Chapter 417 Those Are Two Different Things
However, Meng Gong's arrest of criminals, elimination of corrupt officials, and confiscation of large amounts of dirty silver from corrupt officials were huge gains for the court. Ma Linger said that Director Meng's contribution was enormous, and the stolen silver confiscated from Jiankang Prefecture alone was enough for the Ministry of Transport to mint coins and send to Jiankang Prefecture.
The gentlemen were all confused when they heard this.
What is this called?
It seems that those corrupt officials embezzled money and Meng Gong got credit for catching them?
Lao Cao said that these were two different things. The confiscated money must be put into the government treasury, and our new currency must be sent to Jiangdong first. He asked the officials, a large number of officials in Jiankang Prefecture have fallen, what should we do?
Everyone drank tea in silence.
Jiankang Prefecture is close to the war zone, has a wide area under its management, and is also involved in the military front. It is not possible to just pick someone to take responsibility.
After a short rest, Du Fan suggested discussing the matter slowly. He said that Commander Zhao, Lord Fan and Lord Meng were all in Jiangdong and were most familiar with the situation in Jiankang Prefecture. Wouldn't it be better to let them make a decision?
This gives Lao Cao a way out.
After discussing various matters, everyone was about to disperse when the steward of the office shouted: The Mongolian envoy has arrived.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Lao Cao's heart skipped a beat and he thought: Damn it, these plague gods are here again.
Although there had been reports at the border that the Mongolian delegation had entered the country from Yulinzhai and was heading towards Chengdu, the gentlemen were still reluctant to mention it.
Lao Cao said unhappily that the Ministry of Rites would handle the audience with foreign envoys and led them to a side hall to wait.
He immediately announced the disbandment and called Zhao Feiyan to come closer and reminded her: Today, our New Song is also a great country. He, the Mongolian, has something to say and should be reasonable. There is no need to be afraid.
Yang Jin knew that Cao Youwen was trying to encourage Zhao Feiyan, asking her to secure her position as the superior country and demonstrate the majesty of a great power, so she immediately went over and said with a smile that she would accompany Sister Feiyan to receive the foreign envoys.
Lao Cao was delighted to see Yang Jin's confident look. He knew that with this girl in hand, things would be a sure thing, so he agreed immediately.
Yangjin immediately called the steward over to inform the Mongolian envoy to return to the posthouse first and discuss the matter again tomorrow.
The deacon looked at the two of them in confusion, not knowing what to do.
Zhao Feiyan understood it immediately, and said to the steward with raised eyebrows: "Can the new Song Kingdom come and discuss as it pleases? I am busy with official duties today, so I asked them to wait for a while and see you again in three days."
Haha, Yangjin originally asked for a one-day delay, but Feiyan changed it to three days.
Yangjin took Feiyan to Courtyard No. 8, which was where most of the officials from the Ministry of Rites worked. She asked for the meeting room to be rearranged to imitate the long table used in later generations. Four large golden dragon flags of the New Song Dynasty were to be placed behind the main seat, and each person's nameplate was to be placed on the table.
After Yangjin's efforts, a new model of foreign audiences was created.
Three days later, the Mongolian envoy came to Jinguan City again, but was taken to the Ministry of Rites with the number 8 courtyard plate. The chief envoy, Solon, was dissatisfied and asked himself why he was not allowed to see the king?
He wants to meet Duke Cao, the ruler of the new Song Dynasty.
The deacon who was leading the way in front immediately glared at him and said arrogantly, "How can anyone who wants to see the king of New Song be able to see him?"
The New Song Dynasty had a Ministry of Rites. Once the king had spoken, all foreign countries should go to the Ministry of Rites to report any issues.
The group arrived at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Rites.
Although these officials from the grasslands had received a lot of Sinology education, they were still stunned when they entered the meeting hall. Mamade, it was another huge meeting hall, with sixteen pillars alone. A long and wide table separated them at the entrance of the hall. On the front wall was a huge landscape painting, and below it were four brand new golden dragon flags.
The solemn and dignified atmosphere made them dare not even breathe.
The deacon pointed to the name cards on the table and asked everyone to take their seats according to their numbers. Please be patient.
Soran immediately called his younger brother Soni to sit over, and he thought the other followers were servants, so they had to stand behind the two of them without reporting their names.
The followers behind Sauron whispered: Wow, look, the newly built imperial city of the New Song Dynasty is so huge, it’s even bigger than the royal court on our grassland.
The butler in the office had very sensitive ears and actually heard the conversation between Sauron's followers. He said to them proudly, "What's this?" It's not that our third young master wants to save money, but he wants to expand half of Chengdu to be the imperial city.
Damn, they are so rich and powerful. No wonder the Khan shouts about marching south in his dreams.
However, half an hour had passed, and Sauron was sitting there waiting until his mouth was dry, but no one came to discuss matters with him, and he became impatient.
Half an hour is exactly one hour.
Zhao Feiyan was really too patient. At this moment, she was drinking tea and chatting with Yangjin and Shunzhidi in the lounge, discussing tips on manicure.
The deacon in charge of reception ran over to ask: When will the princess go to meet the foreign envoys? I see that they are getting restless.
Yangjin said dissatisfiedly: It’s too early, can’t you see the princess is busy?
Go away.
Shunzhidi ordered tea to be served and told them to wait, as Director Feiyan would be here soon.
The deacon immediately bowed respectfully and ran away.
Zhao Feiyan asked Yangjin with a smile: That's enough, it's been cold for them for so long.
Yangjin asked her what she was worried about?
Didn’t you see that the Mongols had detained her father for several years and refused to release him?
Are you feeling sorry for making people wait so long for just this short period of time?
No rush, we still have to play for another half hour.
Soran drank up all the Qingcheng tea brought by the butler, and still hadn't seen anyone. He was so angry that he stood up and asked them to leave. A string of silver bell-like laughter came from outside the hall.
The deacon immediately shouted loudly, "She's coming, she's coming, Minister Zhao, the princess of the Zhao family is here."
Zhao Feiyan was in front, and several women followed behind and entered the meeting hall one after another.
When Suoni saw that they were all Zhao Yulin's women, he whispered to his brother: It is really the Zhao family's world, Zhao Yulin has the final say here.
Soran looked at his brother with dissatisfaction and said okay.
The guy immediately held his head high and sat upright in the chair.
After the two sides exchanged greetings, Sauron shouted that everyone had taken so long to come and see them. How could such neglect of guests be the way of hospitality in a country of etiquette?
However, Yangjin said bluntly that this was an intentional arrangement by the New Song Dynasty. The Mongolian army wantonly trampled on the New Song territory and murdered the people of the New Song Dynasty. When did they ever inform them?
Can’t the New Song Dynasty court fight back?
Suoni used the excuse that the New Song Dynasty had no sincerity in negotiations, so what was the point of them coming to Chengdu?
It’s better to go back.
Zhao Feiyan immediately said with a smile: In that case, please come in. The New Song Dynasty has not invited you to visit Chengdu.
She immediately stood up and told them to leave.
Before Soran stood up, Zhao Feiyan and the others had already gotten up and left their seats. Shunzhidi went to the door and asked the steward to see them out, then walked out without looking back.
The Mongolian delegation was left sitting there stupidly.
Sauron had just returned to the posthouse with the delegation in anger, but was told by the postmaster to pack up and leave quickly, as he had to vacate the room by this time tomorrow.
Soran was angry and cursed at his brother: Who gave you the right to speak?
Have you forgotten our mission as an envoy to New Song?
Suoni stood there stupidly, never expecting that the New Song court would treat them so coldly.
Yes, every envoy from the Mongol Empire that visited other countries was treated with arrogance and was praised and worshipped by those who were superior to them. But when they arrived in the New Song Dynasty, people just ignored them.
Sauron sighed and said that things are different now. The New Song Kingdom is getting stronger and stronger. We can't gain any advantage on the battlefield. The treasury of the grassland royal court is becoming increasingly empty. The Khan wants us to find out the strength of the New Song Kingdom and try to get some of its money back for emergency.
My second brother is already an adult, how could he be so reckless as to ruin the Khan's good deeds?
Remember, we envoys must learn to be patient. In order to achieve our goal, what does it matter if we act like a coward?
As long as we can get the New Song’s banknotes, it will be a great achievement.
Suoni didn't dare to act rashly again and stayed in the inn obediently. Soran went to the office and took quick action.
In the east, Fan Zhong had already arrived in Jiankang Prefecture and was chatting with Meng Gong and Zhao Yulin.
Meng Gong's arrow wound was not very serious. After a period of careful care, he recovered a lot and talked easily about how he solved the case of the prefect eating the baby.
Fan Zhong was moved by what he heard. It was unimaginable that a provincial governor could do such a ridiculous and beastly thing.
Zhao Yulin asked them: The prefect is gone, and the transport commissioner is gone, what should we do?
Meng Gong said that he had written a letter to the court in Chengdu, asking the Central Council to send someone.
Zhao Yulin felt that distant water could not quench immediate thirst. Jiankang Prefecture was related to the stability of the eastern region, and Chengdu was afraid that there was no suitable candidate for the time being. He proposed that Meng Gong temporarily take over as the prefect of Jiankang, and Fan Zhong temporarily take over the post of transport to get things done. He had to move around on the front line and could only do some assisting work.
The two felt that they could not find a better solution at the moment, so they agreed.
The three were still drinking tea when the guard captain Ke Zhenxie brought an urgent report: the Third Corps of the Jiangbei Army had mutinied, and more than 3,000 people were pulled over to the Mongolian army.
Zhao Yulin was immediately stunned.
The Shenwei Army currently has hundreds of thousands of soldiers, so losing 3,000 or 5,000 soldiers is no problem. However, when Yu Jie was stationed in Jiangbei to organize the army, a mutiny among his main force of more than 3,000 soldiers was no small problem.
Fan Zhong was also anxious and asked him to go to Yu Street to understand the situation and deal with it accordingly.
Zhao Yulin did not agree. First, Fan Zhong had just returned from a long journey and needed to rest. Second, this involved military affairs and should be handled by him. If he did not make his position clear, the generals under Yu Jie would inevitably become suspicious, which would cause more trouble.
After the three of them made a simple division of labor, he immediately set off for Yingzhou.
In Chengdu, Solon from the Mongolian delegation went to Jinguan City to make a statement, and Zhao Feiyan agreed to talk to him the next day.
The negotiations on the second day quickly entered the fast lane. After both sides sat down, Solon came straight to the point. He stated that the New Song Dynasty had inherited everything from the Great Song Dynasty and demanded that the New Song Dynasty, in accordance with the previous system, transfer an annual tribute of 2 million strings of cash to Mongolia and offer 200,000 pieces of silk and satin before the two countries would stop fighting and become friends.
Shunzhidi immediately shouted angrily: This is simply a foolish dream. Has the Mongolian envoy forgotten that when our New Song was founded, we announced to the world that we would not recognize any unequal alliances?
Suoni asked from the side: These are written treaties signed by the two countries. Why does your country just say it doesn't recognize them? You have no sense of contract at all. Aren't you afraid that our Khan will get angry and march his troops south?
