The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 841 No Dune Rebellion?

Liu Kan could never understand his father's political strategy.

Under the rule of Liu Zhaosun, Qi's national policy has been constantly changing over the past thirty years. From the initial consolidation of power under the emperor's control, with strict laws and harsh punishments, to the later empowerment of local governments, equalization of land rights, and lenient and benevolent policies, to the current situation where Liu Kan, Liu Zhaosun, and Liu Yufei are the three major powers and each governs their own affairs...

Every change in national policy will trigger a period of continuous turmoil and chaos.

The retired emperor's evaluation of his 30 years of governance was that he was crossing a river by feeling the stones, and it was inevitable that he would take some detours.

The so-called detours are actually due to internal and external troubles that make people's lives miserable.

Liu Kan had not had a long talk with his father for a long time, and he didn't even know whether the emperor was going to war or make peace with Europe.

In the eyes of Emperor Guangde, his father was like all old and foolish emperors. As his energy declined with age, he was no longer able to control this great empire.

Now even Tianxin City can no longer maintain its prosperity, even if it is just superficial prosperity. The money has been spent. The empire's conquests in all directions are all negative. The more conquests, the more money is lost. The only one who benefits may be...

Liu Yufei and Liu Qian were still building momentum for the Eastern Expedition to Japan. The various expenses for the expedition were estimated to cost 30 million taels of military pay. New warships would be produced, the Korean port of Incheon was being expanded, and a steady supply of food would be delivered to the front lines. Cigarette prices were going up again.

The situation Liu Kan is facing now is very clear:
It is necessary to ensure that the empire's meritorious officials and their descendants occupy important positions and firmly grasp power, while also making the people grateful to the court, and also working hard to take care of the livelihoods of the common people and not let them be completely exploited. This kind of demand for both is obviously a pipe dream.

However, the retired emperor believed the lies of the princess and the king of Han, and thought that he could get out of the predicament by continuing the eastward expedition and conquering Japan.

Liu Kan looked up at his father and said calmly, "This son, the Princess, and the King of Han are already at loggerheads with each other. It's not just a matter of just being angry. Those with different ideals cannot work together. This son, the Princess, and the King of Han are not of the same mind."

Liu Zhaosun's expression was stern: "Who are you? And who is the Princess Han Wang?"

Seeing his father's anger, Liu Kan refused to back down. Instead, he confronted his father, saying, "Liu Yufei and Liu Qian are aggressively pursuing war, inciting the army to provoke provocations and make enemies with our neighbors. They are on a path of no return! They are bringing disaster to our country and its people."

The Emperor smiled and said, "Then who are you?"

Liu Kan continued with a stiff upper lip, "I dare not boast about who I am, but behind me stand the people of the world!"

Liu Kan's voice was not loud, but every word he said was piercing. Liu Zhaosun slowly put down the teacup he had picked up, clenched his fists, and gasped heavily because of anger.

"People of the world? You're so arrogant!"

Jin Yuji knew that the emperor was furious, so she quickly tried to comfort him, saying, "Liu Kan finally came to see you in the Cining Palace today, so don't be angry."

The Emperor gently pushed the Empress Dowager Cisheng aside and glared at Liu Kan. "Liu Yufei is always concerned about the country and the people. I can't bear to see you act arbitrarily, so I joined forces with the ministers to advise you. How dare you say such nonsense!"

Fury clouded the retired emperor's mind, and Liu Zhaosun was at a loss for words. He raised his clenched fist high, unable to lower it. Imperial families were devoid of family affection. He had long known that Emperor Guangde and the eldest princess were estranged, but he had never imagined that one day, the siblings would repeat the tragedy of the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

"You two siblings are at loggerheads. One wants to attack Manila, the other wants to negotiate peace with the Europeans. You're constantly at loggerheads. Are you trying to make the world laugh at us?!"

"So what if the world laughs at me? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong!"

Liu Kan loudly retorted, "Father, why do you always support Liu Yufei?"

"The eldest princess has assisted you in so many things over the years, but you haven't shown any gratitude. Instead, you are suspicious of her and suppress her at every turn. Do you think your father should just sit back and watch you act like this?"

Liu Kan smiled weakly: "Liu Yufei assists me in my work? She must be hindering me in every way! If she hadn't been obstructing me, Da Qi and the European countries would have signed a peace agreement long ago, trade between Fujian and Guangdong would have been restored long ago, the people in the southeast wouldn't have to suffer, and the White Lotus Sect wouldn't have rebelled in Guangdong and Guangxi..."

The overseas trade of the Great Qi Dynasty shrank year by year, silk, tea and porcelain could not be sold, countless small workshop owners in Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian went bankrupt, and the White Lotus Sect took advantage of the situation to rise. At least in Liu Kan's view, this was the logic.

Liu Zhaosun slammed the table and stood up. Jin Yuji hurriedly pulled him back and kept winking at Liu Kan.

"Sign a peace agreement? If we sign a peace agreement, the government-run shops of Da Qi will be destroyed by them. Do you know how much Western cotton cloth costs per foot, and how much cotton cloth from the government-run shops costs per foot? Millions of Cao workers depend on their livelihoods, and a single move could affect the entire system. If the government-run shops collapse, Da Qi will collapse too!"

Liu Kan was extremely disdainful of the millions of grain transport workers. "Who controls the government-run shops? Is it you, Father? Or Princess Liu Yufei? They are all nobles and aristocrats, parasites of the Great Qi. They certainly don't want Western cotton cloth to enter the Great Qi, and they certainly don't want the Great Qi to make peace with Europe. All they want is to be nobles for generations to come! They instigated the imperial censors and stirred up public opinion, making Father think that the Great Qi couldn't do without them..."

"Enough! You are not allowed to suppress the princess anymore. The Han Wangzhi vassal will have to wait until this matter is over! Recall that Spanish missionary. Great Qi does not need to negotiate peace with the Europeans, and cannot negotiate peace!"

Liu Kan retorted sharply: "Just because she is the daughter of Empress Dowager Cisheng?! So everything she does is right? What I did was wrong? Why didn't father pass the throne to her in the first place?!"

After Liu Kan ascended the throne, Liu Zhaosun was no longer the Emperor of Great Qi. However, for a long time, the retired emperor continued to remotely control the empire's domestic and foreign affairs. The appointment and dismissal of local officials, as well as the implementation of imperial policies, were all decided by the retired emperor, whose policies were often influenced by the eldest princess.

Seeing the visible gap between father and son,

In Liu Zhaosun's eyes, perhaps Emperor Guangde Liu Kan will always be the young emperor who has not grown up and is not good at politics.

"Father, not only will I not agree with the eldest princess's 'advice', I will also severely punish her and make an example of her! As for recalling Velasco, that is also impossible."

"Only by eradicating these cancers, coexisting peacefully with other nations, and treating our subjects well, can the Great Qi overcome its difficulties and prosper once again."

Liu Kan slammed the door and left, leaving behind his last words:
"Since Your Majesty has abdicated, you should let me exercise the power of the Emperor instead of hindering him in every way. Now the court is falling apart, and civil war is imminent. What on earth does Liu Yufei want to do? Doesn't Your Majesty know the final outcome of King Wuling of Zhao?"

(End of this chapter)