"Why did the Kou Qing family say this? Muskets and artillery are weapons of destruction. What do I want them to do?"
Queen Cao exclaimed.
Kou Ji said coldly: "If you take it and hand it over within three days, I can forget the blame."
Queen Cao's expression changed, she stared at Kou Ji and gritted her teeth and said: "Kou Qing's family, I know that you hold a high and powerful position, and I also know that you are deeply favored by the officials. But this does not mean that you can bully me!"
Kou Ji gave Queen Cao a cold look, waved his sleeves and left Yanfu Palace.
Queen Cao's face turned blue and white.
Even Zhao Zhen had never given her such a look.
Kou Ji is domineering.
Kou Ji also went too far.
Empress Cao gritted her teeth and felt that it was necessary to tell Zhao Zhen about this.
Although she wanted something from Kou Ji, it didn't mean that Kou Ji could be arrogant and arrogant.
If a royal family is allowed to be bullied by others, then it is no longer a royal family.
If you have to give up the dignity and majesty of the royal family for the sake of the throne, then why fight for the throne?
Even if you get it, it's just a puppet.
Just as Empress Cao was about to enter Yanfu Palace, she saw Concubine Zhang, Concubine He De, and Concubine Zhou Shu, all arriving at the entrance of Yanfu Palace with livid faces.
Queen Cao saw their faces turned ugly.
They also saw that Queen Cao looked unhappy.
They are all smart people, and they know what the other person is going through without having to say it explicitly.
Obviously, Kou Ji has approached each of them and threatened each of them.
The four of them looked at each other and entered Yanfu Palace together without saying anything.
Inside Yanfu Palace.
Zhao Zhen, unshaven and unshaven, knelt in front of the coffin, his eyes a little dazed.
Zhao Zhen looked very sloppy and decadent after not washing or trimming his hair for a long time.
Zhao Run kneels behind Zhao Zhen, with a similar image.
Just no beard.
After Queen Cao, Concubine Zhang, Concubine He De, and Concubine Zhou Shu entered Yanfu Palace, they all knelt down in front of Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen felt them kneeling next to him, and his absent-minded eyes became brighter.
Zhao Zhen said in a hoarse voice, "Fourth brother has bullied you?"
Queen Cao and all four of them knelt down.
"Please ask the officials to make the decision..."
Zhao Zhen said quietly: "Except for Fourth Brother, no one can force you to this point."
"Ask the officials to make the decision..."
Queen Cao and the four others repeated what they had just said.
Zhao Zhen's eyes fell on the four empresses Cao, and he asked calmly: "Who did the beautiful lady frame the prince?"
Queen Cao naturally can't speak, so she can't possibly harm her son.
Concubine Zhang Guifei, Concubine He De, and Concubine Zhou Shu did not speak either.
Zhao Zhen withdrew his gaze and said with some disappointment: "Do you know why I favor my fourth brother?"
Queen Cao and the four others still did not speak.
Zhao Zhen said quietly: "Because the fourth brother will not lie to me, let alone harm me. Although the fourth brother has done some things in private that cannot be made public, in the end it is all for me and my Song Dynasty.
He really takes care of me like a brother."
Zhao Zhen's eyes fell on the four empresses Cao and he said coldly: "What about you? You are my pillow people. Logically speaking, you should be closer to me and more like family members.
But have you really treated me like a family member?
I am only thirty years old now, so you help your sons fight for this and that.
Are you hoping that I will die soon?"
Queen Cao and the other four looked frightened.
Zhao Zhen raised his voice a little higher and said: "I'm not afraid of saying taboo words. Half of my country was given by my ancestors, and half of it was conquered by me.
To whomever I want to pass on my kingdom, I will pass it on.
Who will be the leader in the future cannot be decided by just fighting over each other.
That's my decision."
Zhao Zhen looked at the coffin beside him and snorted coldly: "Today in front of my mother, I am not afraid to tell you a few words of truth. I once wanted to pass on my country to my fourth brother, but my fourth brother was unwilling to accept it."
Queen Cao and the others raised their heads and stared at Zhao Zhen with horrified expressions.
Zhao Zhen smiled sarcastically and said, "Are you afraid? I'm telling you this just to let you know that I don't mind spreading the word."
Empress Cao gritted her teeth and said in a trembling voice: "The official family, this country belongs to the Zhao family..."
Zhao Zhen glared and chuckled, "It's true that Jiangshan belongs to the Zhao family. But it's not just me and my royal son who have the blood of the Zhao family.
There are countless clan members.
My empire was snatched away from my imperial grandfather by my imperial grandfather.
I can return it to them."
Queen Cao and the four others trembled.
Zhao Zhen said with a ferocious smile: "I can still pass it on to my grandson! As long as I send an edict to Han, asking my grandson to change his surname to Zhao, my empire can be passed on to him.
I can also send an edict to the Bao Mansion to ask Xu'er's son to change his surname to Zhao, and I can also pass on the country to him.
Fourth brother got a lot of books back from Dashi, you can go and take a look.
In the far west, there are many cases where the throne is passed on to grandsons and nephews.
You know who is standing behind my grandson and nephew.
They want to fight for the throne, have you ever fought for it?"
Queen Cao and the other two were so frightened that they could not speak.
They felt that Zhao Zhen was probably crazy.
To be able to say these words.
Zhao Zhen is very clear, he is very clear.
"I am telling you this not to intimidate you, but to tell you that I have many choices. The emperor is not my only choice.
In my eyes, it is far more comfortable for my prince to be an idle prince than to be an emperor.
So you all should restrain yourself and don’t force me."
"I dare not..."
"I tell you now, even if the fourth brother does something disobedient, I will not punish him. Because his life is my life.
As long as he lives, he will not watch anyone plot to kill me, nor will he watch anyone oust me from the throne.
I feel that I can live for a long time, and so can my fourth brother.
So you all should restrain yourself."
"..."
Queen Cao and the four others knelt in front of Zhao Zhen, not daring to say a word.
Zhao Zhen's words had a great impact on them, and they were also so scary that they were so frightened that they could not say a word.
Zhao Zhen stared at the four of them and asked: "Now, tell me, who did it when Fang Mei framed the prince."
The four of them remained silent.
Zhao Zhen sneered, "You are very nice! Chen Lin?!"
"The slave is here!"
Chen Lin appeared next to Zhao Zhen quietly.
Zhao Zhen pointed to the four empresses Cao and said, "Let me tell you four nobles."
Chen Lin bowed and said in a nonchalant manner: "The ladies have long used the other concubines in the palace to compete for favor and heirs.
Fang Meiren's brothers were useless and caused a lot of trouble in Bianjing and their hometown.
Concubine Shu saw the opportunity to control Fang Meiren, so she stepped forward to help Fang Meiren solve her problems, thereby gaining a lot of control over Fang Meiren.
At the same time, Fang Meiren's cousin and Zhang Bing were placed in appropriate locations for emergencies.
When Empress Dowager De was outside Bianjing City, she often asked her younger sister to pretend to be her and welcome guests in the Taoist temple.
Among them is Tie Wenxiong.
After Empress Dowager De entered the palace, she often invited Tie Wenxiong into the palace to explain the Taoist scriptures.
During this period, he was lured with money and official titles, and became his confidant.
But in fact, Tie Wenxiong belongs to the Empress. As early as the beginning of Tiansheng, Tie Wenxiong was a retainer recruited by the Cao family in Zhending Mansion..."
When Chen Lin said this, she paused deliberately.
Concubine He De's expression changed greatly, and she looked at Empress Cao in shock.
Queen Cao's face looked a little ugly.
Chen Lin continued calmly: "The two empresses wanted to bring down the Crown Prince and the Empress, but they were unwilling to do it themselves, so they found the Imperial Concubine.
The Imperial Concubine did not want to get involved in this matter, so she entrusted the matter to the Xian Concubine.
The Concubine Xian couldn't defeat the Concubine, so she took action to lay the plan.
Therefore, the matter of Fang Meiren was the result of Concubine Shu and Concubine De, and it was Concubine Xian who planned it.
If the ladies want evidence, I can go to Tianqing Street and invite the heir born to Tie Wenxiong and Cao's daughter."
Speaking of this, Chen Lin stepped aside.
Zhao Zhen snorted coldly, "What a good thing you did!"
Queen Cao and the other four could no longer hide anything.
There was no way they could ask Zhao Zhen to produce evidence.
At this time, if you ask Zhao Zhen to present evidence and fight to the death with Zhao Zhen, the end will be tragic.
If you admit it happily, you will be spared by Zhao Zhen.
After all, they are people with the prince beside them. As long as they don't make a big mistake, Zhao Zhen will not execute them.
"I know my crime!"
Zhao Zhen shook his sleeves and snorted coldly, "I won't deal with you as a husband and wife, so as not to spread the word and make people laugh. The queen mother also doesn't want to see the royal family being said to be a place of filth and evil.
But don't think about it for your heirs.
If they want to fight for the throne, I will give them a chance.
From now on, when every prince reaches adulthood, he will be sent to serve as an official abroad incognito.
County magistrate, state magistrate, magistrate, and inspectors of the two prefectures are promoted step by step. Whoever rises to the top, I will let him take the throne.
I will not interfere with them.
You are not allowed to interfere with them either.
If there is any violation, I will demote him to a common citizen.
You all think your sons can be emperors, then let them go out and see how much they weigh, and see if they have the ability to take over my position.
The prince is older and has reached the age of exile, so he takes advantage.
But he is the prince, so he should take advantage of it.
I will not favor him too much, I will put him on the border."
Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen ignored the ugly faces of Queen Cao and the other four and said coldly: "You'd better keep my words in mind and don't violate them.
Otherwise, I will pass on the throne.
I dare not say that I have surpassed all the emperors through the ages in terms of civil and martial arts.
But in terms of ambition and courage, I far surpass any of them.
They are afraid of death, but I am not!
They don’t dare to pass on the throne, but I dare!”
After Zhao Zhen finished speaking, he pointed to the door of Yanfu Palace and said, "Now, get out of here and don't disturb the queen's sleep."
After the four empresses Cao apologized, they withdrew from Yanfu Palace.
The four people stood outside the palace, their expressions very ugly and complicated.
If in the past, Chen Lin had exposed their faces, they would have gotten into a fight without hesitation.
But now, they don't want to make trouble.
Because there is no way to make trouble.
Zhao Zhenming told them clearly that his choice was not just his son.
Zhao Zhen even included his grandchildren and nephews.
Although the royal relatives were cleaned up by Zhao Zhen.
But there is still a lot left.
Zhao Zhen had too many choices, so many that they couldn't fight or compete.
If Zhao Zhen went crazy, he would really pass his throne to his grandson who was far away in Korea.
Then even if they tried their best to grab it, they still couldn't sit still.
Although Zhao Zhenyuan's son-in-law in Han has not yet given Zhao Zhen a grandson.
But as long as people think about it, they will definitely be able to give Zhao Zhen a grandson.
It doesn't matter at all whether Kou Tianci and Princess Baoqing can give birth to a son.
As long as he is thick-skinned enough, any son of Kou Tianci can become the son of Princess Baoqing.
And Zhao Zhen's choice was not only his grandson, but also his nephew.
Zhao Xu is already pregnant, already showing her pregnancy.
I don’t know whether they are male or female, but it proves that Bao Zheng and Zhao Xu are healthy and capable of giving birth.
As long as a couple is determined to have children, a son will always be born.
Not to mention the clan members.
Ever since they lost their power, lost their wealth and were raised like pigs, they have done nothing but give birth to babies.
Today, there are more than 400 clan members of the same generation as Zhao Run.
Even people from the next generation of Zhao Run have come out.
Zhao Zhen is still in his prime in the Spring and Autumn Period. The longer he lives, the greater the number of his clan members will be.
Facing the huge number of heirs to the throne, they cannot compete.
The only thing they can do is follow Zhao Zhen's instructions.
Zhao Zhen had grasped their weakness.
Because they have the prince by their side, they are not afraid of being beheaded if they make mistakes.
Zhao Zhen knew what they wanted, so he used what they wanted to hold them tight.
Zhao Zhen spoke grandly, saying that he would pass the throne to his nephews, grandnephews, nephews, and grandsons.
But only Zhao Zhen himself knows who it will be passed on to.
Zhao Zhen can scare people, but the four empresses Cao and others dare not bet.
After Empress Cao and the other two left, Zhao Zhen looked at Empress Dowager Li's coffin and let out a long sigh.
He felt very tired.
He really didn't want to touch the four women of Queen Cao who had the prince beside them, and he didn't want to move either.
He had suffered enough from the separation of mother and son since he was a child.
He didn't want his son to suffer like this.
So after he knew the whole story, he chose to let them go.
"Father..."
Zhao Run had been kneeling behind Zhao Zhen and quietly watched the drama in which Zhao Zhen scolded his mother and his empresses.
He felt very disappointed after hearing Zhao Zhen's words.
He actually doesn't have a strong desire for that position.
But he felt that it was better for the meat to rot in the pot than to give it to others.
He felt that Zhao Zhen was completely stupid for wanting to pass on the throne.
Zhao Zhen heard Zhao Run's call and looked back at Zhao Run. After seeing Zhao Run's expression, he said quietly: "Do you think I am a fool?"
Zhao Run hesitated for a moment and nodded stiffly.
Zhao Zhen grinned and said: "I thought I was surrounded by people who were lying to others, but I didn't expect that there would be someone willing to tell the truth to me."
Zhao Run said in a deep voice: "Sir, I said that if I deceive my father, I will be a son of a man in vain."
Zhao Zhen nodded and smiled: "It's better to be honest. Everyone in the world feels that honest people will be bullied and suffer losses. But this rule is of no use to our royal family.
Whatever I want to say, I will say it.
Whatever I want to do, I do.
If you are not convinced, just hold it in for me.
If I can't hold it in any longer, I'll kill him."
Zhao Run hesitated for a moment and said bluntly: "Father, you are too domineering. Sir, as a king, you don't need to be secretive when doing things, just be upright."
Zhao Zhen laughed and said: "Am I overbearing? I am bullied because I am not overbearing enough. So I hope you can be more overbearing."
Zhao Run hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said: "Even if the father looks down on his son and is unwilling to pass the throne to his son, he should not pass it on to others."
Zhao Zhen was stunned.
Zhao Run's heart skipped a beat.
Zhao Zhen suddenly laughed loudly, "What a boy! I like it!"
Zhao Run said in astonishment: "Father, don't you blame your son?"
Zhao Zhen asked: "Why should we blame?"
Zhao Run hesitated and said: "My father just told my mother that I want to pass on the throne..."
Zhao Zhen shook his head and smiled: "I said it, so what? Did I also say that I have the final say on who the throne will be passed to?"
Zhao Run nodded.
Zhao Zhenrao said meaningfully: "So... I have the final say as to who the throne will be passed on to."
Zhao Run nodded in understanding.
Zhao Zhen stared at Zhao Run and said with a smile: "Don't you think it's unfair to you that I take out the throne that originally belongs to you and let others fight for it?"
Zhao Run smiled bitterly and said frankly: "Sir, I said that if I want to care about the throne, the first thing I have to do is to outlive my father. I also said, if I can't survive my father, what's the use of fighting for the throne?"
When Zhao Zhen heard this, he sighed with emotion: "Fourth brother still sees things thoroughly."
Zhao Run continued: "My husband also said that my father is a person who lives a long life, so he asked me to be obedient. My son also felt that my father would definitely live a long life.
Therefore, the throne will not be snatched by the sons and daughters.
But Father, you can’t stop your minister’s son from robbing.”
After a pause, Zhao Run quickly added, "He is your grandson."
Zhao Zhen laughed.
After laughing, he mysteriously said to Zhao Run: "Not necessarily..."
Zhao Run was stunned for a moment and stared at Zhao Zhen suspiciously.
Zhao Zhen did not say any more about this topic.
Zhao Zhen thought to himself and said: "I still have a doubt in my heart that I haven't solved yet. After I solve it, I will know how to pass on the throne."
Just as Zhao Run was about to ask, he saw that Zhao Zhen had already turned his head to look at the coffin of Queen Mother Li, and began to mutter something to the coffin of Queen Mother Li.
Zhao Run listened carefully and was a little dumbfounded.
Zhao Zhen was discussing his rudeness with Concubine Li's coffin.
Zhao Zhen was chatting and laughing while keeping watch for Concubine Li, which was really not the right thing to do.
Zhao Zhen confessed his crime to Concubine Li, and believed that Concubine Li loved him so much that she would not punish him, so he treated Concubine Li as a pardon for his rudeness.
Zhao Run couldn't believe his ears at all.
And bargaining with dead people?
If he hadn't seen Zhao Zhen shed tears as he spoke, Zhao Run would have really thought that his father was an unfilial son.
Kou Ji didn't know everything that happened in Yanfu Palace.
After Kou Jixiang and Queen Cao issued the ultimatum, they returned to the meeting hall, left all government affairs to the Third House, left the palace, and returned to the house.
Then he sat in his house and waited quietly.
I have been waiting for three days with no news.
Kou Ji sent people to take Yang Wenguang and Di Qing to his house.
After Yang Wenguang and Di Qing got the news, they rushed to Kou Ji's house on horseback.
Kou Ji asked someone to take them to the study.
Before the two of them could sit down, Kou Ji made a surprising statement.
"I'm going to blow up the equipment workshop outside the city!"
Even though Yang Wenguang and Di Qing were well-informed, they trembled when they heard this.
The two stared at Kou Ji in horror, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The equipment workshop outside Bianjing City can be said to be the most important military center in the Song Dynasty and the largest arms forging place in the Song Dynasty.
Bombed the equipment workshop outside Bianjing City.
The firearms of the Song Dynasty will have a long period of discontinuity.
If an enemy happened to attack the Song Dynasty at this time, the Song Dynasty would be in an awkward situation of lacking armaments.
The only thing that can be done at that time is to requisition firearms from other Forbidden Forces that are not engaged in war.
Firearms have been included in the military for several years.
Some of the new soldiers who joined the camp could not even fight without firearms.
By the time firearms are recruited, the new recruits in the Forbidden Army will probably be useless.
"Brother, you should know what weapon workshops mean to the Song Dynasty. Although our Song Dynasty has two firearms workshops in the north and northeast.
But in terms of scale, there is no way to compare with the equipment workshops in Bianjing City.
Once the equipment workshop in Bianjing City explodes and there is a war, artillery shells and iron bullets will not be enough."
Di Qing shouted in horror.
Yang Wenguang nodded solemnly and said: "That's right! The equipment workshop in Bianjing City is your hard work for many years, are you really willing to destroy it?
That's what you spent more than ten years building.
After the explosion, more than ten years of hard work will be gone."
Kou Ji said calmly: "After more than ten years of hard work, if it is destroyed, it will be destroyed. We can build it again later. With the experience from the last time, it should be built very quickly."
Yang Wenguang shouted with some sadness: "What is it for?"
Kou Ji looked at Yang Wenguang, "First the gunpowder was lost, and then the muskets and artillery were lost. There must be a big conspiracy behind it. I don't want the things I made to come back to me.
Now there is no clue, and no one is willing to admit it.
So I could only make a big fuss and blow up the equipment workshop.
Once the equipment workshop exploded, the entire Song Dynasty would pay attention to it.
All people contaminated with gunpowder, muskets, and artillery will be dug out one by one.
When the time comes, the people behind will either take risks with muskets and artillery.
Or just stand up and stand up."
Yang Wenguang looked stunned, still digesting Kou Ji's words.
Di Qing understood the meaning of Kou Ji's words.
Gunpowder, muskets, and artillery have been stolen privately. As long as the heads and tails are cut off and the heads are not exposed, they will not be able to detect them.
But he made the matter big enough to kill the nine tribes.
There will always be people who are timid.
There are always insiders who can’t help but come forward to report.
Some people involved in this matter will also be dug out by everyone in the Song Dynasty.
For example, the soldiers who fled with their muskets and artillery pieces.
There will definitely be some among them who are timid, and some who are leaky.
As long as there is a leak, we can immediately follow the clues to investigate and catch the real culprit.
"Can't we find a way to check again? It would be a pity that the equipment workshop was destroyed."
After Di Qing understood the joints, he spoke with a look of pity.
Kou Ji shook his head indifferently, "It's urgent!"