To Prince Zhi's disappointment, the day after the Crown Prince had informed him in advance, Emperor Kangxi summoned him to the palace.
When he entered the Imperial Study, it was already packed with people, including Yinreng.
Prince Zhi suddenly felt that this scene was strangely familiar.
He bowed respectfully to Emperor Kangxi and paid his respects, and it was a rare sight to see Kangxi looking at him with such admiration.
"The Crown Prince recommends you to be in charge of the coastal defense forces. What do you think of this? Are you willing?" At this moment, Kangxi did not forget to tell his ministers that his Crown Prince was a good heir apparent who was broad-minded and did not suppress his elder brother.
Prince Zhi immediately knelt down on the ground: "Your son will certainly live up to Father Emperor's expectations."
"But..." Prince Zhi accidentally saw the smile on Yinreng's lips and his mind went blank.
Emperor Kangxi was very satisfied with his performance today and was in a good mood, so he was willing to listen to him continue.
"But what? If you have any concerns, just tell me. Whether it's the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, or the Ministry of Works, you can send people from any department you need." Kangxi was truly making a grand gesture this time.
Prince Zhi was captivated by Kangxi's gentle tone.
"Can the Crown Prince also go?" Prince Zhi wanted to drag Yinreng into the matter.
Yinreng was stunned. He looked at Prince Zhi in disbelief, never expecting him to say such a thing.
Prince Zhi gave him a smug, provocative smirk, but Yinreng turned his head away expressionlessly.
My brother is such a fool, he probably thinks he's angry because he listened to him.
Anyone with a brain knows that the Crown Prince cannot easily leave the capital.
Even Emperor Kangxi left Beijing more often and for longer periods of time than Yinreng.
The crown prince is not only the heir apparent, but also a political figure in Anguo.
As expected, Kangxi abandoned his benevolent demeanor, put on a stern face, and said in a businesslike tone: "You and Yinzhen will be in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. You can decide the amount of silver allocated. As for the Ministry of War, you can discuss with Tong Ruita and Tong Qinian how many people, armor, and weapons to allocate."
"What about the ship?" Prince Zhi asked in a low, trembling voice.
"Ministry of Works," Kangxi said succinctly.
The Minister of Works bowed amicably to Prince Zhi, indicating that he would cooperate.
The money that maritime trade has made in recent years is too enviable. At first, some people insisted on a maritime ban, but after seeing the national treasury piled high with gold brought back from overseas, no one dared to say such foolish things anymore.
In any case, Kangxi had arranged everything he could. As long as Prince Zhi followed the procedures he had followed in Fujian, trained troops in Tianjin, and suppressed all the troublemakers, the task would proceed smoothly.
Once the decree of appointment was issued, there was no chance of reversal. Fortunately, Prince Zhi could stay in the capital for nearly a month, giving him ample time to spend with his primary consort and his beloved son.
The details regarding the coastal defense camp were too complicated. Even after Kangxi expelled Yinreng and Prince Zhi, he still had to continue discussing them with the ministers who remained in the Imperial Study.
After walking alongside Prince Zhi for a while, Yinreng, who was about to part ways at a fork in the road, stopped.
"Father is handing you a ready-made credit, and you still manage to push it away, angering Father. Brother, I admire you." Yinreng, holding a grudge, couldn't hide his mockery.
Prince Zhi said irritably, "What difference does it make whether you have merit or not? During festivals, will you not receive rewards from the Prince Zhi's mansion? Your future title is secure. You can see the end of your life at a glance; you can know what your death will be like even with your eyes closed. Since that's the case, why bother to worry and exert yourself?"
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