Huangming

Chapter 406 Feigning Military Strength, Two Feudatories Compete to Submit

Pyongyang.

In the courtyard hall that Li Zong temporarily requisitioned.

A bloody head, looking particularly gruesome, was placed on the desk.

It was Park Hee's head.

Unmelted snowflakes still clung to the strands of Park Hee's severed head, and her eyes were wide open, as if she still harbored the resentment and anger she felt before her death.

Dressed in a red casual suit, Lee Jong stood before the table, staring intently at Park Hee's severed head. Veins bulged on his face, and his once handsome features were distorted by rage.

"It's you, you traitor!"

Li Zong slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with resentment and malice.

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been besieged at Dacheng Mountain and almost lost my life."

Why should we bow down to the Ming Dynasty and be bound by those harsh conditions?

He recalled the days when he was chased and fled in a sorry state by Park Hee's refugee army, the three "humiliating conditions" that Hong Ruifeng brought back, and Mao Wenlong's all-powerful demeanor. His anger surged in his chest like magma.

All the pent-up frustration wanted to be released through this head.

"Somebody come!"

Li Zong suddenly turned around and shouted towards the outside of the hall:

"Skin this traitor's head and make it into a wine vessel! I will drink from it every day, so that he will not find peace even in death!"

Upon hearing this, the guards outside the hall changed their expressions slightly, but dared not disobey, and quickly bowed in response:

"As Your Highness commands."

"Your Highness can't!"

Hong Ruifeng, who had been standing by, quickly stepped forward and bowed to dissuade him.

"Although Park Hee is dead, his remaining refugees are still wandering around Hwanghae Province. If Your Highness were to commit such a violent act now, it might incite discontent among the people and give Yi Hun an opportunity to take advantage of the situation!"

He looked at Li Zong's almost frantic state and was filled with worry.

At this moment, North Korea is no longer the place where Yi Jong could vent his anger at will; a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.

Li Zong's anger faltered, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and looked at Hong Ruifeng:
"What do you mean?"

"General Mao has sent word that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty has summoned him to go south immediately to deal with the Dutch in the South China Sea."

Hong Ruifeng lowered her voice, her tone grave.

"The Ming army will withdraw from Pyongyang within one or two months at most. At that time, without the protection of the Ming Dynasty, Li Hun and the traitor Quan Huan will definitely lead their army north."

If Your Highness does not seize this opportunity to reorganize the army and prepare for war, and restore your strength, I fear you will not even be able to defend Ping'an Road!

These words struck Li Zong like a hammer blow, jolting him awake from his rage.

He suddenly woke up.

Yes!

Once the Ming army left, he lost his backer.

Although Yi Hun was incompetent, he still controlled the military forces of the four southern provinces, and Jeon Hwan's rebels were also stirring up trouble in Gyeonggi Province.

If one does not have sufficient strength, let alone seize the throne, it is uncertain whether one can even save one's life.

"You're right, I lost my temper."

Li Zong's expression gradually regained its composure. He walked to the map, and after much deliberation, said:
"Pass on my order: summon Shen Jingzhen, Gu Hong, and Gu Renhou to a meeting immediately!"

Before long, three men dressed in North Korean official robes strode into the hall and bowed in greeting.

Shen Jingzhen, over forty years old, with a composed face, is Li Zong's maternal uncle.

Ju Hong was a burly man with sharp eyes; he was his maternal uncle.

Ju Renhou was younger, about twenty years old, and was his cousin.

These three were Li Zong's closest relatives and his most trusted confidants.

"Your Highness summoned us here. Is there something important you wish to instruct us on?" Shen Jingzhen spoke first, his tone respectful.

“The Ming army will withdraw in a month or two. At that time, Li Hui and Quan Huan will definitely invade our territory. If we do not have enough troops, we may not be far from defeat.”

Li Zong got straight to the point:
"Shen Jingzhen, you must immediately recruit soldiers in Huanghai Province and recruit five thousand able-bodied men within ten days."

Ju Hong, you are reorganizing your old troops and taking inventory of weapons and armor.

Ju Renhou, you are in charge of training the newly recruited soldiers, and you must not slack off in the slightest.

What I need is an army that can fight, not useless soldiers who can't even defeat refugees!

The three responded in unison, "Your Majesty, we obey!"

Seeing that Li Zong was finally on the right track, Hong Ruifeng breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But then he remembered something, and a troubled look appeared on his face. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke:
"Your Highness, there is one more thing... I need to report to you."

"What's the matter?"

Li Zong turned to look at him, his brows slightly furrowed.

"The grain reserves in Pyongyang are running low."

Hong Ruifeng's voice grew softer and softer.

"When the Jurchens raided Korea last year, they took away most of the grain and fodder, and the rest was mostly looted by Park Hee's army of refugees."

"Currently, the treasury has less than three thousand bushels of grain left. If we were to recruit soldiers, it probably wouldn't even be enough to cover half a month's pay and rations..."

"what?"

Li Zong's eyes widened suddenly, and he strode up to Hong Ruifeng, his face full of disbelief.

"How could there be no grain? With so many officials and gentry in Huanghai Circuit, don't they have any grain reserves?"

"Most of the grain stored by officials and gentry was also confiscated by Park Hee."

Hong Ruifeng said with a bitter face, "The remaining families are also holding onto their grain and refusing to let go, saying that 'they also need to make a living.' When I sent people to requisition it, they made all sorts of excuses."

Li Zong's face instantly darkened. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying:

"They refuse to give it? Then we'll conscript them! I need to recruit soldiers to defend against the enemy and ensure the stability of the entire Korea. If they dare to hoard provisions, they are treasonous!"

"Your Highness, no!"

Hong Ruifeng quickly tried to dissuade her.

"The people have no food left in their homes. Last winter, countless people starved to death in the north. If we forcibly requisition more, it may incite a popular uprising."

"At that point, we won't even need Li Hui to attack; we'll be in chaos ourselves!"

Upon hearing Hong Ruifeng's words, Li Zong froze on the spot.

Forced requisitioning loses popular support.

If we don't forcibly requisition supplies, we won't have enough food and provisions.

Li Zong felt a surge of powerlessness wash over him.

Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice; without provisions, how can recruited soldiers be trained?
How to fight a war?

Once the Ming army leaves, his soldiers will be unable to even guarantee the most basic rations. Will they still obey his orders then?
"Perhaps... we can borrow grain from the Ming army."

Seeing Li Zong's anxiety, Hong Ruifeng offered a solution.

Borrow grain from the Ming army?

Li Zong suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by hesitation.

He had considered this path, but in the Ming Dynasty, "no one gets up early without a reason," and Mao Wenlong was a man who valued profit above all else.

The three conditions imposed on Korea last time already caused heavy losses. What harsh conditions will the Ming Dynasty impose this time for borrowing grain?

Should we cede more ports, or ask for more warhorses?
"Your Highness, there is no other way at the moment."

Hong Ruifeng seemed to see through his thoughts, raised her head, and advised him with a hint of urgency in her voice:

“We can submit a memorial to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, using only humble language, and then present him with rare and precious items from Korea.”

For example, they would offer virgins, century-old Korean ginseng, and furs like black fox and sable, as well as gyrfalcons, hunting dogs, and even eunuchs, gold, and silver—using these "sincere gestures" to gain the Ming emperor's attention and assistance.

He paused, then added, "Moreover, in the Ming Dynasty's harem, there are two tribute women sent by our Joseon. Although they are not of high rank now, they can still see His Majesty often."

Your Highness may write two letters, instructing them to speak to His Majesty on his behalf, pleading with him to consider the tributary relationship and grant them provisions.

Upon hearing Hong Ruifeng's words, Li Zong quickly began to calculate in his mind.

Virgins, ginseng, and furs, though considered treasures of Korea, are ultimately "inedible" and are nothing compared to life-saving food.

As for the tribute women of the imperial harem, they were originally sent to the Ming Dynasty to maintain relations with the Ming, and now they have come in handy.

If we can borrow provisions, we will have the confidence to recruit soldiers and prepare for war, and it will be worth it even if we have to pay a price.

"That's it!"

Li Zong made a sudden decision, and the hesitation in his eyes completely disappeared.

"Hong Qing, you shall immediately prepare the tribute."

The virgins to be chosen are stunning beauties with dignified appearances and impeccable backgrounds; the ginseng must be over a hundred years old; the furs must be the finest black fox and sable; and as much gold and silver as there is, that's all that will be given away.

"Then send someone on horseback to Seoul to retrieve the letters from the women who were tributes to the imperial harem. I will personally write a reply and attach it to the letter."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Hong Ruifeng bowed in agreement, turned and quickly left, finally bringing a sense of busyness to the side hall.

For the next ten days, Li Zong frantically plundered the tribute items.

Believe it or not, they actually managed to find him quite a few good things.

Park Hee was a bandit, but he used the guise of advocating for the people and did not harass ordinary citizens too much.

They only targeted officials and gentry.

Li Zong, on the other hand, targeted ordinary people and achieved considerable success within ten days.

now.

In the backyard of the government office, a dozen maids dressed in plain clothes stood with their heads bowed, their faces showing fear.

These women were beauties that Li Zong had plundered from Huanghai Road.

There were indeed many beautiful women in Goryeo, some of whom even King Yong drooled over.

But for the sake of his grand ambition, he had no choice but to reluctantly send these beauties to Beijing to curry favor with the Ming emperor.

The warehouse in the backyard was piled high with prepared offerings.

100-year-old Korean ginseng, black fox fur, and gyrfalcon
The tributes were plentiful and varied.

Li Zong personally inspected the tribute items every day, fearing even the slightest mistake.

In order to receive grain supplies from the Ming Dynasty.

When Li Zonglian met Mao Wenlong, he put aside all his royal arrogance and treated him with the same respect as if he were serving an elder.

They did everything they could to be servants.

That morning, Li Zong brought freshly picked ginseng to see Mao Wenlong again.

The main hall of the city.

Mao Wenlong was sitting at his desk looking at a map. When he saw Mao Wenlong enter, he merely raised his eyes and asked, "Your Highness has come again today. Has the tribute been prepared?"

"General, you have been very kind. The tribute has been prepared and will be sent to Beijing soon."

Li Zong bowed respectfully, presented the ginseng box with both hands, and spoke humbly.

"This is fresh ginseng that was just picked from the deep mountains of Hamgyong Province yesterday. I have come to present it to the general to help him recover."

Mao Wenlong took the ginseng box, opened it, glanced at it, and casually placed it on the table, a smile immediately appearing on his face.

"Your Highness is very thoughtful."

During this period, he enjoyed the treatment befitting the founding father of North Korea.

Beautiful women, delicious food, and fine wine were all sent to him to curry favor.

There's more ginseng than you can eat.

They were extorting and demanding bribes, living an incredibly comfortable life.

As the saying goes, "He who takes a man's money is bound to him," and Mao Wenlong was naturally generous in supporting this hopeless Li Zong.

"Relying solely on tribute to obtain grain is ultimately too slow."

I have already sent word that the military commanders of Hamgyong Province, Pyongan Province, and Hwanghae Province must lead their troops to Pyongyang to pay homage to you within three days.

With these three armies, your forces will be stronger, and they also have some food, which will allow you to last longer.

That's enough to get the Ming Dynasty's grain supplies over.

Upon hearing this, Li Zong was both surprised and delighted.

He had summoned the three military commanders many times before, but they either made excuses or pretended to comply while secretly disobeying. Now, with just one word from Mao Wenlong, they dared not disobey. This is the deterrent power of the Ming Dynasty!

"Thank you, General!"

He quickly bowed and thanked him, his tone full of genuine gratitude.

"With the general's help, North Korea will surely overcome this difficulty!"

Mao Wenlong waved his hand, said nothing more, and simply told him to go down and wait for further instructions.

Three days later.

As expected, the three military envoys arrived on schedule.

The commander of Hamgyeong Province led 2,000 men, the commander of Pyeongan Province led 3,000 men, and the commander of Hwanghae Province also brought 2,000 men. In addition, with the 13,000 young men that Yi Jong had recruited in the past ten days, his forces instantly swelled to 20,000.

With 20,000 people, their strength can be described as formidable!

But when Mao Wenlong went to the drill ground to check it out in person, there was no smile on his face.

The soldiers on the drill ground stood sparsely, most of them wearing tattered cloth clothes, holding either rusty longswords or sharpened wooden sticks in their hands, and few even had decent armor.

Only the regular troops brought by the three military commanders were wearing tattered leather armor, barely resembling soldiers.

"This is what you call 20,000 troops?"

Mao Wenlong pointed to the crowd on the drill ground, somewhat disappointed.

"Besides those seven thousand people, what's the difference between the remaining thirteen thousand and the refugees you dealt with before?"
They don't even have enough armor and weapons. Forget about fighting Li Hui's army; even if another wave of refugees came, they could be overwhelmed.

Li Zong's face flushed red instantly, but he dared not refute.

Mao Wenlong was telling the truth. These 20,000 troops looked like a lot, but in reality, they were just a bunch of rabble with no real power.

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain that "there is a shortage of food and supplies, and we are unable to purchase equipment," but he swallowed the words back. Mao Wenlong looked at his embarrassed appearance and shook his head: "Never mind, it's quite an achievement that you were able to gather these people."

It's fine if they're a little weak; it's if these people are too strong that he should be worried.

"I will have my headquarters train you for a month. After that, it will be up to you."

Upon hearing this, Li Zong was overjoyed.

"Thank you, General."

Mao Wenlong remained expressionless.

Mao Wenlong trained these soldiers with the intention of finding traitors among them.

The middle and lower-ranking officers he promotes can be given more benefits, which will inevitably make these people closer to the Ming Dynasty.

If Li Zong dares to defy the Ming Dynasty, these people might become his weapons instead of his own.

"As for the matter of provisions, I will mention it to His Majesty on your behalf, but whether it will be successful depends on His Majesty's decision."

You'd better hurry up and reorganize this rabble, because once I head south, no one will be protecting you anymore."

"General, rest assured, we will do our utmost in this matter!"

Mao Wenlong left the music hall after he finished speaking.

Li Zong stood still, looking at the soldiers of varying ranks on the training ground, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

The matter of borrowing grain has made progress, and the troops have been gathered, but the problem has not been completely solved.

If they cannot obtain food and equipment as soon as possible, these 20,000 troops will ultimately be nothing more than an empty shell, easily defeated.

but
For him, everything was finally moving in a positive direction.

In Mao Wenlong's eyes, this was a rabble that was not even as good as refugees, but in Li Zong's eyes, it was a rare "fighting force" in North Korea today.

After all, Korea had already been severely weakened by the plundering by the Jurchens and the uprisings of displaced people.

The soldiers under Yi Hun in the south were mostly hastily assembled local militia; the Jeon Hwan rebels in Gyeonggi Province were an even bigger rabble.

Under the excellent matching mechanism of the North Korean region.

Now he commands 20,000 troops, and even if half of them are unarmored, it is enough for him to gain a foothold among the weak forces in Korea.

Back in the city hall, Li Zong still couldn't hide his smile.

On the table was a freshly warmed ginseng wine. He picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. The warmth slid down his throat, and even the unpleasantness of being mocked by Mao Wenlong as a "rabble" vanished.

"Indeed, the Ming Dynasty is still the Ming Dynasty!"

He put down his wine cup and sighed to the servant beside him.

"If they are willing to take action, the situation in North Korea can be resolved with just a word."

The three military commanders were so arrogant before, but with just one order from General Mao, didn't they obediently lead their troops to surrender?

In his heart, the Ming Dynasty is now like a strict yet reliable "father".

Although they may impose harsh conditions, they always manage to lend him a hand at crucial moments.

With such a powerful backer, he wouldn't be afraid of anything, not just Lee Hun, but even if ten more Park Hee appeared.

"Congratulations to Your Highness, congratulations to Your Highness!"

The attendant quickly echoed his agreement.

"With the Ming Dynasty backing him up, Your Highness's seizure of the throne is just around the corner!"

Li Zong was overjoyed and was about to drink another cup when the door to the warm pavilion was suddenly kicked open. Hong Ruifeng rushed in, her face deathly pale, forgetting even to bow, her voice trembling with urgency:
"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! Li Hui's envoy... Li Hui's envoy to see General Mao has entered Pyongyang and is currently meeting with General Mao in the main hall of the government office!"

"Bang!"

Li Zong suddenly smashed the wine cup in his hand to the ground, spilling wine everywhere and scattering shards.

The smile on his face froze instantly, his pupils contracted sharply, and he stood up abruptly, saying incredulously:
"What did you say? Li Hui's envoy? He dares to go see General Mao?"

Hong Ruifeng, panting heavily, nodded and said:

"Absolutely true! I just received this information from the vicinity of the government office. The envoy was carrying more than a dozen boxes of tribute, which shows that he was well-prepared!"

Li Zong staggered back half a step, only managing to steady himself by grabbing the corner of the table. His eyes instantly became unpredictable.

What he was most worried about happened.

Li Hun was, after all, the current king, holding territories in the four southern provinces. If he offered the Ming Dynasty more favorable terms than he had, such as more gold, more fertile land, or greater obedience...

Will Mao Wenlong switch sides and support Li Hui?

At that time, his hard-earned 20,000 troops and the grain and fodder he had managed to borrow would all vanish into thin air.

Once Yi Hun gains power, the first person he will target is this "traitor." Forget about seizing the throne, he probably won't even know how he died!

"No! We absolutely cannot let Li Hui succeed!"

Li Zong clenched his fist tightly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

"Hong Qing, go and keep an eye on the area near the government office immediately! No matter what Li Hui's envoy talked about with General Mao, no matter what conditions they offered, you must find out!"

"Remember, anything Li Hui can give, we can give!"

He gives us a thousand taels of gold, we give him two thousand taels; he gives us a hundred ginseng roots, we give him two hundred! Even if it means offering all the taxes of Ping'an Road to the Ming Dynasty, we absolutely cannot let General Mao side with Li Hui!

Hong Ruifeng's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty, I obey! I will go immediately!"

At this moment, Li Zong had been forced to the edge of a cliff.

The support of the Ming Dynasty was his only reliance. If he lost this reliance, he would face utter ruin.

After Hong Ruifeng left in a hurry, only Li Zong remained in the warm pavilion.

The charcoal fire still burned brightly, but it couldn't dispel the chill in his heart.

He is now filled with anxiety and unease.

The “father’s country” that I just thought was reliable has now become the most dangerous variable.

Whoever Mao Wenlong favors will prevail in the chaos in North Korea.

He could only bet everything he had, like a gambler, hoping to win.

the other side.

Inside the main hall of the Pyongyang Prefectural Government.

Mao Wenlong sat upright in the nanmu chair in the main seat, his gaze falling on the elderly man bowing below, with a hint of scrutiny.

The old man was dressed in a Korean official robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the hem. Although his hair was completely white and his body was hunched, he still stood up straight. He was none other than Jeong In-hong, the chief councilor of the Korean Uijeongbu government.

He was the head of the North Korean civil service and was known as the "Chief Minister".

At the advanced age of 86, Zheng Renhong should have been enjoying his retirement at home, but he was sent by Li Hun as an envoy, which shows Li Hun's fear of the Ming Dynasty and his hostility towards Li Zong.

"Your humble servant Zheng Renhong greets General Mao of the Great Ming Dynasty."

Zheng Renhong clasped his hands together, bowed, and performed a slow but meticulous bow.

"By order of the King of Joseon, I have come to discuss the affairs of Joseon with the General."

Mao Wenlong nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Zheng Renhong's wrinkled face for a moment, and a sense of admiration arose in his heart.

At his age, to travel thousands of miles to Pyongyang demonstrates a level of perseverance that far surpasses that of the empty-talking officials in the North Korean court.

He raised his hand to indicate, "Minister Zheng, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."

After Zheng Renhong sat down in the side seat, Mao Wenlong slowly opened his mouth and asked:
"Has the Prime Minister come here regarding Li Zong?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Renhong's previously calm expression instantly turned serious. He sat up straight, looked directly at Mao Wenlong, and spoke earnestly, yet with a hint of accusation:

"General, you are wise!"
Since the Hongwu era, Korea has been a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, and has always respected the Ming Dynasty as its suzerain state, never harboring any disloyalty.

"Now that His Majesty King Li Hui is still alive, General, you are supporting an 'internal traitor' like Li Zong to raise an army and rebel. Doesn't this violate the suzerain state's original intention of 'pacifying its vassal states'?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "traitor" in an attempt to persuade Mao Wenlong with the concepts of "the proper relationship between ruler and subject" and "the etiquette between the imperial clan and the vassal state."

In the Confucian mindset, status and legitimacy are paramount. Li Zong's rebellion against the emperor was an unjust act, and if the Ming Dynasty supported him, it would be a breach of the fairness of being the "suzerain."

Mao Wenlong, however, seemed oblivious to the underlying meaning. He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and calmly said:
“Prime Minister Zheng is wrong.”

He put down his teacup, and his voice suddenly turned stern.

"Since I led my troops into Korea, I have never 'supported' anyone. I was merely helping you eliminate anti-people like Park Hee who plundered the people at Korea's request."

"I am happy to see Li Zong quell the rebellion; but if he dares to rebel, I will be the first to punish him."

These words neither acknowledged supporting Li Zong nor implied that Li Zong's actions were dependent on the Ming Dynasty's approval, leaving Zheng Renhong speechless for a moment.

Zheng Renhong knew that it was pointless to talk about "Confucian principles and social hierarchy" with a military general like Mao Wenlong; the other party only cared about interests and strength.

Since the hard approach doesn't work, we have to resort to the soft approach.

Use tangible benefits to persuade Mao Wenlong to abandon his support for Li Zong.

Zheng Renhong took a deep breath, suppressing his discomfort, and got straight to the point:
“If the general is willing to stop supporting Yi Jong and allow him to withdraw his troops and surrender, I, the King of Joseon, am willing to make that promise.”

The Joseon royal family accepted all of the conditions that Yi Jong had previously agreed to with the general!
Whether it's placing warships under the control of the Ming Dynasty, handing over ports to the Ming garrison, or paying tribute of warhorses annually, I, the King of Joseon, am willing to comply!

Zheng Renhong felt that the conditions promised by Yi Zong were already the limit, and as long as his king was willing to accept them all, Mao Wenlong had no reason not to choose "the legitimate successor of Korea".

But after listening, Mao Wenlong slowly shook his head.

He cursed Li Zong inwardly for his incompetence.

Damn it!

He couldn't even hold onto the core conditions of the negotiations, and Li Hui easily discovered them. He really is an incompetent fool.

However, he quickly composed himself and his words became calm again.

“General Zheng, I am naturally aware of the conditions that Li Zong agreed to.”

However, these things alone are not enough to make me give up my support for him.

Zheng Renhong's expression changed instantly. He clenched his hand in his sleeve, suppressing his unease, and asked:

"Please speak plainly, General. What conditions does my king require of me?"

"Not much."

Mao Wenlong chuckled lightly, his tone casual, yet every word was piercing.

"Once the situation in North Korea stabilizes, the official language of North Korea will be changed to Chinese."

Korean noblemen who were fifteen years of age or older were required to study at the Imperial Academy in Beijing for three years and could only return to Korea after passing the Ming Dynasty's examination.

Furthermore, the appointment and removal of Korean officials required prior examination at the Liaodong Military Commandery; only those approved by the Ming Dynasty could assume office.

"you!"

Zheng Renhong suddenly stood up, trembling with anger, his face flushed red, and even his white beard was shaking.

"General, you're trying to sever the roots of my Joseon! If we agree to these conditions, will Joseon still be considered an independent country? It will be nothing more than a prefecture of the Ming Dynasty!"

Changing the language is an attempt to erase North Korea's cultural identity.

The nobles went to the capital for further studies in order to control the future of Korea in the hands of the Ming Dynasty.

The requirement for officials to undergo rigorous evaluation by the Ming Dynasty was intended to completely undermine the administrative power of North Korea.

These are not "conditions" at all; they are clearly meant to completely reduce Korea to a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, without even giving it the last bit of dignity of a "tributary state"!
Seeing his fury, Mao Wenlong smiled instead. He leaned back in his chair, his tone casual yet undeniably authoritative:
"Prime Minister Zheng, there is no need to be angry. Whether you agree or not is entirely up to you."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Zheng Renhong, and said, word by word:

"Anyway, even if you don't agree, there are others who will."

"If I were to tell Li Zong these conditions, do you think he would immediately agree?"

These words were like ice water poured over Zheng Renhong's head, instantly calming him down.

In order to seize the throne, Li Zong was willing to agree to even the harsh conditions he had previously imposed. If Mao Wenlong were to offer these "advanced conditions," Li Zong would probably agree without hesitation.

At that point, Yi Hun's legitimacy as the king would no longer be of any significance.

Zheng Renhong stood frozen in place, his face turning from flushed to pale. His lips moved, but he could no longer utter a word in rebuttal.

Looking at Mao Wenlong's confident demeanor, he felt utterly hopeless.

Faced with the absolute power of the Ming Dynasty, Korea didn't even have the right to bargain.

a long time.

He slowly sat down, his voice carrying a helpless sense of resignation:
"I dare not agree to the general's conditions without authorization."

After the foreign envoy returns, he will immediately write to the King of Joseon. Once the King has made his decision, he will then reply to the general.

"can."

Mao Wenlong nodded slowly, his tone very calm.

"I'm giving you ten days. If you haven't given me a reply by then, then in my eyes you've refused."

As for the consequences of not agreeing, Zheng Renhong was well aware of them.

This means that the balance of power in the Ming Dynasty will completely tip in Li Zong's favor, leaving them with no room for maneuver.

With a belly full of worries, Zheng Renhong walked away heavily, his back view revealing a hint of anxiety.

As Mao Wenlong gazed in the direction he had disappeared, a faint smile quietly crept onto his lips.

Some dishes are only truly delicious when everyone is scrambling to eat them.

Both Li Zong and Zheng Renhong's factions now want to win the support of the Ming Dynasty. As long as the Ming Dynasty's attitude remains unclear, they can only compete with each other to please the Ming Dynasty.

No matter how much they had previously refused to agree to certain conditions, when faced with the word "survival," they would eventually have to reluctantly agree.

As for this method of provoking confrontation between the two sides, is it too ruthless and will it cause the North Koreans to secretly hold a grudge?
Mao Wenlong merely sneered inwardly, without a trace of hesitation in his eyes.

Weak nations have never been qualified to talk about diplomacy, let alone concern themselves with how ruthless their methods are.

not to mention.

Now that the main force of the Jurchens has been defeated, they are no longer a threat.

Japan has retreated to its islands and closed itself off from the world, not even bothering to venture out of its coastal areas.

Given the current state of affairs in North Korea, it is impossible to find any external support that it can rely on. What other choice does it have but to follow the wishes of the Ming Dynasty?
A country without strength is ultimately nothing more than a plaything to be manipulated by others.

Zheng Renhong could certainly be tough and refuse to agree to the Ming Dynasty's conditions.

But what if he doesn't agree?

There has never been a shortage of people in this world who are eager to curry favor with the Ming Dynasty and are willing to agree to these conditions.

Li Zong's side is probably waiting for him to give in so that they can take the opportunity to gain the full support of the Ming Dynasty.

If it really comes to that, who will end up with their life in danger, and whose family will be exterminated along with their entire clan?

Political struggle is not a dinner party.
ps:
A long chapter of 7800 words!
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(End of this chapter)