At the morning meeting.

There was still a while before the early dynasty, and the ministers were waiting under the corridors on both sides.

Two ministers whispered in their ears: "This time, Your Majesty listened to the advice of hundreds of officials, and was actually willing to establish a prince, you said that among the three princes in the royal family today, which one is the most promising to become the prince?" ”

Another minister watched from the sidelines and said in a low voice: "In my opinion, it can't be the eldest son of the emperor, and it can't be the king of England, so it must be the king of Chu." ”

"How?"

The minister said: "It's very simple, among the three princes of Your Majesty, except for the eldest son of the emperor, who is the king of the county, the other two sons are all princes, which is obviously a meaning of favoring one over the other." His Majesty is also a Han Chinese, and there is a debate about Huayi, how can the son born by the concubine of the Hu people be the crown prince? As for the King of England, his mother is Princess Li Tang, and Li Tang and my Great Zhao are fighting each other, and His Majesty is even more unlikely to make him the crown prince. Therefore, only the king of Chu is most likely to be crowned the crown prince. ”

"Takami, Takami. The mother of the King of Chu is the granddaughter of Su Wei, and her family background is also good, at least not from a poor family. ”

"Go to court!" But listening to the side of the order, the ministers tidied up their clothes, and the sides walked from the corridor in order.

When they arrived at the palace, after the ministers worshiped Li Chongjiu, they first talked about the war with Li Tang.

Last year, Zhao Guo and Li Tang fought many fierce battles, and Li Tang only had a defensive position, but no offensive. But Zhao Guo has always had no way to take Li Tang's Xiangyang town. Li Jing, a famous general of Li Tang, was stationed in Xiangyang, which made several generals of the Zhao army return with a feather.

Fortunately, the battles in Hexi, Hedong, and Luoyang were very smooth. The fall of Nanyang has opened the door to Li Tangwu Pass, making it possible for the Zhao army to flank the pass. In addition, the surrender of Li Ming, the king of Lujiang. The commander of the Zhao army, Chi Gong, could threaten the Pujin ferry. River west direction. Wang Junkuo attacked several times, and he was already Li Tang's soldiers and horses to the west. Only defensively. ”

As for the grassland, it is also stable, after Ashina was killed, the Turks have been completely obedient, and as for the rest of the Khitan, the Murwei tribes are even more obedient like docile kittens. After a year's effort, the situation of Zhao State has digested the captured grasslands and the land south of the Yangtze River and gradually turned them into their own sphere of influence.

Although the ministers were very concerned about the war. But right now they're more concerned about the matter of establishing a successor.

Li Chongjiu immediately said: "I already know about the matter of the crown prince that you have expressed your ministers, and I should have discussed the matter of the emperor's heir in a few years, but since some people in the court are so anxious, then I have decided to announce the matter of the establishment of the prince at today's court meeting to the ministers. ”

All the ministers looked solemn. Wen Yanbo said: "Your Majesty is wise and wise, and the prince you set up will be outstanding, no matter what decision Your Majesty makes." Wechen swore to obey to the death. ”

As soon as Wen Yanbo said this, all the ministers present were all in their hearts, and if it was really Zhao Zaifu, this kind of means of figuring out the holy will was really admirable. No wonder Li Chongjiu let him stay as the prime minister of Da Zhao.

As soon as Wen Yanbo said, the other ministers also said: "Weichen and others are also willing to obey His Majesty's decision." ”

Li Chongjiu nodded and said, "You ministers are really my loyal ministers, and I am very pleased. ”

At that moment, Li Chongjiu took out an edict and said to the courtiers: "The candidate for the crown prince is in this edict!" ”

The ministers looked up. Looking at the edict made of bright yellow silk, his eyes were very complicated. All the ministers were waiting for Li Chongjiu to open the edict.

But unexpectedly. Li Chongjiu did not open the edict, but took an ebony box from the attendant on the side. Li Chongjiu put the edict into the ebony box. Then close the box.

This move surprised everyone, and everyone didn't know the intention of Li Chongjiu's move.

Li Chongjiu said: "This edict is sealed, if it is the will of Wuzhen, it must not be opened, and when I die, the princes in the edict will be promoted by the ministers as the crown prince." ”

As soon as these words came out, the ministers were in an uproar, could this be regarded as the crown prince?

An imperial historian stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, this is not in line with the etiquette!" ”

"Etiquette! Which etiquette says this is not okay? Li Chongjiu looked at this imperial historian.

This imperial historian was forced by Li Chongjiu's gaze and did not dare to say anything more.

Li Chongjiu said: "I don't want to be a prince, I don't want to have the matter of Li Tang Xuanwumen, which is reproduced today, do you understand my intentions?" ”

Li Chongjiu's practice was to imitate the secret establishment of the Qing Dynasty and set up a crown prince. Throughout the ages, many emperors have been reluctant to set up a crown prince in advance when they are alive, and there is a big reason why they do not like to announce the heir to the throne, so as to form a power group around the heir.

This power group was a challenge to the monarchy, and many emperors could not handle the relationship with the crown prince. Therefore, the tragedy happened, in the past, many emperors who were arbitrary, had a strong desire for power, and had a long life to enjoy the country, had to order the death of the prince and the abolition of the prince.

In the past, there were Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wen of Sui, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty in another time and space, and Kangxi in the later years, all of whom did not handle the relationship with the prince during their reign, which made the forces of the East Palace challenge the monarchy, and finally had to abolish the prince. And Li Chongjiu is only 30 years old now, and he will be in power for at least twenty or thirty years in the future, if he establishes the crown prince now, then in the next twenty or thirty years, he will have to face the formation of a power group around the prince and challenge his own power.

But the contradiction came, the courtiers didn't think so, they hoped that the Son of Heaven would establish the prince as soon as possible, because it could reduce the risk of their political speculation failure, and they could bet early. At the same time, it is hoped that the monarchy will be weakened in this way. For example, during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, why did the civil official group quarrel with Wanli for decades over the establishment of the prince. Therefore, this is another battlefield in the game between courtiers and monarchs.

But if you don't appoint a crown prince, you can't do it, and if you don't designate an heir in advance, the succession to the throne is in danger.

Therefore, Li Chongjiu directly copied Yongzheng's methods, and used the secret establishment of the reserve system to protect the status of the monarchy during his reign, and opposed anyone's attempt to divide power from the middle.

Li Chongjiu's edict caused an uproar, but he had to obey it, so many courtiers were dissatisfied.

After retreating from the court, several ministers came to Ji Chuan and said: "Ji Shilang, you are the courage of my Great Zhao civil official, and now His Majesty's behavior is not in harmony with the etiquette system, why don't you persuade it?" Your Majesty can listen to you. ”

Ji Chuan sneered when he heard this: "What's wrong with doing this, although I, Ji Chuan, want to directly admonish the face, but there is also a weight." Persuading the crown prince is not for Da Zhao, but for you to choose a way out in the future, who is Your Majesty, and how can Your Majesty not see through these means and tricks? ”

Several ministers were not happy when they heard this, and one of them said: "Ji Shilang, how do you speak, if the Son of Heaven does not tell us about the intention of establishing the crown prince, if he appoints the eldest son of the emperor as the crown prince, we will not even have a chance to object." ”

Ji Chuan smiled and asked, "If His Majesty really wants to make the eldest son of the emperor the crown prince today, is it useful for you to oppose it?" (To be continued......)