You have truly caused me great suffering!

Jinling City, Chengtian Temple.

Adjacent to the largest and most magnificent Buddhist temple in Jinling, a towering official residence stands alone on the north wall, with two rows of crows cawing and circling overhead.

A young Korean servant, bored out of his mind, leaned against a pillar in the corridor and silently counted the birds flying in the sky to pass the time.

Their master had been inside for a long time and hadn't come out yet; the monks around him didn't seem like good people.

He dared not look around, and when he got tired of standing, he could only look up at the sky.

At this moment, his master, Cui Shunting, was in turmoil.

He had met His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty more than once.

This is a tremendous honor and a tremendous opportunity. If we can seize it, it won't be difficult for the Cui family to make a comeback.

Cui Shunting was born into a powerful family in his youth, but his family fell into decline. He gradually built up his wealth again through business.

This process broadened his horizons and honed his abilities.

For Goryeo, he is a typical example of someone whose greater power leads to greater destructive power.

He proposed two strategies, elevating himself to the position of a guest of the Great Jing Emperor, while also pushing Goryeo into a predicament.

The first time he proposed that the entire Goryeo nation abandon its native language and switch to speaking Chinese; the second time he proposed recruiting laborers from Goryeo to dig canals in Hebei and Youyan.

Even Chen Shao and Yuwen Xuzhong, who had painstakingly studied how to conquer Goryeo, couldn't have come up with these two strategies, no matter how hard they tried.

The official residence next to Chengtian Temple is a branch of Guangyuantang.

Guangyuantang and Chengtian Temple had overlapping business areas, such as arresting cult members and interrogating evil monks. Therefore, this house was built next to Chengtian Temple so that the guards of Guangyuantang could work there.

Chen Shao was there at that moment, looking down at Cui Shunting who was trembling with nervousness, and said with a smile: "Don't be too reserved. The ministers all say that I am a gentle and benevolent emperor."

It sounded a bit off coming from him, but Cui Shunting did feel much better.

“This lowly person has behaved improperly before the Emperor and deserves to die ten thousand times over.”

"I often tell people that human life is of paramount importance and is the most precious thing in the world. How can you die just because you tremble a few times?" Chen Shao laughed. "Although you are a subject of Goryeo, Goryeo was originally a vassal state of my Great Jing Dynasty, so you are also considered my subject. Guards, bring a seat to me."

A guard brought over a small brocade stool, and Cui Shunting thanked him repeatedly before sitting down.

"The current shortage of manpower is entirely due to your efforts in mobilizing resources from Goryeo. As a businessman, you naturally know the advantages of water transport. From now on, the million soldiers and civilians of Hebei and Youyan will all be indebted to you."

Chen Shao started off with a rather high-pitched tone, which startled Cui Shunting so much that she quickly stood up and kowtowed, saying, "I dare not."

After Chen Shao became emperor, he was used to seeing people being respectful. Seeing this, he still calmly told him to rise and not to be too nervous.

After he calmed down, Chen Shao suddenly said, "In the first year of Jianwu, my troops destroyed the Jin at Lulong Ridge. Before that, we conquered Pinglu and Liaodong. At that time, I distributed the land of Liaodong to my generals and soldiers, but Liaodong was ravaged by the Khitan and Jurchen in turn, and the population was reduced sharply."

"Especially when the Jurchens destroyed the Khitans, first Wanyan Aguda massacred them, and then Yelü Chun conscripted the remaining people to form the Eight Camps of the Resentful Army. After that, there were several more changes, and Liaodong changed hands several times, each time being completely slaughtered."

"Currently, the Pinglu area in Liaodong has vast tracts of fertile land, but there is no one to cultivate it. I have heard that the people of Goryeo are suffering greatly, and many have starved to death. I wish to leave some laborers to cultivate the land in Pinglu and Liaodong. What do you think?"

Choi Soon-jung immediately understood that this was an attempt to undermine Goryeo's foundation.

Since ancient times, a nation has been founded on its population; population is the foundation of everything.

Emperor Jing's statement, "Leave some," is simply unbelievable. Given his status, if he were only leaving some, he wouldn't need to consult with anyone.

You can simply issue an imperial decree.

Even if ten or twenty thousand were left behind, no one in Goryeo would dare to complain.

However, as the emperor, with his authority over the emperor, he spoke personally.

It seems they intend to keep everything, or only put a small portion back, and most likely want to bring it back again.

At this point, Choi Soon-jung was no longer considering the issue from Goryeo's perspective.

"Your Majesty's benevolence moves us to tears. The people of Goryeo, who are beyond the reach of civilization, are fortunate enough to be blessed with your divine virtue."

Hearing his words, Chen Shao was slightly surprised, but after thinking about it, he understood.

Regardless of whether you are a high-ranking traitor or not, since you have this awareness, then you are an absolutely good comrade.

Seeing that he had lowered his head, Cui Shunting didn't dare to speak and just waited there.

After a while, Chen Shao raised his head and said, "Although you are from Goryeo, you have won my heart. I bestow these eight words upon you."

After speaking, he waved his hand, and the two eunuchs picked up the papers and carefully placed them aside.

Cui Shunting glanced at it, then her eyes widened suddenly.

Chen Shao, standing high above, saw every nuance of his astonishment, elation, and disbelief.

At this point, Choi Soon-jung had no more worries. Who was the Korean? I wasn't!

The paper read:

Knowing Heaven's will, obeying destiny, and remaining loyal to the bright sun
This piece of paper, these eight words, are the ladder to power for the Choi family. Goryeo aristocracy? To hell with Goryeo aristocracy, who dares to say I'm not a Kyungman?

Cui Shunting was not short of money. After years of risking his life and doing business between the Jin, Liao, Song and Goryeo dynasties, he was richer than many powerful clans.

However, what he lacked was status and position. If he encountered a powerful person in Goryeo, he would have to give way to them, and if he was even slightly out of line, he would deserve to be beaten to death.

"Your subject, Cui Shunting, is willing to die for Your Majesty! If I have uttered any falsehoods, may I be struck by lightning and may my ancestors not protect me!"
-
Spring is blooming, and all things are revived.

The world is teeming with life, a scene of all things thriving.

Inside Baozhen Temple, a table laden with delicacies from land and sea is neatly arranged in an elegant pavilion. Outside, a light drizzle moistens the winding vines in the garden and the green grass by the pond, adding to the pavilion's refined and poetic charm.

Li Yi'an stood in front of the vermilion carved window inside the pavilion, reaching her hand into the rain to feel the coolness of the spring rain and savor the verdant fragrance of spring.

Baozhen Temple is not really a cage, because they can come and go freely.

But the place was so beautiful that they didn't want to leave. The comfort, tranquility, and beautiful scenery had kept them here.

Looking up from this window, you can see the pavilions and towers outside the courtyard, the blue sky, and the white clouds. It is clearly a mansion for keeping a mistress, but it gives the people living inside a sense of openness and grandeur.

A closer look at the eaves and brackets reveals that they are also exquisitely constructed.

Even someone as strong as Li Yi'an felt something indescribable when faced with this state of mind.

If she had lived in the future, she could easily summarize it in four words: It's good to be rich.

Just then, footsteps sounded. Li Yi'an's heart stirred. The person walking quickly down the corridor had a handsome and youthful appearance that made her feel a sense of closeness.

She first tidied her hair at her temples, and before she could speak, Chen Shao, who had just entered, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace. She buried her mouth and nose in the crook of his neck, greedily inhaling his scent, her body pressed tightly against Chen Shao.

Chen Shao's warm breath whispered in her ear, "It feels like three autumns have passed since I last visited."

Li Yi'an said quietly, "With the empire, what kind of beauties wouldn't we have? Wouldn't it be even better if they were young and beautiful? Time waits for no one, how can the three of us compare?"

Chen Shao chuckled and began to seriously explain the advantages of older women to her. When he talked about this kind of thing with his woman, he was completely uninhibited, describing it in great detail, to the point that it was almost unbearable to listen to.

Li Qingzhao blushed and her ears burned as she listened.

That's how women are; the more educated they are, the more they sometimes crave to hear some crude language.

But she still refused to admit it.

Seeing that Chen Shao was getting carried away and was about to pat her shoulder, Li Yi'an quickly said, "Let's eat first, Maode will be here in a bit."

"Where is my sister-in-law?"

When Li Qingzhao heard him call Song's sister-in-law in such an inappropriate way, she couldn't help but chuckle, blushing as she playfully punched his arm. "Ever since Cai Xing came back, she's been going out all the time."

"I've come at the wrong time. Maybe I should hide for a while?" Maode said sarcastically as he walked in.

Li Yi'an quickly glared at her, then gently tugged at and straightened her clothes, which were slightly disheveled from the hug.

Chen Shao smiled and stepped forward, slapping her on the bottom, which made Maode chuckle.

The three of them sat down to eat together, and Chen Shao picked out some of his experiences from the New Year and began to tell them about them.
-
After lingering in Jinling for a long time, Huerzha finally received Dajing's price.

The person who came to discuss this matter was of considerable importance; he was Liu Guanglie, the Prince of Dajingfu, who was listed first in the imperial edict when he was conferred the title of prince.

Although he was a king of a different surname, after falling out with his family, he was basically the only relative of the Great Jing royal family.

Liu Guanglie is very decisive. I will say whatever my cousin tells me to say.

I spend my days hunting and playing with my former brothers, never even returning home. How would I know about the troubles in the court?

He didn't even know where the Kreik tribe was.

After sitting down, he spoke directly, "No royal court is allowed in the southern desert. As long as you are willing to submit, the 70,000 tents of herdsmen will be divided into twelve fortresses to guard their original territories. Leaders of the five Kereit tribes who come to Jinling will be given 50,000 taels of gold, 200,000 taels of silver, 1,000 bolts of brocade, and 10 million coins, which you can distribute as you see fit."

"As for you, brother, you will be granted the title of King, and your descendants will inherit the title of Marquis. Your family will be allowed to engage in salt, tea, coal, and overseas trade."

Hurzha's expression was complicated. On the one hand, the conditions offered by the Great Jing were indeed very generous, several times more than the rewards given when the Qian family surrendered their territory to the Song Dynasty.

This is mainly because Chen Shaozhen is rich, especially in gold and silver.

But gold and silver still have considerable purchasing power today.

If the Emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty did not renege on his promise and allowed them to operate in the salt, tea, and coal industries, it would be another source of immeasurable wealth.

The Kereit people are not like the Tatars and Merkits of the northern deserts; they made their fortune through trade and are well aware of how high the profits can be.

He himself witnessed the power of the Great Jing and the prosperity of Jinling.

But to relinquish rule over the 70,000 inhabitants is to relinquish power.

Seeing this, Liu Guanglie said in bewilderment, "What are you still hesitating about? I'm not trying to be mean, but you can't win. My emperor is benevolent and has given you a way out. Otherwise, if you clashed on the battlefield, you would be fighting Jin Ling."

"Do you know how skilled he was in battle? How do you compare to Wanyan Zongwang?"

“There are dozens of fighters as good as him in Dajing.”

Hurzha's face grew increasingly grim. Liu Guanglie said, "When you come to Jinling, I'll show you how peaceful and prosperous this place is. Isn't that better than you struggling in the bitter cold of the southern desert?"

When Liu Guanglie came to negotiate, it was clear that there was no room for negotiation, because he simply didn't know what to talk about.

Sending him here means you can forget about negotiating; I've sent my own cousin to reveal my hand to you.

If you think it's a good fit, come to Nanjing and enjoy life together. If you don't think it's a good fit, let's meet up in Mobei.

Chen Shao really didn't want to fight. Firstly, he felt sorry for his veteran soldiers, and secondly, he was afraid that if he wiped out all the herders in the vast territory of the Kereit tribe, it would take several years for them to recuperate and rebuild their strength.

There's a manpower shortage everywhere. With nearly 400,000 people killed, where is he going to find so many herders to fill the gaps?

Chen Shao's grand vision is taking off, and what he needs is productivity that can produce immediate results.

Liu Guanglie was indeed quick; he stood up immediately and said, "Think about it carefully. Opportunities are rare. You know His Majesty isn't afraid of war." (End of Chapter)