Chapter 164: Goryeo is Finished

Inside the Imperial Study of the Great Ming Imperial Palace.

As soon as Zhu Gaoxu entered, he saw Lao Zhu looking at him with a stern face.

"You little monkey, you're getting bolder and bolder. I told you to go help the Left Vice Minister of Rites, Li Hao, with his work, not to go and host an auction!"

"Do you know that many of our Great Ming's vassal states cannot be touched yet, and many even maintain friendly relations with our Great Ming? By scamming them like this, aren't you casting our Great Ming into unrighteousness!"

Hearing these words from Lao Zhu, Zhu Gaoxu really wanted to roll his eyes at him.

But fortunately, at the critical moment, he held it back.

Even so, Zhu Gaoxu still had to make things clear to Lao Zhu.

This was a difference in perspective.

Lao Zhu cared about face, while Zhu Gaoxu cared about substance.

Facts proved that substance was definitely more important than face.

Lao Zhu's ideal state was to stabilize the country and enjoy the homage of all nations.

But Zhu Gaoxu did not agree with this.

History proved that the countries surrounding Huaxia were nothing but vicious wolves.

As long as there was an opportunity, they would think about tearing off a piece of Huaxia's flesh.

Moreover, these countries were greedy wolves.

They could never be satisfied.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu intended to go all the way.

He would simply scam them hard, and then find an opportunity to directly annihilate their countries.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu said directly to Lao Zhu: "Imperial Grandfather, the ancients said, those who are not of our race must have a different heart!"

"These countries respect our dynasty on the surface now because our Great Ming is strong and the people are at peace. If one day our Great Ming falls into chaos, I fear these wolf cubs won't show the slightest mercy."

"So, Grandson suggests that we take this opportunity to simply incorporate them into our national territory!"

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly.

How could he not know what Zhu Gaoxu was saying?

But at this moment, he no longer wanted to deal with those foreigners.

It was better to leave such a mess for his descendants to clean up.

With the country currently facing internal and external troubles, Zhu Yuanzhang really did not want to stir up any more conflict.

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, waved his hand, and said nothing.

As if he knew what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking, Zhu Gaoxu spoke up directly: "Imperial Grandfather, do you know how many good things these countries have given our Great Ming this time?"

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, Zhu Yuanzhang raised an eyebrow and cast his gaze over.

Zhu Gaoxu then took a large stack of IOUs from his sleeve.

Zhu Yuanzhang took the IOUs and began to look through them.

At the very first glance, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened.

Even though he was prepared, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but be shocked when he saw that Goryeo was going to pay ten thousand taels of gold.

Zhu Gaoxu took this opportunity to say: "Imperial Grandfather, do you know that this harvest can not only completely resolve the disasters in the North, but also increase the production of the Daming Gun."

"And for all this, we don't have to pay a thing!"

Zhu Yuanzhang no longer had any intention of blaming Zhu Gaoxu; he nodded while looking at the IOUs in his hand: "Tell me about it."

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu said directly: "With this money, we can not only buy grain to send to the North, but also use it to restore the North's infrastructure."

"At the same time, these countries have also given us a large amount of scarce materials, such as pig iron, warhorses, warships, and all kinds of talented craftsmen!"

With this batch of materials, the strength of our Great Ming will rise to a new level.

Once we have completely digested these materials, annihilating them will be a matter of a snap of the fingers.

It could be said that we are using the wealth of all the vassal states to benefit our Great Ming!

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, although Zhu Yuanzhang was happy in his heart, he still said: "Isn't it bad to scam them so obviously?"

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu said: "This doesn't count as scamming them."

"I didn't say I wouldn't give them anything, but I also didn't say when I would give it. By the time I want to give it to them, they will have already been annihilated, so they can't blame us."

"As for the Mahjong, that was their own willingness. Spending ten thousand taels of gold to buy a few pieces of broken bamboo is a case of one willing to pay and the other willing to sell; we didn't force them."

It could be said that Zhu Gaoxu had calculated everything.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was actually somewhat gratified.

This little monkey is just like me.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know the word "black-bellied," but Lao Zhu still saw his own shadow in Zhu Gaoxu.

As for Zhu Gaoxu, he didn't care what Lao Zhu was thinking; he had already made up his mind—since these people treated him like a fool, he would see who the real fool was.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly thought of Wang Ren.

He then said to Lao Zhu: "Imperial Grandfather, since Goryeo is currently flirting with the Former Yuan and trying to keep a foot in both camps, Grandson believes we can take this opportunity to force Goryeo to declare its stance and simultaneously make Goryeo send troops to attack the Yuan!"

Hearing these words from Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes and nodded.

"That is indeed a good idea, but we cannot be too hasty. For now, let Goryeo cut ties with the Former Yuan, and after they send the money and materials, we will use that as leverage to make them send troops."

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu secretly gave Lao Zhu a thumbs up.

When it comes to being black-bellied and backstabbing people, it has to be Lao Zhu.

He only started the idea, and Lao Zhu had already thought of the process and the ending.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.

The old man and the young man locked eyes, both seeing the playfulness in the other's gaze.

Goryeo is finished!