I studied in modern times

Chapter 823 Imperial Meeting (1)

May 23st, the second year of Yuanyou ().

Han Zhen, the Grand Secretary of the Zizheng Hall and the Governor of Suzhou, was specially ordered to be transferred to the position of Academician of the Guanwen Hall and the Governor of Yangzhou.

Zeng Bu, a scholar of Duanming Palace and the governor of Yangzhou, returned to the court in accordance with the imperial order.

Lu Gongru, the Tongyi official and the governor of Runzhou, was transferred to be the governor of Suzhou.

Du Chun, the Imperial Censor, was the Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Chengyilang Feng Ji was appointed as Yuwenlang of the Ministry of Works.

Censor Zhang Shunmin was demoted to Censor and appointed as the magistrate of Dengzhou as a court attendant.

The Ministry of Rites reported: Li Qiande, the governor of Jinghai Army and the Prince of Jiaozhi, sent Li Zhong, a court official and a member of the Ministry of Revenue, as an envoy to pay tribute, and Du Ying, the commander of the Xuanjie Army, the Xitou Gongfeng official, and the Hemen Dihou, as deputy envoys to come to the court and offer tribute of Jiaozhi local products.

Zhao Xu leaned against the pavilion of Funing Palace, flipping through the letter from Jiaozhi that was presented to him, sneering.

"This is a complaint to me!"

"You've gone beyond the level of your authority to appeal!"

"You really don't know any rules!"

He picked up Li Qiande's letter casually, then looked at the ministers in front of him, his eyes sweeping over them.

Xing Shu, Qian Xie, Cai Jing, Shen Kuo, Shi Deyi who is in charge of the intelligence agency, and Di Yong who is in charge of the first general of the Dragon Riding.

Most of the core military and political team around Zhao Xu are concentrated here.

Why not call Cheng Yi, Fan Chunren and Lu Dafang as well?
Because the three of them are not black enough!
They even have real benevolence, righteousness and morality!
If we call them over, they might get entangled in some moral issues.

Just don't call them.

"Mr. Xing..." Zhao Xu looked at Xing Shu.

"I'm here!" Xing Shu bowed and stepped out.

"Scholar, go and give those two Jiaozhi envoys a good scolding!" Zhao Xu said, "Since they are my vassal states, they should observe etiquette and abide by the law!"

"Don't do anything that's not proper, don't do anything that's beyond the limit!"

"Yes!" Xing Shu bowed again.

Zhao Xu snorted twice: "What is that..."

"I actually thought that since Mr. Zhang was gone, I had a chance to take advantage of it!"

A considerable portion of Li Qiande's letter was devoted to complaints.

Not only did he accuse Lu Jiawen, the Pacifier of Youjiang, of "oppressing the good," he also accused his brother, Li Taide, the Marquis of Jiaozhi Chongxian, the Recruiting Envoy of Champa, and the Xuanwei Envoy of Zhenla, of being domineering and disrupting the government.

But the problem is that Lu Jiawen is Zhao Xu's man.

Li Taide was the dog that Zhao Xu raised when Zhang Dun was still alive!
Li Qiande actually sued these two people!
This really gave Zhao Xu a sense of déjà vu: "Who is this person in the hall and why is he suing me?"

However, Zhao Xu's instructions to Xing Shu left other ministers who were not very clear about the relationship between Guangxi, Jiaozhou and Jiaozhi a little confused.

After all, from these people's perspective, every word in the letter from the Jiaozhi people was heartbreaking.

Many people in the government and the opposition felt sympathetic after watching this.

no way!
Small countries like Jiaozhi and Goryeo were too familiar with the dynasties in the Central Plains.

They have similar cultures and the same writing system.

I know exactly how to write a short essay to impress the rulers of the Central Plains!

Just like the Goryeo monk leader Yi Tian who had been living in Kaibao Temple, he had been in contact with the literati in the capital, telling them about Goryeo's determination and will to resist the Liao people, as well as the fierceness of the Goryeo people's resistance.

Many people were really influenced by it. Even the left prime minister Lu Gongzhu was said to be quite sympathetic to Goryeo's plight.

If the Liao people weren’t so strong!

Maybe, Monk Yi Tian can really create some noise in the city of Bianjing.

Nowadays, the diplomatic letters of the Jiaozhi people are widely circulated in the capital using almost the same operating methods.

Because it is so well written.

So, it aroused a lot of sympathy.

In particular, in order to emphasize Li Taide's domineering and arrogance, Li Qiande said in the state letter, "He stayed overnight in the royal palace and had sex with my concubines."

This is very exciting!
From the perspective of communication studies, this short essay written by the people of Jiaozhi also appeals to the people of Bian Jing.

Because people in Bianjing can easily recall some past events.

As a result, the idle men in Bianjing became excited and discussed the matter a lot in the streets.

This made Zhao Xu feel a little embarrassed.

However, the literati generally sympathized with the Jiaozhi people.

At present, mainstream public opinion believes that the Song Dynasty should intervene in the internal strife among the Jiaozhi brothers.

No matter what, Li Qiande is the king and Li Taide is just a minister.

Using a minister to threaten the king is like an inferior committing an offense against a superior.

This trend must not be allowed to continue!

Therefore, some people in the Censorate began to clamor for the court to send an envoy to Jiaozhi to investigate.

If verified, such a thing does exist in Jiaozhi.

In order to uphold the moral code and for world peace.

We must strike hard at traitors like Li Taide!
At the very least, he should be taken to Bian Jing.

Only in this way can the Song Dynasty show its magnanimity as a superior country and its determination to uphold etiquette and laws!
Zhao Xu was also helpless about this.

Because he is the emperor, the position under his butt determines his position.

I can only pretend I didn't hear it, then nitpick and let Xing Shu make a fuss about the details.

However, adequate communication must be made with the core circle around you to prevent misjudgment.

This is also the reason why Zhao Xu summoned these ministers to discuss matters here.

Observing the expressions of these ministers, Zhao Xu instructed Shi Deyi: "Shi Duzhi, please tell the other ministers about the management of Zhang Xianggong in Jiaozhou and Jiaozhi... Also, please tell us about the recent situation in Jiaozhi reported by Gao Zunhui and others!"

"Yes!" Shi Deyi bowed to receive the order, then turned around and faced the ministers with a slight salute. Then he began to introduce to the ministers the Song Dynasty's operations, small moves, appeasement, winning over, infiltration, etc. in Guangnan West Road, Jiaozhou, Jiaozhi and even Dali Kingdom and the southwestern tribes from the peace agreement between Song and Jiao in the first year of Yuanyou until now.

In fact, what Zhang Dun did in Guangxi and Jiaozhou is nothing surprising in modern times.

To sum it up, it can be summed up in one sentence: big stick in hand, soft words in mouth! The market in the left hand, weapons in the right hand!

It follows the path of modern America.

Of course, optimizations and adjustments have been made for today's era.

But the overall principles and strategies have not changed.

That is to support interest groups, highly bind their interests, and then accept them as dogs!
For example, Zhang Dun supported Li Taide in Jiaozhi. According to Zhao Xu's request, he not only gave the money from Song Dynasty to buy tribute rice from Jiaozhi to Li Taide.

Moreover, the armor and weapons from Jiaozhi at the exit of Guangnan West Road were only sold to Li Taide.

This directly led to Li Taide's power, which rose rapidly less than a month after he returned to China.

After all, he now has more than just someone behind him.

And he has money and soldiers!

What does Li Qiande have?
The expenses for redeeming the captured ministers and nobles of Jiaozhi during last year's war and after the war.

He almost emptied the treasury of Jiaozhi.

He was now so poor that he could not even pay the salaries of the officials in Jiaozhi.

Originally, he should have been able to get a huge amount of tribute rice and money for buying things.

With this money, Li Qiande may still be able to regroup.

However, the money fell into the hands of Li Taide.

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Therefore, Li Qiande, the King of Jiaozhi, now has nothing except his righteous title!
Of course, these conveniences for Li Taide did not fall from the sky.

As a price, he had to complete and implement the treaty in the peace talks between Song and Jiao.

Whether it is allowing Song Dynasty merchant ships to dock at Jiaozhi ports and providing all possible conveniences to Song Dynasty merchants.

It’s still the two million shi of tribute rice and purchased rice every year.

Li Taide wanted his own power, as well as the huge annual income of one million shi of rice and the political, economic and military support from the Song Dynasty.

He has only one choice.

Just like those modern people who are controlled and deeply bound by America.

Be a qualified agent and comprador!
then……

Since you are being kept, there is no need to talk about independence and personal dignity.

Li Taide completely became Zhang Dun's remote-controlled puppet.

And soon, he discovered that it seemed...

Days like this are not bad!

As long as he can complete his master's goals, he can do whatever he wants in Jiaozhi.

even……

Replace Li Qiande and become the new ruler of Jiaozhi!

So he worked harder and harder until he was completely lost.

According to reports from Guangxi, just at the end of last year, Li Taide beheaded more than a dozen civil officials in Jiaozhi because the local officials were unable to raise grain.

Since Li Taide was so obedient, the Song Dynasty was naturally willing to help.

Therefore, Zhang Dun's Guangxi Jinglüe Office not only paid the money that should be paid and the money for purchasing rice in full and on time.

He also sold a large number of ironware to Jiaozhi at a very low price.

In addition, Zhang Dun also fully supported Li Taide's desire to expand the territory.

Just before Zhang Dun went into mourning, he quickly approved the sale of 500 pairs of Shenbi bows to Jiaozhi at cost price.

After Zhang Dun returned home to observe mourning, Lu Jiawen became even bolder, and more and more armor and weapons flowed into Jiaozhi.

Relying on the strong bows and crossbows and sophisticated armor provided by the Song Dynasty.

The Jiaozhi army, under the command of Li Taide, is now advancing rapidly in the Indochina Peninsula!

His old rivals, whether Champa or Chenla, were no longer his match.

The record of each other is that they win more than they lose.

Champa and Zhenla were defeated step by step, large tracts of land were occupied by Jiaozhi, and a large number of people were abducted by the Jiaozhi people.

In order to facilitate development, more rice can also be obtained.

Li Taide directly restored the old ways and instituted slavery in the occupied lands of Zhenla and Champa.

The captured Champa and Zhenla soldiers, civilians and common people were made slaves on the spot.

As for those who are not convinced?
Kill them all!
And this is only part of Guangxi's layout in Lingnan.

As for the Dali Kingdom, it has now established close trade relations with the Song Dynasty through the Youjiang region.

The Tea-Horse Trade Route quickly took shape.

A large number of Yunnan horses from the Dali Kingdom were transported to Jiaozhou.

The cheap Yunnan horses actually allowed the local Han immigrants in Jiaozhou to almost own one horse per household!
This was the achievement that Wang Anshi wanted to achieve through the Horse Protection Law, but he could not do it no matter what!
Listening to Shi Deyi's story, the expressions and eyes of the ministers gradually began to change.

In fact, they had never thought that in the past year, the Song Dynasty, with the help of Guangnan West Road as a fulcrum, using Jiaozhou as a lever, and at the same time taking the tribute rice from Jiaozhi and the copper coins minted by the two mints of Tanzhou Yongxingchang and Shaozhou Censhuichang, had stirred up such a big storm in the Lingnan area?
One line after another is connected in series.

The situations of the southwestern native officials and states, both heard of and unheard of, began to change one after another.

This kind of legendary story like that of Su Qin and Zhang Yi makes them feel excited.

However, Zhang Dun's behavior of remotely controlling the domestic situation in Jiaozhi through Li Taide made them terrified.

Because what Zhang Dun did, in a sense, was already a taboo!

If it was during the time of the previous emperor...

I'm afraid Zhang Dun has been dismissed...

But now...

Zhang Dun, however, has become the most favored and trusted minister in the court despite being cursed and attacked by the upright officials!

It turned out that his father passed away this year and he needed to return home to observe the mourning period.

Otherwise, how could Pu Zongmeng be appointed as prime minister?
Originally, the ministers thought that the reason why Zhang Dun committed such evil deeds in Guangxi and was nicknamed "Bloody Hand Butcher" was because of his nature.

He is just as cruel and bloodthirsty as the Qingliu people say.

But now it seems...

Maybe everything Zhang Dun did was the result of asking for instructions!

Or even... just following orders! ?

Or maybe, Zhang Dun and the emperor were actually heading in opposite directions?

They got along well with each other, had a tacit understanding with each other, and made each other successful.

If you think about it carefully, this is indeed a possibility!

Zhao Xu looked at these ministers with different expressions. He adjusted his sitting posture slightly, then smiled and asked softly, "Do you have any questions about what Shi Duzhi said?"

(End of this chapter)