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

"His Majesty has ordered you to register the households in Liaoyang. As long as you do your job diligently, even if you embezzle a few, no one will be able to find out."

"You insist on concealing serfs, and you even intend to continue to act arrogantly and domineeringly, and even help other powerful clans conceal serfs."

"Isn't this looking for death?"

Zhang Xuanzheng hesitated, unsure of what to say.

He's really used to it; it's a habit he's developed over a hundred years, and it's very difficult to change it immediately.

This was true during the Liao Dynasty, and it was true during the Jin Dynasty, so why can't it be true during the Ming Dynasty?

The group set off, and Zhang Xuanzheng and his men were not far from Wu Qimai.

Wu Qimai gloated and cursed, "Traitors, you all deserve it!"

"Did you think that betraying the Jin and surrendering to the Ming would guarantee your wealth and status?"

"The cunning and ruthless Emperor Zhu is cruel and ungrateful. Even though you have rendered great service by surrendering the city, you still cannot escape being beheaded!"

Zhang Xuanzheng had no interest in refuting anything and was urged forward by the soldiers like a walking corpse.

When traveling by boat from Lushun to Shandong, every time we stopped outside the city to rest, large crowds would gather around to watch, treating Wu Qimai like a monkey from a great distance.

Upon arriving outside Kaifeng, Wu Qimai suddenly shouted, "I want to see Emperor Zhu!"

Ma Kuo did not refuse and personally helped Wu Qi buy a message.

Zhao Yuan returned to the capital a month earlier than them and had already learned of Ma Kuo's plans.

how to say?

Mostly positive, but with some minor reservations.

Since some things have already been done, there's no need to make a fuss about them. Ma Kuo and the generals are certainly meritorious and have done nothing wrong.

A grand court assembly was held a few days ago.

Zhao Yuan publicly solicited the opinions of his ministers: "The Jin emperor Wuqimai, as well as the puppet empress dowager and emperor of the pseudo-Song, are about to be escorted back to the capital."

"What do you think should be done?"

Minister of Rites Hu Anguo spoke first: "Our Great Ming has never recognized the puppet empress dowager and emperor of the pseudo-Song Dynasty."

“They should first be reduced to commoners, and then be prosecuted for treason.”

"As for Wuqimai, he was, after all, the ruler of a country, and should be treated as a ruler of a fallen country in history."

"He was given a noble title and allowed to remain in Kaifeng under surveillance."

“The young women among those Wu Qi bought can be brought into the harem to serve His Majesty as concubines or palace maids.”

This is the normal procedure.

The Ming Dynasty never recognized the pseudo-Song regime in Hebei.

Their collaboration with the Jurchens against the Ming Dynasty is a clear case of treason.

There is also a set procedure for the fall of a kingdom.

Give him a title without merit, and then grant him a house to keep him under house arrest.

It's fine to keep them alive, or they can suddenly "die of illness," but you can't kill them openly.

All the young and beautiful concubines or princesses were brought into the Ming emperor's harem.

If the emperor didn't like them, he would make them palace maids.

Hu Anguo continued, "Several princesses from the former Song Dynasty have come of age in recent years, and they should all be brought into the imperial harem."

"His Majesty is merciful and has allowed them to marry among the common people. But who would dare to marry them?"

"While the Jin concubines and princesses are coming to the capital, the former Song princesses should also be brought into the harem!"

Zhao Yuan then asked the other ministers, "Do any of you have any objections?"

No one objected.

Hu Anguo's remarks were all reasonable and well-founded, and this is how the normal procedure should be followed.

Zhao Yuan said, "Then grant Wu Qi the title of Duke of Anle and bestow upon him a residence in Kaifeng."

Zhao Yuan didn't intend for Wu Qi to live for long; he would "die of illness" at most in half a year.

Even after "dying of illness," it will not attract attention; the death will be silent and unnoticed, leaving only a few words in the history books: "died of illness in such and such year."

The so-called noble ladies from the former Song and Jin dynasties were also brought into the harem this time.

Not all of them are asleep; being a palace maid is fine too.

They might even be palace maids who never see the emperor, only responsible for doing odd jobs in the palace.

Zhao Yuan continued, "All palace maids who are over twenty-two years old will be retired and returned to civilian life, and they will be allowed to marry freely."

"Those who are homeless or do not wish to leave the palace may apply to stay."

"This is a set rule and should be written into the system of rites."

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers shouted.

Zhao Yuan added, "The Ministry of War has already determined the reward plan for the meritorious soldiers."

"The Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites should also discuss this quickly and finalize the list of those to be granted titles."

When the Ming Dynasty was founded, Zhao Yuan made grand promises.

He recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and at least three of them were granted the title of Duke.

For every enemy state of a different race that is destroyed, a prince of a different surname is appointed.

You must keep your word!

After repeated discussions, the results of the ennoblement are as follows:

Li Bao was enfeoffed as the Prince of Liaodong.

Zhang Guangdao was enfeoffed as Duke of Qi.

Yang Zhi was enfeoffed as Duke of Chu.

Shi Yuangong was enfeoffed as the Duke of Lu.

Li Bao's accumulated military achievements are so numerous that if a prince were to be conferred the title, it would undoubtedly be given to him.

No one objected, even though Li Bao didn't achieve any great merit this time.

Chapter 3492 Rising Star in the Military

Zhang Guangdao repeatedly defeated Wanyan Zonghan in Shanxi, which also earned him outstanding military achievements.

Yang Zhi's main task was to defeat the Western Xia, when the Ming Dynasty's military strength was stretched thin.

He used the terrain and firearms to defeat the Western Xia in one battle, giving the newly established Ming Dynasty a chance to regroup.

As for Shi Yuangong, he was a spy chief, and a very low-key one at that, having secretly devoted a great deal of effort to the task.

Whether they were princes or dukes, once they received these titles, they all had to return to the capital to serve as officials and could not lead troops on the front lines.

He would only be temporarily appointed as commander-in-chief unless another major war broke out.

Yue Fei, Wang Yan, and Li Yanxian were all granted the title of Marquis! They had all made great contributions this time and were considered rising stars in the army.

Although Yang Zaixing had made many military achievements in Liaodong, his seniority was too shallow.

This time he could only be granted the title of Earl, but his military rank was promoted three levels.

Many generals, including Li Jinyi, Hua Rong, Yang Yun, Chen Ziyi, Deng Chun, Guan Sheng, Han Shizhong, Yao Pingzhong, Wu Jie, Liu Qi, Zhang Xian, Zhe Yanzhi, Zhao Li, Li Cheng, Yelü Yudu, and Xu Ning, have all received promotions in their military ranks, whether they made meritorious contributions or did not fight much.

The ranks of nobility have also been improved. Some who had no rank have been given a lower rank, while others have had their rank remain the same but have received an increase in their fief.

The first Protector-General of the Southern Mongolia Protectorate has been confirmed as Han Shizhong.

In the following years, Han Shizhong and Yue Fei each guarded a large area of ​​grassland.

Han Shizhong faced the Western Xia and the Kereit tribes, while Yue Fei faced the various Mongol tribes.

Li Yanxian was transferred back to Shaanxi and appointed as the Shaanxi General.

Wang Yan was appointed General Commander of Hebei, Chen Ziyi was appointed General Commander of Shanxi, Yao Pingzhong was appointed General Commander of Henan, and Guan Sheng was appointed General Commander of Shandong.

Zhe Yanzhi was appointed General of Liaoning, Deng Chun was appointed General of Huainan, and Zhao Li was appointed General of Korea (stationed in Pyongyang)...

Some older generals were transferred back to the Ministry of War or the Privy Council; for example, Yelü Yudu got a position in the Ministry of War.

Liu Yanqing, Zhe Keqiu, and other former warlords of the Song Dynasty were all promoted one rank and retired to their homes, where they could receive a monthly salary without any compensation.

They relinquished all their positions in the Ministry of War or the Privy Council to other generals who were transferred back to the capital.

In addition, Shi Yuangong's intelligence organization was formally incorporated into the Ministry of War as the "Military Intelligence Division," and merged with the post stations, relay stations, and canal transport system.

At the same time, it is also necessary to coordinate with the Privy Council.

Shi Yuangong was transferred to the Privy Council and served as its director.

……

Just as the court was preparing for the ceremony of presenting the captives and the investiture ceremony, the Court of State Ceremonies reported: "The envoy of the Yellow-Headed Uyghurs has arrived in the capital. Their leader, Qianji, wishes to declare himself Khan and requests Your Majesty to bestow upon him the imperial surname."

Zhao Yuan was somewhat speechless about this; the rise of Qinghai's power was indeed a significant change.

The Yellow-headed Uyghurs who lived on the southern slopes of the Qilian Mountains were the ancestors of the Yugur people.

They sometimes submitted to the Western Xia and sometimes to the Song Dynasty, and their scattered tribes could not be unified.

In recent years, however, through tea and horse trade with the Ming Dynasty and participation in Silk Road trade, its influence has rapidly expanded around Qinghai Lake.

Last year, they even conquered the various Tibetan tribes south of Qinghai Lake.

Now they even plan to declare themselves Khans, and have requested the Ming Emperor to bestow upon them the surname "Zhao".

After careful consideration, Zhao Yuan decreed: "Establish the title of Khan of Qinghai and Prince of Submission by appointing Qianji, the leader of the Yellow-Headed Uyghurs, and bestow upon him the name Zhu Huaizhong."

The Ming Dynasty inherited the territory from the Northern Song Dynasty and had already firmly occupied Xining, so there was no point in continuing to fight towards Qinghai Lake.

Chapter 3493 Heavy Snow Blocks the Road

They could only station troops in Xining to replenish the population of the Hehuang Valley and re-Sinicize the Tibetan people.

In this way, we can intimidate the Khan of Qinghai.

Through merchants, the Ming Dynasty court had obtained accurate intelligence.

This Khan of Qinghai is 52 years old and has two younger brothers and six sons.

Besides the youngest son who stayed with him, the two younger brothers and five sons all received pastures.

Let him wait it out. Zhao Yuan can outlive the Qinghai Khan and wait for his brothers and sons to fall into internal strife.

After the fighting had nearly ended, the Ming court intervened again, continuing to bestow titles and fiefdoms to maintain firm control, and demarcating territories to prevent them from expanding beyond their borders.

The rise of the Yellow-headed Uyghurs also made Tosma feel as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

Several envoys arrived last year, requesting to submit to the Ming Dynasty and receive official positions.

Tuosima is a geographical concept located at the junction of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, where many Tibetan tribes live.

Last year, Zhao Yuan sent envoys to Tuosima and appointed eight commanders in one go.

The purpose was to prevent the Yellow-headed Uyghurs from continuing to expand.

If the Yellow-Headed Uyghurs dare to attack the Tubo tribes of Tosma, the Ming Dynasty will have an excuse to send troops to teach them a lesson!

There has been a lot of news from the vassal states these past few days.

Because of the heavy snow blocking the roads, they were sent to the capital after the spring, and now they have gradually reached Zhao Yuan's hands.

The Gaochang Uyghurs also came to complain, saying that Yelü Dashi was constantly encroaching on their territory and controlling their border pastures north of the Tianshan Mountains.

Last autumn, the King of Gaochang sent troops to fight, but they were defeated and forced to flee in disarray by Yelü Dashi.

After this battle, many tribes north of the Tianshan Mountains submitted to Yelü Dashi.

In just one year, Yelü Dashi's territory expanded by about one-sixth.

……