Chapter 82: Little blow

A hot air balloon performance ended with a crash, which made Zhao Dun feel extremely bad.

The punishment of Du Boqing, who was good at making decisions, was useless. The Song Dynasty, including Yang Wanli, felt faceless. Previously, the Song Dynasty was responsible for receiving Jin envoys or sent to the Jin Dynasty, were all Jinshis with outstanding literary talent. The Song Dynasty's approach was nothing more than to overwhelm the Jin people in poetry and prose to show the superiority of the Song Dynasty. This time, not only did he want to continue to overwhelm the Jin people in traditional strong literary style, but he also tried to suppress the Jin people's arrogance in martial arts. As a result, a bad performance made the Song Dynasty diplomats present lose their faces, which was simply a humiliation. Of course, this was the feeling of Zhao Dun and Yang Wanli present.

As for the Jin delegation that they watched, they did not think that this martial arts demonstration was a failure. On the contrary, they really felt the murderous intent hidden in the performance. Just imagine that the Song people had this magical weapon that could overlook the battlefield, and they could shoot whoever they wanted. How could they fight this battle? For a moment, no one among the Jin people could think of a way to crack it.

After hearing the report, Zhao Xing shook his head. Apart from feeling suffocating, he was not as depressed as Zhao Dun. After so many years of confrontation between the Song and Jin Dynasties, Zhao Xing also knew that it was of little significance to compete for a short period of time and length, so he did not blame him much.

But then someone impeached Mao Geng and rashly modified the crossbow and was not conducive to actual combat. Seeing that Mao Geng was a man who took advantage of his opportunistic actions, he was a reincarnated person, so he could not guarantee that he had nothing to do with the Jin people. He had to be more careful in treating this person, so as not to miss the Song Dynasty.

As soon as this was said, there were more voices of echoing. Some people thought that it was a bit misleading to kill the enemy by relying on hot air balloons. Since ancient times, the battle still had to rely on a dignified two armies to confront each other in front of the army. Opportunity is by no means a strong army. A Mao Geng came out of thin air, which made the recent government go astray. For a time, Mao Geng became the "opportunity" among some people, and even the attack on Yizhou became the target of some people's attacks. The charge was to incite the officials to use rash weapons and have ulterior motives.

However, the magistrates knew that this was not a mistake. Mao Geng said that the hot air balloon had several disadvantages on the same day. Although the crossbows had flaws in modification, the main reason this time was that the soldiers were too nervous and the operation was improper. We should discuss the matter at the right time. Mao Geng could not blame this matter.

Zhao Xing also knew that this was not Mao Geng's fault. It is said that Mao Geng did not agree with this performance. However, Mao Geng was a revisionist and had a lot of doubts about his origin. He claimed that his skills were all from his master, but no one had seen his master. It seemed that this person could not be guarded against. In short, caution is the key to everything, and this is even more true for the king. Zhao Xing was already suspicious and was joking with his ministers, and he felt more doubtful about Mao Geng in his heart.

Zhao Han also looked worried about Zhao Dun's appearance, but in his heart he thought it was Zhao Dun's fault. In comparison, Zhao Han believed Mao Geng's explanation more. First, Mao Geng never regarded hot air balloons as a powerful weapon, and second, Mao Geng's explanation of crossbow modification was also very reasonable, because although the craftsmen in the imperial office worked in the imperial office were superb, the parts made were not satisfactory in terms of material and consistency. In addition, a weapon needs to be tested in practice before it can be finalized. It can only be said that the modification of ratchet this time was a bit hasty.

Therefore, when Zhao Han’s team talked about this, it was a completely different atmosphere.

Among them, Han Tuozhou sneered at the bad arrangement of receiving the Jin envoy this time and commented:

"It is understandable that our Song Dynasty is worried about suppressing the Jin people in the exchanges between the envoys of the two countries. But I think that the struggle between literature is fine, and winning the battle can be said to be an interesting story. But this rash exercise of martial arts was just for the sake of insignificant vanity, which is really unwise. Sooner or later, our Song Dynasty will fight the Jin people to the death, and to make the shame of Jingkang. This method of fighting spirit is really of no benefit."

Mao Gengxin said, Brother Han is right. The Chinese people have always advocated the spiritual victory method, from the Song Dynasty to later generations. Just imagine, even if the poems and essays overwhelmed the Jin people, they would just masturbate and not hurt the Jin people at all. However, these Jin people were indeed literary and elegant people who worshiped the talented men of the Song Dynasty. They did not think that the Song Dynasty showed off in poetry and essays and deliberately wanted to slap them in the face. Instead, they admired the talented men of the Song Dynasty. This could only be said that the Jin people admired the culture of the Song Dynasty, or were willing to be humble. However, this time the martial arts demonstration could only be attributed to the spiritual victory method. As Han Tuozhou said, if you can't get it on the battlefield, you want to fight for face in the fighting spirit of the two countries, in addition to exposing your lack of confidence, you can only say that you have completely lost the ambition to recover.

Mao Geng didn't know what to say at this time, Jiang Bokui, who was beside him, sighed:

"Mr. Han said it well! Jingkang's shame is not yet achievable. We and the Jin people always have to fight each other and see a real chapter. Such a fighting spirit of martial arts performance is not worth being happy even if it is done well. Can the Jin people be afraid after a martial arts performance?"

Han Tuozhou smiled and said:

"Bokui, you are much better than your brother Bo Hu. Alas! Your brother, who was the top martial arts scholar, was actually timid about fighting and insisted on taking the imperial examination again. He was talented, so he was able to go to high school again. However, if I want to be like my brother in the Song Dynasty, I am afraid that the great cause of the Northern Expedition will be very worrying!"

Jiang Bokui's brother Jiang Bohu was ranked first in the martial arts scholar in the eighth year of Chunxi, but Jiang Bohu insisted on participating in the "Lock Hall Test" three years later and won the literary Jinshi. It can be seen that the Song Dynasty values ​​literature over military affairs, which is not the fault of Jiang Bohu.

When Zhao Yan saw that he was too far apart, he quickly changed the topic:

"I have tried modified crossbows, and the ones that are very useful. Those people talked about modified crossbows very unbearable, which is really confusing."

Han Tuozhou followed the situation and suggested:

"What the Duke of Guo said is very true! Others doubted the power of modified crossbows, but I, Han Tuozhou, never doubted it. Why not take advantage of the modification of crossbows that were criticized and asked the court to allocate all modified crossbows to the officers and soldiers who conquer Taiwan. What do you think?"

Mao Geng was criticized at this time. After hearing what Han Tuozhou said, he was looking at him everywhere, and his heart suddenly felt a little warm. I don’t know what the official thought about him, and there is no need to say that he will definitely be greatly reduced in terms of trust. At the same time, it is certain that the Crown Prince Zhao Dun is unhappy with him. Of course, Zhao Han would still look at him, but Han Tuozhou showed good things to him, which was a bit unexpected. No matter what, Han Tuozhou was still very helpful, and his words were not aimless, but he was full of hawkish accent, which made Mao Geng a little bit tired.

When he got home, Du Wu reported that Cai Jianwen sent eight pigeons to deliver books today, including two breeding pigeons. Moreover, this man not only sent the pigeons, but also specially sent a pigeon trainer to come over. Mao Geng said that this man was so infatuated for a courtesan, and it was really difficult for him to do so. But then he thought that if he was really infatuated, with the financial resources of the Cai family, he should redeem the courtesans. However, the style of these young men in the Song Dynasty was not something he could understand. It seems that Lin'an was really short of an entertainment tabloid, so the spread of gossip news was still a little lacking. Well, this is a bit regrettable. Don't say, gossip news in later generations is also an appetizer. You don't think of gossip every day, and you miss it if you can't see gossip every day.

According to Dun Wu, Jiang Kui left Lin'an and went to Hefei. Cai Jianwen had sent someone to invite him. Haha, this person is interesting and can make friends with people.

Mao Geng was curious, so he went to see the pigeon. The pigeon trainer was Qian Xi, who was only forty-two years old, but when it came to the pigeon, his eyes shone and talked endlessly. Seeing that he cared for the domesticated pigeon, it was very reassuring. When he looked closely, the pigeon was no different from the ordinary pigeons in later generations. However, since Cai Jianwen said that the pigeon could pass on a book for thousands of miles, there would never be any fake. The first thing to be opened is the Pigeon from Lin'an to Xinhua. Mao Geng thought for a moment and asked two servants to learn the pigeon taming technique with Qian Xi, and then tried to open the Pigeon delivering letters with Xinhua as soon as possible.

In the evening, Wenyuan came back dejectedly. Mao Geng hurriedly asked Wenyuan:

"Is there anything unhappy about our talented man Wenyuan?"

Wen Yuan sighed:

"Today Ye Shi told me that there were too many people in the court who wanted to come to the Great Song Jingbao. The people who were originally engraved in the Imperial College were particularly keen on, so he advised me to give up my position in the Great Song Jingbao. He also said that this was also what Lu You meant. Since that is the case, how could I stay in the Great Song Jingbao again! Alas! I never thought that just as soon as I became an official, the way to advance was stopped."

Mao Geng thought to himself, you are implicated by me. It is only a matter of time before you get marginalized. But you never thought it would come so quickly. It is very common for the cadres of the Song Dynasty to go up and down. For example, Xin Qiji, who was a pacifier, was less than fifty years old and was idle at home at this moment. In later national dynasties, it was unheard of forcing provincial and ministerial cadres to be fed, but it was nothing in the Song Dynasty. Compared with this number on Wenyuan stall, there was no such thing as a number.

Mao Geng said oh, thinking that this was a great thing, but it was a serious matter to stop his thoughts in politics.

But Wen Yuan immediately said:

"This is bad news, and there is good news."

Mao Geng asked with a smile:

"Oh, what good news?"

Wen Yuan showed off:

"Tomorrow, the Grand Prince will invite Brother Geng and his younger brother to visit his mansion. Lu You and Ye Shi will also attend the meeting, and Yang Wanli will also go. It is said that there will be a good deal to discuss with Brother Geng!"

Mao Geng was a little stunned when he heard this news. Based on the information he learned, this did not seem to be a good sign. Mao Geng speculated:

"Did Lu You and Ye Shi politely decline our banquet?"

Wen Yuan replied sadly:

"Not bad! They didn't refuse at the beginning, but said they were too busy for a while, so they would talk about it for a while. But in the afternoon, they told me that it was better to make the decision about the printing of lead type, so it would be better to discuss it while they were visiting the grandfather's house. When the Great Song Jingbao was invented, everything was busy, so there was no need for banquets for the time being. Now that I think about it, this must be a word of leniency."

Mao Geng told Wen Yuan a lot about today's hot air balloon show, and then told Wen Yuan that Yang Wanli's business was just a matter of the time when the Jin people wanted to buy the watch. With the news channels of Zhao Han and Han Tuozhou, Mao Geng could know the official Lin'an official situation at the first time, and Wen Yuan was a little confused.

Mao Geng patted Wenyuan on the shoulder and said:

"That's the thing. Who told us to be the correct people? Today is you, and it's probably my turn tomorrow! But Duke Jia is still taking care of his brother and has not sent him home. Brother, you must know the current affairs! Let's be honest in being a businessman to make money. Well, you can also enjoy the mellow wine and beauty like Cai Jianwen and Han Wu. In short, you should put away your dream of becoming an official for the time being."

Wen Yuan also saw his identity clearly now. He was once regarded as a suspect in the Song Dynasty in Xinhua. Fortunately, this time, it seemed that he was just aware of the precautions. However, Wen Yuan was an extremely smart person. He could understand it at a glance. After thinking about this section, he seemed to have a great enlightenment and said:

"Does Brother Geng mean that we must keep a low profile in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Mao Geng couldn't help laughing, thinking that the word Wen Yuan was used exaggeratedly, but it meant that it meant that way. I didn't expect that yesterday I was thinking about how to make the Song Dynasty implement the "hiding its strength and maintaining its lowliness" strategy, but today it was his turn to hide its strength and maintaining its lowliness.

Mao Geng felt very funny at this time, and he warned with joking words:

"Wen Yuan, you must always remember that we are just small vendors! The official family is the most difficult customer in the world. He can only take advantage of the advantage but not suffer losses. He has the final say in the business. If you want to serve this customer well, other methods are not easy to use. Only by lowering your eyebrows and obeying others is the right thing to do. The official family of the Song Dynasty shines everywhere, and we are just the light of fireflies. How can we compete with the sun and the moon? Therefore, you and I do not have anything to "hide your strength and keep a low profile" to remember to speak carefully in the future."

Wen Yuan nodded repeatedly, and a chill broke out in his heart. He thought that he would say the wrong thing by accident. If someone keeps his eyes open and keeps his low profile, if someone with ulterior motives asks him who he wants to let his light over one day, he really doesn't know how to answer. It seems that he is really a little tender in the official career.

Wen Yuan said dejectedly:

"Everything depends on Brother Geng. That official, it's better not to be a good person."

Mao Geng thought it was worthwhile. How could he be a low-key person in Lin'an and live a peaceful life for this period of time? In short, it would be better not to affect his previous plan to run Taiwan.
Chapter completed!