Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 306: Extension of favor and trade-off

Zhao Mu had also prepared his own set of words.

Zhao Mu agreed to ask for this favor from Duan Zhengchun because he had his own plans. On the surface, he wanted to please Dali and his father-in-law. But it was actually a conspiracy.

Zhao Mu's conspiracy is the "Tweening Order".

Zhao Mu said: "Of course not, this is just a precaution taken by Wei Chen based on the actual situation of Dali Kingdom for our Song Dynasty."

"Oh? Are you willing to hear the details?" Zhe Zong murmured.

If someone else had said this and Zhezong hadn't pulled him out and chopped him up on the spot, it would have been like smoke rising from his ancestral grave.

But Zhezong regarded Zhao Mu as his confidant, so Zhao Mu must have a reason for suggesting this. So Zhezong patiently wanted to hear what the emperor had to say.

Zhao Mu said: "It's like this. When I first traveled around the world, I went deep into Yunnan and visited the hundreds of thousands of mountains. Although Dali is a country in name, the Duan family, the head of Dali, can actually The only ones controlled by the government are the prefectures and counties with a radius of several hundred miles around Dali City. And this is the result of cooperation with several Han families who moved to Nanzhong during the later Han Dynasty, such as the Gao family and the Yang family."

"The rest of the Dali Kingdom is still dominated by local chiefs and chieftains who govern themselves. Although they are nominally subjects of the Dali Kingdom, whether they actually obey the orders of the Dali Kingdom depends on their own mood. As for the emperor's brother, The princess is the daughter of the chief of the Baiyi tribe. And the crown prince is also very henpecked. Although he is romantic by nature, he does not dare to let all his lovers close to the house due to the pressure of his fierce wife."

Hearing this, Zhe Zong laughed and said: "Haha, I didn't expect it to be like this. But it seems to me that the emperor's brother is not the only one who is afraid of henpecks. The King of Zhennan seems to be also very henpecked. I once observed it when I was on the dragon throne. Although the Princess of Zhennan is cool and outstanding, the King of Zhennan may not be able to suppress her."

Zhao Mu nodded and said: "Yes, King Zhennan is indeed very henpecked. And his fierce wife is the youngest daughter of Shanshan Marquis Gao Shengtai. The Gao family is not so much the ministers of the Duan family, it is better to say that they are together with the Duan family. An ally who governs the Dali Kingdom. When Duan Siping, a Han, conquered the barbarians in Nanzhao and established the Dali Kingdom, he relied on the support of the Yang family, the Gao family and other Han clans. The Yang family usurped the throne and was jointly controlled by the Gao family and the Duan family. Executed, during the great turmoil that year, the Gao family became the biggest winner. The power was overwhelming."

"The structure of Dali today is somewhat similar to the pre-Qin period. The Duan family is like the Emperor of Zhou among the kings. Although he has the name of the emperor, whether he is the emperor or not depends on the mood of the princes in various places. The Gao family, Yang family, etc. are Qin, Qi, Chu and other big countries are eager to aspire to the throne. The Duan family is eager to seek our vassal status because they want to gain our support and use our power to check and balance the barbarians and noble families."

"In the land of Nanzhong, there is Nanzhao in front and Dali in the back. The situation is very complicated and it can be said to be a complete mess. After Emperor Taizu conquered Hou Shu and won, 'Song Hui Jade Axe' did not want me to be like the Song Dynasty. Tang General's involvement is only a waste of national strength. If we really take Dali under our control, will Dali ask for our help in the future, will His Majesty help?"

Zhezong did not hesitate. He said categorically: "Of course I won't help. As the emperor's uncle said before, we only have good relations with Dali for its many resources and to let him go when war breaks out with Xixia and Liao. Contain Tibet. Other than that, we have no interest in making good friends with Dali."

Zhao Mu nodded and said: "Your Majesty is wise. We just want the things of Dali Kingdom, but we don't want to interfere with Dali Kingdom's business. It is precisely because of this that all previous emperors have resisted the canonization of Dali Kingdom. Now we want to confer Dali Kingdom on it, Let Dali fall to the Song Dynasty, but we can't get too close to him. This mess will really fall on us. So give Dali grace and let them call themselves emperors. In the future, we will not interfere with Dali. It makes sense.”

Zhe Zong suddenly understood, and he said: "What the emperor said makes sense. In the future of the province, Dali will trouble us with everything. Moreover, although Nanzhong is rich in products, it is full of barren mountains and rivers, and is surrounded by miasma. There is no need for us to really go deep into it." Go in. Whatever we need, let the people of Nanzhong go deep into the dangerous areas to collect it, and then we can buy it with silver." Zhao Mu continued: "As for my advice, let Dali retain the power to entrust itself. In fact, it is .”

Before Zhao Mu had finished speaking, Zhezong drew inferences and said, "The emperor's uncle probably wanted to imitate Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's 'favor order'. If Dali is given the power to enfeoff itself, then all the princes of Dali will have a share. In this way, they will There is no way to completely unite the strength. And the Gao family, which controls the national affairs of Dali, can also take the opportunity to entrust themselves."

"The Duan family of Dali wanted to break the deadlock of oppression by other families in the court through canonization, but the emperor's move also left room for maneuver for the Gao family and other families. The balance of the court in Dali has not been broken, and the balance of the court in Dali has not been broken. The royal family, the Duan family, can only rely on us. The other families are at odds with the royal family and are unable to confront our heavenly kingdom, so they can only rely on us."

"As long as we play the right balance of power, we can make full use of the delicate relationship between the Duan family and the aristocratic families, and make Dali a completely threat-free backyard for us. Control the land of Nanzhong for us."

After listening to Zhe Zong's inferences, Zhao Mu expressed his thoughts in one breath. I admire this emperor even more. It's really easy to interact with smart people.

Zhao Mu replied: "Exactly, your majesty is wise, and your majesty said it right before I made it clear. So according to your majesty's wishes, is this matter?"

Zhe Zong said with a smile: "The emperor's uncle personally advised me, and I take it as my own approval. Besides, this move will also allow the emperor's uncle to get an advantage in front of his father-in-law. I am willing to do this as a favor."

After Zhezong and Zhao Mu discussed the details, they immediately asked the eunuch to draft the credential and the imperial edict. The two of them were afraid that Dali would react and regret not accepting this honor.

Gao Shengtai actually figured out Zhao Mu's conspiracy after Zhao Mu left. However, Zhao Mu's conspiracy is in the interests of the Gao family and can prevent the Duan family from becoming dominant. Therefore, he kept silent and even used nonsense words like Zhao Mu's "filial piety" to deceive Duan Zhengchun.

Although Gao Mei didn't think about this deeper level, when he thought that he would still be the queen of Dali Kingdom in the future, he didn't care what Zhao Mu wanted to do.

As for Duan Zhengchun, he is quite good at playing with and coaxing women, which can be said to be unparalleled. But when it comes to playing political tricks in governing the country and making treacherous conspiracies, his reaction speed is not as fast as Zhao Mu and Gao Shengtai.

If it were Duan Zhengming, he would definitely not accept this honor and then humbly accept it. Unfortunately, Duan Zhengming is far away in Dali. It happened that Duan Zhengchun, the prince, came here.

In this way, Zhao Mu and Zhezong prepared the canonization decree of the Song Dynasty and the credential of the Song Dynasty in the imperial study room. Later, in order to show formality, the eunuchs were specially asked to take the lead in delivering the order and saying hello. As for the formal ceremony to confer Dali Kingdom, Zhao Mu planned to put it after returning from the expedition.

This can also reflect the Song Dynasty's "Wen Cheng Wu De", which overwhelmed the barbarians. The one who made Dali bow its head. This can also enhance the national prestige of the Song Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)