I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 49: Zhengdan Envoy, I recommend Bao Xiren to the Admonition Academy

In the fifth year of Qingli, it is July [-]th.

Early in the morning.

The weather in Bianjing is very hot.

The Ministry of Public Security issued a notice recommending Khitan Zhengdan envoys to all officials in Beijing.

Officials in the capital can recommend them, or they can recommend themselves.

The so-called Zhengdan envoys are envoys who go to celebrate the New Year of the Liao Kingdom.

Since the Chanyuan Alliance, it has become a common practice for Song and Liao to congratulate each other on Zhengdan.

Since the two countries are thousands of miles apart, they have to leave in September and return in March of the following year.

This year, things are different.

There is an additional sentence on the notice: Congratulations to Zhengdan, and also monitor side affairs.

In the second year of Qingli, the Liao Kingdom took advantage of the Song Dynasty to be at war with Xixia. They took advantage of the situation to rob the country, pressed heavy troops on the territory, and claimed land from the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Zhen was shocked and sent Fu Bi as envoy to negotiate peace.

In the end, Song Zeng gave 10 taels of silver and [-] pieces of silk, ending the dispute.

Historical name: Qingli increased coins.

This incident also made Zhao Zhen see the Liao Kingdom's ambition.

The Chanyuan Alliance could not keep Song and Liao in peace forever, and the Liao Kingdom still wanted to invade and occupy the Song Dynasty.

In the past two years, many forbidden troops have also been added to the Hebei border.

Last year, the Song-Xia peace talks were held, and Xixia surrendered to the Song Dynasty, ending the war that lasted for several years.

But there was still conflict between Xixia and Liao.

The Three Kingdoms are both enemies and friends.

Either side is worried that the other two countries will form an alliance and attack them.

Due to this situation, this year's Zhengdan envoy also needs to understand the attitude of the Liao monarchs and ministers towards the Song Dynasty and the military situation on the border when they go to Liao.

It can be said to be a heavy responsibility.

……

Soon, the court recommendations began.

According to the usual practice, the Zhengdan envoys dispatched by the Song Dynasty were not of very high grade.

The chief officials of the two prefectures and three divisions, Hanlin bachelors, and various chief officials will not enter the Liao Dynasty.

But this time, the deputy privy envoys Ding Du and Pang Ji recommended themselves.

Some recommended the supervisory censor Li Ding, some recommended the household judge Wang Yaochen, and still others recommended the censor Zhongcheng Wang Gongchen.

The shameless imperial censor Liu Shi and Jian Yuan Qian Mingyi also presented themselves.

Some people even recommended Su Liang and Zhou Yuan.

……

Today, afternoon.

Su Liang looked at Zhou Yuan and asked: "Brother Zixiong, who do you think is most likely to become the Zhengdan Envoy?"

Zhou Yuan thought for a while and said with a smile: "I don't know about others. But for the two of us, there is definitely no hope."

"No, I have no hope, but brother Zixiong you still have a possibility."

What Su Liang said was not modest.

He is too young.

At 27 years old, he has a fair face and looks younger than his peers.

If he were to be the official envoy, the Liao Kingdom would have thought that there was no one in the Song Dynasty, so they would have sent such a young boy to fool them!
If a princess from the Liao Kingdom falls in love with him, she wants him to marry her.

According to the current capabilities of the Song Dynasty, it is really difficult to rescue Su Liang.

As for Zhou Yuan, he has more possibilities than Su Liang.

He is of the right age.

Although his official position was low, the Song Dynasty was good at traveling as a fake official. If he was awarded a fake official rank, he could become a Zhengdan envoy.

This method was often used during the Zhenzong period to show that the Song Dynasty was the orthodoxy and the Liao Dynasty was just a barbarian.

"Don't make fun of Brother Yu. I know I don't have this ability. In my opinion, it is very likely that one of the Deputy Privy Envoys will be sent as the Zhengdan Envoy this time." Zhou Yuan said.

Su Liang shook his head.

"I don't think they have a chance. You have to know that Deputy Commander Ding is 54 years old, and Deputy Commander Pang is 56 years old. Their health is not good. They can't stand this hard work!"

Being a Zhengdan Envoy may seem like a nice job, but it is actually very hard work.

The capitals of Song and Liao were thousands of miles apart, and the journey alone took three months.

In September, it gradually gets colder in the north, and by November, the wind is biting and the dripping water turns to ice.There is no good body.

If he suddenly fell ill in Liao and delayed his congratulations, he would not only be embarrassed, but might even lose his official position.

Secondly, the mountain roads in the Liao Kingdom are very rugged and difficult to navigate, with deep ditches everywhere.

And from time to time, wild animals appear, which can even be life-threatening.

Then there is the trouble caused by the Khitans.

After the envoys enter Liao, they will be greeted by envoys from the Liao Kingdom.

Most of these accompanying envoys liked to see the envoys of the Song Dynasty make fools of themselves and frequently resorted to dirty tricks.

For example: every time the Song Dynasty envoy passed through a post station, the other party would give a banquet.

Liao people are addicted to alcohol, and thieves can drink it.

When the envoy of the Song Dynasty sat down at the banquet, he would be disrespectful to his master if he did not drink.

And once you make a fool of yourself while drinking, or say some inappropriate words, or do something you shouldn't do.

After returning home, he will be severely punished.

In the past, there were also envoys who took the Song Dynasty envoys to take long detours.

The journey of more than 200 miles was almost a thousand miles.

The other party's purpose was to show the Song envoys the vastness of Liao's territory.

In short, going to Liao as an envoy was full of pitfalls.

If an upright envoy does not have enough determination and courage, he will definitely be embarrassed.

Zhou Yuan continued: "If the two deputy privy envoys are unable to make the trip due to their old age, then I am afraid that the most promising ones are the censor Zhongcheng Wang Gongchen and the household judge Wang Yaochen, and... the supervisory censor Li Ding, his The advantage is that I can speak Khitan!"

"These people, I...I don't think they are very good."

"Wang Gongchen is narrow-minded and may not be able to show the prestige of the Song Dynasty in front of the Lord of Liao. Wang Yaochen, the judge of the Ministry of Household Affairs, is too scholarly and has a gentle personality. He is afraid of being bullied by Liao officials. As for Li Ding, Qian Mingyi, and Liu Shi, they Not worthy at all!”

"Then who in the court do you think can be sent as envoy to Liao?" Zhou Yuan asked curiously.

Su Liang puffed up his chest and said with a serious face: "It must be Bao Xiren of the Zhijianyuan."

"Pfft!"

Zhou Yuan just took a sip of tea and then spit it out.

"Jingming, don't be ridiculous. If Song and Liao go to war, and Bao Jianyuan yells and curses in front of the battle, I believe he will be able to kill the opponent. But now that he is a Zhengdan envoy, will Bao Jianyuan suddenly become angry and spit at the Lord of Liao? saliva?"

Su Liang was immediately happy.

"It's possible! But I still feel that no one is more suitable than him. I have written a memorial recommending him and will send it to you now!"

……

At dusk, inside the Chui Gong Hall.

Zhao Zhen frowned as he read through the recommendation letters sent by the courtiers.

He never found the perfect candidate.

Dingdu and Pangji are old.

Li Ding, Qian Mingyi, Liu Shi and others are not enough to represent the image of the Song Dynasty.

Wang Gongchen is not tough externally, and Wang Yaochen is too bookish...

Zhao Zhen's favorite is actually Su Liang.

He has fighting spirit, hard work, brains, and most importantly, a sharp tongue.

Unfortunately, Su Liang is too young and has little qualifications.

It doesn't work yet.

at this time.

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw Su Liang's memorial.

"Who will Su Jingming recommend?" Zhao Zhen opened the memorial and looked at it carefully. He couldn't help but laugh and cry.

"This Su Jingming, what a nonsense! If Bao Xiren is allowed to serve as the envoy of Zhengdan, Song and Liao will not be able to live a good life this year!"

Among the hundreds of memorials on the imperial court, not one recommended Bao Zheng.

Even Bao Zheng himself did not recommend himself, but recommended Wang Yaochen, the judge of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

All the courtiers knew that Bao Zheng was not suitable for this job at all.

Zhengdan envoys need to be tactful and polite, and they need to talk to people and talk to ghosts.

Bao Zheng does not possess these characteristics.

Zhao Zhen threw Su Liang's memorial aside.

What he didn't know was that Su Liang was no longer a child's play and had already gone to find Bao Zheng to persuade him to recommend himself.

(End of this chapter)