Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Kim Bu-sik was greatly encouraged:

"In other words, the key to escorting the Ming army out of the country was..."

"It's about currying favor with the Liangshan emperor."

Chapter 3117 Being a dog is fine too

Wen Gongren added, "The emperor is extremely concerned with his reputation."

"He has ordered troops to be sent to our country,"

"If they withdraw again soon,"

"How can this save face for the emperor?"

"Therefore, this matter cannot be rushed,"

"The more they urged the Ming army to retreat,"

"The more likely the emperor is to withdraw, the less likely he is to do so."

"How can an emperor gain face?" Kim Bu-seok asked.

Wen Gongren said, "The Ming army has set out north from Baozhou."

"If we can cross the Yalu River and achieve some success."

"Firstly, it would make the emperor appear to have had foresight in sending troops to Goguryeo,"

"Secondly, it can have a new garrison for the Ming army north of the Yalu River."

"At that time, the emperor will have face,"

"The Ming army also gained substance,"

"Withdrawing troops from our country would then be a logical step."

Kim Boo-seok thought about it and it made more and more sense. He clapped his hands and exclaimed:

"A beautiful and talented man!"

Although Wen Gongren's words made a lot of sense,

But Kim Boo-sik certainly wouldn't believe his one-sided story.

Several days later,

Cui Huan, who had been sent as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty, was released and returned to Kaizhou.

They brought news that Xu Kangzong was about to be crowned king.

Kim Bu-sik asked, "What is the actual situation in the Ming Dynasty?"

Cui Huan replied, "I have arrived in Kaifeng, the capital of the Ming Dynasty."

"They were not placed under house arrest,"

"He often drank with the officials of the Sifangguan (a government office),"

"Occasionally, he would go inside and outside the city to talk with the people."

"None of them dared to say the emperor was wrong,"

Everyone praised the Liangshan emperor for his benevolence and kindness.

"All the people under heaven are blessed with his kindness and virtue."

"Some also praised his heroic bravery,"

"It can ensure the peace and happiness of all people under heaven."

Kim Bu-sik then asked, "The territory of the Great Ming Dynasty,"

"Was it really the emperor who led the army to conquer it?"

“Absolutely true,” Cui Huan said.

Kim Bu-seok then asked, "What do you think the Ming army's intentions are?"

Cui Huan said, "Most likely, the Ming Dynasty wants to take advantage of this opportunity to seize the Pae-seo Road."

"Moreover, the Ming envoys and military generals support this matter,"

"They want to take the opportunity to gain merit first."

“The other civil officials of the Ming Dynasty were opposed,”

"When I returned from Pyongyang this time,"

“A civil official came from Shandong with grain.”

"It seems that this civil official had a quarrel with the envoy Xu Kangzong."

"Although I did not see it with my own eyes,"

“But after they talked privately,”

"Their faces turned very pale."

"A civil official from Shandong,"

Instead, he stormed off from the Ming army camp.

A series of messages,

Finally, Kim Bu-sik believed it—

The Liangshan emperor and most of the civil officials,

They did not want to annex the Pae-seo Province.

They were especially unwilling to transport grain to relieve the starving people of Goryeo.

After much deliberation, Kim Boo-seok came up with a solution.

He summoned the other ministers of the court.

Describe in detail what you know about the situation.

Then, Kim Bu-sik said:

"Xu Kangzong, the envoy of the Ming Dynasty,"

"And there are also military generals like Zhe Yanzhi,"

"It's nothing more than seeking wealth and merit."

"We cannot award credit for this at this time."

"But some money or goods can be given away."

"Silver bottles, furs, and ginseng can be given as gifts,"

"They were bribed,"

"Then you can get them to speak well of you."

"The desire for wealth can satisfy them,"

"But what about the credit they want?"

“The emperor probably only wants to gain martial prowess,” Ren Yuanhou asked.

Kim Bu-sik smiled and said, "As for martial arts, we can send an envoy to the Jin Kingdom to seek assistance."

"Let's say that the Xijing faction colluded with the Ming Dynasty court."

"The Ming Dynasty sent tens of thousands of troops,"

"Stationed in our country's Pae-seo Province,"

"They could cross the Yalu River at any time and attack the Jin Dynasty."

Chapter 3118 The Tragedy of a Weak Nation

"Wonderful!"

Hong Jae clapped his hands in admiration:

"The Jin and Ming dynasties were like two tigers fighting,"

"Our great Goryeo Kingdom can sit back and watch the tigers fight."

"The Ming army has won; now they can continue their advance northward."

"The emperor, his envoys, and his generals all acquired martial skills."

"Then we'll give them plenty of money and goods to make them retreat."

"If the Jin army wins, they will never sit idly by while the Ming army is eyeing the Pae-seo Road."

Kim Hyo-chung added, "In addition to money and goods, beautiful women should also be given as gifts."

"Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman."

“Women of all ethnicities can be selected,”

"To marry as a concubine to an envoy or military general of the Ming Dynasty."

"You've made them happy,"

"And also because of marriage ties,"

"How could they possibly wage war against our Great Goryeo?"

"This is a great thing to say!"

The ministers all thought the honey trap was feasible.

Anyway, large families have many branches.

Let those minor clans select intelligent and beautiful women.

To become a concubine for civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty.

There's no harm in constantly whispering in someone's ear all day and night.

If the Ming Dynasty had destroyed the Jin Dynasty,

It will inevitably become incredibly powerful.

At that time, these families will have established contact with officials of the Ming Dynasty.

If the Jin Kingdom were to launch a desperate counterattack...

Then let's assign the blame for colluding with the Ming Dynasty.

They made those minor factions the scapegoats.

The nobles of the Kaijing faction then discussed this important matter.

Then they waited for Heo Kang-jong to come and officially recognize the King of Goryeo.

Just as Xu Kangzong was about to arrive,

The Goryeo court had several officials.

They jointly submitted a memorial requesting that former Prime Minister Choi Hong-jae be reinstated to his original post.

Choi Hong-jae was not from the Choi clan of Gaegyeong.

His hometown is in Jishan, further south.

He once led troops into battle as a civil official.

He earned the unanimous respect of the military commanders.

They decisively defeated the Jurchen troops besieging the city.

132 Jurchen vests alone were captured—at that time, the Jin dynasty didn't have many vests in total.

Despite such a record, he was soon convicted of fighting without authorization.

He was only pardoned after winning a battle against the Jurchens.