Jingming

Chapter 480: Offering soil and becoming a minister

Zong Qingkang is actually fine.

During this period, those who felt the most unlucky were Yin Yuanlao and Li.

They who lived in Datong Hall learned that the refugee team came to Beijing to petition, so they naturally went there.

Yin Yuanlao stopped talking. After he showed up and heard about his identity, he let the people of the Ming Dynasty enjoy a warm welcome in a foreign language. I didn’t understand, but judging from the scene at the time, those North Korean refugees must have been scolding them very unpleasantly.

Li was also very surprised.

Elder Yin just couldn't sit idly by and take care of things, and he was just in case. He was no longer in North Korea when the incident happened. If he could come forward and use clever words to win some support, maybe it would be an opportunity?

This is based on his loyalty to Li after he figured out the situation. With the chaos inside North Korea, Ming Dynasty's dissatisfaction with North Korea has become very clear. Now, if we sit back and watch what happens, I'm afraid that Yin Ren, Yin Yuanheng and others will have to fight to the death first.

In Yuanlao Yin's view, the attitude expressed by the Ming Dynasty so far is only: the situation in North Korea is not yet clear, so don't care.

After all, his level is still a little low. He knew about the refugee petition, but he still didn't think clearly about it. If it can restrain the original Xiao Yin forces from being loyal to Li, and work with Li to meet the requirements of the Ming Dynasty for the next expedition to eradicate the Japanese invasion, then the crisis can be turned into an opportunity.

But outside the east gate of the Ming Dynasty capital, he heard with his own ears that those refugees were scolding Li Yi and the entire royal family.

The scolding was really unpleasant.

A new petition was added: Kill the traitors! From the royal lord to the treacherous ministers, they are all national traitors who have caused them to end up in this situation!

Now both of them completely understood: Maybe the Joseon Dynasty's Guozuo ended here.

Li was exposed to Zhu Houcong's thoughts that day, and now his whole body is getting colder and colder.

Everyone has old thinking.

After so many years, it is an indisputable fact that there is a hero in the Ming Dynasty. But in addition to the world enemy of the Meng Yuan Khan Court, the Ming Dynasty only destroyed the territory of Meng Ding and took back the old territories of the three Ming Dynasties in North Jiaozhi.

North Korea has been respectful from generation to generation, and the country has been established in an orderly manner for a long time. How can it be the same?

He was still dreaming about the sudden change in the situation and the dream that there would be no chance at all. At that time, he withdrew the comment that he was "unfaithful and unfilial".

Now recalling his "appreciation" when he first met the Ming Emperor, Li only felt shuddering.

Did you start plotting against North Korea from that time?

But over the years, Ming Dynasty has really not treated North Korea badly.

Internal affairs are ignored and border trade continues...

Now Li wants to understand: in front of the unsatisfactory North Korean monarchs and ministers, whether it is to allow them to fight in peace, continuous border trade will bring more benefits that can be fought for!

He is also one of the chess pieces.

He brought back the model of the Ming Dynasty's Huangming Asset Bureau, making his mediocre father think it could be used to balance all parties. But under the shackles of his identity as the second son of a concubine, it eventually turned into a new battlefield for fighting.

Not only Jiuliancheng in the north, but also Mashima Island in the south, the only window for resale from Japan. Brother Xiao Yin, who has the upper hand, has greatly increased his fortune, so he dares to be so deceived and treacherous, right?

"...Your Highness, what should we do now?"

Now that he has "knelt down" and "loyed" to him, Elder Yin is still showing off.

Li didn't answer, looking equally at a loss.

But he knew that Elder Yin was probably dead.

And what about his future?

Li was very smart when he was young, and he knew that the Ming Emperor might be waiting for him now.

There must be some misfortune in Ryukyu, right? Shang Yuan, the real crown prince, begged, and his sister begged in blood, but Ming was still dragging his feet.

Is it because the character of the petition is not important enough, or the content of the petition is not in line with the Ming Emperor's wishes?

On the occasion of the New Year, go and pay New Year greetings.

Now, he is still the son of the North Korean leader who was canonized by the Ming Dynasty. In this capacity, he wants to pay New Year's greetings to the Ming Emperor.

In the Xinuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, Li knelt down very reverently and said in a very sad voice: "The sinner, on behalf of my late father, wishes to greet His Majesty, may His Majesty live long! Long live! Long live!"

"You're celebrating the New Year, what's your crime?"

Li was still kneeling, but straightened up and wiped his tears: "I was shocked to hear that the people from my country came to Beijing to petition, and the guilty minister went to visit, only to find out that the people of the clan had been separated for many years. The Jurchen invaded the border, and the Japanese bandits invaded the country, and the outsiders could not defend the territory; Quan The dynasty was full of traitors, the government was in ruins, and the people could not live in peace. Even though the guilty minister was a mere son of the king, he was ashamed. When faced with this difficulty, the guilty minister did have selfish motives at the time. Your Majesty said that the guilty minister was unfaithful and unfilial. This is also the crime of the guilty minister! "

Zhu Houcong's eyes narrowed, and after staring at him for a long time, he let out a long sigh: "I never thought that the people of North Korea would be so miserable. North Korea is not what it is today for no reason. The monarchs and ministers of North Korea cannot protect the land and calm the people, and they deserve a sentence of guilt in history. Comments from the people.”

Li lowered his head again: "This is the second time that the guilty minister has celebrated the Zhengdan Festival in the Ming Dynasty. In the past ten years, the people of the Ming Dynasty have become more prosperous and healthy. But in the past, His Majesty ordered someone to teach the guilty minister about border trade, but the guilty minister was limited by his identity. In the critical situation of the conflict between the crown princes of North Korea, I have been unable to make any contribution to the people of North Korea for many years. Every time I think about this, I only regret that I am a descendant of the royal family. If I were born among the people, I might still be able to make a difference and live up to His Majesty's high expectations."

Zhu Houcong looked at him, and after being silent for a while, he said, "Come and wish me a happy new year. You might as well say what else you want to say clearly."

This guy always emphasized his status as the king's concubine, and pointed out that the North Korean royal family had left the country earlier than the common people, and that being born among the people might make a difference. Zhu Houcong probably guessed what he wanted to say.

Can one's origin be changed? Unless the North Korean royal family ceases to exist.

Of course he wouldn't be seeking death, but...he still had to speak for himself.

Li gritted his teeth, knelt down three times and kowtowed and made a grand salute, and then said decisively: "Nowadays, traitors are running rampant in North Korea, my relatives are monopolizing power, they are incompetent in honoring the old, and the military generals are divided. Although the prince is still here, the guilty ministers always know my brother's character. Although he is smart and kind-hearted, he is really lacking in strategy and courage. At this time, even if Yin Ren can be used to turn the tide, he will be charged with killing his mother and brother, and he will not change his true nature of being a powerful traitor. There will never be peace in Korea. , then why do the people deserve it?"

Zhu Houcong laughed in his heart, but his face was very solemn: "I have admired you since the past, and I was right after all. Your analysis is indeed very reasonable."

In fact, Li is not much younger than Zhu Houcong, and he is now thirty-two years old.

Now that the Crown Prince of Joseon is bound to his biological uncle Yin Im, and Queen Munding's biological son is the legitimate second son, relying on another close uncle Yin Yuanheng to commit regicide, there is no room for either side.

Needless to say, Queen Munding was successful. Her youngest son succeeded to the throne, listened to the government behind the curtain, and her uncle served as regent. She also had to stabilize North Korea under the pressure of killing the lord and Yichu. How easy was it?

If Yin Ren succeeds, the pressure in this area will be much less, after all, his nephew has been the prince for many years. But can it leave a legacy of disaster? This prince was raised under the name of Queen Wen Ding shortly after his birth. Although he is not his biological mother, his younger brother is his biological brother, right?

Likewise, Brother Xiao Yin has been in power for many years. After the general purge, how could Prince Wang not rely on Yin Ren? The newcomers promoted by Yin Ren will naturally further consolidate his position.

No matter what, if in the past it was just a struggle for power in the North Korean court, if there are no accidents in the next few years, a generation of chaos between the government and the opposition will be absolute.

Didn’t Li say that? His younger brother lacked strategy and courage. Intelligence and lack of strategy are very contradictory. Kindness is a bad thing to say, but together it looks like cowardice.

"Even if my brother survives by chance, it will be difficult to solve this situation. Xiao Yin's sister and brother killed their master and conspired to rebel. The guilty minister is a human son. How can they be reconciled? Although Yin Yuanlao was sent to the country as an envoy, he has been working with his sister and brother for many years. Controlling the royal government is actually the enemy of the sinners! The current crisis in Korea, the sinners believe that it is because the people have lost heart over the years and the king's fortunes have declined. The sinners brothers have nothing to ask for, but hope that your majesty will send troops to suppress the rebellion so that the sinners brothers can be saved Family temple.”

"Family temple?" Zhu Houcong confirmed intriguingly.

Li had a serious look on his face: "How can I be so shameless and still think of myself as an ancestral temple when I have been entrusted by His Majesty and left the people in trouble? Please kill Elder Yin first. The guilty officials will urge my brother to offer his land and land and be willing to serve as a minister of the Ming Dynasty. Instead of this, Greedy for power, and luckily able to stabilize the internal affairs and establish diplomatic relations with the country above, it would be better for your majesty to quell the civil strife as soon as possible. It will not miss the plan to fight against the Japanese, and it will also be a blessing to all the people of Korea. The culture and education of the country are prosperous, and the dynasty is full of virtuous ministers. Korea was originally the old land of China, For many years, I have been proud of being a small China. With the current situation, wouldn’t it be a blessing for me to be a citizen of the Ming Dynasty?”

He had always called himself a sinner, but in the end, he finally dropped the word sin.

Zhu Houcong looked at him deeply. This does make it clear enough.

Li, a mere bastard, naturally cannot make his own decisions. He is the second eldest son, and Prince Wang is the fourth eldest son. But now there is still a war there, and it is not known how many of Li Yi's sons will survive. Even if the fourth child, Li Gao, could survive as a thorn in the side of Queen Wen Ding and his brother and sister, Li Biao's attitude was to persuade him not to succeed to the throne, but to directly offer his land as a vassal.

Can he do this? Can Yin Ren agree?

The best case scenario is that Li Giao is gone. In this way, the legitimate second son belonged to the throne that his biological mother's uncle had killed his father, and it was justifiable that Ming Dynasty would not recognize it. But other than that, they are all bastards. Among the concubines, the eldest Lord Fucheng, Li Mei, had been killed ten years ago, and the remaining one was Ju Chang Li.

Otherwise, why would Zhu Houcong have said before that he had a good chance?

Now Li Wufei has changed his mind: if he could make the decision, he no longer wanted to be the king of North Korea, but a minister of the Ming Dynasty.

The ancestral temple of the royal family has since become just the family temple of the ministers.

Wasn't it because he was afraid that Ming Dynasty might directly defeat North Korea in one fell swoop? In that case, the current initiative still retains its function as a memorial arch to unite the hearts and minds of North Korean scholars, and will not be dismissed as a member of the mediocre royal family who harmed the country and harmed the people.

Zhu Houcong shook his head and said: "There is no evidence whether Brother Xiao Yin and Queen Wen Ding killed the lord and seized power together."

Li kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, what are the people of North Korea to blame? It will take several years of war until we can find out the true facts! And now there is news that the prince has fled. If my father had not suffered any disaster, he died of a serious illness, and now it would be My brother is succeeding to the throne. Brother Xiao Yin has been in power for many years, so my brother must have fallen into a trap. I hope that your majesty will take pity on the loneliness of my brother and the hardship of the Korean people, and be merciful to rescue him."

"...This is a serious matter. Now is the Spring Festival and all the ministers are on vacation." Zhu Houcong paused and said, "Well, you go back first. In a few days, I will discuss this matter with the ministers as soon as possible. thing."

Seeing Li resigned and left in despair, Zhu Houcong fell into deep thought.

Li's identity is indeed very good, but... it's not enough. After all, Li was only the second son of a concubine, and he had minimal influence on the internal situation in North Korea.

His statement cannot be said to be useless, but given his weak position in the past, it can easily be said that he was "forced".

To be honest, Zhu Houcong didn't think he was plotting against them. Isn't the current situation mainly caused by themselves?

Food is the original sin.

If Zhu Houcong really wanted to discuss something, the important ministers of the Ming Dynasty wished that the emperor valued them and could summon them to the palace to discuss matters at this time. Take a vacation, what kind of vacation?

Several important ministers had just entered the palace and were discussing the feasibility and implementation details of Li's "attitude" when they saw Sun Yuan rushing over.

"Your Majesty!" Sun Yuan saluted and then said after seeing Yan Song, "Yan Guowei is also here, just in time. In the Datong Pavilion, the North Korean envoy Li carried out a knife attack and killed the deputy envoy Yin Yuanlao. He looked like he was crazy and shouted: Father and brother take revenge!”

Zhu Houcong was stunned when he heard this: "...brother?"

Li Yi was already dead, and Li was crying outside the Meridian Gate, accusing Yin Yuanlao of being an accomplice.

But who is this brother he is talking about?

Sun Yuan was a little surprised: "Your Majesty...could it be that he received the news that the prince of North Korea was also being surrounded and killed, and then summoned the princes to discuss it? When Li Xing committed the murder, everyone in the Datong Hall clearly heard that his family had been killed. His father killed the crown prince again..."

"...No." Xia Yan said, "The new report did not mention the murder of the North Korean Crown Prince."

Tang Shunzhi, who had heard the previous news, was moved, looked at Zhu Houcong, and then said: "Your Majesty...is this a certificate of surrender?"

If you kill Yuan Lao Yin with your own hands, you will naturally become incompatible with Xiao Yin's faction.

If he falsely claims that the crown prince of North Korea has also been killed, then only rebels will be left in North Korea. Li Gong may still be alive now, but he first said he was "dead", and he became the enemy of his younger brother and Dayin.

What are you worried about?

"...Where are they?" Zhu Houcong asked Sun Yuan.

"It was the chief and deputy envoys of the vassal state who killed each other. I just ordered someone to keep him in the Datong Pavilion first."

Yan Song was speechless repeatedly: "This boy is very decisive."

Sun Yuan continued to report: "He also asked his ministers to petition Your Majesty to allow him to take the old man Yin Yuan's head to the refugee camp in the east of the city to confess his crime."

"Apologise? What crime?"

"It is said that the royal family is asking for punishment for wrongly using treacherous officials to harm the country and the people. Now that the rebels have committed a rebellion, Lord Fucheng was killed first, and now all the princes of the country are also killed. The traitors will definitely kill all the princes, and there will never be peace in Korea. . He is willing to work with the people to serve as subjects of the Ming Dynasty. He only hopes that the Ming Dynasty can send his troops into the court as soon as possible to wipe out all the rebels to avenge him, so that the fleeing people can return home as soon as possible..."

Zhu Houcong said meaningfully: "I remember that he was scolded before, right?"

Yan Song stood up: "I congratulate your Majesty, congratulations to your Majesty! In order to avenge his father, Li killed his accomplices, and his filial reputation spread far and wide. All the kings and princes of North Korea were killed. He is the leader of the royal family, adding to his reputation; self-proclaimed The royal family has harmed the country and harmed the people, so pleading guilty to the people can win people's hearts; being willing to dedicate land and become a minister, just for revenge and not for succession, is a sign of loyalty. What is the actual situation in North Korea is no longer a concern. Knowing what he does in Beijing, North Korea's civil and military officials cannot do anything about it. If you obey him, there will be no future trouble.”

The key point is that Li Gao's death was simply false news spread by Li on his own initiative.

But this was done to "sell" North Korea to the Ming Dynasty. How could North Korea's civil and military forces be so willing?

If a self-contained dynasty only competes internally to become the Ming Dynasty's solid soil, what can they use to compare their talents and trust with the Ming Dynasty's civil and military ministers?

Li is selling them all!

At least they would think so, not knowing that Ming Dynasty would adopt a new transition mode. In the future, whether they merge into a solid land or are brothers of the same clan, it will all depend on the situation. At least during this transitional stage, efforts will be made to further eliminate identity differences through trade, domestic affairs, education and cultural exchanges.

And his existence value... is just to help Ming win the hearts and minds of North Korean people. After all, he is a rare person in the royal family with a filial name, a true-hearted person who is willing to give up the throne for revenge, and someone who can put down his dignity to apologize to the people and risk living with them in a refugee camp.

After publicity, at least at this moment in the hearts of the people of Ming Dynasty and the people of North Korea who fled, he was actually the first heir to the throne of North Korea.

He voluntarily gave up all this, so why should Ming shirk it?

Zhu Houcong waved his hand helplessly and asked Yan Song to sit down: "Let him lead the way. Sun Yuan, has the news spread?"

"I don't want to accuse anyone. But when the murder was committed before, there was a lot of commotion, and there were many people in the Datong Hall, so naturally the news spread."

Zhu Houcong thought for a while and said: "Then let him go. Those refugees also hate the Li family to their core. Whether they can accept his sincerity depends on how he will act there. The people in the capital want to see the excitement, you have to Stabilize order. At this moment, he has turned himself into an indispensable person for the Ming Dynasty in North Korea."

"Beware of such a scheming person!" Xia Yan said.

"In case he has a bigger goal of winning the hearts of the people?" Zhu Houxuan shook his head, "He is not much younger than me. He has changed his mind and managed the business well. If the Korean people cannot all say that they are happier and healthier under the Ming Dynasty in ten or twenty years, Then what he wants is what he should do. I will keep him, protect him, and encourage him, so as to give a warning to the prince and ministers who will run North Korea in the future!"

Yang Shen couldn't help but look at Zhu Houcong.

It seems that the emperor is not just for the sake of expanding the territory, but he really wants to take the people of the new foreign domain into consideration.

Your Majesty will definitely not do it for someone else.

"If we make such a fuss again, we must take it as God's fault. Send an order to the Marquis of Xining and the Marquis of Yangwu to assemble their armies and prepare for war. Advance by sea and land, and pacify North Korea first. Yong Xiu, this matter must be dealt with It's a beautiful job. We also provide food relief for the army. After the spring begins, we will also prepare more new grain types and new farm tools and ship them to North Korea."

Yang Shen received the decree first, and then asked: "Your Majesty, if Korea is pacified, who will be the king?"

When everyone heard this, their hearts trembled and they looked at the emperor.

(End of this chapter)