Don't be called, ride alone. Not to mention the entourage of honor guards, he didn't even wear a serious official uniform. This virtuous high-ranking official who returned to Beijing was received by the Baqiao official post for the first time. Yang Zhi'an stayed in the official post for a night, and entered the palace refreshed the next morning.

While the emperor sighed that he couldn't control Yang Zhi, he recalled that he had indeed done too much in these subsections. Could it be that he is really old and confused?

The city of Chang'an is as in the past, behind the bustling and noisy, it is full of peace and tranquility. At least it can be seen that the current situation is stable, and the emperor is temporarily unharmed. Perhaps because of the lack of distractions in the past few years, Yang Zhi looked at the towering palace wall from afar, and did not have much emotion in his heart, and felt that everything was still like yesterday.

I came to the imperial study with a familiar car, and when I saw the emperor, I was stunned for a moment, and the first thing I blurted out was: "Your Majesty, you are old." ”

After three years, the emperor is indeed old. The body is far less sturdy and fat than before, and his face no longer glows with a strange ruddy luster, but looks a little dull and haggard, and his beard and hair have turned gray.

"Zhi'er is here? Give tea, give a seat. The emperor smiled and said with a pun: "Remember that it was the third day of the first month of the twenty-fifth year of Wucheng?" When I first met you in the back garden of the Qin Mansion, you were still a slightly immature teenager. Now that you've grown up, can I not grow old? ”

I have "grown up", does it make you very unhappy? Yang Zhi smiled faintly: "The sun and the moon pass, time flies, and the old and the new alternate. The cycle of heaven is repeated. The emperor must take care of the dragon's body and don't be too sad. ”

The emperor was still sighing yesterday that he could only go straight to Yang Zhi, but when it came to the end, it was actually the emperor's occupational disease that unconsciously attacked. woke up and commanded coldly: "Ma Cheng, when I and Yang Zhi play the right match, if they are not called." No one is allowed to disturb. But those who violate it will be immediately pardoned. ”

After a moment of silence, he sighed dejectedly: "Zhi'er, I am not only old, but also sick. My body and bones are clear, and I am very sick. For almost a year. I often feel dizzy, half of my body is numb, sometimes lethargic and sleepy, sometimes I can't sleep all night. Especially after the beginning of spring this year, I have suddenly fainted several times and did not wake up, and it is common for me to have unprovoked speech and inconvenient mobility, and the attacks are becoming more and more frequent. It was only while I kept the news tightly sealed, and at the same time relied on decoction and acupuncture to support myself. To be honest, I don't know how much longer I can last! ”

Yang Zhi knows it. The emperor suffered from a stroke caused by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and overwork, and it has reached a very serious level, which may kill him at any time. A complete cure is impossible. If you can completely let go of state affairs and recuperate with peace of mind, you may be able to live a few more years. But how easy is it to ask the emperor to let go of power at this time?

I didn't know how to be relieved for a while, so I had to ask directly: "Then what is the emperor's plan?" ”

The emperor said helplessly: "There are clouds in "Lisao": only the grass and trees are scattered. Fear of the twilight of beauty. I finally realized what I felt about that. I still have a lot of things I want to do but haven't done. It's a pity that the day is not a holiday! I'm not afraid of death, but I'm not willing! But what can I do about it? Now, what are the plans? Only when the mind is clear, it is just a matter of laying out the aftermath. You have always been thoughtful and long-term, and I would like to hear your views first. Today you and I are playing right. It will not be loaded into the living note, so you can speak out. ”

Yang Zhi pondered: "What the emperor has always been most worried about is that the kings will compete for the throne after your Bintian, not only will they not be able to inherit your unfinished business, but they will even lead to civil strife in Great Xia. Therefore, according to the minister's humble opinion. The top priority at the moment is to take advantage of the fact that the emperor is still in the court to see things and appoint the crown prince as soon as possible. In this way, no matter which prince is newly enthroned, it is justified. can break the idea of seizing the crown prince of the rest of the princes, and there is no reason to fight, with your support, the new prince can also stand. ”

The emperor nodded disapprenosingly: "This is indeed a top priority, a top priority. Listen to what you mean, and the following? ”

Yang Zhi continued: "The next step for the new crown prince to gain a firm foothold is to prepare for how to sit on the throne after succeeding to the throne. The second thing that worries you deeply is that you are worried that the new monarch will not be able to grasp the situation and become a puppet in the hands of others. You instructed me three years ago that the day you deposed Xu Wenhan was the time to order him to focus on the aftermath. The emperor's holy thoughts are far-reaching, and he has already made arrangements for this section, and the ministers will no longer offer ugly and false words. ”

Seeing that Yang Zhi was silent, the emperor couldn't help but have a trace of disappointment on his face, and frowned and asked, "Is that all?" ”

After canonizing the crown prince and ensuring his smooth succession to the throne, what else do you want? As for what the new monarch will do in the future, it depends not only on his ability, but also on his creation. You don't have anything to do with you with a kick on your legs, can you manage that far?

Yang Zhi thought about it for a while, knowing that the emperor was struggling with whether the imperial power could transition smoothly. Tell the truth: "In order for the emperor to take care of the dragon body and the stability of the court, in fact, the minister has another suggestion. To put it bluntly, it is six words: help the horse and send it for a ride. ”

The emperor said noncommittally: "Help the horse and send it for a ride?" Go on. ”

Yang Zhi said frankly: "That is, let the new prince enter the role in advance." Anyway, sooner or later, this Great Xia Jiangshan will be the prince's, and Yichen suggested that the emperor might as well let it go in advance. After the emperor appointed the crown prince, he immediately ordered the prince to supervise the country, and all important military affairs were handed over to the prince. You can retreat to the background and take the helm, leaving the prince to decide the small things. If the emperor is completely at ease with the crown prince, it is okay to even issue an edict to abdicate and become the emperor. ”

The emperor sighed: "When I summoned Wen Yuan and Yunong to discuss this matter, they only advised me to establish the crown prince early. When I inquired about Wen Han, he only mentioned that he would order the crown prince to supervise the country. Today, you have never asked about the candidate for the crown prince in my heart, and the abdication is beyond the words of the ministers. I believe that what you say is true. ”

Could it be that you used to think of me as an expert in liaring? In today's situation, it doesn't matter to me who becomes the prince. More is better than less, I don't need to be jealous to stimulate you, and I don't need to praise anyone's stinky feet.

I only heard the emperor continue: "I and the crown prince are both monarchs and ministers, and father and son. Leaving room for the new monarch to be favored in the future is not only the need of the current government, but also the common feeling of people. According to your wisdom, I can't hide it from you. To this day, I have only deposed Wen Han. The rest of the many important ministers either strictly reprimanded or deposed and retained, and the holy decree had already been drawn up. As soon as you return to Beijing, you can issue it tomorrow. The most difficult thing for me now is how to arrange you. ”

Yang Zhi smiled bitterly: "What the emperor is worried about is nothing more than the fear that the ministers will not listen to the call. When the emperor uses ministers, he should know the ministers. Fame and fortune are all floating clouds for ministers. The emperor has an order, and the ministers are all obedient. ”

"Fame and fortune are all floating clouds?" The emperor muttered for a long time, closed his eyes tiredly, and said, "If you were someone else, I would think it was a." It's you, I believe. I only let you collect money, and I have never let you take charge of the army. It is precisely because you do not seek to be in charge of the army that I will condone and nurture you. I thought that as long as you didn't have the right to fight, I wouldn't be afraid that you wouldn't be able to lose your tail. …… Zhi'er, let's just talk about it! You came back to Beijing this time to care about your friendship with me and the safety of your family, not to fear my grace, right? ”

Yang Zhi admitted expressionlessly: "The emperor is sage." ”

The emperor suddenly opened his eyes and said coldly: "Are you really not afraid, I am trying to kill you when I go back to Beijing this time?!" ”

Why are you talking about it again? Yang Zhi smiled faintly: "If the emperor is really interested, just give it a try." (To be continued.) )