Chapter 008: Insults and Exposures

Liu Yuzhen truly cannot bear it, and Tian Suo also feels it is a bit excessive. He smiled and nodded, indicating that he retracted his earlier statement

Everything has come together, leaving one in a state of utter chaos

The Duke of Qi, Tian Suo, upon hearing these three words, threw his head back and laughed heartily, saying: "Good! Good! Very good! What a name to bear, that of Shi Jingtang! What a time it is for me! What a situation where we either fight or simply do not discuss it at all! Very good indeed!"

"Shouchang, your words truly resonate with me. Taking history as a mirror, after the incident at the Tumu Fortress in the previous Ming dynasty, the noble titles of the aristocracy were not abolished, yet among the noble descendants, there was not a single capable individual, except for one Guo Deng, which ultimately led to such a situation. I have often heard that among the noble descendants of the current dynasty, you are at the forefront, and it seems this is indeed true."

If Da Shun truly wishes to stabilize the borders, it cannot avoid dealing with the Russians in the Northeast, Northwest, and Mongolia

During the late Ming Dynasty, amidst the turmoil of war, the Dashun forces launched a counterattack, while the Manchus faced an outbreak of smallpox, leading to a continuous need to conscript various groups such as the Jurchens, Solons, Oroqen, and Hezhe into military service

Liu Yu finally understands what year it is tonight

The Northwest, where the Great Shun originated, is also the place of the "Heavenly Mandate" of the Great Shun prophecies, and it is essential to strive for expansion to eliminate future threats.

Blinking his eyes, he inquired: "What does the title of Duke of Qi actually mean? Surely it does not mean I am to become an interpreter?"

In the struggle with the Dzungar people, one cannot neglect dealings with the Russians. The various Mongolian tribes in the northern desert are also observing; if the Dashun is strong, they will align with Dashun, and if the Russians are strong, they will align with the Russians

The barrage of questions was met only with a sigh from Duke Qigong of Qi.

The three words startled Tian Ping, who was listening to the commotion nearby.

Although it may seem like mere theoretical discussion, the ability to address logistical support and the challenges of transporting grain across watersheds is indeed commendable. After all, the opposing side is only about seventeen or eighteen years old, and recognizing that logistics is the lifeblood of military operations is truly remarkable

Rocca and Oros, both refer to Russia, only differ in the transliteration process and the involvement of a few intermediaries

The old king of the Rakshasa Kingdom has passed away, and the new ruler is a woman. With a hen crowing at dawn, it is likely that her position is unstable. Perhaps the Rakshasa people, if they do not consume rhubarb, will suffer from abdominal distension and die, hence their desire for trade? In any case, they have dispatched a large envoy to come for tribute

He moved his finger upward and pointed to the location of the Jilin Shipyard, which is several hundred miles away from Kaiyuan, with a continuous mountain range in between

The Duke of Qi, Tian Suo, felt a stir in his heart and asked, "What does it mean for time to be within me?"

Upon careful consideration, these matters are bound to occur sooner or later. As long as one does not confine oneself to the eighteen provinces of Han, in the end, these troubles will inevitably be encountered.

As the saying goes, to insult someone is to expose their weaknesses. When encountering a blind person, one might mock them for their lack of sight; when encountering a lame person, one might deride them for their inability to walk. However, I know little about the shortcomings of the Rakshasa and am unsure how to provoke them into an argument with me

But the problem is that the Duke of Qi said he was not prepared to serve as an interpreter, so what does this matter have to do with me? Where could I possibly be of use?

After speaking, he looked at Liu Yu and said seriously: "Moreover, with the matter of the missionaries, Your Majesty does not trust the missionaries. Furthermore, the missionaries are ultimately closer to the Russians. Therefore, after much thought, I believe you are one of us and can be of use. You understand the rituals of our dynasty and are also familiar with the systems of the Westerners"

After going around in circles, Liu Yu seems to have come to some understanding

Either we fight, or we simply do not discuss it; time is on my side. Therefore, I do not believe that demarcation at this moment is a good thing

Other matters can also be debated, I have my own plans. In terms of etiquette and address, let us argue based on the two-month timeframe. It would be best if it could provoke the Rakshasa to the point of furious anger, prompting them to engage in a dispute with me.

To the east lies a marshland, an undeveloped expanse of the Northern Wilderness at this time. Approximately three to five hundred miles away, across the Handuoli River, there stands a fortress of the Luocha people, near what is now Jiamusi in later generations

I hold a nominal position as the Left Minister of the Ancestral Hall, and with a count from the Rakshasa delegation, my status is the most appropriate in the court. Alas... There are numerous matters to discuss regarding the Northeast, Northwest, Mongolia, Zungharia, boundary demarcation, trade, commerce, and sending envoys... There are a lot of complicated issues to address, and I truly have no way out.

Since it was taken out, it was meant for Liu Yu to see. Liu Yu leaned forward to take a look and discovered that it was a map drawn by the military government’s Department of Geography, specifically depicting the area of the Nuerhan Dusi during the Yongle period of the previous dynasty, which corresponds to the later regions of the Songhua River and Heilong River.

Shi Jingtang

If the Duke were to go and survey the boundaries at this moment... a hundred years later, the name of Shi Jingtang would be attributed to the Duke. Either we fight, or we simply do not discuss it; we can wait until the population in Liaodong increases over the decades, and then it would not be too late to fight and delineate the boundaries at that time

Liu Yu extended his hand and pointed at the city of Kaiyuan on the map, saying: "During the Yongle period of the previous dynasty, the first task of the Kai Nuer Gan Dusi was to establish a shipyard along the banks of the Songhua River in Jilin"

The Mongols do not pronounce the sound of 'R', so an auxiliary 'O' is added before 'RUS', transforming 'Russia' into 'Rossiya'.

Even if Liu Yu has no education, she understands who this statement refers to, and she trembles in fear, quickly saying: "I cannot bear it! I cannot bear it! Please, Duke, take back this statement."

From this image, it can be seen that Dashun is the northernmost fortress in the Songhua River basin, known as "Handuoliwei" during the Yongle period. In later times, it became Yilan County in Heilongjiang Province, adjacent to the old site of Wuguo City, where Duke Hende lived during the Jingkang humiliation.

This reflects a sense of concern, believing that among the next generation of noble offspring, one must rely on oneself to take on significant responsibilities, and to find someone who is not entirely inept among those who are less capable.

He pointed to the document on the table and said: "So, you see, can we make some adjustments in terms of etiquette and titles? If we provoke the Russians to anger and they refuse to accept, will they actively engage with us in disputes over etiquette? After all, once the fighting is over, we still need to negotiate and trade with the Russian Empire to pacify the Zunghars, and we cannot completely sever our ties."

I read the "Book of Tang" and saw the words "If one can converse with Sun and Wu, who else could this person be?" I have always thought this to be a later interpretation. How could a teenager, no matter how talented, understand matters of warfare? Today I realize that the ancients truly did not deceive me

The visit of the Rakshasa envoy is indeed a matter for discussion, but I intend to delay the process. The longer I can prolong it, the better. After much contemplation, it seems the best approach is to engage in disputes over ceremonial matters, dragging out the discussions on etiquette for a year and a half.

Old Wang of the Rakshasa has passed away ... ? ... That should mean Peter the Great has died. ? The one who ascended is a woman, which indeed matches ? . It is estimated that this time is either 1725 or 1726 ?

With this watershed separating us, and considering the difficulties of maritime transport across the sea to Korea, our army indeed faces challenges in supply. However, the Russians have traveled thousands of miles, and it is likely that their supply lines are also extremely difficult, with at most only a few thousand people in the Nuerkan Dusi region.

The Duke of Qi's eyes flashed with a glimmer of brilliance, yet he remained composed and deliberately asked, "What do you think?"

There is only one emperor in the world, and that is the reigning Son of Heaven. In the official context of the Great Shun, the country of Luocha can only be referred to as "King," and in death, it can only be termed as "Hong," and cannot use "Beng."

Liu Yu was not afraid of what others said and boldly remarked: "In my opinion, the battle between the Rakshasas and our dynasty is akin to two strong men merely scratching each other's backs with goose feathers. A few thousand troops, no matter how many, are of little use, and sustaining logistics is also a challenge"

Once again hearing the name Guo Deng, Liu Yu felt that her father's "encouragement" was something that these older generations should all be aware of

Ordinary people do not discuss state affairs, as it is of no use even if they do. Liu Yu, however, can speak freely; given his status and the noble ministers around him, he has no reservations and candidly stated: "Is the court really planning to negotiate with the Liao people and demarcate borders? This... this is likely not feasible. The lessons from the previous dynasty must not be ignored. In the Northeast, if chaos erupts in the Central Plains, we fear that the Liao people will unite the remnants of the Jurchen and act as vanguards, which would pose a significant threat to our nation."

Having looked at that Latin translation resembling a national document, it seems there are not many significant issues; it should have been translated by the missionaries in the court

In the fifth year of the Chongzhen era, the Russians built a fortress in the north, continuously advancing southward over the years. The lessons from the previous dynasty remind us that the Liaodong region must not be neglected in terms of defense. In the past, the Jurchens were merely a small tribe, yet within twenty years they became a significant threat. Now, with the Russians in the northeast, Your Majesty finds it difficult to rest and eat peacefully

North Korea and Japan did not undergo the Mongolian phonetic transformation, hence they refer to it as Lùxīyà and Luózhàn, which are quite similar to Luóchà.

The Dzungar tribe is also a descendant of the Mongolian Wala, closely related to the Mongols near the capital. If they were to be annexed by them, it would indeed be necessary to learn from the previous Ming dynasty's "The Son of Heaven Guards the National Gate"

Liu Yu studied at the Wude Palace and also learned to read the maps of this era. After glancing at them a few times, he felt a wave of speechlessness in his heart

When dealing with the Rakshasa, one must employ missionaries, but the Great Shun has just fallen out with the missionaries

One is the timing for road construction, building relay stations, and troop deployment in Northeast; the second is to engage in petty disputes over ceremonial issues, which can also numb the Rakshasa people, making them think that we are proud and unapproachable, without any suspicion of ulterior motives. This is what is meant by openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chen Cang.

The military campaign in Northeast China is not easy, and supplies can only rely on boats. From the Kaifeng line, heading north leads to a range of mountains, which can be referred to as the watershed. To the north of the watershed is the Songhua River, while to the south is the Liao River. Water transport along the Liao River can only reach Kaifeng, and from Kaifeng, one must traverse four to five hundred miles of mountains. Once at the shipyard in Jilin, it becomes possible to transport grain and troops, thereby controlling thousands of miles of land in the Nuerkan Dusi.

Currently, the world speaks of our great Shun dynasty enjoying peace across the four seas. However, this is not the case. In the northeast, there are the Luocha, in the northwest, the Zunghars, in Yunnan and Guizhou, there are the local chieftains, and to the south, Myanmar is also restless

You speak

At this point, Liu Yu solemnly shook his head and said: "Therefore, I say that discussing boundary demarcation at this time is tantamount to harming the country. Let me speak frankly, my lord, do not take offense."

I should be one of the few within the Da Shun court who understands the Western countries and Latin, and has not converted to the faith. Primarily, it is due to my identity, which is well-rooted and highly reliable

If we win, we will demarcate the boundary; if we lose, we will assert that our Heavenly Dynasty does not align with the Western barbarians, and we will neither demarcate the boundary nor establish treaties, waiting for the population in Liaodong to grow before we strike back.

Tian Suo laughed and said, "This cannot be. If I were to take you as an interpreter, your father would surely fight me to the death. However, this matter... how should I put it, it cannot be explained in just a sentence or two. I have taken on a difficult task here"

The population in the Songhua River basin has become sparse, allowing the Russians to take advantage of the situation. They are now continuously moving southward, making the northeastern frontier of the Great Shun quite perilous

Only... if one wishes to go to war, provisions must come first. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, efforts have been made to repair the post stations and establish a shipyard in Jilin, accumulating grain. However, it is still not complete and will require more time

This statement is indeed correct; having learned from the turmoil in Northeast China during the Ming Dynasty, the Dashun regime is particularly cautious regarding the Northeast.

Tian Suo called Tian Ping and Liu Yu to his side and said in a low voice: "There are indeed talents in the court, and the strategies we have determined are quite similar to what Shouchang has mentioned. However, His Majesty has made a decision, and the Tian Ce Mansion has also confirmed it, to go to war against the Luocha."

Liaodong! In recent years, the court has continuously relocated immigrants to Liaodong, primarily to guard against any further incursions by the Eastern barbarians. The crossing from Shandong to the sea and the passage through Hebei allow for recuperation and population growth. After several decades, the population will flourish. Even if no one is willing to cross the watershed to venture into that frigid land at present, in a few decades, many will certainly do so. Therefore, I assert that time is on my side. The number of the barbarian people is merely a few thousand; how can they possibly defend it? Moreover, if the population in Liaodong grows as it has in Shandong and Hebei, it will not be difficult to gather provisions and conscript labor for service, even across the hundreds of miles of the Songliao watershed.

Currently, the West has the Westphalian system, while the East has the tribute system. The Duke of Qi, as an official representative of the Great Shun, is also in charge of matters related to the Imperial Clan Court, and the titles and ceremonial designations must be accurate.

"Are we going to make a fuss over the formalities of address?" Liu Yu nodded, understanding Tian Suo's meaning, and then asked, "How long does the Duke of Qi plan to delay?"

No wonder ... ... can find themselves

Tian Suo seemed to be hesitating about something, and after a long while, he finally made up his mind. He took a map from the table behind him and spread it out on the desk.

Regarding the logistics supply, Duke Tian Suo of Qi secretly nodded, thinking to himself that among the younger generation of noble families, it is indeed only the third son of the Duke of Yi who can bear the heavy responsibility, and it seems that the rumors are not unfounded

Tian Suo extended two fingers

Since the chaotic wars of the Western barbarians in those years, the Westphalian system has been established, with boundary demarcation recognized as law and acknowledged by various nations. Although our Celestial Empire claims that all under heaven is the king's territory, it is difficult to predict the future; once the boundaries are demarcated, it will be hard to contest them.

On one hand, having just fallen out, it is truly difficult to seek help from that person, as it would be a significant loss of face; on the other hand, it is likely that Da Shun does not dare to trust the missionaries with whom they have just had a falling out, especially in matters such as boundary negotiations, fearing that these missionaries might betray them and side with the foreign invaders.