A month after ascending the throne, he summoned Prime Minister Lu Zhongtian and Privy Envoy Yang Jun and told them that he wanted to abolish the Yanyun Alliance, and did not intend to let the small country in the north call him a brother and brother, and the idea of getting something for nothing, Lu Zhongtian and Yang Jun's reaction surprised Guo Chong.

The two ministers on whom he relied the most not only did not support his ideas, but also found them unacceptable and incomprehensible. Lu Zhongtian talked about the benefits of the Yanyun Alliance, talked about the guidelines for honest exchanges between countries, and emphasized the importance of national stability.

Yang Jun didn't beat around the bush too much, he only told Guo Chong that it was okay to abolish the contract of the Yanyun Alliance, but the premise was to be ready for war. The Liao people will not give up, the two countries will definitely go to war, and is the Great Zhou ready for war?

Yang Jun said that although there were more than one million soldiers and horses in the Great Zhou, there were also many soldiers and horses in the Liao State. In particular, the cavalry of the Liao people, numbering 350,000, was strong and good at fighting, and should not be underestimated. At the start of this big war, regardless of success or failure, the consumption of materials, grain, grass, weapons, and horses that need to be prepared alone will be a huge number. Yang Jun said that he could carry his head to allegiance and defeat his opponent at the cost of his life, but only if the emperor prepared everything he needed to fight.

Did the Great Zhou Dynasty have enough materials and money to meet this big war? Lu Zhongtian gave the answer. No! The Great Zhou State has insufficient grain and silver, and if there is a war, it will not last for several months.

Lu Zhongtian also warned Guo Chong that the two countries were at war, and victory or defeat was unpredictable. Could it be that the emperor really wants to risk the destruction of the country and fight the Liao people? Once something goes wrong and the society left by the ancestors is not guaranteed, whose fault will it be?

Guo Chong was annoyed at first, believing that this was the disloyalty of the two important ministers to his new emperor. However, when he seriously checked his family background, Guo Chong's enthusiasm suddenly became cold. It turned out that the Great Zhou Kingdom that he took over was not as powerful as he imagined. Beneath the strong exterior, he is actually very weak in his bones. The treasury is empty, what to fight with? It turns out that Lu Zhongtian's words are pertinent, and Yang Jun's words are also pertinent. It turned out that if there was a war, the Great Zhou could not guarantee victory, but was in danger of defeat. And once defeated, the consequences are unimaginable. Is he really willing to take a desperate risk for the dream of an eternal emperor?

He also suddenly understood that Huizong would be in a hurry to negotiate and make a covenant at that time. No one can afford the consequences of defeat, and no one dares to risk the country. Unless you have the strength to absolutely crush your opponent, you have the full certainty of defeating your opponent. Otherwise any kind of adventure is not worth it.

This is not the country when the Great Zhou Dynasty was founded. Sometimes you are not afraid of losing anything, because there is nothing to lose. But once you're sitting on the seas, it's foolish to take any more risks. If you lose, you lose everything, and winning is just the icing on the cake, this truth was suddenly understood by Guo Chong at this moment.

Moreover, after that, the several operations ordered by Guo Chong to exterminate the bandits in the territory also completely chilled Guo Chong's heart. Several times to suppress bandits, mobilized a large number of manpower and horses, but in addition to exterminating some small cottages, several major troubles have not been able to be eradicated. The sea bandits in eastern Zhejiang, the bandits in Hongze Lake, and the mountain bandits in Funiu Mountain, these three bandits were defeated and returned. In addition to being angry, Guo Chong also felt extremely sad. It turned out that the combat effectiveness of the soldiers and horses of the Great Zhou was so weak, even these bandits actually couldn't win, and they still wanted to fight the Liao, which was simply death.

In just one year after ascending the throne, Guo Chong quickly transformed from a hot-blooded emperor full of crazy ideas who thought he could do everything to a person who faced reality. He suddenly realized that he was not much better than his ancestors, and that he was actually as mediocre as them, suffering from the same gains and losses, looking forward and backward, and helpless. Knowing this, Guo Chong sighed deeply and despaired.

As time passed, Guo Chong became more and more aware of the huge country he owned. Hundreds of years of accumulation, all kinds of stubborn diseases. Like a splendid temple on the outside, the pillars are full of holes, the walls are covered with dust, and everywhere there is a smell of mildew and decay. Guo Chong's previous growth experience of more than 40 years did not mature as fast as the short period of more than a year after he ascended the throne. He quickly recognized the reality and understood the situation facing the country.

Four years ago, in the winter when his mentor Yan Shiqing died, he met his companion Yan Zhengsu, who had been studying with him when he was young.

The two haven't seen each other for more than ten years. Since Yan Zhengsu was in high school, he has never seen Yan Zhengsu again. During his time as the crown prince, Yan Zhengsu served as an official outside Beijing, and served as the county magistrate of several counties and the local governor, and he had found a good position for him several times and asked him to return to Beijing as an official, but Yan Zhengsu did not agree. This is also a point of Guo Chong's respect and solemnity. From the time they studied together, Guo Chong had a kind of respect and admiration for Yan Zhengsu. Because Yan Zhengsu is a frank and sincere person, he never plays with his mind, one is one and two is two, and his frankness and stubbornness are a bit excessive. Maybe others don't like his straightforward nature, but Guo Chong likes it very much. Because Guo Chong had an unprecedented sense of ease in front of Yan Zhengsu, he didn't have to beware of Yan Zhengsu, because Yan Zhengsu would never have any conspiracy. He didn't have to deliberately hide himself, because there was no need in front of Yan Zhengsu. Because of this, Yan Zhengsu's position in Guo Chong's heart is unparalleled, his profound knowledge often deliberately inspires Guo Chong, and the friendship between the two has never been broken. Even if Yan Zhengsu was serving as a county magistrate in a small remote border county, Guo Chong also maintained correspondence with Yan Zhengsu.

This time, Yan Zhengsu's father Yan Shiqing died of illness, and Guo Chong finally met Yan Zhengsu. At this time, Guo Chong was already the supreme emperor, but in front of Yan Zhengsu, he still had the same state of mind as before, and regarded Yan Zhengsu as the object of confiding.

That time, he had a long talk with Yan Zhengsu all night, from his own loss, to the current situation of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and confided in Yan Zhengsu all the ambitions in his heart and his worries about the current situation in the Great Zhou Dynasty. He hoped that Yan Zhengsu could return to the capital to help him, and he could come up with a solution to revitalize the Great Zhou Dynasty, which was falling into the abyss.

Yan Zhengsu didn't give any advice at that time, he just agreed to serve as the prefect of Hangzhou after the expiration of the one-year mourning period, and he promised Guo Chong that he would return to the capital in three years to share the worries of the saint, and he needed three years to think about the solution.

Guo Chong agreed to this agreement, he knew that Yan Zhengsu was a person, and he would not agree to things that he was not sure of. Once he agreed, there must be a solution, and once he decided to do it, ten cows would not be able to pull back.

Guo Chong hid the small flame of hope in his heart in the deepest corner, he was waiting for Yan Zhengsu's return, he believed that Yan Zhengsu would bring him a solution. Is he an emperor mediocre or will be famous for eternity? Can the Great Zhou Dynasty become what he dreamed of? Whether he has the confidence to complete the blueprints he envisioned when he was the prince may all depend on whether Yan Zhengsu can provide him with a wonderful solution.

Four years on, the situation is actually getting worse and worse. The new emperor of Liao ascended the throne and put forward a request to increase the annual coin, Guo Chong originally wanted to abolish the covenant, how could he agree to the request to increase the annual coin, so he sternly refused. This led directly to the tension in the northeastern border town.

In the past, there were endless exchanges between envoys between the Great Zhou and the Liao State, but in recent years, the relationship has become stiff, and there are few contacts. The conflict between each other on the border also increased day by day, and the two sides fought several battles in the Luanhe area north of Youzhou, although the Liao did not break through the defense line of the Great Wall, but the surrounding army suffered many casualties. All this exposed the fact that the combat effectiveness of the soldiers and horses of the Great Zhou Dynasty was not good. Fortunately, the two sides did not completely tear their faces, Yang Jun also strengthened the defense of the Yanyun area, and the Liao people also suffered several losses, so they did not dare to be too presumptuous. But if this continues, the possibility of both sides tearing their faces has greatly increased. Many ministers in the DPRK and China have already made a concert, demanding that some more coins be added to maintain border stability so as not to cause trouble.

The internal situation of the Great Zhou Dynasty is also not optimistic, although the world is still peaceful, but the treasury is empty, and the financial situation is becoming more and more serious. Although the tax has been raised, the negative consequences of the re-taxation are also obvious. Insufficient sources of income, too many places to spend money, and more and more extravagant, leading to a vicious circle. The situation has deteriorated day by day. These are only known to those who are in charge.

Fortunately, Yan Zhengsu has already given the answer.

……

In the sunset, when Guo Chong was sitting in the golden light in the back garden of the Funing Palace, squinting and enjoying the peace, under the long corridor on the east side, a eunuch was leading a thin man in a purple official robe to hurry over.

"Your Majesty, Lord Yan is here." Li Lin, the personal eunuch who was standing beside Guo Chong and waiting, reported softly.

Guo Chong woke up from his confused thoughts, turned his head to look, and saw that Yan Zhengsu was coming in a hurry, so he hurriedly got up and stood up. A smile appeared on his face.

"You're here, I'm waiting for you." Guo Chong said.

Yan Zhengsu hurriedly stepped forward, picked up his official robe, knelt on the ground and saluted, and shouted long live. Guo Chong helped him up with a smile, pointed to the chair next to him and said, "Sit down, you and I have been studying together since childhood, and we are like brothers, so we don't have to make a big salute." ”

solemnly said: "How dare the minister, what is the will of the saint to call the minister?" ”

"You sit down and say." Guo Chong waved his hand.

Sitting down solemnly, Guo Chong looked at him and said, "The Spring Exam has started today, right?" ”

solemnly said: "Qi Qi Sheng, the exam will start at midnight this morning. ”

Guo Chong nodded and said: "Very good, the selection of talents is the first priority of my big week, and this matter must be done well." ”

Yan Zhengsu nodded and said, "Yes." ”

Guo Chong said: "I want to ask, why did you all refuse to let you and Fang Dunru be in charge of this Spring Exam before?" Lu Zhongtian recommended Qian Qianyi and Wu Chunlai, and I actually like the two of you. ”

"Your Majesty, Lord Qian and Lord Wu are also suitable, both adults are erudite people, and they are Lu Xiang's generals, so naturally they can't be wrong. The reason why Fang Dunru and I refused was not because we would not be responsible, but because we wanted to avoid suspicion. Yan Zheng said solemnly.