After traveling through time, I became Han Zhang’s grandson?

On October 18th, the second year of Zhiping in the Song Dynasty and the first year of Xianyong in the Liao Dynasty, His Majesty the Great Liao Emperor Yelu Hongji convened a court meeting in Xijin Prefecture, Nanjing Road, to receive the Song Dynasty delegation.

This was also the first meeting between Han Ming and Yelu Hongji, the two old enemies, and they both attached great importance to each other's arrival.

Yelu Hongji specifically asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to fetch the dragon robe he wore when he ascended the throne, hoping to subdue Han Ming with his overwhelming majesty.

Han Ming's idea was the same as the other party's. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and a decent appearance would be more conducive to exchanges between the Song and Liao countries.

However, the court uniforms of the Song Dynasty were basically fixed. At his level, he could only wear purple official uniforms on weekdays.

However, in order to show his own advantages, Han Ming took out the formal dress used in major ceremonies such as grand sacrifices and put it on.

The so-called formal dress is officially called court dress (also known as "jufu"), which is two sets from official dress (daily dress).

This set of court dress consists of a scarlet silk robe skirt, lined with a white flowered silk middle layer, tied with a large belt, and then tied with a leather belt to the scarlet silk knee pad, a square-heart curved collar, white silk socks and black leather shoes.

Officials of the sixth rank and above wore jade swords and jade pendants, and brocade ribbons around their waists, with different patterns used to distinguish between different ranks.

When wearing court dress, one would wear a Jinxian crown, a Diaochan crown (also known as a long scarf, which in the Song Dynasty had evolved into a square-topped shape with a piece of cloth hanging down to the shoulders, and a roc feather inserted on one side of the crown) or a Xiezhi crown.

He also wore a white brush on the back of his crown and held a tablet in his hand.

The square curved collar from the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty was a semicircular hard lining on the middle shirt to make the collar convex. In the Song Dynasty, an ornament made of white silk with a round upper and a square lower part (that is, a round collar ring with a square attached at the bottom) was pressed on the collar.

In short, for this meeting, Han Ming and Yelu Hongji racked their brains, trying to put pressure on the other side first and show their power.

On the morning of the 18th, Han Ming got up early and changed into court clothes with the help of Yong Zeng and other entourage.

Looking at the imposing, heroic and handsome figure of the young man in the bronze mirror, Han Ming unconsciously curled up a smug smile at the corner of his mouth.

He was truly grateful to his father and mother for their excellent genes, which gave birth to such a handsome boy.

There was a saying in the previous life: You can make a living with your looks, but you choose to rely on your talent!

Han Ming now thinks a little proudly of his youth in Tokyo Prefecture, and can't help but feel a lot of emotion.

"Your Majesty, you look so smart in this court dress!" Yong Zeng said with a silly smile.

"Yes, I think so too. I just wonder if the Liao Kingdom will be a little shocked."

Han Ming looked around and confirmed that there was no problem. He flicked his sleeves, put his left hand on the sword at his waist, put his right hand on his hip belt, and walked out of the room with his head held high.

Everyone outside the door was standing in the corridor. Seeing Han Ming in such a good image, their eyes lit up, and then they began to praise him one after another.

"Everyone, today is the day for our delegation to meet with the Liao emperor and his ministers. I don't have much to say here. After all, everyone is already accustomed to this process."

"But I still want to say something. I hope you can demonstrate the great demeanor of our Song Dynasty and the heritage of the Central Plains Dynasty."

"Let the 'brother country' of Liao feel our political confidence, military confidence, cultural confidence and economic confidence!!!"

Han Ming's simple speech won the collective approval of the delegation.

"Let's go into the palace!"

Following Han Ming's order, all members of the delegation filed out and boarded the carriages specially arranged by the Liao Dynasty, heading for the imperial city of Xijin Prefecture.

After the founding of the Liao Dynasty, the five capitals system was formed successively: the five capitals were Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture (Lindong Town, Balin Left Banner, Inner Mongolia), Zhongjing Dading Prefecture (Ningcheng County, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia), Dongjing Liaoyang Prefecture (Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province), Nanjing Xijin Prefecture (Beijing), and Xijing Datong Prefecture (Datong City, Shanxi Province).

But only Shangjing was the capital, and the others were mostly secondary capitals.

During the heyday after the Treaty of Chanyuan between Liao and Song, although the political role of Zhongjing was strengthened, the emperor resided there permanently, and an inn was built to receive envoys from Song, Xia, and Silla, the status of Shangjing as the capital remained unchanged.

The Liao Dynasty was founded by a nomadic people from the north. Their nomadic lifestyle of constant migration and relying on carriages and horses for home determined the emperor's system of imperial tours. Its political center was not in the capital, but in Nabo (Khitan language for "temporary residence", "temporary palace", "Liao emperor's camp").

All major political issues are decided at any time in Nabo, which is the administrative center for handling government affairs.

Due to the constraints of climate and natural conditions, there are places for Nabo in each season.

The Five Capitals were the ruling centers of various regions, each governing military prefectures, counties, and districts, so they were also called the Five Capitals Circuits. There were no administrative agencies in the Circuits.

The chief officials of the five capitals were all called Liushou, and were important officials of the Khitan royal family (Yelü clan) or the queen's clan (Xiao clan).

The five capitals were divided into garrison offices and capital general offices to oversee the military and state affairs under their jurisdiction.

After several generations of Liao monarchs, imperial palaces were established in all five capitals to provide temporary residence for the emperor when he toured the country.

Since the Second Song-Xia War, Yelu Hongji moved his "Nabo" to Xijin Prefecture with all his officials, concubines, etc., and has been paying attention to the situation in the south.

This time, the Song Dynasty delegation's journey north was easier than in previous years. There was no need to go to Zhongjing Dading Prefecture. They only needed to leave their homes and go to Xijin Prefecture in Yanyun.

Although this benefit saved them from the arduous journey, it also allowed them to see how quickly the Liao cavalry would move south if the two countries went to war.

After learning of their true and specific mission, the senior leaders of the entire delegation all met with the Liao emperor and his ministers with the determination to die bravely.

This spirit gives people a different feeling, as if one should be graceful before dying and must show the spirit of the people of the Song Dynasty.

Han Ming saw this and smiled in his heart. He believed that when the Song Dynasty became stronger in the future, the Song envoys would stand taller.

As the carriage turned into the Imperial City Avenue, the traffic suddenly increased. Through a gap in the carriage, Han Ming saw the Liao officials who were coming to attend the court meeting.

Looking at the various kinds of horses pulling carts, Han Ming couldn't help but sigh in his heart that there were indeed many good horses in the north.

Thinking about the current situation of the Song Dynasty, he felt a bit of a headache as only the Hengshan area that he had recaptured with his troops could be used for temporary horse breeding.

If we want to compete with the Liao Kingdom in the future, we will not be able to do so without a powerful cavalry force.

"Alas! If we hold the Hetao Plain and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, the so-called Liao and Xia dynasties will be no match for the Song Dynasty."

Thinking about the Hetao region being occupied by the Liao Kingdom and the Western Xia, Han Ming felt that the burden on his shoulders was very heavy.

The two most important horse racing venues in the Central Plains dynasties since ancient times are now in the hands of foreign enemies. It is a great achievement for the Song Dynasty to have survived until now!

While Han Ming was daydreaming, the carriage stopped outside the palace, which made him withdraw his thoughts.

"Yelü Hongji, let me see what you are capable of!!"

Han Ming, supported by Yong Zeng, got off the carriage. Standing beside him were the members of the envoys. The ministers of Liao State entered the palace hall first, and they still needed to wait for being summoned.

Seeing everyone looking a little nervous, Han Ming smiled slightly and said softly, "When we enter the main hall later, be alert and don't lose points. Remember that you are a good person!"

As soon as Han Ming's "three-piece set of fueling the flames" came out, the envoys felt much more relaxed and bowed in greeting.

"The envoys from the Xuan Song Kingdom are here to see you—!"

"The envoys from the Xuan Song Kingdom are here to see you—!"

"The envoys from the Xuan Song Kingdom are here to see you—!"

"..."

With a shout coming from far away, Han Ming and others were cheered up. After sorting out their thoughts, Han Ming walked in front with his head held high and chest puffed out, stepping into the palace.