Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 875: Shuidong Song Family
"Oh?" Zhu Su raised his eyebrows, quite surprised. Even the other chieftains cast surprised looks at Ai Cui.

Shuixi Aicui is a well-known name in Yunnan and Guizhou. Shuixi, led by Aicui, is also very powerful. It was thought that these chieftains would never respond to such an unreasonable request from the court, but it was unexpected that Aicui would rush to donate land to the Ming court for the city construction?
Ignoring the complicated looks from the other chieftains, Ai Cui pulled out a map from her clothes and walked forward to open it.

Zhu Su watched him unfold the map, and felt something strange in his heart. He couldn't help but think of the story of Jing Ke, who was about to reveal his true intentions. But he still stopped Di Meng who wanted to step forward to stop him. It was normal that Ai Cui had lived in the southwest for a long time and didn't know the etiquette of the Central Plains. He didn't want to overreact and weaken the dignity of the court.

Fortunately, until the map was fully unfolded, no dagger was seen inside. Ai Cui pressed the map with her hand, and Zhu Su also turned his head to look at it. Ai Cui said: "This place is well connected, and it is the hub of Guizhou. In the past, the Northern Yuan Dynasty also built the 'Shunyuan City' here. Building a city here is the most appropriate..."

There were whispers among the chieftains. Song Qin, the head of the Shuidong Song family, also heard what Ai Cui said. Without thinking too much, he stood up and said, "Shunyuan City? No way!"

"Aicui, that place doesn't belong to just your Shuixi family! You want to offer it to the court to build a city, but I don't agree!"

"Don't be so rude in front of His Highness!" Behind Zhu Su, Di Meng took a step forward and shouted loudly, with a murderous aura surging.

Gou'er also stood in front of Zhu Su, narrowing his eyes slightly, staring at Song Qin like an eagle. Song Qin felt as if he was locked by a murderous aura, and countless beads of sweat oozed out of his back instantly.

Even a eunuch in the Ming Dynasty was so powerful!

The chieftains no longer dared to whisper. The banquet was completely silent and everyone held their breath. You could hear a pin drop.

"These are all officials appointed by the court. You must not be rude to them." Zhu Su reprimanded them softly. It was as if time had resumed its flow. After this reprimand, the chieftains dared to continue breathing. Di Meng and Gou'er quickly apologized and stood behind Zhu Su again. Zhu Su still had a smile on his face, but now, the chieftains would never dare to neglect the King of Zhou again.

"What did Tusi Song want to say just now?" Zhu Su said with a pleasant face. "Please speak frankly. It's okay. You have also been granted an honor by the court. I believe that what you said is also for the public good."

"I, I..." Song Qin's face turned pale, how could he still speak. He had not considered it before, but now he thought, if the court was determined to build a city in the old Shunyuan site, what could he do?
"...In that case." Zhu Su closed the map that he had taken from Ai Cui and nodded to her kindly. "Let's wait for Tusi Song to think about the wording before discussing this matter."

"Tonight, I don't have much time to think about official business... Come on, serve the wine and food. There's no need to think about those complicated things. Let's continue playing music and dancing..."

Ai Cui left with a look of joy on her face, and Zhu Su secretly grasped the map tucked into his sleeve. He had just understood that the so-called "Shunyuan City" presented by Ai Cui was the site of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province in later generations.

Guiyang is a place with convenient transportation links and is indeed the hub of your city.

If this place could be taken into our hands, it would not only facilitate trade in all directions, but also radiate the influence of the imperial court, making it easier to deepen the influence of the Ming Dynasty in Guizhou.

In fact, he had been eyeing Guiyang from the beginning, but he never expected that Ai Cui would offer it to him on her own initiative.

However, the problem is Song Qin... Zhu Su has also investigated and found that this piece of land was occupied by Ai Cui and Song Qin respectively after the Mongols withdrew. If Song Qin is unwilling, it will indeed be a problem.

You can't just occupy half of the land and build half of the city, right? What kind of talk is that?

"I have to find an opportunity to appease the chieftain of the Song family, and at the same time make him willingly offer the other half of the land for building the city..." Zhu Su thought as he twirled the wine glass.

……

The next morning, Ai Cui came to Zhu Su's camp again. Before him, Song Qin had been waiting there. Seeing the two of them, Gou Er, who was accompanying Zhu Su, invited them into a tent. "Please wait for a moment, the two chieftains. His Highness is changing clothes in the back..."

The two hurriedly followed Gou'er's instructions and sat down. After yesterday, these chieftains naturally did not dare to look down on Gou'er, the eunuch beside Zhu Su. At this time, they seemed a little reserved.

After a while, Zhu Su came out from behind the curtain, his face still friendly, and said with a smile: "I invited the two chieftains to see me so early in the morning, but I am sorry to disturb your good sleep."

"Have you had breakfast yet? How about having breakfast with me?"

The two said they dared not, but Zhu Su was very enthusiastic and had breakfast brought to them. The two could not refuse, so they sat down and ate with Zhu Su. Seeing that they were almost done, Zhu Su gently put down the bowl of porridge in his hand and said carefully: "Sir Song, regarding the site of the old city of Shunyuan, I have something to discuss with you..."

The construction of Guiyang was inevitable. Even if Song Qin was unwilling, Zhu Su could not care. Persuading him again with kind words was Zhu Su's last act of mercy. If Song Qin still didn't know what was good for him, he would have to resort to unconventional means.

Historically, the imperial court also successfully built the city of Guiyang, and the chieftains of Shuixi and Shuidong showed no signs of rebellion… The Ming Dynasty really did not want any more chieftain rebellion in the southwest. After all, the main purpose of the imperial court now is to recuperate. If it sends another large army to the deep mountains of Yunnan and Guizhou to suppress a local chieftain, it is unknown how much money will be spent.

But recuperation is for the sake of better punching and exerting strength in the future. If Yunnan and Guizhou are not peaceful, the court will be even less able to expand into South Asia. And to pacify Yunnan and Guizhou, building a prefecture is a must.

Even if it means forcing a chieftain to rebel, we should not sit back and do nothing at this moment.

Unexpectedly, Song Qin had a calm face. He stood up and bowed like a Han Chinese, saying, "Your Highness, you are too kind. I spoke too hastily yesterday. It is my fault."

"If Your Highness wants that place, then we will give it to Your Highness. I, the Song family, have no objection... In fact, I came here this morning to express my feelings."

This was beyond Zhu Su's expectation. Even Ai Cui looked at this old rival in surprise. Zhu Su really didn't understand why Song Qin, who was so excited yesterday, was so calm today.

"Sir Song... it would be great if you could figure it out. But..."

"Does the Song family have any conditions? You might as well make it clear. How about we just be frank?"

(End of this chapter)