At this time, the Great Song Dynasty, in the eyes of the Liao and Xixia people, obviously belonged to the kind of people who were stupid, had a lot of money, and came quickly; And the root cause of this situation is not the weakness of the surname Song Tian, which has already involved the issue of fundamental interests.

For the Western Xia and Khitans, their main mode of survival was not production, but plunder, that is, because production was relatively backward, the benefits of plunder were greater. However, the Great Song Dynasty was different, due to the high level of production, its level of affluence was not comparable to that of the Khitan and Tangut people, and in a peaceful environment, the value created by production was enough to enjoy.

In the event of a war, it is inevitable to recruit strong men, so that a large number of productive people will participate in the war, which will lead to a decline in production; Moreover, the huge military expenditure brought by the war often exceeds millions of yuan, and if it is won, it will not plunder much wealth, but once it is defeated, the loss is even more difficult to estimate.

In this case, summing is the most helpless choice of the imperial court, and the annual output of New Year's coins, although it is not good in name, is the smallest way to stop losses of interests; But once the war starts, the loss of benefits is incalculable.

Shen Ao saw the criticism of the Ministry of Rites, although he felt that the bones of the Ministry of Rites were a little soft, but he also knew that this was the best way to solve the problem at the moment, and how could the two countries make up for the evil between the two countries, how could it be made up for by 800,000 silver?

Zhao Ji must also be very aware of this, so although his face was extremely bad, and his eyes were murderous, he finally sighed and said with a wry smile: "I'd better paint first, Yang Jian, you can send this music back to the Ministry of Rites." ”

Yang Jian took the music and sent it back, which means that the emperor already knows how to do it, and the Ministry of Rites will consider it himself.

Shen Ao smiled, somehow in his heart, very uncomfortable, he used to feel very disgusting things happened in front of him, although he could understand Zhao Ji's distress at this time, but he always felt strange in his heart, at the moment when Yang Jian was about to go downstairs, Shen Ao suddenly said: "Your Majesty, it's better to let Weichen deal with this matter, Weichen knows some Khitan customs, maybe he can mediate with the Khitan envoy." ”

"You?" Zhao Ji was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled bitterly, Shen Ao's style is too casual, the Khitan is not a mud Bora, let Shen Ao negotiate, if the Khitan envoy is beaten, it will be very bad.

Zhao Ji was about to refuse, but the moment his eyes touched Shen Ao's eyes, Zhao Ji couldn't help but hesitate again, he clearly saw that there was a bit of confidence in Shen Ao's clear eyes, this confidence had never been seen in those officials of the Ministry of Rites who negotiated with the Khitans, should he believe that Shen Ao could handle this matter?

Zhao Ji absentmindedly sat down and picked up the teacup, pondered faintly, and after a while, he said: "Chuan I've sent Shen Ao to be the messenger and negotiate with the Khitan envoy, and the two countries should mediate and be handled by Shen Ao, a bachelor. ”

Shen Ao hurriedly said, "The minister obeys the order." ”

Asking a scholar to interfere in the affairs of the Khitan Kingdom is something that has never been seen in the history of the Great Song Dynasty, and it is not easy for Zhao Ji to make this decision! Taking a deep breath, he felt a sense of relief, glanced at Shen Ao, and said, "Remember, don't let me down." ”

Shen Ao said angrily: "Please rest assured, Weichen will definitely live up to his mission." ”

……………………………………………………………… After going down the Long Live Mountain, Yang Jian sent it all the way, complaining: "Shen Ao, Shen Ao, aren't you taking the trouble on yourself?" This Khitan envoy is the most arrogant and domineering, he can't beat or scold, and he has to say good things in front of him, others can't push it, it's good for you to directly bring up the trouble. ”

Shen Ao didn't argue with him, but said: "Gonggong Yang, don't worry, it's okay, this Khitan envoy has been famous for a long time, and I also want to meet him." ”

Yang Jian sighed, and now that the matter is over, it is useless to persuade him, so he said, "You can do it yourself." ”

Shen Ao arrived at the Ministry of Rites, the emperor's edict had already come first, and the Ministry of Rites Shangshu heard that His Majesty was going to let Qin Cha take care of this matter, and his heart was relieved, feeling that this mountain burden was finally unloaded, and he was about to celebrate in his heart, but who knew that Qin Cha was Shen Ao, and his face was green for a while.

The Khitan envoys have a transcendent status, and it can be said that even the prince in this Bianjing City will never dare to be as domineering as them; People are arrogant, there is also a reason, the Khitan envoy represents the entire Khitan, as long as the Great Song Dynasty avoids the war, the Khitan has enough reason to be arrogant, and no one dares to provoke.

At the moment when he learned that Qin Cha turned out to be Shen Ao, Yang Zhen, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, couldn't help but be stunned for a while; Shen Ao? That prisoner Shen Ao? Not only had he seen this man, but he also knew a lot about his deeds, especially the beating of the mud Bharata prince that he still remembers vividly.

Such a stunned young man actually dared to come to mediate with the Khitan envoy? A Khitan envoy is enough to give people a headache, plus a guy who is afraid that the world will not be chaotic, I am afraid that within March, the two countries of Song and Liao will have to meet each other.

Yang Zhen listened to the rumor in the palace, and was just about to stroke his forehead to celebrate, but when Shen Ao heard the words in his ears, he almost didn't lose his breath all of a sudden; Finally breathed a sigh of relief, and listened to the doorman to report: "Shen Ao, a bachelor, asks to see you." ”

Yang Zhen smiled bitterly, tried his best to put on a bit of majesty, and said with a beard: "Please let him in." ”

Shen Ao came in loudly, and just about to give a salute, Yang Zhen hurriedly left his seat to stop him, speaking of which, the relationship between the two is also complicated, the Ministry of Rites is in charge of the Guozi Prison, the Guozi is in charge of the prisoners, Shen Ao is the prisoner, it stands to reason that Shen Ao should call himself a student in front of Yang Zhen. But on the other hand, Shen Ao is a bachelor, and in front of Yang Zhen, he should claim to be a lower official, but Shen Ao now has a mission, as a Qincha, he represents the emperor, so it seems embarrassing for the two to see each other.

"Lord Chincha doesn't need to be polite." Yang Zhen and Shen Ao were polite, and asked the little official to serve the teacup, Shen Ao got straight to the point, and asked about the Khitan envoy, Yang Zhen said: "This Khitan envoy has a lot of origin, but it is the clan of the Liao State, the Han name is Yelu Laide, this person was originally the general of the Liao State Forbidden Army, but I don't know how, the lord of the Liao State sent him to the envoy, according to the old man, this should be the main demonstration of the Liao State to us." ”

After all, Yang Zhen is an old bureaucrat, and he analyzed such diplomatic things very well: "So when the envoy arrived in Beijing, the old man felt that this year was only afraid that it would not be peaceful, and he was afraid that there would be no accidents. However, this thing is also very strange, in previous years, there was a famine in Liao, so people would be sent to provoke, and then use this as an excuse to increase the New Year's coin. But this year, according to the news that the old man got it, several provinces in the southern courtyard of Liaoguo are full of bumper harvests, and they are so eager to increase the New Year's coins, I don't know why. ”

Shen Ao nodded, the matter was almost cleared up, something happened in Liaoguo, but no one knew what was going on. So the Khitans came this time to be extremely vicious, and the lion opened his mouth. After all, this is the land of the Great Song Dynasty, and the Shanggaohou is the head of the snake, and he beat the Khitans, they seized this opportunity, and they demanded excessively, almost doubled the year's coins, and released the news that if they did not agree to the conditions, the two countries would go to war.

Yang Zhen said worriedly: "The Khitan people are menacing, we must not be brutal with them, since it is a negotiation, those who can back down will back down a few points, everyone has steps, this battle can't be fought; What does Chin Cha think? ”

Shen Ao smiled noncommittally, and changed the topic: "I don't know if the High Marquis is here?" ”

Yang Zhen said: "I have already asked people to call, and I will arrive immediately, the Khitan people asked us to hand over the murderer, hey, others are fine, and the high marquis will never be handed over." ”

After waiting for half a pillar of incense, Menzi came to report: "Shanggaohou is here." ”

As soon as the front foot of the door left, the high marquis came in loudly, he was slightly more than twenty years old, only older than Shen Ao, with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, with a fierce face, he walked with a tiger's might, and a pair of ringed eyes under the thick eyebrows patrolled the hall, and said angrily: "I don't know what the adults called Ben Hou to come, what happened?" ”

Yang Zhen complained bitterly in his heart, first asked Gao Hou to sit down, and when Gao Hou saw Shen Ao, he said: "I know you, you are Shen Ao Shen Talent!" Haha, I didn't expect to meet here today, at the banquet at the Mansion of the Princes of Qiguo, I sat in the outer hall and had a drink with you, does Shen Caizi still remember? ”

Shen Ao had an impression of this guy, and said with a smile: "Remember, remember, Hou Ye's demeanor is still the same." ”

After talking about the old for a while, but Yang Zhen was put aside, Shen Ao suddenly straightened his face and said, "Master Hou, let me ask you, where did you go last night?" ”

Shanggaohou was stunned for a moment and said, "Get on the flower boat." ”

Shen Ao asked again: "Is there a conflict with people?" ”

Shanggaohou pursed his lips and said, "How did Shen Caizi know?" Last night, I met a few Liao people who didn't know each other, and the marquis looked angry and beat them. ”

The reason for the matter was inquired, it turned out that the high marquis and a few friends went to the flower boat to drink, invited a singer to sing the song, it was when the wine was hot, a few Liao people suddenly rushed in, saying that the best sister on the flower boat is here, to let this singer go with them, Shang Gaohou usually does not mess with others is good, where can I stand this anger, plus the ancestor of this Hou Ye is the founding father, and the Liao people have been at war, since childhood looked down on the Liao people, they scolded a few words.

At first, these Liao people cursed each other with the Shanggao Hou in a few half-baked Chinese words, but later they spoke Khitan dialect in a babbling voice, and they were about to pull out their knives.

When the matter came to this point, Shang Gaohou rushed over with a few of his companions, seized their knives, punched and kicked them, and then walked away.

Hitting someone on the flower boat is not a big deal for this little marquis, so this morning the people from the Ministry of Rites came to call, and he didn't know what happened, until Shen Ao asked, and then looked at Yang Zhen on the side with a straight face, and understood in his heart, it is estimated that the person he beat last night was not small; Full of indignation: "If they don't draw their swords, this marquis will never do anything to him, Shen Caizi, don't you say?" ”

Yang Zhen interjected with a wry smile on the side: "Master Hou, you have caused a big disaster." ”

Shanggaohou said angrily: "What kind of trouble, do you teach the Khitan people to draw their swords and kill me, so that they don't cause trouble?" What is the rationale for this? ”

Yang Zhen blew his beard and glared, "You...... You ......" was speechless for a while, what Shanggaohou did was understandable, if it was a lawsuit, Shanggaohou would also take the reason, after all, it was the Khitans who made the first move and moved the knife.

Shen Ao said on the side: "Lord Yang doesn't have to get angry, what's the ...... about this" Shen Ao paused and said: "Lord Hou did the right thing, this Khitan people dare to be so arrogant when they come to our territory, they should be taught a lesson." ”

Shanggaohou was overjoyed, and said excitedly: "Use the knife with me, and don't look at Ben Hou, who has been practicing guns since he was a child, and it is difficult for several people to get close!" Shen Caizi, next time I have a chance, I'll play a trick on you. ”

"Definitely, definitely, but it's not fun to play with guns and sticks, and it looks good when you have an opponent." Shen Ao laughed.

Shanggaohou's eyes lit up, it was really unbelievable, Shen Caizi also had this preference, so he said: "Golden Lotus Fang, does Shen Caizi know?" There are the most fanshang, these people are the most unruly, Shen Caizi wants to see it, next time I will take you there, if you meet a few people who are not long-eyed, let Shen Gongzi watch a good show"

Yang Zhen couldn't imagine that Shen Ao would help the Shanggao Marquis speak, and he was even more angry, and said: "Master Shen, don't forget, you are a Qincha, and the official family called you to appease the envoy of the Liao State, you ...... You ......"

Shen Ao remembered that he was a Qincha, and hurriedly said, "Shanggaohou, are you guilty?" Do you know that the one you fought last night was the envoy of the Liao State, hmph, how can this really be the case, can the envoy of the Liao State fight? Your deeds are so bad that Ben Chin must punish you severely. ”

The high marquis sighed: "It turns out that person is the envoy of the state?" ”

Shen Ao continued: "You only know now? It's too late to regret it, hum, you beat up your international friends for no reason, the crime is unforgivable, and now Ben Chin has sent you to go home immediately, face the wall and think, no alcohol is allowed for three days, no guests, when you think clearly about what you are wrong with, before you can go out the door. ”

Shanggaohou smiled, sure enough, the sin was unforgivable, he was not allowed to drink alcohol or meet guests for three days, and he really taught the little marquis to be uncomfortable, and hurriedly made a subordination statement: "Yes, yes......"

Yang Zhen said to Shen Ao on the side: "Qincha, the sentence is too light, we need to ask Hou Ye to go to the Wanguo Pavilion in person to apologize to the Khitan envoy, so that we can have room for maneuver and let the Khitan people calm their anger." ”

When the high marquis heard this, he said angrily: "Apologize? Lord Yang, what do you mean by that? ”

Shen Ao hurriedly patted the shoulder of the Marquis of Shanggao: "Lord Yang is joking, the marquis of this dynasty went to apologize to the Khitan barbarians, this is a humiliating thing for the country, how can Lord Yang not be able to distinguish the severity." ”

Yang Zhen snorted coldly and said, "Shen Qincha, what kind of medicine are you selling in your gourd, the Shanggao Marquis beat the Khitan envoy, why do you do everything you can to defend him?" ”

Shen Ao was also angry at this time, and said with horizontal eyebrows: "Lord Yang, Ben Qin is trying to maintain the majesty of our Great Song Dynasty, not only to maintain the high marquis?" On the contrary, it is you, who eats Junlu, why do you speak for the Khitan people in every possible way? ”