Chapter 31 Faith
The awkward and terrifying silence lasted for a moment, and finally Kusunoki Nishi looked away with great difficulty. Perhaps because the conflict was too intense, his speech was not clear:
"I don't know what the prince wants to say."
He did not refute directly, but instead talked about other things, and the implication of his words was obvious. The Japanese envoy's eyes wandered, but he couldn't help but secretly spy on the prince of Mu, trying to determine the source of the information.
"Really?" The prince said calmly, "Then just treat it as my nonsense... In addition, please tell the high officials of Japan. No matter how the world changes, Goryeo is the throat of the Central Plains. In order to protect the vital points, the Central Plains can make incredible determinations and pay unimaginable prices - even in the most difficult times. Of course, Mr. Kusunoha, believe me, you don't want to experience this kind of determination yourself."
The tone was light, but it made Kusunoki Nishi's hair stand on end, and he really felt like he was sweating profusely. He was stunned for a moment, and finally spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Resolutely defend the Korean Peninsula. Is this what your emperor wants?"
The prince looked at him carefully and smiled:
"Mr. Nanye is very smart, or did you receive the information from the spies you bribed? Well, since both parties know it, there is no need for me to hide it. The current emperor is indeed quite dissatisfied with Goryeo and has never promised to give Goryeo any security guarantees... The information provided by the envoy is completely correct."
There is no need to find out the inside story of Xiyuan. Just look at the standards of receiving the Goryeo envoys and you will know that the emperor's heart has already shifted to another side and wants to use the tribute affairs to pressure the Goryeo people. The reason why the Goryeo envoys were so low-key and silent this time was probably related to this vague wind direction.
Of course, the current friction is still a small matter. When the mess of the crown prince's enthronement and the Goryeo Palace coup officially broke out, the relationship between the two sides took a sharp turn for the worse, almost to the point where it was irreparable. Japan took advantage of the opportunity to invade, stirring up the situation on the entire peninsula; the foolish talk of "conquering China" also became rampant, and the far-reaching harm it spread was incalculable.
The Japanese today may not have such a far-sighted vision, but their constant attention to the secrets of the Central Plains and Goryeo may have quite suspicious intentions. Kusunoki Nishi was quick to notice the ambiguity in the prince's words and immediately asked:
"So, the Central Plains must defend Goryeo. This is just the Crown Prince's opinion, not the Emperor's opinion."
Mu Qi remained calm: "Not bad."
Kusunoki Nishi's eyes narrowed slightly. "From this point of view, the prince made a statement without the permission of the great emperor? I don't understand the laws of the upper country, but I have heard of the Confucian principles of monarch, ministers, and fathers and sons. Should the prince's behavior be regarded as forging the imperial edict, or should it be regarded as presumptuous guessing of the emperor's will?"
Mu Qi looked at him with some surprise, slightly surprised. Although he was repeatedly suppressed by himself with the advantage of future spoilers, the envoy still showed his vicious and sophisticated methods as long as he had the slightest chance. If he really didn't understand the laws of the Central Plains, why would he keep accusing others of the most sensitive crimes?
Fei Xuan Zhenjun, whose name is Xuan Xiu, secretly rules the country alone. His desire to usurp power grows stronger day by day. He is determined not to tolerate his subordinates who are selfish and try to guess the emperor's intentions or forge imperial edicts to interfere with the imperial power. Later, Xia Yan, the Prime Minister, was violently executed, most likely because of this suspicion. To frame someone with such a crime is basically to sharpen a knife and deliberately put someone to death.
——However, things like framing others also depend on the other party’s identity. If we were to catch some evidence against the ministers and put the blame on them, it would probably scare several important ministers so much that they would suffer a cardiac arrest and lose their souls, forcing them to make major concessions. But for the Prince of Mu...
Mu Qi fell straight into the chair and crossed his legs: "I have nothing to say. If you insist on thinking this way, then I can't help it."
Kusunobu Nishi's expression froze.
"Our dynasty's Emperor Gaozu's Great Edict specifically allows everyone, from censors to elders, to write to denounce treacherous officials; envoys from foreign vassal states are no exception. If your Excellency really thinks I have done something wrong, you can just submit a petition to the Ministry of Rites." The prince was nonchalant and didn't care at all: "But of course, before impeaching, I suggest that your Excellency find out about the origins of the Mu Guogong Mansion and my father's identity before making any plans."
He smiled at Kusunoki Nishi, with a kind of superior and disgusting arrogance in his laziness:
"...Otherwise, it would be a waste of energy, which is not good."
It has to be said that after being in the circle of nobles for a long time, Mu Qi was influenced by them and actually learned the behavior of the second-generation rich dandy who always calls his biological father. Moreover, given the current situation, calling on one's own father to launch a dimensionality reduction attack is the most appropriate method.
"My Duke Father", do you know?
The Mu Mansion is as old as the country and is not only the absolute pillar of the Zhu family's imperial power, but also the unshakable foundation of the current Feixuan Zhenjun Wanshou Emperor. The prince's grandfather, the previous generation's Mu Duke, once went to Hubei in person to welcome the Zhenjun. The prince's biological father, this generation's Mu Duke, even tried his best to rescue Lao Deng from the fire, and suffered severe burns as a result, so he had to return to Nanjing to recuperate.
Because the cause of the fire was quite embarrassing (from later investigations, it was very likely that the old Taoist priest was refining elixir late at night and his furnace exploded, and he played with fire and burned himself), it was not easy to publicize the fact that Duke Mu was recovering from his injuries. But with these two things on top of their heads, the Duke Mu's Mansion is an ironclad noble family of this dynasty, and they can easily get a top position in the core circle.
Unlike his ungrateful and stupid Jinsun Baizong, although the old Taoist priest is selfish, mean and ungrateful, he is experienced and accurate in his political calculations and never fails - politics without humanity cannot go far, and Lao Deng always knows how to show kindness at the right time and has never let his political cronies suffer. Given the status of the Mu Duke's Mansion and the deeds of two generations of Mu Dukes, unless the core members openly rebel and usurp the throne, the surname alone is a golden ticket that is as solid as a rock and can protect one from death.
And judging from the current performance of the Prince of Mu... rather than believing that he is plotting to usurp the throne, it is better to believe that he is the reincarnation of Emperor Gaozu. As long as the civil and military officials v him fifty times, they can keep their bodies intact in the future skinning and stuffing.
So, let the Japanese blow the whistle on this matter, this accusation is no big deal. Whether the crime of speculating on the emperor's intentions is serious or not depends entirely on Lao Deng's words. Judging from past examples, the most that Master Feixuan and Emperor Wanshou would do was to send eunuchs to scold the prince and then put him in solitary confinement at home for a few days.
So Mu Qi was fearless and relaxed, and even felt like making a sarcastic remark:
"…Besides, although I am young and ignorant, I am still serving the emperor, so I know a little bit about his will. Mr. Kusunoha, are you so sure that the emperor of our dynasty will not help Goryeo?"
Perhaps because his defenses were breached one after another, Kusunoki Nishi was too lazy to pretend anymore. He spoke coldly:
"Your Highness may not understand that aid is not something that can be done with just a word. It requires real money! Such a huge expenditure is probably not in line with the wishes of the Emperor of your country!"
This is basically a blatant mockery of Da'an's finances. The Japanese had spies all over the country and had indeed discovered the true face of the current emperor. If he would fly into a rage and throw a tantrum, shouting "my money" when the outer court embezzled hundreds of thousands of silver, how could he possibly spend tens of millions on Goryeo?
In general, this speculation is quite reliable. Lao Deng emptied the national treasury to satisfy his own selfish desires, which was the root cause of the Japanese pirates' rampant corruption and the natural and man-made disasters that have followed in recent years. If he could destroy the coastal defense for his own selfish reasons before, why couldn't he give up Goryeo for his own selfish reasons later?
This is a very reasonable and ingenious reasoning, and it is probably the real origin of Japan's ambitious thinking and even the arrogant argument of "respecting both China and Japan"... In the eyes of some people in Japan, although China has a huge and strong trunk, the center that commands the trunk has long been corrupt and incompetent; as long as it is handled properly, using Goryeo as a springboard to take the capital directly, it is not impossible to seize the capital in one fell swoop.
Decades later, such a perverse idea was actually put into reality. After barely unifying, Japan's strength reached its peak and it actually launched a charge against the order in East Asia. It's just a pity...
Mu Qi's eyes flashed.
"Your Majesty is a man of great talent and wisdom. He certainly knows what to do."
"Really?"
Nanye Xinin looked indifferent, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, full of sarcasm, as if he was mocking the insincerity of Prince Mu's words and actually said such nonsense flattery.
The Japanese's understanding of the Da'an court far exceeds the imagination of ordinary people. How come they didn't know that the current emperor was such a remarkable figure?
Mu Qi saw it clearly, and although his eyes twitched, his expression was generally calm - he was naturally unwilling to lick the old Taoist's hook, but "naturally gifted with wisdom and insight" was not really a flattery; his confidence in Lao Deng was by no means false.
——To put it simply, the old Taoist priest’s morality is anthropomorphic, but his intelligence is absolutely extraordinary. Master Feixuan was selfish, cold-hearted, vicious and cruel all his life, but he was never vague when it came to matters concerning imperial power. The safety of Goryeo is precisely such a big deal!
Mu Qi may not understand any military strategy, but protecting Goryeo and the Northeast at the cost of his life was the tacit choice made by the top political figures of Chinese civilization for more than a thousand years since Emperor Taizong of Tang. Even in the most difficult and weak years, the will to make such a decision has never wavered, and they were willing to pay the price of blood for it. You may not believe Goryeo's requests for help, or the empty words of the ministers' long speeches, but it is best to believe these figures' common vision that transcends history.
Of course, Lao Deng’s character and morals can never be compared with those of the ancient sages. But Lao Deng's vision and sense of power are absolutely impeccable. If even his good eldest grandson Baizong can make resolute decisions and act decisively; then Lao Deng will only strike more ruthlessly, earlier, and at any cost - when facing the crucial moment of the struggle for power, Lao Deng will definitely not back down!
After all, a wonder like Baozong is rare throughout the ages. Even if God wants to strengthen Chinese civilization, having such a rare talent in the past five hundred years is enough. After all, in the eighteen levels of hell, there aren't many lowly creatures who are ready to reincarnate.
However, Nanye Xinin obviously could not understand Mu Qi's confidence, so he just sneered and said nothing. Mu Qi was too lazy to explain anything to him, and was even less willing to waste his time flattering him. But the current situation is extremely delicate. Before the coastal defense plans are fully completed, it is not the best option to hastily turn against the Japanese envoys; if the Japanese are allowed to see the emperor's true face too early, it will inevitably arouse their unpredictable arrogant ambitions.
In the final analysis, the decisive battle against Japan should be delayed until at least five years later. During these five years, any provocation to the Japanese pirates must be avoided to ensure safety. And Lao Deng...and the lagging level that Lao Deng has always shown is undoubtedly the most important catalyst for the Japanese pirates' ambitions.
——We all come from the East Asian cultural circle. Who doesn’t know the logic that the one with the most powerful army and soldiers becomes the emperor?
Therefore, no matter how reluctant he was, Mu Qi had no choice but to drink tea and chat with Nanye Nishinin, and at the same time hinted at the old Taoist's "wise judgment" and "wisdom" in his words, trying to intimidate the Japanese who had already slightly revealed their desires - of course, he still retained a bottom line, just advocating the old Taoist's wisdom (this was the absolute truth), and never involving any moral evaluation - however, despite the sourness in his stomach, Nanye Nishinin opposite him remained indifferent, and even the sarcasm on his face became more and more obvious.
He did have reason to be indifferent. And with Mu Qi's pitiful rhetoric, it seemed impossible to convince him to change his mind and feel any awe for such a ridiculous and weird Lao Deng. Just the contemptuous words "Is that so" were enough to reject all temptations.
No way, no way, there really is no one who thinks that Lao Deng is a wise ruler?
Therefore, judging from the current situation, it is absolutely impossible to portray Lao Deng as a wise ruler. This is to be expected, but...
After Mu Qi struggled to drink the fifth cup of tea, a once-in-a-lifetime loud noise finally erupted outside the small temple. Suddenly, thunder roared, air tumbled, and a huge resonance wave swept up and down, knocking over the coffee table and blowing open the door, making the two people's ears buzz and almost dizzy.
Mu Qi forced himself to endure the dizziness and stood up with the help of a chair. The noise and impact just now were so sudden that the whole pot of hot tea poured onto his legs, scalding him so much that he almost rolled over on the spot. But now was not the time to roll over. Mu Qi had to endure the huge pain and calmly say the lines he had prepared long ago:
"What are they doing? Why did they blow up His Majesty's alchemy furnace again?"
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