Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Jianshen sat in the first place, Li Qing and Shi Biao sat opposite each other, and the eunuch Huai En waited on the side, and there was no one else in the huge hall.

Zhu Jianshen sighed and said, "Shi Aiqing, tell Yongqinghou about the matter." ”

Shi Biao nodded and got straight to the point: "Warat is split." ”

Li Qing's eyes lit up, this result did not surprise him, but it made him worried: "Be specific." ”

"At present, it is roughly divided into three factions, the Warat faction is one faction, the grassland local tribal alliance of the Warat camp is one faction, and the Warat side branch unites some grassland natives as a faction." Shi Biao explained, "Among them, the descendant faction that inherited the main body of Warat is the strongest, the local tribes of the steppe are slightly inferior, and the faction of the Warat side branch is the weakest. ”

After a pause, "However, no matter which faction, the attitude towards Daming is very friendly, at least on the surface, the three parties have expressed their willingness to continue to pay tribute to Daming and exchange trade." ”

Li Qing's brows furrowed slightly, and he muttered: "Just listen to this, you can't take it too seriously, they are willing to continue to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, but it is just for trade, so as to develop better, not sincerely." ”

"I think so too, but... I don't think it's a big deal, and we won't suffer a loss in business......" Shi Biao suddenly stopped, only to see that both of them looked at him with the eyes of fools.

"What, what's wrong?"

Zhu Jianshen raised his chin, his face was unfathomable, and motioned for Li Qing to speak.

Li Qing was too lazy to worry about these with Zhu Jianshen, and said: "It is true that the Ming Dynasty has gained a lot of benefits from trading with them, but, relatively speaking, the grassland has made greater profits;

What the Ming got was money, horses and other livestock, but what the grassland got was survival materials, real population growth, and if this continued, their comprehensive strength would only get bigger and bigger, and one day, they would covet the Central Plains again. ”

Shi Biao scratched his head and asked, "Then let's ...... Don't do business with them anymore? ”

"It still needs to be done, but not comprehensively." Li Qingdao said, "Don't suffer from widowhood, suffer from unevenness; The uneven distribution of benefits is more conducive to their internal strife. ”

Zhu Jianshen interjected: "I also mean this, but the current situation is still unclear, and it is not advisable to make a decision too early, in case of betting on the wrong treasure, I am afraid that it will backfire." ”

He said lightly: "Our ultimate goal is not to solve the problems at the border, nor to make money through trade, but to 'eat' them." ”

"The emperor is wise!" Shi Biao patted his ass, but he still didn't understand how the emperor arranged him.

"Your Majesty, ...... of us?"

Zhu Jian sighed faintly: "Sir, come on." ”

"......" Li Qing glanced at him, and then said: "Test their attitude first, suspend trade, and cancel the 'king' of the grassland, whether it is their original 'king', or the 'king' of Taizu and Taizong, Daming will no longer recognize it." ”

"What do you call them?" Shi Biao smacked his mouth, "There has to be a name, right?" ”

Zhu Jianshen also glanced at Li Qing in surprise, this decision ...... There is some disrespect for Taizu and Taizong.

"It's called...... The little prince. Li Qing sneered and snorted, "Further down, regardless of the size of the force, they are collectively referred to as chiefs." ”

Shi Biao frowned and said, "This is somewhat ...... Insulting people may cause them to be outraged. ”

Li Qing said categorically: "It's certain that they are unhappy in their hearts, but they can't do without the necessities of life in Daming, and they have to admit that they are unhappy." ”

Zhu Jianshen interjected: "Yes, whoever lowers his head first, who he does business with first, will crush the arrogance in their hearts first!" ”

"The emperor is wise." Shi Biao patted his ass, and then asked, "What about other than that?" ”

Zhu Jianshen took a sip of tea and said, "Sir, come on." ”

Li Qing's eyes were about to turn upside down, and he said speechlessly: "The suspension of trade will greatly affect their lives, and they can't be forced too hard, they must always taste the 'sweetness', and when they eat sweetness, they will be more afraid of hardship." ”

"So ......?"

Zhu Jianshen interjected: "Trade is changed to tribute!" ”

Shi Biao was stunned and admired: "The emperor is wise! ”

There was a pause, "That's... Run again and inform them? ”

"Hmm......" Zhu Jian glanced at Li Qing, who lowered his head and sipped his tea, pretending not to see.

Zhu Jian pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "You work hard, but don't bring so many people this time, they don't dare to openly confront the Ming Dynasty, and the national treasury is not rich......

After a pause, he said, "I gave you three thousand elites, is that enough?" ”

Shi Biao nodded: "When will the minister leave?" ”

"Aiqing has worked hard all the way, let's rest for two days first," Zhu Jianshen said, "Let's set off the day after tomorrow!" ”

Shi Biao was speechless: The day after tomorrow, why don't I mobilize immediately? There are also two days off...... At best, it's two hours.

“…… Emperor Xie Longen. Shi Biao pinched his nose and complimented, "That... Resignation? ”

Zhu saw the deep chin and smiled warmly: "Shi Aiqing walks slowly." ”

~

After Shi Biao left, Zhu Jianshen restrained his lofty posture and said affectionately:

"Sir, the current situation is treacherous, the future is full of uncertainty, and the matter of entering the cabinet is ...... What did you think about it, sir? ”

Without waiting for Li Qing to speak, he hurriedly patted his chest and promised, "Sir, don't worry, I don't have a lot of money." ”

Li Qing was speechless: I only have a few dollars, I am a person who is short of money?

"Sir, I need you, and Da Ming needs you too!" Zhu Jianshen said with emotion, "Now the Ming Dynasty looks like a prosperous scene on the surface, but under this prosperity, there is an undercurrent surging......"

Balabala......

Li Qing slowly breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hand to stop Zhu Jianshen's persecution of Lai Lai, and nodded: "I can enter the cabinet, but after I finish what I have to do, I will retire." ”

And this good thing...... Zhu Jianshen nodded busily: "I know that Mr. is working hard, and when Mr. resigns, I will give Mr. the title of duke." ”

Li Qing smiled: "Then thank the emperor first." ”

"This gentleman deserves it, huh...... You're welcome. Zhu Jianshen was afraid that Li Qing would regret it, so he hurriedly said: "I will make a decree later, and Mr. Tomorrow will come to work." ”

Li Qing nodded: "Yes, but my office hours are not fixed, your Majesty, you know, I'm old." ”

Zhu Jianshen pinched his nose and agreed, "I understand." ”

"That's okay, the minister will retire."

…

As soon as Li Qing walked on the front foot, Zhu Jianshen on the back foot issued an order to summon Li Qing into the cabinet!

Under Zhu Jianshen's instructions, in just one hour, it spread in the officialdom, and then set off earth-shattering waves.

This bastard is in the cabinet, will there be a good life in the future?

Belch... It doesn't seem like he has a good life if he doesn't enter the cabinet, but obviously, after this guy enters the cabinet, he is more constrained.

But the emperor issued a decree, and there is no way to oppose this, there is no doubt about the decree, and opposition is anti-imperial power.

can only oppose the parties, but can get Li Qing...... The cost is too great.

A group of officials of the Orthodox Dynasty broke into Li Qing's house and was killed as a result, and it has only been more than 20 years since this incident, and there are some people who have experienced it firsthand, and they shudder every time they think of it.

Obviously, it is not good to come hard, but it is not good to come to soft...... The effect is also not great.

Li Qing is so thick-skinned, and his methods are dirty enough, especially the 'willing to cut one's lifeless fighting style, which is a hob of meat.

That's a ...... Dog bites hedgehog - there is no way to put it in the mouth!

Of course, the most unhappy thing is the cabinet, as for the officials of the six ministries, the imperial history of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, these people have a rejection mentality, but it is not big.

Even, they were faintly gloating, hoping that Li Qing would stir up the cabinet uneasy.

~

Small courtyard.

The orange sunset shines on the branches of the fruit trees, which are more vibrant, and this year the warming is a little later, and the fruit trees only shoot in March.

Zhu Wanqing set up the dishes and chopsticks, and shouted to Li Qing under the fruit tree: "Uncle Li, it's time to eat." ”

"Here we are." Li Qing put it down, got up and came to the guest hall, "Yo, it's good today, and braised fish, um... The color and fragrance are good, but I don't know what the taste is. ”

Zhu Wanqing said embarrassedly: "My niece's skills are average, not as good as you and my eldest brother, Uncle Li, don't dislike it, hehe...... It's also the first time I've done it, and I'm ugly. ”

Li Qing took a pair of chopsticks to taste, and quickly frowned: You are really ugly.

He silently put down his chopsticks, turned to eat other dishes, and said, "You have worked hard, this fish is rewarded for you to eat, and it can't be wasted." ”

Zhu Wanqing: "......"

If you don't have to taste it, it will definitely not taste good...... Zhu Wanqing cried with a sad face: "Uncle Li, I really didn't mean it this time. ”

Li Qing smiled: "I didn't say that you did it on purpose!" ”

"Then you still ......"

"Shame on waste!"

Her arms couldn't twist her thighs, so Zhu Wanqing had no choice but to pick up a piece and taste it: It's okay, it's not delicious, but it's not so hard to swallow.

She took a mouthful of rice, puffed out her cheeks and whispered, "Uncle Li, do you really want to enter the cabinet?" ”

"Didn't you hear it all when the messenger came to deliver the message?" Li Qing sandwiched a piece of braised pork, "Well, this is not bad, you have to be careful when cooking in the future." ”

“…… Got it. Zhu Wanqing nodded, and asked again: "Uncle Li, you should be in the officialdom... It's not welcome, right? ”

"Huh? What do you mean? ”

"It's not... That's not what it means. Zhu Wanqing hurriedly waved her hand and explained, "I just think that Uncle Li, you will offend many people if you enter the cabinet, and my niece is worried that you won't be able to cope with it." ”

Li Qing shook his head and sneered: "I can cope with the smoke and miasma of the temple in the early years of orthodoxy, although this is also tricky in front of me, it is much better than then, it is nothing." ”

"Oh~" Zhu Wanqing put down her chopsticks and stared at Li Qing with both hands on her cheeks, "Uncle Li, I want to know ......"

"Your skin is itchy again?"

“…… No. Zhu Wanqing puffed out her cheeks depressedly, picked up the bowl and chopsticks to pull the rice, and muttered in a voice that Li Qing could hear:

"Let me know what's wrong, I can still talk nonsense, what's the problem with satisfying my curiosity? Cheapskate! ”

Li Qing said lightly: "Shut up when you eat in the future!" ”

“…… Uncle Li, I just think... People who work hard should not be unknown, but should be remembered by at least a few, even if there are only one or two people. Zhu Wanqing's expression was unprecedentedly serious.

Li Qing glanced up at her, and his expression softened: "Let's eat." ”

"Okay." Zhu Wanqing was deflated, although she was almost sure of what she thought in her heart, she didn't admit it in person, and she always didn't count, which made her scratch her heart.

Depressed for a while, Zhu Wanqing asked, "Uncle Li, when will you wake up in the future?" ”

"No, you don't."

Zhu Wanqing was surprised: "Can you get up in the morning?" ”

"I can't get up." Li Qing said indifferently: "But I can go to the office in the middle of the afternoon, or even in the afternoon, I just enter the cabinet, and I don't go to the morning court." ”

Zhu Wanqing: "......"

In fact, she really wants to unravel this living history of the Ming Dynasty, so as to understand the Ming Dynasty in the past hundred years, she is too curious, curious about the legend of the ancestors, curious about the legend of Li Qing......

Correct... Uncle Li was too irritable, and she didn't dare to test it easily.

But curiosity has not been extinguished, but has only intensified.

Alas! When will Uncle Li be able to tell the truth...... Zhu Wanqing tilted her head and wandered into the world.

'Smack! The slap on her head was followed by an angry voice: "What do you think?" Eat your fish! ”

“…… Got it! ”