Just after dawn, He Yong came outside Yanfu Hall.

The two little eunuchs on night duty saw He Yong and hurriedly whispered their regards.

He Yong nodded and said, "Did the prince summon you last night?"

"No."

"Is there any movement?"

"No, it's very quiet."

He Yong heard no sound all night, and was a little confused as to how to advance or retreat.

When the prince lives alone, he will get up early to practice martial arts, and he will go in early to serve him. It's just that the prince was in a bad mood yesterday and might have gone to bed late, so he might need to catch up on his sleep today.

He Yong hesitated for a while, but decided to wait outside the palace so as not to disturb the prince's rest.

Sure enough, after waiting for a while, the sun had risen, but there was still no movement in the palace.

At three o'clock in the morning, footsteps could be heard in the palace.

He Yong hurriedly ordered the eunuch to prepare for the prince to wash up and prepare breakfast.

When Chao Yong came out of the main hall, he saw that the sun had climbed into the sky and asked, "What time is it now?"

He Yong saw the bloodshot eyes in Chao Yong's eyes and knew that the prince had not slept well last night, so he hurriedly said: "I just reported the hour."

There is a time-telling device on a copper pot with a leak in the palace. Because of its large size, it is not placed in the Yanfu Hall. However, there is a dedicated person in the palace to tell the time.

While he was talking, the little eunuch had already brought water.

After Chao Yong washed up, breakfast was delivered to him.

After eating some randomly, Chao Yong led his soldiers to the palace.

Chao Gai had already dismissed the morning court and was dealing with political affairs in the Chongzheng Hall. When he saw Chao Yong arriving, he asked curiously: "You don't go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, what's the matter?"

Chao Yong did not beat around the bush and said directly: "Didn't my father say that the imperial treasury was tight? I have found a way to make money that can cover the imperial court's expenses for several years."

When Chao Gai heard this, he immediately became interested and asked anxiously: "What is the way to make money?"

Chao Yong smiled and said: "Destroy worldly religions. These religions fooled the people and accumulated a lot of money. The people worked hard to save some money, but they were deceived into squandering it. Destroying them can not only enrich the national treasury, but also prevent the people from being deceived. Isn't that right?

Kill two birds with one stone.”

Chao Gai didn't expect that Chao Yong would actually target religion. He was stunned and said: "All religions?"

Chao Yong nodded and said: "Well, they are all just liars. Manichaeism, a restless religion, has repeatedly incited the people to cause chaos. It is not good for the rule of the court, and it will save trouble if it is destroyed."

Chao Gai was not stupid either. He thought for a moment and said, "What happened to Fang Baihua?"

Chao Yong nodded and said: "Baihua was killed by Lu Shinang. When I returned to the palace last night, Shi Bao and Fang Jie gave me a report."

"What a pity, a good woman."

Chao Gai sighed and said: "I have no objection to destroying Manichaeism to avenge Fang Baihua. But other religions, especially Buddhism and Taoism, have many followers, so I'm afraid there will be trouble. And there are so many gods and bodhisattvas.

If you cut off their incense, I'm afraid they will punish you."

Chao Yong shook his head and said: "There are not so many gods in the sky, and the things they worship basically don't exist, even if some are true. The gods don't need to enjoy the incense of the human world. If the gods can't live without the human world, then they can't either

It’s called a fairy.”

Chao Gai used to have some respect for Buddhism and Taoism. At this time, Buddhism and Taoism were the main religions in the world. If Confucianism can be considered a religion, Confucianism is even more powerful than Buddhism. If he didn't believe in ghosts and gods, he would not go there.

Grab the ghost-suppressing stone tower.

There is no longer the nickname of the King of Pagoda. However, when Chao Yong said that the things he feared before were all fake, he couldn't help but feel angry in his heart. Who knew that the gods who had believed in the gods for many years were just a pile of dirt?

, will also get very angry.

However, after becoming the emperor, Chao Gai became much calmer. He did not get angry, but thought about it and said: "Three martial arts and one sect have destroyed Buddhism, but they have not destroyed Buddhism. We want to destroy all religions."

I’m afraid I can’t do it.”

The Three Wus refer to Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, and the first sect is Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty. When these four emperors were in power, they were all destroyed due to various reasons such as Buddhism amassing a lot of money and Buddhists not observing the precepts.

Buddha is also the four events that have had the greatest impact on Buddhism.

Chao Yong said: "Even if they fail to destroy Buddhism, they have all benefited greatly from Buddhism. And as long as they persist for a long time, even if they cannot completely destroy them, they will be greatly weakened. My father is still in his prime, and he is still alive."

He can reign for decades. If his son does not succeed to the throne in the future, he can also focus on the next emperor and two generations of emperors.

The emperor banned the spread of religion, and most of the teachings were lost. We can also set rules for future generations and strictly prohibit the spread of religion. After several generations of emperors, even if someone wants to spread religion, no one will believe it. Those religions have no way of accumulating.

We have created wealth for many generations, and if we destroy them, we will definitely be able to support the imperial court for several years."

When Chao Gai heard what Chao Yong said, he was very moved. He nodded and said: "Everyone knows the wealth of the Buddhist and Taoist families, otherwise the Song Dynasty would not sell them ultimatums. With three hundred guan and one ultimatum, the rural landlords

I’m reluctant to buy it.”

In addition to being a legal certificate for becoming a monk, the certificate also has many benefits. It exempts people from labor service and does not require clearing roads for entry and exit. Therefore, many businessmen buy the certificate to facilitate business, and some wealthy people buy it to avoid taxes.

Chao Yong said coldly: "The ultimatum is proof that the imperial court and those swindlers defrauded the people of their money. If the emperor believed in those gods and Buddhas, they would not dare to sell the ultimatum. Ordinary people can't save a few dollars a year, and those monks

Tao can be easily taken

They spent three hundred guan to buy a piece of paper. I don’t know how many people they defrauded of their hard-earned money to be so extravagant. Their defrauding the people is no less than corrupt officials. Since our Chao family has conquered the world, we can no longer let them continue.

Defrauding the people."

Chao Gai hated people who defrauded the people the most. He was so excited by what Chao Yong said that he immediately said to the eunuch waiting beside him: "Go and invite the two prime ministers to participate in political affairs."

After finishing speaking, he added: "There is also the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

"According to the decree."

Chao Yong watched the eunuch go out and asked, "When will my father plan to depose the prime minister?"

Chao Gai said with a smile: "Let's celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and let them celebrate the festival too, and then issue an order."

Chao Yong had no intention of asking about the candidates for the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Industry, but was more interested in the situation in Jiangnan. As soon as Chao Yong returned to Beijing, Shi Qian reported to Chao Yong. However, the spy forces under Shi Qian's control now mainly penetrated into Jingdong and Tokyo.

, the intelligence in Hebei, Gyeonggi and Jiangnan areas was collected by Zhu Gui and other hotel sects who were responsible for information from all directions. However, this force was directly commanded by Chao Gai.

"What's the situation in Jiangnan now?"

Chao Gai said: "After Zhao Zisong went south, he helped Zhao Zicheng, who was supported by Tong Guan, to seize power. Later, most of Tong Guan's army dispersed, and the Zhao family took the opportunity to seize a lot of power. Now there are two powerful ministers in the Southern Song Dynasty, one is Tong Guan, and the other is Tong Guan.

One is Zhao Zisong. Lu Shinang also controls more than ten state capitals, and his power is greater than Fang La's before, and his strength is greater than that of the Southern Song Dynasty."

Chao Yong asked curiously: "How did Lu Shinang get so big?"

"It seems that he also relied on the weather. This year, droughts and locust plagues occurred all over the country. Several states in the south of the Yangtze River have been in drought for two consecutive years. After Tong Guan supported Zhao Zicheng in establishing the Southern Song Dynasty, all the money and grain he collected was used to recruit troops. There was no timely relief.

The victims of the disaster caused people in several states to lose their food rations. The local Manichaeans took the opportunity to incite the people and rob big households.

Lu Shinang originally led his troops south to attack Fujian Road, but after the people in Chuzhou and other places in the south of the Yangtze River rebelled, he led his troops north again. Now Lu Shinang claims to have 500,000 troops, occupying Wenzhou, Chuzhou, Taizhou, and Wu

There are six Jiangnan Road cities in Zhouzhou, Muzhou, and Quzhou, as well as several state capitals such as Fuzhou, Jianzhou, and Nanjianzhou on Fujian Road.”

Chao Yong said bitterly: "This guy is very lucky, but even if he has millions of troops, they are just a mob. After Hedong is pacified, I will lead my troops south to pacify Jiangnan."

After hearing this, Chao Gai hurriedly said: "Don't be careless. After Hedong is pacified, some troops and horses must be stationed in Hedong to guard against the Liao Kingdom's Xijing Road. Even with the well-trained new army, the number of troops that can be mobilized will not exceed 100,000.

, I’m afraid it will still be difficult to pacify Jiangnan. Tong Guan led the Western Army to encircle and suppress Fangla. However, it took a hundred thousand casualties for the Western Army to achieve success."

Chao Yong shook his head and said: "Lu Shinang seems to be more powerful than Fang La at the beginning, but the combat effectiveness of his soldiers and horses is definitely not as good as Fang La's soldiers and horses at the beginning. The ones who have combat effectiveness are the Manichaean elites. The remaining ordinary people who are coerced are not

After a long period of training, they are just a bunch of rabble

We can't give Lu Shinang time to train his troops. Once the remaining Tianhu forces in Hedong are wiped out, we can move our troops south. At that time, the weather in Jiangnan will also start to get colder. Our troops and horses don't have to worry about Jiangnan.

The high temperature will definitely wipe out the Southern Song Dynasty and Lu Shinang in one go."

Chao Gai thought for a while and then said: "What you said is reasonable, but we still cannot underestimate the enemy. If we go south, we must mobilize elite troops and strong generals."

Chao Yong nodded and said: "Yes, the remaining Tianhu forces in Hedong have been basically wiped out. I plan to leave Guan Sheng and Han Cunbao's two troops to guard Hedong. I will mobilize Shi Wengong, Hua Rong, Qin Ming Banshi, Hu Yanzhuo, Luan Tingyu, and five more."

Ten thousand new troops led 100,000 soldiers and horses to go south and wipe out the Southern Song Dynasty and the Lu division."

Chao Gai said: "Hasn't Lu Junyi's troops already set off from Xixia? Why don't we bring those 10,000 Liangshan veterans with us? They have strong fighting capabilities."

Chao Yong shook his head and said: "Lu Junyi's troops have traveled thousands of miles to fight, so it is not appropriate to go to the south of the Yangtze River again. After his troops return, they can guard Tokyo together with Wu Song's troops."

Chao Gai thought for a while and said: "Didn't Lin Chong's troops also come from Shaanxi? Those ten thousand veterans have not gained much credit. They must be holding back their energy. You can take them south and save me Liangshan."

The merits of the veterans are not as good as those who later surrendered."

After Chao Yong captured Tokyo, he sent three groups of troops to seize Jingdong Road, Hebei Road, and Gyeonggi Road. Because Lin Chong was familiar with the situation in Tokyo and was a close friend of Chao Yong, he led his troops to stay in Tokyo. Later, Tian Hu and Wang Qing threatened to

After attacking Daliang, Chao Yong transferred Lin Chong's troops to garrison Xijing. As a result, Daliang gathered troops and called for an all-out fight against foreign aggression. Tian Hu

, Wang Qing did not dare to attack Xijing. Then Chao Yong led his troops to fight against Xixia, and Lin Chong led his troops to garrison in Jingzhao Mansion to guard the grain road, but had no chance to participate in the war. Later, three groups of troops surrounded Renzhong's army, and Lin Chong finally got a fight.

Taking the opportunity, he held back his strength and led his troops northward, preparing to kill him. However, Renzhong abandoned another hundred thousand troops and ran away.

When Lin Chong rushed to Huanzhou, Xue Sichang had already surrendered most of Renzhong's troops in Huanzhou, and almost all the remaining bandits were killed by Li Ying and his troops.

It can be said that after capturing Tokyo, Lin Chong's 10,000 soldiers and horses did not get a chance to fight. Although they also got a lot of credit for guarding the grain road, Lin Chong's 10,000 Liangshan veterans were not satisfied. After all, they were the most qualified in Liangshan.

The old soldiers and horses are also the most powerful in combat. There are 20,000 veterans in Liangshan, Lu Junyi brings 10,000, and Lin Chong brings 10,000.

Especially after the news that Lu Junyi led 5,000 men to capture Weizhou and Yanzhou, and surrendered Renzhong and Renli troops, and captured the Yinxia area, reached Lin Chong's army, Lin Chong's officers became even more energetic.
To be continued...