Unlike the colonial system in the West, China's tributary system focused more on political influence than economic gain. Its inner core is the Kifu system, that is, the Son of Heaven of the Central Plains Dynasty is the co-master of the internal and external services. The Son of Heaven was directly administratively administered in the "internal service" of the kingdom, and the "outer service" outside the directly subordinate areas was ruled by the local rulers of these places canonized by the Central Plains Dynasty, and the internal and external services defended each other. As a result, the concept of "the whole world" was formed, and the concept of "the whole world, the land of the king" was formed. In this system, the subordinate states were required to pay tribute to the Central Plains Dynasty as a sign of submission, and the Central Plains monarchs used guò in return to achieve the corresponding political goals. As a result, the value of the gifts given by the monarchs of the Central Plains is often far more valuable than the tribute.

However, the Central Plains was currently in the midst of chaos among the princes, so in addition to the Han Emperor, the vassal states had to pay tribute to the most powerful princes in the vicinity or even multiple princes. As a result, a circle of subordinate tributary systems was formed around princes like Cai Ji. Of course, compared with the emperor of the Han Dynasty in the capital of Xu, Cai Ji was more concerned about how to consolidate the connection with the surrounding vassal forces than about the prestige and etiquette.

Just as the Gaya-state intended to deepen trade between the two countries, Cai Ji gave back luxury goods from Qingxu and Xuzhou, such as celadon, brocade silk, and cotton paper. Chenhan's tribute was similar to that of the Gaya, and would help Liaodong introduce rice, so Cai Ji gave a piece of jade in addition to the corresponding reward as a sign of goodwill. In addition, the tributes offered by the Lulou people are all local specialties, although the amount is not much, but in terms of the productivity of the Lulou people, it is already very valuable. In addition, the power of the Rulou people is between Buyeo and Goguryeo. In order to achieve the goal of containing Buyeo and Goguryeo, Cai Ji gave back to the people of Julou with strategic materials such as grain, salt, and weapons. Seeing Cai Ji, the female prince, was generous and benevolent. The envoys from all over the world who came to pay tribute naturally swore to the heavens for their monarch and swore allegiance to the Marquis of Qi and would never repent.

Lin Fei stood behind Cai Ji, watching the young female prince talk and laugh and bring a cadre of the clan under his command, and couldn't help but secretly clench a piece of white silk in his sleeve pocket full of small characters. Saying. The pigeon kept Cai Ji safe everywhere and brought Momen's instructions to Lin Fei. In this biography, the elders of Momen once again reaffirmed the importance of Jinxi to Momen, and instructed Lin Fei to use the power of the Qi army to further expand Momen's influence in Liaodong in order to later compete with the Confucian forces occupying the Central Plains.

It was not surprising that the Momen Elders would have such an idea. After all, the most direct way for a family to get ahead is to cultivate literature and martial arts and sell them to the emperor's family. Therefore, whether it is the family of Yingchuan or the Haoqiang of Jingchu, they are sharpening their heads and sending their children to the accounts of the major princes. Due to the long-term seclusion in the countryside of Momen, it is not as deep as the Yingchuan family. and does not have Jing Chuhao's strong financial resources. This made Momen only use the momentum of Taiping Dao to secretly develop its own power before. And Cai Ji's reuse of Lin Fei and Duan Zhi made the elders of Momen see the opportunity for Momen to come out, and even came up with the idea of seeking military power on the side of Jinglu. It was with this idea that Momen would do his best to support Lin Fei and help Cai Ji establish Jinxi City.

However, Jinxi City is just Jinxi City. There are tens of thousands of Taiping Taoists in Jinxi City, and Lin Fei himself is the founder of Jinxi, so Momen can naturally occupy a place in Jinxi. But after leaving Jinxi City, it's a different matter. Most of the local Han people in Liaodong were controlled by the clan and township party, and they respected Lin Fei, the ruler of the city. The Taiping Daoists in Jinxi City are always wary. As for the surrounding Hu people, although they envy Jinxi's rich resources and Lin Fei's endless tricks, they can't accept the Mo family's concept of non-aggression and love. Thinking of this, Lin Fei's ears couldn't help but ring, and Cai Ji said a comment in Yishui City that day - "You are not a talent of a hundred miles." ”

It is true that Cai Ji's original intention when he said this sentence was to praise Lin Fei's ability and think that he should step out of Jinxi and step towards a broader stage. But at this moment, Lin Fei sincerely felt that he really lacked the talent to manage the side. At least for so many years, he had never thought of transplanting rice into Liaodong, even if he himself had traded rice with Chenhan merchants. In fact, it is not only transplanting rice, but many of Cai Ji's decisions sound unbelievable at first glance. But after careful consideration, it can always make people happy and convinced. It was precisely these shocking decisions that made those difficult clan and township party forces gradually accept the rule of a female prince. Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine that in the future, both Jinxi and Liaodong will eventually submit to the Cai clan instead of Momen.

Except, of course, academics and politics. Lin Fei also obtained a certain amount of military power for Momen in Liaodong. It's just that after the catastrophe of White Wolf Mountain, Cai Ji has entrusted the military power of Liaodong to Zhang Liao, and Guo Jia has sent 50,000 horses to Liaodong in the name of rescue. Lin Fei's current influence in the military is far less than before. In this case, instead of staying in Jinxi, it is better to follow Cai Ji to give advice to him, or enter the Jiangwutang and Duan Zhi to study the art of the institution so as to absorb young talents to learn Moxue. But in this way, it contradicted the decision of Elder Momen.

"Zhengjie."

Cai Ji's call interrupted Lin Fei's thoughts. The latter quickly replied, "Yes." ”

"Thou hast ordered someone to set up a feast, and Lone will feast the envoys of all parties tonight." Cai Ji happily ordered.

"Whoa." Lin Fei leaned over to take the order, leaving the problem of Elder Momen behind him for the time being.

Delicate and sweet fruits, fatty and tender fish. The juicy roasted whole sheep and the mellow and strong wine, although the resources of Jinxi are not as good as those of the Central Plains. But Lin Fei, who had traveled among wealthy families, still presented Cai Ji with a rather grand dinner in the shortest possible time. Needless to say, the Rulou people who have lived in the depths of the primeval forest for many years, even the Sanhan people, who claim to be the remnants of the Central Plains, have added a bit of awe and dependence on Cai Ji, the female prince, when they see such pomp.

So, after three rounds of wine and five flavors, I saw an envoy from Ma Han take the initiative to plead to Cai Ji, "Marquis of Qi, the Goguryeo naval army often harasses the caravans of small countries, and asks Marquis Qi to make decisions for small countries. ”

Originally located at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, the predecessor of the three kingdoms of Mahan, Jinhan and Benhan was the Kei Joseon, and the Kei Joseon was built by the Shang Dynasty relict Jizi led 5,000 Shang Dynasty remnants to move eastward. Therefore, the upper nobles of the three kingdoms have always regarded themselves as the remnants of the Central Plains. Some nobles of Chenhan and Benhan even claimed that their ancestors were from Qin. Of course, due to the nature of the Kei Joseon, it was still an alliance between the Fang State and the settlements. The Samhans, who inherited the mantle of the Kei dynasty, were also only loose alliances of city-states in terms of political system. For example, under the rule of Tatsuhan, it was divided into 12 divisions, and the country of Gaya was the largest city-state in Benhan.

Originally, these remnants from the Central Plains were able to rule the local indigenous tribes with the technology and civilization they brought from China. However, after the Gao clan, who was born in the local forces of Liaodong, broke away from Buyeo and established the Goguryeo Kingdom, the control of the indigenous forces under the rule of the Samhan nobles became more and more inadequate. It is said that Goguryeo not only suppressed Samhan militarily. It has also continued to incite rebellions against the indigenous tribes on the Korean Peninsula. In a sense, it was precisely because of Goguryeo's repeated coercion and encroachment that the three Korean states successively turned to Chaeji for refuge. Therefore, after the envoys of Ma Han made a case, the other envoys present also turned their attention to Cai Ji, wanting to see if this female prince from the Central Plains would make decisions for them against Goguryeo, the old enemy in the north.

Of course, Chae Ji knew the relationship between Samhan and Goguryeo, but she also knew that Goguryeo was an extremely difficult character. As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty, Goguryeo, which had only been established for 15 years, dared to launch an offensive against Lelang County, Xuansu County and even the entire Liaodong region, which angered the Eastern Han Dynasty and was driven all the way by the Han army to the city of Marudu, which was deep in the dense forests in the north. However, with the start of the melee between the princes of the late Han Dynasty, this ambitious country in the extreme east began to move in a vain attempt to get involved in Liaodong.

If Cai Ji hadn't shown up. According to the original historical trajectory, the Goguryeo Society in the Three Kingdoms period first had a dispute with Gongsun Kang, and then was defeated by the allied forces of Gongsun Kang and Buyeo. Goguryeo would then take the initiative to attack Liaodong County with the newly formed Cao Wei alliance. And after Cao Wei captured Liaodong. The goguryeo people, who got carried away and did not change, soon unilaterally broke their alliance with Cao Wei and sent troops to attack the eastern and western parts of Liao. Such a backsliding move naturally attracted Cao Wei's harsh retaliation. In the first five years, Cao's army conquered the capital of Maru, forcing the king of Goguryeo Dongchuan to flee to Wofu. Thinking that Goguryeo would be destroyed, Cao's army returned to the dynasty soon after. But who would have thought that only 70 years had passed. Goguryeo rebuilt the city of Marudu. And began to attack Liaodong, Lelang and Xuansu. In the first year of the establishment of the Western Jin Dynasty, taking advantage of the disaster of the Central Plains to suffer from the Five Hu Rebellion, King Michuan of Goguryeo annexed Lelang County, the last county of the original four Han counties, and entered and controlled most of the northern part of the Korean Peninsula from the northeast region. Since then, Goguryeo has officially become a threat to the Central Plains Dynasty, and it was not until the time of Tang Gaozong that it was destroyed by the famous general Xue Rengui.

Knowing that the battle with Goguryeo would be a protracted confrontation, Chaeji naturally would not throw his limited forces into the mud pit of tug-of-war for the sake of Ma Han. But she couldn't just refuse the Mahan envoy, thus chilling the hearts of the followers here. After all, the Hu people have always been afraid of power but not virtue, if Cai Ji can't show enough power. The forces that had previously sworn allegiance to her were attacking her in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, Cai Ji has nearly 2,000 experiences in ancient and modern China and foreign countries as a reference. So before meeting the envoy, she already had a record on how to deal with Goguryeo, and when she saw Cai Ji quietly raising the wine bottle in her hand, she asked the Mahan envoy below. "Lone intends to form a coalition to maintain the Bohai Sea waterway, I wonder if Ma Han is interested?"

"Coalition forces?" The envoy hesitated.

Cai Ji took a sip of wine and smiled, "Three thousand lonely sailors." ”

The 3,000 Qi army and sailors were enough to intimidate the Goguryeo people at sea. With Cai Ji's promise, the Ma Han envoy who suddenly realized it hurriedly leaned over and bowed, "The small country is willing to serve the work of dogs and horses." ”

For a while, not only the Mahan envoys, but also the other envoys and chieftains present also rushed to express their stance to Cai Ji. "The small country is willing to follow the Marquis of Qi." "Please let me do my part."

The reaction of everyone can be said to be in the arms of Cai Ji. It is important to know that the Korean Peninsula has a long coastline, so the Qi army only needs a strong navy to effectively stop the southern invasion of Goguryeo. If necessary, they can also land in the Yanji area from the East China Sea of Korea and directly attack the capital of Goguryeo to encircle Wei and save Zhao. In fact, the Qi army had already attacked and harassed Xuansu County under the rule of Gongsun Kang through the Guò Water Division before, and achieved quite gratifying results. In addition, the formation of a joint naval division on the pretext of maintaining the waterway allowed Chaeji to grasp the righteousness without intervening too much in the struggle between Samhan and Goguryeo. Even Chae Ji was able to mobilize Samhan's soldiers and horses for his use in the name of the commander of the coalition forces. It can be described as killing three birds with one stone.

On the other hand, in the eyes of the envoys of various countries and ministries present, Cai Ji gave them not only three thousand sailors, but also a kind of political protection. "The Marquis of Qi of the Great Han Dynasty and the Great General of the Great Han Dynasty are the leaders of our family's alliance" -- this sentence alone is enough to make some small tribes deter the surrounding hostile forces. It is no wonder that some tribes that have nothing to do with the sea in the deep interior have also followed Samhan and clamored to join the coalition.

Seeing that the atmosphere at the scene was getting more and more enthusiastic, Cai Ji turned his head to Lin Fei and glanced at him, then got up and announced to everyone, "Are you willing to accompany Gu to watch the fireworks?" ”

Although everyone present didn't know what "fireworks" were, it was disrespectful to invite everyone from Qi Hou's own mouth. In this way, Cai Ji walked out of the banquet hall and came to the garden in front of the hall surrounded by a group of people and others. I heard a shrill whistle, a dazzling white light pierced the dark sky, and then there was a loud thunderous sound in the sky, but then it was not the familiar lightning, but a spark that was so brilliant that it did not resemble anything in the world.

"Divine fire! Divine fire! Divine fire from the sky! ”

A Rulou chieftain fell to his knees with a pop, and recited a word. Immediately after that, the envoys from other places also knelt on the ground in fear and prostrated repeatedly. Some of them actually thought of fireworks as divine fire, while others believed that it was a mysterious spell. However, whether it is a divine fire or a spell, in the eyes of everyone, it is a miracle descended by the female prince in front of him.

At the same time, Lin Fei, who was kneeling in the face of the black pressure around him, finally made up his mind. I saw him walk to Cai Ji's side in the face of the blooming fireworks, and whispered in her ear, "Fei Yong is inactive, it is difficult to be the governor of the city, and please choose another virtuous one." ”

Cai Ji turned his head and stared at Lin Fei, whose face was flickering under the fireworks, for a long time, and finally nodded slightly and said, "Good, Zhengjie will go back to the Central Plains with Gu." (To be continued......)