The chamberlain who led the way turned around from time to time and smiled humbly, "Mr. Sun, please be slower."
Sun Shi frowned, "Speak well and don't be flattery, otherwise I will become an adulterer for Your Majesty!"
The State of Chen has a long history, and there are many records of rebellion by its servants. After the founding of the Southern Zhou Dynasty, they learned from the lessons of the previous dynasty and strictly controlled their servants.
In addition, the status of civil servants was unprecedentedly high. As prime minister, if Sun Shi wanted to get rid of a few servants, he only had to tell the emperor.
The waiter's face turned pale, and he was very careful all the way, opening his buttocks even when farting.
When we arrived at the place, Prince Nian Song was waiting outside the palace...
The fifteen-year-old prince had a fair complexion and was polite. He saluted and said, "I have met Sun Xiang."
Sun Shi nodded, "Your Highness."
The two of them go in.
Sun Shi took out a few books and was about to start a lecture when the prince suddenly asked: "Prime Minister Sun, did you hear that the Tang Dynasty envoy is here?"
"Yes." Sun Shi took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.
"The envoy is said to be quite tough, both civil and military..." The prince is still a young man after all, and he is very curious.
There was a smile on Sun Shi's prim face, "Your Highness, are you curious?"
The prince nodded nervously, "Prime Minister Sun once said that the problems we face in Southern Zhou Dynasty are numerous, and if we don't have a strong neighbor like the Tang Dynasty, we can slowly change them. I just wonder what the Tang Dynasty is like."
Sun Shi's heart moved, and he thought it would be a good thing for the prince to see him, "Xiang Han is meeting with the envoy. If your highness wants to take a look, you can change your clothes."
Then someone went to ask the emperor for instructions.
The emperor smiled, "Prime Minister Sun is old-fashioned, but is he willing to make an exception for the prince? Go ahead!"
After a while, Sun Shi took the prince to the Privy Council.
"No communication is allowed." Sun Shi said with a cold face, and everyone nodded hurriedly.
When they arrived outside the check-in room, Qin Jian and others were there.
Well!
Isn't this Sun Shi?
It's not surprising that he came.
But what's going on with that young man next to me?
That temperament...
It makes me feel itchy in my heart.
Cheng Ran whispered: "The deputy envoy is a noble person in the palace."
Among the nobles in the palace...the only one of this age is the prince.
It is impossible for a prince to come to such a place... According to the rules of the Southern Zhou Dynasty, princes who are not princes are not allowed to interfere in politics.
What a shame!
It turned out to be Niansong, the crown prince of Southern Zhou Dynasty?
Qin Jian knew that this was to increase his experience, so he did not show any courtesy and pretended to be stupid.
Nian Song glanced at them and smiled slightly, with a gentle temperament.
Han Bi's voice came from inside.
"If you want me, Nan Zhou, to apologize, you absolutely can't!"
Nian Song was shocked and thought, was the messenger so bold?
Han Bi's temper is bad, it's time to fight back!
Then he heard the voice of a young man, who said unhurriedly: "That man is the Lieutenant General of the Southern Zhou Army. You know it and I know it. It is right for the Prime Minister of Han not to admit it, but the Tang Dynasty cannot tolerate humiliation!"
The last sentence the young man said was sonorous and powerful!
Qin Jian and others outside were holding their heads high and their chests high, and their sharp momentum reminded people of Tiger Ben in the Tang Dynasty.
Han Bi sneered: "I want to punish you!"
"The dignity of the Tang Dynasty has been tarnished, and Southern Zhou Dynasty must give an explanation!"
"Purely made up!"
"Then... what if Datang closed the trade routes?"
Nian Song felt cold in his heart, thinking that the Southern Zhou Dynasty relied on commerce to be so prosperous, and the Southern Zhou Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty could make a lot of money from trade every year. If the trade between the two countries was cut off, the Southern Zhou Dynasty would suffer heavy losses.
He glanced at Sun Shi, whose expression was as usual.
Han Bi said calmly: "If trade between the two countries is cut off, the Tang Dynasty will not be much better!"
"Does Prime Minister Han want to say that cutting off trade is a double-edged sword? It hurts others and hurts ourselves!"
What a wonderful thing to say!
Nian Song couldn't help but nodded slightly, liking this metaphor quite a lot.
Han Bi nodded.
Nian Song thought what could the messenger do?
Strong on the outside but dry on the inside?
That would only make the Southern Zhou officials look down on the Tang Dynasty.
So it’s time for him to sit on the wax!
Nian Song thought about it and couldn't think of a way for the envoy to make a comeback.
Inside, Yang Xuan looked at Han Bi.
"The Southern Zhou Dynasty could earn a huge surplus every year through trade with the Tang Dynasty."
"Surplus?" Nian Song was surprised and whispered: "Prime Minister Sun, this statement is novel and quite subtle."
The prince has been studying hard since he was a child, and he is full of talents, but after all, he is a bit... idealistic. It seems that he will need more experience in the future!
For example, how about doubling the homework?
Sun Shi shook his head slightly, indicating that there was no need to be surprised.
"Where did the Southern Zhou Dynasty's surplus come from? Silk and satin cloth were the most abundant."
The Tang Dynasty was short of copper, and cloth was not only consumed daily, but also used as currency, so the demand was strong every year.
If our own production was not enough, we would import from Southern Zhou Dynasty.
"The Southern Zhou Dynasty relied on looms, so they were strictly guarded everywhere to prevent spies from the Tang Dynasty from spying on the secrets of the looms."
Yang Xuan said slowly.
Nian Song smiled slightly and thought, since you know, is there any point in pretending to be tough?
Could it be that he was arrogant at first and respectful at the end?
He whispered: "This messenger is a little confused."
Sun Shi was silent.
He has long passed the age where he can't wait to express himself. He will not easily express his opinions until the overall situation is decided.
However, Han Bi responded calmly and with a high attitude this time, which put the Tang envoy in a dilemma.
In this way, Ye Cheng can regain some of the face he lost.
good!
The Battle of Yecheng was the biggest diplomatic setback of the Southern Zhou Dynasty in recent years. It is said that after hearing the news, Nian Xu kicked a criminal in the palace and injured his toes.
Sun Shi learned the news at that time, and immediately sent people to deal with it, just one thing, strictly and quickly!
Sun Shi felt unhappy when he thought of this. He glanced at the prince, only to find that the prince was looking at Qin Jian and the others with a somewhat probing look in his eyes.
It seems to be asking: What do you think of the messenger being so messy?
Sun Shi wanted to warn him, but then he thought about how competitive his son was, so he held back.
You cannot expect a fifteen-year-old prince to become a seventy-year-old or eighty-year-old prince. That is unrealistic and very hypocritical. A hypocritical prince who makes it difficult to see the true story is not a good thing for civil servants.
He who is easy to control is a good prince.
This problem is over!
Sun Shi looked at the prince's slightly excited expression and felt guilty in his heart.
But the suppression of the emperor by civil servants was a national condition of the Southern Zhou Dynasty, and it could not be changed by him alone. If he wanted to change it, everyone in the world could kill him.
The people of the world here refer to the literati and civil officials of the world.
Where are the people?
Sun Shi remembered that in the early years when he had just passed the imperial examination, he was very proud of himself. It happened that a few clerks were drinking and bragging in the duty room, and they mentioned this issue... They didn't dare to talk about it even if they didn't drink.
One of the clerks asked: What about the people?
Another clerk drank too much and said: "People... aren't they livestock?"
Another petty official said: "The common people are just livestock that provide taxes and serve in the army to fight."
These words hurt his heart, and he vowed to change this situation.
But after many years of officialdom, what was my original ideal?
It seems lost.
Sun Shi felt a little melancholy.
Over there, Qin Jian frowned slightly, "Why did the envoy mention this?"
Cheng Ran said: "The Tang Dynasty cannot lack cloth. If there is a shortage, there will be big problems if there is not enough money."
If there is not enough money in the market, big problems will arise throughout Datang.
Cheng Ran whispered: "The envoy must be reminded of this matter."
Qin Jian nodded.
Just when he was about to speak, Sun Shi said calmly: "You have been working hard waiting for us, so why are you standing outside? Please go and have tea."
"yes!"
Several officials came over and took Qin Jian and others to the front without any explanation.
Qin Jian ignored his manners and shouted: "Your Majesty, I have unbearable abdominal pain, so I have to go first."
This is a secret code.
Xiao Yang, what you did is inappropriate, run away now.
"Let's go!"
Yang Xuan's voice was very clear.
Qin Jian smiled bitterly in his heart and led the people out.
Nian Song laughed and said, "Does Prime Minister Sun want to see the envoy's joke?"
Sun Shi shook his head, "Your Highness, in foreign affairs there are only wins and losses, never jokes."
"Yes." Nian Song looked solemn.
Inside, Yang Xuan asked: "Do you have paper and pen?"
Han Bi said calmly: "We won't talk about poetry here."
If you want to show off your talent, there's no way.
Yang Xuan smiled and touched from his arms.
A charcoal pencil.
A piece of paper.
What does this guy want to do?
Han Bi was thirsty and said, "Bring me some tea."
Yang Xuan lowered his head and drew again and again.
He had finished painting before the tea came.
Hand it over and raise your head.
"What is this?" Han Bi took a look and felt that it was very crude and the lines were crooked.
Somewhat ugly!
Yang Xuan said: "This is the friendship from the Tang Dynasty."
Han Bi smiled and said, "Are you joking with me?"
Yang Xuan smiled: "I am not familiar with Prime Minister Han, and I never joke with people I don't know well. Prime Minister Han can send someone to the Ministry of Industry to ask."
Han Bi narrowed his eyes and looked at him for a long time, "Go and ask."
An official picked up the drawings and hurried to the Ministry of Works.
Tea came, Han Bi took a sip, "This time I tolerated your envoy's domineering attitude, not because the Tang Dynasty was tyrannical, but because your envoy did a great job in the battle of Yecheng. I said that Yecheng was safe because of your envoy." It’s not an exaggeration.”
Yang Xuan smiled and said, "Is there any reward?"
"What does your envoy want?"
"The reward Yecheng gave me was an old prisoner, but most of this person's relatives are in Yecheng. Can I take them all away?"
"Old prisoner?"
Han Bi's eyes narrowed, and an official quietly stood up and went out.
Yang Xuan just smiled.
Later, the official came back and shook his head slightly.
"Easy to say." Han Bi nodded.
The two started talking nonsense.
Han Bi started talking about astronomy and geography.
The talk inside was so exciting that Nian Song outside couldn't help but praise: "Xiang Han has a wide range of knowledge."
Sun Shi smiled and said, "Han Xiang was a first-class genius this year, and his talent is amazing."
Yang Xuan's voice came from inside.
"Xiang Han said that there is nothingness in the sky, but I thought there was a lot of energy in the sky that people need."
"hehe!"
"Do you believe it, Mr. Han? You can try holding your breath."
Nian Song was startled and subconsciously held his breath, "Hey! Why are we breathing?"
This question confused the young man.
Inside, Yang Xuan said with a smile: "The air in the void is everywhere, why do people need to breathe? It's because the air in the void is necessary for the human body, otherwise why can't we hold our breath and live?"
"Absurd!" Han Bi said lightly. As a scholar, it is simply impossible to think of changing his outlook on things.
"Not only do people need the air in the void, but they also need fire." Yang Xuan said, "You can light a candle and put it in a porcelain vase. If you open it after a while, the candle will go out."
No one has ever done this job.
No one took it seriously.
But the boy took it seriously.
The prince ordered, and someone immediately brought candles and porcelain bottles.
Light it and plug it.
After a while, the prince asked someone to open the porcelain bottle.
Under the spring light, the porcelain vase is dark and dark.
The candlelight has long been extinguished.
"Destroyed!"
Nian Song was shocked and looked at Sun Shi.
Is the thing in the void actually Qi?
And it’s necessary for the human body, and it’s necessary for flames!
Yang Xuan heard the young man's voice inside and said with a smile: "Ask those tomb robbers. If they encounter a tomb of unknown depth, they will light a torch and throw it in. If the torch goes out, you cannot enter. You have to wait for the air to surge outside. You can only enter after entering."
Nian Song's eyes became brighter and he said, "Go to the prison and ask."
This young man was smart and immediately thought of where to find the tomb robber.
The questioning was not quick, but the official who went to the Ministry of Works still did not come back.
"Your Highness."
"How?" The young man looked forward to it.
"There are two tomb robbers in the prison. When they mentioned this, they said it was a curse from ghosts and they had to wait a day before they could get in."
"Ghost curse? Does that require burning torches?"
"I want it."
Everyone couldn't help but slowly look at the porcelain bottle.
The sun was good, but Nian Song was very excited.
He stretched out his hand to explore the void, but found nothing.
"So, is this place full of anger?"
Sun Shi frowned, "This is a small path. Your Highness must not indulge in it."
Nian Song nodded, "Yes, I understand."
Inside, Han Bi's patience was almost exhausted.
"I still have a lot of things on my hands."
"Is Prime Minister Han going to evict guests?"
Yang Xuan stood up.
Han Bi shook his head and said, "It's fine if your envoy wants to wait here. That's all. Come and ask why you didn't come."
Someone stood up, and at this moment, footsteps came from outside.
The footsteps of a group of people were very noisy and messy.
Han Bi frowned, "What are you looking for?"
Someone took a look and said, "Xiang Han, someone from the Ministry of Industry is here."
More than ten officials from the Ministry of Industry all entered the duty room.
The eyes of more than ten people shone, and one of them asked: "Who made this drawing?"
Han Bi turned his eyes to Yang Xuan.
The official raised the drawing in his hand and said, "This loom is actually superior to my Southern Zhou loom, and it has more improvements. I just took a look at it, and the doubts I had for many years were solved. I dare to ask, whose handiwork is this?" I should behave like a disciple and ask for advice."
Yang Xuan looked at Han Bi.
"This is the friendship of the Tang Dynasty."
Han Bi looked at the official who went to ask questions. The official nodded vigorously and looked pale.
The Tang Dynasty actually had such looms for a long time. If they were all rolled out, who would the Southern Zhou cloth be sold to?
God is above!
The cloth industry in the Southern Zhou Dynasty was not only related to workshops and cloth merchants, but also the jobs of countless families.
If this rice bowl is broken, the power of the Southern Zhou Dynasty will be weakened.
Han Bi's face turned pale and he immediately laughed.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Outside, someone was quietly introducing the situation to Sun Shi.
After hearing this, Sun Shi glanced at the prince who was listening, "We must be decisive in this matter!"
Nian Song thought of another question, "Why didn't Datang do it on its own?"
Yang Xuan inside answered this question, "I said, this is the friendship from the Tang Dynasty."
This is the lowest level textile machine blueprint in the scroll. It’s not that Yang Xuan doesn’t want to get it out, but he wants to wait until he has the right to speak in Northern Xinjiang before using better looms to benefit Northern Xinjiang.
The textile industry is related to the interests of thousands of families. This alone can make him a Buddha for thousands of families in northern Xinjiang!
so!
Hold it down!
First throw out an antique to suppress the Southern Zhou Dynasty and seek political achievements.