Situation

"Your Majesty, what Minister Wen said is true. Recently, I have heard from some Hu businessmen traveling to neighboring countries that the situation in Xirong this year is not much better than that in Dongzhou."

"In the past years, when the weather was good, they would knock on the ground and harass us in the winter. This year is really abnormal."

Honglu Temple Qing also spoke.

As the diplomatic department of Dongzhou, Honglu Temple’s daily work is to deal with people from other countries.

Moreover, he also has some Hu merchants who move around quite frequently, and he can learn about the situation in surrounding countries from their mouths.

"What do you think Xirong's intentions are when he comes here at this time?"

Ever since the news came back that Xirong had stopped kowtowing more than a month ago, Emperor Hongwen sensed something was wrong.

He also specially asked Tianziwei to go to Xirong to investigate, so he actually had an idea of ​​the situation there.

It's just that what Xirong plans to do is still unclear.

"It should be asking for help, or it means that it wants to develop peacefully with us."

As soon as Dong Xiang opened his mouth, several people looked at him.

Emperor Hongwen was also quite surprised.

"Your Majesty, you don't know. This year's heavy snowfall is not just a problem for us in Dongzhou."

"Among the three neighboring countries, Southern Xinjiang has not been greatly affected due to geographical reasons, but Beichu is more serious than Dongzhou."

As soon as these words came out, several people were stunned.

Northern Chu has always been bitterly cold, winter comes earlier every year, and the temperature drops very quickly.

This year's snowy day may be very difficult for people in Beichu.

"Did Prime Minister Dong hear anything?"

Wen Xiang asked.

The head of the Dong family is in Dongzhou, but their power in Beichu is not small.

"In the past few years, Xirong has not only made moves against Dongzhou, but they have also made moves against Beichu."

"Bei Chu has been having a hard time this year. Xirong has repeatedly invaded the border during this period. Bei Chu has begun to gather troops and has plans to invade Xirong and seize supplies."

Xirong is a nomadic people, and most of them have cattle and sheep. However, Beichu has been suffering from bitter cold for a long time, and there is a big demand for things like cattle and sheep.

Now that a catastrophe has occurred within Beichu, it must plunder external resources to replenish itself.

But now that the situation in Dongzhou is stable and its troops and horses are strong, it is obviously not a good goal.

So Xirong, who is having the same hard time as them, will be better off.

Firstly, Xirong repeatedly violated the borders of Northern Chu and it was completely justified to send troops. Secondly, Xirong produced horses, cattle and sheep, which could be used to feed and keep warm. Horses were good things, and what Beichu lacked most were horses.

As Dong Xiang found out about himself, some analysis was finished.

Emperor Hongwen and others nodded repeatedly.

"If it is true as Xiang Dong said, the Xirong coming here this time may want to ask for help or form an alliance."

Emperor Hongwen also nodded with deep understanding, but he did not say anything, but his mind started spinning rapidly.

Weigh the pros and cons.

Speaking of the grievances between the four countries, Dongzhou and Beichu are definitely old rivals, and their grievances have been going on for a long time.

When the former dynasty was still there, both Dongzhou and Beichu were ministers of the former dynasty, and Dongzhou was a royal family member of the former dynasty.

At the end of the previous dynasty, all the heroes came together. When Taizu of Dongzhou raised his army again, he fought endlessly with Taizu of Northern Chu.

Later, each received a part of the legacy of the previous dynasty and established a country and proclaimed himself emperor.

Moreover, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, they fought many times. No one was convinced by the other, and everyone wanted to take over the previous dynasty's position and become the sole master of this land.

However, with the death of the ancestors of the two countries and the unrest caused by the continuous wars between the people of their respective countries, after the kings of the two countries succeeded to the throne on the second day, both sides tacitly chose to rest and recuperate, and there was no more war.

Although there has been peace for many years, both sides know that this is only temporary and they will fight again when the time comes.

This time Beichu took action against Xirong. From Emperor Hongwen's perspective, it was not just because of Xirong's interference, nor was it entirely to snatch Xirong's resources to stabilize the domestic situation.

Most of them just want to get war horses from Xirong through war.

You know, in the past few years, not only Dongzhou has developed again, but Northern Chu has also developed. In terms of national strength, it is at the upper reaches of the four countries.

However, Beichu has a big shortcoming, which is the lack of war horses.

You must know that on the battlefield, the power of cavalry is much stronger than that of infantry.

And Dongzhou inherited many horse farms from the previous dynasty, so it is no problem to be self-sufficient on them. If Beichu wants to continue fighting Dongzhou, it must have a cavalry that can compete with Dongzhou, otherwise the result will inevitably be the same as that of Taizu.

The situation is the same for each generation.

Both sides are consuming national power, and no one can do anything about the other.

"Who do you think is it feasible to form an alliance with Xirong?"

The people below looked at each other.

No one said anything. Peace is naturally a good thing, but it still depends on what Xirong wants.

If they are requesting to send troops to target Beichu, it is not a good thing for them.

First of all, there have been many disasters in Dongzhou this year. If war breaks out again, it will have a great impact on the country's strength.

Next, if Dongzhou gets involved, it will inevitably lead to a struggle among the three kingdoms, and consumption is inevitable.

But there is also a southern Xinjiang. Their situation this year is more stable than that of the Three Kingdoms. No one knows whether they will become oriole, right?

Just when several ministers were hesitating, Wang De trotted in.

"Your Majesty, Princess Wanfu wishes to see you."

"Hail is here? Let her in."

Emperor Hongwen nodded and looked at Prime Minister Wen and others and said, "Let's put this matter aside until the Xirong envoy arrives. The Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple will prepare for the reception."

"Step back first."

The two adults bowed their hands and left.

"Hey, Your Majesty, are you discussing state affairs again?"

"The envoy from Xirong has arrived. Please give us a brief greeting."

"You've been back to Kyoto for a few days, why did you think of coming to the palace to see me?"

Facing Lu Yaoyao, Emperor Hongwen was very easy-going and not at all serious as when he was discussing state affairs just now.

"It's snowing heavily every day, so it's not very convenient to go out."

"Your Majesty just said that envoys from Xirong are coming. Why do they come all the way to us during the Chinese New Year?"

Hearing this, both Prime Minister Wen and Prime Minister Dong looked at Lu Yaoyao in surprise, and then turned to look at Emperor Hongwen.

This was a state matter, and Lu Yaoyao asked him directly. They were all worried that Emperor Hongwen would be dissatisfied.

"It's not clear yet, there are just some guesses."

"It just so happens that you should also think about what Xirong is going to do for me."

Emperor Hongwen was not dissatisfied. Not only was he not dissatisfied, he stood up and greeted Lu Yaoyao and sat down beside him.

Of course, Wen Xiang and Dong Xiang were not forgotten.

After sitting down, he briefly explained what he had just said to the ministers.

"What do you think Xirong's plan is when he comes here at this time?"

"Ask for help and make an alliance."

Lu Yaoyao directly asserted.

"Oh? Do you think it's feasible?"
Chapter completed!