You have truly caused me great suffering!

In the golden autumn of September, the weather was clear and sunny.

The colorful clouds floated in the sky, like brocade, motionless yet resembling a colorful painting.

The autumn sky is always exceptionally high and clear, perfect for climbing to a high place and enjoying the view.

After Qu Duan returned to Jinling, His Majesty the Emperor gave him a very unique welcoming ceremony, inviting him to climb a mountain and enjoy the view.

After resting at home for a night, Qu Duan was full of energy and radiant the next morning.

The thought of climbing the mountain with His Majesty filled him with uncontrollable joy. Spending time with His Majesty often allowed him to hear some unusual and profound truths.

Chen Shao, dressed in light clothes and soft boots, left the palace early in the morning and arrived at the foot of Qixia Mountain.

Only then did they discover that, in addition to Qu Duan, a large group of people had gathered.

Han Shizhong, Wu Jie, Li Tangchen, Yuwen Xuzhong, and about ten other people in total, some invited by Chen Shao and others who came on their own, all wanted to come along.

Before dawn, Brother Pang personally led his men to survey Qixia Mountain from top to bottom, and then deployed many guards on the mountain.

Qixia Mountain has three peaks. The main peak, Fengxiang Peak, stands tall against the sky. The eastern peak is called Longshan, and the western peak resembles a crouching tiger. Maple forests and tallow trees stretch across the mountain.

The mountain road winds and twists, with maple trees of varying heights and densities on both sides, their red shadows shimmering. The crimson leaves, as red as rosy clouds and as vibrant as brocade, complement the cypress trees, creating a dazzling display of colors.

A group of people chatted and laughed, helping each other as they climbed to the halfway point of West Mountain. Looking down, they saw layers upon layers of red leaves covering the mountain, with maple trees standing close together like clusters of flames burning fiercely, a sight that refreshed the mind and spirit.

Tired from walking, they sat on a rock in the mountains, and Chen Shao asked Qu Duan to tell them about Japan.

A wise and capable ruler can decide the policies of the court anywhere, but not in the imperial court.

The imperial court is a place for announcing matters, not for discussing them.

Because if you really release many national policies for discussion without holding a small meeting beforehand to determine the general direction, there will be too many opinions and you don't know what changes might occur.

If emotions are aroused and one is swept up in something impulsive, that would be bad.

For example, today on Qixia Mountain, everyone gathered together and came up with a general idea.

Once the decision is made, it will be discussed in the imperial court. If any actions are deemed excessive or out of line, those present can step in to intervene.

They were all high-ranking officials, and everyone had to analyze their every move and gesture.

Moreover, it can also show the officials in the court that the top leadership of our Great Jing is united and working together towards a common goal.

Discussions in the imperial court can only be icing on the cake, making minor adjustments to improve national policies, rather than deciding on any specific matter.

Qu Duan gave a brief overview of the current situation in Japan, which was very simple. Only Yuwen Xuzhong and Chen Shao present knew the full story.

The others only heard the gist of it.

Sure enough, after Qu Duan finished speaking, Yuwen Xuzhong immediately said, "Ise Province should implement the establishment of prefectures and counties as soon as possible, gradually send officials there, and soon annex it, so as to serve as a bridgehead to penetrate the Kinki region of Japan."

Chen Shao nodded secretly.

That place wasn't lacking in capitulationists; it was full of ambitious local tyrants who wanted to eliminate the nobles who had been entrenched above them for hundreds of years.

But if they want to surrender, you have to give them a place to surrender.

Could it be that they're coming across the sea to Nanjing to make contact?

If they actually had that ability, it would be troublesome.

Taking over Ise Province is not difficult. There is no gentry class like in the Central Plains here, and the control of the top over the bottom is not very reliable.

The arrival of a new government is actually a good thing for the people.

At least now we know who will be paying our taxes.

In the current situation, after the high-ranking nobles have finished collecting, the lower-ranking nobles also want to come and serve and support the temples.

Han Shizhong, feeling a bit bored, nudged Qu Duan with his shoulder and asked, "Qu Da, what's that Japanese thing called again, the Tokaido? How many soldiers and horses do they have?"

"Not many, maybe thirty to fifty thousand soldiers and one or two thousand horses."

Han Shizhong frowned, looking puzzled, but he remained silent.

He felt that the emperor had complicated the matter, but he was also afraid that if he spoke up, His Majesty would order him to fight.

Nanjing is wonderful. Once you come to Nanjing, you won't want to leave. Han Shizhong is incredibly shrewd. He has already achieved his goal and there is no need to cross the sea to fight for more military merits.

Qu Da missed the decisive battle against the Jin army in Hebei, so it's good that this bastard went instead.

Chen Shao's emphasis on Japan was not just empty talk; after all, those mountains of gold and silver were so vast that they could not be exhausted even after hundreds of years.

Gold and silver are universally accepted currencies, serving as hard currencies in transactions with Arab countries and the Western Regions. At the same time, precious metals are also part of fiscal reserves, acting as the final anchor of a nation's credit.

As long as there is sufficient gold and silver, paper money and copper coins will not collapse.

Historically, the Southern Song Dynasty suffered from a severe copper shortage and rampant private minting, leading to a severe devaluation of copper coins ("coin shortage"). Meanwhile, their arch-enemy, the Jin Dynasty, implemented paper currency called "Jiaochao," but due to the lack of gold and silver backing, it repeatedly broke its promises and eventually became worthless.

Chen Shao let Qu Duan explain his plan.

Qu Duan pulled a map out of his sleeve and then unfolded it.

Everyone present was an expert, so they all crowded around. Chen Shao noticed that Han Shizhong was sitting there calmly, looking at the maple leaves below the mountain, and said with dissatisfaction, "Han Wu, what are you doing?"

"Your Majesty, I will keep watch and see if any thieves approach."

Seeing Chen Shao frown, he quickly gave an awkward smile and leaned forward to look at the map that he didn't care about at all.

Chen Shao felt somewhat helpless, but he also knew that Han Wu could not be sent out easily.

If it weren't for Jin Ling's background as a Qiang chieftain, Chen Shao wouldn't have sent him to the Northwest.

"There are so many trenches and waterways." As a civil official, Li Tangchen immediately thought of the difficulty in transporting supplies.

Chen Shao, however, did not care about these things. He listened to Qu Duan explain his plan, which was nothing more than proceeding step by step, much like when he set up a stronghold in the Northwest to destroy the Xia dynasty.

Chen Shao shook his head and said, "You're still too impatient."

He pointed to several areas on the map that were close to Heian-kyo and in eastern Ji-dong, and said, "These places can be gradually annexed; there's no need to set up fortified villages or send troops."

"Let them fight amongst themselves, let the weak among them come to us for help, instead of us taking the initiative to strike."

Cutting meat with a dull knife has only the disadvantage of being slow, but it has many advantages.

Now that Heian-kyo has been massacred by mobs, it is a time when order is lacking in Japan, and such times are often the most chaotic.

Chen Shao wanted this chaotic world to come even more fiercely, more tragically, and for even longer.
Let them fight like dogs, fight until the world is in chaos, fight until they lose their minds, and then they'll sell everything they can to get the support of a powerful outsider.

This is actually very similar to the warlord era in the Republic of China.

What goes around comes around; this time, I'm the one facing the great powers.

Qu Duan was quite disappointed, not expecting His Majesty to have this idea. To put it bluntly, this meant he would lose his military achievements.

After hesitating for a long time, Qu Duan did not continue speaking. His Majesty has always been the one to make decisions on such matters.

Moreover, if we truly set aside our own selfish motives when considering this matter, His Majesty's words might make more sense. Chen Shao then specifically pointed out several points: we must not focus on supporting any single powerful force in Japan, but rather bet on many things, giving everyone a chance while maintaining a certain distance from everyone.

Even the weakest party, if they come to Jing Jun stationed on the island for help, will be given assistance as long as he offers a reasonable price.

Even the strongest party cannot be ignored unless they offer substantial incentives; they cannot take advantage of others' promises.

A great era doesn't need any powerful figures; it's the powerful figures that need a great era.

Qu Duan heard this in his heart, but his mind was no longer on Japan. He had heard that the old general Jin Ling had gone to the Northwest to prepare to pacify the desert.

He silently put away the map, thinking that after returning, he would submit a memorial to the emperor saying that he was homesick, seasick, and suffering from acclimatization problems, and request to be transferred back to the Central Plains.

I hope there will be another opportunity to participate in the war to pacify the desert.

After resting for a while, Chen Shao and the others continued their climb.

Along the way were many historical sites and famous people. It was Chen Shao's first time climbing such a mountain, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Such beautiful scenery is everywhere in the Central Plains! It is truly a magnificent land! Qixia Mountain, what a fitting name. Who named it?"

Although Li Tangchen was panting, he was in high spirits. "Your Majesty, this place was originally called Sheshan. It was named so because the mountain is rich in medicinal herbs that can nourish the body and mind."

In the seventh year of the Yongming era of the Southern Qi Dynasty (489 AD), the hermit Ming Sengshao donated his residence to be converted into a temple, building the Qixia Hermitage. Later, the Zen Master Fadu formally established Qixia Temple. The mountain was named after the temple, and thus became known as Qixia Mountain.

Chen Shao nodded. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the influence of Buddhism in the Central Plains almost got out of control.

Fortunately, there have always been wise people in every dynasty.

However, he also felt that it was right for him to control Buddhism, in case his descendants were like Xiao Yan, who was obsessed with demons.

Even without someone like Xiao Yan who was a devout Buddhist, it would be unbearable if someone came up with the idea of ​​building the Myriad Images Palace for Buddha, just like Wu Zetian.

Religion must be firmly held in the hands of the imperial power. It should be used when the emperor wants to, and its influence should not be allowed to become too great when the emperor does not want to.

It's not true to say that this thing is completely absent.

In the future, people in the Central Plains can believe in Buddhism, but they must believe in it rationally. They should only talk about the Buddha's great supernatural powers after they have been loyal to the emperor, loved the country, and respected their parents.

The Qixia Mountain beneath our feet is a famous Buddhist holy site in Jiangnan, and Qixia Temple is one of the "Four Great Buddhist Temples in the World".

Now, we must also accept the guidance of Chengtian Temple and learn the true Dharma.

After reaching the summit, the civil officials were especially pleased, and they all thought that they should write a travelogue or a poem about climbing the mountain.

With Your Majesty's divine prowess, this article will surely be remembered for generations to come.

I'll start writing as soon as I get back!
Unaware of their thoughts, Chen Shao, after enjoying the beautiful scenery, said to his ministers, "Last month, I ordered the Imperial Household Department and the Six Departments to prepare the Tangshan Palace. We will be setting off for Tangshan to spend the winter in the next few days, and we will certainly see each other less often in the future."

"Take care of yourselves, everyone. Next autumn, we will climb Qixia Mountain again, and no one will be missing."

The officials present all offered auspicious words.

Logically speaking, if an emperor frequently visits a temporary palace, he is a complete replica of Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang), and at least someone should try to persuade him to stop.

But not with Chen Shao. To paraphrase Chen Shao's famous, astounding remark to Tong Guan: "Everyone hopes His Majesty is in good health."
Chen Shao was faking it back then, but the officials nowadays are really.

They were founding heroes, and their interests were closely tied to the emperor's. The healthier Chen Shaoyue was and the more stable the political situation, the more secure their positions would be.

Especially for someone like Han Shizhong, who has made great contributions but received no reward, Chen Shao can naturally keep them in check, so they don't have too many concerns. As long as Chen Shao is alive, no one will be willing to follow them in rebellion.

But with a new young emperor, the country is in turmoil due to his youth, and he will inevitably be suspicious of his meritorious officials and take strict precautions. Life will probably not be as good as it is now.

The founding emperor was loved by the people for many reasons. While it's possible that many of these emperors were genuinely loyal, many were also driven by vested interests.
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In this day and age, the only countries in the world suffering from this slow, insidious torment are Japan and Dali.

Although the use of force against Dali was much gentler, and no extreme measures were taken, the approach was more one of appeasement.

But for those in power in Dali, this is actually even more difficult.

Because you have no way to resist.

What are you rebelling against?
On the surface, all that Dajing gives you is unparalleled dignity and glory.

It's almost like they're offering to pay you for things.

If you really oppose it, you'll give the Great Jing a pretext to attack you. What if they actually send troops to fight you?
Given Dajing's current size, no one is willing to take this risk.

Guangzhou, Gao Mansion.

After praying to Buddha at the temple, the head of the Gao family officially changed his name to Gao Shunzhen before the new year in order to get rid of bad luck.

On the surface, he was Bu Xie (Prime Minister) of the Dali Kingdom, and his title of "Duke of China" was hereditary. However, the people of Dali actually called him Lord Gao.

At this moment, the King of Gao was frowning with worry, seeing that all the surrounding countries had already sent envoys to Jinling to pay tribute.

They were in a very awkward situation in Dali.

Duan Zhengyan, the heir of the Dali Duan family, has just returned from Jinling, but his own son refuses to come back.

Even after I personally wrote him a letter to reprimand him, he still wouldn't come back, saying he had settled down in Nanjing.

If Gao Siyuan doesn't come back, who else can I send?
Nowadays, people from Dajing are constantly pouring into Dali, claiming to help the Wuman nobles trace their roots. But what they find when they investigate is astonishing – their ancestors were all so powerful!

They are all descendants of prominent families from the Central Plains.

The Hong Nonglu clan has been a mixed-race family for generations, but now they have become a powerful and influential family in the Central Plains. They are said to be a branch of the descendants of Ma Yuan, the general who conquered the west during the Han Dynasty. It is truly a shame that that bastard, the ghost lord Hong Achu, dares to admit it!

They even shamelessly held a ceremony to recognize their ancestors and sent members of their clan to the Central Plains to find the descendants of the Ma family to recognize their relatives.

Thinking of this, Gao Shunzhen couldn't help but spit!
These Jing people in Dali have seriously shaken the foundation of his rule. Many of them have been drawn into the tea-horse trade and are actually leaning towards the Jing, their loyalty to him is in jeopardy.

What conditions can the Gao family offer to bring them back?
No conditions are acceptable.

Because you cannot compete with the Great Jing in terms of national strength.

Gao Shunzhen's only consolation was that the Emperor of Dajing must have genuinely felt favorably toward Dali.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths; the fate of neighboring Jiaozhi was witnessed by the entire nation of Dali.

Perhaps it was because Dali had always been respectful to the Central Plains dynasties, never committing any transgressions, and constantly seeking and requesting titles and honors, while also continuously paying tribute.

This only shows that Emperor Dajing was a man of great loyalty and righteousness, but it doesn't mean he would let Dali go or let himself go.

Gao Shunzhen rubbed his head; he was at his wit's end.

He decided to follow the example of Qian Hongchu, the ruler of Wuyue, and take the initiative to go to court to meet His Majesty the Emperor of Dajing!
If all else fails, I should learn from the Qian family and proactively offer up my land and household registration as soon as possible.

Since we can't keep this family business, let's sell it for a high price!

Given Emperor Chen Shao's character, he believed that the other party would not treat him unfairly.

He had this idea a long time ago, but he could never convince himself to accept it.

It wasn't until his son wrote a letter expressing his desire to settle down in Nanjing that his defenses were completely broken, becoming the final straw that broke the back of the Gao family of Dali.

If even a carefully groomed heir is like this, what's the point of holding on? (End of Chapter)