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

On February 1088, , the third year of Yuanyou in the Song Dynasty, a diplomatic delegation from the Song Dynasty, headed by Sima Junshi, arrived at the front-line camp in Wancheng.

Looking at Sima Junshi, who turned 70 this year, and the group of old men in their 60s behind him, Han Ming was a little worried whether they could still move their legs.

The personnel participating in the negotiations in Xijin Prefecture this time can be said to be the most luxurious personnel configuration in the Song Dynasty in the past twenty years.

Led by Han Ming, the co-minister of the Secretariat, and Sima Junshi, they were followed by He Zhengru, Su Ziyu, the Minister of Rites Du Jiyang, Peng Yi, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, and Su Zizhan, the judge of the Taichang Temple.

Except for Han Ming who was born in the Qingli year, the other big guys were all old people before him.

Even Su Ziyu was born in the second year of Baoyuan, and was about three or four years younger than Han.

Looking at this group of old men with white hair and beards, Han Ming suddenly felt that he should not have drawn up the list of people who were to be killed and their hearts destroyed.

"Meet Prime Minister Han!"

Everyone had been friends for many years, so there was no need to be too polite. After greeting each other, they sat down.

"Seeing you, I finally realized what it means that time flies and years are gone!"

Those people who were full of vigor and ambition at the beginning are now old, especially Sima Junshi, who almost didn't survive the fate of turning 69 in the past two years.

"I can't refuse to admit my age. My back and waist are sore from riding in the carriage all this time."

"When I was sent as an envoy to Xixia, I worked for several days and nights without rest, and I was still full of energy!"

"I'm really old!"

The old man Sima Junshi no longer had the energy he once had. After entering the big tent, he kept tapping his waist with his hands behind his back unconsciously.

"It's only because the Dao is now well-maintained, and with the advent of the 'vertical-axle steering device' for the four-wheeled carriage that Prime Minister Han proposed earlier, that Sima Gong doesn't have to suffer as much as before!"

Su Ziyu took over the conversation, causing everyone to laugh.

Thanks to the construction and renovation of roads, the upgrading of equipment technology, and the expansion and deepening of horse breeding in the Song Dynasty, the originally limited four-wheeled carriages were also slowly rolled out in the Song Dynasty.

The cost issue has gradually decreased and reached an acceptable level under the continuous adjustments of the Song Dynasty's "Research Institute".

However, compared to the cheap and durable two-wheeled carriages of the past, the cost is still higher, but the comfort has been greatly improved.

This led to some wealthy families in Bianjing City not caring about the cost difference and choosing to travel by four-wheeled carriage.

However, most private merchants and ordinary people still maintained the circulation of two-wheeled carriages at the social level due to cost-effectiveness.

"Let Cun Zhong and his team work hard to reduce the cost of four-wheeled carriages to a minimum and make them widely available to the general public. This is the key to improving the transportation environment."

Every time Han Ming opened and closed his mouth, great scientists like Shen Kuo and Su Song, who had hard-working lives, would have to work day and night.

"I heard that the Military Equipment Bureau and the Research Institute are collaborating to develop a new generation of firearms. What's it called, a musket?"

He Zhengru also spoke in agreement and started talking about interesting things in Beijing.

"Raiser!"

Han Ming's spirits perked up. Could it be that the tubular firearms that were invented during the reign of Emperor Lizong of the Southern Song Dynasty were also about to be born?

I remember that this musket was made of a giant bamboo tube, filled with gunpowder, cartridges, and bullets.

Then after the fuse is lit, the gunpowder erupts and shoots the "nest" out, with a maximum range of 150 steps (about 230 meters).

This was the world's first rifle that fired bullets, and was called a "musket" at the time.

If Shen Kuo and Su Song had really developed this kind of musket, the name of the Shenjiying would be well-deserved, and would be no less famous than the famous Firearms Battalion of the Ming Dynasty in later generations.

Han Ming was somewhat excited. With muskets and artillery, and the military training and management methods in the later "Jixiao Xinshu", the Song army could be said to have completed its evolution!

After pounding his hands, Han Ming called out to Cheng Lan, "Issue an order to the Privy Council, the Ministry of War, the Military Equipment Administration, the Academy, and the Secretariat (the central agency that manages the national library), requiring all parties to cooperate closely and provide assistance to research the 'firearm'!"

After hearing Han Ming's order, everyone came to their senses. It seemed that this "musket" was a good thing.

Otherwise, with Han's stingy character, how could he put so much effort into researching this thing.

"Everyone, let's put other topics aside for now. Next, we need to discuss the negotiations regarding the trip north."

After giving the order, Han Ming turned the topic to business.

In fact, for everyone, the discussion of "going north for negotiations" was unnecessary. Knowing that Yelu Hongji was playing tricks, the best idea was not to discuss it.

After all, the basic point of "Song is strong and Liao is weak" is here. Even if the Song army is exhausted, it can still kill the nearly 80,000 troops in Xijin Prefecture.

"Why don't we just not talk to them and waste time on them?"

It must be said that Du Ji Yang is no different from he was more than ten years ago. He is still a shrewd old man with a kind face but a wicked heart.

"Then why did this old man and the others come here? Why not live comfortably in the capital?!"

Sima Junshi couldn't stand hearing such words. He was physically weak, not mentally. As long as he could move, he would not stop fighting at his post.

Sima Junshi's words set the tone: negotiations must take place. As for how to negotiate...

Another talk!

"I didn't mean to trouble you all, but this might be the final political blow to Liao, so we still have to liven up the atmosphere."

Han Ming followed up with this sentence, which caused everyone to roll their eyes.

If you want to 'kill people and destroy their hearts', then just 'kill people and destroy their hearts', and you can say it in such a high-sounding way.

Finally, Su Zizhan spoke in a deep voice, "So, what do you think of Yelu Hongji's request for the return of Xiao Guanyin, Yelu Jun, and the others? "

"No!"

Han Ming gave his conclusion without thinking.

"Yelu Hongji's time has come, but among the princes, there is no one whose prestige and character can match Yelu Jun's."

"Originally, the unjust case caused a rift between father and son, but now he wants to reconcile. It's clear that he really has a backup plan."

A gleam of light flashed in Sima Junshi's somewhat dim eyes.

"If we don't allow Yelu Jun to return, we can control the lifeblood of the Liao Kingdom, but we have to seize the opportunity."

Peng Yi understood what Han Ming meant. He wanted to wait for the right price and make the most of both ends.

"Don't worry, Yelu Hongji can still hold on for a few more years and won't die soon."

"After the negotiations are over, we still need him to return alive to help us quell the rebellious tribes on the grasslands. That is his ultimate value."

Han Ming's sinister voice made people shudder.

"When he is truly no longer able to do so, we should also train His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Yelu Jun."

"When an heir who fears, yearns for, and worships the Song Dynasty ascends the throne of the Liao Kingdom, the good days of the Song Dynasty will begin."

After Han Ming finished his last sentence, everyone looked at each other and then smiled knowingly.

The whole tent was filled with a sinister smile, which startled the guards outside the tent. They took two steps back in fear, fearing that they would be infected by the people inside.

. . . . . .

With the "conscious" contact between the Song and Liao sides, the time for this negotiation was also determined.

On the first day of March, the two countries will officially start negotiations on the ownership of the "Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun" at the Hall of Heroes in Xijin Prefecture.

At that time, senior officials from both sides will gather together to discuss the issue of the future transfer of "Song-Liao sovereignty" in Asia.

The Liao Dynasty, once hailed as the strongest country in Asia in the tenth and eleventh centuries, should also come to a dignified end in this negotiation.

And his "friendly neighbor", as the successor of the prosperous Tang Dynasty and the initiator of the later "Gangming" Song Dynasty, also needed a domineering declaration to foreshadow his rise and strength.

The recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun is that "domineering declaration"!