Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 18 Prime Minister’s Style
After lunch, Chai Zongxun walked back to Qingshou Hall, sat on the throne and meditated.

Now his position as Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty has been basically stabilized. Since the execution of Zhao Kuangyin and his party, the reputation of the imperial family has greatly increased. Although most of the subjects of the Great Zhou Dynasty still think that the emperor is too young, the reputation of Queen Mother Fu has spread throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty in recent days. territory.

Chai Zongxun knew very well the principle of this era that "the emperor is the one who has strong soldiers and horses".

Although the three most elite armies of the Great Zhou Dynasty are currently under stable control, institutional design must be done in the future to ensure that the control of the army is firmly in the hands of the imperial family.

The world is now divided. If you want to unify the world, you must have an elite army with outstanding combat capabilities.

Judging from the current situation, the Zhou imperial army can protect itself and defeat the Southern Tang, Hou Shu and other countries, but it is difficult to predict the outcome of defeating the Northern Han Dynasty, especially the Khitan, the great enemy behind it.

"Soldiers are also deadly weapons."

It is common for a war to fail and a country to collapse. Therefore, absolutely crushing the combat power of various enemy countries in this era has become the issue that Chai Zongxun is currently considering.

The first thing that came to Chai Zongxun's mind was to produce a standard flintlock gun. However, considering that it was almost 4 years before the matchlock gun appeared in history, it seemed unrealistic.

Then I thought that the most powerful unit in this era was cavalry, and the most powerful attack method was mounted archery. However, for the Zhou Dynasty, which lacked horse-producing areas, it was a big problem to form an elite cavalry.

Moreover, it would be unwise to compete with the nomads who grew up on horseback as cavalry. During the Han and Tang dynasties, the smelting technology of the Central Plains dynasties was far superior to that of the nomadic peoples, which is no longer the case.

When Chai Zongxun was having a headache thinking about it, the eunuch outside the palace came to report: Li Tao came to ask for an audience.

Chai Zongxun ordered Li Tao to enter the palace.

After a while, Li Tao followed the eunuch into the palace.

Chai Zongxun turned around and saw Li Tao, who was about sixty years old, with gray hair, a short beard under his chin, a ruddy face, lively eyes, and a smile.

Li Taoxing saluted and said:

"Your Majesty, Li Tao, is here to see you! Long live my emperor! Long live my emperor!"

Chai Zongxun said: "Li Aiqing is flat! Please sit down."

After Li Tao gave in, Xie En sat down on a square stool brought by the eunuch in the palace.

Chai Zongxun said:

"I heard that Li Aiqing has the ability to know the safety of the country. I wonder if you have any advice for me, the Great Zhou Dynasty?"

Li Tao said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, since the Queen Mother and Your Majesty have decided to kill Zhao Ni and his party, our state of Zhou Dynasty has now been stabilized.

The only trouble at present is the Hulu Khitan people in the north.

The Liao Kingdom, founded by the Khitan Yelu Abaoji, currently has a population of 400 million and a cavalry of 20.

However, His Majesty has sent Commander Li to rejoin the German army to defend the border, in coordination with the King of Wei in Daming Prefecture. If the Khitan people dare to go south, they will definitely be in vain. "

Chai Zongxun wondered: "Why didn't Li Aiqing mention Liu Jun of the Northern Han Dynasty?"

Li Tao smiled and said: "Liu Jun is the Khitan emperor, and he was canonized as emperor by Yelv Jing, the Lord of Liao.

Since the late emperor's "Battle of Gaoping", the Northern Han Dynasty's military strength has been greatly damaged, and no Khitan people have agreed to send troops to assist. How could he dare to go south and invade our country, the Zhou Dynasty? If you really dare to go south alone, you will be humiliating yourself. "

Chai Zongxun nodded and said:
"What is Li Aiqing's evaluation of the Queen Mother and my new policy?"

Li Tao praised: "The Queen Mother and Her Majesty's new policy has found a new way to make the country rich, the army strong and the people safe without harming the old interests of all parties. It is really the government of a saint, and I can only admire it!"

It only takes a few years to implement the New Deal, and my country will be prosperous! Your Majesty will surely unify the world! "

Chai Zongxun was satisfied and said, "Li Aiqing, is there anything you want to remind me about the current government affairs?"

Li Tao said: "Your Majesty, I have always been outspoken. Please forgive me."

Chai Zongxun nodded and said: "I love you, but it doesn't matter. I won't blame you." Li Tao said:
"Now my subjects in the Great Zhou Dynasty all think that the Queen Mother came to rule and planned to kill Zhao Ni and his party. However, based on my understanding of the Queen Mother during the late emperor's time, I am afraid that the Queen Mother will not be able to do such a bold and careful thing, and hit the target with one blow. Come to decision.

Your Majesty used thunderous means to kill Zhao Ni and his party. He was truly a saint descended from heaven and a blessing to me during the Great Zhou Dynasty.

But I don’t know why his brother Zhao Kuangyi was left alone and not killed?

As far as I know, Zhao Kuangyi's role in advising Zhao Ni's party is even greater than that of the so-called chief adviser Zhao Pu.

Zhao Kuangyi is a man of deep scheming, insidious and cunning, and cannot be allowed to stay. If he stays, he will bring disaster to the future. "

Chai Zongxun sighed and said:
"Li Aiqing, I also know that Zhao Kuangyi is a vicious person, and I have long wanted to get rid of him.

It's just that he surrendered early and confessed many secrets of Zhao Shun's party.

Second, the Empress Dowager's third sister is also my aunt. She married Zhao Kuangyi during the reign of the late Emperor.

I was worried that killing Zhao Kuangyi would hurt the reputation of my mother and the King of Wei. My mother also said that day that I would spare his life for the time being. "

Li Tao smiled and said: "I see, I understand, the Queen Mother does not want my sister to stay alone in the boudoir at such a young age.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty is as considerate as his hair and is extremely filial to the Queen Mother.

Your Majesty, this is easy! "

Fu Jinding, the third daughter of King Wei, was born in the fourth year of Tianfu (939), the same year as Zhao Kuangyi, and married in the fourth year of Xiande (957). She is now only 21 years old.

Chai Zongxun found that he gradually fell in love with Li Tao's humorous and straightforward character. His father didn't like him, but he suited him.

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"It seems that Li Aiqing must have a good idea, why don't you tell me quickly?"

Li Tao smiled and said:

"Your Majesty, when the third daughter of the King of Wei married Zhao Kuangyi as his successor, he thought that Zhao Nishi would be a loyal minister and brave general of the late emperor, and the late emperor also acted as a matchmaker for him.

After the death of the late Emperor, Zhao Ni saw that His Majesty was still young and had already rebelled against him. Today, he was executed by His Majesty. It is said that this time is the same as the other time.

The minister's method is also straightforward and simple. He only needs to find a better husband for the three daughters of King Wei, so that the Queen Mother and King Wei will have no worries, and Zhao Kuangyi will no longer be in the Queen Mother's worries.

A minister has also been selected for His Majesty, namely Li Shoujie, the eldest son of Zhaoyi Jiedushi Li Jun. His first wife died of illness last year and he was in a position to marry the third daughter of the King of Wei as his successor. "

When Chai Zongxun heard this, he thought of Li Junlai.

Li Jun, whose first name was Li Rong, was from Taiyuan, Bingzhou. He is good at riding and shooting, and is brave and good at fighting.

At first, he was subordinate to Li Congrong, King of Qin in the Later Tang Dynasty, and moved to control the crane to command the envoy. Entering the palace of Zhao Yanshou, King of Yan, he made suggestions to expel the Khitan army. He took refuge with Liu Zhiyuan and became the governor of Bozhou.

Following Guo Wei, he conquered Bianjing and became the founding hero of the Later Zhou Dynasty. He paid homage to Zhaoyi Jiedushi, Jixiao Taifu, and Tongping Zhangshi, and resisted the Northern Han Dynasty and Khitan.

He was an extremely loyal minister to Taizu Guo Wei and the Zhou imperial family.

In the time and space of Chai Zongxun's previous life, in 960, Zhao Kuangyin replaced Zhou Jian and Song Dynasty. He sent an envoy to comfort Li Jun and concurrently served as Zhongshu Ling.

Li Jun was loyal to the Later Zhou Dynasty and hung a portrait of Guo Wei. He refused Lu Qiu Zhongqing's suggestion and joined forces with Li Chongjin, the governor of the Northern Han Dynasty and Huainan Jiedu, to rebel against the Song Dynasty. However, he was defeated by Zhao Da and stole the elite imperial army from the Later Zhou Dynasty. He was defeated and died of self-immolation.

Chai Zongxun was overjoyed. Not only did Li Tao think of a candidate instantly, but he also chose the son of a loyal minister who was loyal to the Zhou Dynasty. This shows that Li Tao is loyal to Zhou Dynasty and is full of wit.

Moreover, among the local military envoys, Fu Yanqing and Li Yunruo, who were the most powerful, were loyal to Chai Zongxun, so the military governors throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty were safe and secure.

Chai Zongxun smiled and said: "Ai Qing is truly worthy of the prime minister's demeanor! He is indeed the best candidate for the second prime minister.

I will follow your method and report to my mother today. "

(End of this chapter)