Chapter 372 It seems like an old friend is coming (1)
"I obey the order..." Chen Ke did not refuse this time. He knew that this was the best result, both in terms of his own reputation and the overall situation. Even though he was very smart, he still couldn't understand what Zhao Zongshi was doing.
Guys, why are you attacking yourself so crazily! Is it really just to vent your anger?
Chen Ke accepted, but Zhao Shu did not. After retreating from the court, he followed Zhao Zhen back to Funing Hall and said in a low voice: "Father, you asked your subjects not to be as knowledgeable as them, but they also bullied others too much!
"
"Let's check it out first," Zhao Zhen said with a slight frown: "Dali Temple saw the Cuju field and said that hundreds of kilograms of explosives were planted under the stands. How did you do it? Isn't it too negligent?"
"Because the Cuju Stadium is also a guard city, there are forbidden troops stationed there," Zhao Shu said in a low voice: "The organizing committee has no right to inspect whatever they bring in."
"You mean the Forbidden Army?" Zhao Zhen frowned even more tightly.
"I'm just guessing." Zhao Shu knew that officials always talk about evidence, so he just pointed out: "In any case, this is not an accident. The instigator is really crazy and completely ignores the life and death of the people. This kind of
Humans don’t even deserve to be called humans!”
"I'm really heartless..." Zhao Zhen sighed quietly: "I hope it has nothing to do with your brothers."
"My son, I think so too." Zhao Shu knew that Zhao Zhen did not want to cause a scandal of his sons seizing the throne, and the old emperor still hoped that the succession would be smooth and would not make future generations laugh.
"In the future, you must give them more grace." Zhao Zhen said softly: "A king must tolerate the world, including former enemies. If you cannot do this, you will not be able to achieve greatness."
"My son, I sincerely obey your teachings." Zhao Shu nodded and said softly: "My son, I have a heartfelt request, and I sincerely ask for your permission."
"Do you want Chen Ke to stay in the capital?" Zhao Zhen asked with a smile.
"There is no sage like my father." Zhao Shu nodded and said, "They have been too much to Zhong Fang in recent years. If Zhong Fang did anything in the past, it was for the sake of his sons and ministers, and he did it as a last resort. Now he suddenly
When these old grains and rotten sesame seeds are dug up and brought into trouble together with the Cuju court case, I am really worried that they have some conspiracy..."
"You really need to learn the emperor's mental skills!" Zhao Zhen smiled and shook his head. He said in a deep voice: "Don't you know that they were trying to frame Chen Ke, so I protected him. But the reason why I sent him away from the capital...
"As he spoke, Zhao Zhen pulled out a list of names from the boot page and said, "This is the official list of subordinate officials of the Prince of Qi that I have drawn up for you. What do you think?"
Zhao Shu took it and looked at it. There were Sima Guang, Wang Anshi, Feng Jing and even Su Che on it... but Chen Ke was not there. He raised his head blankly and said, "Father, one person is missing."
"I did it on purpose." Zhao Zhen said calmly: "Let me ask you, how did you get your reserve position?"
"Of course it was my father who loved me wrongly." Zhao Shu's heart trembled. This was the first time Zhao Zhen told him clearly!
"Wrong." Zhao Zhen shook his head and said, "In fact, the first thing I don't think highly of you is your own progress over the years." After a pause, the emperor said bluntly: "In addition, there is Chen Ke who is planning for you. It can be said that
.He is the undoubted contributor to your being where you are today!"
"Yes..." Zhao Shu nodded with some difficulty. He couldn't help but be surprised in his heart. Zhong Fang was indeed right. Officials always pretend to be confused, but in fact nothing can escape his eyes!
"Have you ever thought about how you will get along with him when you become emperor in the future?" Zhao Zhen asked in a deep voice.
"My son, I dare not have such treasonous and unethical thoughts." Zhao Shu said quickly.
"You must think about it now. I am in poor health, and I already know that I don't have much time left. If I don't arrange my posthumous affairs and protect our Song Dynasty for generations to come, how can I go to see my ancestors with eyes closed?" Zhao Zhen said with a deep look.
"Father may have misunderstood." Zhao Shu said softly: "Zhong Fang is a man who knows how to advance and retreat. He often hints to me that he has no ambitions in the court. He hopes to take up a casual position in the future and concentrate on his knowledge."
"The ambition is not in the court? Why has he been tossing in the wind and rain all these years?" Zhao Zhen mocked lightly: "Not to mention those who have great ambitions. Those who do not know how to stand up are just to promote their own ideas, but If you want to implement it among the people, you need the support of the supreme power! His plan is so big that even your best friend doesn't know it!"
"It's not that..." Zhao Shu became more and more horrified. It turned out that the phrase 'Emperor Shengming' was really not a joke. He quickly explained to Chen Ke: "We have talked about everything for many years, all because we want the Song Dynasty to truly Fu Qiang, complete my Jin Ou!"
"If I didn't know that he was sincere, how could I let him do what he did?" Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "But have you ever thought about it, since he has no selfish intentions, why would he play the trick of 'retreating bravely from a rapid current is called knowing the opportunity' with you? "
"He's too worried." Zhao Shu said sadly.
"It's not that he is overly concerned, it's that you used him too harshly!" Zhao Zhen said sternly: "At first, all his intelligence and energy were used to deal with this person. This matter has already been exhausted physically and mentally, and it is difficult to continue. , so you always have the idea of retirement. Secondly, he has always been independently supporting the overall situation for you, so that even you think that he earned this reserve for you. But have you ever thought about it? How long will I have to rely on him? Do I have to continue to obey him once I become the emperor?"
"This..." Zhao Shu is still doing everything for his reserve, so how can he think about what will happen after he ascends to the throne?
"You are so cruel that I will be the evil person." Zhao Zhen said lightly: "Besides, I will not let you betray him. Zhao Zongshi and his son are cold-blooded, so I will not like it. But if you want to fail him in the future, just You have to prepare now for a rainy day - don’t let anyone be your benefactor!”
"..." Zhao Shu listened silently, feeling very uncomfortable, but he didn't dare to miss a word.
"What you need are capable ministers, not just one, but a group of capable ministers!" Zhao Zhen said solemnly: "Chen Zhongfang is a magic sword of our Song Dynasty. I leave it to you. In the future, if you want to refresh the official system or implement the New Deal, he will It is the best weapon. However, the way to control the subordinates is nothing more than checks and balances. If you trust one person, the power will inevitably be taken away by him. What's more, the state affairs are so important that one person cannot be arbitrary? You also need wise ministers to discuss together, and the few will work for you. The people chosen, Sima Guang and Wang Anshi, are both young and powerful, once-in-a-century talents of the country."
Zhao Zhen looked at Zhao Shu with complicated eyes as he spoke: "It can be seen that the emperor and Song Dynasty have sent down so many talents at this time when everything is in ruins. However, in this world, the most difficult people to get along with are talents. If you can't reconcile them well, , letting them fight among themselves will harm the Song Dynasty. So you must learn how to control your subordinates!"
"My son, I respectfully listen to my father's teachings!"
"The key point is not to let one family dominate." Zhao Zhen obviously thought deeply: "It is best to stand on three legs, which will cause the least fighting, so you should try to make these three legs equally long." After a pause, the emperor said faintly: "But now
, one leg is obviously longer and the other is shorter, what should I do?”
"Either shorten one, or lengthen the other two." Zhao Shu said softly.
"That's right." Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "I don't want to suppress Chen Ke, so I can only give points to people like Wang Anshi. They will follow you into the East Palace and will be by your side as counselors in maintenance in the future. You must also learn to handle affairs independently.
You have to make your own judgment!”
"Yes." Zhao Shu responded, but couldn't help but ask: "What about Chen Ke?"
"I know that you don't have to worry about letting him leave the capital before you take over the East Palace." Zhao Zhen smiled lightly and said: "So let him accompany the Liao envoy first and fool around for a year. After the Spring Festival next year, I will tell you.
The ancestral temple will make you the crown prince, and then send him to be a transfer envoy..." He said with a sad expression: "I still have three to five years to realize that, by then you, the prince, will have matured, and people like Sima Guang will
Your position has been established, and Chen Ke has also completed his resume as prime minister. Regardless of whether I am dead or not, you will be allowed to take over, and then you come to worship them as prime minister, and they will naturally burst into tears and be devoted to you!"
"Father..." Seeing Zhao Zhen thinking so far, Zhao Shu was moved and frightened at the same time and said: "Don't say such ominous words. What's more, my father is a holy king and wise master who meets once in a hundred years.
One day, this country will be stable!"
"What kind of saintly king and wise master? I am nothing more than a middle-aged man. Now that I am old and seriously ill, I am even more confused. Relying on the throne is of no use to the country and can only add chaos." Zhao Zhen sighed: "If it weren't for you
It still needs training, I really want to take off this burden and live a good life!"
After saying these words, Zhao Zhen seemed very tired. He was indeed at his wits end. He was exhausted just by going to court to listen to government affairs. It was really difficult to deal with government affairs anymore. But Zhao Zhen still managed to cheer up and said: "By the way, Liang Huaiji is back."
"I have met my son," Zhao Shu said softly, "With him accompanying Huirou, my sister's mood is much better."
"Last time, I got angry and killed Li Wei's Prince Consort, but now I think something is wrong." Zhao Zhen sighed and said: "Please write a note and plead for him, I will restore his status as Prince Consort." Pause.
Said: "You have to serve as king. You can't let people talk about favoritism and abandon the principles..."
"This..." Zhao Shu asked softly: "Can I refuse to agree?"
"No." Zhao Zhen shook his head tiredly and said: "Go, starting from tomorrow, you can just read the memorial yourself. There is no need to read it to others. After reading it, you can discuss it with Zhongshu...
"
"I obey the decree." Zhao Shugang wanted to say, 'I'm afraid I won't be able to take on this important task,' but he swallowed it hard when he thought of Zhao Zhen's words.
"Also, the case at the Cuju venue..." Zhao Zhen closed his eyes and said in an increasingly weaker voice. "Don't you..." As he spoke, the old emperor actually fell asleep.
Zhao Shu took the thin blanket from Hu Yandui's hand, gently covered the official's house, and tiptoed out of the inner hall.
