Chapter 23 should stop

However, one of the reasons Han Xizai said made Li Jing, a fool, feel a little intimidated and fearful.Although the current general trend of the world is divided by various countries, Da Zhou has always been the suzerain of Zhengmai.Southern Tang raised taxes, although the affected Great Zhou could also make up for losses by raising taxes, but this would make him lose faith in neighboring countries and regions under his jurisdiction, so it is estimated that Zhou Shizong would not easily use this strategy.In addition, if several neighboring countries pass on various losses to Shu, then the most likely way for Shu to reduce its own losses is to take advantage of Zhou Shizong's expedition to the north and send troops to attack Da Zhou.Because there are four prefectures of Qin, Feng, Cheng, and Tier in the north of Shu Kingdom as the basis for its own military movement, and this way can directly invade the hinterland of the Great Zhou Guanzhong.The biggest benefit of attacking Zhou is that you can get a large number of livestock and horses, raising pastures, and in addition, there are copper stones, iron stones, charcoal and other materials.If you have the ambition to unify the world, then the more these things, the better.Similar wars took place in both the Three Kingdoms and the former Shu. Although the cause was not due to taxation, the interests conspired and the purpose of the next step were the same.In the north of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Liao and the Northern Han Dynasty were coveting. If there was a see-saw war with Xishu, it would definitely be extremely unfavorable to it.Therefore, in order to avoid such an unfavorable situation, the most correct strategy for the Great Zhou was to join forces with Wu and Yue to attack the Southern Tang before Shu sent troops.Such a battle situation is in his favor, and the attack from both sides can make Nan Tang overwhelmed.The army is also well-known, and he can say in a high-sounding tone that he sent troops to force the Southern Tang Dynasty to reduce the increased tax rate in order to reduce the economic burden on other countries and enable the people of the world to live a comfortable life.In that case, instead of taking the opportunity to attack Zhou, Xishu would be grateful to Da Zhou.

For this reason, Yuan Zong hurriedly called Prime Minister Feng Yansi into the palace and asked him his opinion on the possible situation. Feng Yansi entered the palace, besides Yuanzong and Han Xizai, Prince Li Hongji and Qi Wang Li Jingsui were also here. These are two people who are absolutely closely related to the Southern Tang Dynasty, because they are all likely to succeed the Southern Tang Dynasty throne.Although Yuanzong established Li Hongji as the crown prince, he strangely announced to the world that his younger brother Li Jingsui was the heir to the throne.So now when encountering major events related to the rise and fall of the Southern Tang Dynasty, these two people must participate in it no matter what.

But the positions of Li Hongji and Li Jingsui have never been consistent, and this time it is the same, but fortunately, they are not completely opposed.Li Jingsui's personality is like his elder brother Yuanzong's, and he is equally uninhibited.Now that Yuanzong has decided to raise taxes, he must be one hundred in favor.Although Li Hongji is usually a bold and bold person who has the courage to change the status quo, but this time he is very conservative for some reason, and he is vague and noncommittal about the decision to raise taxes. Hearing Yuanzong's worries, Feng Yansi didn't take it seriously.His reason makes sense, because now Emperor Shizong Chai Rong of the Great Zhou Dynasty is personally conquering the Liao Kingdom, and the outcome of the war is still undecided, so it is impossible to send troops to attack the Southern Tang Dynasty.In addition, the great week has been fighting for years, and the national strength has also suffered greatly.Even if the war with the Liao Kingdom stopped immediately, it would take him three or four years to recuperate and regain the strength to conquer Southern Tang.But if this period of time can be used to increase the tax rate in the Southern Tang Dynasty to increase the strength of the treasury, and then use part of it to increase military power and grain and grass reserves, then even if the Great Zhou came to rest in three or four years, the strength of the Southern Tang Dynasty has also improved. At one level, the Great Zhou may not be sure to fight against the Southern Tang Dynasty by then.

Hearing Feng Yansi's words, Han Xizai burst into anger: "Master Feng, you will mislead my emperor's foundation by saying that. We don't know the true national strength of the Great Zhou, but it must be very powerful as the suzerain. Although they are spending a lot of money now Hugely attacked the Northern Han Dynasty and conquered Daliao, but once this battle is won and the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun are really recaptured, the profits obtained and the offerings from the defeated country can almost fully replenish the consumption of this campaign. In addition, from As far as the Shu Kingdom is concerned, when they realize that they are the ultimate losers of their interests, they will definitely go first to subdivide neighboring countries and let Da Zhou, Chu, Nanping, and Wu Yue put pressure on our country and demand adjustments to reasonable tax rates. If Da Zhou As he wished, it is inevitable for Shu to send troops to attack Zhou. Only in this way, they can occupy the waterways and dry roads in the east section, and directly purchase silk, spices and other materials from Wuyue and foreign sea merchant ships."

Prince Li Hongji didn't make a sound after listening to Han Xizai's words, but shook his head, showing that he disagreed with this statement.Because among the people present, none of them knew Shu and Shu King Meng Chang better than him.As early as a few years ago, he secretly made friends with Meng Chang, the king of Shu, and made a mutual aid covenant. "Master Han is really worrying too much. If Da Zhou and other countries really appear to put pressure on us, then we can go along with the flow to give him face and lower the tax rate, won't it be enough?" Li Jingsui on the side kept saying yes.

"The problem is that the Kingdom of Shu must dispatch troops from the hinterland of the Kingdom of Shu to attack the Great Zhou and leave the Xichuan Road to take the Meridian Valley. In this way, before the war started, there were already all kinds of obvious signs for the Great Zhou to know. However, the Great Zhou and our country have had many disputes. The heavy troops on the Huainan front line have not been withdrawn. The terrain here is open and unsafe, so if they really want to attack us, there is no sign of it before. And when war becomes a means of pressure for them, then our loss It is far from being able to make up for the extra tax." Han Xizai's worry is right, people's hearts are not old-fashioned in today's world, and there is no modest gentleman who gains power, but all those who kill without saying a word. bandit.

Li Hongji was nodding frequently this time, and the fierceness in his eyes was really like a gangster who would kill without saying a word. "As I said before, if their treasury is empty, spending is difficult, and the army's food and supplies are not enough, how dare they attack us so easily?" "I've also said that the winner of the war will not only lose money, but also earn money. And we also need to consider whether there will be unexpected financial resources and support for Da Zhou." "There is an unexpected source of wealth, but it is not certain who will get it. If this unexpected source of wealth falls into the hands of our country, does Mr. Han think we should still be afraid of Da Zhou?" Feng Yansi had a complacent expression on his face.

Han Xizai couldn't help being stunned for a moment, and then said with a flickering expression: "It seems that Mr. Feng has the habit of falling asleep at noon. If there is such a wealth, why should our country raise the tax rate?" Yuanzong and Li Jingsui next to him were suddenly attracted by Feng Yansi's words, stretched their necks, stared at their eyes, and looked like a bear begging for food.On the other hand, Li Hongji looked at Han Xizai with a complicated expression, and couldn't see his attitude towards the wealth mentioned. "Raising taxes is to seize the opportunity, and windfall is the follow-up support. Only if these two steps are taken well. Our Tang Dynasty can last forever and remain invincible under the watchful eyes of all powers. It even accumulates national strength to a considerable extent. After reaching the level, we can find the right time to unify the world."

"Master Feng, stop talking nonsense. Tell me where the wealth is and how to get it." Li Jingsui was a little anxious. Feng Yansi replied: "Master Han probably knows more about where this treasure is hidden than I do." Han Xizai was taken aback again, thinking how did Feng Yansi know that someone had informed him of this news?Could it be that there is Feng Mou's dark nail by his side? "Master Feng, I have heard rumors of similar things, but how can such hearsay be taken seriously?" Han Xizai was telling the truth. He is not a person who trusts others easily, and he feels that such a great deal is given to you when others don't want it. , this possibility only arises when traps are set.

Feng Yansi looked around and saw that there were no unrelated people nearby, so he beckoned for several others to come closer to Yuan Zong.Then he whispered in a mysterious tone: "Master Han, you know that this is not hearsay, and the sources of your and my news are extremely reliable. Although it is a secret biography, the channel of the news is directly to you and me, and there is no arrangement in the middle." It is possible to create it. If such a huge treasure can be obtained, the national treasury will be full overnight, and there is no need to be afraid of any country. However, whether this matter can be successful, Master Han needs to worry about it..."

Feng Yansi's purpose is to persuade Han Xizai to believe the secret information, and also wants Han Xizai, who is constantly against him, to complete the task of finding and competing for the treasure.It's not that Feng Yansi is broad-minded and doesn't compete with Han Xizai, but because Han Xizai's status is extraordinary, and only a bloated old man like him can complete such a difficult task. If it weren't for Gu Hongzhong's masterpiece "Han Xizai Night Banquet", not many people would know Han Xizai now.And Han Xizai's name is indeed very unnoticed in the various famous official lists of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. He did not participate in various battles to protect the country and open up frontiers, nor did he take any measures to calm the people and help the world.On the contrary, his name is mentioned in many places in the "Green Forest Book" of the Ming Dynasty, which cannot but be said to be a strange thing. Han Xizai is the same distant ancestor as Han Yu, the great poet of the Tang Dynasty. He was a Jinshi of Tongguang in the later Tang Dynasty. He once lived in seclusion in Songshan, Zhongyue, to study and practice martial arts.His father, Han Guangsi, was killed by Huo Yanwei, the envoy of Pinglu after the mutiny, when he served as Tang Pinlu's observation envoy.So Han Xizai, with the help of his friend Li Gu, fled to the state of Wu pretending to be a merchant. In Guangling, the capital of the state of Wu, he delivered a self-recommendation letter to Emperor Wu Rui, "Walking and Zhiling", which was very talented and was later included in "Complete Tang Wen".In "Where to Stop", he said of himself: "... Yun Chen Ping's six wonders, Fei Lulian's arrow. A strong enemy in the field will stand up and lower the flag without attacking; Step out of the group..." It stands to reason that he was just a fugitive living in another country at the time, so he shouldn't be so arrogant.But after studying many details, later generations realized that Han Xizai was not arrogant at all, but was telling the truth.It was also because of this that Xu Zhigao, who held the actual power in the Wu Kingdom at that time, and later Li Minhui, the Southern Tang Liezu, saw heroes with his eyes, and immediately took a fancy to Han Xizai as a talent.But at that time, he did not use Han Xizai, mainly because he was afraid that Han Xizai would ruin things in his grand strategy of changing Wu to Tang.After Li Min ascended the throne, he immediately promoted Han Xizai to be the secretary of the Prince's East Palace, and said to him: "I will use you again today, and I hope you can cultivate yourself and assist my son." Therefore, after Yuanzong ascended the throne, Han Xizai actually had an official title of Dr. Taichang in addition to serving as the servant of the household department.The important tasks of this title are only discussed with the emperor and a few ministers, and everything done is extremely secretive.This is different from Gu Zijing's secret participation in the "ghost party". Gu Zijing's "ghost party" is mainly to confirm and investigate some untrue things, and it is mainly based on documents and lawsuits.What Han Xizai did was to deal with various abnormal crisis issues, including some disadvantages and threats from other countries to his own country.In today's terms, it is the spy organization that secretly governs Nantang.Therefore, in the eyes of others, his behavior is out of tune with other court officials, and he behaves wildly and unruly.They can make friends with everyone from all walks of life, and many of them are gangsters and gangsters. Han Xizai seldom believed Feng Yansi's words, but this time he was willing to believe.Obviously, Yuanzong will definitely not withdraw the tax raising edict that has been issued now, and insisting on such a wrong decision will definitely bring bad consequences.To avoid this consequence and reverse the crisis-ridden situation, finding that legendary wealth should be the most direct and easiest way. So after returning home, he immediately arranged various rivers and lakes channels to verify the news.After mastering some details, he immediately dispatched Ziliang Tieqiao, the chief scooper who once served as a river, three lakes and eighteen mountains, to lead people straight to the territory of Chu and gallop to Shangdeyuan.