Although Qi Ren's reason for asking for money is strange, it is not completely unreasonable.
Because the Qi people sixty years ago were indeed a serious foreign race hunting outside the Pass, but today, sixty years later, these barbarians outside the Pass have basically completed their full Chineseization.
This kind of Chineseization is not only the Chineseization of language and writing, but more importantly, they need to get off their horses, put down their bows, arrows and scimitars, live in big houses in the city, manage the vast land in the north, and transform from a tourist
The hunting nation transformed into bureaucrats, landlords, and even the highest level of the ruling class.
However, the number of Hu people who entered the customs sixty years ago, including old, young, women and children, was only 300,000.
Although the number of these 300,000 Hu people has increased countless times after sixty years, but after living a prosperous and comfortable life as landlords in the pass, not many of them are willing to get back on horseback to fight with the Northeastern people.
Fighting with wind, frost, snow and rain.
Therefore, the cavalry of the Northern Qi Dynasty is far less powerful than it once was when it swept across the world.
As for the grassland and snow in the north, there will always be new people coming out to occupy it.
After the Hu people entered the customs, although they still had business in their hometown in the northeast, they had frequent conflicts with the Tatars in the north. In the early days of entering the customs, with the sufficient resources in the customs and the fierce fighting power of the Northern Qi cavalry, in the early days of the founding of the Northern Qi Dynasty,
For twenty years, the Tatars have been suppressed and beaten, and even the Tatars who could fight were unable to fight.
but…
Twenty years later, the first generation of Northern Qi cavalry grew old. Some of the subsequent cavalry were Hu people and some were Han people. However, without exception, they were all juniors who had not endured much hardship. These juniors were used to oppressing the people in the pass.
, after enjoying the blessing, I can no longer hold the knife.
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By the third and fourth generations, the combat effectiveness of the Northern Qi cavalry became worse and worse, and now they can only be on the defensive when facing the Tatars.
There is no difference between the attitude of the Han Dynasty and the Han Dynasty in facing the border troubles in the northern frontier.
In fact, it was when the Northern Qi Dynasty reached the third and fourth generations that it completely lost its fighting power to dominate the south of the Yangtze River and dominate the world.
Of course, although the Qi people are now weaker, the combat effectiveness of the army, but Chen's army is not much stronger, it can only be said to be weaker. Therefore, when the Huaihe Navy faced the Northern Qi attack last year, even if it was blindly
Hold on and still suffer heavy casualties.
Seeing what Zhao Changping said, Shen Yi lowered his head and pondered for a while, then silently lowered his eyebrows and said: "Northern Qi occupies half of China, and the territory is rich in products. Moreover, over the years, Qi merchants have gradually learned how to do business. They are very close to us.
Compared with Chen, although he is a little poorer, he is not much poorer."
"Except for silk and cloth, they may be short of some, but Northern Qi is not particularly short of real money and food."
Shen Yi let out a long sigh: "The reason why I want it again and again is just to frustrate His Majesty and our Imperial Court, so that His Majesty will give up the idea of the Northern Expedition."
Hearing the familiar yet unfamiliar words "Northern Expedition", Zhao Shangshu had a complicated look on his face. He let out a long sigh: "Zi Heng... can we still do the Northern Expedition?"
Zhao Changping is in his early fifties, about fifty-twenty-twenty-three years old.
At his age, he can be said to be the darkest generation of the Chen Kingdom.
When they were born, the Chen State had already been defeated and fled to the south, settling in a corner. During their teenage years, Emperor Xianzong defeated the Northern Qi Dynasty several times, bringing them some glimmers of hope. Subsequently, the late Emperor was defeated several times in succession, and again
Crush their hopes.
By now, in the blink of an eye, their generation is already over fifty.
Even an angry young man like Mr. Lu who was full of passion in his youth would find it difficult to rekindle the hope of the Northern Expedition, let alone a high-ranking official like Zhao Changping who held an important position in the court and knew the situation of the court well.
Shen Yi looked up at Zhao Changping and smiled: "Uncle, the Qi people gave this ridiculous reason. Not only do they want to ask us for money, food and cloth, but it also shows that they are under a lot of pressure in the north."
"Otherwise, Qi people would not give such an excuse."
"They came up with this reason, on the one hand, to suppress my ambition towards the emperor, on the other hand, internally, it also boosted morale, and even used it to reward the soldiers in Northern Xinjiang..."
"This incidates that…"
Master Shen said in a faint tone: "It means Qi people can no longer lift the knife."
Zhao Changping shook his head slightly: "Ziheng must not forget that last year they were still in Lianghuai and almost defeated the Huaihe Navy..."
"That's because Zhao Clan is acting suspiciously!"
Shen Yi took a deep breath and whispered: "Master, just watch. As long as we can hold on, the Qi people will become weaker day by day. They may not be able to compete with our dynasty. The greatest value of their existence now is
Take care of the aliens in the north for us..."
"As long as your majesty can make up his mind."
Shen Yi said slowly: "The Northern Expedition... is only a matter of time."
Zhao Shangshu, who had always been calm, had a rare expression of excitement.
He stood up from his chair and said with some trembling in his voice: "One day the imperial court will embark on the Northern Expedition."
"Not a penny will be left in the Treasury of the Ministry of Household Affairs..."
………………
Early the next morning, the Ganlu Hall of the Imperial Palace.
There is no court meeting today, His Majesty the Emperor is receiving the officials from the Ministry of Rites.
To be precise, it was Cui Yan, the Minister of Rites.
It is worth mentioning that this Minister of Rites is the younger brother of Cui Yu, who was dismissed by the emperor.
He is also the newly appointed minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Some people in the court believed that the emperor's promotion of Cui Yan was a sign of reinstating Cui Yu. Therefore, during this period, the Cui family had many more guests visiting every day, and it was likely to restore its former appearance.
Cui Yan stood in front of the emperor with a ceremonial wat in his hand, with a serious face. He bowed to the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, I discussed with the Qi envoy for a whole day yesterday. These Qi people are extremely hateful and will not give in even an inch.
Pressing harder and harder..."
"They must ask for 300,000 taels of cash and 50,000 pieces of silk and silk cloth each..."
His Majesty the Emperor was writing something on his desk at the moment. As he was writing, he said indifferently: "What does Cui Qing think?"
Cui Yan recalled his brother's experience of being dismissed from the prime minister for siding with the "Dove Faction". He immediately lowered his head slightly and gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, I think I can never agree to the Qi people's requests again. These Qi people are pushing their limits and are extremely hateful. If this year
If you agree, they might come again next year. If things continue like this, they will no longer be asking for money, but annual tribute!"
The emperor stopped writing in his hand, and then let out a dull groan.
"Do the other prime ministers in Zhongshu share this view with you?"
Cui Yan shook his head slightly, lowered his head and said: "I...I haven't gone to Zhongshu Province yet..."
"Then go."
The emperor narrowed his eyes and said indifferently: "Tell those gentlemen that what I mean is, or else I'll just pay you for it and send these Qi people away, just like sending them away like beggars."
Cui Yan was stunned. He first felt that the emperor was speaking sarcastically. After looking up at the emperor's indifferent expression, he hesitated and asked: "Your Majesty, what do you mean..."
The emperor raised his head and glanced at him: "Isn't it clear what I mean?"
"Compensate."
He said calmly: "If we don't lose money, will we still fight against the Qi people like we did last year?"
"The pension I paid last year was more than what Qi Ren asked for."
After saying this, the emperor placed the last stroke in his hand.
Obviously, the little emperor's calligraphy has made great progress recently.
At this time, on the white paper on the desk, there were two large characters with relatively good momentum.