Xianxia version of Water Margin

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Recently, all the women in the harem were puzzled!

They didn't know what was wrong with Jiang Hongfei recently. He didn't touch those young and beautiful women, but hung out with his concubines who were over 40 years old every day, playing cards, listening to operas, reminiscing about the past, and sometimes even letting the younger ones sleep with him.

Many young women were worried that Jiang Hongfei had changed his nature and liked mature women, and they were worried about their future.

Jiang Hongfei's behavior had become quite unusual recently. He was no longer obsessed with young and beautiful concubines, but instead had a strong interest in the older beauties in the harem.

This was not because of a big change in his temperament, nor was it driven by a new hobby. In fact, it was because a major decision was quietly brewing.

—— Jiang Hongfei was about to leave the Yuan Empire that he had built, and he did not plan to take the old concubines who had accompanied him for many years with him on this long journey.

Perhaps some people wonder why Jiang Hongfei gave up the Yuan Empire he built with his own hands, and where will he go?

The answer is not complicated. Beyond this vast territory, there are endless unknowns and challenges waiting for him. Beyond the borders of the Yuan Empire, there are still vast lands that have not been included in the territory. There is Jiang Hongfei's next journey.

Behind this decision, there are many profound considerations.

The first reason is that Jiang Hongfei has too many descendants. Even if he has subdivided the Prince Continent into 500 vassal states, it is still difficult to meet the growing demand for fiefdoms. The disputes and contradictions within the family are like undercurrents, threatening the stability of the Yuan Empire at all times.

Furthermore, Jiang Hongfei is well aware of the truth that there is only interest between countries, and there is no eternal friendship. In this world of the survival of the fittest, either the Yuan Empire will shock the four directions with its thunderous momentum and terrify neighboring countries; or it will be invaded by powerful enemies in its slackness and fall into endless wars.

In history, the Xiongnu, Turks, and Uighurs who once threatened the Central Plains, as well as Kievan Rus, Arabia, India, and Western countries far away, all watched covetously and waited for an opportunity to move.

Jiang Hongfei knew that only by taking the initiative could the Yuan Empire be kept peaceful forever.

In addition, although the proportion of foreign soldiers in the army of the Yuan Empire had been adjusted many times, Jiang Hongfei was still worried.

The key was how to properly place those generals who had made great military achievements, which became a difficult problem that the Yuan Empire had to face.

When the cunning rabbit dies, the good dog is cooked. When the high bird is gone, the good bow is hidden. When the enemy country is broken, the counselor dies.

Liu Bang did not keep a king of a different surname, Zhu Yuanzhang burned the celebration building, and Zhao Kuangyin released the military power with a cup of wine.

Jiang Hongfei did not like the way these people handled it. He preferred the lenient way that Liu Xiu and Li Shimin treated their meritorious officials.

However, Liu Xiu's preferential treatment of meritorious officials, although allowing his brothers to enjoy glory, also fostered the greed and corruption of the aristocratic families, and eventually eroded the foundation of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Although Li Shimin was able to treat meritorious officials well and maintain harmony between the monarch and his subjects, it also benefited from his personal outstanding talents and the self-restraint of his generals.

Jiang Hongfei knew that although he could match or even surpass Li Shimin, he could not guarantee how his children and grandchildren would treat these meritorious officials.

Jiang Hongfei was very worried that once he left, Jiang Xiu, who was suspicious by nature, could live in harmony with the meritorious officials, and whether he would cause civil strife due to suspicion, and even destroy the Yuan Empire.

Therefore, Jiang Hongfei decided to follow Temujin's example and lead all the hidden dangers to continue to expand the territory to the west. When they were old and weak, or when they were tired of it, they would be granted fiefs and population in that distant place, allowing them to reproduce for generations.

In this way, the problem of resettlement of meritorious officials was solved, and potential threats to the Yuan Empire were eliminated.

In short, Jiang Hongfei was determined to thoroughly eliminate all hidden dangers that might shake the foundation of the Yuan Empire, aiming to lay an indestructible foundation for the empire for future generations.

In addition, he originally planned to take all his favorite concubines away, vowing not to let them become a burden to the family.

However, after careful consideration, he realized that some of the concubines who were already old might not be able to bear the hardships of the journey.

So, he decided to let these beauties stay in the palace to enjoy their old age and avoid the suffering of displacement.

Facing the upcoming separation, Jiang Hongfei knew that this departure might be a farewell to these women who had been with him affectionately.

In order to make up for this regret, he deliberately reserved a month to spend with them, trying to engrave unforgettable warm moments in each other's hearts.

In this precious time, they laughed or cried, and together weaved their beautiful memories to fight against the upcoming long separation.

…

On May 1, the 27th year of Hongwu, the sky seemed to be shrouded in a layer of haze, and a heartbreaking message came.

Wang Lun, the loyal prime minister of the Yuan Empire who had assisted the government for 29 years, suddenly passed away due to an acute illness at the age of 59.

Jiang Hongfei was extremely sad when he heard the news. He regarded it as the loss of Yi Yin and Guan Zhong, so he ordered to bury Wang Lun with the honor of a state funeral, and posthumously conferred him the title of Guangde County King, becoming the first person in the history of the Yuan Dynasty to be conferred the title of king by a different surname.

Wang Lun's death was not only the fall of an important official, but also a subtle change in the power structure of the Yuan Empire.

Who will become the second prime minister of this huge empire has become the focus of heated discussion inside and outside the court.

Ambitious people are ready to move, lobbying everywhere, trying to climb to the pinnacle of power.

However, Jiang Hongfei did not let the position of prime minister remain vacant for too long. He soon appointed Chen Kangbo, the chief think tank under Jiang Xiu, to temporarily take over the position. At the same time, he secretly dispatched Chen Ke to Beijing to serve as the Privy Envoy.

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Hongfei made in-depth personnel adjustments to the Yuan Empire with thunderous momentum, aiming to consolidate Jiang Xiu's power base and ensure the stability and development of the country.

After careful planning, the power of Jiang Xiu's faction has greatly increased. Although not all of the newly formed leadership team are direct descendants of Jiang Xiu, most of them are people who support his rule.

As for those capable ministers and generals, such as Li Gang, Zhao Ding and other virtuous people, Jiang Hongfei not only did not touch them, but protected them, leaving valuable political resources for Jiang Xiu.

In this power reshuffle, Jiang Hongfei showed his foresight as a generation of heroes.

He cleverly placed those potential threats, ambitious people, and people who were keen on party disputes in his palace as palace officials. On the surface, it was in the name of reuse, but in fact, it was to prevent them from being in the Yuan Empire. It stirs up wind and rain and destroys this hard-won peace and prosperity.

Through this personnel adjustment, the fire of partisanship that had just risen within the Yuan Empire was quickly extinguished and replaced by a group of pragmatic and capable officials who jointly contributed to the future development of the country.

At this time, people suddenly realized that although Jiang Hongfei had not been directly involved in government affairs for many years, his control over the empire had never weakened, and no disturbance could escape his observation. With a wave of his hand, he eliminated all the hidden dangers within the empire, leaving Jiang Xiu with a solid and powerful foundation.

Regarding Jiang Hongfei's decision to personally conquer the Western Regions, it triggered widespread discussion in both the government and the public. Some people are worried that this move is too militaristic, and believe that the Yuan Empire is strong enough and does not need to use troops in the Western Regions;

There are also those who advocate eradicating the roots to prevent the countries in the Western Regions from becoming a serious nuisance in the future;

Some people even proposed resolving disputes through peaceful means to avoid unnecessary war losses.

However, Jiang Hongfei was determined. He knew that once the Turks, Xiongnu and other ethnic groups in the Western Region became strong, they would become a threat to the Central Plains. Therefore, he decided to personally lead his army to eliminate this hidden danger.

On the eve of the expedition, candlelight flickered in the Yangxin Hall, reflecting the solemn faces of Jiang Hongfei and Jiang Xiu, father and son.

Jiang Hongfei's eyes were deep and he spoke slowly, giving final instructions to Jiang Xiu who was about to shoulder the important task: "This time I personally lead an elite expedition of 500,000 people, mainly foreigners. For the troops left behind, you must maintain the status quo and must not continue. We need to have enough power to protect every inch of our land."

There was unquestionable determination in his tone, and he was deeply afraid that Jiang Xiu, who was young and energetic and keen on reform, would repeat the same mistakes after he left the court and weaken national defense, leading to an irreversible crisis.

"My son, you need to remember that cultural prosperity is important, but if you underestimate armaments and neglect national defense, both the Yuan Empire and you personally will face disaster. The lessons of history cannot be ignored."

When Jiang Xiu heard this, he quickly bowed and said in a firm voice: "My father's teachings, my sons and ministers must bear them in mind and swear to protect the peace of the Yuan Dynasty's border."

Jiang Hongfei nodded slightly, but the worry in his eyes did not completely dissipate. He continued to add earnestly: "National defense is the key to the country and the foundation for protecting the country and keeping the people safe. Without this lock, foreign troubles and internal troubles will come like a tide. It erodes the foundation of our Dayuan. You need to understand that economic development and military strength go hand in hand. Only by balancing both can the long-term stability of the country be ensured."

Having said this, he paused for a moment, seeming to be recalling the past and warning of the future: "The mistakes of Zhao and Song Dynasty are still vivid in my mind. Because they valued culture over military affairs, the country was destroyed, the family was destroyed, and the royal family was displaced. Such a tragedy , we must not let it happen again in Dayuan.”

When Jiang Xiu heard this, his heart trembled. His father's words hit his heart like a heavy hammer, making him deeply aware of the importance of military power. He said in a deep voice: "Father, don't worry, I will vigorously develop national defense and never let Yuan Dynasty repeat the mistakes of Zhao and Song Dynasties."

Seeing Jiang Xiu's resolute attitude, the stone in Jiang Hongfei's heart dropped slightly. He gently touched the dragon chair under him with complicated eyes: "This chair is a symbol of power and the desire of countless people. For it, people can Doing anything unimaginable. Brothers fighting against each other, fathers and sons turning against each other, kings and ministers fighting... all this has happened in history."

He looked directly at Jiang Xiu with burning eyes, with a hint of sternness in his tone: "If you cannot master absolute force, there is no guarantee that such a tragedy will not happen again to you. Remember, force is not only a shield against foreign enemies, but also a solid foundation. The sword of internal order.”

When Jiang Xiu heard this, he couldn't help but sweatdropped. His father's words were like an alarm bell, making him wake up completely.

He knew that his father's worries were not groundless, and all the tragedies in history were a warning to him.

He secretly vowed to learn from the lessons of the previous dynasty and protect every inch of Dayuan's land.

Seeing that Jiang Xiu had completely understood the importance of military power, Jiang Hongfei's expression softened a lot. He said softly: "In this expedition, I will take away all the hidden dangers and leave you with veterans who are loyal and capable of fighting. Liu Qi, Wu Lin, Yang Yizhong, Li Xianzhong and others are all worthy of your trust." My old brothers may be less capable, but they are more loyal. You must treat them well and make good use of them.”

When Jiang Xiu heard this, a warm current surged in his heart. He knew that his father was paving the way for him and leaving him a loyal and reliable army.

He responded with tears of gratitude: "Father, don't worry, I will live up to our expectations and reuse these veterans to jointly protect the peace of Dayuan."

Jiang Hongfei nodded slightly and said earnestly: "The power of the generals is of course important, but the power of our Great Yuan Army lies in the strict military supervision system. You need to know that the perfect military supervision system is the key to the strict discipline of our Great Yuan Army. , the cornerstone of invincibility. I hope you can devote your efforts to this in the future to ensure that the military supervision system is as solid as a mountain, and the Yuan army will be mentally stable."

Jiang Xiu had been in the army for several years and was in the position of supervising the army. He knew the secrets well, so he answered without hesitation: "My father's teachings, my son and I will keep them in mind."

After finishing speaking, Jiang Hongfei changed the topic and talked about the way of running a country and employing people: "My son must remember that running a country is like cooking fresh food, and employing people requires a discerning eye. Only by not avoiding people's shortcomings and not covering up people's strengths can people give full play to their talents. There is no such thing in the world. A perfect person can achieve great things only by making good use of his strengths.”

When Jiang Xiu heard this, his heart was filled with waves.

Jiang Xiu, who had gained Yan Qing's support and took control of Jin Yiwei, knew that there were undercurrents in the palace, and it was difficult to generalize that the ministers were loyal or treacherous. His father's words were undoubtedly reminding him to stay awake at all times and not be fooled by appearances.

He pondered for a moment and then said: "What my father said is absolutely true. My sons and ministers must follow the teachings carefully, know people with your heart, and use them with your heart."

Jiang Hongfei nodded with satisfaction and continued: "My son still needs to understand that the way to govern a country lies in balance. When the water is clear, there will be no fish, and when people are careful, there will be no disciples. For those ministers who, although they have flaws, have made contributions to the country, We should be lenient and strict in order to see what happens. As for those who are corrupt and pervert the law, although they cannot be tolerated, they still need to pay attention to strategies to avoid disturbing others."

Jiang Xiu listened intently, and every word his father said was like a heavy hammer hitting his heart. He knows very well that he is about to shoulder the important task of governing the country and must stay awake and vigilant at all times.

"Father, don't worry. I will be careful in my words and deeds, and live up to my trust." He said firmly.

Seeing this, Jiang Hongfei smiled slightly and continued: "My son also needs to pay attention. Since ancient times, the difficulty of a monarch has been how to control his ministers. The reason why Liu Bei allowed the Shu Han to have so many talents was because he could let his ministers display their talents; and Although Zhuge Liang was unparalleled in his wisdom and planning, he did everything himself, which led to the decline of talents in the late Shu Han Dynasty. My son should take this as a lesson and learn to delegate power to his ministers and let the talents of Yuan Dynasty be used to their best advantage."

Jiang Xiu knows very well that governing a country is beyond the power of one person. Only by opening up new paths can we ensure the long-term peace and stability of the Yuan Dynasty.

"My father is wise, and my sons and ministers must learn with an open mind and open up new avenues for their talents." He replied respectfully.

Jiang Hongfei was very relieved to see that his son had realized something. He continued:

"Son, remember that behind this prosperity, there are undercurrents. You need to be alert at all times. Not only the changes in the court, but also the close relatives and messengers and the beauties in the harem cannot be completely trusted. Every move in the chess game needs to be carefully considered and discussed in secret. At this time, you must protect yourself and your life, and your personal guards will follow you everywhere, and you will be fully protected within ten feet.

In the hustle and bustle of the market, you need to be keenly aware of every sign of uneasiness and foresee the crisis in order to avert danger. Keep in mind that there is more than one way to escape. At critical moments, you choose the opportunity to escape. Within the palace walls, there is no place of comfort. Only by staying safe and not forgetting the dangers can you survive forever.

In addition, fast horses are on standby at the palace gate, and there are saddles and guns at the city gate in case of emergencies. Once the situation changes, immediately mount your horse and whip and stay away from the place of right and wrong. Hesitation is an invitation to death.

You also need to be moderate in your diet and daily life, don’t be greedy for alcohol, and don’t eat too much to keep a clear mind and cope with all changes. "

Jiang Hongfei's words, like morning bells and evening drums, made Jiang Xiu suddenly realize what it means to be lonely as an emperor.

At this moment, he fully understood his father's intention to pass on the throne, and he was even more grateful for his love for his son, surpassing his concern for the country.

This deep love made Jiang Xiu wet his clothes with tears, and he vowed to devote his whole life to protecting and passing on this heavy country. He would live up to his father's high expectations and let the Great Yuan Empire continue to write a glorious chapter in his hands.

After all the explanations were given, Jiang Hongfei suddenly said: "Get ready to ascend the throne."

Jiang Xiu looked in disbelief when he heard this! ! !

Jiang Xiu thought that Jiang Hongfei just wanted to make him the crown prince and let him supervise the country. He never expected that Jiang Hongfei would give him the Zen position directly! ! !

After reacting for a long time, Jiang Xiucai bowed his head and said, "No."

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