A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 411 The Legend of Song Xuan

Yelü Zongfumen knew where the gold Song Xuan took from the embassy came from.

But would he willingly tell others about something so shameful?
Faced with the curious gaze of the idler, Xiao Pidi simply threw the money on the table:

"you can go now."

"Thank you both for your hospitality."

Without saying a word, the idler picked up the money and turned to leave.

He noticed how the Khitan man's face suddenly turned so ugly, and he already knew what was going on.

Those who can make a living as idlers in Tokyo not only have a silver tongue, but also keen insight.

Otherwise, how could they find work to do?

After the idler left, Xiao Pidi added another sentence:
"Don't get angry with a Song dynasty idler, it's not worth it."

Upon hearing this, Yelü Zongfu immediately became somewhat defensive:
"Did I?"

"If you keep being asked these questions, you're probably going to flip the table."

Xiao Pidi could see the changes in Yelü Zongfu's expression.

It's so obvious. It hasn't even happened yet, and it's already like this.

It's perfectly normal for others to see through your secrets.

Yelü Zongfu finished his tea, took several deep breaths, and after a long pause, he finally spoke:

“In some ways, I am indeed inferior to him.”

Xiao Pidi didn't care, since he was a Song person and you were a Liao person.

Moreover, they are still royalty.

Especially since he was in the most prestigious horizontal tent.

Even Song Xuan's status can't compare to yours.

Is it really worth breaking your guard over a little money?

What others might not know, Xiao Pidi was well aware that the Han family was currently the third largest family in the Liao Dynasty and the largest Han family.

Many Khitan nobles were no match for the Han family.

That's enough.

It is unknown how many Khitan nobles envied him.

Although his ancestors were born slaves, they became wealthy starting from the second generation, a feat unmatched by anyone.
"Different."

Yelü Zongfu shook his head slightly and said:
“Xiao Pidi, you were born with a life of wealth and honor, but I’m different.”

"Even if I am royalty, I am royalty who still has to fight for it. Everyone knows my true origins."

Yelü Zongfu must demonstrate his value.

At least, as Lü Demao said, he should shoulder the responsibility of being the chief envoy.

At the same time, he united more Han officials to his side.

Only in this way could the Han family remain the most powerful family in the Liao Kingdom, second only to the emperor and empress.

This move is like rowing against the current; if you don't move forward, you fall behind. Countless people are watching his position, hoping he will make a mistake.

If Yelü Zongfu were truly from the Hengzhang clan, then even if he made a mistake in the embassy, ​​the many Khitan nobles would not have dared to insult or even beat him.

Xiao Pidi stopped trying to persuade him.

These Han people's ideas are strange, and he doesn't understand them either.

Perhaps it's because they aren't Khitans at heart!
Not carefree at all.

Yelü Zongfu was worrying here, while Xiao Pidi listened to the surrounding discussions about the exciting finals of the fish-catching competition and wanted to get involved as well.

Xiao Pidi quickly beckoned over the idle man from before and asked him about the details of the fishing contest.

He looked regretful when he learned that he needed to buy tickets in advance.

But the idler said that if I really wanted to participate, he would find a way.

Xiao Pidi was surprised. Could a layabout like him really have a solution?
Weren't you just praising how strict Song Xuan is in enforcing the law?
So Xiao Pidi gave him money and told him to do it.

Aren't you afraid he'll deceive you?

Yelü Zongfu knew that these people were all talk and no action, and they would do everything they could to swindle money from outsiders like them.

For a fee, he'll even boast that he can pick flowers from the palace for you.

Yelü Zongfu understood these people's thoughts all too well.

At worst, they can just scam money and run away.

“Since he speaks of Song Xuan as if he were a paragon of justice, if anything happens again, we can certainly go to the county government office and beat the grievance drum.”

Xiao Pidi smiled and said, "This way, it'll help you vent your anger and prevent you from always being sullen."

Yelü Zongfu hadn't expected Xiao Pidi to be so perceptive; the sorrow on his face dissipated considerably.
"Thank you."

"It doesn't matter."

Xiao Pidi had always known that Xiao Xiaoxian was a villain and that he needed to be careful.

He also needs some friends.

After all, the current Empress Xiao is too kind-hearted and doesn't have much defense against the scheming of the imperial concubines.

With these Han Chinese helping to come up with ideas, things become much easier.

After all, it was normal for the Empress Dowager to rule in the Liao Dynasty.

The emperor is getting older and has developed diabetes, so these people naturally want to do their best to support Empress Xiao.

But to Xiao Pidi's disappointment, the idler actually went to the county government office to inquire.

After all, the Kaifeng County Government Office these days isn't some kind of den of dragons and tigers.

It's simple for the Khitans to participate; they just need to pay an entrance fee of one hundred coins to place their bets.

Hearing the idler's words, Xiao Pidi was speechless.

He had assumed that with Song Xuan acting so ruthlessly, the people would surely fear him like a tiger.

But the fact that even a layabout dared to ask such a question really puzzled him.

Yelü Zongfu understood Song Xuan's strategy: as long as the common people didn't break the law or commit crimes, he wouldn't interfere.

The idle man in front of them wasn't planning on swindling them.

This made Yelü Zongfu extremely unhappy.

The excuse to retaliate against Song Xuan vanished in an instant.

"Are you two distinguished guests heading to the Kaifeng County government office to pay the entrance fee?"

Xiao Pidi stood up: "Since we've encountered this, let's go."

The idler not only attracted business for himself, but also made the Khitans very happy to lose money in the fishing contest the next day.

Because he knew that nine out of ten gamblers would lose.

The Khitans were no exception.

The group then headed towards the Kaifeng County Government Office.

Yelü Zongfu did not refuse; he wanted to see where Song Xuan worked.

Even now, many people are still placing bets here, hoping to win.

When the Khitans arrived, the idler immediately asked them if they needed any assistance.

"What do you mean?"

"No matter who comes, they all need to queue."

The idler wore a smile:
"If you two honored guests are impatient, you can sit at the tea stall over there. Please give me a minimum bet of two hundred coins, and tell me your bet number, amount, and names."

Xiao Pidi had never had any concept of queuing, so his face was genuinely showing impatience: "You mean everyone has to queue, no matter who they are?"

"Indeed, who dares to disobey the rules set by Lord Song?"

The idlers didn't care at all; this wasn't the first time they'd made money as scalpers here.

Such remarks from the Song people left Xiao Pidi speechless.

Song Xuan's formidable reputation was indeed evident everywhere.

Yelü Zongfu looked at the people queuing up, and they were all behaving very properly.

Those who dared to cut in line were all kicked to the back of the queue by the yamen runners maintaining order.

The gossip in Tokyo is still ongoing, especially after the Khitans arrived, bringing new developments.

It's perfectly normal to queue up and chat about the latest gossip.

He glanced again at the tea stall in the distance and saw people drinking tea and waiting there.

"How to do?"

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Yelü Zongfu kept Lü Demao's instructions in mind.

Now, by making unreasonable demands, he only makes the Song people think he lacks magnanimity.

If these Song envoys were to complain to the Liao emperor after they returned, it would be a losing proposition.

Moreover, the fact that he lost gold was something that Yelü Zongfu would actively promote without needing the Song Dynasty envoy to congratulate him.

But none of that matters, as long as the Song envoy goes to the Liao Kingdom to offer congratulations.

If this matter is not mentioned, it will make His Majesty feel uneasy, and thus have little impact on Yelü Zongfu.

Although his defenses were breached, Yelü Zongfu was someone who listened to advice.

Seeing that Yelü Zongfu did not object, Xiao Pidi told him their Chinese names and the amount of money they had bet, and gave him gold leaves.

No sooner had he finished giving his instructions than someone shouted that Master Song had arrived.

Yelü Zongfu then looked over and saw that Song Xuan was surrounded by people on all sides, and he rode over slowly on a tall horse.

There was no instance of horses galloping at full speed, which was quite common in the Liao Kingdom.

Even if you bump into someone on the street, it's your own fault for not being careful enough to avoid them.

"Song Xuan's horsemanship is not good."

Xiao Pidi gave a direct comment.

Although he practiced diligently, there was still a considerable gap between him and the Khitans who had grown up on horseback.

"So what if you're a master horseman?" Yelü Zongfu said, his hands behind his back.

"When we actually go to the battlefield, we won't need a top scholar like him charging recklessly in front of the two armies."

Is the top-scoring student really that amazing?

Xiao Pidi knew that the Liao Dynasty also had top scholars, but they were all good at writing poetry.

He couldn't tell the difference between good and bad; the Han people had their own set of standards, and he didn't care to know them.

As Song Xuan rode on his horse, he nodded in response to the greetings from those around him, and he noticed the unique Khitan hairstyle among the crowd.

Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was Yelü Zongfu. What was he doing here?

"Song Twelve, we meet again."

"I am the deputy envoy, so it's normal for us to meet at Banjing Pavilion. What are you doing here?"

Yelü Zongfu was startled again.

He thought that it was Song Xuan who arranged for the Khitans to come here to buy thresholds and participate in the fish-catching competition.

Unexpectedly, Song Xuan had just returned from elsewhere; how could he possibly make the decision?

Does this mean that everyone else in the county government can make decisions without his consent?
How could the Song Dynasty be so lenient?
"Didn't you say that if we pay an entrance fee of 100 coins, we can participate in the fish-slacking contest?"

"Oh, such a trivial matter doesn't need to be reported to me."

Song Xuan's matter-of-fact expression greatly puzzled Yelü Zongfu.

Lu Demao had just taught him that there are no small matters in diplomacy between two countries, but Song Xuan's attitude was so dismissive.

Xiao Pidi was taken aback by what he heard and didn't know what to say.

After all, they all thought they were quite important, so matters concerning them needed to be reported to higher authorities and decided by Song Xuan before a detailed answer could be given.

As it turned out, Song Xuan had no idea about this at all, and now it was Xiao Pidi's turn to be somewhat vulnerable.

We are envoys from afar, and from a brotherly country, yet you show such indifference?
"Please wait here for a while. If you need anything, just contact my people. They can handle anything within their jurisdiction."

After Song Xuan gave a brief explanation.

They treated him like an ordinary citizen and went directly into the county government office.

The local people were used to it; the Khitans were not scary to them.

In particular, Song Da Guanren's words and actions showed no respect for the Khitans. He truly deserves to be Cao Shizhong's good son-in-law!

So Yelü Zongfu and his companion went to a tea stall some distance away to drink tea and wait, feeling rather dejected.

Song Xuan brought the glass item to the county government office and handed it to Sang Yi for temporary protection.

When the exhibition is held at Fanlou in advance, he must personally take care of it, otherwise Song Xuan will not feel at ease.

At this time, Zhao Zhen was still firmly seated in the Kaifeng County government, exercising his power.

"Twelfth brother."

As soon as Zhao Zhen saw Song Xuan arrive, his eyes couldn't hide his burning gossip.
"I saw that Xu Xianchun brought back a lot of gold leaves. What's going on?"

"Tell me about it quickly."

Song Xuan first asked if all the items had been counted and put into storage. After receiving an affirmative answer, he then described the Khitans to Zhao Zhen.

It wasn't just about what happened at Banjingguan, but also the information he revealed at Fanlou, and the reactions of the Khitans at his own home.

Zhao Zhen listened with great interest, and he was very envious of his twelfth brother's fulfilling day.

Now, as the emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, he can't make any decisions.

If you want to experience the thrill of power, you can only stay in this small Kaifeng county government office and do things for Song Xuan.

The difference is enormous.

"So, the Khitans have been tricked?"

"That's not how it works." Song Xuan shook his head slightly.
“But I think Yelü Shucheng will definitely report the matter of Western Xia, and perhaps war will break out between them again, who knows?”

"Haha, that's great news."

Zhao Zhen's eyes revealed excitement:
"Once the Liao and Western Xia are both exhausted, we will find an opportunity to first destroy the Western Xia and train our troops. Only then can we find an opportunity to fight the Khitans and reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun."

Song Xuan appropriately poured cold water on Zhao Zhen's enthusiasm:
"The Emperor needs to save money carefully, because once war breaks out, the annual tribute paid will be just a drop in the ocean."

After all, back then, Emperor Taizong of Song attacked the Khitan with the power of conquering a country, wanting to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun in one fell swoop.

As a result, the promised rewards and military pay were never distributed, which indirectly led to the disastrous defeat at Gaoliang River.

After that, neither side had the ability to take over the area, and they could only launch probing attacks against each other, with each side experiencing victories and defeats.

It was only after the Liao Dynasty launched an attack to seize Caogu that the Treaty of Chanyuan was signed.

Both sides ceased hostilities and made peace.

Hearing his twelfth brother's reminder, Zhao Zhen sighed:
"Yes, I don't have much money in my own coffers."

"Twelfth Brother, I want to be rich so badly, I dream about it!"

Zhao Zhen looked excited.

Because he was genuinely poor.

He didn't even get a touch of the sealed warehouse left by Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin; it was all squandered by the older generation.

"Wait until I sell this gyrfalcon glass piece to the Khitans at a high price, and I'll definitely be able to save up a lot of money."

Song Xuan chuckled:

"I plan to keep it here in the Kaifeng County Government Office until the right time."

"Sixth Brother can naturally treat this money as his own private treasury. Otherwise, relying solely on the dividends from Fanlou, I don't know how long it would take to save enough for military expenses."

Zhao Zhen's eyes lit up: "Twelfth Brother, is this appropriate?"

"I... I really don't know what to say!"

Because if it were kept at the Kaifeng County government office, the Empress would never know that the Emperor had such a large sum of private money.

Neither Empress Liu nor the ministers wanted the emperor to have too much private money.

"If Sixth Brother wants to keep this a secret, he needs to carefully find a eunuch who can keep it confidential, so that he can keep track of the accounts here."

Faced with Song Xuan's suggestion, Zhao Zhen nodded repeatedly, agreeing that it was indeed necessary to find a trusted confidant to manage the situation.

This money will be used wisely in the future.

If Song Xuan wanted to greatly develop the Northwest and were to actually start a war, he would need the help of the emperor and a group of ministers.

Otherwise, they'll hold others back and won't be able to move forward at all.

"Sixth Brother, don't you want to see that wonderful treasure that can trick the Khitans?"

Zhao Zhen shook his head repeatedly:

"Since Twelfth Brother says it's a good treasure, then it must be a good treasure. If I get greedy and miss it, I'll definitely mess things up. I might as well not look at it at all."

"I'm so excited just thinking about how I'll have my own little treasury in the future that I can't sleep."

"I long to fill both my personal treasury and the national treasury, so that I can work with my twelfth brother to accomplish something that will be remembered for all time."

Zhao Zhen was an honest boy who could control his emotions even when faced with bad temptations.

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan praised repeatedly:
With an official like Sixth Brother in the Song Dynasty, how could the Song Dynasty not become even stronger in the future?

"Hehehe." Zhao Zhen was also overjoyed.
"Then I need at least five wise ministers like my twelfth brother."

He never forgot the fortune teller on the street.

Five prime ministers passed by him.

This is a stroke of luck.

Zhao Zhen naturally wanted to hold on tightly and never let go.

"Hahaha."

When Song Xuan heard Zhao Zhen say he wanted five, he couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Given Your Majesty's luck, perhaps you can have ten."

"That would be great."

Emperor Zhao Zhen wished for more and more virtuous ministers and talented people, so that the Song Dynasty would become more and more prosperous.

Song Xuan looked at Zhao Zhen's grinning face:

"If the emperor were to encounter a minister like Wei Zheng, he would probably not be able to laugh in the future."

"Not always."

Zhao Zhen was certainly aware of the relationship between Li Shimin and Wei Zheng, as Song Shou had been teaching Zhao Zhen Tang history.

However, because both sides are busy, the professor's studies do not require him to attend classes every day like the students.

The emperor and his minister envisioned the future together.

The Khitan nobles who were touring Tokyo had heard a lot about Song Xuan's deeds and reputation, and it turned out that they were all the same person.

This made them feel that Yelü Zongfu's defeat was not unjust.

But that doesn't stop people from attacking him.

It's not just about losing money; the fact that a foreigner like him could so easily win His Majesty's favor is something that truly arouses jealousy.

Lü Demao sent Yang Ji, a member of the delegation, outside to gather information.

Yang Ji was also the top scholar in the imperial examination of the Liao Dynasty. He was studious from a young age and could be considered a prodigy, but he was not a child prodigy.

The Song Dynasty sent Mei Xun to the Liao Dynasty, and they exchanged many poems.

Moreover, he was repeatedly praised by Mei Xun and subsequently became a Hanlin Academician.

At this time, Yang Ji came to visit his friend Mei Xun (the one with the surname Mei Xiangdou Chou).

When Mei Xun saw that Yang Ji had arrived, he naturally gave him a warm welcome.

Yang Ji then began to boast about the rumors he had heard about Song Xuan in the capital city of Kaifeng, and about his role as deputy envoy in receiving the Liao envoys.

Mei Xun, implicated by Kou Zhun, has finally returned to the central government, serving as a censor and head of the Court of Judicial Review. He happened to know about Song Xuan's death sentence against Wang Qixiong.

Mei Xun had heard of Song Xuan before, after all, Dou Chou died because of him.

However, at that time, Mei Xun was still serving as an official in another region and had no time to pay attention.

"Song Zhuangyuan was a rare talent."

Mei Xun also raised his wine glass and smiled: "His methods of governing the people are beyond my ability to match, even if I were to flatter him."

Yang Ji was puzzled.

In his mind, Mei Xun was a very capable person, born into a prominent family, and many of his students and subordinates held high-ranking positions in the imperial court.

He shouldn't be praising a younger person like that!

Especially since Song Xuan wasn't even his student.

In Yang Ji's view, this kind of master-disciple relationship should be valued even more in the Song Dynasty.

Should we still try to recruit him if there's no teacher-student relationship?

"I hope Mei Changyan can enlighten me."

Mei Xun looked like a scholar.

However, he was very interested in war, was a radical, and enjoyed making friends with heroes.

He was not averse to military men like Cao Liyong.

Now that Song Xuan is also this kind of person, how could Mei Xun not praise him more?

It would be best if the Song Dynasty had more successors like Song Xuan to prevent other ethnic groups from constantly invading its borders.

Mei Xun briefly described Song Xuan's character, saying that he was not afraid of the powerful and influential, nor did he fawn over them.

He doesn't care whether you're a prime minister or not when he chooses a wife; he just wants to pick one who catches his eye.

Mei Xun greatly admired such a carefree and cheerful person.

Mei Yaochen, the nephew standing to the side, had already returned from his study tour at Yingtian Academy.

He had originally planned to go to Xijing, but after receiving a letter from his uncle, he stayed in Nanjing for several days before finally returning to Dongjing.

At this moment, he felt that the Liao man in front of him was intentionally or unintentionally trying to find out about the Song Dynasty's top scholar.

However, his uncle was not a stupid person, so Mei Yaochen simply did not say anything to remind him, but instead poured tea and sat down with him.

Before his visit, Yang Ji had already asked some idlers about Song Xuan.

However, folk tales are always somewhat exaggerated, mixed with rumors that people like, and spread with added embellishments.

Therefore, it is not true.

Listening to his old acquaintance Mei Xun's words, Yang Ji felt that they were not much different from what the idlers on the street had said.

Could it be that Song Xuan truly possesses such ability?
The rumors were not exaggerated!

Yang Ji nodded in agreement, and then heard Mei ask:

"Since Song Zhuangyuan is the deputy envoy, you must have already seen his demeanor today."

"Uncle Zheng, do you think there's a difference between what Scholar Song said and what I said?"

"I wouldn't dare to lie to you."

Yang Ji first cupped his hands and said:

"Mei Changyan's words are somewhat embellished. The Song Zhuangyuan I met, perhaps because he spent a lot of time with his father-in-law, had a rather aggressive demeanor."

"Hahaha."

Mei Xun was overjoyed; Song Xuan was indeed a genius.

If he speaks to you Khitans in a humble and subservient manner, aren't you afraid that he's setting a trap for you?
Mei Yaochen's lips curled up slightly.

At first, Song Xuan's impression of him was that he was somewhat aggressive.

But after getting to know him, I realized that he was truly capable, and the insights he casually displayed were things I had never known before, which is why I felt that he was aggressive.

"Mei Changyan, why are you laughing?"

I'm laughing at you.

Mei Xun swallowed his words again.

After all, he was no longer an envoy. If he caused trouble for Song Xuan because of something he said, it would be a loss for him.

Yang Ji looked doubtful, then said, "I'm laughing at you for not finishing your sentence."

"Scholar Song's words and actions can be described as gentle and refined, unless you offend him, right?"

Yang Ji smiled helplessly:

"It wasn't me, but Yelü Zongfu. My wallet suddenly became empty. I was planning to go to Fanlou for a big meal."

People like Yang Ji really liked this kind of Central Plains craft.

The Khitans were a nomadic people, and many things they did had a wild quality, including their food, which was not as refined as that of the southern people.

"Oh?" Mei Xun became interested.
Tell me about it.

Yang Ji also felt that this matter could not be kept secret. With Song Xuan's father-in-law and others around, even if Song Xuan did not actively publicize it, the matter would still spread.

So he decided to do Mei Xun a favor and told her the whole story in detail.

Mei Xun stroked his beard and listened quietly.

He realized that Song Xuan had really done a great job!

This not only dampened the arrogance of these Khitans but also left them with unspeakable suffering. Most brilliantly, it spared them a way out and did not exterminate them.

Now that the two countries are brotherly nations, it would be a great loss if we were to have unpleasantness over such a trivial matter.

"Song Zhuangyuan still knew his limits."

Mei Xun made a comment, which Yang Ji agreed with.

After all, they really did save face for us.

Moreover, spending a little money to leave one's name in the capital of the Song Dynasty is a worthwhile deal no matter how you look at it.

Those Khitans wouldn't understand the value of this written language.

After everyone left, Mei asked her nephew for his opinion.

Mei Yaochen bluntly stated that Song Xuan was being far too polite, and that the Khitans would not be grateful; instead, they would perceive him as weak.

After all, although Yang Ji and others served the Liao Dynasty, they were Han Chinese and studied Confucianism.

The Khitans didn't think that way.

Mei Xun nodded. The thoughts and ideas of the Khitans were indeed very different from those of the people of the Central Plains.

"But I admire Song Zhuangyuan's saying that literature is born of nature and a masterpiece is achieved by chance. He is indeed far superior to me in this respect."

Mei Yaochen, as the founder of Song poetry, truly admired Song Xuan's talent.

"Hahaha."

Mei Xun laughed a few times: "How did you feel about your study trip to Yingtian Academy?"

"powerful."

Mei Yaochen believed that many of the promising candidates for the imperial examinations in the Song Dynasty went to Yingtian Academy to study.

Many people are incredibly strong, and he, who "dropped out of school halfway," is no match for them at all.

Because his family was poor, Mei Yaochen stopped studying after failing the provincial examination and went to live with his uncle.

"Since you don't intend to continue with the imperial examinations, I will recommend you to the court."

Mei Xun had a quota for official appointments granted through imperial favor, and since he had no son, it would be good for his nephew to enter officialdom and gain experience as early as possible.

"It's entirely up to my uncle to decide."

Mei Yaochen bowed slightly. He also wanted to enter officialdom and make a name for himself as soon as possible, just like Song Xuan.

"Yes." Mei Xun nodded.

"Now that you're going to become an official, it's time to settle down and start a family. My good friend Xie Tao passed the imperial examination three years after me, and he has a young daughter. Before you take office, let's arrange your marriage."

"Since we're all in Tokyo, it's quite convenient for us to travel back and forth. In this way, I can say that I've done right by your father, and he won't have to worry about you all the time in the afterlife."

Mei Yaochen was deeply moved and quickly bowed.

Yelü the monk took the letter and left the embassy directly, heading towards Nanjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty.

Three days.

There are only three days left.

Yelü Shucheng didn't know who else would covet this national treasure, but he was certain that the auction would be a bloodbath.

Even though Yelü Gou'er was from Mengfu Fang's family, he hoped that Yelü Gou'er would not know this news.

It's best not to attend this auction.

Yelü Shucheng breathed a slight sigh of relief and planned to go to the bookstore the next day to look at books on medicine.

Because Emperor Yelü Longxu of the Liao Dynasty suffered from diabetes, but the Liao Dynasty's witch doctors could not cure it, they could only secretly come to the Central Plains to find a cure.

Especially since it concerned the emperor's illness, the Liao people certainly couldn't openly seek help from the Song people.

What if they get the wrong idea?
Even if the Song Dynasty knew, they would pretend not to know.

If they fail to cure them, it might give the Liao Kingdom an excuse to launch an attack.

This constitutes a perfect closed loop of suspicion.

Yelü Zongfu and Xiao Pi returned in low spirits, their enmity seemingly extinguished.

After all, not receiving special treatment in the Song Dynasty made them both feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Yelü Zongfu, Xiao Pidi, you've returned from your wanderings?"

Yelü Shucheng, who was peering out from the doorway, felt rather guilty and greeted them first.

"Ah."

Yelü Zongfu forced a smile: "How did your chat with Song Twelve go?"

"good."

Yelü Shucheng responded politely, "He has quite a few insightful views on many issues."

He also wrote down the Western Xia people's intention to declare themselves emperors in a letter, which was then sent back with them.

"Oh."

Yelü Zongfu said nothing more and went straight into the embassy.

Xiao Pidi glanced at Yelü Shucheng, finding it somewhat strange that Yelü the monk, that tagalong, wasn't by his side.

However, they all knew about Yelü Heshang's drinking habit, and perhaps he was too drunk outside to come back with him.

In the Song Dynasty, as long as no one died, it was perfectly normal for these Khitans to have money to spend the night outside.

Yang Ji returned to report on intelligence regarding the Song state and Song Xuan's actions.

After listening, Lü Demao raised his eyebrows slightly. He really didn't expect Song Xuan to act so recklessly in the capital of the Song Dynasty!
In his view, many of Song Xuan's actions could be described as "out of line".

"This young man, having achieved early success, is acting with such arrogance?"

Yelü Gou'er never expected that Song Xuan would dare to offend a member of the Song imperial family; this was unimaginable in the Liao Kingdom.

"Does Cao Liyong not know how to discipline his son-in-law?"

Lü Demao, however, did not see it that way; Song Xuan had his own set of rules for doing things.

If someone truly achieves early success, they become exceptionally arrogant and would never do such a thing.

It can be said that this is exactly the successor that Lü Demao envisioned.

That is also the direction Yelü Zongfu will grow in.

Surprisingly, it appeared in the Song Dynasty.

"Prime Minister, all these issues combined make it impossible to find any faults or oversights in Song Xuan's work. This is precisely what we should be paying attention to."

"There are no mistakes or omissions anywhere?"

"Yes, there are no mistakes or omissions."

Lü Demao explained to Yelü Gou'er that the Song and Liao dynasties had different systems.

The methods of handling certain aspects will naturally be quite different.

"First of all, the Song Dynasty was very strict in guarding against members of the imperial family, so Song Xuan would not be punished at all for reprimanding a member of the imperial family."

"As for his beating of the Empress Dowager's relative by marriage, since the court did not reprimand him, it must be justified."

“Even the Song Dynasty would curb the relationship between the emperor's relatives and his wife, unlike the Liao Dynasty which practiced nepotism.”

Yelü Gou'er suddenly remembered that Han Derang had vigorously promoted the imperial examination system.

Could it be that people like this will appear in our Great Liao Dynasty in the future?

Yelü Gou'er could not accept such a thing that harmed their Khitan nobility.

"Actually, these are all minor issues. As long as Song Xuan is determined, he can usually manage to do them."

Yang Ji believed that Song Xuan was very good at helping him build his reputation. The more he dared to offend these people, the more impressive his image would become in the eyes of the people.

As expected of someone who could achieve the highest honors in all three categories, Yang Ji himself was ashamed of his own lack of cunning.

"Song Xuan's disaster relief efforts alone are enough to demonstrate his true abilities."

Hearing Yang Ji's words, Lü Demao nodded slightly.

Indeed, the Liao Dynasty also experienced years of famine, but it never dealt with things in the way Song Xuan did.

"If my Great Liao could follow suit, perhaps the hearts of the people of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun would be even more devoted to my Great Liao."

Yang Ji stared intently at Lü Demao; this method was truly excellent.

If we could follow this example, we would likely win over the hearts of the people of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and they would no longer have any desire to look south.

To this day, the people of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun still hold immense value for the Liao Dynasty in its efforts to unite the people.

This is because these people nominally hold dual citizenship.

In order to attract people to farm, Emperor Taizong of Liao exempted them from taxes for ten years.

Lu Demao remained silent in agreement.

Because the Liao Dynasty had its own unique circumstances.

Even if a disaster such as drought or flood occurs, the imperial court will only reduce or exempt taxes; it will never distribute copper coins to them like Song Xuan did.

The Liao Dynasty made its greatest concession to the disaster victims by dividing the harvested grain in half.

Not paying taxes is unacceptable.

The Liao Dynasty successfully united the Han Chinese landlords and gentry through a united front strategy, coupled with preferential policies towards the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

This brought the registered population of Nanjing in the present Liao Dynasty to over 400,000 households, comparable to the population of Youzhou during the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

Most importantly, Han Derang's success inspired some Han people to want to highly Sinicize the Liao Dynasty and treat Han people more equally.

They even wanted the living standards of the Han people in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun to far exceed those of the people of the Song Dynasty.

In this way, even if the Song Dynasty were to attack again, the people of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun would not support the Song Dynasty.

However, Lü Demao did not have this idea; it was like trying to see the moon's reflection in water—an impossible goal to achieve.

Discrimination against Han Chinese by the Khitans has always existed.

It never disappeared throughout the Liao Dynasty; the only difference was the degree of its presence.

Lü Demao believed that now was the best era for the Han people in the Liao Dynasty, because His Majesty could finally discuss military and national affairs on an equal footing with the Khitan people in theory.

This was something that would never have happened before.

Although the imperial examination system was frequently held, it was not truly important in the politics of the Liao Dynasty.

The Liao Dynasty perfectly inherited the tradition of "hereditary officials," passing it down from generation to generation.

The imperial examination was merely a tool to select a minority of Han Chinese to supplement the government and to win over the hearts and minds of the Han people. It was a way to get them to work at the grassroots level. How many Han Chinese could actually hold high positions?

Even after Lü Demao and others died, his family immediately declined.

The Liao dynasty prohibited its people from participating in the imperial examinations.

Throughout the entire Liao Dynasty, only two people from Liao became Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and they were the ones who actively sought the opportunity.

One was Yelü Dashi, the founding emperor of the Western Liao Dynasty.

The other person was Yelü Pulu, Yelü Shucheng's nephew.

He was influenced by Yelü Shucheng and began his studies at the age of seven.

Because of his love for learning Chinese, Yelü Pulu mastered the classics and history in less than ten years. Unable to resist the urge, he took the imperial examination and passed it.

As a result, he was later publicly whipped two hundred times by his father.

How could any of us Khitans become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations)?
We won't compete with these filthy beggars for this Jinshi degree.

Anyway, they'll never become high-ranking officials in their entire lives.

His father had also studied Han culture under Yelü Shucheng, but he couldn't tolerate this matter.

Yelü Shucheng was quite helpless about the outrageous things his nephew had done.

We learn Chinese to increase our knowledge, write poetry and prose to improve our character and entertain ourselves.

It's not for you to take the imperial examination and compete with Han people for positions; that would be a real loss of face.

The Khitans' discrimination against Han Chinese was ingrained in their very being; even if a Han Chinese voluntarily adopted Khitan customs, they would not be accepted.

Otherwise, Yelü Zongfu wouldn't have been cursed and beaten.

Su Che felt extremely saddened when he went on his mission, because many Han Chinese in the Liao Kingdom were actively assimilating into non-Han cultures.

Even if you choose to actively assimilate into the Liao Dynasty, the Khitans will not look at you with new respect; on the contrary, they will despise you even more.

People like you only deserve to be slaves, and you are often cursed with insults.

Lü Demao naturally couldn't confide in Yang Ji in front of Yelü Gou'er.

So he simply didn't respond, even though he secretly admired the Song Dynasty's system.

Yang Ji, who was also a top scholar in the imperial examination, realized that he had been too optimistic when he saw that Lü Demao had not spoken.

Such a thing could only be permitted in the relatively tolerant Song Dynasty.

How could such a thing possibly exist in the Liao Dynasty?

"What you're saying is useless."

Yelü Gou'er didn't care about any of that; he asked the question that mattered most to him:
Have you inquired about the auction?

Yang Ji then recounted the rumors circulating in the streets, but the real treasure has yet to be seen by anyone, and its authenticity remains unknown.

He also subtly inquired with Mei Xun, but Mei Xun was unaware of the matter either.

It doesn't seem to be an event organized by the Song Dynasty government, but rather a spur-of-the-moment decision by Liu Congde and Song Xuan to try and recoup their losses from buying grain.

"No one has ever seen this treasure?"

Yelü Gou'er came with a political mission, and he hasn't seen anyone yet.

How can he explain this to His Majesty?

"Prime Minister Nan need not worry. Now that we have arrived, the Song Dynasty is not in a hurry to summon us. We have time to stay in the capital city for a few days."

"Now that they have made their statement, they certainly won't be making baseless accusations."

Lü Demao stroked his beard and blinked: "I always felt that something was off about this."

"Never mind whether it's right or wrong."

Yelü Gou'er stood up: "Our most important task is to fulfill His Majesty's instructions."

"Yes."

They both responded.

Yelü Gou'er walked out of the room without looking back, wanting to go to the night market in Tokyo.

Once there were no other outsiders present, Lü Demao asked Yang Ji to sit down:
"There are some things you shouldn't say in front of the Khitans."

A sense of powerlessness welled up within Yang Ji, and in the end, he could only sigh helplessly:
"I see."

Lü Demao also sighed:
"When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. If we could be as patient and tolerant as the Han family, it might not be such a bad way out."

(End of this chapter)