Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 383 Proposal for marriage
Seeing Hu Yanjin shaking his head, Zhao Mu asked, "Why doesn't this work?"

Hu Yanjin said: "It's not that there were no results, it's just that when the Ministry of Revenue checked the land this time, it found a lot of unregistered households. The abandoned fields that were originally intended for reclamation suddenly became owner-occupied. "

"And millions of hidden people have been screened out. Although there are still some corners where His Majesty can realize this plan, in the end it will only be a drop in the bucket. Are there any other good ways besides this? "

Zhao Mu thought for a while and said: "It's simple. Since these people can't grow food, let them do hard labor. Tell your majesty that he can do more construction. I have seen the account books of the Ministry of Accounts before. I, Song Dynasty, am now the richest man in the country." The court can hire these laborers to build water conservancy projects, repair roads, and strengthen the defense of the border city. In short, we will not let them be idle for a year or two. Soon, we will have some. There is enough land for them to farm and make a living.”

Hu Yanjin knew what Zhao Mu meant, and immediately smiled.

Hu Yanjin said at this time: "These are still small things, but there is a difficult matter waiting for you to go back and deal with now."

Zhao Mu asked in confusion: "What's the matter?"

Hu Yanjin replied: "It's a matter of negotiating peace with the Liao Kingdom."

Zhao Mu said strangely: "I have already made this clear to Your Majesty before leaving. The so-called peace negotiation is just a temporary cessation of the war. As long as we do not pay the annual coins and keep the national identity, we will return the city we previously occupied. It’s not a bad idea in the Liao Kingdom. Could it be that something happened?”

Hu Yanjin nodded and said: "Yes, not long after you left. The envoy from the Liao Kingdom came to our Song Dynasty again. But with the power of the Battle of Xiongzhou, and the two hostages Xiao Ye and the King of Nanyuan With him in hand, the Liao people are much more peaceful this time, no longer as arrogant and domineering as before."

Zhao Mu sneered and said: "Haha, that's for sure. The last person who scorned me in the Song Dynasty had his head left in the Liao camp outside Xiongzhou Pass. This time it's not just in my Song Dynasty. I'm here Dali also met the Liao people's envoys, and this time the Liao people were extremely polite to Dali, no longer as arrogant and domineering as in the past."

Hu Yanjin continued: "But this time the envoy from the Liao Kingdom is not so easy to dispatch."

Zhao Mu asked, "Why is this?"

Zhao Mu said: "What's wrong with women? There is no distinction between men and women among enemies. Could it be that because a woman came, our officials were reluctant to say harsh words for fear of hurting the face of our little daughter's family? This doesn't seem like it. Their behavior."

Hu Yanjin said: "Because the Liao envoy who came this time is a woman."

Hu Yanjin replied: "That's not the case. This time, the officials led by Prime Minister Sima had completely opposite attitudes to the military generals. This time, it was the officials who took charge of the battle, and the generals took the lead in peace. The Battle of Xiongzhou , you have achieved such great results, which really makes the officials feel proud. They all advocated continuing to expand our results and regaining the Sixteenth State of Yanyun in one fell swoop."

Zhao Mu smiled and said: "Haha, it's not surprising. Since ancient times, these literati have loved reputation most. If the Sixteen States of Yanyun were recovered in our generation, then these ministers in the court, especially the Prime Minister, will be famous in history. The allure of having a name through the ages will naturally make them greedy. What's more, the population in Liao is sparse and there are many unclaimed lands. This time we only recaptured Mozhou and Yingzhou, and we have already given them a taste of it. When things get sweet, they naturally take the lead this time.”

Zhao Mu asked: "Did they quarrel in the court again?" Hu Yanjin replied: "That's not the case. Your Majesty is now in charge of all the powers, and he is implementing your advice before. It's just that the Liao envoy is difficult to deal with. . The Liao envoy who visited us this time in the Song Dynasty is a real royal family of the Liao Kingdom. She is the youngest daughter of Yelu Hongji, Princess Yelu Yanxiu of the Kingdom of Zhao. "

Zhao Mu waved his hand and said, "I don't care who she is, what does this woman want?"

Hu Yanjin smiled evilly and said, "She wants to marry you."

"Ah?" Zhao Mu said in surprise.

Hu Yanjin continued: "That's it. This time the Liao peace negotiation was full of sincerity. Not only did they bring a lot of gold and silver treasures to redeem the king of Nanyuan and the forward general, they even planned to repair the Chanyuan Alliance again. Agree Yingzhou was ceded to us, and Mozhou was given to us. From then on, the border between Song and Liao was bounded by Zhuozhou, and the annual currency was also waived. This time we were truly treated as brothers, but the price was that we continued to open the market to Liao. trading."

"In addition, the Liao Kingdom also proposed to make peace with the Song Dynasty. They proposed to send the princess to the Song Dynasty to make peace with the Song Dynasty. The two countries have since eliminated the war to reconcile the Qin and Jin Dynasties. It's just that Your Majesty is the 95th Emperor, and I am the Greatest Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, there has never been a precedent for marrying a foreign princess. His Majesty directly rejected the matter."

"But Princess Zhao proposed that even if she doesn't marry His Majesty the Song Dynasty, she can marry another clan member. So Your Majesty plans..."

Hearing this, Zhao Mu quickly waved his hands and said, "Wait! What's this? I'm not the only one who belongs to the Song Dynasty clan. Your Majesty's brothers are all princes of the Song Dynasty, by the way! Hasn't King Duan not married the princess yet? He is younger than me and has not yet started a family. I think King Duan is very suitable."

Hu Yanjin smiled and said: "Yes, that's what your Majesty said at first. After all, you are already married to Princess Zhaohua of Dali Kingdom. Your Majesty proposed to her other princes of the clan who were not yet married. But the Princess of Zhao Kingdom asked her by name. Marry you, even if it means becoming your concubine. The peace talks have not been concluded at the moment, so the Princess of Zhao is staying in Bianjing and now the civil and military officials of the court are waiting for you to go back and deal with it. What about this matter?”

"But your Majesty's intention is to promote this good thing. Let me tell you, I also saw the Princess of Zhao, and her appearance is really not bad. Your Majesty would like to ask your opinion, if you like it Her words can be said to be of adult beauty.”

Zhao Mu smiled sinisterly when he heard this and said: "Haha! What she thinks is quite beautiful. Is a Khitan barbarian worthy of being the princess of the Song Dynasty? Who gave her the confidence? Even if she is a concubine, she is not qualified. She gave I'm just fine as a slave. Do you still want to be a princess? After I finish handling the Xixia matter, you and I will go back to the Song Dynasty and teach this shameless Khitan woman what integrity is."

Hu Yanjin looked at Zhao Mu with a playful expression.

Zhao Mu saw her expression and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Hu Yanjin asked: "What is your relationship with this princess of Xixia Kingdom? Why did the Queen Mother of Xixia Kingdom personally send you an invitation letter. Even if you are married. If Princess Li of Xixia Kingdom hadn't personally sent you a letter, I would I don’t even know where to find you. Originally, I just came to Xixia Country to try my luck, but I didn’t expect you to actually come and arrive in such a timely manner.”

(End of this chapter)