White-robed Minister

Chapter 236-0234 [Liao Kingdom's Mediating Envoy Arrives in the Capital]

At the end of December, the Liao Dynasty's mediation delegation arrived in Kaifeng.

The chief envoy was Xiao Xi, and the deputy envoy was Yelü Xiaochun.

The envoy who received them was Han Zhen, the younger brother of Chancellor Han Jiang.

Let's begin negotiations!

Xiao Xi said, "His Majesty the Emperor of Liao has heard that the Song and Xia armies have fought a war, and both sides have suffered losses. The Liao and Song armies are as close as uncle and nephew."

"The relationship between Xia and Liao is one of nephew and uncle. His Majesty the Emperor of our Great Liao is truly distressed and desires to maintain peace and harmony between the two. How can we allow this to be lost? Therefore, he has specially appointed me to mediate the war, hoping that the Song and Xia nations can return to friendly relations."

Han Zhen was furious upon hearing this: "The Song and Liao states have a sworn brotherhood, so how can there be any talk of uncle and nephew being more affectionate?"

Xiao Xi said, "Your esteemed Emperor Zhenzong and my Emperor Shengzong were sworn brothers. If we consider seniority, your current emperor is the grandson of my Liao emperor. Isn't this a testament to the deep bond between uncle and nephew?"

Xiao Xi is using a fallacy of equivocation.

He used the seniority of the emperors of Liao and Song to discuss uncle and nephew, and the diplomatic relationship between Xia and Liao to discuss nephew and uncle—Xia and Liao were once related as nephew and uncle.

Han Zhen sneered, "Your Excellency is mistaken. You are using the emperor's personal kinship to disrupt the public order between our two nations! The Treaty of Chanyuan established the brotherhood between Song and Liao, signifying that the emperors interacted with each other as rulers, not as family members. The treaty stipulated the goodwill between our two states, not the kinship of one family or clan. Since Song and Liao are brotherly nations, this should remain so for generations to come. Does a change of emperor mean that our relationship must be re-evaluated? Former brothers, today uncles and nephews, in the future grandfathers and grandsons—is the state really so easily manipulated?"

Xiao Xi listened with a smile, clearly intending to disgust Han Zhen. Ideally, he wanted to provoke Han Zhen and cause him to lose his temper during the subsequent negotiations.

Han Zhen stood up and said, "If Your Excellency does not retract your words of uncle and nephew, I feel there is no need to discuss this further. The Liao Kingdom claims to be Chinese, yet it doesn't even understand basic etiquette. It seems they are still those uncivilized barbarians. What is there to talk about with an envoy from a barbarian country?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xi's smile vanished instantly.

The Song and Liao dynasties had been vying for the legitimacy of "China." Han Zhen used Xiao Xi's sophistry to denounce the Liao as barbarians who did not know etiquette, which put Xiao Xi at a disadvantage on the issue of legitimacy.

Xiao Xi quickly said, "Lord Han, please calm down. Liao and Song should be brotherly nations."

Han Zhen corrected, "The Song and Liao dynasties are brotherly states!"

Xiao Xi said, "Since we are brotherly states, and Liao and Xia are uncle and nephew states, all three of us are relatives. Why continue to fight? In my opinion, Song and Xia can negotiate peace."

Before restoring the livelihood of the people in Shaanxi, the Song Dynasty was actually willing to sit down and negotiate, and incidentally finalize the new border between the Song and Xia states.

Han Zhen said, "Talks are possible. The territory currently occupied by the Great Song Dynasty shall belong entirely to our Great Song Dynasty."

"Your Excellency is in the wrong," Xiao Xi said. "This war between Song and Xia was caused by a Song border general crossing the border to attack Xia, violating the original agreement between the two countries. The old border should be restored!"

Han Zhen retorted, "Crossing the border to send troops? In recent years, the Western Xia has crossed the border to send troops every year, violating the original agreement every year."

If we are to restore the old territory, should we restore it to the state it was thirty years ago, sixty years ago, or ninety years ago?

Xiao Xi was speechless.

He was known in the Liao Kingdom for his eloquence, which is why he was sent to mediate the war between the Song and Xia Kingdoms. However, he didn't expect that his verbal skills were no match for those of the Song Kingdom's civil officials.

Finally, Yelü Xiaochun, the Liao deputy envoy, spoke: "If you're unwilling to mediate, then let's fight. My Great Liao has already sold grain to the Xia Kingdom. Next year, the Xia Kingdom will send 200,000 troops, and my Great Liao will send 300,000. We'll agree to attack the Song together then!"

Han Zhen had anticipated this threat and coldly questioned Xiao Xi, "Has your country completely abandoned all manners, betraying the original agreement and intending to do such barbaric things?"

Xiao Xi remained silent; unable to win the argument, he could only resort to military threats.

The first phase of negotiations between the two sides ended without results.

Xu Lai was urgently summoned by the emperor for a meeting, and when he arrived, he found that the prime minister and the privy councilor were all there.

Wen Yanbo spoke first: "The Western Xia envoys are currently in Kaifeng. They claim to be here to celebrate the Winter Solstice and New Year's Day, but..."

A few days later, they claimed they had been ordered to negotiate peace. Your Majesty, you may temporarily engage in peace talks with the Western Xia envoy.

Wang Anshi said, "Peace talks are certainly possible, but not an inch of land should be ceded!"

Wen Yanbo said, "Some fortified villages that are not conducive to the transportation of grain and fodder can actually be returned to Western Xia, which would be beneficial to our Great Song Dynasty without any harm."

Wen Yanbo had already written a lengthy memorial refuting Xu Lai’s ten-year plan to conquer Xia, which had long made Xu Lai extremely dissatisfied.

Xu Lai couldn't help but say, "Then let's not plan to conquer Western Xia. Western Xia's territory is not conducive to transporting grain and fodder."

Wen Yanbo retorted, "If the Liao and Western Xia really join forces to attack, our Great Song Dynasty is already impoverished by the Green Sprouts Act, and with droughts and wars raging on all fronts, where will we get grain to deal with the Liao and Xia attacks next year? Western Xia is just a vicious dog; we can easily appease it by throwing them a few bones. Why should we fight to the death with a vicious dog?"

"Whether it's a wolf or a dog, if it dares to come, beat it to death with sticks!" Xu said.

Emperor Zhao Xu was also unwilling to give up his territory; he wanted to recover Western Xia when he was only a few years old. However, with Liao and Xia joining forces to launch an attack, and the Song Dynasty facing financial difficulties, it was indeed necessary to proceed with caution.

Prime Minister Zeng Gongliang spoke up, saying, "Your Majesty, the Liao Kingdom's claim of sending 300,000 troops and the Western Xia Kingdom's claim of sending 200,000 are merely threats. The Western Xia Kingdom suffered heavy losses last year, especially due to food shortages. As long as we do not launch an attack, the Western Xia Kingdom can at most send 10,000 or 20,000 troops to attack. As for the Liao Kingdom's ruler, Yelü Hongji, he has neglected state affairs in recent years, leaving everything to powerful ministers. These ministers govern through bribery, and the military and political situation have long been corrupt. I'm afraid they are also unlikely to send many troops."

Wen Yanbo questioned, "What if the Liao Kingdom really sends 300,000 troops?"

"Then let's fight!" Xu Lai said.

Zhao Xu asked Xu Lai, "Mr. Xu, are you confident you can defeat the Western Xia?"

Xu Lai replied, "Defense will surely lead to victory."

Wen Yanbo said, "Even if we are certain of victory, how much money and food will it cost? How many soldiers will be killed or wounded? How many laborers will need to be mobilized? Moreover, victory is not guaranteed."

Gong Dingchen said, "Let's talk about it first."

Wen Yanbo said, "Before we start talking, we need to set a bottom line."

Wang Anshi said, "The bottom line is that not an inch of land will be yielded!"

Zhao Xu shared the same idea: "Then let's negotiate first. We won't concede an inch of land, but everything else is negotiable."

Xu Lai cautioned, "During the peace talks, Liao and Xia will definitely send troops to harass the border regions. Hebei, Shaanxi, and Hedong must strengthen their military preparedness. The better the battles are fought on the front lines, the more confident our Great Song will be during the peace talks."

Zeng Gongliang also said, "Three ministers must be dispatched to manage Hebei, Shaanxi, and Hedong."

Xu Lai volunteered: "Your subject requests to be in charge of the strategy in Shaanxi."

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Zhao Xu hesitated because Xu Lai lacked the necessary qualifications.

The Shaanxi Pacification Commissioner's jurisdiction covered Guanzhong and five border routes, which was incomparable to the Qin-Feng or Xi-He Pacification Commissioners.

Generally, high-ranking officials from the two ministries would be appointed to this position, and Xu Lai's official rank was far from that.

Chancellor Han Jiang said, "Your Majesty, I request permission to take charge of Shaanxi!"

Zhao Xu glanced at Xu Lai, then looked at Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi said, "Han Jiang is the most suitable person to manage Shaanxi, and Cai Kang, the Deputy Privy Councilor, is suitable to manage Hedong."

"Yes," Zhao Xu asked again, "who is suitable to manage Hebei?"

Wen Yanbo recommended, "The envoy Han Qi has been stationed in Daming Prefecture. He can be ordered to manage Hebei in order to deal with the Liao army."

With the New Year fast approaching, Han Jiang and Cai Kang braved the snow to leave the capital, while Han Qi also rushed from Daming Prefecture to the front lines.

The three of them must deal with the harassment from Liao and Xia in order to secure better conditions for negotiations.

Xu Lai, on the other hand, stayed in the capital and happily celebrated New Year's Day (the first day of the Lunar New Year), while also participating in the Three Kingdoms negotiations.

Every household is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.

The Xu family put up Spring Festival couplets as usual, and also pasted door gods on the doors, all made of red paper. It was like dismantling the wooden peach wood charms and replacing them with paper Spring Festival couplets and door gods.

It can save you money.

Many people still came to give gifts, but although they were turned away, they saw the things posted at Xu Lai's house and went back to report to their own owners.

The content of the Spring Festival couplets, in particular, was highly praised by scholars in the capital.

On the first day of the first lunar month, there will be a great meeting.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, people burn incense at Daxiangguo Temple.

On the third day of the first lunar month, the archery competition was held at Yujin Garden.

The archery competition was a great opportunity for military officers to show off, as envoys from the Liao and Western Xia dynasties also participated. Whoever could defeat the foreign envoys would undoubtedly receive a generous reward from the emperor.

Xu Lai drank and ate meat while watching the officials of the Three Kingdoms shoot arrows, without having any intention of participating.

After several more archers finished, the Western Xia envoy, Weiming Hurong, stood up and said, "Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, I have heard that your country has a top scholar named Xu Lai who is skilled in military affairs. Why not invite Scholar Xu to try his hand at archery?"

Zhao Xu looked at Xu Lai.

Xu Lai laughed and said, "Does being good at military affairs necessarily mean being good at archery? I have never personally killed a single Western Xia soldier, yet I was still able to capture Lanzhou."

Wei Ming Hu Rong said sarcastically, "It turns out that Scholar Xu is not skilled in archery, which is truly disappointing."

Xu Lai said, "If I were skilled in martial arts, I would have already led my troops to conquer Xingqing Prefecture (Yinchuan). Would I still allow you to make such a fuss here?"

""

Wei Ming Hu Rong chuckled and said, "The Song people are indeed not good at martial arts."

A civil official immediately stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I and Minister Xu were in the same examination group, and I cannot tolerate such insults from the foreign envoy. I request to participate in the archery contest!"

Zhao Xu nodded and smiled: "You may shoot it."

Wei Minghu Rong asked, "And who is this person?"

Han Zhen introduced: "Chapter of Censor."

Zhang had previously served as a transport commissioner in a local area, and two months ago the emperor appointed him as a censor. This was a sign of impending promotion; he would return to the capital to assume a prestigious position, accumulate experience, and then be promoted to another post.

Zhang borrowed a bow and arrow from a military officer and went to test-shoot them to familiarize himself with the bow's performance.

After the Liao envoy finished shooting, Zhang entered the arena.

He fired ten arrows in quick succession, and every single one hit the bullseye.

The Liao deputy envoy, Yelü Xiaochun, exclaimed in surprise, "Is this really an imperial censor from the Song Dynasty?"

Zhao Xu felt very honored and said with a smile, "Archery is one of the six arts of a gentleman, so it is not surprising that the Imperial Censor is skilled in archery."

As he spoke, he summoned Zhang Zi to his side, took off the jade belt from his waist, and said, "You are skilled in both literature and martial arts, which truly pleases me. I present this jade belt to you in the hope that you will serve the country loyally."

The emperor removed his own jade belt and bestowed it upon the emperor on the spot.

The civil and military officials present were so envious they wanted to tear Zhang Zi to pieces.

Zhang, his blood boiling with fervor, immediately bowed and said, "Your subject would gladly die for you!"