Fenghou

Chen Qing then said again: "I will ask the Internal Affairs Office to improve the Grassland Tribe Grace System, and send it to the grassland in three days!"

……

After the military and political discussions were over, the Prime Ministers left. Yang Zaixing followed Chen Qing to the Imperial Study Room. Chen Qing waved his hands and said with a smile, "Sit down!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yang Zaixing sat down, Chen Qing made an application from the drawer, and said with a smile: "Yang Aiqing made me feel embarrassed!"

What Chen Qing took was an application for changing the title of Yang Zaixing. Yang Zaixing was named Duke of Wei, which can be passed on for three generations. Generally speaking, titles are not passed on to the next generation, but the titles of meritorious persons can be passed on for three generations, and Yang Zaixing belongs to the meritorious persons.

But Yang Zaixing had no choice. The eldest son's stupidity and incompetence made him extremely disappointed, but the title had to be passed on to the eldest son. Yang Zaixing was really afraid that the eldest son would ruin his reputation. He would rather pass it on to his sensible and capable second son, but he couldn't. In desperation, he had no choice but to choose not to pass on the title.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I really don't want that stupid son to inherit the title, please forgive me!"

Chen Qing smiled slightly: "You have to give the child a chance to repent!"

Yang Zaixing sighed, and said heartbrokenly: "It's the nature of dogs to eat shit, and it can't be changed. Instead of repenting, that bastard is still gnashing his teeth and cursing, thinking that his brother is accusing him of blackmail behind his back. I can't blame him anymore, so I have to let him go." , but he can't even think about getting the status of the eldest son."

Chen Qing nodded, and his father knew about cursing his brother behind his back. Yang Zaixing, the eldest son, is really stupid. Chen Qing thought about it and said: "Let's do it! Don't make a decision for now, let's talk about it in a few years. If it still doesn't work after more than ten years, then I promise you that you will divide your title into three earls and distribute them to your three sons."

This is also good, taking into account the second son and eldest son, and can't take advantage of that bastard for nothing.

Chen Qing returned the application form to Yang Zaixing, and asked with a smile: "Yang Aiqing's second son is not bad, what is he doing at home?"

"Weichen has some family property. He is responsible for taking care of these properties and is also very busy. Yesterday he advised Weichen that the land in his family was too much, far exceeding the upper limit of [-] hectares. He advised Weichen to return the hot spring manor and not let it People criticized it, but to be honest, I was very moved."

Chen Qing nodded. He stipulated that the land owned by each family in the Yong Dynasty should not exceed [-] hectares, but the meritorious land was not included in it. Even the land that was rewarded for meritorious service would have the seal of meritorious land on the land deed, but it was awarded to Yang Zaixing by himself before. Strictly speaking, the hot spring villa is not a meritorious field.

Therefore, the imperial court has a rule that those who own more than [-] hectares of meritorious land are not allowed to own other land.

This rule was made by Chen Qing himself, and he forgot about it when he rewarded Yang Zaixing Hot Spring Villa.

"How much land does Yang Aiqing own now?"

"Weichen now has three manors, all of which are meritorious fields, about [-] hectares, so according to the regulations, Weichen can no longer own other lands, so we can't own Hot Spring Villa, and will be impeached by the censor."

"Your son is very shrewd and sensible. Although he doesn't go to war like the third son, he is a good defender. With such a son, Yang Aiqing will not have to worry about the future."

"Your Majesty is right, this is what I am very pleased with."

Yang Zaixing bid farewell and left. Chen Qing paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. Every family had a hard-to-read scripture. Yang Zaixing was the eldest son, but what about himself?The power of being a wife is too powerful, and the Lu family's arrogance is also a hidden thorn in Chen Qing's heart.

Of course, he didn't plan to change the queen. He and his wife Lu Xiu had a close relationship and had a deep relationship, but he didn't want to see the Lu family become powerful. He could imagine that once his son ascended the throne, the Lu family would definitely gain power in an all-round way.

So after Lu Wei was demoted, Chen Qing has been thinking about this matter. He needs to establish a system to limit the power of his relatives.

The first thousand and 560 chapters and three heart-to-hearts

At night, Lu Xiu came to the study with a cup of tea. She had been looking for an opportunity to talk to her husband about her second brother Lu Wei. Two days ago, Li Mei cried in front of her, saying that her husband was very depressed.

She was also paying attention to the newspapers these days, but the "Beijing News" did not mention the Guangyuntan incident. She didn't know much about it, but heard that many people died.

But in Li Mei's words, more than 80 people died before and after the repair of the Danba Waterway, and more than [-] people were buried in a landslide. In the end, it was Zhang Yuanlang who benefited, and Lu Wei felt it was unfair.

Lu Xiu came into the room with tea and saw her husband was reading a memorial, so she put the tea on the table with a smile and sat aside by herself.

After Chen Qing approved the memorial, he looked up and saw his wife, and asked with a smile, "Is the little guy asleep?"

The little guy Chen Qing was referring to was Lu Xiusheng's second son, Chen Yan, who was very naughty and extremely smart, and refused to sleep all day, so it took two wet nurses to take care of him.

Lu Xiu nodded, "He just fell asleep, the little guy fell this afternoon, knocked his head into a small bag, and cried all afternoon, maybe he was tired from crying, so he went to bed early."

"Has the imperial doctor seen it?" Chen Qing asked with concern.

"I've seen it, nothing happened, I just feel wronged, and I want to cry."

After a pause, Lu Xiu laughed again: "The day before yesterday Li Mei came to my place and cried hard too."

Chen Qing smiled lightly: "Does she think it's too hard to deal with her husband? Not convinced?"

"Your Majesty, ministers and concubines shouldn't be meddlesome, but Lu Wei is in a very low mood now. He feels that he has followed you for so many years, and he has worked hard without merit. In the end, he was demoted two levels. He said that the Danba waterway collapsed and died 80 years ago. There are many people, but Zhang Yuanlang has not received any punishment, he thinks it is unfair, Your Majesty, the concubines are just relaying."

Chen Qing shook his head, "First of all, don't call me Your Majesty in the study, and don't call yourself a concubine, I'm not used to it, and I don't like it either."

"I see, my husband. I'm just reporting, and it doesn't represent my opinion. I don't understand the situation, and I don't even know how many people died in Guangyuntan. Li Mei just said vaguely that dozens of people died."

Chen Qing thought for a while and said, "The Guangyuntan incident and the collapse of the Danba waterway are not the same thing. The Danba waterway was caused by blasting stones with iron fire and thunder, which caused the mountain to loosen. The mud and rocks suddenly poured down the next day. There is no way to prevent any signs. It is an uncontrollable disaster. Zhang Yuanlang wrote a letter of self-blame and asked to take responsibility.

But the Guangyuntan incident was not. The Guangyuntan incident was completely caused by irresponsibility. No reinforcement piles were installed, and the mud was still in a state of mud, so people were asked to carry the mud. As a result, it suddenly collapsed. The mud crushed 35 people to the bottom of the lake and died on the spot. , the youngest was 17 years old, the oldest was 28 years old, and 35 families collapsed. "

"35 people!"

Lu Xiu was surprised and said: "Their family is too unfortunate, don't those in charge know how to build reinforcement piles?"

"Of course I understand! But when the reinforcement piles are installed, the construction period will be delayed by five days after the mud dries up. They are very anxious, so they let the laborers dig the soil by chance."

"Why rush to meet the deadline?"

Chen Qing said coldly: "This is the reason for dealing with Lu Wei. The original plan was three years, but Lu Wei forcibly changed it to two years. For this reason, Zhang Yuanlang quarreled with him, and he transferred Zhang Yuanlang away from Guangyuntan. Let him go to Hukou to repair the warehouse. He forcibly shortened the construction period to two years. Then he had to rush up and down the construction period. In the end, something happened. He was not responsible for who was responsible. He felt wronged. He was worthy of 35 lost sons Lost husband, lost father's family?"

"He should be dealt with severely!"

Lu Xiu was also really dissatisfied and said: "Hiding everything from me, not telling the truth, asking me to intercede for him, but finally embarrassing me, they are too much!"

Chen Qing walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and said, "Actually, I also know that the changes in Xiangguo in the past two years may have stimulated him, especially the expansion of Qixiang. Zhang Jun and Xu Xiantu took the position, which made him very anxious. Qingshan is about to reach the age of retirement, he is even more anxious, eager to make political achievements, but haste makes waste, he is now in a low mood, only thinking about his career, but not his responsibilities."

"Maybe he is competing with big brother!" Lu Xiu bit her lip lightly and said.

Chen Qing nodded. Lu Xiu's words reached the key point. At present, Lu Gang is serving as the governor of Liangzhe Road and the governor of Lin'an Prefecture. After Zhang Shun went to Jiangnan, Lu Gang was transferred to be the governor of Sichuan Road and the governor of Chengdu Prefecture. .

However, Lu Wei has been serving as a minister in the court, and he does not have much advantage.

Seeing that Lu Qingshan is about to retire, the Lu brothers all want to fight for the leadership of the Lu family. The sign of this leadership is to be the Prime Minister. This is the main reason why Lu Wei is eager to think about his political achievements, and it is also the main reason why he is depressed now. He was demoted to be the governor of Taiyuan Prefecture, which was actually lower than Lu Gang's status.

Lu Gang was still the Xuanfu Envoy of Sichuan Road, but he was not the Xuanfu Envoy of Hedong Road.

Chen Qing smiled and asked his wife, "Do you think Lu Wei can be a prime minister?"

Lu Xiu said frankly: "According to the friendship between you, he can, but according to his own talent and mind, he is not qualified!"

Chen Qing didn't expect his wife to be so frank, he couldn't help laughing and said: "If I let Lu Wei be the prime minister, will you object?"

"Of course. He doesn't have that ability. Letting him be the prime minister will only harm the country. In fact, I object to my husband asking him to be the governor of Taiyuan Prefecture. He will only let the people of Taiyuan Prefecture bear his grievances, but I cannot interfere in government affairs. , so you didn't say anything?"

Chen Qing nodded, "You really know Lu Wei very well!"

"How could I not understand him? He was frivolous since he was a child, and he didn't like reading. He hung out with a group of cronies all day long. His grandfather said he couldn't achieve great things. After becoming a guard, he restrained himself a little, but he still refused to read. It was the honorable man, Husband, who allowed him to get to where he is today. He has been impetuous until now, without wisdom. His only advantage is obedience. In troubled times, Husband still needs his loyalty, but now that the country is going strong, we I feel that my husband needs a capable Xiangguo more, and frankly speaking, my elder brother's ability and city government are much stronger than him."

Chen Qing stared at his wife for a moment and asked: "You are my wife, Ji'er's mother, and Lu's daughter. If you want to choose one of these three, what would you choose?"

Lu Xiu was startled, then said without hesitation: "I choose Ji'er's mother!"

Chen Qing nodded, "I think so, what's next?"

"Secondly, I am your wife and the daughter-in-law of the Chen family. The interests of the Lu family are not important to me!"

Chen Qing understands his wife, she has always been an upright and kind person, she will not say one thing and do another, before herself and the Lu family, she will choose herself, Chen Qing understands it in her heart, but she wants his wife to speak out.

Chen Qing sighed and said, "Frankly speaking, I will choose Lu Wei as Prime Minister instead of Lu Gang!"

Lu Xiu was stunned, "Why?"

"Loyalty, control, Lu Wei's loyalty to me, and I can control him, but I can't control Lu Gang."

"Husband, I don't quite understand!"

Chen Qing patiently explained to his wife: "Do you know why I use Yang Zaixing as Prime Minister? Yang Zaixing has no ability to be Prime Minister at all. His son said so many outrageous things. I even believe that some of them were said by Yang Zaixing himself, otherwise His son will not know about Yu Ying and Yu Lian, but I still chose to forgive and let him be the prime minister. Why?

Because I am giving an explanation to the military. Yang Zaixing fought in the South and the North and made many contributions, but in the end he was dismissed from office because of his son's stupid words. Doing so will chill the hearts of the soldiers of the armed forces, so making Yang Zaixing the prime minister can appease Staying in the three armies can also remove his military power. This is the best balance. I am an emperor, and the art of emperors lies in balance. It is important to appease the soldiers. "

"But Lu Wei is not Yang Zaixing, your husband doesn't need him to balance the emotions of soldiers."

Chen Qing said slowly: "I need to put an eye and an eye in the political affairs hall, and Lu Wei is the most suitable."

Lu Xiu sighed and said, "I understand, it's just a pity for elder brother."

Chen Qing was silent for a moment and said: "If one day, your elder brother proposes that Ji'er and Ayun be married, will you accept it?"

"Let Ji'er marry the daughter of the Lu family?"

Lu Xiu's eyes widened, she quickly shook her head, "Husband, I've never thought about it that way!"

"Actually, it's normal for you to think about it. I understand you. You just think it's better to kiss more. But it's different when your elder brother thinks so."

The first thousand and 560 chapters and four pilgrimage

Lu Xiu was very clever, and she understood her husband's words immediately, she was surprised: "Husband thinks that the Lu family will control Ji'er?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "I didn't mention the Lu family, your father can't, Lu Wei can't, and Lu Fan can't either. Although he is also from the Lu family, your eldest brother's city is too deep, and his status as a foreign relative coupled with such a deep city, How can you not worry about me?"

Lu Xiu was silent, and she suddenly remembered that half a year ago, her sister-in-law often came to chat with her, and she mentioned Xiaoyun to Jier twice. Thinking about it in other ways, now that her husband reminded herself, she realized that her sister-in-law came to find her on purpose, and it was very likely that her elder brother ordered her.

Thinking of this, she felt a chill down her back. It turned out that her elder brother had been thinking about Ji'er.

"I understand. In this case, it's better for the second brother to be the head of the house."

Chen Qing smiled slightly and said: "Your elder brother is a good person, you don't understand what he means, I am not saying that someone from the Lu family must be the prime minister, I trust Lu Wei not because he is your second elder brother, but because he is your second elder brother. He has followed me for many years, I know him as a person, he does not have a city, he can't hide things in his heart, and he is easy to sink when he encounters a blow, as a personal character, it is indeed not very good, but often the monarch likes such a person."

"Husband, do you need me to persuade the second brother?"

"If you have a chance, tell Li Mei that the person who will succeed Lu Qingshan is Hu Yun. As for Zhou Kuan, I plan to let him serve another term. Let him retire at the age of 70, and let your second brother work hard for the people of Taiyuan. Make real political achievements and do it patiently, I don't want another Guangyuntan incident to happen again."

……

Early the next morning, as soon as Chen Qing arrived at the imperial study, Jiang Yanxian rushed to report. The Department of Foreign Trade ordered Chao Kun to bring Prince Luni to Jingzhao for a pilgrimage. Chao Kun also brought another piece of good news. The fleet of the Zhuluo Kingdom was defeated in the foreign sea, the entire navy of the Zhuluo Kingdom was wiped out, and one hundred thousand Zhuluo Kingdom's troops were buried in the bottom of the sea.

Soon, King Sanfoqi will also send his prince to Jingzhao for a pilgrimage, willing to become a subsidiary state of the Yong Dynasty.

This kind of diplomatic affairs almost came at the same time. Chen Qing also received an express from Anxi that Yelu Dashi, the king of Xiliao, passed away. Currently, Yelu Dashi's wife Xiao Tabuyan is in power in Xiliao. She has sent envoys to Jingzhao , willing to reconcile with the Yong Dynasty.

This news certainly made Chen Qing happy. He now needs time and energy to consolidate Anxi. It will take at least ten or twenty years of operation before he can truly bring Anxi into the territory of the Dayong Empire. He has no energy to consider continuing the Western Expedition. Summation is the most ideal result. It should be that the Anxi Army won a big victory and Gao Ding wiped out 20 Xiliao coalition forces in the north of Jinshan and completely overwhelmed Xiliao.

There were at least two months before the envoys from Xiliao came over. Chen Qing immediately received the prince Balima of Luni in the Taichi Hall, and accepted the letter of credence on Balima.

Chen Qing also made a formal statement as the monarch. The Yong Dynasty saw the sincerity of the Heni Kingdom and was willing to accept the Heni Kingdom as a vassal state. Chen Qing immediately made Balima the Duke of the Heni Kingdom. In fact, he recognized Balima as the Heni Kingdom. Heir to the throne.

Chen Qing then specially interviewed Chao Kun.

"Wei Chen sees His Majesty!"

"Chao Aiqing, please sit down!"

Chen Qing asked Chao Kun to sit down, and asked with a smile, "Are there frequent business exchanges between Quanzhou and Nanyang?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there used to be only two trips a year, but now that the paddles are installed, you can go four times a year. Going to Nanyang has become very easy. There are basically no news of shipwrecks, but the profit is also low. In the past, it was ten times more profitable to make a trip, but now it only makes [-]% of the profit. If it is sold directly to the port merchant and half of it is removed, the profit is indeed very thin. "

"What about Korea and Japan?"

"Goryeo is no longer going there. It is very unfriendly. Merchants go there to confiscate ships and goods, and even die. We all go directly to Japan after replenishing supplies on Tamna Island. Officials buy silver, and ordinary merchants buy it. other goods."

Chen Qing nodded, "Tell me about the land in Nanyang!"

This is the main purpose of Chen Qing summoning Chao Kun. He needs to establish a fulcrum in Nanyang. It is more difficult for Yong to expand westward, but it is much easier to expand northward and overseas. There are large tracts of uninhabited land.

In particular, the two major opportunities in America and Australia missed Song and Ming. It has to be said that this is the biggest regret in Chinese history.

"Have you got the land I mentioned?"

Chao Kun hurriedly bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, we have negotiated three times, and we have won it. The north bank of the Malacca Strait is three hundred miles deep. I have signed an agreement with the king of the other party and bought it for [-] yuan."

"Have you bought it yet?" Chen Qing asked.

"It has been bought, and now [-] Japanese laborers are building a city by the Melaka River near the bay."

Chen Qing nodded, and he could move the Nanyang appeasement envoy there. Yongnan Island is only temporary, and the island can only be stationed with troops. The real administrative office still needs to be on land.

Chao Kun said again: "There is another piece of land, which is the land given to us by the Luni Kingdom. It is located on the east bank of the Tongla River. It is not small in size. Buy it with thousands of coins, don’t accept gifts.”

"Why give us land?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the west bank of the Tongla River is the Three Buddha Qi Kingdom, and the Heni Kingdom couldn't resist the encroachment of the Three Buddha Qi Kingdom, so they inserted us in to prevent the Three Buddha Qi Kingdom from expanding eastward."

Chen Qing praised: "A small country has the survival wisdom of a small country."

This is actually the same as the later generations of small countries allowing big countries to establish military bases in their territories, for fear of being annexed by another big country.

"Have you visited that piece of land?" Chen Qing asked again.

"I went to see it in a humble position. It is very fertile. It is the most ideal place to grow rice. There are three crops a year. There is also a small city called Siwu City with a population of several thousand. Their officials and garrisons have all retreated. Now it is being Our garrison of five hundred took over."

Speaking of this, Chao Kun sighed softly, "The biggest problem in Nanyang is that there is too little land available for use."

"How do you say that?" Chen Qing asked puzzled.