Chapter 305: Five Times the Enemy, the King Is the Prey

There was silence in the hall, and you could hear a pin drop.

Left Councillor Li Kepei's eyes turned, and he immediately came up with a plan: "Your Majesty, I think a gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall, and you should refuse the request of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"

"If Your Majesty refuses to go this time, what should the Ming Dynasty cavalry do when they go south?" The Prime Minister Yin Pil-shang was no longer silent, and asked tit-for-tat.

Left Councillor Li Kepei raised his chin slightly, and said righteously: "If the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is so unjust, he will conquer Korea because of this matter, and God will hate him. If it really comes to this, we can only use the whole country's strength to perish with him!"

This...

Officials such as Li Shi, the military officer, were speechless and looked at each other helplessly.

Not to mention whether the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was an unjust monarch, and Li Kepei's proposal was clearly a way to die. They knew the combat effectiveness of their own army very well, so there was no such thing as destroying everything together, it was clearly a case of hitting a rock with an egg.

If they really angered the Ming emperor, they would all be doomed. This Li Kepei wanted to drag them to be buried together in order to please the king.

"Lord Li, do you want our Joseon to be destroyed?" The Prime Minister Yin Pil-sang was so angry that he trembled all over, but he pointed at Li Kepei and accused him loudly.

The Left Minister Li Kepei had his own considerations and saluted the Joseon King Li Jin in the hall: "Even if we have to fight to the death with the Ming, I will never agree to the king taking risks!"

Li Jin heard Li Kepei's resounding attitude and was moved.

He was naturally unwilling to go to the capital to take risks. After all, who would be willing to hand over his life to others, even the high and mighty Ming emperor?

I thought I couldn't escape, but now seeing Li Kepei's loyalty so loyally, I found that I had not misjudged him all along.

"Since Lord Li has such determination and courage, then the post of military officer will be handed over to Lord Li!" Military officer Li Shi stepped out and bowed solemnly to the King of Korea, Li Jin, who was in the hall: "Your Majesty, I am not very talented and learned. I know that I have no ability to resist the Ming cavalry, nor can I defend the country. Now Lord Li has such determination and courage, I am willing to hand over the post of military officer to Lord Li, please grant me your approval!"

Huh?

When the officials present heard that Li Shi had handed over the position, they all turned their heads to look at the tall Li Kepei.

Although Li Kepei seemed to be very determined, it was difficult for a good cook to cook without rice. With the current military strength of Korea, fighting against the Ming cavalry was clearly a way to death.

If Li Kepei accepted the position of military officer now, then Korea might have a god of war, but it was more likely to have one more martyr.

That's why many officials flashed a touch of admiration in their eyes. Although it was indeed a way to die, it was still admirable that he was not afraid of life and death.

"I have no experience in leading troops, how can I be qualified for the position of military officer, don't mess around here!" Li Kepei's face sank, and he immediately taught a lesson.

This...

The officials present were dumbfounded. This old man only shouted to charge but didn't dare to move forward?

The Prime Minister Yin Pilsang was nearly 70 years old, with white hair and beard, but he had already seen through Li Kepei as a speculator, and he was merciless: "Lord Li, what we are talking about now is the life and death of Korea. If you have the ability to resist the Ming army, let alone the position of military officer, I can also give up my position as the Prime Minister, and I will write a book for you to pass on. But if you don't even have the courage to lead troops to fight, and you only show off your courage with words and ignore the country, do you really want to be a sinner of Korea?"

After all, he is the head of all officials, and now after saying this, he slapped Li Kepei like a mountain pressing down on his head.

"Lord Li, please be careful with your words!"

"Anyone can talk big, but you have to consider the consequences!"

"The kingdom of Korea was hard-won, don't let it harm the country and the people!"

...

Officials such as Li Yan, the military officer, knew that this matter was serious, and Li Kepei really wanted to lead Korea to a path of no return, so they expressed their opinions one after another.

Li Kepei's followers also knew the seriousness of this matter, and they couldn't help but turn their heads to look at Li Kepei, and their psychology also underwent a subtle change.

They belonged to the ruling class of Korea, and it can be said that everyone benefited.

If Korea eventually went to destruction, then let alone continue to enjoy this wealth, I'm afraid that the whole family would die under the iron cavalry of the Ming Dynasty.

That's right, in the face of their own wealth and life, this political stance has become less important.

Li Yan looked at his teacher seriously, as if he was riding a roller coaster.

He also realized the seriousness of the problem. If he refused the request of the Ming Emperor, the consequence would probably be that his own kingdom of the Li family would be destroyed under the iron cavalry of the Ming Dynasty.

Unless his teacher can come up with a good plan, this seemingly passionate behavior is indeed self-destructive.

"Where there is a will, there is a way! Although I am not a talent for commanding an army, my country of Korea is full of talents. I believe there must be someone who can be trusted. There is no need to be so afraid of the Ming cavalry!" Li Kepei's face suddenly turned red, but he still stood firm.

This...

The officials present heard this extremely irresponsible argument, but they all rolled their eyes.

"Shut up!" The Prime Minister Yin Pil-sang shouted immediately, and then looked at Li Jing and made a request: "Your Majesty, government affairs are not a joke. We in Korea cannot count on Li Kepei, a greedy and cowardly talker. This old minister has already entered the coffin half a foot into the coffin. I beg Your Majesty to put Korea first and not make enemies with the Ming Dynasty!"

"I sincerely request your majesty to put the country of Korea first and not to antagonize the Ming Dynasty!" Bing Cao Li Shi and other officials knew the seriousness of the matter, and they immediately stood up and expressed their stance in unison.

ah? why is it like this?

Li Kepei was thinking about how to establish an image of a loyal minister, but he was completely dumbfounded when he found that officials from all over the dynasty expressed their stance together.

After seeing that the king was unwilling to go to the capital, he originally wanted to make a beautiful political speculation, but he didn't want to shoot himself in the foot.

Now all officials have stated that they want to be close to the Ming Dynasty, causing themselves to become clowns in this palace.

Li Jue saw everything in his eyes, and finally found that the teacher he had always relied on, Li Kepei, was unreliable at all. He usually spoke eloquently, but at the critical moment, he actually wanted to push himself into a pit of fire.

Although he was reluctant to go to the capital of the Ming Dynasty and did not want to put his life in the hands of that young tyrant, he knew that refusing would probably destroy his Li family.

Li Jue knew that the Li family's empire could not be lost, so she asked tentatively: "If I go to the capital, who among you will be willing to accompany me?"

When they heard this, the officials present looked at each other, and then looked up at the leaders Yin Bishang and Li Kepei.

Zuo Yizheng Li Kepei just wanted to create the character of a loyal minister, but this time he lowered his head silently, but it was impossible for him to agree to go to the capital.

Yin Bishang, the leader of the political council, is not a warrior, and he has no intention of going: "Your Majesty, I am naturally willing to accompany you, but I am already old and my legs are not good enough. I am afraid that I will miss the date of my trip, so I forgive you for not being able to accompany me. But Li He usually claims to be able to ride a horse and shoot arrows, so he must be able to accompany him!"

Even the small North Korean court is inevitably full of overt and covert struggles, and now Yin Bishang deliberately pushed Li Kepei.

Li Kepei, the leader of the Zuo Yizheng, cursed secretly and immediately expressed his position: "Your Majesty, the leader of the Zuo Yizheng is now weak and sick, and there are many affairs in the court that need to be dealt with. I request to stay in the royal capital to take care of the government affairs for the king!"

Li Cao Jin Zhuguo and other officials couldn't help but shook their heads gently when they heard the excuses of these two big shots.

No matter how loyal they say they are on weekdays, when danger really comes, these two important ministers can run faster than anyone else. Now they are all worried about the Ming Emperor's Hongmen Banquet, so the two most astute politicians dare not accompany him.

Li Jue saw the words and deeds of these two veterans whom she relied on the most, and couldn't help but feel deeply disappointed in her heart. These are the wise ministers she has relied on since she ascended the throne!

"Your Majesty, I have the honor to be on two missions to the Ming Dynasty. I have some understanding of the situation in the capital of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, I am willing to accompany you!" Bing Cao Li Shi knew that he could not count on those two important figures, so he took the initiative to express his position.

Li Ju felt a little better when she saw Li Shi taking the initiative to ask for help.

But at this moment, a soldier walked in in a hurry.

"What happened?"

After seeing the sudden military report, the officials present realized that something terrible had happened, and it was even possible that the Ming army had come to kill them.

At this moment, many people regretted why they didn't hug Daming's thick thigh earlier, thus leaving themselves a way out.

Li Ju looked as if he was reading the military report that had just been sent to him with a heavy face, and then looked at the ministers present: "Because Donghai Governor Xu Shiying led his troops to support Jianzhou, Jeju Shepherd Li Junbin took advantage of the lack of troops in Daming City and led his troops a few days ago. Want to seize Daming City!"

ah?

Seize the city?

Who gave the order?

When Bing Cao Li Shi heard this military information, he couldn't believe his ears.

The Ming Dynasty allowed Korean autonomy because it was concerned about the ancestral system. If it really gave the Ming Dynasty enough excuses, they would really want to recognize their master again.

"Is Li Zhunbin crazy?"

"It's so crazy. They want us to destroy the country!"

"Is he a pig-headed person? Isn't this going to hurt us, North Korea?"

…

The officials in the palace were also talking about it, but they didn't know when Jeju Mu got mad and did such a thing to provoke the Ming Dynasty.

Li Kepei let out a breath of turbid air and said with astonishing authenticity: "Your Majesty, I thought that Tamna Island has always been owned by our North Korea, so I gave Jeju Mu the power to do things conveniently and have a good opportunity to seize Daming City!"

"Did you do it? Do you know the consequences of doing this?" When Li Shi heard that it was Li Kepei, he immediately accused him loudly.

The political leader Yin Bishang did not expect that Li Kepei had done such a thing secretly, and immediately requested the North Korean King Li Suo: "Your Majesty, Mr. Li has exceeded his authority, and I beg him to be imprisoned immediately for the crime!"

The officials present shook their heads. Even Li Kepei's party members looked at Li Kepei with complicated eyes. They really wanted to trick North Korea to death before they would give up.

"Your Majesty, if Daming City falls into our hands, we can use it to develop maritime trade. I am considering this for the interests of North Korea!" Li Kepei did not think that he had done anything wrong, so he argued for the truth.

After his observation, Daming City on Shenzhi Island was like a hen that could lay golden eggs.

Li Ju took a deep look at his teacher and continued to speak calmly: "Jeju Shepherd Li Zhunbin led 5,000 garrison troops to invade the Ming Dynasty. However, he was killed by the 1,000 garrison who stayed behind. Li Zhunbin also fell into the Ming Dynasty. The hand of the defender!"

ah?

Five thousand versus one thousand?

Their Jeju Army was defeated?

When hearing this result, the officials present were shocked again and couldn't help but look at each other.

Originally, some officials thought they could fight the Ming Dynasty army, but they learned that the 5,000 garrison troops on Jeju Island could not defeat 1,000 defenders, and Li Junbin himself was captured.

If measured by this kind of combat power, their 100,000 North Korean army cannot resist Ming's 20,000 army, but Ming's army has a strength of several million.

That's right. They may have had a little fantasy just now, but now they have completely recognized the reality. They can only protect their country by surrendering to the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, Ming Dynasty can only be friends and not enemies. Please go to the capital!" Li Cao Jin Zhuguo knew that there was no room for maneuver in the matter, so he immediately expressed his stance.

"I beg the king to go to the capital!" Bing Cao Li Shi and other officials knew that this was the only way to save the country, so they expressed their opinions together.

Li Jue's eyes flashed with silence. For the first time in his life, he felt how insignificant his king was, but he finally nodded helplessly.

Shenzhi Island, Daming City.

The waves lap against the rocks, and above is a towering city with a dragon flag flying on top of the city.

Xu Shiying led the fleet to a triumphant return. Because he had completed the mission of surprise attack on the Jurchen base camp in Jianzhou, he was in a very good mood along the way. But after learning what Jeju Mu had done, he was slightly stunned at first, and then his eyes flashed with a strong murderous intent.

Originally, he had always had a good impression of North Korea, which was regarded as a relatively obedient vassal state.

But who would have thought that when His Majesty regained Jianzhou this time, the tiny North Korea refused to send troops to help. It's even more damning now that he took advantage of the lack of troops in his city to invade.

"Mr. Governor, those people looked large in number, but they were all soldiers and generals. We took the initiative to go out of the city to fight, but less than half of them actually took action. They themselves were scared to death! If they hadn't run so fast, we would have I can definitely kill a few more people, and definitely not just get less than a thousand heads!" Huo Hai reported the battle situation and results with great pride.

When Xu Shiying learned that there were almost no casualties on his side, he couldn't help but wonder: "I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to be so brave! The governor will report the matter tomorrow, and your Majesty will definitely reward you!"

"Your Majesty has shown great kindness to those in humble positions. It is our duty to defend the city. We don't ask for rewards for such small things. We just hope that we can continue to be here!" Huo Hai said with a smile on his face, looking disapproving.

Xu Shiying has been with this group of people for a long time, and probably has a clear understanding of their psychology.

The troops stationed here are treated well, and living here can be said to be a privileged person. At least every time they are paid, they can become VIPs in the red light district outside the city.

It's just that neither the three thousand garrison in front nor the newly added one thousand garrison in the back have made any achievements, so they are afraid of being transferred back to the country.

Now they suddenly have a chance to perform, but the garrison on Jeju Island is so arrogant that they no longer regard it as military merit. The only demand is that they can continue to stay here.

Xu Shiying will naturally report what happened here, but at this time, he still has one thing to do, which is to escort Jeju Shepherd Li Junbin to the high platform of the large playground.