Nuclear Warlord

Chapter 140
Emperor Qianwu saw that the crowd remained silent for a long time, his face darkened, and he said coldly: "Now the situation is critical, do you have a good plan?"

The eldest prince Li Chengye knew that Emperor Qianwu had a resolute character and would not allow the barbarians to invade him, so he cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Father, if the mere barbarians dare to invade me, you should fight them at all costs. Only by terrifying them once can we fight." Keep me safe!"

As soon as the words fell, Li Ji, who was eager to show off, immediately stood up and retorted mercilessly: "Everyone's opinion! It is not enough to fight with blood, and you need a lot of food, grass and armaments. Where did I come from so much now? How much silver?"

Li Chengye scolded angrily: "You are talking about the subjugation of the country. Could it be that I just let the barbarians invade and ignore it? There is not enough food, grass and armaments to raise money, but if the delta is lost, then the morale of the army will be lost. There is no such thing as Daqian." Bitch!"

Li Ji didn't give in at all, and retorted: "It's simply a whimsical idea. Brother Dahuang is talking about how to raise food, grass and armaments? Increase the tax burden? Now that my people are recuperating, can we increase the tax burden at this time?"

Li Chengye was furious: "Last time when there was a flood in Shangzhou, you still said that you would increase the tax burden. Why did you change your mind now?"

Li Ji sneered and said, "It's a big improvement if I know my mistakes. Didn't you say you can't increase the tax burden last time? Why have you changed your mind now?"

Seeing that the two were quarreling tit for tat, Emperor Ganwu's expression darkened, and he said coldly: "Shut up! What's the proper way to make such a noise?"

Li Chengye and Li Ji glanced at each other unconvinced, and stopped talking.

Emperor Ganwu looked at Chen Dingyuan, Minister of the Household Department: "Chen Aiqing, may the treasury support a national war now?"

Chen Dingyuan shook his head bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, due to the sale of the welfare lottery a few days ago, the crisis of empty treasury has been alleviated. So far, there are 8 taels of silver, plus the silver obtained from the raids on the gambling houses in the capital and the second prince Li Shou. The total amount of money exchanged for the assets is only a little over 80 taels, which seems to be a lot, but once a war starts, the loss will be serious, and it is impossible to fight a national war!
Now that the summer grain harvest has plummeted, the autumn tax will have to wait at least a month before it can be collected one after another, and the war in southern Xinjiang is imminent, so I can't afford to wait!

Besides, even if it is delayed until that day, the autumn tax will be used to fight the war, what should the country do next?Can't increase the tax burden? "

After these words, Emperor Qianwu couldn't help frowning, and sighed inwardly.

He just thought of these things and couldn't make up his mind, so he decided to save the courtiers in the court.

If the country is rich and the people are strong, why should he be so aggrieved?

According to his temperament, he had already ordered the recruitment of troops to cull the barbarians.

For a moment, the entire Xuanzheng Palace fell into silence again, and everyone frowned, unable to think of any practical solution.

In fact, it's not completely impossible, it's just that many people don't want to be the first to raise it.

On the other hand, Li Ji, seeing the silence of the crowd, sneered in his heart, cupped his hands and said: "Father, my son has a plan to retreat the barbarian soldiers!"

"Oh?" Emperor Qianwu asked in surprise, "What way?"

Everyone looked at Li Ji.

Some people have already guessed it, and some people are still at a loss.

Li Jigong said solemnly: "My son's plan is very simple, that is, to send relatives to discuss peace!"

As soon as this remark came out, Emperor Qianwu's expression darkened immediately.

The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty also had complex expressions, with helplessness, anger, and even humiliation.

Li Ji seemed to have expected this.

He took a deep breath, first cupped his hands towards Emperor Qianwu, and then cupped his hands towards Manchu Wenwu, with a look of enduring humiliation, his tone raised a lot, and he spoke impassionedly: "Father! You are the pillars of great leadership! I know it's embarrassing to do this, but do we have a choice?"

Speaking of this, Li Ji looked around at the crowd, asked himself and answered: "No! The current situation in Daqian simply can't afford a national war. We can't gamble with the entire fortune of Dagan. Sending relatives to negotiate a peace is the only way." choose!"

Speaking of this, Li Ji revealed a distressed look, looked at Emperor Qianwu, and his tone suddenly became low.

"Royal father, no matter which princess you are sending off to, they are all close relatives of my son's blood, and my son's heart is also very sad, but this is the only way at present! Please ask Father to be judged!"

I have to say that Li Ji's acting skills are still very good, and most people are moved by his persuasion.

Even Emperor Qianwu nodded secretly in his heart, and had to admit that this was the best way at present.

Immediately, a minister expressed his opinion.

"Your Majesty, what His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince said is very true. Sending relatives to negotiate and not abolishing a single soldier can solve the crisis of the barbarians!"

"I know that this action will damage my prestige, but I can only endure the situation for the time being, and I can only take revenge when the national power is strong in the future!"

"There has been a precedent for sending relatives to negotiate a peace since ancient times. I can only wrong your majesty's princess!"

"My minister agrees!"

"My minister agrees!"

……

For a moment, the court was full of echoes.

The eldest prince Li Chengye, after listening to Li Ji's words, went through all the unmarried princesses who are currently waiting to be married in his mind, and there was an imperceptible sneer at the corner of his mouth.

He remained silent and made no statement.

Gan Wu has no expression on his face, but his heart is extremely entangled, difficult to make a decision, and there is deep powerlessness, anger and a trace of humiliation.

From an emotional point of view, when did he, Emperor Qianwu, suffer from such a useless attitude?
With his temper and his usual strong style of fighting the world, what he wants most is to use the power of the whole country to beat the barbarians so that they dare not raise their heads.

But back then it was fighting against the world, and it was the world of the previous dynasty. It doesn't matter if it is broken, the big deal is rebuilding. No one can blame him.

But now that he sits on the world, he can't use the strategy of fighting the world. The world he smashes is his own, and if there is a problem, the people of the world will blame him.

From a rational point of view, sending his relatives to make peace is his only choice at present, no matter how unwilling, humiliated, and angry he feels!
This is what the ancients said, it is easy to fight the world, but difficult to sit in the world.

After a while, Emperor Qianwu secretly sighed in his heart, and finally made this difficult decision.

"I think what the sixth prince Li Ji said is reasonable, which princess do you think is suitable for me?"

Seeing that Emperor Qianwu had made a decision, Li Ji lowered his eyebrows and stopped talking, sneered in his heart, and listened to the courtiers discussing candidates.

"The old minister thinks that the tenth princess is gentle and virtuous, and worthy of this great task!"

"No! I think it's wrong. The ten princesses are nearly twenty years old. I'm afraid it will be difficult to please the barbarian king. I should choose another princess!"

"Princess Sixteen is young and beautiful, she is a suitable candidate."

"Are you kidding me? Princess Sixteen is only 13 years old, if she sends her to marry her, won't the world laugh at her?"

"This doesn't work, that doesn't work, who do you say?"

……

After the ministers argued for a while, Li Ji cupped his hands suddenly and said, "Father, the thirteenth princess Li Mingzhu is eighteen years old. She is as beautiful as a flower, and she is proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. She is the best candidate for a marriage."

As soon as this remark came out, the entire Xuanzheng Hall suddenly fell silent.

It's not that no one thought of Li Mingzhu before, but because now Li Changfeng's favor is strong, and the officials are afraid that Emperor Wu will not dare to mention it.

Now that Li Ji mentioned it, no one mentioned other princesses.

The meaning is obvious, that is, Li Mingzhu is the most suitable candidate.

On the one hand, Li Mingzhu was indeed born as beautiful as a flower, proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and was just at the right age.

On the other hand, Li Mingzhu, like Li Changfeng, has the blood of the previous dynasty and is not as noble as other princesses. In their opinion, it is nothing to send them to marry.

How could Emperor Qianwu not understand the thoughts of the officials, and it was difficult to make a decision for a while, so he looked at the eldest prince Li Chengye.

"Chengye, what do you think about letting Mingzhu get married?"

Li Chengye knew that Man Wang was a bad old man who was about the same age as Qianwu Emperor, Li Mingzhu would definitely not be willing, and Li Changfeng would definitely not agree if he knew about it, anyone who agreed to this matter at this time would be tantamount to offending Li Changfeng.

Although this matter seemed to him almost a certainty, but he had already given out 5 taels of silver to win over Li Changfeng. If he agreed now, wouldn't all his previous efforts be wasted?

Li Chengye made a distressed look, shook his head and said: "Father, both are the younger sisters of my son, no matter which one goes to be with my son, I can't bear it, and my son doesn't know what to do!"

Hearing this, Li Ji smiled coldly.

How could he fail to see that Li Chengye was wooing Li Changfeng?

But he didn't care.

In his opinion, with Li Changfeng's reckless and impulsive temperament, he will inevitably have conflicts with Emperor Qianwu after knowing this matter, and there is a high probability that he will lose his favor.

At that time, he will have one less competitor, and he can put the old and new grudges together for revenge.

As for Li Chengye, he will deal with it slowly in the future.

Seeing that Li Chengye did not give a clear answer, Emperor Qianwu looked at Feng Quji who had not expressed his opinion all this time.

"Feng Aiqing, what's your opinion?"

Feng Quji said unhurriedly: "Your Majesty, the concern of the princes and ministers for the country and the people is evident. The old minister is also quite moved when he hears it. Sending relatives to discuss peace is also a good way!"

After affirming the opinions of the courtiers at the scene, Feng Quji changed the subject again: "However, if we really want to send relatives to negotiate a peace, it is recommended by the veterans to call the generals in the army to discuss it together. After all, will the barbarians No one can say no to agreeing to have a kiss, so we need to make preparations early."

As soon as this remark came out, Li Ji couldn't help but secretly cursed the old fox.

Feng Quji first decided to send his relatives to negotiate a peace agreement, and then proposed to negotiate with the lieutenant general to save face for the lieutenant general, and also gave Emperor Qianwu a buffer time.

It is worthy of being an existence that can occupy the position of prime minister and no one can shake it, and its methods are really sophisticated.

However, Li Ji didn't care.

In his opinion, even if the generals of the army were called to discuss together, the result could not be changed.

Because Li Mingzhu was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate no matter from which aspect, Emperor Qianwu had no other choice.

Everything is in his calculations.

Feng Quji's words gave Emperor Ganwu a step, and he nodded immediately and said: "What Feng Aiqing said is very true, we will discuss this matter tomorrow."

After finishing speaking, Emperor Qianwu, who was in a irritated mood, didn't want to discuss other matters, so he directly announced his resignation and left the Xuanzheng Hall.

(End of this chapter)