In June of the tenth year of Wei Xing'an, the envoys of Chu State, Huang Er and Jiao Mu, led a group of followers and arrived in Luocheng of Wei State by boat.

Luocheng was once the only free trade city in Sanchuan County of the Wei State. However, with the increasing prosperity of Luoyang, the capital of the Wei Kingdom, Luocheng inevitably gradually lost its limelight to Luoyang.

Of course, this is not a bad thing for Luocheng. In fact, when assisting in the construction of Luoyang, the owner of Luocheng, the "Sichuan-Luoyang Alliance", actually had a premeditated attempt to 'return' Luocheng to Luoyang.

Yang, after all, is the royal capital of the Wei Kingdom. As long as everything goes well, the Sanchuan people of the Yi, Jie, and Yi tribes who were once called "Yinrong" by the Central Plains people will not only be able to smoothly integrate into the Wei people, but they will also be able to

After all, the people of Gyeonggi are somewhat different from the local people despite the various conveniences they receive.

The Luoyang court saw through the petty thoughts of these former grassland peoples but did not criticize them. After all, in order to commend the "Sichuan-Luoyang Alliance" for its contribution to the construction of Luoyang, the court made an unprecedented exception and conferred more than a dozen honorary marquises who were in name only and could not be hereditary.

, what does it mean to include the Sanchuan people in the category of common people in Gyeonggi Province?

It is worth mentioning that in view of the fact that Luoyang and the city of Luocheng are too close together, some people gradually call Luocheng "East Luocheng", as if it is a satellite city of Luoyang.

Years later, as Luoyang expanded to the surrounding areas again due to population density, Luocheng was likely to be annexed by Luoyang and included in the territory of the royal capital.

After disembarking from the boat at the river port in Luocheng, Chu envoys Huang Er, Jiao Mu and their party rested for one night at an inn in Luocheng, then rented a carriage the next day and embarked on the journey to Luoyang.

Along the way, Huang Er and Jiao Mu's group encountered many patrolling cavalry. As far as they knew, these cavalry were minions of the Wei State. They were elite cavalry called "Jiejiao Cavalry". They were brave, fierce, and cruel.

But he bowed to Wei.

No, to be precise, he bowed to Wei King Zhao Run.

In fact, not only the Jie people in Sanchuan County, but also the Jie people who narrowly escaped annihilation under the conquest of the Wei State and re-developed in the Nanyang and Wandi areas to the southwest of the Wei State, various signs indicate that

It seems that he has surrendered to the state of Wei and has become a hyena that has surrendered to the fierce tiger of the state of Wei.

This hyena bit Bashu madly, plundering materials and slaves and transporting them to the mainland of Wei in a steady stream, in exchange for food, weapons and some luxuries from Wei.

When the Chu State carried out the "Bashu Strategy" over the years, it had also dealt with this group of vicious Jie people. Therefore, people like Pingyu Lord Xiong Hu and others were very puzzled as to how the then Wei King Zhao Run made these unruly people

The Jie people surrendered.

Because the "Chu", "Shi" and other flags were erected on the convoy, the Jie cavalry wandering around Luoyang and Luocheng did not come to trouble Huang Er, Jiao Mu and others.

In view of this matter, Jiao Mu, a scholar-official of Chu State, said with a smile: "I never thought that the defense in the capital area of ​​Wei State would be so lax..."

After hearing this, Huang As also felt a little strange.

Indeed, the defense of Wei's royal capital should not be so lax. Isn't Wei afraid of being suddenly attacked by other countries?

This question continued until Huang Er, Jiao Mu and his party approached Luoyang and saw with their own eyes the city wall of Luoyang City that was twice as high as Daliang.

When they saw the city wall, Huang As and Jiao Mu were not only shocked but also shocked.

At this time, the two of them finally realized why the Jiejiao cavalry along the way didn't check them at all. It was because there was no need. The capital city in front of them was simply a behemoth that was difficult to capture.

When entering the city gate, the Luoyang imperial guard on duty at the city gate stopped the carriage of Huang Er, Jiao Mu and his party and conducted a routine inspection.

However, after Huang Er showed the credentials he brought with him, he entered the city smoothly.

The atmosphere in Luoyang City is similar to that of Luocheng, Bolangsha, and Liangjun. You can all feel a peaceful and peaceful atmosphere. This makes Huang Er feel a bit like the Qi State he once served as an envoy, but the two

The difference between them is that the folk customs here in Wei State are fierce. Even in Luoyang City, pedestrians wearing weapons can be seen everywhere. Some are merchants' guards and some are local rangers. If two people have an argument on the street,

It is common for people to get into fights over disagreements.

In fact, the pedestrians passing by on the roadside were not afraid, but instead cheered and cheered for the two of them.

No, when Huang Arsen entered the city, he saw two rangers fighting in the street.

"The public security of Wei State is nothing more than this." Jiao Mu said, shaking his head.

But Huang Er didn't see it that way, because he noticed that the two rangers who were fighting with each other did not draw their swords from the beginning to the end. Moreover, when the patrolling guards arrived and arrested them, the two rangers did not draw their swords.

The people were also easily captured without any help, as if they were afraid of something and did not dare to draw swords and fight openly on the street.

After asking some nearby passers-by who were watching the excitement, Huang Er confirmed his guess: the two rangers are both rangers who 'make a living' in the area. Fighting and other things are commonplace on weekdays. According to Luoyang Mansion,

Yin's punishment stipulates that in a street fight, if there are no casualties or innocent people are injured, at best, he will be jailed for ten or eight days. The local rangers have long been accustomed to it.

But if a sword is drawn in the street and the conflict escalates to a fight, the nature will be much worse, let alone killing people or injuring innocent people.

The pressure from the imperial court has made the rangers restrain themselves a lot. Even if there is any conflict, it will not become violent. Of course, this is only on the street. As for secluded places where no one is around, even if the Luoyang building was completed not long ago,

In the royal capital, there are probably many corpses buried in unattended corners.

Generally speaking, the public security in Wei State is quite stable.

After staying overnight in an inn in the city, the next day, Huang Er and Jiao Mu took their entourage and went straight to the headquarters of the Ministry of Rites to submit their credentials.

When he thought of the mission he had to shoulder this time, Shiqing Huang Zu sighed secretly.

Because he knew that the task he shouldered this time was not easy, and if he did not do it right, his life might even be in danger.

Don't say that even if the two countries are at war, they will not behead the envoys. Tian Hu, the envoy of Qi State, was really beheaded by Wei King Zhao Run.

On the other hand, the deputy envoy Jiao Mu who accompanied him, this young man who was about twenty years older than Huang Xu, was full of interest at the moment, even a little excited.

Not long after, the news that Chu State envoys Huang Er and Jiao Mu asked for an audience reached the ears of Zhu Jin, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Recently, Du You, the Minister of Rites, an old minister, has gradually handed over the authority of the Ministry of Rites to Zhu Jin, the Zuo Shilang, because of his age. In addition to handling government affairs in the inner court, he rarely appears in the Ministry of Rites.

After Zhu Jin gets used to it for a period of time, he will take over the post of Minister.

Perhaps because he is about to be promoted, Zuo Shilang Zhu Jin has been working very hard recently.

The former Ministry of Rites was only responsible for diplomatic relations with various countries, court etiquette, scholar examinations, and academic education for princes, princesses, princes, princesses, etc. In addition, it was responsible for repairing the book collection. As long as the books appeared in the Wei State, they were all

Rubbings can be found in the Treasury of the Ministry of Rites.

In recent years, with the completion of the "National School", the Ministry of Rites is also responsible for the normal operation of the National School, publishing teaching books, cultivating talents, etc. It is no exaggeration to say that the authority of the Ministry of Rites covers a very wide range.

This year is the year when the Ministry of Rites presides over the examinations. These three-year examinations have allowed the Wei State to obtain many talents, who can be added to the royal capital or local areas.

Zhu Jin, the left minister, had just finished busy with the examinations and reinvested his energy in compiling the "Etiquette" with his colleagues.

The reason for all this is that the Hundred Schools of Thought contended in Daliang a few years ago in the Wei State. Since then, all kinds of books have flooded the entire Wei State. The matter of "making a statement" is no longer as rigorous as it used to be, as if you only need to know how to write.

You can publish a book.

Although this phenomenon made books no longer as sacred as before, it also greatly stimulated the cultural development of Wei State. Generally speaking, it has advantages and disadvantages.

In view of this matter, the Ministry of Rites was previously forced to issue a decree: only books that have been inspected by the Ministry of Rites are allowed to circulate in the country, otherwise they are not allowed to circulate.

It's not for any kind of control, it's just to prevent some irresponsible authors from misleading readers.

Affected by this incident, officials from the Ministry of Rites also hoped to compile a book recording various etiquette.

Today, when Zhu Jin, the left minister, was reading the draft of "Etiquette" compiled by his officials in the Ministry of Rites, suddenly a minor official came to report that it was an envoy sent by the Chu State.

Zhu Jin, the left servant, was stunned for a moment, and then his face showed a hint of a smile.

I remember that when he visited his old boss, Shangshu Du You, a few days ago, the two of them had talked about the Chu State. Unexpectedly, a day or two later, the Chu State sent an envoy as they had guessed.

"Invite them in."

Zhu Jin immediately ordered people to invite the two Chu envoys to his prison cell.

After a while, Chu envoys Huang Er and Jiao Mu, led by two minor officials, arrived at the cell of Zuo Shilang Zhu Jin.

Zhu Jin stood up to greet them and invited them to sit in the inner room.

After introducing themselves to each other, Zhu Jin asked in surprise: "If Zhu remembers correctly, Mr. Huang Er was the one who drafted the "Wei-Han Zhengyang Armistice Treaty"?"

"That's right." Huang Xu felt a little embarrassed.

To be honest, after the "Wei-Han Zhengyang Truce Treaty" was signed, Xiong Tuo became the laughing stock of the Chudong nobles at that time, and Huang Er was inevitably a little implicated. It was not until "Wei Gongzi Run" swept across the Central Plains that this incident

Gradually faded in Chu State.

I still remember that the Chu State at that time was actually very unconvinced by the peace treaty, because in the view of the Chudong nobles, if Qi State had not put pressure on Chu State, there were even various signs that they wanted to unite with Wei State to attack Chu.

Why did the Chu State need to sign such a humiliating armistice agreement with the then weak Wei State?

To this day, many people in the Chu State still regret it, but of course they regret it in another direction: If they had known that the Wei State was as powerful as it is today, they should have taken the lead in destroying the Wei State before it had even risen!

Even if he goes to war with Qi State for this, he will even be defeated by Qi State.

After a while, the clerk in the official office served tea.

After each other took a sip and put it down temporarily, Zhu Jin, the left minister, coughed and asked: "I wonder what the reason for these two envoys is to visit me as an envoy to the Wei Dynasty?"

When this matter was mentioned, the Chu envoy Huang Xu secretly sighed in his heart. After all, he knew very well what kind of mission he was shouldering this time.

But after all, this was the order of Xiong Tuo, the king of Chu State. Although Huang Xu didn't agree with it in his heart, he could only bite the bullet and express his intention: "That's it... We hope that your country can exercise restraint and stop attacking South Korea."

, Qi’s unjust war.”

Hearing this, Zuo Shilang Zhu Jin chuckled in his heart, but his expression immediately turned serious and he said stiffly: "Your Majesty, may I ask if this is what King Chu meant?"

"Yes..." Huang Xu said bravely.

Zhu Jin narrowed his eyes, snorted, and said unceremoniously: "That's ridiculous!... South Korea was the first to declare war on me, the Wei Dynasty, and we, the Wei Dynasty, just fought back..."

At this time, Huang Xu seemed to be willing to take the risk, and interrupted sternly: "Your country's declaration of war on South Korea is considered a counterattack, but what is the purpose of attacking Qi?... This matter is not justified, and it is unjust.

A battle! Your country is a hegemonic country. It should maintain the harmony among the countries in the Central Plains and it is not appropriate to raise unjust divisions..."

After hearing this, Zhu Jin also said sternly: "Qi is a good country?... Qi is respectful on the surface, but secretly colludes with South Korea and secretly helps South Korea. It is actually South Korea's accomplice!... Your country is our ally of the Wei Dynasty, and it should be peaceful."

We, the great Wei, unite to fight against injustice, but how can we protect the evil ones?"
To be continued...