The envoy sent by Wanyan Zonghan arrived in Kaifeng City in September. At this time, the autumn mood in Kaifeng is already very strong, and the golden sunshine shines on the stone roads of the ancient city, reflecting the tranquility and warmth. The breeze blows gently, bringing with it the faint fragrance of wheat seedlings and the fragrance of earth, as if nature is celebrating the joy of the harvest. The golden corn cobs have been harvested and are neatly stacked in every farmer's house. The laughter in the courtyard seems to tell everyone that this year is another bumper harvest year. The newly sown wheat is growing vigorously, and the green wheat seedlings are swaying gently in the autumn wind, like a green ocean. This vibrant wheat field is not only the hope of the people of the Song Dynasty, but also the fruit of Zhao Yingluo's hard work. On this day, Zhao Yingluo, dressed in casual clothes, came to the fields to inspect the fields with Jiang Laosi, Minister of Agriculture Chen Fu and others. She walked on the field path, feeling the soil under her feet and the smell of the fields around her, and felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and pride in her heart. "Your Highness, how do you think these wheat seedlings are growing?" Chen Fu asked, pointing to a wheat field. Zhao Yingluo observed carefully for a moment and nodded with satisfaction: "Yes, the wheat seedlings are growing well. It seems that this year's harvest is expected to reach a new high." Jiang Laosi also echoed: "Yes, the high-yielding crops and farming techniques promoted by Her Royal Highness the Princess have really benefited us farmers a lot." Zhao Yingluo smiled slightly: "This is all thanks to everyone. Without your hard work and careful management, there would be no harvest today."
"Master Chen, Fourth Jiang." Zhao Yingluo suddenly stopped and turned around to face the two of them, "I have something I want to ask your opinion on." When Chen Fu and Jiang Laosi saw this, they hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Your Highness, please speak." Zhao Yingluo nodded slightly and her eyes became deep: "Ten years ago, the Songjiang Uprising swept through the Song Dynasty and shocked the government and the public. How do you view this uprising?" Chen Fu pondered for a moment and then slowly said: "Back to Princess, the imperial court was in financial difficulties at that time. In order to raise military expenditures, it had to take the entire 800-mile water area of Liangshan Bo as public property. People who went to the lake to fish, collect lotus roots, and cut cattails were punished. Heavy taxes. However, this policy made the already poor farmers and fishermen even worse. They could not afford heavy taxes and could not make a living. In the end, they had no choice but to take risks and choose the path of uprising." Jiang Laosi scratched his head and said somewhat honestly: "Your Highness, I am a rough man and do not understand these big principles. But I know that our people in the Song Dynasty are all honest and responsible. As long as they can have enough food and clothing, Nuan, even if life is harder, they are not willing to rebel. They are really forced to have no other choice, so they choose to fight against the imperial court." After hearing the two answers, Zhao Yingluo couldn't help but feel ripples in her heart. She nodded and said with deep feeling: "What Jiang Laosi said makes sense. Food is the most important thing for the people. As long as the farmers can have enough food and warm clothes, the country of the Song Dynasty will not be in crisis. Mr. Chen , Jiang Laosi, you two must manage the Ministry of Agriculture well and take good care of the farmland in the world for me." Chen Fu and Jiang Laosi were shocked when they heard this, and they all bowed and saluted: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will definitely live up to your expectations!" Zhao Yingluo nodded with satisfaction. She believed in the abilities and loyalty of Chen Fu and Jiang Laosi. She looked up at the green wheat fields in the distance, her heart filled with longing and expectation for the future. As long as the agriculture of the Song Dynasty can continue to develop and the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and have enough food and clothing, then no matter what challenges and difficulties it faces, the Song Dynasty will be as solid as a rock and stand firm. The three of them continued to patrol the fields, stopping from time to time to carefully observe the growth of the wheat seedlings. Zhao Yingluo raised some questions and suggestions about farming from time to time, while Chen Fu recorded them in detail and answered them one by one. Jiang Laosi listened carefully to the conversation between the two, and occasionally added a few thoughts and suggestions of his own. When Zhao Yingluo, Chen Fu and Jiang Laosi were about to return to the palace, they all saw Wang Shouen coming in a hurry and panting to report to Her Royal Highness: "Your Royal Highness, the envoy from the Kingdom of Jin has arrived in Kaifeng and is now at the post office. Settling down in the pavilion." Upon hearing this, Zhao Yingluo nodded slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know who the envoy from the Kingdom of Jin is?" Wang Shou'en replied: "Returning to your Royal Highness, the envoy from the Kingdom of Jin is Han Fang." Zhao Yingluo smiled slightly when she heard this, already thinking about it. She said to Wang Shou'en, "I understand. Go and send a message to Han Fang and ask him to meet you tomorrow at the meeting." On the second day, it was still dark, and there were already people outside the palace gate. The ministers carried various lanterns, which converged into a star-like light in the night.
These lanterns are round or square, and some are decorated with exquisite patterns of flowers and birds, while others are simple and plain, just made of red paper. But before this dark dawn, they all exuded warm and soft light, illuminating the faces of the ministers who were either worried or happy. The ministers gathered together in twos and threes, talking in low voices. Their words floated in the cold air, intertwined with the occasional drumming in the distance, creating an atmosphere that was both tense and mysterious. In the night, the light of the lanterns swayed in the wind, as if they were anxious for the upcoming court meeting. During this waiting moment, some ministers closed their eyes and meditated, as if silently praying for the success of the court meeting; others paced back and forth, as if they wanted to dispel the anxiety in their hearts. Under the light of the lantern, their figures lengthened and shortened, like a flowing picture. The ministers held lanterns, gathered together in twos and threes, and talked a lot. They were all speculating on the Jin envoy's intention to come to the Song Dynasty this time. "I heard that the envoy from the Kingdom of Jin has arrived in Kaifeng, what should we do?" An old minister with white hair and beard said worriedly. "Hmph, the Jin Kingdom is so ambitious. There must be some agenda for coming here this time." Another minister snorted coldly, with disdain on his face. "You can't say that. Maybe the envoy from the Kingdom of Jin came here to truly seek peace." A middle-aged civil servant shook his head and put forward a different view. "Seek peace? Humph, the Jin Kingdom is so powerful, they will lower themselves and ask for peace? It's a joke!" Another general sneered, obviously not agreeing with the idea of seeking peace. At this moment, Privy Councilor Zhu Shengfei came over. He was the leader of the generals, so he naturally attracted everyone's attention. "Master Zhu, what do you think?" someone couldn't help but ask. Zhu Shengfei pondered for a moment and then spoke slowly: "The envoy from the Kingdom of Jin came here with unpredictable intentions. But no matter what, we cannot take it lightly. Everyone must be prepared, just in case." As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yihao, the leader of the civil servants, also came over. He held a sesame seed cake in his hand and said vaguely while eating: "You guys just like to worry about things. The envoy from the Kingdom of Jin is here, in my opinion, to seek peace."