Five Dynasties River Mountains Fengyue

However, the envoys of the Liao Kingdom refused to agree no matter what. They regarded themselves as allies of the Qing Dynasty, and they also wanted to retain the title of emperor.

The prime ministers of the Liao Kingdom said that there is no second sun in the sky, and there is no second master in man. In the past, the two countries were hostile, but now that the two countries are at peace, there will be nothing to talk about, and there can only be one emperor.

In this matter, both Xiao Ji and Xiao Hunian stubbornly chose not to compromise.

As a big northern country, the former overlord must also work hard to maintain its dignity and face.

The two sides did not compromise with each other, so that there was no progress in the discussion for three days. In desperation, Fan Zhi asked Shi Congyun for instructions, but Shi Congyun nodded without hesitation in agreement with the Liao Kingdom. One world, two emperors, each expression.

Fan Zhi was shocked and puzzled.

Shi Congyun explained to him directly: "That's fine too. If they really become our vassal states, they can't find a good excuse to turn their faces in the future. If their emperor retains the title of emperor, then the sky is the same. Day, no one has two masters is the simplest and most convincing excuse."

"But this...is about the face of the emperor, the face of the country!" Fan Zhi was a little unbelievable that these words came from the mouth of the emperor.

After all, this matter is most concerned with the face of the emperor. There are two emperors in one world. Isn't that slapping the face of the emperor?

But he didn't know that, from Shi Congyun's point of view, these false names were not that important, what he was looking forward to was something else, something practical and useful.

If he wants this false name, he must make corresponding political concessions, otherwise the Liao Kingdom cannot compromise for no reason.

It would be better to just give them a false name, and he didn't care that much, and left himself an excuse to declare war in the future. If the Liao Kingdom is a vassal state of the Qin Kingdom, and the time is ripe to send troops to fight against it, he still needs to find a good excuse. Moreover, when the suzerain country sends troops to the subordinate countries, it doesn't look good.

Emperor Shi's considerations were all for profit, so he had the final result.

The Liao State retained an equal relationship with the Qin State, and this was the final result through the way of paying tribute to cattle, sheep and noble women.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites also reminded Shi Congyun that when the Liao mission arrived, they also sent many treasures such as Khitan saddles, iron swords, gold, silver and jade objects to the emperor.

Rebates should be given when sending them away, and not too little, so as to demonstrate the national strength and tolerance of the great country in the Central Plains.

Shi Congyun almost scolded his mother when he heard that, he was preparing to fight, where did he get so much money to give away.

However, Emperor Shi was extremely clever after all, and he quickly thought of a way, and at that time he reprimanded the officials of the Ministry of Rites, "Hey, you people are too vulgar.

The Liao Kingdom is a foreign country, barbarians, and they will only give these vulgar things. Do you also want to follow the vulgar material?

I am a great country in the Central Plains, and the heaven is a state, what is the most precious thing?Is it rotten copper and rotten iron full of copper smell?Is it those vulgar white and yellow things?Of course not, it's culture!

Aren't there many officials in the Hanlin Academy and Jixian Hall who are well-known artists, who just write a few words and make a few paintings, aren't they all treasures?When the time comes, it will be much more elegant for people from the Liao Kingdom to take them back and admire the profoundness of Chinese culture. "

The officials of the Ministry of Rites opened their mouths, and finally had nothing to say, they could only say: "The officials are sages, I am too shallow."

"You are indeed superficial, you have to study hard."

.......

In late October, when sending off the envoys of the Liao Kingdom, Shi Congyun gave back a bunch of cultural treasures to the envoys of the Liao Kingdom, and explained very seriously that these are priceless treasures in China, and they are presented to the Liao Kingdom today as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. You can take good care of it.

Of course, he was not too stingy, and he even prepared some travel expenses for them. Xiao Ji, the leader of the Liao Kingdom Mission, was very moved and thanked them repeatedly.

On the contrary, Xiao Hunian looked at him with very unfriendly eyes, and said in a low voice in the hall before seeing him off, "I will remember the humiliation given by His Majesty!"

Shi Congyun didn't bother to talk to her, you like to remember it or not, anyway, when his iron cavalry breaks through the capital, everyone will be sworn enemies, it doesn't matter if you remember it or not.

........

After sending away the Liao mission, the matter temporarily came to an end.

The development of the confidential artillery on the ship has also made gratifying progress along his line of thought. At least now, the cannon will no longer easily destroy the ship, and the hull can already withstand the recoil of the artillery.

However, with more and more artillery on board, it began to be difficult to support, which has something to do with the structure of the hull.

For a period of time in late October, Shi Congyun went to the Bian River to study the transformation of the ship's hull with craftsmen who had been living in the field and the confidentiality department.

The battleship of the Qin army is the Qiyun battleship of the Zhou army.

You can tell from the name that this kind of ship is very tall. This kind of ship pursues large and heavy loads. The deck is very wide, and the structure is not mainly anti-impact. Therefore, even if it is strengthened or the recoil of the artillery is reduced, the impact cannot be completely eliminated.

Moreover, the main design is to drive on calm inland rivers, so the bottom of the boat is very flat, the movement is slow, and it is very inconvenient to turn around.

However, if the artillery goes on board to fight, it needs the hull to cooperate with maneuvering to quickly adjust the firing range and position of the artillery. These are cumbersome and slow, and the bottom of the ship is very flat. It is difficult for the Qiyun battleship, which is only designed to sail in calm rivers. .

As a result, loading the artillery on the ship has become more difficult than imagined. Not only the artillery itself, but also the hull needs to be changed.

This incident was unexpected by Shi Congyun. He thought it too simple at first.

Of course, it’s okay to be sloppy, just move the artillery to the old battleship and barely use it.

But Emperor Shi did not allow it to be forced, this matter was related to his grand plan, and related to his planning and planning for the next few decades.

The new gunboats are not only in Lingnan, but also in Jiangnan, Liaodong, and the Korean Peninsula.

Throughout history, before that, the Central Plains Dynasty ruled the Korean Peninsula twice, namely the Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty. During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty advanced by land and water, landed across the sea to eliminate Wei Dynasty Korea, and established the four counties of Korea.

The Tang Dynasty also merged land and water, and landed across the sea to win.

Therefore, the significance of the new ship is far beyond the present, but also in the future. He sees the prospect of the artillery on the ship very much.

So it was ordered that the most powerful craftsmen of the Confidential Department be gathered on the edge of Bianshui to study and discuss this matter.

After research by the craftsmen of the Confidentiality Department, they finally concluded that this kind of large ship is really not suitable for artillery combat, and needs a new hull that pays more attention to reinforcement and maneuverability for artillery combat.

This is not a trivial matter. A new ship needs a lot of capital investment from the renovation of the shipbuilding site, the laying of the keel, and the selection of materials.

Shi Congyun first looked at the drawings sent by the confidentiality department. On the whole, the ship was a little smaller, but the interior was more reinforced.

After listening to the summary report of Feng Jisheng from the Confidentiality Department, Shi Congyun did not hesitate, and immediately waved his hand, ordering an advance allocation of 20 yuan to the Confidentiality Department.

Among them, the tribute items sent by the envoys of the Liao Kingdom contributed a lot, accounting for almost one-third. As for whether these new ships will be used to deal with the Liao Kingdom in the future, it is unknown... ....

With the edict of Emperor Shi, a large amount of funds and manpower began to operate in an instant. The timber that went eastward along the Yellow River south from the east, the girders to the shipyard in Bianshui, the funds of the third division, the secret division, and the eighth division , The human and material resources of the Ministry of Industry, like a huge precision instrument, began to rotate.

Chapter 397, Balance

"Officials, the Southern Han side may not be as powerful as we expected before.

The dictatorship of eunuchs and maids in their country, the lord of the country trusts a witch named Fan Huzi the most, and entrusts her with many important matters in the country. "

In the royal garden outside Daliang City, Shi Congyun was fishing by a clear pool, and Pan Mei, who had just returned from the front line in Chenzhou, was beside him reporting the situation.

Pan Mei was dressed in an official uniform and held a ruyi in her hand. When he got off the battlefield, he didn't look like a general at all, but a virtuous minister.

"Judging from the situation of the battle, the army of the Southern Han Kingdom is also vulnerable. Yin Chongke and I did not expect such a situation when we dispatched troops. At that time, we prepared five battalions of backup support troops. Prepare support at the border, if the front If the battle is unfavorable, cover the striker and temporarily retreat..."

Pan Mei talked about the fighting in the south, Shi Congyun waved: "Sit down and talk."

"Yes." Pan Mei was more reserved, not as relaxed as they were when they cooperated, and Shi Congyun didn't force anything, he was used to it.

Pan Mei sat down on the bamboo stool beside him and continued talking.

"Officials, after we occupied Chenzhou, I questioned many soldiers of the Southern Han Dynasty, and sent spies to investigate from south to west. There were many cases of arrears and deductions in the Southern Han army, so that not many people were willing to do it for them. Their imperial court is benevolent and righteous, and they regard death as home, and they are no match for my Great Qin soldiers."

Shi Congyun was a little confused when he heard the news. He had indeed heard the news, and there were many such cases mentioned in the memorial, but he still didn't know the actual situation: "It's just that I think that although the land of Lingnan was wild in ancient times, it has gone through a lot of history. The Han and Tang immigration development, especially the Panyu area, is not as good as Jiangnan, but it is also like Huainan. Soon there will be no war in the Southern Han Dynasty for 50 years, and the wealth should not be bad. Why can’t the military salary be paid?”

He has been wondering about this question. In any case, although the current Southern Han Dynasty, that is, the later generations of Guangdong and Guangxi, although the development is relatively slow, the real establishment of a solid rule was after Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty destroyed South Vietnam and a large number of immigrants from the Central Plains.But after thousands of years of development in the Han and Tang Dynasties, it is impossible to be too poor.

What's more, since the end of the Tang Dynasty, there was no time to pay attention to the wars in the Central Plains, and there was no large-scale dispatch of troops to the South of the Five Ridges. The situation in the Southern Han Dynasty for 50 years was much better than that of Wuyue, Southern Tang, and Shu.

And like the Central Plains, there are basically constant wars. In such a good situation, even if the king is a bit greedy and lustful, he won't be so poor that he can't pay the military salary, right?

Maybe he doesn't understand the situation in the south. In the Central Plains where wars continue, paying soldiers is a very important thing. Backlash against commitment to soldiers.

Even an emperor who loved the people like Guo Wei, the founding emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty, did not dare to treat the army badly when he led the army back to Daliang to seize power, and indulged the soldiers to rob Daliang.

However, the Southern Han Dynasty owed wages even in the days of peace. Isn't this courting death?

They are afraid that they don't know how many powers and dynasties have been destroyed because of payment arrears.

Pan Mei thought for a while, and answered seriously: "The heart of an official is like a mirror, and a sage introspects himself. He is a wise king and lord, but the rulers of the Southern Han Dynasty were not.

Just like the highest military general of the Southern Han Kingdom that we captured and killed this time was called Ji Yanyun. After interrogation, we found out that he was the commander of the giant ship of the Southern Han Kingdom. He often robbed merchants at sea. Dedicated to the ancestors of the Southern Han Dynasty, he was promoted to be the commander of the giant ship.

It is also absurd that the current ruler of the Southern Han Dynasty favors the witch's gossip to confuse the public, and superstitiously believes in gods and Buddhas.

Even if there is war with our country this year, there is another strange thing in the country.

It is said that their lord dreamed of fairy palaces and pavilions in a dream one night, and after waking up, he would build palaces and temples in the same places as he wanted, which cost a lot of manpower and material resources, and spent a lot of money, collecting taxes from all over the world.

The local people said that the dou used by the government to collect grain is bigger, and one dou is actually about one dou and eight, and each dou of grain should be matched with ten coins. to decorate. "

Speaking of this, Pan Mei smiled: "Of course, these are just the hearsay of the people, but it is true that the Lord Ananhan is building a palace after raising taxes.

After invading Chenzhou and gaining a deep understanding of the national conditions of the Southern Han Dynasty, I felt that I might have looked up to them before and was too cautious in making decisions. It is difficult for soldiers in such a country to have the morale to fight for the ruler, and the people will not support the ruler much. In the past, they were closed to the south of Lingnan, and the powerful countries in the Central Plains did not interfere, and the local people were unable to resist, so the current situation was maintained.

As long as they receive a little blow and see a little fire, maybe they will burn up and collapse. "

Listening to Pan Mei's narration, Shi Congyun learned more about the situation in the Southern Han Dynasty. They had chatted for a whole morning, and had a more direct and detailed understanding of the national conditions and current situation of the Southern Han Dynasty.

He listened to Pan Mei talking, thinking about things in his head, he didn't even pay attention to the fish biting the hook, until Pan Mei reminded him.

Shi Congyun was stunned for a moment, then recovered and said: "Forget it, spare its life (fish)."

Then she asked seriously: "Do you think that the Southern Han Kingdom doesn't have much resistance, and sending troops will be easier than imagined." Pan Mei nodded.

Shi Congyun got up and paced by the pool. After walking for a while, he stopped, and suddenly asked lightly, "If you were asked to lead the troops to conquer the Southern Han Dynasty, how would you use your troops?"

As soon as these words came out, Pan Mei subconsciously straightened her back. If this sentence came from someone else, it might be just a discussion or a talk, but it would be completely different if it was said today.

Pan Mei's heart became hot all of a sudden, and even her breathing became heavy. Could it be that the official's question meant a kind of exam!

If it's an exam, doesn't that mean...

He even forcibly suppressed the excitement and wild thoughts in his heart, and replied seriously and respectfully, "Officials, if I were to command the army, I would never go to Guizhou Shuizhai, but go south from Shaozhou, Yingzhou and other places to attack Panyu.

Such an approach may seem dangerous, but the Southern Han Kingdom itself will not be too difficult to fight, and this is the most cost-effective and labor-saving method.

I heard that the chancellors suggested learning from Qinhuang, Hanwu and Wu's method of dispatching troops from multiple routes. That is certainly safe, but it is not the current situation of Qinhuang, Hanwu, Liaodong in the north, and the sixteen prefectures of Yan and Yun.

In the Southern Han Dynasty, the most important thing is to fight quickly. The minister thought that the Qin Dynasty was the most important, and it was still in the north, in the Liao Kingdom. "

Shi Congyun didn't speak immediately after listening, but thought carefully about his words for a while, and then said: "Go back and rest for a few more days, to be with your family, it's not easy to come back all the way.

You also need to think more about the matter of the Southern Han Dynasty and read more, you and Yin Chongke are the most familiar with the matter over there. "

"Yes!" Pan Mei cupped her hands, and was led out of the garden by the eunuch.

Shi Congyun looked at Pan Meiyuan's back, and actually made a decision in his heart. This time he planned to send troops to the Southern Han Dynasty, with Pan Mei as his commander, and Liu Renshan, Guo Tingwei and others as his assistants.

Because the day before yesterday, Sixth Sister told him that someone dragged relatives in Hebei to give her gifts and brought letters, both in and out of the words to claim credit for Wang Shenqi.

After Shi Congyun found out, he didn't deal with it hastily, and didn't say anything to the outside world, so he asked Liu Mei to keep it a secret.

Because this matter is hard to tell, maybe it was Wang Shenqi's subordinates who helped, maybe Wang Shenqi found a relationship on his own, or maybe it was framed by his opponent, etc.

He was no exception when it happened.

As the Son of Heaven, he wanted to fight against the Southern Han Dynasty, and almost everyone in the country knew it, because the Southern Han Dynasty took the lead in sending troops to select, and this matter was also publicly discussed in the court.

But who will fight next will greatly affect the future power structure of the court, and many people are busy standing in line.

After so many years of fighting, the emperor's favorite general, the power structure of his subordinates has become more and more obvious.

Wang Zhong and Shao Ji are confidant generals, and Wang Zhong has led the inspection of the capital for several years and is in charge of the security of the imperial city.Shao Ji basically followed the emperor, leading the most elite troops in the southern and northern wars, and he was the emperor's pro-army.

There are currently six generals who can really guard the Quartet for the emperor and stand alone.

Wang Shenqi, Li Chuyun, Cao Bin, Xiang Gong, Wang Quanbin, Murong Yanzhao.

The most important of these are Wang Quanbin, Wang Shenqi and Li Chuyun. They are alone in every battle.

Wang Quanbin is getting old, and Shi Congyun generally doesn't send him out of the town; Cao Bin is now guarding Shu; Xiang Gong is guarding Taiyuan;

Many people wanted to curry favor with them, and they also wanted to go one step further, because the guards Ma Bujun were both commanders and inspectors in front of the palace. Taishanghuang is actually equivalent to a vacancy.

If you want to go one step further, the best way is military merit!

Even though Li Chuyun, Wang Quanbin, and Wang Shenqi didn't tell him about this, Shi Congyun knew it well. If they sent troops to the Southern Han Dynasty next time, they both would definitely want to be in command.

However, Shi Congyun, who is the son of heaven, has a different mind. He doesn't want to set up a military officer with too much power and high function, such as the military officer who has too much power and high function. Otherwise, his Qin Dynasty will still go on for five generations. The old path of the Ten Kingdoms cannot escape the cycle of history.

Whether it is Wang Shenqi or Li Chuyun, if they are put in command again and the Southern Han Dynasty is eliminated, he will have to be enfeoffed because he does not want to be enfeoffed, because there are no more military officers to go up.

For this alone, he also wanted to use Pan Mei, Yin Chongke, Liu Renshan, Guo Tingwei and other generals.

At this time, he has gradually realized that one thing needs not only military considerations, but also political considerations.

Fortunately, Shi Congyun's laid-back character for many years, and his laziness of ordering others when he can do things, has gradually paved a great pattern for him, and he has a lot of talents under him!

When he was thinking about things at Fu Ermei Peak last night, he thought about it casually, and found that there are quite a lot of generals that can be used.

Shao Ji, Wang Zhong, Wang Shenqi, Li Chuyun, Wang Quanbin, Wang Huan, Guo Tingwei, Cao Bin, Pan Mei, Murong Yanzhao, Li Hanchao, Guo Jin, Dong Zunhui, Luo Yanhuan, Liu Qingchuan, Fu Zhaoyuan, Zhang Zhengtao, Zhang Zheng Hai, Meng Xuanzhe, Han Baozheng, Liu Renshan, Dang Jin, Jing Si, Yang Jiye, Gao Huaide, Xiang Gong, Si Chao, Zhe Dejian, Yin Chongke, etc...

It is very easy to make political trade-offs in such a situation where there are so many talents, and it is destined that he will not be afraid even if the heroes such as Li Chuyun, Wang Shenqi, and Wang Quanbin have made great contributions, because they have good cards in their hands.

Shi Congyun is very rational, he is a person with modern higher education after all, after seeing through these, he can understand why even though his Qin Dynasty has many military generals who have made contributions, the relationship between the monarch and his ministers is not tense, and he doesn't have to die cunningly. , because as the emperor, after a long period of management, he has guaranteed that he has cards to play at any time without being restricted by powerful ministers.