Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

"The envoy of Dali Kingdom, Duan Suzhen, has arrived!" A civil servant raised his head from the list, observed the costumes of the comers, and shouted.

Immediately, a few people came to the gate of the mansion, bowed and saluted with Daxu civil official. The civil servant who received him had a friendly smile on his face, and said a few words to the envoy amidst the commotion.

Then several people, including the envoy, came to the door one after another, spread their arms, and let the warrior standing in front of the door touch him from head to toe.

The street outside the gate was very crowded, with crowds of people among the carriages and horses, as lively as going to a market. On the side of the gate, a large group of armored and sharp-edged soldiers stood motionless in a phalanx. The rows were straight, as if they had been flicked with ink strings used by carpenters.

Not only the Xu and Liao countries participated in this meeting, but all the places with a little contact with Tokyo were invited in advance. Even Dali Kingdom sent people, only Jiaozhi did not send people... It is said that Jiaozhi has been in civil strife in the past few years, and Ding Buling has just put down all the tribes and established the country "Da Quyue", but Daxu Tokyo does not recognize the legitimacy of this country.

...Guo Shao came to this mansion left by the bureaucrats of the former dynasty very early, but he decided not to appear on the occasion of the official alliance, and to wait until the banquet.

Because the officials of the Ministry of Rites believed that the king of the North Court was sent by the Liao Kingdom, and Daxu only needed to send ministers of the same level to sign the covenant. The officials of the Privy Council also suggested that Xu Liao's hatred cannot be resolved overnight, and the emperor does not need to be at the forefront of dissatisfaction, as long as the ministers preside over it.

But Guo Shao decided to meet the Liao envoy in private.

He was waiting in a room in the back garden, with some expectations for meeting Xiao Siwen... But if it was ten years ago, he should be more looking forward to meeting Xiao Siwen's daughter.

At this time, he found an old painting hanging on the wall above the coffee table. When he looked up, he saw that the paper of that painting had turned yellow. Black and white ink painting, an old man in a coir raincoat is sitting by the river fishing, with the background of snow-covered mountains and forests outlined with ink lines.

Fishing for cold river snow alone. Guo Shao first thought of this poem, but this painting should not be a famous painting. There is neither an inscribed poem nor the artist's name stamp.

Guo Shao didn't understand why he was attracted by such an old painting that was not a famous painting. He stood by the wall and studied the painting carefully for a long time.

Until Jing Niang's voice came from behind: "Officials, Liao Kingdom envoy Xiao Siwen and others have brought them here."

Guo Shao nodded without turning his head, his eyes still did not leave the painting, and he was focused on catching the faint feeling.

After a while, I heard a sentence in Chinese with a jerky accent: "The envoy of Daliao pays homage to Emperor Xu."

Guo Shao turned around, looked at several people, and said casually, "Excuse me."

The middle-aged man with good facial features standing in front should be Xiao Siwen. He and several other people straightened up and looked at Guo Shao. From their gazes, Guo Shao knew that they were a little surprised.

"I heard that in the Liao Kingdom, I was said to be a monster with three heads and six arms, and was also used by the people to scare disobedient children?" Guo Shao laughed.

Xiao Siwen calmly said: "Emperor Xu's reputation is so famous in the world, it is inevitable that there will be rumors about foolish people."

Guo Shao is obviously more ordinary than they imagined, with rough skin, ordinary face, and relatively tall and strong figure, but there are many tall ordinary men in the world. In the back garden, he didn't even wear a hat, and put a bun on his head, fastened with a wooden hairpin. Although the purple round-neck robe on his body was ironed flat, it was old, and the color of the cuffs and collar was also worn down slightly lighter than the other materials.

Guo Shao is also observing Xiao Siwen, who has been thinking about him for a long time, and he completely believes that he is a decent person just by looking at his appearance. As for who Yang Gun is, Guo Shao can't be sure, and he doesn't want to specifically mention it...just ask Jing Niang who is standing aside later.

After a brief silence, Guo Shao saw that Xiao Siwen had finished reading himself, and looked at the painting on the wall from time to time.

There is no need to discuss the matter of the League of Nations in this private meeting, as long as the minister can handle such matters, Guo Shao does not need to discuss it with Xiao Siwen himself. Seeing that Xiao Siwen noticed the painting, Guo Shao found the topic, raised his finger and pointed at the painting: "Does Xiao Shijun know this painting?"

"Fishing snow in the cold river alone." Xiao Siwen said.

Guo Shao praised: "Xiao Shijun is very knowledgeable."

"I have dabbled in the famous poems and prose in the Central Plains." Xiao Siwen said, "This painting is based on the artistic conception of Liu Zongyuan in the Tang Dynasty."

Guo Shao nodded, and said calmly: "There is another layer. The painters of this kind of painting are generally not only literati, but also bureaucrats. If it was a few years earlier, most of them came from aristocratic families."

"Oh..." Xiao Siwen nodded thoughtfully in response, and couldn't help but look up at the painting again.

At this time, more and more people arrived in front of the courtyard, and they were about to prepare for major events among the countries, but Emperor Daxu and the King of the Northern Academy of Liao Kingdom were talking about poetry and painting. The three deputy envoys and the interested Jing Niang listened patiently and did not speak easily... because the emperor can talk about whatever he wants.

Guo Shao said again: "The mansion where we are now, the former owner is a former court official, and the person who owns this painting should also be him. Xiao Shijun walked in, what do you think of the scenery?"

"Very exquisite." Xiao Siwen said solemnly, "The Central Plains is a custom of settlement, and they really spend more thought on the residence than the people of Daliao."

Guo Shaodao: "Before Xiao Shijun came in, I had some thoughts when looking at this painting. What was the mood of the bureaucrat here when he saw this painting?"

Xiao Siwen pondered and said: "If I speculate, it may be because I appreciate the indifferent and peaceful state."

"Xiao Shijun really has a good understanding of the Central Plains culture." Guo Shao's tone is gentle and calm, and he does not seem to be Xiao Siwen's enemy and enemy when he praises him from time to time. "Our country has always been ruled by man, and the concept is also 'human nature is good at the beginning'. I hope that the personal cultivation of officials. When officials flaunt this state, they are also showing to the world, even themselves, that they are competent|capable of the role of ruler."

Xiao Siwen listened very carefully, and responded, "Emperor Daxu established his country with martial arts. Looking at it now, the emperor also has a lot of experience in martial arts."

Guo Shao smiled and continued: "When a painting appreciator stands here, the fame and fortune he is chasing have already been obtained. Imagine that he is an old man in the painting, withdrawing himself in such a lonely environment. Maybe there will be a feeling..."

"How do you feel?" Xiao Siwen looked very interested. It can be seen that this Khitan man is not a completely restless person.

Guo Shao took a "hissy" breath, and thoughtfully said, "The huge wealth and power that I once thought were the source of joy, but once I get it, I feel that it is not the source of joy. The real meaning is not the result, but the desire|desire and expectation when chasing."

Xiao Siwen seemed to be getting more and more interested, and immediately asked, "Then why are you still chasing?"

Guo Shao looked at him and said: "Wealth and power are not the source of happiness, but they are the source of getting rid of most pain and helplessness. This is what it means, even if people don't get happiness, they don't want to be abused | abused."

Xiao Siwen nodded slightly while thinking.

Guo Shao suddenly raised his voice, and said like enlightenment: "I am looking forward to Xiao Shijun's next performance, how can I get out of the painful and helpless situation. I hope Xiao Shijun will not let me down, but let me hear that you are brilliant in overcoming difficulties, and then sincerely applaud Xiao Shijun."

Xiao Siwen raised his head to meet Guo Shao's half-smile eyes, but his own face was alternately green and red, and his expression was extremely subtle and complicated.

Guo Shao's words are a blatant provocation and undisguised gloating!

But his words did not lose the meaning of respect, even if Xiao Siwen was not necessarily a respectable opponent, Guo Shao respected the opponent, as if he was also respecting his own demeanor.

Xiao Siwen's method at the beginning was to conspire to poison by all means, and when Guo Shao fought back, he put it on the table. Tell Xiao Siwen his purpose, remind him to accept the move, and advance step by step openly.

It hasn't come to the end yet, but it seems that the judgment is judged... This is what Guo Shao wants!

The two faced each other for a while, then Guo Shao said, "The business in the hall is about to start, so I won't keep Xiao Shijun."

Xiao Siwen held the ceremony and said: "This envoy takes my leave."

Guo Shaodao: "The conversation I had with Xiao Shijun was very interesting, I hope there will be another time."

Several envoys from the Liao Kingdom left the room, and it became quiet again. Guo Shao stood alone in the room, just like the snow on the wall.

Not long after, Jingniang returned to her room to report.

Guo Shao asked, "Which one is Yang Dagon?"

Jing Niang said: "The one on Xiao Siwen's left."

Guo Shao suddenly said: "I guessed the other three people just now, and I guessed the same one."

Jing Niang was not a talkative person, she seemed hesitant to speak, and then stood there silently.

Guo Shao glanced at her and said, "I also guessed it based on intuition, and I didn't see anything. Yang Gun is indeed a man with a city and a brain. But as far as I know, Yang Gun is a Khitan who grew up in Hebei. His temperament is somewhat similar to Xiao Siwen. Anyway, he is different from the other two Khitans. I haven't figured out what is different, and I don't bother to think about it."

Jing Niang said: "I found out who Yang Dun is from Yang Shiliang."

While speaking, Guo Shao glanced at the south side, he was waiting for the outcome of the Council of Nations. Before the result is confirmed, it seems that there is no mind to deal with other things. Guo Shao is not the completely indifferent person praised by Shilin.

His gaze slowly moved away from Jingniang's body injury, as if something invisible brushed gently against the outline of her clothes supported by her body. Jingniang could feel Guo Shao's gaze, but she neither acted coyly nor charmingly.

Guo Shaodao: "The women I can see now are all vying for favor."

Jing Niang said without changing her face: "My family background is not noble, but I have seen rich and noble people since I was a child. There are many beautiful women around them, but those who rely on their beauty usually stay with the master for less than a month. No matter how beautiful a person is, there will always be boring moments."

Guo Shao looked sideways at the painting and said casually, "This is why power and wealth are not the source of happiness."