Qi Ning knew Han Yu's scruples, after all, they were members of the Qinhuai Legion, they belonged to the military, and they had nothing to do with the mission, if they continued to move forward and walked in the territory of Eastern Qi, it would inevitably cause conflicts. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Han Yu and the others returned to the boat and bowed to Qi Ning again, and Qi Ning waited for them to leave the ferry before ordering to move forward.

The convoy only traveled a short way, then heard the sound of horses' hooves in front, looked up, and saw hundreds of cavalry in front, but it was also murderous, there was still some distance, but this army of soldiers and horses was holding back their horses, only one person shouted: "You and I are not at war, why do you want to cross the river and send troops?" ”

Qi Ning shook his head and sighed, thinking that now the other party didn't understand what was going on, and after delaying it for a while, if it was really the Chu army crossing the river, he would have easily set up a position on the bank of the river at this moment.

Wu Dalin urged him to step forward and said loudly: "We are the mission of the Chu State, and we will go to Lucheng to meet the monarch of your country on this trip. ”

There was a commotion on the opposite side, and after a while, two cavalry horsemen came over, arrived in front of Wu Dalin, looked at it, and then asked, "Where is the national letter?" ”

Wu Dalin turned around, Qi Ning had already handed the letter of state to Qi Feng, Qi Feng took the letter of state, urged him to come forward, handed over the letter of state, the other party took the letter of state, returned to the formation, a moment later, and saw more than ten cavalry surrounded by a black-armored general, Wu Dalin saw that the black-armored general was in his early forties, thin, with a beard, and when he got close, the black-armored general smiled and said: "You are the mission of Chu?" Fortunately, the explanation is clear, otherwise Ben will lead the troops and horses and will definitely wipe you out. ”

Wu Dalin did not smile and said: "Your two countries are friendly countries, so naturally they will not raise swordsmen. ”

The general threw the letter of state, glanced at it, but also saw that Qi Ning was the leader of the mission, and asked, "Who is that?" ”

"That's my Da Chu Jinyi, the envoy of this trip." Wu Dalin said solemnly: "I don't know what Your Excellency is called? ”

The general said: "You call me General Meng." He also said: "I heard that there are four hereditary candidates in the Chu State, Jinyi Hou has great military achievements, and the Qinhuai Legion is also trained by Jinyi Hou, the previous General Qi passed away, this must be the son of General Qi?" ”

Wu Dalin frowned and said, "Jinyi is waiting here, don't be rude." ”

General Meng was stunned, and said with a little annoyance: "He is the marquis of your Chu country, but not the marquis of our Great Qi, in front of this general, Hugh is presumptuous." ”

Qi Ning laughed and said, "This must be General Meng Jiao Zhou Meng, right?" I have admired the name for a long time, and when I see it today, it is really worthy of the name. ”

Meng Jiao was stunned, and then smiled: "It turns out that you have heard the name of this general?" ”

"Naturally, I've heard of it." Qi Ning said with a smile: "I heard that General Meng is deeply respected by King Taishan, not only General Meng, but even General Meng's sister is also deeply loved by King Taishan, the brothers and sisters of the Meng family have such a favor and a good reputation, and there are not many people who don't know." ”

Qi Ning was sarcastic, thinking that this Meng Jiaozhou would be furious, but who knew that Meng Jiaozhou had no anger at all, and said complacently: "Yes, this will be the prince's favorite general, and my sister is the prince's favorite concubine, you know this, it can be seen that the news is also well-informed." He stepped forward, saw the convoy, and asked, "Are you going to give me a gift?" ”

Qi Ning said with a smile: "This is a state matter, and General Meng still doesn't need to know too much." We are in a hurry, and we ask General Meng to let us go, so as not to delay time. ”

Meng Jiaozhou glanced at Qi Ning and said, "Come on, look at what is on the car." ”

Qi Ning calmed down and said lightly: "Who dares!" ”

Meng Jiao was stunned, and then said angrily: "If you want to pass through the general's defense area, you must be inspected by the general." If there was a weapon hidden in the car, Ben would naturally not be able to let it go. ”

Wu Dalin frowned and said: "General Meng, my Great Chu delegation went to Lu Wangcheng to meet the monarch of your country, and to repair the good of the two countries, you are not good at hospitality, but want to make things difficult, what is the reason?" This is a mission, not a caravan, so how can you be allowed to search? He snorted coldly and said, "General Meng doesn't understand the etiquette of negotiations between the two countries?" ”

Meng Jiao was stunned, a little confused, turned around, looked at the soldiers beside him, and asked, "Is there such a rule?" ”

The soldiers all looked at each other, not knowing why.

"General Meng, you've read the national letter." Wu Dalin said in a deep voice: "If you feel that there is a problem with the national letter, you can immediately report to the above, and let your Ministry of Rites send someone to negotiate, of course, when the time comes, it is determined that there is no problem with the national letter, your General Meng has delayed our trip, we naturally want to make it clear to the monarch of your country, and ask him to give us a satisfactory answer." His expression was grim: "If you think that there is no problem with the national letter, it means that we are the envoy of the Great Chu, and I am the envoy of the Great Chu, and I will not allow you to be presumptuous." ”

"National Letters?" Meng Jiaozhou raised his hand and touched his brain, Qi Ning frowned and said, "General Meng shouldn't even be able to read the national letter, right?" ”

Meng Jiaozhou immediately said: "Of course Ben will understand. ”

"Then General Meng naturally saw whether it was true or false." Qi Ning said: "If it's fake, we'll go with you now, you arrest us all first, and then report to the top and let people come to check, if it's true, send a few people to show us the way and lead us to Luwang City." ”

Meng Jiaozhou was a little embarrassed and said, "That..... That national book is naturally ...... Well, of course it's true. ”

Qi Ning laughed and said: "General Meng's eyes are like a torch, since it is true, it will be easy to do next." Send someone to lead the way, now that we have arrived in the territory of your country, the food and accommodation on the way are naturally arranged by your country, and General Meng should understand these etiquettes, right? ”

"Yes, this ..... Of course I understand this. Meng Jiaozhou reluctantly smiled and said, "You are the envoy of the Chu State, and you will ..... Ben will naturally arrange someone to send you to Lu Wangcheng, and you will ...... food and lodging on the way! ”

"Don't be extravagant." Qi Ning Zhengse said: "According to the standard of three hundred taels of silver per meal, by the way, breakfast can be simpler, and one hundred and fifty taels is enough." ”

Meng Jiaozhou's eyes widened and he said in shock: "Stunned..... Three hundred taels of silver for a meal? ”

Qi Ning pretended to be surprised and said: "General Meng is famous, Benhou has long admired the great name, and knows that General Meng is highly valued by King Taishan, doesn't General Meng know these rules?" ”

Meng Jiaozhou hurriedly smiled: "I know, I mean, a meal...... Three hundred taels for a meal, isn't it..... Isn't it shabby? ”

Qi Feng couldn't help laughing, and pretended to be solemn: "Our lord has always been frugal, so I won't embarrass you too much." ”

Meng Jiaozhou said with a smile: "That's that." But in my heart, I thought that this meal was three hundred taels, even if all the delicacies of the mountains and seas were arranged, it would not cost so much silver.

Qi Ning leaned sideways and whispered a few words to Qi Feng, Qi Feng took a piece of silver from his arms and threw it over, about four or five taels, Meng Jiao Zhou hurriedly stretched out his hand to take it and asked, "...... this?" ”

"When we came to your country, the first big man we saw was General Meng, so please accept it." Qi Ning smiled.

Meng Jiaozhou was a little annoyed in his heart, secretly thinking that a few taels of silver was a gift, and the silver that had missed from Lao Tzu's fingers was much more than this, but he didn't dare to say more, thinking that since the other party was an envoy, he would have to deal with it well, so as not to be made fun of by others for saying the wrong thing and doing the wrong thing.

He was originally an indigenous rich man in Xuzhou, and the way to earn money was clear, but the diplomatic relations between these two countries were not clear, and after the establishment of the Eastern Qi Dynasty, there was actually no normal communication with the other two countries, and it was extremely rare for the two sides to send envoys to each other, where did Meng Jiaozhou understand the various etiquette between the two countries, but in front of everyone, he didn't dare to appear to know nothing, and reluctantly smiled: "Thank you, thank you." ”

He turned around, waved his hand, and said, "Let the Chu State Mission pass!" ”

But the mission didn't move, and Meng Jiaozhou couldn't help but say, "Everyone, the general has already ordered you to get out of the way, why don't you go?" ”

Qi Feng sighed: "General Meng, you ...... Do you really need a reminder? ”

"Reminder?" Meng Jiao was stunned on Monday, "Remind what?" ”

"Noble people forget things." Qi Feng said: "General Meng, it's okay to come and not be rude, this is ..... You should know that. Our brothers have worked hard all the way to your country, and they have just entered your country to transit, and the first big man we met was General Meng, is General Meng ..... Should it also be indicated? ”

Meng Jiaozhou was a little dazed: "What does it mean?" ”

Qi Feng sighed: "General Meng, the Hou Ye is here, but ..... However, the brothers had a hard journey, and General Meng should always reward some tea money. ”

"Tea money?" Meng Jiaozhou's eyes widened, and he lost his voice: "There are still such rules? Want..... Do you want me to pay for it? ”

"The two countries have diplomatic relations and are good-neighborly and friendly, and this has always been the rule." Qi Feng frowned and said, "Doesn't General Meng know anything about it?" If..... If General Meng is inconvenient, after arriving in Luwangcheng, when the officials of your Ministry of Rites ask, we can only tell the truth. ”

Meng Jiaozhou's face was a little flustered, and he hurriedly said: "Wait a minute, wait a minute, you say ..... You say that this tea money is also a custom? ”

Qi Feng nodded and said: "General Meng doesn't need to worry, in fact, this silver is not out of your pocket, the tea and silver you rewarded the brothers, you can make it clear to the Ministry of Rites when you turn around, and the Ministry of Rites will allocate the amount of money to you." Yes, we came to your country and did not send anyone to inform us in advance, and your country may have forgotten and failed to remind General Meng in time, which is our fault. ”

Qi Ning suddenly smiled and said: "That's it, General Meng has a good command of the army, maybe he is not very clear about these red tapes, if General Meng really can't take it out, we won't force it." ”

Meng Jiaozhou thought to himself that since this silver was not out of Lao Tzu's pocket, it didn't matter, anyway, he paid some in advance, and then asked for it from the Ministry of Rites, he had the support of King Taishan behind him, and he was not afraid of the people of the Ministry of Rites to cheat, so he asked: "I don't know..... I don't know how much money is appropriate for this tea? ”

"Our mission, including Hou Ye and Leader Wu, is a total of two hundred and fifty-three people." Qi Feng said seriously: "How much depends on General Meng's meaning, even if each person only gives a few dozen taels of silver, we will not be surprised." And said: "Of course, Hou Ye naturally doesn't need this bit of silver, and other people may not really want this silver, just to be auspicious, hoping that the two countries will be good-neighborly and friendly." ”

Meng Jiao's body shook, he was not proficient in anything else, but the calculation of silver was first-class, and he calculated in an instant, this person is dozens of taels, more than two hundred people, shouldn't he take out thousands of taels of silver? You gave Lao Tzu a few taels of silver to meet the gift, Lao Tzu wants to pay a few thousand taels of silver to go out, these two countries have diplomatic relations, how can the mother still have such strange etiquette?