"Your Majesty, when do you want me to set off?" Li Qing looked like he was loyal to his emperor and serving his country.
"We will go after the annual vacation!" Zhu Di took a sip of tea and said calmly, "I can impose a sea ban and allow private trade, but before I open the sea, they cannot smuggle. This trend must be suppressed."
"Understood!" Li Qing nodded, this was the emperor's bottom line.
Although the emperor cannot really do whatever he wants, at least he must appear to be domineering and domineering.
Otherwise, imperial power will become a joke!
"Your mission this time is not just to suppress the bandits," Zhu Di put down his tea cup, "you also have to 'see' the movements of the feudal kings. If the powerful families and the feudal kings collude, it could really turn the world upside down.
"
He looked worried, "My body and bones are getting worse day by day. If I'm gone one day, if these people make a fuss, Gao Chi will probably not be able to bear it."
Zhu Di relied on Jingnan to conquer the world, fearing that others would follow his example. Although the vassal king's guards were reduced, it did not mean that they would definitely keep their peace.
There is no shortage of rich people in the south of the Yangtze River. Once the two sides join forces, the consequences will be extremely serious. They may not succeed, but they will definitely cause chaos in the country and make the people miserable.
After a pause, Zhu Di continued: "The word about the sea ban has been released. The wealthy gentry in Jiangnan must be prepared for a rainy day. It is inevitable that someone will secretly change the rice to mulberry;
At present, the population growth rate is gradually accelerating, and there are not many problems exposed at the moment. However, the demand for food will definitely rise sharply in the future, and food must be stabilized;
Also, the situation in Mobei is not optimistic, and Wala cannot hold on for long. I hope that there will be a half-dead one to contain the Tatars, but I cannot really let them disappear.
If Wala disappears, the grassland will be truly unified."
Zhu Di said: "Money and food are also needed for expeditions. In the next few years, the status of Jiangnan's granary cannot be shaken."
Li Qing nodded, "I want to take Yu Qian with me."
"Okay." Zhu Di readily agreed, "He has offended a lot of people this time, so I might as well follow you to avoid trouble."
"What else are you asking for?" Zhu Di asked.
Li Qing shook his head: "No more."
"If that's the case, I'll give you half a year." Zhu Di said with a smile, "These problems must be fully solved within half a year, and I will give you a lot of rewards by then."
We are all foxes of thousands of years, why are you playing with me? Li Qing asked: "How to reward me?"
"We'll talk about it then." Zhu Di said scornfully.
Li Qing said: "If the emperor can promise in advance, the efficiency of my work will be greatly improved."
…
The two of them went back and forth, and the cake kept coming. Zhu Zhanji: I learned it, I learned it...
In the end, Zhu Di made his promise, and Li Qing left with satisfaction.
~
The snow is still falling.
The roof was piled with snow, and the branches were bent down. Several little maids swept the snow in the yard, sweeping it clean on the front feet and spreading it on the back feet.
The maids were complaining about the snow, but their faces were full of joy. They were chattering about what to eat for lunch, reflecting the festive Spring Festival couplets and red lanterns, full of New Year flavor.
"No need to sweep." Li Qing said, "Wait until the snow stops before sweeping."
The little maids were startled when they saw that the master was back, and they quickly saluted, "Master."
"Well, it's the Chinese New Year today, so go and have a rest." Li Qing waved his sleeves, "Get some fish fillets, mutton slices, spinach for lunch... Eat hot pot, and prepare your portion for it, too."
Have a good meal and eat dumplings at night.”
"Yes, Master." The little maid flew up happily: I really want to celebrate the New Year every day.
Several people bowed and left happily.
Li Qing smiled, opened the door and walked into the lobby.
The charcoal pot was burning vigorously, and the roots of the fine charcoal were flaming red. A fine layer of white ash foam had condensed on the surface, and sparks popped out from time to time. There was no miscellaneous smoke.
"Sir is back." The three women clapped their hands and stood up to greet him.
"The inner hall is warm, let's go talk inside." Li Qing turned around and closed the door, opened the window on the side wider, and led the three girls into the inner hall.
There were melon seeds, candied fruits, and oranges on the table in the inner hall... Apparently, there was a tea party just now.
"What are we talking about?" Li Qing asked with a smile.
"Of course it's a happy thing." Wan Ling moved a chair over, and Lianxiang pushed him to sit down, "Sir, let's talk about the aftermath of White Snake, what happened to Xu Xian and White Snake, and did the old monk Fahai suffer retribution?
?”
Li Qing laughed dumbly and cleared his throat, "By the way..."
…
Most of an hour later, Li Qing filled up the hole he had dug. The three girls were satisfied when they heard that the family was reunited.
"I really want to visit the West Lake." Lianxiang sighed.
Hong Xiu glanced at her, "You are already old, and you still think about fun all day long."
"I'm just telling you." Lianxiang said sadly, "One day will pass, and in a few years, my body won't allow me to go."
"If you want to go, let's go." Li Qing pinched a nut and threw it into his mouth, "It just so happens that Mr. is going to Jiangnan, let's go together."
"Sir, are you going on a business trip again?"
"Sir, do you want to take us with you?"
Wan Ling and Lian Xiang spoke at the same time, first surprised, then pleasantly surprised.
Li Qing nodded: "Leave after the annual vacation."
Hong Xiu hesitated and said, "Sir, is this okay? Your Majesty, he..."
"As long as you do a good job, he won't have any objections." Li Qing took the orange segment from Wan Ling and threw it into his mouth, enjoying the sweetness. "It's only half a year. After I finish my business, let's have some fun."
.”
"Well, okay." At this moment, Hongxiu felt relieved and smiled happily.
noon,
The maid brought the mini stove, put the pot on it, and there were plates of fish, meat, vegetables, and dipping sauces, all washed crystal clear by the water.
"There's no need to wait, you can go and eat too."
"Thank you, sir."
A little maid thoughtfully placed the charcoal within Li Qing's reach, then took a few steps back and turned to leave.
Li Qing rolled up his sleeves and said, "Eat, eat."
The girls ate a lot of snacks and ate slowly, but Li Qing was like a hungry wolf.
He hadn't eaten in the morning, and after staying in Fengtian Temple Square for so long, he was already hungry.
The plump meat slices, paired with pepper, chili, and sesame sauce, are truly authentic.
Two-quarters of an hour later, Li Qing leaned back on his chair contentedly, took out the warm wine flask, and poured himself a drink.
"Sir, I also want to drink." Lianxiang pursed her lips and said.
"They are all so old... okay." Regarding age, Li Qing was more sensitive than them. He poured a glass for Lianxiang, "Drink slowly and taste it."
With that said, he poured another drink for Hongxiu and Wanling.
This is the royal wine of the palace. It has a soft mouth, a fine throat, and a low alcohol content. The three girls used to drink wine from time to time, so it doesn't matter if they drink a few drinks.
Lianxiang finished her drink quickly and said timidly, "Sir, can I have another drink?"
"Can't drink anymore."
"Is it okay, can it be done..."
"Okay, okay," Li Qing said amusedly, "Three cups per person, if you finish drinking it, you will be really gone."
Coquettish women are the best, Lianxiang said with a smile, "Sir, the best."
After eating hot pot and drinking a few glasses of warm wine, the three women all felt a little hot and said, "Sir, there is a lot of snow outside, let's go build a snowman?"
"Okay." Li Qing agreed.
Those celebrating the New Year just want to be happy, but to be on the safe side, Li Qing gave them enough energy to prevent them from catching the wind and cold.
The snow is still falling, but it has become much lighter and the wind has stopped. Scattered snowflakes indicate that the snow is about to end.
Li Qing took matters into his own hands and made a snowdump as tall as a person, "Okay, let's get started."
After setting up a chair and sitting down, holding a cup of hot tea, and watching the three girls carving little by little, Li Qing couldn't help but think to himself: It would be great if they were still as young as before, and snowball fights would be more youthful.
Time is gone and can never be returned, the past can only be recalled...
They were very skillful with their hands, and before long, a lifelike General Li was born.
'Li Qing' is wearing a white armor, standing proudly in the snow, standing alone, with the heroism of standing tall on the sky and the earth, but also the loneliness of being surrounded by shadows.
Li Qing was fascinated by this.
He was sad that their years were gone, and they were sad that he was lonely and helpless.
To live forever is destined to be as lonely as snow.
At some point, the hot tea in his hand had quietly cooled down, with a thin layer of ice scum condensing on the surface. Li Qing drank it all in one gulp, feeling chilled to his heart.
Shaking his head to dispel the negative emotions, Li Qing stood up and joined the team building a snowman.
In one afternoon, four snowmen were built, and ‘Li Qing’ was no longer lonely.
…
The annual holiday passed in a hurry, and on the fourth day of the first lunar month, hundreds of officials went to court, and Li Qing entered the palace to bid farewell to Zhu Di.
Nave.
Zhu Di warned, "Those people have dirty eyes. Don't let your boat capsize in the gutter when you get old."
"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who suffers."
"That's true," Zhu Di also felt that he was a little too cautious and underestimated Li Qing, so he nodded: "However, to be on the safe side, you go to Jiangnan this time to bring Dongchang Xiaodezi with you."
"Okay." With the people in the palace, Li Qing asked, "How is the situation outside the border?"
The Yuan people ruled the Central Plains for nearly a hundred years and were largely Chineseized. They also had New Year customs, which would also improve their lives.
The difference is that the Han people used money to improve their lives, while the Yuan people would plunder.
In winter on the grassland, life is even more difficult, and it is also the peak period of mutual robbery.
"Has Wala been attacked by Tatars?" Li Qing was a little worried.
Zhu Di rubbed his eyebrows: "The news hasn't come yet, and I don't know if Wala has been attacked, but... there is a high probability that it will be attacked."
At this point, he regretted a little, "If I had known this, I would have been gentler at the beginning. Wala is too weak now, and there is a serious imbalance in strength."
"You can't say that." Li Qing didn't regret weakening Wala at all, and said with a smile, "If it weren't like this, how could Wala willingly surrender to the Ming Dynasty?
It is precisely because of the unequal strength that the Tatars pursue and attack Oara and attempt to annex it;
If they were really equal in strength, they would not fight on a large scale, and would even secretly join forces to invade the Central Plains."
Zhu Di was startled for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face: "What you said makes sense, but... Wala still can't fall. If they don't use their energy inward, they will definitely use it outward.
Once the grasslands are unified, there will no longer be peace in the border areas of the Ming Dynasty."
After a pause, he said, "I will keep a close eye on the situation outside the customs. You just need to complete the errands I assign you. Keeping things at bay is more important than fighting against the outside world. If there is trouble inside, it will be more harmful."
Zhu Di rarely showed a solemn look, "This series of reforms has affected the interests of too many people. I am too busy to do it. Please work harder."
He took something out of his arms and said, "Take this with you!"
Li Qing took it and read it, "It's like I'm here in person".