From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 1020

Eternal progress is the foundation of progress.

Zhou Yuan set the tone, Empress Zhao Jing made the final decision, and the Northern Expedition became a foregone conclusion.

At the moment of court dismissal, Zhou Yuan finally let go of the stone in his heart, and he felt much lighter.

Some people are confused, some people go with the flow, some people are relaxed, and naturally some people are heavy.

Deng Bochi's face was not good. He glared at the group of royal nobles, and then strode to Zhou Yuan's side.

His voice was heavy: "You understand them too well, you understand them too well."

"You know what they want to hear, and they are completely deceived by you."

Zhou Yuan walked forward slowly, facing the sun, and whispered: "Lord Deng, you are old, don't get angry easily, it's not good for your health."

Deng Bochi gritted his teeth and said: "The brains of those nobles have long been corroded by the extravagant life. You fanned the flames and said a few words about enterprising spirit and the great dynasty, and they believed it completely."

"They put themselves in it, and they were excited, as if this so-called enterprising spirit had something to do with them."

"Your empty rhetoric really touched their hearts."

Zhou Yuan said: "Why does Lord Deng think these words are empty? Can a nation Shouldn't we be enterprising? "

Deng Bochi lowered his voice and growled: "We should be! But it is definitely not a reason for the country to go all out!"

"If our Great Jin stagnates, and our neighboring countries are developing rapidly, we can go all out."

"But your words make everyone forget a key thing, that is, we are also making progress without the Northern Expedition!"

"Not going north does not mean being conservative, not being satisfied with the status quo, and not being enterprising. We just want to concentrate our efforts on making progress in other ways."

"You have been distorting their cognition."

Zhou Yuan looked at Deng Bochi and smiled softly: "Mr. Deng is indeed a smart man. You are right. Eternal progress is the truth, but it is not suitable for our current national conditions."

"And At the same time, it is very suitable for the royal family and nobles. "

"Because those royal family and nobles have been decadent for many years, they will easily fall into such exciting words."

"I want the nobles and royal family to fall into it, and I want those civil servants who are not yet at the top to fall into it. When they are confused and have not yet reacted, Your Majesty will stand up and make a decision, and the matter will be settled."

"When they wake up and find that this seems to be a trap, it will be too late and nothing can be changed."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan patted Deng Bochi on the shoulder and smiled: "You are old, your thoughts are accumulated for decades, and they cannot be changed by words overnight."

"I didn't think about convincing you, I just want you to agree, that's all."

Deng Bochi was furious Deng Bochi was furious and grabbed Zhou Yuan's sleeve, saying loudly: "You are stealing the country! You are determined to use the fate of the nation to build your career! Zhou Yuan, you are warlike, too warlike."

Zhou Yuan said: "Warlike? People who have fought in wars will not be warlike. Old Confucian scholars like you don't understand."

"The reason why you don't understand me is that you are too old. You can't see that the world is changing. Today's politics is no longer the politics of the past."

Deng Bochi stopped, looked at Zhou Yuan, and said in a deep voice: "Okay! Now! You stand in the sun! Tell me the reason!"

"Why do you want to go north, why do you have to go all out!"

"If you can convince me, I will follow you in the future and never sing against you."

Zhou Yuan looked back at him and frowned.

He didn't really want to explain anything, but he understood the importance of Deng Bochi. This old man was still a leader of the conservatives in the court.

The rear area really needs stability.

Zhou Yuan said calmly: "Do you want to hear the real reason, Lord Deng?"

Deng Bochi said: "Yes! The real reason!"

Zhou Yuan said: "It's very simple. If we don't fight, we will die."

"Bullshit!"

Deng Bochi said angrily: "Do you think I don't understand politics? We are developing so rapidly. In three years, people's livelihood will be completely restored. We have guns, cannons and money. Are we afraid of changing the enemy outside Shanhaiguan? Even if it is a stronger enemy."

"Don't deceive me with port shipbuilding! With the Fujian and Guangdong Navy, the other side has no chance to build ships. We just need to keep an eye on them!"

"At most, they will make some moves on land, but this will not affect our foundation. In the decisive battle three years later, our chances of winning will be much greater."

Zhou Yuan sneered: "Old man Deng, I tell you very frankly that our Northern Expedition this year has a 50% chance of winning."

"After three years, our chance of winning will only be 20%!"

Deng Bochi shouted"It's impossible! We have developed for three years, and the other side has to recover after the war. How come our winning rate has dropped?"

Zhou Yuan said: "Because the world has changed!"

"Do you think you know a lot about military affairs? Politics? The times?"

"In the game between great powers, at the moment of implementation, the strategic plan has been made for ten years. Do you understand?"

"Do you think the Tsarist Empire has not analyzed us? Do you think they don't think at all before making a decision?"

"I can assure you that how they take Liaodong, how to control Liaodong, in what direction to develop, how to build ships under our restrictions, these things have been thoroughly studied."

"Do you think the Fujian-Guangdong Navy can keep an eye on others building ships? Ha!"

"Then let me tell you, the first thing they did after taking Liaodong was to contact the Western maritime powers and station in Lushunkou."

"It could be the Netherlands, it could be the Portuguese and other countries, or even a multinational joint fleet."

"They will use the power of the West to suppress our Fujian-Guangdong Navy."

Hearing this, Deng Bochi was stunned.

He suddenly felt that the sunshine in May was a little cold.

Zhou Yuan continued: "Don't think that they have always been hostile to the Western maritime powers, so they can't invite the fleet. Our piece of fat is too delicious, no one will refuse it, do you understand?"

"Many Western countries need benefits, gold and silver, cheap labor and vast markets, and resources. We Dajin can meet all of them."

"The strategic goal of the Tsarist Empire is to occupy Liaodong, rely on the power of Western countries to share Dajin, and turn Dajin into a colony of Western countries, so that every country can get a piece of the pie."

"Western countries have gained ...Western countries have gained benefits, gold and silver, cheap labor and vast markets, and resources. We Dajin can meet all of them."

"Western countries have gained benefits, gold and silver, cheap labor and vast markets, and resources. We Dajin can meet all of them."

"Western countries have gained benefits, gold and silver, cheap labor and vast markets, and resources. We Dajin can meet all of them."

"Western countries have gained benefits, gold and silver, cheap labor and vast markets, and resources. We Dajin has gained benefits, gold and silver, cheap labor and vast markets, and resources. We Dajin has gained benefits, gold The Tsarist Empire is very happy to see us split up, the smaller the better, so that their future geopolitical situation will be very optimistic. "

"You think that we will only face enemies on the land outside the Great Wall in three years. In fact, we will face the six countries attacking Qin! It is the whole world's pursuit and interception!"

"At that time, the battlefields of the north and the south will drag on, fighting on the sea and land, and the Tsarist Empire will stab us from the west. Ha, how do you think this war can be fought?"

"If we don't march north now, we will wait to die, right?"

Deng Bochi was stunned and his teeth were trembling.

He looked at Zhou Yuan in shock, muttering: "Why... why is it like this..."

Zhou Yuan said: "Times have changed, sir, do you think that politics today is just a game between two or three countries? This is a battle for the whole world."

Deng Bochi said: "Why don't you explain these things clearly in the Golden Palace? You have to use the empty theory of enterprising spirit!"

Zhou Yuan sneered: "Explain it clearly? They have never opened their eyes to see the world. Is it meaningful for me to say it? Will those stupid and ignorant royal nobles believe it?"

"They prefer to listen to these empty words! They are empty people at ordinary times! You Do you understand?"

"Besides, Lord Deng, what you think is empty and pretentious actually means the temperament of a nation to strive for the forefront and the vitality that a region should have."

"It's not empty and pretentious, it's just big and simple."

At this point, Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, "You are old, take good care of your body, and retire when you should."

"Your son is already better than you."

"You should be glad that you are better than most court officials, after all, you have such a son."

Looking at Zhou Yuan's back and the sunlight shining on the palace, Deng Bochi staggered and almost fell.

At this moment, he suddenly felt that he had aged a lot and seemed to be dying.