Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 335: The Han Envoy in Xinxia (Part )
Traveling to Yangdu,

King Xia warmly received Zhang Qian, the Han envoy.

only,
He used the etiquette that was advocated by the princes when they visited each other in the past.

During the conversation, neither side directly agreed to Zhang Qian's request for an alliance or expedition against the Huns.

He just asked Zhang Qian to step back and experience the scenery of Xinxia first.

Zhang Qian therefore knew that

I am afraid that I will find it difficult to complete my mission.

as predicted,

After a while,

King Xia still did not change his words.
The receptionist who was in charge of receiving Zhang Qian stroked his long beard and took the initiative to find Zhang Qian and asked him provocatively:
"Is Xiaguo's hospitality to you in accordance with etiquette? Is it in line with gentlemanly interaction?"

Zhang Qian only said, "I have been outside the territory for a long time. Now I am finally in the Xia Kingdom and I am once again bathed in the glory of the Xia rituals."

then,

The official straightened his chest and said without disguising, "It seems that the Xia Kingdom is more knowledgeable about etiquette and laws than the Han Dynasty!"

"Your Excellency should know the reason why our two countries broke off diplomatic relations, right?"

Zhang Qian immediately understood his purpose.

It just so happened that at this moment, the Han angel no longer had the original expectations for the "Alliance with Xinxia".

In this case,

Zhang Qian did not pretend to be a gentle, polite and modest gentleman.

He snorted and told the guest:
"The Central Plains occupied by our Han Dynasty is the key place of the Nine Provinces. It is located in the center of the world and is the ancestral home of all the Chinese people!"

"Now that I have obtained this divine weapon, I will become the elder of each of the Xia clans, like a monarch, commanding all the ministers!"

So the Han Dynasty's request to the Xia Kingdom was,
It is in accordance with Zhou rites!

The Xinxia envoy refused. This could only be his own problem!

The Xinxia official also frowned, stood with his hands behind his back facing Zhang Qian, and said coldly, "It is still unknown who will win!"

Zhang Qian also responded with a cold look.

Seeing this, the other members of the delegation remained silent and dared not say a word.

Only Tang Yifu was quietly sighing with his fellow man:
"He's just like a god of war fighting for love!"

……

Subsequently,

In order to demonstrate the power of the country to the envoys of the Han Dynasty, the King of Xia specially arranged a military parade composed of the elite troops in the country and invited Zhang Qian and others to watch it.

King Xia, wearing a majestic crown, asked Zhang Qian with great pride, "What do you think of our military strength?"

Zhang Qian looked at the formation and replied to King Xia, "It is indeed impressive, but unfortunately it is still inferior to our Han Heavenly Soldiers."

"What gives you the right to say that?" Xia Chen shouted unhappily, thinking that Zhang Qian was just being stubborn.

But Zhang Qian gave a reason:
"I heard that Xia Country has been stable for a long time, and there has been no fighting for decades."

of course,

This refers to the interior of Xia State.

foreign,

Because of the magical brains of the Sindhu kingdoms in the south,
There are still many nomadic Sai people active in the north, and there are still frictions and conflicts on the borders of Xinxia.

Such a situation,
To other barbarian countries outside the territory, it was a truly prosperous era, enough to immerse the ruler and his subjects in boundless beauty, and was praised by bards as a dream era.

But in the eyes of the gentlemen of the Xia Dynasty, "prolonged peace" is not a good thing.

That will make people lazy.

The soldiers' hands will no longer be strong enough to pick up weapons.

It will allow greedy desires to continue to grow in peace.

"But our Han people share a border with the Xiongnu, and we are enemies of each other, so we have never relaxed."

"Just as a sword is sharpened all the time, and a bowstring is adjusted all the time."

"The sword is sharp enough to cut through the enemy's flesh, and the arrow can penetrate the enemy's chest!"

"Excuse me, isn't this army inferior to Xia's?"

The rulers and ministers of the Xia Kingdom naturally understood this truth, so they all fell silent.

There was some displeasure on King Xia's face.

then,

He also arranged a grand banquet with fine wine, singing and dancing to show Zhang Qian the beautiful culture of the Xia State.

For this,

Zhang Qian simply said, "How can singing, dancing, drinking and sex show the strength of a country?"

After hearing this, King Xia put down the wine glass in his hand heavily.

And then,
The King of Xia learned from his experience and invited Zhang Qian to ride in the same carriage with him to inspect the conditions of the farmland among the people.

It is now the autumn of the new summer.
The sun is still scorching hot,

But the rain that fell from the sky was very little.

The main tasks of King Xia's tour were:
The purpose is to inspect where there is insufficient water storage or water conservancy, and where there is a possibility of drought, so that preparations can be made in advance.

Under the scorching sun,

King Xia wore only simple cloth and stood on the ridge of the field with the old farmer. He made many well-reasoned comments on many things in the field. When everything was over, King Xia drank some water to quench his thirst and said to Zhang Qian, "Can the emperor of the Han Dynasty do what I do?"

This time Zhang Qian finally bowed his head and praised, "This is the gesture of a wise monarch. I dare not comment further."

anyway,

As a high-ranking ruler whose family business has been passed down to the fourth generation,
I can also lower my status, bend down, observe the rice seedlings in the fields, and talk to the old farmers about this year's rain harvest.
This is commendable wherever it happens.

Even if this happens,

There must be an element of deliberate performance in front of oneself,
But what could Zhang Qian say when he saw King Xia’s face sweating profusely from the scorching sun?

then,

King Xia finally smiled happily.

He said to Zhang Qian, "If the next Xia monarch after me can do this, then in your opinion, can he become the legitimate ruler of the Xia?"

Zhang Qian only replied respectfully and calmly, "This is not something I could have predicted."

"It would be better if you could raise so many children, Mr. King, and teach them not to forget the hard work they have done today!"

King Xia laughed loudly, "You better not worry about my offspring!"

"...As for what you requested, I don't want to worry about it."

On the way back,

After winning the game, King Xia finally made his attitude clear to Zhang Qian.

"The Xiongnu are still too far away from Xinxia."

"Moreover, the Xia people also value farming, unlike the people who draw bows, who would migrate everywhere."

"Instead of waiting for Xinxia to send troops, you might as well turn back and contact Dayuezhi or Wusun."

Zhang Qian listened to his words.
Although I had expected it, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

I have failed Your Majesty after all.
I have let the man down!
So, at night,
I secretly opened the window and sighed and even shed tears at the moonlight that flowed like water.

He Bo, with King Xia Wen and his son standing nearby, also looked at him secretly.

King Wen of Xia said with emotion, "What a loyal and righteous minister."

"The emperor of the Han Dynasty must be very good to him to be able to gain his loyalty!"

He Bo recalled the character of Emperor Zhu Bao when he was thrown out by his original body, and felt that it was more likely that Zhang Qian was being sentimental.

After all, according to known experience,

As long as Wei Qing appeared,
It will firmly attract the attention of His Majesty Zhu Bao.

Regardless of before this,

Those who surrounded him and were trusted and loved by Liu Che could only become old people crying behind his back.

but,

He Bo didn't say it.

Such a beautiful fantasy.

It’s better not to be ruthlessly broken!
He just pinched his fingers suddenly and said, "Next spring, the envoys from Qin will also come!"

Now Qin Xia's communication,
It was much closer and more frequent than that between Han and Xia.

Every few years,

The two sides will send envoys to visit each other to enhance the friendship as brotherly countries.

And now,
Although there is still some heat in the air here in the new summer, it is already snowing in the north.

The cold air blew towards the south.
Even the Great Yuezhi moved their royal tents to their winter pastures to prepare for this year's snow and severe cold.

Thus,
There was definitely no way Zhang Qian could set out on his journey back.

He could only stay in Xinxia until the spring of the following year.
When the winter snow melts and the grass grows again, we can return to the Western Regions and the Central Plains by walking on the once again green grassland.

"...The Qin and Han envoys will meet in Xinxia."

“What a wonderful scene!”

He Bo simply thought about it and couldn't help rubbing his hands, "They won't fight, will they?"

King Xia Wen looked at the ghost helplessly, then shook his head at his son:
That's it,

Anyway, we have been together for such a long time,

They had long been accustomed to the character of this Water Lord.

Furthermore,

This sounds really interesting.
King Xia Wen and his men really wanted to see it!
then,

After finally waiting for the cats to finish a whole winter, when the animals became active again, the Han angels also revived.

quickly,

They heard the news of the Qin envoy from the king and ministers of Xia.

Zhang Qian was very shocked at the time and said, "The envoys of the tyrannical Qin Dynasty are coming here too?"

And from the perspective of being able to send envoys,
This defeated general who was driven out of the Chinese state by the combined efforts of Chu and Han is actually doing quite well outside the territory? !
This guy,

I think he is also full of covetousness for the orthodoxy of the Chinese nation!
Zhang Qian immediately made up his mind about this matter.

Subsequently,

Boundless fighting spirit emerged in his eyes!
He was already prepared to meet with the Qin envoy and engage in verbal and physical combat!
Tang Yifu looked at his expression and could not help but whisper to his companions:
"He is a god of war!"

"He's going to fight for love again!"

(End of this chapter)