Chapter 306: Mission
Li Nuo had been to his father's study many times, but had never seen this book before.
He walked to the desk and opened the introduction to the Art of Diplomacy.
This book is much thicker than the books about diplomats that Li Nuo had read before.
The book not only records the origin of the school of diplomacy in detail, but also gives a very detailed description of the various schools of diplomacy. It also includes the methods of entry and practice of the school of diplomacy, and detailed annotations for important places.
The earliest strategists were actually a group of wise, brave and resourceful diplomats.
During the Warring States Period, there were disputes among nations, many heroes emerged, princes fought for hegemony, and wars were frequent. Each country aimed to unify the world and needed a large number of talents to give them advice.
The various schools of thought arose in this context.
Confucianists and Legalists are in charge of internal affairs, military strategists and Mohists are in charge of external affairs, farmers ensure food supply, doctors save the world and the people, and strategists control the overall situation.
At that time, there were hundreds of countries on the mainland, and each had a stage to display its abilities.
The diplomats at that time were undoubtedly the most popular.
They can often help their countries grow and develop, annex other countries, and improve national strength immediately. Therefore, they are respected as guests of honor by other countries and are at their peak.
The diplomat is good at stirring up the situation. He does not stick to the established rules or be bound by secular rules.
They are intelligent and eloquent, and they follow the principle that a wise bird chooses a tree to rest in and a master to serve. Their ultimate goal is to promote the annexation of major powers and restore the unification of the world.
After the Warring States Period ended, the five dynasties that eventually rose in the midst of the strife chose to recuperate, leaving only a few small countries as buffers between the big powers. The strategists were gradually abandoned by the times.
In order to adapt to the times, different schools of thought emerged within the school of diplomacy.
The traditional school still aims to promote the unification of the world.
The radical faction is committed to splitting the five dynasties and returning the continent to the Warring States Period. In this way, the diplomats will be able to show their talents again.
There are also some centrists who have given up the dream of great unification and offer advice and suggestions on various occasions. They can be seen in everything from family power struggles, business profits, and official promotions to princes fighting for the throne.
They are present wherever there is a power struggle.
For a strategist, small plans are for matters of concern, and big plans are for the country.
In today's era, lobbying various countries is a very difficult task. Helping the princes of the five dynasties ascend the throne is the greatest achievement that a strategist can accomplish.
This book not only provides a method to enter the realm of diplomacy, but also offers several different paths of practice.
Today's strategists are good at using conspiracies and tricks, and will use any means to achieve their goals.
But the earliest strategists were all masters of open strategy.
At that time, there were many people who practiced both the Legalists and the Diplomats, and there were even people who practiced Confucianism, Legalism, and the Diplomats all at once, or more than one.
Li Nuo read it for a while and took the book away.
Some famous works of the diplomats and strategists in the book, as well as the annotations therein, are very useful to him and are also an indispensable process in practicing the art of diplomacy. He can study them carefully on the way to the State of Zhao.
As for the next three days, he must cherish them.
Three days later, it will be a good day for the delegation to set out.
At that time, they would leave with the Zhao State delegation.
It was the first time that Li Nuo had to be away from home for such a long time. He felt a little melancholy. He stayed with Jiaren An Ning almost from morning to night. He also took half a day out to play with Ning'er and Mu'er.
In the thirty-fifth year of the Holy Emperor, on the sixth day of the first lunar month, it is a good time to travel.
At this time, the court departments had not yet opened their offices, and envoys from various countries were already preparing to return.
Early in the morning, many convoys lined up and drove out of the city gate.
At the gate of Li’s house.
The beautiful lady helped Li Nuo adjust his belt and said softly, "Take good care of yourself over there. We'll wait for you to come back."
Li Nuo nodded and kissed her on the forehead.
The beauty stepped back slowly, but An Ning had already pounced on her. Ignoring the two frightened female doctors, she gave Li Nuo a heavy kiss on the face and said, "Think of me every day there, and don't mess around with other girls. I'll have Yiren keep an eye on you..."
Song Yiren, who was carrying a small bag, nodded slightly to An Ning, as if she was promising to complete the task.
Li Nuo squatted down, hugged Mu'er and Ning'er in turn, and said, "Be good and obedient at home."
The two little girls nodded reluctantly.
Fenghuang was the last one to come up, hugged Yiren, whispered a few words to her, then walked to Li Nuo, hugged him gently as well, and said, "I wish you a smooth journey, Jiaren and Anning, I will take good care of you..."
Li Nuo and Yiren got on the carriage and waved goodbye to them.
Only when the carriage had gone far away and they could no longer be seen did Li Nuo slowly lower the curtain.
Unlike Li Nuo's melancholy, Song Yiren sat opposite him, holding a sword, looking down at her toes, a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
At the city gate, after watching the delegation's motorcade disappear on the official road, a figure turned around and walked into the city gate. He drove to a mansion and said, "Sir, they're gone..."
…
Chang'an.
The envoys to the State of Zhao had been away for seven days.
Various departments of the imperial court also opened their offices one after another.
The officials in the offices where the envoys were located were extremely envious of them for being able to go on a diplomatic mission to the State of Zhao.
Although Daxia had envoys in various countries, the significance of its mission to Zhao was completely different. It was called a mission, but in fact it was an enjoyment.
Once they get there, not only the Great Xia court couldn't control them, even the State of Zhao couldn't control them. As long as they didn't break the law or violate any discipline, they could do whatever they wanted, and they didn't have to worry about the Ministry of Rites and the Censors impeaching them.
If you play for two years, you can be promoted when you come back. I don’t know how many officials dream of having such an opportunity.
Unlike them, the new year has just begun and they have to deal with some difficult things.
At the end of last year, the second prince of Liang was assassinated in Daxia, which almost caused a serious diplomatic dispute.
Fortunately, the case was finally solved and the murderer was found to be a member of Liang’s own delegation, clearing Daxia of suspicion.
But in the past two days, trouble arose again.
Last night, an envoy from the State of Liang died at the most passionate moment while visiting a brothel in Chang'an.
Just a day ago, another envoy from the State of Liang accidentally choked to death while dining in a restaurant.
The death of the second prince of Liang was originally just a superficial ending, because the Liang delegation later discovered that the chief historian who killed him was actually a person from Daxia.
But they did not dwell on the matter. After all, Liang was too weak and was a vassal of Daxia. If the matter was investigated too deeply, it would not be good for anyone.
The second prince is dead, and the forces in the country are all pro-Daxia, so there is no need to investigate further.
These two officials who died unexpectedly were both the second prince's absolute confidants, and were also important officials of the pro-Wei faction in the Liang court.
One of them choked to death, and the other died of a stroke. On the surface, they were both accidental deaths, but even as officials of Daxia, they did not believe that these were accidents.
I don’t know what the higher-ups are thinking. They don’t take Liang State seriously at all.
Although Daxia can ignore Liang State with its strength, it will never be a good thing for Daxia if it pushes Liang State towards Wei State.
This is totally unnecessary.
If even they didn't believe it, the Liang delegation certainly wouldn't believe it either.
They believed that the two officials were murdered, and immediately made a request to the Daxia court, hoping that the court could solve the case as soon as possible.
In order to show the importance of this matter, the court asked the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, the Censorate, the Mirror Office, the Chang'an County Office, the Jingzhao Prefecture Office, and six other departments to jointly investigate the case, but still no results were found...
No matter how we investigate, it was an accidental death.
Some officials thought of Li Nuo, a doctor in the Ministry of Justice, who had solved several important cases before.
But they were soon told that Li Nuo had already accompanied the diplomatic delegation to the State of Zhao.
From Daxia to Zhao, one can take the water route and ride on the treasure ship modified by the Mohists, which can easily travel a thousand miles a day. At this moment, they have already entered the territory of Zhao, and they cannot send someone to Zhao to invite him back.
Besides, there is not enough time.
The Liang State delegation has decided to set off back to Liang State early tomorrow morning.
During the diplomatic mission to Daxia, a prince and three envoys died. It is conceivable how much disturbance they would cause in Liang State when they returned.
Liang State has been closely following Daxia in recent years, and Wei State has always wanted to win over Liang State.
The death of the second prince of Liang State, who was close to Wei State, was a good thing on the surface, but his death in Daxia was not a good choice, which might have the opposite effect and arouse the sentiment against Daxia in Liang State. It was said that the right prime minister was ready to send an envoy to Liang State to appease it...
Thousands of miles away, the State of Zhao.
Li Nuo didn't know what happened in Chang'an after they left.
He was sitting in his room on the passenger ship, playing Gobang with his beloved.
There are few entertainment activities on the ship and no space for practicing martial arts, so this is one of the few ways to have fun.
At some point, there was a knock on the door.
Li Nuo glanced at Yiren and said, "Don't move my chess piece. I can remember it."
Song Yiren rolled her eyes at him and said, "Stop looking down on others..."
Li Nuo left the chessboard and walked to the door.
After opening the door, he saw a woman standing outside.
The woman was about the same age as Yiren, wearing a palace dress, with a beautiful face and a noble temperament between her eyebrows. She stood at the door, smiled at Li Nuo, and asked, "Lord Li, is it convenient for us to talk?"
(End of this chapter)
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