in2ebook Chapter 158 Regent
Chapter 158 Regent
"You're right, but we must not let our guard down. If the Northern Huns invade, the Great Jing Dynasty will be finished! Not to mention the four states, I'm afraid the entire Central Plains will become a slaughterhouse for the Northern Huns. Liu Shuo actually still harbors illusions, hoping to use Yanshan as a boundary with the Northern Huns. How absurd!"
Liu Fu spoke slowly.
"Uncle Wang, I know! The Northern Huns have evil ambitions, and I will be on guard a thousand times!"
Liu Xuan answered affirmatively.
"Regarding matters of state, Song Xian will discuss this with the Crown Prince. Song Xian comes from a rural background and has served in the Secretariat for many years. He has extensive experience in state affairs and is not a clique. What do you think, my Lords and Lord Yang?"
"Song Xian is quite capable, but he's a bit too cautious and lacks decisiveness!"
Liu Fu said immediately.
"Then let Shanhai join Song Xian in advising on government affairs!"
"No! Although Shanhai is decisive, he has no interest in a career now. He only wants to retire to the mountains. He is uneasy and this is inappropriate!"
"Then who does Your Majesty think can take on this responsibility?"
He Zhi nodded and asked.
"Think back to the time when the emperor ascended the throne and asked, who gave him the most advice on how to govern the country and maintain peace?"
Liu Fu looked at He Zhi.
"Your Majesty, although I was already sixty years old at that time, I repeatedly spoke out against the emperor and indeed provided him with a lot of advice. It is because of your majesty's kindness that I would have been buried with trees eight meters high otherwise!"
"You are the emperor's master! Didn't you teach him to be kind and compassionate?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not take credit for it. It is the Emperor's natural kindness that is beyond my power to teach him!"
"He Zhi! I still remember how old the emperor was. Someone whipped him to fish out of the river and sent him back home to study."
"Your Highness, it's been over thirty years, and you still remember it so clearly? This old minister is terrified, but I will leave it to Your Highness's arrangements!"
He Zhi was speechless.
"Now that you are over eighty, you certainly know why the emperor wants to keep you in the court!"
Liu Fu continued.
"I know, I know!"
He Zhi thought about it and felt both sad and happy.
The good news is that I can still gain the emperor's trust at such an old age. I am very lucky.
It’s sad that at such an old age, I still can’t go back to my hometown to retire and live a life surrounded by my children and grandchildren.
"Now that the Emperor has become like this, unless something unexpected happens, it will be difficult for me to listen to your frank criticism in the future. However, the Crown Prince is young and inexperienced. Apart from you, who else can shoulder this responsibility?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, although I am old and my eyesight is dim, I will serve as your advisor!"
He Zhi said.
"Okay! You're more than ten years younger than me! I'll give you five years. If I'm still alive, we'll talk. If I'm dead, you'll have to figure it out on your own!"
A smile appeared on Liu Fu's lips.
He Zhi continued, "Then Yang Ke will be in charge of the guards in the Imperial City and the Palace. He must ensure the safety of the Emperor and the Crown Prince!"
"Your Majesty, Taibao, I'm afraid I'm not up to the task right now!"
Yang Ke saw that Liu Xuan had some doubts about him, so he was very hesitant.
"Come on! Yang Ke, Uncle Wang said you're different from Sima Jiatou, and you're taking advantage of him? The Emperor trusts you so much, do I really doubt you? Do you look down on me, or do you look down on the Emperor?"
Liu Xuan scolded angrily.
"Yes, Your Majesty, then please give me some advice!"
In front of Liu Xuan, Yang Ke really didn't dare to be unhappy at all.
"Guidance! Of course. Uncle Wang has watched you grow up. Haven't I also watched you grow up?"
Liu Xuan is about ten years older than Yang Ke, which makes sense.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I was inconsiderate!"
"I see that you are not only responsible for the safety of the Imperial City, the Palace, and the Emperor and the Crown Prince, but Xu Zhi, who joined the Six Princes in the rebellion, should be immediately dismissed from his position, and you also have to bear the responsibility of the Inspector of the Imperial Guards!"
"Your Highness, I'm afraid this is impossible! There is no precedent for this."
"Precedent? This is the precedent, Uncle Wang, Taibao, what do you think?"
"Very good. Sizhou is an important place, and Yangcheng is in turmoil right now. It will be much more convenient for you to do your work at the same time!"
Liu Fu said.
"Yes, Lord Yang is in charge of Sizhou. We can all rest assured. The current situation is very unusual. If someone with ulterior motives is allowed to take charge of the Sili Commandery, unnecessary trouble may arise!"
He Zhi also nodded.
"Thank you, Your Highness, and the Grand Protector for your trust. Yang Ke will do anything for you, even if it means sacrificing his life for you!"
Yang Ke no longer refused.
"Very good, now we have to wait for the prince to come back and ask for his opinion!"
He Zhi said this while observing Liu Fu's eyes.
Liu Fu nodded: "Yes, it's time for him to take charge. We can't make decisions for him!"
"My Lords, I have another idea!"
"Say it!"
Liu Fu saw that He Zhi seemed to be hesitant to speak.
"Father-in-law Liu Jun has always wanted to take a step forward! After all, he is the emperor's father-in-law and the prince's grandfather. If we ignore him, we will probably be criticized!"
"The Grand Protector is right. Liu Jun is narrow-minded. If he is not given an official position, he might start a rebellion. If he is given an official position, he will form a clique and engage in self-interest!"
Liu Xuan said, looking at Liu Fu.
Liu Fu thought for a moment and said slowly, "There were only four dukes when our dynasty was founded. So let's promote him to the next level, from Marquis of Linjing to Duke of Linjing! If he wants to be an official, then we can make him the Minister of Rites and the title of Grand Tutor! Let him do it all at once!"
"Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites is now Shanhai!"
He Zhi reminded.
The position of Taifu was originally a nominal one and no one had ever held it. It doesn't matter if he is just given a big hat now.
"Doesn't Shanhai want to live in seclusion in the mountains? Isn't that exactly what he wants?"
"Your Highness is right, let's do it!"
He Zhi felt that this arrangement was just right.
Most of the Ministry of Rites’ affairs are related to the emperor.
The emperor is his grandson, so of course he has to do it well.
Moreover, he holds many high-ranking officials and has a narrow mind. When the prince encounters difficulties, it is difficult for him to step forward. It is just right for him to ask his grandfather for help, and he can also help the prince deal with many problems.
Prince Anping’s move is indeed powerful!
"We have the imperial edict now, but the emperor is still alive, so we should draft another one to allow the crown prince to temporarily take over the government and officially designate the regent ministers!"
Liu Xuan said.
"Yes, write it right away!"
He Zhi took the lead and immediately wrote another edict.
He was the emperor's teacher, so naturally his level was very high.
In order to avoid conflict between the two edicts, the secret edict written by Yang Ke was copied again.
"The Six Princes are now using the name of purging the imperial court. Shouldn't we also issue a manifesto in the name of the Emperor to punish the rebels?"
Liu Xuan asked.
"Of course, this is what Taibao is best at!" said Liu Fu.
"Okay!" He Zhi picked up the paper and pen beside him and started writing in regular script without thinking.
He Zhi was like this. In the court, when it was necessary to smooth things over, he was a master at it.
When it's time to make a decision, be decisive.
After He Zhi finished writing, Prince Anping took another look and said, "I will read out these two secret decrees in Mingguang Hall tomorrow, and the anti-rebel manifesto will be read out by Prince Jingnan!"
"it is good!"
Several people agreed.
"Yang Ke, notify Song Xian immediately, without wasting a moment. Have officials of the third rank and above wait in the Minguang Palace at 9:00 PM tomorrow! As for those bedridden, they don't have to come!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Prince Jingnan, you must immediately sort out the battle situation and deployment details, and report to the Crown Prince as soon as he returns to the palace!"
"Yes, Uncle Wang!"
"Grand Protector, you must immediately sort out the important rules and regulations of the court that will be used immediately. After the Crown Prince returns to the palace, pick out the important ones and teach them to him!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Then see you in the morning!"
After Liu Fu finished speaking, he looked at the sky outside.
The sun sets early in the summer, and the east is already slightly bright.