If I fail to overcome the tribulation, I can only return to the Ming Dynasty and become a prince.

Chapter 153 North Korea’s court discussions

At this time, in the palace of Seoul, Li Bangyuan, the king of North Korea and King Taejong in later generations of North Koreans, was looking at his important ministers with a face of fear, worry and anger, and scolded them: "Not all of them are usually very good at speaking. Why? Why are they all mute now? They are all talking! What should we do now? The two princes of the Ming Dynasty came to Incheon Port and asked the orphan to pay homage in person. They also asked me, Korea, to bear the food and fodder for the Ming army. You should tell me this. What should I do?”

No wonder Li Fangyuan was so incompetent and furious at this time. After General Li Fan refused to see him and asked Li Fangyuan to pay homage to the two vassal kings in person, and also asked North Korea to provide food and grass for the army, Li Fangyuan summoned the ministers to inquire. Countermeasures, but the meeting lasted for a long time, and not a single useful idea came up.

This would definitely not be possible without meeting the two vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty.

Thousands of elite Ming troops have landed in Incheon and established camps. If Li Fangyuan refused to pay homage to the two vassal kings, the army originally used to conquer Japan would directly attack North Korea on the spot.

The distance from Incheon to Seoul is less than a hundred miles, and a fast horse can cover the round trip in one day.

Even if the army is dispatched, it can reach Seoul within three days if it marches normally. This still takes into account the speed of the North Korean army's blocking on the road.

The Koreans themselves also know what kind of virtue their army is. The soldiers do not have much combat effectiveness at all. If they really want to go to war with the Ming Dynasty, even Li Fangyuan himself does not think that Seoul can be defended.

After all, according to what Li Chen saw from Incheon, the Ming army was too powerful.

It doesn't matter if the soldiers all have iron armor, as well as muskets and artillery, which to North Korea are simply weapons that reduce dimensionality.

Although at the beginning of the founding of Korea, Li Bangyuan's father Li Chenggui, who had the power to know the state affairs of Goryeo and "King Kangxian", also intended to attack the Ming Dynasty. The most famous incident in his life was when he led troops to attack the Ming Dynasty. occurred during the process.

But by this time, Li Fangyuan had clearly realized how big the gap was between the military strength of the Ming Dynasty and North Korea.

You must know that Li Fangyuan is not a weak and incompetent person. He also snatched the throne by himself. He even put Li Chenggui under house arrest in his later years, claiming to be the same figure as Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

But Li Fangyuan can only be regarded as having Tang Taizong's illness, but not Tang Taizong's life.

His father, Li Chenggui, faced Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, the Ming Dynasty was not yet stable. Li Chenggui was the son of Li Zichun, Daru Huachi of the Yuan Dynasty. He looked down upon the Ming Dynasty, and it was normal to feel a little disobedient.

But Li Fangyuan saw with his own eyes how Zhu Di conquered the world from a vassal king. At the same time, he also saw how capable the Ming army in Liaodong was, and how the Ming Dynasty established Nuergandusi.

Therefore, Li Fangyuan was full of fear of Ming Dynasty.

Of course, the sky is high and the emperor is far away on weekdays, and Li Fangyuan does not take Ming Dynasty too seriously in front of his ministers.

After all, in his opinion, as long as he maintained a respectful attitude, it was impossible for Daming to really hit him.

But now the Ming army is at the doorstep.

"Your Majesty! We should mobilize all our troops and line up in Incheon to let the Ming army know the power of our Korean army and deter the Ming Dynasty!" At this time, a general with a helmet and armor suddenly said to Li Fangyuan, with a look of righteousness on his face. How loyal and unyielding he is.After hearing this suggestion, Li Fangyuan's original anger because the courtiers failed to come up with an idea for a long time subsided a little. After thinking about it, he said: "This strategy is feasible. It's up to you to summon the army to Incheon! But remember not to provoke the Ming army. , if there really is any conflict, then I will behead you to make Ming Dynasty calm down."

It's not that Li Fangyuan is incompetent and too cowardly to take a tough stance with Daming.

But he clearly knew that obeying the Ming would be a little aggrieved at most. If he really fought against the Ming, the country of North Korea might still be there, but he would definitely be imprisoned like his father.

If a war really breaks out, even with all the troops they can't defeat the Ming Dynasty's army.

Therefore, the suggestion of raising an army is really just to show an attitude to Ming Dynasty, rather than trying to be tough with Ming Dynasty.

However, after this issue was agreed upon, the more important issue has not yet been resolved.

Whether Li Fangyuan should pay homage to the two Ming vassal kings, and whether North Korea should provide food and fodder to the Ming army, these two matters have never come to a conclusion.

Fortunately, with the general's suggestion, a civil servant also stood up and said: "Since the king has decided to march to Incheon with all his troops, with the protection of the army, the king should still pay homage to the two vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty. After all, He is the prince of the Kingdom of Shangguo. Even if the king doesn’t go, you should still send the prince to go.”

Li Fangyuan didn't have much objection to this suggestion. After all, he was a person who was better than Li Shimin. He was really afraid that Ming would do something to him before, but now he understood that it was impossible not to go, so he still showed some courage.

"The crown prince Li Bao went to Incheon on behalf of his father to apologize to the two feudal princes and offered gifts and beautiful women to express his apology." Li Fangyuan had some courage, but not much.

"Father, how should we respond to the Ming army's request for us to provide them with food and grass?" Li Fan seemed a little dissatisfied with Li Fangyuan's order to send his eldest brother to pay homage to the two Ming vassal kings, but he still The topic turned back to the most important thing.

Asking Li Fangyuan to pay homage to the two vassal kings was just a matter of etiquette. Li Fangyuan was just afraid that he would be captured by the Ming army and take the opportunity to attack North Korea. If there were no such concerns, it would not be an important matter.

But the Ming army asked North Korea to provide food and grass, which would be fatal. You must know that there is not much flat land in this poor country of North Korea. Most of the areas are mountainous. Even in later generations, North Korea's agriculture was not very developed. It can be imagined that Providing food and fodder for the Ming army would be a burden for the whole of North Korea.

But Li Fangyuan didn't dare to refuse directly. After all, the Ming Dynasty's army was stationed in Incheon. Do you want to give it?They can just come and get it themselves.

And this is also the key reason why Li Fangyuan did not dare to go to Incheon.

If he doesn't go to Incheon, the matter can still be argued over and discussed. If he goes to Incheon and a knife is put on his neck, will he agree or not?
"Your Majesty, I think we should first collect a batch of food and grass to send to the Ming army, and then write a letter with generous gifts and humble words to explain the situation clearly to the two Ming vassals, explaining that our country, Korea, is small and weak and is really powerless. Provide food and fodder for the army." Another civil servant stood up and finally proposed a reasonably feasible plan.

Upon hearing this, Li Fangyuan thought about it and felt that this plan was feasible, so he nodded and agreed.

(End of this chapter)