There is no other reason. This official just likes to casually say some things that make people feel headache... When he was sick, he was afraid that the throne would be snatched away by the two saints, and then he used a fishing enforcement to force everyone to come out and shout to establish a crown prince. After he recovered from the illness, he felt that the two saints were nothing, and he didn't want to establish a crown prince, so he didn't establish a crown prince. Why does he have to talk about the fratricide between father and son for everything?
"But if I don't, once something happens to me, as I said at the beginning, how can I ensure that the Northern Expedition will not be in vain?" Zhao Jiu didn't seem to notice the helpless expressions of the crowd, but just continued to sigh. "It's nothing more than having a confirmed successor who can win the support of the people, and then let those of you who are willing to inherit my will protect him in the Northern Expedition... Don't you think so?"
Now that he has recovered from his illness, there is no need to talk about his last will or any other trivial matters... Even Minister Lin was too lazy to analyze the emperor's intentions. There was no need.
"That's right." Zhao Jiu really didn't want to let these people take over. "I have thought of a way... It's called a secret succession... That is, I will write two identical wills, one will be hung high on the beam of the main hall of Wende Hall in public, and the other will be carried by Yang Yizhong on my behalf. This way, no matter where I die, you can refer to it and appoint a new king."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and immediately started thinking seriously.
Immediately, Zhao Ding asked seriously: "Your Majesty's idea seems to come from the Old Book of Tang. Persia has always had such a system... But Your Majesty, what if the two edicts are different?"
"It is really different. Of course, the one in Wende Hall shall prevail." Zhao Jiu certainly didn't know what the Old Book of Tang was. He copied it from 'my Great Qing'. As for who 'my Great Qing' learned it from, it was none of his business. "However, I will not create two equally powerful hidden crown princes. I must let everyone know the truth, at least it is tacitly understood..."
Having said this, Zhao Jiu turned his head and faced Yang Yi Zhong who was standing in front of the side door. The latter, who was holding the two boxes, understood what he meant and immediately stepped forward and brought the two boxes to Prime Minister Lu Haowen in public.
Lu Haowen, who was obviously caught off guard, glanced at Emperor Zhao, carefully opened the top one, and then solemnly took out the bright yellow silk inside. Then, Yang Yizhong brought the second box to the Prime Minister Zhao Ding of the capital province. Zhao Ding did not dare to neglect it and immediately followed suit and took out the second piece of silk.
"It's my eldest son, Zhao Yuanzuo."
While the other ministers and important officials were looking at the two yellow silks with solemn expressions, Zhao Jiu did not give them a chance to create a sense of ceremony, but directly handed over the answer. "There is no reason to bypass the eldest brother to give it to the second brother under the current circumstances. Of course, if there is another explanation later and the secret decree needs to be replaced, I will naturally tell you again."
After carefully handing the silk in his hand to Zhang Jun, the Prime Minister, Zhao Ding thought for a moment and then answered seriously again: "I think the emperor's move actually means not to establish an imperial palace? Rather than not to establish a crown prince?"
"Mr. Zhao, you hit the nail on the head." Zhao Jiu answered frankly.
"If this is the case, the advantages and disadvantages are obvious." Zhao Ding said seriously. "The advantage is that there will be no more subordinates to the Eastern Palace, and there will be less suspicion between father and son, monarch and minister, but the disadvantage is that the prince has no title and subordinates, so it is difficult to exercise his ability as a monarch..."
This time, it was Zhao Jiu's turn to remain silent.
After a long while, the official finally managed to smile and said, "If I say this is the real reason why I have been pretending to be sick until today, you may think I am talking nonsense, but this is the truth... Gentlemen, when I am not involved in things, how do you think the system of Prime Minister, Secret Council and Public Council works? Isn't it good without me?"
All the ministers in the palace, from Lu Haowen down, including several eunuchs who were not qualified to speak at this time, were startled at the same time, and then looked up at Emperor Zhao who was sitting there.
"I don't have any intention of making a big splash." Zhao Jiu said with a smile. "I don't have any intention of achieving succession overnight. I have just been thinking about the succession these days. My two sons are just infants. As a father, I think if my son or grandson is capable in the future, it would be good to make a Song Dynasty Emperor Wen, Jing and Wu. But what if the child grows up to be like Emperor Taishang Daojun? Wouldn't it be necessary to make a Song Dynasty Emperor Yang? And these days, I have been sleeping alone in the harem, and there have been constant rumors outside, which can be regarded as a clear political trend. Although you have been leading the secret cabinet as prime minister, there have been some waves, but you have been running the court properly. I can't help but wait a little... Then I can't help but think that if the prime minister and the secret cabinet have more power, and the public cabinet is given some power to supervise the secret cabinet, it can more or less turn Song Dynasty Emperor Yang into Song Dynasty Emperor Ling... right?"
Lu Haowen was stunned and speechless, while everyone including Zhao Ding, Li Guang and Ma Shen, were thirsty.
"Take your time!" Zhao Jiu continued to smile. "It would be great if I could rule the country from the bottom of my heart one day, but what if my children and grandchildren are not happy? I can only cultivate some traditions slowly... Even when I am alive, if you set up a secret chamber full of Taoism, I will have to disband it directly. When everyone in and outside the secret chamber talks about Taoism and is willing to march north, I will of course be happy to be a hands-off manager to avoid getting sick from working... As for the secret establishment of a crown prince, it is actually in response to this matter."
Among the important ministers below, except for Ma Shen, who came from a Taoist background, the others looked more or less in high spirits… Compared with them, Emperor Zhao’s previous feigned illness and his frivolous treatment of the crown prince seemed excusable.
It seems like I was fooled by Emperor Zhao.
On the other side, after Emperor Zhao finished speaking, he ordered Yang Yi Zhong to put away one secret decree, and then asked Lu Haowen to take the lead and watch with his own eyes as another secret decree was hidden in the Wende Hall.
Just as everyone was about to turn around and say goodbye, suddenly, Emperor Zhao, who had already stood up, turned back and looked at them:
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