The Red Mansions

Chapter 1502 King of Chu: He, Chen Qin, will carry on his father's legacy and become a wise and

Chapter 1502 King of Chu: He, Chen Qin, will carry forward his father’s legacy and become a wise and holy emperor!

Shenjing City, Palace Garden, Tangli Palace

A candle on the table was burning silently, and the biting cold wind outside the window blew on the eaves, making a series of shrill screams.

Jia Heng embraced Princess Xianning's plump and delicate body and said, "Xianning, take good care of your pregnancy these days and don't think about anything else."

Princess Xianning hummed softly, then changed to a comfortable position, nestled her head in the young man's arms, and said, "Sir, please think more about me and the child in the future, and don't mess around."

Jia Heng was stunned for a moment, then said, "Xianning, don't worry."

This may be Xianning's way of persuading himself in a tactful way.

Princess Xianning asked, "Sir, after the King of Chu ascends the throne, will my mother and I no longer be able to stay in the harem?"

Jia Heng said, "The Concubine Dowager should move to a palace near Changle Palace. She should not be able to live in the original Funing Palace anymore. These are all handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I don't know anything else."

Princess Xianning sighed and said, "When our father left, everyone was caught off guard. How could Brother Wei, the Prince, do such a thing?"

Jia Heng gently stroked the beauty's bulging belly, a thoughtful look appeared in his beautiful eyes, and under his sword-like eyebrows, he said: "You are probably forced into no choice."

Princess Xianning's eyes were filled with sadness under her willow-like eyebrows. She said, "Brother Prince Wei and brother Prince Liang have been sent back to their vassal states. It has been more than ten years since we last met."

At this moment, Jia Heng reached out and gently put his arm around Princess Xianning's shoulders, saying, "When the world is at peace, we can travel around the world and visit the vassal states."

Princess Xianning seemed a little disappointed and said, "Sir, you have been saying this for five years. It has been five years now."

Jia Heng sighed, "Yeah, now that I think about it, it's been almost five years."

Princess Xianning said, "Sir, the world is peaceful now, but civil strife continues one after another."

Jia Heng said: "It is recorded in the history books that after the external threat is eliminated, internal struggles for power and killing each other are common."

Princess Xianning paused for a moment, looked deeply, and whispered, "What do you think of our father?"

Jia Heng gently stroked his wife's bulging belly and said, "He is a good emperor, but it is hard to say that he is a good father and a good husband."

Princess Xianning was silent for a moment, then said with a sad tone, "My mother's life was indeed a bit hard."

Jia Heng nodded and said gently, "Yes."

Princess Xianning couldn't help herself after all, and suddenly said quietly: "Sir, you should visit mother more often."

Jia Heng: "???"

Xianning began to suspect the relationship between him and Queen Song, but Xianning was a very smart person.

Princess Xianning snorted softly through her delicate, straight nose and said, "Sir, it's getting late. Let's go to bed early."

Jia Heng didn't say anything else. He just gently stroked the beauty's bulging belly, feeling an inexplicable feeling in his heart.

……

……

next day

The golden rooster crowed at dawn, the sky became bright, and the golden light of the winter morning shone on the palace. There was a heavy snow last night, and the palace was covered with thick snow.

In the palace gardens where white banners were erected, cries could be heard everywhere, and teams of eunuchs and palace maids in mourning clothes walked quickly along the vermilion beams.

Jia Heng stood up, changed into a black and red satin robe with a golden python pattern, walked to a lacquered wooden table, sat down and had breakfast.

After a while, Chen Xiao came closer and said softly, "Put on mourning clothes. We will go to Hanyuan Hall to mourn later."

After Jia Heng finished his breakfast, he changed into plain white mourning clothes and strode towards Hanyuan Hall with Chen Xiao.

At this moment, on the clear water-like floor of the Hanyuan Hall, there was a crowd of people kneeling. They were the civil and military officials of the Han Dynasty, all of whom had expressions of sorrow and grief on their faces.

Paper money was burning in a brazier in front of the coffin in the hall.

The Crown Prince Chen Qin's crying was earth-shaking, and it was clear that he was unable to suppress his grief.

Jia Heng now walked along the corridors with vermilion beams and pillars and came closer. His eyes under his sword-like brows were like a deep pool of mysterious water.

The group of civil officials who were kneeling in front of the hall couldn't help but look up at the young man in the python robe. Thinking of the young man's loyal and righteous act yesterday, they felt inexplicably complicated for a moment.

The King of Chu also heard the eunuch's report of Jia Heng's arrival. He looked up and saw tears of sadness on his face.

Ever since the young prince became lame, he had called on the imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital to help with his treatment.

Jia Heng came closer, knelt down, picked up the paper money beside him and burned it in the copper basin. In the blazing flames, paper scraps flew everywhere and gray spirit butterflies could be seen fluttering.

At this moment, Jia Heng also knelt down and mourned for Emperor Chongping for a long time.

At this moment, the hall was shrouded in an inexplicable atmosphere of sadness. People who were infected by this sad atmosphere would easily feel their noses sour, just like Qi Tongwei crying at the grave.

It was not until noon that the crying in the hall subsided a little, and the ministers, tired of crying, left the hall and went home to eat.

At this moment, Jia Heng was kneeling in the hall, and Chen Xiao whispered in his ear: "Cabinet Minister Li said in Wuying Hall that he would like you to come over for a discussion."

Jia Heng uttered "hmm" softly, then stood up and walked quickly towards the Wuying Palace.

At this moment, most of the discussion was about how to enthronize the King of Chu and what would happen next.

……

……

Palace Garden, Wuying Palace——

The chief minister of the cabinet, Li Zan, sat on a lacquered wooden armchair, and not far away, on a row of pearwood chairs sat the second ministers of the cabinet, Gao Zhongping, and others.

"Sir, the Prince of Wei is here." At this moment, a young clerk could be seen in the cabinet. He walked quickly into the hall and spoke loudly to Li Zan.

Li Zan nodded, and looked in the direction of the voice with Gao Zhongping who was not far away.

After a short while, the young man in the python robe was seen walking quickly from outside. He had an imposing manner and a stern look in his eyes.

After Jia Heng led the troops of the Beijing camp into the palace yesterday and turned the tide, and protected the Han Dynasty with righteousness, the current Han cabinet also has awe and respect for Prince Wei.

While Jia Heng was speaking, he walked into the hall and asked, "Lord Li."

Li Zan said solemnly, "Prince Wei, the country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Shall we first allow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to ascend the throne in front of the coffin?"

Jia Heng raised his eyebrows, his eyes flickered, and he said in a gentle voice: "It can be done in the afternoon, but the succession ceremony can only be postponed until after the New Year."

Li Zan nodded and said, "Of course."

Gao Zhongping took over the conversation and said, "Another thing is the matter of changing the reign titles. We may do so in the spring of next year."

Jia Heng said, "Changing the reign title is easy. The ministers are all well-educated people. They can propose a few reign titles and submit them to the new emperor for selection."

The issue of the reign title was not entirely decided by the cabinet ministers. Usually, several reign titles were reported for the new monarch to choose from. This was not a very important matter.

Li Zan arranged his words and said, "The Prince of Wei, the Prince of Wei, and the Prince of Liang have been stripped of their titles and reduced to commoners. The civil and military officials who joined the rebellion should be handed over to the officials for investigation and punishment. Among them, my uncle Song Jing is involved in the case. How do you think the Prince of Wei should be punished?"

Because Song Jing's daughter Song Yan is Jia Heng's concubine, Li Zan has to consider Jia Heng's attitude after all.

After all, Jia Heng is now the regent appointed by the late emperor, and he has gained the greatest political capital from the previous rebellions of the Wei and Liang clans.

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Song Jing is the emperor's uncle. According to the Great Han Law, there is also the idea of ​​negotiating marriage. Moreover, the two vassal states of Wei and Liang were abolished, and the late emperor's intention to forgive the two vassal states was obvious. After all, this matter is really shocking, so I think it is better not to punish too many people."

Li Zan's thin eyebrows showed a thoughtful look in his eyes, and he said, "What Prince Wei said makes sense."

After this incident, the prestige of the central government was completely lost. In the eyes of outsiders, the Chen Han royal family was in turmoil and the son was forcing the father to do something. It was difficult for them to be a role model for the world.

Gao Zhongping nodded and said, "What should we say about the Empress?"

Jia Heng said, "Lord Gao, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will probably respectfully invite the Queen to be the Empress Dowager. After all, the Queen did nothing wrong. She had no choice in what happened before."

Of course, he would also posthumously confer the title of Empress Dowager on his biological mother.

Gao Zhongping shook his head and said, "It's hard to say."

When the new king ascends the throne, everyone present is unsure at first, and they may even settle scores with him later.

A new emperor appoints his own ministers, and the relationship between the previous cabinet and the new emperor has always been difficult.

In comparison, Jia Heng is closer to the King of Chu.

Of course, Li Zan had worked with the King of Chu for a long time in the Ministry of War, and they had a very close friendship.

Jia Heng nodded and said, "How do you think we should deal with the officers and soldiers of the Beijing camp involved in the Wei and Liang rebellion, such as Wei Qi, the Marquis of Runan, and other important criminals?"

Li Zan nodded and said in a gentle voice: "I have previously ordered the Jinyi to send people to arrest Qiu Liang and hand him over to the Jinyi Mansion for supervision. After the rebellion is investigated, the new emperor will make the decision."

Jia Heng's eyes flashed, and he couldn't help but think about Qiu Liang. At a critical moment, his political speculation in helping the King of Chu undoubtedly received rich rewards.

I am afraid that after the King of Chu ascends the throne, this person will be regarded as a confidant by the King of Chu. Will he continue to bite him?

Li Zan nodded and said, "Prince Wei, the country is in trouble right now, the situation is difficult, and the Beijing camp has been in turmoil before. It is better for Prince Wei to temporarily take charge of the military affairs of the Beijing camp to prevent bad guys from causing trouble."

Gao Zhongping said: "There have been several incidents in the Beijing camp, and they need to be strictly rectified."

Because Jia Heng's previous noble behavior won the full recognition of both Li Zan and Gao Zhongping.

Lu Jiang listened quietly. Under his thick eyebrows, a thick layer of haze seemed to float in his old and wise eyes.

Jia Heng whispered, "What the Lord said is true. Since the time of the Prince of Qi, there have been several incidents of rebellion in the Beijing camp. It is indeed necessary to rectify this situation."

Li Zan entrusted the military power of the Beijing camp to him again, essentially to prevent the subsequent turmoil in the succession.

In other words, his previous actions won the trust of the cabinet officials.

In fact, during the period of power change, it is normal for the son-in-law to control the military power and escort the new monarch.

At this moment, a young cabinet clerk walked quickly into the hall and reported, "Sir, the kitchen has prepared food. Please enjoy your meal."

Li Zan nodded and said, "Prince Wei, it's noon, let's have lunch together."

After the meal, they had to mourn for Emperor Chongping.

Jia Heng responded softly, then sat down with Li Zan and had lunch together.

Li Zan put down his chopsticks and asked, "Prince Wei, the Liaodong troops are stationed there. If the subsequent war ends, when will they withdraw?"

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said, "In the spring of next year, except for a part of the troops left to prepare for the establishment of the Liaodong Military Region, all the troops in the Beijing camp should be withdrawn."

Li Zan nodded and said, "After Liaodong is pacified, the soldiers in the Nine Border Towns should also be dismissed. The Nine Border Towns have been established for nearly 30 years."

Jia Heng said: "There are nearly one million soldiers stationed in the nine border towns, which consumes a lot of national funds. We should send personnel to dismiss them and instead build a naval force."

Li Zan asked: "What do you think the Prince of Wei should do after the establishment of the naval division?"

At this moment, Gao Zhongping also cast his inquiring gaze towards the young man in the python costume.

Qi Kun, Lu Jiang, Lin Ruhai and other cabinet ministers also cast curious glances.

Because Jia Heng was the de facto national policy maker of the Han Dynasty, a status he had established through his outstanding contributions in previous wars.

Jia Heng said: "There are four navies, the East China Sea, South China Sea, North China Sea, and Guangdong Sea navies. Each of the four navies has 60,000 to 100,000 naval forces. The East China Sea naval force is stationed near Nanjing, the South China Sea naval force is stationed in Taiwan, and the North China Sea naval force is stationed near Haizhou. They are mainly used to deter North Korea."

Gao Zhongping nodded and said, "Having so many standing troops would cost the national treasury an incalculable amount. It seems unnecessary to do so."

"It's just that the original Denglai Navy, Yuehai Navy, Taiwan Navy, etc. were restructured to facilitate command, not to establish a new system. There is nothing else." Jia Heng said in a gentle voice.

Qi Kun nodded and said, "If that's the case, we won't need many soldiers and horses."

Jia Heng said: "After the new emperor ascends the throne, if he wants to establish military achievements, the Junggar and Khoshut still harass our border towns. Our Han Dynasty can send soldiers to the two places to recover the Han and Tang territories and show our power to all directions."

Lu Jiang frowned and said, "Both places are barren and will not benefit the country after they are recovered. Such a waste of military force and waste of money and manpower is not something a wise man would do."

Jia Heng said, "Master Lu, I have said before that this is to nip the problem in the bud, to prevent the barbarians from the grassland from becoming more powerful and causing trouble from the barbarians from Liaodong and the east."

He didn't even know where Lu Jiang's hostility towards him came from.

In fact, it was Jia Heng who completely stole the limelight of the new policy. The Chongping New Policy he proposed was more complete and comprehensive than the new policy implemented by Gao Zhongping and Lu Jiang in Sichuan.

Gao Zhongping took over the conversation and turned the atmosphere around, saying, "Prince Wei, after dinner, please submit a petition to ask the Crown Prince to ascend the throne. This matter cannot be delayed any further."

He will ascend the throne in front of the coffin, but the enthronement ceremony will not be planned in advance.

Jia Heng responded yes.

……

……

Daming Palace, Hanyuan Hall, Side Hall

At this moment, one could hear the sound of "yi yi ya ya" coming from all directions, filling the hall and immersing people in a sad mood.

Crown Princess Zhen Qing was wearing a white linen mourning dress and holding a silk scarf, crying and wiping her tears.

The beautiful woman's graceful and beautiful face also had tears rolling down her snow-white face.

It won't be long before Zhen Qing becomes the queen.

Concubine Duanrong had her lush hair combed into a tall bun. She was also kneeling down with several concubines, dressed in coarse linen and heavy mourning, mourning for Emperor Chongping.

Princess Yan Yiliu of Prince Wei also entered the palace to mourn for Emperor Chongping after the incident involving Prince Wei.

Among them, Concubine Wu, who was kneeling behind Concubine Duanrong, was also wearing a coarse linen dress, and her face seemed to be covered with sadness.

However, when the beauty raised her head, there was no trace of sadness on that graceful and beautiful face, but instead waves of joy surged in her heart.

That cruel and ruthless emperor finally got his retribution. His two sons both raised an army to force him to abdicate. It was truly the law of karma.

After a while, the female official came in and called Concubine Duanrong and other concubines to have dinner.

Compared to the heart-wrenching crying in the side hall, the crying in the other side hall was a bit low and sobbing.

King Wei Chen Ran knelt beside the coffin, his fair and handsome face full of tear marks, and a feeling of regret welled up in his heart.

The pale, sinister face of the kneeling King of Liang was also covered with traces of tears, but his heart was already filled with resentment, especially when he looked at the kneeling King of Chu not far away, murderous gleams would occasionally surge in his eyes.

At this moment, King Chen Qin of Chu was kneeling in front of the coffin of Emperor Chongping, beating his chest and stamping his feet, crying bitterly, with a feeling of sadness welling up in his heart.

The prince was also thinking about the upcoming political situation.

Today, the cabinet and Jia Ziyu are restraining each other, but they still have to promote their people to defend the imperial power, continue to implement reforms in a bold manner, and create another prosperous era.

Secondly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs should be controlled by the father-in-law Zhen family, and the Beijing camp should also allow the second uncle of the Zhen family to participate in controlling some of the military power as the Minister of Military Affairs.

In the Beijing camp, Wei Qi, Marquis of Runan, led the Beijing camp's troops to rebel. It can be seen that the Beijing camp cannot do without its own people. Now he has learned a lesson and after succeeding to the throne, the first thing he does is to seize the military power.

At this moment, the eunuch walked into the hall, looked up at the King of Chu who was crying so hard, gently supported the King of Chu's arm, and said, "Your Highness, Lord Li is here. Please discuss something important with me."

The King of Chu stopped crying, took a handkerchief to wipe the tears from his face, and with the help of the eunuchs, he walked through the crowd of civil and military officials who were kneeling on both sides and crying bitterly.

Looking up, he saw Li Zan and other cabinet ministers including Gao Zhongping, Qi Kun, and Lu Jiang.

"Lord Li, Lord Gao." There were still traces of tears on the strong, fair face of the King of Chu. He called out and said with a sob.

Li Zan said: "Your Highness, the country cannot be without a ruler for a day. We ask Your Highness to take the throne as soon as possible and issue an imperial edict to calm the people of China and foreign countries."

Upon hearing this, the King of Chu was delighted, but he pretended to be embarrassed and said, "So sudden? The funeral of my father has not been completed yet."

Although there was no requirement for the crown prince to decline the throne three times and accept it three times upon ascending the throne, the King of Chu's words showed that he was not greedy for power and was committed to filial piety.

Gao Zhongping's face was solemn, and he said solemnly: "Your Highness, please put the country and the people first, and ascend the throne as soon as possible."

At this moment, King Chen Qin of Chu turned his gaze towards Jia Heng and said, "Zi Yu."

At this moment, the King of Chu really pushed his trust in Jia Heng to the extreme. After all, if it weren't for Jia Heng, the King of Wei would have almost turned the tables.

Jia Heng said in a clear voice: "Your Highness, please ascend the throne as soon as possible, and calm the people inside and outside the court."

King Chen Qin of Chu sighed and said reluctantly, "Since this is the case, I will take over the throne first. Do you have any opinions on the temple name and posthumous title of my father?"

Li Zan said: "The cabinet has already drafted an imperial edict on the temple name and posthumous title, and I will invite Your Highness to review it later."

At this moment, King Chen Qin of Chu, supported by a young eunuch, came to the coffin, knelt down facing the coffin, cried bitterly, and was extremely sad.

Li Zan, Gao Zhongping, the ministers of the cabinet, and Jia Heng came forward and said, "Your humble servants pay their respects to the new emperor. Long live the emperor."

The Han ministers who were kneeling in the hall also paid homage to the new emperor and shouted "Long live the new emperor".

At this moment, when the King of Chu heard the cheers of "Long live the King" from all around him, his face flushed abnormally and he was very excited.

He, Chen Qin, will carry forward his father's legacy and become a wise and holy emperor!

In the winter of the 19th year of Chongping, on the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, at the persuasion of the cabinet, King Chen Qin of Chu ascended the throne in front of the coffin of Emperor Chongping in front of hundreds of civil and military officials, amidst cheers of "Long live the emperor!"

The history of Chen Han seems to have opened a new chapter here.

……

……

(End of this chapter)