In order to fool Xiang Kang into opening the damned border ban and expressing his so-called sincerity in peace talks, Mao Dun specially arranged for Huyan Zhiyashi, a Xiongnu expulsor, to serve as an envoy to the Han court, and went directly south to Yanmen County from Guyan Mountain to contact the Han army, and asked to go to Guanzhong to negotiate with Xiang Kang face-to-face.

Li Zuoche, who first came into contact with Huyan Zhi Tooth Master, was already a Xiongnu Tong, knowing that Hu Yan Zhi Tooth Master's official position was equivalent to the Xiongnu Auxiliary Minister, and the actual power and influence on Mao Dun were even above the six horned kings of the Xiongnu, and at the same time, Huyan was one of the three noble surnames of the Xiongnu, and his background was quite noble, so Li Zuoche did not dare to slack off, in addition to receiving Huyan Zhi Tooth Master with grand courtesy, he also sent someone to urgently declare the customs at the first time to ask for Xiang Kang's opinion.

It's a pity that Li Zuoche's kindness was all fed to the donkey's liver and lungs, and when he lived temporarily in Shanwu City, Huyan Zhiya, who was obviously also a spy, in addition to constantly wandering around the city and probing the military intelligence of the Han army, also tried to enter the blacksmith workshop of the Han army twice and stole the smelting and forging iron technology of the Han people, so that Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Guan and other Han generals were furious, and repeatedly asked Li Zuoche to put Huyan Zhiya under house arrest.

For the sake of the future strategic plan, Li Zuoche gritted his teeth and withstood the pressure of the Xiang brothers, insisted on treating Huyanzhi as polite as he had been, and then Li Zuoche expected, after a period of time, Xiang Kang sent an edict from Guanzhong, in addition to agreeing to meet Huyanzhi Toothmaster, he also asked Li Zuoche to send someone to escort Huyanzhi Dental Master to Guanzhong, and treat Huyanzhi Dental Master as politely as possible on the road, Li Zuoche also acted according to Xiang Kang's requirements, A team of soldiers was arranged to escort Huyan Zhiya to take a gorgeous float to the gallop of Yunzhong County and go directly south to Guanzhong.

Li Zuoche's forbearance and warm hospitality of course made Huyan Zhi Tooth Master extremely proud, and let Hu Yan Zhi Tooth Master be proud, on the way from Yunzhong to Guanzhong, the Han officials along the way in accordance with Xiang Kang's order, all in accordance with the etiquette of receiving the Marquis, let Hu Yan Zhi Tooth Master and his entourage eat the best wine and food, live in the best post house, arrange beautiful maids to serve Hu Yan Zhi Tooth Master's living, shh the cold and ask for warmth, I am afraid that I will not take care of it, Hu Yan Zhi Tooth Master is more and more proud, but also inevitably full of confidence in this mission, I felt that this time I would definitely be able to persuade Xiang Kang to open the border ban, so that the Xiongnu could regain all kinds of daily necessities in the Central Plains and complete the strategic plan of the Xianyue clan and then the Central Plains.

When his convoy arrived outside Chang'an, the new capital of the Han Dynasty, there was also a high-ranking official of the Han Dynasty who led many Han court civil and military officers out of the city to welcome his arrival, and when Huyan Zhiya asked curiously about the identity of the senior official of the Han Dynasty, the senior official of the Han Dynasty replied with a smile through the translator: "In the next week, Zeng, the left prime minister of the Han Empire." ”

When Hu Yan Zhi was on the way south, he already had a certain understanding of the situation in the Han Court, and knew that Zhou Zeng was not only the head of the hundred officials of the Han Court, but also the elder of Xiang Kang. ”

"You don't have to be polite." Zhou Zeng smiled and said through the translator: "Don't hide it from your envoy, in fact, our majesty wants to go out of the city to greet you in person, but he is a little unwell today, and he is afraid that he will lose his courtesy in front of your envoy, so he asked me, the prime minister, to do it for me." Otherwise, the honor guard to welcome your envoy today will definitely be more grand. ”

"Your emperor of Han still plans to go out of the city to greet me in person?"

Master Huyan Zhiya was so surprised that he couldn't believe it, Zhou Zeng nodded with a smile and admitted that there was indeed such a thing, and greeted him very politely: "Your envoy, it's windy here, let's go into the city and talk, the banquet of the Taijiao to entertain the envoy has already been prepared." ”

After the Huyan Zhi tooth master nodded very proudly, Zhou Zeng personally sent the Hu Yan Zhi tooth master into the carriage, and then let the Huyan Zhi tooth master take the float to the front, and he rode in the second, the respect for the Hu Yan Zhi tooth master made the people of Chang'an amazed, and also made many Han court civil and military officers very dissatisfied, I don't understand why Xiang Kang and Zhou Zeng brought an enemy envoy from the land of barbarians so much.

Zhou Zeng did use the Taigao Banquet to entertain the princes to receive Huyan Zhi Tooth Master, not only that, Zhou Zeng also let Hu Yan Zhi Dental Master live in the highest-level post house that Wu Rui and Xiang Kang several princes and kings were qualified to settle in, and arranged a luxurious room for each of Hu Yan Zhi Tooth Master's entourage, equipped with special personnel to serve, and the room where Hu Yan Zhi Dental Master lived was even more splendid, and the blue paste was bright, which opened the eyes of Hu Yan Zhi Dental Master from the bitter cold land, and there were also ten beautiful maids who served Hu Yan Zhi Dental Master alone.

Fortunately for Mao Dun, although he was dazzled by the luxury of the residence, Hu Yan Zhi still did not forget his task, and took the initiative to ask when he could meet Xiang Kang during the banquet, Zhou Zeng replied very happily: "Of course it is tomorrow, since you are the envoy sent by the Right Xian King, of course, our Majesty will personally receive you tomorrow." Last time we had a great Han alliance Yue Clan's matter, our Majesty would have personally thanked your envoy, if it weren't for the help of King Youxian, our ally Yue Clan would be finished. ”

The translator quickly translated Zhou Zeng's words, and Master Huyan Zhiya was of course confused when he heard it, and hurriedly said, "Prime Minister, what do you mean by this?" Why can't the envoy understand? The little envoy is not a messenger sent by King Youxian, the little envoy is a messenger sent by Mao Dunshan Yu himself. ”

The translator quickly translated the words of Master Huyan Zhiya, and Zhou Zeng's expression was also obvious, and then he hurriedly said: "Your envoy, please say a little more, who are you the messenger sent?" ”

"The little envoy is the envoy sent by Mao Dunshan." Huyan Zhiya replied, "It wasn't sent by King Youxian. ”

Zhou Zeng's face quickly became gloomy, and then he quickly turned his head and roared at Lou Jing, a pawn of the Han Dynasty who was accompanying him: "Lou Jing, what are you doing in the pawn official temple?" How could it be that I got it wrong? Don't even know who sent this messenger? ”

Lou Jingcheng was terrified, hurriedly left the table and bowed, and said: "The prime minister forgives the sin, and the lower official doesn't know that the link was wrong, and the report received by the lower official does say that this messenger was sent by the Right Xian King, please rest assured, the lower official will definitely find out who made the big mistake and give you an explanation as soon as possible!" ”

"You'd better give this official an explanation as soon as possible, otherwise this official will give you an explanation to His Majesty!" Zhou Zeng shot the case and roared, "The old face of this official has been lost by your Diankeguan Temple today!" ”

Lou Jing hurriedly pleaded guilty, but Zhou Zeng was still angry, got up and kicked over the Taigao Banquet in front of him, and then shouted: "Remove all these things!" Treat as you want, treat as you want, and then dare to waste the money and food of the court, be careful of your heads! ”

After that, Zhou Zeng walked out angrily, and the attendants next to him also hurriedly came up and took away the Taigao banquet in front of Master Huyan Zhi, and during this period, the conscientious Han Ting translator also translated the answer between Zhou Zeng and Lou Jing to Master Huyan Zhi to understand, and Master Huyan Zhi was naturally angry and strange when he heard it, and hurriedly said to Lou Jing: "Lou Dianke, what do you mean by this?" Why are you treating me like this? ”

Lou Jing's face was gloomy, and he replied through the translator for a while: "I'm sorry, you Xiongnu are the enemy country of our Han Dynasty, and we can only receive you according to the etiquette of receiving the envoys of the enemy country." ”

"Then why do you want to receive the envoy of the Right Virtuous King?" Hu Yanzhi asked angrily.

Lou Jing refused to answer, but shouted the order, and asked the attendant to change a few plates of simple meals for Master Huyan Zhiya, and the aged wine in the cellar was also removed, replaced by turbid and thin wine, and then Lou Jing said again: "Lord Huyan, I'm sorry, you have to change the place where you live, and you will take your entourage and go to the place we have rearranged for you to live." ”

Lou Jing changed the new residence of Huyan Zhiya and his party, of course, it can no longer be compared with the previous luxurious rooms - it is a few ordinary houses without any furnishings, black and low, each room is only willing to light an oil lamp with a pungent smell, and the covers are all ordinary linen, at the same time, Lou Jing also transferred the army, surrounded the residence of Huyan Zhizhi and his party, and did not allow any of them to go out without authorization.

When things came to this point, of course, Master Huyan Zhi was suspicious, and carefully recalled what Zhou had accidentally said in front of him, and Master Hu Yan Zhi quickly realized that he secretly said: "No wonder our western expedition to the Yue Clan was unsuccessful the year before last, so that the Yue Clan received the news in advance and ran away, and it took a long time, it turned out that King Youxian became a traitor." I must report this matter to Shan Yu. ”

Then, after living in an ordinary house for three days, Xiang Kang took the time to meet with Huyan Zhi in the afternoon, but the atmosphere of the meeting was extremely unpleasant, Hu Yan Zhi just explained his intentions, Xiang Kang immediately categorically rejected all the requirements of Hu Yan Zhi Tooth, insisted on letting the Xiongnu take out the war horse to exchange cloth, grain and salt with the Han Ting, and also explained early on that he would not sell iron to the Xiongnu no matter what, Huyan Zhi Tooth Master argued with reason, and Xiang Kang did not listen at all.

In the end, seeing that Xiang Kang would not give an inch, Huyan Zhiya Master could only be sideways, and sneered and threatened: "Your Majesty, Emperor of the Han State, I think you also know very well that if you insist on refusing to give in, you must be the enemy of our Xiongnu Khanate, what kind of fate will it be." ”

"Accompany you to the end! I'm afraid you don't have the guts! Xiang Kang replied with a sneer: "Go back and tell your Shan Yu Maodun, just say that if he wants to fight, he can take his 300,000 string control men to the south at any time, and I will personally lead the army north and fight him to the death!" ”

After that, Xiang Kang yawned and said, "Okay, I'm tired, you can go back to your life, and I won't see you again in the future." ”

Seeing Xiang Kang's resolute attitude, and he also said that he wanted to fight to the death with the Xiongnu who were at the peak of his national strength, Huyan Zhiya had no choice but to turn around angrily and leave, and left Chang'an on the same day to return to the grassland, although Han Ting once again sent troops to escort Huyan Zhiya and his party to the north, but the hospitality on the road was very different from when Huyan Zhiya and others came, and Huyan Zhiya was of course more and more resentful.

Then, after returning to Shan Yuting smoothly, just saw Mao Dun, Hu Yan Zhi Yashi immediately added fuel and vinegar to report his envoy to Mao Dun, Mao Dun was also furious when he heard it, and at the same time he was very vigilant about the Xiongnu Right Xian King suspected of secretly communicating with the Han Court, after careful calculation, Mao Dun in addition to ordering the Xiongnu Zuo Xian King to step up the harassment and invasion of the Han Ting border, and casually found an excuse to let the Xiongnu Right Xian King go to Shan Yuting to meet with him.

After a period of time, the right Xian Wang who did not know obediently came to Shan Yuting to meet Mao Dun, but Mao Dun was still suspicious, during the meeting with the Right Xian Wang, he suddenly asked about the secret contact between the Right Xian King and the Han Ting, and the result was of course the Xiongnu Right Xian King was surprised, flatly denied, and was furious after learning what happened, while gambling and swearing that he was loyal to Mao Dun, while taking the initiative to ask the main force of the headquarters to go south from the Hetao and directly attack the Guanzhong area in the heart of the Han Dynasty, In order to prove that he did not have any personal dealings with Hanting.

The most disgusting thing about the discord plan is that once you have suspicion, it is difficult to eliminate, even the eloquent Mao Dun is no exception, so no matter how the Right Xian King swears by the honor of the ancestral gods, Mao Dun is still only suspicious, and he does not dare to completely rest assured that the Right Xian King who has a heavy army. However, for the sake of the safety of the main Xiongnu forces in the western region, Mao Dun still shook his head and refused the request of the Right Xian King to go south directly from Hetao to enter the pass, and said: "You don't take risks, the Central Plains people are deployed in the pass to protect it, once you go south to attack, the Central Plains people will definitely gather the whole country's army to reinforce Guanzhong, you enter the pass alone, not only does there be no hope of victory, on the contrary, there is also the danger of being defeated by the Central Plains people." ”

"But the Central Plains people are too bullying!" King Youxian shouted: "If we cut off our grain, salt and iron tools, we don't count, and now we are deliberately designing to frame our subordinates, if we don't give the Central Plains people a little color to see, the Central Plains people will definitely bully us even more!" ”

"Great Khan, gather the main force to find the Central Plains people for a decisive battle." A Xiongnu nobleman said: "It's almost autumn, and we should also go south to herd horses, take this opportunity to simply gather all our troops and go directly to the Central Plains this winter to find revenge from the Central Plains!" ”

"Great Khan, His Majesty also feels that he should teach the people of the Central Plains a lesson." Another Xiongnu nobleman said: "In the past, when we went south to herd horses, it was because there was no way to attack the city, so we never gained much. But now it's different, after Zang Di brought the Central Plains people to join us, he has taught us how to make siege weapons and how to attack the city, as long as we go south, we just need to lay down a few cities of the Central Plains people, and the grain and salt we grab are enough for us to use for a year, and next year we don't have to worry that the Central Plains people will not sell salt and grain to us. ”

The Xiongnu nobles present echoed one after another, all of them believed that they should go south in the winter of this year, take revenge on the shameless blockade of the Han court by force, and loot materials to survive the winter, but even his wife was willing to give it away, but Mao Dun was very good at forbearance, and after thinking about it again, he shook his head and said: "Don't worry, when it is almost autumn, we can gather troops to wait for our orders, but whether to fight the Yueshi Kingdom in the west first, or go directly south to the Central Plains, Ben Khan still has to think carefully." ”