Chapter 5: Dongmen Guan Inn

Zhao Yang grasped the long sword, his expression growing increasingly somber

Zhao Yang regained his thoughts, gently stroked his beautiful beard, and revealed a standard aristocratic smile

He, however, remained unperturbed, smilingly clasping his hands towards Zhao Yang.

During the time of Duke Ping of Jin, Zichan of Zheng came to present tribute to the hegemon. However, the Jin people treated him with neglect, receiving him in a shabby guesthouse. In response, Zichan simply dismantled the walls and the main gate of the guesthouse. The Duke of Jin sent the official responsible for receiving guests, known as the "Hou Ren," to confront him in anger, but was met with a sharp retort from Zichan, leaving him speechless. The then-ruling official of Jin, Zhao Wenzi, who is also known as the "Orphan of Zhao," had no choice but to comply and expand the guesthouse, which ultimately demonstrated the dignity of a great nation.

There are indeed many talented individuals in the Le Bo government. It is said that among them is a certain Gu Buzi Qing, who is skilled in divination and physiognomy, able to discern a person's career prospects and family fortune upon seeing them just once... May I inquire if Gu Buzi Qing is among the ranks of Le Bo

The two individuals were the lower-ranking officials of their respective countries. According to the etiquette, they had their attendants present the necessary offerings of a young goat, a lamb, and a goose as a gesture of respect. After greeting each other and inquiring about the well-being of their sovereigns, they halted in the middle of the road and began to exchange courteous gestures of deference.

At this moment, Zhao Yang stood tall on a magnificent four-horse chariot. He was over forty years old, wearing a hunting cap made of leather, with a beautiful beard reaching his chest. Clad in rhinoceros armor, he was adorned with a soft leather belt, wide as a palm, embellished with jade, and he held a bronze sword with tassels. Beside him, on the right side of the chariot, was a servant presenting the lacquered bow and goose-feather arrows, bestowed upon him by the Zhou Emperor after the "Prince of Ping's Rebellion".

Lord Le is a distinguished guest of the Jin state, and I, Yang, dare to request that Lord Le proceed first

As he spoke, he turned back to look at the accompanying vehicle of Le Qiyi, hoping to find the renowned diviner who was famous among the feudal lords.

However, the household steward Yin Duo does not see it this way; he believes that this is not in accordance with the rules and that it is better to be more cautious.

Zhao Yang was about to be modest for a moment, but upon glancing over, he noticed that the vehicle convoy of the library was somewhat noisy and disorganized

Your Majesty is very well, thank you for your concern, Zhao Meng

Since the Three Dynasties, there has been a saying about welcoming guests at the East Gate, which is why the guesthouse in the Jin capital of Xinjian is also located outside the East Gate

In today's world, among the feudal lords, only Song and Lu serve Jin. Duke of Song is aware that the six ministers of Jin are at odds with one another, and by sending an envoy, he undoubtedly intends to test the waters, seeking to ascertain which faction truly holds power in the Jin court. Even if our Zhao clan does not send someone to welcome him, Fan, Zhi, Zhonghang, Han, and Wei will eventually send envoys to seek favor. At that time, Lord Leqi will reside in the palaces of other noble clans, and the state of Song will be allied with these clans, leaving our Zhao clan isolated and without support, regretting it too late

Le Qi stroked his long beard and smiled, saying: "Zhao Meng, do not be anxious. He left a message before departing, stating that he was heading to Mian to visit the tomb of the renowned gentleman Jie Zituo from your esteemed country. That is why he set off ahead of us. By the time we reach the hunting grounds, we may still catch up with him"

In the context of the power struggle in the Central Plains, it has become a contest between the two strong states of Jin and Qi. The State of Song, reputed to possess a thousand chariots, will lean towards whichever side can gain the advantage. Zhao Yang hopes to successfully navigate this diplomatic situation, safeguarding the century-long hegemony of the Jin state.

This situation felt as though Zhao Yang had been dealt a heavy slap. He reluctantly apologized to Le Qi and then instructed the coachman, You Wuzheng, to drive over and see what was going on.

According to the rules established by the Jin state during the alliance conference, each allied nation is required to send envoys to Jiangdu every year to reaffirm their commitment to the alliance. It has been a few days since the envoys from various nations have entered Jiang, yet this year the Dongmen Guan post appears desolate, completely devoid of the bustling activity that characterized the times of Duke Wen and Duke Dao of Jin

I only hope that Gu Buzhiqing does not mistakenly enter the hunting grounds in the nearby forest of Mian. Within it, there are indeed many ferocious birds and beasts, and a single sword may not suffice to handle them.

At this moment, Zhao Wuxu was riding on horseback with his eyes lowered, tightly gripping the reins, his knuckles turning white from excessive force, as if he were enduring something. His two cloth-clad attendants also wore expressions of displeasure, yet due to their lowly status, they did not dare to express their anger.

I dare not, I dare not. The esteemed minister Zang Xuan of the State of Lu once said, under a great nation, a nobleman holds a position equivalent to that of a nobleman above a great nation. My position is shallow, so I request Zhao Meng to proceed first

The power of diplomacy with the feudal lords was originally firmly held in the hands of Fan Yang, the current general of the Jin state and the chancellor. However, as Fan Yang grew old, he had no choice but to delegate authority to the young and capable Zhao Yang.

Le Qi said: "That Gu Buziqing was originally a wild man, disliking the constraints of etiquette and law. Early this morning, he set off alone, driving his carriage away from the post station..."

In Zhao's convoy, there were three striking riders, more than usual, among whom one was surprisingly his illegitimate son, Wuxu

Zhao Yang patiently advised the old minister, saying: "Minister Yin, Fan Bo has been in power for many years. He, along with the Zhonghang clan, has established connections with foreign nations, even exchanging state letters with Duke Liu of Chengzhou and the three Huan families of the State of Lu. Given the current situation, how can one hope to establish a firm foothold in the court without seeking external support? Moreover, the Grand Minister of the State of Song is an upright man, a gentleman, and I have had a friendship with him for over a decade. How can I bear to see him neglected at the East Gate Inn?"

However, Yin Duo, with his goat beard, spoke alarmingly: "Yet I have a word to say, may I ask Your Majesty, when going to hunt with the Grand Minister of Song, according to the rites, should he be welcomed at the Grand Ancestral Temple of Jin or the Zhao Family Temple? To visit a foreign state without having met the sovereign, yet to enter private quarters first; to not have presented the state letter, yet to befriend the accompanying ministers and officials first, this is an act of disrespect! I absolutely do not dare to place Minister Le Qi in this position of distrust and injustice! I implore Your Majesty to retract this chaotic order!"

It is indeed the case that the hegemony of the Jin state has already withered. The states of Qi and Zheng have long since broken their alliances, establishing their own factions, and even attempt to draw in smaller states such as Wei and Northern Yan, which have historically followed the Jin hegemony. Now, those still loyal to the Jin state are only the states of Song and Lu on the Si River.

Fortunately, just as the argument was escalating, his daughter Ji Ying appeared and interrupted them, causing the ministers to disperse unhappily. Zhao Yang was always decisive in his actions, and regardless of Yin Duo's thoughts, after the morning meal, he set out with a grand entourage, accompanied by Bai Tie, to the Dongmen Guan Inn, where he arranged to meet with the Grand Minister of the State of Song to proceed to the Zhao family's private estate for a winter hunting banquet.

Zhao Yang has always taken pleasure in gathering talented individuals from all over the world, and he feels somewhat proud of this. In the spirit of reciprocity, he immediately offered compliments in return

Thus, when the Grand Minister of State from the Song State personally entered the court of the Jin State, the officials could be said to have breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that this year the guesthouse would not be left empty. However, their hearts soon sank again, as there were some disturbances occurring in the Jin court at that time. The aged Chancellor Fan Yang had his diplomatic powers usurped by the Zhao clan, and he vented his personal grievances on the innocent Song envoys, completely neglecting them for three days, refusing to meet with them or to lead them in paying respects to the Jin Marquis.

The eyes of various noble families within the crowd were also pondering the political implications of this situation: Zhao Yang ranked third among the Six Ministers, yet he bypassed two superiors with higher positions, and even circumvented the Duke of Jin, directly coming to hand over matters to the Song people

He is full of confidence in this matter. Le Qi is a well-known supporter of the Jin state. Not long ago, he personally responded to the call of the Jin state and dispatched troops to attack the Zheng state, which did not respect the Zhou Son of Heaven. Zhao Yang has been in close contact with him for many years and is very clear about each other's temperaments

Moreover, it even led to a massacre known as the "Down Palace Incident". Fortunately, Zhao Yang's grandfather, Zhao Wenzi, that "Zhao Family Orphan", continued the bloodline of the family. Otherwise, the Zhao family would have long since perished and faded away like the former noble families of the Hu, Xian, and Luan clans in the State of Jin.

Le Qi gazed at the coachman across from him and exclaimed: "Zhao Meng, is your steed the renowned 'Bole of the Jin State,' the postmaster Wu Zheng? Indeed, your horsemanship is remarkable, controlling the four horses with the same skill and agility as if they were your own four fingers. You can truly be compared to the Bole of Qin, Duke Mu of Qin."

Look, look, this Yin Duo actually claims to be a chaotic life! Zhao Yang is not a ruler with a good temper; he almost slammed the table and sent Yin Duo to Wendi to guard the ancestral temple

The Grand Minister of State of the Song State, Le Qi, was right across from the Rong chariots. Upon witnessing the grand display set up by Zhao Yang, he felt a wave of bitterness in his heart. The lamentation indeed proved to be true, as predicted by the diviner among his advisors; he had once again become embroiled in the struggle among the six ministers of the Jin State.

It seems that they could no longer tolerate the government's neglect of important allies. The people are praising that the State of Jin has finally produced a minister who gets things done

The hunting grounds are located on the Mian Mountain, not far from the Zhao family's palace. This place was originally the venue for the monarch's military reviews, but it has now almost become the private property of the Zhao family

Zhao Yang was somewhat downcast, his thoughts still lingering on the argument he had this morning with the head of the household, Yin Duo

According to the customs of the pre-Qin people, when faced with a difficult decision, one would consult the oracle bones and seek guidance from deities. Therefore, he wished to have the diviner Gu Buziqing help him discern which of his sons was most capable of great service.

Lord Bo is overly modest; you are older than Yang, and according to the rites of Zhou, the elder should take the lead

Zhao Yang nodded, feeling reassured. He gazed ahead, unable to help but hope that the convoy would increase its speed. The issue of the clan's heir has always been a source of concern for him

Of course, that lowly and disrespectful scion, Wu Xu, who had committed a serious breach of etiquette at the banquet a few days ago, need not be considered. In Zhao Yang's heart, he has never been included as a candidate for the heir.

Zhao Meng

Thus, in Zhao Yang's view, the task of receiving the Grand Minister of State of Song, Le Qi, should be under his jurisdiction

May I ask, how is Lord Song's health?

He is not very satisfied with several of his sons. Can the gentle and honest eldest son Zhao Bolu bear the great responsibility of the clan? This concerns the rise and fall of the clan and must be approached with utmost caution. Throughout the four hundred years of the Zhao family's history, each transition of the clan leader has been the most vulnerable moment for the family

At this moment, the ceremonial procession of the Song state has emerged from the post station and is slowly approaching

The surrounding crowd wore mocking expressions, pointing and gesturing at the three riders

However, today, a dark-colored procession came from the Zhao family palace outside the city, personally welcoming at the inn. Those with discerning eyes among the citizens recognized that this was the ceremonial retinue of General Zhao Yang.

After a brief push and shove, the last two vehicles drove side by side, with Zhao Yang having overtaken by half a horse's head. The two vehicles were positioned very closely, facilitating conversation between the two gentlemen

Soon, the yellow and green interspersed mountains and forests of winter came into view from afar. Zhao Yang had newly constructed a residence and a high platform pavilion for distant viewing here, while the open area beneath the platform served as the waiting place for the descendants of the Zhao family and the retinue of family officials.

Zhao Yang still remembers that Le Qi seems to have a daughter around ten years old. Should he consider arranging a marriage between his son and her? This would strengthen the ties between the Zhao and Le families, as well as between the Jin and Song states.

"Gone?" Zhao Yang expressed some disappointment, "It seems that my virtue is lacking, and I am destined not to meet him."

The Song people awkwardly resided in the inn, unable to leave or stay, filled with anxiety and unease

Le Qiyuan gazed into the distance and smiled, saying: "As the ancients said, hunting serves as a means of military training, and engaging in hunts is also an excellent method for training troops. The Jin army has always been renowned among the feudal lords for their 'leisurely preparedness.' Today, I, Qi, eagerly await the Zhao army."

Zhao Yang's current priority is to win over Le Qi and, by extension, to bind the State of Song to the chariot of the State of Jin

Has this ungrateful bastard caused some trouble again

Le Bo!