Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 62: The proposal to reduce the vassalage (Special thanks to book friend Feng Shaojianyu Rumeng for his monthly ticket!)

On the way to Baoci Hall after retreating from the imperial court, Chai Zongxun thought to himself:

"Wang Pu's "defining border policy" is the most suitable way to calm the world under the current situation.

When his father shifted his strategic focus from the south to Youzhou in the north, the opposition in the court and the military increased greatly, which also gave the Zhao Ni brothers an opportunity to take advantage of.

This time, the "Longxiang Army" set out to attack Nanping and Wuqing armies separately. Since these two areas are small and the troops are small, there will be no problem in taking them, and there should be no hard-fought sieges.

But in the next few years, we will soon have to deal with the Southern Tang and Hou Shu. Although the military strength of these two countries is far less than that of our great Zhou Dynasty, they both have large populations and strong financial resources.

It seems that I have to speed up the improvement of my financial resources.

Presumably there will be many sieges. The sergeants of my "Dragon Xiang Army" have just come of age, and many are still teenagers. It is better to let the Imperial Army fight as the main force in these battles.

If we can recruit two countries to surrender, that would be even better. "

When Chai Zongxun walked into the Baoci Hall, he saw his mother, Queen Mother Fu, sitting on the main throne, with his father, Emperor Shizong's three concubines, Ning Concubine, Yang Concubine, and Qin Concubine, and the three princes Chai Xirang, Chai Xijin, and Chai Xi. The conversation was very pleasant.

Seeing Chai Zongxun entering the palace, the six people hurriedly left the table and saluted, saying:
"See your majesty! Long live my emperor! Long live my emperor!"

Chai Zongxun smiled and asked the six of them to get up. He took the hand of his fifth brother Cao Wang Chai Xirang and sat down together.

King Cao is 7 years old and has grown a lot in the past few years. He often follows the emperor's brother Chai Zongxun to practice martial arts in the Xingwu Hall.

Seeing that his sixth brother Chai Xijin and his seventh brother Chai Xijie had grown from infants to 3 or 4-year-old children, Chai Zongxun felt happy, then he remembered that he had been busy with military and political affairs in the past few years and had not yet knighted these two royal brothers.

Chai Zongxun reached out and pinched the fat faces of his sixth and seventh brothers, and said with a smile:
"My three royal brothers have all grown up, and I am very happy.

It is my intention to designate the sixth brother as King of Wu, and the seventh brother as King of Yan. Like the fifth brother, they will live in a city of 5,000 households.

Queen Mother, what do you think? "

Empress Dowager Fu smiled and nodded, saying:

"The emperor cares so much about his brothers, and the queen mother is very happy."

When Concubine Yang and Concubine Qin heard this, they quickly stood up and took their sons to salute Empress Dowager Fu and Chai Zongxun to thank them.

Queen Mother Fu said:

"Mother, after listening to the emperor's title just now, it seems that I, the Great Zhou Dynasty, will have trouble with the Tang and Liao Kingdoms soon?"

Chai Zongxun nodded and said with a smile:

"My father's policy of unifying the world "first from the south and then from the north" was extremely wise.

After discussing with the ministers in the court hall today, my mother and son have decided to send 30,000 "Long Xiang Army" to go out to capture the Nanping and Wuqing armies.

These two places have few soldiers and few people, so they must be defeated. The next step is to pacify Tang and Shu and recover Yanyun! "

After chatting for a while, lunch time has arrived.

Empress Dowager Fu and Chai Zongxun held a banquet in Baoci Hall, and had lunch with Ning Bin, Yang Bin, Qin Bin, and the three princes Chai Xirang, Chai Xijin, and Chai Xijie.

During the dinner, the family was very close to each other. The mother was kind, the son was filial, the brothers were loving, and the brothers were loving.

At the end of the meal, Chai Zongxun ordered Prime Minister Li Tao and Second Prime Minister Wang Zhu to come to Huangji Hall to discuss matters.

After a while, Li Tao and Wang Zhu walked over from the Zhongshu Provincial Government Office outside the palace.

After seeing the ceremony, Chai Zongxun said:

"Two beloved ministers, in addition to the construction of water conservancy facilities, our new policy on night markets has been implemented throughout the territory. The financial rights of Jiedu envoys in various places have been gradually taken back by the imperial court. Although under the threat of our imperial army, they dare not rash.

However, I learned from the information of "Longxiang Guards": In order to support the sergeants under their command, these Jiedu envoys did not dare to do anything to my night market, so they levied various taxes on the people under their jurisdiction:
I heard what Zhang Yong said: wedding tax, street tax, birth tax, birth tax, burial tax, etc. There is almost a drinking water tax and a cooling off tax! This is really unreasonable!

I think that if the Jiedushi system is not abolished directly, it will become a source of suffering for the exploitation of the local people.

I intend to wait for the "Longxiang Army" to pacify the Nanping and Wuqing armies this time, and then use the power of victory to abolish the Jiedushi system in one fell swoop and return power to the imperial court! "

Li Tao and Wang Zhu had heard Emperor Chai Zongxun talk several times in private about the abolition of the Jiedushi system of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Now listening to what Chai Zongxun said, I knew that the emperor had put this matter on his schedule.

After Li Tao thought for a moment, he said:
"Your Majesty, although the previous "night market" new policy touched the financial power of the governors in various places, it did not touch the fundamentals. These governors can still be patient and seek compensation from the people;
If Your Majesty decides to abolish the Jiedushi system in one fell swoop, it will damage its foundation. I am afraid that the situation will repeat the "Eight Kings Rebellion" of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty. Your Majesty must be prepared to use force to quell the rebellion. "

Chai Zongxun nodded.

Wang Zhu said:
"Your Majesty, among the more than ten Jiedushi envoys we have in the Great Zhou Dynasty, Tianxiong Jiedushi Fu Yanqing and Zhaoyi Jiedushi Li Jun are the most powerful and have the closest relationship with Your Majesty.

If these two people can be persuaded to comply with His Majesty's will and serve in the court, then most of the other military governors will have no choice but to accept the reduction of vassal status and will not cause any big trouble.

If the two of them are willing to serve in the court, I am willing to give up my position as the second prime minister. "

Li Tao also said: "If the Jiedushi issue can be resolved peacefully, I am willing to give up my position as prime minister."

When Chai Zongxun heard this, he was delighted: Li Tao and Wang Zhu really had the talent to manage the country, and they focused on the overall situation and were not greedy for power.

Chai Zongxun said:

"The methods proposed by the two dear friends are both good ones, but both of them are talented people in our country. How can we give in to each other?
My "Longxiang Army" and "Longxiang Guards" are now fully operational, and it is no longer a matter of course to start clearing out the Jiedushi envoys from various places.

But if we use weapons, it will be a huge disaster for the finances and the people. I have a plan. Let me tell you. Please help me with the details. "

Li Tao and Wang Zhu both said they didn't dare and listened attentively.

Chai Zongxun said:

"My method is simple to say.

Think back to the days of the Three Kingdoms in the past. Cao Cao used high-ranking officials and generous salaries to recruit surrenders from all over the country. Hundreds of people were granted the title of marquis, and they were given food for hundreds to ten thousand households in exchange for their military power and territory.

Therefore, among the Three Kingdoms, Cao Wei also has the most talents.

I also want to entrust the "Five Lords" to the Jiedushi envoys and their generals and counselors, and support them in Bianjing.

As for the King of Wei, this is where my mother was born, and my grandfather has always been loyal to the imperial family. I promised my mother that my family will be the king for generations to come. "

After Li Tao and Wang Zhu heard this, they knew that Chai Zongxun was exchanging high-ranking officials and generous salaries for the troops and territory in the hands of military governors from various places.

Thinking that in the past few years, with the promotion of Chai Zongxun's new policy, the people of the Zhou Dynasty have vigorously reclaimed wasteland. The fertile land for the court to collect food has increased more than ten times compared with the Xiande period, and the population has also increased significantly. It is not difficult for "Bozi Nan" to have 5 nobles and be given food and land.

And if the Jiedushi envoys from all over the Zhou Dynasty were ordered to obey with the title of nobility, it would certainly be much better than a military crusade.

Li Tao and Wang Zhu immediately agreed.

Li Tao said:
"Your Majesty, among the Jiedushi envoys, only the King of Wei and Li Jun are following their lead. The attitude and performance of these two people will greatly determine the success or failure of Your Majesty's "reduction of vassalage" this time.

Your Majesty and Fu Zhenzhen, the eldest granddaughter of the King of Wei, have become increasingly close to each other in the past few years. I thought that I could send an envoy to propose marriage to the King of Wei. When Your Majesty and my cousin come of age, I will accept her as the queen and give the Fu family the "Alchemy Book" Iron coupon".

As for Li Jun, your majesty can just give his family an "iron certificate of alchemy" to make him worry-free. "

(End of this chapter)