Song Gexing

Chapter 291 Vladivostok

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye. Last year in the 13th year of Xining, Zhang Dun took over Wen Yanbo as the second assistant, and Wang Anshi took over Wang Yaochen as the cabinet elder. It has been a year since this year.

Originally, it was normal for Wang Yaochen to retire at the age of 70, but Wen Yanbo, who was three years younger than him, also chose to retire early because of his poor health.

The six ministries were also adjusted. Lu Huiqing took over the post of Minister of the Ministry of Hubu, Liu Jisun became the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Yan Jidao was transferred to the Minister of Rites.

Originally, Zhang Heng was to be transferred back to the capital to serve as the Minister of Justice, but he declined on the grounds that his uncle was the second minister of the cabinet, and it was inappropriate for him to be one of the six ministers.

His initiative to avoid suspicion was highly praised by both the government and the public, so Zhao Fang simply appointed him as the economic and strategic envoy of Goryeo Province.

At this time, the Zhang family was already at its peak. Don’t forget that Zhao Fang also had Zhang’s father-in-law, Zhang Junzhi, the grandfather of the emperor’s eldest daughter.

This was the coach who won Nagasaki back then. What's more, Zhang Junzhi also had several brothers, and Zhang Heng also had several, all of whom were Jinshi.

"Your Majesty, Fan Chunren, the envoy of the Sakhalin Island, reported that the Jurchen Wanyan tribe conquered the Wuran tribe of the five countries. The leader of the Muran tribe, Xie Ye, was defeated and surrendered to our army. The Wanyan tribe was conferred the title of Jurchen Festival by the Lord of Liao for their merits. Envoy..."

In March of the 14th year of Xining, the imperial court received a report from the new recruiter of Sakhalin Island, describing in detail the major events that occurred last year.

The Jurchen Five Kingdoms tribe was the most violent tribe among the Jurchen tribes that resisted the rule of the Liao Kingdom. They were suppressed many times, and it was not the Liao army that suppressed them, but the Wanyan tribe.

At this time, the Wanyan tribe was tricked once by Zhao Fang and was severely suppressed by the Liao Kingdom. However, the leader of the Wanyan tribe, Wu Gunai (another name is Wu Guqiu), is worthy of being a Ninja Turtle, and he even broke his teeth. Swallow it into your stomach.

After the Liao army looted and killed, Wugunai still curried favor with the Liao Kingdom and tried his best to suppress other Jurchen tribes for the Liao Kingdom.

Zhao Fang knew that Wu Gu was able to endure it. According to historical records, if it sounds good, this guy can tolerate it, but if it sounds bad, he is a traitor to the Jurchens.

The rise of the Wanyan tribe was entirely the result of his single-handedly laying the foundation. It was he who shamelessly suppressed his fellow tribesmen, curried favor with the Liao State, and allowed the Liao State to give him the right to rule the entire Sheng Jurchen tribe.

With the support of the Liao Kingdom, he brutally annexed and exploited the various tribes of Shengnuzhen, arousing resistance again and again, and he used his power to kill all the opponents.

Hearing the news about him again, Zhao Fang sighed helplessly: "I still underestimated his perseverance. Even my superiors and subordinates are like that. It's only been a few years, and I can destroy the Ministry of Fire again."

Then he ordered: "Order Fan Chunren and Liu Yisun to go south along the Heilongjiang River, take its tributary Ussuri River, and open up the Xihot Mountains. All the Jurchen tribes along the way will be forcibly surrendered and returned to their native land. I want them to go straight to the seaside. Connecting the Taedong River to Koryo Province.”

When the ministers heard this, they panicked. Going south to the southernmost tip of the Sikhote Mountains meant contact with the Liao Kingdom, because a section of the Wusuli River and the Datong River were in Liaodong.

Although the Liao Kingdom did not station troops there, some Khitan people lived there. It was not the territory of the birthplace of girls, but the territory of mature girls, which was the territory of the original Bohai Kingdom.

Zhao Fang waved his hands indifferently and said, "The Liao Kingdom has no time to worry about that. Mature women often rebel now, and the Liao Army has long since disappeared in that area."

Han Qi asked in confusion: "Why does your Majesty want that bitter cold land? The Jurchen incident can be used to divide the Liao Kingdom again and let them conquer it."

Zhao Fang shook his head and said: "Not only because of the Jurchens, I want that place for future generations. At the southernmost mouth of the Xihot Mountains, there is the best harbor in the world. It has been our land of China since ancient times. It must be built as soon as possible. .”

"Is there a port there?" The ministers were all surprised. Seeing Zhao Fang nodding with certainty, they didn't believe it. After all, this emperor of his own was proven to be right every time he talked about overseas, not to mention that it had been a Central Plains dynasty since ancient times. jurisdiction.

Since the Han Dynasty, the imperial court has appointed officials to govern the area. Although the local people are not Han people, they have always submitted to the power of the Han Dynasty.

Until the fall of the Tang Dynasty, that area belonged to the Bohai Kingdom, and now it belongs to the Liao Kingdom. However, the Liao Kingdom did not attach great importance to that place. In recent years, it has even removed its officials and left it to the local tribes themselves to manage it.

"Then let's make a decree. Since His Majesty values ​​it so much, he will definitely build a naval base there in the future. It's better to do it sooner rather than later."

Zhang Dun understood Zhao Fang's thoughts best. When he heard that it was the best port, he didn't understand that a fleet might be established there.

Zhao Fang smiled when he heard this, nodded and asked Han Qi: "You don't object, right? I'm not lying to you. This place is extremely important. If future generations can guard it, China will have nothing to worry about!"

"Oh! If it is such an important thing, let alone oppose it, even if you want to fight against the Liao Kingdom, I will also support it."

Of course, Han Qi was not a short-sighted person. Hearing his solemn tone, he would not object. He immediately decided to take over both sides of the Xihot Mountains.

Zhao Fang was overjoyed and immediately asked Hanlin to write an imperial edict in a very solemn tone, telling Fan Chunren and Liu Yisun that they must win it at all costs.

He also ordered the Goryeo Province to ask Zhang Heng to cooperate fully to attract the attention of the Liao Kingdom and complete the task.

Why does Zhao Fang pay attention to that place? Because it is Vladivostok, the natural port ranked first in the world in later generations. It was occupied by the Russians and became the base of the Pacific Fleet.

The Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties all had sovereignty over it, but they did not pay much attention to it.If the Ming Dynasty had built a naval base there earlier, the Qing Dynasty would have had to struggle for who knows how long if they wanted to enter the customs.

Because if there were troops stationed there, they could attack the Manchu and Qing Dynasty's retreat, and it was possible to unite North Korea and Japan. After all, both North Korea and Japan recognized the Ming Dynasty as the suzerain state at that time.

Although Toyotomi Hideyoshi wanted to use North Korea as a springboard to enter the Central Plains, his successor, the Tokugawa Shogunate, did not have such ambitions. He quickly repaired relations with the Ming Dynasty and still recognized its status as a suzerainty.

Of course, one reason for this was that Tokugawa Ieyasu wanted to avoid a too tense relationship with the emperor, but he admitted it after all. The other reason was that the Tokugawa shogunate needed money and had to have a good relationship with the Ming Dynasty in order to make money from trade.

As for the Manchu and Qing dynasties, they never recognized it. It was not until the middle of Kangxi that they recognized the suzerain-vassal relationship. North Korea even looked down on the Manchu and Qing dynasty.

They all surrendered and still maintained the Ming Dynasty's clothing, political system, and the reign of Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, North Korea could indeed be said to be the filial son and grandson of the Ming Dynasty.

This is not a derogatory term, but is unanimously recognized by North Korea. They are proud of it because the Ming Dynasty represents the highest civilization of that era.

Even if Li Cong was dissatisfied with Emperor Tianqi's refusal to grant him a title, he just sent people to pray again and again without daring to have any thoughts of rebellion.

It's not that he didn't resent it, but that he didn't dare. You must know that at that time, the entire North Korea was sympathetic to the Ming Dynasty. If he dared to rebel, the throne would not require the Ming Dynasty to send troops, and his own subjects could bury him.

(End of this chapter)