The goose yellow embroidered curtain exudes a feminine atmosphere. A soothing and pleasant voice came from inside: I heard from Cao Tai that the Semites from the west come here to do business, and they love to buy the best silk and porcelain. You should ask your officials to prepare some tribute to give back to the Arabs.
Several ministers bowed and said: We obey your order.
At this time, Cao Tai walked out from the side, looked at Wang Pu and said: "Envoy Wang, please stay for a while. The Queen has something to say to you."
After hearing this, the other ministers bowed and left.
Cao Tai said: "The letter sent back from Hebei by the emperor was read by Envoy Wang.
Wang Pudao: This old minister has respectfully read your majesty’s sacred intention.
He pondered for a moment, then said to the figure sitting behind the curtain: This old minister recommends a person. This person is Li Xin, who is the official of the Privy Council of the Northern Han Dynasty in the Eastern Han Dynasty. He should be the right person to handle this matter.
There was no response from behind the curtain, so Cao Tai immediately asked: "Envoy Wang, what is the ability of this Li Xin to be a lowered official?"
Wang Pudao: I think Li Xin is proficient in interrogation and has practical ability.
When the Great Zhou army captured Jinyang, they discovered an armory in the city, which contained tools for forging new armor. Upon investigation, it turned out that this was the place where the Eastern Han and Northern Han wanted to steal the forging method of the Great Zhou armor workshop, and the official in charge of this place was Li Xin. Because his crime was proven, he was immediately arrested and imprisoned in Tokyo.
However, as far as I know, the person captured by the spies sent by the Eastern Han Dynasty was just a disabled handyman in the armor workshop. With just this one person, Li Xin was able to gather a group of craftsmen to try to imitate the new armor, and the general structure of the forging hammer was somewhat similar.
So although the old minister ignored this person, he has already filed a file in the Privy Council.
Recently, I received a letter from His Majesty asking for the method of building and sailing for the merchant ships of the Arab Empire, and I thought of Li Xin. He has been taken out of prison and is waiting to be summoned outside the Jinxiang Palace.
Fu Jinzhan's voice seemed to be very interested. Oh, since he's here, let him come in and take a look.
Cao Tai gave a wink, and a woman in a round-necked robe and a fu hat walked quickly out of the west hall, delivering a message loudly.
Not long after, a haggard-looking man in a gray cloth robe walked in. He must have suffered a lot in prison for such a long time, and he looked very thin. However, his clothes were new and clean, because he was going to the palace after all.
The man walked to the inner hall of the not very spacious study and immediately knelt on the ground, with his upper body lying on the floor tiles and his waist raised high. He said, "The guilty official Li Xin kowtows to the Queen Duanci."
A pleasant and generous voice behind the curtain said: Cao Tai, please ask him for me.
Cao Tai remained calm, his voice soft but clear: Li Xin, Queen Duanci wants to ask you if you are willing to serve the Great Zhou court.
Li Xin was still kneeling on the ground, his face facing the floor tiles, and hurriedly said: In reply to your majesty, I am originally from Hedong. At that time, Hedong belonged to the Eastern Han Dynasty. When Liu became emperor, I became a minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Now that the Eastern Han Dynasty has been destroyed, Hedong has been returned to the Great Zhou Dynasty. The people of the world were originally one. I and the people of Hedong are already ministers of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The king has given orders, so how can I not follow him
After hearing this, Cao Tai looked at Wang Pu. Wang Pu smiled casually and nodded slightly.
Cao Tai said: The court will give you a chance. As long as you have made contributions, your past crimes will be pardoned and you will be promoted.
Li Xin said: Please ask Empress Duanci and Envoy Wang to give your instructions.
Cao Tai didn't continue speaking.
Wang Pu glanced at the fine curtain, waited for a moment, and then said: The merchant ship of the Arabs is on the coast near the Xingwang Mansion in the south. It has traveled thousands of miles to reach the border of Da Zhou. Your Majesty is very interested in it. But sea trade with the Arabs is beneficial to the court, and Da Zhou is a country of etiquette. Things cannot be done too ugly and ruin its reputation.
Li Xin bowed and said: Envoy Wang is right.
Wang Pu said in a deep voice: What method do you have? Tell it in front of Queen Duanci.
Fu Jinzhan's voice said: Please stand up and talk.
Empress Xie Duanci. Li Xin slowly got up from the ground, frowning and thinking. When he stood up straight, he clasped his hands and said: This matter requires two things: shipbuilding technology and long-distance navigation methods. At this time, we have both physical objects, the ship is parked on the coast of Dazhou, and we can find a reason to seize it; and we have living people, a large number of Dashi merchants are in our country.
Wang Pu said calmly: Compared with having only one handyman in the armor workshop, the conditions for imitating new armor are much better, right
Li Xin bowed hurriedly and said: I am a guilty minister who is ashamed and has no other choice.
Wang Pu said nothing.
Li Xin said: "The guilty minister needs two things, one is the identity of an official of the court, and the other is the order of the Privy Council to mobilize part of the garrison of the Prince Xing's Palace. First, send the envoy south with courtesy, and then find a reason to say that the merchant ship of the Arabs violated the laws of the Great Zhou, and seize the ship and the people together.
Once the Arab merchant ships were in physical possession, officials could be ordered to recruit shipbuilders and craftsmen to dismantle the merchant ships and search for contraband.
The crew members were then interrogated separately, one to ensure confidentiality for them, and the other to compare the truthfulness of their confessions.
Once we get what we need, we will release the Arabs without charge and appease them.
After hearing this, Wang Pu turned around and said to his superior: "I would like to report to Queen Duanci that I would like to appoint Li Xin as the deputy envoy of the Guest Ministry, so that he can legitimately escort the Arab merchants back south."
Fu Jinzhan’s voice said: Very appropriate.
Li Xin immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying: "Thank you, Empress Duanci, for your great kindness. I will do my utmost to serve you until my death."
Fu Jinzhan's voice said: "It turns out that the guest envoy is Zan Jurun. Zan Jurun was transferred to the cabinet to assist the government and become the military envoy of the Ministry of Rites. The guest envoy has not been in charge for many months. If you can handle this matter, I will recommend you for merit and let His Majesty personally appoint you as the guest envoy."
Li Xin was overjoyed and grateful.
Li Xin came out of the West Hall and first went to collect his official seal, clothes and resettlement allowance. He was originally an official of the Northern Han Dynasty, and the system of the Northern Han Dynasty was similar to that of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He was familiar with these things. Then, regardless of his weak body after just coming out of prison, he first went to meet the envoy of the Arab Empire.
Shuai Man and others were very happy because they received generous rewards from the court.
Shuai Man stroked the exquisite silk with his hand and said in the Arab language: The royal family of the Great Zhou has been very warm and generous to us, and we are very grateful for their kindness.
After the translation, Li Xin smiled and said: The envoy brought the best gifts from the Kingdom of Daqin, and the court also gave the best things in return. These are tributes, and officials from all over the country pay tribute to the royal family with the best local things.
Shuai Man said to the translator Lu Yongzhen: I heard an explosion outside the city the day before yesterday. What was that
Lu Yongzhen said casually: It is said to be a firearm, a weapon made of explosive powder.
Yao Shuaiman seemed very interested in the explosion.
At this time, Li Xin was observing Lu Yongzhen talking with the Arabs calmly.