The envoy's answer to Dun She was ambiguous, and he didn't know much about it.

Instead, he asked Liu Nineteen about it. But since Liu Shijiu refused to even say anything about the marriage, let alone the military plane. Didn't say anything to him. Before the envoy came back, he also went to Sha Liu Er for this purpose. It's a pity that although Sha Liu Er's status in Anfeng has indeed been greatly improved compared to before, after all, his nominal official title is still Pingzhang of Liaoyang Province, and some secret decisions in the top echelons of the imperial court have not yet reached the level where he can have direct contact.

That's why, when Liu Shijiu came, whether he brought the holy decree of King Xiao Ming to order Deng She to go south, and only when he arrived, the answer would be revealed.

Two days later, the Anfeng delegation arrived in Yidu. Deng She led the civil and military ministers, and all kinds of honor guards, as well as two thousand tiger elites, to personally welcome dozens of miles out of the city. From afar, I saw hundreds of people riding and urging cars to come. The car is like flowing water, and the horse is like a dragon. In front of him, he sat on a tall horse, wearing a stiff-winged head, wearing a purple official uniform, a leather belt around his waist, a goldfish bag, and a pair of black leather boots under his feet. Full set of angel dress. It's not Liu Nineteen. There was a smoke behind him, and more than a dozen signs were held high.

Some signs read: "Sent to Yidu by order." Some signs read: "The Great Song Dynasty Imperial Shi Tai serves the Imperial Shi Liu." "Some of the signs are written with the beautiful name given to him by the Anfeng court; Some signs say "quiet", "mighty" and so on.

In fact, not all the ceremonial guards that should be used by the imperial court envoys to various places according to the regulations are like this. It's just that Liu Shijiu and the others came from Anfeng, and on the way, they had to pass through Zhang Shicheng's territory, and then they had to pass through Chahan's territory. In the midst of the enemy's territory, how can it be noisy and blatant? Therefore, Liu Shijiu and his entourage, half of the road in front of them were all dressed in disguise, and they originally came pretending to be merchants. All of these ceremonial guards he uses now were found in Tai'an and other cities, or even made temporarily. Therefore, when put together, it is very nondescript.

It's just that the Song regime started from recklessness, and Liu Xiang didn't study. Even when Anfeng was in Anfeng, not many people would pay attention to these etiquettes. Besides, going to a foreign country, the road is difficult and dangerous? Liu Shijiu didn't care about this. As long as there are enough, the pomp is big enough, and it looks majestic enough. And he was satisfied. To say, there are not no scholars in the mission, and they have given advice to Liu Shijiu. Liu Shijiu sent them away with a word, and he only asked, "Who is the envoy?" ”

The implication is: "Lao Tzu is the right envoy, and Lao Tzu has the final say." ”

There are more than a dozen signs, and many flags have been raised. There are big and small, high and low, colorful, and it is a show. As you go, the drums are playing in unison. With the two or three hundred cavalry accompanying the entourage, the war horses galloped; Most of the members of the mission rode in horse-drawn carriages. All kinds of movements and sounds are mixed together, and the real smoke and dust are filled, and the noise is deafening.

As the mount walked, Liu Shijiu's figure also swayed up and down.

Deng She and the ministers of Haidong dismounted one after another, got off the sedan chair, and walked a few steps forward, waiting for his great ride. The two sides met, and Deng She saluted. Although he is the king of Yan, Liu Shijiu represents the imperial court. Liu Jiujiu laughed, rushed forward, returned the salute to Deng She, and said, "Why should Your Highness be polite!" You and I have known each other for a long time. Holding Deng She's hand, he looked at it and sighed: "After a long time, His Royal Highness's demeanor is still the same." ”

Deng She smiled and said, "Lord Liu is also heroic. ”

Liu 19 turned around and introduced the members of the mission one by one. Deng She also introduced them to the ministers of Haidong who accompanied them. It is inevitable to greet each other and say goodbye to each other for a long time.

Among the ministers of Haidong, the first one who attracted the attention of the embassy was of course Hong Jixun. Hong Jixun is the mastermind of Haidong, and he is already quite famous. Not long ago, after the battle of Yidu, he gave advice and helped Deng She defeat Chahan, and his reputation naturally became greater. I dare not say that women and children know about it, at least all over the world. Hong Jixun is still dressed in white, and when he met Liu Shijiu and others, he knew that they were angels, and he restrained his arrogant temper a little, but in the eyes of others, he still agreed, and he was thinking in his heart: "Clear and arrogant, worthy of the name." ”

Everyone had met, and Deng gave up his order to bring the guard of honor. The two thousand elite soldiers were divided into two teams, with 500 men in front opening the way, and 1,500 men in the back pressing the formation. The hundreds of cavalry troops who escorted Liu 19 were also included in it. With the guard of honor, nearly 3,000 people. The momentum is huge, and the line goes to Yidu.

It was spring ploughing time, and there were many people on the road.

They didn't know Liu Shijiu, but they knew King Yan's chariots and horses. Whether on the road or in the field, they fell to their knees. Many of them kowtowed heavily, raised their hands high, and then bowed their heads deeply. At first glance, it is sincere, and it is by no means perfunctory. Liu Shijiu said with a smile: "His Royal Highness has deep popularity, and the people are convinced. True Haidong's luck. ”

Deng She was humble and said, "What virtue do I have? Those who serve the people are all thanks to the emperor's grace. ”

Dozens of miles, it takes half a day. The two of them have a match, and they don't have a match. Liu Shijiu praised Deng She, and Deng She quietly put a high hat on the imperial court. The ministers of Haidong also looked for members of the mission separately and accompanied them to speak. Or work the road, or point out the scenery and talk about some customs. The laughter continued. The atmosphere is very harmonious.

However, from time to time, Liu Shijiu would also sneak in on Deng She, and he happened to be discovered by Deng She; Or maybe when the courtiers of Haidong were talking to the members of the mission, they were both thoughtful and absent-minded, and their questions were not answered. Whenever something like this happens, everyone laughs dryly. No one clicks through, and it is lightly carried. There are even those who take the initiative to explain to the other party and help the other party find the next step. said: "The sound of gongs and drums is too loud, no wonder the adults are listening to the words." The other party naturally agreed, nodded again and again, and said, "Yes, yes." It's too loud indeed. ”

Beneath the surface of a harmonious atmosphere, everyone has a ghost in their hearts.

Around dusk, Deng She led the delegation to Yidu. The guest house had already been packed, and the luggage and other things brought by the mission were settled first, and there was no need to mention the night dinner that night. Singing and dancing, boxing and guessing, a wine, and eating until midnight three watches.

Liu Shijiu drank a lot of wine, a small cup for a big bowl, a big bowl for a sea bowl, the more he drank, the more sober he became, and even generals like Monk Li and Bi Qianniu were not his opponents. It's almost invincible. In the end, Wang Zongzhe came out of the horse, and he barely fought to a draw. Wang Zongzhe, don't look at him pedantic and polite, but he was born with a good belly, if you talk about the amount of alcohol, it is one of the best in Yidu.

The feast was dispersed, and each one slept in peace.

Liu Shijiu is a righteous envoy, so he doesn't have to go to the guest house. No matter how good the layout of the guest house is, it is not as good as the Yanwang Mansion. Deng She left him in the house, helped him drunk, and sent him into the house. Liu Shijiu grabbed him again and babbled for a while. Looking at his appearance, he is also a little drunk. Dunshe was already drunk anyway, so she asked him whatever he wanted. Liu Shijiu talked nonsense, talking about the world and the earth, and the clouds and mountains were foggy, but he just didn't answer Deng She's words and didn't get to the point.

Deng She couldn't ask anything, as if he was unconsciously drunk, drunk, as if he couldn't stand steadily, and said: "It's not early, and please rest in peace." "Say goodbye and leave.

When he turned out, not long after he went out, Liu Shijiu's drunkenness suddenly disappeared, walked to the window, peeked out, smiled and said left and right: "A little light wine, do you want to get me drunk and have a good cliché?" Haha, Your Highness, Your Highness, you are too underestimating me. Pulling up his sleeves, he said, "As the saying goes: 'How dare you go to Liangshan without three, two, three?' 'I don't know if Lao Liu is famous for not pouring a thousand cups? ”

During the Song Dynasty, there was a story of the Songjiang Uprising. Liangshanbo happens to be in Shandong. Liu Shijiu's words are a pun.

Let's talk about Deng She, the wine smells like the world and goes back to the room. There were two or three maids supporting each other, but before they could come to help wash and loosen their clothes, Deng She waved his hand and ordered them to retreat. After a few turns around the room, he came to the window, pushed it open, and looked into the night.

The place where Liu Shijiu lived was opposite his room.

He thought to himself, and thought to himself: "That Liu Nineteen, it seems to be drunk, but he is clearly pretending!" Unexpectedly, he drank so much. He straightened his clothes, talked to himself, and said: "The folk proverb says: 'If the good do not come, the one who comes is not good.'" It is very suspicious that he is prevaricating and making a show. There must be a mystery in the holy decree it brings! ”

But I don't know, what kind of will did Liu Nineteen bring to King Xiao Ming?

Early the next morning, Deng She and the ministers of Haidong set up incense burners and incense cases. Liu 19 read out the holy decree.

"The Emperor's Decree ,......。" Yunyun.

Many of Meng Yuan's holy decrees are in spoken language. Although the Song regime created the rebellion of the Meng Yuan, it did not change much in terms of the holy decree, and the same is true. You don't need to know anything to hear it clearly. ——, that Liu Nineteen was illiterate, and the content of the holy decree had long been memorized fluently. Putting a holy decree in front of you is nothing more than a show.

After the reading of the holy decree was completed, Liu Shijiu smiled and handed it to Deng She. Dunsher caught it with both hands.

Liu Jiu said with a smile: "Your Highness has received the holy decree, and my identity as an 'angel' is gone." From now on, I will be a courtier of Yidu, a pawn under His Royal Highness. Although I don't dare to boast of my talents, as long as His Highness is useful, in a word, an order will be issued for His Highness. Your Highness, please get up quickly, and please bow down to me. ”

Deng She smiled slightly, handed over the holy decree to his entourage, and slowly got up. stopped Liu Shijiu's bowing, and in turn, took his hand and said with a smile: "Why should you be polite!" As the adults said, you and I have known each other for a long time. To tell you the truth, the last time I met adults in Haidong, I admired them very much and wanted to leave them behind and help me. However, I also know that the lord is the pillar of the court, and it is expected that the emperor will not part with his love. Yes, I didn't say it.

"I really didn't expect that the emperor would take the initiative to send me the adult to me this time. Good, good! What a delight! ......Ha ha! that they may rejoice. ”

Liu Nineteen said: "My old Liu is illiterate, and he is a rough man." Where will there be any 'style'? His Royal Highness's praise is really not acceptable. His Royal Highness is an immortal hero, with immortal talent, the emperor is gracious, and this time he can send me to Yidu and obey His Royal Highness's moderation. So that I can also be touched by the light of His Highness. To be honest, I couldn't help but be overjoyed! ”

"Haha!"

"Haha!"

The two smiled at each other.

"May I ask Your Highness, in the Emperor's holy decree, I said that Your Highness is invited to go south. I wonder when His Highness plans to leave by order? ”

"This ,......。 I Yidu only went through the war and lacked food, so I borrowed 100,000 stone grain from western Zhejiang. Adults should also hear about borrowing food? ”

"I've heard a little about it."

"There is not enough food, and so is my Yidu ordnance. Just two days before my lordship came, I saw the news of the fall of Haozhou from the military newspaper, and because I was worried about the imperial court, I squeezed out some of my small food and ordnance, and sent people to Anfeng. Please ask Liu Pingzhang to forward it to the emperor. I, Yidu, was already short of food and ordnance, and this batch of squeezed out materials had just been sent away, which made it even worse. Although I am also very anxious, I am afraid that it will be difficult to go south in a short time. ”

"His Royal Highness is worried about the court, but he is loyal to the royal family, so that he does not care about Yidu and Xianji'anfeng. All kinds of deeds are really admirable. I know all the difficulties of Your Highness. Yidu is indeed short of food and military salaries. However, the danger of Anfeng is also imminent. How can we solve the danger of Anfeng without making His Highness too difficult? I have a plan, I don't know if it's feasible? ”

"Your Excellency, please speak."

"I heard that although Jingyidu fought a battle, there are still a lot of the old departments of the sweeping king. Chen Yutou, Gao Yanshi, and Liu Guo can all be called powerful. It's better to do this, Your Highness just needs to transfer some food, ordnance and other things from Haidong. Although I am illiterate, if the paper is collected, it is not bullshit. However, in his early years, he also followed Liu Taibao to fight on the battlefield, and he also fought with the Tartars with real swords. There is no need for His Royal Highness to go south, nor does he need to use Haidong's pawn and horse, so I took the old department of the sweeping king and went south on the same day. What does Your Highness think? ”

"Your Excellency's plan is a clever plan. However, in the holy decree read by Lord Fangcai, didn't the emperor appoint the Lord as the prime minister of Yidu? Adults have the responsibility to defend the land, how can they act rashly? ”

"Then in the opinion of His Highness, what should be done about going south?"

"In three to five days, I will give you a letter of approval."

"Since Your Highness said so, it's really hard for me to talk about it anymore since I first arrived. But please don't forget that the Anfeng government and the opposition, 100,000 soldiers and civilians, are all waiting for Your Highness! May I ask Your Highness, three days or five days? Thou shalt give me a letter. ”

"Three days is too short, how about five days?"

"I will obey Your Highness."

"Haha."

"Haha."

The two smiled at each other again.

Liu Shijiu added: "If you want to come here for a few days, Your Highness will definitely be very busy." Going south is a big deal, after all, it has to be discussed with the princes of Haidong. I don't bother much. Five days later, I will come back to ask for an audience with Your Highness. As if he suddenly remembered something, he looked at the ministers behind Deng She, and said: "Dizhou Tianfeng is also the prime minister of Yidu." But why didn't you see him coming? My new official took office, and it was not good not to say hello to him. ……。 ”

"I have also written to him, and I don't know if it is because he is too busy to get out, or for some other reason. But he didn't reply to me. ”

"Dizhou is on the front line. Prime Minister Tian Cheng can't get out, and it's understandable. What is the biggest? Military maximum! Anyway, since he can't get out, he can't come. I'll go to Dizhou in person. ”

"Dizhou is far away. If you go to Dizhou, how will I answer you after five days? ”

"I didn't take much of my retinue with me, but rode as fast as I could, went to meet him, and then came back. Five days, a round trip, is estimated to be enough. ......, it's just that I am sparse and unfamiliar with the roads of Shandong, so I need His Royal Highness to send me a village guide to guide the way. ”

Deng She pondered for a moment and said, "Since the lord has decided, I won't do much to dissuade him. Of course, it is not a problem to send a village guide to guide the adults. ”

"So, thank you, Your Highness."

"Why bother with a little effort?"

Liu Shijiu looked up at the sky and said, "It's not early. I said I would go, and I set off. Deng She praised: "My lord is really resolute. "Tell your subordinates to quickly go and find two or three township guides. And generously, allocated 500 cavalry troops, and the right to be Liu 19's escort, and went to Dizhou together.

After a while, the village guide came. Liu Shijiu said goodbye to Deng She, and did not bring too many members of the mission, and only selected three or four people to accompany him. The rest are all left in Yidu. Yesterday, Deng Sheqin went to pick him up and brought him into the city; After one night, Deng She personally went to see him off the city.

Seeing him go far, Deng She's smile remained unchanged, and he sent the members of the mission who came to see Liu 19 to the guest house with him, and said that he would stay until noon and then invite them to a banquet. Turned back to the house, his face was pale. Hong Jixun's ministers also frowned one by one, either worried, or angry.

After everyone was seated, Deng She asked, "Ladies and gentlemen, what do you think about this matter?" ”

"The emperor said two things in his holy decree. One piece, let Liu 19 be the prime minister of Yidu. The other is to hand over the benefits to our Haidong moderation. At the same time, the lord was asked to coordinate the two armies of Haidong and Yidu to move south on the same day. ......, this holy decree of the emperor has been tasted again and again, and he only feels that the meaning is very deep. ”

"What do you mean?"

"What does it mean to let the lord control the capital? At the same time that the lord controlled Yidu, he also appointed Liu Shijiu as the prime minister of Yidu, what does this mean? appointed Liu Shijiu as the prime minister of Yidu, and at the same time ordered the lord to control Yidu, he also ordered the lord to coordinate the two places and go south on the same day, what does this mean?

"That Liu Shijiu kept saying that 'Yidu' and 'Haidong' were very clear. Only then did he read the holy decree, that is, he went to Dizhou without stopping. What does this mean? ”

"What do you think you mean?"

"This reminds me that back then, when the lord was still in Shuangcheng, didn't Guan Duo also use a similar strategy and send Mr. Yao to 'assist' the lord?"

Someone interjected, "Exactly." But it's also strange. At that time, Guan Duo sent Mr. Yao to Shuangcheng, but in the end, it was not only useless, but also ended up with a 'stealing chickens does not make rice'. The Anfeng Imperial Court is not without talents, but why does it turn a blind eye to this, if you don't learn it, you must learn Guan Duo's old wisdom? A repeat of the past? Now, although the lord is not the prime minister of Yidu, the military and political affairs of Yidu have long fallen under the control of my Haidong. It has no name, but it has a reality.

"Don't say that the Anfeng Imperial Court only sent one Liu Nineteen, that is, ten Liu Nineteen, one has no foundation, and the other has no strength, what is the use?"

It was Wu Henian who spoke to Deng She before, he slapped his thigh and said: "It is precisely because the lord's control of Yidu is 'nameless, but there is a reality'. That's why the Anfeng Imperial Court gave us such a show in Haidong! ”

"How?"

"'There is a reality, but there is no name.'" Although I, Haidong, already have the reality of controlling Yidu, but, the minister has the courage, may I ask the lord, do you want this 'name'? ”

Dunshe was silent.

Of course, he also wanted this "name". Although there is a "reality", nominally Yidu is still not the jurisdiction of Haidong. "The name does not live up to the truth". Just a month ago, didn't he send a document to the people of Yidu, specifically explaining why he stayed in Yidu and refused to go back to Haidong? Mao Gui, Wang Shicheng, and Xiao Mao Pingzhang, they are in the same vein, and they have been operating in Yidu for many years, and they are the people of Yidu and the lord of Yidu recognized by the Anfeng government and the opposition. Even Tian Feng, when the red scarf entered Shandong and fought the world, he also had a share. Bloody battles, conquered territory.

What does it mean to be "justifiable"? That's what they call right. No matter how much Haidong has excuses and "facts", there is no "name", and he is just an outsider.

So, how do you get this "name"? There are only two ways. One, just like Tian Feng and them, or just like Deng She took Haidong and spelled it out with a knife and a gun. Let it go and say that no one will not admit that this is the territory he has laid down with his own hands. Second, there is only the appointment of the imperial court. The former is from below; The latter is from above.

Wu Henian continued: "If the lord wants this 'name', then in the opinion of the minister, this holy decree of An Feng is clearly to do business with our Haidong!" ”

"What kind of business?"

"As Chen Shicai said, why did An Feng just say that the lord would 'control' Yidu before, and then he followed the lord to coordinate the two places and go south on the same day? Isn't this just to say that as long as the lord is willing to go south, then the lord has the right to 'control' the capital? In other words, the Anfeng court is using the power of 'moderation' to benefit the capital in exchange for the lord to go south. And 'temperance' Yidu, isn't that the name that the lord wants? ......, moreover, analyze Liu Shijiu's performance.

He gave the lord a holy decree, even if he set off to see Tian Feng. What a hurry! Tian Feng is certainly the prime minister of Yidu, is it necessary for him to be in such a hurry to see him? Of course, maybe he went to win over Tian Feng, but with Tian Feng's current military strength, how could he be our opponent in Haidong? Even if he co-opted, it would be useless. This layer is well known to anyone with a discerning eye. He wouldn't be unaware. Since he knew, why was he so eager to see Tian Feng? It can't help but be thought-provoking.

"Moreover, although the prime minister of Yidu is Tian Feng, if the name is justified, how can Tian Feng be compared with Xiao Mao Pingzhang? And Liu Shijiu, how could he not know where Xiao Mao Pingzhang is now? Why did he only mention Tian Feng and not say a word to Xiao Mao Pingzhang? If he really wants to stay in Yidu for a long time and be a real Yidu prime minister, he will definitely not mention Xiao Mao Pingzhang.

To sum up, the minister thought that the reason why he didn't mention Xiao Mao Pingzhang at all, but he was so eager to see Tian Feng, in fact, the fundamental intention was nothing more than to show the lord. He wanted to remind the lord. If the lord agrees to go south; If the lord does not agree to go south,......。 ”

"How?"

"Nine times out of ten, he will definitely unite with Tian Feng and ask the main bus to come out of Xiaomao Pingzhang."

When it comes to resourcefulness, Wu Henian is not as good as Hong Jixun. However, Wu Henian has been in the office since he entered the office, from the official of Mengyuan to the official of Haidong now, and the ups and downs of the sea have not been less than ten years. The guess of Shangyi is far better than Hong Jixun. Not only Deng She was listening to his analysis, but Hong Jixun was also listening.

Wu Henian continued: "Please analyze Liu Shijiu's words and actions for the lord again. That Liu Nineteen, knowing that he had no foundation and no strength in Yiyi, and he didn't bend around at all, after reading the holy decree, he asked the lord to benefit the old army. How could he not know that the Lord would never hand over Shicheng's old ministry to him? He knew for sure. If he knew, why did he do such a useless work? is still the same sentence, the minister thinks that he is still reminding the lord. ”

Someone asked, "Remind what?" ”

"If the lord does not agree to go south. Then he will not only unite with Tian Feng and ask the main bus to send out Xiao Mao Pingzhang, but also ask Shicheng's old ministry to be King Qin in the name of the imperial court and Xiao Mao Pingzhang. Although Shicheng's old department has now gone to Haidong, what if Liu Shijiu makes this move? ”

If Liu Shijiu really did this, it would definitely have a lot of impact on Shicheng's old department.

Wu Henian said: "That's why." The minister thought that Liu Shijiu's various actions, at first glance, seemed to be reckless, but in fact, they were consistent with the meaning of An Feng's holy decree. If the two are combined, it is just the speculation of Chen Shicai. If the lord goes south, he can get the name of 'moderation' Yidu, and if the lord does not go south, Liu Shijiu will definitely make a spicy move. ”

He paused, and then said: "The day before yesterday, I heard from the lord that the Anfeng mission was here, and there were 5,000 people to escort it. Now it is parked in the area of Xuzhou. It is already the territory of western Zhejiang. Since the mission has entered our capital, and it is deep in the enemy's territory, it refuses to retreat. And why? Who is the plotter?

"Why did Liu Shijiu repeatedly urge the lord to make a decision on the matter of going south? Could it be that it has something to do with this army and horses? In the end, it is in the depths of the enemy's territory, and it cannot stay for a long time. ”

Someone asked, "What do you mean?" If the lord refuses to go south, will Anfeng's 5,000 people have the courage to enter the territory of my Yidu? Disapproving, he said, "What's the use of five thousand people entering my realm?" ”

"I have tens of thousands of male teachers, and of course 5,000 people are of little use. However, Liu Nineteen only went to Dizhou. Dizhou Tianfeng, there are also tens of thousands of people! If you add Liu Shijiu's pretense to the name of Xiao Mao Pingzhang, he uses the will of the Anfeng court to edict all over the country, saying that I am not loyal. Although there are not many of Shicheng's old troops left in Yidu, there are still Chen Yutou and Gao Yanshi and the like. Gao Yonsei is now Yidu; Chen Yutou garrisoned Laizhou. Laizhou, not far from me, is really an elbow place. What will they do? Although I, Haidong, will not be afraid, it will be difficult to turn over the wind and waves with them. However, a small trouble is bound to be indispensable.

"The stakes are high, and we must think carefully about them."

Speaking of which, it is better to go south or not. Deng She was silent for a long time, looked at the ministers, and asked slowly: "Then, in your opinion, do I need to go south in Haidong?" ”