"oh."
Lin Hai instantly became playful, glanced at Cheng Guorong, and said seriously:
"Since we're on this topic, I'll be frank. Cheng Guorong, please step aside."
Cheng Guorong responded.
"Given your outstanding performance in this war... well... you should be generously rewarded. Then why not give the position of Emperor of the Chen Dynasty to..."
Although Lin Hai's praise sounded very much like an elementary school teacher praising a student, Cheng Guorong, having gotten the hint, immediately replied, "Your Majesty, thank you for your grace! I also feel that the Chen Dynasty's surname is Chen, and my surname is Cheng. Although the pronunciation of the two characters is slightly different, we people in the southwest don't distinguish between front and back nasal sounds when speaking, so they sound similar. I think this is not a coincidence, but a sign that I..."
Seeing Cheng Guorong about to overact, Lin Hai quickly interrupted, "The throne of the Chen Dynasty Emperor will be handed over to the Fourth Prince next to you. However, the Chen Dynasty has experienced wars and is in ruins. He will be busy with civil affairs alone, so you will help him with military affairs. Therefore, you will need to lead the First Army while also serving as the Minister of War and the Grand General of the Chen Dynasty to help them rebuild their new army. Can you do this?"
Cheng Guorong glanced at the still bewildered Fourth Prince and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I can certainly do it. Besides, I have a very learned principal. If there is anything I don't know, I will naturally ask the principal for advice."
Lin Hai laughed heartily: "Can't you stop bothering your principal?"
"Then, shall I ask the Vice Principal for advice?"
"Forget it, let's just be the principal."
The fourth prince, kneeling on the ground, didn't quite understand what the Qinghe monarch and his minister were talking about, but he still heard clearly that they wanted him to be the emperor. He couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, what did you just say?"
"Yes, you heard it right, you become the emperor."
"Well... I'm still young... I don't have much knowledge..."
"Oh, if you want to refuse, forget it."
"I will definitely live up to your Majesty's trust!"
The Fourth Prince raised his voice.
"Um!"
Everyone in Qinghe nodded. This kid was very sensible and seemed easier to deal with than his two brothers.
"As for the others, Crown Prince Chen Yu is arbitrary, cruel, and unjust. He appoints treacherous ministers, acts arbitrarily and capriciously, and has repeatedly launched wars in anger, resulting in numerous murders. This is truly unworthy of the title of Crown Prince. Considering his independent support for the Chen Dynasty for several years and his hard work, I depose him from his position as Crown Prince, demote him to a commoner, and confine him to Xijing.
The second prince, Chen Xian, is suspected of poisoning his father for the throne, murdering ministers, launching a palace coup and killing his brothers and sisters, and slaughtering all the royal family members of the Chen Dynasty in Jiankang City. His crimes are extremely serious and are now being investigated by the Imperial Supervisory Office. After the facts are verified, he will be tried by the Ministry of Justice.
Empress Chen Zhang is suspected of a murder case that occurred many years ago. Although all the people involved are dead and there is no way to verify the facts, the Empress bears unshirkable responsibility for the prince's rebellion. She is now imprisoned in the imperial mausoleum and ordered to guard her late husband's tomb and is not allowed to leave.
After Lin Hai arranged the three most important people in one breath, he turned back to the Fourth Prince and said:
"You must ascend the throne as soon as possible. Don't wait for an auspicious day. As long as you are wholeheartedly dedicated to the people, any day will be an auspicious day. If you act perversely, even the best of days will not protect you."
"Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty."
Although he lost his military power, he still got the position of emperor. The Fourth Prince is now more happy than sad, so it is not a big problem to let Lin Hai give him a lecture.
"By the way, after such a long period of war and the excessive taxation by local officials, the Chen Dynasty's civil administration also had considerable problems."
Lin Hai said.
"Well, I will certainly follow your majesty's teachings, treat the people well, and recuperate..."
"Well, I believe this."
Lin Hai interrupted him and continued, "But the traditional recuperation method is too inefficient. I can't wait for you to accumulate strength for ten years and then learn from it for ten years... No, it's unlucky to say that. Well, anyway, it's too inefficient. I need you to resume production and gather strength as quickly as possible, just like the civil administration of Qinghe."
"This...I will certainly consult the lords of Qinghe."
The Fourth Prince looked panicked again. He probably knew what Lin Hai was going to do.
"It would be too polite to ask for your advice. Qinghe is also responsible for the current state of the Chen Dynasty. As a responsible major country, Qinghe will naturally shoulder its responsibilities."
Lin Hai pointed at Ling Yang and said, "This is Qinghe's Prime Minister Ling Yang. He will be in charge of the civil affairs of the Chen Dynasty from now on. He and Cheng Guorong will be stationed in Jiankang. Anyway, the wired telegraph will be extended to Jiankang, so the distance from Xijing is not a problem. Oh, you don't know what a wired telegraph is yet? It doesn't matter, you will find out later."
"Your Majesty is willing to lend a helping hand, and everyone in Dachen is deeply grateful. But this... if all military and civil affairs are handed over to the two adults, then what else can I do, oh no, what else can I do for Your Majesty?"
If the enemy wasn't strong and I wasn't weak, the Fourth Prince would have almost stood up and asked if he wanted me to be his puppet.
"Don't worry, I'm definitely not asking for your power. You still have a lot of things to do."
Lin Hai said calmly:
"For example, you're responsible for the sacrifices at the ancestral temple and the tomb of the late emperor you just mentioned. You're also responsible for the annual holiday ceremonies to worship the heavens, speaking to the masses, collecting tribute, and even sending envoys to visit the small tribes that are dependent on the Chen Dynasty. In short, there's a lot to do."
"I understand. Your Majesty is generous and kind."
The Fourth Prince raised his head and, using all his strength, said, "What if I don't become the emperor?"
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