Nanshui County is located in the southern border. Since the Jingyuan Empire has little contact with the Southern Zhao Kingdom all year round, and the trade between the two countries is not that frequent, the entire Nanshui County is slightly depressed. The local area is mainly farming, and other industries are not developed. Because the road is not convenient, handicrafts and commerce are greatly restricted here.
Despite this, there are still some businessmen who travel between Jingyuan Kingdom and Nan Zhao all year round to do salt and iron business. Although Southern Zhao is a country close to the sea, its salt production technology is extremely backward. All people eat is sea salt, which has a strong bitter taste and low output. It is not as good as the salt produced from salt lakes and some salt wells in inland areas, so it must be obtained from salt wells all year round. A merchant from Jingyuan Kingdom buys salt.
Merchants traveled between Jingyuan and Southern Zhao doing business in salt, iron, silk and cloth. Although they did not make much money, they could barely make ends meet. However, the Jingyuan Empire and Southern Zhao were separated by high mountains. Travel is inconvenient, and the costs and risks of doing business are high.
Shao Xi and the others walked all the way in the city and looked at the vendors and the scenery along the street. Although life was very difficult, Shao Xi saw hopeful smiles on everyone's faces. It seemed that everyone was doing it for themselves and their families. The hard work outside is the happiness they enjoy.
The simple folk customs prevent people from thinking too much. They only think that their own efforts and hard work can bring happiness to themselves and their families. They don’t ask for much. Without those luxurious desires, life seems incomparable. Comfortable.
Just walking and looking around like this, I unknowingly came to Rizhenxuan, the largest restaurant in the county.
Shao Xi looked up at the restaurant and couldn't help but shake his head. Although a restaurant of this size is considered very good in Nanshui County, it is completely different from the restaurants he saw along the way when he came, which shows how different the conditions in Nanshui County are.
Several people walked into the restaurant and took a seat in the best private room upstairs. The dishes in this restaurant are very local, they are all local dishes, there is nothing special about them.
Shao Xi and Lao Wu found it very novel to be able to eat some delicacies and game here. As for Tao Qingyun, not to mention, people who had never been here were less calm than Shao Xi and the others.
Tao Qingyun is a cheerful person, and he is not very good at politeness. The few people drank the wine in a harmonious atmosphere, talking and laughing.
Shao Xi also took this opportunity to learn something about Southern Zhao from Tao Qingyun.
"Master Tao, you are an official here closest to Nan Zhao, so you should know something about Nan Zhao. I am on my mission to Nan Zhao this time, and I want to know something about Nan Zhao from you, especially It’s about matters within the Southern Zhao court. I wonder how much Mr. Tao knows about it? I hope you’ll give me some advice.”
When Tao Qingyun saw Shao Xi asking about this, he hurriedly took the half-drunk wine away from his mouth and replied with a smile: "Sir, you really asked the right person about this matter. I am here to guard the imperial court." I, the southern gate of the Jingyuan Empire, naturally want to know more about this small country in the south. No one can say when the two countries will go to war in the future, so the lower officials often send their men to do business, firstly to subsidize the county. Finance, secondly, it is also convenient to enter Nanzhao to inquire about information, not to mention to find out some things that you don't know on weekdays. Since you want to hear it, I will tell you."
Shao Xi said yes! Tao Qingyun, who seemed so careless, actually had such a thoughtful mind, knew how to prepare for a rainy day, and even made preparations in advance for the unknown war that would happen between the two countries someday.
As a border magistrate, I have to say that Tao Qingyun did his job very competently and with great awareness.
"Then please Master Tao, please tell me in detail about the affairs of the Southern Zhao Kingdom. In the future, when I enter the Southern Zhao Kingdom and face their officials at all levels and the emperor, I can know myself and the enemy, and deal with it easily, so as not to destroy our Jingyuan." The face of the dynasty.”
Tao Qingyun thought for a moment, seemed to be sorting out his thoughts, and then started talking.
"The royal family of the Southern Zhao Kingdom originally had the surname Zhao. The previous emperor died young and left behind a young prince, who is now the emperor Zhao Hongjin. This emperor is only seventeen years old this year. Speaking of which, he is still the same age as Mr. Shao. Since he ascended the throne at a young age, the late emperor appointed two ministers to assist the government. These two people were Prime Minister Han Zeng and General Fu Zuoliang. The emperor was young at that time, so these two ministers assisted the government, one in civil affairs and the other in military affairs. The monarch and his ministers were harmonious, and the generals and ministers were friendly. However, after so many years, the general Fu Zuoliang gradually became more powerful and began to control the government. Although the prime minister Han Zeng was there to check it, his role became smaller and smaller. Today's little emperor has gradually grown up. The emperor wanted to be in charge, but Fu Zuoliang had always controlled the military and political power of Southern Zhao on the grounds that the emperor was too young to be in charge. Therefore, in the past two years, there have been frequent rumors of discord between the emperor and his ministers. It seemed that there was a quarrel between the emperor and his ministers. There are signs. Of course, this is a good thing for our Jingyuan Empire. If they strangle us to death in their own homes, we will feel more at ease."
When Shao Xi heard this, he immediately became interested and couldn't help but ask: "So, the internal affairs of Nan Zhao are not monolithic, and now Fu Zuoliang is actually making decisions on all government affairs in Nan Zhao's internal and foreign affairs. , instead of the little emperor. The little emperor wanted to get back his own power, so they were already fighting among themselves, and they did not have the energy to pose any threat to the southern border of our Jingyuan Dynasty in a short period of time. Master Tao felt that this ?”
"Master Shao is right, and it seems to be the case at the moment. Nan Zhao is a small country and has no ability to compete with us. Now that there is a power struggle within itself, it has no energy to think about us. I don’t think their internal fighting will end within three to five years.”
At this time, Lao Wu, who was sitting aside, suddenly interjected, "That's not necessarily true! As a minister of the auxiliary government, Fu Zuoliang, no matter how arbitrary he is, from a moral and legal perspective, he is still an auxiliary minister, and the little emperor is the elder. When he gets old, he will eventually return the power to the little emperor. But now he doesn't want to let go of power, and it is impossible to raise an army to rebel and destroy the Zhao family. In this way, he will be a rebel minister, and the whole country of Southern Zhao will rise against him. Therefore, it is impossible to say that he would deliberately create some crisis to prevent his power from falling by the wayside, and the best target for creating this crisis is our Jingyuan Empire. As long as there is a war between the two countries, he can continue to control the government as a general. He will surely be able to overthrow the Southern Zhao royal family in one fell swoop with Jing Yuanguo's power, and then he will be able to legitimately control Southern Zhao. For the sake of power, some people will do anything."
Shao Xi was reminded by Lao Wu and immediately felt that this was the truth. In this way, the envoys sent by Southern Zhao to Jingyuan Kingdom not long ago must have some agenda. Maybe it was Fu Zuoliang who was in cahoots with some people in the court, and they all made some kind of deal in order to seize power. .
From this point of view, if the general Fu Zuoliang of Southern Zhao had been in control of the government, not only would the monarch and his ministers seizing power not prevent them from visiting the north, but it might also prompt Southern Zhao to send troops to harass the southern border of the Jingyuan Empire. If that's the case, it's better to let that little emperor take charge! At least there is something we can talk about. Wouldn't it be a waste of time to talk to this general who only has eyes for power?
At this time, a bold idea gradually formed in Shao Xi's mind, but it still needed careful consideration.
"Master Tao, can you tell me what you know about the specific forces of the Little Emperor's faction and the Great General's faction in the Southern Zhao Kingdom? I'm very interested in this. Maybe this mission can take advantage of their contradiction to achieve a goal. The purpose of my Jingyuan Dynasty."
Tao Qingyun also became excited when he heard this.
"Of course! Master Shao, I, Tao Qingyun, am willing to do anything that is beneficial to our Jingyuan Dynasty, not to mention that I am just telling you what I know. If it will be helpful to your mission this time, I will not hesitate." Help, I, Tao Qingyun, also contributed to our Jingyuan Dynasty, didn’t I?”
Shao Xi admired the Tao Qingyun in front of him more and more. He was in a small border county and did not receive much support from the court. He managed this not-rich place with his own enthusiasm, but he still kept thinking about it in his heart. Serving the court and being loyal to the country, he did not complain a word, but devoted himself to protecting the people here. It would be a pity for such a good official to stay here forever. If there is an opportunity in the future, he will be recommended to Xiao Changyi. Only such people are the pillars of the country.
"Speaking of which, the Southern Zhao court has been divided into two factions. One is the civil servant faction headed by Prime Minister Han Zeng, and the other is the military minister faction headed by General Fu Zuoliang. Prime Minister Han Zeng has always advocated returning the government to power. He gave the little emperor and set an example. Now he goes to ask the little emperor for instructions on everything, instead of discussing with the general Fu Zuoliang. But the current problem is that the Wuchen faction headed by the general Fu Zuoliang controls the Southern Zhao Kingdom. If most of the soldiers and horses are torn apart, Fu Zuoliang will jump over the wall and launch a mutiny to seize power. Therefore, the civil servant faction led by Prime Minister Han Zeng has been using relatively mild methods to negotiate with Fu Zuoliang's faction, hoping to persuade They hand over power, but I think Fu Zuoliang is not willing to do so."
Shao Xi frowned when he heard this.
"According to what you say, how can the emperor fight with this general if he has no soldiers? It seems that it is not that easy for him to get his power back."
"Actually, it's not that complicated. As you know, my lord, in the land of Bozhou, with its high mountains and lofty mountains, it is not as easy to mobilize soldiers and horses as we in the Central Plains. So no matter who it is, as long as they master the Four Flags Guards of Yongchuan City, they will basically be able to He has mastered all the troops and horses that can be mobilized at the moment, and the four banner guards are currently divided into two factions. Among them are the purple banner guards controlled by Han Xiao, the nephew of Prime Minister Han Zeng, and the commander of the purple banner guards, Han Xiao, and the purple banner guards controlled by Jiang He, the commander of the red banner guards. The red flag guards are on the side of the civil servants faction, while the commander of the black flag guards Xu Yinbiao and the commander of the yellow flag guards Zhou Hong are on the side of the warrior faction. As for the officials in the court, naturally the civil servants are on the civil servant faction, and the military officials are on the military faction. At present, It seems that the two sides are evenly matched, and no one can do anything to the other. However, if there is a war with a foreign enemy, the general Fu Zuoliang can mobilize the country's troops at will. At that time, what he wants to do, but No one can stop it, including starting a rebellion."
Shao Xi secretly wondered, why does this look so similar to the plot in a certain book he read? Isn't this the relationship between the young Emperor Kangxi and Oboi? All it takes is Wei Xiaobao?
How about trying to be that Wei Xiaobao yourself?
Some people died, but not completely...
