Dragon map of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1873 Cai Yong is dead

Taiwu five years, July.

During the plum season, the sky in Yudu City is covered with dark clouds. It has been raining heavily for several days, but it still hasn't cleared up. The sky seems to be shrouded in darkness all the time.

Daming Palace.

Nine floors of the palace.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, Mu Jing's slender body became more dignified. With Daming's unification of the world, he deserved his name as emperor.

"His Majesty!"

A young man bowed his hands and saluted, and then said softly: "The good news came back from thousands of miles from the north. Our army has driven the main force of Xianbei out of Youzhou, out of the Great Wall, and regained Youzhou!"

"What about Liaodong?"

"Currently the main force of our army is still lingering in Youzhou. Although the counties in Liaodong are sincerely convinced, they have not moved in. In addition, Wuhuan has not withdrawn from Liaodong yet!"

"Decree them that the unification of the world is the bottom line of my Ming Dynasty. If we don't return to Liaodong for a day, we can't withdraw our troops for a day. Even if we die, I will resist it!"

Mu Jing said coldly.

The bottom line of a country is the unyielding land, which is non-negotiable and there is no room for negotiation.

"Yes!"

The young man took the order, and then went to deliver the order.

After a while, someone knocked on the door.

"Enter!"

Mu Jing spoke indifferently.

"His Majesty!"

People who walk in bow and salute.

Daming has never paid much attention to kneeling and saluting. It is enough to bow and salute when meeting each other. Over time, this habit has formed.

"Kong Ming!"

Looking at the middle-aged man with gray hair on his temples, Mu Jing felt a little guilty.

As the first Prime Minister of Ming Dynasty, Hu Zhao is not very old, but he is the one who works hardest. Every time Mu Jing goes to war in the world, he is the one who guards the house.

It is not an exaggeration to say that he is proficient in both civil and military affairs. He is not only proficient in government affairs, he is also very proficient in military affairs. Especially for this unification war, Yudu will be affected. His calmness in the face of danger is a booster. There are also somewhat turmoil in the army.

For the reunification of the world, for the restoration of the empire, he has worked hard, and the busiest person in the entire Ming Dynasty will always be Hu Zhao.

"Things have to be done, but don't be in a hurry, you have to take care of your health!" Mu Jing said softly: "Nowadays all things are waiting to be done, the unification of the world is not the end, it is just the beginning, the next is the most difficult road, we have to To take a different path, you must have the pressure to resist the backlash of the world, and you can't fall down at this time!"

Everyone can do things without anyone, but the result is completely different. Hu Zhao's existence is a very, very good buffer zone for Mu Jing.

To put it bluntly, without Hu Zhao keeping the bottom line of the court, he would not have dared to promote the New Deal so quickly. After all, the New Deal has affected the interests of too many people, and the whole thing would collapse if he was not careful.

If there is no stable and prestigious courtier to suppress the overall situation, the world will still be in chaos.

For example, in Qin State back then, everyone knew that Shang Yang’s reform was good. It was a policy that could lay the foundation for Qin to unify the world, but there were countless people who opposed it. In the end, Shang Yang was divided into five horses. It was not because Shang Yang’s reform was bad, but a political compromise.

Mujing didn't want this kind of compromise to appear in the Ming court.

It is inevitable for the Ming court to realize the New Deal, but if the election of the New Deal does not go smoothly, then someone will come out to take the blame, but Mu Jing does not want the Ming court to have a second Shang Yang. At this time, the existence of Hu Zhao is particularly important.

He can control the backlash of the court.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty!"

Hu Zhao smiled, and said coldly: "How could I fall down so easily, I can't see the balance and prosperity that His Majesty governs the world, I will never close my eyes!"

What he said was somewhat resentful.

Mu Jing smiled sheepishly. Of course he knew what Hu Zhao was complaining about. In fact, he couldn’t blame him. The foundation of the Ming court was so weak. If he couldn’t think of a way, he wouldn’t be able to pay the pension from last year’s war alone.

Mujing changed the subject and said, "By the way, news just came that Youzhou has brought it back!"

"I'm here for this!"

Hu Zhao cupped his hands in salute, and then said quietly: "Your Majesty, we can't continue fighting!"

"Why?"

Mu Jing narrowed his eyes: "Liaodong hasn't come back yet. Although Xianbei and Wuhuan have retreated, they still control a large amount of land and territory, and they can block and enter at any time. If we don't fight at this time, it will be difficult for us to deter them!"

"Whether it is necessary to deter them or not, this is not the time!"

Hu Zhao said very directly: "At this time, we don't have enough capital to continue fighting. If we continue to fight, it will affect the Central Plains. The Central Plains has just ended the war. Your Majesty also knows that this is a waste of time. When it is booming, if the war in Youzhou drags on for too long, I am afraid that this battle will cause another disturbance in the Central Plains that we just won, after all, people's hearts are unpredictable, and there will always be people who don't want our Daming to be safe!"

The time for Ming to rule the world is too short. Although he won the fate-defining battle last year, how many people refused to accept the existence of Ming.

Wars belong to wars, and local governance belongs to local governance. If they win the war, they must obey. They may not rebel, but they can definitely listen to one thing and do another.

Obeying you on the surface, but gathering people to rebel secretly, this kind of thing is not unheard of.

The Ming court may not be afraid, but in this case, the Ming court will have to pay a heavy price.

Mu Jing paced back and forth, weighing in his heart, clenched his fists slowly, he didn't want to withdraw his troops now, once he withdraws his troops, he may not be able to move Xianbei for several years.

"His Majesty!"

Hu Zhao continued: "Jiangdong, Central Plains, Hebei, these places, in less than half a year this year, seven rebellions have erupted. If we continue to focus on the frontier, these seemingly small troubles will become big problems in the long run!"

Mu Jing knew that Hu Zhao was telling the truth. The Ming court seemed to rule the world, but the territory it actually controlled was still the previous territory. The other new territories were currently undergoing power alternation.

There are too many things to face, the new order, the reaction of the local gentry, the support of the common people...

These are enough to keep the Ming court busy for several years.

If at this time, too much energy is put on the frontier, then these seemingly insignificant disasters in the Central Plains may become bigger and more difficult to deal with.

At this time, the imperial court should focus on organizing the Central Plains and the entire world.

"I agree with you!" Mu Jing said with difficulty: "But the bottom line is Liaodong, and we must take Liaodong before we can withdraw our troops. Otherwise, I should not respond, and the Ming soldiers will not respond. Broken!"

Hu Zhao thought for a while and said, "Yes!"

This should be the bottom line.

Even if Mujing is willing to withdraw his troops if Liaodong is not conquered, so many people in the Privy Council will not be willing.

"I propose!"

Hu Zhao suddenly said: "Gongsun Du can be used. This person is very familiar with Liaodong, and Wuhuan is probably the most anxious when he goes south to Liaodong!"

"Can he use it?" Mu Jing asked back.

"I think it's okay!"

"If he re-separates Liaodong, will I give him a wedding dress for nothing!" Mu Jing hesitated, not because he didn't want to use Gongsundu, but he had to use it with caution, and he couldn't let Gongsundu play with him.

"He dare not!"

Hu Zhao said: "I have chatted with him once or twice, and this person has already been surrendered by us. If he had such courage, then he would not have surrendered in the first place!"

"All right!"

Mu Jing thought for a while, and said: "I will ask the Privy Council to conscript him to Youzhou, and let him recover Liaodong. If Liaodong is captured, he will immediately withdraw his troops. However, Xianbei and Wuhuan are serious worries. I must put enough troops in northern Xinjiang. troops!"

"I think what His Majesty is thinking is very correct, and we will take action against them sooner or later!" Hu Zhao also had a raging flame in his heart.

If these nomads cannot be taken down, the Ming court will not be stable.

"One more thing!"

Mu Jing said, "How about Lu Bu?"

"See what His Majesty thinks!"

"Crossing the river and tearing down the bridge is not good!"

"For the stability of the world, killing one can control the overall situation of the world, it is not enough!" Hu Zhao is also a ruthless person.

"never mind!"

Mu Jing shook his head: "I don't have to keep my promise to him, but I have to give Zhang Wenyuan some face. Since he dare not rebel, let him come back!"

"Your Majesty, he may not surrender to us, but he just wants to survive!"

"There is always a way for him to go!"

Mu Jing smiled and said: "Even if he doesn't want to submit to our Daming, and he doesn't want to serve under my command, I don't intend to kill him. If this person dies in my hands, the world is so big, there will be a place that can accommodate him." his!"

"I have never understood what His Majesty is thinking, and don't kill those who should be killed!" Hu Zhao said bluntly.

"That should not be killed!"

Mu Jing said in a deep voice: "Damn people have already died on the battlefield, isn't there not enough people dying in this world, you have to use blood to stain the whole earth red before you are willing!"

"But their existence is the source of uneasiness. Whether it is Yan State, Wei Palace, or Wu State, just because they are still alive, how many of them are planning to recover!"

Hu Zhao sneered.

He doesn't believe that Mujing is a woman's benevolence, but he can't figure out Mujing's wishful thinking.

"It's okay!"

Mu Jing waved his hand and said: "I have already thought about what to do with them, and you will know when the time comes, I will not play games with the Ming court, I will kill those who should be killed!"

"Chen, wait and see!"

Hu Zhao took a deep breath.

"Is there anything else?" Mu Jing looked at the sky outside the window: "If there is nothing else, I will explain it, this year's flood control matters!"

"One more thing!"

"Say!"

"Cai's participation in politics may not work!"

"what?"

Mu Jing's pupils widened: "Impossible, didn't the doctor bring up the old man's physical examination last month? Although it's not very good, it can last for a while!"

"Yesterday he fell down and never got up again. He didn't send anyone to tell us. I found out because I wanted to talk to him today!"

Hu Zhao said, "He has already breathed his last breath!"

"How could this be?"

"He wants to go quietly, but I always feel that His Majesty should go see him off!"

"Come here!" Mu Jing shouted in a low voice.

"exist!"

"Send someone to tell the queen and order him to go to the Cai Mansion!"

"Yes!"

Mujing braved the rain and came to Cai's mansion.

Cai Mansion is a little quiet, this is a noble mansion in Yudu, in fact, there are not many people, Cai Yong is a simple person, he doesn't have many servants, and he doesn't have many family members.

Only some old butlers and old servants left.

"His Majesty!"

"Meet Your Majesty!"

When everyone saw Mujing, they saluted one after another.

"You don't need to be too polite, where's the old man?" Mu Jing's face was stern, the rain was running down his forehead, and the clothes on his body seemed a little wet.

"The master is not in the wing, but in the gazebo. He may have sensed that you are coming, so he braced himself and went to make a pot of tea for His Majesty!"

"You are all here, let me go by myself!" Mu Jing left the guards behind and walked into the garden. There was an artificial fish pond next to the garden, and a pavilion was built on top of the fish pond.

This is a pavilion that many houses have. Scholars are happy with the mood. In this mood, inviting friends and cooking wine with green plums is a joy.

The rain outside was pattering, and inside the gazebo, bamboo mats were laid on the floor, and bead curtains were hanging down. An old man with white hair, a pale face without a trace of blood, seemed to have eyes that could not be opened, sitting on a chair .

He was struggling to move the tea set in his hand.

Mu Jing stepped on the rain and walked in. Looking at the old Cai Yong, he couldn't help but feel more sadness in his heart.

"I was wrong, I shouldn't have let you go north!"

Mu Jing knelt down and said with a choked voice.

If Cai Yong hadn't been forced to go to the north to work hard, his life would not have disappeared so quickly. Although the old man is old, he can still live if he is taken care of.

But too much work is tantamount to burning life.

Since the end of the Great Ming War last year, Cai Yong has traveled all over the world, from Guanzhong to the Central Plains, and from the Central Plains to Hebei.

It is precisely because of his line of work that he has saved the Ming court from countless troubles and allowed the Ming Dynasty to rule the world smoothly.

But it was also because of this line of work that his few lives were constantly burning.

"you are right!"

Cai Yong raised his head slightly, he looked at Mujing, this was the first and last time, he admitted Mujing: "You did nothing wrong, you have to do what you want in the future, what is needed in this world is not Those of us veterans who live in the past, but an emperor like you who can create a new world, meeting you, the old man will not be considered a loss in this life, he cannot be loyal to the big man, but at least, the old man is already loyal to the people!"

"Father!"

Mujing's eyes were filled with tears, and he was a little choked up.

"Don't cry!"

Cai Yong shook his head: "You are the emperor now, not the little guy who played truant in Taixue back then. You have to learn to bear your own pain, so that you can be a qualified emperor!"

His voice was getting weaker and weaker.

"Hold on, Zhao Ji is coming!"

Mujing Road.

"The old man just didn't want Zhao Ji to be too sad, so he kept it secret!" Cai Yong said.

He smiled, his voice was weak but powerful: "It's a good thing that you're here, at least the old man didn't live his life in vain, and it's enough to be seen off by the emperor once!"

(End of this chapter)