Kang Zijiao is just over 20 years old, from a poor family, without any reasonable background or backing, but he is proud of his talents, so his popularity is not very good.
He was second in high school last year. Rumors have it that he was supposed to be the champion, but because of a scribbling error on the paper, he missed the leader. There is another saying that the champion has already been decided by default. for the second place.
In any case, Kang Zijiao is famous and more concerned than the champion.
What made him even more famous was that soon after the list was released, he wrote a ten thousand words book to the emperor, pointing out the country and commenting on the courtiers, as if he was the future prime minister.
The Wanyanshu was not only handed over to the emperor, Kang Zijiao also kept a copy for others to copy, and anyone was welcome to come and debate.
There are really good people who come to the door, but all of them come back.
Kang Zijiao became more and more complacent, and because of this, he became more and more unpopular. All the jinshi in the same year had already been sent out to serve as officials, and at least he could go to places such as the Hanlin Academy and Guozijian to live temporarily. Not appointed.
Han Ruzi's impression of this person was not particularly good. He had read the Wanyan Book carefully and felt that there were too many exaggerated words in it. He didn't bring Kang to self-correction during the hunting tour, and this time he was listed as a consultant after many hesitations.
Kang was self-reliant and eloquent. As long as he was present at every meeting, others could hardly intervene. Therefore, Han Ruzi rarely summoned him and never had a private conversation.
Han Ruzi wanted to make an exception and felt that since he could tolerate Nan Zhijin, he might as well give Kang a chance to correct himself.
Han Ruzi made some arrangements, summoned five advisers including Kang Zijiao, and gave them a task on the spot to debate with Huang Pugong, the general of the building ship.
This is not a court battle, it is more casual. Han Ruzi sat behind the desk, two eunuchs and two guards stood behind him, and the others gave them stools, but everyone would rather not sit, which not only showed their momentum, but also respected the emperor. .
Huang Puping has only returned home for a day, and he has not put on his armor. His waist is slightly hunched. No matter how he looks, he looks like a servant who has come out for business. Wu, quite famous in the army.
Huang Pugong bowed to the emperor and explained his thoughts in more detail, "The last general used to seek a living at sea all the year round, and went to the Nanyang area, where he saw products from all directions, including silk and paper from the Great Chu, and various treasures from the extreme West. , indicating that the sea is open. When the last commander was on the island, he was locked up with several western businessmen. I heard from them that the gods and ghosts have become very powerful in recent years, and they have occupied a large area of the West, and many royal families have been forced to flee. At sea, the god and ghost Da Chanyu ordered a ban on boats, and whoever came to the shore would burn the boat to kill, leaving no survivors, thinking that this method could starve the fugitives at sea to death, which showed that he did not know that there were many more at sea. A small country, not to mention that the sea can communicate with the Great Chu. I know but the enemy does not, so I can launch a surprise attack."
Kang Zijiao, who usually likes to debate, is uncharacteristically today. He stood on the side without saying a word. A consultant said first: "How long does it take to go to the west by sea?"
"If it's downwind, it will take a few months, including stopovers and recruiting crew members, it will take at least a year, maybe two years."
"Is it safe on the way? I heard that the storms at sea are treacherous. Less than 50% of the ten ships sailed out to sea and returned safely."
"It's not that exaggerated, 70% to 80% of the time, if the ship is big enough and the leader is experienced, there will be basically no problems."
The doubter shook his head, "A group of pirates, who have been to the South China Sea as far as possible, have to go to the West, how can they be experienced?"
"There are not many voyagers who run rampant, but they go all the way to find a guide without interruption. Merchant ships can go, so can navy."
Another person stepped forward and said, "If the trip takes place, how many people will the general bring?"
"There is no need to use the imperial army, just some ships and imperial decrees. If there are people, there will be thousands of pirates. If you recruit some more along the way, you should be able to reach 7,000 to 10,000 people in the end."
"It takes one to two years, maybe even longer, but only less than 10,000 soldiers can land on the shore. If the gods and ghosts are really as powerful as the legends, what can people do with this?"
Huang Pugong smiled slightly, "Soldiers, deceitful way, in front of the emperor and you, I will tell the truth, when I go to sea, I have another set of rhetoric. They will think that I have thousands of warships and hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and no matter how bad it is, I can contain the strength of the gods and ghosts."
The third person stepped forward and said, "That's not right. The general said at first that he was going to make a surprise attack, but now he wants to bluff. Wouldn't the gods and ghosts be prepared? Maybe they will also establish a navy army, just waiting for the general to surrender. net."
"It's the same sentence. Soldiers, tricksters. I've made all kinds of preparations here, and I'll be adaptable on the battlefield."
The fourth person said: "Pirates are desperadoes, they belong to different gangs, and the general is a general who was once captured by pirates. How can you convince the public and take them all the way to the extreme west to fight?"
"I'm a pirate." Huang Pugong straightened up a little, with a smile on his face, he knew that this matter would be brought up sooner or later, so he might as well say it himself, "Everyone knows about pirates from rumors, but I personally Experience. If a pirate is most similar to someone, it is not the army, not the rogue, but the businessman. The businessman is good, and the pirate is also good. Don't believe the rumors about how brave and ferocious the pirates are. The real pirates only attack the weak. The less the risk, the better, unless the benefits are enough, they won't take risks easily."
"General Huang wants to lure him? But the court can't give you anything but ships and names." The advisor glanced at the emperor, believing that was the case.
"The ship is not important, the name is enough. The Great Chu has a high status in the Nanyang, similar to the Western Regions. If General Deng can form an allied army of the countries, so can I."
Kang Zijiao finally said, "It's different, the Western Regions are between the gods and ghosts Danyu and the Great Chu. If the two powers compete, the Western Regions will inevitably suffer first, so he is willing to provide soldiers and food to General Deng. The countries of the South Seas are far away from disputes. , As General Huang said, the gods and ghosts may not even know that there are so many small countries at sea, and the countries can stay out of the matter, why should they provide help to the general?"
Huang Pugong was stopped by the question and hesitated for a moment, "The situation in Nanyang is still unclear, we can talk about it later."
"Random changes?"
"Yes, adapt accordingly."
"It sounds like General Huang is going to gather a group of pirates, holding the emperor's decree, under the banner of the Great Chu, to swindle and deceive around the sea. If it succeeds, go to the western sea for a circle, if not, just 'seek a life' in the Nanyang , It is appropriate to advance and retreat, but Da Chu has nothing to do with this 'navy army'. If the matter is successful, the general will build a miracle throughout the ages, but if it fails, the infamy belongs to Da Chu."
Huang Pugong is also a man who abandons literature and follows martial arts. He is not stupid, but he is incapable of facing Kang Zijiao, his face is reddish, and his voice is low, "This... When you fight outside, you must trust the general first, if you don't believe me, I will It's no use saying anything."
"The court must trust the general, and the general must work hard to gain the trust of the court. If the army travels thousands of miles away alone, why should the general win the trust of the Great Chu court?"
"Uh... How did General Deng in the Western Regions win the trust of the imperial court?" Huang Pugong asked rhetorically.
"After General Deng's fame, his relatives, friends and family members were all in Da Chu even though he was outside, so he was trusted."
"It's hard, I'm alone, I don't even have Fang Yuan relatives, but those pirates can't control it, so I have to follow me personally - or else the court will send another general, and I will serve as a lieutenant to assist him, how about it? "
"The pirates are all yours. Even if the imperial court sends ten generals, what can they do? Isn't that what you said?"
Huang Pugong was speechless, after thinking for a moment, he turned to the emperor, "This is the end of the words, there is nothing to say at the end, all I have to ask Your Majesty to rule."
Han Ruzi doesn't know much about Huang Pugong, and he can't say whether he trusts or distrusts him, but he really doesn't want to let a general go on an expedition with an unpredictable future. There has been no news from Deng Cui so far, which has made him very worried. Worry.
"Let's get here today and talk about it another day." Han Ruzi didn't make a decision, but he needed to make up his mind on some things right away. The Great Chu navy was encircling the pirates at sea, whether to attack or retreat, and the emperor needed to issue an order as soon as possible.
Han Ruzi decided to let the pirates fear for a few more days.
Everyone resigned, and Han Ruzi left Kang Zijiao alone.
Kang Zijiao performed well in the debate, and others who won this honor have nothing to say.
"Don't debate, Kang Qing will talk about her thoughts." Han Ruzi said.
After all, Kang Zijiao is a Confucian scholar, pays attention to etiquette, and the gesture of handing over his hands is perfect, and he replied: "General Huang is taking risks, and if Your Majesty sends General Huang to go out, it is also taking risks."
"Oh? What risk do I take? General Huang will betray and destroy the reputation of Da Chu?"
Kang Zijie shook his head, "At present, there is indeed a god and ghost in the extreme west who is fighting against various countries, and he has sent messengers to provoke Chu. It is unknown whether it will attack Da Chu in the east. In the wild, heroes rise and fall from time to time, and the gods and ghosts are not the first. If there is a war in the future that threatens the survival of Da Chu, then the sea expedition is His Majesty's Foresight and foresight is also the eternal merit of General Huang. If there is no such battle, or if the gods and ghosts are just bluffing, and they are stopped in the Western Regions, then His Majesty will inevitably accuse him of great joy, and General Huang has ulterior motives. He is a traitor through the ages. This is His Majesty's adventure, the enemy is strong, His Majesty is strong, and the enemy is weak, His Majesty will be very embarrassed, the final result does not depend on His Majesty and General Huang, but on the gods and ghosts."
Han Ruzi was also speechless and said with a smile, "Kang Qing is right."
Han Ruzi raised his hand gently, and the eunuchs and guards behind him understood what they meant, and bowed out of the tent one after another.
The emperor sat upright.
The debate just now was just a test, Kang Zijiao passed, and the real challenge has just begun.
The minister has "three tricks" that are firm and accurate, and Han Ruzi wants to hear how a second-ranked person who has never been an official should deal with it.