The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 484: Xuzhou Alliance
One day at the end of August, the emperor summoned the old minister Qiao Yiqi to the Prince Xiang's Mansion to discuss the peace talks between Qi and Ming.

Also coming with him was the former Ming Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youxiao.

Zhu Youxiao had just rushed back to Xiangyang from the Tianxin City construction site in Junzhou. The mortise and tenon materials provided by the craftsmen did not meet the standards, and a batch of high-quality golden nanmu wood needed to be harvested from Yunnan and Guizhou. He came back this time to report this matter to Emperor Wuding.

Liu Zhaosun gave the two men a seat and asked Zhu Youxiao about the progress of the project. After learning that everything was going smoothly, Emperor Wuding was very pleased.

"I am a merciful person and cannot bear to kill the vassal king of the previous dynasty. However, King Xiang is aiding and abetting Zhou's tyranny and is determined to be an enemy of Great Qi. If I don't kill him, I won't be able to appease the people's anger, and I won't be able to demonstrate the power of our country."

Zhu Youxiao, who looked very vicissitudes of life, did not show any change of emotion when listening to the words of the retired emperor. When Liu Zhaosun finished speaking, he just bowed to him politely:
"Your Majesty is merciful and has treated Zhu Mingren with all his righteousness. I only wish to focus on building Tianxin City and no longer concern myself with worldly affairs."

Dongfang Zhu, who was standing by, saw that Chongzhen was quite neglectful towards the emperor, and glared at him and said:
"How dare you! His Majesty gave you the opportunity to redeem yourself and gain merit, yet you dare to be so arrogant! You're asking for a beating!"

Dongfang Zhu was about to step forward, but Liu Zhaosun waved his hand to stop him.

"Stop it! Don't be rude!"

Dongfang Zhu immediately withdrew, and Liu Zhaosun said murderously:

"Since Emperor Zhu Ming is still alive, he is a man of the mortal world. How can he not care about worldly affairs? Unless he is truly dead."

These words were full of threats. According to convention, whenever the emperor spoke in this tone, it meant that he was about to start another massacre.

Zhu Youxiao was neither humble nor arrogant, and his facial expression did not change. He still looked indifferent.

This is not surprising. Anyone who is in his position and has experienced so many things will not have any good feelings towards the emperor in front of him.

The kingdom left to Zhu Youxiao by Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang was taken away by this bloodthirsty military man. Not only was it taken away by Liu Zhaosun, but the thief Liu also killed his brother, the Tianqi Emperor Zhu Youjian. Countless Ming Dynasty civil and military officials were slaughtered in the usurpation of power.

Zhu Youxiao was not a fool like Emperor Hui of Jin, nor was he Liu Adou who was content with his homeland.

When he was exiled to Jeju Island in Korea and was bullied by local fishermen, the Carpenter Emperor secretly made up his mind that when he regained power one day, he would avenge his father and brother, and give Liu Zhaosun a "hide-and-seek death" or make this warrior live a life worse than death.

However, the thief Liu was too powerful. Not only the civil and military officials of the Great Qi, but also the people from all over the country chose to support the Qi State. Many people shouted the slogan "We will not pay grain when the Qi army comes."

God rewards those who work hard. The plague broke out in the capital, Li Xianzhong besieged the capital, Wanggongchang exploded, and the bandits and Liu were killed together.

Emperor Chongzhen believed that these were divine punishments, penalties from heaven for Liu Bang.

Unexpectedly, Liu Zhaosun survived the disaster.

Not only did he not die, but after emerging from underground, he became even more powerful and gained more support. The rule of Qi became unbreakable.

The Carpenter Emperor was uneasy. He didn't know why Liu Zhaosun summoned him to Xiangyang this time. Was it just to explain to him why King Xiang was tortured to death?

Finally, Emperor Wuding spoke.

"I cannot bear to kill too many people, so I leave Zhu Changling a chance to live. I am sending Minister Ma to negotiate with the Southern Dynasty to put an end to the war. I hope Zhu Changling can understand my good intentions. I heard that you had contact with Emperor Hongguang. I hope..."

Qiao Yiqi, who was standing next to him, glanced sideways slightly. When Zhu Youxiao heard this, he finally understood what Wu Fu was planning. He simply wanted to use the bloodline of the Ming Emperor to threaten the Hongguang court and further suppress the negotiating opponents, so as to gain an advantageous position in the negotiations with the Southern Ming.

Chongzhen spoke in a neither humble nor arrogant tone, as if he was still the emperor and Liu Zhaosun was still his minister.

"What does Your Majesty want me to do? Assist Minister Ma in negotiating peace? Go to Nanjing and persuade Emperor Hongguang to surrender?"

After being tamed by Zhang Dong, few people dare to talk to Liu Zhaosun like this now.

"How about it? Are you willing to make a trip for me?"

Liu Zhaosun looked at the Carpenter Emperor with hope.

Zhu Youxiao said firmly: "I am sorry that I cannot obey your order. I am the king of a fallen country and have suffered great humiliation. I cannot bear further humiliation."

Liu Zhaosun was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Zhu Youxiao to reject him so directly. The former Ming emperor was quite bold. "Never mind, never mind. I won't force you. Before summoning you, I did have this intention, but now I think you should go to Junzhou to supervise the construction of the house. It's a place that would be more suitable for you."

Dongfang Zhu arranged for the eunuchs to bring up gold, silver, cloth and silk. The emperor rewarded Chongzhen handsomely for his contribution to the construction of Tianxin City. Zhu Youxiao declined it at first, but finally accepted it all.

"You will recuperate in Xiangyang for a while, and then return to Junzhou with the fleet after the timber from the mountains of Yunnan and Guizhou arrives."

Zhu Youxiao accepted the order, thanked the emperor, and withdrew to continue his carpentry career.

Liu Zhaosun looked up at Qiao Yiqi who had been silent beside him, and knew that Qiao Dazui had been holding back for a long time.

"Minister Qiao, I summoned you to the palace today to discuss peace. What do you want to say?"

Qiao Yiqi couldn't wait to ask, "Your Majesty, such harsh conditions are too much. Will Zhu Changling agree to them?

Qiao Yiqi was shocked when he learned about the peace terms that Ma Shiying proposed to the Southern Ming delegation. He knew that this was the intention of Emperor Wuding, so he ran to Prince Xiang's Mansion as soon as possible. Liu Zhaosun was not surprised by Qiao Yiqi's arrival. If all the officials of Da Qi were tamed and became part of the empire's rolling chariot, then Qiao Yiqi was an exception. This person was not interested in fame and fortune, nor was he afraid of coercion or inducement. More importantly, the time traveler did not make up his mind to take action against Qiao Dazui.

"Of course they will agree. Not only will they agree, they will also send Zheng Zhilong's head to Xiangyang and present it to me."

Qiao Yiqi immediately thought of the Shaoxing Peace Agreement of the Southern Song Dynasty. The Jin army was at the Yangtze River and threatened the Southern Song Dynasty. Zhao Gou and Qin Hui immediately killed Yue Fei to pray for peace with the Jin people.

This moment is just like that moment.

"They are like the iron-blooded and powerful Song Dynasty, and Zhu Changying is Zhao Gou."

Qiao Yiqi asked in reply, "Really? Who the hell is Zheng Zhilong? How dare he be compared to Yue Wumu?"

"Of course he doesn't deserve it, but if I want him to die, then he must die."

This outlier who survived the Great Purge behaves differently from others in every way. If I were to use one word to describe Qiao Yiqi, it would be youthfulness.

"General Qiao, you are still the same young man as before, without changing at all."

"You have to believe that the Ming Dynasty's civil servants are more shameless than you can imagine."

Emperor Wu Ding really wanted to talk to Qiao Yiqi about the story of the Song-Jin peace agreement, and tell him about the opinions of later keyboard historians on the Song-Jin agreement, such as that Qin Hui was actually saving the country in a roundabout way and that Yue Fei had the intention of rebellion...

"Your Majesty, did Ma Shiying send money to Ruan Dacheng again? Was it Ruan Dacheng's idea to have him speak for Da Qi? Was it Ruan Dacheng's idea to send so much gold, silver, and jewelry to the Southern Dynasty?"

The emperor smiled without comment.

Qiao Yiqi was quite dissatisfied with Ma Shiying. Not only was he dissatisfied with Ma Shiying, but General Qiao also had opinions about the newly appointed officials.

It was because of the existence of these people that Kang Yingqian and Qiao Yiqi were squeezed out of the core power layer.

Liu Zhaosun felt there was no need to hide anything from his old friend:

"Not only Ruan Dacheng, but also all the officials from the six ministries of the Southern Ming Dynasty have received gifts. They are now in Cao's camp, but their hearts are with Han, or more precisely, in the Great Qi. Zhang Dong not only gave them money, but also women."

Emperor Wuding leaned back in his armchair and drank tea with a contented look on his face.

There is no worst, only worse. This is an era of worse than worse.

"What I want is to occupy Jiangnan without bloodshed. Now, I know that you have extensive connections in Jiangnan, and the peace talks cannot be separated from you. Once the Hongguang Peace Agreement is signed, you and General Kang will be able to retire and return home to enjoy your old age. Kang Yingqian's family can also save their lives."

Liu Zhaosun put down his teacup and said thoughtfully:

"Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. The purge will continue. I don't want you two to end up dead!"

(End of this chapter)