Duan Suzhen, the envoy of Dali State, saw a civil official looking up from the list, observing the clothes of the visitor, and shouted.
Immediately, several people came to the gate of the mansion and bowed to the civil servant of Daxu. The civil servant who received them had a friendly smile on his face and said a few words to the envoy in the midst of the noise.
Then the envoys and several others walked to the door one after another, opened their arms, and let the warriors standing in front of the door touch them from head to toe.
The street outside the gate was very crowded, with people thronging among the carriages and horses, as lively as a market. On one side of the gate, a large group of armored soldiers stood in a square formation, motionless, with the lines straight, as if they were drawn with a carpenter's ink string.
This time, not only the Xu and Liao countries participated in the meeting, but all the places that Dongjing had some contact with were invited in advance. Even the Dali Kingdom sent people, only Jiaozhi did not send anyone. It is said that Jiaozhi has been in civil strife in recent years, and Ding Boling has just pacified the tribes and established the country of Da Co Viet, but Da Xu Dongjing does not recognize the legitimacy of this country.
Guo Shao arrived at this mansion left by officials from the previous dynasty very early, but he decided not to show up at the formal meeting and wait until the banquet to show up.
Because the officials of the Ministry of Rites believed that the Liao Kingdom sent the Northern Court King, and the Great Xu Kingdom only needed to send ministers of the same level to sign the treaty. The officials of the Privy Council also suggested that the hatred between Xu and Liao could not be resolved overnight, and the emperor did not need to stand at the forefront of the dissatisfaction, as long as the ministers presided over it.
But Guo Shao decided to meet with the Liao envoy in private.
He was waiting in a room in the back garden, looking forward to meeting Xiao Siwen. But if it were ten years ago, he would have been more looking forward to meeting Xiao Siwen's daughter.
At this time, he found an old painting hanging on the wall above the coffee table. When he looked up, he saw that the paper of the painting had turned yellow. It was a black and white ink painting of an old man wearing a straw raincoat sitting by the river fishing, with the background of snow-covered mountains and forests outlined with ink lines.
Fishing alone in the snow on a cold river. Guo Shao first thought of this poem, but this painting should not be a famous one, as there is neither a title poem nor the painter's name seal.
Guo Shao didn't understand why he was attracted by such an old painting that was not a famous one. He stood by the wall and carefully observed the painting for a long time.
Until Jingniang's voice came from behind: Your Majesty, the Liao envoy Xiao Siwen and others are here.
Guo Shao nodded without turning his head, his eyes still on the painting, concentrating on capturing the vague feeling.
After a while, a sentence in Chinese with an awkward accent was heard: The envoy of the Liao Dynasty pays a visit to the Emperor of Xu State.
Guo Shao turned around, looked at the few people, and said casually: No need to be polite.
The middle-aged man with regular features standing in front should be Xiao Siwen. He and several other people straightened up and looked at Guo Shao. From their looks, Guo Shao knew that they were a little surprised.
I heard that I was rumored to be a monster with three heads and six arms in the Liao Kingdom, and was used by the people to scare disobedient children, Guo Shao laughed.
Xiao Siwen said calmly: The Emperor of Xu is famous throughout the world, so it is inevitable that there will be ignorant people spreading false rumors.
Guo Shao was obviously more ordinary than they imagined, with rough skin, ordinary features, and a relatively sturdy and strong body, but there were many tall and ordinary men in the world. In the back garden, he didn't even wear a hat, and his hair was combed into a bun, which was pinned with a wooden hairpin. Although the purple round-collared robe on his body was ironed flat, it was old, and the color of the cuffs and collar was worn to a lighter color than the material in other places.
Guo Shao was also observing Xiao Siwen, who he had been thinking about for a long time. He was completely convinced that he was a decent man just by looking at his appearance. As for who Yang Gun was, Guo Shao was not sure, and he did not want to mention it specifically. He could just ask Jing Niang standing next to him later.
There was a brief silence. Guo Shao saw that Xiao Siwen had finished looking at him, and his eyes would occasionally look at the painting on the wall that he had just looked at.
This time, they were summoned privately, so there was no need to discuss the alliance. Such matters could be handled by the ministers alone, and Guo Shao did not need to discuss it with Xiao Siwen in person. Seeing that Xiao Siwen noticed the painting, Guo Shao found a topic and raised his hand to point at the painting: Envoy Xiao, do you recognize this painting
Fishing alone in the snowy cold river. Xiao Siwen said.
Guo Shao praised: "Envoy Xiao has good insight."
I have read some of the famous poems and fu in the Central Plains. Xiao Siwen said that this painting is based on the artistic conception of Liu Zongyuan in the Tang Dynasty.
Guo Shao nodded and said calmly: There is another layer. The painters of this kind of painting are generally not only literati, but also bureaucrats. If it was earlier, most of them were from aristocratic families.
Oh, Xiao Siwen nodded thoughtfully and couldn't help but look up at the painting again.
At this time, more and more people arrived in front of the courtyard, preparing for the great event between the states, but the Emperor of Daxu and the King of the Northern Courtyard of Liao were discussing poetry and painting. The three deputy envoys and Jingniang, who was very interested, listened very patiently and did not speak easily because the emperor would talk about whatever he wanted.
Guo Shao added: The previous owner of the mansion we are in was a former court official, and he was supposed to own this painting. Envoy Xiao walked in and thought about the scenery.
Very exquisite. Xiao Siwen said seriously that the Central Plains people settled down according to their custom, and they really put more thought into their residences than the Liao people.
Guo Shao said: Before Envoy Xiao came in, I had some thoughts when I was looking at this painting. What was the feeling of the official here when he saw this painting
Xiao Siwen pondered and said: If I were to guess, it might be that I appreciate that state of indifference and tranquility.
Envoy Xiao really had a deep understanding of the Central Plains culture. Guo Shao was gentle and calm, and he gave praise from time to time. He didn't seem like an enemy or foe of Xiao Siwen at all. Our country has always been ruled by people, and the philosophy is that people are inherently good, and we place our hopes on the personal cultivation of officials. When officials flaunt this state, they are also showing the world and even themselves that they are capable of playing the role of rulers.
Xiao Siwen listened very carefully and responded, "Emperor Daxu established the country through military force. Now it seems that the emperor also has a lot of experience in civil governance."
Guo Shao smiled and continued: When people who appreciate paintings stand here, they have already achieved the fame and fortune they pursued, and imagine themselves as the old man in the painting, withdrawing from such a lonely environment. Perhaps they will have a feeling
How does it feel? Xiao Siwen seemed very interested. It can be seen that this Khitan man is not a person who can't keep his composure.
Guo Shao took a deep breath and said thoughtfully, "I used to think that the great wealth and power that I once thought were the source of joy, once I got it, I felt that it was not the source of joy. The real meaning is not the result, but the desire and expectation when pursuing it."
Xiao Siwen seemed to be getting more and more interested, and immediately asked: Why do you still chase
Guo Shao looked at him and said: Wealth and power are not the source of happiness, but they are the source of escape from most pain and helplessness. This is what he meant. Even if people cannot get happiness, they are unwilling to be abused.
Xiao Siwen nodded slightly while pretending to think.
Guo Shao suddenly raised his voice and said, "I am looking forward to seeing what you will do next, and how you will get out of this painful and helpless situation. I hope you will not disappoint me, but let me hear about your wisdom in overcoming difficulties, and then I will applaud you from the bottom of my heart."
Xiao Siwen looked up and met Guo Shao's half-smile, but his own face was alternating between blue and red, and his expression was extremely subtle and complicated.
Guo Shao's words were a blatant provocation and an undisguised gloating.
But his words were full of respect. Even if Xiao Siwen was not necessarily an opponent worthy of respect, Guo Shao respected his opponent as if he was also respecting his own demeanor.
Xiao Siwen's original method was to poison someone by any means necessary, and when Guo Shao fought back, he laid it out in the open. He told Xiao Siwen his purpose and reminded him to take the chance, and then he advanced step by step in an open and aboveboard manner.
It hasn't quite come to the end yet, but it seems like the winner is clear, and this is exactly the effect Guo Shao wanted.
The two men faced each other for a while, and Guo Shao said: The serious business in the hall is about to begin, so I will not try to keep Envoy Xiao.
Xiao Siwen politely said: I take my leave.
Guo Shaodao: My conversation with Envoy Xiao was very interesting. I hope there will be a next time.
Several envoys from Liao Kingdom left the room and it became quiet again. Guo Shao stood alone in the room, just like the man fishing alone in the snow on the cold river painted on the wall.
Not long after, Jingniang returned to the room to report.
Guo Shao then asked: Which one is Yang Gun
Jingniang said: The one on the left of Xiao Siwen.
Guo Shao suddenly realized and said: I guessed the other three people just now, and I guessed the same one.
Jingniang was not a talkative person. She looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, and then stood there in silence.
Guo Shao glanced at her and said: I also guessed it intuitively, and I didn't see anything. Yang Gun is indeed a man of scheming and intelligence. But as far as I know, Yang Gun is a Khitan who grew up in Hebei. His temperament is somewhat similar to Xiao Siwen, but different from the other two Khitans. I didn't figure out what the difference is, and I'm too lazy to think about it.
Jingniang said: I found out who Yang Gun was from Yang Shiliang.
As Guo Shao spoke, he glanced to the south. He was waiting for the outcome of the meeting. Before the outcome was confirmed, he didn't seem to have the energy to deal with other things. Guo Shao was not the kind of person who was completely indifferent and calm that the scholars praised.
His eyes slowly moved from Jingniang's wounds, as if something invisible gently brushed the outline of her clothes held up by her body. Jingniang could feel Guo Shao's gaze, but she was neither shy nor charming.
Guo Shaodao: All the women I see now are vying for my favor.
Jing Niang said calmly: "My family background is not noble, but I have seen rich people since I was a child. There are many beautiful women around them, but those who rely on their beauty usually stay with their employer for no more than a month. No matter how beautiful a person is, there will always be a time when they become boring."
Guo Shao glanced at the painting and said casually: This is why power and wealth are not the source of happiness.