Royal study room.
After the tea was ready, Zhu Jianshen stepped back and started chatting with Li Qing, asking him where he had been and what he was doing in the past few years...
Li Qing didn't have much patience, so he explained a few words casually and then got to the point.
"Your Majesty, there are signs of unification in the grassland, do you know?"
Zhu Jianshen was startled for a moment, "Did Li Hong tell you?"
"Well, you know that, right?"
"I know," Zhu Jianshen nodded, "However, I don't have any good solution for this. Now the trick of picking on the inside and the outside won't work anymore. I can only increase trade to ensure that Wala survives and try to delay it as long as possible."
"What about other than that?" Li Qing frowned slightly: "You didn't make any other plans?"
"Of course I did." Zhu Jianshen said, "Although the Ming Dynasty's strategy on the grasslands in recent years cannot be continued, it can still be used."
Li Qing raised his chin: "Go on."
Seeing as you just came back, I don’t know you the same way... Zhu Jianshen nodded and continued:
"After decades of trade, not only Oara has benefited, but the Tatars have also benefited from it, just not as big as Oara. Especially those of the upper class, their lives are so nourishing..." Zhu Jianshen said , “In fact, they can no longer do without Ming Dynasty goods, such as tea, salt, iron pots, etc.;
Even if things come to that point, the impact will not be big. I only need to completely cut off trade to make them miserable. "
Zhu Jianshen chuckled and said: "The Ming Dynasty has a strong city and powerful cannons, but are you still afraid of them?
They were defeated again and again, and it was difficult for them to survive without Daming's goods, so they could only surrender honestly! "
Li Qing shook his head and said: "It seems reasonable, but in fact it is not very feasible. As long as it is profitable, someone will do it;
If you stop trading, someone will naturally smuggle it secretly. "
"Who dares?"
"When the profits are big enough, there will be many people who dare to do it." Li Qing snorted: "Do you really think that only civil servants are corrupt and accept bribes?"
Zhu Jianshen's face froze and he said sarcastically: "Of course I have also considered smuggling by border generals, but even then, it won't have much impact;
How much can a border general smuggle? There's no way it can be compared with trade! "
Li Qing sighed: "You are wrong, Ming products do not need to satisfy everyone on the grassland, they only need to satisfy a handful of people at the top;
Because only a handful of people have the right to speak, and they can use this to incite the people below to hate Ming Dynasty! "
Li Qing sighed: “It is true that even that is not enough to shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty;
However, the Ming Dynasty inevitably suffered disasters for its people every year, as well as huge military expenditures, year after year... Have you ever calculated this account? "
Zhu Jianshen was stunned, his expression ugly.
After thinking for a long time, he couldn't think of a way to break the situation.
"Sir, do you have any clever ideas?"
"I can't say I have a clever plan, but I have a bad one."
"How to say?"
"Go to the First Army and disrupt the situation!" Li Qing said.
Zhu Jianshen pondered for a while and said with a wry smile: "Sir, this time is really... a bad plan. The Yongle Dynasty beat him so hard, but it can't cure the problem..."
After a pause, "Of course, I also want to send troops, but now is not the time. We must either not fight against the grassland, or we must fight hard once."
Zhu Jianshen said: "I have an idea. Sir, how about you listen to it?"
Li Qing suppressed what he wanted to say, nodded and said, "You say it."
"This incident of controlling barbarians has inspired me deeply. I want to use large-scale internal troops to completely solve the problem of chieftains that has plagued the Ming Dynasty for hundreds of years!" Zhu Jian said in a deep voice.
"You mean...to completely reform the country and return to society?"
Zhu Jianshen was stunned for a moment, and then he was impressed: "Sir, you are very ordinary, but you are like this. This can not only solve the internal problems of the Ming Dynasty, but also restore the Ming army to the peak strength of the Hongwu and Yongle dynasties through war training!"
He was high-spirited: "At that time, we will send troops to Mobei and give them a harsh blow. At least they will be able to calm down for a generation."
Li Qing nodded happily: "Your idea is good and very feasible!"
"Just...don't have anything else to say?"
"...The emperor is wise!" Li Qing doted on him. For such an emperor, Li Qing was happy to dote on him.
Feeling comfortable... Zhu Jianshen tilted his lips, "Sir, please tell me in detail... your bad plan!"
"...The Ming Dynasty cannot openly send troops. What I mean is to use the barbarians to control the barbarians!" Li Qingdao, "What I mean is...to use the grassland people from the Hetao."
Zhu Jianshen's eyes lit up, "This is a good idea, but... who will lead it?"
"I!"
"Ah?" Zhu Jianshen opened his mouth, "You?"
"Can't you?"
"No...at your age...can you do it?" Zhu Jianshen frowned and said, "Besides, this is not a day's work, and you are not suitable..."
"I have a choice!"
"who?"
"He Yong's son, He Zhong!" Li Qing said: "He is of pure grassland blood. He will be the general on the surface, and I will coordinate the overall situation in private..."
After listening to Li Qing's plan, Zhu Jianshen nodded slowly: "It is feasible, but... I still think it is more useful for you to stay in the capital."
Li Qing chuckled: "Your Majesty, it's been nine years since Chenghua, and you haven't taken power yet?"
Zhu Jianshen's face heated up and he said sarcastically: "We are in power, but wouldn't it be better if you were here?"
"You just want to relax." Li Qing sneered, "You are not a child anymore, why are you acting like a giant baby?"
"Giant baby..." Zhu Jian tasted the word deeply and couldn't help but blush.
But he didn't refute. Somehow, he always felt dependent on Li Qing.
"When do you plan to leave?"
Li Qing muttered: "I'm going to Yong's house, as soon as possible."
"Okay." Zhu Jianshen said helplessly, "Try to come back as early as possible, but don't be stubborn. If you can't bear it, just say...don't die."
"Don't worry!" Li Qing smiled, "No one in this world can kill me."
"...Haha." Zhu Jianshen pouted, noncommittal.
However, Li Qing's return was something worth celebrating after all. Zhu Jianshen got up and asked people to prepare wine and food.
~
After a while, the two of them started drinking.
After a while of pushing cups and changing cups, Zhu Jianshen started talking more, but he was all asking about Li Qing's situation in the past few years.
Li Qing said a few perfunctory words, and was also concerned about Zhu Jianshen's situation in recent years.
"Your Majesty, do you have any heirs now?"
Zhu Jianshen raised his hand and waved away the waiting young eunuch, and then said: "That's you. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't tell him."
"...So, you have it?"
"Yes, but not in the palace." Zhu Jianshen nodded.
"Does Concubine Wan Gui know?"
Do you still have the nerve to mention her? Zhu Jianshen glared at Li Qing resentfully and said in a low voice: "I know, I knew it at the end of the year last year."
"She knows? The prince is still there... Ahem, where is the prince?" Li Qing asked.
"What? You want to meet?"
"Hmm..." Li Qing thought for a while and said, "I also want to meet the imperial concubine."
"...What do you want to do?" Zhu Jianshen became vigilant, "I distinguish between public and private affairs, but I didn't miss the government affairs because of her!"
"I have something to say to her."
"Tell me the same thing."
"...Forget it if you don't agree." Li Qing stood up and left.
"Hey, why are you like this? Can't you talk nicely?" Zhu Jianshen looked helpless, "Okay, I'll let you see me later, but first, let's make it clear that if you want to get her away, I won't be done with you. .”
Li Qing said with a smile: "Don't worry, all the raw rice has been cooked, I'm not that bored;
I won’t drink this wine anymore. I want to meet the prince. By the way, what is the prince’s name? "
"I haven't given a name yet."
"Ah?" Li Qing was surprised, "You are so...why?"
Zhu Jian sighed deeply: "I don't want the prince's affairs to be exposed now. Once the officials find out, they will definitely clamor for the crown prince. Thinking about it gives me a headache..."
Li Qing frowned: "What did I tell you before?"
"I haven't forgotten that I was asked to take care of the prince myself when he was a child." Zhu Jianshen said, "But I didn't want to make him the prince."
"This... why?"
"You don't know, he...his mother is not Han." Zhu Jianshen said, "He is the Yao... clansman who rebelled against Da Teng..., the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, the future emperor... This is a criticism."
When Li Qing thought so, he lost interest in watching it.
"Then I won't go."
"No, I'm about to go to Anletang. Come with me." Zhu Jianshen said with a smile, "That little guy is super cute, hehe..."
Li Qing was speechless. He didn't want to see someone show off his baby, but he couldn't resist Zhu Jian Shensheng's strong pull...
Zhu Jianshen was also cautious enough, as if he were a thief. Not only did he change his clothes, but he also changed his car to an inconspicuous sedan. He used sideways purchased from the palace, which made Li Qing laugh.
"No, is it necessary?"
"Being cautious can avoid a lot of trouble. It is better than a group of people kneeling at the palace gate to seek for the establishment of the country." Zhu Jianshen said, "Also, my two sons died in infancy, and I am a little... worried."
Li Qing's smile froze, "Is there someone trying to kill someone?"
"Probably not," Zhu Jianshen shook his head slightly, "Forget it, let's not talk about these bad things."
Li Qing refused to give up and asked, "Do you have any suspicions?"
"Who are you suspecting?" Zhu Jianshen smiled bitterly, "I tried and killed the quack doctors who treated the prince, and found nothing;
It is not in anyone's interest to murder the prince, and no one will do it. "
Li Qing glanced at him sideways and hummed: "If you really don't have any doubts, why are you so worried?"
"I..." Zhu Jian sighed deeply and said, "I really have no doubts, but Zhen'er... well, it's okay not to say anything."
"How can you say half-truth?" Li Qing was dissatisfied, "Speak quickly, or I will scream."
"You..." Zhu Jian was furious, "Sure enough, you are hated by others for no reason."
"Come on, isn't it because of Ming Dynasty that I am hated?" Li Qing rolled his eyes, "Who does she suspect?"
Zhu Jian took a deep breath and whispered: "Queen Mother!"
"Ah?" Li Qing looked weird and thought to himself: Wan Zhen'er has a brain cramp? Does anyone believe this?
However, Zhu Jianshen's next words really made him a little suspicious.
