You have truly caused me great suffering!

We arrived at Tangshan Hot Spring Palace.

Here, bridges and covered walkways connect, pavilions and towers are scattered like stars, and the scenery is as beautiful as a poem or a painting.

Upon seeing it, Cui Shunting couldn't help but exclaim that this was truly the residence of an emperor.

In comparison, the Goryeo capital city only occupied a small area.

It looks rather shabby.

Upon entering the hall, Chen Shao sat in a chair, holding a book and reading.

Upon hearing someone enter, Wang Yin put down his book and led Cui Shunting forward to pay their respects.

"No need to be polite, please have a seat."

When Cui Shunting got up, her body trembled slightly, which made Chen Shao frown.

As the number of times she met with the emperor increased, Choi Soon-jung should have become more and more composed.

However, every time he saw Chen Shao, he seemed very uneasy, and his speech was not as clear and logical as usual.

This displeased Chen Shao.

After all, his ecological niche is very important.

All fortresses are easiest to breach from the inside. As long as Cui Shunting does a good job, he can save himself a lot of effort.

Fortunately, he's competent.

Chen Shao thought that his behavior might be due to physical reasons.

The eunuchs brought over two benches, but Wang Yin stood in the hall without sitting down, still examining the decorations.

If there is danger, we must not let thieves easily obtain a suitable weapon.

Choi Soon-jung sat properly on a small stool and first explained the situation in Goryeo to Chen Shao.

Because the current king, Wang Kai, is known for being 'benevolent but indecisive', his authority has not been established. Although he is willing to restore royal power and reform the bureaucracy, he is constrained by various forces and has accomplished nothing.

Li Ziqian had already been eliminated with the help of Jing Jun, but his sons Li Zhongfu and Li Chengyu were only demoted. Their in-law network still spread throughout the central government, and many officials in the censorate and the six ministries were his old party members.

The military general Tuo Junjing was originally a junior officer who was won over by Li Ziqian. Later, he turned against Li Ziqian and helped him kill him. For his merits, he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Chancellery and Minister of War, and took control of the Imperial Guards.

During the recent turmoil in Xijing, he seized the opportunity to consolidate his power and strengthen his military control.

He is currently at the height of his power: he controls the garrison troops in Kaijing and has placed his cronies in important positions such as the military commander of the northwest, which has led to increasing conflicts with civil officials.

On the civil service front, Kim Bu-sik, as the leader of Confucianism in Goryeo, served as Minister of Rites and Privy Councilor. He controlled public opinion, the civil service examination system, and the etiquette system, but had no military power.

(It is historically known that "Fu Shi rose to power through his literary talent, and many court officials were his protégés.")
He advocated "promoting Confucianism and suppressing Buddhism, strengthening royal power, and curbing military men."

This is typical of the thinking of civil officials, which was highly consistent with the Song Dynasty, but is now somewhat outdated.

In times of chaos, it is very dangerous to not win over the warriors but to exclude them.

Before the Song Dynasty suppressed military men, it transferred the most capable fighters to the capital to serve as the Imperial Guard and then gave them property.

You bought these people off with money, then dealt with the other martial artists, and that's how you succeeded.

Furthermore, you openly oppose Buddhism. You should know that Goryeo regarded Buddhism as the state religion, and temples owned a large amount of land and slaves.

"Temple and community land" accounts for more than one-third of the country's arable land;

Large temples such as Heungwang Temple and Fusuk Temple in Gaegyeong could mobilize private soldiers, also known as "temple slaves";
Monks frequently entered and exited the palace, influencing policies. Goryeo had always wanted to seize Buddhist temple lands, but it was never successful.

Now, taking advantage of the king's visit to Dajing to pay homage, Tuo Junjing is secretly contacting Buddhist temples to plot a coup.

Besides these, Goryeo also had local warlord separatism. The powerful clans in the northwest (Pyeongan Province and Hwanghae Province) were mostly descendants of Goguryeo people, who valued martial arts and disregarded literature.
These powerful clans had numerous private armies and did not obey the imperial court at all, resulting in weak central control.

Meanwhile, Gangwon Province, which borders Japan to the east, is led by the Kim and Park families and has built fortified cities for self-defense. They are economically independent, but their military strength is average.

After listening, Chen Shao shook his head inwardly. He recalled the desolate and pessimistic tone in Wang Kai's voice when they talked.

So that's how difficult his life really was. The royal power was weak, the military was arrogant because of its achievements, the civil officials held the moral high ground but had no soldiers, the monks had wealth and interfered in politics, and the powerful clans occupied their lands and became arrogant.
Tell me!
What are you talking about? Your family is struggling so much, yet you still have the mood to chat about the scenery of the Central Plains, only thinking about traveling and sightseeing.

You just need to ask, and I'll send troops to mow you down.

Chen Shao does not support any attempt to cause trouble in Goryeo, because he has already laid out his plans.

It's like planting seeds, watering them, and fertilizing them on the land of Goryeo.

Chen Shao was like an old farmer who had worked diligently for so long, and after finally finishing his work, he clapped his hands and waited for the harvest.

At this point, Chen Shao would object to anyone wanting to plant anything on this land.

Choi Soon-jung thought he would take the opportunity to take over Goryeo.

So he rushed to Jinling to meet the emperor, but seeing how calm the emperor was, he became even more apprehensive.

Chen Shao said, "If Goryeo were to break out in internal strife, it would inevitably lead to bloodshed and ultimately cause suffering for the people, which I cannot bear to see. Now that you have come to report your merits, I will instruct Kim Bu-seok to return and quell the rebellion, treat the people well, and reduce the likelihood of rebellion in Goryeo."

Taking advantage of this internal turmoil to directly seize Goryeo is not without its feasibility.

But it's not perfect.

Chen Shao is no longer just pursuing achievements; he also wants to ensure long-term stability.

This is the power of Da Jing, which gives him strategic composure.

This level of understanding depends not only on the emperor himself, but also on the strength of his empire.

Some emperors were not unaware that waiting would yield better results, but they couldn't afford to wait any longer.

Whether due to their own health or other domestic conflicts, some acted hastily, leaving behind a mess, while others failed at the last minute.

Upon hearing Chen Shao's words, Cui Shunting seemed to freeze in place, completely losing his composure before the palace.

He hadn't expected His Majesty to say such a thing, and his respect for him immediately rose even higher.

How could it be wrong for Goryeo to submit to Daegee and become a subject of such a king?

How could I be a sinner? I should be a hero.

Chen Shao had someone take him down to rest and instructed him to continue gathering intelligence on Goryeo for him.

The situation in Goryeo broadened Chen Shao's horizons and also served as a wake-up call. If he didn't deepen his reforms, the dynasty might end up in the same mess in its later stages.
-
Yuhuatai, located outside Jubaomen in Jinling, is surrounded by pine and cypress trees and has a beautiful landscape. The hill is covered with colorful pebbles, which are said to have been transformed from the Buddha's rain of flowers, hence the name. It has always been a place for literati to climb and enjoy the scenery.

The hill is covered with ten thousand green bamboos, straight and graceful, their shadows cast by the breeze, creating an elegant and pleasant atmosphere.

This place became even more sought-after after the Great Jing Dynasty moved its capital here, becoming a favorite haunt of literati and scholars.

At this moment, loud conversations and bursts of hearty laughter could be heard from within the woods, reflecting the boundless joy of the gathering. Today, those gathered here were a group of scholars from Goryeo and renowned figures from the Daegye region.

These celebrities were not well received in Dajing, but after accidentally meeting some Korean officials who came here to "check in," the two hit it off immediately, found common ground, and began to flatter each other, eventually becoming friends.

For Goryeo scholars, being able to associate with renowned figures from the superior nation was a great honor.

These former dynasty's famous scholars did not have a good life in the Great Jing Dynasty. The fact that they were flattered by foreign scholars made them feel proud and allowed them to get a few drinks.

"Gentlemen, today we are honored to be invited by Mr. Lei Chuan of Haidong to hold this gathering in the scenic bamboo forest, following the example of the ancients. It is truly a fortunate event for the literary circles of both countries," Li Bing, a former Hanlin scholar of the Song Dynasty, raised his wine cup to "congratulate Mr. Lei Chuan."

The scholars in the forest responded with their own poems, "congratulating Mr. Lei Chuan."

"I am deeply grateful," Kim Boo-seok said with a smile, raising his cup.

Everyone raised their cups and drank heartily, all in high spirits. Li Bing then proposed, "Poetry is rare in this world, but wine in the forest is even more precious. Since all the wise men have gathered here, how can we have wine without poetry? Why don't we all compose poems in response to each other? What do you all think?"

Just then, someone rushed over.

Upon seeing the newcomer's attire, everyone present was startled. They exchanged glances, fearing that someone might have recently made a drunken slip of the tongue and implicated them.

They weren't always so low-key; they would often gather for drinks and then wildly criticize the country and the government.

Later, Wang Yin of Guangyuantang decided to rectify this phenomenon, and his methods were consistent with his background, as he did not arrest anyone.

They simply arrested people and interrogated them, and they were very civilized, without hitting or scolding them.

But they won't let you sleep; they'll take turns keeping you awake.

The effect was surprisingly good, and afterwards they became terrified and dared not speak recklessly anymore.

However, the people from Guangyuantang were not there to cause them trouble this time. The leader of the staff asked, "Which one of you is Dr. Kim from Goryeo?"

"That is I."

"His Majesty has summoned me; please come with me to Tangshan."

People looked at him with envy.

These arrogant and famous figures may often criticize, but do you really think they don't want to be officials?
In particular, the officials of the current dynasty enjoy unparalleled treatment compared to any previous dynasty.

Even without greed, one can enjoy great happiness in a dignified manner.

Kim Boo-seok chuckled, stood up, cupped his hands, and said, “Please continue, everyone. I’m going to the hot spring palace so as not to spoil your enjoyment.”

People congratulated him.

Kim Boo-seok was also very happy. Firstly, this matter was quite prestigious, and secondly, he truly respected the current Emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty.

Each time he met the emperor, he felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, making him sigh that he truly deserved to be called the wise and enlightened emperor of the Celestial Empire.

Upon arriving at the hot spring palace, Kim Bu-seok tidied his clothes and instructed his servants not to wander around while waiting for him outside the palace.

Following the eunuch into the hall, after waiting for a short while, Chen Shao, dressed in casual clothes and having just finished bathing, arrived.

Upon seeing Kim Boo-sik, he really wanted to throw the memorial on the table in his face and say, "Do you know you're keeping a ghost in your house?!"

But after Kim Bu-sik bowed, he simply nodded and said, "Tak Jun-kyung is going to join forces with Heungwangsa to start a rebellion in Goryeo."

Upon hearing this, Kim Boo-seok was immediately terrified, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Chen Shao found his expression somewhat amusing, but knew it wasn't the right time to laugh, so he could only reassure him, "I just received the news myself. Since the people of Goryeo treat me as their sovereign, I will treat them with the same love and care I would show to my own children."

"I cannot bear to see them plunged into war. You must return immediately to quell the rebellion. I have already issued an edict to station troops in Kaijing to assist you in suppressing the rebellion."

Kim Bu-sik quickly knelt down to express his gratitude.

Chen Shao sighed and said, "The territory of Goryeo is not large, roughly the size of Dajing Road. I believe the King of Goryeo is a benevolent and virtuous ruler, not a foolish one. Why then do such wicked things happen repeatedly in the country? You should all reflect on yourselves."

"In particular, the participation of monks from Xingwang Temple and Fushi Temple is truly unprecedented."

Kim Boo-sik broke out in a cold sweat and dared not refute.

Chen Shao was very satisfied, and finally revealed his true intentions, saying: "The teachings of Buddhism, when they were transmitted to the Central Plains, were originally meant to be pure. The fact that Buddhist monks participated in the rebellion is all because they do not understand the true scriptures and their Buddhist hearts are not sincere. Today, the evil monks of Goryeo openly disregard the precepts, specialize in divination and prophecy, and privately amass weapons. I will send the abbot of Chengtian Temple, leading ten strict monks, carrying five hundred volumes of true scriptures and twenty commentaries, to sail east across the sea."

"You, the king and your ministers of Goryeo, shall cooperate in assisting him. If you outwardly comply but inwardly defy him, and condone such evil, then even the Buddha's teachings will not tolerate such behavior!"

Although Chen Shao doesn't plan to take action this time, he can let the Buddhist sect gain a foothold first.

Goryeo has been a Buddhist country since its founding, and it is known as a Buddhist country. Controlling the Buddhist temples in Goryeo would be a great strategic move.

It will surely have a miraculous effect at that time.

Kim Boo-sik had long heard of the fame of Seongcheon-ji Temple; he had even personally visited to offer incense, and the monks there were all extraordinary.

It can be said that he was both literate and martial.
The monks of Dajing are even more admirable. Regardless of wind, frost, cold, or heat, they travel through the streets and alleys every day, venturing into barren lands to preach Buddhism to the people and guide them towards goodness.

This is what a true Buddhist disciple is like.

It is said that even the incense money they receive is subject to taxation by the monks, who refuse to be exempt from taxation. As a major Buddhist institution in the Great Jing Dynasty, Chengtian Temple took the lead in insisting on paying taxes, and the imperial court could not refuse.

After Kim Bu-sik left, Chen Shao sat down in a chair and thought about the Goryeo garrison.

Because the navy of the Great Jing was established by Qu Duan, and his initial purpose was to transport troops across the sea to attack Guo Yaoshi from the side.

To achieve this goal, Qu Duan led troops from Daming Prefecture to Shandong, where he confronted Zhang Shuye, who was training troops in Shandong under the orders of Li Gang. The atmosphere was tense, and it almost caused an internal strife in the Song Dynasty and the Dingnan Army.

After finally subduing Zhang Shuye and taking over the Mizhou Shipyard, Qu Duan established the Denglai Navy, which is the predecessor of the current Chenghai Navy.

Later, the imperial court used the money to repair rivers and roads. In order to obtain military funds, Qu Duan cooperated with Xiao Ting to jointly attack the maritime merchant groups in Mingzhou and Fuzhou.

He launched a surprise attack on the southeast, seizing the shipyard and harbor of Mingzhou, and wiping out the wealth of these merchants in the southeast, who were originally the money bags of favored officials such as Liang Shicheng, Wang Fu, and Zhu Mian.

Furthermore, a navy was established in Mingzhou, which was the predecessor of the South China Sea Navy.

Therefore, most of the military officers of the Dajing Navy were generals from the Quduan Camp back then.

Even now, this remains true.

Chen Shao once remarked to those around him that Qu Da had a strong sense of execution; he never just daydreamed, but put his ideas into action, which was truly inspiring.

However, having too many connections within the navy is not a good thing. Even if it's just to protect Qu Duan, he still needs to reorganize the navy's structure.

Taking advantage of this internal turmoil in Goryeo, we can rotate a batch of Goryeo troops.

In order not to disappoint the general who had followed him for so long, Chen Shao began to think about how to arrange things for him.

Remembering his desire to go on a northern expedition to the desert, let him go! (End of Chapter)