Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 337: The marriage proposal is about to level the threshold
Zhe Zong couldn't help but frown when he heard this.

Zhezong frowned and asked: "Uncle Emperor, why is this? I don't understand. We have won such a great victory now and even took back Yingzhou and Mozhou. We don't need to look at the faces of those Liao people anymore. Why should the emperor's uncle be like Emperor Zhenzong, flattering the Liao people even if he won a great victory?"

Faced with Zhezong's incomprehension, Zhao Mu smiled and explained: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I am just playing hard to get. This time our Song Dynasty was able to win a victory only because the Liao army had not fought for too long and its armaments were slack. , plus the arrogant soldiers underestimated the enemy. But I caught them by surprise, didn't react hastily, and ended the battle as quickly as possible. This made the Liao people suffer a dumb loss."

Zhe Zong nodded thoughtfully after hearing this.

"In this battle, I also saw the shortcomings of our Song Dynasty army. First of all, the most serious problem is lack of organization and discipline. In this victory, the military academy under my command was arrogant and domineering, killing people, setting fires, and raping and plundering. Although there are not a few. This move can indeed boost the morale of the soldiers, but in the long run, it is not the right path."

"The sage said, 'He who wins the hearts of the people will win the world'. A king should 'take the people as your most important, the people as the foundation, and the people as the most important thing'. At that time, Yelu Yaoguang proclaimed himself emperor in Bianjing and established the Liao Dynasty. But it only took a few months. He was defeated by the heroes of the Central Plains led by Liu Zhiyuan, and was eventually trapped and killed in the massacre of Hu Lin. I think about it, if this matter is not resolved, then even if the Song Dynasty takes over the Liao land in the future, I am afraid that it will happen again. Yao Guang's mistake. Since we want to destroy the Liao Dynasty and regain the ancestral land of the Han people, we must treat the people there as our subjects of the Song Dynasty, promote kingship, and treat them as normal."

Zhe Zong said: "This is indeed a problem, but most of the gains captured by the army are from looting. If it is strictly prohibited, the soldiers will probably have no fighting spirit."

Zhao Mu continued: "This minister also has countermeasures. First of all, we must strictly prohibit the soldiers from committing such atrocities against ordinary civilians. And the reward for killing the enemy and beheading is limited to the battlefield. If there is a good killing, beheading. Those who take prisoners, oppress the people, commit adultery and plunder, from school officials to soldiers, will be beheaded. All the merits they have obtained before will be dismissed. After entering the city, they are also prohibited from looting and unauthorized entry into people's houses. The treasury they occupy must be sealed in accordance with the law, as well as the materials they receive. Rewards based on merit. In this way, the sergeants will inevitably lose control. As for how to stimulate their morale, as long as we win the battle, rewards and punishments will be clear. Your Majesty does not need to worry about morale."

Zhe Zong thought for a while and then said: "Okay! Just follow what the emperor told you. But if you don't remove the roots, I'm afraid it will resurrect."

Zhao Mu smiled and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I have also thought of this. After we conquer the Liao Dynasty, all those who work in the Liao camp to resist the heavenly army will be treated as slaves. The men will be employed as laborers, and the women will be employed as slaves. They are prostitutes. We can also follow this method for those Liao officials who bully the people. In this way, we can not only eradicate all those who resist us, but also calm the people's hearts. From now on, as long as we cultivate political principles internally, we can treat the people in the same way. No crime, pure and enlightened. Why do we need to rebel?"

Zhezong nodded when he heard this, and said: "That's fine. Then I will follow what the emperor said. Now we will wait for the envoy from the Liao Kingdom to arrive."

After listening to Zhao Mu's words, Zhezong asked: "Oh? From what I heard, the emperor's uncle seems to be traveling far away again. Won't you stay with me in the capital?"

Zhao Mu also nodded and said: "That's right. I don't think it's time for us to completely break up with the Liao people yet. At the beginning, I said that the Liao Dynasty should be defeated first and the Xia Dynasty be destroyed. Now our army's armament is inferior to that of the Liao Kingdom. It sounds nice, but it's just half a catty to eight liang. The Khitan tribe has been in control of Liaodong since the pre-Tang Dynasty. Although they surrendered and rebelled many times, they have never been completely eaten by the Central Plains regime. Now they are turning against the guests and weighing on us. , has its own reason."

Zhe Zong had no intention of stopping this time. Zhe Zong said, "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Emperor. If you need anything, please tell me."

"Today, our military system has not yet been completely reformed, and the surrounding barbarians have only stabilized Dali. There are still hidden dangers in Xixia and Tubo. Sun Tzu said, 'The military is a major event for the country, a place of life and death, and the path to survival must be observed. .'Raising an army is something that affects the whole body. At present, we are not well prepared and have rashly started a war with the Liao people. Once there are any variables such as floods, locust plagues and other natural and man-made disasters, the situation will be unfavorable to us. If the Liao envoy Again, as long as your attitude is not arrogant and you don't threaten us, Your Majesty can treat us with courtesy."

Zhao Mu said with a bad smile: "Your Majesty can ask the Ministry of War to build a batch of armors and weapons, and then replace the armors and weapons we have eliminated. That Murong Fu has quite a lot of wealth, I will try to find a way to sell these rags that we have eliminated. Give it to him. Let him replace the weapons of our Song Dynasty army first."

Seeing that Zhao Mu was still so wilted, Zhe Zong couldn't help but laugh evilly.

Zhao Mu replied: "Yes, I plan to ask for leave from your Majesty. Now that the matter in the court is over, this battle has really made your majesty's prestige rise to the sky. There is no need for Wei Chen in the court for the time being. Wei Chen wants to go south to Suzhou, Go and meet the ambitious Young Master Murong for a while. Since the King of the South Campus refuses to cooperate with us, we can only go and talk to this Young Master Murong."

After Zhao Mu discussed other details with Zhe Zong in the palace, he said goodbye and went home. Zhe Zong sent his chariot to take Zhao Mu back to his home.

When Zhao Mu's car parked in front of the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion, Zhao Mu was a little surprised to see the bustling crowd.

Zhao Mu got out of the car, looked at the people in front of him and murmured: "What's going on?" At this time, a beautiful woman in casual clothes said to him: "Your Majesty doesn't know yet. You must be respected by His Majesty before, but now This is another great achievement. Naturally, these people are here to curry favor with you, and most of them are here to propose marriage to you."

The woman who spoke was Cong Longxuan, one of the eight great guards of Conglong Guard.

On weekdays, this female hero is just like the other Conglong Guards, with a bronze beast mask covering her face and wearing the official uniform of the Conglong Guards. Because of Zhao Mu's request, Zhezong also specially sent the Dragon Guard to personally protect Zhao Mu's family.

However, most of Zhao Mu's family is female, so it is not appropriate for others to come to guard the inner courtyard. So Cong Longxuan and the few female Conglong Guards were asked to change into casual clothes and protect them in the inner courtyard in the name of maids. The outside of the palace was protected by other dragon guards wearing official uniforms.

"Ah?" Zhao Mu glanced at Cong Longxuan and asked, "Is it possible that they don't know that I am the consort of Dali and that I am already married?"

Cong Longxuan replied: "Of course they know, but they are not here to ask for a wife. You are the heir, and according to our laws of the Song Dynasty, you can have one main concubine, two side concubines, and four concubines."

Zhao Mu naturally knew this etiquette.

Although the powerful can touch women at will, their status is limited.

Taking the prince as an example, the prince has one main concubine and two side concubines.

The heir king is one level higher than the county king and can have four more concubines.

In addition to the prince, two wives, and four concubines, the prince can also have eight wives.

These women with status can be recorded in the genealogy.

Women outside this "establishment" can only be regarded as concubines. Even if the family is confiscated, exiled, and the nine tribes are exterminated, Ji Concubine is not among the nine tribes.

Just like Zhao Mu's mother, Zhao Mu's father was a county king, and the only wives who could be counted as his wives were Princess Chai and two ladies from a scholarly family. Therefore, Zhao Mu's mother always regarded herself as a concubine.

Cong Longxuan continued: "After your good news was sent back, Your Majesty praised you highly in court. It has been like this in the Zhongshan Palace since then. And as far as I know, almost all the official ladies who have not yet left the cabinet have their names posted. They were all handed over to Concubine Chai and Mrs. Zhao by the family. And they are already looking for you."

Zhao Mu sneered and said, "It's just a little trick between the nobles of the world to win over each other."

Cong Longxuan glanced at Zhao Mu and said with a smile: "Best regards, Your Majesty!"

(End of this chapter)