After lunch, Sima Liang came to the study and sat on a chair.

He sighed as he thought of the morning's events.

"Uncle Wang's thing is too ......"

Most of the accidents he heard in the morning could be understood by Sima Liang. Only this incident of King Ning falling into the water made it difficult for him to accept. This kind of dramatic accident is really hard to imagine.

"Horses stumble, men stumble. It seems that I also have to be on guard against accidents. ”

"Should Rong Yang talk alone, so that he may be able to know some things about Qi Lan."

……

When Sima Liang was thinking about something, there was a knock at the door.

"Lord, the slave has something to say." The voice of the little third son came from outside the door.

"Come in."

Sima Liang changed to a more comfortable position and lay down.

The third son walked up to Sima Liang and saluted.

Looking at the still honest little third son, the corners of Sima Liang's mouth rose. He saw the growth of the other party in his eyes, and it can be said that it is more in line with his heart.

"Let's just talk about it."

"Yes, lord."

In the pocket of the little third son's green onion, he carefully took out a letter and handed it to Sima Liang.

"Lord Wang, this is sent by Zhao's father-in-law. He didn't say anything, he just said that you had arrived to show you. Take a look. ”

Zhao Gonggong? Could it be that my father is in trouble? Thinking of the possibility, Sima Liang became worried.

"Didn't say who sent it? When he received the letter, Sima Liang asked more.

Xiao Sanzi was puzzled for a moment, but reacted.

"It shouldn't be, if it was sent by His Majesty, I wouldn't let the little eunuch below send it. Even if Father-in-law Zhao is busy, it should be sent by Father-in-law Lin. ”

Sima Liang was quite surprised, glanced at the little third son more, and then nodded.

"It's clever, little third son."

"The prince praised it falsely." Xiao Sanzi scratched his head embarrassedly.

The little third son's humble appearance made Sima Liang shake his head, and then opened the envelope.

When he saw the beginning, he knew that this was a personal letter from Zhao Gonggong.

"The money was not given in vain."

Sima Liang smiled and continued to read. The letter was not very much, and he read it quickly. After he finished reading it, the smile disappeared, and then a sad face appeared

Cutting the domain? My father is really powerful. If this is true, then everything I have, I must not spit it out?

Sima Liang can understand the emperor's behavior, and if it is the next generation, he can also accept it. But Zhao Gonggong said in the letter that as long as the second prince is established as the prince, the reduction of the feudal domain will be put on the agenda.

In terms of the situation in the northwest, within a year or two, the second prince will be able to silence many opponents by virtue of his merits. Even if there are still people who oppose it, with the prestige of the Northwest Iron Army, this kind of civilian official mouth is not very useful.

"When did this letter arrive?" Sima Liang asked.

Xiao Sanzi calculated a little. "Seven days ago."

This should have been decided after the Northwest War. I think there is already a way to implement it. Otherwise, it won't be said.

What if my father and I discuss what to do?

But I don't want to spit out what I eat.

I deserve these things.

Sima Liang was in a dilemma. He wanted to keep what he had now, and at the same time, he didn't want to go against the emperor. Everything he has now is what the other party allows to have. If you go against the Emperor, everything may be taken back.

I could have talked to Uncle Ning Wang.

Well, now there's no one to talk to.

The timing is too coincidental.

Sima Liang fell silent, he didn't know what to do.

In fact, Li Guo has experienced many times in the matter of cutting the domain, and most of them have had no effect before. The most recent one was proposed by the current emperor twenty years ago.

That time, with the help of the new vassal king, he succeeded in cutting down all the old vassal kings. In addition, a new system was established, and the next generation of the feudal king lost the right of inheritance and the title. In this way, it is guaranteed that the vassal king will always be the emperor's most direct relative. And not a distant relative who has nothing to do with a few generations later.

Although the next generation will have a lot less power and wealth, it is actually not a problem in the long run.

And it can guarantee that the current vassal king can get better land. It will not lead to the dilemma of having no land to seal.

However, this system has only been implemented in the second generation, and it has to be restructured, and it is a major reform.

In the future, the vassal king had no prince, no matching private army and territorial support, only some monthly money issued by the court.

It also prohibits participation in court and local decision-making. As a prince, he can't come forward to do business on his own. But without rights, how can any businessman be attached. Therefore, the prince in the future can basically only eat and wait for death.

Other Uncle Wang shouldn't know.

No, even if you know, it doesn't matter. When they are old, their rights are gone.

I am the only prince of this generation.

My father is really good at picking the right time, no wonder he is so generous and willing to give me so much.

In order to pave the way for the second brother, it is really well-intentioned.

Sima Liang, who understood his situation, was sad from his heart. He felt like he was a pawn of the emperor from beginning to end.

He let out a long sigh and covered his forehead.

"Lord Wang, is it troublesome?" The little third son asked.

"It's not just trouble, it's impossible to break the game." Sima Liang replied.

Seeing Sima Liang so embarrassed, the little third son hated himself for being useless. He knew that the other party didn't say anything specific, it must be because he couldn't help.

"Since the minions are useless, then retreat first."

"Go ahead."

Sima Liang waved his hand to signal the third son to leave, and then fell into thought alone.

He stayed like this all afternoon and never left the study.

"It's hard, it's hard."

Facing the emperor at the peak of his power, Sima Liang was helpless. He seems to have a lot now, but in fact, they are all rootless. As long as the emperor wants to take it back, he can easily do it. Not to mention that he is still being targeted by the prince and needs the help of the other party.

Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration.

"Perhaps, you can talk to the prince. But that's not going to be good. After all, he just played for me. But at the moment, he is the only one who can cooperate. And the interests are the same. ”

Putting other factors aside, the crown prince is indeed the best partner at the moment. The premise of the emperor's implementation of the reduction of feudal domains is to establish a prince.

Otherwise, the military power of the second prince will also be cut, and there will be no place to brush up on military exploits. It may just be a delay, but if you have time, you will have more opportunities.

"Will it anger my father? Why don't you talk to Sister Huang? Maybe it's okay to talk to the second brother? ……”

Although there was no way yet, Sima Liang decided to fight. He figured it out, and all this was his bottom line right now. Even if the emperor wanted to touch it, he would not be able to spit it out.

Bang bang bang. There was a knock at the door.

Sima Liang looked at the window.

"It's so late, it should be called for dinner. Think about it again in the evening. I ate first, and now there are too many people at home who rely on me to eat. They have to be reassured. ”

Sima Liang put away his thoughts and took a few deep breaths. Then a smile appeared.

"Dinner, I'm here."