Chapter 242 The Emperor's Coup (Supplement...)
On the other side.
After the aristocratic families recovered, they did want to retaliate, but the situation in Liuzhou was too complicated. Wang Ji firmly united several prefectures with his ticket system, and several accountants flexibly controlled the economy behind the scenes. No matter how the aristocratic families targeted them, the economy here remained as stable as Mount Tai.
What about creating obstacles in political affairs?
Qi Chengming smiled.
Perhaps because he had recently gained considerable power, ministers were vying to curry favor with him, eager to curry favor and not afraid of incurring Emperor Hongren's wrath. Qi Chengming had encountered difficulties with several new decrees issued by the Ministry of Revenue and was still considering which trusted confidant to send to resolve the situation. Within two hours, he discovered the problem was solved.
Such as these.
At this point, Xiao Dezi, who had been traveling with his master for many days, finally felt a sense of reality, as if his master's power had been secured: "Your Highness... we, we won't suffer any losses when we face the aristocratic families?"
Xiao Chengzi nodded silently.
In the minds of people at the time, powerful aristocratic families were so influential that they didn't even respect the emperor during the previous dynasty. Hadn't their emperor suffered losses at the hands of these families several times? Xiao Chengzi only thought that his prince's ability to wield power and contend with the aristocratic families was already a testament to his wisdom and prowess. Who knew…
The powerful families were actually being subtly suppressed and were now at a disadvantage?
"What is Liuzhou most famous for right now?" Qi Chengming asked, putting down the memorials he was reviewing, which he found somewhat tiring.
"Is it... a royal warrant?" Xiao Dezi guessed before answering. Seeing that His Highness's expression remained unchanged, he added, "Is it one of the three kinds of divine food?"
"What about Lingnan?" Qi Chengming asked again. He actually wanted to say Silver Island Prefecture, but that was highly confidential, and he usually only referred to Lingnan.
Seeing that His Highness had tacitly agreed with the previous answer, Xiao Chengzi understood immediately and quickly replied, "It's silver and salt and iron!"
"What about Yunzhou?" Qi Chengming asked again. This was a poor land west of Youzhou, and one of the border areas affected by the recent war.
“There’s the old valiant army that His Highness’s cousin has gathered.” Xiao Dezi also seemed to understand, and before His Highness could ask any more questions, he added, “Now there’s also the main camp led by General Wen, and the new valiant army that the young lord was ordered to form…”
Other armies are not under Qi Chengming's command, but in recent years, under his relentless efforts to undermine his power, these three new and promising armies have emerged. They are all disguised with the ideology of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, and are developing under Qi Chengming's influence.
Yang Shou secretly gathered the loyal remnants of the old army, which was equivalent to inheriting the mantle of the Mighty Army. Emperor Hongren thought that this was a hidden gem he had discovered, a commoner general with no background but good fighting skills.
Wen Er came from a prominent family and rose through the ranks through his bravery and skill in battle. He was Qi Chengming's confidant and trusted friend, and he loved his country more than he loved the emperor.
Finally, there was Wang Shuo's cousin, who had only been ordered to the battlefield this year. He had inherited the title and formed a new army, supposedly under the guise of rallying the old troops, but in reality, he had very few men to fill. Emperor Hongren knew of his predicament and assumed that the Weiyong Army had been completely defeated and fragmented, so he ordered him to lead a new large camp to attack, finding an old general who had been on good terms with the old Weiyong Earl to help him rise again.
This is how a new foundation has been laid.
On the surface, only the large army led by Wang Shuo was something that Emperor Hongren would be wary of.
"So," Qi Chengming picked up the brush and rewrote the four large characters on the smooth paper.
[Grain, talent, money, soldiers].
He once had nothing and could only accumulate wealth carefully over several years through the infrastructure system.
This time, however, Qi Chengming didn't erase a single character; instead, he admired his own handwriting, which had become elegant and graceful.
After years of hard work, his handwriting was no longer so ugly, although it still lacked the charm and spirit described by those great calligraphers. But Qi Chengming was thinking that once Wen Er finished this battle, he would immediately write a letter and send it to him to secretly show off.
...He was no longer the prince who was struggling financially in Liuzhou and staring longingly at those four words while silently reciting them.
Now that he has plenty of confidence, why can't he go head-to-head with the powerful families? It's just that he can't use some of his methods because he's not the emperor now, which is why he can't suppress the powerful families.
When he abolishes the imperial edict on minting private currency, he will gradually dismantle the aristocratic families economically. He will open up reading to commoners, recruit more officials with modern knowledge through the imperial examinations, and gradually purge the court—that will be the death knell for the aristocratic families.
Qi Chengming didn't think about it anymore; those were things he would deal with after he ascended the throne.
...
Mid-December.
As the Lunar New Year approached once again, the border battles finally subsided.
Although it was the dead of winter and foreign tribes could not bear to continue their invasions, Dingguo's tough stance, the supply of provisions, and the ruthless response made the foreign tribes back down and dare not provoke them.
Cousin Yang Shou won a brilliant victory, capturing a herd of cattle and sheep, hundreds of slaves, and destroying five or six large tribes. After submitting his report, he has now returned happily to receive his reward.
Wen Zhongnan and Wang Shuo's cousin both stayed behind. Although the fighting had gradually subsided, they still had to remain in command for a long time.
Qi Chengming was appointed to the post in a time of crisis about half a year ago. Now, after much hard work, there are no more thorny political matters in the court, the wars outside the court have been quelled, and the powerful families' repeated attempts to target him have all failed, leaving them with no choice but to remain quiet and bide their time. Compared to the reign of Emperor Hongren, the situation seems surprisingly harmonious and the administration efficient. The Crown Prince is exceptionally capable…
Qi Chengming's task was now complete.
Instead of clinging to power, he readily handed it back to Emperor Hongren. Prince Ning was essentially carried along by Qi Chengming throughout the entire process, and was extremely excited, his admiration for his elder brother growing even stronger.
Throughout the entire process, he followed his elder brother, the Crown Prince, instructions without hesitation. He even personally handled the tedious tasks such as the dispatch of the large army escorting the supply wagons and the allocation of provisions, feeling that he had improved a lot this time and was very satisfied.
The two brothers resigned their duties, went to the palace to report, and waited quietly for their rewards. An eerie calm prevailed in the court; no courtiers tried to persuade them to stay, and no one was surprised that Emperor Hongren had taken the throne at the morning court the next day.
This put Emperor Hongren on a very high pedestal.
Emperor Hongren, who had been given back power: "..."
He was not happy.
For the past six months, Emperor Hongren has been diligently trying to conceive in the harem, hoping that once the Crown Prince couldn't hold out any longer, he could rightfully reclaim his power! But now…
This is no longer a matter of being wary.
Emperor Hongren thought of the powerful families who had been subdued and subdued, of the money and provisions that the Crown Prince had somehow appeared out of nowhere, and of how the court was actually functioning better after he was gone!
If the crown prince is this outstanding, what's the point of having an emperor?!
Emperor Hongren had no heart for celebrating the New Year. He felt a profound sense of crisis, this time a genuine threat of death. No one could threaten his imperial power, yet he couldn't bring himself to eliminate the Crown Prince.
This has absolutely nothing to do with kinship... but Emperor Hongren knew that if the Crown Prince were to abandon his duties, he himself would indeed be unable to stop the powerful clans from wielding their power. Furthermore, even if we take a step back, why should he, as the father, be the one to vent his anger on the powerful clans for the trouble caused by the Crown Prince?
dilemma.
The Crown Prince... is so capable.
Emperor Hongren couldn't make up his mind no matter what. He now deeply understood the thoughts of those emperors in history who became senile and started targeting the crown prince.
This is hardly just old age and senility!
Who can tolerate a growing lion at their side, tearing at their flesh and coveting their territory? Even if it's their own son whom they raised with their own hands, it's no exception. Moreover, the crown prince isn't even their beloved son whom they've nurtured!
Emperor Hongren spent two or three days in this state of indecision and hesitation. He watched as people in the court began to murmur among themselves: how come the Crown Prince and Prince Ning had completed their tasks, but when they reached His Majesty, there was no follow-up? Not even a single reward?
This would be extremely undignified.
Emperor Hongren was still struggling to make a decision, but he could not delay any longer.
The old emperor, now less confident, tentatively issued an edict, first bestowing the title of Prince Ning upon the Prince of the First Rank, then summoning Qi Chengming and inquiring about his marriage with a gentle tone: "Chengming, my study companion has a legitimate daughter, as beautiful as a flower, of noble character. You are getting old, and your younger brothers are getting impatient. What are your thoughts on this?"
Emperor Hongren's companion has risen to power in the Sichuan-Chongqing region and is now a powerful minister, serving as Emperor Hongren's financial backer. His eldest daughter is indeed qualified to be the Crown Princess.
After a moment's thought, Qi Chengming identified the noblewoman from the list he had previously collected. However, since she wasn't on the list that Grand Scholar Mu had later streamlined, it meant they were incompatible.
Even assuming the worst, Qi Chengming wouldn't want his wife to be related to Emperor Hongren's confidants. With the struggle for the throne at this critical juncture, is the old emperor trying to cultivate a relationship? Doesn't he know that in the face of imperial power, let alone a wife, even children are useless?
"Father, my marriage is not in a hurry. Please take a look at these few points, which I have drafted." Qi Chengming stood respectfully and presented several memorials. He was no longer willing to kneel and talk to Emperor Hongren.
The Prince of Ning, standing nearby, was so surprised to see him get up on his own that his eyes widened in astonishment: "..."
Emperor Hongren showed no reaction to this, as if he hadn't seen it and tolerated it, lowering his head to concentrate on reading the memorials.
Those were actually several methods targeting aristocratic families! Each one was written with substance and clearly outlined. No wonder the Crown Prince himself presented this memorial!
Emperor Hongren was initially delighted, but the more he looked, the paler his face became.
These policies are incredibly tempting, clearly stated, and if followed, they would surely weaken or even destroy several powerful families. But, just because they know them doesn't mean they can follow them. The fact that the Crown Prince dared to present the memorial directly with such impunity means that he has grasped Emperor Hongren's greatest weakness, and Emperor Hongren... still cannot do so.
"Are you trying to turn the world upside down?!" Emperor Hongren's question was still delivered with a slightly calm tone, though he dared not be too harsh. He slammed the memorial shut again, too pained to even glance at it. "Crown Prince—these, these are far too audacious."
Those policies, which almost overturned and improved most of Emperor Hongren's, bore a strong resemblance to those of the Crown Prince. Emperor Hongren was incapable of doing these things, nor did he want to. In the end, who would be whose puppet? He would be the true emperor!
"Your Majesty knows you can't do these things." Qi Chengming didn't think that his coercion in the past period was revenge against Emperor Hongren. That would be too easy on him. Now is the main event.
Qi Chengming's tone was even gentler than his, both of them displaying remarkable calmness and patience: "Hasn't Father been troubled lately about how to bestow titles upon his son? Your son is grown up now—and is willing to share Father's burdens."
When he said this, Prince Ning, kneeling beside him, widened his eyes even further: "…………??!"
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Author's note: Bonus chapter.
He's grown up and ready to retire.
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