In the past, Lu Chen felt very angry when he read the history of the Song Dynasty. He had won the battle, but had to pay compensation to others like a grandson. What kind of logic was this?
At that time, he had only one idea: if he could travel back to the Song Dynasty, he would definitely kill all those surrendering civil servants!
By the way, he also severely despised the rulers of the Song Dynasty at that time. So there is a cause for every effect, and the Jingkang Shame was really their own fault.
Lu Chen always felt that the emperor of the Song Dynasty had a problem with his brain. Could a normal carbon-based creature do something that would make his loved ones sad and his enemies happy?
But when he really arrived in Da Qi and faced this situation, Lu Chen had a new understanding.
It's like when you play competitive games like DOTA2, League of Legends, Honor of Kings, CSGO, etc., and you are constantly being beaten by a certain team for several years.
During this period, they not only beat you, but also mocked you and looked down on you, and would pick you out and scold you at any time.
Then one day, he suddenly kneels on the ground and says to you: "Dad, you play really well, you are the best, I can't beat you, I am a weakling, I was lucky to beat you before, from now on you are my real dad."
Let me ask you, would you feel good if you encountered this situation?
He even promised that next time he meets you, he will stand still and let you kill him, and the only price he pays for this is that he hopes you can give him a skin.
If it were you, what would you choose?
Lu Chen knew that the Great Qi Dynasty had been suppressed for too long, and Li Zhuo had also been suppressed for too long. Now that Xixia had suddenly surrendered, and was willing to call him daddy, it was normal for the entire Great Qi monarch and his ministers to make strategic misjudgments.
What does he do? Isn't it to correct the mistakes of these people?
Fortunately, I came to attend the grand court meeting today, otherwise these fools would have made a stupid decision.
So Lu Chen stepped out of the class and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, could you listen to what I have to say?"
Lu Chen's current position in the court of Da Qi is still very special. Although he is not an important official and has no rank, everyone has to listen to what he says.
Anyone can see that after so many things have happened, Lu Chen's weight in Li Zhuo's heart has become more and more important.
As expected, Li Zhuo waved his hand, ordered his men to separate the two Shangshu who were still swinging their fists, and then asked, "Master, what are your thoughts?"
"I don't dare claim to have such a profound opinion, but I do have some opinions on some details. Let me first state my position: I personally do not agree with giving money and food."
Upon hearing this, Cui Shanzhan became excited. As expected, he was the one who invented the Sheng'en Dan and the telescope. Master Lu was indeed standing with their military.
Even the military generals in the hall nodded to Lu Chen in a friendly manner. If Master Lu could stand on their side, perhaps His Majesty could revoke his order.
"Master, you're right. We won the battle, yet we have to pay compensation to others. I've never heard of such a thing before. It's absolutely ridiculous. This is definitely aiding the enemy. Could it be that Minister Ke has accepted benefits from the Western Xia?"
Cui Shanzhan shouted with disdain. In his opinion, the Minister of Rites Ke Fuji was a treacherous villain!
Accepting bribes from an enemy nation was a truly heinous crime. Ke Fuji quickly stepped forward to defend himself, saying, "Your Majesty, I understand this is for the good of Great Qi. If giving some money could have prevented war, our men wouldn't have died in vain."
"With the strength of Great Qi, if we are given some time to recuperate, we will surely regain our prosperity. Moreover, compared with past military expenditures, this amount of money is a drop in the bucket. Since it can help us save money and avoid border wars, why not do it? Minister Liang, don't you agree?"
Liang Licang also looked conflicted. "Of course we can save money, but the problem is, we won the battle, so why should we pay compensation? I think not only should we not pay compensation, we should even make them cede territory and pay compensation!"
Cui Shanzhan pointed at Ke Fuji's nose and angrily shouted, "Ke, you know our men are fighting so hard on the border, and you're just going to ruin their achievements like this? If all of you in the Ministry of Rites are such wimps, don't even bother attending the next negotiation!"
"What a joke! My Ministry of Rites' duty is to receive foreign envoys. How dare you, a roughneck from the Ministry of War, say such things? Are you trying to seize power?"
"Asking you to receive foreign envoys is not to make you act like dogs, nor is it to ask you to sell out your masters for glory!"
"How dare you, old bastard, talk too much! You're just a bunch of roughnecks who only know how to fight, and you're talking about national affairs? Since we've already decided to negotiate peace, then let's be open and honest. That's how we can demonstrate the magnanimity of our Celestial Empire!"
"The Celestial Empire's magnanimity was earned through hard work. Since when did the Celestial Empire need to pay others to buy this face?"
Seeing the two sides about to fight again, Li Zhuo waved his hand and said, "Enough, shut up! Since Xixia is willing to negotiate peace, then as the Celestial Empire, we must give them this opportunity. Besides, you are all aware of the situation at home, and we do need time to recuperate. If the military is angry, then they should train well. One day, we will make them submit obediently. Master Lu, what are your thoughts?"
Lu Chen curled his lips. It seemed that Li Zhuo was also inclined to negotiate peace. The country really needed some time to survive and develop.
Thinking of this, Lu Chen bowed and said, "I think peace talks are feasible, but we can't just give them everything they want, and we can't give it away for free."
"Since this is a negotiation, then you can ask for a high price and pay it back on the spot. I will state some of my reasonable demands. First of all, the craftsman will absolutely not give it to you. Don't even think about it."
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