activa-t Chapter 86 Qi Jingtong, you have disappointed me greatly!
Chapter 86 Qi Jingtong, you have disappointed me greatly!
Li Shouyi's expression did not escape Zhu Houzhao's notice.
However, Zhu Houzhao didn't care about Li Shouyi's feelings at all; she was just a pawn in a political marriage.
What Zhu Houzhao needed to do was to consider the benefits that accepting Li Shouyi as a concubine would bring to the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly and smiled: "You're quite beautiful, a real beauty. Which Korean king's daughter are you?"
Li Shouyi secretly clenched the hem of his robe with both hands and whispered, "Your Majesty, my father is the current King of Joseon, Yi Yi."
Zhu Houzhao didn't really have much of an impression of the name Li Yu.
However, Zhu Houzhao vaguely remembered that a coup should have occurred in North Korea in those few years.
The original king of Joseon was overthrown by his own ministers, who then installed the original king's younger brother as the new king.
The newly enthroned king was none other than King Jungjong of Joseon, Yi Yeok.
Zhu Houzhao knew about Li Yi because there was a very famous female official in Li Yi's palace named Xu Jang-geum, also known as Dae Jang-geum.
Xu Changjin was born in the ninth year of the Hongzhi reign, so she should be ten years old now.
Zhu Houzhao then asked, "And what is your relationship with Li Yi?"
Zhu Houzhao's question puzzled everyone in the Korean delegation.
Lee Soo-eok was also somewhat bewildered, but still answered truthfully: "Your Majesty, Lee Yeok is my uncle, my father's younger brother, and the current Grand Prince Jinseong of Joseon."
"oh."
Zhu Houzhao suddenly realized what was happening, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Therefore, it seems that Yi Shouyi's father was none other than the unfortunate Yeonsan-gun, Yi Yi, who was overthrown in a coup.
Upon hearing this news, Zhu Houzhao felt a surge of excitement.
To be honest, he had been unhappy with Korea for a long time. This small border country should have been incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty long ago and become a part of the Ming Dynasty.
But the King of Joseon was too clever; he was extremely loyal to the Ming Dynasty, paying tribute every year without fail and with impeccable manners.
They always claimed to be subjects of the Ming Dynasty, and even the king had to consult the emperor of the Ming Dynasty before ascending the throne, leaving Zhu Houzhao with no reason to criticize them.
Even if Zhu Houzhao wanted to send troops to annex Korea, he would lack a legitimate reason to do so and would not have the moral high ground.
But now, Zhu Houzhao has found a perfect reason.
After Li Yi was overthrown in a coup, Zhu Houzhao could use the pretext of avenging his father-in-law to send troops to Korea.
Whether the reason is ridiculous or not doesn't matter; the important thing is that there has to be a reason.
Zhu Houzhao nodded in satisfaction: "Good, promote Li Shouyi to the rank of Consort, bestow upon her the name Li, and have her reside in... Jingyang Palace."
Li Shouyi bowed and expressed his gratitude: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
After Zhu Houzhao conferred the title of concubine, Gu Dayong, along with the eunuchs from the inner palace, used a sedan chair to bring Li Shouyi to Jingyang Palace.
Seeing that Li Shouyi had successfully entered the palace, the Korean envoy Liu Shan breathed a sigh of relief, bowed down again, and thanked Zhu Houzhao for his imperial grace.
Subsequently, Liu Shan presented Zhu Houzhao with more than ten boxes of dowry prepared by the King of Joseon.
Now, when Zhu Houzhao looked at Korea, it was no different from looking at his own territory.
Having received such a large dowry, Zhu Houzhao, as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, naturally could not be stingy in returning the favor, and immediately issued an order.
"The Ministry of Rites was ordered to reciprocate with five boxes of porcelain, five boxes of tea, five boxes of silk, five boxes of spices, and five boxes of medicinal herbs..."
Liu Shan, deeply moved, kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your gracious favor!"
"However, if I may be so bold as to ask Your Majesty for a reward."
"Oh?" Zhu Houzhao asked, "What reward?"
Liu Shan looked at Zhu Houzhao with hopeful eyes: "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you bestow five boxes of classics and historical texts upon Korea, so that the people of Korea may be enlightened and bathed in the teachings of the Great Ming!"
Oh, so you've come to ask for a book.
When Korea took the initiative to accept Sinicization, Zhu Houzhao readily agreed: "I grant your permission."
"Hanlin Academy, please select five boxes of classic texts for the Korean envoy."
Hanlin Academy scholar Liu Zhong quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Liu Shan was overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed to express his gratitude.
"Thank you for your divine grace, Your Majesty. Korea will forever be the most loyal subject of the Ming Dynasty!"
Apart from Liu Shan, the other Korean envoys also kowtowed repeatedly to express their gratitude, looking extremely thankful.
Zhu Houzhao was deeply moved and said that Joseon had been loyal to the Ming Dynasty for generations, which he believed.
After all, the Qing Dynasty was about to perish, but the reign title used by Korea was still the 379th year of Chongzhen.
While all Han Chinese were wearing Manchu-style qipaos, Koreans were still wearing Ming-style Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) to commemorate the last Ming emperor, Chongzhen, whose kingdom had long since fallen.
Of course, Joseon's loyalty to the Ming Dynasty has absolutely nothing to do with present-day South Korea.
These two should not be confused.
Zhu Houzhao pondered, since Korea likes the Ming Dynasty so much, why not just join the Ming Dynasty?
The annexation of Korea into the Ming Dynasty was a shared aspiration of the people of both countries, and Zhu Houzhao had the responsibility and obligation to fulfill this common wish.
Those who oppose it must be the ruling class of North Korea.
That's simple, Zhu Houzhao just needs to kill them all!
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand: "I understand. You may all leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Liu Shan led all the Korean envoys out of Fengtian Hall Square, Zhu Houzhao looked around and asked, "Where is Qi Jingtong?"
Liu Jin turned around, bowed, and whispered, "Your Majesty, Qi Jingtong is waiting outside the court."
Zhu Houzhao uttered a single word indifferently: "Announce."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Liu Jin turned around to face directly ahead and shouted in a shrill voice: "Summon Qi Jingtong, the Vice Commander of Dengzhou Guard, to come to court for an audience!"
Soon, a young general with a resolute face strode forward and knelt down on one knee to salute Zhu Houzhao.
"Qi Jingtong, Vice Commander of Dengzhou Guard, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao looked Qi Jingtong up and down and nodded slightly.
Qi Jingtong was also a famous general who fought against Japanese pirates, spending most of his life fighting against them along the coast.
But compared to his son, his name seems rather obscure.
Because his son was Qi Jiguang, a true national hero!
However, Qi Jingtong's own abilities were also quite remarkable, as he was able to cultivate Qi Jiguang, a national hero.
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand: "Qi Jingtong, in your memorial you said that the Japanese pirates along the coast of the Ming Dynasty are becoming increasingly rampant, and you want me to order the suppression of the Japanese pirates."
"I ask you, if I fully support your efforts to eradicate the Japanese pirates, what will you do?"
Qi Jingtong had already considered this question on his way to the capital to meet the emperor.
When Zhu Houzhao raised this question, Qi Jingtong immediately answered.
"Your Majesty, I will take the initiative to attack the Japanese pirates, avoiding a passive defensive posture. At the same time, I will join forces with the navy to blockade the coast, launching a pincer attack on the pirates by land and sea!"
"In addition, I will mobilize the people, reorganize logistics, and crack down on traitors, so that the Japanese pirates will never dare to land and cause trouble again!"
Qi Jingtong answered fluently and gave a detailed explanation of his strategy for resisting Japanese pirates.
The assembled civil and military officials nodded in agreement, finding Qi Jingtong's strategy for resisting the Japanese pirates to be reasonable, well-founded, and entirely feasible for implementation.
Only Zhu Houzhao frowned and shook his head repeatedly.
"Qi Jingtong, you have greatly disappointed me!"