The prince is more stable

Chapter 112 Be magnanimous
On the way to the inn, Zhao Xiaoqian felt a little depressed.

From Wanshengmen to Guanyi, you have to cross the Bian River and go through the Imperial Street, so the journey is a bit long.

According to etiquette, the Liao envoys could have taken the carriages prepared by the Song Dynasty Ministry of Rites after walking into the city, but Zhao Xiaoqian refused to accommodate the Liao envoys and had everyone walk together.

The purpose of the Liao envoy's visit to the court this time was certainly not to travel abroad for sightseeing. In addition to urging the Song Dynasty to deliver annual tribute, it had other purposes.

It is conceivable that there will be fierce verbal battles in the negotiations between the Song Dynasty and the Liao envoys.

Therefore, before the negotiations, Zhao Xiaoqian could not be too polite to others, so as to prevent them from thinking that the Song Dynasty was easy to talk to, which would boost their negotiating momentum.

So even though he could have taken a carriage, Zhao Xiaoqian refused to do so, preferring to harm others and not benefit himself.

However, the walk from the city gate to the Imperial Street takes at least an hour. After walking for half an hour, the pampered prince suddenly regretted his decision.

Riding in a carriage is so comfortable. What's wrong with me that I have to drag the Liao envoy on foot?

Whether they take this one-hour journey or not, what will the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty gain or lose?
If you don't want the Liao envoys to be too comfortable, you can choose other ways, such as putting coriander in their dishes...

However, they had been walking for so long that it was difficult to sheath the sword, so Zhao Xiaoqian had no choice but to continue walking. From time to time, he turned his head to chat and laugh with the Liao envoy, and they forced out ugly smiles to each other.

After the group entered the city, they attracted the attention of the people in Bianjing. Seeing that the Liao delegation was dressed differently from those of the Song Dynasty, many people understood that the Liao people had arrived.

Zhao Xiaoqian paid special attention to the expressions of the people on the roadside. He found that when the people saw the Liao people, there was not much hatred on their faces and their reactions were rather calm.

Whether the Treaty of Chanyuan, signed nearly a hundred years ago, was good or bad for the Song Dynasty is still a matter of debate among historians a thousand years later.

It is undeniable that it brought peace, at least relative peace, to the Song-Liao border.

But what is even more undeniable is that it is also a poison. After taking it for a hundred years, the Song Dynasty gradually developed a mentality called "cohabitation".

Under the subtle influence of this mentality, the rulers, ministers and people of the Song Dynasty had forgotten the power of the Liao Kingdom and its ambition to covet the Central Plains.

Can the so-called treaty really guarantee peace and stability for generations to come?

Zhao Xiaoqian felt more and more tired as he walked, his mind full of random thoughts, and he even lost the mood to be polite with the Liao envoy.

Behind him, Qian Zhongshen took two quick steps and whispered, "Your Highness is late in welcoming the Liao envoy today. The ceremonial officer will record this fact. I hope Your Highness will not blame you."

Zhao Xiaoqian said indifferently, "Just record it. I'm so thick-skinned, haha, why would I be afraid of this?"

"I would like to ask again, why is the prince late?"

"Don't ask. If you ask, it means I studied poetry and books all night long." Zhao Xiaoqian said with a cold face.

Will I tell you that I went to Zuihuayin last night and played games with Jiang Miaoxian until late at night?

That woman's determination was truly remarkable. She would do anything but refused to break through the last step. Zhao Xiaoqian launched countless attacks on the city, but in the end he had to call off his troops and return with regret.

Qian Zhongshen is already in his sixties. He is a veteran minister who has served three dynasties, and he is also a seasoned veteran.

For decades, the new and old parties in the court have been fighting endlessly. The amazing thing is that Qian Zhongshen did not belong to any camp and was considered one of the few free-spirited people in the court. Even so, he was still able to become the Minister of Rites, which shows how profound his ability to walk the fence was.

Facing Zhao Xiaoqian, who was decades younger than him, Qian Zhongshen remained calm.

The government has its reasons for appointing people. After serving in the court for decades, one can only stay safe if he does not fight or complain.

In fact, Zhao Xiaoqian was indeed more suitable to be the chief envoy than Qian Zhongshen, and he did a great job.

After walking for a long time, Zhao Xiaoqian felt more and more uncomfortable. His legs felt heavy and numb as if they were filled with lead.

However, it was he who suggested walking, and he felt embarrassed to go back on his word now. Doesn't the noble Prince of Chu have any dignity?

Gritting his teeth and holding on, Zhao Xiaoqian chatted quietly with Qian Zhongshen as he walked.

"Minister Qian, I wonder what the Liao envoys discussed with the Song Dynasty this time?"

Qian Zhongshen was stunned: "Don't you know, Prince?"

Zhao Xiaoqian looked innocent: "I don't know... Is it against the law?"

Qian Zhongshen sighed deeply and kept comforting himself, saying that it was arranged by the government... the arrangement by the government was the greatest.

The envoy who received the Liao envoy didn't even know why the Liao envoy came until this moment. If he told others... it would be better not to tell others, otherwise it would bring shame to the Song Dynasty.

Qian Zhongshen sighed heavily and said, "The Liao envoys came to the court this time to discuss two things with the Song Dynasty. First, starting next year, the Song Dynasty will increase its annual gift by 100,000 strings of cash. Second, they will trade furs, delicacies, and various medicinal herbs with the Song Dynasty on the border, with cash settlement."

Zhao Xiaoqian raised his eyebrows. The annual tribute was already humiliating enough, and the Liao Kingdom was actually going to raise the price.

"What if you don't agree?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

Qian Zhongshen sighed, "If our dynasty does not agree, the Liao cavalry will invade, and our Zhending and Daming prefectures will be in jeopardy."

"They're dreaming!" Zhao Xiaoqian gritted his teeth. Qian Zhongshen smiled bitterly, "It's no use for the Crown Prince to tell me this. The next negotiations will be very difficult. Everything depends on the Crown Prince's divine power."

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned again: "I'm here to negotiate?"

Qian Zhongshen looked at him strangely. "Your Highness is the official envoy to the Liao Dynasty. You don't think that just entertaining the Liao envoy with food and drinks will be enough, right?"

Zhao Xiaoqian rubbed his face: "...I really thought so."

The two men were whispering as they walked, and the Liao envoy Xiao Guangjing was also busy.

From the moment he entered the city, Xiao Guangjing walked and waited patiently.

After half an hour, someone from the Liao delegation came close to him and reported quietly for a long time.

Soon, Xiao Guangjing had found out all the information about Zhao Xiaoqian, including his background, official position, status, etc.

Then, Xiao Guangjing couldn't help but feel a little solemn about Zhao Xiaoqian.

According to the Liao Kingdom's spies in the Song Dynasty, the Prince of Chu was very important in the eyes of the Song Dynasty officials. They were even willing to break the ancestral rules for him and insisted on appointing powerful officials to their relatives.

This alone was enough to attract Xiao Guangjing's attention.

In other words, every word Zhao Xiaoqian said to him afterwards could actually be assumed to be the intention of the Song Dynasty emperor.

No wonder Zhao Xiaoqian was so tough with him outside the city just now, not afraid of causing disputes between the two countries. He really has the confidence.

The royal family member holds real power, is young and energetic, and comes from a noble family. To be honest, if such a person still behaves in a timid manner, Xiao Guangjing will look down on him.

Now thinking about how Zhao Xiaoqian was even more arrogant and domineering than him just now, Xiao Guangjing suddenly felt that it was very reasonable.

The Song government sent such a person to negotiate with the Liao Kingdom, and Xiao Guangjing suddenly realized that this trip to the Song Kingdom was not a good job.

From the brief confrontation outside the city just now, it was clear that the Prince of Chu of the Song Dynasty was not a pushover. He was the kind of person who would overturn the table without considering the consequences if he disagreed with someone.

To be honest, Xiao Guangjing is now a little worried that he will be beaten during the negotiations with Zhao Xiaoqian.

The worry is not unnecessary, as this prince looks very unstable and unreasonable.

How could such a person emerge from the weak State of Song? It's unbelievable!

On the other side of the street, Zhao Xiaoqian and Qian Zhongshen were still discussing the next steps.

"The two countries are engaged in a war of words, so we should be magnanimous... The Liao envoy's food, lodging, and transportation will be arranged by the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple. Your Highness need not worry about it."

"What the prince should worry about is how to negotiate with the Liao envoy tomorrow. The emperor has an order, and I am willing to obey the prince's orders." Qian Zhongshen said.

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and asked, "Who said the negotiations would start tomorrow?"

Qian Zhongshen felt like he was about to join the UC Shock Department.

"If we don't talk about it tomorrow, when will we talk about it?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said calmly, "They come to ask for money. Do you understand what it means to ask for money? Have you ever seen a debtor pay back the money immediately after the creditor shows up?"

Qian Zhongshen was astonished: "Of course I pay back the money I owe immediately, what else can I do?"

"Minister Qian is so shameless, how did he get to be the Minister of Rites... When the creditor comes, of course we have to keep dragging it out. The so-called 'annual gift' is just extortion from the Liao Kingdom. I accept it when I'm blackmailed, but is there any need to be so quick to pay?"

Sixty-year-old Qian Zhongshen’s world view is shaky. Do young people nowadays all look so righteous after owing money?
"What the prince means is..."

"Leave the Liao envoys alone for now. The Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple will send officials over the next few days to take them on a tour of Bianjing, inside and outside the city, to Taoist temples, monasteries, markets, and brothels. They can go wherever they can kill time."

"Let's wait for ten days or half a month before discussing the negotiations. If the Liao envoy can't wait any longer, let him initiate the conversation himself."

"Oh, right, if you have connections, take them to those shady underground gambling houses. It would be best if we could set up a game and make the Liao envoy lose everything..."

Qian Zhongshen was shocked again: "Why set up this scheme? How will it benefit the Song Dynasty?"

"I don't know if it's good for the Song Dynasty, but it makes me happy, and it's also advantageous to us during negotiations... For example, when the situation gets tense, I could slam the table and yell, 'You're a man without underwear, what right do you have to bargain with me?'"

"The Liao envoy's morale must have plummeted instantly, and he was too embarrassed to even open his mouth to offer negotiation terms."

The more Zhao Xiaoqian thought about the scene at that time, the happier he became, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Qian Zhongshen was dumbfounded. Now not only his values, but even his sense of morality began to crumble.

One cannot, at least one should not...

(End of this chapter)