"Disaster!"

Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen threw the imperial pen in his hand on the desk in frustration, stood up and paced back and forth in the study. The self-ringing bell from the tribute from Peking had already been ringing twelve times. In the quiet night, the ticking sound of the pendulum shaking back and forth destroyed his ears like a bitter wind and rain, making his already bored mood even more annoyed.

"Why is my emperor so difficult?" Zhu Yunwen stood beside the picturesque map of the country, and tears gradually appeared in the corner of his eyes. The Ming Dynasty's territory was wider than that of the Han and Tang Dynasties, and it was chasing the Mongolian Yuan. Unfortunately, nearly one-third of the places in this map were places where his instructions could not reach. If you were more frustrated, the places where his emperor could govern seemed to be more than a hundred miles around the capital. After ordering Zhili (Southern Zhili) had to be cut in half. When he arrived at the hands of the prefectures and county officials, he didn't know what it would have become. Recently, he finally found a way to restore Zhou rituals to deal with the increasingly lost royal power.

Yan, who knew that the three uncles holding heavy troops had changed their open and secretly resisted, and the civil and military ministers of the court also argued endlessly for their respective interests. Zhou Li has been trialed for several months, and except for the change of official names and salary of officials, the rank and salary of officials have increased, no substantial progress has been lost. The fundamentals of Zhou Li, the well-field system advocated by the imperial teacher Fang Xiaoru, was, under the strong opposition of the three dynasties, Cao Zhen, Minister of the Ministry of Marine, Zhou Wuyou, Prince Consort Li Qi, and President of Science Ling Kun, etc., have not been unanimously agreed by the ministers in the court discussion, let alone come up with a specific implementation details.

Emperor Jianwen clearly remembered that when his grandfather was in power, the emperor's authority was so insignificant that he almost expressed his words as his master Huang Zicheng described. At the age of his father, at least no one in the court had to force him against Emperor An Qin. But when it was his turn to come to the court, how could he pass a decree be equivalent to giving the emperor face, and there would be no result without rushing for ten days and half a month. As for implementation, I don't know how many ten days and half a month have to wait.

Like a painting of the country, do you still belong to me? Zhu Yunwen looked at the "Picture of the Painted Land" that was touched by his grandfather and his father's hand in confusion. Since the King of Yan first presented the picture, it seemed that there was a chess game hidden under this map. Two invisible hands moved back and forth with mountains and rivers as longitudes and latitudes, chasing and fighting in the chessboard. Both emperors and generals were chess pieces.

Even though he was born insensitive to politics, Emperor Jianwen felt that the imperial power was losing bit by bit with the years. He was becoming increasingly weak after sitting behind the Dragon Case. He wanted to be a fair and clear decision-maker. But he often found that his master Huang Zicheng and Fang Xiaoru did a lot of things, and even contained a lot of selfishness. As for Huang Zicheng's opposition, the things that the Minister of the Sea Master Cao Zhen insisted on seemed to be for the country and the people, but he refused to calculate the interests of the royal family. As for those who took advantage of the troubled waters, those who only made promotions and made money, they could not count the wind at all. In the complex court, there was no force that could be truly trusted, and no force that could be truly mastered by himself. Most of the time, the emperor himself was also a drifter, and he didn't know whether he would fall into the undercurrent tomorrow and would never be able to recover.

The happiest morning dynasty was when I sat in the Dragon Case and accepted the tribute from the Bangladesh countries more than 20 days ago. The respect and charming envoys on their faces really made me feel at ease with the earth under their feet. Unfortunately, this happiness did not last for a few days. The General Secretary handed over a detailed and rigorous analysis, confirming the fact that what Shao Yunfei reported was the truth. The real reason why the envoys of the Bangladesh countries came to pay tribute was that they impressed the Ming merchant ships, fearing being punished by the navy, rather than because of their demeanor. And behind the actions of the countries, there was the desert lame wolf Timur secretly presided over. Although Zhu Yunwen pretended to have not seen Xu Huizu's memorial, he recalled that the memorial was slapped in the face at the time. It was still heart-wrenching.

"I am pushing my heart to the world, but the world is so unfaithful." Zhu Yunwen became more and more angry as he thought about it. His hand touching the map gradually became hard to squeeze. The damn Timur, when his grandfather was in power, he came to pay tribute every year. When his father was in power, he sent envoys to give gifts two or three years later. Why did he have to invade the Ming Dynasty when he was in his generation? Could it be that he really had no virtue to be the emperor?

"Your Majesty, take a break soon. I will have to deal with national affairs tomorrow!" The close-fitting old eunuch who was serving Zhu Yunwen's daily life came forward with a distressed reminder. The little eunuchs outside the door leaned against the palace wall, and their souls were already asleep. When they heard the old eunuch's call, they woke up suddenly. They stood up apologetically and held the whisk that had almost fallen to the ground to the height of their shoulders.

In the eyes of eunuchs, we really can't blame Emperor Jianwen for his improper behavior and disorderly edicts. I heard the old eunuchs in the palace secretly mutter that since ancient times, no one of the owners of the palace has been treated as so hard and so cowardly as Emperor Jianwen. In the comments, the foolish monarchs like Emperor Yang of Sui can still use their temperament to grow flowers and repair dragon boats. Emperor Jianwen will have a comfortable life when he becomes the emperor! Now it is no better than the previous dynasty. No one can see what is wrong or what is right. The newspapers flying all over the world dare not be disrespectful to the emperor, but they can take some things openly and secretly.

If it is really done, anyone can tell the difference. Take the matter of Lord Huang Zicheng's recruitment of troops to intimidate the princes. The intimidated object, Zhu Di, the King of Yan, ignored Li Jinglong's 100,000 troops, and actually sent Su Ceyu, one of the two main forces in the northwest. He also expressed his opinions with great fanfare, reminding the court that the strong enemy generals should not cause disaster between uncles and nephews. After some newspapers were incited by intention or not, this faction immediately compared the behavior of the court to extremely humble. The emperor was so angry that he did not eat well for three days. He tore up several large baskets of waste paper.

"The emperor has no one in his hands, so it's so difficult." Some eunuchs who have seen the world have discussed privately. But who can turn the tide? The old ministers of the Hongwu Dynasty were killed by the Hongwu Emperor, and they were killed. The few left were heartbroken. They didn't care about the world since they lived in seclusion. The rookies left by the Antai Dynasty were already the best among them like Lord Huang. As for the remaining cabinet ministers, one was worse than the other. Even the eunuchs who could not leave the palace gate could see the crux of the crux of the eunuchs who could not leave the palace. They just couldn't see it.

"Long live, Marquis Wu is not dead, you don't have to be so embarrassed." The old eunuch who served Zhu Yunwen's daily life couldn't help but feel sleepy and tentatively reminded him.

The candlelight in the imperial study room lit up instantly. The owner of the study room was also excited, "What, how do you know that Wu Hou, Wu Gong is not dead?" Yunwen grabbed the old eunuch's collar and asked anxiously.

The old eunuch had a dark and purple face. He couldn't help but kick his hands and feet. He finally waited for his master to find it coming and let go. Fang took a breath and said regretfully: "I guessed it too. Long live. Think about it, when Lord Wu of Pingliao, Lord Cao of Jinghai, Lord Guo of six provinces, he was also known as the three heroes of Peking in the Hongwu Dynasty. He was a good brother who was willing to live. If Lord Wu was murdered, how could Lord Cao and Lord Guo give up? But now Lord Wu has been missing for many days, Lord Cao and Lord Guo have not said a word. Isn't that obvious to tell everyone that Lord Wu's family is safe?"

Emperor Jianwen eagerly listened to the old eunuch finishing his words and felt a little humid. Wu Anguo was not dead, and many things were easy to deal with. He felt relaxed and his mind suddenly became clear. Another serious worry slowly floated on his face, and the voice of the question became cold: "What's the reason for Eunuch Li's analysis? I am usually busy with government affairs, but I didn't notice you, Eunuch Li, how many years have you been in the palace?"

After a plop, the old eunuch Li knelt straight in front of Emperor Jianwen. He opened his bows and sang his mouth hard: "I deserve to die, I deserve to die, I deserve to die, I deserve to speak more when I see the emperor tired, I ask for long live kindness. I ask for long live kindness." I was anxious. My hands were getting heavier and heavier. When I saw blood flowing out of the corner of my mouth.

"Get up, I'm just asking you how long you have entered the palace. I want to reward you for serving my father and son for many years." Zhu Yunwen smiled and gave a cold order. He didn't want to pursue Eunuch Li's crime of interfering in politics. He just thought of other important things and was distracted for a moment. Eunuch Li apologized for his guilt and just reminded Emperor Jianwen that in order to teach the eunuchs outside the door, he also saved the reward.

"I dare not accept the reward, thank you for your kindness." Eunuch Li, who escaped from death, cried and replied, "There is no longer a response in the study. The old eunuch crawled on the ground for a long time. He raised his head quietly and found that at some point the emperor had left. If the big study room was only himself, and there was a picture of the country flickering under the illumination of the beating candles.

Like a painting of the country, it is just a chess game. King Yan Zhu Di held a pen in his hand and pointed to the country. He didn't take the little soldiers and horses in Li Jinglong's hand seriously. Huang Zicheng's strategy of knocking on the mountain and shaking the tigers was effective. He was able to scare Qin and Jin. He used it to show off in front of the King of Yan, which was simply a show of his avatar. Both sides were not of the same level of chess players. In the eyes of King Yan Zhu Di, the court now had many practices, which were simply to give him a baby. It was easier than setting up a trap for Yun Wenzan to make it easier for him to cooperate and understand. It would be rare for an opponent to cooperate so well that sooner or later, the master of this country would be himself.

Su Ceyu's independent division entered the northwest under the banner of preventing strong enemies from invading, and was stationed on the territory of several Mongolian princes who had been friends with Wei Di. On the one hand, it won the reputation of taking into account the overall situation for the Yan King Zhu Di, and on the other hand it also had the effect of deterring the Jingyuan Army. From the map, the Jingyuan Army in Li Zengzhi's hands was stationed behind the northern six provinces, while Su Ceyu's independent division was stationed behind the Jingyuan Army. Li Zengzhi really dared to attack Yan land, so his old nest had to be burned by Su Ceyu first. At this moment, no one in the court had the courage to order the Su tribe to return to Yan land.

This is checks and balances. Raising 100,000 troops is enough to dominate the world. The key is where the 100,000 troops are arranged. King Yan Zhu Di saw the current domestic situation very clearly. He had been playing with his brother Zhu Biao for 17 years. He didn't care about spending more years with him. The longer the time delayed, the easier it was for him to gain the world. Huang Zicheng and others were making trouble, which was equivalent to pushing the hearts of the people of the world to the north. From population to capital, a large number of refugees and merchants poured into the six northern provinces every year, making the six northern provinces that were originally underpopulated more and more prosperous. Although many unsatisfactory things happened during this period, such as factory owners exploiting workers more and more. High loans and profit-seeking, and buying and selling people are common. However, these do not hurt their foundation, but instead make the supporters of the King of Yan more and more wealth in their hands, and people's hearts become more and more distant from the court.

"It's a pity that Huang Zicheng sent the assassin to not stab Wu Gong to death, otherwise..." Zhu Di was shocked by his sudden thoughts. This was too despicable. He smiled mockingly and then returned to peace. The Northern Army swept the world, and now there are only two conditions. The first is the support of the navy. The second is the name of the army. If the killer of Huang Zicheng sent to kill the teacher that day, Cao Zhen of Jinghai was killed by his brother Zhu Biao, he would fight back in anger. It is legitimate to raise an army to clear the ruling and avenge Wu Gong. The Northern Army, Dingxi Army, and even the Andong Army may not really support Huang Zicheng. With the sign of avenging Wu Anguo, how many officers among the major forces would draw their swords to follow. What's more, the emerging factory owners and merchants on their territory who changed the fate of the whole family due to the appearance of Wu Anguo. They will definitely not follow Guo Pu in the Jazz Club to obstruct their actions against the South.

Unfortunately, Wu'anguo was not dead. What a pity that the lame wolf Timur insisted on threatening the security of the Ming Dynasty at this time. If foreign enemies were in front of him and he still rebelled, he would probably not have enough support even in the six northern provinces.

"Your Majesty, it's late at night." Chen Qingdai, the Chongfei of Zhu, walked into the study with a bowl of ginseng soup. The temperature difference between day and night in Liaodong was too large, and outside the thin silk clothes, she wore a silver fox cloak. She met her skin more and more like snow. The man in the study who laughed at the map from time to time was the hero in her girl's dream. Although this hero was getting farther and farther away from her as time went by, she still guarded him without regrets. For the sake of the energetic Zhu Di back then, and for the current family. No matter what this man did, whom he let down. Even if he let down the world, she had no choice. Because the Chen family has long been connected with the fate of this person.

Zhu Di turned around with a smile. He took the ginseng soup with pity and put it on the desk, and used his generous hands to warm his wife's cold soft-yi. "Xiaodie, let the servants do these things well, why bother to work for you in the middle of the night?"

Zhu Di was not solely because of his father-in-law Chen Xing and the Tianjin Consortium behind him. When he first saw this young woman who was strong and soft in the army, Zhu Di fell in love with her. The two argued over the price and supply of "Wu Jinshuang". They were noisy about the time and place of payment. As well as Queen Ma gave her a marriage, Qing Dai came to the army to gather. Many years of frivolous years in her youth could see shadows between her wife's temples. Holding these warm hands, she hugged her boneless demon body in her arms. Everything seemed to go back to the past, back to the carefree simplicity and tranquility. In the complex world, this is the best way to rest.

"Prince, is there no other solution?" Chen Qingdai closed her eyes and asked unwillingly in her husband's arms.

The chest behind her instantly became cold and wider and warmer. Chen Qingdai felt the change in Zhu Di's heart. She sighed sadly. She also knew that it was not appropriate to ask this question. If she became a princess, she would have to be a princess. Just like in the business world, she would have to take the lead for the family's interests. The interests of the royal family could not tolerate Zhu Di and her mercy. However, she always felt unbearable, because now it was not goods but human life.

A ray of tenderness slowly rose in Zhu Di's heart, overshadowing the dissatisfaction that suddenly appeared just now. He freed up a hand and gently tidied up his wife's hair. Zhu Di leaned into Chen Qingdai's ear and said softly: "Die'er, do we still have a way out now? The pressure is getting tighter and tighter, and the northern goods are transported south. The taxes are getting higher and higher. The food in the south is being sent to the north, and the caching is getting stricter. Even if it is not for you and me, we have to think about our children and the group of brothers below. Why can't we just wait for death like this? Watch the court take away all our accumulations for decades, and don't even give the capital to survive, right?"

Chen Qingdai nodded, closed her eyes tiredly, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly under the light, giving people an indescribable temptation. Zhu Di lowered his head and kissed him, and his wife greeted him gently. The two temporarily abandoned the unhappiness outside and the struggle in their hearts. They were intoxicated by their love.

The beating candlelight reflected the lover's lingering figure on the picturesque map of the country. The red handwriting clearly marked the actual control boundary between the north and the south and the strategic locations of the two sides. It was like a knife that cut a thick blood mark from thousands of miles of rivers and mountains. It was accompanied by a faint candlelight, accompanied by a lingering figure. Bleeding, one drop, and one drop.

"If I had known this was a problem, I would rather not provoke Duke Wu." In the study of Grand Secretary Huang Zicheng, there was also a picture of a painting of the country. People who were wandering in front of the map were sleepless all night. "One day, the two peaches killed three men." Huang Zicheng's goal since childhood was to be a peerless wise man like Yan Ying and Zhuge Liang. He could assist a king who obeyed his own words and let himself realize his dream of smearing in a picture country. Unfortunately, ideals and reality are so far apart.

Because of excessive effort, Huang Zicheng looked older than his actual age. His pale face was full of traces left by time and conspiracy. It seemed as if someone was holding a knife while he was sleeping. It was extremely inconsistent with his bright eyes. The hair on his temples was also lonely, hanging lonely on his vermilion long gown. Accompanied by the lonely shadow on the four walls bleached by the light.

Huang Zicheng felt very wronged. After Wu Anguo disappeared, his finger pointed at him as a Grand Secretary. Even Emperor Yunwen, who had always trusted him, expressed his dissatisfaction and deliberately refuted several of his suggestions in the morning court. Everything that happened recently made people feel neglected, including the eyes of friends.

"Mr. Wu is a balance of the current situation. Wherever he tends to, there will be a chance of winning." Bai Tian Fang Xiaoru's words echoed in his ears. "What have you done before? I only remember the reminder now." Thinking of this queen of horses, Huang Zicheng threw his pen to the ground in anger. He was too tired and sad. He was devoted to the future of the royal family. He was determined to be a famous minister in the world, but the facts of the world were uncontrollable. Huang Zicheng did not believe in the things that Wu'anguo and Bo Wenyuan believed in. In his opinion, this kind of remark without a king is like a beast. If China has implemented this method, it will inevitably become a country. Just like the current situation of the North and South divisions, it is entirely caused by Wu'anguo's remarks. What can be used to fight against the increasingly obvious equal thinking among the people? Huang Zicheng couldn't find it. Therefore, he felt increasingly unable to understand the increasingly complex situation.

In addition to a bureaucratic interest group that reads the books of sages, Huang Zicheng, also bears a country-government ideal that has been developed for hundreds of years. If it were not for the emergence of Wu Anguo and others, this ideal would have been nearly mature in the Hongwu year and was almost completely accepted by the emperor. Whether it was Guo Pu, Bo Wenyuan, or Bai Zheng, he was a follower and leader of this ideal in his early years. Zhou Li, Jingtian, the rule of the three generations, the world of saints, order, and hierarchy. How perfect is the blueprint drawn by Neo-Confucianism? However, with the betrayal of Guo Pu and Bo Wenyuan and the separation of Bai Zheng, this school gradually declined. Now, only Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru and Qi Tai are left in the sect, and Qi Tai gradually tends to betray his masters.

"The more difficult things in the world are, the more I must hold on and be the support of the empire." Huang Zicheng's eyes gradually showed a tragic look. It seemed that the future of the entire empire was on his shoulders. It made his back bend, but his heart was a little better.

"Tomorrow morning, it is recommended to send envoys to instigate Timur to promote the power of the Great Tomorrow and to dispel his unjust intention." The legendary figures recorded in ancient texts who turned the tide came to Huang Zicheng's mind one by one. A few words made the enemy chief feel ashamed and dispelled his spying on the enemy country, which can show the importance of scholars at critical moments. But who should I send? Zhu Er, Gusu? Huang Zicheng knew that he would not move in command of Zhu Jiangyan, and he did not want to increase Zhu Jiangyan's power. Once Zhu Er successfully made a mission, he would add a few more weights to the Zhouli group, which would be unfavorable to the overall situation. Is Zhou Chongwen? It seems that it is not the material. It is better to send Qi Tai. He has good courage and eloquence, and belongs to the fence faction. Send him out, and once he can't come back, he will not lose much power.

A response plan gradually formed in Huang Zicheng's mind, and in fighting the upcoming foreign humiliation, the court had already lost to the King of Yan. We must try our best to bring the situation back. Tomorrow, Qi Tai, the Minister of Revenue, personally escorted a sum of food, pay and arms to the King of Thailand to work in the army, and then went on a mission to the river. The momentum must be sufficient. At least it must create the smell of wind and cold Yishui, so that the newspaper controlled by scholars from the south would be exaggerated. It would not be worse than the army and horse effect of the King of Yan.

Another benefit of doing this is to appease the King of Qin and the morale of the Dingxi Army. Lan Yu, the commander of the Xiliang army, was also a veteran on the battlefield. He has always been good at defending. Back then, he led a army of troops to resist the Mongolian army on the western route. Even if Qi Tai failed to go on a mission, as long as Lan Yu led his troops to guard the border, he could block Timur and leave enough opportunities for the court to prepare.

After so many years, General Lan’s title should be promoted. What’s the best way to propose to His Majesty? Huang Zicheng picked up his pen and wrote down Lan Yu’s name heavily on the memorial.

Lintao City, the Qin Palace, the first strategist under the Qin King's school, Pang Xiangru, the "Northwest Wisdom Saint", brought a few strategists to squint on the picturesque map of the country; a Western Regions inspector with blue eyes and slightly curly hair mumbled in his mouth, and his fingers kept moving on the map. Pang Xiangru argued with him in Arabic for a few words, looked at the Qin King, and helplessly painted a piece of land green.

Every green stroke is a fertile land of hundreds of miles. Zhang Liang, a strategist of the Qin Palace, who is known as a small house, could not bear it anymore. He gave a deep tribute to the Qin King and loudly advised him: "Your Highness, you can't give in. We have already given up all the land that originally belonged to the Mongolians in the northwest to Timur. If we give in, Timur's camel will be opened into Yumen Pass."

"Go, go, go, go, go, what are you worried about? If your highness wants to obtain the world, you will naturally be willing to let this poor land without shit. Otherwise, can Timur help send troops?" A guy named Sun pushed Zhang Liang aside in dissatisfaction. If the contract is completed, Timur's 800,000 army will come to help the Qin King conquer the world. At that time, everyone can make a fortune and be famous in history.

What are these barren lands? Isn’t this king’s land in the world? The prince will give it to anyone he wants. Most of the advisers of the Qin Palace have the same thoughts. Everyone has been waiting outside the Yumen Pass where the spring breeze is not crossing for so many years. Isn’t it just this day?

After hearing Zhang Liang's words, Pang Xiangru, the first counselor of the royal palace, became even hesitant, and his tone of arguing with the Arab envoy became more intense. King Zhu Lin of Qin was a little impatient, waved his hand gracefully and generously, and ordered the counselors: "What do he want, try to satisfy him. The army must be driven on schedule next spring. The Hu people will not have a hundred years of luck. Will it be difficult for us to get the country back?"

"The prince is wise." A group of strategists agreed, "Before Emperor Gaozu of Tang raised an army, he called him a ruthless minister to the Turks, but in the end he drove them out of the Western Regions and gave them to him to see when he knew he was satisfied."

The little boy Zhang Liang stopped talking and retreated aside. The scholar died for his confidant. He was a strategist of the Qin Palace, and the interests of the Qin King were the highest interests of everyone. Pang Xiangru, who was in charge of the contract, did not dare to argue more, and he couldn't help but retreat. He looked at the land lost under his hands with distress.

Although the envoy Timur who came to sign the contract did not understand Chinese, he also guessed from the expressions of everyone that someone in the Qin Palace was dissatisfied with the treaty of ceding land. According to Timur's instructions, he did not do anything for himself and stopped his fingers outside Yumen Pass in time. From Yi Naiji to Beihelin, countless blood-stained land was painted green again.
Chapter completed!