You have truly caused me great suffering!

Kim Boo-seok walked out of the hot spring palace, looking utterly dejected.

He had no way to refute the Emperor of Dajing's words.

One cannot simply oppose the Confucian principles of governance that one insists on.

Thinking back to the officials he had seen returning to the capital after being granted banquets, and then looking at himself, he felt even more distressed.

I regret not being born in the Central Plains, a prosperous country, so that I could leave my mark on such a glorious era.

The thought that the King of Goryeo was still traveling in Suzhou made him even more depressed.

His own ruler did not seem like a ruler capable of restoring the dynasty.

But he never reflected on whether Wang Kai's downfall was due to their ruthless power grab.

They always thought of sidelining the emperor, letting him rule by doing nothing, and leaving the affairs of the country to themselves.

If the emperor actually did that, and they couldn't govern the country well, they would turn around and criticize the emperor for being incompetent.

This is the nature of civil officials; it exists in every dynasty, in the Central Plains, and even in Goryeo, which considered itself a smaller Central Plains region.

Chen Shao's greatest characteristic is that he doesn't go too far in his actions. For example, although he had the idea of ​​tricking Goryeo in his heart, he would only see you if you came to request an audience.

It may seem like the road isn't completely blocked, but in reality, it's just giving you hope and keeping you hanging on, while you're already mentally preparing to feast.

If they are truly ruthless and decisive, I fear that the Koreans might go all out and launch a full-scale attack, which would make the matter of Korea's annexation much more complicated.

Now that they are in power as civil servants, and civil servants are the most indecisive, as long as you keep giving them a glimmer of hope, they will keep compromising.

From the moment he entered Hedong, Chen Shao tasted the sweetness of standing on the moral high ground. He always maintained respect for the Song Dynasty and outward loyalty to the Song court.

As a result, the Song Dynasty gradually backed down, eventually allowing him to consume Song grain and erode the Song Dynasty's territory.

On this land, the phrase "having a legitimate reason for war" is more important than anything else.

If you can control your desires and emotions when you are in a position of power, and do this as much as possible, you will find that everything becomes easier.

Because people from all walks of life hope that the one who rules the rules will be the one who controls the fate of this land.

As long as you follow the rules, you won't be killed or your entire family wiped out for no reason.

People need a sense of security.

As long as you abide by the rules of the Great Jing, Geng Nanzhong can become a high-ranking official in the Dingnan Army; Cai Jing can pass on his political legacy to his descendants; Zhao Huan can live a peaceful and happy life; and military commanders like Li Gang, Wang Bing, and Ma Kuo can continue to lead troops to serve the Great Jing.
Now, this tactic has been used against Goryeo, and they are equally unable to resist.

The rules of this world are sometimes very simple; they don't require deep scheming or manipulation, but rather your self-control.

This idea is a core wisdom emphasized by many schools of thought, including Confucianism, Taoism, and the School of Military Strategy.

It permeates multiple aspects such as governing the country, using military force, and self-cultivation.

Many people know about it, but very few can actually do it, because once people gain power, they easily act impulsively and refuse to compromise in any way.

The Tao Te Ching says: "To hold on to something until it is full is not as good as to stop; to sharpen something to its limit is not to be maintained for long. A house full of gold and jade cannot be guarded; pride in wealth and honor invites disaster."

After Jin Fushi left, Chen Shao's serious, angry but not intimidating expression remained unchanged.

He seems to be too immersed in the role.

Even after returning to her palace, Zhong Lingxi was still puzzled, "Who upset you?"

Chen Shao was slightly surprised and asked, "Really?"

"You look fierce."

Chen Shao laughed and said, "The Koreans are so useless; they've driven their people into rebellion again."

“The Koreans are pitiful,” Zhong Lingxi suddenly said.

"How did you know?" Chen Shao asked, puzzled. Logically, she shouldn't have been exposed to information about Goryeo.

"That's what the Goryeo maids in the palace said; they were born slaves."

Chen Shao naturally knew that social stratification was very serious in Goryeo, and the lower class had no chance to rise up.

In this respect, it is not as good as later Korea.

"It's okay, things will get better in a few years."

Chen Shao thought to himself that once they submitted to the Great Jing, they would naturally be able to enjoy the Great Jing's national policies.

The sooner you join in this kind of thing, the better; the sooner you're on the same side, the better.

Just like Annam, although it was killed so badly by Wu Jie that it was almost completely wiped out.

But now they are fighting and robbing in the southern wilderness, living a very comfortable life.

Even Iwami Kuni, having joined early, now lives a completely different life than he did back then.

Goryeo, having been an independent country for so many years, has inherited a spirit that should not be underestimated. There must be some virtuous and righteous people who are unwilling to be annexed by Daejeong.

It's actually very difficult to subdue such a place, but fortunately Chen Shao is young enough.

As long as he remains, he can gradually win over Goryeo with his unparalleled prestige and consistent, stable policies.

Even if he were to die young, he would have clearly explained to his descendants in his own records how to subdue Goryeo.

Future generations only need to follow Xiao He's rules and Cao Zhi's methods.

If future generations really don't listen, then it can only be said that this is fate.

On this clear and peaceful New Year's Eve, Chen Shao felt very comfortable. Holding the sleeping Empress beside him, he looked out the window.

Through the cracks in the window frame, I could vaguely see that the sky was filled with stars tonight.

Chen Shao suddenly remembered something he had been wanting to do, something he had almost completely forgotten.

As the founding emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty, he considered relaxing the strict laws on astronomy in order to develop navigation; because navigational techniques such as star navigation and sextant mostly rely on astronomy, and the court had previously strictly prohibited people from studying celestial phenomena.

Starting from the Han Dynasty, Confucianism's philosophical interpretation of imperial power became increasingly sophisticated, equating the emperor with Heaven.

During the Han Dynasty, Confucian scholars often used celestial phenomena to explain things. If there were any natural disasters or man-made calamities, they would say that the emperor's virtue had deteriorated and that he had incurred the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people.

The emperors of the Han Dynasty could only endure this humiliation and occasionally reflect on their own behavior.

It wasn't until the Confucian scholars of the Han Dynasty made a big move, putting Wang Mang on the throne. Wang Mang probably genuinely believed in it, which is why, when the Green Forest Army besieged the capital, he even cried out to Heaven in the southern suburbs, praying for divine protection.

He organized thousands of Confucian scholars and common people to weep together, and those who wept most bitterly could be granted the official title of "Lang" (郎), which amounted to more than 5,000 people.

When the city gates finally broke down, he still shouted to the chaotic army, "Heaven has endowed me with virtue; what can the Han soldiers do to me!"

Like Chen Shao tonight, Wang Mang, who had been playing the role his whole life, was probably too deeply immersed in it. He saw himself as the "sage king" of Confucian ideals, shouldering the mission of realizing the utopian society of the Zhou Dynasty.

Throughout history, people like Wang Mang have been considered the most vulnerable to attack.

Therefore, later dynasties were very sensitive to celestial phenomena, fearing that people would use them to interfere in politics or even plot treason.

Chen Shao faces relatively strong resistance in wanting to loosen this restriction, and needs to proceed cautiously.

Moreover, we must indeed guard against some unscrupulous people who link celestial phenomena with politics and spread rumors to mislead the public.

It would be best to establish comprehensive laws.
As he pondered, Chen Shao remembered the importance of observing celestial phenomena, ideally with an astronomical telescope. Telescopes, observatories, and even microscopes—anything that can magnify objects—can enhance people's observational abilities and greatly benefit scientific development.

In terms of utensils, people in the Central Plains preferred translucent glass or delicate ceramics.

Chen Shao once had glass invented, but people focused more on aesthetics than on its practicality.

Chen Shao felt he should guide the conversation.

Zhong Lingxi snuggled closer to him, whimpering softly, whether she was awake or talking in her sleep, it was hard to tell.

Chen Shao smiled and closed his eyes. Even if a person has lofty ambitions, he must first take care of the three basic things: food, clothing, and sleep.

The teacher said that health is the foundation of everything, and the older I get, the more I realize how true that is.

The next morning, Chen Shao ordered the Imperial Household Department to prepare some gifts and send them to the residences of several of his trusted confidants.

He even wrote the letter himself.

The content was largely the same: they all claimed that their new policies were for the long-term benefit of the nation, involved complex issues, and had a long and arduous road ahead. Only with the unity of mind of the ruler and his ministers could they achieve a legacy that would benefit generations to come.

Let everyone continue to work hard in the new year, stay united, and not go against the grain.

Chen Shao is quite satisfied with the current staff of the Secretariat and Chancellery, but as his power and influence increase, his mentality sometimes changes.

Chen Shao thought it best to remind them to stay humble and not get complacent, and not forget their original aspirations.

At noon that day, Qu Duan returned from the northern border. Instead of going back to Jinling, he went to the Hot Spring Palace.

When I met Chen Shao, he was covered in dust, but he was in good spirits.

It's a little better than last year.

After bowing, Qu Duan sat on a small stool and said loudly:
"Your Majesty, I have come from the north and have seen auspicious snow everywhere along the way. Next year will surely be another bumper harvest!"

Chen Shao smiled and said, "I hope so. A few days ago, it snowed a little here too."

Qu Duan glanced at Chen Shao again, a thought forming in his mind, though he wasn't sure if it aligned with His Majesty's.

After His Majesty pacified the desert last year, he neither reduced the number of troops nor recalled them for resettlement.

It should be noted that many of these soldiers were veterans of the Xiazhou Camp of the Dingnan Army.

Given His Majesty's temperament, he should have transferred them back to prosperous lands long ago.

It seems His Majesty still intends to use force.

Looking around, who can we wage war against now? Only Yelü Dashi!

Perhaps there was also Wanyan Balisu, but Wanyan Balisu was too afraid of His Majesty and fled far away, separated by a large area of ​​land, all of which belonged to the Liao Kingdom.

The Liao Dynasty is now a powerful nation, and if we were to wage war against it, the war would be no small matter.

He has been planning this all year.

"Your Majesty, while I was in the Northwest, I often heard people say that the Khitan were rising again in the Western Regions. Yelü Dashi, as the head of the Liao imperial family, gathered a band of fugitives and recruited the Turkic troops, and finally defeated the Seljuk 100,000 iron cavalry at Qatwan! Their momentum is established, and their ambitions are unfathomable."

As the Grand Minister knows, this Yelü Dashi is no ordinary Khitan barbarian. He is fluent in Chinese, knowledgeable in military strategy, and once passed the imperial examination in the Liao Dynasty, serving as a military advisor in the south. He is also a warrior renowned for his bravery in countless battles. When the Liao Dynasty fell to the Jin Dynasty, he harbored deep resentment over the destruction of his country and home, yearning day and night to reclaim his lost land. Although he has now fled thousands of miles away, his heart has never forgotten Youyan (present-day Hebei and southern Hebei)!

Chen Shao smiled and looked at Qu Duan.

The latter, feeling somewhat embarrassed by his gaze, quickly said, "Though I am not wise, I am still receiving the emperor's bounty and dare not fail to exert my utmost loyalty. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to consider this!"

Chen Shao laughed and said, "You and I, ruler and subject, are all on the same side, so why hide anything? In my opinion, Yelü Dashi is only interested in consolidating his current rule and has no intention of advancing eastward."

Qu Duan felt ashamed.

Unexpectedly, Chen Shao changed the subject and said, "However, I do indeed intend to move westward."

Qu Duan's eyes suddenly brightened.

"You are in the Northwest, so train your soldiers well. Many new treasuries have been built in the Ili River Valley, and I will fill them slowly. If there is an opportunity to advance westward, we will expand our territory. This time, we will cross the Ili River Valley, and the battlefield will be so vast that neither you nor I can imagine."

"The cavalry is the foundation of our Dingnan Army and must not be neglected. Do not underestimate the difficulty of the Western Regions. Once we get through, there will be open plains. Moreover, the western barbarians do not have any high cities or large towns. The cavalry has a great role to play."

Qu Duan stood up excitedly, "Your Majesty, rest assured!"

They are at the height of their power; what they fear is not having a battle to fight, not the size of the enemy's territory.

In recent years, Yelü Dashi has been increasingly successful in his campaigns in the west, while Wanyan Balisu has been living a more and more comfortable life in the north. Although the two countries are sworn enemies, they do not have a strong desire to attack and vie for supremacy. Instead, they tend to target weaker tribes.

Moreover, they all understood one thing: what could destroy them was not each other, but the great scene to the east.

If they start fighting each other, sooner or later Da Jing will reap the benefits.

Both of them are shrewd and intelligent; they surely understand this principle.

Qu Duan finally got the answer he wanted most: His Majesty has the ambition to advance westward, which is the most important thing.

As long as Your Majesty has this ambition, there is no fear of not having battles to fight or not having achievements to build.

Waiting a few more years until the time is right would be the best option.

The anxiety that had been hanging over them finally subsided, settling into their hearts.

Now we can focus on preparing for the competition.

Your Majesty is truly wise. You speak frankly and openly with your ministers about everything. Qu Duan is completely convinced of this.

He didn't say anything more; the two, ruler and subject, actually had a very good understanding.

It is said that Qu Da likes to act first and ask questions later, but every time he does something, he does it only after he has figured out Chen Shao's thoughts.

Otherwise, given the current emperor's sensitivity to power, how could he allow a subordinate to continue acting independently? If he were dissatisfied, he would have dismissed him long ago.

If Chen Shao wanted to have a legitimate reason for his campaign, he needed a minister known for his 'recklessness' to do things that he himself was not comfortable doing.

After seeing Qu Duan off, Chen Shao returned to his palace, only to find that Zhong Lingxi had already left.

Imperial Noble Consort Li Shishi also arrived early this morning.

Seeing Chen Shao's joyful return, Li Shishi knew he must have gone to see his old subordinates.

Only at times like these would the young man reveal such a radiant expression.

She smiled and bent down to take off Chen Shao's robe and cloak, while Chen Shao took the opportunity to grab her buttocks.

Only when he was with Li Shishi did he often act like a child, which Li Shishi didn't mind. She asked him when he was going to visit his aunt.

Chen Shao usually spent the New Year in the imperial city of Jinling, and by this time he would have already gone there.

He thought for a moment and said, "Let's go tomorrow."

Li Shishi nodded and said, "Let's make a scene and go stay for a while."

"Then let her go."

Even outside the palace, there are guards watching over things, and the residence of Chen Guanglie, who has now been promoted to Prince, is also heavily guarded. (End of Chapter)