Yangzhou was the capital of Yang Wu in the past. Later, after Xu Zhigao replaced Yang Wu, he moved the capital to Jinling and made Yangzhou the eastern capital.
The Yangzhou Imperial Palace is still well preserved.
On this day, the palace hall was filled with singing and dancing.
Guo Rong entertained King Qian Hongchu of Wuyue with the most solemn treatment.
As a local prince far away from the Central Plains, Qian Hongchu could have easily separated himself from one side, but he was the staunchest supporter of Zhengshuo in the Central Plains of China. His dedication to the dynasties of the Central Plains was rare in the country.
Qian Hongchu also addressed Guo Rong directly as "Your Majesty" and greeted him as a minister.
Guo Rong was thinking about Gao Baorong, who was acting secretly, and when he looked at Qian Hongchu, who was short and fat in front of him, the difference was obvious at a glance.
Luo Youdu also had a very favorable impression of this King of Wu and Yue. His historical performance of accepting land and returning to the Song Dynasty was enough to be admired.
"King!"
Luo Youdu came to Qian Hongchu's seat and sat down behind him.
When Qian Hongchu saw that it was Luo Youdu, he stood up quickly, pulled him to sit next to him and said, "Sir, please don't offend me. It is an honor for Qian to sit with someone like you. Come here, Qian has a cup for you."
.”
As he spoke, he drank the wine in the glass boldly.
Luo Youdu had a drink with him and said, "What does the king think of shipping?"
Qian Hongchu thought carefully about one or two things: "The great political affairs of the country can not only declare the country's prestige to all barbarians, but also enable trade to enrich the country."
Luo Youdu said: "The king's words are very good." Then he asked curiously: "Since we know the benefits of sea transportation, I don't know why Wu Yue is not enthusiastic about this method?"
Qian Hongchu said with a wry smile: "It's not that this matter has not been discussed in China, but Hangzhou Bay is not suitable for large ships, and shipping requires large ships. Our ancestors also had contacts with Haidong Peninsula and Japan in the early years. However, the benefits were not great, and gradually
Cut off contact."
Luo Youdu nodded and expressed his understanding. The promotion of maritime transport not only relies on the development of navigation technology, but also needs a strong backing.
Without this backing, merchant ships loaded with wealth would be targets for thieves.
China currently does not have such strength.
However, if navigation technology does not advance, it will retreat. If you do not develop it, in ten or twenty years, after the death of a highly skilled craftsman, everything will have to be started all over again.
In the early Ming Dynasty, how advanced was China's navigation and shipbuilding technology?
Wasn’t it lost later?
Luo Youdu remembered that during the Li Zhi period of the Tang Dynasty, Su Dingfang led one hundred thousand troops across the sea to the Haidong Peninsula to destroy Baekje.
This shows that China already had the technology to form a long-distance navy a hundred years ago, but after the late Tang Dynasty and the turmoil of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the current Zhou Dynasty no longer has this technology, and many craftsmanship were lost in the chaos.
Luo Youdu is determined to regain this technology, which may have miraculous effects during the Northern Expedition.
They didn't even have a navy in the Central Plains, let alone the Liao Kingdom?
Among the southern countries, only Qian Hongchu's Wu and Yue are relatively reliable, and it is obvious that Wu and Yue's shipbuilding skills are far superior to those of the Central Plains.
"What do you think of Shanghai Pu, Huating County?"
Luo Youdu certainly knew that the best port in this era was Quanzhou Port.
However, Quanzhou is not under the jurisdiction of Wu Yue now, but is occupied by the warlord Liu Congxiao.
Considering Wu Yue's strength, Luo Youdu did not expect them to win Quanzhou. He could only settle for Shanghai Pu in Huating County, which would become the economic center of the future.
Now it is just a small county. But its special geographical advantages have already emerged during the Tianbao period.
Qian Hongchu also knew that Shanghai Pu was suitable for building a port. He nodded and said: "It is indeed a treasure land, but there are no fixed trade routes, so building a port is meaningless."
Luo Youdu said: "We will open up trade routes with other countries step by step. There is no rush. Your Majesty may wish to consider strengthening exchanges with Yangzhou and Dengzhou Port. The south of the Yangtze River is rich in products, and many specialties are very popular in the northern part of the Central Plains. The Central Plains is rich in resources and has many specialties.
It is needed by Jiangnan, which can promote the exchanges between Zhou Dynasty and Wuyue, deepen mutual ties, and stimulate development at the same time."
Qian Hongchu knew that Luo Youdu would have something to ask for, but the above two advantages were enough to make him excited: "Qian will go back and discuss with the Prime Minister, and then give an answer to the gentleman."
Luo Youdu toasted to each other. This matter is beneficial to both parties. As long as the other party's prime minister is not stupid, it will definitely work.
As long as the benefits are sufficient, it will naturally promote the improvement of navigation technology.
The banquet didn't break up until late at night.
The waterside pavilion in the palace villa.
Guo Rong and Luo Youdu, the emperor and his ministers, discussed the chess game by candlelight.
Guo Rong laughed and said: "Sir, you are very thoughtful and know every strategy, but your chess skills are terrible. When I was ten years old, I was not at your level."
Luo Youdu looked helpless. He had never learned Go in later generations, and he had no time to study it in ancient times. He just knew how to play, and his chess skills were at the entry level, and he could not be considered a novice.
Guo Rong gave him several looks, but he was still beaten to death and was completely defeated.
Luo Youdu said in frustration: "Your Majesty's chess skills are superb, but I can't match them."
Guo Rong said happily: "Wen Su and I play chess together, and they try different ways to lose. When playing chess with Mr., I think of ways to make Mr. lose less embarrassing. It's very interesting."
Luo Youdu felt that his self-esteem was a little hurt, so he quickly changed the topic and said: "When does Your Majesty plan to return to Beijing?"
The smile in Guo Rong's eyes did not diminish, and he said: "I will leave tomorrow to see off the King of Wu and Yue, and immediately set off for the north. I will go to Chaohu first to inspect the navy, and then return north. Sir, be careful if you stay in Huainan alone. This plan is up to others.
Success depends on God, so don't force yourself too hard, let alone take risks. If that doesn't work, just carry the navy up the river. I'll let Wu Sheng Jiedu envoy Hou Zhang be temporarily controlled by you, and you can just capture Jiangling with your land and water army."
Luo Youdu said: "I understand that I still want to accompany His Majesty to create the great cause of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, but I dare not take risks easily. I have asked my subordinate Zhao Pu to go to Jiangling to join Tang Fuyao. The current plan is going smoothly. It depends on Gao Baoxu.
He won’t stand up and take the blame for his brother.”
Nanping's strength is too weak and it faces strong enemies around it.
Gao Baorong, the King of Nanping, has been hiding his clumsiness and showing a foolish and incompetent look. He leaves all the affairs of the country to his younger brother Gao Baoxu and doesn't care about anything.
Gao Baorong's purpose is obvious. In the case of Nanping, no one can defeat the Zhou Dynasty in the north, Meng Shu in the west, Nan Tang in the east, and Wuping in the south.
Rather than making the decision yourself and making others fearful, it is better to be a little confused, do nothing, delegate power to others, and be a mediocre leader.
This way you can survive in this troubled world.
Gao Baorong's idea and approach were not wrong, but he neglected one thing, and he finally became a real dog.
How many people like Gou Jian and Sima Yi can have the last laugh?
Gao Baorong remained in power for nine years, while his younger brother Gao Baoxu held power in Nanping for nine years and became the uncrowned king of Nanping.
Most of the current ministers and generals in Nanping were promoted by Gao Baoxu and have nothing to do with the real Nanping King Gao Baorong.
If you want to quell the chaos in Nanjing, the first step is to solve Gao Baoxu.
He is the soul of Nanping.
After solving this uncrowned king, how will Gao Baorong deal with a group of civil and military ministers he is unfamiliar with?
On the contrary, Nanping will be in chaos.
Jiangling, Nanping.
Gao Baorong woke up from his dream, his head covered with sweat, his eyes full of fear: "Go, go and call the Taiwei."
The Taiwei was Gao Baoxu. His position was the Inspector of the Taiwei, he served as a marching commander, and he also served as the military commander of the Ningjiang Army.
"Brother!"
Gao Baorong went straight into Gao Baorong's palace.
They have a very good relationship as brothers, otherwise Gao Baorong would not have dared to truly delegate power for nine years.
Gao Baorong said with lingering fear: "Brother Wei just had a nightmare. I dreamed that Guo Rong suddenly appeared in front of brother Wei and chopped off brother Wei's head with a sword. This time, we brothers are afraid that we really made the wrong choice."
Gao Baoxu is not having a good time either.
Guo Rong's attitude towards them changed drastically.
When Wu and Yue sent troops this time, Guo Rong not only personally edited the book and invited Qian Hongchu to Yangzhou, but also specially gave Qian Hongchu one-third of Li Jing's military supplies.
But they got nothing. Not only did they not get anything, they were ignored by Guo Rong.
The envoys who asked for an audience were blocked from the door.
They arranged for envoys to send gifts to the important civil and military ministers of the Zhou Dynasty, hoping that they would help put in good words.
As a result, all the important civil and military ministers of the Zhou Dynasty regarded their envoys as the god of plague and avoided him.
Only then did Gao Baorong and Gao Baoxu realize that they had failed this time, and their cleverness was mistaken for their cleverness.
Gao Baoxu said: "My brother also got the news. After Guo Rong signed a surrender agreement with Jiangnan, he did not shelve the navy. Instead, he appointed Lin Renzhao as the deputy commander of the navy and incorporated part of the Jiangnan navy. Now
The purpose of training in Chaohu is very likely to be us."
Gao Baorong said with a grimace: "What should we do?"
Gao Baorong had no choice. In the Southern Tang Dynasty, Meng Shu had surrendered, and Wu Ping and Zhou Xingfeng in the south also expressed support for the Central Plains dynasty.
If Zhou Dynasty really wanted to send troops to Nanping, they would not have any strength left to resist.
Gao Baoxu gritted his teeth and said: "My brother, it seems that Guo Rong just wants an explanation. As the lord of the Central Plains, he does not dare to rashly attack us and damage his credibility and reputation. My brother is ill because of this.
, all decisions are made by my brother, I will go to Yangzhou to plead guilty to him and protect my Nanping foundation."
Gao Baorong took a deep look at his younger brother, thinking about how he had been handling state affairs day and night for the past nine years, and said: "It's better to apologize for my brother's sins, punish myself with the title, and give up the title of King of Nanping to my virtuous brother.
"
Gao Baoxu shook his head and said: "This method is inappropriate. Guo Rong has to give permission for my brother to abdicate. If he makes a fuss about it, it will be even worse."
The two couldn't decide for a while, so they ended the night conversation hastily.
While they sent envoys to Yangzhou to confess their crimes, they also inquired about Zhou's movements.
Guo Rong withdrew his troops and returned north. Before leaving, he arrived in Chaohu in person to review the Zhou Navy.
At the same time, Wusheng Jiedushi Hou Zhang, who was stationed in Dengzhou, moved his station to Xiangzhou.
On one side was the navy and on the other was the army moving to the town, all pointing their fingers at Jiangling.
Gao Baorong and Gao Baoxu were completely panicked.
They only have three prefectures: Jing, Gui, and Xia. Among them, Gui and Xia are still small prefectures. The only one they can take advantage of is Jiangling in Jingzhou.
What can we do to resist Da Zhou?
Gao Baoxu once again requested to go to Kaifeng to plead guilty.