Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 348: The General Situation of the World (Special thanks to book friends 1306…4314 for their 2 monthly tickets!)

Chai Zongxun summoned the captured Dali monarch Duan Suying in the Huangji Hall.

Led by the military supervisor eunuch Zhen Wei, Duan Suying entered the hall and bowed deeply to Chai Zongxun, who was sitting on the golden throne, speaking in a terrified manner.

Chai Zongxun said warmly:
"Lord Duan, please stand up!

My dear Duan, don't be alarmed. Although you have returned without seeing my imperial edict, you are not a foolish and stubborn person who is unwilling to hide the truth.

The rulers of Dali in all dynasties believed in Buddhism, were kind to the people and never acted cruelly. Your father was always respectful to me.

In consideration of your ancestors' kindness to the people, I shall confer upon you the title of "Duke Ciyi" and grant you a house in Bian Jing, where you may chant Buddhist scriptures and live out your years.

I will return all your wives and concubines in your palace to you."

Duan Suying finally put her worries to rest. After thanking him for a moment, she stammered:
"Your Majesty, I have a request that I would like to make. Should I speak up?"

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"The Camellia Princess is my beloved concubine. You are also my uncle-in-law.

There is no need to be restrained in front of me, just say whatever you want to say."

Duan Suying said:

"Thank you, Your Majesty!
When I was in Dali, I often used more than ten Buddhist treasures, such as Buddhist scriptures, jade prayer beads, etc. This time, I also seized them from the national treasury and brought them to Bianjing. I beg Your Majesty to return them to me. Thank you! "

Zhen Wei, who was standing in the hall, frowned upon hearing this. He was about to reprimand Duan Suying for being bold, but he heard Chai Zongxun say with a smile:

“This is easy, they are just some toys.

Consul Zhen, take "Lord Ciyi" to the inner palace to select the treasures seized from Dali, and let him take whatever he wants."

After Zhen Wei bowed and responded, he left the hall with the overjoyed Duan Suying.

After a while, Gao Yingxi, the former prime minister of Dali Kingdom, was brought into the palace by the imperial guards.

As soon as Gao Yingxi entered the palace, he paid great tribute to Emperor Chai Zongxun, being extremely respectful.

Chai Zongxun said:

"Gao Aiqing, please stand up!"

After Gao Yingxi stood up from the jade floor, Chai Zongxun looked at him for a moment and saw that he was about forty years old, with a shrewd and capable look on his face.

Chai Zongxun said:

"My dear Gao, I heard that your family has been in high position and power since the founding of the Dali Dynasty by Emperor Taizu Duan Siping.

In the early years, you led the army to suppress the Yang family's rebellion, and you have a reputation for being good at fighting. This time, I sent troops to take over Dali, but why did the king Duan Suying and the thirty-six barbarian tribes of Hei Cuan all rise up in resistance, and why did you raise the entire Gao family to surrender at the beginning? "

Gao Yingxi said:

“Your Majesty, as the leader of a tribe, you should be aware of the general situation in the world and make good decisions for the future survival and reproduction of your tribe.

Those who do not understand the general trend and only pursue personal gain are a scourge to the world.

Your Majesty is a sage monarch, proficient in military, domestic affairs, and economics. In the past 20 years, you have not only unified the fragmented China, but also wiped out the Karakhanid Khanate, the Liao Dynasty, Goryeo and other countries with an unstoppable momentum!

You can see that the destiny of the day rests with Your Majesty, and those who resist Your Majesty are all fools, so I surrender when I see Your Majesty's army coming."

Chai Zongxun was very pleased and said with a smile:

"Lord Gao has a sharp mind, no wonder he has so much power in the government of Dali.

If so, I will confer upon you the title of "Marquis of Chan", grant you a house in Bianjing, and lead the people of your tribe to join my Great Zhou, where you will live and work in peace from now on."

After Gao Yingxi thanked him and left, Chai Zongxun summoned dozens of other Dali ministers, and ordered the Ministry of Personnel to promote those with talent and good reputation, while the rest were placed under surveillance in Bianjing. In the following days, Chai Zongxun hosted a banquet for Duan Suying and other Dali monarchs and ministers who surrendered, and summoned "Camellia Princess" Duan Wanru to attend.

The people of Dali saw that the Emperor of Great Zhou treated their ruler and his ministers well, and that the officials sent by the court were all honest and upright, and that the court policies implemented brought great benefits to the people. As a result, the people immediately supported Great Zhou, and there was no uprising or rebellion.

On the fifth day of the second month of the twenty-seventh year of Kaixi, at 3:00 p.m., when Chai Zongxun was reading memorials in the Yangxin Palace, Ding Luban, president of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and Professor Yan Su came together to ask for a meeting.

Chai Zongxun ordered the two men to enter the palace.

After greeting, the rather old-looking Ding Luban said:

“Your Majesty, I was originally a humble official, but Your Majesty has held me in high regard and has promoted me over the years, appointing me as the president of the Royal Academy of Sciences. I have been honored to serve you over the years.

In recent months, I have often felt physically tired and mentally dazed, fearing that I would delay the important task entrusted to me by Your Majesty.

Today I have come here specially to ask Your Majesty to retire and return home."

Ding Luban was born in the Later Liang Dynasty. He is now 72 years old and his hometown is Huizhou. He was originally a famous craftsman who was good at architecture among the people. He was selected to serve as the chief engineer in the palace during the Later Han Dynasty.

Chai Zongxun sighed:
"Time flies! I never thought that Dean Ding has been in charge of the research and development of the Royal Academy of Sciences for more than 20 years.

Dean Ding worked diligently and presided over the research and development of the Shenbi bow, the new smelting method and the Tiger Crouching Cannon, and made great contributions!
Now that Dean Ding is old, I cannot force him to work for me!

But the selection of the successor dean is a matter of great importance. Does Dean Ding have any good recommendations?"

Ding Luban waved his hand to Yan Su who was standing beside him and said with a smile:
"Your Majesty, I will always recommend people who are my best friends. Before I retire, I am about to recommend my most talented student, Yan Su, to Your Majesty."

Yan Su bowed to Chai Zongxun and said shyly:

"Your Majesty, I am young and inexperienced, and I am not up to the task. My dear teacher insisted on bringing me along to see you. I cannot refuse. I am sorry to have embarrassed you."

Yan Su was born in the second year of Kaixi. In the twelfth year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun rescued him and brought him back to Bianliang when he was touring the south of the Yangtze River. Now, in the twenty-seventh year of Kaixi, he is only twenty-five years old.

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
“Dean Ding’s recommendation is excellent!
Yan Aiqing is extremely gifted in science and technology. He is extremely talented. Based on the Tiger Crouching Cannon, he invented the original cannon and made great contributions to the country!

Although Yan Aiqing is relatively young, he is fully qualified to be the president of the Royal Academy of Sciences, so there is no need to refuse. "

After they both bowed and thanked him, Ding Luban pondered for a moment and said:
"Your Majesty, I have something else to report."

Chai Zongxun said:

"President Ding, just tell me."

Ding Luban said:

“Your Majesty, over the past twenty years, the Royal Academy has absorbed many of the top technical talents from the people of our Great Zhou.

However, the Royal Academy of Sciences prefers to select people who are proficient in military skills.

Over the years, I have also seen many talented people who were skilled in production skills in various daily industries and wanted to be admitted as members of the "Royal Academy of Sciences", but they were eliminated because their talents were not up to the standard.

However, if these civilian talents can be supported by Your Majesty, I believe they will be able to make many inventions and creations that will promote the development of all walks of life in our Great Zhou."

Yan Su also said:

"Your Majesty, there are indeed many skilled people among the people, and they also have many novel and innovative ideas. Although their lives have become much more prosperous under your Majesty's rule over the years, if they rely on themselves alone, neither their financial resources nor their energy are enough to realize their innovative ideas..."

Chai Zongxun clapped his hands and said happily:
"My two beloved ministers reminded me!
These talents in various production industries among the people are also precious assets of the country.

As long as it can improve production technology and promote the increase of social wealth, it is good innovation, how can it be said to be unrefined! "

(End of this chapter)