In the Mid-Autumn Festival of the eighth year of Yuan You, Duan Yu and Xuzhu kept their promise and went to the Khitan to visit Xiao Feng. At that time, Xiao Feng was crowned the king of the Southern Courtyard because Yelu Hongji solved Yelu Chongyuan's rebellion, and he was in a high position. After more than half a year, the three brothers met in the palace, and they were all overjoyed.

Halfway through the banquet, the three brothers recounted their farewells. In the first month, Xuzhu accompanied Duan Yu to Xixia to choose a concubine, but unexpectedly, the princess Li Qinglu of Xixia was "Menggu". In this way, Duan Yu does not have to marry another person against his will, and Xuzhu holds the beauty as he wishes, which can be described as a great joy. Xuzhu and Li Qinglu have a very good relationship, even though they have been married for a few months, when he mentions his wife, he still has a little festive peach blossom red on his face.

When Xiao Feng heard that his second brother had married, he couldn't help laughing and clenching his fists to congratulate. "The flowers and candles in the cave room, the joy of life, how can you not be satisfied with drinking?" With that, he picked up the big bowl in front of him.

Xuzhu was honest and couldn't bear Xiao Feng's jokes, and after a bowl of soup with Xiao Feng with a red cloth on his face, he hurriedly turned his mouth and asked, "I don't know when the little brother can drink the wedding wine of the eldest brother and Miss Azhu?" ”

As soon as Xuzhu's voice fell, Xiao Feng's face was quite uncomfortable. After a while, he sighed gloomily: "The foolish brother is now in the officialdom, and he can't help himself. ”

It turned out that Xiao Feng's father, Xiao Yuanshan, really had a great background in Daliao, and he was the cousin of Xiao Guanyin, the queen of the Liao lord Yelu Hongji. After Xiao Feng and the others returned to the Khitan, Xiao Feng originally intended to be a simple herdsman in the Khitan, but Xiao Yuanshan vowed to avenge the murder of his wife, so he tried to go to Beijing to ask to see Xiao Guanyin. After thirty years, Xiao Guanyin still has an impression of this little uncle. Just because in her memory, when she was a child, her father and uncles each had three wives and four concubines, but this little cousin had only one wife, and the husband and wife had a deep love for plaice, which was very enviable. It was only because the etiquette and religion of the Great Liao were not as strict as the Great Song Dynasty, so Xiao Guanyin summoned Xiao Yuanshan and Xiao Feng in the palace soon after receiving the news. As soon as the Xiao father and son entered the palace, they coincidentally caught up with the emperor's uncle Yelu Chongyuan to rebel, and sent the guards around him to arrest the queen and blackmail the Liao lord.

And then, there was no then!

After quelling the rebellion, Yelu Hongji, the lord of Liao, was very grateful to his wife and brother Xiao Feng, who had made great contributions, and not only became a brother with him, but also introduced him to various forces of the Liao State without reservation, also known as him to guard Nanjing, that is, Beijing in later generations. Xiao Feng returned to the Khitan for only a few months, and he was entangled in adventures and mundane affairs, and naturally he didn't care about marrying Azhu for a while.

This truth, but Duan Yu understood it better, and immediately explained: "Big brother, now that you are a new official, you naturally have to work hard in everything, and if you don't suffer from this in the future, you will be free." ”

Xiao Feng was a little disappreciative when he heard this, and only shook his head and sighed: "I am willing to borrow the third brother's auspicious words." Although Xiao Feng has never been an official, he once had a friend who has been an official for many years. At that time, I saw him working hard every day, how could he ever be free? What's more, the Liao lord was bent on leading his troops south to make an immortal achievement. Although Xiao Feng was unwilling to comply, he had to deal with it a little bit for the sake of righteousness. It's just that it's inconvenient for him to say this to the two sworn brothers.

The three of them were silent and drank for two more rounds, and Xiao Feng asked again, "I don't know if the third brother can find Ling Zun?" ”

Speaking of Duan Zhengchun, Duan Yu's brows tightened, and he only shook his head and sighed: "I don't know where my father went, and I still don't know his whereabouts." My uncle has written to the Song Dynasty to help him search, but after a few months, there has been no response. ”

Xiao Feng saw that Duan Yu was worried, and his heart couldn't help but move, and he hurriedly asked, "I don't know which member of the Great Song Dynasty is in charge of this matter?" ”

"It's Zuo Xiangfan pure." Speaking of this, Duan Yu's face faintly showed a bit of inadequacy. "I heard that the Six Doors were the most well-informed in the Great Song Dynasty, but the Six Doors were only called by the emperor. We are the ministers of foreign vassals, but it is not easy to make friends in private. ”

"You should go to find the right prime minister." Xiao Feng pointed casually.

Duan Yu hurriedly said when he heard this: "Big brother, why do you say this? ”

Xiao Feng sighed and said slowly: "Third brother, you don't know anything. Now the Great Song Dynasty is in power with the Shu Party in power, and this right-hand minister Xiao Su is the Shu Party. "The lord of Liao has the heart to go south, and he is naturally very concerned about the affairs of the Great Song court, and he has also talked to Xiao Feng a few times. In today's Great Song Dynasty, although Fan Chun is the left minister, he may not be able to speak as well as the right minister Su Zhe.

Duan Yu is obsessed with poetry and books, so he naturally knows Su Zhe's name. He just didn't expect that the husband that Miss Wang was going to marry was so close to the power center of the Great Song Dynasty, and he couldn't help but mutter: "It turns out that Xiao Su is the leader of the Shu Party......"

"The leader of the Shu Party is Su Zizhan, a scholar of the Great Su, but now the one who can really say nothing in the Shu Party is Murong Fu in the four products." Xiao Feng saw that Duan Yu didn't know anything about the affairs of the Great Song Dynasty, so he couldn't help but mention two more sentences, especially the second half of the sentence was news that even Yelu Hongji had not discovered. "If the third brother wants to find a powerful man to help, it is better to find this Lord Murong. Moreover, this person's personal relationship with Zhuge Zheng, the Great Commander of the Six Gates, is also good. Speaking of this, Xiao Feng couldn't help but sigh again. He once thought that if he left the Great Song Dynasty, he would never remember someone again, but by chance, he became the king of the Southern Courtyard of the Great Liao, and learned to ask the people about politics. Lord Liao was bent on waving his army south, and a certain name would drill into his ears from time to time, affecting his heart.

Su Zhe is the right minister, and Duan Yu is inconvenient to get acquainted. But in the four products, it is obviously different. Duan Yu was overjoyed when Xiao Feng reminded him, and hurriedly got up and said, "Thank you, big brother!" ”

Xuzhu was still in charge of the Vulture Palace for several months, but at this time, he also understood a lot of human feelings. Hearing Xiao Feng mention Murong Fu, he immediately interjected: "Third brother, if you want to go to find Murong Fu, if you bring a few medical books, you may be able to speak." ”

"What does that mean?" Duan Yu also knows that officialdom makes friends, asks people to do things, and gives gifts to people is the proper meaning of the question, but it is a little unbelievable that Murong Fu does not love gold and silver and loves medical books.

This time, even Xiao Feng pricked up his ears.

Xuzhu sighed faintly, and replied with a strange face: "A few months ago, I learned about the whereabouts of that Lord Murong and went to see him. Sure enough, as the eldest brother expected, he was not interested in the position of the head of the Xiaoyao faction at all, but he was just going to leave the medical book of the Xiaoyao faction and the Vulture Palace, which was regarded as a thank you gift for him to kill Ding Chunqiu. "Xuzhu is a person in the rivers and lakes, and the most important thing is martial arts. The martial arts of the Xiaoyao faction were exceptional, Murong Fu was not interested, and Xuzhu naturally couldn't figure it out.

Duan Yu and Murong Fusu didn't know each other, and they only nodded slightly after listening to Xuzhu's advice.

But Xiao Feng's expression couldn't help but change greatly, and he hurriedly asked, "Second brother, did you notice anything wrong when you saw this Lord Murong?" ”

Seeing Xiao Feng so nervous, Xu Zhu couldn't help but glance at him in surprise, and said honestly: "When the junior brother saw Lord Murong, his condition was indeed not good, as if he was sick. ”

"But your lips are purple, your breath is short, and your voice is low and weak?" Xiao Feng asked questions repeatedly.

"Exactly." Xuzhu's face is even more strange, only said. "How did Big Brother know?"

I saw Xiao Feng stunned for a long time, suddenly sighed, and said in a low voice: "He has a heart disease...... I want to ask for a medical book from the Xiaoyao faction, but I'm afraid it's getting stricter......"

Unexpectedly, Xuzhu actually said: "Big brother, but what this Lord Murong asks for is mostly the Poison Sutra and the Medical Sutra!" ”

Before Xiao Feng could figure out Murong Fu's true intention of asking Xuzhu for the Poison Sutra and the Medical Sutra, Yelu Hongji sent another message to him to rush back to Shangjing to meet him. At that time, Shi Yu and Xu Zhu had been in the palace for a few days, and seeing that Xiao Feng was about to go to Beijing on official business, the two tacitly said goodbye and left together.

Because it was official business, Xiao Feng settled his father Xiao Yuanshan and Azhu Azi in the palace together, and he himself took the privy envoy of the Southern Yuan, Yelu Moge, all the way to the horse, but he arrived in Beijing in a few days.

Yelu Hongji was also very happy to see that this righteous brother had come quickly, and immediately took his hand and pointed to the gold and silver silk piled up under his steps, and said proudly: "Brother came just in time! This is the New Year's coin just sent by the Song people, you can take whatever you like! ”

"Thank you!" Yelu Hongji was so gracious, Xiao Feng hurriedly knelt down to thank him, but there were some mixed tastes in his heart. He still remembered that when he was in Song Tu, the brothers of the beggar gang were angry every time they mentioned this alliance of the Yuanyuan, and they didn't want him to share this year's coins today. "Xiao Feng went to Nanjing to perform his duties before, and His Majesty has given him a lot of gold and silver. Xiao Feng really has nothing missing, so he doesn't have to choose. ”

Xiao Feng was so knowledgeable, Yelu Hongji was even happier in his heart, and couldn't help laughing: "Brother, how many good things have you just seen?" In the coming day, we will lead the troops south, the flowers and rivers of the Central Plains are all at our feet, and the endless days are still to come! ”

Xiao Feng was shocked when he heard this, and hurriedly persuaded: "Your Majesty, since the alliance of the Yuanyuan, we and the Great Song Dynasty have been brothers and sisters, so wouldn't it be good for the two families to be safe?" Why bother to raise troops and wars again, and cause misery to the human soul? ”

Yelu Hongji is dedicated to building miracles for all generations, where can he listen to Xiao Feng's advice? Immediately, his face sank, and he only said lukewarmly: "The envoy returned a month ago and said to me, the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty was extremely blue-eyed to his brothers, and he even wrote a four-character plaque of 'Loyalty and Righteousness' to praise your character. Brother, but he is still in Daliao and his heart is in Song? ”

It turned out that this year, Yelu Hongji sent an envoy to Xiongzhou to deliver the New Year's coins with the Great Song Dynasty as usual, and the Great Song Dynasty envoy at the banquet hastily congratulated the Liao lord on quelling the civil strife, and then couldn't wait to turn to the topic and talked about Xiao Feng, the new king of the Southern Courtyard of the Great Liao. The envoy of the Great Song Dynasty knew Xiao Feng's origin very well, and counted his exploits at the banquet and praised his loyalty and bravery. Finally: Now that the King of Chu has returned to Da Liao, he will be able to loyally assist the Lord of Liao and achieve great things with his character!

This evaluation was originally beautiful, but according to the envoy of the enemy country, it was obviously a murder without blood. After the Liao envoy returned, he reported to Yelu Hongji in 1510, and then Yelu Hongji ordered Xiao Feng to rush back to Beijing to meet him.

Yelu Hongji asked this question, Xiao Feng hurriedly knelt on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "Xiao has returned to Da Liao, from now on, he will only be loyal to Da Liao and loyal to His Majesty, please see your Majesty!" ”

Xiao Feng's privy envoy Yelu Moge also knelt on the ground and defended Xiao Feng. "His Majesty and the King of Chu have a sense of righteousness, and their wealth depends on their Majesty. Don't believe slander! ”

Yelu Hongji's expression was a little gloomy at this time, and he only sighed: "It is the hope of the ancestors to raise troops to march south, and since I am the Son of Heaven, I cannot live up to the ancestors and ancestors!" The Empress Dowager of the Great Song Dynasty is now hanging the curtain, and the government is cultivating and there is no gap to take advantage of, just waiting for the future ......"

Xiao Feng heard Yelu Hongji's words meaningful, and his heart was stunned. He knew that he couldn't persuade Yelu Hongji and was entangled in official duties, so he only hoped day and night to make this king of the southern courtyard his for a year and a half, and he hung up his crown and begged for the righteousness of his brotherhood with Yelu Hongji.

But it was Yelu Hongji who thought about the future for a while, and then restrained his mind and talked about the present. "Now that the New Year's coins of the Great Song Dynasty have arrived, the tributes of the various tribes under our Great Liao rule should also be paid. Brother, it's up to you to do this! ”

It was a fat mess to go to various tribes to receive tribute on the orders of the emperor, and Yelu Hongji sent Xiao Feng to do it, obviously to give him benefits and win his heart. It's a pity that Xiao Feng doesn't know anything about this kind of officialdom and has no interest in asking for bribes.

Fortunately, Yelu Hongji also knew that his righteous brother was really reckless and uninformed, and he didn't think it was angry when he saw that he only honestly received the order and had no other gratitude, but only smiled and said: "Those familiar fans are tamed, and they want to flatter their brothers." But those who are uneducated and wild are untamed, and if they are disobedient at that time, the brothers will teach them a lesson! Seeing that Xiao Feng was still ignorant, Yelu Hongji turned his head and instructed Yelu Moge: "Brother Mo, you are old-fashioned, but you must faithfully assist the King of Chu!" ”

"Wechen will do his best!" Yelu Mogo hurriedly knelt down in response.

Xiao Feng received the emperor's order, but he did not dare to delay, and on the second day, he ordered his troops and horses to lead Yelu Hongji's cronies in the guard room and Yelu Moge, the privy envoy of the Southern Court, all the way north. The Great Liao has been established for more than 100 years, and there are dozens of tribes under its jurisdiction, but the annual tribute is already familiar. In the past, whenever the angels of Daliao arrived, the patriarchs of each tribe needed to prepare not only cattle, sheep, gold and silver, but also wine and meat beauties to entertain the angels. If the hospitality is good, the angel will set off after ten days and half a month; If the place of hospitality is not good, it is not uncommon for the angels to stay for a month or two and double the number of tributes.

Who knows that Xiao Feng, the angel who came back, has a noble identity and acts simply, neither beauties nor bribes. The original rule was to pay as much tribute as you wanted, and not to take anything else. Only at this banquet of washing dust and practice, he is willing to drink two more bowls of wine and make friends with the warriors of various tribes. Xiao Feng was so honest and bold, and the leaders of the various tribes were full of praise for him. Although he did not receive much benefit from this trip, he did win a lot of people's hearts. Even Yelu Hongji, who was far away in Shangjing, was also smiling when he saw that the tributes from various ministries were sent without a little discount.

Xiao Feng acted resolutely, but most of the month was approaching the Shengfan tribe outside Changbai Mountain-Wanyan Division.

At that time, the patriarch of the Wanyan tribe and Libu were entertaining three merchants from the Central Plains with his eldest son Wu Yashu, his second son Aguta, and Xu Zhuocheng.

In the tent, I saw He Libu casually picking up the wine bowl and smiling at a few guests: "Your guest's weapon is very powerful, thank you for saving the child's life." "It turned out that his second son Wanyan Agu went out hunting today and encountered a black bear, if it weren't for these three merchants and their retinue to help, I am afraid that he would have died in the belly of the bear. Wanyan Aguda is shrewd and capable, and he is very loved by his father, and his clan loves him very much. These three businessmen were the life-saving benefactors of Wanyan Aguta, and Wanyan naturally wanted to entertain them with courtesy.

Unexpectedly, the patriarch and Libu's voice fell, and a thin-looking middle-aged man among the three distinguished guests had already said apologetically: "Patriarch Rongyu, my son-in-law has been weak since he was a child and is not good at drinking, and this bowl is allowed to be drunk by villains!" So saying, he took the bowl and poured the liquor down.

Although the young man led by Heli Bujian was handsome, his face was pale and weak, and he also knew that his health was not good. At this time, when he saw that the entourage around him was drinking on his behalf, he was not angry, but said with a concerned face: "The bitter cold outside the gate, the body of the son's daughter, how did you come here?" As soon as He Libu's voice fell, Xu Zhuocheng, the interpreter, translated the words into Chinese and listened to the three of them.

Unexpectedly, the young man smiled slightly when he heard this, immediately got up and saluted, and replied word by word in Jurchen words: "Don't dare to hide from the patriarch, the junior Su Mingshi, came to Changbai Mountain to do that ginseng business." ”