"What gifts have the Korean envoys prepared for our prime minister?" In the Chui Gong Hall, Emperor Liu was lying on a bench in a leisurely posture, swaying, and asked slowly.
Standing nearby was Zhang Dejun, the imperial envoy. After hearing this, he immediately reported: "It is said that there are ten pearls, a hundred catties of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, and five beauties from Goryeo..."
"Haha, what a generous gift! This Korean is so generous!" Emperor Liu smiled softly: "How did Zhao Pu deal with it?"
Zhang Dejun said: "After Prime Minister Zhao returned to his residence, he learned of the gift from the Goryeo envoys and ordered people to seal up the pearls, gold and silver and hand them over to the national treasury. As for the Goryeo beauties, they were all handed over to the Jiaofang Secretary. All gifts were rejected, and Goryeo Xu Xi also
No private interview!"
Zhang Dejun's tone was calm and pertinent, but it gave Emperor Liu a feeling that he was leaning towards Zhao Pu. He couldn't help but glance at him. Looking back, Emperor Liu said meaningfully: "It seems that Zhao Pu cherishes his feathers more and more!"
Zhao Pu's performance in the central government and as an official in a local area are completely different. At least when he was an official in Sichuan and Shu, Zhao Pu accepted gifts, which was not to the extent of corruption and bribery. However, he did not pretend to be aloof, and he was still very obedient in normal human relations.
of.
Of course, Zhao Pu is not a pure moral minister. He also has flaws and stains. The mining disaster that shocked the southwest was Zhao Pu's mistake in hiring people. The little mine supervisor actually dared to deceive the superiors and deceive the court.
.
But after returning to the imperial court and becoming prime minister, Zhao Pu obviously changed. His style of doing politics was still strong and capable, but he also became clean and self-sufficient in terms of personal ethics.
Especially in some aspects that are most likely to attract criticism, he is even more cautious and cautious, vigorously restrains his relatives and friends, and is also extremely measured in his interactions with fellow disciples, old officials, and subordinates.
Emperor Liu could understand this. Zhao Pu had lofty ambitions and wanted to make a difference. If he wanted to leave his own personal achievements in the Kaibao Dynasty, he needed to try his best to avoid unnecessary criticism.
Especially after he gradually revealed his governing policy and direction, he was under tremendous pressure and needed to stand upright, otherwise he would surely fall into endless trouble.
This time, the obeisance offered by the Goryeo envoy could be described as substantial, but to Zhao Pu, it was nothing. In fact, Zhao Pu might even feel a little angry in his heart, as this would not only bring trouble to him.
No, heaven has already heard it.
"It is said that money is used to do things. The Korean envoy gave such a generous gift. Zhao Pu refused and just returned it. What is the purpose of turning it over to the treasury?" Emperor Liu muttered: "Isn't this just accepting gifts on behalf of the imperial court?"
Turning his eyes slightly, Emperor Liu looked at Zhang Dejun, who was standing in a humble posture: "During this period, has Xu Xi been active in Beijing frequently?"
Zhang Dejun responded: "Back to the official's house, it has been half a month since the Goryeo envoys arrived in Beijing. They have made humble remarks and courtesies, but they still have no way to get in. I thought that the official's refusal to receive him made Xu Xi feel uneasy in awe of the great power of God.
, so he kept running around to seek help from Mr. Zhao’s house!”
"As a small country, if we don't teach you a lesson, we will never realize the power of God!" Emperor Liu said calmly, his tone still strong and full of contempt.
It has to be said that in the past years, some of Goryeo's behaviors really angered Emperor Liu, and Emperor Liu always held a grudge that he has not been able to let go of.
Since the beginning of spring, the Goryeo Kingdom has sent envoys across the sea and traveled thousands of miles to Luojing. The people who came were considered old friends. Xu Xi, who had come to Youzhou for an audience, was naturally seeking peace.
Last year's Han-Li War was just a small episode in the Han-Liao War. Although the Han Dynasty's monarchs and generals passively distracted some attention, the actual situation was insignificant.
Under the proactive attack of the Han army, they achieved two complete victories without investing too much force or paying too much price. After that, the Donghai Navy continued to make demands on the border of Koryo for a month.
As for Goryeo, not only did it lose tens of thousands of troops, but its navy was almost completely annihilated, and most of its elite troops were lost. More importantly, during the subsequent wanton invasion of the Han army, the prefectures, counties and towns along the coast of Goryeo were ravaged by war.
The property losses of the government and the people were huge.
Moreover, after a winter's rest and recuperation, the Han army still did not give up after the beginning of the new year. Under the command of Guo Tingwei, the soldiers of the Han army who had gathered strength and strength once again launched an invasion and plundering of Goryeo.
Unlike many soldiers who participated in the Northern Expedition, the navy soldiers had almost no war-weariness at all. On the contrary, they were high-spirited and extremely active. They went to Koryo to make a fortune.
There is no way to gain wealth faster than robbery and looting, and the Jeju Island navy base opened by the Han army has become a huge place for "sale of stolen goods"...
Under such circumstances, the Han army refused to give up, and the Kingdom of Goryeo became even more intolerable. Its southwest coast was the most important place in the country, and how could it suffer such damage for a long time.
In the face of "sea trouble", Koryo did not fail to take some countermeasures, such as mobilizing troops to ambush and encircle some Han troops who landed. This of course achieved some results and repelled some Han troops.
However, by treating the symptoms but not the root cause, the naval force was basically lost and had no control over the sea. The Han army from the sea could appear and disappear without being able to effectively contain it. It forced the officials and civilians in the coastal prefectures and counties of Goryeo to flee in large numbers, which also led to the rampant internal refugee situation in Goryeo.
, social security was seriously damaged, and even the rule was shaken.
In the Goryeo Kingdom, after the reforms of King Wang So of Goryeo, the royal power was strengthened, the national power and military equipment were greatly improved, and its rule became more stable under his power.
However, in less than half a year, we returned to the pre-liberation period. Due to conflicts with the Han Dynasty and even military conflicts, coupled with the loss of a large number of soldiers and horses in two battles, the royal power was inevitably weakened.
As a result, those nobles and heroes who had been suppressed by Wang Zhao in the past ten years or so, and those forces whose interests had been severely deprived and weakened during Wang Zhao's reforms, began to make moves.
The defeat of the army, the loss of some soldiers and horses, the invasion of prefectures and counties, and the losses suffered by the officials and people may be nothing to the King of Goryeo. However, his power has been weakened, his prestige has been attacked, and his throne has been shaken.
Wang Zhao couldn't sit still.
Foreign troubles continued, internal worries arose again, and under internal and external pressure, Wang Zhao could not bear it any longer and had to seek a way to rescue him. And even those who have never seen it know the root cause of the turmoil in Goryeo?
Big man!
Under Xu Xi's persuasion, Wang Zhao finally decided to send another envoy to the Han Dynasty to pray for the Han Dynasty's forgiveness, hoping to restore old friendship and express his attitude of being a vassal forever.
Although Wang Zhao personally felt a little depressed, aggrieved, and even humiliated, he really had no other choice. Only after suffering a severe beating did he realize that the Central Plains Celestial Empire, which was only separated by a sea, was really not someone they could offend.
In the past, it was indeed Wang Zhaopiao who tried to play both sides between Han and Liao, and even wanted to participate in the war between the two countries. In the end, it was just pulling chestnuts from the fire and the country was in chaos.
Xu Xi came with a large number of treasures and beauties, and even Wang Zhao contributed a lot of the treasures in his palace treasury. After traveling thousands of miles, traveling by car, boat and horse, and going through all kinds of hardships, he arrived at Luoyang.
Originally, in Xu Xi's expectation, they were full of sincerity and should be able to impress the emperor and ministers of the Han Dynasty. However, the actual situation made them feel frustrated. After arriving in Beijing, they encountered obstacles almost everywhere.
For the first time, the Han Empire showed a stinginess and arrogance. Apart from leaving the Korean envoys in the hotel, they did not greet them and almost ignored them.
Xu Xi requested an audience with Emperor Liu several times and submitted his credentials, but was rejected. He could not see anyone and did not even have a chance to send gifts. As time passed, Xu Xi was inevitably frustrated, but considering that the Han army might still be raging across their borders,
, and had to encourage his fighting spirit. After thinking about it, he finally paid attention to Zhao Pu.
As a result, Zhao Pu accepted the gift, but he seemed to have no intention of doing anything...