"Lord Lu, what basis do you have for believing that Liu Zhao will not rebel?"
Emperor Wende asked angrily.
He felt that Lord Lu had betrayed him, which made him very angry.
Lord Lu bowed and said, "Since the eldest prince is the eldest grandson of the emperor, and His Majesty does not appoint a crown prince, the eldest prince is the legitimate heir to the throne. He has no reason to rebel."
As soon as Lord Lu finished speaking, Emperor Wende suddenly calmed down.
He frowned and asked, "How many court officials share the same idea as you, my dear?"
Lord Lu was suspicious, but answered honestly, "Most of the senior officials share the same view as me."
Emperor Wende sneered, "If I don't appoint a crown prince, it will actually benefit Liu Zhao, right?"
Lord Lu hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily, "Yes! If Your Majesty doesn't appoint a crown prince, the eldest prince, as the eldest son, will be the legitimate heir."
Emperor Wende tapped the carriage lightly. "I've done so much over the years, and it's all in vain."
"Your Majesty needs a successor, and the Great Zhou also needs a successor."
Lord Lu dared to remind Emperor Wende that he should not let his country fall into chaos because of his selfish motives.
This has nothing to do with personal wishes.
This is the family law passed down from our ancestors and the inheritance of imperial power.
Every emperor was troubled by this problem throughout his life.
Obviously, Emperor Wende also fell into this vicious circle.
He knew that he should appoint a crown prince, but he hesitated and instead doubled his guard against the adult prince.
In the eyes of the emperor, adult princes were like traitors and rebels who could be killed by anyone.
This is sad.
It cannot be avoided for hundreds or even thousands of years.
This was not a personal problem of Emperor Wende, but an inevitable result of dynastic succession.
Emperor Wende suddenly turned around, his eyes like swords, as if he wanted to pierce through Lord Lu's body and torture him to death.
"In Lord Lu's mind, which prince is qualified to be appointed Crown Prince?"
Lord Lu frowned slightly, "This is about the succession, Your Majesty should summon all the ministers to discuss it."
"I would like to hear what Lord Lu thinks first."
Lord Lu is a loyal minister, he is loyal to Emperor Wende.
He knew what Emperor Wende wanted to hear, so at this moment, he chose to obey.
"Your Majesty, I will obey you. Whichever prince Your Majesty approves will be the legitimate heir apparent."
"Oh!" Emperor Wende smiled faintly, "My dear minister, you are always considerate of me. Very good!"
"This is my duty."
Emperor Wende pointed at the four-wheeled carriage and said, "Now, I want to destroy the four-wheeled carriage. What do you think, my dear minister?"
Lord Lu obviously disagreed. "The four-wheeled carriage has obvious advantages. It's better to wait until the war is over before destroying it."
Emperor Wende sneered.
"I also want to destroy Liu Zhao and recall him to the capital. What do you think, my dear minister?"
Lord Lu was horrified. "If we recall the Crown Prince now, will Marquis Lu come to control him? Your Majesty, please think twice!"
"Will the imperial court be unable to fight without Liu Zhao?"
"But the Marquis of Lu will surely become too powerful to be contained, threatening Your Majesty and the court. What should we do then? Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider!"
It's a completely willful act.
Just like a little kid.
Lord Lu is in a lot of trouble.
The Liu family members all seem to be willful and unwilling to listen to advice.
Lord Lu was in a dilemma.
Gu Jiu, Gu Jiu, even though you have planned everything perfectly, you miscalculated His Majesty's reaction this time.
You should never, ever take out the four-wheeled carriage at this time.
Lord Lu didn't know that Gu Jiu had already calculated everything.
The reason for presenting the four-wheeled carriage to Liu Zhao after he went to the northwest was to avoid affecting Liu Zhao's plan to go to the northwest.
If the four-wheeled carriage had been donated in advance, Liu Zhao might not have been able to go to the northwest.
As for Emperor Wende's reactions after seeing the four-wheeled carriage, Gu Jiu had already predicted it.
Whether she feels fear or joy, she has a series of ways to deal with it.
Of course, she still hopes that things can go more smoothly and everyone can be more relaxed.
She also didn't want to engage in intrigue and play tricks on Emperor Wende every day.
Emperor Wende pointed at the carriage and said, "Lord Lu, you should know exactly what a carriage means. You told me to reconsider, but my sons don't agree. They're obsessed with my position and wish I were dead soon. They're all traitors, and everyone deserves death."
Lord Lu calmed himself down. "The throne must be inherited. Everyone knows this, and the princes are well aware of it. As princes, it is unlikely that they would not covet your majesty's position. I believe that your majesty should allow the princes to have a little desire and selfishness."
Your Majesty can also take this opportunity to carefully observe the talents and courage of the princes and choose a successor who will benefit the country and the people. Your Majesty, for the sake of the Great Zhou, please put aside your selfishness and treat the princes impartially.
"presumptuous!"
"This humble official is guilty of death!"
Lord Lu knelt on the ground and kowtowed to apologize, but he did not think he was wrong in his heart.
As the Minister of the Central Secretariat, he has the responsibility to advise the emperor and to establish a crown prince for the Great Zhou, the country, and the people.
He was a loyal minister, so he chose to be honest and pointed out Emperor Wende's mistakes directly.
Bang!
Emperor Wende picked up the inkstone and smashed it.
At this moment, Emperor Wende still maintained his rationality. The inkstone was three meters away from Lord Lu.
It was obvious that Emperor Wende consciously avoided Lord Lu when he threw the inkstone.
Deep down, he didn't really want to hurt Lord Lu.
Outside the hall, Chang En heard a snap and his heart skipped a beat.
The sound was obviously someone smashing something.
Your Majesty has had a falling out with Lord Lu?
What should I do?
Chang En was frightened inside, but he looked calm and didn't show any emotion.
The other eunuchs were deeply impressed.
He remained calm even when faced with a crisis. He is worthy of being called Eunuch Chang, the most useful person by His Majesty's side.
The eunuchs, who were originally terrified, all tightened their expressions. They imitated Eunuch Chang and did not panic.
Inside the hall, Emperor Wende was so angry that his facial features were distorted.
He pointed at Lord Lu and said, "Are you accusing me of being a tyrant?"
"I dare not!"
"You told me to put aside my selfishness and treat the princes impartially. You are clearly accusing me of being a tyrant, unable to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, and incompetent! You deserve to die!"
"I deserve to die!" Lord Lu said calmly.
Emperor Wende was so angry that he paced back and forth in the hall.
He kicked the wheel of the carriage, and his foot hurt, which made him even angrier.
"Has Lord Lu ever thought about where the Great Zhou would be taken if the four-wheeled carriages were promoted?"
Lord Lu was speechless for a moment.
Emperor Wende questioned him, "Can't you answer? I'm telling you, the four-wheeled carriage is a monster. It concerns the survival of the Great Zhou. Can't you see that, Lord Lu?"
Lord Lu calmed his mind and said calmly, "The rise and fall of dynasties follow their own laws. The Great Zhou has been in existence for 170 years, and it's time for change. The four-wheeled carriage might be an opportunity."
Emperor Wende sneered, "My dear minister, you only see the opportunity, but not the risk."
Lord Lu said, "Destroying the four-wheeled carriage is easy, but as for the future... I dare to ask, if we destroy everything now, can the Great Zhou Dynasty last for three hundred years?"
"How outrageous!"
"I deserve to die! However, dynasties rise and fall, and who can escape the fate of three hundred years?"
Emperor Wende smashed things again.
This time, he smashed the teacup.
"Your Majesty!" Lord Lu shouted loudly, his expression solemn. "Xinmin County is the lifeblood of the Great Zhou. Refugees and displaced persons have existed in every dynasty. Looking through the history books, no matter which dynasty, refugees and displaced persons either died, were driven back to their ancestral homelands in desolation, or killed officials and rebelled, leading to frequent civil unrest!
Only this dynasty, this dynasty alone, has forged a new path. Refugees are not condemned to death, nor are they required to return to their ancestral homelands, nor are they forced to kill officials or rebel. The court now possesses the experience to accommodate them.
Since ancient times, courts that have been able to properly accommodate refugees and displaced people have undoubtedly possessed a touch of good fortune. I believe this touch of good fortune will surely help the Great Zhou overcome its current difficulties, ensuring its longevity and breaking the curse of a dynasty lasting less than three hundred years. The four-wheeled carriage may also be a sign of the Great Zhou's good fortune.
Emperor Wende closed his eyes, frowned, and felt exhausted all over.
After a long silence, Emperor Wende finally spoke: "Summon the Director of the Imperial Observatory to see me!"
Lord Lu was surprised.
Emperor Wende sneered, "My dear minister, since you mentioned destiny, then let the director of the Imperial Observatory calculate my destiny for me."
Lord Lu's face turned pale, "Lord Ren, he is not worthy of the country's fortune!"
"Why not?"
"With five drawbacks and three shortcomings, those who dare to calculate the fate of the nation will be punished by heaven!"
"For the sake of the Great Zhou, the country, the people, and the people, what harm is there in sacrificing one man? Could it be that you, my dear minister, are reluctant to do so?"
Lord Lu was speechless.
I felt extremely upset.
He never expected that this matter would implicate Renqiu.
What should I do?
The eunuch received orders and went to Lu Mansion to invite Ren Qiu.
Renqiu was drinking barefoot.
I was not surprised at all to see the eunuchs in the palace.
"Please allow me to put on my shoes and socks before I go to see the emperor."
"Mr. Ren, please hurry up! Make sure you dress neatly!" The eunuch reminded Ren Qiu that when putting on shoes and socks, don't forget to change clothes and drink a bowl of sobering soup.
Renqiu was very disgusted, "You're so long-winded!"
He staggered back to the house carrying the wine jug, dressed himself with the help of the servant, and then took a carriage to the palace.
The eunuch is very upset!
There was an obvious smell of alcohol on Renqiu's body that could not be concealed.
There was no other way but to hang one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight purses around Lord Ren's waist to cover up the smell of the alcohol.
Ren Qiute was disgusted and pulled the purse away.
"Your Majesty knows that I am not particular about small matters. Take all these purses."
"Master Ren, please at least wear one to cover up the smell."
Ren Qiu sneered, "You think this official's alcohol smells bad? Superficial!"
Yes, yes, everyone is superficial.
No one else can feel superior after drinking, except the unruly Lord Ren.
The eunuchs were worried all the way.
They were worried that Renqiu would not respond properly and that the reek of alcohol on His Majesty would implicate them.
When they arrived at Xingqing Palace, Renqiu changed his nonchalant image and showed a simple smile, like a boy next door, which made people feel good about him.
The eunuch was amazed.
The face changes so quickly.
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