You have truly caused me great suffering!

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, more and more people are coming to the Summer Palace to pay their respects to the emperor.

Chen Shao, who was bored and restless, was happy to meet with his ministers and even went on an autumn hunt with Liu Guanglie.

However, upon hearing that the Koreans had arrived, Chen Shao immediately chose to avoid them.

Currently, the region is facing a labor shortage, specifically a lack of readily available workers, despite the fact that the birth rate is reaching new highs due to various national policies and residency programs.

But you can't expect these people to become productive forces.

These represent the future of Dajing; Chen Shao wants the present.

In theory, he could indeed wait, and the population left behind by the Song Dynasty was relatively large compared to other dynasties.

But Chen Shao couldn't wait; as the saying goes, ten thousand years is too long, one should seize the day.

These people from Goryeo are good citizens who can come and work as soon as they arrive, and they are also very capable, easy to manage, and highly obedient.

After refusing Jin Fushi's request to meet the emperor, Chen Shao immediately went down the mountain to Cai Jing's residence and arranged to meet Yuwen Xuzhong, Zhang Run, and Liu Jizu.

Inside the flower hall of the Cai residence, Chen Shao sat at the head of the table, with Cai Jing to his left and Cai Xing standing behind his father.

Liu Jizu was first on the right, followed by Yuwen Xuzhong and Zhang Run.

This is the all-star lineup that Chen Shaoneng came up with, showing a relatively quick thinking. The main topic is just one thing.
How to keep the Korean laborers?

As soon as he sat down, a maid from the Cai family brought tea. Chen Shao coughed lightly and said with a smile, "Since I arrived at the Summer Palace, I have troubled all my ministers to come up the mountain to inquire after my well-being. Cai Xing has also gone three times, saying that the Grand Tutor misses me very much."

Cai Jing nodded repeatedly, his smile growing even more benevolent. The old man was eighty-three, yet his hearing and eyesight were still sharp, which showed Chen Shao the benefits of maintaining good health and gave him even more motivation.

Moreover, this also shows how terrifying Cai Jing was.

People who are short-tempered and often angry generally don't live long. Cai Jing spent his entire life in intense party struggles, yet he lived such a long life. This shows that he truly treated party struggles as just another part of his job, and didn't get too worked up over the various conflicts.

This skill of cultivating inner strength is even more difficult than cultivating health. Those who possess this skill are exceptionally formidable in combat, because when people are angry, they are prone to impulsive actions that may vent their anger but ultimately harm the situation.

"I have summoned you all to this meeting today because there is still one matter that has not been decided. Last year, Yang Cheng was ordered to dredge the Grand Canal, a great achievement for the nation, which I attach great importance to. However, the Central Plains have been supplying Hebei and Yanyun for years, and the able-bodied men are exhausted. It is difficult to recruit laborers, and it is truly difficult for me to undertake this task alone."

I have temporarily borrowed 30,000 laborers from Goryeo to assist with military service for half a year. The agreement was that they would return home upon completion of the term and return to their hometowns. Unexpectedly—since this spring, over 10,000 Goryeo fugitives have hidden themselves in the valleys and villages of Liaodong, some working as hired laborers for Han families, others living in huts in border fortresses, weeping day and night, wishing to be registered in the Great Jing's household register and become subjects of the king forever!

As he finished speaking, the others, who were quick-witted, already understood His Majesty's meaning.

Zhang Run was the first to stand up and say, “Your Majesty, I have heard that ‘Heaven will grant the people’s desires.’ In Goryeo, powerful clans are as entrenched as a rock, and the distinction between the noble and the lowly is as insurmountable as a chasm. Those in power live in luxury, with their mansions and roofs, and regard the common people as worthless. Those in lower positions toil all year round but cannot get enough to eat, and when there is a slight disaster, the dead starve to death everywhere.”

It is clear that these officials of Goryeo are utterly incapable of governing, yet adept at oppressing the people! Now that the laborers have already groveled before the palace gates, willing to be registered as citizens of the Great King's household, Your Majesty's benevolence extends throughout the land; how could you bear to send them back to fire and water?

"I propose that we set aside the matter of the laborers for now. Your Majesty is a wise and sagacious ruler who governs the entire world, and all people under heaven are Your Majesty's subjects. At this time, we should issue an edict to reprimand them, ordering their ministers to show compassion to the people and to implement benevolent policies. In this way, the people will naturally all return home."

Chen Shao nodded inwardly. This move was quite good; it completely abandoned defense and focused solely on offense.

Yuwen Xuzhong smiled and said, “What Vice Minister Zhang said is quite right, but we should not be too hasty. Your Majesty can grant him an audience first, then inquire about the situation and send officials to Liaodong to investigate. This round trip will take at least a year.”

"It is not too late to issue an order a year later."

After hearing this, Zhang Run felt a pang of shame. Indeed, he should have acted accordingly. His actions had essentially acknowledged that the court was aware of the matter, which was morally untenable. He still had much to learn.

Liu Jizu pondered for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, trade between Liaodong and Goryeo is becoming increasingly busy. Some of the powerful families in Goryeo are making a fortune from it, while others are finding it difficult to profit from it due to their sphere of influence. The rift between them is widening.”

"During the investigation, we can use the benefits of trade to instigate some powerful figures in Goryeo to submit memorials impeaching their country's abusive practices."

Chen Shao's eyes lit up, and he wholeheartedly agreed.

They are all my trusted advisors. The things that trouble me so much are nothing to them.

Cai Jing nodded with a smile. He was fully aware of His Majesty's plan to take in Goryeo laborers.

Taking in laborers is a small matter, but the real motive behind it is far greater, and it's not impossible that no one in Goryeo could see through it.

However, for their immediate interests, they might not turn against Da Jing.

In the past, Goryeo was able to remain safe and sound near powerful nations because there were many powerful nations that could check and balance each other.

From the late Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, the Khitan, the Song and Jin Dynasties, and now the Great Jing Dynasty has completely defeated all enemies, and Goryeo was already in a precarious situation.

It is only natural that His Majesty has designs on Goryeo; Cai Jing simply did not expect His Majesty to be so meticulous in his actions.

Qu Duan had already entered Goryeo by sea. If he were to actually wage war, how could Goryeo's fragile defense possibly withstand the Dingnan army, which had been fighting for ten years?

However, His Majesty did not seize it by force, but instead forced it to open its grain market, thus undermining its economic autonomy.

Subsequently, the army was stationed there for a long period, the port was built, and scholars from poor families were attracted to Jingdezhen. Now, the border has been opened to take in fugitives.

This is an extremely clever tactic. Now, the king and his ministers of Daejeong don't need to do anything. They just need to wait patiently, and Goryeo will collapse on its own and then merge into Daejeong.

"What are your brilliant ideas, Grand Tutor?"

When Chen Shao asked him, Cai Jing stroked his beard and smiled, "What you all have said are all good suggestions, and Your Majesty can adopt them all. This old minister has another idea, which Your Majesty may or may not listen to."

"We're all on the same side, Grand Tutor, don't be so modest. Everyone knows you're shrewd and calculating."

Cai Jing blushed, inwardly criticizing His Majesty's choice of words as somewhat inappropriate. "Your Majesty can offer substantial benefits to completely appease these powerful clans of Goryeo."

"Such powerful local lords in small states value profit over righteousness. Your Majesty's decree to open the grain market should have provoked united opposition and resistance from all of Goryeo. But after only a little resistance, they chose to acquiesce. Why is that?"

"Where there is profit, there is people's will. Your Majesty may as well repeat the old trick today and set up iron smelting, shipbuilding, and minting bureaus in Goryeo to help them build roads, ports, dredge rivers, and construct cities. When the local powerful families and the interests of Daejeong are intertwined and they share weal and woe, they will be like a malignant tumor that is difficult to remove. If there is any turmoil in the future, Your Majesty will not need to worry. These people will naturally fight for Your Majesty's life and wealth."

At this point, Cai Jing glanced at Chen Shao, and the two exchanged a knowing smile.

Cai Jing knew that Chen Shao understood his meaning: Goryeo would be taken sooner or later, and everything invested there today was for his own future.

We won't lose a single penny.

Zhang Run felt a cold sweat break out inside him. He had thought himself clever and resourceful when he came, but now it seemed he still had to learn from these people.

His self-perceived preemptive strike, taking the initiative to order Goryeo, appeared rash and superficial compared to Grand Tutor Cai's strategy of feigning retreat. (End of Chapter)