Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 154: Cession of Jinan

Relying on the policy of "tribute in good years", Emperor Longqing successfully raised enough money to enrich the national treasury.

But after using this money to pay the military expenses of all parties, the national treasury returned to a state of extreme poverty.

The imperial court still could not come up with any money to help with the disaster in Shandong.

In order to solve this problem, Emperor Longqing tried to implement the policy of "advance tribute in years of plenty" throughout the country. Previously, this policy was only implemented in a few provinces around Zhili, because these provinces were close to the capital and it was easier to implement.

Now that the policy has been changed to be promoted nationwide, its revenue is bound to double.

However, if the policy is implemented nationwide, it will take some time to see results.

But the current disaster situation in Shandong obviously cannot wait that long.

In the past few days, Emperor Longqing was worried and couldn't sleep at night.

As October draws to a close, the autumn harvest in Shandong has come to an end.

Needless to say, the harvest was damaged as all corn and soybeans were destroyed by the floods. In the areas severely affected, the loss rate was nearly 80 to 90 percent.

Winter would come soon after the autumn harvest. Shandong had no grain reserves at this time, and the people could not get help. Unrest was bound to break out, and there was even the possibility of an uprising.

The Huaiyin bandits in Huaizhou have not yet been pacified. If another uprising breaks out in Shandong, then the country of Daxi...

I have no face to face my ancestors!
I am so wise, why have I come to this point today?

However, as the old saying goes, when a wise monarch encounters sorrow, there will always be loyal ministers who will share his worries at the right time.

Facing the worries of Emperor Longqing, Guo Bai, a first-rank official of Daxi, a cabinet minister, a senior military official, and the Minister of War, came!
Guo Bai said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I have a way to solve the disaster in Shandong!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Longqing grabbed Guo Bai's hand like a drowning man grabbing a straw and said, "What good ideas do you have? Please teach me quickly, my dear minister!"

Guo Bai said:

"Your Majesty, the current crisis is nothing more than an empty treasury that is unable to relieve the disaster in Shandong. However, Shandong is your Majesty's land, and the people of Shandong are your Majesty's people. If Your Majesty leaves it alone, it may cause criticism from the world, and changes will inevitably occur over time!"

Emperor Longqing nodded repeatedly and said:
"That's right, I wonder if you have any clever ideas to solve this dilemma?"

Guo Bai said: "Your Majesty, do you know the strategy of using the thieves to relieve the disaster?"

Emperor Longqing asked in confusion: "Using the thieves to appease the disaster, what does this mean?"

Guo Bai explained:
"The Huaiyin thief Fang Yong is ambitious. Your Majesty once named him the Duke of Yonghuai and promised him a marriage with a noble lady. Now Shandong is hit by a disaster and Your Majesty is unable to govern. Why not issue an imperial edict and order the Huaiyin thief to provide disaster relief on your behalf!"

"In this way, we can stabilize the people of Shandong and reduce the food and grass strength of the Huaiyin bandits. Next year, the court will gather its strength and go south to suppress the bandits. Wouldn't it be smoother?"

After listening to this, Emperor Longqing seemed to be thinking about something, but after thinking about it carefully, he shook his head.

"My dear minister, this plan is good, but the Huaiyin thief has always been cunning. Although he pays tribute in name, he is actually a separatist and autonomous. My edict is useless to him!"

Guo Bai smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the ancients said that even if you can't control it with force, you can still lure it with benefits!"

Emperor Longqing asked, "What do you mean, my dear minister?"

Guo Bai said: "The Huaiyin bandits are extremely greedy. Your Majesty only needs to promise them a small profit, and they will surely fall into your trap."

After hearing this, Emperor Longqing thought for a while and said:
"Then I promise him gold, silver and other riches to tempt him?"

Guo Bai shook his head and said:
"Your Majesty's money is not enough to save Shandong, let alone lure out the Huaiyin bandits?"

Emperor Longqing felt a little embarrassed when he heard this, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that the facts were indeed as Guo Bai said.

My own money is not even enough to provide disaster relief in Shandong, and the Huaiyin thieves are not stupid, so how could they help me with disaster relief just for such a small amount of money?

"Then, I promise to seduce him with beautiful women?"

Guo Bai still shook his head.

"Although it is rumored that the leader of the Huaiyin bandits, Fang Yong, is fond of women, beauty is only a small benefit; the country is the most important. When facing a major event, Your Majesty must lure him with great benefits in order to succeed."

After hearing this, Emperor Longqing hesitated for a long time before speaking.

"Neither money nor beauty can seduce him. Do I have to make him a king and grant him the imperial seal before I can seduce him to serve me?"

Guo Bai quickly denied it. "No, no, Your Majesty, only the tool and the name can be used, not by others!"

Now Emperor Longqing was completely confused.

"Money, fame, and fortune are all irresistible. What should I do?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Bai approached Emperor Longqing and whispered a few words.

"Cede Jinan."

As soon as these words were spoken, Emperor Longqing's pupils dilated instantly.

The expression on his face turned cold in an instant, and he picked up the inkstone beside him and threw it at Guo Bai angrily!
"You bastard, you want me to cede our territory!"

Guo Bai didn't dare to dodge and let the inkstone hit his shoulder. The pain made the corner of his mouth twitch.

Money is hard to earn, but shit is hard to eat!

Guo Bai quickly knelt on the ground and explained loudly:

"Your Majesty, please calm down and let me finish what I have to say."

Emperor Longqing was still furious and said:
"Speak, when you have finished speaking, I will dismiss you from your post, strip you of your honor, and never employ you again!"

Guo Bai said seriously:
"I have shared the country's worries. Even if I am dismissed from my post, I will have no regrets!"

When Emperor Longqing heard Guo Bai's generous and upright words, his anger was reduced a little.

"Okay, go ahead!"

Guo Bai then told Emperor Longqing the inside story.

"Your Majesty, please look!"

Guo Bai took out a map and pointed to the location of Jinan city.

"Jinan is located in the center of Shandong Province. It is in a very strategic location. There is Mount Tai in the south. Now the Yellow River has changed its course and there are more big rivers in the north. It can go directly to Beijing and Tianjin, and go down the river to Luoyang. It is a place that military strategists have been fighting for since ancient times!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Longqing glared at Guo Bai fiercely.

"Such an important place, you still want to cede it to the Huaiyin bandits?"

Guo Bai said: "It is precisely because of its importance that we can lure the Huaiyin bandits to serve your majesty."

As he spoke, Guo Bai ignored the angry look of Emperor Longqing and continued:
"Your Majesty, you don't know. I advise Your Majesty to cede this land to the Huaiyin bandits. This means ceding the name, but not the land."

"Shandong is a vast land, and Jinan is in the center of Shandong. It is surrounded by Tai'an, Yizhou, Jizhou and other places. When the disaster subsides, Your Majesty can send troops to garrison in these cities. Even if Jinan is ceded to the Huaiyin bandits in name, it will be difficult for the Huaiyin bandits to take it because of the barriers of these cities!"

Emperor Longqing suddenly realized, "That's how it is!"

He wrongly blamed Guo Aiqing!
If Guo Bai's plan is followed, indeed, even if Jinan is ceded to the Huaiyin bandits, the Huaiyin bandits will still not gain any advantage.

On the contrary, the Huaiyin bandits will be used by him to help him deal with the disaster in Shandong!

In this way, a large amount of the resources of the Huaiyin bandits will be consumed. If I were to conquer the Huaiyin bandits next year, it would definitely be much easier!

It really is killing two birds with one stone!

Emperor Longqing couldn't help but smile.

"Zisheng is truly my arm!"

At the same time, Yin Li and Wang Lun also came to Qufu in Jizhou, Shandong. (Jizhou Prefecture, originally Yanzhou Prefecture, near Jining.)
Yin Li came here on behalf of Fang Yong to discuss cooperation.

Kong Jifan attached great importance to Yin Li and went to greet him in person.

As a family that developed Confucianism in China, the Kong family is very inclusive and has always upheld the tradition of "teaching without distinction" from their ancestors.

To put it simply, when the land changes hands, no matter who the new owner is, the Kong family will help educate the people. This is called teaching without distinction.

(End of this chapter)