Shen Yu nudged him with his elbow. "Your Majesty, you should think more realistically. This kind of thing won't happen no matter how hard you try."
Shang Junlin grabbed his hand and held his wrist tightly. "I know."
Shen Yu struggled but couldn't get rid of the man's shackles. Fortunately, he let him go. "How's the situation in the Northern Desert?"
"The Northern Desert has been unwilling to compensate. After hearing that Fang Jiayi was the one who negotiated, several ministers claimed to be sick. The Northern Desert Emperor lost his temper in the court and forced a few people to come out."
"Didn't the people who were chosen look bad?"
"Of course. After the matter was settled, they scolded the officials who claimed to be sick in the court the next day. Even the Northern Desert Emperor wasn't spared."
Shen Yu could understand these people's thoughts. Fang Jiayi was too powerful. At first glance, this kind of thing wasn't a good job. No matter how it was done, they would only be scolded. Not only that, they would also be tortured internally. Not many people were willing to do this.
As an official, there were some who didn't care about their own interests, but there were very few. Obviously, the Northern Desert officials didn't belong to this group.
In order to negotiate for the quota, the Northern Desert officials fought hard. But unlike others, they didn't fight for the quota, but the quota that they didn't go.
The news spread to Subei. He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing, Fang Jiayi and the others gathered together. Some people couldn't help but laugh.
"The Northern Desert really thinks that Daheng is easy to bully. Let's see if we don't peel off a layer of their skin this time."
They were all new officials sent to Subei. Most of them were still young and had ambitions in their hearts. In Subei, they had endless opportunities to show off their skills. They were happy to do anything that could make the people of the Northern Desert unhappy.
"Lady Fang is truly a woman who doesn't lose out to men. To be honest, at the beginning, I had some opinions about Lady Fang, and I didn't understand why His Majesty made an exception to allow a woman to enter the court as an official. Only now do I know how narrow-minded I was in the past. Today, I toast to Lady Fang." With that, the man raised his wine cup and drank it.
"Actually, me too …" One after another, many people apologized for their prejudices.
"What I do is a little shocking. It's normal that you didn't understand it at first." Fang Jiayi smiled and drank the wine in her glass. "It's my honor to work with you."
"Lord Fang, please don't say that. No matter how you look at it, it should be our honor."
The atmosphere at the banquet became more and more lively. Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu also clinked their wine glasses.
The negotiations were set to take place before the New Year. The Dahuan Imperial Court wanted the negotiations to be completed before the New Year so that the Lin Yuanren could have a good New Year.
There were quite a few people living in the Forest Plains. They were all pure Northern Desert people. The Imperial Court had argued several times about whether or not to take them in. Some people believed that those who were not of the Great Huan Dynasty had different intentions, so there was no need to care about these people. After occupying the Forest Plains, these people would naturally become slaves. Others believed that since they belonged to the Great Huan Dynasty, they were the people of the Great Huan Dynasty and should not be too harsh on them.
Both sides clung to their own views and quarreled fiercely.
But this matter would not affect the acquisition of the Forest Plains from the Northern Desert people.
Everything was ready. Fang Jiayi changed into an official's robe and led the accompanying officials to the location of the negotiations with the Northern Desert people.
As expected, the negotiation this time went very smoothly.
The Northern Desert people wanted to play some tricks, but the Northern Army was watching from the side. If there was any movement, they would attack. At the negotiations, Fang Jiayi was like a fish in water. She killed the other side and forced them to retreat.
At the end of the negotiations, the Dahuan officials were in high spirits. Fang Jiayi's face showed that she still wanted to continue. On the other hand, the Northern Desert officials were all ashen-faced and dispirited.
On the spot, Fang Jiayi had them sign an agreement. From this day on, the Forest Plains belonged to the Dahuan Dynasty!
Jiang Huaiqing followed the Northern Army to the Forest Plains. Before the Imperial Court officially appointed officials, the Northern Desert officials would temporarily govern this land.
Many of the Northern Desert people who originally lived in the Forest Plains had moved away. Those who were left behind were ordinary herdsmen and abandoned slaves.
Some of these slaves came from the Dahuan Dynasty. After Jiang Huaiqing brought people over, the first thing he did was to find the Dahuan people. After checking their backgrounds, he sent those who were willing to return to the Dahuan Dynasty.
Those who were unwilling to leave could continue to work in the Forest Plains.
Shang Junlin did not hide his intentions. Soon, the Forest Plains would become the exclusive horse farm of the Dahuan Dynasty. After Jiang Huaiqing and the others went over, they needed to deal with any hidden dangers in the Forest Plains in advance.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. You got what you wanted." Shen Yu put down the booklet from the Northern Desert and put his hands on the table.
"There are still many follow-up issues to deal with. Jiang Huaiqing is a careful person. He has considered many problems in the Forest Plains," Shang Junlin said as he read through the booklet.
"What does Your Majesty plan to do with the Northern Desert people who stayed in the Forest Plains?" Shen Yu asked.
"Observe them for a while. If they are loyal, I don't mind letting them live in the Forest Plains."
"The Forest Plains and the Northern Desert are close." Shen Yu looked down and thought. "Is there a precedent of intermarriage between the two sides?"
"Yes, there is. Why did A Yu mention this?"
"The officials have been arguing about whether these people should stay or leave. They are worried about all kinds of problems. In the end, isn't it because these people are Northern Desert people? What if one day, they admit that they are Dahuan people from the bottom of their hearts? "
In order to tame the people, blindly killing them was not enough. The estrangement in their hearts had to be broken. They had to be tied to the Dahuan Dynasty. They were bound together for good or ill. Only when the interests of the people were completely in agreement could some situations be prevented.
Shen Yu slowly expressed his thoughts. "Your Majesty, you can encourage them to intermarry with the Dahuan Dynasty and let them get used to speaking the Dahuan language. You can send teachers from the Dahuan Dynasty to teach their children. When this group of people grow old and the younger generation who have been educated by the Dahuan Dynasty grow up, will they still admit that they were once Northern Desert people?"
Shang Junlin thought about Shen Yu's words. "After a few generations, they will completely abandon their identity as Northern Desert people and truly integrate into the Dahuan Dynasty."
"Yes, this method will take a long time."
But it was gentler than any other method.
The problem that the imperial court had been arguing about for many days had been solved. It was getting closer and closer to the end of the year. There was still no movement from the King of Yue. In the Northern Desert Army, the general who had returned to the capital to report on his work was ready to leave.
Gu Huai was among them.
They should have left earlier. But they had been delayed for a while to deal with the Northern Desert matters. When they left, it was already very late. They were in a hurry.
Coming back with Gu Huai was the general who had a good relationship with him. Now he was his adjutant.
"I have never been to the capital. General, is the capital really as prosperous as the rumors say?" The adjutant couldn't help but ask during the journey.
"It is very prosperous. You will know when you see it." The closer they were to the capital, the more difficult it was for Gu Huai to calm down.
After the war with the Northern Desert, he wrote a long letter to Imperial Physician Gu. In the letter, he explained part of the reason why he joined the army and what happened in the Northern Desert.
When he left, it seemed that he left without saying goodbye. Although he wrote a letter later, Gu Huai was still worried that Imperial Physician Gu would be angry.
The capital was very lively. In order to welcome the coming New Year, the shops and stalls were filled with New Year's items.
People came and went in the streets and alleys. It was very lively.
After the result of the negotiation with the Northern Desert came back, the people in the capital talked about one more topic.
"Have you seen the report this time? The Northern Desert people really think we are easy to bully. They still want to delay and say that they can't gather the materials. I think they want to renege on the debt. "
"Maybe they think that if they delay for a long time, we will forget about it."
But no matter how nicely they say it, we will not be fooled. Why should we give up something that belongs to us? "
"Isn't that so? Master Fang of the Northern Desert is really powerful. After so many times, won't the Northern Desert people tremble when they hear her name?"
"Hahahaha, they also have a day like this! Master Fang's way of doing things is really satisfying! "
"You don't need to be too kind to your enemies."
"I have a rumor here. Do you know? The Northern Desert people wrote a letter to our Emperor asking him to transfer Master Fang back to the capital. She can't stay in the Northern Desert. They can't take it. Hahahaha."
"Really?"
"My uncle works in Master Duan's house. How can the news from there be false?"
Imperial Physician Gu walked on the street and heard all kinds of discussions. When talking about the Northern Desert, there was no lack of people talking about the battles that Gu Huai participated in. The Gu Huai in these people's mouths was not the same person as the younger brother he had been with for several years. He always felt that it was unreal.
Imperial Physician Gu stopped in front of a small stall. The stall was full of different kinds of lanterns. In the past, when he was busy, it was Gu Huai who bought these things. This year, Gu Huai was not here, so the house had been deserted.
"Do you want a pair? Don't be fooled by my small stall, my lanterns sell very well. "
Imperial Physician Gu stopped for a moment. Under the enthusiasm of the stall owner, he bought a pair back.
Every household began to prepare for the upcoming New Year. The palace also began to decorate.
Without needing Shang Junlin and Shen Yu's instructions, Eunuch Meng had already arranged for people to decorate the palace.
In Yuzhang Palace, Shen Yu leaned on the soft couch and watched the palace servants bustling in and out.
"Young master, take a look and see if there is anything that needs to be changed." Mu Xi came in with a hot drink and put it beside Shen Yu's hand.
The sweet smell floated along with the hot air. Shen Yu looked at the cup and asked, "What is this?"
"This is the milk soup newly developed by the small kitchen. It is made with fresh fruits and milk. Young master, try it and see if you like it."
Shen Yu was used to the new products that the small kitchen sent from time to time. He took a sip and the milk and fresh fruits perfectly blended together. The taste was sweet but not greasy. It was the taste that Shen Yu liked.
After drinking the milk soup in the small bowl, Shen Yu stood up and looked around. "You have decorated it well. There is nothing to change."
While talking, Shang Junlin, who had just finished the morning court, came in.
"Something happened in the court today. It is about Duke Zhenbei. A Yu, do you want to hear it?" Shang Junlin untied his cloak and threw it to Eunuch Meng.
"What happened to Duke Zhenbei?" In this life, Shen Yu did not pay much attention to Duke Zhenbei's family. At first, he asked people outside to keep an eye on Duke Zhenbei's residence and report to him from time to time. Later, he simply handed this matter over to Mu Xi. If nothing important happened, he was too lazy to care.
"Today, Duke Zhenbei asked the court to appoint an heir." Shang Junlin's voice was slightly deep.
"An heir? Besides me and Shen Qingran, Duke Zhenbei has other children? "
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
