The news of the Zhenbei King's critical condition made the emperor feel helpless.

But this state letter made the emperor very angry.

The new ruler, who inherited the prestige of his father, was actually very sensitive. He yearned to break through the shadow of his father, thereby surpassing him.

Yes, he didn't dream of his father in his dreams, but his father was really everywhere.

However, this state letter made him taste a sense of humiliation.

Although, Zheng Houye, as an observer, glanced at the state letter and didn't feel anything was a big deal.

One can only say that,

The emperor of Great Yan was, in his bones, too proud.

Or rather,

It was because Ji Laoliu was, in some respects, too similar to the late emperor.

Zheng Fan smiled,

Put the state letter back on the imperial desk,

Then silently sat back down on the chair below.

Ji Chengjue looked at Zheng Fan and said:

"Speak."

"There's nothing to say." Zheng Houye shrugged.

"Nothing to say?" The emperor found it incredible.

"If he wants it, let him take it. The royal court has been destroyed, but the barbarians have not been wiped out. Even if they are now a disorganized mess, those large barbarian tribes are enough to give anyone a headache.

They probably won't have the ability to march eastward together to threaten my Great Yan for decades, but anyone who really wants to send a large army to station in the desert will have to lose a row of teeth.

Those people in the envoy are just taking advantage of the situation with their words."

"Zheng Fan, they are insulting朕's authority!"

"And then?" Zheng Fan retorted.

"You..."

"Aiyo, I say, Your Majesty? Chengjue? Sixth?"

Zheng Fan reached out and waved his hand a few times at the emperor,

"You only destroyed the royal court and broke its spine. You didn't really occupy its land and register its people. What, do you already consider the desert to be your own territory of Great Yan?

I know, I know, the desert will inevitably be mine, Great Yan's, in the future. I understand, and I can understand that you are very angry, I understand.

Want it, want it;

But how should I put it, take it easy, take it easy. You and I were just saying the other day that we should be steady and take it one step at a time, first tidy up our own home, and then unify Qian Chu, and all of the Xia.

And if we are free and have nothing to do after that, why can't I, this Marquis of Pingxi, really lead an army to conquer the West?

You yourself said that, judging by the time, this envoy should have originally planned to go to the royal court to attend the conference. Now that the royal court has been destroyed, the chief envoy is probably presenting this state letter just to earn some fame for himself, just official reputation, so that he can go back and brag, get promoted, and make a fortune.

Does he get half of the governance power just because he says he has half?

You can pay attention to it after his army really reaches the depths of the desert.”

One can only say that,

Different positions lead to different perceptions and reactions to information.

In fact, Zheng Houye's statement was correct, and the emperor himself knew it in his heart;

But unfortunately, it was easy for the emperor to get emotional;

Ji Chengjue picked up the teacup, poured some water into his palm, and then gently patted his forehead.

"For the sake of long-term planning, the Zhenbei King's mansion must continue to be supported."

Zheng Fan laughed when he heard this,

And said;

"So you were originally planning to completely dismantle it?"

The emperor didn't hide anything,

And said directly:

"Promote prefectures and counties, collect governance power, and let the remaining generals guard separately, freeing them from the constraints of relationships;

Open up trade and win over and divide the desert barbarian tribes after the demise of the royal court;

The Zhenbei King's mansion will retain its honor and keep its sign."

This was to turn the century-old Zhenbei Marquis's mansion into a Chenqin Prince's mansion.

One can only say that Ji Laoliu's talk of削藩 (cutting down the power of the vassal states) in the Peking duck restaurant was not just talk.

"I say, is it appropriate for you to tell me these things so frankly?"

You are telling a duck how to bake a chicken in front of a duck?

I am also a vassal town.

"Just words from the heart." The emperor didn't care, "Dismantling the west will give the imperial court more strength to free up to support you."

"I'm so touched."

"What are you afraid of? Let's not talk about whether we can unify the Xia in our lifetime, even if we do, the land of Qian Chu is nominally a country of the Xia, but in reality, it will be difficult for the people to submit in a short period of time.

You, and even your descendants, will still need to help朕 and help朕's descendants guard the area.

Is it too early to kill the chicken to get the eggs? Wouldn't it be better to leave it to the next generation to grind?"

The emperor suddenly thought of something,

And actually laughed.

The smile on Zheng Houye's face disappeared.

Inside the imperial study,

Silence.

After a long time,

The emperor asked:

"Aren't you going to ask朕 what朕 was laughing at just now?"

"Are you trying to force your subject to rebel?"

When I go back this time,

I won't cultivate anymore,

I won't even think about advancing,

These two years,

I'll first figure out how to give birth to this child!

I don't have a father or mother in this life, why are you pushing me to have children more urgently than those families with several generations under one roof?

"Alright, alright, if you really can't, just adopt a son in the future, just communicate with朕 in advance, there's nothing difficult to handle."

"You've got guts."

The emperor held up three fingers,

And said:

"Three."

Afterward,

The emperor added:

"Sisi has a good body, and she said she still wants to give birth."

"..." Zheng Fan.

"Alas, your princess has a weaker body, can she compare to朕's empress?"

"..." Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan knew that this question was not actually a question of the difference between the princess's and the butcher's daughter's weak and strong bodies, but the fundamental problem was in himself, and also in Si Niang.

But looking at the emperor's showy appearance, it was really tempting to beat him up.

"Sixth, let's, let's keep some dignity for this imperial study."

"Okay."

The emperor nodded,

And sighed again,

And said;

"Now, for the sake of future planning, we can only continue to support the Zhenbei King's mansion to prevent it from collapsing."

This was something that should be considered from the emperor's perspective. The barbarians were now completely castrated, but this might also trigger a chain reaction. For example, after losing the buffer zone and isolation of the barbarians, would the Western countries try to launch an eastern expedition?

From the current point of view, it was very difficult;

But one must guard against ten thousand, just in case. The emperor had to consider this situation.

He couldn't just castrate the Zhenbei King's mansion along with the barbarians because the barbarians had been castrated. Then, when the Western armies appeared in a few years, they would cross the desert, reach the Beifeng Prefecture, and advance straight in?

"Just consider it as keeping up appearances." Zheng Fan said, "It's also considered winning people's hearts."

"Well, alright, I'm sorry to trouble you. If it weren't for the trouble朕 is having going out of the palace now,朕 was originally thinking of going to your mansion to see you."

"It's okay, I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, and I also want to see you more."

"I'll send Chuanye to you after the spring."

"Okay." Zheng Fan agreed. This was what they had already agreed upon.

"Alas, it's also very annoying to have too many children at home."

"Get out."

...

Beifeng Prefecture,

Zhenbei King's Mansion.

After Li Liangting returned from the desert, he collapsed as a person.

The side effects of silver needle acupuncture had already become apparent, and his body was simply unable to bear and enjoy these side effects.

Of course, this was something that had been expected early on.

Therefore,

The people in the Zhenbei King's mansion had already prepared for the imminent departure of the Zhenbei King.

Family members would accompany him to bask in the sun every day, watch the sunset, and feel the breeze;

The generals in the army would also come to pay their respects to their prince in batches.

Everything,

Was proceeding in an orderly manner.

The foundation of the century-old Zhenbei Marquis's mansion was truly revealed at this moment.

The word "foundation" is often not used when things are going smoothly, but when things are at a low ebb;

At a low ebb, one needs foundation.

The handover of power;

The appeasement of the warlords;

Political promises;

One by one, item by item, everyone could accept it calmly. This was the foundation.

Li Fei had been accompanying his father almost every step of the way these days, meeting all kinds of people and making all kinds of arrangements.

The starry sky in Beifeng Prefecture had always been very clear, and today, it was even a full moon night.

On a tower in the palace,

Li Liangting lay there, covered with a quilt;

Li Fei sat beside him, peeling frozen pears.

On the next floor,

The princess, along with the county princess and a group of wet nurses born in the family, were tearing white cloth and making clothes that would be needed for the funeral.

Very naturally,

Without avoiding it;

When he was carried upstairs,

Li Liangting also saw it and said:

"Thank you for your hard work, wife. Sure enough, to look pretty, you have to wear filial piety."

The princess cursed:

"You old, disrespectful thing, hurry up and die!"

He was dying soon,

The family was busy with the funeral arrangements,

This was not a curse,

This was a kind of reassurance;

When people were young, seeing these things would make them feel unlucky, but at this time, seeing these things would only make them feel at ease.

"My son."

"Father."

"Has the Roman envoy been dealt with?"

"Replying to Father, it has already been dealt with. Sister helped clean up the mess."

"Okay."

Li Liangting nodded.

The father and son didn't speak for a while.

Li Fei took the initiative to send the frozen pear to Li Liangting's lips for him to suck the pear juice.

At this time, it was actually not good to eat these cold things, but, in other words, at this time, naturally you can eat whatever you want.

A few days ago, his father, who had just returned from the expedition, heard that the chancellor was dead and drank a large bowl of wine in pain.

The Roman envoy was real.

They were indeed delayed and unable to reach the royal court;

But the reason for the delay was not them, but the royal court's Jinzhang (Golden Tent) Assembly itself had only a vague date;

The reason was very simple, the desert was too big, and the leaders and nobles of some large tribes had unfixed dates for gathering at the royal court. If they encountered a sandstorm or something, delays would be very natural.

Therefore, this assembly was originally waiting for everyone to arrive before it started.

From this point of view, the Roman Empire's envoy was not really late.

It was just that after the news of the Yan emperor's death reached the royal court,

The entire royal court was too excited.

Although the Yan emperor had not used troops against the desert in the name of the imperial court during his reign, anyone who had such a fierce emperor as a neighbor would inevitably be frightened.

Therefore,

Because of this "great happy event", the Jinzhang Assembly was convened ahead of schedule.

The result was clear.

The emperor of Great Yan did not forget his old neighbor until his death. Fearing that he would be too lonely after he left, he sent two princes before his death to take the royal court down with him.

From this point of view, the royal court's joy when it learned of the Yan emperor's death could not be considered wrong, only that the way of celebrating was wrong.

And this Roman Empire envoy with hundreds of people was late.

They came from the west,

And the barbarian little prince fled out of the royal court, also all the way to the west;

Then,

The Roman envoy was pleasantly surprised,

The barbarian royal court was destroyed, but they received the direct line of inheritance of the royal court.

The head of the envoy was even imagining how to use the identity of the little prince Zhi Du to re-cultivate a new royal court from the West;

Then,

Even more surprising news came to the Roman envoy,

That was that a Yan general with all white hair led eight hundred riders to appear in front of them because they were pursuing the barbarian little prince.

The Roman envoy did not see the hustle and bustle of the royal court,

But they saw the Jingnan Prince of Great Yan who ended the hustle and bustle of the royal court;

The result,

Was self-evident;

The Roman envoy suffered more than half the casualties,

When the little prince Zhi Du saw this, he fled again, and the Jingnan Prince led his troops to continue the pursuit.

The surviving Roman envoy was searched by the Yan army, which had destroyed the royal court, while spreading out to clean up the battlefield a few days later, and was tied up and taken back.

"My son, what do you think my father let that envoy present the state letter to His Majesty for?"

"Father wants to preserve the Li family's military power and wants to continue to maintain the Li family's existence."

"Alas."

Li Liangting sighed.

"Father, am I wrong?"

"I heard that you have a teacher, an old Confucian scholar."

"Yes."

"He may have knowledge, but his vision cannot be high."

"Yes, the old Confucian scholar himself has said this."

"My father is not clinging to life, including sending you to the royal court in advance. Your mother, why did she curse my father as an old beast again and again? It's because my father was deliberately digging at the roots of my Marquis's mansion.

Do you understand?"

Li Fei shook his head.

"For the good of Great Yan."

"I understand, son."

In fact, the reasoning was very easy to understand;

But, it was difficult for outsiders to believe that this person in this position, at this level, and with this power, could still have such pure emotions.

"My father is leaving, you are still a little too young, of course, with your older sister around, you can slowly mature, and eventually, you will become a qualified Li family man, my father has never doubted this.

But it will be very tiring. For a century-old marquisate, my Li family men, generation after generation, have actually lived quite tired lives.

Wouldn't it be good to be a wealthy man, with hereditary titles?"

"It's pretty good, Father," Li Fei said.

"My father also thinks so. The new ruler is very similar to the late emperor, and the late emperor was actually very cold.

Of course, my father and Wujing are exceptions, because Wujing is too powerful, and because my father has the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion at its peak in his hands.

Therefore,

The three of us,

Can stand side by side.

And you,

Don't have that qualification.

Perhaps, that Marquis of Pingxi will be able to have a good relationship with the new ruler, just like my father and Wujing had with the late emperor back then.

You, can't.

Therefore, my father is thinking that instead of waiting for the new ruler to stabilize the situation and then take action, it would be better for us to obediently send it up. My father still has some face, and there can be some friendship, isn't that the idea?"

"Yes."

"But listen, listen to what the people of that envoy are saying, why did they come to the royal court, it was to form an alliance with the royal court, and what was the purpose of the alliance, it was to... launch an eastern expedition.

Maybe, it's not reliable now, the desert is very big, and there are many tribes, so they can't launch an eastern expedition in a short period of time.

But what if?

My father let them present the state letter, not to preserve this Li family, but because my father wants to remind the new ruler not to think that everything will be fine in the west after destroying the royal court.

Maybe, that wolf in the west already thinks he is strong and can try to come over?

Therefore,

Before, it was out of public interest that my Li family step down, which is good for Great Yan;

Now, it is also out of public interest that my Li family does not step down first, which is good for Great Yan.

You,

Do you understand?"

"I understand."

"My Li family has many merchants who travel to the West. His Majesty also had merchants traveling there in his early years. Listen more to their reports and also submit more memorials to His Majesty, so that everyone can be aware of the situation."

"Yes, Father, I understand."

"If you have anything you don't understand, ask your older sister. Your older sister had a bad temper when she was a child, but now..."

"Father, after all, my older sister and I are siblings, so Father doesn't have to worry."

"Well, thank you for your hard work, my son. I haven't raised you by my side, but in the end, you have to take on this burden."

"Father is joking. This can be considered a meteoric rise for me. It's a blessing that others wouldn't dare to dream of."

"My son."

"Father, please speak."

"More than eight hundred years ago, Marquis Yan opened the border by order of the Great Xia Son of Heaven, to defend the Xia against the barbarians;

Later,

Marquis Yan became emperor,

And my Li family was also ennobled as a marquis.

In fact,

My Li family is obeying the Yan Emperor's order to defend against all enemies in the West.

Next,

If my father is not mistaken, the new ruler will bide his time for two or three years, and then, my Great Yan will begin its journey to unify the Xia.

You, must be able to endure loneliness.

Just guard this place well,

Guard the edge of this desert,

Guard it well, and this will be merit."

"I know, son."

"Manage the family well. Father hopes that you can see the day when my Great Yan unifies the Xia.

Father also hopes that you can wait for the day when my Great Yan's iron cavalry truly marches west.

Father's greatest hope,

Is that you and your older sister can live out your lives in peace."

Speaking of this,

Li Liangting suddenly lifted the quilt,

Sat up,

This action startled Li Fei.

Li Liangting's eyes were red,

And he slapped the side of the bed hard,

And shouted:

"Brother Hao'er and Wujing have suffered so much for Great Yan, but in the end, only I can die on this sickbed, with both children by my side and my old wife serving me.

Why am I so lucky?

With such good fortune,

What face do I have to go down and see Brother Hao'er?

Son,

Father has no face,

No face!

Why,

Where am I worse than them,

Why can only I die on this bed,

Why!"

Li Liangting fell heavily back on the bed,

His eyes half-closed.

"Dad, we owe them, really, when we were young, we said we would do everything at all costs together, but in the end, they did it, but Dad, didn't.

Son..."

Li Fei cried,

He had a premonition,

The women on the next floor heard the shouts from upstairs and stopped the work at hand. Obviously, they all had a premonition.

"Son, remember what Dad said, no matter if the barbarians come from the West, but as long as they come from the West, they can come, but if they want to cross this Beifeng Prefecture;

My Li family, my Li family... Li family..."

Li Liangting clenched Li Fei's hand, wanting to speak, but suddenly couldn't, and could only stare at his son with wide eyes.

Li Fei took a deep breath and said:

"They have to step over the corpses of my Li family's sons and daughters."

The Zhenbei King smiled,

And his hand,

Also loosened.

His whole body,

Completely calmed down on the bed.

The heir of the century-old marquisate,

The Zhenbei King of Great Yan,

Was gone.

——————

There's more tonight.