The emperor and the ministers believe that the matter of establishing the crown prince cannot be based on the order of the people's elders and children. The position of the crown prince is not an ordinary position, and the prince will inherit the throne in the future. The old minister thinks that there is only one criterion for establishing a prince, not the eldest and the youngest, not the young, not the young, and the only one who is virtuous and not virtuous. Although the King of Jin is talented and learned, but the Suicai Lord Su himself admits that the King of Huai is indulged in pleasure, likes to feast and drink articles, likes Danqing poetry and music, and his temperament is too outgoing and lost in frivolity. As a prince, there is naturally nothing to blame, after all, this is not a big problem. But if it comes to the world in the future, it may not be suitable. Extravagant pleasures, feasting and drinking poetry and pleasure are definitely not things that the Son of Heaven can do, as the Venerable of the world, he should be old and serious, diligent and thrifty, and set an example for the ministers of all the people. At this point, the second prince Guo Xu is more suitable. I don't know what the emperor and your lordships think. ”

This time it was Yang Jun who stood up and spoke. Although Shicai was a little embarrassed by Guo Xu, he still followed the tacit agreement with Lu Zhongtian before on the issue of position and supported Guo Xu as the crown prince. As for Lu Zhongtian's previous remarks, Yang Jun understood them as words to avoid suspicion. After all, Lu Zhongtian is Guo Xu's maternal grandfather, and it is not good to support Guo Xu as the prince directly, so he can only say some ambiguous words.

After Yang Jun said this, he immediately reversed the wind direction of the court. Originally, most of the officials wanted to stand for Guo Xu, but at this moment, the privy envoy took the lead, so he no longer hesitated, and echoed his words one after another.

"Yang Shumi's words are very true, as the so-called virtuous have no way, the sage can go up, and the sage can go down, this is for the sake of the country."

"The second prince is wise and courageous, and everyone knows it. How can you use etiquette to detain the affairs of the Great Zhou Guozuo? That's pedantic. ”

As soon as these people spoke, the officials who supported Guo Mian in the hall quit and debated with them.

"Nonsense, who is virtuous? What are the criteria? You say that the second prince is better than the eldest prince, can you point out the specific things? ”

"Are you blind? The eldest prince feasted and drank and enjoyed himself, and the capital was well known. The second prince led the army to the border, self-denial and diligence, generosity, virtuous and unvirtuous, and still need to be elaborated? ”

"Jokes, feasting on poetry and music is not virtuous? I am popular in poetry and music, which is an elegant thing. How many celebrities and scholars are tired of this, according to your meaning, that is not virtuous? Don't you feast on poetry? Are you virtuous or not? ”

"How can ordinary people be compared? This is the choice of the foundation of the country, and in the future, it will inherit the throne and ascend to the world. What is your intention in comparison with ordinary people? ”

"The world is one, and everyone abides by the etiquette and music guidelines. If the country is in chaos, the country will be in chaos. ”

"Phew! How about Datang? Taizong is not long, the Tang Dynasty is prosperous, and the martial arts are unparalleled in the world. This is the benefit of virtue. ”

"It's ridiculous, I'm afraid you don't know the changes in the Xuanwu Sect and the pain of the brothers' slaughter. In the entire Tang Dynasty, how many brothers killed each other for the imperial power, and the culprit began with Taizong. Because since Taizong's accession to the throne, the etiquette has been broken and the Compendium has been chaotic, so the Tang Dynasty has ended up following the trouble. Do you want the rebellion in the Tang Palace to happen in my Great Zhou today? What kind of heart does Ann have? ”

“……”

“……”

Above the court, the two sides held their own opinions and argued endlessly, each sparing no effort to refute each other for its own point of view, making a fuss like a pond of water ducks.

Lin Jue looked at this group of people with a wry smile, and felt very ridiculous in his heart. They didn't even understand Guo Chong's thoughts, so they argued here with a red face and a thick neck. Maybe Guo Chongzheng needs them to argue so that the matter of establishing the prince will not be resolved.

However, Lin Jue was quite interested in what they were arguing about. Lixian or Lilong, this in itself is a topic that has always been quite controversial. In history, there are many people who have set up the wrong heir and led to the decline of the country, and of course, there are also palace chaos in the name of Lixian, brothers and sons cannibalize each other, and the world is in chaos.

Lin Jue didn't think about this problem, people who came from the earth in the afterlife, of course, he hoped that he would be meritocracy, rather than blindly using etiquette as a reason to establish a successor. But Lin Jue understands that this is not a simple problem that can be defined. Everyone wants to be virtuous, but what is the standard of wisdom? Who decides? This is even more of a controversial topic. To put it simply, standing is an objective standard, simple and easy to do, and can be controlled. Being virtuous is a subjective criterion, and it is difficult to define what is virtuous and what is not. In this case, it is clear that the head of the company can have a universal standard and is easier to operate. Therefore, since ancient times, they have given priority to the establishment of growth, which has largely avoided some unnecessary disputes. This has an extremely positive effect on the stable continuation of the regime. Of course, this will lead to a chaotic situation in the country because the elders are not virtuous, but this is also the most acceptable result for the vast majority of people after weighing it.

As for the view of 'ruling the world and establishing the virtuous in troubled times' put forward by some people under the rule of the previous emperors of this dynasty, it is actually an effort to change this single system of standing and longing, and trying to make the sage ascend the throne. But it's also hard to define what is virtuous. In fact, if it is a troubled time, it is not a question of whether you are virtuous or not, but who has a bigger fist and stronger power. Fist-sized people will naturally get what they want in the chaos, but it has little to do with this controversy.

Lin Jue actually didn't have any good ideas about these things, and he didn't have the ability to solve the things that were difficult to solve for the ages. The reason why he chose to support Guo Mian was purely because of the situation. Perhaps most of the red-faced officials in the hall who are arguing about themselves are also motivated by personal interests. The so-called struggle between the virtuous and the long is just a fig leaf for grandiose.

In the face of the noisy controversy in the court, Guo Chong did not have any dissatisfaction, but stopped Zhao Yuankang, the commander of the front division of the palace, from trying to stop the officials' gaffes. Guo Chong wants this effect, and what he is most worried about is the one-sided discussion of the prince today. In that case, it makes him very tricky. This kind of quarrel was what he wanted to see the most, so that he had reason to postpone the discussion of the prince.

"Ladies and gentlemen, can you be quiet, I have a word." A man raised his arm and shouted. Everyone looked, but it was Guo Xu, the king of Huai, who came out again.

The arguments of the crowd stopped, and they didn't know what Guo Xu was going to say at the moment. It stands to reason that since the crown prince is proposed, the two parties have no right to speak, and can only answer when they are listening or accepting some inquiries. Guo Xu jumped out again, but he didn't know what his intentions were.

Guo Xu's face was indifferent and calm, everyone stopped talking, Guo Xu turned around and slowly knelt in front of the throne, and kowtowed respectfully.

Guo Chong frowned and asked, "Guo Xu, what are you doing?" ”

Guo Xu kowtowed heavily, raised his head and said, "My son asks my father to punish the crime." ”

The ministers were all shocked, and Guo Chong was also surprised: "Punishment? What are you guilty of? ”

Guo Chong said: "Erchen is the culprit, because Erchen came to the court to split, the officials did not agree, and the government and the opposition were in turmoil, what is this not a sin?" Father, son-in-law implores father to terminate the proposal to establish a prince, as Lu Xiang said, my Great Zhou is currently experiencing internal and external difficulties, and it is not appropriate to discuss the matter of establishing a prince at this time. At this time, the establishment of the crown prince caused a split in the hundred officials and turmoil in the hearts of the people, which was not a good opportunity. The son could not sit idly by and watch all this happen because of the son, so he begged his father to surrender and implore his father to stop the prince's discussion. The father is in full bloom, so there is no need to be in such a hurry for this prince's discussion. Especially in the current situation, the top and bottom need to work together to deal with the crisis, how can they fight for internal friction because of this? Father, son-in-law wept blood and begged father to think twice. ”

The court was silent, no one expected Guo Xu to jump out and say such a thing, and the red-faced officials who were fighting for him rolled their eyes, they didn't understand today's situation at all. Lu Xiang and King Huai both said such things, so is it to fight or not? How should those of us who are waving the flag and shouting advance and retreat? What a hell of a life.

Guo Chong frowned and thought about Guo Xu's words, he was a little moved by Guo Xu. He had heard what Guo Xu said in Lin Jue's mouth, and Lin Jue also said that at this moment, the prince's council caused a split in the imperial court. Now Guo Xu said the same. This is the second time Guo Xu has moved Guo Chong today. Shicai's generous words about a possible war with the Liao State were also very much in line with his own heart. Guo Chong even wondered if Guo Xu had discussed these two things with Lin Jue, otherwise why would the two of them have the same caliber.

But in any case, Guo Xu was able to make such a statement, which really made Guo Chong have a good impression of him. Originally, he loved Guo Xu, and Guo Xu was able to take care of the overall situation so well, which shows that he did not see the wrong person.

"Guo Xu, get up, I need to negotiate with the secretaries on this matter. The prince's proposal is a matter that I have settled, and I can't take it back. It's not your fault either, and there will inevitably be arguments about the crown prince. Guo Chong said in a deep voice.

Guo Xu didn't get up, kowtowed and said, "Father, if you have to discuss the crown prince, Erchen thinks that King Jin is more suitable." King Jin is the eldest son, and he has a reputation for talent and learning, and he has made great contributions to quelling the rebellion, which is really expected. Erchen thinks he is the most suitable person. The sons are shallow in virtue, difficult to take on big responsibilities, and know that they are not qualified for the position of prince. It would have been a mistake to include Erchen as a candidate. The position of the crown prince needs to be matched by virtue, and the king of Jin has both virtue and ability, so there is no need to discuss it anymore. This is the true words of Erchen, and it is not a lie. I beg my father's permission. ”

The court was even more silent. Isn't Huai Wang Mo stupid? So many people worked hard for him to take the crown prince, but he himself gave up? Praise King Jin as a flower and degrade himself to a piece of? What is this road number? Guo Xu was afraid that his brain was really caught by the door. That's the position of the crown prince, obviously with the support of the privy envoy and the prime minister, the emperor is also biased towards him, and he actually gave up.

Lin Jue stood there and secretly admired, Guo Xu was indeed extremely smart, he seemed to have insight into Guo Chong's psychology. Today, all his words and deeds are aimed at Guo Chong's weakness, and he thinks thoroughly and clearly. Guo Xu knew that his father did not want to discuss the establishment of the crown prince, so instead of doing so, it was better to be generous and virtuous, and win favor by doing what he liked. Since you can't get it in a short time, why not take the opportunity to make some virtuous names, this is the best strategy. I believe that after today, everyone will say that he Guo Xu took the initiative to give up the position of the crown prince in order to avoid court battles, and his virtuous name has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people since then.