their sight, the refugees still did not disperse.

Inside the carriage, Di Ying suddenly hooked her hands around Zhao Xiaoqian's neck, strangling him so that he couldn't breathe.

"Let go! I'm dying!" Zhao Xiaoqian struggled hard: "You are sick."

Di Ying let go: "You are so awesome, hehe!"

Zhao Xiaoqian: "No, hehe."

"Mr. Hengqu said, 'Establish a mission for the people.' You have done it. How do you feel?" Di Ying's eyes sparkled.

"Mr. Hengqu" is the respectful title given to Zhang Zai by the world. Hengqu's four sentences shocked the world at that time. Zhang Zai's words set a clear goal for scholars in the next thousand years. Zhang Zai was also worshipped as a god by scholars all over the world, and some even called him "Zhangzi".

Di Ying had also been reading since childhood, so naturally he knew the four sentences by Zhang Zai and Hengqu.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled: "I feel pretty good. Just now, a voice kept echoing in my head..."

"what sound?"

"Merit +1, +1, +1..."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and sighed, saying, "From now on, you must exercise well and strive to live to the day you die. I have the blessings of merit, and if nothing unexpected happens, I will have no problem living to be 120 years old."

"If you don't live up to your expectations, you won't live that long. You can only watch me marry and have children over and over again in the underworld. And I will only marry wives who are 18 years old. I just want to ask you if you are angry..." Di Ying was indeed angry. She was very angry before she even got to the underworld. She pounced on him like a little tigress and bit his arm viciously.

Zhao Xiaoqian was also angry. This woman would attack him for no reason. As a man, if he didn't fight back, wouldn't he be bullied in the future?

Look back and take it out!
Inside the carriage, Di Ying screamed in extreme shame, and the carriage instantly fell silent.

Obviously, Zhao Xiaoqian hit her sore spot.

…………

The court in Bian Jing was investigating and combating corruption in full swing, and a few days later, several more officials were arrested.

This time, Zhao Xu's action against corrupt officials stood on the commanding heights of morality and righteousness from the very beginning. Although the court officials opposed it in their hearts, they had nothing to say and dared not say anything.

After all, the Yellow River bursting its banks and flooding the capital was indeed a very bad thing. If the government did not kill a few corrupt officials, it would undoubtedly undermine the imperial prestige.

Not only that, the court's investigation and confiscation of corrupt officials did solve some difficult problems.

The confiscated land was used to resettle refugees, and the confiscated money was added to the national treasury and then distributed to Kaifeng Prefecture and the prefectures and counties in the capital area for post-disaster reconstruction, alleviating the financial pressure on the court.

Of the 50,000 refugees who originally gathered outside the city, only more than 10,000 remain now. Moreover, the refugees are in a very stable mood, and are quietly waiting for the court to distribute the land.

Just by looking at the direct effects of anti-corruption, the court officials knew that the government's decision was correct.

Ten days later, at Wansheng Gate in the west of Bianjing City, a group of officials stood quietly outside the city gate, waiting for something.

Strangely, the officials not only looked at the straight road in the distance outside the city, but also kept looking inside the city gate. As time passed, the officials' expressions became more and more anxious.

It was almost noon when a team finally came slowly from the distance outside the city.

The team's attire was quite strange. They wore fur hats and thick clothes even in such hot weather. They were obviously wiping their sweat constantly but they didn't take off their clothes.

The team consisted of about a hundred people. The cavalry in front held up a long staff with a sheep skull hanging upside down on it. The flags behind them were painted with the totem of the Khitan people, embroidered with a blue ox and a white horse respectively.

The eyes of the officials waiting outside the city lit up, and the purple-robed official in the lead said in a deep voice, "The Liao envoy has arrived, why hasn't the Prince of Chu come yet?"

The official next to him smiled bitterly, "We've already sent three groups of people to the Prince of Chu's Palace to urge him to come back. According to the servants in the palace, the prince studied hard last night and stayed up all night until dawn, and he's still fast asleep now..."

The purple-robed official sighed, "This prince is a poet of unparalleled talent, so it's not surprising that he studies poetry diligently, but there are priorities. The prince is the official envoy to welcome the Liao envoy, so today he will be delayed in his important work."

The Liao envoys' team was getting closer and closer to the city gate. The purple-robed official gritted his teeth and went to meet them.

When the purple-robed official approached the Liao envoys, the leading Liao envoy did not dismount, but looked at the purple-robed official with an arrogant expression.

When envoys from two countries communicate with each other, they should follow diplomatic etiquette. The behavior of the Liao envoy was really too rude.

However, the officials of the Song Dynasty were helpless, or perhaps they had become accustomed to the Liao Dynasty's arrogant attitude.

"I am Qian Zhongshen, the Minister of Rites of the Song Dynasty. I am honored to be the deputy envoy to welcome Liao. I would like to pay my respects to His Excellency the distinguished envoy of Liao. Thank you for your hard work on the journey." Qian Zhongshen bowed deeply and saluted.

The leading Liao envoy finally looked at Qian Zhongshen straight in the eye, then frowned and spoke fluent Song Dynasty official language, but his tone was a little strange.

"Welcome the Liao deputy envoy? Where is the chief envoy?" asked the Liao envoy.

Qian Zhongshen's expression froze for a moment, then he immediately replied, "The envoy is at the inn in Bianjing City, and is hosting a grand banquet to entertain you all."

The Liao envoy sneered: "The official envoy from Liao has not yet arrived. This is the so-called etiquette of a country. You Song people boast about your splendid etiquette, but secretly call our Liao country a northern barbarian. Haha, today I have seen your Song etiquette, which is simply a laughing stock to the world."

Qian Zhongshen's face became increasingly ugly. He wanted to argue, but suddenly heard a steady voice behind him.

"Is it rude of me not to go out of town to greet you? Didn't your father teach you to be polite when visiting someone else's home?"

Qian Zhongshen was delighted and shocked when he heard this, and turned his head nervously to look.

The Liao envoy was furious, staring coldly at the person behind Qian Zhongshen: "Who are you?"

"Welcome the Liao envoy, Zhao Xiaoqian."

After saying this, Zhao Xiaoqian did not salute, but pointed at the Liao envoy and said, "Since the Liao envoy has entered our Song territory, you should know the etiquette of our Great Song. If you can understand what I say, please dismount."

(End of this chapter)