In the matter of establishing the College of Engineering, the Empress Dowager Cao finally relented and agreed to establish a special College of Engineering, as an educational and research institution, subordinate to the Ministry of Engineering.

The establishment of the College of Engineering received a positive response from the Emperor Zhao Ji and the imperial court, and the next day, the Zhizheng Hall unanimously approved the plan for the establishment of the College of Engineering, and Zhao Ji approved the allocation of 1,000 acres of land to the south of Jinmingchi in the west of the city as the land for the establishment of the College of Engineering.

In addition, nominated by the Zhizheng Hall and approved by Zhao Ji, through the Ministry of Works' waiter Dong Ji, led by the craftsman Li Wentai, the military weapons junior supervisor Wang Shen, and Fan Ning recommended the Hanlin Academy Pavilion Survey Shen Kuo, four people formed a preparatory group responsible for the preparation of the School of Engineering.

A few days later, Zhang Xiaojie, the envoy of the Liao State, arrived in Bianliang, Tokyo, and began his journey to negotiate peace, and Zhao Ji assigned Sima Guang, the deputy minister, and Zhu Xiaowen, the secretary of Honglu Temple, to receive Zhang Xiaojie.

Hundreds of Liao cavalry escorted Zhang Xiaojie into the capital, this is the first time Zhang Xiaojie came to the capital of the Great Song Dynasty, he looked all the way, and his heart continued to marvel, this is the prosperous place, the cultural capital, ten million times stronger than the Liao State in Beijing.

After all, Zhang Xiaojie is a Han Chinese, and he is more inclined to the Great Song Dynasty in terms of cultural bloodline, and he secretly thinks in his heart, if he can be the prime minister of the Great Song Dynasty, he doesn't know how many times stronger than the Liao State.

It's a pity that he is the prime minister of Liao, envy is envy, and he can only face reality, he can't come to the Great Song Dynasty as an official.

Accompanied by Zhang Xiaojie is Zhu Xiaowen, the secretary of Honglu Temple, he originally served as the prefect of Chengdu, but his father died, Ding Wei was reinstated three years later, first served as the secretary of Dali Temple, and was transferred to the fourth grade of Honglu Temple last year, he is nearly sixty years old, but he can't break through the threshold of the third product, and his son-in-law Fan Ning is already the second product to participate in political affairs, which makes Zhu Xiaowen very distressed.

"I heard that Zhu Sijian has a good son-in-law?" Zhang Xiaojie asked him with a smile.

"My son-in-law is not bad, and Zhang Xianggong also knows him?"

"I don't know!"

Zhang Xiaojie smiled bitterly and said: "There is no one up and down the Liao Kingdom who doesn't know him, saying that Xiao Fan Xianggong is here, the three-year-old child doesn't dare to cry at night, even our big Liao Tianzi admires him a lot, but at the same time he hates it to the core." ”

"It's just that each is his own master, Zhang Xianggong doesn't have to worry too much about anything."

"I'm not worried about anything, but I want to meet Xiao Fan Xianggong, I don't know if it's convenient?"

"This.... If it's business, he will attend the negotiations on the first day, and if Zhang Xianggong wants to see him privately, I will have to ask him. ”

"I want to talk to him about something personal."

Zhu Xiaowen is a little strange, the envoy of the Liao State actually wants to talk about private matters with A-Ning, what does he want to talk about?

"There's no urgency, and it's not too late to arrange it after the negotiations are over."

Not long after, the group came to the Liao State Pavilion, the Liao State Governor in the Song Dynasty envoy Yelu Abu was already waiting at the door, everyone saw the salute, Zhu Xiaowen then said goodbye and left.

Zhang Xiaojie sat down in the lobby, and Yelu Abu stepped forward to report the latest situation.

Zhang Xiaojie took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "The Son of Heaven is very satisfied with the information of the capital of the Song Dynasty, which is worthy of praise. ”

Yelu Abu secretly complained in his heart, where did he go to find a way to do this kind of thing?

But he couldn't say no, so he had to nod his head and agree, "Let's arrange it as soon as possible." ”

At this time, someone came to the door to report, "Sima Xiangguo of the Song Dynasty came to visit Zhang Xiangguo." ”

Zhang Xiaojie was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Please come in quickly!" ”

……….

Sima Guang entered the Liaoguo Pavilion and met with Zhang Xiaojie, and the guests and hosts of the two sides sat down, and the deputy envoy Yelu Pinghui was also sitting.

Tomorrow will be the beginning of their peace talks, so it is necessary for both sides to find out each other and give each other a direction for negotiation.

"Song and Liao have been living in peace for decades, the people are determined, I believe this is the consensus of both sides, maybe because of some misunderstandings, the two sides were unhappy, but we can't bear to see so many innocent people uprooted, so that thousands of miles of fertile fields into no man's land, I hope that this time I come to the Great Song Dynasty can make the Song and Liao relations return to the past, prosperous trade, peaceful borders, this is the task given to me by the Son of Heaven, I also hope that the colleagues of the Great Song Dynasty will also work together to restore the former covenant as soon as possible."

The words are very beautiful, taking the people's livelihood as the starting point, highlighting the benevolence and righteousness of the Liao State, the war that broke out before is an understatement, this is because the Liao State suffered a big loss and fell behind, if the Liao State had the upper hand, the words would not have been said like this, and even the Liao State envoy did not come at all, but like ten years ago, Fu Bi went to Youzhou to negotiate with the Liao Emperor in humiliation.

However, Zhang Xiaojie still hinted at Sima Guang, the Liao State hopes to restore the previous covenant, that is, the New Year's coin will be given, and Yizhou will be returned, Sima Guang shook his head secretly, how arrogant are the Liao people, thinking that not asking the Great Song Dynasty to ask for a million years old coins is a big concession?

No wonder Fanning said that it was impossible to conclude an alliance, at most an armistice.

Sima Guang smiled faintly: "The situation is changing, our thinking should also change, since it is a new covenant, then we have to come up with something new, if nothing remains the same, then the two sides continue to recognize the alliance of Tanyuan, why should Zhang Xiangguo make a trip, but I believe that we will be able to find common interests and reach an alliance that is satisfactory to both parties." ”

At this time, Yelu Pinghui, the deputy envoy sitting on the side, said coldly: "Since it is a peace negotiation, then your country must show sincerity, we can't negotiate here, but your country keeps making small moves behind the scenes, what is the point of such negotiations?" ”

"May I ask who this is......" Sima Guang asked with a smile.

"I am Yelu Pinghui, the same acquaintance of the Southern Privy Council, and the deputy envoy of the Liao State in the Song-Liao negotiations this time."

"It turned out to be the deputy envoy of Yelu, I don't know what the sincerity of the deputy envoy means?"

"When we suppressed the Jurchen rebellion, we found a lot of Song army armor, didn't you support them behind your back?"

Sima Guang smiled, "There is no support, it was just a previous transaction, you should know, we have attacked your country's Tokyo City." ”

Yelu Pinghui pinched Ga Ba and said viciously: "There is also Juehua Island, should you withdraw to show your sincerity?" ”

"Isn't that what we're going to negotiate this time?"

Sima Guang also said coldly: "With all due respect, we want the negotiations to be open and honest, but we don't want to speak ill of each other, that is not beneficial to the negotiations, such an attitude as the deputy envoy will only destroy the atmosphere of the negotiations, and ultimately make the negotiations fail, I believe that this is by no means the result that the Son of Heaven of your country is willing to see." ”

Zhang Xiaojie and Yelu Pinghui had a division of labor in advance, one of them had a soft posture, and the other had a tough posture, Zhang Xiaojie hurriedly smiled and said: "The deputy envoy is a quick temper, he may have heard some rumors about the Jurchens, so he misunderstood, since it was a misunderstanding, everyone will be fine if they make it clear." ”

Sima Guang nodded, got up and said, "Then the two sides will start peace talks tomorrow morning, and I will come to pick up your envoy early tomorrow morning, and I will leave first." ”

Everyone sent Sima Guang out of the Liao State Pavilion, and when his carriage was gone, Yelu Pinghui asked, "What has Xiangguo gained?" ”

"There are at least two catches!"

Zhang Xiaojie snorted coldly and said, "The first is that they don't want to restore the previous Tanyuan Alliance, and they may ask for a sky-high price; The second is that we have made it clear that the Jurchens did collude with the Song State. ”

Sima Guang sat in the carriage, and Fan Ning, who was waiting in the carriage, asked with a smile: "How is it, what did you touch the other party?" ”

Sima Guang glared at him dissatisfiedly, "Let you go in together, but you won't, a lot of subtle things, how can I say to you?" ”

"Then tell me how you feel."

Sima Guang had no choice but to say: "I feel that the next negotiations will be very difficult, they still have unrealistic illusions, how can it be possible to restore the former Tanyuan Alliance?" ”

"It's normal, they don't think they are defeated, they just can't take advantage of the Song Dynasty, and of course they won't give in easily, so I said that it is impossible to reach an alliance, at most an armistice agreement."

Sima Guang nodded, "You see it very thoroughly!" ”

"Did they mention the Jurchens?" Fanning asked again.

"I mentioned it, I said it was a deal according to what you taught me, but they said that we support the Jurchen soldiers, wouldn't it be true?"

"Of course it's true!"

Fan Ning said lightly: "It was Kunzhou who supported them, and Zhang Qi shouldered the mission to go to the Jurchens, just to let the Jurchens resist the encirclement and suppression of the Liao State, support the Jurchens and the Liao army to fight for a long time, and weaken the national strength of the Liao State." ”

"Then why does Zhang Xiaojie want to see you privately, have you figured out why?"

Fan Ning shook his head, "I think maybe the Liao Emperor wants to buy me and make me make a price so that I don't participate in the war against the Liao State anymore." ”

Sima Guang was stunned for a moment, and then laughed dumbly: "Will Xiao Fan Xiang Guild be bought?" ”

Fanning smiled, "It depends on what price they offer!" ”

The two looked at each other and laughed together.