Jiulu City is the capital of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, which is naturally prosperous, and regardless of the magnificent palace in the center of the city, even the residences of the common people are mostly elegant and elegant. The most eye-catching area of the city is the West Street, which is not far from the Imperial Palace, where there are a series of patchwork courtyards, many of which have white jade steps, vermilion lacquer gates, and glazed tile roofs, which exude dignity everywhere.

This is the residence of the ministers of the DPRK and China, and under normal circumstances, civilians are not allowed to enter this area.

On the easternmost side of this street, there is one of the most spacious and luxurious courtyards, and there are four white jade steps in front of the door.

According to the etiquette system of the Zhou Dynasty, ordinary officials can only pave one step, scholars and doctors can pave two steps, and princes can do three steps, which is an iron law of etiquette and cannot be violated.

And these four white jade steps, there is only this house in the whole world.

The first emperor said: "Anbang assists the country, governs the law and draws strategies, Haina merits, and nine songs of heaven." He was given a sword, a pair of jade, eight royal horses, and one door step, which was different from the ministers to show the emperor's grace. ”

Above the vermilion lacquer gate, under the glazed tile eaves, are the gilded "Dazaifu" three big characters.

Today, Dazaifu gathers more than 30 ministers around the long table.

Because the emperor drove yesterday, the whole city banned alcohol, singing and dancing, and celebrations within a month, so the ministers gathered together to eat some light dishes, and the cup was filled with white water.

The officials of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty were divided into the four times and six official systems of heaven and earth, including the Chunguan Zongbo, who was in charge of ceremonial sacrifices and royal genealogy; Xia Guanda Sima, in charge of the military, holding the tiger talisman in his hand, governing the army and giving orders; The autumn official is the chief secretary, who is in charge of judicial and criminal law, investigates the people, and supervises hundreds of officials; The winter official Situ was in charge of civil engineering, building bridges and roads, and building a city-state. In addition to the officials of the four seasons, there are also local officials who are in charge of civil affairs, including household registration, taxation, land and property, and warehousing, and also grasp the power to elect officials. Naturally, they are also in charge of their respective adjutants and subordinate officers, and they are in charge of military and political affairs in the DPRK and China.

As for the heavenly official, it is Dazai.

"Assist the king, rejuvenate the country, rule over hundreds of officials, and educate all people."

This is Dazai's responsibility, but it can also be seen that Dazai's power is over.

At this time, in the Dazaifu, five of the six officials who were in charge of the affairs and affairs of the imperial court gathered here, and the subordinate officials in important positions in the various ministries were also here, so it can be said that the ministers in the house together at this time could almost grasp the Eastern Zhou Dynasty!

Most of these high-ranking ministers are already middle-aged and elderly, and there are also a small number of young faces, but no matter who they are, all of them have no smiles, but some of them have resolute eyes, some have doubts in their eyes, and some people have flashing eyes and seem to be afraid.

In the first place, there is a tall, bearded man, although the frost-white sideburns and wrinkles in his eyes can make people see that he is not young, but the kind of mountain-like majestic momentum on his body, no matter how young and vigorous you are, you will be pressed to the point that you can't raise your head, even if you are a high-crowned official, you will definitely not be able to be proud in front of him. At this time, he looked down at the wine bottle in his hand, not knowing what he was thinking.

This person is the Dazai of the current dynasty, Shang Jiuge.

The whole country knows one thing, after the death of the emperor, the biggest in the court is not the crown prince, but Dazai.

Today, Dazai summoned his ministers to his mansion, as if there was something to discuss, but he didn't say it explicitly, and some people roughly guessed what Dazai was going to do, but they couldn't believe it.

For example, at the moment, the seventy-one-year-old Grand Situ of the Dynasty looked directly at Dazai and asked, "I don't know why Dazai summoned us today?" ”

Dazai's gaze still didn't take off the clear water in the cup, but just replied, "Discuss the succession to the throne." ”

Dazai's words were not loud, but the ministers all fell silent in an instant, their eyes changed slightly, and the electric light in their minds echoed in the dark clouds.

Da Situ Dong Zhaowen frowned, and said loudly: "Is it to discuss how the succession ceremony of the crown prince should be carried out?" Although this matter is a bit troublesome, I have my own rules, so it's good to leave it to Zongbo, so why do we need to come together? At this time, the first emperor Yan is driving, the crown prince has not yet ascended the throne, and there are still many affairs to be dealt with, so please Dazai-sama make it clear as soon as possible. ”

Dazai raised his head at this time, and a pair of deep eyes that seemed to contain a vast galaxy looked at Da Situ, and then glanced at everyone, and then slowly spoke: "The succession ceremony will naturally be handled by Zongbo, and what we have to discuss is who will inherit the throne. ”

As soon as these words came out, the lightning in the dark clouds flickered, and the ministers were shocked.

Dong Zhaowen's eyes widened, and he immediately spoke: "Dazai's words are ridiculous! I have a prince in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, of course, I want the crown prince to inherit the throne, what else is there to discuss? ”

Some of the ministers also looked at Dazai with a little anger like the Great Situ, some looked suspicious, and some were silent with wandering eyes.

A man in a red official robe here also looked at Dazai, this person was the current young secretary Kou Pei Qingyun, that is, the second-in-command among the Xia officials, it seemed that he was in his thirties, and he sat in such an important position at such an age, which shows that this person is extraordinary. I only heard him say calmly: "The crown prince's succession to the throne is justified, what does Dazai mean by this?" ”

"Justified?" Dazai repeated these four words, and then continued to look at everyone expressionlessly, asking, "What is right?" ”

Hearing this, many ministers were confused, and they didn't know what Dazai meant.

The emperor died and the crown prince succeeded to the throne, isn't this justified enough?

Young Master Kou Pei Qingyun thought for a moment and asked, "Isn't it the edict of the first emperor..."

He said half of what he said, but everyone already understood what he meant, who was the emperor who passed the throne to in the emperor's edict, who is naturally justified, but the emperor only has the crown prince's son, who else can he give if he doesn't pass it on to him? Zhongqing suddenly looked at Dazai in disbelief.

"That's right, it's the edict of the former emperor."

The person who opened his mouth to answer was not Dazai, but Daijikong, who was sitting at the head of Dazai's right hand. This is an old man with gray hair, he looks much older than Dazai, but those slightly cloudy eyes are faintly shining. Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, he continued: "The edict of the former emperor, only me and Dazai know about it, but the content of it is not the succession of the crown prince. ”

Da Situ stood up and said, "How is this possible? ”

Another servant did not hide the suspicion in his eyes, and said without humility or arrogance: "Although the prince is seventeen years old, he is known as a virtuous person and has no fault, and he is also very favored by the emperor on weekdays, how can the throne not be him?" ”

The burly young Sima on the other side simply glared and said, "If the throne is not passed to the crown prince, who else can it be passed on?!" ”

"Quiet!" Da Sikong snorted coldly, and then said: "Although I don't understand it either, I can tell you for sure that in the edict, the throne is indeed not passed to the crown prince." ”

"What!?" The other ministers all looked at each other with complicated expressions.

Da Situ's arm trembled slightly, and said, "I want to see the edict." ”

"That's right." The great priest who had never spoken also said with a solemn face at this time: "Since we talked about this, let's take out the edict for everyone to see." ”

Hearing this, Daisaku lowered his head and did not answer, and everyone shifted their attention to Dazai again.

Shang Jiu Ge closed his eyes, and said at the same time: "I just want to tell you that following the edict of the first emperor, the crown prince cannot inherit the throne, and this will inevitably cause turmoil in the court, for the sake of social stability and the smooth realization of the will of the first emperor, we must unite as one, and control the crown prince..."

"Dazai-sama!" Da Situ Dong Zhaowen interrupted Shang Jiuge's words, and almost gasped: "If I haven't seen the edict of the first emperor, I won't believe it!" ”

Dazai was silent for a moment, then opened his eyes like two stars in the night sky. I saw him stand up, take out a roll of Huang Juan from his sleeve, and hand it to Da Situ.

Dong Zhaowen respectfully leaned over to accept the edict, but then he couldn't wait to open the edict and look over.

The Great Si Kou, the Young Si Kou, the Tai Servant, and the Young Sima and others all came over, and the back was shocked.

Dong Zhaowen's hands trembled, and he muttered: "This is impossible, this is impossible..."

"Han King Ji Rulong is well-known in the country, has both civil and military skills, governs the country in a good way, and can succeed to the throne!" Dazai Langran said, "This is what the former emperor meant. ”

"No, it's hard to be... Someone tampered with the edict!? Dong Zhaowen said to himself, and then looked at Dazai.

The ministers were in an uproar, and thunder exploded in the dark clouds.

"Shut up!" Da Sikong also stood up suddenly, and said with a gloomy face: "Does Lord Dong know what he is talking about?" ”

Dong Zhaowen shook his head and said, "I don't believe that the first emperor will choose King Han to succeed him." ”

Sikong also said righteously: "The edict of the first emperor is here!" It's hard for you to disobey! ”

Dong Zhaowen looked directly at Dazai and asked: "Today, the prince went out of the city to clean the imperial tomb under the leadership of Uncle Zong, and has not yet returned to the city, but you gathered us together at this time and took out such an edict, so how can I believe it!" ”

Dasikong wanted to say something, but Dazai raised his arm, shook his sleeves, and said loudly: "What do you mean, do you think that my Shang has tampered with the edict?" ”

Dong Zhaowen was silent for a moment, and then said, "Xiaguan... Can't. I just think that if the emperor didn't want the crown prince to inherit the throne in the first place, he should have deposed the prince a long time ago, and would not have announced that the Han king would inherit the orthodoxy when he was driving. ”

"I also know that this matter is not in line with common sense, but this is the order of the former emperor and cannot be disobeyed." Dazai's words were flat, but there was no doubt in them with firmness, and he continued: "I chose the prince to summon you when he left the city, naturally because I was afraid that the prince would be dissatisfied when he learned the contents of the edict, and then intend to forcibly seize the throne, causing chaos in the court. ”

Dong Zhaowen wanted to say something, but then an idea flashed through his mind, so he squinted his eyes and asked, "So... Does the Han King know about it too? ”

Dazai nodded and said, "King Han set off early this morning, and he must have approached the capital at this time. ”

The ministers quarreled again for a moment, but in the blink of an eye they fell silent again, and the thick black cloud mixed with thunder had already gathered in everyone's hearts, and something bad was about to happen.

Dong Zhaowen held the edict and was silent for a moment, there was an imperial seal on the edict, and he had no evidence to say that this edict was fake. But he still insisted on his opinion, so he tried to straighten his somewhat rickety waist as much as possible, and said solemnly: "I am against it." ”

Da Sikong glared angrily: "You dare to oppose the emperor's will? ”

"I'm against it too!" Shao Sima also glared and said, "I heard that King Han didn't come alone, he came to the capital with five thousand elite horsemen!" I think he is the one who will take the throne! ”

The servant shook his head and said, "I beg you to wait for the prince to come back, and we will discuss it together." ”

The chief priest said calmly: "The selection of the successor to the throne is not a matter for the king alone, but about all the people in the world. I think that even if the edict is here, this matter still needs to be discussed, and for the time being, don't let King Han enter the capital. ”

Shang Jiu Ge took back the edict from Dong Zhaowen's hand, then nodded and said softly: "Very good." ”

Everyone thought that Dazai agreed with Da Si Ko's statement, but who knew that Shang Jiu Ge turned around and said indifferently: "The prince colluded with Da Situ, Da Si Ko and other important members of the court and the central government, resisted the decree and did not obey it, and was in a conspiratorial rebellion, and a cholera country." ”

"Arrest the Great Situ, the Great Sikou, the Young Sima, and the Imperial Servant for me and put them in prison!"

(Happy New Year, it may be time to break off, although it is always broken, but this time it may be longer, and I will say goodbye.) - If anyone is watching. ）