Chapter 1245 Fango (two updates combined into one)
Han Zhongyan accompanied Xiao Derang to the capital of Liao Kingdom as an envoy to Liao.
Wherever the Liao envoy Xiao Derang passed, the local governors would greet him. According to the rules after the Chanyuan Alliance, if local officials did not meet the Liao envoy's wishes, they would be impeached and held accountable.
Since the Chanyuan Alliance, the two countries have sent envoys to each other on the birthday of the emperor, the birthday of the empress dowager, the emperor's accession to the throne, or the death of the emperor and empress dowager, which are called permanent envoys.
The two sides of Song and Liao had been dealing with each other for eighty years and had laid a good foundation for interaction.
However, an extensive mission like Xiao Derang's was to deal with an emergency incident. At this time, the Song Dynasty state and county officials along the way had to be more careful, otherwise the consequences of delaying the important event would be disastrous.
Although the Liao State received the Song envoys on equal terms, due to the loss of money and land, the Song envoys who went to the Liao State felt a sense of humiliation and burden.
Han Zhongyan recalled Zhang Yue's repeated explanations before his mission. Zhang Yue told him that sometimes he should stay closer to his enemies than his friends, and he should understand the other party's thoughts through constant contact and observation.
Just like playing chess, you take one step and I take another, and you have to fight and pull. As long as the entanglement of interests and grudges becomes deeper, it will be harder for both parties to completely fall out.
Unless there is a disparity in strength between the two parties.
Therefore, Han Zhongyan's mission was to find out the Khitan's intentions.
The deputy envoy traveling to Liao was Tong Guan, who had repeatedly made military exploits on Xihe Road. This time when he returned to report his duties, he was transferred by the officials to accompany Han Zhongyan.
The envoys to the Liao dynasty all shouldered similar missions. Along the way, they observed the mountains, rivers, deserts, customs, and the temperament of its monarchs and ministers. After returning to the court, they reported each to the court. Generations of envoys to the Liao accumulated a large amount of information.
The manuscripts and records help the current monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty understand the powerful enemy of the Liao Kingdom.
After Han Zhongyan and Xiao Derang arrived in Xiongzhou, they passed through Baigou Station to Xincheng County, then to Zhuozhou, Liangxiang and arrived in Youzhou, which was also Nanjing in the Liao Kingdom, pseudo-named Yanjing City.
Yanjing was a lost territory during the Han and Tang dynasties, as had been recorded by numerous envoys. This time, the Liao Kingdom was heavily guarded against the envoys and did not allow them to enter the city.
Han Zhongyan took a look from a distance and saw that craftsmen were repairing the towers and walls of Yanjing. Could it be that the Liao Kingdom was also worried that the Song army would go north to regain Youyan, so they took precautions in advance.
However, as far as Han Zhongyan knew, the senior officials of the imperial court really had such a view.
…
After that, we went north from Youzhou, crossed the Gaoliang River, and the Great Wall Shunzhou, and finally arrived at Gubeikou, where nomadic peoples and agricultural peoples separate.
In the past, the Han and Tang Dynasties set up important towns here to prevent nomads from going south, and this place was also called Xiguan in ancient times. Now Han Zhongyan traveled such a long way to arrive here. He felt like he was waiting to sit in a well and look at the sky, and then he felt the vastness of the Han and Tang Dynasties.
Suddenly some of the descendants lamented that they were unable to keep up the good work.
Han Zhongyan looked at the two cliffs at Gubeikou. There was only a road in the middle that could accommodate a car, and there was a deep stream below the road.
A total of forty miles are filled with this dangerous path.
It is really sad that such natural dangers were lost to the hands of the barbarians. If there were such natural dangers on the Hebei Plain, there would be no need to think day and night to build a city with troops and fight decisively in Jinei.
After passing Gubeikou, you will see a complete grassland scenery. You will pass through many post houses along the way, and finally arrive at Dading Prefecture, Zhongjing of the Liao Dynasty.
After Han Zhongyan arrived, he looked around. The so-called Zhongjing City was indeed low and narrow, and there were not many people living in the city. Walls were built on both sides of the road, and the square gates restricted the people's access. There were fierce Khitan officials standing near the square gates.
He beat and drove away the common people with a royal stick.
Although there are few people, there are countless camels, carriages and caravans passing through the market place.
There were tall market buildings built on all sides of the market, and Khitan soldiers patrolled the market buildings with bows. At first glance, the market system was somewhat new to the Han people accompanying the delegation, but they didn't know it was the old system of the Han and Tang Dynasties.
…
However, this trip was not the end of Han Zhongyan's trip. Among the five capitals of the Liao Kingdom, Linhuang Mansion was the first capital of the Liao Kingdom, and it was later moved to Dading Mansion in the middle capital.
From here, they trekked all the way again, passing through Raozhou, where the Tang Dynasty established the Khitan. The group passed by Daheiguan, but were suddenly hit by a strong wind. After walking for several days, another dusty sandstorm descended, and the post road was covered with yellow sand.
The road is covered and the traces of the road can hardly be seen clearly.
Officials who are proficient in the Khitan language and people in the Liao Kingdom say that such windy and sandy weather lasts at least a hundred days a year in the Liao Kingdom.
Han Zhongyan thought about how he had sent Liao officials to record that the scenery along the Liao Kingdom was very beautiful. Even if there were windy and sandy days, it would only last a few days. How could it be so frequent?
Han Zhongyan didn't understand the reason, so he only reported it to Zhang Yue after returning to Beijing.
There was another interesting thing on the way. When we were about to arrive in Shangjing, we suddenly encountered a tiger lying on the mountain.
Han Zhongyan was surprised when he saw it. How come the tigers in Liao were so much bigger than those in Han.
After the tiger went away, there happened to be a painter beside Han Zhongyan who painted the tiger's expression on the spot. Everyone in the Liao Dynasty admired the painting skills of the Han people.
It took Han Zhongyan twenty days to reach Zhongjing, and another twenty days to reach Shangjing. Finally, he arrived in front of the Lord Liao's tent in Shangjing Shen Enbo.
This is the place where the Lord of the Liao Dynasty held his alms bowl in the summer. Lord Yelu Hongji of the Liao Dynasty had just cut ice in the Duck River to fish, released Haidongqing to kill birds, had a fish feast, and met the leaders of the Five Kingdoms of Jurchen before moving here.
.
The climate in Shangjing has been much better.
Han Zhongyan saw many tents and tents in the wilderness, and in the distance there were gravel and wild swamps. Many Liao people were shooting wild ducks and geese near the swamps.
At this time, hundreds of Khitan cavalry in wild costumes appeared nearby, appeared from behind the mountain and surrounded a nearby forest.
The Liao cavalry surrounded the forest in circles, then drove the prey out and shot them with arrows. Finally, the warriors dismounted and stepped forward to fight with spears. In addition to elk, there were also ferocious beasts such as bears and tigers.
However, the Khitan cavalry were skilled in bows and horses, and even when hunting, they were very well organized.
Han Zhongyan looked at Tong Guan aside and asked, "Can the elite soldiers on Xihe Road win?"
Tong Guan immediately said: "Of course!"
Then he touched a few short whiskers on his chin and said, "Maybe!"
The Khitan people first lived not in the grassland deserts, but in the Liaoze. This Liaoze had caused a lot of trouble for the armies of the Sui and Tang Dynasties that conquered Goguryeo. Now Emperor Nabo of the Liao Kingdom also likes to live near the swamps, living in pursuit of water and grass.
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Different from ordinary felt camps, there are countless flags and knotted objects standing tall here. You can tell at a glance that this is the Shanyu Court.
Han Zhongyan said that many carriages and horses arrived here along the way, including officials from the North and South Houses, as well as the heads of various vassal states or their subordinates.
Cars and horses came and went constantly, and in addition to various local tributes, there were also beautiful women, tigers, leopards, and dogs.
In the entire Shangjing Prefecture and Linhuang Prefecture, we did not see any cities like Yanjing and Zhongjing. They were all campsites, and it was indeed the Nabo land of the Lord of Liao.
After arriving here, the Song envoy settled on the spot, while the Liao envoy Xiao Derang went to see Yelu Hongji, the Lord of Liao, and Yelu Po, the privy envoy of the Beiyuan, who were stationed here.
Han Zhongyan was allowed to walk out of the tent, and in the distance was the royal court where the Lord of Liao was.
When Han Zhongyan returned to his tent, several Liao people dressed in purple entered carrying large pots filled with cooked mutton.
The Liao people took the meat from the tripod, cut it, and served it on a silver plate.
Han Zhongyan and Tong Guan both followed the local customs and cut meat with knives to eat. They ate half a catty of meat.
Soon the Liao people brought another pot of rice and a bowl of fruits and vegetables with honey, and the two of them drank wine. Han Zhongyan had something on his mind and was about to get up after only one cup. The Liao people on the side thought they were not treating the guests well and were anxious
He scratched his ears and head, and urged him to drink.
Han Zhongyan laughed when he saw this, and he felt that the Khitan people were honest and hospitable.
Soon Liao officials came in and told Han Zhongyan that the Lord of Liao would personally receive him tomorrow.
Han Zhongyan went to bed early that night.
While lying in the felt tent, he remembered Zhang Yue's instructions before his mission.
Before he was appointed as an envoy, Zhang Yue said to him: "The Liao Kingdom is already semi-nomadic and semi-agricultural, and with the annual tribute from the Song Dynasty and the foraging fields in the border areas, the Liao Kingdom is self-sufficient enough to maintain the stability of the dynasty.
There has been no war with the Song Dynasty for eighty years, maintaining relatively stable borders and peace. At the same time, although there is a cultural gap between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty, the difference is not big, and the two sides still have good communication. Therefore, the war between Song Dynasty and Liao Dynasty will either be slowed down or the war will be slowed down.
Fight, or fight in a hurry and fight!"
"As far as Song and Liao are concerned, there won't be such a war unless it's life and death."
"If the small war is an extension of politics, it means that the negotiations have reached a deadlock, and we have to use other methods to get it."
Zhang Yue took a sip of tea and continued: "Of course Song and Liao can't fight. I said it, but the whole court didn't believe it. Your Majesty doesn't believe it either!"
"I dare not say that I am 100% sure! You are going to test out the intentions of the Lord of Liao and the bottom line of the monarchs and ministers of Liao."
"How to test?" Han Zhongyan asked.
Zhang Yue wrote lightly: "To anger the Lord of Liao, he would even risk his own life!"
Han Zhongyan was stunned.
Zhang Yue asked: "Do you dare?"
Han Zhongyan said angrily: "Sanlang, don't use the method of provoking generals! Death can be lighter than a feather, or heavier than Mount Tai. If it is heavier than Mount Tai... it doesn't matter, but if my death caused a war between Song and Liao, wouldn't it be lighter than a feather?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "No, if you die, you will be a hero of the imperial court. Your Han family will also be respected by people all over the world."
"But you have nothing to be afraid of. Qiankun never falls into the trap of auspicious people, and even tigers and leopards can stand tall!"
"I'll teach you a tactic to ensure that you escape unscathed!"
"What's the word formula?" Han Zhongyan asked.
"Hun Zi Jue!"
Zhang Yue said: "When you go to Liao as an envoy, just argue with reason, but you must speak clearly, and don't be clever and take advantage of others; when you argue with others, don't just see your own reasons and say nothing; regardless of the Liao people,
No matter how deceitful, cunning, mean and arrogant come, you just respond to them with sincerity and foolishness!"
"I have never heard of anything unexpected happening to the honest people in the world, but it's the clever people who are playing tricks that make them self-defeating."
…
After resting for a night, Han Zhongyan paid a visit to Yelu Hongji, the Lord of the Liao Dynasty.
The royal court of Lord Yelu Hongji of the Liao Dynasty was nothing more than a yurt house with no steps, and felt carpets were spread on the floor. After entering, Han Zhongyan was led to the southwest corner, and under the leadership of the envoy, he presented his credentials to Lord Yelu Hongji of the Liao Dynasty.
Han Zhongyan looked at Yelu Hongji and saw that he was wearing a purple soap coat and a narrow purple robe. He was tall and had dozens of Han officials waiting on the left and right.
Yelu Hongji put the certificate of credence aside and looked at Han Zhongyan. Then Han Zhongyan toasted Yelu Hongji with a glass of wine as the envoy greeted him.
Then Han Zhongyan took his seat, and a moment later a man wearing a purple and black mink fur entered. All the Liao people in the tent, except Yelu Hongji, bowed to him.
Han Zhongyan knew that the other party was Yelu Po, the privy envoy of the Northern Court of the Liao Kingdom. He was one person less than ten thousand people in the Liao Kingdom.
Han Zhongyan had never met Yelupo, but he participated in the negotiations on the demarcation of the Song and Liao Dynasties that year. There were specialized painters in the Song Dynasty who secretly painted the portraits of important figures in the Liao Kingdom and kept them in secret.
After Yelupo took his seat, he said to Han Zhongyan: "There are not many southerners as tall as you."
Han Zhongyan said: "There are many of them in my hometown."
Yelupo asked curiously: "Where is your envoy from?"
Han Zhongyan was secretly angry after hearing this. As soon as the Liao envoys entered the territory of the Liao Kingdom, they had to write down their name and place of origin for the Lord of the Liao Kingdom to know.
Yelupo acted knowingly and clearly did not take Han Zhongyan seriously.
Han Zhongyan remembered Zhang Yue's words and restrained himself and said to the Lord of Liao: "Foreign ministers are from Xiangzhou."
Yelu Hongji nodded.
Yelupo smiled and said: "Xiangzhou! Well, I know this place."
All the ministers in the tent nodded in understanding.
During the Battle of Chanyuan, the Liao army had reached the foot of Xiangzhou City, so they were familiar with that place.
Kill the envoy of Song Dynasty before speaking!
Han Zhongyan pretended not to know.
Yelu Hongji handed the letter of credence to Yelu Po. After reading it, Yelu Po said: "The words in the letter of credence are nothing but hasty. I heard that the prime minister of your country, Zhang Duzhi, is a famous official in the world. I wonder how it compares to Lu Yijian?"
Han Zhongyan did not answer, but Yelvpo added: "Although Lu Yijian's bamboo slips are excellent, Qingli also sought peace with this dynasty."
Han Zhongyan said: "For the information of the king, Lu Wenjing is the grandfather of the foreign minister's wife. However, the foreign minister does not deny that Lu Wenjing is a talented prime minister, but his taste is not correct and he is not as good as Prime Minister Zhang."
Yelu Po said: "The difficult thing in ancient times was that those who were good at making plans were able to listen. It is not difficult to be good at making plans, but the difficulty lies in being able to listen. It is not difficult to be able to listen, but the difficulty is that you have no plans at all."
"Since Prime Minister Zhang is good at making plans and making decisions, why can't he listen to the words of my lord and a country to save the two families from ruin in the future?"
Han Zhongyan said seriously: "Dang Xiang Qiang has invaded the border area many times, and his crime cannot be pardoned. However, your country has repeatedly sent envoys to persuade them to make peace. We should wait until they surrender to fulfill your country's intention to persuade them to make peace."
"This matter is not decided by Prime Minister Zhang alone. It is a public decision between the government and the public!"
Yelvpo said: "When the Southern Dynasty returns to Liangzhou City, my Lord can persuade Dangxiang to surrender!"
Han Zhongyan said: "Your country wants me to return Liangzhou, but have you forgotten that in the past, your country was at odds with Dangxiang Qiang, and you also tried to take Tanglong Town, and you are returning it now?"
As soon as Han Zhongyan said this, all the Liao officials in the tent were furious.
Tanglong Town was originally the land of Dangxiang. Later, it was captured by the Liao Kingdom when Liao Xingzong attacked Dangxiang. After that, Dangxiang asked for it several times, but the Liao Kingdom took it and never thought of returning it to Dangxiang. They just pretended not to know.
No return.
You, the Liao Kingdom, said that the Song Dynasty had occupied Liangzhou City in Dangxiang. I also upheld justice for Dangxiang and said that you, the Liao Kingdom, had occupied Tanglong Town in Dangxiang.
If you don't pay it back yourself, why should you ask us to pay it back?
Even Yelu Hongji felt that the other party's words were rude and ordered Han Zhongyan to be kicked out of the tent.
After Han Zhongyan was pushed out of the tent by several attendants, a chamberlain came out of the tent and said: "The envoy of the Song Dynasty kneels down to accept the letter of credence!"
Han Zhongyan said: "The foreign minister is not a minister of the Liao Dynasty, so I won't kneel when I quote the story!"
Several chamberlains stepped forward and rebuked: "How dare you, Lord Song, not be afraid of death! How dare you be rude!"
Han Zhongyan resolutely refused and spat: "Fangou!"
Han Zhongyan's words "fangu" made all the servants outside the tent change their expressions, so they had no choice but to go back to the tent and report to Yelu Hongji.
In fact, although Yelu Hongji, the leader of the Liao Dynasty, was in the tent, he could hear the words "fangou" clearly. Han Zhongyan was not scolding the other party. He was simply scolding everyone inside and outside the tent, including Yelu Hongji.
Yelu Hongji stood up angrily and said: "The Song Dynasty is the country of my brothers. I am my minister. If you insult my right and left now, it is like insulting me!"
"Kill him!"
Yelu Po was shocked when he heard this, and he and Liang Ying, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, bowed before Yelu Hongji and said, "Your Majesty, you can't do that!"
"Why?"
Liang Ying said: "We will not cut off the envoys for the exchanges between the two countries! Please ask Your Majesty to recite the century-old alliance between Song and Liao!"
"If this envoy is killed, the two countries will definitely break off diplomatic relations and there will be no exchange of weapons. It is better to drive him back to the Song Dynasty and let the officials of the Southern Dynasty deal with it!"
Yelu Hongji was still angry, and the ministers on the left and right also knelt down and admonished him. Some even cried bitterly and remonstrated.
Yelupo said: "Your Majesty, if you kill the Song envoy, you will have fallen into Zhang Sanlang's scheme!"
"How do you say this?"
Yelu Po said: "The Song envoy is just a man. If His Majesty is so angry that he kills this person, the war between Song and Liao will be a foregone conclusion. I dare to ask who is most beneficial to the Song Dynasty?"
Liang Ying said: "Yes, the Southern Dynasty was originally afraid of the Liao Dynasty and did not want Hebei to suffer a military disaster. If you kill the Song envoy, the whole Hebei province must have the same hatred. This man is the son of Han Qi. Both father and son are from Hebei and have great prestige in the local area.
If you kill him, it will arouse the desire of the people of Hebei to fight to their death."
Yelu Hongji came over and said: "Yes, I killed this confused Song Dynasty envoy and carried out his wishes, which made him famous!"
Yelu Hongji knew that Zhang Yue was very good. He also had a copy of his handwriting. Over the years, he often looked at this calligraphy. Firstly, he loved calligraphy, and secondly, he wanted to see the other person's character from this calligraphy.
In recent years, the Song Dynasty had been completely devastated whether it was attacking Lanzhou or Liangzhou. Dang Xiang, who had always been brave and good at fighting, was actually beaten to the point where he was unable to fight back, which really shocked him secretly.
Hearing Yelu Hongji's words, both Yelu Po and Liang Ying were sweating profusely. They finally handed the steps over and rounded off the words.
Yelvpo took the opportunity and said: "Your Majesty, now in the Song Dynasty, there is a minister named Zhang San who is wise and virtuous. He has also organized troops and practiced martial arts. He has also established three new armies in the auxiliary area of the capital. His ambition is not small, and he may have a long-term plan. It should not be taken lightly!
"
"But Zhang San has the merit of taking Liangzhou. He not only has the power to shake the Lord, but also has the power to shake the Lord. He also has the power to shake the Lord. How can the phase last long?"
"It's better to answer him nicely and use this matter to raise troops to investigate. If the Southern Dynasty still dares to be arrogant, it won't be too late to send troops to attack."
Liang Ying said: "Your Majesty, Liangzhou is second best, but Yelu Yixin must be captured and returned to the country."
"If this person were allowed to take root in the Song Dynasty, he would be a real thorn in my side if he knew my truth and falsehood."
Yelu Hongji nodded.
Han Zhongyan, who thought he was going to die, stayed in the camp, but he was not punished by the Liao Kingdom.
However, within three days, the Liao Kingdom did not give him a meal, and his drinking water was mixed with mud.
Seeing this, Han Zhongyan knew that his life was not in danger. Although he was a little scared at the moment, he still felt happy when he thought of the words "Fan Gou" outside the Liao Lord's tent. He thought to himself that the Khitan would not allow me to take five hundred thousand years old coins every year.
I called him a bitch.
Three days later, Han Zhongyan returned south with his credentials, and the Liao State canceled all gifts to the Song envoys from Yan.
However, no one in the entourage was unhappy. Everyone thought their lives were in danger, but unexpectedly they escaped with their lives.
After Han Zhongyan returned to the Song Dynasty all the way south, he immediately wrote to Zhang Yue.
After Zhang Yue received Han Zhongyan's letter, he laughed and said: "This boy is really lucky!"
Zhang Yue looked at the book and said to himself, Er Khitan will have to think carefully about his dealings with me, the Song Dynasty, from now on.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue picked up the pen and ink on the desk and drafted the written form himself.
Zhang Yue seldom writes. He usually does the work for him, but this time it is different.
But when I saw the familiar situation, I wrote a line.