Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 451 The Dilemma of the Northern Song Dynasty, Gao Qiu's Strategy

The Ming Dynasty's wolfish ambitions are now blatantly obvious.

Neither Emperor Huizong of Song, nor Cai Jing, nor any of the officials of the Northern Song Dynasty could come up with a solution to the impasse.

Without him.

The Ming Dynasty was too powerful and its military strength was too formidable.

The Northern Song Dynasty emphasized civil affairs and suppressed military affairs, resulting in lax military preparedness. Not to mention facing the Ming Dynasty and the neighboring Sui Dynasty, even the Liao Dynasty could easily defeat the Northern Song. Even the newly rising Jin Dynasty was eyeing the Northern Song with covetous intent.

The Ming Dynasty was preparing for war, revealing its ambition to conquer the world, and even if they knew this, they were powerless to resist.

They didn't even need to mobilize their entire force; just a small contingent from Tian Ce and Cang Yun was enough to bring utter destruction to the Northern Song Dynasty.

even……

There's no need to send them out.

This is the most desperate thing.

"Is there nothing we can do but wait to die?"

Emperor Huizong roared in the court, but none of the officials, including the mediocre ministers, could offer him any useful advice. Looking at the officials who bowed their heads and remained silent, he sneered. He knew that if he didn't push them, these people would probably still be dreaming of dynastic change, that they could simply change masters and continue to rule the country and enjoy their riches and glory.

"The Song Dynasty shared the world with its scholar-officials, a unique situation among all the nations. The Ming Dynasty has no such precedent. You all had better think this through. Before the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty even ascended the throne, he launched sweeping reforms, raising the sword and slaughtering Ming officials until rivers of blood flowed. Given his nature, the Song Dynasty could be destroyed by him."

“What awaits you is not a bright future, nor will you have the opportunity to sell yourself for a higher price.”

"Given the decisiveness of that new Ming emperor, the first thing he will do after the fall of the Song Dynasty will undoubtedly be to thoroughly investigate the entire country and purge the court. Some of you may be lucky enough to escape this calamity."

"Can……"

"Who among you can guarantee that their own bottom is truly clean?"

Zhao Ji's gaze was piercing, and wherever it passed, all the civil and military officials involuntarily trembled.

clean?

These two words would absolutely not appear in the dictionary of the officials of the Song Dynasty.

News from the Ming Dynasty was known to most of the officials and civil servants of the Song Dynasty, and they were also aware of the new Ming emperor's attitude towards corrupt officials.

Behind Gao Qiu, a civil official stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a suggestion that may alleviate the immediate crisis."

"speak."

"The Ming Dynasty is ultimately separated from us by the Southern Song Dynasty. We can follow Emperor Xianzong's example and conclude a treaty of Chanyuan with the Ming Dynasty!"

The Treaty of Chanyuan!
The entire court of civil and military officials fell silent.

This is considered one of the humiliating chapters in the history of the Northern Song Dynasty.

After Zhao Kuangyin established the Northern Song Dynasty, he launched a northern expedition to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, but all of them ended in disastrous defeat.

Later, Emperor Shengzong of Liao and Empress Dowager Xiao personally led a large army south to attack, penetrating deep into the heart of the Song Dynasty. Yelü Wudi joined forces with the Mongol Grand Master Phagpa and Mong Chixing to fight Zhao Kuangyin and the Southern Song Grand Master Huang Shang for three days and nights. When the Song Dynasty was able to take a gamble, it finally chose to sign a treaty with the Liao Dynasty, which is known in history as the Treaty of Chanyuan.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Huizong showed a hint of interest.

Cai Jing, standing to the side, stepped forward helplessly, shattering this beautiful dream:
"Your Majesty, that's impossible."

"The power of the Ming Dynasty is like a wildfire. Even if the Northern Song Dynasty cedes territory and becomes a vassal state, paying tribute every year, the Ming emperor will not accept it."

"Why?"

Zhao Ji frowned and asked in return.

Cai Jing gave a bitter smile and asked in return, "If Your Majesty commands a million troops and is absolutely certain of destroying a country without paying a heavy price, would you still tolerate the existence of Dali and Western Xia?"

"will not."

Cai Jing provided the answer for Zhao Ji.

"The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty must have the same idea. He has the two invincible armies, Tian Ce and Cang Yun, and now that he has ascended the throne, he has a million mighty soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, and the tens of millions of Ming people can continuously replenish the troops."

"The Ming Dynasty only sent three thousand soldiers, and it destroyed Annam in one day and Siam in two days."

"Whether it's the Southern Song Dynasty or the Northern Song Dynasty."

"For the Ming emperor, it was not much stronger than Annam and Siam. Since he could take it as easily as taking something out of a bag, how could he possibly agree to an agreement of submission and alliance?" The Northern Song Dynasty was naturally a hundred or a thousand times stronger than Annam and Siam.

Cai Jing was merely using this analogy.

However, none of the court officials, including Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji), could find any reason or excuse to refute it.

After all, the Tian Ce Mansion's record was simply too outstanding.

Three thousand soldiers can destroy a country in a single day.

It's not a tactic to directly seize the capital and carry out a surprise attack.

They truly conquered Annam and Siam city by city, directly breaking through one country and capturing the rulers of both.

The Northern Song Dynasty was strong, but how much stronger was it compared to Siam?

If three thousand Heavenly Strategy troops can't destroy the Northern Song, then thirty thousand will.

The Treaty of Chanyuan was established only when the two sides were not too far apart in strength.

The disparity in national strength between the Northern Song Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty was like comparing a village to a country; the latter could wipe out the former in an instant if it mobilized its troops.
Alliance? Submission?
That's just wishful thinking.

"This won't work, that won't work, does Prime Minister Cai have any better ideas?"

"no!"

Cai Jing shrugged. He could come up with solutions if the Liao Dynasty invaded or the Sui Dynasty came to his aid, but he was truly helpless in the face of the Ming Dynasty's threat.

Emperor Huizong laughed in exasperation, yet he was utterly helpless.

At this moment, Gao Qiu suddenly appeared and said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan, but I don't know if it's feasible."

"explain."

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) was in no good mood when facing Gao Qiu.

If Gao Qiu hadn't made such a solemn promise that most of the intelligence from the Ming Dynasty would have been false, then he and the Northern Song Dynasty wouldn't be in such a passive position now.
"The Ming Dynasty is coming on strong, and although it is difficult to resist, what the Duke of Gai said earlier is not entirely impossible." Gao Qiu bowed and replied in a deep voice, "It is certainly impossible to follow the example of Emperor Xianzong's Treaty of Chanyuan, but what if our Northern Song Dynasty were to form a marriage alliance with the Ming Dynasty?"

"As far as I know, His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty has no empress and no children."

"Princess Maode, along with the other princesses, possessed unparalleled beauty and were considered to be the most beautiful women in the country."

"Your Majesty, that Ming emperor is only in his early twenties. Even the First Emperor had the regret of Epang Palace. No matter how talented and ambitious he is, even heroes have always had difficulty resisting the charms of beautiful women."

Gao Qiu's proposal silenced the Northern Song court.

Even Cai Jing was taken aback.

"Somebody come!"

With a solemn expression, Zhao Ji shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall, and soon several imperial guards stepped into the court.

Just when Gao Qiu thought his suggestion had been valued by Emperor Huizong, he suddenly heard Emperor Huizong point at him and say coldly, "Throw Gao Qiu out and give him thirty lashes. Let him come back when he has sobered up."

"An official...an official??"

Gao Qiu was stunned. When he was forked out by several imperial guards, he was still puzzled. Even if there was a problem with his suggestion, he shouldn't have been forked out in front of all the civil and military officials in the court!

"idiot."

Cai Jing lowered his eyes. He had thought Gao Qiu's suggestion might bring some surprises, but it turned out to be just this?

If it were that simple, the threat of the Northern Song Dynasty's demise could be averted.

Do we really need Gao Qiu to jump out and become the scapegoat?

Cai Jing, haven't all the officials in the court already made positive suggestions about this?

It's true that even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman.

But it also depends on who it is.

Cai Jing did not deny that Princess Maode and the other princesses were indeed exceptionally beautiful, proficient in all the arts, and virtuous. Ordinary officials would be extremely fortunate to have even one of them as their concubine.

But what does such a person mean to an emperor?
Compared to the weight of a nation, is it even necessary to ask which way the scales will tip?
This is why, before the joy on Zhao Ji's face had faded, he flew into a rage and ordered his men to drag him out and beat him. Gao Qiu's suggestion was feasible, but not very much so.

(End of this chapter)