At this time, Kang Guo fell into a strange atmosphere.
Without it, the king of Kang State, Li Zijing, was already in poor health. After surviving for many years, he finally became seriously ill this month and did not have much time left to suffer.
Shunjing was originally named Ganzi. After Li Zicheng died of illness, Li Zijing ascended the throne and became king here. He honored Li Zicheng with the temple title of Taizu and his posthumous title of "Wucheng", that is, King Wucheng.
Naturally, in order to enjoy peace, the previous title of Dashun could no longer be used, and had to surrender to the Ming Dynasty and pay tribute to maintain peace.
Because of this, the reign name was changed to Shaowu, in accordance with the system and the county-king system. Ganzi was renamed Shunjing, which was regarded as a tribute to the previous Dashun and left a trace of memory.
Its official system is the same as that of the Ming Dynasty. The cabinet was renamed Zhengshitang. The chief minister was called Prime Minister, Zuopu, and Youbi. Under it were officials, households, rituals, soldiers, punishments, and workers. The head of the government was the government.
Shangshu.
Among them, Niu Jinxing served as the Prime Minister and was actually the first assistant, Song Xiance served as Zuopu, and Song Qijiao served as Youbi.
In the local official system, the prefect is the prefect, the prefect is the state pastor, and the county magistrate is the county magistrate. What is strange is that the civil officials are not the leaders in various places, but the defense envoys are the main ones, and the civil officials follow them.
Kang State had a prefecture in the capital, named Shunjing Prefecture, and the area was divided into five prefectures, namely Kangding, Ya'an, Xichang, Batang, and Litang, a total of sixteen counties.
After many years of governance, statistics show that the Kang state has 1.2 million people, of which more than 900,000 are Tibetans, while the number of Han and Mongolian people, including merchants, troops, and officials, is only about 300,000, so they are at a disadvantage.
It is precisely because of this that Li Zijing established defense envoys in various states and counties, on the one hand to suppress the rebellious herdsmen, and on the other hand to appease the generals.
You must know that compared to Li Zicheng, although Li Zijing has more seniority, he is relatively mediocre and difficult to follow orders at once.
Therefore, for this group of arrogant and powerful generals, we can only condone and draw them together, while the defense envoys are the product of compromise.
Li Zijing compromised with them. The defense commanders of various states and counties, that is, the military power, would be hereditary, just like the military household system in the Ming Dynasty, which would be passed down and managed by their heirs, but it must be approved by the court.
The military was controlled by the defense envoy, while the civil affairs were presided over by the county magistrates and state pastors appointed and removed by Shunjing, who obeyed the orders of the defense envoy.
Financially, the 30/70 split method is used.
That is, 30% of the fiscal revenue is handed over to the local government and 70% is retained.
However, Shunting Prefecture, as the center of the Kham region, was personally controlled by Li Zijing. Not only was agriculture and animal husbandry relatively developed, but commerce was also prosperous, with a population of about half a million, so he had an absolute advantage over other generals.
Shunting Prefecture is located in the transition zone from the mountains on the western edge of the Sichuan Basin to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is the center of the Kham region, so the altitude is only more than 3,000 meters. It can be said that the people living here are naturally adapted to the plateau climate.
In summer in Shunjing, there is still a cool breeze, and the high sun is extremely strong, which makes people feel scared when they look directly at it.
At noon, suddenly a burst of dark clouds came into the sky, thunder and lightning started, and a continuous drizzle began.
Flocks of flying birds flew across the sky and quickly headed towards the forest, while the people in the city couldn't wait to return home to take shelter from the rain.
Niu Jinxing had a wild fight last night, and she didn't stop even though she was old. It wasn't until noon that she got up and enjoyed the exquisite food.
Not to mention the Kham area. As the end point of the Ancient Tea Horse Road, a large number of Han merchants came here, bringing salt, tea, and silk in exchange for cattle, sheep, furs, gems, and the most precious war horses from the Tibetans.
Compared with Gansu and Qinghai, this is simply heaven and earth.
It is precisely because of this that the generals accepted the humiliation and began to enjoy a peaceful life.
"Well, today's tea is good." Niu Jinxing took a sip of tea and praised: "Yunnan Pu'er, I will buy more next time."
"Yes!" The butler was a Tibetan with a red face. He handed over the chopsticks respectfully, and then cut the beef skillfully:
"Sir, this beef has been boiled since last night. It has melted today and is not difficult to eat."
"Well, not bad -" Niu Jinxing is sixty-four years old this year. Years of hard work have made his teeth loose a lot.
When he tasted a piece of beef for the first time, it melted in his mouth, which made him couldn't help but admire it.
"How?"
"The yak is just born less than three months old and has not yet stopped breastfeeding. The meat is very tender. It is cooked with some spices and tea leaves, making it tender and juicy."
The butler spoke fluent Chinese and said flatteringly: "I specially hired a cook from Han to make this. Even the palace does not have such delicacies."
"Yeah!" After hearing this, Niu Jinxing was satisfied.
Enjoying delicacies that even King Kang can't have is the greatest feeling of satisfaction.
After eating a few bites of beef, he drank half a bowl of wheat porridge, which made his whole body clear.
A group of servants hurriedly came over to clean up. The maids and servants looked pretty and handsome. They were wearing finely modified Tibetan robes and were extremely respectful.
Although Kang State had initiated activities to change customs as early as the beginning, due to the special situation in the Kangba area, where it was cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon, the traditional Hanfu seemed awkward.
In this case, a Tibetan robe with half sleeves draped over the shoulders seems appropriate.
However, as nobles and officials, they still adhere to the customs of the Han Dynasty and wear Han robes that comply with regulations. They add fur coats when they are cold and take them off when they are hot. Anyway, they are served by servants.
Suddenly, his son Niu Quan came staggering over with a pot of highland barley wine, his cheeks flushed, and his face full of eagerness.
"What's wrong?" Niu Jinxing frowned.
Although it was Xiu Mu today, he really didn't like the fact that his son looked so embarrassed.
"There is news from the palace that His Highness is dying——"
Niu Quan said breathlessly, and then said impatiently: "Dad, you'd better change into your official robe quickly and go to the palace!"
"Do you even need to say this?"
Before Niu Jinxing gave any instructions, the housekeeper went to find the official robe: "Put it on too and come with me."
Immediately, the two of them rode a carriage and headed to the palace.
After walking a long way, it was still bright when we left the palace. When we arrived in front of the palace gate, we bent down and looked at the carriage, and it was already dark.
In a mountain city like Shunting, it can only accommodate more than 100,000 people. The palace inherited the residence of Chieftain Baili. Although it has been decorated in various ways, it only covers an area of more than 200 acres, which is not in line with the palace's thousand acres.
Regulation.
But there was no way. Kang State was weak in national power and lacked financial resources, so it was impossible to expand the palace.
After passing through the palace wall made of adobe bricks, you entered the inner palace.
At this time, many people had gathered in front of the narrow Chang'an Hall.
In the government of the six ministries, the left side of the political affairs hall lay out the policies of the Song Dynasty, and the right side of the Song Dynasty Qijiao was waiting to be established for a long time.
The defense envoys from various states and counties eagerly arrived in Shunting as early as half a month ago.
Among them, Tian Jianxiu, Liu Fangliang, Yuan Zongdi, Hao Yaoqi, and Li Laiheng served as the defense envoys of the five states and occupied the state cities.
The remaining ten generals each occupy a county.
So when these five people saw Niu Jinxing, they just cupped their hands to show respect, while the other generals bent down to salute, almost at an angle of ninety degrees.
These are the rules and the privileges of the five of them.
Tian Jianxiu frowned: "I don't know how your highness is doing."
"God bless you." Song Xiance said softly.
After years of running around, the once high-spirited counselor has gradually aged.
Years of rich life have made many generals intoxicated, and all of them are extremely wealthy, but they have no trace of the bravery they once had.
When Niu Jinxing saw this, she nodded slightly in her heart.
The king's method is indeed good. Although enfeoffing the state capital is not conducive to holding great power, many years of wealth and glory have made the generals fall and their iron bones have been worn into brittle bones.
The military commanders who once flaunted their power in the court and were arrogant have disappeared.
"His Majesty's Residence——"
Suddenly, the door was opened, and a boy of sixteen or seventeen years old came out of the palace, wearing a red royal robe, with seriousness written on his young face.
Under the patriarchal system, Kang State enjoyed the title of county prince. Prince Kang could only be called His Highness or His Majesty, while the Crown Prince could only be called His Highness, and could not be called His Highness. These were all rules and could not be exceeded.
"Your Majesty, please let us in..." Prince Li Si said softly.
"Oh, oh." After adjusting her robe, Niu Jinxing couldn't wait to walk into the hall.
Others didn't dare to be careless and filed in one after another.
Thirty-nine-year-old Li Zijing was half lying and half sitting on the couch, with a young eunuch behind him supporting his body.
Unfortunately, his breathing was very uneven, as fast and sad as if he was pulling an old bellows.
Who would have thought that this is the body of a forty-year-old man.
But there is no way, this is forced by fate.
Li Zijing had not enjoyed much happiness since he was young. As his brother Li Zicheng continued to fight in the south and north, he kept fleeing and traveling thousands of miles to Kham. Even a real military general could not bear it, let alone ordinary people.
Li Zijing.
And after several years of enjoying happiness, he was also accompanied by intrigues with military commanders and civil servants. He looked like a middle-aged man, and he was obviously exhausted.
Niu Jinxing suddenly thought of Li Zicheng and the kindness of knowing him. His heart felt sour and his eyes were warm.
He also died at the age of forty, so was Lao Li's family so unlucky?
He was afraid that he would lose his bearings before the king, so he quickly avoided looking at him, opened his sleeves, and knelt down first: "I, the ox Venus, kowtow to the king!"
Li Zijing is a very loyal and honest person. Although he has been intrigued and intrigued over the years, he can't help but reveal his true feelings at this time:
"Today I can see you all again, I am worthy of King Wu Cheng..."
As soon as these words came out, everyone couldn't help but burst into tears. Even heroes like Tian Jianxiu and Li Laiheng couldn't help but have their eyes red and a few tears welled up.
At this moment, everyone suddenly thought of Li Zijing's kindness and the perseverance of Li Zicheng, who died young.
Of course, in the end, my hometown of Shaanxi will never be forgotten.
"I have been wandering around with King Wu Cheng for more than ten years in my life, traveling thousands of miles, and finally settled in Shunjing. I never thought that I would be lucky, and I will finally meet him today -"
Speaking of this, Li Zijing was out of breath, but he calmed down a lot under the eunuch's service.
He looked at his eldest son Li Si: "Come here -"
"Yes!" Li Si came over obediently and stood in front of the bed.
"I am not blessed with much luck, but thanks to God's blessing, my son Jiang and Kang Guo will be succeeded by the crown prince Li Si after my death. You will support me wholeheartedly."
Li Zijing's voice was broken, but he spoke clearly.
"I obey the order——"
Everyone hurriedly kowtowed, shouted in unison, and then bowed to Li Si, thus establishing the title of king and minister.
Compared with his elder brother Li Zicheng, Li Zijing's family also had children, but he only had two seedlings. One was the eldest son Li Si, and the other was the youngest son Li Zhao, who was only five years old.
Obviously, before his death, he was still uneasy about life, fearing that his son's position would be unstable and his younger son would succeed him, so he went directly to confirm the relationship between the king and his ministers in front of everyone.
Intermittently, King Kang also announced that his youngest son Li Zhao would be crowned Cheng Dejun, with Niu Jinxing, Song Xiance, Song Qijiao, Tian Jianxiu and Li Laiheng as assistants.
After announcing these, Li Zijing passed away.
At this time, everyone also regained their composure and began to discuss temple names and posthumous titles.
Since Li Zijing had been in bed for many years, these funeral arrangements had already been decided.
Niu Jinxing said directly: "The former king should be Taizong."
"If you have a posthumous title, it will be given by Beijing."
Everyone agrees with this.
Afterwards, the sixteen-year-old Li Si was put into royal robes and sat on the throne, watching these ministers discuss important matters.
As for these important national affairs, he had no say at all. He could only sit with his eyes blank, wandering in the sky.
At this time, Tian Jianxiu suddenly spoke up: "Not long ago, because the late king was seriously ill, the news from Beijing was not dealt with. Now that the new king has succeeded to the throne, I am afraid he will not be able to resist."
Hearing this, Niu Jinxing and the other three civil servants frowned and couldn't help but think about it.
After becoming a vassal state, Kang State, like North Korea, implemented great principles. On the surface, it was very respectful to the Ming Dynasty and did not dare to go beyond it. It seemed to be more obedient than North Korea.
But there is no way. The survival of Kang State requires the Tea Horse Road, which is a lifeline. Once it is banned by the Ming Dynasty, Kang State's economy will collapse.
Let this force them to obey.
And this matter was to send troops to Lhasa to attack the Khoshot Khanate.
Naturally, the civil servants were not happy, because this would consume money and food from the national treasury, and it was a thankless effort.
But the generals were happy.
Being able to fight is second, because the plundered land and population will be divided among the generals, which is tempting.
"Let's wait until after the king's ceremony to discuss it!" Niu Jinxing used a delaying method.
"Let's make sure everything is ready first." Tian Jianxiu said solemnly: "The Ming court is so urgent that we can't allow us to delay."
"Prime Minister, Kang Guo cannot bear the consequences."
Hearing this, Niu Jinxing was very angry.
Sure enough, they were a group of arrogant and powerful generals. Unfortunately, he thought that the ambition of this group of people had been drained, but it only increased their greed.
Several people were discussing, or quarreling, like this.
But at this time, all the generals were there, the civil servants were at a disadvantage, and the political hall headed by Niu Jinxing had to surrender.
The military government sent 10,000 troops, and the generals from various states and counties sent a total of 40,000 troops to form a 100,000-strong army and marched toward Lhasa.
The household government will allocate 100,000 silver yuan as the departure fee.
The date for dispatching troops was set one month later.