The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 219 The Wind Does Not Stop (I)

After being turned away, Kang Yingqian returned to his seat dejectedly and drank alone.

This was not the first time he had hit a wall. Thinking of his close relationship with Heping Liaohou, who was both his teacher and friend, and now they were like strangers, Kang Yingqian felt even more depressed.

What really annoyed him was not the huge sum of money he had spent on Zhang Yan, but the fact that he and this 21-year-old Shangguan were on different paths and destined to be incompatible.

The gap between the two of them existed a long time ago, but at that time Kaiyuan was busy with many things and the problem had not yet surfaced.

Yuan Chonghuan, who came up second, presented an ancient family book. Liu Zhaosun opened the wooden box and saw the words "Tang Legend" written in large letters on the pale yellow cover of the ancient book.

"Jin Yuji should like this book very much."

Ping Liaohou was about to accept it when he suddenly remembered something and said to Yuan Chonghuan:
"Sir Yuan, since this is your family's heirloom, how can I take it for myself? Kaiyuan officers don't value pearls, jade, or precious goods. I've told you many times. So I can't accept this."

So Yuan Chonghuan's gift was also rejected by Ping Liaohou.

Then everyone continued to present gifts, mostly ginseng and medicinal herbs, and Ping Liaohou accepted them one by one with a smile.

When it was Ma Shiying's turn, his guards brought up two wooden boxes. Zhang Chao led his men to open the boxes, and the room was suddenly filled with golden light.

There were two boxes full of jewels, emeralds, cat stones, jadeite, and some treasures that Ping Liaohou couldn't name, which dazzled him.

"General Liu doesn't usually eat delicious food or wear colorful clothes. He travels a lot and has no time to rest. General Anyuan and his wife are also frugal. We have all seen it. I have no talent, nor can I win a battle a thousand miles away. I have nothing but some valuables, which I will give as a gift..."

Qiao Yiqi was born into a prominent family in Jiangnan, and did business in Fushun and other places. Although he did not appear to be extravagant in his daily interactions, his spending was extraordinary.

Ping Liao Hou shook his head and smiled, "I just said that I won't accept any precious jewelry. These jewels are useless to me, and the two ladies..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard someone shouting:

"He won't accept beauties, books, or jewelry. What on earth does Ping Liao Hou want?!"

Everyone was startled by the sound, and the room suddenly fell silent. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw that it was Kang Yingqian who interrupted Ping Liaohou.

Just now, when Ping Liao Hou was talking with others, Kang Yingqian was sitting there drinking alone. Seeing Ping Liao Hou pushing and blocking, refusing this and that, Kang Yingqian thought of how he had taught and instructed this young man for the past two years, but he didn't expect that the boy was still so stupid and stubborn, and he couldn't help getting angry.

With Kang Yingqian's shrewdness, he would never have said such words in the past.

Lao Kang usually boasted that he was the Bole of Ping Liao Hou. If Lao Kang had not promoted Liu Bazong back then in Sarhu, Liu would have turned into a dry bone in the Hunjiang River and been buried in the weeds.

However, after Liu Zhaosun came to power, he repeatedly humiliated him, which made Kang Yingqian very angry.

Alcohol makes cowards braver. Under the influence of alcohol, the resentment that Kang Yingqian had been suppressing in his heart for a long time finally erupted completely.

Seeing Ping Liaohou remained silent, Kang Yingqian thought he was guilty and continued:
"We are not saints. We have all followed Marquis Ping Liao from Sarhu to this day, surviving countless dangers. We finally conquered Liaodong, and now we are on the verge of conquering the world. In this situation, why does Marquis Ping Liao still torture himself like this? Is he being mean to himself? Is he being mean to everyone else?"

"Those words of the sages, about a benevolent ruler loving his people, about the boat that can carry you, and the boat that can capsize you, are all just the nonsense of scholars! They're just lies to fool the people! You actually took them seriously, how ridiculous!"

"I'm telling you the truth. If it weren't for the rise of Ping Liao Hou in Kaiyuan, Nurhaci would have occupied all of Liaodong long ago. Whether the Jiannu killed people or massacred the city, it would never have affected their rise to power! Right now, civil unrest is raging everywhere, and all kinds of people are thinking of rebelling. Even people like She Chongming want to get a piece of the pie. This is a godsend, but Ping Liao Hou is hesitant and timid! He didn't attack the capital, didn't oppress the Jiannu Mongols, and only took out his anger on his own people! What kind of logic is this? You don't care about the thousands of Jiannu captives eating and drinking for free? You behead your subordinates for taking a few more taels of silver! Lord Sun was given the task at a critical moment, and he acted arbitrarily. He destroyed the two yellow flags in the battle of Hetuala and wiped out the Jiannu, achieving unprecedented feats. But he was treated so coldly for just killing a few bannermen while filling the trenches. He is so stubborn and lenient. He is really pedantic, even worse than Duke Xiang of Song!"

Kang Yingqian's beard trembled and his neck turned red as he spoke, and he was out of breath by the end.

Qiao Yiqi hurried forward and patted his back, fearing that Lao Kang would not be able to catch his breath and faint.

Ping Liaohou said nothing and waited silently for him to finish. This abdication was fierce and complicated, which showed that Lao Kang was well prepared.

On the surface, he was speaking for Sun Chuanting, but in fact he was putting Sun Chuanting on the fire.

They also said that Qian Gang was autocratic, and they were just short of saying that Sun Chuanting was preparing to seize power.

At this point, whether Liu Zhaosun accepts the challenge or not, Sun Chuanting will not have an easy time in Kaiyuan.

Liu Zhaosun smiled coldly, looked around, and said to everyone:
"Is that what you all think?"

The lively and boisterous banquet suddenly became quiet, and even a murderous atmosphere took over. After asking twice in a row, more than a dozen people bowed their heads in silence.

Even Sun Chuanting, who was seen by everyone as loving the people like his own children and who governed Fushun without locking his doors at night, could calmly massacre the city on the battlefield of Hetuala.

There is no need to ask what the true attitude of officials towards the people is in this era.

Perhaps there really was an official like Lu Xiangsheng who would rather freeze or starve to death than rob the people, but it seemed that there was only one Lu Xiangsheng in the late Ming Dynasty.

Liu Zhaosun's eyes were as sharp as swords, sweeping across everyone. Under his sharp gaze, no one dared to look up at this superior with a strange temper.

At this moment, the time traveler truly realized how serious the gap in moral concepts and ideologies caused by more than four hundred years of time and space was.

This kind of genetic barrier is far from being solved by the time travelers in some novels through some mindless nonsense or on-site teaching with some bizarre theories.

Liu Zhaosun looked at Song Yingxing, who was keeping his head down and saying nothing. This young prefect of Anle Prefecture was recruited by him personally from the capital. Liu Zhaosun had always admired this man's moral conduct.

"Sir Song, don't you think it's good to work with me?"

The thin Song Yingxing slowly raised his head and looked timidly at Ping Liaohou. He quickly glanced at his colleagues around him before saying:

"You're joking, Marquis Ping Liao. I've been recognized by Marquis Ping Liao and have been appointed governor. I enjoy wealth and honor, and he even brought my family to Kaiyuan. What else can I ask for?"

"I'm asking you, would you like to work with me?"

Liu Zhaosun was aggressive and did not give Song Yingxing any chance to play Tai Chi.

Song Yingxing hesitated and said:

"It's good, but I'm a little tired..."

Liu Zhaosun was stunned for a moment and then burst into laughter.

The laughter stopped abruptly. Looking back at Ma Shiying and others, no one dared to look at him, but just nodded slightly to show that they agreed with Song Zhizhou's point of view.

"Song Zhizhou, I heard that your brother has opened five southern goods stores in Tieling and Fushun, and was planning to open a sixth one before the Lunar New Year. He's the manager of a trading company, but he also runs his own business on the side. He's truly a good manager! Your Song family was originally from humble beginnings, but in less than two years since arriving in Liaodong, your wealth has increased a hundredfold. In a few years, I'm afraid the Song family will have more money than the deceased Ding Bi."

Song Yingxing's face turned pale and he fell to his knees with a thud.

"I was busy with research at the workshop, and it was my brother who was doing the business. I was truly unaware! Please forgive me, Marquis Ping Liao!"

Civil officials are not greedy for money, and military generals are not afraid of death.

Don't be greedy for women, don't slaughter the people, don't seek personal gain for your relatives. If you keep doing this for a long time, you will indeed feel tired.

Liu Zhaosun already knew what they were thinking. He narrowed his eyes and spoke with murderous intent.

"You all are here to celebrate Liu Zhaosun's birthday today, but you are here to seek the Emperor Ping Liaohou's help and force him to abdicate. Tell me, what do you want?"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere around them suddenly became tense. Zhang Chao led the guards forward with their swords drawn. Liu Zhaosun shouted:

"Today I am having a feast with several gentlemen. No disrespect is allowed! Leave!"

Zhang Chao looked at Kang Yingqian warily and retreated in disappointment.

Liu Zhaosun raised his glass with tears in his eyes.

"Just now you said you wouldn't discuss military affairs or government affairs, only friendship. Haha, now it seems our friendship is worthless."

"Well, if we must discuss it, let's take advantage of today's birthday banquet. Yuan Chonghuan and the others are here, so let's work together to establish new rules for Kaiyuan!"

(End of this chapter)