Chapter 349 Fortune Telling
At the age of twelve, Chang Hao finally stood openly and legitimately in the court, and the Crown Prince assumed power, officially commencing his reign.
"Greetings, Father..." Chang Hao once again formally performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations ceremony. In private, Chang Hao had never knelt before his father.
Hongjun gripped the armrest of the throne. What was going on? Exhaustion washed over him like a mountain, but thankfully it came and went quickly. No one noticed Hongjun's unusual state. "My son, please rise."
"Thank you, Father." Chang Hao rose as instructed and then stepped down to the left.
"With the Crown Prince in power, from now on, the Crown Prince's will will be my will. If any of you dare to outwardly comply but inwardly disobey, you will be executed without mercy." Hongjun openly warned all the ministers of various ranks.
"Your Majesty, we dare not," all the high-ranking officials bowed their heads, not daring to show any unbearable gaze. "We will do our utmost to assist His Highness the Crown Prince."
Your Majesty, are you aware that you may abdicate at any time?
In recent years, everyone knows that His Highness the Crown Prince is responsible for reviewing memorials, working tirelessly day and night to discuss matters of state with his ministers, suppressing rebellions, and providing disaster relief.
You really can take a break now.
"Very well, my son, the rest is up to you." Hongjun stood up, too lazy to listen to the trivial matters below, and left...
Hongjun could no longer tolerate it. Finally, he endured until Chang Hao himself proposed to formally establish himself in the court. With Chang Hao gone, he no longer had to get up early and work late every day, sitting on the throne and wandering in the heavens.
Chang Hao was dumbfounded. "No, Father, we're in court. If you act so willfully, it'll be very difficult for me."
"Your Highness, the King is becoming increasingly absurd and incompetent. Recently, he has even become obsessed with cultivation. There are very few members of their royal family who can achieve anything in cultivation, and the King is already so old..."
Bi Gan was heartbroken and devastated; there was no hope for the world!
"Uncle, don't panic, it's just a small matter," Chang Hao said calmly. Ever since Di Yi uttered those absurd words that would go down in history in front of him, Chang Hao was no longer surprised by anything.
It must be said that Chang Hao's calm and composed demeanor, as if the sky were falling and the earth were collapsing, immediately reassured the civil and military officials. It didn't matter that the king was unreliable; they still had the crown prince.
His Highness the Crown Prince is quite reliable...
No, His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't listen to them at all, and he's even more difficult to deal with than the King.
This can't go on anymore.
As the ministers had expected, the crown prince officially took charge of the government, and their days suddenly became unbearable.
The crown prince was a diligent and ambitious ruler, but some of the ministers were too old to handle such a heavy workload.
However, Chang Hao didn't care. The country was in dire need of rebuilding. Those who could do the work would stay, and those who couldn't would be let go. He didn't support idlers.
Half a month later, facing the memorial requesting retirement laid out on the table, Chang Hao's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.
"Minister and Minister, won't you reconsider? You're feeling unwell, so I'm sending your humble servant to treat you." Chang Hao had long disliked those ministers who were merely occupying positions without doing their jobs. However, given that they were indeed 'highly respected' and only focused on building their reputations without doing any real work, he couldn't very well ask them to leave immediately and hand over their power. So, he could only be tactful in this way.
Situ rose shakily and bowed. “Your Highness, this old minister is old and fainted in court yesterday. If I were to do this again, I fear it would offend Your Highness’s eyes.”
Sima suspected that the young and cunning Crown Prince was trying to exhaust them.
Sima choked with sobs, unable to hide his emotions. He didn't want to relinquish power, but his life was more important. Letting this brat work him to death was utterly tragic.
"Since you two gentlemen have said so, it would seem unreasonable for me to refuse." Chang Hao glanced at the two white-haired old men, and saw that both Situ and Sima showed expressions of heartache.
Chang Hao then changed the subject, “However, in order to show my respect for you two, I will allow you to retain the titles of Grand Minister and Grand Marshal and enjoy your retirement in the court. You will not have to worry about anything, big or small. I will temporarily hold multiple positions as Grand Minister and Grand Marshal, and I will never appoint a second person to these positions during your lifetime.”
Chang Hao happily reclaimed the civil and military powers from the Nine Ministers, and took control of these two powers, so that the officials below him could be directly responsible to him.
He cleverly used the prestige of these two old men to deter ministers who coveted the two positions.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Situ and Sima said in unison. "Your Highness is indeed virtuous and wise, a blessing to our dynasty, and your virtue is comparable to that of the Three Sovereigns." Their words were sincere and heartfelt.
They have misunderstood His Highness. How could His Highness be treacherous? He is clearly wise and compassionate, and he cherishes old friendships.
"Not at all, how could I dare to compare myself to sages?" Chang Hao said modestly. He was merely picking up scraps of others' wisdom, and his motive was to save himself. How could he dare to take credit for himself?
However, the Minister of Works and the Minister of War did not think so, and spontaneously began to promote the Crown Prince's wisdom.
Chang Hao, feeling restless and restless, suddenly decided to summon Huang Gun and Lu Xiong to go among the people and listen to their voices.
"Your Highness, could you please include my son Flying Tiger in the Tiger and Leopard Camp that you recently established?" Huang Gun followed behind Chang Hao, carefully considering his request.
"How many sons do you have?" Chang Hao gently shook his jade fan. Huang Gun's sons, he had heard, were all good young men.
As long as he doesn't force them to rebel, the Huang family won't easily turn against the Shang.
"I have three sons, all fine young men, who are willing to die for Your Highness." Huang Gun subtly stated his position, and by all accounts, it was this crown prince who ultimately ascended the throne smoothly.
"Does my esteemed minister know the nature of the Tiger and Leopard Camp?" Chang Hao countered.
"Of course I know." Ever since Huang Gun saw this large army called the Tiger and Leopard Camp, he had wanted his three sons to join it day and night.
If I could lead another army, I wouldn't have to worry about the future.
This massive army is imposing and incredibly fierce, with strong men and horses, sturdy armor and sharp spears. It often follows Grand Tutor Wen in suppressing rebellions on the orders of the Crown Prince, and now all other armies fear it.
Huang Gun asked himself honestly, and he wasn't confident he could beat such an opponent.
"If you are willing, let the three brothers report to the Tiger and Leopard Camp tomorrow." Chang Hao still had a calm and composed demeanor as he walked through the bustling city. He either didn't want any of them, or if he did, he wanted them all.
Huang Gun agreed.
Lu Xiong was also tempted. "This humble general has only one son, who is spoiled rotten by the women in his family. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to grant him this favor?"
What favors should be done? They are all intelligent people; how could they not understand?
"How could I favor one over the other? It's just that the training in the camp is tough. Are you willing to endure the hardship, young master?" Chang Hao was unwilling to bestow favors upon him.
“Of course,” Lu Xiong would not let Lu Yuan escape. “Thank you, Your Highness. I do not expect my son to be outstanding. I only hope that he will become more resolute and that Your Highness will assign him tasks in the future. That will be enough.”
Chang Hao nodded; he agreed.
In the blink of an eye, I saw a man with white hair and a youthful face on the street corner, setting up a fortune-telling stall, and his business was obviously doing well.
Chang Hao's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the ginger and Bagua diagram on the white linen. Remembering something, he stepped forward and joined the crowd.
"You'd better leave..."
Chang Hao waved his hand and patiently waited at the end of the line.
Lu Yuanyu and Huang Gun exchanged a glance, both seeing the respect and disbelief in each other's eyes.
"May I ask who you are?" Jiang Ziya asked with a smile in his eyes. This distinguished person was very polite.
"Can everything be counted?" Chang Hao asked slyly.
"Of course," Jiang Ziya replied without hesitation.
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