Qin Ming came back from the little princess, and after arriving at the Ministry of Rites, he went directly to the host and guest division.

He didn't know that several adults in the Ministry of Rites began to discuss countermeasures again, and were waiting to clean him up.

When they arrived at the host and guest division, Qin Ming summoned Cheng Yuan Wailang and Director Zhang, and after asking about the preparations for receiving the envoys, he asked them to leave.

Then Qin Ming began to continue to understand some things about the previous host and guest division.

At the end of the day, I have dealt with a lot of things.

Early the next morning, when Qin Ming came to the host and guest division, Cheng Yuanwailang waited respectfully.

Qin Ming said that he would report on his preparations today, and he really didn't dare to slack off after being beaten.

After Qin Ming sat down, he asked, "Cheng Yuanwailang, how are you preparing for the reception?" ”

"Back to my lordship, the reception of envoys, mainly the reception of etiquette and food. Xiaguan has already prepared singing and dancing instruments and various ingredients for entertainment, and has also communicated with the affairs of the Sifang Pavilion, and will receive the ...... at the Sifang Pavilion when the time comes."

Cheng Yuanwailang reported everything to him, and after Qin Ming heard it, he nodded and said:

"It's good, let's go, take the official to have a look."

Cheng Yuanwailang hurriedly led the way and took Qin Ming directly to the Sifang Pavilion.

The level of the Sifang Pavilion is not as good as Qin Ming's, but it is from the sixth grade, so when he saw Qin Ming coming, he immediately came out to greet him.

This Sifang Pavilion is a place specially set up by the imperial court to receive ethnic minorities and envoys from various countries.

At this moment, the place has been set up and ready to welcome the envoys.

Qin Ming looked at the greeting hall, it was not bad, so he went to see the preparation of ingredients in the back kitchen, and it was okay.

couldn't help but look at Cheng Yuanwailang and said, "Cheng Yuanwailang is doing a good job, and the preparation is still very proper." ”

Cheng Yuanwailang smiled bitterly and bowed, not to mention how uncomfortable it was.

Qin Ming gave him a hundred taels of silver, and Cheng Yuanwailang also pasted dozens of taels upside down, otherwise how could these arrangements be so good?

After Qin Ming saw the preparations for the reception, he asked Cheng Yuanwailang: "When will the envoy be able to bring the imperial capital?" ”

"I got the news, it's probably going to be tomorrow morning. At that time, the envoy will first go to meet the emperor, and then our host and guest department will arrange the reception. Cheng Yuanwailang said.

Qin Ming nodded and stopped talking.

Back at the Ministry of Rites, Qin Ming went to meet Lord Zhou and the two squires of the Ministry of Rites.

Originally, he wanted to talk to them about receiving the envoys, but the three adults all smiled and asked Qin Ming to decide everything by himself without having to ask their opinions.

Qin Ming frowned when he came back, it was normal for the adults and the two waiters not to see him this week.

But just now, the three of them had a very good attitude, and they all treated Qin Ming with a smile, which made Qin Ming very uncomfortable.

When things go wrong, there must be demons.

Qin Ming sneered after going back, these three old turtle grandsons may not be holding back some bad thoughts.

And when Qin Ming was speculating about the thoughts of the three adults, Lord Shangshu was invited to the eldest princess's mansion by the eldest princess.

In the hall, the eldest princess sat on the top seat, looked at Shangshu sitting below, and said lightly:

"What the hell is going on between you and that Qin Ming?"

"Celestial Princess, ...... Alas, there was a little handle in his hand, so he had to go against his heart yesterday morning. Lord Zhou was helpless.

The eldest princess's face looked a little better, and she didn't dare to betray herself if she thought about it.

So he said: "The envoy will arrive tomorrow, and this princess needs you to do something!" ”

Zhou Shangshu said: "Please ask Her Royal Highness the princess to command, the minister will not give up!" ”

The eldest princess nodded and said, "The palace needs you, find a way to communicate with the envoy, as long as he goes back and tells Emperor Xia that Xia Guo helps the palace ascend to the throne, the palace can guarantee that they will reduce the tribute by half." Wait for the throne of the main palace, and exempt them from paying tribute. ”

When Lord Zhou heard this, he said: "This matter will definitely be done by the lower officials, by the way, this time in order to deal with Qin Ming, the lower officials also plan to use the envoys." ”

"Oh? Let's talk about it! Princess Celestia asked.

Lord Zhou hurriedly said: "The lower officials plan to secretly treat the envoys badly, so that the envoys mistakenly think that Qin Ming did not entertain them well, and even disrespected them.

In this way, under their anger, it was even more difficult for Qin Ming to negotiate the tribute. If it is difficult to dispel the anger of the envoys, if it is not good to pay tribute, the envoys of the Xia Kingdom will directly ask for it to be dismissed.

If this is the case, Qin Ming is likely to offend the envoys and talk about not paying tribute, and when His Majesty knows about it, he will definitely be severely punished.

At this time, the two sides did not negotiate, and the minister conveyed your intention to the envoys, Your Royal Highness the Princess, and they would definitely accept it gladly. ”

Hearing this, a smile appeared on the eldest princess's face and said:

"What a ploy to kill two birds with one stone, good, very good. Before, the palace was still worried that the envoys would not accept the cooperation of the palace, and even the palace was still having a headache about how to make them reduce the tribute.

Now that I have listened to your plan, I have really cleaned up Qin Ming and created a deadlock in negotiations. At this time, you explain the meaning of the palace to the envoys, and the palace will come forward to mediate with the emperor and reduce their tribute, which is exactly the fulfillment of the promise. ”

Zhou Shangshu was praised and said with a smile: "That minister will do the same, and he will ensure that nothing goes wrong." ”

The eldest princess nodded and said, "Lord Zhou, do this well." ”

"The minister understands!" Lord Zhou bowed.

……

Qin Ming familiarized himself with the reception process in the remaining half a day, and the next morning, he packed up and went to the gate tower of the imperial capital.

I don't participate in the morning pilgrimage today, because the envoy is coming, and he has to come to greet him.

Standing on the city gate tower, the city gate lang guarding the city was just Cong Liupin, a middle-aged man, and saluted after seeing Qin Ming:

"Qin Langzhong is here, but he is receiving an envoy?"

Qin Ming nodded and said, "When the envoy comes, let your subordinates confirm their identities." ”

Chengmen Lang bowed: "The lower official understands." ”

At this moment, Qin Ming was dressed in an official uniform, followed by Cheng Yuanwailang, the director of the host and guest department, and a cadre of officials, but he was also quite official, no matter how polite the city gate lang was.

After a while, Chengmen Lang asked people to bring chairs and asked Qin Ming to sit down in the city tower.

Qin Ming watched from the top of the building as the people coming and going below shuttled under the huge city gate, and couldn't help but be shocked in his heart.

The state of Chu is worthy of being the strongest empire in the surrounding area, and such a prosperous scene is that only the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty in ancient China can be compared.

Just as he was sighing in his heart, a small soldier suddenly came to report: "My lord, the envoy of the Xia Kingdom has arrived!" ”

Qin Ming got up, walked to the edge of the city gate tower and looked down, and sure enough, a team of dozens of people with carriages that looked different from the Chu State were all parked in front of the city gate at this moment, and the officials guarding the gate were checking the tokens that proved their identities.

It is equivalent to the so-called passport, which is a token given to them by the emperor of their country to prove the identity of their envoys.

After confirming his identity, a gatekeeper general below said to the city gate lang above, "My lord, it is confirmed that it is an envoy of the Xia Kingdom." ”

Chengmen Lang looked at Qin Ming, and Qin Ming said to the envoy below:

"The State of Chu welcomes the envoys of the State of Xia to the imperial capital of the State of Chu, and this official is the host and guest of the Langzhong, and he is here to receive all of you......"

Before he finished speaking, a thirty-year-old Xia man below shouted:

"The people of Chu are so rude, since it is a reception, why don't you go downstairs and go out of the city to greet us and wait? Shouting upstairs like this, do you look down on me and wait, or look down on me Xia Guo? ”

Qin Ming's eyes narrowed, this bastard wants to do something!