Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

A single glance between them can make one unconsciously feel uneasy and lower their head.

No wonder he became a second-rank official at the age of twenty-nine and was able to keep his subordinates in check!

Mu Zheng suddenly realized.

"Chief Mu Zheng, what do you think of me?" Jiang Zhao raised his sleeve and smiled calmly.

"Minister Jiang, you truly deserve to be called a pillar of the nation." Mu Zheng nodded, praising him from the bottom of his heart.

To be honest, he was, after all, the leader of Tibet, and held the power of life and death over hundreds of thousands of Tibetans.

However, he just couldn't cultivate the same demeanor as Jiang Zhao.

In terms of demeanor, he was no different from the military generals sitting below, such as Zhong E, Zhang Ding, and Bao Shun; he lacked the imposing presence of a commander who could suppress a region.

I can't accept it!

No wonder some people in history books were able to "tremble with fear and bow down in submission".

Looking at it now, it really seems possible.

Most Tibetan chieftains, upon seeing such demeanor, would likely be awed and immediately bow down in submission.

"Ha ha!"

Jiang Zhao laughed heartily.

Judging from Mu Zheng's behavior, his praise was genuine.

Everyone is happy to receive praise, and Jiang Zhao was no exception.

“Last time, I wrote a letter, and Chief Mu Zheng withdrew his troops and turned to attack Xining Prefecture.” Jiang Zhao put on a warm smile and said gently, “Chief Mu Zheng is indeed a trustworthy person.”

"Then what about the agreement in the letter?" Mu Zheng asked expectantly, his eyes fixed on Jiang Zhao's every move.

If anything seems amiss, he will immediately turn around and run away.

Currently, the Great Zhou has 30,000 to 40,000 troops stationed in Xining, while he only has 10,000 to 20,000 barbarian soldiers under his command.

The disparity in troop strength is significant, and anyone would worry about the possibility of someone going back on their word.

"A gentleman's word is as good as his bond." Jiang Zhao said solemnly, waving his sleeve with great style, "Within thirty days, the people of the three prefectures will be at the discretion of Chief Mu Zheng."

Thirty days!

Mu Zheng was overjoyed and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "Minister Jiang is indeed a trustworthy man! He truly deserves to be the most important minister of the Great Zhou!"

Thirty days would be enough for seven or eight tenths of the people in the three prefectures to relocate.

That's enough!

"Ah."

Several words of praise made me feel good.

Even so, Jiang Zhao did not become complacent. Instead, he calmly warned, "Western Xia is in decline, Dong Zhan has been captured alive, and Tibet's fate is sealed."

If the leader is content to pacify Tibet, he can live a worry-free life. But if he harbors thoughts of rebellion, Dongzhan is a harbinger of it.

"Don't say you didn't predict what you said!"

Once the words were spoken, Mu Zheng's joy remained undiminished.

In fact, he had already been mentally prepared for this.

From the moment the Western Xia signed the unequal treaty and began paying tribute annually, it was destined that the Western Xia would decline for a considerable period of time.

With external "tribute" draining its resources and internal problems such as a young emperor's ascension to the throne and interference from relatives of the empress, Western Xia was in complete disarray.

In particular, the interference of maternal relatives in politics had a significant impact.

The empire belongs to the emperor, not to his relatives.

Relatives of the emperor, in their pursuit of absolute control over power, have no regard for the proper functioning of the nation.

It is almost foreseeable that the political landscape of Western Xia will suffer an exceptionally severe blow.

Since they have to spend a lot of energy eliminating dissidents, they have even less time to pay attention to external matters.

The previous young ruler of Western Xia was Li Liangzuo, who, at the age of ten, successfully killed his uncle, Meicang Pang'e, and seized military and political power.

However, this does not mean that the new young emperor, Li Bingchang, can escape the clutches of the maternal relatives.

With the maternal relatives in power, the domestic political situation was destined to be in chaos, and there was no possibility of launching a military campaign southward.

If the Western Xia had not moved south, the Tibetan Empire would have been destined to remain confined to a corner of the country.

Being honest is perfectly acceptable.

"I will remember Minister Jiang's admonition!" Mu Zheng said respectfully, lowering his posture.

Dong Zhan was captured alive, and he became the new Tibetan king.

He was overjoyed that hundreds of thousands of Tibetan people from the three prefectures had come under his control.

In comparison, it's not a big deal to adopt a humble attitude.

Jiang Zhao nodded, about to say something, but Mu Zheng spoke first:

"I have a request that I shouldn't have; I wonder if it would be granted?"

"An unkind request?"

Jiang Zhao was taken aback, then waved his hand and said, "Tell me about it."

Dong Zhan became a prisoner, and Mu Zheng was the decisive factor in determining whether Tibet would be stable.

Since Mu Zheng has agreed to submit, he can grant any request that is not excessive.

Seizing the opportunity, Mu Zheng asked expectantly, "My niece Zhuoma is twenty-six years old. Would she be willing to enter the palace to serve His Majesty the Emperor of Great Zhou?"

Ok?

To bring his niece into the palace?

Jiang Zhao was surprised.

Many military officers were also taken aback.

In fact, it was never unusual for women from other ethnic groups to enter the palace and serve the king.

Whether in the Han Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, or even the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there were many women from foreign ethnic groups who entered the palace to serve the emperor.

This move is nothing more than a demand for political alliances.

In contrast, there was the practice of princesses being sent to marry foreign rulers, all with the same purpose.

The most famous political alliance was probably the marriage of Wang Zhaojun to the Xiongnu chieftain and the marriage of Princess Wencheng to Tibet.

Marriage alliances were common, and it was equally common for women from other ethnic groups to enter the palace.

Of course, the vast majority of women from other ethnic groups and princesses sent for political marriages were not qualified to be recorded in history.

However, in the last hundred years, it has been relatively rare for women from other ethnic groups to enter the palace.

In fact, almost none.

The main reason for this is the confrontation between several major regimes.

The prolonged standoff between the regimes, with no sign of abating, has fueled deep-seated animosity among the major powers, making an alliance extremely difficult.

No wonder Jiang Zhao and his generals were astonished.

It's just that it's so rare!

After about three breaths, Jiang Zhao slowly said, "Whether or not I can enter the palace is not something I can decide. However, I can write a letter directly to the Emperor. We should receive a response in less than twenty days."

"In that case, I will trouble Minister Jiang," Mu Zheng said solemnly.

Sending his niece to Beijing was a decision he made after careful consideration.

With the decline of the Western Xia and the Tibetan Empire's retreat to a corner of the country, the greatest threat came from the Zhou Dynasty.

Sending his niece to the capital to become the emperor's concubine would give him influence in the court.

Having connections in the central government undoubtedly makes one feel more at ease.

Bianjing, the Imperial Study.

Zhao Ceying held the letter in her hand, her face slightly flushed.

This is a letter sent by Jiang Qing.

They mainly asked two questions.

Dong Zhan has been captured alive. Should the Emperor allow him to come to the capital to dance?

Mu Zheng's niece is quite pretty; should the Emperor take her in?

Zhao Ceying sighed deeply.

Oh, Zichuan, you've really put me in a terrible situation!

After only a moment's hesitation, Zhao Ceying made his decision.

Let it be tough!

Whether it was Dong Zhan dancing or Mu Zheng's niece entering the capital, both events, to a certain extent, reflected the strength of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

This is a good thing!

[Dong Zhan was escorted to the capital, and Mu Zheng's request was approved! The list of meritorious officials may be fully recorded.]

After finishing his sentence, Zhao Ceying waved his hand and said, "Have someone send it to Xihe Road."

"The list of meritorious officials to be rewarded is for Jiang Qing to write about extensively."

Huizhou, Suizhou, Xiningzhou, Huangzhou, and Kuozhou.

They expanded their territory to five states!

The expansion of Xihe's borders only involved the conquest of seven prefectures.

Moreover, this territorial expansion also involved the merit of beheading the king in battle.

Such achievements are comparable to the opening of the Xihe border, and are worthy of being recorded in history books.

Zhao Ceying would certainly not be stingy with rewards.

After all, bestowing titles and rewards is a part of what is extensively recorded in historical texts.

Li Xian, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, received the letter and immediately went to carry it out.

Opposite the desk, a geomantic map hangs.

After glancing at the geomantic map, Zhao Ceying picked up a memorial and began to work on it.

"what?"

With just one glance, Zhao Ceying nodded in approval.

This is a memorial requesting retirement.

Signed by Wang Yaochen, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet!

Chapter 208 The Generals Discuss Their Merits! The Overbearing Emperor Adds to My Court! (Two Chapters Combined)

February 17th, the first year of the Xifeng era.

Xining Prefecture, Central Military Tent.

Civil and military officials stood in ranks on the left and right.

Many people frequently looked up at the two people on the left and right.

Wang Shao!

Gu Tingye!

One of them took the initiative to guard the two prefectures of Hui and Sui, while the other guarded the rear area.

At this moment, they have all traveled long distances to gather here.

Could it be?

The civil and military officials exchanged glances, all with knowing expressions on their faces.