Although, Su Mingzhe had decided to postpone the Northern Expedition for one year.
However, there are some things that need to be prepared in advance.
The commander of the book of war said: Attacking the heart is the top, attacking the city is the bottom; fighting with the heart is the top, fighting with the army is the bottom.
Following Su Mingzhe's order, 800,000 troops began to station on the border between the two countries, reclaiming wasteland and training troops, preparing for the Northern Expedition at any time.
Facing Nanqing's 800,000-strong army, Northern Qi had to be cautious.
In May and June, the busy summer season, farmers in Northern Qi put down their farming tools, picked up weapons, and went to serve on the front line.
On this day, the general stationed at the border, Uesugi Tora, came to give a memorial:
Due to the large number of troops stationed at the border, the soldiers and horses under his command consumed food and grass too quickly.
The food and grass that had been prepared for three months was almost used up in one and a half months, so the court was asked to allocate food and grass again to supply military supplies.
The young emperor of the Northern Qi Dynasty told the ministers the contents of Uesugi Tiger's memorial, and said with a cold face:
"Dear ministers, the general has requested to allocate more food and fodder. Let's discuss it."
As soon as the ministers heard that they wanted food and grass, the Minister of Household Affairs came out and reported:
"Your Majesty, the river overflowed in July, and more than 30 state capitals were affected by the disaster this year. Although the imperial court allocated 1.6 million taels of silver for disaster relief. However, this year's summer and autumn taxes are still not optimistic. Moreover, in order to support the expenses this year, the Ministry of Household Affairs The amount of food allocated for stationing troops in the border areas has been more than twice that of last year. The national treasury is really unable to support such a large military expenditure this year..."
As the Minister of the Ministry of Finance told a lot of data, the little emperor's eyes were dull, he turned to a lady beside him and smiled:
"Mother, the Minister of Household Affairs said that we have no money. What should we do?"
That noble lady was the Empress Dowager of the Northern Qi Dynasty, who usually held all the power. Now when she heard the little emperor's almost 'ridiculing' words, she couldn't help but feel angry, but she could do nothing about it. After all, she was her own child:
"Shen Qing's family, you have always been scheming. This household department has no money. Please give me an idea."
Commander Jin Yiwei, Commander Zhong Zhong, was called upon to speak, and he smiled bitterly in his heart:
"I am a spy chief. What's the use of looking for money like this?"
However, heaviness was heaviness after all, and he was smart and smart. In the blink of an eye, he came up with an idea:
"Queen Mother, Your Majesty, how to allocate grain and grass is something that the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue needs to worry about. I have no choice but to think of a way to allow Nanqing to suspend provocations and troubles at the border."
"any solution?"
The Queen Mother was overjoyed when she heard that there was indeed a solution to the heavy burden.
The ministers who came to the court also looked at Shen Shen in surprise, but secretly whispered in their hearts:
"I'm afraid I'm not bragging. Nanqing wants to use the strategy of wearing out his troops. This is a conspiracy. How can Zhong Zhong, a spy chief, come up with any good ideas?"
In response to the suspicious looks from all the ministers, he said seriously but calmly:
"Please, I'll do it alone!"
The Queen Mother thought for a few seconds, nodded slowly and said:
"allow!"
The next day.
The Empress Dowager of the Northern Qi Dynasty suddenly issued an order to send Zhuang Mohan, the literary master of the Northern Qi Dynasty, as an envoy to Nanqing to discuss peace.
As soon as the news came out, the subjects of Northern Qi felt relieved.
Zhuang Mohan was a literary master of his generation. He was not limited to literary realm, but he was also a leader in terms of talent and character in Northern Qi Dynasty.
Even in Nanqing, hundreds of literati came to study under his name.
For such a character, some even call him a 'half-saint'.
Now, Zhuang Mohan, a great literary master of the generation, is going to Nanqing as envoy. If Nanqing doesn't want to be scolded as a piece of shit in the history books, it can only treat him with courtesy.
Stopping provocations at the border is the most basic thing.
The emperor and ministers of Nanqing must protect Zhuang Mohan and not let him have any flaws in Nanqing.
Just after the news that Zhuang Mohan was going to Nanqing as an envoy reached the Nanqing court.
Su Mingzhe summoned important ministers to discuss countermeasures.
Chen Pingping sighed first and said:
"Your Majesty, I have long heard that this heavy man is very resourceful. He used this trick very well. If we want to make the people of Northern Qi surrender after destroying Northern Qi, we must treat Zhuang Mohan with courtesy. Treat each other.”
"I second the proposal."
Guo Youzhi, the Minister of Rites, also stood up and said:
"Your Majesty, it is said that Zhuang Mohan had seventy-two disciples in his lifetime, and another three thousand scholars claimed to have consulted him. Even in our Qing Kingdom, hundreds of people went to Northern Qi to learn from him. Such a person When it comes to Daqing, we can't be rude."
Most of the other ministers also have this attitude.
Seeing this, Su Mingzhe nodded, saying that he was doing good things:
"Since everyone agrees, let's give an order to General Qin and the Governor Wang to suspend the policy of exhausting troops at the border. In addition, fifty Tiger Guards will be sent to the border to escort the Northern Qi envoy to Beijing."
Seeing Su Mingzhe's arrangement, all the ministers respectfully said in unison:
"Your Majesty is holy."
Afterwards, the ministers dispersed.
Su Mingzhe found an excuse to take a rest, quietly left the palace and came to a back garden behind the prison.
Here are two pretty beauties playing chess with black and white chess pieces.
Among them, a pretty girl with an oval face and an oval-shaped face wearing a long blue-colored dress with a clear double-breasted skirt, held her chin up and pursed her lips, her eyes flickering, and she looked obviously absent-minded.
Another oval-faced beauty, who seemed to be hiding a pair of big grapefruits on her chest, was wearing a purple dress with a right waist and a right waist. She was looking at the chess game with wide eyes, having been thinking hard for a long time.
Su Mingzhe watched the two women concentrate on playing chess. He didn't even notice that he had entered the yard. He waved to the maid waiting next to him to leave. He walked to the side and sat down. He suddenly reached out and hugged the two beauties into his arms. Soft in his arms, he kissed her hard.
When the two beauties screamed, Su Mingzhe teased:
"You guys are quite leisurely. Are you so obsessed with playing chess?"
"My lord, please forgive me."
When the oval-faced beauty saw that it was Su Mingzhe, her long eyelashes trembled a few times, then she lowered her head to hide her previous emotions.
On the contrary, when the oval-faced beauty saw that it was Su Mingzhe, her eyes were full of surprise, and she started to stalk Su Mingzhe in broad daylight.
Su Mingzhe was intimate with the two women for a while, then smiled and said:
"Qing'er, Meng'er, there's something I need you to help me with."
"Sir, please speak."
Yuan Meng, who felt that he was going to be sick soon after hearing about the mission, immediately cheered up.
They were imprisoned in the imperial edict during the Mid-Autumn Festival last year. It was not until November, when the general amnesty was held, that Yuan Meng and Shi Qing'er, as vassal forces of King Pingnan, were 'released' from the imperial edict.
Yuan Meng and Shi Qing'er who were 'released' did not gain their freedom.
Because the two women were both the daughters of criminal officials before they took refuge with King Pingnan.
The so-called freedom was nothing more than moving out of prison and being placed under house arrest by Su Mingzhe in his secret garden.
From November last year to August now.
For more than half a year, the two women have been helping Su Mingzhe.
For Shi Qing'er, since she has a big stall like Su Mingzhe as her backer, she should be more at ease. It is best to give a man a few children and then enjoy happiness for the rest of her life.
Only this woman, Yuan Meng, is restless. Living in this small courtyard is almost suffocating her to death.
Su Mingzhe told the two women what he was going to do:
"Recently, the Northern Qi Jinyi Guards sent people to Kyoto City to investigate the news. I will hand over the management of the painting boat on the Liujing River to you two. You must help me find the person. If you can get this job done, I will We can take credit upwards and make the imperial prison independent from the internal supervision department, so that the imperial prison can be comparable to the Inspection Yuan and the internal supervision department."
Shi Qing'er listened to the man's 'dream' and was a little disapproving.
In her opinion, rights are just enough, but climbing so high is actually meaningless.
Yuan Meng's eyes shone brightly:
"Sir, I promise that we will find the people from Northern Qi!"
"Then I'm waiting for your good news."
Su Mingzhe smiled slightly when he heard Yuan Meng's assurance.
He valued Yuan Meng and Shi Qing'er's ability, so he kept them by his side for more than half a year.
Now, after more than half a year of getting along, the three of them have long been in love. Su Mingzhe also believes that they are convinced by him and are willing to help him with things.
"Sir, I just learned a piece of music, why don't I go to the room and sing it to you?"
Su Mingzhe saw that the two women had eyes full of joy, and his heart had already moved.
Then, they hugged each other into the room and began to taste the big grapefruit.
Shi Qing'er didn't lie either. Her voice was particularly clear and charming today.
In a few days it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival in August.
It has been a year since Su Mingzhe ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor.
Under his own governance, Nanqing's national fortunes flourished, and he was able to dominate the world and once again unify the country.
The civil and military officials in North Korea and China are also relatively clean and efficient.
There are six ministries and nine ministers, and all the states and capitals are going smoothly.
Occasionally, some waterlogging disasters were dealt with early in the face of the concerted efforts of the imperial court.
It's a pity that such a prosperous era also has its shortcomings.
Last year, the Queen Mother selected more than a hundred beauties for the new emperor to enter the palace. Su Mingzhe, the new emperor, was considered diligent, but it had no effect.
Almost a year has passed, but not one of the more than a hundred beauties is pregnant.
Su Mingzhe said there was no rush, and the Imperial Medical Office didn't find anything wrong.
In the end, the birth and pregnancy can only be attributed to bad luck.
Return to the imperial study room of Weiyang Palace.
Su Mingzhe dealt with the memorial for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting dark, there was a report from the eunuch and the queen asked to see him.
"Xuan."
Fan Ruoruo entered the imperial study room and said with a slight blessing: "I, my concubine, kowtow to pay my respects to the Holy Spirit."
"Well, Ruoruo, there's no need to be polite."
Su Mingzhe saw that Fan Ruoruo was wearing a white dress and pure make-up, looking pure and lovely. He quickly waved to her to sit on the dragon chair with him.
Fan Ruoruo has been married to Su Mingzhe for more than half a year, and she has no taboos on weekdays. She walked to the dragon chair with lotus steps and let the man hold her arm and sit down.
Fan Ruoruo's waist is as thin as a willow branch and can only be held in one hand.
The two of them sat side by side on the dragon chair. This position seemed very spacious. At least there was room for Lin Wan'er.
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Hou quickly left with the maids and eunuchs in the imperial study.
When only the couple Su Mingzhe and Fan Ruoruo were left in the imperial study, Fan Ruoruo then spoke out the reason for his visit:
"Your Majesty, the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. According to the old practice, we should give grace to the concubines in the harem, either by letting them go home to rest in peace, or by calling their family members into the palace to visit..."
