The Heavens: From Knowing Whether You Rule the World

Chapter 96 Entrust your child to someone before death!

Yangxindian

Zhao Zongquan leaned quietly against the head of the bed, doing nothing, but he couldn't stop sweating.

Queen Shen supported Zhao Zongquan with tears in her eyes, looking extremely sad.

Zhao Ceyong, the son of Prince Huan and Concubine Liu, knelt in front of the bed. Zhao Ceying looked worried, but Zhao Ceyong, who was over five years old, was completely unaware and neither laughed nor cried.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Chu, Duke Ying, and Marquis Ningyuan have all been invited and are waiting in the side hall."

An old eunuch in a red and purple robe saluted respectfully and stepped forward to report.

"Let them in!"

Zhao Zongquan wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand, feeling like a hero in his twilight years.

Three years later, he had aged at an alarming rate.

Three years ago, he had some wrinkles, but looked a little fat and heroic.

Now he looks like a sixty-year-old farmer, thin and frail.

Chu Hong and others had been waiting in the side hall. Upon hearing this, they hurried towards the main hall.

"Your Majesty, I, Chu Hong, pay my respects to you!"

As the head of all officials, Chu Hong took the lead and stepped forward to salute respectfully.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Fu (Gu Tingye), pay my respects to you!"

The Duke of Yingguo and the Marquis of Ningyuan followed closely behind.

After seeing those people, Zhao Zongquan felt a little better and sat up with the help of Shen.

"Hong'er, Ce Ying."

"uncle."

"Father."

Chu Hong and Zhao Ceying looked at each other and hurried forward.

Zhao Zongquan nodded slightly, holding Chu Hong with one hand and Zhao Ceying with the other.

"Ceying, the throne fell from the sky for my father. Fortunately, with the help of Han Da Xianggong and Hong'er, my father was able to sit firmly on the throne."

As Zhao Zongquan spoke, he took a deep breath and looked at Zhao Ceying, "Now, your father's body is not good."

"Father, this is just a minor illness."

Zhao Zongquan shook his head slightly, stopping his eldest son's comfort, "If your father is gone, you will have to shoulder the heavy responsibility that your father has not completed."

When Zhao Ceying heard this, his heart, which was not very sad to begin with, became even more excited.

This sentence is very nourishing!

However, he held back and still looked sad and worried.

Zhao Zongquan pondered for a moment, "Hong'er is now in charge of the country, stabilizing the country, and the reforms are also quite effective. The territory of our dynasty is much smaller than that of previous dynasties.

Now, we have Hong Er, who is good at literature and strong at military affairs, and Gu Hou, who is extraordinary in martial arts. Ce Ying, you must seize the opportunity, and the eternal achievements are right in front of you!"

When Zhao Zongquan said this, Chu Hong's eyes lit up slightly. He knew how to seduce his cousin.

ideal!

An emperor through the ages!
Chu Hong immediately looked full of ambition, "Don't worry, uncle. Now, with the reforms to enrich the country and strengthen the army, with my cousin's ability, he can definitely recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and become an emperor like the Qin Emperor and Han Wudi by expanding the territory. Hong'er will definitely assist my cousin and become a famous prime minister like Guan Zhong and Xiao He!"

As soon as Chu Hong said this, Zhao Ceying nodded repeatedly. Now that he still has enough energy and blood, he will definitely achieve eternal achievements and finish what his predecessors have not completed.

Zhao Zongquan immediately smiled with relief, patted his nephew and eldest son's hands, "Hong'er is good at domestic affairs, and Ce is brave enough to conquer the world. He will definitely be able to recover Yanyun."

"Old General of the Duke of England, Lord Gu."

Zhao Zongquan looked at Gu Tingye and Duke of England Zhang Fu again, "General Zhang, Ceying is young and energetic, and I am afraid that he may be a little inadequate in making decisions on some matters. At this time, please correct me as much as possible, and don't hesitate.

Lord Gu, you have saved me many times, and Ce Ying and I are grateful. Ce Ying, Hong Er, and you are all young, and we have to entrust you with some of the great undertakings that our ancestors have not yet completed."

"Old minister, I obey the order!"

"I, your servant, will certainly be loyal to King Huan and assist him to the best of my ability."

The Duke of England and Gu Tingye saluted in succession, but the other two did not come forward.

Being close to the emperor was the privilege of King Huan and the Prime Minister of Chu.

"I don't say much, but you are all loyal ministers and the backbone of the Great Zhou. Ce Ying, please treat me well."

Zhao Zongquan looked at a few people and then looked at Zhao Ceying.

When this statement was made, it sounded like an attempt to win over the hearts of the people for King Huan, but Gu Tingye and the Duke of England really fell for it.

Without these words, their hearts would not be truly at peace for quite some time.

Especially the Duke of Yingguo, he did not follow the emperor like Gu Tingye, nor did he have the brotherhood between Gu Tingye and King Huan.

After saying this, Zhao Zongquan waved his hand and said, "Ceying stays, everyone else leave and wait in the side hall!"

He was dying and could even clearly feel his life slipping away.

It's a bit abstract, but there is indeed such a feeling.

Compared to yesterday, he is obviously in much better health today.

At least, he was able to talk so much and sit up steadily instead of fainting half-dead.

Everyone left one after another, even the queen left at Zhao Zongquan's signal.

Zhao Ceying hurried forward to support his father and listened to his private instructions.

Zhao Zongquan took a deep breath and panted a little, "Ceying, I know Hong'er has been quite powerful in recent years, and you are also afraid of him, right?"

Looking at his father's serious expression, Zhao Ceying nodded slightly.

Four out of the six ministries have cousins, two grand secretaries in the cabinet are cousins, several of the nine ministers are cousins, and four or five provincial governors in the two capitals and thirteen provinces are from the Chu clan.

Such power is really too exaggerated. He could see that his cousin seemed to be pushed forward, but this did not stop him from being a little apprehensive.

The eldest son admitted it frankly, and Zhao Zongquan smiled knowingly, "It's normal for you to be afraid of Hong'er. Compared to your father, Hong'er is of the same generation as you. Hong'er usually speaks to you with respect, but not in awe."

Zhao Ceying remained silent and said nothing.

If he didn't have the identity of King Huan, he didn't think he could suppress his cousin.

He really could not learn the ability to coordinate the affairs of the two capitals and thirteen provinces while chatting and laughing.

The two capitals and thirteen provinces are really too big. My cousin can keep everything in order and even find time to have some tea and wine. However, the affairs along the way are enough to leave him with no free time.

He also saw how his cousin handled it, mainly looking at the statistical numbers, taxes, and disaster situations of the two capitals and thirteen routes, and then giving instructions.

He can do all these, but not as quickly or as skillfully.

He may not be able to see the essence of a matter after spending a long time on it, nor may he have any ideas or solutions, and he cannot give instructions to local officials. But his cousin can write his instructions after just one look.

He also studied hard, but the same thing might be handled differently because of some small details.
It’s difficult. This is a difference in talent. He really can’t learn it.

In the past, when the Empress Dowager's party and the New Emperor's party were fighting, my cousin's fierce battle record would only make people feel at ease. The fact that my cousin angrily confronted the Empress Dowager in the hall, causing her to return to the right path, made people even happier.

However, the party struggle ended and we were able to overcome the difficulties.

Now, my cousin rules the world. Looking back, how can people not be intimidated by such a powerful ability?
I can’t suppress it!

Zhao Zongquan looked at his eldest son with a sharp gaze, as if he could see into his heart. "Ceying, the matter of the Empress Dowager's party and the Emperor's party has long passed. But the matter of the Taizu lineage and the Taizong lineage will never pass. Ask yourself, can you control the several ministers in the cabinet?"

Zhao Ceying frowned slightly, then shook his head, "I can suppress it, but I can't control it."

With the imperial power in hand, it is not difficult to suppress a cabinet minister.

However, pressure does not mean control.

The skills of those old guys in the cabinet are so high that a seemingly insignificant little thing may lead to a big move.

During the three years when his cousin was in charge of the country, he had clearly seen all kinds of things happening in the cabinet. Every matter had a lot to say about it. Although they seemed to be small things, they could actually affect tens of millions of people in a state or a region.

Those cabinet ministers also have no respect for the imperial power. If they really come to a fight, he doesn't think he can win.

In their early years, Emperor Zhenzong and Emperor Renzong had both demonstrated in detail how strong the political fighting abilities of those old civil servants were.

When Emperor Zhenzong was offering sacrifices to heaven and earth at Mount Tai, it was instigated by that group of people in the cabinet.

That was truly a matter of criticism. Zhao Ceying could almost imagine the reputation that Emperor Zhenzong would suffer thousands of years later.

If your achievements are not enough to be enfeoffed as a god, you will only be ridiculed by others.

Those people are hunched over, but they don't have any loyalty or respect at all, they are just scheming and plotting!

He knew his own limitations. Without his status as King Huan or the Emperor, he might not be able to fight against these people.

The same goes for my father. He can't beat them either, but with my cousin watching over him, he doesn't need to worry about these things.

At least, during the past three years of the Zhou Dynasty, the country enjoyed peace and prosperity.

"You can't control him, and neither can Hong'er, but Hong'er can fight him. If he can fight him, then you can control him! Hong'er, after all, is your cousin."

Zhao Zongquan looked at his eldest son and coughed up a mouthful of blood. "Hong'er is a civil official and cannot destabilize the country. Just now, I didn't ask Hong'er to deliberately show his loyalty because you and Hong'er are related by blood. You are cousins, so he is naturally yours!
Ce Ying, you have to learn to control Hong Er. You can suppress the cabinet ministers, but you can't control them. Hong Er, you can't suppress him, but you can control him. Control does not necessarily rely on political tactics. "

Zhao Ceying was stunned, then he thought seriously for a while. He suddenly understood what his father meant and nodded repeatedly.

The power of the cabinet is so great that it cannot be reduced, and it is impossible for the literati to ask the emperor to reduce its power.

If this is cut, it will just be an additional institution with a different name but the essence remains the same.

The people are still the same people, the powers are still the same powers, there is no meaning at all.

The emperor was not capable enough and could not outsmart those scholars.

In this case, it is better to let our own people take control.

His cousin can control the cabinet, he just needs to ensure his cousin's loyalty.

There were simply too many officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he had no ability to know who were the true supporters of Taizong's lineage, and who wanted to restore Taizong's lineage to rule the country.

But at least my cousin is not a supporter of Taizong's lineage.

Because of their blood connection, my cousin is a staunch supporter of Taizu's lineage.

Cousin, so that I don't have to worry about the calculations of those old guys in the cabinet.

Control does not necessarily mean simple power politics and suppression.

For example, the father may not be able to really control his cousin, it is more about the uncle's authority and family affection.

However, relying on the authority and kinship of his uncle, he was able to control his cousin.

Control is more difficult than suppression, but with emotional support, control may not be more difficult than suppression.

Ministers must be controlled through oppression, and with blood ties... they can be controlled without oppression!
Moreover, my cousin was a civil official, and even though he could pass through the Privy Council, he had never actually controlled any military forces.

If a king lacks the ability to govern, he can still maintain a stable voice by firmly controlling the military.

Looking at his eldest son who had somewhat understood, Zhao Zongquan nodded with satisfaction, "Hong'er is powerful, you can restrict him relatively, but reform is imperative. You have to let him take the position of Prime Minister. If he doesn't take the position, you may not be able to sit firmly."

Without real contact, you won’t know how difficult those people in the cabinet are.

"Don't worry, father. Your son knows what to do."

As long as his cousin is loyal, he can focus more on the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

Doesn’t my cousin want to be a wise minister for all ages?
Coincidentally, he also wants to be the greatest emperor of all time!
Zhao Zongquan looked at his enlightened son and smiled with satisfaction.

"Okay! I'll leave the Great Zhou Dynasty to you!"

"Uh-huh?"

"Father? Father!"

"Come here, where is the doctor?"

"uncle?"

Today 6k'ha!
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(End of this chapter)