Candidates for the Emperor’s Heir

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

Candidates for the Emperor’s Heir

Changyi King Liu He had many supporters, and Guangling King Liu Xu also had many supporters.

Soon after Jinwu Ma Shijian was appointed, Du Yannian, the imperial censor, and two other officials also petitioned the emperor to establish Liu Xu as King of Guangling.

The ministers in the court were also divided into two factions, each of which presented to the emperor to explain their own opinions.

At this time, the emperor's body was getting weaker and weaker, and he had no idea for a while when facing the minister's letter.

The great general Yannian Yannian proposed to Huo Guang many times that he wanted to attack Zhang Yue and others. However, the general did not adopt his advice.

As for who should be appointed as the emperor's heir, Huo Guang has always had no superficial attitude.

Precisely because neither Huo Guang nor the emperor expressed their attitude, the court maintained a situation of fighting but not breaking up.

However, this situation cannot last forever.

The time between transfers has entered April of the first year of Yuanping.

On this day, the emperor finally ordered Zhang Yue to enter the Xuanshi Palace.

"The more I pay my respects to your majesty, your majesty will live forever!"

The emperor waved his hand and signaled Huang Menling to introduce Zhang Yue to his seat.

At this time, the emperor's complexion looked very pale, and he was also thin and out of shape.

"I know that my time is running out, so I invite you to come here today just to hear what you have to say..."

"Ahem!"

The emperor coughed again, and after a long while he continued: "How many years do you think the Han Dynasty has left?"

As soon as the emperor said this, everyone around him was shocked. Even Zhang Yue was startled.

Zhang Yue quickly asked: "Why did your Majesty say this?"

At this time, the emperor forced a smile on his face.

"Marquis Yunyang said it's okay?"

Zhang Yue comforted him and said: "Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. The country of Han Dynasty will definitely be consolidated forever!"

The emperor waved his hand: "Marquis Yunyang still doesn't want to tell the truth... That's all... I won't have much to worry about after my death... Let him go!"

After the emperor finished speaking, he waved his hand. At this time, Huang Menling took out a robe.

The emperor reluctantly sat up with the help of Xiao Huangmen and said: "This is the robe that the late emperor left for me when he was still alive. I hope I can wear it when I am in charge..."

"Now it seems that I have no use for it. I will give this robe to you as a gift today... From now on, the Han Dynasty will rely on you..."

At this time, Zhang Yue couldn't help but feel emotional when he thought of the kindness that the late emperor had shown him.

He stood up and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, don't worry. As long as the situation is worse, we will do our best to protect the great man..."

The emperor nodded with satisfaction and then motioned to Huang Menling to put the robe on Zhang Yue.

Huang Menling put on Zhang Yue's robe and said, "I hope Marquis Yunyang will not forget the oath he made in the past..."

While Huang Menling was talking, he patted his robe intentionally or unintentionally.

Zhang Yue understood at this time and said: "I won't forget for a moment..."

…

After Zhang Yue returned to the Hou Mansion, the emperor also gave the general Huo Guang a robe.

When Huo Guang's wife Huo Xian learned that Zhang Yue had obtained the same robe as Huo Guang's, she couldn't help but get angry and immediately clamored to show it to Zhang Yue.

This time, Huo Guang did not coddle her, but slapped Huo Xian directly.

Huo Xian had never seen Huo Guang get so angry in all the years he had been married to Huo Guang. He was shocked for a moment and did not dare to speak anymore.

However, after this incident, Huo Xian may have felt that he had been disgraced, so he secretly spread the word soon after to make Zhang Yue and Yunyang Marquis look good.

After Zhang Yue heard about this incident, he just smiled slightly and didn't take it to heart, but Yang You and others kept it in their hearts.

…

In April of the first year of Yuanping, the emperor finally died before he could have an heir.

"A country cannot live without a king for a day!"

Huo Guang arranged for people to handle the emperor's funeral affairs, and at the same time summoned the ministers to discuss who should be appointed emperor.

At this time, the ministers were still arguing.

At this time, a close official of Huo Guang reported: "The King of Zhou deposed the Taibo and established King Ji, and King Wen Sheboyi Kao established King Wu. It is only appropriate. Even if the elder is abolished and the younger is established, it is okay. King Guangling cannot inherit the ancestral temple.

.”

After receiving the memorial, Huo Guang first publicly praised the official on various occasions.

Later, Huo Guang deliberately used his writings to treat Prime Minister Yang Chang and others.

Yang Chang and others naturally knew Huo Guang's choice and decision at this time.

In addition to the previous petitions from Zhang Yue, Zhang Anshi, Bing Ji, Liu Yi, Geng Shu and others.

At this time, Yang Chang and others knew that they could not stop it, so they agreed to make Liu He, the king of Changyi, the emperor.

Later, Huo Guang promoted Lang Guan to the post of Jiujiang Prefect.

Then he invited the empress dowager Shangguanshi's edict and dispatched Xingda Honglu to serve the Shaofu Lecheng, Zongzheng Liu De, right general Bingji, and Zhonglang general Li Han to welcome the king of Changyi to Chang'an and congratulate him as emperor.

Just when everyone thought the emperor's position was settled, Zhang Yue stepped up his plans.

Because he knew very well that Huo Guang never really thought about making Changyi King Liu He the real emperor.

There was always only one real candidate for emperor in his mind, and that was Liu Bingji, the grandson of Prince Ru, who had lived in Yeting since childhood.

…

When Bingji and others arrived in Changyi and read out the edict from the Empress Dowager Shangguanshi, Liu He showed no trace of joy on his face when he learned that he had been appointed emperor.

He just kept waving his hands and saying: "Don't try to hurt me...don't try to hurt me..."

Not only that, he also refused to accept the Queen Mother's orders, which made all the ministers who came to greet him feel embarrassed for a while.

Seeing that this was not the way to go, Bingji gritted his teeth, drew out his sword, and commanded the Northern Army soldiers he brought to rush into the Changyi Palace.

Then all the officials of Changyi Palace were arrested.

"If Your Highness does not obey the imperial edict, I will have no choice but to execute the royal officials!"

Liu He was shocked and said: "Whether a certain person accepts the imperial edict or not, what does he do as an official?"

Bingji said: "The royal officials are responsible for teaching and assisting the king... The king's disobedience to the Queen Mother's edict is really a crime of disrespect... I have no right to deal with the king, so I have to use the king's officials as a substitute..."

"Your Majesty, please help me... Your Majesty, please help me..."

At this moment, cries from all over the palace were heard outside the house.

When King Changyi heard the sound coming from outside the house, he suddenly fell to the ground in despair.

With tears in his eyes, he said: "There are so many descendants of the Liu family, why did you choose someone..."

Hearing this, Bingji comforted him and said, "It is a good thing that the king is the emperor!"

Liu He kept laughing "hahahaha" until he burst into tears and stopped.

"General You has always been known as an honest man, so General You told me that this is really a good thing?"

Bingji was silent at this time. In fact, he had already guessed what General Huo Guang was thinking.

At this time, Le Chenggong said from the side: "Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. Your Highness is the emperor who was jointly recommended by the ministers..."

Liu He sneered. Instead of seeing the success, he turned to Bingji and said, "The Queen Mother has ordered me to accept the order, but I hope that the palace officials can be released!"

Bingji was about to nod, when Zhonglang Jiang Lihan said first: "Your Majesty is the emperor, how can he have fewer people to serve him? Naturally, all the officials of the palace should be sent to Chang'an..."

Liu He smiled miserably when he heard this, "It seems like this is fate!"

After saying this, Liu He said to Bingji: "In that case, let's get on the road!"
Chapter completed!