After listening to Zhao Defang's persuasion, the Zhao family, who had felt that it was a piece of cake for them to compete with the Khitan envoy group for three rounds, immediately felt a little uncertain. In the eyes of the Zhao family, although the three rounds of competition could prevent the two countries from having a bloody war, the Song Dynasty had the absolute psychological advantage in the three rounds of competition. After all, the ancient Chinese culture had been rooted in the blood and bone marrow of every scholar in the Song Dynasty, and among the ministers in the court today, they were all outstanding scholars. Therefore, the couplet competition was naturally a sure win.
However, after Zhao Defang's reminder, the solemn Zhao Guanjia couldn't help but worry. For the wrestling and archery in the three competition subjects, these two were the strengths of the people riding on horseback-the Khitans.
To the people of Song, even if they were to choose one of the Imperial Guards that had been established for more than ten years, there probably wouldn't be many soldiers who were good at wrestling and archery. Therefore, if he agreed to these three rounds of competition, he was afraid that he would really be doomed.
After Zhao Guanjia thought about it again and again, he knew that this could avoid a cruel and merciless war that would cost the people and money, but he did not dare to agree to this matter so rashly. Thus, he paced back and forth with his hands behind his back and sighed deeply.
Seeing her Imperial Father's distressed look, Zhao Defang expected that he would definitely have difficulty making up his mind about this matter. If they were to give up on these three rounds of competition, once the negotiations between the two countries fell apart, a great war would probably be unavoidable.
However, if they agreed to these three rounds of competition, they would be at a complete disadvantage in two of the three rounds. If they lost two of the rounds, they would have to bow down to the Liao Kingdom and pay tribute.
It could be said that a slight carelessness would lead to the serious consequences of "losing both the wife and the soldier". Zhao Defang, who was now the King of Qin and the Right Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple's Yamen, saw that the Zhao family, who usually did things decisively, was stumped by such a three-round competition. It really made him worry.
"Official, this old servant has brought you the snacks you wanted just now. Official, you might as well eat one or two pieces and rest for a while. Perhaps that bitter and vexing matter will be easily solved.”In the main hall of Funing Palace, Zhao Defang and Li Guanyu, who were standing side by side, held their breath and stared at the Zhao family's official who was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. They were both silent. At this moment, Steward Wang appeared out of nowhere and stood at the entrance of the hall.
Before the worried Zhao official could speak, Zhao Defang, who had been standing on the spot and starving the entire morning, heard that Steward Wang had come to deliver snacks for her father. Her nose, which was more sensitive than cats and dogs when she saw delicious food, took a deep breath in the air and immediately smelled the faint fragrance that spread in the air. Needless to say, this faint fragrance was emitted from the snack.
The fragrance of the desserts spread out like a breeze, making Zhao Defang, who was so hungry that her chest was pressed against her back, salivate. She then swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva and secretly fantasized that if she could eat a few mouthfuls of delicious desserts to satisfy her stomach at this moment, how good would that be!
After hearing Steward Wang's words from the entrance of the palace hall, Zhao Guanjia stopped in his tracks. His pair of bright eyes swept towards the direction of the palace hall's entrance. Unfortunately, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of Zhao Defang, who was standing in front of him, smacking her lips and drooling at the corner of her mouth. He immediately felt a little funny. However, due to the presence of others, his worried expression eased a little. A faint smile hung on the corner of his mouth.
"Wang Fugui, you've come at the right time. Since you've brought the snacks over, quickly put them on the imperial table. Even if I can't eat these delicious snacks right now, I'll find someone to do it for me.”Zhao Guanjia first pointed at the imperial table two feet away from Steward Wang, who was standing at the door of the hall waiting for instructions. Then, he looked meaningfully at Zhao Defang, who was standing in front of him. He had a kind face and said with a smile.
After Steward Wang placed a small white porcelain plate on the imperial table, he bowed his head and cupped his hands as he left the hall. After a moment, Zhao Guanjia looked at Zhao Defang, who was staring at the small plate of snacks on the imperial table four or five feet away from him, and asked half-jokingly and half-concernedly,"Defang, did your lunch today not work? If you didn't eat lunch, then I'll reward you with the plate of snacks on the imperial table. Quickly finish this plate of snacks in half an hour. I don't want to see my son discussing military affairs with me on an empty stomach. If this matter spreads, wouldn't I end up with the infamy of a " bad father " who doesn't give my son lunch? Then my good name in this life will be ruined.”
Before Zhao Defang could reply, Li Guanyu, who was standing beside Zhao Defang, was the first to burst into laughter. However, since he hadn't eaten lunch today, this smile didn't matter. His originally hungry stomach hiccuped at this time."Uh…"
"What's the matter, Minister Li? Your lunch today was useless. It seems that the two of you, the chief and adjutant of the Yamen of the Chamberlain of Dependencies, are even busier than I am. You didn't even have time for lunch. It just so happens that Wang Fugui sent me a plate of snacks just now. I'm full from lunch, and I encountered the matter you reported just now. I don't have the mood to eat these snacks that I usually like to eat the most.
"It's a pity to waste such good food. If my son Defang eats it alone, he won't be able to eat so much. Why don't the two of you give that plate of snacks to zhen?”Zhao Guanyu, who was about to turn around, heard Li Guanyu, who was standing in front of him, suddenly hiccup. He guessed that the two of them must not have had lunch, so he shook his head slightly and said in amusement.
Just now, when Zhao Defang heard that his father was so considerate and actually gave him his favorite snack, he secretly felt that the fatherly love that the Zhao family showed him was like a warm current. Immediately, happiness filled his heart. Just as he was about to step forward, he suddenly heard Li Guanyu's words. He had just displayed the image of a loving father, but now he was going to give Li Guanyu the plate of desserts that belonged to him alone.
Immediately, he was a little unwilling. It was said that a ruler never joked, but in this short period of time, he actually changed his words, making him feel indignant. My Imperial Father, the Zhao family, has really displayed what it means to be the ruler of a country.
Even if it was just a small plate of desserts, if it was five or six plates of desserts according to the size of the plate, I would probably eat them all up without blinking my eyes. But now, she thought that she could fill her stomach with a plate of desserts. If she shared it equally with Li Guanyu, half a plate of desserts wouldn't even be enough to fill her teeth.
"Your Majesty, I dare not. Since this humble subject and His Highness the King of Qin have informed the Emperor of everything that they have learned from the Liao Kingdom's diplomatic mission this morning, if the Emperor has nothing else to instruct this humble subject, then this humble subject will take his leave. As the chief official of the Chamberlain of Dependencies 'yamen.
"Today, the Liao Kingdom's diplomatic mission will be accompanying me. If I stay here for too long, whether it's the yamen or the Liao Kingdom's diplomatic mission, if there's something that can't be found on either side, then I won't be able to deal with it in time. I hope the official will take back the emperor's order. I appreciate the official's kindness.”When Li Guanyu heard that the Zhao family was going to reward him with his favorite snacks, he immediately felt uneasy. He quickly bowed his head and cupped his hands, asking the Zhao family to leave.
"Since that's the case, I won't keep you. However, before you leave, I have to remind you that no matter how busy you are, three meals a day are indispensable. Minister Li, you are the pillar of the Great Song. Only by filling your stomach every day can you work for me and the millions of people of the Great Song in peace.”Seeing Li Guanyu's frightened and determined look, if he insisted on making him stay, it would be a bit difficult for him. So, he walked up to Li Guanyu, patted his shoulder twice, and reminded him kindly.
"I will remember what the officials have said. From now on, I will obey the emperor's orders and will not dare to not eat anymore.”Li Guanyu bowed his head and answered.
After Li Guanyu left the hall, Zhao Defang, who was a little disappointed just now, felt happy like a child when she saw that no one was fighting with her for the delicious snacks. Others would say that it was better to enjoy the company than to enjoy the company alone, but for Zhao Defang at this moment, it was: It's better to be happy alone than to be happy with everyone.
At this moment, in the entire hall, only Zhao Guanjia and Zhao Defang, the father and son, were left. After Li Guanyu left for a long time, the Zhao family saw that the usually lively and active Fourth Prince was still stunned on the spot. He reached out and patted his slightly sunken belly and said with a smile,""Silly boy, there are only us father and son in this hall now. What are you still standing here for? The plate of snacks on the imperial table behind zhen is yours. You're already so hungry. Hurry up and let zhen eat that plate of snacks. If you dare to leave even a small piece of snack for me, I will not let you off easily.”
After listening to Zhao Guanjia's half-joking words, Zhao Defang did not hesitate anymore. She immediately could not buy any money and walked to the front of the imperial table in three steps. She stretched out her two large hands, grabbed the snacks on the plate, and stuffed them into his big mouth. In less than half an incense stick's time, he had finished the small plate of snacks. Not to mention half a piece of snack, there was not even a small piece of snack left.
Looking around, the dish was so clean that it looked as if it had just been washed. To be able to eat the food on the plate so cleanly and thoroughly, it could be inferred that Zhao Defang, who had not eaten lunch, was really hungry.
"'Uh…'Father, your son is full.”After Zhao Defang finished eating the snacks, she stretched out her sleeve to wipe her mouth and even burped as she reported.
When Zhao Defang stood in front of the imperial table and ate the snacks as if there was no one else around, Zhao Guanjia turned around and stood only two or three steps away from him, staring at him. Zhao Defang's rather indecent every move naturally fell into the eyes of the Zhao family. Moreover, he completely did not miss anything.
"Fang 'er, what should I say about you? You are now the King of Qin of the Great Song Imperial Court and Zuo Shaoqing of the Chamberlain of Dependencies. In the future, I am counting on you to help me solve my problems and protect my Zhao Family. Look at you, you don't have any manners when you eat. If you always show such an indecent image to others, how can you make the ministers in the court obey you?”When Zhao Guanjia saw Zhao Defang's careless appearance, he felt angry and amused. Suddenly, he remembered that he was also so unrestrained when he was young, so he nodded and scolded her with a smile.
"Father, father, son, son knows his mistake. P-Please punish me, father. I, I will correct myself in the future.”Zhao Defang immediately felt a little uneasy after being said by the Zhao family. She immediately cupped her hands and bowed, pretending to be innocent as she said pitifully.
"Forget it, forget it. Fang 'er, you are still young and have only become an adult a few days ago. The King of Qin and Zuo Shaoqing of the Chamberlain of Dependencies have only done it not long ago, so I will not punish you, but this will not happen again. If I see you behave like this again in the future, I will really punish you.”The Zhao family official shook his head slightly and said helplessly, feeling angry and amused.
"Thank you Imperial Father for not punishing me. Your son will definitely remember this and turn over a new leaf from now on to be a good son of Imperial Father.”Zhao Defang also quickly vowed.
Originally, Zhao Defang was a real "rich second generation" in her previous life. Why was it that after transmigrating to the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty and entering the body of a sixteen-year-old child, not only would his thoughts from his previous life be influenced by the thoughts left in this sixteen-year-old body, but he would also act foolishly?
Moreover, why did Zhao Defang, who had always been a modest and polite gentleman, give off the feeling of a little country bumpkin when she was eating snacks just now? As for these inexplicable questions, he thought about them for a long time, but he couldn't think of anything.
For him, he could only take things as they came and pay more attention to his daily words and actions. He tried not to give himself away and be a true King of Qin.
"Right, Fang 'er, let's get back to the main topic. Now, there are only you and me in this hall. Let me ask you, regarding the Liao Country's princess Xiao Chuo's proposal to compete with our Great Song in three rounds to determine the winner, Fang 'er, if I agree to her best of three rounds, do you think our Great Song or the Liao Country's Khitans have more chances of winning?”Zhao Guanjia remembered the lingering matter in his heart and asked Zhao Defang with a serious expression.
"Father, your son has already said that if you agree to the best of three matches proposed by the princess of the Liao Kingdom, the Khitans of the Liao Kingdom will have a natural advantage in two of the matches. I'm afraid that our Great Song will be in trouble. In your son's opinion, the chances of winning shouldn't be very high.”Zhao Defang felt that such a simple truth was placed in front of him. His father, who was respected by future generations, actually had the intention of hitting a rock with an egg. He immediately expressed his point of view clearly.
"Fang 'er, it's not that zhen didn't think about what you said. However, I am unwilling. In order to prevent the thousands of people in Great Song from suffering from war, and to stabilize the Khitans in Liao Kingdom, I will be free to deal with Liao Kingdom after pacifying the opera forces in the south. I really don't want to miss this great opportunity to ensure that our Great Song and Liao Kingdom can live in peace for the time being.”After musing for a moment, Zhao Guanjia let out a long sigh of relief and said leisurely.
Suddenly, Zhao Guanjia frowned and came up with a plan. He immediately rushed to Zhao Defang and stretched out his two big hands to tightly hug Zhao Defang's tender shoulders. He stared at Zhao Defang, who was acting as if nothing had happened, with eyes full of expectation and hope. He said firmly,"Fang 'er, zhen knows that you have a lot of tricks up your sleeves, so why don't you give zhen a good idea? If I agree to compete with them, how can we win at least two of them? Fang 'er, zhen knows you will have a way.”
There was an old saying: It was short to eat other people's mouths and short to take other people's hands. At this moment, Zhao Defang knew that his father had such high hopes for him. He had really entrusted the stability and peace of the entire Song Dynasty to him. For a modern person who came from more than a thousand years in the future, his understanding of the ancient war only stopped in ancient time-travel novels and costume dramas. That was all.
As for putting him on the battlefield, he would definitely be clueless. Therefore, he did not want the newly established Great Song to start a war with the Khitans of Liao. Once the two countries were at war, the King of Qin of the Great Song would definitely not be able to stay out of it. There was a high chance that he would have to go to the battlefield.
Immediately, Zhao Defang felt a heavy burden on her shoulders. If he had done so earlier, he would not have eaten that small plate of snacks that was only enough to fill the gaps between his teeth. No matter what, he had to get his father, the Zhao family, to prepare a sumptuous imperial meal for him. As the saying went, the small ones starved to death, and the bold ones were stuffed to death.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。