When Duke Zhen Guo and Marquis Xuan Ping learned that Emperor Wu of Zhou had summoned He Xiang, Taishi Liu and General Song alone, they guessed that it was for the purpose of adding pearls on behalf of the king.
At this time, in the East Palace, Zhenguo Zheng was talking to the prince.
While they were talking, Lu Cong, the eunuch beside the prince, came in and reported respectfully to the prince and the Duke: "Your Highness, Duke, He Xiang and the others have not come out of the imperial study room yet."
The prince was surprised: "It's almost noon, why haven't you come out yet?"
After the morning court, Emperor Wu of Zhou called He Xiang and Taishi Liu to the imperial study. It was almost noon, and Emperor Zhou Wu had not let them out yet. What were Emperor Zhou Wu and the three of them talking about this morning.
Zheng Guogong asked: "Have you ever heard about the reason why the emperor summoned He Xiang and them?"
Lu Cong bowed his waist and lowered his head and said: "My lord, the people in Chengguang Palace are too strict with their mouths. We can't get any information at all."
Duke Zhen Guo also knew that it would be difficult to get news about Emperor Wu of Zhou from the people in Chengguang Hall.
"Are there any sounds of arguing in the imperial study?"
Lu Cong replied: "No, I heard from the people in Chengguang Palace that the emperor, He Xiang and the three of them had a very happy chat, and there was constant laughter in the imperial study."
The prince looked stunned: "Continuous laughter?"
"It seems that the emperor is in a good mood." Zhen Guogong looked at Lu Cong and ordered, "Go and find out more."
"Yes, Duke." Lu Cong stepped back respectfully.
"Grandpa, why did the emperor see you? Are they not here to add pearls on behalf of the king?"
The Duke of Zhen Guo stroked his beard and said: "We have been arguing about Dai Wang Jiazhu for several days. Seeing Dai Wang immediately return to the court, this matter must be concluded. The emperor summoned He Xiang and the others today must be for Dai Wang Jiazhu. "
The prince asked again: "Then do you think He Xiang and others will agree to add beads to the king?"
"Xiang He, Taishi Liu, and General Song will probably not agree to add pearls to the king." Duke Zhenguo said with a smile, "In the past few days, Marquis Xuanping has been sending people to visit Xiang He and the others, just to let He Xiang and others. Xiang and the others agreed to add beads on behalf of the king, but He Xiang and the others closed the door tightly and no one could be seen."
"He Xiang and the others have never participated in the fight between me and the king." The prince had always wanted to win over He Xiang and the others. As long as He Xiang and the others support him, then he no longer has to worry about the acting king. Unfortunately it didn't work out.
Zhenguo Justice said: "He Xiang and the others will not participate in the fight between you and the King Dai, but He Xiang and the others secretly support you."
"Support me?" The prince asked in surprise, "How have He Xiang and the others ever supported me?" In the court, He Xiang and the others never showed support for him, nor did they have any intention of getting close to him.
"You are the prince and the crown prince of a country. Mr. He and the others will not support adding beads to the king on behalf of the king." In the past few days, the court was quarreling over whether to add beads to the king on behalf of the king. The people of Dai Wang's party showed an aura of being determined to win, which made many ministers who supported the prince panic. However, Zhen Guogong was very calm from the beginning to the end, because he knew in his heart that even if Emperor Wu of Zhou agreed to give Dai Wang a bead, he would not be able to win. But He Xiang and the others would never agree. "He Xiang and the others know in their hearts the harm that adding pearls to the king will bring to the court. Although the king has made many achievements on the battlefield in these years, no matter how many military achievements he has made, he cannot surpass you. You are not only the emperor. The eldest son is still the legitimate son, while the acting king is the concubine."
"Back then, He Xiang and others suggested that the emperor make you the crown prince. It can be said that you were the prince selected by He Xiang and others. As long as you don't commit any treason, He Xiang and others will not agree to replace you on behalf of the king."
After hearing what Duke Zhen Guo said, the prince immediately felt relieved.
"That's why, grandpa, you told me not to do anything."
The Duke of Zhen Guo nodded slightly: "Well, it would be best for you to do nothing at this time."
"But, grandpa, my father has always favored and reused King Dai. King Dai has made great achievements in Liangzhou's victory this time, which is greater than what he has done before. It is impossible for my father not to reward him with anything. He has made great achievements in these years. He has received all the rewards he deserves, even the fiefdom is getting bigger year by year, and my father has nothing left to reward him, currently only Jiazhu."
In the past few years, Liangzhou has been unrest, and the rebels from the previous dynasty continued to harass Liangzhou. Before Dai Wang went to Liangzhou, other soldiers also went to Liangzhou to quell the rebellion, and won a victory, expelling the rebels from Liangzhou. As a result, they did not have peace for two days, and the rebels came back again.
Liangzhou has a special geographical location. The terrain in the state is steep and tortuous, plus there are many mountains and forests. As soon as the rebel army was defeated, they fled into the mountains. It's really difficult to catch them all in one go. You can only wait for them to come out and beat them.
For so many years, Liangzhou's rebel army and the imperial army played cat and mouse, making the imperial court very annoyed with them, but they could not completely eliminate them.
The rebel army has been hiding and has not developed much strength. However, last year, the rebel army suddenly expanded a lot, and suddenly there were two to three hundred thousand troops.
Originally, in the eyes of the imperial court, the rebels in Liangzhou were just snakes and rats. Although they were hateful, they were not enough to become a serious problem for the imperial court. However, when the rebel army in Liangzhou turned into an army of two to three hundred thousand people, it became a great threat to the imperial court.
Neither Emperor Wu of Zhou nor the ministers allowed the rebel army in Liangzhou to grow again, let alone occupy Liangzhou.
Liangzhou is right next to Yongzhou, which is at the gate of the capital. Once Liangzhou is controlled by the rebels, it will be like a knife stuck at the door of the capital. The most important thing is Liangzhou, which is rich in products, whether it is grain, ore, or horses.
The loss of Liangzhou was a fatal blow to the imperial court, so Emperor Wu of Zhou sent the acting king to Liangzhou to quell the rebellion. Before Dai Wang went to Liangzhou, Emperor Wu of Zhou gave him a death order, asking him to completely eradicate the rebellion in Liangzhou.
King Dai did not disappoint Emperor Wu of Zhou. When he arrived in Liangzhou, he first gave the rebels a showdown. In the next few months, Dai Wang fought countless battles with the rebel army, and each time the rebel army was defeated.
The rebel army did not expect that although King Dai was young, his combat ability was very powerful, much more powerful than the soldiers who came to Liangzhou to quell the rebellion before. They are no match for King Dai.
This victory in Liangzhou was a complete victory. It uprooted the rebel army that had been hiding in Liangzhou and spared no one.
King Dai completely eliminated the rebellion in Liangzhou this time, which was a great contribution to the court in resolving this serious problem.
"The Dai Wang has made too many contributions, and his arrogance has become more and more arrogant, even approaching you. If you add more beads to the Dai Wang, it will definitely make the Dai Wang even more arrogant and proud. By then, the Dai Wang will cause trouble in the court and shake the peace of the world. This is not What Xiang He and the others want to see." Zhen Guo Gong said firmly, "Xiang He and the others will never agree to Jiazhu on behalf of the king."
"I'm afraid of my father..." Thinking of Emperor Zhou Wu's favor and importance to King Dai in the past few years, the prince's lips raised a bitter smile, "Grandpa, you also know what King Dai has wanted in recent years. My father will give it to him. My father has always said that the king is most like him. I am afraid that in my heart, I have long wanted the king to replace me. "
"Even if the emperor thinks so, the emperor would not dare to do this." Duke Zhen Guo comforted the prince and said, "You are the prince personally appointed by the emperor. As long as you do not commit treason and injustice, the emperor will not dare to depose you. Besides, why I hope they won't agree. Don't worry about the matter of Jiazhu, the acting king."
"Grandfather, once the king returns to the capital, our situation will become dangerous." The prince narrowed his eyes slightly, and a cold murderous intention flashed in his eyes.
Duke Zhenguo understood what the prince meant. He waved his hand and said disapprovingly: "The king has made a great contribution this time. He must not have anything happen to him on his way back to the capital. Once something happens to him, you will be the first to be suspected. Then your reputation will be ruined.”
"I... really don't want King Dai to return to Beijing." Once King Dai returns to Beijing, his situation as the crown prince will become awkward.
"It's not a bad thing to return to the capital on behalf of the king." Zhen Guogong said meaningfully, "Let him suppress you, let him be proud and arrogant."
When the prince heard this, he asked in surprise: "Let the king suppress me? Grandfather, haven't I been suppressed by the king enough in the past few years?"
"A proper show of weakness will have unexpected effects..." Duke Zhen Guo said softly to the prince.
The prince was stunned for a while after hearing this. After he finished listening, he had a look of enlightenment on his face, and then said in surprise: "Grandpa, your trick is really good."
"Let's just wait for the King to return to the capital."
