The eunuch in charge of the ceremony had already shouted loudly: "Everyone be silent!" The hall suddenly became quiet.
Cui Shangyuan said respectfully: "Your Majesty, the great emperor, there are so many talented people in the state, which really makes the envoys awe. There are many young talents in the Tang Dynasty. It's no wonder that the literary talent of the Tang Dynasty is outstanding, which is indeed beyond the reach of this country."
"What you said is half right." Dou Fan said loudly: "Our Tang Dynasty is not only rich in literary talent, but also in martial arts." I originally wanted to add, "You also learned about it back then," but when the words came to his mouth, he still didn't dare
speak out.
Although the Bohai Mission made things difficult, overall it was not too much. The Saint agreed to the Bohai State's mission. In the final analysis, he still hoped that the two countries could maintain a peaceful state. After all, the Tang Dynasty was surrounded by powerful enemies. Today's great
Tang Zao is no longer the iron-blooded empire with powerful iron cavalry that once dominated the world. Those who can win over the surrounding countries must try their best to win over them, so as not to end up in the predicament of being surrounded by enemies on all sides.
Deputy envoy Zhao Zhengyu suddenly smiled and said: "That's not necessarily true." After saying this, he deliberately kept silent.
But when he said this sentence, he instantly angered the monarchs and ministers of the Tang Dynasty. The saint frowned and said coldly: "What are you talking about?"
"The envoy made a mistake, please punish me, His Majesty the Emperor!" Zhao Zhengyu knew the current situation and immediately knelt down on the ground to plead guilty.
"Sometimes it may seem like a slip of the tongue, but it is actually true." Xiahou Yuanzhen, the Prime Minister of the State, who had been sitting on the big nanmu chair, finally spoke. He had closed his eyes and meditated, and he had never said a word. He looked very nervous.
depressed.
The ministers all knew that An Xinghou was killed in Hangzhou, which dealt a huge blow to the Prime Minister. The old Prime Minister, who had always been energetic, looked ten years older these days, and even became mentally depressed.
.
Suddenly speaking, all eyes fell on the Prime Minister.
"The envoy doesn't dare!"
"Deputy Ambassador Zhao, since you made a mistake, please speak clearly in front of me, the civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty." The Prime Minister's expression was calm, his voice was old and even hoarse, and he said without anger and self-importance: "You don't seem to think that my martial arts in the Tang Dynasty are at their peak.
Why is this? Do you need to see everyone on the battlefield to make a correct judgment?"
These words were not angry and intimidating, and even had a hint of threat. The ministers were immediately emboldened, thinking to themselves that the old prime minister was an old prime minister after all. In front of the envoys of a small country, he did not lose the dignity of the Tang Dynasty. This
Saying these two sentences makes people angry.
Cui Shangyuan said hurriedly: "I don't dare. Deputy Zhao has no such intention. His Majesty the Emperor and your Excellencies, please do not misunderstand me."
"Then what does he mean?" Dou Fan said coldly.
Zhao Zhengyu hesitated for a moment and then said: "Since the Great Bohai Mission entered the Tang Dynasty, although they have seen the splendid country of the Tang Dynasty, they have hardly seen the martial atmosphere." After a pause, he continued: "The Crown Prince competed with the warriors of the Tang Dynasty in martial arts.
, without any failure, so the young envoy took the liberty to make a mistake, and please forgive me, His Majesty the Great Emperor."
It was okay if he didn't say it, but when he said it, the courtiers were even more furious.
Yuan Gai Wushuang trapped and killed thirty-six people along the way. This incident has caused outrage among people and gods. Although Dali Temple wanted to investigate and deal with it, there was no order from the palace and Dali Temple did not dare to act rashly.
In order to take the overall situation into consideration, the palace dealt with this matter as coldly as possible, but the Bohai Mission did not mention any of the pots. Zhao Zhengyu actually took the initiative to raise the words that the Tang Dynasty monarchs and ministers had been holding back.
Lu Junzhong, the official of the Ministry of Justice, had been made angry by Qin Xiao before and had nowhere to vent. Seeing that the officials were full of praise for Qin Xiao's ridicule of the Bohai Mission, knowing that competing with the Bohai Mission would gain everyone's favor, he immediately jumped out and said sternly
: "Official of the Criminal Department, if you don't tell me about this matter, we will look for you. Why did those thirty-six people die? You don't know why? What kind of warriors of the Tang Dynasty? They are just unarmed civilians of the Tang Dynasty. You
Deceit…!”
Before he finished speaking, Yuan Gai Wushuang interrupted sternly: "Who tricked me? In the Tang Dynasty, everyone will sign a life and death contract for a life-and-death duel. I came to the Tang Dynasty and competed according to the rules of the Tang Dynasty. If they don't agree,
, why do we need to sign a life-and-death contract? Could it be that this prince put a knife on their necks and forced them to do so?"
"Prince Yuan Gai, you know that they are just unarmed common people and have never practiced martial arts, but you want to fight them to the death. Isn't this a massacre?" Su Yu, the minister of Dali Temple, couldn't help but said coldly: "I
The martial arts of the Tang Dynasty were all about fair competition of skills, but your so-called martial arts competition relied on the strong to bully the weak from the very beginning. Is this what your Bohai country calls martial arts?"
"That's right." Lu Junzhong, who was rarely consistent with the people in Dali Temple, said in a deep voice: "Since you took the initiative at this time, you have to give me an explanation today, Datang."
There was also a commotion in the main hall.
In fact, more officials thought that the people of Bohai knew that speaking out about this topic would definitely anger the courtiers, but they still said it directly in front of the emperors and ministers of the Tang Dynasty, even with arrogance in their words. Of course, this could not be the case.
Zhao Zhengyu came up with an impromptu idea.
On such an important occasion, what to say must have been carefully considered beforehand. Since Zhao Zhengyu dared to say it, it proved that the Bohai people did not care that this topic would annoy Datang.
There was excitement in Yuan Gai's eyes, and he said: "The foreign minister heard that the masters of the Tang Dynasty had many wandering clouds and wild cranes, hiding among the mountain villages. They looked ordinary, but they were skilled in martial arts. On the contrary, some looked majestic.
They all have nothing to show for it, but they have no real talent or knowledge. It is not easy to come to the Tang Dynasty. The foreign minister only hopes to find a real master to test his martial arts." He sighed and said: "But along the way, we have to fight against each other.
There are dozens of people, but no one can fight." At this point, he shook his head with a look of regret on his face.
Lu Junzhong was about to scold him, but the saint had already said: "So, in your eyes, we in the Tang Dynasty have no masters?"
"The foreign minister dare not." Yuan Gai Wushuang immediately bowed and said: "The foreign minister came to the Tang Dynasty with the mission to pursue martial arts, but so far he has gained nothing, so he feels regretful. If there is any offense, please ask His Majesty the Great Emperor
forgive."
However, the Prime Minister showed a faint smile and said slowly: "The masters of the Tang Dynasty are as numerous as the fallen leaves in autumn. Is it too arrogant for the prince to come to the Tang Dynasty to pursue martial arts at such a young age?"
"Aspiration does not lie in your age." Yuan Gai Wushuang said respectfully: "The foreign minister has just turned sixteen this year. He is indeed still young, but his age cannot stop the foreign minister from pursuing martial arts." He asked in turn: "Could it be the young people of the Tang Dynasty?
Will he be inactive in martial arts because of his age?"
Immediately, an official said in a deep voice: "The young talents of our Tang Dynasty are like the stars in the sky, and some small countries cannot compare with them."
Yuan Gai Wushuang nodded and said: "I firmly believe this, but it's a pity that I have never seen it before. Real talent and learning are never just words!"
The saint said majestically: "Yuan Gai Wushuang, at such a young age, you actually uttered arrogant words in the Golden Palace of the Tang Dynasty. Do you know that the sky is high and the earth is high?"
Everyone in the Bohai Mission immediately knelt down. Cui Shangyuan said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, the Great Emperor, please calm down. Your Majesty has spoken recklessly, please forgive me."
"Yuan Gai Wushuang, your mission is here to seek marriage, and peace should be the most important thing." The Prime Minister said slowly: "But you said something rude, and you actually thought that we have no one in the Tang Dynasty. If you are allowed to return to the country,
I'm afraid you will always have regrets in your heart." He glanced at the saint, stood up tremblingly and raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, since Yuan Gai Wushuang is seeking martial arts, why don't you satisfy his request and let him understand what the martial arts of the Tang Dynasty is?"
The saint said "Oh" and asked, "What does the Prime Minister mean?"
"Yuan Gai Wushuang, I am looking for two martial arts masters to compete with you to let you experience some Tang Dynasty martial arts. What do you think?" The Prime Minister looked at Yuan Gai Wushuang.
Before Yuan Gai Wushuang could speak, Cui Shangyuan had already said respectfully: "Master Xiangguo, the prince is too young and has a shallow foundation. Although he has considerable experience in martial arts, but...!"
"The truth understands what you mean." Xiahou Yuanzhen interrupted: "Are you worried that the truth would choose the top masters of the Tang Dynasty to compete with him?" He shook his head and smiled: "Don't worry, the Tang Dynasty always pursues fairness in doing things.
Yuan Gai Wushuang is sixteen this year, so the truth is that he will let young heroes of his age fight against him, what do you think?"
Yuan Gai Wushuang said excitedly: "I can't ask for it. But...!" He hesitated for a moment before continuing: "But the foreign minister is brave and has a suggestion."
"Proposal?" The saint looked down at Yuan Gai Wushuang and asked, "What proposal?"
Yuan Gai Wushuang bowed to the saint and said: "Your Majesty, my father asked for marriage from the Tang Dynasty. The saint could not make a decision for the moment. The foreign minister suggested that it be better to use this matter to decide whether to grant the marriage. The foreign minister admires the culture of the Tang Dynasty and has read many
From the books on the Tang Dynasty, I also learned many stories about the Tang Dynasty. I heard that the Tang Dynasty had a very unique way of fighting, called the arena."
The ministers all looked at each other in confusion, wondering if Yuan Gai Wushuang wanted to set up a stage in the arena?
Not everyone has the courage to step into the ring. If you are not outstanding and have absolute confidence in your own skills, then you will be humiliating yourself if you step out of the ring.
"You mean you want to set up an arena?" the saint asked.
"The foreign minister is willing to set up a ring outside the Sifang Pavilion." Yuan Gai Wushuang said loudly: "It is limited to three days. Within three days, any young hero under the age of twenty in the Tang Dynasty can take the stage to challenge. If within three days,
The internal and external ministers have defeated all opponents, so I ask His Majesty the Emperor to show mercy and give the Princess of Tang Dynasty to my father as his wife." He looked up at the saint and said word by word: "The one my father wants to marry is the real Princess of Tang Dynasty!"
When Qin Xiao heard this, his heart trembled, and he stared at Yuan Gai Wushuang, thinking that the Bohai envoy was going to court today, and I was afraid that this was their real purpose.
When the Tang Dynasty granted a marriage, they never thought about marrying the real princess to Bohai. They just selected outstanding women, gave them the title of princess and then married them far away. However, the people of Bohai not only wanted the Tang to grant a marriage, they even expected the Tang to marry a real princess.
If the real princess of the Tang Dynasty married to Bohai, Bohai would be the only country with the blood of the royal family of Li Tang. The country's prestige would be greatly enhanced, but the majesty of the Tang Dynasty would be greatly damaged.
The most important thing is that there are only two real princesses in the Tang Dynasty. Apart from She Yue, there is only Princess Changning. Princess Changning's condition is certainly not suitable for marrying far away. In this way, if the saint agrees to Yuan Gai Wushuang's proposal, even three days
It is true that no one can defeat Yuan Gai Wushuang, so the only one who can marry Bohai is She Yue.
Qin Xiao sneered in his heart, thinking that if there is a way to heaven, you can't take it, and if there is no door to hell, you have to break through it. She Yue is my woman, and the Bohai people actually set their sights on She Yue, so don't blame me.