Xianxia version of Water Margin

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"Father, although the national treasury is full, frugality is a long-term solution. Let me ask you, if we only rely on the benefits of war to maintain this huge empire expenditure, we may be able to support it for several decades, but after a few decades, it will be What will happen?”

How could Jiang Hongfei not understand what Jiang Xiu meant?

He knew very well that although the Great Yuan Empire could rely on force to maintain this prosperous scene, looking around, except for a few foreign countries such as Java, Balni, the Western Regions, and Kievan Rus, it was almost invincible.

Therefore, the shortcut to accumulating wealth through war in the past is now the end of the road.

What is even more worrying is that the haze of war is gradually enveloping, the number of soldiers and horses is increasing day by day, and the disabled and old soldiers need to be cared for and resettled. These burdens will eventually become unbearable pain for the empire.

Jiang Xiu and the prime ministers in the DPRK have been worried for many years and have repeatedly made suggestions to Jiang Hongfei, but they have never received a clear response.

Jiang Hongfei always dismisses them lightly on the grounds that "I know what's going on".

Today, facing Jiang Xiu's advice again, he still planned to repeat his old tricks and said calmly: "My son, don't worry too much about this matter. I have my own opinion."

However, Jiang Xiu was unwilling to give up this time. He knew that if he did not figure this out, he might put the country's affairs on the brink of danger.

So, he took a deep breath, knelt down on the ground, and spoke sincerely: "My son, I know that my father is wise and powerful, and he must have a perfect plan. However, the concerns of my son and other ministers may not be a problem for my father, but please The father forgives the stupidity of the son, minister and others. It is really difficult to find a solution. If this matter is not handled properly, the Great Yuan Dynasty may be in danger of death. The son and minister dare not hide anything. This is the reason why the son and minister are in trouble day and night. I don’t want to be like Hu Hai and ruin my father’s legacy!”

After saying this, Jiang Xiu seemed to realize that his thoughts were still unfinished, and added: "If my father has already made up his mind, I hope he will not hesitate to teach me, so that his sons and ministers can feel at ease and avoid misunderstandings, and also to prevent villains from alienating the relationship between father and son and affecting my great Yuan Dynasty." If my father has not made any plans yet and my son has boldly suggested it, even if the matter is difficult, as long as we stop external expansion and my father and I work together to reduce the army by two million and return it to the fields for the people, we may not be able to resolve this crisis."

When Jiang Hongfei heard this, he shook his head secretly.

Is disarmament an easy matter?

The Yuan Empire currently has an army of 3.5 million people, half of whom are foreigners.

Among them, those who are more educated, such as the Korean army, may be able to be placed.

However, the officers and soldiers of the nomadic people were born on horseback and were good at fighting. Once they were dismissed, they were afraid of future troubles.

Therefore, Jiang Xiu's proposal is really difficult to implement.

But Jiang Hongfei can also understand Jiang Xiu's difficulties.

Although he built this empire with his own hands, in recent years, except for wars and major decisions, the daily management of the empire has been shouldered by princes such as Jiang Xiu and Jiang Zai and the ministers.

They not only mobilized resources and supported the front line, but also made remarkable achievements in agriculture, commerce, industry, navigation and other fields.

It can be said that without their efforts, the Great Yuan Empire would not be as prosperous as it is today.

Jiang Hongfei knew very well that although he was an emperor, he still had to rely on these capable ministers and generals in the face of such heavy state affairs.

Moreover, he was deeply satisfied with the work of Jiang Xiu and others, and even believed that even if he personally handled it, he might not be better than them.

And it turns out, they did a pretty good job.

Put it this way.

Jiang Hongfei's reputation has resounded in almost every corner of East and Southeast Asia. His outstanding military exploits make him undoubtedly the leader of this magnificent journey.

However, he knows that behind every victory is the sweat and wisdom of countless people.

From the careful deployment of manpower and material resources to the extensive transportation network; from the innovative research and development of weapons and equipment to the prosperity of war horse breeding; from the new industrial era opened by the roar of trains to the leaps in shipbuilding and navigation technology; to the railways such as Winding like a giant dragon, the prosperity of commerce and agriculture...

Although all of this was led by Jiang Hongfei, it was forged by the hands of countless loyal soldiers and wise men.

In fact, for most of the things, Jiang Hongfei just started it, or just talked about it. The ones who actually implemented these things were Jiang Xiu, Jiang Zai and other princes as well as the ministers of the Yuan Empire. .

It is true that Jiang Hongfei's military exploits were so great that he controlled the vast lands of East and Southeast Asia. This glory was enough to attract the attention of the world.

However, behind this glory, Jiang Hongfei's daily life seems particularly leisurely.

Like a chess player behind the scenes, he carefully planned the war and left the tedious details of the war to Jiang Xiu, Jiang Zai and other princes and ministers. If there is a need on the front line, he only needs to click and they will handle it properly to ensure that the war is worry-free.

As for the war, he only needs to arrange the right people.

Jiang Hongfei is more busy working in his harem, immersed in the continuation and enjoyment of the family.

To be honest, Jiang Hongfei was deeply pleased with the diligence and achievements of Jiang Xiu, Jiang Zai and other princes, as well as the important officials in the court.

He even thought to himself that even if he did it himself, he might not be able to surpass their performance.

That's why he let them go and let them take charge.

However, when Jiang Xiu confided his uneasiness to him in an almost pleading manner, Jiang Hongfei realized that although his son looked strong on the outside, he was actually full of fear of the unknown.

Jiang Xiu admitted that he did not doubt his father's ability, but felt unprecedentedly confused and uneasy about the challenge he was about to face - a problem that might shake the foundation of the Yuan Empire.

He longed to get a little guidance from Jiang Hongfei, even if it was a vague direction, it would be enough to make him feel at ease.

Jiang Hongfei looked at Jiang Xiu's eyes that vowed to find out the truth, and thought to himself that the time had come, and it was time to reveal some inside information. After all, if his capable and obedient son had any more trouble because of this, he would have to spend time and energy to find another heir.

So, he interrupted Jiang Xiu's emotional card:, and said lightly: "Okay, if you really want to know, go ask your father-in-law."

Hearing this, Jiang Xiu hurriedly explained to Jiang Hongfei: "Father, your son... your son..."

Seeing this, Jiang Hongfei waved his hand impatiently to signal him to leave.

Jiang Xiu smiled bitterly, and secretly sighed in his heart: Father seems to be stupid on the surface, but in fact he is very perceptive.

Immediately, he laughed at himself again. If his father was not omniscient like a god, how could he have created this unprecedented empire?

Moreover, Jiang Xiu, who had been trained by Jiang Hongfei, knew that Jiang Hongfei had a far-reaching plan. Many years ago, he had already spread his spies among the core officials and generals of the Yuan Empire. Every move of the Yuan Empire could not escape Jiang Hongfei's eyes.

Let's put it this way, corrupt officials are like shadows in the daytime in Jiang Hongfei's mind, and they can't escape.

However, Jiang Hongfei often said: "Stability is above all else."

In Jiang Hongfei's view, these corrupt officials will eventually become the source of money for the court, and they will be caught in one fell swoop when needed.

Jiang Xiu knew that Jiang Hongfei was unparalleled in wisdom and that every pore of his body was hiding a mind. His little cleverness was just a show of skill in front of an expert.

Therefore, after being exposed, he did not make any unnecessary arguments, respectfully withdrew, and then quickly slipped away.

The moment he stepped out of the Yangxin Palace, Jiang Xiu's heart was not only relieved, but also excited!

He finally wanted to know what his father was up to!

This curiosity, like a raging fire, drove him straight to the capital to find the prime minister known as "Wang Wanshun" - Wang Lun.     When it comes to Wang Lun, everyone in the Yuan Empire admires his legendary experience.

Once upon a time, he was just a down-and-out scholar, living in poverty, no one cared about him, and he could only go to the mountains to become a bandit.

However, since he met Jiang Hongfei, his life has been like a cheat, and he has become the prime minister of the Yuan Empire, and he has been sitting for more than 20 years.

What is even more puzzling is that although the outside world generally believes that Wang Lun's ability is mediocre, and even he himself humbly admits that he is not as good as many talents, he has always been sitting on the Diaoyutai, and no one can shake his position.

Everyone says that Wang Lun's secret to success is nothing more than two points:

First, he has been following Jiang Hongfei since he was a nobody, and he is loyal to him;

Second, he executes any instructions of Jiang Hongfei without hesitation, whether reasonable or not, and has achieved almost blind obedience. Because of this, his name gradually evolved from "Bai Yi Xiucai" to "Wang Wanshun", which means to be obedient in every way, which shows his deep loyalty.

Interestingly, Wang Lun was not ashamed of it, but gladly accepted this title, and even used it as his pen name, and asked Jiang Hongfei to write it for him.

Jiang Hongfei once joked to Wang Lun: "Others are laughing at you for having no opinions, can't you hear it?"

Wang Lun responded with a smile, saying that others' criticisms were actually jealous of his favor.

In his view, political propositions are nothing but false things, and only loyalty and obedience are true.

He firmly believes that the king's decision has its own profound meaning, even if there are occasional mistakes, it is also a well-thought-out layout.

This unique political wisdom allowed Wang Lun to stand firm in the complex court struggle and become a real winner.

Wang Lun's career path is undoubtedly the best interpretation of "the wise man uses the power to act".

He knew that his intelligence was limited, so he fully relied on Jiang Hongfei, a wise and brave monarch, to illuminate his future with his light.

Jiang Hongfei, as a rare monarch who valued love and righteousness among the emperors of all dynasties, gave Wang Lun a high reward and trust for his loyalty and obedience, allowing Wang Lun to be able to dance with ease on the political stage of the Yuan Empire.

In addition, Wang Lun also cleverly used his influence to recruit a group of talented staff to make up for his shortcomings in government affairs.

These staff showed their strengths and provided solid support for Wang Lun's decision-making, allowing him to handle state affairs with ease and without losing his sense of proportion.

Jiang Xiu's understanding of Wang Lun not only came from daily official exchanges, but also because he had a closer relationship with Wang Lun - his princess was Wang Lun's daughter.

This also indirectly confirmed that Wang Lun was extremely intelligent. Otherwise, how could he enjoy the honor alone, and his daughter could ascend to the throne instead of others' daughters?

However——

The relationship between Jiang Xiu and his father-in-law Wang Lun is subtle and complicated, and it is hard to describe it in one sentence.

According to common sense, as a father-in-law, Wang Lun should be partial to his son-in-law Jiang Xiu, or at least give him a certain amount of trust and support.

However, the facts are quite the opposite.

In Jiang Xiu's view, Wang Lun's attitude towards him is more like an opponent for self-defense, rather than a relative.

Especially the matter of the 3.5 million troops that concerns the safety of the country.

Jiang Xiu was very worried about this matter. He tried many times to get a clue from Wang Lun, but all of them were like a stone sinking into the sea, and there was no news.

Wang Lun's defensive heart was as solid as a rock, which made Jiang Xiu feel helpless and frustrated.

One night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The father-in-law and son-in-law drank together. After three rounds of wine, Wang Lun was already drunk.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiu had an idea and wanted to take this opportunity to break the deadlock.

He carefully guided the topic, trying to get Wang Lun to reveal some secrets inadvertently.

However, although Wang Lun was already drunk, he remained tight-lipped and ignored Jiang Xiu's questions.

Jiang Xiu was furious, and with the alcohol rising, his words were more impulsive and provocative: "Prime Minister, aren't you afraid that one day I will ascend the throne and become the emperor?"

As soon as these words came out, the whole room was silent, and even the air seemed to freeze.

However, Wang Lun just smiled slightly, and that smile showed both indifference to the fickleness of the world and insight into the power struggle: "Wang Lun has enjoyed all the glory in this life, no matter what the outcome will be, it will not be a loss."

Wang Lun then took the initiative to say, "Wang Lun dare not be greedy, let alone hope for long-term wealth. I only wish to be loyal to my duties and contribute to the Yuan Dynasty during the reign of the emperor. Once the emperor abdicates, it will be the time for Wang Lun to retire."

Speaking of this, Wang Lun's eyes suddenly became unusually bright, as if he had penetrated the drunkenness and looked directly into the depths of Jiang Xiu's soul: "Everyone says that Wang Lun has no talent, but it is actually a big mistake. Wang Lun's talent is not something that mediocre people can recognize. Only the emperor can see through the slightest detail and know how to use people. Wang Lun has only served the emperor in this life, and others... hehe, it's not worth mentioning."

Jiang Xiu's heart was shocked as never before!

As the prince who is most likely to inherit the throne of the Yuan Empire, he has been accustomed to authority and awe since he was a child.

However, Wang Lun ignored his threats!

Was Wang Lun's words a drunken slip of the tongue, or was he not optimistic about him?

Jiang Xiu stared at Wang Lun, his eyes intertwined with doubt and vigilance: "Is the Prime Minister really so resolute, and not considering future generations?"

Wang Lun heard this, and the corners of his mouth curled up with a faint smile: "If it weren't for the emperor's great grace, I, Wang Lun, would be just a down-and-out scholar, how could I have the glory today? The prosperity of the family depends on your majesty's grace. If not for this, Wang Lun's children would all be thieves and prostitutes. Now they are either respected as princesses or in charge of a region, enjoying the emperor's grace, which is rare in the world. If they are loyal to the country, they should do it."

Staring at Wang Lun's drunken appearance, Jiang Xiu's mind suddenly became clear.

Wang Lun is not a talentless person, but a wise fool.

Although he is not the top in both civil and military affairs, he has an advantage that no one can match - fearless loyalty.

Wang Lun entrusted the fate of his family and even his life to Jiang Hongfei. This determination was touching.

In front of him, the prince who was most likely to inherit the throne of the Yuan Empire, Wang Lun resolutely cut off all his and his family's retreats. This determination and loyalty deeply touched Jiang Xiu.

He began to re-examine his father-in-law, the prime minister of the Yuan Empire, and felt unprecedented respect and attention in his heart.

It was from that moment that he really began to respect Wang Lun, and never asked Wang Lun about anything that Jiang Hongfei didn't want him to know.

Now, Jiang Xiu finally got Jiang Hongfei's approval.

To be honest, Jiang Xiu was really looking forward to what shocking news his old father-in-law would tell him...

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