You have truly caused me great suffering!

Wu Jie never falsified military intelligence reports.

Han Shizhong and Chen Shao both knew him very well.

However, in Jiaozhi, especially since the scale of the war had always been kept within the Red River Plain, it was unexpected that there were actually so many enemies.

Considering the sheer number of troops he brought, it was truly a case of one man against a thousand, sweeping away all obstacles.

Han Shizhong chuckled and said, "The more battles we fight, the fewer people we need. Back when we were at Nuanquan Peak, we were all on tenterhooks with 100,000 iron cavalry."

"Now that war has broken out between the North and the South, Your Majesty is able to recall your elite troops to the capital."

Chen Shao smiled and went to the Jietang Hall with Han Shizhong.

After opening the military newspaper, I read it carefully.

This battle took place about fourteen days ago, and it was extremely fierce.

Upon seeing Zhang Boyu open the city gates, Chen Shao secretly memorized the name. Just like Wu Jie, he also planned to place a puppet in Jiaozhi first.

Then it evolved from a puppet.

Just like in history, the Jin Dynasty first established Zhang Bangchang as the emperor of the Great Chu.

First, create the illusion of "Vietnamese people ruling over Vietnamese people" to weaken their resistance.

Then, the puppets voluntarily submitted, and naturally entered Jiaozhi (Vietnam), where they established official offices.

At this moment, a group of advisors gathered around and began to summarize and analyze the details of the battle, preparing to determine the merits of the victory.

"Come, let's discuss how to deal with Li Qiande."

Chen Shao leaned back, feeling genuinely pleased. Now that the old man was in his hands, he was sure he wouldn't let him off easily.

In fact, Li Qiande was actually hoping to become a wealthy man in Bianliang at this time. After all, the Western Xia and the Song Dynasty had fought for a hundred years. After they surrendered, the Western Xia royal family was settled by the Song Dynasty and was not exterminated.

Although he was imprisoned in Baotian Temple, he remained in good spirits and did not attempt suicide. In contrast, many ministers, whether out of fear or something else, committed suicide.

What he didn't know was that Bianliang was no longer under the control of the Zhao family.

The past was before and the present is now.

"Take him to Bianliang and behead him!" Han Shizhong said.

Chen Shao thought for a moment and realized that the old man seemed to be very old and would probably die on the way here.

Moreover, most of the evil they committed was in Guangnan. To put it bluntly, the people of Bianliang didn't know him at all.

The millions of people in Guang'an and Lianglu, as well as the surrounding small countries, all hated him to the core.

“I will make this decision on my own once, and after he is executed by slow slicing, his head will be sent to Dali, Temo Road, Guangnan West Road, and Guangnan East Road, and finally hung in Yongzhou to commemorate the hundreds of thousands of people who died in the city that year.”

The crowd echoed each other, though they didn't really care how or where Li Qiande died; they had little interest in the Jiaozhi region.

However, the news of the victory in conquering the country will certainly boost the prestige of the King of Dai to a new level.

Now all that's left is to set a date. Wei Lixu and Zhang Xiaochun are arguing about it every day until they're red in the face.

On the contrary, Brother Yang Cheng is the one who really gets things done; the abdication platform was built long ago.

He also took the opportunity to oversee the ongoing dredging of the Bian River.

Chen Shao also knew that he was about to become emperor, and at this time, capturing a monarch was a very symbolic act.

However, he did not force anyone to bring them back; if they had, it would have been harder to kill them.

This is the approach we should take in handling similar matters in the future. If we actually bring you to the capital of the Central Plains and get you to meet the emperor, it means there is still hope for you.

Otherwise, there would be no need to waste manpower and resources; they could simply execute them on the spot.

This discussion, held thousands of miles away, determined the fate of the Joseon Dynasty royal family.

In fact, their fate was already sealed when the Dingnan Army marched south.

"Bai Shizhong"

Looking at these three words, Chen Shao didn't bother to think too much and said, "These are Grand Tutor Cai's men. Just send someone to ask Grand Tutor Cai directly."

Chen Shao closed his eyes slightly, imagining the millions of soldiers and civilians of the Joseon Dynasty united in their hatred of the enemy.

He couldn't help but think of their descendants in later generations who were just as resolute in resisting the United States, but after they actually withdrew, they began to frantically fawn over the US within a few years.

This is a typical case of someone being defiant during a fight, but calming down afterward.

They've only been separated for a short time, so how tough can they be?

Once trade routes are opened and people taste the benefits, a large group of people will naturally emerge to spontaneously defend the rule of the Central Plains.

This military report was really long, and Chen Shao and his men discussed it from beginning to end.

Many things were settled, but Wu Jie was left to decide the rest himself.

After all, he hadn't been to Jiaozhi, so he certainly couldn't see things as clearly as Wu Jie.

After finishing the task, I looked outside and saw that the sun was shining brightly, and it was noon.

Chen Shao then remembered what he had to do this morning. Maode and the others had returned, and he had originally planned to meet them in secret.

We'll have to reschedule for another day.

"Don't leave, let's go eat together."
-
Xiao Ting in Mingzhou knew about the battle report of Jiaozhi even earlier than Chen Shao.

Having just bathed, her fair skin smelled sweet and flushed. The maids wrapped her in her undergarments, pinching her waist and breasts to accentuate her alluring curves.

She was truly delighted, for she had already built ports in Korea, Japan, and Ryukyu in the north.

As the Prince of Dai said, a considerable amount of gold and silver mines were indeed discovered in Japan, and they were very easy to mine.

Once the trade routes to Southeast Asia are opened, ship after ship of gold, silver, and copper can be transported to the Central Plains. Then the plan I discussed with Chen Shao to issue paper currency can be implemented. "Why hasn't this man declared himself emperor yet!"

Xiao Ting was somewhat anxious; a vast business empire was taking shape.

But its emperor has not yet ascended the throne.

The maids dared not interrupt, but simply lowered their heads and obediently served her as she combed her hair and changed her clothes.

Xiao Ting pinched her lips with her slender, white fingers, a habitual gesture she made when she was thinking.

In her mind, Chen Shao became increasingly mysterious and lofty. Putting everything else aside, how did he know that there were so many mines in Japan?

The location was pretty much correct, and his men quickly located the mineral vein.

The envoys from Japan have already set foot on the land of the Central Plains.

Others might find the current political situation in the Song Dynasty quite perplexing, but the Japanese wouldn't.

They are very familiar with this.

The emperor had no real power; the Prince of Dai held military power, effectively wielding absolute authority.

Isn't this exactly what the Fujiwara clan is doing right now?

Xiao Ting didn't know how Chen Shao planned to intervene in Japan, but she knew that Chen Shao would definitely not give up.

"I'm really looking forward to it."
-
The twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Chen Shao met the envoy from Japan in the flower hall.

This was sent by Emperor Sutoku. In fact, Chen Shao had already found out that Emperor Sutoku was now an absolute puppet.

The one who truly held real power was Emperor Toba, also known as the retired emperor.

This bird feather is somewhat similar to the later Emperor Qianlong, who, despite not being dead, insisted on becoming the retired emperor, but did not relinquish any power, ruling from behind the scenes through the "court government" system.

He was imitating his grandfather, Emperor Shirakawa.

From the 9th century onwards, the Fujiwara Hokuke family monopolized the positions of "Regent" (when the emperor was young) and "Kanpaku" (after the emperor came of age) for a long period of time by marrying their daughters to the emperor and having their grandsons ascend the throne. This period is known as "Regent-Kanpaku Politics".

Emperor Toba's grandfather, Emperor Shirakawa (reigned 1073–1087), was deeply suppressed by the Fujiwara clan, and it was felt that even if the emperor came of age, he would find it difficult to rule in his own right.

Therefore, Emperor Shirakawa abdicated in 1086, passing the throne to his eight-year-old son, Emperor Horikawa, and becoming the "retired emperor".
Then, he established the "Court Hall" in his capacity as the "ruler of the heavens," bypassing the court officials and directly issuing "Court Proclamations" to control military and political power;

This move successfully sidelined the Censorate and ushered in the "era of Censorship".

Toba followed in his grandfather's footsteps and also became an emperor emeritus.

Because the Emperor must abide by complex court etiquette, his movements are restricted;
The retired emperor could reside in the "Sento Palace," freely summoning samurai, monks, and local gentry to establish his own private faction;

Military, financial, and judicial matters can all be handled directly through the "Court Office," which is far more efficient than the imperial court.

After Chen Shao learned some of the details, his apprehension lessened considerably.

This island nation now has three major forces fighting each other, as well as countless powerful clans.

Unless there is a violent invasion that forces them to unite, these people will try to win you over to deal with their political enemies.

This is similar to the power struggle between King Wang Gae of Goryeo and the Grand Chancellor Yi Ja-gyeom, which allowed Chen Shao to seize the opportunity to enter the fray. Coincidentally, Emperor Toba is now also fighting against his father-in-law, the Fujiwara clan.

The difference is that Goryeo originally had a tradition of respecting the Central Plains dynasties as the main power, but Japan did not.

Therefore, the methods may not be so gentle.

When the envoy entered, Chen Shao was seated next to Zhai Fengda and several eminent monks from the Northwest.

These messengers were really short, only about 1.4 meters tall.

They didn't speak Mandarin and needed someone to translate, but they sat very properly and were very polite.

Chen Shao was still slightly displeased. Everyone in the upper class of Goryeo could speak Chinese, and it was even the official language, which was more standard than his own.

Why don't you say anything?

Actually, this is just a sign of inner turmoil; they feel like picking a fight whenever they see them.

Whether someone wears a hat or not, or which foot steps in first, can all become reasons for him to dislike the Japanese.

At this time, Japan was very closed off. The nobles loved Song coins, porcelain, and Buddhist scriptures, but the imperial court paid no attention to the political situation of the Song Dynasty.

After exchanging a few words, Chen Shao said with a smile, "I plan to send a high-ranking monk to your Japan, bringing eight hundred monks, to learn from and explore Buddhist teachings with your Buddhist disciples."

Upon hearing this, the Japanese envoy was overjoyed and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Several eminent monks from the Western Regions inside the hall clasped their hands together and chanted a Buddhist mantra. Their dignified appearances inspired great admiration from the envoys from Japan.

As expected of a high-ranking monk from a superior country, he truly possesses great composure.

Chen Shao chuckled and exchanged a glance with Zhai Fengda.

Eight hundred top talents from Buddhist academies—their fighting power is frightening even to themselves.

Back then, only sixteen troops were deployed to bring down the Gaochang Khanate.

Chen Shao's goal this time is resources, so for now, the main approach is to divide and win over potential partners, while also identifying suitable collaborators.

Whether it was the Fujiwara clan, the imperial family, or the rising samurai class led by Taira no Kiyomori, they were all the same to Chen Shao.

I won't go to him; let him come to me.

Once the investigation is complete, leverage the influence of Buddhism to establish a firm foothold. Then, simply wait for the various parties to offer their prices.

Whoever betrays the country most thoroughly, I will support them and help them suppress their opponents.

We can't kill our opponents yet; we need to give them appropriate assistance so that the internal strife can continue. (End of Chapter)