Chapter 100 Not Going
The Khitan official system was almost completely copied from that of the Song Dynasty.
Such as Zhongshumen, Xiashumen, Liusi, etc. If people who were officials in the Song Dynasty went to the Liao Kingdom, they could almost seamlessly integrate into it.
Even the official language is Song language.
Therefore, many unsuccessful scholars in the Northern Song Dynasty were "recruited" to serve as officials in the Liao Dynasty, or they went to the Liao Dynasty to serve as officials on their own.
Nearly half of the officials of the Liao Dynasty were originally from the Song Dynasty!
Therefore, the Liao Kingdom knew the Song Dynasty very well.
The man standing outside the fence is almost the same as the Song people, except that his face is slightly different from that of the Song people, his clothes and temperament are almost the same.
If it weren't for the subtle difference in his official uniform that betrayed his identity, Lu Sen and Zhan Zhao would have simply regarded this man as a Song-speaking grassland person.
"Khitan!" Zhan Zhao jumped out of the yard and asked cautiously, "Why are you here?"
Whether as a friend or as a warrior's duty, Zhan Zhao felt that he had an obligation to protect Lu Sen.
This Khitan man looked quite heroic. He clasped his fists and said, "I am the Minister of the Southern Court, Xiao Du, with the courtesy name Jieshuang. I have come to ask to see Master Lu."
Zhan Zhao frowned.
Although the Liao Dynasty's official system was almost completely copied from that of the Song Dynasty, it still retained some of its distinctive official positions.
For example, the title of King of the South (North) Courtyard.
The two official positions combined can be regarded as the Privy Councilor of the Song Dynasty.
It is mainly in charge of foreign military forces and foreign wars.
A minister under the command of the King of the Southern Court suddenly came to Bianjing City to act as an envoy. It must be a very important matter.
This Xiao Jieshuang was the envoy who had mocked the civil and military officials in the court not long ago. After leaving the Song Palace, he went straight to the low mountain.
He said he wanted to see someone, but he only cupped his hands slightly without bending over, looking quite arrogant.
Lu Sen stood behind the fence and said, "I am Lu Sen. What do you want from me?"
"I heard that Master Lu is a very powerful person with extraordinary skills. Could you please demonstrate it to me so that I can broaden my horizons?"
Lu Sen raised the corner of his mouth and grinned: "Why? You are just a barbarian, how can you expect to see the gods!"
After saying that, Lu Sen flicked his sleeves and turned away.
Do you want him to perform magic tricks just because he is a human? Do you think he is a dog and you should respond to his barking ?
Zhan Zhao also shook his head helplessly and turned away.
When Xiao Du saw Lu Sen was about to go back upstairs, he wanted to rush up to call him, but just after taking two steps, he saw a handsome man in a sky blue gown standing in front of him.
"Please do not approach without permission." Zhan Zhao held the sword in both hands and said slowly: "This is an important place for the immortals, Khitan people, please go back."
Xiao Du frowned slightly. He was tall, half a head taller than Zhan Zhao.
Moreover, he was the son of a general of the Liao Dynasty. He had practiced martial arts since childhood and had fought on the battlefield. He could not be said to be able to defeat a hundred people alone, but at least he was a master who could move in and out of the crowd with ease.
But facing Zhan Zhao, he felt extremely uncomfortable.
This is the difference between a warrior on the battlefield and a knight in the martial arts world.
Fighting alone or in a melee of three or five people, the knight is naturally stronger.
But on the battlefield, even a knight cannot catch up with the killing efficiency of a warrior.
The emphasis of martial arts is different.
"You're quite impressive." Xiao Du looked at Zhan Zhao for a long time, then asked with a smile, "Are you Master Lu's lackey?"
These words sounded insulting to the Song people, but to the Khitans, they were very normal.
Because they are accustomed to calling themselves "running dogs of so-and-so", which means they are someone's subordinates.
Zhan Zhao had some understanding of Khitan, and knew what the other party meant. He smiled and said, "He is not a running dog, but a friend."
Lu Sen also turned around at this time and said, "Captain Zhan is my close friend, please be polite to him."
"Master Lu, are you willing to talk to me?" Xiao Du clasped his hands together and said with a smile, "We northerners are always straightforward, unlike you southerners who are so roundabout. If my words just now offended you two, I apologize."
After that, he bent down slightly, and then said: "This time I came with sincerity, I want to talk to Master Lu."
The other person spoke in a magnanimous and sincere manner. If it were someone else, they might have just laughed it off and forgotten their grudges.
But Lu Sen said, "You are an interesting person. You disguise yourself as a casual man, and then try to get away with it by saying something wrong. Is that interesting?"
The Khitan named Xiao Du was stunned for a moment, then he clasped his hands together and said, "We northerners don't have so many twists and turns."
"I hate regional stereotypes the most." Lu Sen said coldly, "You are wearing an official uniform, so you must be an envoy. I don't believe that you, an envoy, don't understand the manners, customs and taboos of us Song people!"
The Khitans still looked dazed.
Seeing this, Lu Lin was too lazy to pay attention to him, and then said: "Xiong Fei, let's talk inside. This person is pretending to be crazy and stupid, so don't pay attention to him."
Zhan Zhao smiled, turned around and went back to the yard.
Xiao Du waited outside the fence for a while, then took a few steps forward and reached out to touch the top of the fence.
"Sure enough, there is an invisible thing separating the outside world. This real person must have real abilities." Xiao Du chuckled and turned to leave.
He will be staying in Bianjing City for a long time. Even if he can't talk to Lu Sen now, there will always be a chance in the future.
Not long after Xiao Du left, Zhan Zhao also left with a fruit basket and a bottle of honey.
After returning home, Zhan Zhao asked the housekeeper to close the door, and then he practiced his sword skills frantically in the backyard.
He was practicing with almost all his strength, and his internal energy was spent like it was free. Within three feet around him, air currents were flowing in all directions, and sword energy spread out in all directions with his martial arts moves, making whizzing sounds.
After practicing like this for half an hour, Zhan Zhao suddenly ran out of strength. He barely touched the ground with his sword and walked back step by step.
His meridians were already damaged at this time, and became very fragile under the crazy pressure.
Zhan Zhao moved his body back to the table, picked up the jade bee nectar, and took a sip gently. Then he felt that the damage to his meridians had been repaired and the meridians seemed to have been slightly widened.
“It is true.”
Zhan Zhao couldn't help but be delighted.
The fact that the Northern Hero Ouyang Chun was able to break through his own limits and greatly increase his strength must be related to the jade bee jelly.
In the eyes of a master, he can clearly understand why the opponent can become stronger and stronger in battle.
For people in the martial arts world, there are only a few ways to become stronger. As long as they use the process of elimination, the true purpose of jade bee jelly can be guessed.
After taking a mouthful of honey, Zhan Zhao became full of energy again. He walked to the center of the venue again and began to practice his martial arts with all his strength.
He believed that in just half a month, he would be able to see the back of the Northern Hero Ouyang Chun again.
Let’s put aside the matter of Zhan Zhao for now. One day later, Lu Sen finally found out what happened in the court.
If even a nobody like him knew about it, then naturally the people in the whole city would know about it as well.
The entire Song Dynasty was furious at that moment. The Khitans were so shameless to go back on their words.
But then I felt helpless and ashamed.
They were about to defeat Xixia, but unexpectedly, the Khitans suddenly intervened and issued such threats. Few people did not feel strange and angry.
After Lu Sen knew about this, he just chuckled.
No comments were expressed.
Do you feel ashamed? If they knew about the Jingkang Incident, most of the civil officials with backbone in the court would have hit their heads against the pillars and died.
He was planning to hide in the small building temporarily. After all, there was still a long time before the Jingkang Incident and there was still a chance for change.
There was a heated argument in the court over whether or not to withdraw troops.
The pro-war faction, naturally, said that they should continue fighting. They believed that the Khitans were not very strong at the moment and probably had no way of breaking through the Zhong family's defense line.
The peace advocates said that it was better to resolve a feud than to create one. Since the battle had already reached Xingqing Prefecture, wouldn't it be enough to just ask the Xixia king to apologize and pay some compensation? Why offend two powerful enemies at the same time?
The two sides argued endlessly in the court.
Lu Sen originally wanted to stay out of the matter, but he did not expect that the Prince of Runan, Master Pang, and Bao Zheng would come to the hill.
If it was just Bao Zheng and Master Pang, Lu Sen could have sacrificed some of his reputation and been considered rude by not letting them in.
But since the Prince of Runan took the lead, there was nothing we could do.
The four of them sat in the pavilion, and Master Pang said, "Master Lu is really leisurely and leisurely. At such a critical moment, he is actually appreciating the flowers."
There was a hint of reproach in his words.
It seems like he is disappointed with someone.
"Master Pang is talking about whether the Xixia attack should be discontinued?"
Master Pang nodded and said, "With Master Lu not in the court, the officials all feel a little lonely. You are very skilled in magic, and you did not learn the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, but you are quite insightful. I think you can give us stupid officials some advice."
Lu Sen smiled. He raised the large glass kettle in his hand and poured a glass of honey water for the three people. Then he said, "Political affairs have always been handled by you civil officials. Besides, if a Taoist like me interferes in politics, you will be unable to sleep or eat well."
"When faced with a great event, it is the true nature of a man to rush forward ." Bao Zheng stroked his beard and said, "Master Lu, there is no need to speak in anger. I can see that you have the world in your heart."
The Prince of Runan couldn't help laughing beside him: "Why do you think so?"
"If it weren't for this, Master Lu would have started refining the elixir long ago."
Opening the furnace to make elixirs is a Taoist's "exclusive" skill, and Lu Sen has real skills. As long as he dares to say so in front of the emperor, the emperor will definitely agree.
Moreover, many officials who wish to live forever will also support it secretly. They definitely have both money and connections.
The Prince of Runan County laughed even more happily: "My dear son-in-law, do you see this? This is the Wenquxing, the literary star with great literary talent, and this is the proud and upright civil official. When they don't need you, they will find you annoying, and when they can use you, they will start to praise you with flowery words."
Lu Sen also found it funny and couldn't help grinning.
Come to think of it, it is true.
Bao Zheng looked a little embarrassed, but Master Pang remained calm and said, "Prince of Runan, you are a member of the Zhao family anyway. Is it appropriate to talk like this?"
The Prince of Runan rolled his eyes and stopped talking.
After all, he is also a prince, and he has a share in this world.
Otherwise, he would not have brought Bao Zheng and Master Pang to see Lu Sen. He was just really angry at the attitude of the civil officials who only thought of him when there was something and would just get out of the way if nothing happened.
"I can barely be considered a quarter of the Zhao family." Lu Sen said with a smile: "Then, Bao Fuyin and Pang Taishi, what do you two want me to do?"
This is not Lu Sen trying to flatter himself, but Zhao Bilian is still a hidden princess after all, and the Prince of Runan is really good to Lu Sen.
Since marrying Zhao Bilian to Lu Sen, the Prince of Runan has taught Lu Sen the unspoken rules of officialdom and advised him on the ways of the world whenever he has time and opportunity.
He often took him home for meals and asked about his well-being, treating him like his own son.
Lu Sen could feel that the other party truly treated him as family.
He was not a heartless person, so he had to repay the kindness to Zhao Bilian and Prince of Runan.
"We hope that Master Lu can go to the north and unite with the Zhong family to block the Khitan army until the conquest of Western Xia is truly completed." Bao Zheng said, bowing.
He is currently the Privy Councilor and has the power to command and control the military forces of the world.
Formulating war strategies was also one of Bao Zheng's responsibilities.
"Just blocking, not killing?" Lu Sen asked.
"Don't kill." Bao Zheng said with a fist.
"Oh, you are too soft-hearted." Lu Sen looked at Bao Zheng unhappily. "What are you afraid of? The Khitans have deployed hundreds of thousands of troops on the border. Their wolfish intentions are obvious. You are still thinking about the diplomatic relations between the two countries and are unwilling to hurt them?"
"Our Song Dynasty cannot fight a war on two fronts!" said Grand Tutor Pang.
"Since you asked me to block them, you should know that I can kill them." Lu Sen sighed and said, "But you only want to stop the enemy from entering the country, but not to expand the territory... No, you don't want to unify the country. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are the territories of us, the descendants of Yan and Huang."
Bao Zheng and Master Pang both stopped talking.
The atmosphere on both sides fell silent.
Lu Sen said after a while: "I understand. You are afraid that my fame is too big, so big that I can suppress the imperial power and decide the court with a single word, right?"
Bao Zheng and Master Pang both looked up at the sky almost at the same time, as if there was something rare up there.
This is too much... As a Taoist, Lu Sen can say that civil officials dare not speak or spread nonsense.
The Prince of Runan sneered at the side. Besides being disdainful, he also felt a sense of pleasure. He liked to see these great civil officials suffer setbacks.
Lu Sen was silent for a while, then said, "No."
Bao Zheng and Master Pang both turned their heads to look at Lu Sen at the same time, both anxious.
"Master Lu, please consider the overall situation and don't get angry." Master Pang said hurriedly.
Lu Sen snorted, "The overall situation is more important? If it is really the overall situation, you should invite me to the north to pacify the border at all costs. Instead of using rhetoric to trap me here, asking me to work and tying me up tightly with invisible shackles! Do I owe you literati, or what? Heizhu, show me out!"
Having said that, the two sides have temporarily torn their relations.
Of course, this was unilaterally torn by Lu Sen.
After Bao Zheng and Master Pang left, the Prince of Runan who stayed behind said, "My dear son-in-law, you did a great job. It makes me happy to see you!"
After saying this, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. When he was young, he was often "morally kidnapped" by these civil officials.
Now that his son-in-law has helped him vent his anger, he is naturally very happy.
He was happy, but after Bao Zheng went back and told the story, the whole court became somewhat dejected.
