Using wool as a trade weapon to attack the Tibetan economy, Zhou Jun discussed some specific details with his ministers, and finally asked the Privy Council and the Municipal Ministry to cooperate with each other and begin to implement this plan.
Other officials left one after another, and Zhou Jun stopped Kong You and asked the latter to follow him.
After leaving the Political Palace, Zhou Jun walked along Palace Street towards the outer walls of the imperial city.
Kong You, who was following the emperor, hesitated a little when he saw the changes in the surrounding scenery, and couldn't help turning his head to look at Fan Jinian, the chamberlain supervisor.
Fan Jinian saw Kong You's expression and quickly shook his head, indicating that he didn't know the emperor's intention.
The group finally arrived under the imperial city tower.
The guards guarding the imperial city saw the Holy Driver from a distance. The generals on duty quickly led a group of guards and knelt down at the gate of the city tower, shouting "Long live the emperor."
Zhou Jun walked straight up the city tower to the high observation deck and looked at Chang'an City in the distance.
It was almost evening, and the sun was gradually setting in the west.
The endless flow of people, the endless stream of carts, and the rising smoke, reflected by the afterglow of the setting sun, make Chang'an, a huge city inhabited by millions of people, particularly spectacular.
With his hands on the city wall, Zhou Jun looked into the distance and said: "This city is the most magnificent existence in the entire Tang Dynasty, no... it is the entire world. I can keep Chang'an safe during my lifetime, but after my death, there will be
Who will inherit my legacy?"
Fan Jinian and all the servants were shocked when they heard this and knelt down one after another.
Fan Jinian said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, be careful what you say..."
Zhou Jun smiled solemnly: "You have been with me for a long time, don't you know my nature? If you don't have long-term concerns, you will have immediate worries. You can't dare to mention the future things just because of taboos."
Kong You cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is inspired to express your feelings today, but is it because of matters in the palace?"
Hearing the words "matters in the palace", Fan Jinian quickly waved his hand and told everyone else to leave.
Zhou Jun sighed slightly and asked: "Bohong, what do you think of the prince?"
Before Kong You could answer, Fan Jinian on the side quickly winked at the former, reminding him to pay attention to his words.
Kong You: "I think the prince is not aggressive enough and cannot lead the people."
When Fan Jinian heard this, he was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head and pretended not to hear anything.
Zhou Jun was silent for a while and said: "It has been several months since the Wendu corruption case ended and the prince was under house arrest. During these days, I have generally understood the actions of the DPRK. There is a group of ministers who have acted under the Queen's instructions.
One faction is trying to protect the prince, and even uses the teachings of the ancestors to speak for itself; the other faction is adding fuel to the flames, demanding that the prince be abolished and another heir apparent be chosen."
Kong You: "I heard that many ministers recommended King Jing (Zhou Ji, son of Xie Qin) and King He (Zhou Yi, son of Song Ruo'e)."
Zhou Jun: "Xie Qin is smart and knows how to assess the situation. Although he has been in the palace these years, he has also done a lot of things through his past connections. In the final analysis, it is just for the position of crown prince."
Kong You: "Your Majesty, a one-foot-three-inch baby lasts ten and eight years. It is human nature for a mother to love and protect her child."
Zhou Jun sighed: "That's right."
Kong You pondered for a moment and asked: "In your opinion, what kind of prince can be considered a virtuous prince?"
Zhou Jun: "Take advantage of the situation and govern by doing nothing."
Hearing these eight words, Kong You frowned and looked puzzled. Later, he remembered something and tried to ask: "Your Majesty previously arrested many lawless officials in the court with written ultimatums on corruption cases, but he also said
, correcting the lawlessness is the second step, there is another layer of deep thinking, could it be related to these horoscopes?"
Zhou Jun nodded and said: "Yes, the most important purpose of the corruption case is to make the people realize that only by uniting can they fight for their own interests. As a monarch, what you can do is to guide the people to raise their awareness of power.
, allowing them to spontaneously resist the injustice brought by the privileged class."
Kong You: "This can explain the first four words - making the best use of the situation. Then what does the latter word 'governing by doing nothing' mean?"
Zhou Jun: "Once the common people develop a sense of sovereignty, they will launch a struggle against all upper classes, break the original interest pattern, and try to implement equal rights for all people. At this time, the royal family, especially the monarch, must learn to retreat bravely.
Don't try to interfere too much in people's governance, gradually transfer the power belonging to the royal family and retreat behind the scenes."
Kong You was thoughtful, and what Zhou Jun said echoed the earlier theory of equal rights.
However, at this time, someone suddenly cried and said: "Your Majesty, you can't do this!"
Zhou Jun and Kong You turned around and found Fan Jinian kneeling on the ground, his head pounding, crying non-stop.
Fan Jinian: "I have been serving you for many years. To say something disrespectful, throughout the history of the Tang Dynasty monarchs, His Majesty is the only one who has truly served the people and the public! An emperor like you is a blessing to the people and a blessing to the world.
Blessed! I don’t understand, why do you want to give up power to the people? Is it possible that if you let those industrial and commercial miscellaneous people govern the country, can it be better than you, the Holy Lord?"
Zhou Jun first looked at Kong You, then smiled bitterly, and finally stretched out his hand to help Fan Jinian up.
Zhou Jun: "You and I are called master and servant, but I have always regarded you as my family. Speaking of family... If there had not been the Anshi Rebellion, Pang Gong would still be alive today. You are listening to the play at home and saying
You may even have an old friend to keep you company."
Hearing Zhou Jun mention Pang Zhonghe, Fan Jinian, who had stopped crying, couldn't help but sob softly again.
Zhou Jun: "Why did the Anshi Rebellion occur back then? Speaking of the reasons, you were in the palace at the time, so I'm afraid you know a little bit about it. Firstly, it was because the Guanzhong clan and the Hebei clan were fighting each other, and secondly, it was because the nobles annexed the land, leaving the poor
I have no one to rely on, but the third reason is because the Supreme Emperor is fatuous, appoints treacherous people, and refuses to listen to dissuasion. My wish is that the Tang Dynasty will not have a second Anshi Rebellion. Therefore, I have to solve two troubles, one is the family, and the other is
One is... imperial power."
Fan Jinian said helplessly: "Your Majesty is the Holy Lord. He has a stable position and has governed the country for hundreds of years. When he is old, he will leave it to future generations to equalize the rights. Why do you have to do this now?"
Zhou Jun shook his head and said: "Among the monarchs of the Tang Dynasty, I am the most special person... No, it should be said that, among the emperors of this thousand-year dynasty, I am also the only one. If I do not implement equal rights at this time,
Then future generations will never have the opportunity to do this again.”
Fan Jinian: "I don't understand."
Zhou Jun and Kong You looked at each other, both of them smiled bitterly.
Zhou Jun asked Fan Jinian: "Do you trust me?"
Fan Jinian hurriedly knelt down and said, "I am willing to kill you for Your Majesty's sake."
Zhou Jun: "That's it. You may not understand everything I do now, but one day, you will understand."
Kong You cupped his hands to Zhou Jun and said, "Your Majesty, what about the crown prince?"
Zhou Jun heard this, thought for a while, and said to Kong You: "Although the prince is not aggressive enough, if he just maintains success, there may be no danger... I plan to give him another chance to see if he can meet my requirements."
