Once, Liang Chu said to Zhang Fujing: On the day of success, the pawn who crosses the river will become a general.

Zhang Fujing thought that his achievements were in Jiaozhi, but he was so grateful to the emperor for his trust: as soon as the three-year period arrived, he received the title of governor of Shandong.

In another three years, Zhang Fujing, who was already fifty-three, sat in the position of secretary of the ministry.

Age, it seems, is enough. However, he has only been an official for six years.

Yan Song is the same.

Two middle-aged men in their forties walked into the field of vision of the fifteen-year-old boy in the sixteenth year of Zhengde, and since then they have soared into the sky, which is a good story of the monarchs and ministers belonging to the Jiajing Dynasty.

The new minister finally entered the center of the court steadily, but the old minister was withering.

In midsummer July, Yan Song, who entered Beijing one step later, arrived in the capital at the same time, as well as Zhu Qi, the Marquis of Funing.

When they entered the city, the Dingguo Mansion was in a state of flux, and almost at the same time as it came back to the capital, there was also the news of the death of Liang Chu and Gu Dayong.

Coincidentally.

Mao Cheng died of illness in the second year of Jiajing, and now three more people have died in this scorching summer. At this time when the situation of "monarchs and ministers fighting for power" in the Ming Dynasty began to appear, the important ministers who supported the emperor and welcomed the emperor were now only Yang Tinghe in Nanjing and Cui Yuan in the center.

Oh, and Zhang Jin, who played a big role at that time.

Yan Song, who had just become the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, first wanted to agree on a nickname for the Duke of Dingguo and Prince Liang.

Of course, Dingguo Gong has to be posthumously reprimanded, but Prince Liang was once demoted to the people for his crimes, and now he is given a nickname, which is the emperor's respect for the old ministers, and it is an affirmation of the credit of Prince Liang for helping Zhang Fujing try out the new law.

But there is more than one thing to be busy with in the Ministry of Rites.

At the beginning of July, after arriving at the border, the envoy sent by the Northern Yuan Khan's court, Bilegza Garin, with the permission of the emperor, had already sent troops from Jizhou Town to escort nearly 100 people led by him to the capital.

"It's rude! Even if I still have to wait for your emperor's time, but you are the only one right attendant of the Ministry of Rites here, and I am the messenger sent by the Venerable Great Khan, and I am the servant of the world master of the Immortal Heaven! We are not prisoners! ”

The right waiter of the Ministry of Rites is Cui Yuan's in-law Liu Long.

Liu Long served as the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites from the original Hanlin Academy, and he was still the third grade.

But Liu Long still adheres to his philosophy of being an official: it is good to coax a little, and not to make mistakes at a little.

Zagarin was a shamanic sorcerer who conveyed divine revelations and was also the brainchild of the lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, who was said to be good at divination and "magic attacks".

Now facing Bileg, the envoy of the Great Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, Liu Long just said patiently: "How can the Celestial Empire be rude? But when I decided to state and Liang Shunde, the first assistant of the cabinet that year, passed away, the Ministry of Rites was too busy. ”

"That's not a reason to snub my Khan Court! If the lord of the Han people is unwilling to listen to the greetings and suggestions of the lord of the steppe, then let me go back and tell the Great Khan such a result, instead of leaving us like prisoners in this small courtyard and unable to go out! ”

"Where's Zagarin? This hall is so big, there are no outsiders now, and there is good wine and food every day, so why slack? Wait two more days, and don't get impatient. ”

"Is it bad to have wine and meat on the prairie? I have come on behalf of the Great Khan to discuss great things with the lord of the land to the south! ”

"The official has already presented the credentials brought by Zagarin, so why rush for a while? Could it be that Zagalin thinks that a clear attitude will soon be negotiated on such a major matter? ”

Bilegg stared at him for a while, and then laughed: "Even if you can't clarify the detailed content, can't you even decide the attitude?" Could it be that whether to continue to fight on the frontier as in the past, or to negotiate peace, your Imperial Majesty cannot even clarify this attitude? ”

Liu Long frowned, the good old man also had a temper, and said coldly: "If this official is not mistaken, last year in Shuozhou, you seem to have suffered a big defeat. ”

After the interpreter vigilantly translated, the atmosphere in the hall of the hall suddenly became tense. The guards of the Bileg screamed, without interpreting, just looking at their expressions, knowing that they were cursing, but some were disdainful, others angry.

Bileg also said in a strange way: "It turns out that you think that the steppe heroes have broken into your home, and the land and your family have been ravaged, and in the end, you can cheer victory just by looking at our departing backs. ”

"Oh? What about General Li exterminating a small tribe that often infested my Daming Border Town? ”

Bileg was not angry, but nodded as if he suddenly realized: "It seems that the Tumut Department gave you courage. In this way, I am afraid that the good intentions of the Great Khan will be misinterpreted by you as a request for peace talks after the defeat. I don't think there's any need for me to stay. ”

"Didn't you come to ask for peace talks?"

A voice came in from outside the door, and a moment later, Yan Song walked in with steady steps in his new official robes.

Liu Long immediately saluted: "Uncle Zong." ”

Bileg looked at Yan Song and asked solemnly, "What is the honorable driver?" ”

"The book of the Ming Rite Department, Yan Song."

He slowly sat down on the throne, straightened the hem of the official robe, and then looked at Bileg: "Send an envoy to ask for tribute, what is a tribute?" Serve me as the main Ming, only to call tribute! Although Zagalin doesn't read the classics of my Celestial Empire, the lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty and his courtiers should always understand what tribute is, right? ”

"You!" Bileg was ridiculed by him for not learning anything, and then snorted, "That's just to make it easier for you to understand!" The Great Khan made it clear in his letter of state, it is a brotherhood! I heard that His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is twenty-one this year, and he is close to the age of the Great Khan! ”

Yan Song laughed: "So, the Great Khan of the Northern Yuan wants to call himself his brother?" ”

"Since you're old, it's naturally my Beiyuan brother!"

Yan Song put away his smile, stood up and saluted in the direction of the Forbidden City: "I am here to convey a few words to your envoy on the instructions of Your Majesty. ”

Since it was to convey the emperor's message, Bilege also had to express a little respect: "Please speak." ”

Yan Song frowned: "The holy oracle is to be listened to on your knees." ”

Bilge couldn't hold back: "I am the messenger of the Great Khan, how can I kneel and listen?" ”

"The Emperor is just a messenger, not the Lord of the Northern Yuan himself. Don't you kneel when you get to the palace? Liu Shilang, didn't you teach them the etiquette of my Celestial Empire? ”

The first two imperial study companions are now in the same department. But between him and Uncle Yan Dazong, there is already a sad thick barrier of the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites.

Now Liu Long can only answer with a bitter face: "Naturally, they have all been taught, but the mission is rebellious......

"The envoy does not know the courtesy, the lord of the Northern Yuan is not a person!" Yan Song looked at Bileg coldly, "If you don't follow my Ming etiquette, then please go back." ”

"You!" Bileg held his head high, "I am the servant of the world master of the Immortal Heaven, and I only kneel to the Immortal Heaven and the Great Khan, the son of the Immortal Heaven!" ”

Yan Song waved his sleeves very dryly: "Please go back." ”

"Is this the hospitality of the Han emperor, who is known as the state of etiquette? Prepare for the wrath of the Immortal Heaven to humiliate the messenger of the Great Khan in such a humiliating manner! ”

The purpose of Billeg's trip was already very flexible, and he simply began to talk harshly and prepare to withdraw.

And just as they walked out of the lobby and were about to go back to the bedroom to pack up, another group of people hurried to the hall.

Billeg's eyes lingered on the hat of the man at the head for a moment, and then his footsteps stopped—according to what he knew about the Han officials, the more vertical lines on the hats, the bigger the officials.

"Zhang Guowu, why are you here?"

Sure enough, he saw that the ritual secretary who was dragging just now also had to go out of the room and salute this person.

The person who came over was Zhang Zilin, who now saw the expression of the Northern Yuan mission, and asked, "Weizhong, what is the situation?" ”

"I want to read out Your Majesty's dictation, this Northern Yuan envoy did not kneel down to listen, which shows that he did not come sincerely to ask for peace. As the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, I cannot fall into the king's authority, so I ordered him to return to the north. If the lord of the Northern Yuan still intends to ask for peace, he should send another person who knows the courtesy. ”

Zhang Zilin was taken aback: "Your Majesty's dictation? The State Hall is still deliberating, and His Majesty has sent down an edict? ”

"How dare I pretend?"

These few sentences were not translated by the Ministry of Rites.

But in the Northern Yuan Mission, there was naturally an interpreter, and Bileg understood, and there was a hint of discoloration in his eyes.

“…… What does the oracle say? I should know that I am in charge of the Ministry of Rites. ”

"If the state affairs ask, the lower officials will naturally say it."

Yan Song saluted the emperor again with a straight look, "Your Majesty said that Bodi, who is two years older, wants to take advantage of His Majesty, and makes Beiyuan a country of brothers with this status, which is really a naïve move, and it also seems to be small." ”

“…… This is a humiliation to the Great Khan! In front of everyone's eyes, Bileg Wola gave a due response to Zhu Houxi's comments on the words of the Great Khan of the Northern Yuan.

Zhang Zilin's brows furrowed, but Yan Song didn't pay attention to the reaction of the Northern Yuan delegation at all.

He continued: "The Ming Dynasty has abolished the system of giving tribute several times as much, and if Bodi wants to trade with the Ming Dynasty, he doesn't have to play any trick of calling his brother Tonggong. Daming ironware, cotton, silk, tea and many other good things are not impossible to trade with the Northern Yuan, but the price is negotiable. Rare things are expensive, furs, horses, Daming is not without a way, on the contrary, it is the grassland that has a demand for Daming, and it should come up with the right price. ”

The core, in fact, is the same meaning: the Ming Dynasty does not play the set of tribute now, you can trade, negotiate the price.

It's just that in and out of the words, he not only ridiculed Bodi, but also clarified that the attitude is that the grassland has to ask for others.

Zhang Zilin's face changed suddenly: "How can iron weapons be given to people? The State Hall is discussing the exchange of cloth, tea, salt and other materials with the Northern Yuan, why did Your Majesty loosen his mouth and make the iron ware? ”

"That depends on whether Beiyuan can afford it." Yan Song didn't avoid Bileg now, but said directly to him, "Your Majesty also heard His Majesty's will, right?" The Ming Dynasty and the Northern Yuan Dynasty have been enemies for more than a hundred years? There is no need to mention the alliance. If the lord of the Northern Yuan really intends to stop the war, he must come up with a suitable price, starting with the trustworthy mutual market. How about the drive? Can we continue to negotiate a fair price? ”

Billeg's face was ugly.

A fair price? There is a price in the private market, but the Ming Emperor made it clear that the Ming Dynasty did not lack much of the fur, horses and other things that the grassland could provide. Can this price be based on the price at which the Ming border army in the private market has a little bit of bribery for peace?

What's more, if the Khan Court really negotiated with the Ming Dynasty like this, it would also be completely at the pace of the Ming Emperor and acting according to the Ming Emperor's intentions.

Zhang Zilin shook his head on the side: "You don't have to talk about iron!" Since His Majesty also wants to abolish the old system of tribute to the Northern Yuan, he can only talk about a mutual market price. This envoy's name is Billeg, right? Honorable driver may negotiate the terms of mutual market on behalf of the lord of the Northern Yuan? His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is benevolent and can't bear the bitter cold of the grassland herdsmen living in the north of the desert, so he may make a slight concession on the price to show the sincerity of friendship between the two countries. However, the lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty has the intention to stop the fighting, and please do not use the general of the Northern Yuan Dynasty as a condition that he will no longer sweep the border. Now the Ming border defense is stable, and the border will be updated to add military achievements, if the noble envoy uses this to coerce each other, the border will be dissatisfied. ”

"State Zhang! No matter how benevolent Your Majesty is, you must also put the well-being of the people of the Ming Dynasty first. This mutual market price, no concessions! ”

Bileg pondered the meaning of his words, observing Yan Song and Zhang Zilin's singing and harmonizing.

Although it is common for one person to share a role during negotiations, he has to distinguish whether this is just their negotiation strategy, or whether the contradictions between the Ming Emperor and some courtiers have intensified in front of him.

In any case, he saw the reaction in his eyes first and remembered it.

"His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty humiliated the words of the Great Khan, I will tell the truth!" Bilege grimaced, "Since the Great Ming despised the Khan Court because of his small victory over the Tumut Ministry, and even misunderstood the Great Khan's good intentions to ask for tribute, then there is nothing to talk about." ”

That person was called Zhang Guowu, and Bilege had already guessed who he was: in the new state hall of the Ming Dynasty, after Shi Xuan also left, he was the third minister of state after Fei Hong and Yang Tan.

He wanted the Northern Yuan not to stop raiding and plundering the border towns as a condition, but also said that he could make a slight concession on the price - in the name of the great tomorrow's understanding of the grassland herdsmen.

But did the emperor of the Ming Dynasty really understand the people under the command of Bodi when he humiliated the lord of the steppe like that?

These are not enough to make Bilege really think that the differences between the Ming monarchs and ministers have reached this extent, but in the few days that he has lived in this hall, the "Ming Pao" can be brought back.

On the front page of this issue, an article by a writer named Hou Anyong from Datong Lingqiu Juren was published, counting the many northern captives he had experienced in Datong, and also carefully combing through the invasion of Daming since the Civil Revolution, especially after the Tatars drove away Wara.

Bileg still needs to think about the purpose of this, but the one who "escorted" the mission out of Daming again became Funing Marquis Zhuqi.

Along the way, he learned why. Outside the Santun Camp of the General Army of Jizhou Town, he and Zhu Qi separated, because Zhu Qi was going to take over as the Chief Military Officer of Jizhou Town - the border town of Jizhou of the Ming Dynasty also changed generals, and the new general soldiers were the emperor's trusted ministers.

As soon as he got out of the side wall, Bilegh sent out a few of his guards first: "Pass it out first!" Because of the defeat of the Tumut tribe, the emperor of the Han people humiliated the Great Khan so much, despised the Khan's court, and even disdained to see the Great Khan's envoys. ”

There is a shift at 8 o'clock.

(End of chapter)