Zhao Zhen was at the top of the palace, with civil and military officials below him. However, the New Year's Day meeting was mainly conducted with Zhao Zhen in charge. There is no doubt that the emperor is the supreme ruler of a country.
Even though Liu Egui was the Queen Mother and was slightly higher than Zhao Zhen in terms of status, she was still below Zhao Zhen in the actual hierarchy.
This is the place where the courtiers are most satisfied. If Liu E acts arrogantly again at this court meeting, it will definitely be a loss of national integrity, and the courtiers will definitely criticize her verbally and writing, but Liu E is not guilty because of his current status.
Any transgression.
When envoys from other dynasties came to the palace, it was Zhao Zhen, an official, who spoke. This was the first time in history. Liu E had always led the Song Dynasty's diplomacy, but this year it changed. This greatly shocked the envoys who came to the dynasty.
To their surprise, they found that the Song Dynasty was changing, and the Han Dynasty led by the emperor was returning.
Especially the envoys of the Liao Dynasty, when they saw that there was no movement behind the bead curtain, they were surprised and their expressions became extremely respectful. The reason is very simple. The emperor of the orthodox dynasty has the supreme status.
Both the Liao and Song Dynasties regarded themselves as orthodox dynasties. Seeing the officials of the Song Dynasty sitting on the throne with unparalleled majesty, the envoys of the Liao Dynasty were naturally more careful and did not dare to be rude in the slightest. As for the fact that Liu E, the queen mother, supervised the country, it was also reasonable.
What he should have been forgotten.
The tributes paid by envoys from various countries at the great dynasty represented their attitudes. Of course, the letters of credence were also read out at the dynasty to show the country's willingness to have good relations with the Song Dynasty.
The Liao Dynasty was somewhat special. Ever since Emperor Zhenzong fought a great war with the Liao Dynasty in Chanyuan, the Song and Liao Dynasties fell into an indescribable "friendship". The people of the Liao Dynasty began to face up to their own shortcomings and began to engage in large-scale
They studied the culture and governance policies of the Song Dynasty, and most importantly began to popularize Confucianism.
All popular poems, sutras, and articles in Tokyo were immediately sent to Zhongjing in the Liao Dynasty and spread throughout the Liao Dynasty. Even the political system began to move closer to the Song Dynasty.
"The Emperor of the Northern Dynasty congratulates the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty and the Queen Mother for a healthy New Year's Day!"
This was the first sentence spoken by the envoy of the Liao Dynasty. A simple sentence explained the relationship between the Liao Dynasty and the Song Dynasty. The Liao Dynasty did not want to continue the war with the Song Dynasty.
Especially Ye An, who is familiar with history, knows that after the Chanyuan Alliance, the Liao Dynasty coexisted with the Song Dynasty in a more relaxed attitude. On the contrary, the relationship between the party members and the Song Dynasty became increasingly tense.
Since the confrontation between Song and Liao was formed, the two sides have not fought again, not even small-scale local conflicts. In Ye An's opinion, this is mainly because the two sides are evenly matched and the rise of Dangxiang.
Once the Song and Liao wars begin, both sides may not be able to bear the price. Both the Song and Liao dynasties know how strong they are, and they cannot destroy each other while leaving themselves intact.
In addition, the Liao Dynasty continued to learn from Han civilization and implemented the division of feudal and Han Dynasties. Gradually, it did not have much interest in going south to invade the Song Dynasty. As for the statement of brotherly countries... it eased the relationship between Song and Liao to a certain extent.
Although neither side wanted to recognize the other as orthodox, they had to admit that although both sides had the intention to annex the other, their strength did not allow it, so a strange strategic balance emerged.
The stability of the Song-Liao border led to prosperous trade between the two sides and constant exchanges of envoys, which invisibly strengthened the friendly relations between the Han people and the Khitan people. From Ye An's perspective, this was promoting national integration.
!
After the Liao Dynasty expressed its stance, other foreign envoys were stirred up in their hearts. The game and changes in relations between big countries would affect other small countries.
Originally, the envoy Dangxiang planned to exploit the tense relationship between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty to seek more benefits, but in the palace he saw the "hello, me, everyone" side of the Song and Liao Dynasties.
Party members are extremely embarrassed?!
Dangxiang was nominally a vassal of the Liao Dynasty and also surrendered to the Song Dynasty. In this Zhengdan Dynasty, he used the title of Lord of Daxia in the Liao Dynasty, but in the Song Dynasty, he used the title of the governor of the feudal town. After all, Li Deming was in the Song Dynasty.
He has an official position, General of the Zhenjun Army, General of Youjinwu Guard...
This series of operations greatly dissatisfied the Liao envoys, and also pleased the monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty. However, Ye An could clearly see the evil intentions, which was to sow discord between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty.
The king and the general are completely different. The king is more independent and is the master of a small country, even comparable to the emperor of a country. The general of the feudal town is nominally governed and led by the central dynasty. There is a big difference between the two.
But this was a normal thing in the eyes of the civil and military officials of the Song Dynasty, because when the Liao Dynasty gave Dangxiang his status, its purpose was to contain the Song Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty did not recognize the identity of the Dangxiang people in the Great Xia Kingdom.
, but continued to treat him as a vassal general.
Therefore, it was natural for the party members to pay tribute in the name of the vassal town at the court meeting of the Song Dynasty.
Even though the Liao Dynasty envoy's expression was extremely ugly, the Song Dynasty monarchs and ministers were proud of themselves. Who asked you to confer Dangxiang with the title of Great Xia State early? Seeing that the Song Dynasty has not conferred the title on Dangxiang, Dangxiang is still a vassal town of the Song Dynasty.
But what no one expected was that Ye An was out of class. When the envoys from the outer dynasty paid tribute, the courtiers of the Song Dynasty generally did not go out to perform in order to show respect for the outer dynasty, but Ye An couldn't bear it.
Conspiracies are being played behind closed doors.
In the astonishment of the ministers, Ye An came out, bowed to Zhao Zhen and Liu E with his hands crossed, and said: "Let me tell you, sage, that the Xiqiang people in Huanzhou were in rebellion last year, and our court sent a large army to suppress it.
However, people used troops in Huanzhou to openly confront our Song Dynasty. Dangxiang was a vassal town of our Song Dynasty, and Li Deming was our general of the Song Dynasty. They used troops in Huanzhou to fight against our heavenly army and returned in defeat. The tribute paid at this court meeting was again
Why not plead guilty and punish yourself?!"
There was an uproar immediately after the Daqing Palace fell into a brief silence. No one thought that Ye An would dare to go out to accuse the Dangxiang people at this time. In the eyes of the courtiers, the fact that the Dangxiang people paid tribute in such a low profile has already made sense.
Attitude, why dwell on the past anymore?
Liu E was about to speak but suddenly paused. She knew Ye An, and Ye An would never speak unless necessary. In the past, people who could doze against the palace pillars during court meetings were now out to accuse the party... To say Ye An
She absolutely refused to believe that An had no intentions.
Through the beads, she saw Ye An turning his head slightly to look at the Liao Dynasty envoy. Liu E immediately understood his intention and couldn't help but secretly admire Ye An's agility in her heart. Instead, she was immersed in the Song Dynasty and overcame the party affairs.
The Liao Dynasty was so happy that they completely forgot that the Liao Dynasty envoy would bring this matter back to the Liao Dynasty, which would cause subtle changes in the relationship between Song and Liao Dynasty.
Looking at Zhao Zhen's helpless look, he knew that he couldn't handle the suddenness. He said with a slight smile: "Why do you think that Marquis Ye should be too guilty for what happened last year? Besides, Li Deming was injured by you and was defeated in Huanzhou.
Many soldiers and horses should have learned a lesson after thinking about it! However, the foreign envoys still need to remind the general of the army that the late emperor's canonization of him as an "innocent hero" was an encouragement. He should not live up to the late emperor's heart and harass the superior country because he thought his party was strong.
, both Song and Liao have the power to destroy their small states!"
Following Liu E's words, the courtiers in the court gradually understood what she meant. While their eyes were fixed on the envoy Dangxiang, they also looked at the envoy from the Liao Dynasty. As expected, the Liao envoy's expression changed and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. It was obvious that the Song Dynasty had given him a favor in the court.
It gave the Liao Dynasty some face.
This is a very important point in diplomacy. After the Liao envoy was satisfied, he went out and said: "The emperor's kindness in consecrating Dangxiang was to pity the poverty of Dangxiang people, but without thinking, it encouraged his greed and evil, and even backfired on the Song Dynasty.
This is not what I want!"
When the two dynasties suppressed Dangxiang at the same time, this vicious plan to sow discord collapsed, and at the same time, Dangxiang's envoy lost face and became the biggest laughing stock at the meeting.