Wang Shumi's envoy from Liao arrives
A young and strong general drew his sword and raised his arm. Three neat rows of armored soldiers raised their spears at the same time. The army looked very orderly.
Wang Pu and Xiao Siwen walked side by side in front, followed by Yang Gun, Lu Duosun and others. When they arrived at the door, they heard the sound of horizontal drums playing the military music of Xu's army.
The group passed the square formation and saw a large group of armored cavalrymen guarding a carriage waiting in the middle of the street. The imperial army general Du Chenggui jumped off his horse and clasped his fists, saying: "I am the commander of the inner palace, Du Chenggui, and I have been ordered to escort the Liao envoy back to my country."
Wang Pudao: General Du must not be careless.
Get the order from Du Chenggui.
A warrior from the Xu army opened the wooden door on the side of the carriage and said, "Please get in, Liao envoy and deputy envoy."
Xiao Siwen said nothing and got on the carriage with his head held high. Not long after, he heard someone shouting outside: Let's go!
Before this, the inn had increased its defenses inside and outside, with countless layers of guards on guard, and the entire Chanzhou city was defended like an iron barrel, because the Emperor of the Xu Kingdom was in Chanzhou. But now Xiao Siwen lifted a corner of the curtain, and the carriage was surrounded by cavalry.
Xiao Siwen didn't think he had any chance to make any trouble in Xu State. The only thing he could do was to follow the arrangements of the officials of Xu State, which he actually did.
After the troops crossed the Yellow River floating bridge, Xiao Siwen observed the direction of the sun and its route, and believed that the cavalry would first cross the Liaoxi Corridor in Hebei and enter the Liao Dynasty border from the Liaoxi region.
Almost all the main roads in Xu State were connected by post roads and post houses, which were said to be an important bridge to ensure the court's control over the entire country.
One night, everyone stayed at the inn. Another deputy envoy went to the toilet, leaving only Xiao Siwen and Yang Gun in the guest room.
Xiao Siwen then asked quietly: "General Yang went to Japan from Goryeo last time, and then escaped alone from the Iwami battlefield, and managed to return to Liao. I haven't asked General Yang how he did it."
Yang Gun was stunned for a moment, and then he advised in a deep voice: Lord Xiao has not reached that stage yet. The fact that the State of Xu used actors to humiliate and frame Lord Xiao cannot be used as evidence for the nobles to accuse Lord Xiao in the court. I thought Lord Xiao must have a plan to deal with it.
Xiao Siwen nodded seriously and said: "I do have some plans, but it is not a bad thing for more people to think about the worst. Now the only person I can really trust is General Yang."
Yang Gun sighed, with a look of unbearable pain on his face. He was in a life-or-death situation, and life was worse than death. But I was fine. No matter how difficult it was, I always had a hope in my heart, that the hard times were only temporary, and as long as I returned to the Liao Dynasty, I could escape from the dire straits.
When Xiao Siwen heard this, the muscles on his cheeks twitched slightly, but he still said without hesitation that General Yang would have the chance to tell more about his experiences.
They stopped at post stations along the way and while the deputy envoy was using the toilet and taking a shower, Xiao Siwen asked Yang Gun about his experience and route of escape.
Xu Guo's general Du Chenggui led a group of Liao people to Daling River, where Liao people were waiting to greet them. Du Chenggui smoothly handed over the Liao envoys and then returned.
At this time, Yang Gun and others learned that the royal army had easily put down the rebellion of the King of Song and the King of Yue and returned to Shangjing. Now everyone's destination is Shangjing.
Everyone rode back to Shangjing on horseback, and arrived at the familiar capital within a few days.
The atmosphere in Shangjing was very strange. For a moment, no one paid attention to Yang Gun. The imperial palace seemed to be busy dealing with the rebellion against Shangjing and the rebellion of the Shengnuzhen.
That evening, Yang Gun found a special person in the tent of North City: Xiao Abudi.
Abudi was Xiao Siwen's confidant. Yang Gun knew him when they were both working for Xiao Siwen, but their relationship was not close. So Abudi was a little surprised by Yang Gun's visit tonight.
As the sky brightened, there was a loud thunder in the rain. Summer is the season with the heaviest rainfall on the grassland. Yang Gun took off his straw hat and walked into a tent with his back bent. The sound of rain hitting the tent was very close, and there was a sound of rushing around.
Yang Mansion Affairs. Abudi looked at Yang Gun suspiciously.
Yang Gun bowed with his hands on his chest without saying a word.
After a moment, Yang Gun straightened up, took two steps forward, and said in a deep voice: I came here today to tell General Abudi that Gao Xun and others are plotting to assassinate Lord Xiao.
Ah Abudi's eyes widened a little and he was still a little dazed standing there.
Yang Gun said: Have you heard about the humiliation of Lord Xiao in Xu State
Abudi nodded stiffly, then pondered and said: After the assassination of the late Emperor Yelu Jing, Gao Xun and others responded to Lord Xiao internally and externally. They were originally our own people.
Yang Gun sneered and said: It is precisely because he was once Lord Xiao's man that he is so impatient now.
Why did Abudi ask without thinking
Yang Gun said: "It's better to cut off the relationship with Lord Xiao. Lord Xiao's current situation is no different from that of a traitor. Killing him now is almost risk-free. Lord Xiao himself can't protect himself and can't fight back. No one in the court will stand up for a traitor."
Yang Gun suddenly reached out and patted Abudi's wet shoulder gently, causing Abudi to tremble inadvertently. Yang Gun leaned close to his ear and whispered, "What will happen to his people if Xiao Gong falls?" Gao Xun's move was the only way out, so he was very anxious. General Abudi, think about it again.
After saying that, Yang Gun turned around and was about to leave. Abudi said in a deep voice: General Yang, why did you tell me this
Yang Gun turned around and said: General Abudi is probably the only person around Lord Xiao who can be trusted, and Lord Xiao is still in the dark. This is all I can say.
It rained heavily at night. Xiao Siwen's second daughter came to the Xiao Mansion in the rain.
Seeing that his daughter was soaked, Xiao Siwen hurriedly said: Why are you going out so late? Go and change your clothes.
Xiao was unwilling to do so, and could not wait to cry and complain that her husband was deceived and instigated by others, especially Taizong's son, King of Yue, Yelu Bise, who, because he could not protect himself and was not strong enough, slandered Xiyin and insisted on dragging her husband into the water.
Xiao Siwen was already very upset when he heard this, and said impatiently: "It's fine if you're plotting a rebellion, but now that you've failed, what else can I do?"
The daughter pleaded with tears in her eyes: "The Khan listens to Yelu Xizhen in everything now. My father has a close relationship with Yelu Xizhen. Please ask my father to ask Yelu Xizhen to let the Khan have some leniency for the sake of the royal family."
Xiao Siwen almost vomited blood when he heard this.
At this time, the daughter knelt on the ground again, looking very miserable and sad: If the father does not agree, the daughter will kneel and die here.
Xiao Siwen's eyebrows were almost frowned together, but when he heard Yelu Xizhen, his brows gradually relaxed a little, and he paced back and forth in the hall in a trance.
Your father promised you that you would go to see Yelu Xizhen, Xiao Siwen suddenly said happily.
The real daughter immediately wiped away her tears.
Xiao Siwen said anxiously: Father will go tonight.
Xiao got up from the ground and followed Xiao Siwen out. Xiao Siwen asked someone to prepare a carriage, but he couldn't stop his daughter, so he had to go out with her.
They rode in a carriage in the rain and arrived in front of Yelu Xizhen's mansion. Xiao Siwen said: You are soaked to the skin. How can you meet people like this? Wait here and see your father go to see Yelu Xizhen with your own eyes. What are you worried about
Xiao said: Father must convince him.
Xiao Siwen then asked the servant to go forward and knock on the door. Amid the sound of rain, a reply to report could be vaguely heard from the door.
After waiting for a long time, the corner door opened and the person inside said: Please welcome Mr. Xiao.
Xiao Siwen and his daughter both showed some relief.
Xiao Siwen entered the house alone and was led to a living room by the servants of the mansion, where he saw Yelu Xizhen sitting inside waiting. Now Yelu Xizhen didn't even have the courtesy to come out of the door to greet him, but he was willing to meet Xiao Siwen, which was a great honor for their friendship.
Alas, Mr. Xiao Yelu Xizhen sighed and shook his head continuously.
Xiao Siwen stepped forward, bowed, and said in a deep voice: The Xu State is only seeking revenge and has no sincerity in negotiating peace.
Yelu Xizhen continued to shake his head and said: Mr. Xiao is half right. What Guo the blacksmith did was indeed revenge, but he still wanted to negotiate peace.
How can we see that if he values the alliance, why would he publicly humiliate and frame the Liao envoy Xiao Siwen? He emphasized that those actors were framing him. He did not dare to threaten Yelu Xizhen by saying that he was also involved in some conspiracy. It was extremely unwise to make Yelu Xizhen feel threatened at this time.
Yelu Xizhen said: When the deputy envoy sent the alliance back to the country, he did not know that Lord Xiao was humiliated; this shows that Guo Tiejiang completed the alliance first and then took revenge, and the order of importance is very obvious. In addition, I have thought about it many times for Guo Tiejiang. If Xu State continues to fight with the Liao Dynasty, they will not benefit at all. Of course, the Liao Dynasty will not benefit either.
Xiao Siwen pondered for a moment and said: "Your Highness is worried that we will fight against Xu State and Goryeo from both the east and the west. As long as the Liao army quells the rebellion of the Jurchens in the east and defeats the Goryeo army, they can completely break the alliance because Xu State humiliated the Liao envoys first.
Yelu Xizhen immediately shook his head, stared at Xiao Siwen's eyes and said: I have long advocated a national policy of peaceful coexistence with the State of Xu, and I have no intention of changing this position. This strategy has nothing to do with personal gains and losses, but is for the destiny of the Liao Dynasty. I really don't want to see the day when the Khitan people abandon the foundation established by Taizu and flee to the northern desert, becoming a nomadic tribe.
Just as Xiao Siwen was about to speak, Yelu Xizhen immediately said in a tough tone: Although there are some unhappy aspects in this alliance, it is a substantial step after all. Lord Xiao, I used to respect your loyalty to the Liao Dynasty and your long-term vision. But now you are completely disregarding the interests of the country for your own personal gains and losses, and I am very disappointed.
Xiao Siwen was speechless when he heard this, and he was almost powerless to stand. He was even more angry: "Damn it, when your life is in danger and you have nowhere to go, I hope you can still speak in such a selfless and far-sighted tone!"
As for his daughter's request, Xiao Siwen did not forget it, nor did he mention it at all.