Looking at Xia Xun's expression, the smile on Zhu Di's face slowly solidified: "What? You don't agree?"
Xia Xun said: "Your Majesty, I think Annan cannot be swallowed!"
Zhu Di frowned slightly, then raised his eyebrows and asked in a deep voice: "Give me a reason!"
Xia Xun took a deep breath and then said: "My Ming Dynasty asked Annan to ask questions. It was originally at the request of Annan's Chen family, but now the Chen family has extinct. Of course, the Li family should be punished by sending troops to offend the emperor. We also do it for this reason.
The one who sent the troops was Cheng Guogong. After the British soldiers sent troops to Annam, they first used a stratagem to enumerate Li's crimes and spread them among the people of Annam, so they won the hearts of the people. If we go against our will and annihilate the Li family, we will be in power.
What will Annan's officials and people think about the annexation of Annan? Our help today will become our powerful enemy in the future!"
Zhu Di showed his face and said: "Haha, so you are worried about this! This is not a problem. After annihilating the Li family, I naturally cannot immediately restore the counties and counties in Annan and set up officials. I will make some operations and respond to the Annan military and civilian affairs.
Please, set up counties and counties in a logical manner and let Annan return to China!"
Xia Xun said: "How to respond to the invitation of Annan's army and people?"
Zhu Di said: "If the army and people of Annan are monolithic and united, how can the Li family replace the Chen family? Li family can find people to support him, can't I find someone to speak for me among the senior officials of Annan?"
On the grounds that the Chen family is extinct, does the Ming Dynasty take the initiative to invite me to restore counties and counties in Annan and set up officials directly under the jurisdiction?"
Xia Xun said: "Your Majesty, this is just a means! It's just a name, not the people's hearts! How can the soldiers and civilians of Annan surrender because of this?"
Xia Xun added: "In my opinion, whether it is the Chen family or the Li family in Annan Kingdom, no matter who is the king and respectfully obeys the Ming Dynasty, it is just fear of the strength of the Ming Dynasty, and it is definitely not sincere loyalty.
The Li family takes the Chen family and replaces them. As long as they can still be docile to our Ming Dynasty, it is enough. Even if we try our best to support the Chen family to become the king, it is not the same for our Ming Dynasty. If I am strong, I will be docile, if I am weak, I will not.
Respect the interests! The interests of the country! Everything depends on the interests of the country. This is true for Annan, and it is also true for me, the Ming Dynasty!"
Zhu Di said: "Isn't it the interest of the country to expand its territory?"
Xia Xun said: "Yes! However, there is a limit to everything, and going too far is not enough. Genghis Khan's land of thousands of miles disappeared in an instant. Isn't this a lesson learned from the past? When Ming Dynasty wants to expand its territory, first of all, we must look at the terrain. The land is dangerous and dangerous. Once it falls into the hands of others,
The hand of the Ming Dynasty is a serious problem for us, so we must seize it! The second is to see its wealth, a land of plenty, and it can help tens of thousands of Hui people, so we must seize it! The third is to see if it is controllable, whether it can be defeated, and whether it can be managed.
, can be taken away! Fourth, it depends on whether it is beneficial or not beneficial to my people with my court, the harm outweighs the benefits, and if it is better to get in than to get out, it should not be taken!
Your Majesty, Annan has never been a nuisance to our Ming Dynasty. The barbarians in the North have been our everlasting powerful enemy in the Central Plains. Although the Tatars have suffered setbacks, their vitality has not been lost. Once the battle between Oara and the Tatars has some effect
If the situation eases, the Tatars will inevitably invade the south again. Our great enemy is still living well in the north. At this time, hundreds of thousands of troops are left in Annan, which consumes countless grains and rice every day. It is really a huge drain on the national strength.
Soldiers, a major matter of the country, the place of life and death, the way of survival, must not be careless. Is this way of survival only reflected in "defeat"? Otherwise, a tragic victory will also be an unbearable burden. This tragedy may be the casualties of soldiers
The weight of war can also be the weight of national wear and tear. To put it bluntly, it is not a business, but it has a common principle. If the cost of war far exceeds the gain of war, why do we fight?
Furthermore, there are many major events in the court now, such as dredging the canal, consolidating Liaodong, and sending treasure ships to sea...a series of major events, all of which cost a lot of money. If too many things are done at once, the people will be seriously injured. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty Just fighting a Xiongnu, because he didn't know the restraint, fought again and again, and finally exhausted all the national power saved by the Wen and Jing dynasties, leaving ten houses and nine empty, countless families were ruined, and the country's vitality was seriously damaged. Lin Laofang's next step It is a sin, but can the countless people who died of cold and hunger be resurrected for this?
The Emperor knows that Annan has belonged to China since the time of Qin Shihuang, so he should also know that it was not owned by me before. Qin Shihuang established Xiang County to govern Annan. Only eleven years later, Annan became independent again; another hundred and two years later, Annan became independent again. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty destroyed it. Since then, the people in Annan have repeatedly resisted. Three hundred years later, they have become independent again. Most of the time since then..., haha, it is true that the Central Plains Empire does not recognize its independence, but there are a few who can really control it. Is it governed as a county in the Central Plains? What does it actually look like?
In the Tang Dynasty, the Emperor should be very clear that the duty of the Protector was to "pacify the vassals and pacify the foreign invaders", and to truly manage the affairs of the surrounding Hui people by "pacifying, conquering, recounting their merits, and punishing them." The affairs of the clan's headquarters are still handled by its local leaders, and the Protectorate is very different from the counties. The Mongols annexed thousands of miles of mountains and rivers in the Central Plains, and were defeated three times in Annan, and stopped there.
If the Mongols continue to invade south, can the small territory of Annan resist it? Of course not, then why did the Mongols stop here? Because the gains outweigh the losses! Emperor Taizu Gao once said: 'The barbarians in the four directions and the small southern barbarian countries are limited to mountains. The sea is remote in a corner, and its land is not enough to supply it, and its people are not enough to command it. If it does not think about itself and comes to disturb us, it is unlucky. If it is not a trouble to China, but I raise an army to attack it, it is also unlucky. ', I think this is a wise saying."
Xia Xun has been thinking about these words for a long time. He has also tried his best to understand Annan's previous situation and current situation. Combining the current situation and the original historical development that he can remember, he knows to send troops to Annan. , and then he suddenly changed his mind and changed his original intention to occupy the country in the past few decades, how much damage was caused to the Ming Dynasty.
Since this place was conquered, rebellions have continued, and guerrilla warfare has occurred one after another, completely dragging the Ming Dynasty into this abyss. Until Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty decided to withdraw his troops and stop fighting. During this period of more than thirty years, the Ming Dynasty suffered countless casualties in Annan, and there is no telling where Taxes were imposed, and just the amount of food transported to ensure the livelihood of the local people exceeded the combined needs of the northern and southern capitals at that time, which greatly consumed the strength of the Ming Dynasty.
Otherwise, after the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the country may not have weakened so quickly. It may have been able to successfully survive the Little Ice Age at the end of the Ming Dynasty, thereby completing the critical stage of national transformation, reborn, and reborn from the ashes.
Zhu Di's face was very ugly, Xia Xun had already seen it, but he still wanted to express his feelings. If the emperor just wants an achievement and a reputation of being kind and powerful, then defeat the Li family's forces and win in Annan. It is enough to support a puppet, ask the local people to govern the local people, and let the court "support" him. By controlling him, he can control the people there.
If you want to obtain economic benefits other than political benefits, then establish a colony. It is just to strengthen the current relationship between the suzerain and the vassal state and create an enhanced version. Why let countless soldiers shed blood and destroy the people in the mainland?
The hard-earned food is transported to support a group of people who only enjoy themselves without giving. When they have fattened others and thinned themselves, watch them become independent again?
Zhu Di's face was already ugly and his voice was a little stiff, but he still managed to say: "The Tatars' successive defeats and the increasing prosperity of Liaodong have forced the Tatars to surrender to the Ming Dynasty. The Tatar Khan Benya Shili has sued for peace with the imperial court.
, I have sent Guo Ji to propagandize and pacify the Tatars. On the other side of Wala, I have also sent envoys to make several powerful tribal chiefs kings, and provoked them to fight among themselves. At least for a while, they could not
We will have enough energy to invade the south. This is a God-given opportunity, how can we let it go so easily!"
Xia Xun bowed deeply and said: "Your Majesty, I always believe that the best way to deal with Annan is to indirectly control a puppet!"
Zhu Di's face darkened and he sneered: "If you go by what you said, throughout the ages, the territory of this dynasty will never be able to expand!"
Xia Xun hurriedly said: "That's not what I meant. What I said is that you should weigh the gains and losses to see if it's worth it or not!"
Zhu Di said: "Isn't it worthwhile to restore Jiaozhi to the territory?"
Xia Xun said: "It's worth it, but it's not worth it. Nearly a thousand years ago, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty dug the "Grand Canal" to connect the Qiantang River, the Yangtze River, the Huaihe River, the Yellow River, and the Haihe River. It centered on Luoyang and reached Zhuojun in the north and Zhuojun in the south.
Yuhang greatly promoted the economic and cultural exchanges between the north and the south. Since then, all dynasties have enjoyed the credit and it is worth it! However, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty did not know how to be considerate of the people, and he was determined to take credit for such a huge project in his own hands, so that he returned to his country after death.
It’s not worth it!”
Xia Xun was relieved and said bluntly: "Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty reigned for fourteen years. In just fourteen years, he created great achievements that are difficult for others to create. In terms of martial arts, he destroyed the Chen State, and in terms of civil affairs, he
He initiated the imperial examination. He built the eastern capital of Luoyang, moved the capital to Luoyang, built canals, patrolled Zhangye in the west to smooth the Silk Road, developed the Western Regions, and went north to defeat the Turks.
He defeated Wuhui in the south and defeated the Huns in the north. He was the only one among Kun's brothers. At the age of only 20, he completed the great cause of unifying the world and ended hundreds of years of war in the Central Plains. People in the Tang Dynasty said: "After the Sui Dynasty,
This river has died, and it has relied on Tongbo for thousands of miles. If there was no water palace dragon boat event, Yu and Yu would not have much merit." Comparing Yang Guang with Dayu, hundreds of years later, there was a flood in the Song Dynasty.
This thousand-mile Sui embankment also saved the lives of thousands of family members. Is it a great achievement?
He did most of the things that Qin Shihuang did, but he did not burn the books and return to the Confucian Confucianism; most of the things that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty did, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty also did it, but the Zhenguan era of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was far less than that of the early days of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty.
Wealthy, however, Qin Shihuang and Tang Taizong both have the reputation of "one emperor through the ages", but Emperor Yang of Sui has a reputation that will be reviled forever. Why?
Just because he does not know restraint, does not know how to recuperate the people's strength, and does not know how to make trade-offs! For the common people, the expansion of territory, the huge empire, the coming of all nations, and the incomparably magnificent buildings can only make the barbarians admire and the literati praise them.
, after all, it’s just a matter of luck. Whether the people of Li have a way to survive is the foundation of a country!”
Our Ming Dynasty has many more important things to do now. The north cannot be said to be as stable as Mount Tai. Now we should consolidate the Northeast while strengthening ourselves! With the current territory of our Ming Dynasty, as long as the country is strong, even though the barbarian lands are not What I have can be used by me, otherwise even if it is mine, it will be lost. And the free contribution of Minhuizhihui Minhuizhong in this process is especially difficult to measure. Your Majesty does not take it today. If one day the time comes, Shouldn’t His Majesty’s descendants be able to take it?”
Zhu Di finally couldn't bear it anymore and said angrily: "If you don't take it, you will be blamed! I have made up my mind, please don't say more!" With that, he flicked his sleeves and walked away.
※The newest
"The Duke of Fu..., alas!"
"Alas! Lord Duke..."
Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi were walking around in Xia Xun's study like a revolving door. You sighed and I sighed, both of them were frustrated that Xia Xun gave up the perfect opportunity to become the most powerful minister in the Ming Dynasty.
Xia Xun didn't take it seriously at all. He looked at them with a smile and said, "You two, stop turning around. It's making my eyes dazzled. Please reply to the prince and tell him what I mean. I think my opinion is not correct." It will be wrong. If I know it is wrong but do it just to suit God's will, then what is a pity that today's glory will be nothing but a thing of the past?"
Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi also longed for the great dream of "after the fall of the Tang Dynasty, Jiaozhi fell to the barbarians for more than 400 years, and finally returned to the territory". They only regretted that they were not military generals and could not create such great achievements that would last forever. They were really sad that such a good opportunity was easily given up by Xia Xun, but Xia Xun was very determined, but they had nothing to say, and in the end they had to leave in frustration.
After the two left, the relaxed and calm smile on Xia Xun's face disappeared. There were some words that he did not say to Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi. The ancients said: "Speak to your heart when you are happy, but be careful not to vent it when you are unhappy; say it when you are angry." No matter how sad you are, you should feel ashamed no matter how good you are. Westerners say that it is best to keep a "porcupine distance" when getting along with others. It is said that porcupines are covered with thorns. When the weather is cold, they want to get close to each other to use their body heat to keep out the cold. But They couldn't get too close, so the porcupines got as close together as possible without anyone being able to prick the other.
This is Xia Xun's view. He can tell people everything he wants. Just kidding! Everyone has their own secrets.
These people only know one thing, but don't know the other. At the beginning, the Timurid Empire actually used two important figures such as Prime Minister Altusa and General Gesuyedin as envoys. In the Ming Dynasty, they were particularly concerned about politics, economy, and military affairs. Xia Xun was already alert to the developments in all aspects. As early as when the two men returned to the Timur Empire, Xia Xun's Hidden Dragon had already begun to take action, sending people to follow their tracks and follow them far away. Western Region.
Now, the news has been sent back. After Emperor Timur heard the news that the Ming Dynasty had strong soldiers and horses, it did not dissuade him from his ambition. On the contrary, it aroused his pride. He paid more attention to it than any previous war. Personally deploy and prepare, hundreds of thousands of cavalry will soon come to the east.
Xia Xun is determined to eliminate the great tragedy in history that when the entire world was advancing rapidly, it dragged the richest, most advanced, and most civilized ancient China in the world to retreat. To do this, Ming Dynasty itself must The development of Liaodong is the most important, and the proper management of Liaodong is also extremely important. Therefore, after Xia Xun left Liaodong, he did not give up paying attention there.
This is also one of the main reasons why he does not have too close contact with Zhang Jun in Wanshiyu, because everything he wants to know has his own information channels. Xia Xun's Qianlong is still active outside the pass and on the grassland.
, so he also knows the information about Tatar and Wala very clearly.
Yes, the Tatars have indeed sued for peace with the Ming Dynasty. They are oppressed by the Oara over there and threatened by the Ming Dynasty here. The life of Grand Master Arutai is not easy. And the rapid development in Liaodong poses a special psychological threat to him.
Seriously. When Xia Xun was in office, he once instructed the Liaodong shogunate to do business with friendly steppe tribes without discrimination. This policy greatly benefited the Tatar tribes that were adjacent to Liaodong and did not have high hatred towards Liaodong.
Under the call of the Ming Dynasty, Arutai gave in and ordered the Great Khan Benya Shili to submit a peace letter to the Ming Dynasty.
However, those adjacent to Liaodong are mostly small tribes with lower status among the Tatar tribes. Precisely because their tribes are weak, they are not taken seriously. The best grasslands are occupied by the big tribes, and they are squeezed out.
The area bordering Liaodong serves as a buffer for both sides. Now it is these small tribes that benefit. These powerful tribes are naturally unbalanced.
As a result, some small things were magnified infinitely. For example, a Tatar herdsman who went to Liaodong to do business got injured in a fight with someone after drinking. His nose was broken, his arm was cut, and he was bullied and humiliated by the Han people.
became disabled; for example, some herdsmen in those small tribes wanted to live a peaceful and easy life, so they took advantage of the opportunity to do business and defected to Liaodong. They were resettled by Liaodong officials and returned to the government, and they also became a tribe.
of defection.
Don't underestimate the energy of these large tribes. They have successfully aroused hatred for the Ming Dynasty and opposition to Liaodong within the Tatars. Once this emotion accumulates to a certain level, it needs to be released.
The imperial court's strategy of dividing the Wala people did play a certain role. Several Wala noble Hui tribes who were ennobled as kings by envoys sent by the Ming Dynasty were so complacent that no one looked down on the other, not even the Wala Khan.
What started as some small frictions gradually turned into major internal strife.
However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages. The Oara was originally unanimous in attacking the Tatars. Now that there are internal disputes in the Oara, the pressure on the Tatars is less. It does not need to urgently seek reconciliation with the Ming Dynasty. In addition, internal
The sentiment against the Ming Dynasty is getting stronger and stronger... Xia Xun summarized and analyzed the messy information he had, and was worried that the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars would soon have another dispute.
If this fear really comes true, then the north will fight with the Tatars; in the west, the lame Timur will march into the Western Regions with hundreds of thousands of lions; if the Ming Dynasty falls into the mud pit of Annan and gets hundreds of thousands more,
With legions and countless military expenditures, it is not impossible that the smoke will spread and the building will collapse!
"Come out!"
Xia Xun thought for a long time before giving an order. Xu Jiang immediately flashed out from behind the screen. Ever since he dealt with the Shandong White Lotus Sect incident, he had become Xia Xun's absolutely trustworthy confidant.
"Quickly find our people in Feilong and see if there are any people who are going to the north or west to perform tasks. If not, tell them to 'find something'. Hu Hu will send them there and then ask them to check us out.
Please report the information obtained to Hu Hui, who will report it to the emperor!"
"Yes!" Xu Jiang agreed, and then said worriedly: "If the Duke refuses to go to Annan to lead the army, will the emperor..."
Now, everything Xu Jiang has is tied to Xia Xun. He will be both prosperous and devastated. Naturally, he cares about everything about Xia Xun.
Xia Xun smiled slightly and said: "Well, don't worry, if I agree with him now, I will be sad with him in the future. Although I disobey him now, he will understand in the future that I am right!
He is not Yuan Shao, and he is not an emperor who cannot afford to lose, so I will not become Tian Feng!"
p: Dear, the first ten days of the month are about to pass, I would like to ask you for a monthly ticket! (To be continued)