bullyxtreme Chapter 732 Phoenix Returns to Its Nest (18)
Chapter 732 Phoenix Returns to Its Nest (18)
There's no fun in the palace, so I might as well go to sleep early.
Xiong Bufan felt she missed many people, but she didn't know who she truly missed. All she wanted was to become an immortal and then go home.
Kongkong: "Bufan, we'll be back soon."
"it is good."
Wang Shijun remained in the palace, and everyone assumed he would regain favor one day. Therefore, no one made things too difficult for him, and the imperial kitchen continued to provide him with meals according to the standards for a talented man.
Because of Xiong Bufan's orders, Wang Shijun was not allowed to approach within ten meters of Xiong Bufan.
This was torture for Wang Shijun, worse than death.
During the Lunar New Year, the entire Feng Dynasty enjoys a seven-day holiday. Except for New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year, when ministers need to go to the palace for a meeting, they spend the rest of the time at home celebrating the New Year.
Over the course of seven days, Xiong Bufan slept for five days and spent the remaining two days in the national treasury looking at the New Year's gifts sent by the ministers.
Only the money you have in your hand is truly yours; everything else is not.
After the New Year, Xiong Bufan went to court while yawning, handling state affairs as if he were watching a spectacle.
Learning from last year's floods, Xiong Bufan ordered people to predict the future course of the river as soon as spring arrived, so as to make preparations in advance, such as building dams or digging river channels.
If an official does a bad job, his entire family, including nine generations of his relatives, will be beheaded.
Controlling floods is a major undertaking. No one would say that Xiong Bufan was tyrannical and indiscriminately killed innocent people; they would only say that she was a wise ruler.
Although the Phoenix Dynasty is a matriarchal society, the neighboring small countries are not, and many are male-dominated. Therefore, the Phoenix Dynasty does not have good relations with its neighboring small countries, in other words, there are constant conflicts.
Previously, Feng Shuan used a policy of appeasement, spending money to buy peace, attempting to exchange money and livestock for allied forces and to establish good diplomatic relations with neighboring countries.
As a result, the appetites of the surrounding small countries grew larger and larger. When they had no money or food, they would come to Feng Dynasty. If they didn't have enough, small-scale conflicts would occur, and the emperors of the other countries would even write letters to scold Feng Shu'an, saying that Feng Shu'an was untrustworthy.
The dynasty provides money and provisions twice a year: once in spring to allow people to cultivate seeds, and once after the autumn harvest to help them get through the winter. That's how the Phoenix Dynasty supported the surrounding small countries.
Last year, Xiwu Kingdom and other small countries also wrote letters asking for things, but Xiong Bufan burned them because he wouldn't give money unless it was asked on the spot.
If they demanded money on the spot, Xiong Bufan would rob them again.
No one can ask Xiong Bufan for money without a valid reason.
Not long after the beginning of spring this year, Xiong Bufan had sent out his flood control team when he received a letter from a small country requesting money and grain.
After learning that the letter was for money, Xiong Bufan didn't even read it. He took it directly to the court and said, "Someone has come to me demanding money. My ministers, what do you think we should do?"
Now that Liu Tong knew how hard it was to make money, he said righteously, "Your Majesty, this small border country, a barbarian land, is really arrogant. It has been harassing our territory since last year. We absolutely cannot give them this money."
Vice Minister Zhao: "Yes, Your Majesty."
The other generals said, "Your Majesty, the Feng Dynasty is suffering greatly from the surrounding small countries. Your Majesty, I am willing to go to war."
Having suffered too much indignation in the court, they naturally needed to find a place to vent their frustrations, and other small countries were the best targets for such venting, especially since the rulers of those small countries were truly despicable.
Xiong Bufan: "Deal with all those who harass the border and restore peace to the border residents."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As for who to send, Xiong Bufan will let them figure it out themselves.
The ministers left the Phoenix Dynasty's court and went out into the world, only to find that everywhere was filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, and that only the court experienced hail.
The ministers who remained in the court greatly envied their colleagues who were out fighting. They also wanted to leave, but the court needed them.
The people from Xiwu Kingdom came to plunder some grain and women, their aim being to get money and food from Fengchao so that they could buy peace.
Instead of food, they received a large army.
The civilians evacuated quickly, and the regular army guarded the border. Everyone had new weapons and new armor, indicating that they had had a good winter.
The people on our side were dressed in rags and couldn't compare to the other side at all.
The junior general of Xiwu Kingdom was also afraid, fearing that the other side would get serious, so he led his men to retreat. That night, he sent a visiting card, intending to have a proper discussion and not resort to fighting at the drop of a hat.
The people of Fengchao tore up the invitation letter and sent troops to attack that very night.
His Majesty said that if we can't even defeat a small country, then we don't need to go back. His Majesty also said that we should let the other side taste what it's like to be harassed.
I would rather die than die for my fellow Daoist, especially since people from enemy countries can hardly be considered fellow Daoists.
The Phoenix Dynasty is no longer what it used to be. The young general of the Western Martial Kingdom led his men to try to fight back, but found that they were no match for the enemy in terms of both physical strength and troop strength. In order to reduce casualties, they could only flee in panic.
At the same time, he wrote back to request support.
Xiong Bufan received battle reports every day: today they attacked Xiwu Kingdom, tomorrow they would conquer two cities of Xiwu Kingdom.
The military officers were very envious, while the civil officials felt that they were too weak and incapable of fighting.
Supplies were being sent to the front lines in a steady stream. A battle with enough food, money, and warmth is ultimately easier to win.
It was just a pity for the Western Wu Kingdom, whose city walls were constantly breached and its people captured. In the end, the emperor was transported to the capital in a prison cart.
These are all achievements of the general, demonstrating his strength to neighboring small countries, safeguarding his territorial integrity, and proving Xiong Bufan's wisdom and prowess.
It took less than two months to complete everything.
The ministers of the Phoenix Dynasty then realized that they had given the neighboring small countries face in the past, which was why they had acted so presumptuously. Now, His Majesty had given everyone a clear understanding of their place.
The prison cart was transported all the way to the outside of the palace before stopping. Emperor Zhao Xianzhi of Xiwu Kingdom, who was initially humiliated, gradually got used to urinating in the prison cart.
Xiong Bufan smelled the odor from a great distance and immediately covered his nose. The ministers in the court followed suit and covered their noses as well.
This made Zhao Xianzhe feel extremely humiliated. His face turned red with anger, and he could only manage to utter one sentence: "Don't push your luck."
The guard kicked the prison cart, making it shake. "You better behave yourself."
Xiong Bufan: "Be more elegant. This is the emperor of the Western Wu Kingdom."
Zhao Xianzhe became even angrier upon hearing this, and angrily turned his head, "Feng Shuan, what exactly do you want to do?"
"I'm not going to do anything, you just need to spit out all the money and supplies you took from me. I'm not going to give you so much stuff for nothing."
"You only gave me three years' worth!"
Xiong Bufan gave him a disdainful look. "Anyway, you've already given it. If your people don't send money and grain, you'll never be able to go back."
Ever since Xiong Bufan learned that the surrounding areas were very poor, she completely gave up the idea of expanding her territory; all she wanted was more resources.