Eagle-eyed and wolf-watching

Chapter 1465 Meteor falls from the sky!

Yijing, Chenji Teahouse

"Have you ever been to school?"

"I haven't read it, but I know a few words!"

"You should study a little, so you don't speak nonsense!"

"Don't look down on me because I've never been to school. I know very few words, but I use them well. There are no blank words, so if there are any, pick them out for me!"

“Now there are white words!”

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Watching Hou Dabao and Ma Wenju, who were wearing long gowns and jackets, performing on the stage, Ye Mingsheng, who was sitting in the audience, couldn't help but smile.

Although he had seen this crosstalk before, Ye Mingsheng still found it very interesting when he watched the performance of the two again.

Ye Mingsheng was very depressed recently because of too many troubles. The guard Zhang Hu often accompanied Ye Mingsheng and noticed Ye Mingsheng's thoughts. He also suggested that Ye Mingsheng go out of the palace to take a walk and relax.
When Ye Mingsheng heard Zhang Hu's suggestion in the morning, he was really tempted at first. He hadn't made an incognito visit for almost two months, and Ye Mingsheng himself was feeling a little suffocated. But after thinking it over, Ye Mingsheng gave up.

The reason why he gave up was simply because he had too many things on hand. Going out for fun would probably delay a whole day, and a day's work might have to be postponed.

Today, Ye Mingsheng has planned to hold a meeting at the General Staff to find out whether the Golden Horde can still stir up trouble on the grassland in the future with the support of the Roman Empire's military force.

Half an hour ago, Ye Mingsheng came to the General Staff and listened to the report on this matter. Zhao Han demonstrated it from many aspects, and the final result was that with the help of the Roman Empire, the strength of the Golden Horde was greatly enhanced...
Although Ibugel solved the problem of Jamukha with the help of Daqian, he did not have much prestige within Luobi because of his submission to Daqian. If Daqian had not provided him with certain financial and military assistance, Ibugel would probably have lost control of the situation now!

Therefore, when a disunited Robbe encountered the ambitious Golden Horde armed by the Roman Empire, the outcome of the war was very obvious!
Therefore, Ye Mingsheng, who was already in a very irritable mood, became even more irritable after learning that if Daqian did not intervene, the Luobi people would most likely lose the war.

Ye Mingsheng originally thought that through a series of wars before, the Cumans and the Robes had been subdued by him and would not harass Daqian in the short term, but he did not expect the appearance of the Romans to allow the Cuman Khanate to make a comeback so quickly!
This also disrupted Ye Mingsheng's plan. In Ye Mingsheng's plan, Daqian's future short-term goals were Dongdao and Nanyang.

Because the Daqian Navy has not yet formed combat effectiveness, Ye Mingsheng originally wanted to first actually control Yunqian, and then take over Baiyue and Shan, and then wait until the Daqian Navy forms combat effectiveness, and then control Nanyang, and then gradually develop overseas based on Nanyang.

Although Zhang Meng has not yet sent the latest battle report, based on Zhang Meng's very optimistic attitude in the previous battle report, Ye Mingsheng feels that the First Army has most likely captured Yunqian...
So according to Ye Mingsheng's original plan, he was going to develop towards Baiyue next year. But now with the disturbance caused by the Golden Horde, Ye Mingsheng was forced to temporarily put aside his ideas about Baiyue.

After all, the current national strength of Daqian does not support a war on two fronts. It can only support one battlefield at most. If you fight in the northern grassland, you cannot fight in Baiyue, and if you fight in Baiyue, you cannot interfere with the northern grassland!

If they force a war on both sides, Daqian will have to raise taxes, and the increase will be at least 30%. Under the current circumstances, raising taxes by at least 30% is not only courting self-destruction, but it can also be said to be on the verge of danger!
As for choosing the northern grassland or Baiyue, this is a question that anyone with normal intelligence can easily make!
When Ye Mingsheng chose Yijing as the capital of Daqian, there were many voices of opposition within the country!

The main reason for these opposing voices is that Yijing is too close to the grassland, with a straight-line distance of only a few hundred miles. It has always been the first line of defense of the Central Plains dynasty against the nomadic peoples of the grassland. As long as there is a change in the north and the grassland cavalry moves south to break through the defense line, they can reach the city of Yijing in a few days!
Ye Mingsheng also gave serious consideration to this concern, but in the end he believed that the gradual development of firearms would make the Robe and Cumans become more capable of singing and dancing.

Although the threat from Luobei and Qincha is still great at present, from a long-term perspective, the threat from the north will become smaller and smaller. Therefore, Ye Mingsheng also rejected all objections and set Yijing as the capital of Daqian...
Of course, although from a long-term perspective, the threat from the north will become smaller and smaller, we must be down-to-earth and focus on the present when doing things. The reality is that the development of firearms cannot be achieved overnight, and it takes time to settle and progress!
In this process of sedimentation and development, the threat from the north is still the top priority of the Central Plains Dynasty and an issue that cannot be ignored in affecting the survival of the dynasty!
It is for this reason that Ye Mingsheng has fought continuously with the Golden Horde and the Robe people in the past few years and eliminated a large number of their manpower, thus maintaining peace in the northern border of Daqian and ensuring that Ye Mingsheng would not be interfered with by the north during the implementation of reforms!

And now the Golden Horde is causing trouble again. Whether Ye Mingsheng is willing or not, he must take care of them first!

After all, under Ye Mingsheng's deliberate arrangement, the internal differences among the Luobi people became increasingly greater and it was difficult for them to unify. Although this situation was beneficial for the Daqian Dynasty to control the Luobi people and made their absence a threat to Daqian, it also greatly weakened the combat effectiveness of the Luobi people.

If the Golden Horde really defeated the Robe people in one fell swoop, it would mean that they would become a major threat to Daqian, and Daqian's northern border would once again be in flames!
Yijing is not only the capital of Daqian, but also the political and economic center of Daqian. Therefore, in order to protect the safety of Yijing, Ye Mingsheng must stockpile heavy troops in the north to ensure the stability of the situation!

If Yijing's safety is related to Daqian's stability and survival, and is a matter of life and death, then Baiyue is the icing on the cake. Taking it down is certainly a cause for celebration for Ye Mingsheng, and it will be beneficial for Ye Mingsheng to carry out the next overseas strategy, but from the perspective of interests, Ye Mingsheng will not lose anything without it...

Therefore, between the Northern Grassland and Baiyue, Ye Mingsheng could only choose the Northern Grassland, first ensuring his own strategic security and then considering expanding his territory.

Although this was the choice, Ye Mingsheng felt very bad when he thought about his plan being disrupted by the damn Golden Horde and that bitch Habib. He wished he could tear them all into pieces to vent his hatred!
So after the meeting at the General Staff Headquarters, Ye Mingsheng came to Chenji Teahouse to change his mood. Unexpectedly, he ran into Hou Da, BMW and Wen Ju performing crosstalk in Chenji Teahouse.

Ye Mingsheng was not unfamiliar with these two people. In that era, there were not so many forms of entertainment. Storytelling, crosstalk, and opera were the choices of many people.

Hou Dabao and Ma Wenju are the leaders of Yijing crosstalk. One of them is the supporting role, and the other is the funny role. Whenever they perform on stage, they are sure to make people laugh!

In the early years, before Ye Mingsheng became emperor, he watched their performance at Chenji Teahouse and was amused. Later, during the Spring Festival one year, Ye Mingsheng invited the two to perform in Ye Mansion.

If Ye Mingsheng remembered correctly, Hou Dabao and Ma Wenju performed this crosstalk at that time, and his mother Ye Cui was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. In the end, she rewarded the two with fifty taels of silver!
Thinking of the happy times in the past, Ye Mingsheng couldn't help shaking his head. These happy times are always short-lived...

After listening for about an incense stick of time, Ye Mingsheng saw that it was getting dark outside, so he got up and returned to the palace. However, just as Ye Mingsheng went out and Zhang Hu went to pay the bill, Ye Mingsheng suddenly heard two guests at the door whispering:
"Brother Zhang, did you hear about the meteorite that fell from the sky last night?"

"Of course I heard about it. It fell near Fanjia Village in the south of the city!"

"Yes, it fell in Fanjia Village! As far as I know, this meteorite is not ordinary!"

Seeing his companion's mysterious look, Brother Zhang couldn't help but ask curiously:
"Brother Liu, why is this so unusual?"

“I heard there’s writing on it!”

"There are words on it? What words?" Just as Brother Liu was about to speak, he noticed Ye Mingsheng standing beside him, and then looked at Ye Mingsheng with some caution and said:
"What are you doing? Why are you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

Seeing this "Brother Liu" approaching him, Ye Mingsheng said calmly:
"I didn't eavesdrop on your conversation, you were the one who spoke too loudly!"

Hearing what Ye Mingsheng said, Brother Liu also stood up and said angrily:

"Are you looking for trouble?"

"Why don't you ask who I am? You really don't know how many eyes the Horse King has!"

Seeing his companions getting angry, Brother Zhang also hurriedly stood up to stop the fight. However, Brother Liu became more and more excited as he tried to persuade them, and even ignored his companions' attempts to stop him, and insisted on walking to Ye Mingsheng's side, as if he wanted to have a fight with Ye Mingsheng.

Seeing this, Ye Mingsheng looked at him with a little pity. The next second, a guard beside Ye Mingsheng immediately took action and knocked Brother Liu to the ground with one punch...

At this moment, the waiter of Chen's Teahouse also noticed the situation here and quickly notified the shopkeeper. However, before the shopkeeper arrived, Ye Mingsheng ordered the guards to take the two out of the teahouse.

A moment later, in a quiet room, the two gentlemen were brought in front of Ye Mingsheng.

Looking at the two people in front of him, Ye Mingsheng asked calmly:
"Who are you two?"

Facing Ye Mingsheng's question, even though Brother Liu had just been beaten up, he still snorted coldly and said stubbornly:

"You are such a bold lunatic! How dare you kidnap someone right under the emperor's feet? I advise you to let me go quickly, or I will make you pay for it. Do you know who I am?"

Before Brother Liu could finish his words, Zhang Hu slapped him hard on the face and said:

"Answer whatever my master asks you! Don't make any noise!"

Looking at the miserable state of his companions, the man surnamed Zhang said quickly:
"My dear sir! My name is Zhang Fucheng and I am the head of the Ministry of Revenue. My friend is Liu Sheng and he is the head of the Ministry of Rites. As long as you don't hurt us, we will give you as much silver as you want!"

Hearing the identities of these two people, Zhang Hu asked in surprise:

"You two are officials?"

Feeling the surprise in Zhang Hu's words, Liu Sheng pulled himself up again and said:
"Now that you know we are G, why don't you just let us go?"

"Do you know what the crime of attacking a G-Officer in Daqian is?"

Before Liu Sheng could finish his words, he was slapped in the face again, and then he heard Zhang Hu's voice in his ears.

"I'm going to hit you, you bastard!"

At this time, Ye Mingsheng still preached calmly:

"Okay! Chief Liu Sheng, tell me what was written on that meteorite?"

Just now in the teahouse, Ye Mingsheng really didn't intend to listen to what Liu Sheng and Zhang Fucheng were talking about. It was just that Liu Sheng's voice was really loud, so Ye Mingsheng heard some of the content. In addition, Liu Sheng thought that he was very powerful as the head of the Ministry of Rites, so he had to try it with him. Therefore, with his unremitting efforts, they also successfully aroused Ye Mingsheng's interest.
Although his face was red and swollen from the beating, Liu Sheng's eyes were still unruly. When he opened his mouth, Zhang Hu looked at him coldly. Feeling Zhang Hu's eyes, Liu Sheng was a little timid and hesitated before saying:
"Who are you guys?"

"Who we are has nothing to do with you! You just need to tell me what is written on the meteorite that fell from the sky!"

Liu Sheng's eyes flickered when he heard this, and after taking a closer look at Ye Mingsheng, he seemed to realize something, and his expression became a little panicked. He immediately bowed to Ye Mingsheng and said:

"I was just joking with my friend! Don't take it seriously!"

Seeing Liu Sheng's change of attitude, Ye Mingsheng, who already had some guesses in his mind, smiled and said:

"Tell me what you know! I will forgive you!"

Hearing Ye Mingsheng's words, Liu Sheng, who also had some guesses in his mind, was now more certain of his guesses. He immediately knelt down and said anxiously:

"I really didn't know it was you! If I hadn't had a hundred times the courage, I wouldn't have dared to bump into you. I deserve to die!"

As Liu Sheng spoke, he started to kowtow, but he was stopped by Zhang Hu after only a few kowtows. He also heard Ye Mingsheng's voice again.

"What's written on the meteorite?"

"It is engraved on the meteorite... The traitor will die and the world will be divided..."