That day, after the banquet, on the way out of the palace, Zhao Gao and Hu Hai, masters and disciples, were walking in the same car. Seeing that they had left the palace, Hu Hai was no longer formal, sitting carelessly like a bad boy in the market. , and began to complain about Zhao Gaolai on the opposite side:
"Master asked me to tell the truth without hiding it, so my father asked Guan what he wanted to do after leaving the palace. I said that I wanted to be rich and enjoy life, and do whatever I wanted, but I didn't want to do anything. However, my father scolded me and said, I lack ambition... Zhongche Fu Ling, how could you harm your disciples like this!"
Although he was complaining, judging from the tone of his words, the relationship between the two was extremely close.
Zhao Gao laughed and said: "How can you say that it was the minister who caused the harm? Didn't those words come from the heart of the young master?"
Those words were indeed not taught by Zhao Gao, but what Hu Hai really thought. This young master was only 18 years old. As a young son, he had enjoyed great splendor since he was a child. He was favored by Qin Shihuang and was favored by him. He also became one of the princes and the emperor. The closest one.
Over the years, he has witnessed his father being obsessed with government affairs throughout his life, working as hard as King Yao and Queen Yu. However, when the great achievements of the world were accomplished, he faced the torture of illness and suffered from the short life. He began to seek medicine and seek immortality, and prayed hard. But always come back disappointed.
Hu Hai saw all this in his eyes. He was as wise and powerful as his father. He should have enjoyed all the benefits of the world, but he was entangled in these complicated affairs and could not get away.
Once when he was drunk, he confided to Zhao Gao:
"If I were the emperor, I would not be like this. I would just travel around the mountains and rivers and govern the world, and leave it to the prime minister, the imperial censor, and the officials. Wouldn't it be enough?"
He was supposed to be the most powerful and free person in the world, but instead he seemed to be stumbling forward in chains and living like a prisoner. Hu Hai didn't understand this.
Although Hu Hai did not admit that he had said such words afterwards, the young boy already had the idea in his heart that "life is short, you should enjoy yourself while you can".
It's just that as a member of the royal family, you should shoulder responsibilities. This kind of thought should be kept in your heart and never be spoken out. Hu Hai only confided it to Zhao Gao, whom he absolutely trusted, but Zhao Gao encouraged him to speak out!
"Your Majesty likes the young master because of his true temperament! If he is compassionate and caring about the country and the people all day long, what is the difference between him and the eldest young master?"
Hu Hai had no doubts about Zhao Gao's trust, so he had the courage to speak out today, but in the end he was scolded, and one can imagine how depressed he felt.
"Then there's no point in scolding him. It's obviously a sign of pity."
Zhao Gao shook his head. He had a different understanding of Qin Shihuang's instructions to Hu Hai.
"If the Young Master's words offended Your Majesty, how could Your Majesty say that when you visit the Hunting Yan Land in the summer and go to the Jieshi Palace to escape the summer heat, you will take the Young Master with you so that you can experience the world for a long time?"
Qin Shihuang has been emperor for ten years and has gone through four inspections. He has visited Zhao, Chu, Qi, Wei, and Han, but has never been to Yan. At today's banquet, he decided to patrol Guangyang after entering the summer, fishing. Yang, right of Beiping, firstly to urge Fusu and Heifu to launch the Haidong expedition, and secondly because he was obsessed with seeking immortality on the sea. Qi Di was not there, so he wanted to go to the Jieshi Palace built by King Yanzhao.
In the past, Hu Hai was young and Qin Shihuang did not take him with him on his tours, but this time it was different. Hu Hai was the only young master named to go with him, which was extremely favoring.
Only then did Hu Hai believe Zhao Gao's words and turned his worries into laughter!
What son doesn’t want to be praised and appreciated by his father? Even if Hu Hai, who really wants to be a good-for-nothing and live happily ever after, is no exception...
What's more, you can also accompany the emperor on hunting tours.
There was a look of longing in Hu Hai's eyes: "Now that I can accompany my father on the northern tour, I finally no longer have to be limited to this corner of Xianyang."
Zhao Gao also liked him and described vividly: "The scenery of Yanzhao is quite magnificent, and Handan and Luoyang are also beautiful places, especially Handan. The women there are famous among the princes. They like to play the harp and dance with their long sleeves." , stepping on tiptoe, teasing with eyes, seducing with heart, wandering around the homes of wealthy people, flattering the nobles, just hoping to be included in the harem by princes or lords, and enjoy the glory. Like the young master, who is decorated with crowns, swords, even chariots and knights If you look at him, he is either rich or noble, and he will be highly sought after by Handan women!"
Hu Hai was fascinated by what the swingers liked most. Even though their sons and grandsons were wealthy and comfortable, they had strict rules and regulations, and they were not allowed to wander around without anything, let alone bully men and women. Hu Hai had been bullying men and women for eighteen years. , I most often go hunting to escape the summer heat, and go for a run in Shanglinyuan and Ganquan Mountains. The rest of the time, I rarely go out far.
At this point, Hu Hai has already regarded today's events as Zhao Gao's contribution and said happily:
"I knew that Master would never lie to Hu Hai!"
…
After parting ways with Hu Hai, Zhao Gao sat in the car going home and fell into deep thought.
Qin Shi Huang's body became increasingly unwell, his tall body began to weaken, and various signs of illness appeared one after another. Especially after he fell seriously ill after being assassinated the year before last, his body became worse and worse. This matter was a secret, and ordinary courtiers knew nothing about it. It can be guessed from the emperor's reduced number of court meetings, but as a close minister, Zhao Gao had a clear conscience.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid you don't have a few more years to live..."
The day when the trees fall and the hozens scatter may come at any time. As a smart man, Zhao Gao is also secretly preparing for his future.
As the disciple assigned to him by the emperor, Hu Hai is Zhao Gao's best choice!
At present, Qin has no crown prince and Fusu has been dispatched from afar. Under such circumstances, it is impossible for the princes to say that they have no idea about the throne. Even Hu Hai, who wanted to be a waste, had sex with Zhao when he was drunk. Gao once said, "If I were the emperor,"
But some people long for the throne because they are greedy for its supreme power and the feeling of being in charge of the world. But Hu Hai is different. What he is greedy for is the peace of mind that comes from enjoying a life of high status.
Therefore, although Zhao Gao was interested in Hu Hai, he did not directly push him to join the competition for the heir, grabbing the limelight at every turn, but chose the safest path:
He is smart, follows orders, and is filial, but is not interested in being an emperor...
"Young Master, isn't this how it should be?"
Zhao Gao smiled. Like Heifu, he was from a humble background, but he was studious and self-reliant. It took him twenty years to go from being illiterate to being a master of calligraphy!
Zhao Gao was also very involved in the history of laws and regulations. He knew that throughout the ages, although succession was mostly based on direct lineage and no direct lineage, there were too many examples of the eldest son, especially the eldest son of a concubine, not being able to succeed.
Duke Xian of Jin, Duke Huan of Qi, and King Wuling of Zhao were all heroes of the generation, either reviving the country or creating hegemony. However, in their later years, after being flirted with by women, they seemed to suddenly become confused. They did not like the eldest son and preferred the eldest son. The youngest son will eventually lead to the elimination of the elder and the establishment of a younger one.
But from Zhao Gao's point of view, this does not necessarily have to be entirely blamed on women. In the final analysis, it is because the supreme power of the monarch cannot be shared with others...
The king had many concubines very early. Correspondingly, the eldest son also came very early. The age difference between them and their father was not too much, and some were even only ten years old. Often before the monarch was in decline, the eldest son was already strong and began to be involved in government affairs...
…
This will make the monarch extremely uncomfortable. He only feels that any behavior of the eldest son is deliberately trying to win people's hearts. Especially the young master who likes to contradict his father and put forward different political opinions will be considered to be impatient and wants to sit on the monarch's couch.
…
It is inevitable for father and son to become discordant and estranged.
Qin Shihuang and Fusu had been at odds for many years. The father and son had great differences on how to govern the world. They ended up arguing and admonishing each other, and broke up unhappy.
The emperor simply kicked Fusu far away, firstly to let him experience and understand the difficulties of the world, and secondly, to make his ears clearer.
On the contrary, Hu Hai, the youngest son, never took the initiative to talk about government affairs except when Qin Shihuang was studying other laws and regulations. The emperor did not have excessive expectations for Hu Hai.
He looks like Qin Shihuang when he was young. He is playful but able to study hard. He has a free and straightforward personality. He does not fight for power and will not deliberately seek the throne. His filial piety to his father comes from the heart, not from other desires...
This is the image Zhao Gao designed for Hu Hai. Would the emperor not like such a young son?
This is only the first step in the battle to seize the heir. It cannot be accomplished overnight, but it can always be on your side. Once the situation changes, you will have the opportunity to take a further step!
Unlike Heifu who has to think carefully about everything and make long-term plans before doing anything, Zhao Gao is a gambler who loves fleeting opportunities!
His strikes were quick, accurate and ruthless. Even if he risked his own life, let alone spend a fortune, Zhao Gao would not blink an eye.
Including two years ago, in that chaotic assassination, in the midst of lightning and flint, Zhao Gao risked his life to lose one of his hands in exchange for the emperor's unreserved trust!
"The next time you make a big gamble, you will be betting on a lifetime of power and wealth!"
Touching the broken left arm that hung down helplessly, Zhao Gao smiled.
"I just don't know who the person across the gambling table could be?"
…
In May of the thirty-fourth year of Qin Shihuang, just when the emperor was in better health and was preparing to take his son Hu Hai and a group of ministers to start a new round of tour, a piece of good news came from the south:
"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"
Prime Minister Li Si presented military reports from Lingnan.
"General Tu Sui has been fighting hard for several months, and has killed the king of Xi'ou. The people of Ou have suffered a great defeat. Reports of success are spreading to Dong'ou, Minyue, and South Vietnam. Within this year, Baiyue will surely be pacified!"