A stage night drama of enfeoffment reluctantly came to an end in a silent atmosphere. The supporting princes dispersed with their own thoughts.
Under the spring night, the cool breeze penetrates the skin, making people infinitely awake. In the Qianyuan Hall, the waiters are still cleaning up the messy cups and plates all night long, while in the Chui Gong Hall, the lingering sound is still heard.
Liu Xu and his son left the palace in silence. Liu Xu said nothing, his expression was serious and he looked very heavy. It wasn't until he got into the car that the curtains were lowered and the space was private enough. Liu Xu looked at Liu Wenyuan who was hesitant to speak and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it!"
Liu Wenyuan had obviously been holding it in for a long time. After getting permission, he immediately said: "I think your Majesty's enfeoffment is too simple!"
Hearing what Liu Wenyuan said, Liu Xu immediately glanced at him: "Your Majesty has ruled the world and spurred the world for forty years. He is wise, wise, and ambitious. How can you allow you to comment here?"
Liu Wenyuan blurted out: "Your Majesty is indeed wise, but he is old after all!"
"Presumptuous!" As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Liu Xu couldn't help but cough. First he scolded him, but then he slapped Liu Wenyuan with his hand.
This palm obviously didn't hold any force, and the crisp sound of the blow even spread from the car to the long street under the spring night. Sensing something strange in the carriage, the carriage slowly stopped, and then the guard before driving came to ask: "Do you have any orders, Your Majesty?"
Liu Xu had a straight face and his voice was almost squeezed out of his throat as he responded: "Nothing, go back to the palace!"
"yes!"
When the car restarted, the atmosphere in the car continued to be depressing. Liu Xu turned his face, glared at Liu Wenyuan, lowered his voice, and scolded particularly harshly: "Do you know what you are talking about?"
Facing Liu Xu's vicious gaze, Liu Wenyuan, who was slapped in a daze, slowly came to his senses, with a trace of nervousness on his face. What he just said came from the bottom of his heart, but in just one sentence, there is a huge political risk.
His words can be interpreted as bullying the emperor, contemptuous of Emperor Liu's old age, or even pointing out that he is stupid. Although this is just a private conversation between father and son, there is no guarantee that the walls have ears. At least there are not only father and son in the car and outside the car. Like Liu Wenyuan, he opened his mouth without thinking, and once he is stabbed by someone with an intention, the open and hidden arrows from the court will , I’m afraid it’s coming soon.
"I made a mistake!" Thinking of this, Liu Wenyuan lowered his head and admitted his mistake.
Seeing this, Liu Xu's expression softened a little. He looked at Liu Wenyuan's red left face and asked, "Does it hurt?"
Liu Wenyuan shook his head. Liu Xu said seriously: "I ask you to be careful in your words and deeds in Anton, let alone Gyeonggi? You must always remember that trouble comes from your mouth!"
After a slight pause, Liu Xu said leisurely: "There are some things that you can think about and do, but you can't say!"
Hearing this, Liu Wenyuan couldn't help but look at Liu Xu in surprise. He saw that his father was also looking deep in thought at this time. His eyes flashed, and he cupped his hands and said, "Yes!"
After the interlude, Liu Wenyuan thought for a while and said slowly: "I have no intention of offending His Majesty. Let's just discuss the matter. I am indeed not optimistic about the enfeoffment proposal held by Your Majesty tonight!"
This time, Liu Xu did not interrupt Liu Wenyuan again, but looked directly at him, waiting for the next step. Liu Wenyuan, who paid attention to his father's expression, gained some confidence when he saw this. He lowered his voice and continued: "My son, I see that most of the emperor's uncles are not happy about the enfeoffment. They seem to be open-minded. For example, the fifth uncle, King Qi, is unwilling to submit to the country and wants to submit to the emperor." Your Majesty strives for one or two, whether it is Ezo in the east or the Nanyang Islands, enfeoffing these places is tantamount to being sent into exile for the emperor's uncles. Even we, Anton, are in the same category.
Forced by His Majesty's authority, the emperor's uncles did not dare to object or even raise objections, but they were unwilling to do so. Even if the edict was issued and the kingdoms were established, I am afraid that it would only be a formality in the future, and it might even be so. Make the world laugh! "
Listening to Liu Wenyuan's words, Liu Xu shook his head and said: "You are just conjecture, there is not much basis! You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of fish? How do you know that your uncles are not willing to enfeoff, at least The positivity of your ninth uncle and thirteenth uncle does not seem to be a lie. As for your fourth uncle, he will not disobey His Majesty’s will, let alone the enfeoffment of Anxi, even if it is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, he will not frown! "
"What about the five Nanyang countries?" Liu Wenyuan said: "As far as I know, although those islands are barbaric, they have formed some indigenous countries. Even if they are primitive, primitive, barbaric and backward, I am afraid they will not collapse just because of an imperial edict.
This is different from the Han merchants who went to trade and colonize. It was not easy to establish a feudal state and achieve rule. You have personally participated in the construction and development of Anton. You have a deep understanding of the hardships and sufferings involved. Can you, the emperor's uncles, have the will to persevere? Do you have the ability to become the king of a country?
Even Anton, without your ten years of perseverance and hard work, I would not have confidence in His Majesty's enfeoffment!
What's more, the development of Anton is backed by Liaodong, and it has received long-term support from the imperial court. In addition, you have to work hard to achieve the current results. And Nanyang is far away overseas. How much support can the court provide? Can the Nanyang natives be subdued and establish a feudal state by just relying on the merchants and people who go to sea and the Nanyang fleet?
Even if it is possible, how much money and resources will the court invest to make it happen? Your Majesty divided the kingdoms into confederations in order to stabilize the borders and delegate power to the princes, and the fundamental reason was to reduce the burden on the imperial court.
If the enfeoffment increases the burden on the court and increases all kinds of expenditures, how long can it last, even if it is as strong as the Han Dynasty, by supporting overseas affairs thousands of miles away? No matter how strong the family wealth is, it will eventually be exhausted. You may also be dragged down!
And if the imperial court lacks support, can the Han Dynasty support the establishment of several feudal states with its current influence in various parts of Southeast Asia?
This is true in Nanyang, and so is Anxi! And, the situation is even more serious! Over in Nanyang, after all, they are just uncivilized barbarian indigenous people. Whether it is fighting or suppressing them, there is still a possibility of success.
This is not the case in Anxi. In the West, the Han Dynasty faced an entire civilization, a region with rich historical and cultural inheritance. It was the imperial dynasty that tried to block the Tang Dynasty's Western Expedition. Even if it has declined now, it is still very promising for a new country to rise. Possible things.
In the past few years alone, in order to support Uncle Liu's Western Expedition, the imperial court has spent several times as much money and food as was used for the development and security of Anton. The further west you go, the more enemies you will face!
There are also those cannibalistic beliefs that are incompatible with my big man, and the conflict is fierce. It is not easy to conquer them!
Don't look at the fact that Liu Shu and the others have achieved good results now. They destroyed the Black Khan, defeated the coalition forces, invaded the Saman Kingdom, and expanded the territory for two thousand miles. However, they are too far away from the Han Dynasty. Even if the court wants to provide some support, the price will be huge. To put it mildly, this is militarism.
In the future, if some changes occur, can even a powerful man be able to provide effective relief thousands of miles away? A big man in Anxi will always fight with one finger and the enemy with two fists!
If enfeoffment is not for internal consolidation but for expansion, it is actually abandoning the roots and chasing the tail. This is exactly what His Majesty said. Once this happens, I fear that one day, the Western Expedition will become a quagmire for the Han Dynasty, which will not be a good thing for the country or the people..."
Liu Wenyuan kept talking, and after all the discussion, Liu Xu was stunned. After frowning for a long time, his tone could not tell whether it was doubt, fear, or something else. He almost trembled and said: "You are alarmist!"
