After nine drinks in a row, the banquet reached its climax.
Zhao Ji was already a little tipsy, but his interest was not diminished. He smiled and let everyone drink freely, saying that the wine master had enough control.
"Your Majesty, this old minister is shameless and wants to ask for that marriage from Your Majesty!"
Seeing that Zhao Ji was in a good mood, Cai Jing cupped his fists and said to Zhao Ji.
This marriage has actually been decided for a long time, that is, between his fifth son Cai Chi and Princess Yanqing. However, Princess Yanqing was still young two years ago, but this year she has turned 28 and is of marriageable age.
"For this reason, too..."
After hearing this, Zhao Ji smiled and was about to agree. It was already agreed. He had also met Cai Ji. He was a good writer and handsome. As the fifth son of the grand master, he was worthy of his own daughter.
"His Majesty!"
Cai You hurriedly called out, if Cai Chi becomes the consort, how can he dominate the Cai family?
"What's wrong with Cai Aiqing?"
Zhao Ji looked at Cai You strangely. The marriage between Yanqing and Cai You was finalized a few years ago.
"Your Majesty, I heard a rumor among the people yesterday."
Cai You glanced at Cai Jing and then said with a smile.
Cai Jing's face darkened. He did not expect that Cai You would be so cruel and would interfere with matters such as the marriage between the Cai family and the royal family.
"Cai Aiqing, tell me now!"
Zhao Ji immediately became interested when he heard the rumors.
"Your Majesty, there are rumors that Your Majesty will marry Princess Yanqing to Sun Lei of Liangshan. In this way, the troubles in Liangshan can be eliminated without bloodshed, which will make the world happy!"
Cai You said with a smile.
"Nonsense, my daughter is a golden branch and jade leaf, how can that thief reach such a high level!"
Zhao Ji's face darkened and he said, for a royal marriage, one must be well-matched, either with a prominent family, or with a talented number one scholar. How can those mud-legged thieves in Liangshan be worthy of his daughter?
"Your Majesty, there are rumors that Your Majesty wants to make Sun Lei king. If Sun Lei accepts it, it would make sense!"
Cai You said with a smile that he didn't care whether Sun Lei was recruited or not, he just wanted to make the emperor angry and postpone Princess Yanqing's marriage. As for other matters, the group of people who advocated recruiting him could talk about it. He was just starting it.
"Who said I would make Sun Lei king?"
Zhao Ji said coldly, this matter was only mentioned in the court. How come it spread all over the city before he even mentioned it?
The atmosphere cooled down instantly. The emperor did not agree to Cai Jing's marriage proposal, and Cai Jing did not dare to continue speaking when the emperor was furious.
Cai You smiled and took a sip of wine. His goal was achieved. He could only be the head of the Cai family. No matter who Cai Jing supported, he would suppress it.
"Keep drinking!"
Zhao Ji waved his hand and said that he didn't want to talk about these unpleasant topics today.
"What about the singers and flute players? Let them perform again, these acrobatics are boring!"
Zhao Ji shouted again to the eunuch at the entrance of the palace.
Sun Li, who was eating silently, was stunned again. He felt a little more at ease now. Why did the emperor want to invite Lehe and Ma Lin again?
Lehe and Ma Lin soon brought ordinary artists to the temple and continued to perform ditties from the local market.
Zhao Ji's expression softened after listening to the tune.
The banquet lasted until night. The eunuch announced that the banquet was over, and the officials left with a congratulation.
However, the censor Cui Jing did not leave, but asked to see the emperor.
Zhao Ji didn't want to see Cui Jing, but Cui Jing insisted, so Zhao Ji could only send Cui Jing to the side hall.
"What's the matter with you?"
Zhao Ji looked at Cui Jing angrily. He was in a good mood today, but he was unhappy that this man came to see him again.
"Your Majesty, it is still for the sake of recruiting peace in Liangshanbo!"
Cui Jing replied.
"I don't want to talk about this today!"
Zhao Ji said irritably.
"Your Majesty, recruiting Liang Shanbo will be of great benefit to your Majesty without any harm. Don't you want to hear it?"
Cui Jing has calmed down a bit in the past two days. He knows Zhao Ji's character. It is useless to be rational and emotional. Interest is the most useful.
"What's the benefit? I'll give him a prince. Do you know what a prince is?"
Zhao Ji looked at Cui Jing angrily. His most trusted official, Privy Councilor Tong Guan, dreamed of becoming a king.
"Your Majesty, I don't want to say too much. The land of Zhaoan Liangshan, Huaibei, Shandong, Hebei, and Yanyun will all belong to your Majesty! These are dozens of state capitals in four places."
"In addition, Your Majesty can also get hundreds of thousands of elite troops. These are elite soldiers and generals who can destroy the Liao Kingdom and repel the Jin Kingdom."
"Also, the Liao Kingdom's century-old wealth has fallen into Liangshan's hands, including countless treasures!"
…
Cui Jing looked at Zhao Ji and spoke slowly.
Zhao Ji was suddenly stunned when he heard Cui Jing's words. Why did he suddenly feel that what Cui Jing said made sense? This would make a lot more money than buying and selling himself.
"Then how do you recruit people?"
Zhao Ji looked at Cui Jing and asked, naturally he would not give up on things that were beneficial.
"Sun Lei can be granted the title of King of the First Rank, and then give Liangshan five second-rank officials, ten third-rank officials, twenty fourth-rank officials, fifty fifth-rank officials, and five hundred from sixth to ninth rank! "
"In addition, there are rumors that Sun Lei is a lecherous person and is interested in Princess Yanqing. His Majesty also agreed to the marriage and gave Sun Lei the title of consort!"
Cui Jing said.
"Are you crazy! Do you know how many official positions you have given away? In the future, all civil and military officials in the court will be from Liangshan. By then, all officials will listen to Sun Lei. What will happen to me?"
Zhao Ji looked at Cui Jing angrily and amusedly. This guy is really stupid. If he recruits people like this, doesn't he send the entire court away?
"Your Majesty, you may want to give them official positions, as unorganized officials have no real power. In addition, the people of Liangshan are brave and good at fighting. Your Majesty can send them to the army and let them conquer Xixia and Jin Kingdom to expand the territory of the Song Dynasty."
"When the time comes, the territory of our Song Dynasty will be wider than that of the Tang Dynasty and the Han Dynasty. Your Majesty will bring the Song Dynasty to a height that none of the previous emperors have reached. Your Majesty will surely be famous throughout the ages!"
Cui Jing knelt down and said to Zhao Ji.
These words stunned Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji, who was a little angry at first, suddenly became excited and his heart beat much faster.
What is the biggest pain point of Da Song? That’s the territory!
The politics, culture, economy, and population of the Song Dynasty far exceeded that of previous dynasties. No matter whether it was the 400-year-old Han Dynasty or the prosperous Tang Dynasty, it could not compare with the Song Dynasty.
But when it comes to territory, the Song Dynasty can't raise its head. Not to mention the Western Regions, even Yanyun has not taken them back in these years, let alone Liaodong and the grassland.
Since the great ancestor of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, several generations of people had conquered the Liao Kingdom in the north. Wasn't it just to lose a large territory and let the Song Dynasty catch up with the Han and Tang Dynasties? But the Song Dynasty could do anything except fight. Although there were many victories, Yan Yun Unable to take it back, the Liao Kingdom was like a dark cloud, floating above the Song Dynasty, lingering.
Although the Liao Kingdom is now destroyed, Yanyun has not taken it back, and there is still an internal rebellion in Liangshan.
Zhao Ji's hands trembled at the thought of expanding his territory and allowing the Song Dynasty to surpass the Han and Tang Dynasties, and that he would become an emperor throughout the ages. (End of chapter)
