Chapter 10: Your Majesty, please reconsider!
Liu Wu was led to Weiyang Palace and presented before his father.
After witnessing the two brothers mourn the late Tai Zong and Emperor Xiaowen for a moment, Liu Rong returned his father's Emperor's Seal and went back to Phoenix Hall.
As for what the two old brothers would talk about next?
“I don't think Father would bring up the Policy of weakening the vassals today, as the King of Liang has just arrived in Changan.”
“They'll just greet each other, and then let my uncle go to pay respects to the late Emperor.”
“But tonight, the two brothers might go to Changle together?”
Entering his own chamber, Liu Rong instructed the palace servants that he wished to rest, then lay down on the couch and pondered alone.
If the past ten years were a period of preparation and adaptation for Liu Rong after arriving in this era, then after the late Emperor's demise, Liu Rong officially entered the survival stage.
Perhaps that sounds a bit strange;
—A dignified Crown Prince, still needing to consider survival?
In reality, there was no exaggeration in Liu Rong's thoughts.
Firstly, as the Crown Prince, Liu Rong was naturally half an imperial heir;
Especially since the current Emperor Qi had no legitimate son, and it was basically impossible for him to have one, Liu Rong was almost the only legitimate heir apparent.
What did this mean?
It meant that Liu Rong's life would either be a success or a sacrifice...
“If I can't ascend to the position of Crown Prince and hold on until the old man's demise...”
“Heh;”
“My tenth brother is not someone who would treat his elder brother kindly...”
With a bitter chuckle, Liu Rong turned slightly, finding a more comfortable position.
Liu Rong was the most legitimate heir apparent;
This meant that if Liu Rong failed to inherit the throne from Emperor Qi, his brother who did inherit the throne would inevitably view Liu Rong as a thorn in his side.
His father, Liu Qi, might even act to eliminate the hidden danger for Liu Rong's replacement, without even needing his brother to make a move.
In original history, Emperor Qi did exactly that...
“Tenth brother~”
“Tenth brother...”
“In this life, just be an 'Emperor Wu of Han' honestly...”
“I don't want to either.”
“It's just that if I don't do this, I, your elder brother, will have no way to live...”
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The King of Liang's arrival at Court did not cause much reaction in the Changan Court.
Apart from an occasional initial murmur of 'the timing is off, the King of Liang came too early', no one else paid attention to this Prince or Duke who had come to mourn.
After the late Emperor's demise, the Changan Court had actually fallen into a long period of busyness.
Even though Emperor Qi had been the heir for over twenty years and had overseen the state as Crown Prince for many years, his wings were already fully grown, yet he still could not avoid the inevitable turmoil that occurs during the transfer of power in a feudal dynasty.
While there was no major upheaval, minor disturbances were unavoidable.
Not to mention anything else, just the fact that Emperor Qi, immediately after ascending the throne, began to vigorously insert his cronies into the Court, caused dissatisfaction among a considerable number of courtiers.
—Later generations often say that Han inherited the Qin system.
The system currently adopted by Han was the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system, inherited from Qin and slightly modified.
The Three Dukes were: Prime Minister, Taiwei, and Imperial Censor.
The Nine Ministers were: Internal Historian, Director of the Imperial Clan, Grand Master of Ceremonies, Minister of Justice, Zhongwei, Commandant of the Guards, Grand Coachman, Internal Affairs, and Langzhong Ling.
Currently, the Taiwei was not a permanent position in Han, only temporarily appointed during wartime, so the Three Dukes were actually two Dukes: the Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor, who was praised as the 'Asian Chancellor'.
After his ascension, Emperor Qi did not contemplate changing these two positions.
But the Nine Ministers were thoroughly reshuffled by Emperor Qi.
—Former Chief Steward of the Crown Prince: Chao Cuo became Internal Historian;
—Former Crown Prince's Retainer: Zhang Ou became Minister of Justice;
—Former Crown Prince's Retainer: Zhou Ren became Langzhong Ling;
—Former Crown Prince's Retainer: Guo Xin became Grand Master of Ceremonies;
—Former Central Shield Guard of the Crown Prince: Sun Jia became Zhongwei;
—Son of Chu Yuan King: Marquis Pinglu Liu Li became Director of the Imperial Clan...
Except for the three positions of Commandant of the Guards, Grand Coachman, and Internal Affairs, the remaining six positions were swiftly filled by Emperor Qi's Crown Prince's trusted aides!
Such a large-scale personnel reshuffle, especially at the Nine Ministers level, was in itself no less than an earthquake for the Court.
Not to mention whether the six dismissed officials and their factions harbored resentment;
Just the period during which these six newly promoted Nine Ministers adapted to their work after taking office, it was difficult for the Changan Court not to fall into disarray.
It was only because Emperor Qi's influence was already well-established before his ascension, and he had overseen the state as Crown Prince for many years, so although he lacked the title of Emperor, he already held the reality of an Emperor.
Coupled with the fact that most of these six individuals promoted to the rank of Nine Ministers also possessed genuine talent, this prevented the Court from descending into major chaos, and instead only caused a brief period of busy confusion.
Among them, one person was crucial.
—The founding minister, the Prime Minister left by the late Emperor to the current Emperor Qi: Marquis of Gu'an Shentu Jia.
Under the iron-fisted governance of this Former Prime Minister, the busy confusion in the Changan Court quickly subsided, and it rapidly got back on track, operating in an orderly manner.
However, just as Shen Tu Jia had restored order to the Court, Internal Historian Chao Cuo's 'Policy of weakening the vassals' reappeared during the Court ceremony.
At first, Shen Tu Jia didn't take it too seriously;
Anyway, it wasn't the first time~
Whenever Chao Cuo presented the 'Policy of weakening the vassals', wasn't it always brushed aside by the late Emperor...
The late Emperor!
Realizing that it was no longer the late Emperor sitting in the Xuanshi Main Hall, a warning bell rang loudly in Shen Tu Jia's heart!
“Your Majesty!”
“As early as the late Emperor's time, the Court already had a conclusion regarding the 'Policy of weakening the vassals'!”
“—Such an aggressive strategy will certainly cause unrest in Guandong, and this was a conclusion that even the late Emperor agreed with!”
“Now that the late Emperor has passed away, Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and the Court has only just stabilized.”
“Even if you wish to weaken the vassals, Your Majesty should consider it carefully and not act too hastily!!!”
Having said that, Shen Tu Jia turned around and glared fiercely at Chao Cuo behind him, wishing he could cut Chao Cuo down on the spot!
Just as he was about to speak, he heard Emperor Qi's low voice from the imperial couch behind him, and Shen Tu Jia finally slowly closed his eyes, shaking his head regretfully...
“The late Emperor once said: The 'Policy of weakening the vassals' can be used, but the time is not yet ripe.”
“—This was said by the late Emperor fourteen years ago.”
“If the Prime Minister believes that the 'time is not yet ripe' even now, then I truly do not understand when this time will arrive.”
Having said that, Emperor Qi cast his gaze upon the assembled officials in the hall.
“I am not asking you, gentlemen: Can the 'Policy of weakening the vassals' be used? Rather, I want you to discuss which Prince or Duke to start implementing the 'Policy of weakening the vassals' on.”
“—I think the King of Wu would be a good choice.”
“What do you gentlemen think?”
The words were already so clear, the various courtiers looked at each other;
Finally, their gaze fell upon the highly respected Former Prime Minister: Shen Tu Jia.
In the center of the hall, Former Prime Minister Shen Tu Jia was panting heavily, and even though he was trying his best to suppress it, his breathing frequency became increasingly rapid due to anger.
Finally, with a flushed face, he turned around and bowed deeply to Emperor Qi on the imperial couch.
“Your Prime Minister, Shen Tu Jia, dares to risk death and bow a hundred times!”
“I earnestly implore Your Majesty, please reconsider!!!”
Overslept... -_-||
Currently writing furiously