Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Jianshen sat in the first place, Li Qing and Shi Biao sat opposite each other, Huai'en, the eunuch of the palm seal, was waiting beside him, and there was no one else in the huge hall.
Zhu Jian sighed deeply and said, "Shi Aiqing, tell Marquis Yongqing about the matter."
Shi Biao nodded and got straight to the point: "Wala is divided."
Li Qing's eyes narrowed. This result did not surprise him, but it made him worried: "Be specific."
"Currently, it is roughly divided into three factions: the direct lineage of Ouala is one faction, the alliance of local grassland tribes in the Ouala camp is one faction, and the side branches of Ouala and some grassland natives are one faction." Shi Biao explained, "Among them, the direct lineage faction that inherits the main body of Ouala is the most important. They are strong, the local tribes in the grasslands are slightly less powerful, and the Walapan tribe is the weakest."
After a pause, "However, no matter which faction, the attitude towards the Ming Dynasty is very friendly, at least on the surface, the three parties have expressed their willingness to continue to surrender to the Ming Dynasty and trade with each other."
Li Qing frowned slightly and muttered: "Just listen to this, don't take it too seriously. They are willing to continue to surrender to the Ming Dynasty, but it is just for trade and for better development, they are not sincere."
"I think so too, but... I think it doesn't matter. We won't suffer any loss in doing business..." Shi Biao suddenly stopped, and both of them looked at him like a fool.
"What, what's wrong?"
Zhu Jianshen raised his chin with an inscrutable look on his face, signaling for Li Qing to speak.
Li Qing was too lazy to argue with Zhu Jianshen about this, and said: "It is true that the Ming Dynasty also gained a lot of benefits from trading with them, but relatively speaking, the grassland benefited even more;
What the Ming Dynasty got was money, horses and other livestock, but what the grassland got was survival materials and real population growth. If things go on like this, their overall strength will only get bigger and bigger, and one day, they will covet the Central Plains again. "
Shi Biao scratched his head and asked, "Then... we won't do business with them?"
"We still need to do it, but we can't do it comprehensively." Li Qingdao, "Don't worry about being few, but worry about unevenness; uneven distribution of interests will be more conducive to internal strife among them."
Zhu Jianshen interjected: "I mean the same thing. However, the current situation is still unclear. It is not advisable to make a decision too early. If you bet on the wrong thing, it will be counterproductive."
He said calmly: "Our ultimate goal is not to solve the border troubles or make money from trade, but to 'eat' them."
"The emperor is wise!" Shi Biao flattered him, but he still didn't understand how the emperor arranged for him.
"Your Majesty, what about us...?"
Zhu Jianshen sighed deeply: "Sir, please tell me."
"..." Li Qing glanced at him sideways, and then said: "To test their attitude first, trade will be suspended, and the 'king' of the grassland will be cancelled, whether it is their original 'king', or the title of Taizu and Taizong. The Ming Dynasty will no longer recognize his 'king'."
"Then what do you call them?" Shi Biao smacked his lips, "There has to be a name, right?"
Zhu Jianshen also glanced at Li Qing in surprise. This decision... somewhat disrespected Taizu and Taizong.
"Let's call him... little prince." Li Qing sneered and snorted, "Following down, no matter how big or small the power, they are all called chiefs."
Shi Biao frowned and said, "This is somewhat...insulting to people and may arouse their public outrage."
Li Qing said flatly: "It is certain that they feel unhappy, but they cannot live without the necessities of Ming Dynasty, so they have to admit their unhappiness."
Zhu Jianshen interjected: "Yes, whoever lowers his head first will have priority in doing business with whomever, and the arrogance in their hearts will be shattered first!"
"Your Majesty is wise." Shi Biao flattered him, and then asked: "Other than that?"
Zhu Jian took a deep sip of tea and said, "Sir, please tell me."
Li Qing rolled his eyes and said speechlessly: "The trade suspension will greatly affect their lives. We can't push too hard. We must let them always taste the 'sweetness'. Only by eating the sweetness will they become more Afraid of hardship."
"so……?"
Zhu Jianshen interjected: "Change trade to tribute!"
Shi Biao was startled and said in admiration: "Your Majesty is wise!"
After a pause, "Then... I will make another trip to inform them?"
"Hmm..." Zhu Jian glanced deeply at Li Qing. Li Qing lowered his head and sipped tea, pretending not to see.
Zhu Jianshen pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "You have to work hard again, but don't bring so many people with you this time. They don't dare to openly confront the Ming Dynasty, and the national funds are not rich..."
After a pause, he said: "I will give you three thousand elites, is that enough?"
Shi Biao nodded: "When will the minister set off?"
"My dear, you have worked hard all the way, please rest for two days," Zhu Jianshen said, "Let's set off the day after tomorrow!"
Shi Biao was completely speechless: We are leaving the day after tomorrow, so why shouldn’t I mobilize immediately? He still has two days of rest... only two hours at best.
"...Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Shi Biao pinched his nose and complimented, "Then...I will resign?"
Zhu Jianshen nodded and said with a warm smile: "Shi Aiqing, walk slowly."
~
After Shi Biao left, Zhu Jianshen restrained his condescending attitude and said affectionately:
"Sir, the current situation is treacherous and the future is full of uncertainty. How have you considered joining the cabinet...how have you considered it?"
Without waiting for Li Qing to speak, he hurriedly patted his chest and assured, "Don't worry, sir, I won't get a penny less of the salary I deserve."
Li Qing was speechless: My salary is only a few dollars, and I am short of money?
"Sir, I need you, and the Ming Dynasty needs you too!" Zhu Jianshen said emotionally. "On the surface, the Ming Dynasty now looks like a prosperous and prosperous era. However, under this prosperity, there is an undercurrent..."
Barabara...
Li Qing slowly breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hand to stop Zhu Jianshen's pressing, nodded and said: "I can join the cabinet, but after I finish what I have to do, I will leave."
And this is a good thing... Zhu Jianshen nodded hurriedly: "I know that your husband has worked hard. When he retires, I will give him a title."
Li Qing smiled: "Then thank the emperor first."
"This is what you deserve, sir, haha... You're welcome." Zhu Jianshen was afraid that Li Qing would regret it, so he hurriedly said: "I will make an order later, and you can come to work tomorrow."
Li Qing nodded: "Yes, but my office hours are not fixed. Your Majesty, you know that I am old."
Zhu Jianshen pinched his nose and agreed, "I understand."
"That's alright, I'll take my leave."
…
As soon as Li Qing left, Zhu Jianshen summoned Li Qing to the cabinet!
Under Zhu Jianshen's instruction, it only took an hour for it to spread in the official circles, and then caused a shocking wave.
If this bastard joins the cabinet, will he have a good life in the future?
Well...it seems like he won't have a good life if he doesn't join the cabinet, but obviously, after this guy joins the cabinet, he will be more constrained.
But the emperor issued a central decree. There was no way to object to this. The decree was unquestionable. To oppose it was to oppose the imperial power.
You can only turn against the person involved, but getting Li Qing... the price is too high.
It was only about twenty years ago that a group of officials from the Zhengtong Dynasty broke into Li Qing's house and were killed. This happened only about twenty years ago. Some people who have experienced it personally shudder every time they think about it.
The hard one obviously won't work, and the soft one... doesn't have much effect either.
Li Qing was so thick-skinned and his methods were so dirty, especially his life-threatening fighting style that he was willing to cut his whole body into pieces.
This is really...a dog bites a hedgehog - there is no way to bite it!
Of course, the most unhappy thing is the cabinet. As for the officials of the six departments and the censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, there is some rejection, but not much.
They even vaguely rejoiced in the misfortune, hoping that Li Qing would disturb the cabinet.
~
Small courtyard.
The orange sunset shines on the fruit branches, making them even more vibrant. This year, the weather is getting warmer later, and only in March do the fruit trees sprout buds.
Zhu Wanqing placed the dishes and chopsticks and shouted to Li Qing under the fruit tree: "Uncle Li, it's time to eat."
"Here we come." Li Qing put it down, got up and came to the living room, "Hey, today is not bad. There is also braised fish, um...it tastes great, but I don't know how it tastes."
Zhu Wanqing said sheepishly: "My niece's craftsmanship is average and not as good as yours and my eldest brother. Uncle Li, don't dislike it, haha... this is my first time, so I'm making a fool of myself."
Li Qing picked up a chopstick and tasted it, and soon frowned: You really made a fool of yourself.
He silently put down his chopsticks, turned to other dishes, and said, "Thank you for your hard work. This fish is given to you, so don't let it go to waste."
Zhu Wanqing: "..."
You don't need to taste it, it's definitely not delicious... Zhu Wanqing said with a sad face: "Uncle Li, I really didn't mean it this time."
Li Qing smiled and said, "I didn't say you did it on purpose!"
"Then you still..."
"Shameful waste!"
Unable to twist her thigh with her arms, Zhu Wanqing had no choice but to pick up a piece and taste it: it was okay, not delicious, but not unpalatable.
She took a mouthful of rice, puffed out her cheeks and whispered, "Uncle Li, do you really want to join the cabinet?"
"Didn't you hear it when the imperial envoy came to deliver the order?" Li Qing picked up a piece of braised pork and said, "Well, this is not bad. You must be more careful when cooking in the future."
"... Got it." Zhu Wanqing nodded and asked, "Uncle Li, you must be... very unpopular in official circles, right?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"No...I really don't mean that." Zhu Wanqing waved her hands quickly and explained, "I just think that Uncle Li will offend a lot of people if you join the cabinet. My niece is worried that you won't be able to handle it."
Li Qing shook his head and sneered: "I can handle the smoky atmosphere of the temple in the early days of Orthodoxy. Although it is still difficult, it is much better than then, so it is nothing."
"Oh~" Zhu Wanqing put down her chopsticks and stared at Li Qing with her chin in her hands, "Uncle Li, I want to know..."
"Is your skin itchy again?"
"...No." Zhu Wanqing puffed up her cheeks depressedly, picked up the bowl and chopsticks to eat the rice, and muttered in a voice that Li Qing could hear:
"Let me know what's going on. I can still talk nonsense. What's the point of satisfying my curiosity? You're a cheapskate!"
Li Qing said calmly: "Shut up when you eat from now on!"
"...Uncle Li, I just think...people who work hard should not be unknown. They should be remembered by at least a few people, even if there are only one or two people." Zhu Wanqing looked more serious than ever before.
Li Qing raised his head and glanced at her, his expression softened: "Let's eat."
"Okay." Zhu Wanqing was discouraged. Although she was almost certain of what she was thinking, she still didn't get acknowledgment personally, which made her heartbroken.
After being depressed for a while, Zhu Wanqing asked: "Uncle Li, when will I wake you up in the future?"
"Need not."
Zhu Wanqing was surprised: "Can you get up in the morning?"
"I can't get up." Li Qing said nonchalantly: "But I can go to work in the middle of the afternoon or even in the afternoon. I just go to the cabinet and don't go to the morning court."
Zhu Wanqing: "..."
In fact, she really wanted to unravel the living history of the Ming Dynasty in order to understand the Ming Dynasty in the past hundred years. She was so curious, curious about the legends of her ancestors, curious about the legend of Li Qing...
However...Uncle Li was too irritable, and she didn't dare to test him easily.
But the curiosity has not been annihilated, but has become more intense.
well! When will Uncle Li be allowed to tell the truth... Zhu Wanqing tilted her head and wandered.
'Snapped! ’ He slapped her on the head, followed by an angry voice: “What are you thinking about? Eat your fish!”
"……Know it!"
