Chapter 278 Zen Position
Shen Xianggong said: "Your Majesty, I have also heard rumors about cement. If it is really as magical as the rumors say, it is feasible to build a Great Wall in the north while the Liao Dynasty is in turmoil. However, it will cost a lot to build a Great Wall that stretches for hundreds of miles. Now the treasury is empty and there is no such money!"
"There is still some money in the sealing pile treasury left by Emperor Taizu. This is a rare opportunity. We will have a barrier to defend in the north of the Great Wall. Even if we spend all the money in the sealing pile treasury, it will be worth it!" said the official.
"Your Majesty, it is freezing cold in the north now. Even if we want to build the Great Wall, there is no need to send more troops to the north at this time, right?" Hu Zhongyan said.
The emperor ignored him and said to Han Zhang, "Go on, my Lord."
"Yes!"
Han Zhang responded and talked about the purpose of sending more troops to the north now.
What Han Zhang said was almost the same as what Zhao Xing had said to the emperor before.
There is no stupid person who can do what the husband does. Although they don't understand the art of war, Han Zhang has explained it so clearly, so they naturally understand the benefits of increasing the troops now.
Seeing that no one had any more objections, the emperor looked at Yang Jin, the envoy of the Privy Council, and asked, "Who do you think is best to lead the troops, Mr. Yang?"
Yang Jin hesitated for a moment when he heard this. If the Great Wall was built in the north, then the original garrisons in the north would be responsible for the section near their respective cities.
The person who is sent to lead the troops now will be responsible for commanding the overall situation.
One must have both ability and prestige, and among the military generals only Duke Ying and Marquis Ningyuan have this qualification.
But the Duke of England already had a very high prestige and had made contributions in the north last year.
Ning Yuanhou has been ill at home for these years.
Suppressing military generals was a tacit understanding formed almost silently by all civil officials.
If the lord holds an idle position, everyone will naturally keep out of their own business.
However, since the lord holds a military position with real power, suppression is inevitable.
Not to mention that the Duke of Yingguo is also the father-in-law of Crown Prince Zhao Xing.
In fact, although the Queen of the Song Dynasty chose the daughter of a family with military honors in order to appease the military honors, her original intention was actually to suppress the military honors.
For example, Cao Huanggong’s maternal family, the Duke of Wei, were descendants of famous generals who founded the country.
When Empress Cao became the empress, it seemed that the Cao family was valued, but in fact it was not the case.
Cao An served as the commander-in-chief of the Palace Front, in charge of the imperial guards, while his two legitimate sons served in the Eastern Palace, in charge of the imperial guards.
As a result, the Cao family's influence in the military became increasingly weaker.
Seeing Yang Jin hesitate to speak, the emperor said, "Duke Ying made great contributions in the north last year. He just returned not long ago and is very familiar with the situation on the northern border. Duke Ying will lead 100,000 troops to the north, and Deputy Envoy of the Privy Council Chen Yao will serve as the military supervisor!"
"Your Majesty is wise, and I also think that the Duke of England is the most suitable!" Yang Jin breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that.
There were two deputy envoys of the Privy Council, Chen Yao was a civil official and the other deputy envoy was a military general.
But in terms of rank, Chen Yao is no higher than the Duke of England.
However, the Privy Council is in charge of the mobilization of troops throughout the country, and in terms of authority, Chen Yao is the superior of the Duke of England.
The Duke of England is in charge of the military, and Chen Yao, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, serves as the military supervisor and can also restrict the Duke of England.
Then they discussed some trivial matters such as the transfer of food and fodder, and the emperor asked everyone to leave on the grounds of fatigue.
Zhao Xing did not leave, but stayed by the bed to serve him.
After the official took the medicine, he fell asleep soon after.
Zhao Xing lifted the quilt for his father and felt relieved when he heard that his father's breathing was steady.
After walking out of the bedroom, Zhao Xing closed the door gently, told the palace maids and eunuchs to keep a close eye on him, and then left.
Zhao Xing did not leave the palace, but went to the Imperial Hospital and found Imperial Physician Xu.
"Your Highness, is there something wrong with the emperor?" Imperial Physician Xu asked hurriedly when he saw Zhao Xing coming.
"My father has taken the medicine and fallen asleep. I came here because I have something to ask Imperial Physician Xu." Zhao Xing said.
Hearing this, Imperial Physician Xu smiled bitterly in his heart. He had already guessed the purpose of Zhao Xing's visit, and said sideways: "Your Highness, please come this way!"
Imperial Physician Xu took Zhao Xing to a room and asked him to sit down. Without waiting for Zhao Xing to speak, he took the initiative to ask, "Your Highness, would you like to ask about the emperor's health?"
"That's right!" Zhao Xing nodded and said, "I want to know the specific condition of my father's health!"
Imperial Physician Xu smiled bitterly and said, "Your Highness should know that the emperor's health condition is top secret, so please don't embarrass me."
The emperor's health condition was of great importance. Even though Zhao Xing was the crown prince, it was taboo to ask about it. "I know I shouldn't ask, but as a son, I'm really worried." Zhao Xing looked at Doctor Xu and said, "Father is the only son of mine. I'm asking this out of filial piety. If Doctor Xu is unwilling to tell me, if something happens to Father, I don't know what I will do then."
Imperial Physician Xu felt very embarrassed when he heard this. He naturally heard the threat in Zhao Xing's words.
He said that if the government knew about it, they might not let him go.
But if he doesn't say it, Zhao Xing will not let him go when he ascends the throne in the future.
Imperial Physician Xu was in a dilemma, and Zhao Xing did not urge him. He just looked at him indifferently.
"Ugh!"
Imperial Doctor Xu sighed inwardly and said, "Your Highness is so filial, I cannot bear to deceive you."
He hesitated for a long time, but finally decided to tell Zhao Xing.
If he told the emperor, the emperor might not do anything to him, but if he didn't, Zhao Xing would definitely not let him go.
He didn't dare gamble with the lives of his entire family.
"Thank you, Imperial Physician Xu." Zhao Xing said, "Don't worry, I will go and admit my fault to my father, and I will not implicate Imperial Physician Xu."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" After bowing his head in thanks, Doctor Xu said, "Your Majesty suffered a great blow in the early years due to the successive deaths of his sons. He has also worked hard for many years and has become ill from overwork. His body has long been unable to bear the burden. If he can put aside all affairs and take good care of himself, he can extend his life by several years. But if..."
Having said this, Imperial Physician Xu stopped.
Zhao Xing's face turned pale. He naturally understood what Imperial Physician Xu meant.
If my father continues to work so hard, I'm afraid he won't live long.
After a long while, Zhao Xing came back to his senses and said, "Thank you, Imperial Doctor Xu, for telling me!"
After saying that, he stood up and walked out.
The best way now is to let my father abdicate, but will my father be willing to do so?
If I persuade my father to abdicate, will he think that I want the throne?
If my father gets angry about this, wouldn't it be counterproductive?
Zhao Xing's mind was in a mess and he didn't know what to do.
And there is no way to discuss this matter with anyone.
…………
"Fuer, are you worried about something?"
The emperor leaned against the head of the bed, and Zhao Xing sat on the edge of the bed, feeding his father medicine.
It is said that no one knows a son better than his father. The emperor noticed that there was something wrong with Zhao Xing's expression.
"What else could I worry about? I'm just worried about my father's health." Zhao Xing forced a smile.
"Fu'er is very filial." The emperor smiled and said, "Didn't the imperial physician Xu say that I'm fine?"
Zhao Xing's eyes turned red when he heard this, and he said, "Father, please don't hide it from me. I have asked Dr. Xu about your health condition."
The emperor was not angry when he heard this. He smiled and wiped Zhao Xing's tears and said, "Fu'er, you are the crown prince and will be the emperor of all the people in the world in the future. How can you act like a little girl?"
"In front of your Majesty, I am just an ordinary son. I only hope that you can live a long life so that I can fulfill my filial duty." Zhao Xing said.
"Haha, there's a chance." The emperor smiled and said, "I plan to abdicate to you."
The official's tone was very calm, as if he was not talking about the throne.
Zhao Xing was shocked when he heard this. It took him a while to come back to his senses. He said, "Father, I didn't mean that. I will be the regent, and you can just focus on your studies."
This was a more compromising solution he came up with.
With him as regent, his father could rest assured and recuperate.
He was worried that his father would abdicate suddenly, and he would not be able to let it go, which would be detrimental to his self-cultivation.
I was still thinking about how to talk to my father, but who would have thought that he actually wanted to abdicate.
The emperor waved his hand and said, "I originally wanted to do more to make it easier for you after you succeed to the throne. Unfortunately, my father's health is not good. Even if he holds on, he won't be able to hold on for much longer."
"Father..." Zhao Xing's eyes turned red.
Although his father had a smile on his face, Zhao Xing could still hear loneliness and unwillingness in his father's words.
The emperor smiled and said, "I have been on the throne for forty years. How many emperors in history have been emperors longer than me? I have been emperor for long enough. It is time for me to take a good rest."
(End of this chapter)