marquis of jingan

Chapter 496 Controlling Anger

Although Qi people's reason for asking for money is weird, it is not completely unreasonable.

Because the Qi people 60 years ago were indeed a serious alien hunting outside the Guan, but today, 60 years later, these barbarians outside the Guan have basically completed full Sinicization.

This kind of Sinicization is not only the Sinicization of language and characters, but more importantly, they need to get off their horses, put down their bows and scimitars, live in big houses in the city, and manage the vast land in the north. The hunting nation has transformed into a bureaucrat, a landlord, and even the highest ruling class.

The Hu people who entered the customs 60 years ago, including old and young women and children, were only 30.

Although the number of these 30 Hu people has doubled after 60 years, but they are used to the rich and comfortable life of landlords in the pass, and not many people are willing to go back to horseback to fight against the wind, frost and snow in the Northeast. Rain fights.

Therefore, the cavalry of the Northern Qi Dynasty was far from the combat power that swept the world back then.

And the grassland and snow in the north will always be occupied by newcomers.

After the Hu people entered the customs, although they still managed their hometown in the Northeast, they had frequent conflicts with the Tatars in the north. For 20 years, it has been fighting against the Tatars, and even the Tatars who can be beaten are not enough.

but…

20 years later, the first generation of Northern Qi cavalry was old, and the subsequent cavalry, some were Hu people, the other part were Han people, but without exception, they were all juniors who had not suffered much. These juniors were used to oppressing the people in the pass. After enjoying the blessing, he can no longer hold a knife.

By the third and fourth generations later, the combat effectiveness of the Northern Qi cavalry became worse and worse, and now they can only be on the defensive when facing the Tatars.

There is no difference in the attitude of the Han Dynasty in facing the border troubles in the northern border.

In fact, it was when the Northern Qi Dynasty reached the third and fourth generations that it completely lost the fighting power of horses riding south of the Yangtze River and unifying the world.

Of course, although the Qi people are now weaker, the combat effectiveness of the army, but Chen Guo's army is not much stronger, it can only be said to be weaker, so when the Huaihe Navy faced the Northern Qi attack last year, even if they blindly Stick to it, but still suffer heavy casualties.

Seeing what Zhao Changping said, Shen Yi lowered his head and pondered for a while, then silently lowered his eyebrows and said: "Northern Qi occupies half of China, and there are abundant products in the territory. Moreover, Qi merchants have gradually learned to do business over the years. They are as big as us. Compared to Chen, although he is a little poorer, he is not much poorer."

"Except for silk and cloth, they may be short of some, but the real money and food, the Northern Qi is actually not particularly short."

Shen Yi sighed for a long time: "The reason why you keep asking for it again and again is nothing more than wanting to frustrate His Majesty and our Great Chen court, so that His Majesty will stop thinking about the Northern Expedition."

Hearing the two familiar yet unfamiliar words "Northern Expedition", Zhao Shangshu's expression was complicated, and he sighed a long time: "Ziheng...can we still go to the Northern Expedition?"

Zhao Changping is in his early 50s this year, about 52 or three years old.

At his age, he can be said to be the darkest generation of Chen Guo.

When they were born, the Kingdom of Chen had already fled to the south, and it was settled in a corner. When they were young, Emperor Xianzong defeated the Northern Qi several times, which brought them some hope. Smashed their hopes.

Up to now, in a blink of an eye, their generation is over half a century old.

Even Lu Fuzi, who was full of enthusiasm in his youth, could hardly rekindle the hope of the Northern Expedition, let alone a high-ranking official like Zhao Changping who held an important position in the court and knew the situation of the court well.

Shen Yi looked up at Zhao Changping, and smiled: "Master, the people of Qi gave this ridiculous reason not only because they want to ask us for money, food and cloth, but also because they are really under a lot of pressure in the north."

"Otherwise, the people of Qi would not bring up such a reason."

"They brought up this reason, on the one hand, to suppress my enthusiasm for the emperor, and on the other hand, internally, it is also to boost morale, and it is even used to reward the soldiers in northern Xinjiang..."

"This incidates that…"

Master Shen said in a low tone, "It means that the people of Qi can no longer lift a knife."

Zhao Changping shook his head slightly: "Ziheng must not forget that last year they were still in the Lianghuai River, and they almost defeated the Huaihe Navy..."

"That's because the Zhao Clan is acting suspiciously!"

Shen Yi took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "Master, let's just watch, as long as we can hold on, the people of Qi will become weaker day by day. They may not be able to compare with me. The greatest value of their existence now is Carry the aliens in the north for us..."

"As long as His Majesty can make up his mind."

Shen Yi said slowly: "The Northern Expedition...is just a matter of time."

Zhao Shangshu, who has always been calm, had a rare agitated expression on his face.

He stood up from his chair, his voice trembling: "One day the imperial court will go to the north."

"The treasury of the household department will not leave a penny..."

………………

In the early morning of the next day, the Manna Hall of the Imperial Palace.

There is no court meeting today, and His Majesty the Emperor is receiving officials from the Ministry of Rites.

To be precise, it was Cui Yan, the servant of the Ministry of Rites.

It is worth mentioning that this Minister of Rites is the younger brother of Cui Yu who was dismissed by the emperor.

He is also the new servant of the Ministry of Rites who has not been serving for a long time.

Some people in the court believed that the emperor's promotion of Cui Yan's official position was to reactivate Cui Yu's signs. Therefore, during this period of time, the Cui family had many more guests who came to visit every day, and they seemed to be returning to their old appearance.

Cui Yan stood in front of the emperor holding the imperial wat in his hands, with a serious face, he bowed to the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, I discussed with the envoy of Qi for a whole day yesterday, these people of Qi are extremely hateful, they refused to give up even an inch, and Step by step pressing..."

"They must ask for 30 taels of silver and [-] bolts of silk cloth..."

His Majesty the Emperor was writing something on the desk at the moment, and he said lightly while writing: "What do you think Cui Qing?"

Cui Yan remembered the experience of his elder brother being dismissed because he stood in the "Dove faction", and immediately lowered his head slightly, gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, I thought that I should never agree to the request of the people of Qi. These people of Qi are so aggressive, it is extremely hateful. If this year If you agree, they may come again next year, and if things go on like this, they will no longer be asking for money, but annual tribute!"

The movement of the emperor's pen stopped, and then he let out a muffled snort.

"A few prime ministers in Zhongshu, do you also have the same opinion?"

Cui Yan shook his head slightly, bowed his head and said: "Chen...Chen hasn't gone to Zhongshu Province yet..."

"Then go."

The emperor narrowed his eyes, and said calmly: "Tell those gentlemen, just tell me that what I mean is, or else I'll just lose money and send these Qi people away. It's like sending beggars."

Cui Yan was taken aback for a moment. He first felt that the emperor was talking ironically. After looking up at the emperor's indifferent expression, he hesitated for a while and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you mean..."

The emperor raised his head and glanced at him: "Isn't it clear what I mean?"

"Losing money."

He said lightly: "If you don't lose money, will you still fight against the people of Qi like last year?"

"The pension I paid out last year was more than what the people of Qi asked for."

After saying this, the last stroke fell from the emperor's hands.

Obviously, the little emperor has improved his calligraphy recently.

At this time, on the white paper on the desk, there were two big characters with a decent momentum.

"Control your anger."

(End of this chapter)