Xing Qing couldn't help laughing when she thought that Princess Changle's gentle expression would probably shatter when she received the bill.
But she thought that if no one went to marry, there might be a war, and the people in the border areas would suffer. Xing Qing's smile faded: "Sister, if I don't marry, will there be a war?"
Xing Nong was reading a medical book while eating dry food in small bites. Hearing this, he nodded and said, "There will be a war, but it has nothing to do with you not going to marry. Chu will not let anyone go to marry again. Zhao and Chu will eventually have a war."
Songbai heard this from outside and echoed, "Yes, this war is unavoidable. ..."
Zhao State has never been at peace. In recent years, at the end of each year, some bandits would appear to rob the people in the border villages of Chu State of their food, property, and women. Those bandits were well-trained and came and went without a trace. "
The government sent troops to occasionally capture one, find the Zhao soldier's badge on them, and then go to Zhao to reason. Zhao's response was that they sent troops to suppress bandits, and some soldiers were killed by bandits. Those bandits picked up the soldiers' badges and deliberately disguised themselves as soldiers to rob, kill and plunder. They would also send troops to suppress bandits, and then the more they suppressed, the more bandits there were.
Those bandits were actually soldiers from the State of Zhao. Their purpose was to deliberately cause trouble and provoke war.
After all, the tribute period set at the beginning is about to expire. In order to continue to suppress the State of Chu, the State of Zhao will definitely send troops within the next two or three years.
In fact, the policies that Zhao State adopted towards Chu State in recent years can also be seen. First, Zhao State colluded with the powerful officials of Chu State to destroy Chu State’s strongest army and bravest soldiers, and destroyed Chu State’s strongest "city wall".
Then when Chu asked for peace, although Zhao failed to occupy Chu's city, it proposed a marriage, an annual tribute of 100,000 taels, and gave up hundreds of thousands of acres of mountains and forests in Chu! There is a natural treasure trove there!
And for ten years, the annual tribute of 100,000 taels was all taxes paid by the people! How would the people feel about this
In addition, the king of Zhao proposed a marriage alliance every three years or so, and wanted to marry a princess of Chu. If there was no princess, he would settle for a county princess or even other women.
The grain trade between Zhao and Chu also suppressed Chu in every way, making it impossible for the people of Chu to grow high-yield grain. The people of the three neighboring countries could have enough food and clothing and live and work in peace, but most of the people of Chu lived a life of hunger and cold!
Where there is comparison, there is harm. These have subtly influenced the people's impression of the emperor, making the people feel that the king of Chu is weak and incompetent, unable to protect the territory, unable to protect his children, and unable to protect the people!
As the saying goes, he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. If this continues, the Chu Dynasty will be in danger.
"… Zhao State has evil ambitions. It is trying to create chaos in Chu State caused by the people. They will destroy us again!" Songbai said a lot, and then said: "So Miss Xingqing, you don't have to think too much."
After Xing Qing heard what Songbai said, she glanced at the blue sky outside the window. The late autumn sky was deep, high and cloudless.
The whole sky is as blue as a gem.
She couldn't help thinking: A person's life is like this blue sky, there will be wind and rain, there will be thunder and lightning, but there are more sunny days.
This is true for people and for countries, so we must always be prepared for danger and plan ahead.
Xing Qing looked at the sky for a while and did not disturb Xing Nong from reading. She also picked up a piece of clothing and started working.
Taking advantage of the boredom of traveling, she bought a lot of cloth and had it cut at the princess's mansion, intending to make a few sets of clothes on the road.
The medical book that Xingnong was reading was a pharmacopoeia. She wanted to understand the properties of the medicinal herbs and see if she could cultivate a new variety of medicinal herbs that could cure the poison in her body.
~
Beijing, Prime Minister's Mansion
Chu Tianyu, Prime Minister Liang, Yao Zhengxian, and Xie Zhen gathered together.
Prime Minister Liang and Wen Ruiqing had just seen off the Zhao envoys and returned to the palace.
Chu Tianyu looked at Yao Zhengxian and said, "Princess Funing returned to Futai County early this morning under the escort of the Wu'an Escort Agency, but the male favorite of Xingyuan did not go out today."
Prime Minister Liang: "Just because you haven't gone out doesn't mean you haven't left."
Yao Zhengxian immediately said: "Don't worry, Second Prince, don't worry, Lord Liang, I have already issued an order to notify all major checkpoints to keep an eye on the whereabouts of Master Shen."
The Yao family was in charge of the grain transport. In the past, they only managed the grain transport of half of the Chu State. However, since the end of the previous emperor, when the Queen Mother took control of the government, the Yao family took control of the grain transport of the Chu State in less than two years. And on land, among the soldiers guarding most of the cities in the entire Chu State, there were people from their Yao family!
If Master Shen and Princess Funing and her group left together, his people would definitely be able to find out.
Prime Minister Liang suspected that Master Shen and the prince's male favorite were the same person, most likely Shen Xingnong. The truth would be revealed when they arrived in Futai County. After all, they could find out whether Shen Xingnong had left Futai County by asking the villagers.
If we can't get anything out of the villagers, now Zhengyong has already taken Zhou Yingying as his concubine, then we can let the Zhou family go to the Shen family and we will know.
But it is confirmed on the way, so you can take the opportunity to get rid of it!
Prime Minister Liang thought of the unconscious Liang Liyuan, and a sinister look appeared in his eyes: "How long will it take for Zhao's doctor Zhao to arrive?"
Yao Zhengxian: "It will take at least 20 days."
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Liang became a little annoyed. Would it take another twenty days
Now that he saw Li Yuan lying motionless on the bed, he felt that the days were passing by like years.
Prime Minister Liang looked at Xie Zhen again: "How is the eldest prince doing in the army?"
Xie Zhen was tall and imposing, about thirty years old, with a dark beard, making it difficult to see his appearance.
His biggest feature is that his hair is thick, black, coarse and long!
Hearing what Prime Minister Liang said, he said, "It's just a trick, you little brat. He thinks he can use those tricks to distract from the prestige I have accumulated in the army over the years. Haha... Let him go! Let's see what tricks he can come up with in just one month!"
Prime Minister Liang frowned and said, "Chu Tiankuo is a very cunning man. I have fallen into his trap several times. You should be careful not to fall into his trap. If you have any questions, please listen to the military advisor's advice."
Xie Zhen is a rare military commander with great martial arts skills, but he has one shortcoming: he is a bit arrogant like his father! He thinks he is great!
This is a fatal flaw on the battlefield!
That’s why Xie Qiangguang was so far inferior to Marquis Changping before.
Fortunately, he sent a military advisor to be with them. It was because Xie Qiangguang listened to the military advisor that he was able to uproot the Changping Army!
Humph, Chu Tiankuo caused his own son to remain unconscious in bed.
In a month or two, he wants him to die on the battlefield!
Yao Zhengxian thought of something and asked again: "Should we arrange for the Song family to start firing some porcelain and send it to Zhao State to sell?"
There is only about a month left, and the arrangements are almost complete.
After all, this must be a complete and flawless arrangement to ensure that you can get out of it safely when the time comes.
Prime Minister Liang nodded and said, "I've already thought about it. I'll ask the Song family to make a batch of oil-saving lamps and then ship them over."
Several people's eyes lit up when they heard this.
Chu Tianyu smiled and said, "Grandfather is smart! This oil-saving lamp is a good thing. If we send it to Zhao State, we might even make some money!"
Everyone present nodded.
Then they discussed the next arrangements before leaving.