You have truly caused me great suffering!

November of the first year of Jianwu.

There are only two months left until the New Year.

This is the first New Year since the founding of the People's Republic of China and the establishment of the capital, and it is destined to be anything but ordinary.

Envoys from various countries have been arriving one after another.

Looking back to the first year after the founding of the country, in Bianliang, Chen Shao was very dissatisfied because very few vassal states came to pay tribute.

Therefore, the Court of State Ceremonial also attached great importance to this year, and counted the number of people and tribute gifts well in advance, and reported to Chen Shao.

Some small countries, because they offered little in tribute and gifts, were even hinted that they should procure some in Nanjing to avoid displeasing the emperor.

They stared at each other blankly, for in the past, paying tribute was an extremely profitable business.

Whatever amount you give to the Song emperor, he will return tenfold. Therefore, the Li Dynasty of Jiaozhi did not even dare to invade the border before the New Year in order to secure this opportunity to pay tribute.

Why are you asking for it so openly now?

The Ministry of Rites doesn't care about this. You vassal states are ungrateful and still haggling. Little do you know that if His Majesty is unhappy, you might end up losing your country.

Chen Shao's military campaigns were actually very methodical; he planned to attack every place where there was profit to be made, and he prepared for a long time beforehand.

However, others may not understand his strategies, so it seems as if His Majesty can send troops whenever he is unhappy and attack whomever he wants.

Chen Shao inspected each person in the Chuigong Hall one by one. The eunuchs and officials around him looked as if the King of Hell were calling out names, feeling that His Majesty wanted to find fault with them.

In fact, what Chen Shao wanted to see was not these things at all, but rather to observe the thoughts of the various vassal states from the gift list, so as to judge their ideas.

Because he had previously given special instructions that all memorials from Japan should be placed first, and today was no exception.

In terms of status, Jang Dynasty and Goryeo were actually the most important vassal states and the closest to each other.

This time, Toba learned his lesson. Not only did he send a large delegation, but he also refrained from arguing back in his letter, using much more humble language.

Your Majesty the Retired Emperor Toba of Japan bows deeply and respectfully presents this edict, paying homage to the Supreme Ruler of the Celestial Empire:
We humbly report that His Majesty the Great Jing Emperor, inheriting the legacy of the Tang and Yu dynasties and restoring the glory of the land of Yu, has brought submission to the four seas and swayed the followers of all nations.

Although I live in seclusion in Fusang, my heart is set on the imperial court. Though the sea is vast and boundless, I dare not forget the proper etiquette of presenting gifts.

With humble offerings from the East and rare delicacies from Penglai, I respectfully present them to the emperor, to express my sincere gratitude.

The list of tribute gifts was compiled using scrolls of paper in twelve different colors:
A pair of bronze inlaid with gold incense burners; a mother-of-pearl inlaid rosewood pipa; one hundred bolts of white silk; ten celadon teacups; two Japanese swords.

There are also agarwood carvings of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, a pearl, a cypress fan, and lacquered paper.
At the very bottom was a Buddhist scripture handwritten by Toba himself, said to be a prayer for Emperor Jing. Chen Shao was stunned when he saw it.

Good guy!
The Slender Gold style of calligraphy.
Although the writing is far from capturing the spirit of Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) and shows obvious signs of imitation, its unique style is immediately recognizable.

Chen Shao was both amused and exasperated. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing that these two had gotten together.

Give Toba a shock of "abundance and prosperity," and let Duke Hunde lead him to have fun.

Great opportunities don't support idlers.

Duke Hunde, a man who had no flaws as long as he wasn't emperor, finally had a chance to prove himself.

Sure enough, even a piece of toilet paper can be useful if placed in the right place.

A person like his mother, who is capable of handling such matters, will be needed sooner or later.

My own plans in Japan are not even one-tenth complete yet, and there will be more to come.

One stone-covered silver mountain was not enough to satisfy Chen Shao's needs; this was just the beginning.

Japan has abundant silver and gold, making it a very good market.

Looking further down, Goryeo goes without saying. As a country that Daejeong does not conquer, there is actually no need to conquer it.

The scale of the mission sent by Goryeo and the richness of its tribute far exceeded those of other vassal states.

Putting aside the fact that they lost sovereignty, they didn't actually suffer any losses; in fact, they are living better lives.

The Dali delegation hadn't left yet, and this time they sent many more people. Chen Shao could tell that Dali, especially the Gao family, was still thinking of giving it a try.

They didn't want to give up their business just like that.

This is only natural. Chen Shao did not intend to destroy Dali outright. His plan for Dali was to gradually infiltrate the region and eventually succeed.

In small countries where powerful ministers control the government and puppet emperors have no real power, it's actually quite easy to manipulate them.

Without even needing to examine its own internal structure, its very internal design is riddled with vulnerabilities, given the presence of a powerful external enemy.

Chen Shao did not harbor any resentment because of this. He could understand Gao Shi very well, and besides, she did not put up a fierce resistance.

Are we not even allowed to offer gentle resistance?
The poorest of the vassal states were probably the three Ryukyu Kingdoms, whose clothing and appearance were very primitive.

However, they were the most harmonious, without desires or wants, and they couldn't wait for Jing Kingdom to station troops there.

Since Chen Shao gave the order not to attack each other, the three families have made peace.

Their strength was comparable to a village brawl.

As for the southern kingdoms of Bagan, Cambodia, Champa, Srivijaya, Brunei, Ma'id, and Java, they all came with specific purposes.

Many of them have already realized that Zhang Chao of Jiaozhi is now Emperor Jing's henchman.

They were even more ferocious than during the Joseon Dynasty.

Moreover, there were now large ships, and the armor and weapons were no longer what they used to be. Gunpowder and cannons made them complain endlessly.

They both loved and hated Da Jing.

They truly appreciated the trade and wealth that Da Jing's fleet brought when it sailed to Southeast Asia.

They were genuinely afraid of the thug that Da Jing was employing.

Da Jing's requirements were simple: once a mine was discovered, I had to be able to properly mine, refine, and transport it onto the ship.

As long as no one bothers us, everything is fine; otherwise, the Jiaozhi people will arrive soon.

At first, everyone was very envious of those mines and veins, but now that we think about it, we didn't discover them before the Dajing people came, and even if we did, mining them wouldn't be as easy as it was for them.

Let's just pretend we didn't see it.

Many small countries in Central Asia traveled thousands of miles along the Silk Road to Nanjing.

Finally, there is Wanyan Balisu. Although he shares the same surname, he is not related to Aguda.

Like Yin Shuke, he belonged to a minor branch of the Jurchen people, and he had suffered a lot of cold looks and exclusion because of this.

The Jin Dynasty was a place that placed great importance on bloodlines.

Balisu knew full well what would become of the Jurchen general Zhu Wanyan; he had witnessed it firsthand and was trembling with fear.

After the southern deserts submitted to the Great Jing Dynasty, they could no longer capture miscellaneous barbarians and sell them to the northwestern fortresses as laborers. Now they have found a new path to wealth: they are middlemen between the two sides, and they are living quite comfortably. He really doesn't want to die.

Chen Shao glanced at his gift list; it was quite impressive.

He hesitated for a moment, then tapped the gift list a few times with his finger.

In that single thought, the decision of life and death is made.

After weighing the pros and cons, Chen Shao decided not to destroy him for the time being. Firstly, although Aguda's lineage had been wiped out, there were still many Jurchens in the Jin Kingdom.

This includes the Liao people who had once surrendered to the Jin dynasty.

Chen Shao didn't want to give them the impression that he would eventually wipe them out, thus making things more difficult for Li Gang.

Moreover, the speed of the pull-off is a good buffer; he certainly wouldn't be so bold as to go south to raid for supplies.

With him blocking their way, even if the various barbarian tribes of southern Mongolia starve to death, they cannot get past him to plunder.

In critical moments, they can also be used as henchmen.

Thinking of this, Chen Shao wrote a letter to reassure him and told him not to worry.

Pulling away from the speed barrier can be considered a narrow escape from death.

At this moment, Wang Xiaojie entered, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Prince Fu Wu Jie and Duke Wei Wu Lin are requesting an audience outside the hall."

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Let them in."

The two brothers waited outside the hall. Wu Jie glanced at his younger brother, reached out to straighten his official robes, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Second brother, when you see His Majesty later, do not speak."

Wu Lin asked, "Why?"

"You've only been with His Majesty for a short time; I'm afraid you might break a taboo."

Wu Lin retorted, "Brother, we joined the Dingnan Army together at Hengshan. Moreover, I am His Majesty's personal guard. When His Majesty and I were setting up camp at Yanmen, you were still in Youzhou."

Wu Jie frowned at his underling, about to reprimand him, when Wang Xiaojie stepped forward and said, "Please come with me, both of you."

Wu Jie quickly smiled and asked, "Lord Wang, how is His Majesty's mood?"

"No, no, Your Majesty, you flatter me. His Majesty has been in good spirits these past few days, especially after the defeat of the Tartars." Wu Jie knew what was going on, exchanged a few more polite words with Wang Xiaojie, and then followed him into the palace to meet the Emperor.

Wu Lin was somewhat unconvinced; his elder brother was increasingly adopting the mannerisms of those officials with their official hats.

After the two people entered and exchanged greetings,

Seeing the thick stack of memorials on the emperor's desk, they were unaware of the special circumstances of the day. Chen Shao had specially ordered them to be brought over, and they assumed that he was always so diligent.

Wu Jie said directly, "Your Majesty works tirelessly day and night. Such diligence is a blessing for all the people. I humbly wish that Your Majesty cultivates a peaceful and harmonious character and enjoys good health, which is a blessing for the ancestral temples and the state."

Chen Shao didn't explain. He glanced at the two brothers and suddenly had an interesting idea.

Aren't these two just high-ranking versions of the Duke of Rong and the Duke of Ning?

However, that family consisted of brothers who were granted the title of two dukes, while the Wu family had one king and one duke, making them even more noble.

I just don't know if future generations will be just as despicable and unworthy.

When Wu Jie saw that Chen Shao didn't speak, he was slightly taken aback. He glanced at himself and his brother and realized that their attire and etiquette should be correct.

Chen Shao smiled and asked, "Having returned from Jiaozhi, are you adjusting to the climate of Nanjing?"

Actually, the rainy season in Ko Chia was over at this time, and it was quite comfortable with a warm and pleasant climate.

Of course, Dali Yangcheng would be even better.

Seeing that he still treated his subordinates with such kindness, Wu Jie felt relieved. The reason why Wu Jie taught his younger brother how to do things outside the palace was because he had also started studying.

Like Lao Zhu, he read a lot of books and became very knowledgeable.

Throughout history, after powerful rulers ascended the throne, many of their subordinates, relying on past relationships, neglected the proper etiquette between ruler and subject.

Such people usually don't have a good ending. The greater their achievements, the more respect they should receive in the long run.

Wu Lin was different from him; he had always been by Chen Shao's side and didn't have the same worries as his elder brother.

After being offered a seat, Chen Shao inquired about Jiaozhi, to which Wu Jie answered fluently.

Wu Jie did a very good job in this conscription of Jiaozhi, which pleased Chen Shao greatly.

He fully understood his own thoughts; even if he had gone in person, he probably wouldn't have achieved such a perfect result.

The main point is that not everyone could issue that kind of order during the Battle of Red River.

Do you really think just anyone can be Bai Qi?

The result was even more surprising. Zhang Boyu was even more sensible than Wang Kai of Goryeo. In fact, if they were really determined to fight against him...

They ventured into the mountains and forests, leading those rioters from outside the Red River to cause trouble, and the situation could not be quelled in a short time.

This will have far-reaching consequences in the future.

The good thing about this is that they are also of Han lineage, so people like Zhang Boyu can appear. He won't have much of a psychological burden if he submits to the Central Plains.

After all, Zhu Laosi hadn't yet massacred Annam, so there wasn't much deep hatred between them.

Once Chen Shao found them new enemies and targets, and genuinely improved their lives, the fertile land vacated in the Red River region was also occupied by new elites.

Jiaozhi is now only missing an imperial edict from Chen Shao to be annexed and returned to China.

Whether Wu Jie was sincere or just overly cautious from studying, he praised Wang Bing profusely.

Then there were his generals, who kept downplaying their achievements, making Chen Shao shake his head.

He didn't just get information about Jiaozhi from Wu Jie's reports.

Caravans were responsible for transporting supplies, and most transport teams also carried out intelligence work.

After all, only people who travel all over the country and are constantly in circulation can collect and transmit intelligence.

Like the Jinyiwei (Imperial Bodyguards) of later generations, many of them disguised themselves as merchants, diligently running trade routes and secretly collecting intelligence. They did this for their entire lives, and their skills were even passed down to their descendants after their deaths.

Since the caravan was under the Guangyuantang name, Chen Shao had two or three channels for intelligence on each battlefield.

He will compare, consider, and then make a judgment.

Only in this way can rewards and punishments be clearly distinguished, and the morale of the troops be kept at your disposal at all times.

Wu Jie undoubtedly deserves the greatest credit for the victory in the Battle of Jiaozhi, including his post-battle governance and support for Zhang Boyu.

The reason Chen Shao left Wu Jie to guard the main camp and later sent him to conquer Qinghai and Jiaozhi was because he knew that Wu Jie was good at both military and political affairs.

Historically, he defended Sichuan and Shaanxi for more than ten years, repeatedly defeating the Jin army, winning with fewer troops and thwarting Jin Wuzhu's attempt to enter Sichuan.

He united the forces of Sichuan and made significant contributions to the governance of the region, thus stabilizing the western front of the Southern Song Dynasty. He was hailed as the foremost of the "Three Heroes Who Protected Sichuan".

This is not a simple warrior.

Looking at the young Wu Jie and Wu Lin brothers, Chen Shao was reminded that he was also young enough, and he felt very happy.

"Minister Wu, do you know that we have only taken a small step in our endeavors?"

Both of them were somewhat at a loss. The current state of the capital was an extraordinary achievement compared to any other dynasty in history.

To put it bluntly, even if Your Majesty were to be compared to Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, you would still be a step above them.

With this achievement, we've only taken a small step. What about the big step?
“A few days ago, I was discussing matters with Han Shizhong and found him to be lazy and indolent. I thought he was trying to protect himself by disgracing himself. After asking him, I learned that this fellow thought the world was settled and there were no more battles to fight, so he wanted to enjoy life to the fullest.”

"He also said that his family was poor, he had never enjoyed any happiness since childhood, and he didn't even want to do my work anymore. He only wanted to go back and keep courtesans and live a life of debauchery."

“I reprimanded him severely, you could say I was furious. Come and see for yourselves.”

The two brothers quickly got up and walked to the imperial desk, where they saw a map spread out on the table.

It looked completely unfamiliar, but upon closer inspection, the middle section was none other than the main scenic spot.

How did His Majesty draw other places?
Could it be that His Majesty's spies have reached the ends of the earth?

Chen Shao pointed to the map and said, "This is a map I drew. Take a look."

He used his finger to mark the areas including Southeast Asia and Japan, Korea, saying, "These are the lands we have explored so far. Other places are still unexplored."

"As the ancients said, 'All land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects.' As my generals, you will be needed to pacify these lands for me in the future. May the blessings of the Great Jing Dynasty nourish all directions and cover the four seas."

Wu Jie quickly clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Your subject would never dare to refuse to serve you!"

Seeing his second brother still staring blankly at the map, Wu Jie nudged him with his elbow. Wu Lin, not reacting at first, continued to exclaim in admiration, "Your Majesty is truly a divine being, possessing innate knowledge without formal learning. Even back then, with the Song-Jin maritime alliance, Your Majesty harbored the will to resist and destroy the Jin; it turns out it was all ordained by Heaven!"

Hearing his second brother's praise, Wu Jie suddenly felt that he might be a fool who had good luck.

Although saying these words is not as appropriate as I would have done, it should have been more to the Emperor's liking.

Chen Shao smiled and said to him, "You should humbly learn from your elder brother. He has helped me expand the territory and is my trusted confidant. He often says that my heart is as I wish."

"I cannot be without you, my elder brother, for even a moment."

Wu Jie was moved and hurriedly said he dared not accept such praise. Chen Shao laughed and said, "When I see you two brothers, I feel happy, but when I see Old Zhong and Grand Tutor Cai, I feel sad."

"This cause requires everyone to work together. By the time it is successfully completed, most of them will be gone. But you will be able to share the glory with me."

Chen Shao was not just being polite; he never had a master-slave mentality and regarded all the outstanding people of this dynasty as his "colleagues."

He considered it his duty to work with courageous and selfless people and to create a future for the nation. These people were all his helpers and fellow travelers!
If he could, he would love to let all these people see what a glorious era they had finally achieved through their hard work.

Unfortunately, human lifespan is limited; this is an objective law, and some people will always leave first.

Wu Jie sighed inwardly, realizing that what he had learned from books might not be suitable for the current emperor.

He was not an ordinary person; he was not even a normal emperor, and the experience of previous dynasties could not be applied to him.

Your Majesty's magnanimity and kindness, and your sincerity in treating people, make you an emperor unlike any other in history.

When important officials or generals return to the capital, His Majesty will definitely host a banquet, so Wang Xiaojie had already ordered people to prepare in advance.

Sure enough, after chatting for a while, as noon approached, Chen Shao invited the two brothers to stay for a banquet and sent someone to summon Han Wu, Lao Zhu, and other martial artists to accompany them.

Wu Jie was well-liked, and since they were from a family with two princes, which martial artist wouldn't support him?

Even those high-ranking military officers in the capital who weren't summoned by Chen Shao came on their own.

The most talked-about topic during the banquet was not Wu Jie's achievements in Jiaozhi, whom they were welcoming today, but the Battle of Lulong Ridge.

In the eyes of these veteran generals of the Dingnan Army, the only true adversaries were the Jurchens.

Destroying the Jurchens was also the most satisfying thing to do.

When they got into a good mood, Han Wu insisted on performing a sword dance in the middle of the night.

Old Zhu rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward to challenge him to a sumo wrestling match.

Finally, Chen Shao also joined the dance, and a group of people danced and sang arm in arm in the hall. (End of Chapter)