Chapter 179 Undercurrent

April 12th.

Tai Chi Hall.

After an hour-long debate (argument), the ministers were waiting for the emperor to make the final decision.

The plan proposed by Gong Hong, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Works of the Jin Wang faction, was to directly build a small river to divert the Yellow River and change its course. This would prevent the Yellow River from flooding and flowing directly into the sea.

The plan proposed by Liang Gong, the Left Vice Minister of Works, who was on the side of the Crown Prince, was to control the water flow and attack the sand, by building river embankments downstream and dams upstream.

The Crown Prince's faction and the Prince of Jin's faction had been arguing for a full hour. Rong Yue, wearing a black court robe emblazoned with nine dragons, sat on the cold dragon throne. His phoenix eyes swept indifferently over the crowd below the white marble steps, their faces flushed and necks thick with quarreling. "Are you done?"

All the ministers restrained their expressions and lowered their heads, not daring to look at His Majesty.

It was so skillful that it was heartbreaking, as if he had done this action countless times.

Rong Yue paused. "Crown Prince, come here." Crown Prince Rong Jinyou stepped out and bowed. "Father, I believe Lord Gong's plan is too unrealistic. Since ancient times, the Yellow River has been prone to flooding. The previous dynasty's massive construction projects destroyed vegetation in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, causing massive sediment accumulation. The Yellow River flows heavily during flood season. A small artificial diversion river wouldn't be able to handle the floodwaters during the Yellow River's flood season. The millions of Qin citizens living along the river would suffer."

A glint of cruelty flashed in Jin Wang Rong Jinyu's eyes. He bowed and stepped out of the group, saying, "Father, I believe Lord Liang's plan is too costly and labor-intensive. Simultaneously working upstream and downstream will take at least five to eight years to complete, Father!"

Rong Yue pondered for a moment and made the decision: "Minister Gong's plan is impractical. We need to conduct an on-site investigation before making a final conclusion. Minister Liang can tell me in detail after leaving the court." He felt that Gong Hong's plan was simply making fun of him. If he were not the kind of emperor who would rather eat meat than drink meat, and knew the data about the Yellow River flood season, he would have been deceived by Gong Hong, a son of a noble family who had never conducted an on-site investigation along the Yellow River.

The small river used for diversion can only bear less than 20% of the Yellow River's flow during the flood season. When the Yellow River changes its course, millions of people in Daqin will be affected. Does he look like that kind of fool?

Rong Yue was so angry that he almost laughed. Was he the kind of emperor who would rather eat meat than drink meat?

Liang Gong is more practical. Although he also comes from a noble family, he has indeed served as a local official.

It's just that this is a bit too expensive, and the results won't be seen for three to five years. He needs to think about it carefully with Ziyun.

"Your humble servant obeys your order." Gong Hong's face froze, Liang Gong's face lit up with joy, the Prince's party and Prince Jin's party had the same expression as theirs, Prince Jin Rong Jinyu secretly clenched his palms, it was like this again.

Every time he thought he had a chance of winning, his father would always favor the prince.

Su Mansion.

After Su Qiyang finished his shift, he discussed matters with the two brothers Su Jun and Su Yu in the study.

"Remember, our Su family is a royalist family. The fight for the throne has intensified. Don't get involved." Su Qiyang looked at them with a slightly serious expression.

Su Jun nodded, "Dad, don't worry, A Yu and I know the seriousness of the matter." They are not the kind of greedy people who want to compete for the credit of following the emperor.

Su Yu said: "Dad, does His Royal Highness Prince of Yan really have no thoughts?" It's not that he is sensitive, but His Royal Highness Prince of Yan's script is too much like the villain behind the scenes.

Su Qiyang picked up the Snow Mountain Silver Needle and took a sip, then looked at him calmly, "I've asked His Royal Highness Prince Yan, he doesn't mean that. Besides, do you want to see Zhenzhen sad?" How could an emperor not select concubines to fill his harem?

Su Yu widened his Su family's inherited peach blossom eyes, "Of course I don't want to!" Hit him! His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan had clearly personally begged His Majesty and Zhenzhen to be together for the rest of their lives!

Su Jun glanced at Su Qiyang, whose face was slightly gloomy, and reached out to knock on Su Yu's head, "You idiot, who are you?" The action looked very heavy, but in fact it didn't fall on Su Yu's head at all.

Su Yu only realized at this moment that his father was still sitting at the head of the table. "Dad, it was just a slip of the tongue. Don't blame me."

Su Qiyang didn't take Su Yu's nonchalant look to heart. He just reminded him: "Dad knows that you are all smart, but don't fall into other people's traps." The eyes of the capital city seemed to be changing.

Su Qiyang is certain that His Majesty only wants to pass the throne to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but will Prince Jin, who has been used as a whetstone for the Crown Prince for many years, be willing to do so?

Prince Jin's Mansion.

Prince Jin Rong Jinyu was in his study and couldn't help but smash the porcelain and antiques on the shelf!

"Damn it! Why is it the prince again! How am I inferior to the prince? Is it because I am not born by Queen Yuanyi? Is it so important whether I am born legitimate or not?" Rong Jinyu's eyes were red and he was furious, and he shouted in a lost voice.

He could imagine that once the Yellow River was successfully controlled, the prince would become famous, so what would he have to do?

"No, I cannot sit still and wait for death." He breathed heavily.

Mr. Hu, the aide, stood quietly by. Seeing how quickly His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin calmed down, he spoke, "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. The Crown Prince is no match for you." Prince Rong Jinyu pursed his lips and frowned. "Mr. Hu, what do you mean?" He was puzzled. "Besides me, who else can the Crown Prince rival? The Prince of Yan has no interest in the throne, and Prince Duan is a beautiful woman. The other princes are too far apart in age from me."

The staff member Mr. Hu pointed in the direction of the sky and said, "You mean the emperor..." Prince Jin Rong Jinyu suddenly widened his fox eyes and said, "Don't say that casually..." But he seemed to have suddenly opened up his Ren and Du meridians, and the thin mist that blocked his vision was suddenly torn away.

Yes, every time the emperor and the prince were estranged, he was in favor. When they were close to each other, he was no longer in favor.

Thinking of this, Prince Jin Rong Jinyu was ecstatic, "Wait." He calmed down again, "I am just the whetstone given by my father to the prince." Once he broke out of the inertia of thinking, Rong Jinyu thought clearly.

I was afraid that my father had never thought of passing the throne to him, and I felt a little disheartened for a while.

The staff member Mr. Hu touched his beard that grew to his chest and said, "Your Highness, don't be anxious and disappointed. We still have a chance." The emperor's mind is the most difficult to grasp, and his majesty is unpredictable.

Prince Jin Rong Jinyu narrowed his eyes and frowned, "You mean?" "The relationship between the emperor and the prince is the most awkward. We can always find an opportunity." The aide Mr. Hu was calm and composed. In the past, when His Majesty favored His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he would let His Royal Highness serve as a whetstone to check and balance the Crown Prince.

But now the rift between His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has grown wider. It would be very easy to make the Emperor dissatisfied with the Crown Prince by simply adding fuel to the fire.

Prince Jin Rong Jinyu's eyes moved slightly. He looked at his aide Mr. Hu and personally brought him a cup of Biluochun tea. "Mr. Hu, please tell me in detail." He smiled and thanked him: "Thank you, Your Highness." He stretched out his hands to take the cup of tea, took a sip, and pointed to the map hanging on the wall.