Chapter 1245 Fango (two updates combined into one)

Han Zhongyan accompanied Xiao Derang to the capital of Liao Kingdom as an envoy to Liao.

Wherever the Liao envoy Xiao Derang passed, the local governors would greet him. According to the rules after the Chanyuan Alliance, if local officials did not meet the Liao envoy's wishes, they would be impeached and held accountable.

Since the Chanyuan Alliance, the two countries have sent envoys to each other on the birthday of the emperor, the birthday of the empress dowager, the emperor's accession to the throne, or the death of the emperor and empress dowager, which are called permanent envoys.

The two sides of Song and Liao had been dealing with each other for eighty years and had laid a good foundation for interaction.

However, an extensive mission like Xiao Derang's was to deal with an emergency incident. At this time, the Song Dynasty state and county officials along the way had to be more careful, otherwise the consequences of delaying the important event would be disastrous.

Although the Liao State received the Song envoys on equal terms, due to the loss of money and land, the Song envoys who went to the Liao State felt a sense of humiliation and burden.

Han Zhongyan recalled Zhang Yue's repeated explanations before his mission. Zhang Yue told him that sometimes he should stay closer to his enemies than his friends, and he should understand the other party's thoughts through constant contact and observation.

Just like playing chess, you take one step and I take another, and you have to fight and pull. As long as the entanglement of interests and grudges becomes deeper, it will be harder for both parties to completely fall out.

Unless there is a disparity in strength between the two parties.

Therefore, Han Zhongyan's mission was to find out the Khitan's intentions.

The deputy envoy traveling to Liao was Tong Guan, who had repeatedly made military exploits on Xihe Road. This time when he returned to report his duties, he was transferred by the officials to accompany Han Zhongyan.

The envoys to the Liao dynasty all shouldered similar missions. Along the way, they observed the mountains, rivers, deserts, customs, and the temperament of its monarchs and ministers. After returning to the court, they reported each to the court. Generations of envoys to the Liao accumulated a large amount of information.

The manuscripts and records help the current monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty understand the powerful enemy of the Liao Kingdom.

After Han Zhongyan and Xiao Derang arrived in Xiongzhou, they passed through Baigou Station to Xincheng County, then to Zhuozhou, Liangxiang and arrived in Youzhou, which was also Nanjing in the Liao Kingdom, pseudo-named Yanjing City.

Yanjing was a lost territory during the Han and Tang dynasties, as had been recorded by numerous envoys. This time, the Liao Kingdom was heavily guarded against the envoys and did not allow them to enter the city.

Han Zhongyan took a look from a distance and saw that craftsmen were repairing the towers and walls of Yanjing. Could it be that the Liao Kingdom was also worried that the Song army would go north to regain Youyan, so they took precautions in advance.

However, as far as Han Zhongyan knew, the senior officials of the imperial court really had such a view.

…

After that, we went north from Youzhou, crossed the Gaoliang River, and the Great Wall Shunzhou, and finally arrived at Gubeikou, where nomadic peoples and agricultural peoples separate.

In the past, the Han and Tang Dynasties set up important towns here to prevent nomads from going south, and this place was also called Xiguan in ancient times. Now Han Zhongyan traveled such a long way to arrive here. He felt like he was waiting to sit in a well and look at the sky, and then he felt the vastness of the Han and Tang Dynasties.

Suddenly some of the descendants lamented that they were unable to keep up the good work.

Han Zhongyan looked at the two cliffs at Gubeikou. There was only a road in the middle that could accommodate a car, and there was a deep stream below the road.

A total of forty miles are filled with this dangerous path.

It is really sad that such natural dangers were lost to the hands of the barbarians. If there were such natural dangers on the Hebei Plain, there would be no need to think day and night to build a city with troops and fight decisively in Jinei.

After passing Gubeikou, you will see a complete grassland scenery. You will pass through many post houses along the way, and finally arrive at Dading Prefecture, Zhongjing of the Liao Dynasty.

After Han Zhongyan arrived, he looked around. The so-called Zhongjing City was indeed low and narrow, and there were not many people living in the city. Walls were built on both sides of the road, and the square gates restricted the people's access. There were fierce Khitan officials standing near the square gates.

He beat and drove away the common people with a royal stick.

Although there are few people, there are countless camels, carriages and caravans passing through the market place.

There were tall market buildings built on all sides of the market, and Khitan soldiers patrolled the market buildings with bows. At first glance, the market system was somewhat new to the Han people accompanying the delegation, but they didn't know it was the old system of the Han and Tang Dynasties.

…

However, this trip was not the end of Han Zhongyan's trip. Among the five capitals of the Liao Kingdom, Linhuang Mansion was the first capital of the Liao Kingdom, and it was later moved to Dading Mansion in the middle capital.

From here, they trekked all the way again, passing through Raozhou, where the Tang Dynasty established the Khitan. The group passed by Daheiguan, but were suddenly hit by a strong wind. After walking for several days, another dusty sandstorm descended, and the post road was covered with yellow sand.

The road is covered and the traces of the road can hardly be seen clearly.

Officials who are proficient in the Khitan language and people in the Liao Kingdom say that such windy and sandy weather lasts at least a hundred days a year in the Liao Kingdom.

Han Zhongyan thought about how he had sent Liao officials to record that the scenery along the Liao Kingdom was very beautiful. Even if there were windy and sandy days, it would only last a few days. How could it be so frequent?

Han Zhongyan didn't understand the reason, so he only reported it to Zhang Yue after returning to Beijing.

There was another interesting thing on the way. When we were about to arrive in Shangjing, we suddenly encountered a tiger lying on the mountain.

Han Zhongyan was surprised when he saw it. How come the tigers in Liao were so much bigger than those in Han.

After the tiger went away, there happened to be a painter beside Han Zhongyan who painted the tiger's expression on the spot. Everyone in the Liao Dynasty admired the painting skills of the Han people.

It took Han Zhongyan twenty days to reach Zhongjing, and another twenty days to reach Shangjing. Finally, he arrived in front of the Lord Liao's tent in Shangjing Shen Enbo.

This is the place where the Lord of the Liao Dynasty held his alms bowl in the summer. Lord Yelu Hongji of the Liao Dynasty had just cut ice in the Duck River to fish, released Haidongqing to kill birds, had a fish feast, and met the leaders of the Five Kingdoms of Jurchen before moving here.

.

The climate in Shangjing has been much better.

Han Zhongyan saw many tents and tents in the wilderness, and in the distance there were gravel and wild swamps. Many Liao people were shooting wild ducks and geese near the swamps.

At this time, hundreds of Khitan cavalry in wild costumes appeared nearby, appeared from behind the mountain and surrounded a nearby forest.

The Liao cavalry surrounded the forest in circles, then drove the prey out and shot them with arrows. Finally, the warriors dismounted and stepped forward to fight with spears. In addition to elk, there were also ferocious beasts such as bears and tigers.

However, the Khitan cavalry were skilled in bows and horses, and even when hunting, they were very well organized.

Han Zhongyan looked at Tong Guan aside and asked, "Can the elite soldiers on Xihe Road win?"

Tong Guan immediately said: "Of course!"

Then he touched a few short whiskers on his chin and said, "Maybe!"

The Khitan people first lived not in the grassland deserts, but in the Liaoze. This Liaoze had caused a lot of trouble for the armies of the Sui and Tang Dynasties that conquered Goguryeo. Now Emperor Nabo of the Liao Kingdom also likes to live near the swamps, living in pursuit of water and grass.

.

Different from ordinary felt camps, there are countless flags and knotted objects standing tall here. You can tell at a glance that this is the Shanyu Court.

Han Zhongyan said that many carriages and horses arrived here along the way, including officials from the North and South Houses, as well as the heads of various vassal states or their subordinates.

Cars and horses came and went constantly, and in addition to various local tributes, there were also beautiful women, tigers, leopards, and dogs.

In the entire Shangjing Prefecture and Linhuang Prefecture, we did not see any cities like Yanjing and Zhongjing. They were all campsites, and it was indeed the Nabo land of the Lord of Liao.

After arriving here, the Song envoy settled on the spot, while the Liao envoy Xiao Derang went to see Yelu Hongji, the Lord of Liao, and Yelu Po, the privy envoy of the Beiyuan, who were stationed here.

Han Zhongyan was allowed to walk out of the tent, and in the distance was the royal court where the Lord of Liao was.

When Han Zhongyan returned to his tent, several Liao people dressed in purple entered carrying large pots filled with cooked mutton.

The Liao people took the meat from the tripod, cut it, and served it on a silver plate.

Han Zhongyan and Tong Guan both followed the local customs and cut meat with knives to eat. They ate half a catty of meat.

Soon the Liao people brought another pot of rice and a bowl of fruits and vegetables with honey, and the two of them drank wine. Han Zhongyan had something on his mind and was about to get up after only one cup. The Liao people on the side thought they were not treating the guests well and were anxious

He scratched his ears and head, and urged him to drink.

Han Zhongyan laughed when he saw this, and he felt that the Khitan people were honest and hospitable.

Soon Liao officials came in and told Han Zhongyan that the Lord of Liao would personally receive him tomorrow.

Han Zhongyan went to bed early that night.

While lying in the felt tent, he remembered Zhang Yue's instructions before his mission.

Before he was appointed as an envoy, Zhang Yue said to him: "The Liao Kingdom is already semi-nomadic and semi-agricultural, and with the annual tribute from the Song Dynasty and the foraging fields in the border areas, the Liao Kingdom is self-sufficient enough to maintain the stability of the dynasty.

There has been no war with the Song Dynasty for eighty years, maintaining relatively stable borders and peace. At the same time, although there is a cultural gap between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty, the difference is not big, and the two sides still have good communication. Therefore, the war between Song Dynasty and Liao Dynasty will either be slowed down or the war will be slowed down.

Fight, or fight in a hurry and fight!"

"As far as Song and Liao are concerned, there won't be such a war unless it's life and death."

"If the small war is an extension of politics, it means that the negotiations have reached a deadlock, and we have to use other methods to get it."

Zhang Yue took a sip of tea and continued: "Of course Song and Liao can't fight. I said it, but the whole court didn't believe it. Your Majesty doesn't believe it either!"

"I dare not say that I am 100% sure! You are going to test out the intentions of the Lord of Liao and the bottom line of the monarchs and ministers of Liao."

"How to test?" Han Zhongyan asked.

Zhang Yue wrote lightly: "To anger the Lord of Liao, he would even risk his own life!"

Han Zhongyan was stunned.

Zhang Yue asked: "Do you dare?"

Han Zhongyan said angrily: "Sanlang, don't use the method of provoking generals! Death can be lighter than a feather, or heavier than Mount Tai. If it is heavier than Mount Tai... it doesn't matter, but if my death caused a war between Song and Liao, wouldn't it be lighter than a feather?"

Zhang Yue smiled and said: "No, if you die, you will be a hero of the imperial court. Your Han family will also be respected by people all over the world."

"But you have nothing to be afraid of. Qiankun never falls into the trap of auspicious people, and even tigers and leopards can stand tall!"

"I'll teach you a tactic to ensure that you escape unscathed!"

"What's the word formula?" Han Zhongyan asked.

"Hun Zi Jue!"

Zhang Yue said: "When you go to Liao as an envoy, just argue with reason, but you must speak clearly, and don't be clever and take advantage of others; when you argue with others, don't just see your own reasons and say nothing; regardless of the Liao people,

No matter how deceitful, cunning, mean and arrogant come, you just respond to them with sincerity and foolishness!"

"I have never heard of anything unexpected happening to the honest people in the world, but it's the clever people who are playing tricks that make them self-defeating."
To be continued...