The number of people participating in this imperial meeting was not large, only Yang Yi, Wang Zhang, Feng Dao, Guo Wei, Wang Jun, Wei Renpu, Fan Zhi, Wang Pu, plus Tao Gu and Wang Pu who returned to the court.
There are ten people in total. From the names of these ten ministers, we can know that the standards of this palace meeting are very high. Regardless of their official position or status, these people are all ministers who are qualified to have access to the core strategy of the Han Dynasty in Liu Chengyou’s eyes and can conquer the south. A person who gives advice and suggestions on matters and takes the lead in setting an example.
Even though Liu Chengyou was now dissatisfied with Yang Bin to the point of being heartbroken, he still did not deliberately ignore it. No matter what, at least on the surface, Yang Bin was still the chief assistant of the Han Dynasty. The etiquette of monarchs and ministers, the respect between superiors and inferiors, is exactly what Liu Chengyou wants to re-establish.
In addition, none of the generals who directly commanded the troops were present, including Shang Hongqian and Bai Wenke, the heads of the Palace Department and the Guards Department. The southern expedition to the north of the Yangtze River was still a secret of the Han Dynasty. In this matter, the generals of the Forbidden Army only had to do their job of commanding the troops and make preparations for the southern expedition under the will of the emperor.
When Liu Chengyou arrived with Tao and Wang, they took their seats without the courtesy of other ministers. The door of Chongzheng Palace was slowly closed by the servants, turning the palace discussion into a secret discussion, adding a sense of mystery to this imperial meeting.
After all, Tao Gu is an official, and he should report it no matter what. He stood up, saluted in a dignified manner, and said: "Your Majesty, gentlemen!"
"I have been traveling south to Jinling for nearly two months. I have been ordered by the king to see and hear the affairs of the country in detail. From my perspective, the pseudo-Tang Dynasty is actually the great enemy of the country. It must not be allowed to be located in the southeast, where the people are weak and the army is weak. Belittled."
Under the gaze of Liu Chengyou and a group of court officials, Tao Gu felt especially energetic, his beard trembled slightly, and he said: "It has been more than thirty years since the founding of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and it has been passed down to the current owner Li Jing. The foundation has been solidified and people's hearts have followed. ....."
As soon as Tao Gu finished speaking, someone in the palace interrupted him mercilessly: "If I remember correctly, the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Min, established the pseudo-Tang Dynasty in the second year of Tianfu (937) of the former Jin Dynasty. It has only been thirteen years since. , where did the more than thirty years come from?”
Wang Jun straightened his back and was sitting in the hall. His expression was stiff and he seemed to be in a bad mood. The reason could probably be seen from the order of his seats. There were too many people taking seats ahead of him.
With Tao Gu's big heart, he was in a bad mood when faced with such a disrespectful question from the Privy Deputy, but considering Wang Jun's power and position, he couldn't afford to offend him for the time being, so he didn't say anything more.
However, Tao Gu looked very calm on the surface, and even felt contempt in his heart. In Tao Gu's view, people like Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, Guo Wei, and Wang Jun who currently occupy high positions in the Han Dynasty are mostly short-sighted and have a despicable vision.
I even expected such "stupid" questions. Smiling at Wang Jun, Tao Gu said calmly: "What Privy Wang said is true. However, most people in the world have only seen the thirteen years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, but few have noticed that before Yang was replaced by Xu in the Southern Kingdom and Wu was replaced by Qi. Starting from Xu Wen, two generations of father and son spent twenty years seizing the power of Yang and Wu, showing favor to old ministers, cultivating party members, and winning the hearts and minds of the people. Only then did Li Min transform the family into the country like a sway, and everyone was as happy as a king."
"Therefore, although the Southern Tang Dynasty was conquered in the second year of Tianfu, the foundation of its business was when Xu Wen and his father and son were in power. We must not be careless because the dynasty will be short-lived!"
In Tao Gu's mouth, sometimes Li Min, sometimes Xu Wen, sometimes Qi Guo, sometimes Yang Wu, they are father and son, and they are pseudo-Tang... It is very suspected of showing off. Wang Jun's history of the Southern Tang Dynasty, It was just a novice, so I probably understood it. I was a little confused for a while and couldn't refute.
Looking at Wang Jun, who had a bitter look on his face, Liu Chengyou motioned to Tao Gu: "Tao Qing, continue."
"Yes!" Tao Gu bowed respectfully to Liu Chengyou and continued:
"This is not a compliment. Li Min, the first leader of the Pseudo-Tang Dynasty, was actually a hero of the moment. He managed the military and political affairs of the Jianghuai River for more than 20 years. He worked hard to implement the policy of calming the army and the people, lax corvees and low taxes, encouraged farmers and mulberry farmers, encouraged merchants, and maintained harmony. Friendly neighbors. He promoted the imperial examinations, built academies extensively, educated the people, and vigorously recruited scholars, so that literature and education flourished in the south of the Yangtze River. From the Central Plains to the south, all the people who were well-dressed and well-dressed went to submit and obey."
"With such hard work, the Puppet Tang Dynasty became more powerful than the other countries in the south. The south of the Yangtze River is rich in products, including grain, salt, tea making, silk cloth, and paper making. All kinds of industries are prosperous, and the people have their own food, and they have their land for farming. There is a house to live in..."
"Li Jing is not as good as his father. However, since he succeeded to the throne, he has followed his father's government. Four years ago, he sent troops to destroy Min, gained half of it, and was able to surround its old enemy Wu Yue on three sides. Now the puppet Tang Dynasty controls Huainan, Jiangdong, There are thirty-five states in Jiangzuo and Min, so named, with more than five million people, no less than the Han Dynasty, and an army of tens of thousands, or more than that of the Central Plains."
"Therefore, those who fake the Tang Dynasty to the Han Dynasty are actually great enemies, so we must pay attention to them!"
After Tao Gu finished speaking, the palace was quiet for a while, and all the guests present were thoughtful. After waiting for a while, Liu Chengyou didn't speak. Yang Yan glanced slightly and said in an unpredictable tone: "What Tao Sheren gained from going to Jinling is to praise the pseudo-Tang Yitong! Thinking about it really makes me feel cold!" "
Wang Jun and Tao Gu didn't want to offend him. Facing Yang Fan's taunts, Tao Gu didn't dare to offend him easily. He was still in front of the emperor.
Although he was snoring heavily in his heart, Tao Gu bowed to Liu Chengyou and said solemnly: "I am just telling your majesty the national conditions of the Puppet Tang Dynasty in a straightforward way, so that your majesty can implement strategies to avoid inadequacy of consideration and preparation. That’s all.”
After saying this, Tao Gu looked at Liu Chengyou as if he still had something to say.
"Although I covet the wealth of the pseudo-Tang Dynasty, I have never underestimated its national power!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand, endorsing Tao Gu, but his eyes moved away from Tao Gu's and turned to An An, who was at the bottom Wang Pu said: "Everything has its own advantages and disadvantages. Since Tao Qing said it is strong, I wonder what Wang Qing thinks?"
Liu Chengyou obviously gave Wang Pu a chance to show off. When Tao Gu saw it, jealousy surged in his heart. He knew in his heart that what he said before was of secondary importance, and what he said next was the important point. He wanted to speak, but when he opened his mouth, it turned into helplessness. Tao Gu is very careful and smart when it comes to flattery, and he doesn't dare to interrupt casually, especially on occasions like this.
In the closed hall, the dim light gave the atmosphere a hint of "conspiracy."
Under Liu Chengyou's gaze, Wang Pu stood up, with neither sadness nor joy on his face. He calmly expressed his approval and affirmation of Tao Gu's speech: "Your Majesty, what Mr. Tao said is true! Hypocrisy! The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty was indeed the highest in the world. As the saying goes, "promote one thing and benefit two things." In today's world, in terms of the country's wealth, except for Xishu, which was managed by Meng Chang for more than ten years, there is no other power in China that can match it."
"But..."
