Chapter 13: Guessing the throne
Guo Jia has been the leader for ten years and has two sons under his knees. His daughter is automatically ignored by outsiders.
From the perspective of career inheritance and continuation, Guo Jia's civil and military personnel naturally hope that Guo Jia's descendants will be prosperous. The pros and cons of many sons depend on the power and tricks of the ruler. For example, Yuan Shao has many sons, but it has left a hidden danger of destruction for the Yuan family. For example, Liu Biao has only two sons, but it also causes the situation in Jingzhou to be like a mess.
The civil and military officials under Guo Jia have confidence in Guo Jia, so they will naturally not be helpless and can properly arrange the future of the next generation. Under this premise, they hope that the more sons Guo Jia, the better, so that the best can be selected in the selection of heirs.
It’s a pity that ten years have passed, Guo Jia only has two sons. Da Qiao’s fetus is a man or a woman. It is hard to guess no one has been born.
For high-ranking officials and nobles, this situation is considered to be a small number.
However, Guo Jia is still young, and he has time to wait for more descendants to be born.
As the eldest son of the Guo family, Guo Ye is a concubine, but his status is also prominent and extraordinary.
In the eyes of outsiders, Guo Jia is obviously more loving to Guo Jin.
As soon as Guo Jin was born, Guo Jia made a baby marriage for Guo Jin. Ma Jun's daughter Ma Qing was Guo Jia's daughter-in-law. Later, Cao Cao sent someone to marry him, and Guo Jia added two future wives and concubines to Guo Jin.
Judging from these two marriages, Guo Jin is favored by Guo Jia far more than Guo Ye. Especially when it comes to marrying Cao Cao, it represents a friendly political marriage between the two families. Not everyone has the qualifications and weight to act as a representative. Guo Jia's use of Guo Jin as a representative has explained everything.
Guo Jia has always felt a slight guilt towards Guo Ye.
It was not because of the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, but because Guo Ye was in danger of having a fetus dead before he was born. At that time, Guo Jia was worried about the child's feelings. Looking back more than ten years later, he was still scared. Without Liu Xie's help, he would not only lose a confidante, but also not as Guo Ye as he is today.
At the same time, the days after Guo Ye were born were also the most difficult period for Guo Jia. The days of lying dormant under the Taihang Mountains were a torture. The child did not have the innate wealth and glory, and he came to this day with Guo Jia in an extremely difficult situation. Regardless of whether Guo Jia thinks that the child should suffer, he, a father, always feels that he owes Guo Ye a lot.
Guo Jia took away the freedom in marriage from Guo Jin. He did not take his own initiative to make a marriage for Guo Ye, hoping to keep this freedom in Guo Ye's hands.
The eldest son's marriage is not a trivial matter. Cai Yan's words were a little loose, and the wealthy ladies in Chengdu also learned in an instant that the news of finding a marriage for Guo Ye spread like wildfire. Not only Chengdu, but anyone who was paying attention to the dynamics of the upper class and powerful people became active.
It is definitely the dream of being with Guo Jia, the powerful and powerful in Kansai dreamed of, so whether they are direct or side-departed relatives at home, as long as there is a woman of appropriate age, Yun Ying, who is not married, she will ask someone to go to Guo’s house to find Cai Yan to talk to him about the matchmaking.
The Guo family is crowded every day, and the third aunt and aunt come to visit Cai Yan with their birthdays and horoscopes. Cai Yan is also worried about Guo Ye’s marriage, but she is not a decision. After receiving the information from these women, she smiles and sees off the guests.
Even Cai Yong, who rarely returns to Chengdu, was disturbed by others. Guo Ye was his grandson after all. If he liked a daughter of a family, Guo Jia would not give him face, Guo Ye would definitely respect Cai Yong's decision.
However, Cai Yong, who was over 70 years old, became increasingly indifferent. At most, children from ordinary families were concerned about getting married, but it was not that simple for Guo Jia's son to get married.
So Cai Yong closed the door to thank the guests and turned away all the people who gave gifts and said to the matchmaker.
At this time, in the Zhen family's mansion, Zhen Yan and Zhen Yao were also discussing this matter.
Guanzhong recovered from his vitality and developed rapidly. Zhen Yu stayed in Chang'an for several months and never went home. All the remaining two brothers were making decisions about big and small things at home.
Today, the Zhen family is the second wealthy family under Guo Jia's rule, which is worthy of fame and status. Wen, they have two of them in Yizhou Prefecture and the Jin Yu. Dear, Guo Jia's wife is the eldest daughter of the Zhen family, and Guo Jia's legitimate son is also the nephew of the Zhen family.
The once prominent Zhen family is definitely not comparable to the merchant family that was known as a wealthy in Hebei back then. Once upon a time, Guo Jia's promise was fulfilled and he prospered.
But if the family wants to prosper for a long time, it is not enough to rely on temporary glory alone. It not only needs to work hard in the present, but also pave the way for the next generation.
Zhen Yan rubbed his temples, looking tired. He has always been diligent in his business. He took the time to discuss this matter with Zhen Yao, and he had to worry about it.
"Third brother, Mr. Jin and Mr. Ye, who do you think the lord will choose in the future?"
As a minister, it is a taboo to discuss such things privately, but the relationship between the Zhen family and Guo Jin makes it impossible for the Zhen family to stay out of the matter and wait and see the changes.
If you don’t tell me the words, as long as outsiders don’t know it.
Zhen Yao looked relaxed, playing with a jade pendant in his hand, and chuckled: "If I were the lord, I would only choose between Mr. Jin and Mr. Ye. There is no doubt that I will choose Mr. Ye."
Zhen Yan stared at Zhen Yao with confusion and asked in a deep voice: "Oh? What's the reason?"
In fact, both Yizhou civil and military officials tacitly believed that Guo Ye could not inherit Guo Jia's career.
There are two reasons, one is that Guo Ye is not a legitimate son, and the other is that Guo Ye is old.
Guo Jia is now in his prime. With his physical condition, as long as he maintains healthy living habits, he can live to at least 60 years old or even longer. Guo Jia and Guo Ye are already over 40 years old. In a few years, Guo Ye may be nearly fifty years old. In this case, Guo Jia will hand over power when he dies, and obviously chooses younger offspring.
From this point of view, Guo Jin has an advantage over Guo Ye, which is how many years younger, but it is a factor that cannot be ignored.
Unless Guo Jia has a smarter son in the future, he will choose from Guo Ye and Guo Jin, and most people will choose Guo Jin.
Zhen Yao looked elsewhere and said thoughtfully: "Can't the second brother see that the lord has already made Mr. Jin lose his successor? Suppose the lord passes the throne to Mr. Jin in the future, and Mr. Jin's wife and concubines have Cao Cao's daughter. If the two Mrs. Cao gave birth to a son and half of his daughter, the lord's position will be passed down. If it falls into the hands of the descendants of Mrs. Cao, half of the country that the lord has worked hard to build will be inherited by someone with the blood of Cao. Not to mention that the lord can't stand in the nine springs and can't rest in peace, you and I'm afraid you are not willing to accept it?"
Zhen Yan was shocked, widened his eyes, and then asked in a deep voice: "But the marriage between the two daughters of Cao was agreed by the lord in person to Mr. Jin. Could it be that the lord had decided to succeed the throne at this time?"
The two brothers of the Zhen family were just guessing whether it was true or not.
Zhen Yao shrugged and said, "The lord's thoughts are troubled by mediocre people. No matter what happens in the future, Mr. Ye is far superior to Mr. Jin by interpersonal relationships alone. Second brother, look at who is around Mr. Ye? Xu Yi, Dianman, opera inspector, Zhang Hu, Zhang Fang, Qin Ming, etc., and what about Mr. Jin? In addition to being praised and admired by some children who are determined to write poetry and books in the Hundred Schools, there are also a few truly outstanding young people gathered by him?"
well
Zhen Yan sighed and said, "Young Master Jin likes literature and hates martial arts, and it is indeed difficult for you to integrate into Young Master Ye's circle. What's the solution?"
hehe
Zhen Yao chuckled a few times, his eyes suddenly became serious, and he looked at Zhen Yan and said, "Second brother, I think this is good. It's not that material and there is no ambition. Don't have the ambition you shouldn't have. If you insist on fighting and grabbing, the final outcome is, hum. Mr. Jin is also the nephew of your brother and my brother. You and I should be relieved that he can have a safe life. However, second brother, there is a saying that I think it's time to make it clear. If Mr. Jin ten years later is still as good as he is today, then the Zhen family will never support him, otherwise he will be seeking death."
Zhen Yan smiled bitterly and said, "Under the rule of the lord, how can you support Mr. Jin after you take off your official uniform? I also understand these principles. Mr. Jin is really willing to succeed to the throne. No one can help except rely on himself. At most, he will only give him advice."
Because of the abolition of the path of filial and honest officials, the promotion and appointment of officials under Guo Jia did not need to be judged by the expressions of senior officials. Official selection, political performance appraisal, and official positions were all separated and had no contact with each other. The previous gentry group had no division of power, and finally formed a huge political sermon. This power could influence the decision-making of the monarch. The first thing Guo Jia did to the throne was to change this situation, not only for his rule, but also for future considerations.
The Zhen family is in great influence in the present. Once the two brothers in the Zhen family retire from the officialdom, whether they succeed depends on the ability of the next generation of the Zhen family.
Eggs cannot be placed in a basket, and the family's prosperity and decline cannot be placed on only one person. Whether Guo Jin can maintain the glory of the Zhen family in the future is a question that must be left to time to give the answer.
Therefore, the Zhen family needs to make more preparations in case Guo Jin cannot get on the rank of the future.
"The lord is starting to get married to Mr. Ye. I think it's better for the Zhen family to talk to Mrs. Cai. If you can get married, you will have a guarantee in the future."
Zhen Yan suddenly said.
Zhen Yao was stunned and didn't understand. He asked, "Brother's daughter is not yet five years old, and both my second brother and I have no daughter. Even if the Zhen family wants to find someone to be a concubine for Mr. Ye, there is no suitable person."
Guo Ye is the son of Guo Jia and Cai Yan, and he has no relationship with the Zhen family in terms of blood.
Zhen Yan looked at Zhen Yao and said softly: "Although the fifth sister is a little older than Mr. Ye, she is well-educated and well-educated, and is quite famous in Jincheng. Why not just go and match the fifth sister for her?"
Zhen Yao was amused and cried, pointing at Zhen Yan and asked, "Second brother, are you sober? Who is the fifth sister of the lord? Have you forgotten that the eldest sister is the lord's wife? You asked the fifth sister to marry Mr. Ye, what should the lord call the fifth sister in the end? How can the fifth sister face the eldest sister? Isn't this a nonsense?"
Chapter completed!