Chapter 376 A negotiation that changed the history of the dynasty (Part 2)
In the spacious and quiet room on the fifth floor of Dafeng Building, the lights swayed gently.
At the Eight Immortals table, after Zhao Duan said this with a smile, the expressions of the father and daughter at the same table became subtle to the naked eye.
"Haha," King Huai'an laughed subconsciously, as if he heard something funny: "Is this your Majesty's intention?"
He was testing, before Zhao Duan left the capital, Did the empress give some instructions alone?
For example, if you want to win the support of this swinging prince, what price will the court pay.
However, Zhao Duan only shook his head calmly: "This is just my own idea."
Has the empress discussed the issue of wooing King Huai'an with him?
Yes.
When leaving Beijing, the monarch and his ministers did have a discussion on this matter, and the consensus reached at that time was that it must not be given.
Although using part of the profits to win over the "eight kings" of division is an attractive proposition, and it is indeed feasible, in the long run, it is tantamount to "drinking poison to quench thirst."
If you give it once, there will be a second time. Where can the court get such a rich family to satisfy the appetite of these princes?
In particular, compromise means weakness. And the impression that the empress should not leave to outsiders the most now is precisely that of weakness.
Although a tough stance may make the market opening face greater resistance, the long-term results will be greater.
"Is that so?" King Huai'an was obviously a little disappointed, and his expression was a bit cold:
"Then, why do you think that I would be willing to offend others and take a trip into this muddy water? "
Zhao Duan did not answer directly, but said:
"There are three factions in the city now, and the prince is the largest neutral faction. If the prince nods, then on the boundary of Huai River, It will be much easier to open the market, but it will be difficult if the prince blocks it.
I understand this, and so do Prince Jing and the other six princes.
But I dare to remind the prince that not everything is like business. The goods are sold to whomever bids more and pays more. Many things in the world are not chosen only for the benefits, but to avoid the disadvantages. Do.”
The implication:
The opening of the market in Huting is not a bargaining chip that can be used to make inquiries from both sides and gain benefits.
It is a serious question of standing in the wrong team. Once the team is in the wrong team, even if you can make a fortune in front of you, you may not have a future.
The King of Huai'an seemed to smile, and his expression did not appear to be intimidated at all:
"Oh? So what you mean is that as far as I am concerned, I have to help either of you. ? Could it be that I, the King, cannot help each other? Or do you want to be like those rotten Confucian scholars who think that being neutral has no good end?"
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Of course the princes can help each other. In fact, among the eight princes, you are probably the only one who has this confidence.
Because there are too many gentry forces in the Huai River Road, these big families formed the Li Party in the court , in the local area, its tentacles extend all-pervasively, and have long become a fleshy tumor of the Great Yu Dynasty, and your existence itself is a check and balance for this group of nobles...
The Nine Ways of Dayu, the King of Hejian In Xiping, King Yanshan was in Tieguan, King Heng was in Qingzhou, King Mu was in Yunfu, King Chen was in Binhai, King Qiong was in Lingnan... and King Jing was in Jiancheng, all were princes whose power was greater than that of local aristocratic families. Rich family.
However, the Huai River is special. Perhaps because the Huai River is the hub of Dayu's trade, the pond is large enough to accommodate many fish, so the Huai'an Prince's Palace and these noble families have a foothold in restraining each other.
Especially as far as I know, you have the smallest private army among the Eight Kings. Even if your Majesty has conflicts with the princes, the one he least wants to touch is you.
Even if someone else becomes the emperor, it is still the same. There needs to be an important member of the royal family to take charge here. It is precisely because of this special position that the Huai'an Palace has the confidence to sit firmly on Diaoyutai. ”
These words were eloquent.
Halfway through the words, the little princess’s eyes lit up.
At the end of the sentence, the potbellied “Big Eater” "He also showed a slightly surprised look.
It seemed that Zhao Duan, a warrior, could really reveal the key to it.
The King of Huai'an was silent for a moment and smiled:
“Now I believe it, my little girl said you are extraordinary. "
Zhao Duan smiled and said nothing.
The King of Huai'an said lightly:
"Since you understand this truth, you should also know the confidence that this king has not to interfere with the things between you."
"Really?" Zhao Duan said with a slightly teasing smile: "Your Majesty, this is What you said was not honest.”
“Oh?”
Zhao Duan said lightly:
“You might have been able to keep your composure before, but the imperial court opened fire. The market is different again
Once the trade market dominated by the imperial court is operational, the wealth of the entire Huaihe River will gather towards Huting and flow into the treasury, as will the merchants and small families who became imperial merchants. When someone rises, someone will fall.
The New Deal is basically to take wealth back to the court from the gentry group. In this way, the gentry in Huaishuidao will weaken.
< br>And as they weaken, the role of the Huai'an Palace in checking and balancing them will also be reduced.
In other words, Your Majesty will not be as important as before. With your wisdom, you will definitely be able to see this level, and again. How can you sit still and wait for death?"
The slightly fat face of King Huai'an finally looked serious.
If you talk about what you just said, you still can't see anything.
But the current analysis is to dissect his thoughts, almost at a glance:
"Oh, if it is true to what you said, then shouldn't this king Are you trying to block the opening of the market? "Obstruct the New Deal?"
Zhao Duan shook his head with a smile, looked directly at the other party and said:
"But you can't stop it, because the biggest beneficiary of the entire New Deal is It is not the current Majesty, but the imperial court, or to be more precise, the person sitting on the Dragon Throne.
The current Majesty is sitting there and will fully promote the New Deal, but even if it were any other person, he would be sitting there. There, they will also try their best to promote the New Deal.
Ordinary people only think that the New Deal is designed by His Majesty to make money, but those who are thoughtful will understand that this set of things is like a magic box. Once opened, it will never happen again. Can't close it."
Magic box!
It’s Pandora’s Box!
It can also be called a conspiracy in a certain sense.
In the final analysis, the empty treasury of the Yu Dynasty is not a problem faced by the empress, but a problem faced by the "emperor".
The old emperor passed away and left a big hole to his descendants. Even if Zhenbao does not succeed to the throne, but the crown prince or the second prince succeeds, this matter still needs to be resolved.
Even if the Eight Kings rebel and Prince Jing or any other prince sits on the throne, he will still face this problem.
The "New Deal" solution given by Zhao Duan is a set of the best solutions at the moment.
This means that from the moment the New Deal comes out, it can no longer be taken back, no matter who is the emperor.
The noble clans in Huaishuidao will inevitably decline, and the role of the King of Huai'an in suppressing them will also inevitably decline!
"Father..."
Xu Junling caught a glimpse of his father's fat hands hanging under the table and suddenly clenched them tightly!
The veins on the back of my hands are bulging.
Obviously, Zhao Duan’s words touched what he cared about the most!
Zhao Duan's speech was not over yet. He continued to smile and said:
"Furthermore, in my opinion, the implementation of the New Deal is actually the softest and best result for these noble families, and even for you, the prince. Because the worse outcome is war."
"Although I am not a scholar, I have read the history of the Yu Dynasty. The six hundred years of Guozuo were not smooth sailing during the three hundred years. Not long ago, there was a banditry that swept across the country.
At that time, the war broke out. The noble families in various places were either wiped out by the bandits, or they themselves became bandits...
In the end, the imperial court won. , failed to change the dynasty, but the entire territory was also swept by the flames of war. After the war, it was in ruins, but it was full of vitality. "Why? Because of a fight, the nobles and officials who originally occupied a lot of wealth were replaced. They were wiped out, leaving many new seats...
When I was reading the history books, I noticed an interesting point even more, that is, in the smoke of the war, there were some bandit troops behind them. , there are vague shadows of the emperors of that generation...
Haha, of course I don’t believe it, it must be malicious slander by some folk historians..."
Zhao Duan folded it for himself A, then continued:
"And now three hundred years have passed, and the entire Yu Dynasty pond is full of dragons, turtles and turtles everywhere, and the backlog of people can't breathe... You said, If a few more rebel armies break out at this moment, will they take the opportunity to kill the most prosperous Huaihe River?
At that time, those who have soldiers and horses in their hands will not be afraid, but the Huai'an Palace does not seem to have strong soldiers and horses, right?
When the time comes, facing the bandits’ swords, how many lives can money buy?
Well, of course I believe that you will not be disturbed by banditry, but what about the rest of the nobles?
They may not be able to protect themselves, and these people are gone. I think no one sitting on the Dragon Throne would want to see the Huai River Road and the mountains left. You said... right? "
Quiet!
As this long speech was uttered, the entire Dafeng Building fell into an eerie silence.
Even the fourth floor below seemed to sense the feeling upstairs. The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
King Huai'an could no longer sit still. His fat body leaned forward slightly, his hands holding the armrests of the seat tightly clenched, and there was no expression on his fat face. .
Princess Xu Junling also turned pale. He did not expect that Zhao Duan would speak so directly and with a threatening tone, but he seemed to be frightened by the picture he painted.
Threatened?
deterrence?
Yes, Zhao Duan is trying to intimidate.
After the father and daughter took the initiative in the conversation at the beginning, Zhao Duan broke it.
His series of proactive attacks have quietly reversed the situation in this conversation.
Although there is only one person, he seems to have the upper hand!
It’s not because Zhao Duan’s negotiation skills are so good, but because that’s the way things are.
The King of Huai'an, who seems to have unlimited glory, and both sides are striving to win over him, is actually the weakest.
It is also the most coveted piece of fat.
As early as the late emperor's reign, the King of Huai'an had already foreseen that the prince would begin to reduce the vassal status after he ascended the throne.
At that time, he judged that the princes everywhere were unable to resist.
Therefore, ten years in advance, he consciously reduced his private army, focused on money, controlled territory and power, and tried to bind himself to the Huaishui Taoist clan.
It has the meaning of "nurturing the bandits to respect themselves".
The "Li Party" in the imperial court has become the largest force in recent years, and the King of Huai'an also assisted behind it.
He deliberately raised such a group of nobles to ensure that he would not be suppressed by the prince after he ascended the throne and escape from the subsequent reduction of the vassal.
The King of Huai'an thought very well and had a far-reaching plan. He didn't have much ambition, and all he wanted was to continue the prosperity and wealth of his descendants.
But he was unlucky.
Unexpectedly, the old emperor passed away, and the second prince Jian Wen staged a palace coup and directly beheaded the prince and other brothers.
What’s more, I didn’t expect that the third princess, who had been practicing in the palace for twenty years, would be in charge of the Tai’a Sword and kill her brother to put down the rebellion.
It's okay so far. As long as the situation remains unchanged, he can still support the bandits in self-respect, bet on both sides, and watch the fight between tigers and tigers.
However, he did not expect that Zhao Duan would directly bleed him with his new policy, and suddenly the conflict between the Eight Kings and the Empress became acute.
And once the war starts, as Zhao Duan said, who wouldn't be greedy for the big fat king of Huai'an?
Even in the beginning, in order to unite all parties, no one would do anything to him, but what will he do after the new emperor ascends the throne?
Does he have the troops to compete for the throne?
No.
Does he have the terrain advantage that King Mu, King Qiong, King Yanshan and others can retreat to their place of origin to protect themselves?
No.
So underneath the seemingly powerful appearance of the King of Huai'an, he was panicking.
Zhao Duan saw this clearly, so he pointed it out so directly.
"Your Majesty,"
Zhao Duan sighed softly and took the initiative to break the silence. He picked up the wine bottle and poured wine for the father and daughter again.
This time, Xu Junling, who substituted tea for wine, did not stop him.
Zhao Duan put down the flask and said seriously:
"Actually, you know very well that the current situation of stalemate is already the best, and the worst is undoubtedly the military situation. See you.
If you stand with those princes, will the result be better than supporting His Majesty? No, as long as you support His Majesty, even if the new policy is indeed slow bloodletting, it is only bloodletting, not killing. "
Zhao Duan said with sincerity in his eyes:
"For the New Deal to be implemented successfully, it will take ten years to achieve initial results, and it may take twenty years for major changes to occur. If it can be implemented smoothly, Huaihe will be successful. The Shui Shi clan will not disappear, but they are not as powerful as they are now.
Your Majesty, why bother touching a meritorious minister? The wealth of Prince Huai's palace will not be spent in a few lifetimes, so why be too greedy. ?”
A long time.
The King of Huai'an slowly picked up the wine cup in front of him with his fat hand, and slowly poured the clear wine into his throat.
Then he sat in the chair and closed his eyes.
After a while.
He opened his eyes, regained his composure and looked at Zhao Duan with admiration, and said:
"No wonder you can make Mr. Zhengyang respect a master with his eloquence and kung fu." , It’s true. I was almost persuaded by you.”
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows: “Your Majesty, do you think I’m talking nonsense?”
The King of Huai’an shook his head. He nodded and laughed at himself:
"Boy, you are more extraordinary than Jun Ling described, but I still want to teach you a truth."
Zhao Duan said respectfully : "I'm all ears."
A cautious and serious look appeared on the fat face of the King of Huai'an:
"No one knows which one will come first, the thunderstorm or the bright sun. The future can never be discussed on paper. It can be deduced that everything is subject to change.
In business, you can never rely on your mouth. ”
Zhao Duan was thoughtful.
The King of Huai'an said: "Send off guests!"
......
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( End of chapter)