Along the way, Zhangsun Shunde arranged for the officials of Hedong Road to send over a map of Daizhou. With the map, Zhangsun Shunde and Du Qi could discuss how to deal with the Eastern Turks invading the border.
Along the way, their speed was neither fast nor slow. Starting from Puzhou, they went north into Jiangzhou, Jinzhou, Fenzhou, and finally Taiyuan Prefecture. Although the capital of the Tang dynasty was Chang 'an, the capital of Taiyuan Prefecture, Taiyuan Prefecture, as the capital of the Tang dynasty, had a different status.
Although the Taiyuan Prefecture was more prosperous, Du Qi and Zhangsun Shunde didn't stay there for long. They still quickly went north. After entering Xinzhou, they went to Daizhou in the north.
This was where Li Daen, the Prince of Dingxiang, was stationed.
The capital of Daizhou was Gate of Yanmen.
Daizhou and Shuo Province bordered each other. The capital of Shuo Province was Mayi, which was controlled by Yuan Junzhang. Yuan Junzhang was once Liu Wuzhou's man. After Liu Wuzhou was defeated by Li Shimin, Liu Wuzhou fled to the Turks, and Yuan Junzhang followed him.
Later, Liu Wuzhou was unwilling to be a puppet of the Turks and wanted to escape. In the end, he was killed by the Turks. Yuan Junzhang naturally took command of Liu Wuzhou's old subordinates and attached himself to the Eastern Turks, becoming the Great Traveling Platform appointed by the Turks.
Li Daen faced the strength of the Eastern Turks on one hand, and Yuan Junzhang on the other.
The two forces made it hard for Li Daen to breathe.
Du Qi and Zhangsun Shunde went north. The closer they got to Gate of Yanmen, the better they understood the situation in the north, and the clearer their plan became.
When Zhangsun Shunde's group entered Gate of Yanmen, Li Daen had already sent cavalry to welcome them and protect Du Qi's group.
When Du Qi's group arrived at the county, Li Daen personally went to the gate of Gate of Yanmen to welcome them.
Li Daen was close to forty years old.
His appearance was rough and magnificent, a typical burly man of the north. He was more than eight feet tall, with a full beard and a bright smile on his face.
Seeing the diplomatic mission arrive, he walked up and said with a smile, "General Zhangsun, you're finally here. I've been waiting here at the Gate of Yanmen for so long that the flowers are about to wither. From June to July, and from July to now, it's almost August. "
His face was overflowing with joy.
Because Li Daen was overseeing Daizhou, he was under great pressure and urgently needed the Imperial Court to relieve the pressure.
Now that the Imperial Court had dispatched a diplomatic mission to negotiate peace with the Turks, he would be able to keep watch over Daizhou from being attacked. In fact, when the Tujue no longer cared about Yuan Junzhang, he could even kill his way into Shuo Province and take down Yuan Junzhang to expand the territory of the Tang dynasty.
Zhangsun Shunde smiled and said, "Duke Dingxiang has waited for a long time. Speaking of which, our journey has not been easy! Not long after he left Gyeonggi Province, he encountered an assassination attempt in Puzhou, Hedong Province. After that, they hurried on their journey as fast as they could. Even so, we still encountered bandits once or twice. That's why we've only arrived now. "
Li Daen nodded.
But after looking left and right, he suddenly said, "Great General Zhangsun, the decree I received says that you are the head envoy, and there is also a deputy envoy, Du Qi. Where is he now? "
The decree only mentioned Du Qi and did not mention Du Qi's age.
Therefore, when Li Daen saw a child beside Zhangsun Shunde, he subconsciously thought that he was Zhangsun Shunde's page boy or something. However, he did not say anything about that, so he directly asked about Deputy Du Qi.
Zhangsun Shunde waved his hand and pointed at Du Qi, saying, "Prince Dingxiang, this is Deputy Envoy Du Qi."
"Ah!"
Li Daen could not help but exclaim.
Du Qi was actually this child.
Previously, he had thought that Du Qi was Zhangsun Shunde's page boy or something. Now that he heard it, he was even more astonished and said in shock, "Great General Zhangsun, why did His Majesty send a diplomatic mission? Can a child be of any use? "
He did not hide his attitude toward Du Qi.
In his opinion, a twelve or thirteen year old child going on a diplomatic mission to the Turks was completely a burden.
Zhangsun Shunde said, "Duke Dingxiang, do not underestimate Du Qi. He was personally appointed by His Majesty. Although Du Qi is young, he is a strategist and an extremely wise person. Has Duke Dingxiang ever heard of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in Daizhou? "
"Of course I have!"
Li Daen was a boor to begin with. He liked to listen to storytellers talk about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In particular, the strategies and strategies in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms made Li Daen sigh in admiration. His respect for the author Luo Guanzhong was like a torrential river.
Li Daen said, "Great General Zhangsun, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is truly superb. I like it very much. A book like this can be called a divine book. Just as Great General Zhangsun said, Mr. Luo Guanzhong is a strategist. It's a pity that I have no chance to meet him. If I could meet Mr. Luo Guanzhong, my life would not have been in vain. "
Du Qi stood to the side, chuckling in his heart.
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms had become his passport and was of great help to him. Zhang Jingping, the supreme dragon of the southern part of Chang 'an, was like that. Li Daen, the current Duke Dingxiang, was also like that.
This was a weapon that had never failed him.
Zhangsun Shunde immediately laughed and said, "Duke Dingxiang, Luo Guanzhong is standing right in front of you."
"Ah!"
Li Daen exclaimed. He looked around and asked, "Where is he? Where is he?"
Zhangsun Shunde said, "Du Qi is Luo Guanzhong. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms was written by Du Qi."
Li Daen was shocked.
When he heard Zhangsun Shunde's words, the expression on his face was first one of astonishment, but soon after, he adjusted the armor on his body a bit uneasily. Then, he put on a smile, saying, "So Mister Luo Guanzhong is actually Sir Du Qi. Young Master Du, I, Li Daen, have eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. I have embarrassed myself in front of you. "
He did not doubt Zhangsun Shunde's words.
This could not be a lie.
Du Qi smiled faintly and said, "Duke Dingxiang's temperament is genuine, there is no need to embarrass yourself. It is thanks to Duke Dingxiang's presence in Daizhou that the stability of Daizhou can be ensured. Duke Dingxiang, please accept Du Qi's bow. "
When he finished speaking, Du Qi bowed with clasped hands.
When Li Daen heard Du Qi's words, he was really grinning from ear to ear. His rough face was full of joy. He was already bursting with joy from Du Qi's words. He felt that he had received Du Qi's praise and had gained a lot of face.
Li Daen hurriedly said, "The weather is quite hot now, let's not stand at the city gate. Come, come, this Duke has already set up a banquet in the city to welcome General Zhangsun and Young Master Du. Please! "
He turned sideways and invited them.
Zhangsun Shunde said, "Duke Dingxiang, please!"
Du Qi said, "Duke Dingxiang, please!"
The two waved their hands at the same time. After all, in terms of nobility, Li Daen was a duke. His status was higher than theirs.
However, Li Daen said, "General Zhangsun, Young Master Du, there is no need to decline. Here at Gate of Yan, there is no distinction between officials and guests, please!"
He still insisted that the two of them go first.
Zhangsun Shunde and Du Qi also did not decline and strode forward. After the group entered the city, they quickly arrived at the Daizhou Governor's Residence. They entered the main hall and took their seats.
Li Daen sat at the head of the table and ordered people to bring wine and a small amount of meat. It was still early before lunchtime, so they ate less meat and drank more wine while chatting.
Li Daen said with a smile, "General Zhangsun, Young Master Du, I won't hide it from you. The cook in my residence heard by chance that Chang 'an City has a new dish. He did some research according to the merchant's description and roughly imitated a few dishes. This afternoon, I will let you have a taste. The taste of the food he makes is excellent. "
"Hahaha …"
When Zhangsun Shunde heard this, he laughed loudly.
Li Daen said, "General Zhangsun, why are you laughing? Could it be that this Duke's words just now were very funny? "
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