Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

(Correction: "Jiaoyuan" in the previous chapter is the Buddhist name, and Gao Jiaoyuan's common name is Gao Chengzong. Historically, after his father lost his title and position, Gao Chengzong was forced to become a monk at the age of twenty.)

The only territories that Gao Liangcheng actually controlled were Shanchan (Kunming), Weichu (Chuxiong) and Shicheng (Qujing).

Among them, Chuxiong is Gao Liangcheng’s hometown, where he grew up.

Kunming is the base camp of the Gao family. More than 20 years ago, the Thirty-seven Barbarians rebelled, conquered Kunming, killed the head of the Gao family, and looted all the Gao family's belongings in Kunming. Gao Liangcheng was ordered to defeat the Thirty-seven Barbarians in the face of danger, and took advantage of the situation to become the Prime Minister of Dali and the head of the Gao family, and thus took control of the military power in Kunming.

As for Qujing, it was originally the territory of the Duan family, but is now controlled by Gao Liangcheng's nephew. Surrounded by rebellious barbarians, the city had been besieged for half a year, and the Dali army no longer dared to leave the city.

The envoys sent by the new king of Dali to Luoyang neither dared to go north from Sichuan (that route was controlled by Gao Liangcheng's political enemies), nor did they dare to go to Guizhou or Guangxi (these two routes were blocked by the Thirty-seven Barbarians) die). So we wretchedly climbed over the mountains and ridges, quietly heading southeast and entering the boundary of Jiaozhi.

When he arrived at the provincial capital of Jiaozhi, Gao Chengzong felt like crying but had no tears. How had he ever suffered such a crime before?

"When the Ming Dynasty annexed Annan, there was no rebellion?"

Dong Mingshou, the nominal envoy of the Dali Kingdom, was quite surprised when he saw the prosperous Duluo City (Shenglong City).

Gao Chengzong, who had not yet reached the crown, glanced at the streets: "But it's not as prosperous as Dali City."

Dong Mingshou said: "I heard that there was a general named Yang in the Ming Dynasty who once kidnapped 100,000 people in this city. I think he has not recovered yet."

The two led an envoy to the Chief Secretary under the leadership of Cochin officials.

In the Dali Kingdom, the status of the Dong family was second only to the Gao family.

During the Nanzhao period, Dong Jialuo, a national advisor, used magic to help Geluofeng defeat the Tang army.

"Jialuo" is a title, not a personal name.

During the Five Dynasties period, another Dong Jialuo assisted Duan Siping in establishing the Dali Kingdom and became the founding advisor of Dali.

They believe in Tantra!

Gao Liangcheng plans to lead the way, so why not Dong Mingshou?

When it comes to changing families, the Dong family are professionals.

These guys are very discerning, from Nanzhao Kingdom to Dali Kingdom. In another time and space, Dong was successively canonized by the Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, and Qing Dynasty, but was later deprived of the right to cast spells and became a secular chieftain.

The Dong family is gradually declining.

There are three main sects of Buddhism in Dali.

At the beginning, Tantric Buddhism developed the fastest, after all, the Dong family was the hereditary national master.

But gradually, Theravada and Zen caught up. Today, Theravada Buddhism is the dominant one, followed by Zen Buddhism, and Tantra Buddhism is the most dominant.

Neither Duan nor Gao believe in Tantric Buddhism!

Moreover, the Gao family also deliberately suppressed Tantric Buddhism. When the Gao family usurped the throne, she directly banned the title of National Master, just to eliminate Duan's arms.

The Duan family became kings again, but they did not restore the Dong family's national advisor.

Today, Dong Mingshou’s title is nothing more than “disciple of suspicious and wonderful principles”. If this continues, the descendants may not even have titles, and will only be able to inherit a Qingping official (this official position was originally the prime minister of the Nanzhao Kingdom, but became an honorary position in the Dali Kingdom).

In another time and space, the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty restored Dong's national advisor and named him "the founding father complied with the national advisor".

Gao Liangcheng and Dong Mingshou, both losers in the political struggle, have now formed an alliance of losers to collude with the Ming Dynasty.

“I’ve seen Mr. Xiang, the Chief Minister of the Ming Dynasty!”

Dong Mingshou led Gao Chengzong forward, he put his hands together, and Gao Chengzong bowed.

Xiang Zichen had been officially appointed as the chief envoy of Jiaozhizuo. He bowed in return and invited the two of them to sit inside.

After exchanging a few words, Dong Mingshou said: "The new king of our country has succeeded to the throne. This time he went to Luoyang to ask for the title. Because the roads between the north and the east are blocked, we took the road to Annan..."

"It's Jiaozhi." Xiang Ziyi corrected.

Dong Mingshou quickly changed his words: "So I'm going through Jiaozhi, and I'd like to ask my husband to make some arrangements."

Xiang Ziyi said: "You can go to Guangxi by land, and then enter the Yangtze River from Hunan. But you two might as well rest for a while, wait for the trade wind to come, take a boat and take the sea route, and then go straight to the Yangtze River and turn the canal to go north."

Dong Mingshou had never seen the sea, so he naturally didn't know the dangers of the sea, so he agreed without saying much.

They were arranged to stay in a hotel, and from time to time they would go shopping and inquire about news.

Just a few days later, a large number of officers and soldiers were suddenly seen entering the city to arrest people.

Dong Mingshou and Gao Chengzong ran to watch the excitement, but saw several officials taken away from the Chief Secretary and the Daluo Mansion Yamen.

"You two should go back to the hotel. A little trouble will be settled soon." Xiang Ziyi appeared behind them at some point.

It was indeed a small mess, and they only arrested a right-wing political advisor, a government judge, and several provincial and government officials at the second level. During the transformation of Annan into Cochin, they failed to obtain satisfactory official positions and changed from important ministers of a country to subordinate officials of Cochin Province.

So he secretly contacted frustrated civil and military officials to prepare for rebellion, and also wrote letters to local gentry and prominent families.

One of the gentry reported them...

There were so many killings that all those involved in the case had their homes searched and executed without even having to send them to the Ministry of Punishment for review.

When the Dali delegation left, Xiang Ziyi did not come to see them off in person.

The one who saw him off was the punishment envoy from Cochin Province, who also explained: "Xiang Buzheng was assassinated two days ago. He was injured and is in bed and is unable to travel. I ask the two envoys for their forgiveness."

Gao Chengzong asked in surprise: "Have you caught the assassin?"

"Captured on the spot, the person behind the scenes has been interrogated," the executioner said with a smile, "I personally interrogated, no one can escape!"

Gao Chengzong couldn't ask any more questions, so he boarded the boat and left with a smile.

They changed to a sea-going ship at the Taiping River Estuary, followed the coastline to the Yangtze River, and then took the inland river all the way to Luoyang.

"As expected of the two capitals of the Ming Dynasty!"

After staying in Kaifeng for a day and strolling on the streets of Luoyang, the young man Gao Chengzong was conquered by the wealth and prosperity of the Central Plains.

In the past, he felt that no matter how good Kaifeng Luoyang was, it was at most bigger than Dali City.

Gao Chengzong wanted to move to the Central Plains, either Kaifeng or Luoyang.

Dong Mingshou thought more. Although the Central Plains was good, it was not his own. He wanted to join the Ming Dynasty as a leading party, then cultivate his own base camp, and continue to be the "Tu Emperor" for generations to come.

After living in Luoyang for half a month and meeting some officials from the Ministry of Rites, the two were finally received by Emperor Zhu.

Flat body, given a seat.

Dong Mingshou explained his intention and asked the emperor to confer the title of King of Dali.

Zhu Ming praised Duan Yu a few words and then said casually: "Shicheng County was attacked by the Wuman."

"What?" Gao Chengzong stood up in shock.

Ju Ming said: "Your cousin was defeated and the city was destroyed, and he was killed by the Wuman."

With the fall of Shicheng County, the next target of the Thirty-seven Barbarians is Kunming, the base camp of the Gao family!

As the Prime Minister of Dali and the head of the Gao family, Gao Liangcheng's pressure will be extremely huge. If he fails to send troops to defeat the barbarians, he will be criticized by everyone, and more and more forces will fall to his political opponents.

Gao Chengzong knelt down and shouted: "Your Majesty, Dali is a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. I beg the Celestial Empire to send troops to rescue us as soon as possible!"

Ju Ming sneered: "All the members of the Gao family are standing still, but you want me, the Ming Dynasty, to send troops to rescue you?"

Dong Mingshou was surprised when he heard this.

The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was even aware of the infighting within the Gao family. It seemed that the Ming Dynasty had spread throughout the country, and Emperor Zhu was determined to annex Dali.

Fortunately, he came to Luoyang. Fortunately, Dong had decided to betray his country for glory!

Dong Mingshou bowed solemnly and said: "As long as the Ming Dynasty sends troops to rescue, the Dong family will obey the emperor's orders! As for the traitors of the Gao family, they harbor evil intentions and are disobedient to the emperor. Foreign ministers sincerely ask the Ming Dynasty garrison to clear out the traitors."

Ju Ming raised his eyebrows.

Interestingly, the man surnamed Dong is showing his loyalty, almost saying that he wants to lead the party.

Ju Ming asked: "Is this just what Dong said, or is it the idea of ​​the leader of Dali?"

Gao Chengzong took out a piece of silk from his arms and handed it to the eunuch with both hands: "This is a letter of invitation for troops. I also hope that the Holy Emperor will quickly send troops to relieve the people!"

Ju Ming took it and looked at it carefully.

It is indeed a certificate of credence, signed by the King of Dali, and stamped with the seal of the King of Dali.

This gave the Ming Dynasty ample reason to send troops, and Gao Liangcheng even picked himself out - it was the king who recruited the Ming army, and it had nothing to do with Gao Liangcheng.

It is estimated that this certificate of credence and even the signature of King Dali are forged.

However, Ju Ming threw the credentials back: "Gao Liangcheng wants to trap me in injustice. If I accept the credentials, I will send troops to rescue the vassal country. If the army refuses to leave, it will be renegade. He Gao Liangcheng doesn't have to bear the reputation of betraying the country. If I withdraw my troops in consideration of my face, he will be the number one hero of Dali, right?"

"That's not what my father meant!" Gao Chengzong was so frightened that his whole body trembled.

Ju Ming said: "If I send troops, it will be justified. The land of Dali has been the territory of the Han Dynasty since ancient times. The Duan family stole the land and founded the country for more than 200 years. If I can implement benevolent government and educate the people, I will allow Dali to exist as a vassal. But the Duan family He is cowardly and incompetent. He is bullied by the powerful officials in the country and does not want to eradicate evil. He only wants to become a monk to avoid disaster. As a result, the warlords in the country are divided and the people are bullied by the barbarians. Naturally, the Ming Dynasty should take back its homeland! "

After saying these words, Gao Chengzong paralyzed and said in his heart that it was over.

Zhu Ming changed the subject: "If there are still people with lofty ideals in Dali, they should support the Heavenly Soldiers and help Wang Shi relieve the people."

Dong Mingshou quickly expressed his position: "Dong does not dare to call himself a benevolent person, but he also knows the righteousness of Confucianism, and he should welcome Master Wang to regain his homeland!"

Gao Chengzong also said: "My father will also welcome Master Wang and present Shanchan (Kunming) and Weichu (Chuxiong) to Master Wang."

Zhu Ming nodded in approval: "Very good. I will not hesitate to praise such people with lofty ideals. I heard that the Dong family has been the Dali Imperial Preceptor for generations, but now they no longer have the title of Imperial Preceptor, so I immediately asked the cabinet to recruit for canonization."

Dong Mingshou felt worried and happy at the same time.

Naturally, he was happy to get back the title of Imperial Master, and the Dong family's future wealth would be preserved.

The worry is that Emperor Zhu canonized her too early. It is possible that Dong will become the target of public criticism before the soldiers come to kill her. Moreover, the one who was canonized was the Dali Imperial Preceptor. What would happen if the Dali Kingdom was destroyed?

Ju Ming then said to Gao Chengzong: "Your father's title of 'Chinese Duke' is really too presumptuous. Go back and tell him this. He will naturally know what to do."

Accepting these two dogs has advantages and disadvantages for Ming Dynasty.

The advantage is that places like Kunming and Chuxiong can be captured without bloodshed.

The disadvantage is that it will force highly qualified political opponents to band together, prefer death to surrender, and stubbornly fight to the end with the Ming army.