Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Winter passes and spring comes, and everything revives.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the tenth year of the Ming Dynasty's restoration of China, 1142 AD.

The northwest region has suffered from spring drought for many years, which finally eased this year. Although there is still a slight drought, it finally rained a few times, giving people a glimmer of hope for smooth weather.

Dali, where even the emperor hid in the palace and dared not come out, still maintained a chaotic but stable rule.

Although it was very messy, it was so messy that no one dared to do anything.

The Gao clan did not dare to attack each other because there were several other big clans. If the internal strife of the Gao clan is too serious and other big clans take the opportunity to send troops, this is a situation that no one wants to see.

Dali didn't explode, but Gaoli was about to!

The King of Goryeo is still Wang Gou. He was placed under house arrest twice and had his powerful ministers eradicated three times. He is still only thirty-three years old.

Queen Ren's family.

The father-in-law of the country was Ren Yuanhou, who also served as the prime minister.

In today's Goryeo, aristocratic families control the country, suppressing poor families and generals. The conflict was already on the verge of breaking out, but internal strife broke out among the clans.

The father-in-law Im Wonhou's hometown is in Jeolla Province, which is the southwest corner of the Korean Peninsula, across the strait from Jeju Island.

Although there are ports here to do business with the Ming Dynasty, the trade volume is far behind that of Saikaidō. Although Sino-Japanese trade also passes through Jeolla Province, it always stops in Jeju Island.

Therefore, the Jeongan Im family, who was basically based in Jeolla Province, could only eat scraps from sea trade.

As for the Haeju Choi family, which has produced many prime ministers and queens, its family power happens to be in Saikaidō, where trade is flourishing.

After ten years of maritime trade development, Haizhou Cui's strength has grown rapidly.

When they first sent troops to Beijing to exterminate the rebellious Jin family, they were jointly suppressed by the two families. Now they can no longer stand up.

Open Beijing.

The Cui family of Haizhou and the Lee family of Incheon are discussing secretly.

Li Ziqian of the Li family in Incheon was the first powerful official Wang Gou killed.

Although the powerful ministers have fallen, the family has not.

Moreover, the Cui and Li clans have been married for generations. The former is next to the second largest port, and the latter is next to the third largest port, and they jointly control the sea trade profits from the Ming Dynasty.

As for the largest port, it is naturally Kaizhou Port.

Kaizhou is the capital of Goryeo, and the profits from the port there cannot belong to any one family, but are shared by everyone.

"Ren Yuanhou has gone too far to bully others!" Li Zhiyuan was furious.

Cui Yunyi sighed: "Well, he is the prime minister and the head of the country. Shouldn't the officials just follow his arrangements?"

Li Zhiyuan said: "But this time he went too far. Not only did he replace the governor of Hanyang (Seoul) with his own people, but he also replaced all the officials along the Han River with children of aristocratic families who depended on him!"

Cui Yunyi said nothing.

Li Zhiyuan said: "This time it is Hanyang County Sheriff, next time it will be Haizhou's turn. If you don't help my Li family, who will save you when the Cui family is suppressed?"

Cui Yunyi said: "Your Incheon Li family has been operating in Hanyang for many years. What should the court be afraid of when it replaces the county governor? Don't openly confront the county governor and let the officials and subordinates violate the law, making it impossible for the county governor to do anything. Force him Walk!"

"That's it?" Li Zhiyuan felt unwilling.

Cui Yunyi asked back: "Do you still dare to openly disobey orders, or send someone to kill the county guard?"

Li Zhiyuan couldn't answer, so he could only lose his temper and said: "I will make Hanyang County Sheriff unable to stay for half a year!"

Although the Cui family and the Li family have stronger economic strength, they cannot withstand Ren Yuanhou's political strength.

He was originally the father-in-law and prime minister of the country, and he also led a group of aristocratic families who were jealous of sea trade to join forces to seize commercial profits from the Li family.

In addition to secretly resisting, Li had no other choice but to launch a coup. There was no third option.

Ren Yuanhou, who took over the administrative power of Hanyang and along the Han River, was immediately satisfied and began to reach the pinnacle of his life.

Officials from several aristocratic families began to praise Ren Yuanhou and forced the king to promote Ren Yuanhou.

His titles, official positions and promotions are as follows -

Xuanzhong'anshe assisted Tongde meritorious officials, Sanzhong Kuang, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Shou Taiwei, Shangzhuguo, Ding'an Gong, with 2,000 households in the city, and 600 households with real seals. He opened a government office in Shouning and appointed officials and subordinates.

Power reigns supreme!

So what if Mr. Cui and Mr. Li are rich? Just lie down!

Even Ren Yuanhou's eldest son Ren Kezhong, the brother of the Queen of Goryeo, also served as a servant and a military convoy. Keep the military power in your hands.

"Uncle, Ren Yuanhou is beyond control." Cui Yunyi reminded.

Choi Hongjae, the deputy prime minister of Goryeo, said: "His daughter is the queen, and his grandson is the prince. Our Cui family has made too much money from sea trade, which makes those aristocratic families jealous to death. They join forces to control the court, and I, the deputy prime minister, have any idea?"

Cui Yunyi came up with an idea: "Mutiny."

Cui Hongzai shook his head repeatedly: "How can warriors be involved in the fight between aristocratic families and civil servants? This is a bad rule. Once we do that, our Cui family will be the target of public criticism."

"Isn't the Cui family the target of public criticism now?" Cui Yunyi asked in return, and added, "Ren Yuan is so powerful that he has no regard for His Majesty. If my uncle is afraid of being infamy, he can encourage the military men promoted by the Ren family to rebel! When the time comes, , Ren Yuanhou provoked a mutiny, and we just went to put down the rebellion. "

"Who are you asking to cause trouble?" Cui Hongzai asked.

Cui Yunyi said: "Zheng Zhongfu."

Zheng Zhongfu is from Haizhou, with fair skin and a burly beard.

Because he was very handsome, he was sent by Cui Hongzai to serve as a soldier in the Kangha Army (Forbidden Army). And because he was very good at playing football, he was reused by the King of Goryeo and was promoted to the chief of the Qianlong team (captain of the King's honor guard).

At that time, Jin Fushi was still in power. At a New Year's Eve banquet, Jin Fushi's son, Jin Dunzhong, lit Zheng Zhongfu's beard with a candle for fun.

Zheng Zhongfu was furious on the spot and beat the powerful minister's son.

As the king of Goryeo, Wang Gou, although he was a good friend with Zheng Zhongfu, could only quietly send someone to let Zheng Zhongfu escape.

Zheng Zhongfu did not even dare to return to his hometown, so he fled and hid in Ren Yuanhou's home.

After everyone joined forces to eradicate the powerful minister Kim Bo-seok, Zheng Zhongfu became friends with the king, prime minister, and deputy prime minister at the same time, and was promoted to the highest position among Goryeo warriors - general.

However, Zheng Zhongfu's current situation is very embarrassing.

The king was completely ignored, the prime minister and deputy prime minister broke up, and Zheng Zhongfu was caught in the middle, not knowing who to listen to.

Night time, curfew.

Cui Yunyi knocked quietly on the side door of Zheng's house, and Zheng Zhongfu hurriedly came to greet him in person. He was surprised and said: "Your Excellency is a dignified servant, how come you came in through the side door at night?"

Cui Yunyi said with a bitter face: "Although I am the minister and my uncle is the deputy prime minister, how can I dare to come to see the general in the daytime when Yuan Hou has so much power?"

"well!"

Zheng Zhongfu sighed: "Cui Shizhong, please come in quickly."

The two came to the house, and Zheng Zhongfu found a small bag of black tea.

In the Ming Dynasty, ordinary black tea, which could be drunk by rural landowners, was regarded as a treasure by this Goryeo general. He carefully poured out some tea leaves, poured boiling water himself and said, "This is tea from the Ming Dynasty. In the end, I only got eight taels, and I am usually reluctant to drink it."

Cui Yunyi took the opportunity to apply eye drops: "General, you only have half a catty of black tea? I will ask the servant to bring two catties another day."

Zheng Zhongfu sighed again: "Armaments are weak and military expenditures have been reduced. It is no longer easy to buy half a catty of black tea."

This is the truth.

The military power of the Ming Dynasty was too great, and Goryeo was completely flat.

I can't defeat him anyway, so why train my troops? Goryeo continued to reduce military expenditures, and after the reduction, most of the military expenditures were deducted by civilian officials.

The generals had no chance to earn free wages and could not make much money at all, and the soldiers had to work on their own to make a living.

As for Zheng Zhongfu, the first military minister of Goryeo, he had to nod and pretend to be a grandson even when he met a third or fourth grade civil servant, not to mention the prime minister. Because if a civil servant can reach the third or fourth rank, he must have the support of a big family behind him!

Cui Yunyi expressed sympathy for the current situation of the generals, and put the blame entirely on Ren Yuanhou: "It is only because of the Ren family's dictatorship that it becomes more difficult for the military people. Now he not only suppresses the military people, but also deals with our Cui family and Li family. You Judging from his series of titles and official positions, he was only half a step away from seeking to usurp the throne. If His Majesty had not informed him of the incident, the General would have died at the hands of the Jin family. How could the General have seen His Majesty for his life-saving and promotion. Are you ignoring the trouble?"

Zheng Zhongfu said: "But I am just a warrior, how can I deal with the prime minister?"

Cui Yunyi said: "During the Dragon Boat Festival this year, His Majesty will host a banquet to entertain the ministers. I will help..."

After some secret discussion, Zheng Zhongfu personally sent Cui Yunyi out.

This warrior is not a vulgar person. He comes from a poor family in Haizhou and has been studying since childhood.

He knew that Cui had used him as a gunman, and he would definitely be in trouble afterwards.

Cui's plan is nothing more than to use Zheng Zhongfu's hands to kill Ren Yuanhou and his party. But the wealthy family cannot do anything. Zheng Zhongfu will definitely become notorious and become a thorn in the eyes of many wealthy families.

At that time, if Cui takes action to kill Zheng Zhongfu, she will be able to take charge of the government.

Humph, isn’t it great to be from a wealthy family?

Watching Cui Yunyi disappear into the night, Zheng Zhongfu showed a sneer on his face.

In history, Zheng Zhongfu launched a brazen mutiny and killed all the civil servants in Beijing. He deposed the king and ushered in the era of warriors!

The next day, Zheng Zhongfu called his confidants and cried that he had been bullied by civil servants again.

Li Yifang, the military minister, banged the table and got angry: "Those bandanas are not human beings. The military pay has been cut to a bare minimum, and they have to embezzle and embezzle so that the soldiers have no food to eat. I am the leader of Qianlong, a general of your majesty's bodyguards." , greet low-level civil servants like dogs.”

"Let's just live with it, can we still rebel?" Li Gao, the military minister, sighed.

Zheng Zhongfu said: "I can't help it. Jin Dunzhong's father imprisoned Your Majesty back then. His family committed such a big crime, and his father was eradicated, but this man can continue to serve as an official in the court. Why is this? ? Because they are from a wealthy family. Why should we, a poor family, be suppressed by a wealthy family? I must avenge him for burning my beard!"

Li Gao reminded: "If we kill Ren Yuanhou and Jin Dunzhong, even if we succeed, we will be liquidated by the family afterwards."

But Zheng Zhongfu said: "Kill all the civil servants from wealthy families in Kaijing, leaving only those from poor families, and then promote military men to civilian positions. If you do this, you won't be afraid of being liquidated. You can't let their ghosts come back to take revenge, right?"

"Kill all those wealthy civil servants?" All the military officials were horrified.

Zheng Zhongfu asked: "Don't you dare?"

Everyone was silent for a long time, and Li Yifang gritted his teeth and said, "It's done!"

"Done!"

Other military ministers expressed their opinions one after another. They had been suppressed by the clan for too long, and the pressure was getting harder and harder. The resentment in their hearts must be vented.