"Little pedestrians?"

In the Chengxiang Township Temple, Zhao Wuxian summoned several subordinate officials, retainers came to discuss things, Zigong was also present, and when he heard the new official granted to Zhao Wuxian by the Marquis of Jin, he couldn't help but shout. "Top" point "small" said,

Wuxian replied: "That's right, it's the little pedestrian, Zigong, isn't this what you want to do?" But I got it first, haha. ”

Zigong restrained his expression and smiled slightly: "In this way, I have to congratulate the doctor." ”

During the Spring and Autumn Period, although "the rites and music collapsed" and the famous utensils were moved downward, most of the contents of the Zhou rites were inherited by the princes, among which the court-appointed rites were particularly important.

Because, at this time, it was different from the great unified dynasty of later generations, but dozens of states of different sizes coexisted, the cultures of various countries converged, and the in-law relationship between them was complicated. Therefore, mutual communication is essential, and there is a written "court employment system".

The monarch personally went to other countries to meet and visit, and hired people to send people there. As the saying goes: the princes are also hired to the Son of Heaven for a small year, a big hire for three years, and a dynasty for five years.

The same is true between the princes, with the increasing frequency of economic and political exchanges, countries come and go, in a year, the princes of the Quartet, not ten times but also eight times, on the official road, the pedestrians who ask questions are endless.

The Jin State and the Lu State both inherited the Zhou system, and there was a "pedestrian office" that was specially responsible for diplomatic appointments and other matters, and the "small pedestrians" who had no shirts were subordinate to this institution.

The chief official of the pedestrian office is called Daxingren, and the lord is the doctor, who is in charge of the etiquette of receiving guests, and is equivalent to the foreign minister of later generations.

The small pedestrians have a slightly lower status, "holding the gift of the guests of the state and waiting for the messengers of the Quartet". It is equivalent to a diplomatic ambassador for future generations.

As a country of hegemony for a century, the Jin State had complicated foreign relations. It even replaced the position of Zhou Tianzi to accept the courtiers of the princes. Therefore, the small pedestrians also divided the division of labor according to their specialties and familiar fields, and divided the countries that specialized in receiving and sending envoys. The small pedestrian jue corresponding to the three major kingdoms of Qi, Chu and Qin is the middle doctor. Corresponding to the small and medium-sized countries such as Lu, Song, and Wei, the small pedestrian is the next doctor.

The mission that Zhao Wuxian got this time was to escort the Song State Grand Sicheng Le Qi back to China, and hire Song Gong to maintain the alliance between Jin and Song, so he was ranked as a doctor.

After receiving the solemn ceremony of being knighted and ordained, the shirtless wore a crown and put on a black court robe. He then rushed back to the lower palace to discuss the departure date with Zhao Ying and Le Qi, and finally set it for late November.

"You have to climb over Taihang before the snow falls." Under the recuperation of Bian Que, who stayed in the lower palace to study the "fine Gu theory", Le Qi's body has gradually recovered. It's just that he was a little worried about the domestic situation in the Song Kingdom, as well as the weather and road conditions along the way.

Indeed, it is not easy to cross the Taihang Pass in the winter. You have to walk against the cold wind, you can only travel more than ten miles a day, and the loss of cattle and horses is huge.

However, it is urgent to send Le Qi back to the country and persuade Song Gong to continue to stay in the Jin State Alliance, and it is too late to go, and it is guaranteed that Song State will turn to the arms of Qi State: it is said that Wei Houyuan has sent a pedestrian to Song State to ask questions. I want to marry Song!

"If Wei and Song are married, the Song Kingdom is more likely to fall to Qi and Wei Alliance." Zhao Ying hopes that Wuxian can successfully complete this mission, make meritorious achievements, and win prestige.

Le Lingzi also insisted on accompanying Le Qi back. Ji Huan once persuaded her to stay in Xinjiang and leave until the beginning of spring next year, but Lingzi politely refused. He said that he was going to take care of his father along the way. Wuxian feels that she has been a little distracted these days. After asking several times, the girl shook her head and did not answer. There was some dodging in the originally clear and graceful eyes.

"Maybe it's homesickness too?" Wuxian can only guess like this, and the thoughts of his daughter's family are not easy to guess.

Since you want to go to the Song Kingdom as a pedestrian on the orders of the king, the journey is a thousand miles, and once you go for half a month, you may have to wait for the beginning of spring to return, and it will take half a month to return, so you have to make a lot of preparations.

Honor guards and court clothes, as well as diplomatic documents and the like, the master of ceremonies of the pedestrian office will naturally be properly arranged, so there is no need to worry.

But with the current state of the Jin Kingdom, the government is in the private door, and the public office is equipped with entourage? That's a fool's dream. As a result, Zhao Wuxian even had to pay out of his own pocket as a doctor to go abroad.

"Chengxiang is currently under the protection of Zhao Bing of the lower palace, so he doesn't have to worry about foreign enemies. Yu has to bring a pawn of the people this time, all of them are elite, and half of the ten gold medals in the treasury must be taken out, and the rest of the money and gifts are also needed. ”

Zhao Wuxian and Fan Ying's thoughts are somewhat similar, and they are not interested in fighting for the Jin State and fighting for hegemony for the Jin State. He went to the Song Kingdom this time, not only to work for the Marquis of Jin, but more importantly, to make profits for the Zhao family's private room.

Wu Xi planned that the doctors of the Song State would visit and make friends one by one, and if they found talents in various cities and markets along the way, they would also recruit them, which would cost a lot of money.

And Wuxian went this time, and planned to bring Zigong with him.

He told Zigong the reason: "First of all, we can directly buy local wheat in the Song Kingdom, and then recruit craftsmen, build a mill in Le's Lingyi, and occupy the wheat flour market in Shangqiu first!" Secondly, from next month, a kiln area will be added in the lower palace to strictly control the Zhao family's secret and make porcelain. In a few months, a large number of Xiagong porcelain will be squeezed into the market, and according to the estimated output, there will be a surplus to sell abroad. ”

"For the trade of Wei Guo and Lu State, the Duanmu clan has its own route, needless to say, the Song State will rely on us to go to open it up this time."

Zigong only promised that the trade in wheat flour and porcelain around Xinjiang was gradually taken over and familiar by the Zhao merchants in the lower palace, and he could leave completely.

But at this time, he was still thinking about Zhao Wuxian becoming a pedestrian, and he was sighing in his heart, Jin Guo is really kissed and respected.

Zhao Wuxian was a few years younger than Zigong, but because he was the son of Qing and a close minister of the Marquis of Jin, he was appointed as a doctor by the monarch as soon as he performed the crown ceremony, and because of his in-law relationship with the Le family, he was entrusted with an important task.

And Zigong, although he has studied the diplomatic letters, documents, and employment documents brought out of the Tibetan room and the Pan Palace by all kinds, he has never been given a chance to express himself. He is still a non-scholar now, even if some people know it, it is only because he is "Wei Jia" who represents Zhao Wuxian's interests and right to speak in Jiangxian City.

However, Zigong doesn't want to be a businessman for the rest of his life.

"If there are two countries in difficulty, thousands of strong men will be dressed in armor, and the dust will open the sky. As a pedestrian, without holding a foot of soldiers in his hands and without a bucket of food, he can reconcile the difficulties of the two countries. The princes of the world, save with those who give, and die without givers! ”

This is Zigong's great ambition!

The master once called Zigong a "debater", of course he knew his thoughts, two days ago, Zigong also received a letter from the state of Lu, which was dictated by the master and written by his junior brother Ran Qiu.

The letter said that the governance of Zhongdu Yi for more than half a year has been quite successful: the above calculation has doubled compared with previous years, and the four fields are the same. The master may be promoted, so he told Zigong that if he did not go well in the Jin Kingdom, he would go back to assist him, and he might be able to enter the pedestrian office of the Lu State and become a "traveling husband".

Big pedestrians, small pedestrians, returning people, and pedestrians, these are the four kinds of officials of the pedestrian bureaus of various countries in Zhuxia, and the high and low are descending in order.

The husband, the lord is the corporal, who is in charge of the trivial matters of welcoming and sending off the guests of various states, fighting and eating, which is equivalent to the Xu and apprentice under the pedestrians, who are responsible for the affairs of labor and humiliation, and are often called around.

Therefore, while Zigong was happy for Zhao Wuxian and for the smooth career of his master, he also hesitated slightly. He believes in his own ability, but he also understands the vision of distinguishing between the high and the low in this era. Although his status was humble at the beginning, the master still gave himself the opportunity to enter the pedestrian office and give full play to his strengths.

Just when Zigong was struggling in his heart, Zhao Wuxian had already counted the people accompanying him this time.

"Yu Xi's light knights are indispensable as outpost scouts; Mucha's personal guards were close to protect the car; Tian Ben's soldiers should also be brought with them in case of accidents; Then pick a half-pawn spearman, and finally Wu Jing's baggage two, responsible for cattle, horses, carts and other affairs. The above people travel with me, and Xing Ao is the emperor. ”

Wang Sunqi was unable to accompany him because he broke his arm and received treatment from Bian Que in the lower palace, and he was also transferred back by Zhao Ying to continue to serve as a messenger.

Wuxian thought about the rest of the list, and felt that even if he was not there, these people should be able to provoke the pillars of Chengxiang: "Sheep Tongue Sima stayed behind and was in charge of military affairs; Ji Qiao was promoted to a fake township and was responsible for political and civil affairs. The rest of the people, etc., perform their duties, if there is something, report it to the palace as soon as possible! ”

The people promised that those who could travel with the gentleman were elated. They are basically natives of the lower palace, and they have never been out of the surrounding hundreds of miles since they were young, and they are very curious about the Song Kingdom, which is as far away as the edge of the sky.

After everyone dispersed, Zhao Wuxian grabbed Duanmu Ci, who was a little unrelenting.

Wuxian smiled and said to him: "By the way, Zigong, I am now a small pedestrian, and according to the custom, I have the right to appoint a returnee, are you willing to be my deputy?" ”

"Returning people" is the position of a sergeant, one level lower than a small pedestrian, but higher than the status of a "walker". The palm greets and sends off the guests of the state, reaches the Quartet, and accompanies the pedestrian as a deputy when he travels.

Zigong was stunned for a while, with mixed feelings in his heart, and he didn't know how to answer.

Zhao Wuxian thought that he thought that his position was low, so he explained: "Zigong is very good at arguing, and he is more proficient than me in the etiquette and documents of court employment. ”

"It's just that I haven't made a meritorious service yet, so it's not good to rashly introduce you to the king, so I can only wronged you to start from the grassroots level, in fact, this is also a good way to be familiar with this job."

Zigong now understands that the gentleman, like the master, has always kept his ideals firmly in mind and is willing to provide opportunities. Even, the gentleman's price is even higher!

As a result, Zigong's thoughts of giving up the goods and colonizing merchants, and after the oath with Wuxian expired, he returned to Qufu to be a pedestrian and an official, and suddenly disappeared.

He solemnly bowed to Wuxian and said, "Yes, you must not disgrace your duties!" Assist the gentleman to complete this mission! ”

……

At the same time, in the distant state of Qi in Linzi, Chen Qi, who returned to the capital from Gaotang in Lingyi, also received a slip from Xinjiang. (To be continued......)

ps: Thank you for your monthly passes, and I will thank you one by one when I go out in July

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