Chapter 256 Goryeo
Perhaps Wang Hui really was a person who admired the Central Plains culture very much.

can only say……

After Zhao Xin sent an envoy to him, the other party responded very positively.

Even, he immediately sent an envoy to follow.

In addition to hoping to obtain some books, Buddhist scriptures and the like from the Song Dynasty, he also sent people to discuss in detail with Zhao Xin the matter of jointly sending troops to attack the Liao Kingdom.

Such a positive reaction made Zhao Xin even wonder if the other party was cheating.

Otherwise, how could there be people in this world who are so eager to cooperate with others in fighting?

in fact……

The Song Dynasty and Goryeo had not resumed tribute payments for at least thirty or forty years.

So what is the significance of restoring tribute to Goryeo?

To know……

The development of the Central Plains region is often much faster and more mature than that of the Korean region.

Japan, on the other hand, often learns from Korea, and in particular the culture of southern Korea.

This actually explains very well why Goryeo is so active.

Just think about it, there is a rogue gangster standing at your doorstep – the Liao Kingdom, who is not allowing you to accept the advanced culture of the Song Dynasty.

Now, it has been thirty or forty years.

After these thirty or forty years, how far has the Song Dynasty developed?

As someone who doesn’t have any culture of their own, would you start to feel a little guilty?
In the past, any little bit of Central Plains culture could bring you a great leap forward in both material and spiritual aspects.

You even recruited some Jinshi from the Song Dynasty.

They were given high positions and generous salaries, and even had wives and houses arranged for them.

Your prime minister even expressed dissatisfaction with you and complained that it would be better to give his house to these Jinshi from the Song Dynasty.

You are dissatisfied with the other party and leave angrily!

This is Goryeo’s yearning for the Song Dynasty.

This is really not fake!

If you were a scholar, you could definitely go to Goryeo at this moment. If you could pass the exam, even if you were the prime minister of Goryeo, in the heart of the King of Goryeo, your status would not be as high as yours, a wild scholar from the Song Dynasty.

at present……

According to Zhao Xin’s understanding, there were at least a dozen Jinshi from the Song Dynasty who served as officials in Goryeo.

In their words, the Song Dynasty must be invincible.

This explains why Goryeo’s response was so positive.

What is there to communicate with the Liao Kingdom, a group of barbarians? If you want to learn advanced culture, you must go to the Song Dynasty.

even……

It would be even better if they could work together to eradicate the barbaric Liao Kingdom and open up the last channel for them to connect with each other.

Zhao Xin also asked the other side’s envoy: “I heard that your king admires our Central Plains culture?”

The other envoy said, “Your Highness, that is indeed the case. In fact, our king has been reading books and poems from the Central Plains to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep.”

Zhao Xin thought, is it that exaggerated?

But if you think about it, it seems understandable.

When the Japanese Dragon Ball was introduced to mainland China, it is estimated that the children in mainland China also liked to read the Dragon Ball comic books, to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep.

after all……

China didn’t have it back then!
Zhao Xin then asked: “What does your king think about working together to fight against the Liao Kingdom?”

The other envoy said, “Our king said that he is ready to be dispatched by the superior country at any time.”

Be reasonable!
Zhao Xin didn’t expect it to be so smooth.

Later, when he heard that the other party liked Buddhist scriptures and other things, Zhao Xin asked people to collect them and fill a boat full of them for him.

Since you like it so much, I’ll pack them all for you.

Zhao Xin felt that it was no big deal to give them the Buddhist scriptures, which were such garbage.

then……

Give me some poetry, poetry collections, etc.

After all, people brought them a lot of gifts, so they can’t be stingy.

The Goryeo envoy also wanted to visit Kaifeng.

Zhao Xin felt that the other party must have other purposes.

Therefore, we also found someone to accompany the other party, so to speak, to take him to bad places.

For example…

How prosperous Kaifeng Prefecture is. Also…you must not give the other party any information related to the map.

Whenever asked, just say no.

Zhao Xin also thought about it to see if he had any secrets in Kaifeng Prefecture that Gao Li couldn’t know.

But after thinking about it, it doesn’t seem like a big deal.

Zhao Xin even specifically asked the other party to learn the new Cuju he created.

This kind of people who are obsessed with playing with things are the best.

As for the horse-drawn tram you mentioned…

This doesn’t matter. Even if the other party sees it, that’s it.

However, the steam engine must not be seen by the other party.

After giving instructions on many details, Zhao Xin asked someone to take the other party to Kaifeng Prefecture.

In addition…

Let Ouyang Xiu accompany them as well.

Ouyang Xiu was a man of literary talent. Although he was a little ugly, he could definitely shock others.

As soon as the envoy arrived in Kaifeng Prefecture, he was naturally dazzled.

Although, at this time, Goryeo was also in its most politically clear period, with all aspects reaching their peak and prosperity.

But compared with Kaifeng Prefecture in the Song Dynasty, there is simply no comparison!

In an instant, he turned into a countryman entering the city, and the prosperity of Kaifeng Prefecture was something he would never forget.

Who would have thought that business here would be so prosperous.

even……

The book printing and novel industries here are also booming.

There are also many things worth praising in terms of architecture and clothing.

and also!

Zhao Xin’s “Twelve Hours” was also accidentally discovered by the other party, and they were absolutely astonished by such a thing!

No matter what, I must bring one back.

Ouyang Xiu was actually a little embarrassed.

Because Zhao Xin didn’t say whether to give it to the other party.

but……

Considering that Zhao Xin directly took this out to sell, he probably wasn’t afraid of being seen by anyone.

At that moment, I made the decision myself and gave the other party one as a gift in the name of the country.

As for the horse-drawn tram.

I just feel it’s fresh.

Maybe it’s because the distance is not very long, so it doesn’t feel like a waste of time and money.

The other party did not say what principle he wanted to explore.

Just praising, this kind of carriage is quite comfortable to sit in.

then……

Accompanied by Ouyang Xiu, I also watched a Cuju match.

Good guy!
It turns out that Cuju can be played like this?

After the trip, it can definitely be said that it was worth the trip.

Not to mention that Ouyang Xiu was really eloquent and could write poems and lyrics fluently.

At that time, the economy and culture of the Song Dynasty were so strong that Goryeo could not compare with it at all.

How could this not impress the other party?
and……

Really, a lot of the culture of the Korean Peninsula was copied from the Central Plains.

This explains why Gao Li is so positive towards Zhao Xin.

in fact……

Learning the culture of the Central Plains can make oneself stronger, which has long been engraved in the minds of all ancient regimes on the Korean Peninsula. Even during the Tang Dynasty, there were indeed experiences of being beaten badly by the Tang Dynasty.

however……

Maybe that’s the case, and that’s what we need to learn even more.

This desire to learn from others will not diminish just because the other party has violated you in the past.

In fact, only by learning from the other person can you get closer to the other person, or even become the other person in the end.

In addition to material and spiritual things, we must also learn the system of the Central Plains.

But there is one thing to say.

The system of the Song Dynasty is absolutely rubbish.

Therefore, even if the other party learns it, it doesn’t matter much.

After a quick inspection in Kaifeng Prefecture for a month or two.

It’s a pity that I didn’t get to meet the real officials of the Song Dynasty.

after that……

The Goryeo envoy then sailed back to Goryeo from Dengzhou, and brought the prosperity of the Song Dynasty back with him.

Wang Hui listened to it all night, and finally he couldn’t help but sigh: “In my next life, I want to be born in the Song Dynasty.”

To say…

Zhao Xin would also like to be born in Shanghai or Beijing in her next life.

Such sentiments are definitely not empty words.

The main thing is that Kaifeng in the Song Dynasty was really prosperous!

Wang Hui then read the lyrics written by Zhao Xin, no, copied by him.
‘After playing on the swing, I stand up and tidy up my slender hands. The dew is thick and the flowers are thin, and my light clothes are soaked with sweat.’

‘Seeing the guest coming in, she took off her socks and her gold hairpins. She walked away shyly, leaning against the door and looking back, but she sniffed the green plums.’

This is different from the old poems from the Tang Dynasty. It is so fresh and unconventional that it makes people’s eyes light up.

Is this the strength of the Song Dynasty?
After reading it, the other party’s concubines in the harem also thought it was absolutely amazing!

Obviously, they seem to be just some very ordinary words, but for some reason, when they are combined together, they are so meaningful.

The prime minister asked, “Does the king really want to cooperate with the Song Dynasty to attack the Liao Kingdom?”

Wang Hui is not a fool, so he certainly won’t do anything that has no benefit.

He said to the prime minister: “The Liao Kingdom has been sending people to us every year to ask us to pay tribute to them. It is really not a country that is easy to get along with. Moreover, they have cut off our connection with the Song Dynasty, making it impossible for us to learn from the Song Dynasty.”

“If we can eliminate them, we will be able to better understand the culture of the Central Plains, which will also be of great benefit to the development of our national system and culture.”

“Now, our Goryeo granaries are full. Just one random granary has more than 100,000 dan of grain, and a lot of it is simply wasted because it becomes stale.”

“It would be a waste if we don’t use this food for war.”

The Prime Minister said: “But if a fight really breaks out, I’m afraid there will be a lot of casualties.”

Wang Hui said, “If I don’t fight, won’t I just be bullied forever? Liao has already lost the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Even if we do nothing, it probably won’t last long. If we cooperate now, we can get the benefits together. If we don’t cooperate, when the Song Dynasty has dealt with Liao, it is likely to deal with us as well.”

“If we can retake Liaodong, our national strength will become stronger. Food will also be more sufficient.”

“Don’t you want the people of Goryeo to live a better life in the future?”

“Besides, when two countries fight against one, the advantage is obviously on our side.”

“I am now in my prime. If I don’t do something for my descendants and miss the opportunity in vain, won’t they blame me?”

Today’s Goryeo has a streamlined military and government, and its national strength is very strong.

If we don’t expand outward now, do we have to wait until the country declines before thinking about expansion?
Wang Hui is a sensible man.

He naturally knew what to choose.

and……

Decades ago, the Liao Kingdom had fought several wars with them. Once, the Liao Kingdom even sent an army of 400,000 to attack them.

An aggressive neighbor like the Liao Kingdom is absolutely unacceptable.

Although the Song Dynasty might not necessarily be a good one.

But getting the whole Liaodong for free, who wouldn’t be happy about that?

If you fight by yourself, you might not be able to defeat yourself.

After appreciating all the good things of the Song Dynasty, Wang Hui sent envoys to continue his mission to the Song Dynasty.

Confirm the specific date when both sides will jointly send troops.

Zhao Xin also set the date for next year.

After all, there is not much time left this year.

Youzhou City.

The dormitories, regular bases and so on for the Li Yuan army have all been arranged.

Considering that the soldier hasn’t been home for a long time.

Zhao Xin also planned to bring Li Yuanjun’s family members over directly.

But let me be frank!

The area around Youzhou City is still not very stable now.

A war could break out at any time.

That depends on what the Liao Kingdom says.

therefore……

How to say this.

Whether to bring the family members here or not, let’s see what Li Yuanjun himself says.

Zhao Xin’s palace.

It is also under planning.

However, Zhao Xin couldn’t help but back off when he heard that one pillar would cost a huge amount of money.

Thinking about…

Or just build it casually?

But a country’s palace and imperial city are the face of that country.

Even if Zhao Xin was willing to build it casually, his ministers probably wouldn’t be willing.

and……

Zhao Xin also agreed to create a large harem for Yuanyuan.

Fortunately, my father-in-law is in the timber business, so he can sell it at a much lower price than the market price.

But even so, building another palace here would be a hugely expensive undertaking.

Not to mention that next year, he also planned to conquer the Liao Kingdom.

This year……

Fan Zhongyan was also old, at the age of seventy-two, and had to face heavy national defense affairs.

People from the Liao Kingdom came to Datong to ask for money every few days.

This really made Fan Zhongyan exhausted both physically and mentally.

Fan Zhongyan had even prepared for who would take over Datong after his death.

it’s over…

He recommended a large number of his subordinates to Zhao Xin.

This year……

There was another earthquake in Kaifeng Prefecture.

But it’s okay.

After all, this ancient building has relatively good performance in terms of earthquake resistance.

This provided Zhao Xin with an excuse to move the capital.

In addition…

With the protection of Datong Prefecture in the Hedong area, some places can be vacated for raising horses.

In the past, the Song Dynasty’s horse policy could only rely on purchasing.

The animals we raise ourselves can only be used to transport military rations at most.

Or they can be used as backup horses for traveling.

If you wear armor while riding, you won’t be able to charge.

nowadays……

We also need to become more strict.

We have to take this horse politics seriously again.

Zhao Xin remembered that there were more than a dozen “Wei Qings” who raised horses for Wang Anshi before?
Just let them go!
Now, I’m afraid I should have grown up.

(End of this chapter)