I'm sure of the prosperous age of Kangxi and Qianlong!

Chapter 582: Cession of Three Roads

Although the Ming army besieged Kaicheng but did not attack, Ganghwa Island had been captured by the navy.

Pu Zheng came to Seoul all the way on a navy ship.

Wang Zongtan also specially divided his soldiers into two teams to support him. After all, he was also an angel.

At this moment, Pu Zheng was wearing a crimson magistrate's robe, and behind him were two groups of soldiers with solemn looks. The Yunyanbuzi on his chest looked lifelike.

Li Bing didn't see Buzi clearly, but he saw the red official robe first. He immediately did not dare to neglect, and led all the officials to kneel down and shout: "Meet the envoy of the Celestial Dynasty!"

Pu Zheng nodded: "Everyone, get up!"

Although his expression was calm and composed, deep down he was already so excited that he could not help himself. He thought that he, a commoner in Korea, had once dreamed of becoming a sergeant in the Ming Dynasty, and that he had risen through the ranks to become a prefect.

Even if there is a political purpose in it, he is still a real magistrate, and he is qualified to wear a crimson official robe. Even the king of his mother country must now lead hundreds of officials to kneel down to greet him.

Li Bin also had to kneel down, not only because the Ming army had marched into Kaicheng, but also because he was the king of Korea supported by the Ming Emperor.

As a brother-in-law, he owes his legal status to the imperial edict of the Emperor of Heaven. Now it is not Pu Zheng who is kneeling, but the face of the Emperor of Heaven.

The Korean monarchs and Pu Zheng, the Ming envoy, did not stop at the port. Li Ban humbly welcomed Pu Zheng into the Seoul Palace, and invited hundreds of officials to accompany him and hosted a banquet in honor of him.

Park Jung's identity was quickly recognized by the North Korean monarchs and ministers. Park Jung also deliberately revealed that he enjoyed these royal ministers of his former motherland, especially his good father, Park Moon Soona, the current North Korean leader (equivalent to the chief minister of the cabinet). Shocked, even envious looks.

Li Bin did not worry about Pu Zheng's fate in the Ming Dynasty. Instead, he felt that this was an opportunity to get closer. He couldn't help but become more enthusiastic during the dinner. Not only did he frequently toast to him, but he also let the palace maids take the opportunity to embrace him.

Although Pu Zheng felt that this was very satisfying, he also remembered his identity and never did anything that exceeded the rules, in case the North Korean monarchs and ministers would catch him.

After three rounds of drinking, Li Bin couldn't help it anymore and asked humbly: "Your Majesty Angel, our Korean vassal country has always respected the Ming Dynasty and dare not violate the rules in the slightest. But just a few days ago, in Pyongyang, The Chinese army suddenly moved south, the situation on the Yellow Sea Road in our country was unclear, and the nearby Kaicheng Mansion was also besieged..."

Pu Zheng smiled and said: "This envoy is the governor of Pyongyang. This time he also received the order from my Majesty the Emperor of China, Ming Dynasty, and specially came with the army."

"..."

The scene was a bit embarrassing for a while. Li Bin originally wanted to file a circumstantial complaint, but the North Korean king still had illusions in his heart. How could the Emperor of China suddenly take action against North Korea?

As for North Korea... it was not the territory of North Korea in the first place. It was a Protectorate of Hamgyeong and a Protectorate of Pyongyang. Just by hearing the name, you can tell how important North Korea was in the eyes of North Korea's monarchs and ministers.

Therefore, it must be that the Ming Dynasty civil servants and military generals in Pyongyang wanted to make meritorious deeds, so they killed them first and then reported them later.

He had seen this a lot when he was Taidi Wang!

Li Bin was silent for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "I wonder when, Lord Angel, the Celestial Army stationed in Kaicheng will return?"

Pu Zheng said: "My Ming Emperor is kind and could not bear the massacre of the Korean people by the rebels, so he ordered Pyongyang's army to go south to help the Korean vassal countries to put down the rebellion as soon as possible."

Help them suppress the rebellion? What a fool!

Li Bin had long known that the rebels who were defeated by King Qin's officers and soldiers in Seoul all fled north to Kaicheng Mansion and defected to the Celestial Army.

The army of King Qin of North Korea did not dare to pursue, and the civilian officials were also afraid of colliding with the Chinese army and causing unnecessary misunderstandings.

Li Yan nodded: "I see, thank you for His Majesty the Emperor's grace! It's just that our country has already made a plan to counter the rebellion, and the Chinese army has been stationed in Kaicheng for a long time, which is quite inconvenient after all. North Korea is willing to provide food and pay for the army this time, so We also ask the Chinese army to return to Pyongyang with confidence and no need to stay any longer."

Pu Zheng suddenly sneered and said: "Return to Pyongyang? When did I say that I would return to Pyongyang? It just so happened that I had almost eaten this banquet. My Majesty, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, had already issued an imperial edict a month ago that North Korea would become China's The country that belongs to the country actually stole the territory that was under the jurisdiction of the four counties of Xuanyuan, Lintun, Lelang, and Zhenfan in China in the past. Now, His Majesty has issued an order to send Pyongyang's army southward to regain the land of these four counties."

The four counties of Xuanzang, Lintun, Lelang and Zhenfan?

Li Yan only understood one Lelang, which was the Lelang Province of the Ming Dynasty in the north. He even had the idea to set up a Lelang Mansion on the border of the North to please the Ming Emperor in disguise.

However, Pu Wenxiu exclaimed: "This is the land of the four counties of Han Dynasty? Archangel... Angel is not joking. It has been over a thousand years since the Han Dynasty, and these four counties of Han Dynasty cover most of our territory in Korea. How can they be counted?" ? If it is really all occupied by the Chinese Empire, we, North Korea, might as well just surrender to the Chinese Empire and be done with it."

Pu Zheng sneered: "Thousands of years ago, it doesn't count? If we follow this logic, wouldn't it mean that everything in China cannot be counted, and other countries can send troops to fight at any time if they want? Moreover, the emperor of tomorrow has already We are merciful enough and did not pursue you for the crime of occupying the territory. We also plan to continue to retain the national rule of the Korean vassal state. Even the canonization of the imperial decree is on the way. You actually dare to be arrogant. Could it be that you think that the army of Kaicheng Prefecture is all made up of mud? Can’t do it?”

When it came to the Celestial Army in Kaicheng Mansion, even though Pu Wenxiu was angry, she still kept her mouth shut.

Even Li Yan finally understood what the four counties of Han meant. After all, they were most of the territory! If he were completely cut off, he would still be nothing more than a king, and he would be drowned by the saliva of hundreds of officials and nobles. Li Yan gritted his teeth and asked, "Lord Angel, is there no room for change?"

Pu Zheng calmed down his expression: "This is my hometown in China. Now I am just regaining my hometown. I haven't investigated your crimes. I also plan to confer the title of His Highness on the throne. Your Majesty, please don't push yourself too far."

Li Bin was already furious. He wanted to say that it was China who was going too far, but when the words came to his lips, he was afraid again and could only remain silent.

Pu Wenxiu sighed: "There are too many Han counties. If they are all ceded to the Celestial Empire, then Korea really does not need to exist."

Pu Zheng said: "There are indeed too many areas in the four counties, and many records are incomplete. Korea is also a vassal state of China and has acted as an agent for herdsmen for thousands of years. Therefore, I, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, have specially issued a decree. As long as the Yellow Sea, Gangwon, and Gyeonggi Province of Korea are Land. Jeolla, Chungcheong, and Gyeongsang provinces in southern Korea may establish the Kingdom of South Korea, and the imperial decree of canonization will arrive in Seoul soon."

Park Wenxiu was so angry that she wanted to vomit blood. What the hell is the difference?

The four Han counties accounted for most of the territory of North Korea, and the three counties now cut also accounted for more than half of the territory of North Korea. The only difference is that the four counties of Han are larger. If the four counties of Han were to be divided according to their heyday, Chungcheong Province would definitely be lost, and half of Gyeongsang Province would be lost.

Moreover, Gyeonggi-do is where the capital of the Joseon Dynasty is located. If it is cut off, it will be fine. Is Yi Ye still considered the king of Joseon?

It should still be possible. After all, there is the imperial decree of the Ming Emperor. Even the current throne is canonized by the Ming Emperor's imperial decree, so no one dares to object, let alone say that there is anything wrong with the brothers.

The banquet ended hastily.

That night, Li Bin summoned ministers to the palace for a secret meeting to discuss countermeasures during the day.

The situation is different this time. Why is it different?

The "pacification faction" who previously unanimously believed that the Northern Expedition should be carried out, and the "capitulation faction" who insisted that the situation should be understood first and try to avoid conflicts, not only had their roles reversed, but they also became divided again.

The leveling faction became the "capitulation faction" and believed that war could not start because they realized that Ming Dynasty seemed to really want to fight and really dared to fight.

Among them, Jin Zailu and Hong Zhizhong, headed by Lao Lun, believed that envoys should be sent to Nanjing to explain to the Ming Emperor and appease the Ming army who had opened the city.

Zhao Xianming and Song Yinming of Shaolun felt that sending an envoy to Nanjing was not enough. They should also bribe the Ming generals in Kaicheng Prefecture and the envoy from the Celestial Dynasty. It would be better if he could marry a princess.

After all, Pu Zheng is a Korean and the son of the leader. With such a connection, he needs to be prepared to cede some land, such as Hwanghae Road, which can basically be given up. It has already been beaten to pieces by the peasant army. , after taking it back, you have to pay for remediation.

The opinions of the southerners and the northerners were more unified, and they felt that war should be started directly. The emperor of the Chinese Dynasty made it clear that he wanted to annex the territory of North Korea, even the capital city of Seoul. How could he establish a country if he ceded North Korea?

In this way, there were two factions fighting one day ago, but now it has become three factions arguing, and they have consciously exchanged positions with each other.

This was all a disaster. Li Ban was about to be driven south from Seoul. The ministers below were still fighting in the party, and they were still fighting in his palace late at night.

Li Yan was annoyed and angrily said: "Enough! The army of the Chinese Empire has already arrived at Kaicheng. If we don't come up with an idea, then I might as well just annex the Chinese Empire and go to Nanjing to find His Majesty the Emperor of the Chinese Emperor for a free time! "

The king was angry and said this again, and the ministers of the three factions suddenly looked at each other.

Pu Wenxiu, who knew his character well, saw this and said tentatively: "Your Majesty, you can first order the troops of King Qin to actively prepare for war. These King Qin soldiers and horses have been living in Seoul for a long time. If they are not allowed to move around, even if there is enough food, they will come back sooner or later. There will be chaos. We need to send envoys to Nanjing of the Ming Dynasty and Kaicheng Prefecture of North Korea at the same time. Zuo Yizheng (Left Prime Minister) Song Yinming is right. The Ming army has entered Kaicheng Prefecture. I am afraid that it will be difficult to preserve the three roads, and some of them may have to be ceded. , or even a place to feed these Celestial armies."

Li Yan struggled and hesitated for a long time before nodding: "In that case, I will leave this matter to Song Qing to negotiate with the envoys of the Celestial Dynasty."

Song Yinming had a bitter look on his face and said: "Your Majesty, I am here to discuss politics. If I go to negotiate, it will damage the dignity of the country."

"The country is already in danger, so how can we talk about majesty?" Li Ban was extremely angry and pointed at Zhao Xianming and Hong Zhizhong: "You guys also go together. If neither of you are willing to go, then I will go in person and follow the angel directly. Take a boat to Nanjing and become an idle prince from now on."

Not to mention it was okay, but when Zhao Xianming was mentioned, he was also called in, and the Shaolun faction took over.

Although Hong Zhizhong was of the Lao Lun sect, he also discussed politics on the right side. This was a direct result of the king forcing his ministers to betray the country and beg for mercy.

It is conceivable that when they come back from the discussion, no matter what the outcome is, the Shaolun sect will no longer be able to gain a foothold in the court.

The Lao Lun sect will definitely sever ties with its leader Hong Zhizhong. The southerners and northerners insist on the Northern Expedition and start a war, but inexplicably the fishermen benefit.

(End of this chapter)