Midnight.
The moon stars are sparse and insects are chirping.
Inside the brightly lit study room of the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Zhengde, who was sitting on the dragon chair at the top, looked at the people below with a blushing face, all of whom were talking about justice, benevolence and morality.
But nowadays, there are all civil and military officials and meritorious dignitaries who show off their wealth and wealth.
The boiling anger in his heart seemed to be ready to come out at any time.
First meeting.
The matter discussed was Xiahou Dong's defeat in Mobei and the Xiongnu Lord's motion for peace.
The Xiongnu Chan Yu Yi Zhi tilted his head and opened his mouth.
Asked Zhou to merge the three counties of Shuofang, Wuyuan and Yunzhong into the state.
He also asked to marry Princess Dazhou, and specified that the dowry should be three thousand maids, three thousand blacksmiths, and three thousand carpenters.
As well as 30,000 shi of salt and 200,000 shi of grain and grass.
This proposal.
In addition to Jin Wang Xu Zhen's suggestions and Prince Xu Yong's dissatisfaction.
The rest of the civil and military officials, meritorious dignitaries, all spoke of benevolence, justice and morality and kept the matter high.
In the end, there was a collective silence in response.
Discuss further.
The matter discussed was that the Xiongnu Chan Yu Yi Zhixie and the Xiongnu Zuoxian King personally led the army to the Western Regions.
Yanqi and Gumo rebelled against the Zhou Dynasty and returned to the Huns, as well as the siege of the capital city in the Western Regions.
First time I heard about this.
All the civil and military officials, meritorious dignitaries and dignitaries in the hall were filled with righteous indignation.
He wished that Emperor Zhengde would immediately order his generals to go on an expedition, sweep across the two countries of Yanqi and Gumo, shock Kucha and other countries, and kill the Xiongnu Chanyu Yizhixie, the Xiongnu Zuoxian Wang Wuwei and others.
However.
After the civil and military officials and distinguished dignitaries in the hall gradually calmed down.
The initial righteous indignation evaporated in an instant.
Instead, there was a look of deep fear.
What's more, his back was completely soaked in cold sweat.
Until then.
Only then did the hall full of civil and military officials, meritorious dignitaries discuss the previous peace talks with the Huns.
Treat it as a major matter that is actually related to your own interests.
It comes down to it.
Those who can hold a high position and are qualified to participate in the small court meeting in the imperial study room of Zichen Palace.
How many people are mediocre people who do nothing?
When things are truly relevant to your own interests.
How many people can't see through the inevitable connection between the Xiongnu peace negotiation and the situation in the Western Regions?
And this relationship will completely affect the situation in the Western Region to a certain extent.
Notice.
Nowadays, although Yanqi and Gumo have rebelled against Zhou and returned to Xiong, it is true.
However, Qiuci, the largest country in the Western Region, which can truly control nearly 40% of the situation in the Western Region on its own, is still waiting and watching.
If not, how could the Xiongnu Chanyu Yizhixie and the Xiongnu Zuoxian Wang Wuwei deploy their troops outside Qiuci?
Not to mention the small and medium-sized countries in the Western Region, such as Loulan, Yuli, Yarkand, Cheshiqian Kingdom, Cheshihou Kingdom, and Mumi Kingdom.
If once the Zhou Dynasty agrees to negotiate peace with the Huns.
Then Kucha, Loulan, Yuli, Shache and other countries will inevitably rebel against Zhou and return to Xiong in an instant.
In all cases, the Great Zhou Dynasty will inevitably lose its huge interests in the Western Regions.
The Xiongnu could use the countries in the Western Regions to continuously strengthen themselves.
One goes down and the other goes up.
It will be difficult for the Great Zhou Dynasty to resist the iron hoof of the Xiongnu.
And if there is no peace negotiation.
Dazhou must start the war on two fronts at the same time.
First, increase troops to Mobei again.
If the soldiers and horses along this route can completely eradicate Jordan, Mu Liangha and other four Huns generals.
He also sent his troops northward, taking advantage of the fact that the Xiongnu Chan Yu Yi Zhixie and the Xiongnu Zuoxian King Wu Wei were far away in the Western Regions, and attacked Huanglong in one fell swoop to break through the hinterland of Mobei.
The crisis in the Western Region can be resolved in an instant.
If not, the soldiers and horses on this route must at least drive away Jordan, Mu Liangha and other four Xiongnu kings and generals.
In this way, the Zhou court could stabilize the situation in the Western Regions and ensure that it would not worsen.
Second, send troops to the Western Regions.
Compared to the troops and horses reinforcing Mobei.
The soldiers and horses on this road only need to guard the Western Regions Protective City.
Whenever the two countries fight, the troops and horses are not moved, but the food and grass go first.
As long as the soldiers and horses along this route can defend the Western Regions Capital City for one year.
Then the Xiongnu army will inevitably retreat due to food and grass problems.
After the Xiongnu retreated, the Zhou Dynasty would kill chickens to scare the monkeys and completely eradicate Yanqi and Gumo.
Thus achieving the strategic goal of once again fully controlling the situation in the Western Region.
This ensured that the Great Zhou Dynasty could continuously draw wealth from the Western Regions.
The security of the Western Region is related to the vital interests of the great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
How could a group of powerful officials who came from aristocratic families not be particularly concerned about this?
That's why.
Since the second small court meeting in the imperial study room of Zichen Palace.
Until half an hour ago.
The civil and military officials in the hall had been arguing for several hours about the Xiongnu peace negotiation and the security of the Western Regions.
However.
After all issues such as the leading generals and the number of troops and horses to be dispatched are all agreed upon.
However, the civil and military officials and Emperor Zhengde had to face a difficult problem that had been subconsciously ignored by everyone.
And that thorny issue is money.
Due to the successive outbreaks of natural and man-made disasters in recent years, as well as factors such as foreign wars and internal counter-insurgency.
Today's Great Zhou treasury is infinitely close to a deficit.
Whether it is increasing troops in Mobei or sending troops to the Western Regions.
All require a lot of money and food to support.
But given Dazhou's current financial situation.
It is completely unable to support enough money and food to support two-front operations.
at the same time.
Whether it's the battle in Mobei or the situation in the Western Region.
Neither can be delayed in the slightest.
For a while.
The Imperial Study Room of Zichen Palace once again fell into deep silence.
No one in the room, including the civil and military officials and Emperor Zhengde, took the initiative to break the dead silence.
In the end, if it weren't for the censor, Cheng Tong Shiwen, who got the secret instructions from Emperor Zhengde, he came out to break the silence.
I'm afraid this dead silence will last until at least tomorrow morning.
The advice given by the censor Zhongcheng after his appearance was to increase taxes.
As soon as this statement came out.
Even though there were several relatively low-status officials who came forward to second the proposal.
Not long after.
There are already more than half of the people who seconded the proposal.
In the end, even the crown prince Xu Yong, the chief minister of the cabinet Shangguan Lu, and the scholar Yao Yanjin of the Jinshen Palace came out silently.
Express your attitude silently.
Seeing the "public opinion" is like this.
Emperor Zhengde hesitated for a moment under the "utter helplessness".
In the end, I had to adopt a compromise method out of "helplessness".
The compromise is to collect autumn taxes and taxes in the first half of next year in advance.
This is the purpose.
All the civil and military officials and distinguished dignitaries in the hall immediately bowed deeply, bowed their hands, and shouted loudly to His Majesty.
However, this method is effective.
But whether the decree is issued or executed by the officials of various counties and counties.
All require a lot of time.
Not to mention the time it takes to transport money and grain from various places to Mobei and the Western Regions.
What Da Zhou lacks most nowadays is time.
Emperor Zhengde, who had "no choice", had no choice but to "shamelessly" borrow money from civil and military officials and distinguished dignitaries.
That's why.
Just now, a scene full of civil and military officials and meritorious dignitaries has emerged, all scrambling to show off their wealth and wealth.
.......
.......
More than a quarter of an hour later.
Seeing that all the civil and military officials and meritorious dignitaries in the hall are still chattering about how they have nothing to lose, and the family has no money left.
Emperor Zhengde, who could no longer suppress his anger, suddenly raised his hand and smashed the imperial case in front of him.
"boom!"
"enough!"
"The imperial court has spent a lot of money to support its scholars for more than two hundred years!"
"More than two hundred years!"
After a loud bang.
Emperor Zhengde stood up from the dragon throne with a sudden movement.
Breathing heavily, he looked down at the crowd of civil and military officials, meritorious dignitaries and dignitaries listed on the left and right below with red eyes.
"Zhang Yongnian, Duke of Song Dynasty!"
"Zheng Guogong's season is open!"
"Didn't it seem that these two people had nothing to show for their wealth in the past?"
"But!"
"But!!!"
"The year before last, when Xu Yi raided the Duke of Song Dynasty's mansion! How much money was found in Zhang Yongnian's home?!!!"
"Last year Zheng Guogong colluded with the Xiongnu and brought trouble to the Yan land!"
"The Imperial Court!!! How much money has been confiscated from Zheng Guogong's Mansion?!!!"
Emperor Zhengde roared with red eyes.
After hearing the anger and deep threat in Emperor Zhengde's words.
All the civil and military officials, meritorious dignitaries and dignitaries in the hall all bowed their heads and remained silent.
"say something!"
"Are they all mute again?!"
Seeing this scene, the anger in Emperor Zhengde's heart became more intense, and he couldn't help but roared sharply again.
Of course.
The full hall of civil and military officials, meritorious dignitaries and dignitaries below the imperial desk just lowered their heads.
There was no intention of raising his head in response.
"Okay! Okay! Okay!"
"This is my subject!!!"
"This is the official parent of millions of people in the Great Zhou Dynasty!!!"
Seeing this, Emperor Zhengde couldn't help but laugh in anger.
The words are over.
The full hall of civil and military officials, meritorious dignitaries and dignitaries below the imperial desk instantly lowered their heads, and their backs became more and more curved.
It seems that he is ashamed and speechless, but in fact he is like a dead pig who is not afraid of boiling water.
Suddenly, he was in the huge imperial study room of Zichen Palace.
Except for the sound of Emperor Zhengde gasping for air.
There was no other sound at all.
A full half-quarter of an hour passed.
The sound of Emperor Zhengde gasping for breath gradually dissipated in the huge imperial study room of Zichen Palace.
For a time, the huge imperial study room of Zichen Palace fell into a deathly silence as thick as a needle drop.
Emperor Zhengde stood behind the imperial court, his red eyes slowly scanning every civil and military official and meritorious dignitary below.
Gradually, a plan to break the situation came into mind.
"Prince!"
Not long after, Emperor Zhengde made up his mind and called out in a deep voice.
"My son is here!"
When Xu Yong heard this, his body couldn't help but tremble suddenly, and then he quickly stepped out of the queue and bowed deeply, bowing his hands in a salute.
"I vaguely remember that Yi'er once set up a monument of merit and shame for disaster relief in front of the Jingzhao Mansion?"
"Is this possible?"
Emperor Zhengde calmed down for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice.
"Go back...back to my father."
"Six...the sixth emperor's brother did indeed set up a monument of merit and shame for disaster relief in front of the Jingzhao Mansion."
Xu Yong's heart suddenly thumped, and then he forced himself to calm down and answered.
"Shangguan Lu."
Emperor Zhengde passed Xu Yong and looked at Shangguan Lu, the chief minister of the cabinet, and then called out in a deep voice.
"I'm here."
Shangguan Lu's expression changed slightly when he heard this, and then he quickly stepped out of the queue and bowed deeply, bowing his hands in a salute.
"I vaguely remember the merits and shame of King Yili of Yan for disaster relief.
Behind the monument. "
"Many ministers of the DPRK and China have been honored with the Monument of Disaster Relief Merits."
"Is this possible?"
Emperor Zhengde calmed down for a moment, then asked in a deep voice.
Hear this.
The prince Xu Yong and the chief minister of the cabinet Shangguan Lu all felt relieved for a moment.
The intention of Emperor Zhengde's move gradually became clear in his heart.
Emperor Zhengde's move seems to be to use Yan Wang Xu Yi to beat Prince Xu Yong.
In fact, Xu Yi was pushed out to divert the anger and complaints from the officials.
Thinking about this.
Xu Yong lowered his head and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.
"Return to Your Majesty."
"It's true."
Shangguan Lu paused for a moment to calm down and then answered truthfully.
"Shao Xuanda!"
Emperor Zhengde briefly looked at Shangguan Lu, and then looked at Shao Xuanda, the left governor of the Chinese Army Commandery Mansion, who was the head of the generals below.
"The general is here!"
Upon hearing this, Shao Xuanda quickly stepped out of the queue and bowed deeply, clasping his fists and saluting.
"I vaguely remember that many of the military attachés in the DPRK and China were honored with the Monument of Disaster Relief Merits."
"Is this possible?"
Emperor Zhengde asked in a deep voice.
"Return to Your Majesty."
"I have also heard about this."
Shao Xuanda hesitated for a few seconds, but finally answered truthfully.
After hearing this, Emperor Zhengde immediately looked past Shao Xuanda, the left commander of the Chinese army, and looked at Jin Wang Xu Zhen.
Tens of breaths later.
In the end, Emperor Zhengde temporarily gave up his plan to kill Xu Yi because of the great importance of the Western Region.
If it hadn't been for the fact that he had received a secret letter a month ago.
The secret letter stated in detail that King Yi of Yan had already trained a powerful force of heavy armored cavalry.
He would never push Xu Yi out in public at this time to divert the anger and complaints from the civil and military officials in the hall.
Thinking about this.
Emperor Zhengde sighed slightly in his heart, and then looked away from Xu Zhen, and looked down again at the prince Xu Yong who was bending down to pay homage.
As well as Shangguan Lu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Shao Xuanda, the left governor of the Chinese Army Governor's Mansion.
"That's it."
"You might as well follow the advice of King Yan."
"Erect three merit monuments for the clan, civil officials, and military commanders respectively."
Emperor Zhengde calmed down for a moment, and then ordered in a deep voice.
As soon as this statement came out.
The corners of Xu Yong's slightly raised mouth suddenly dropped again.
My heart was filled with resistance.
He knew in his heart that once he established a monument to the clan's merits.
Then it will definitely leave an extremely bad impression in the hearts of the clans.
But you have no joke.
He would never dare to go against Emperor Zhengde at such a critical moment.
"My son, I obey."
It's too late, it's fast.
In just a short moment, Xu Yong had already made the final decision, and then he leaned deeply down again and took his orders.
And this is not another kind of beating that Emperor Zhengde gave to Prince Xu Yong.
and the so-called art of imperial equilibrium.
at the same time.
Jin Wang Xu Zhen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"I obey your decree!"
"The general will obey the order!"
Xu Yong finished his words.
Shangguan Lu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Shao Xuanda, the left governor of the Chinese Army Governor's Mansion, respectively representing civil and military officials, immediately followed and took orders.
"I will give you three days."
"In three days, I need to see the three merit monuments of the clan, civil officials, and military commanders take root."
"also."
"I hope to see the famous merit monument within ten days."
Emperor Zhengde sat down to calm down, and then issued an ultimatum in a deep voice.
"My son, I obey."
「
I obey the order. "
"The general will obey the order."
Xu Yong, Shangguan Lu and Shao Xuanda, who were full of bitterness, had no choice but to salute again and accept their orders.
"It's getting late today."
"My dear friends, please proceed slowly."
Emperor Zhengde took a deep look at the civil and military officials and distinguished dignitaries below.
Then he turned around and walked straight out of the imperial study.
"I respectfully send you off to Your Majesty."
All the civil and military officials, meritorious dignitaries and dignitaries greeted each other with different expressions upon hearing this.
