"Dad, my mother's side..."
Zhao Hong was about to speak but stopped, but Zhao Kuo knew it well and gave Zhao Hong peace of mind.
"Don't worry, she knows Zhao Guicheng well. She hates flattery and being clever. But she seems to have a deep prejudice against you, and I think it will be difficult to eliminate it in the short term."
Zhao Hong was secretly embarrassed.
Yang Guizhi is smart and capable, and hates people trying to be clever. Like Zhao Guicheng, everything he does cannot escape Yang Guizhi's eyes.
If you want to ease the relationship with Yang Guizhi, you might as well forget it.
"I called you into the palace today because I have something to do. I want to hear what you think."
Zhao Kuo took out a memorial from his arms and handed it over.
"This is Shi Miyuan's book. Take it and take a look."
"Your Majesty, I don't dare!"
Zhao Hong quickly declined.
It has always been Qiankun's arbitrary decision, and Yubi personally approved it, so that he, a transparent person, can see it, which makes him really flattered.
He is not even a prince, he is just a prince who will be "changed from a civet cat to a prince" at any time.
Isn't this a tip to recommend Zhao Guicheng to the Imperial City Division?
Subconsciously, Zhao Hong looked around.
The surrounding pavilions and gardens hide so many coveting and prying eyes.
"I tell you to watch it, just watch it!"
Zhao Kuo's brows wrinkled slightly.
"My child will obey the orders!"
Zhao Hong stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and took the memorial.
"Imperial City Secretary? Zhao Guicheng, the heir of King Yi?"
Zhao Hong unfolded the memorial, looked at it carefully, and pretended to be surprised.
"That's right! Shi Miyuan asked Zhao Guicheng, the heir of King Yi, to promote the Imperial City Division, and the queen did not object. What do you think?"
Zhao Kuo looked ahead and remained calm.
Zhao Hong was secretly frightened, presented the book, bowed and said:
"Your Majesty Qiankun is arbitrary, I dare not speak nonsense."
Only Zhao Kuo made the decision in this matter, and it would be inappropriate for him to speak out on his own.
The Imperial City Department is in charge of the ban on entry and exit of the imperial palace. It is also responsible for guarding the various palaces in the imperial city and during the opening and closing of the palace gates. It is also responsible for detecting the situation in the army and preventing conspiracies and disturbances. It is the emperor's personal bodyguard, just like the imperial guards of the Ming Dynasty. .
Zhao Guicheng took control of the Imperial City Division, which meant that the entire Imperial City of Lin'an City, including the emperor, was under Zhao Guicheng's supervision.
To be precise, it was under Shi Miyuan's control.
Shi Miyuan's trick seems to be for the sake of the royal family, but in fact it is because of his heart.
"In the past two years, Shi Miyuan and the ministers of the DPRK have been nagging in my ears repeatedly, saying good things about Zhao Guicheng, such as being loyal, filial, knowledgeable and courteous, and having visions. My ears can hear the cocoon. coming."
Zhao Kuo looked calm and spoke slowly, as if he was talking about another person's affairs.
Zhao Hong was secretly shocked.
While he was working hard to build momentum, the opponent was not idle either. He had already begun to build momentum for his competitor, and it had affected Zhao Kuo.
He is fighting alone, but the other party has a large number of people and controls the palace. It is really frustrating to say that.
"Your Majesty, King Yi's heir is loyal and honest, and he is also filial. With him in charge of the Imperial City Department, Your Majesty can rest assured."
At this time, Zhao Hong could only say something against his will.
The emperor's heart is unpredictable. If he speaks ill of King Yi, he may be seen as jealous of his talents.
Sure enough, Zhao Hong's words made Zhao Kuo laugh softly.
"How long has it been, and you still worry about others. You, sometimes are not very honest, but I know there is nothing you can do about it."
Zhao Kuo shook his head gently. Who knows whether Zhao Hong is speaking from his heart.
However, this is good, as it shows that this boy has some skills and is not easily fooled and plotted by others.
"In front of me, there is no need to be secretive. I am afraid that in this world, you and I are the only ones who have a heart-to-heart relationship."
Zhao Kuo sighed. He had been ill for a long time, and it seemed that it was urgent to establish the crown prince of the East Palace.
Zhao Hong is the prince and Zhao Guicheng is the emperor's nephew. Of course, setting up a prince means setting up a prince.
Moreover, Zhao Hong's talent, age, and practical performance are more reassuring than Zhao Guicheng.
However, if he wants to establish the crown prince of the East Palace and the crown prince of a country, what will the Queen and Shi Miyuan think?
"Zhao Hong, you have been made a prince for four years, but you have never been made a prince. Do you have any complaints in your heart?"
Zhao Kuo's sudden words made Zhao Hong tremble in his heart and sweat broke out on his forehead.
I go!
Which prince doesn't want to be the prince?
Especially considering that Zhao Hong "committed suicide" after being "removed" in history. Is he stupid if he didn't want to be the prince?
"Your Majesty, if your Majesty does not want to make me a prince, then you should depose me and let me go to a foreign land to fend for myself!"
Zhao Hong gritted his teeth and bowed with a sincere tone.
He didn't understand why in history Zhao Kuo didn't make Zhao Hong the crown prince when he was seriously ill? Either Zhao Hongde is not worthy of the position, or Shi Miyuan and Queen Yang cover the sky with one hand and hide it from Zhao Hong?
Zhao Hong's dethronement had something to do with him not being a prince. After all, Shi Miyuan still had to worry about the criticism from both the government and the public.
Today it seems that Zhao Kuo is not a complete puppet. Above the court, he, a great official of the Song Dynasty, still had some influence.
There is always some clarity, and they don't buy into Shi Miyuan and Queen Yang's fault.
"A land of alienation? Will you fend for yourself?"
Zhao Kuo looked at Zhao Hong in surprise and smiled softly.
"Zhao Hong, are you trying to force me into the palace?"
"Your Majesty, I am just protecting myself and have no other intentions. Your Majesty knows this!"
Zhao Hong was shocked, knelt down and kowtowed.
If you can't be a prince, even if you are a prince, you won't be manipulated by Shi Miyuan at will. Either you become the emperor, or you go far away, avoid Shi Miyuan's sphere of influence and save your life.
"Zhao Hong, it's too cold to be in high places. Once virtue is not matched, it will be a disaster for the country and the people."
Zhao Kuo looked ahead and said softly, as if mumbling to himself.
After a moment, he looked at Zhao Hong with bright eyes.
"Zhao Hong, is the position of Crown Prince really that important to you?"
Is it really that important?
Really important! It’s fatally important!
"Your Majesty, I want to be the heir, firstly to avoid disaster, and secondly for the sake of the Song Dynasty. As your Majesty said, it is too cold to be at high places. What I also want to say is that if you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight. King It is not power, nor glory and wealth, but more responsibility, the responsibility to enrich the country and strengthen the army, the responsibility for the people to live a good life, the responsibility to save the Song Dynasty court, and the responsibility to restore the old mountains and rivers."
Zhao Hong knelt on the ground and said seriously.
"The Tatars have strong soldiers and horses, and they are invincible, and everything they pass is in ruins. Our Song Dynasty is a blessed land, prosperous and rich, and the Tatars have long coveted it. In less than ten years, the Tatars will destroy the Xia Dynasty and destroy the Jin Dynasty. Our Song Dynasty and the Tatars will There will be fierce battles between the two countries. If we don’t strengthen our troops earlier, I’m afraid the country will be destroyed by then!”
After Zhao Hong finished speaking, he kowtowed heavily. He raised his head and Zhao Kuo met his eyes.
Finally, just when Zhao Hong was about to blink, Zhao Kuo looked away and waved his hand gently.
"Get up and talk."
Zhao Hong's words were so righteous that he was speechless for a moment.
The king is weak and the other is strong, and there are constraints everywhere. He really doesn't know how to answer Zhao Hong.
Zhao Hong got up, stood aside, and stood in silence with his hands down.
"Even if you become the prince, what will happen? The prince's power in this dynasty is weak and it is difficult to control the court. The queen and you are difficult to reconcile for a while. Your character is too stubborn and you have offended so many people. When I think of this, I can't even meditate. Peace of mind.”
Zhao Kuo shook his head and smiled helplessly.
There was finally some expression on his face.
In the court, Shi Miyuan would not let go of anyone who dared to criticize the sky and the earth, and spoke without restraint. He was too fierce and stubborn.
It can be said that Zhao Hong offended the ministers of the DPRK, both those who could be offended and those who could not be offended.
"Your Majesty, if you want to benefit the country whether you want to live or die, how can you avoid it because of misfortunes and blessings? I know that I was young and frivolous in the past, and I offended many people. But if Shi Miyuan continues to control the government and appoints nepotism, the government will surely decline day by day. By then, the Tatar cavalry will Going south, conquering cities and territories, the people are in dire straits. Is this what Your Majesty wants to see?"
Zhao Hong continued to "scaremonger". For these kings born in deep palaces, only by increasing intimidation and instilling apocalyptic crises can they be more cautious and courageous in making choices.
Of course, it is also possible for Zhao Kuo to convict him or even kill his prince. But now that the matter has come to this, all we can do is give it a try.
"If you only care about the country's life and death, why should you avoid it because of misfortunes and blessings? Well said!"
Zhao Kuo nodded and then asked in a trembling voice.
"That...Tatar, are they really that...terrible?"
The Tatar army was at its peak and drove the Jin people to the south of the Yellow River. Hedong, Hebei and Shandong were devastated and uninhabited for hundreds of miles.
If the Tatar army went south, wouldn't the Song Dynasty...
At this time, he couldn't help but think of the monks in the Mongolian army who dug up royal tombs and used the king's skulls as drinking utensils.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars and the Jin people are at war. The entire Hebei and Shanxi are deserted for thousands of miles and corpses are everywhere. If the Tatars go south, what will be the fate of our Song Dynasty court, what will be the fate of the people, and what will be the fate of our Song Dynasty royal family? Is it also possible? Will rivers of blood flow and mountains of corpses pile up? Do we, the royal family of the Song Dynasty, also want to be slaughtered? Will the remains of the kings of the Song Dynasty also be made into drinking utensils?"
Zhao Hong saw Zhao Kuo's face turning pale, so he spoke out while the iron was hot.
The officials of the Song Dynasty who grew up in the palaces with high walls and beautiful articles should not be so strong.
"That's nonsense! Alarmist!"
Sure enough, Zhao Hong's words made Zhao Kuo, who had always been calm and composed, finally change color on his face.
Rivers of blood flowed, corpses piled up like mountains, and everyone was slaughtered. Is this the fate of the Song Dynasty in the future?
The corpses of the kings of the Song Dynasty were also made into drinking utensils, and they would not be able to live in peace after death.
This seems too... cruel.
"Your Majesty, this is not an alarmist statement, but a factual analysis. The Tatars regard killing as a natural principle. The more they kill, the more they kill, and they will be regarded as heroes, which is very different from our Song Dynasty. But the vast majority of courtiers and people have nothing to do with the Tatars. As you know, this is the cause of trouble!”
Zhao Hong was cruel and never flinched.
At this time, if he didn't add fuel to the fire, I'm afraid his fate would be the same as in history: he would be deprived of his position as a prince and eventually be forced to commit suicide.
Zhao Kuo, the official of the Song Dynasty, his "father", may be his only support.
"If Zhao Guicheng succeeds to the throne and is grateful for his support, he will respect Shi Miyuan as his prime minister and let him control the government and stick to the old ways. The Song Dynasty will become increasingly weak and will only be at the mercy of others. At this time of turmoil, it is not about maintaining the status quo. You, the king, need someone with great courage and wisdom, otherwise, the Song Dynasty will be in danger!"
Zhao Hong said it seriously.
What he said was history, without any exaggeration. It was under the rule of Shi Miyuan in the Southern Song Dynasty that the landslide all the way, and under the inertia, it became difficult to return. Finally, it slipped from the cliff and no bones were left.
"Zhao Guicheng? Go down! I will make my own decision!"
Zhao Kuo looked ugly and scolded softly, his usual composure gone.
His face was ugly, and without looking at Zhao Hong, he called the eunuch and pushed himself away.
"I'm reckless! I'm resigning!"
Zhao Hong bowed respectfully and bowed.
"Go back and do your firearms business, don't think too much, just be honest with me, and don't cause any more trouble!"
Zhao Kuo didn't look back and whispered a warning.
"I have issued an order to summon Zhen Dexiu back to the center and ask him to teach you how to cultivate your character and keep a low profile."
"Thank you for my teaching!"
Zhao Hong bowed again.
Zhao Kuo, who could make his heart still, was upset. It seemed that his words hit Zhao Kuo's sore spot.
Apocalyptic crisis? Or use the skull as a drinking utensil?
Could it be that it was because of these few words that Zhao Kuo went berserk?
Jin Deokxiu is finally returning to the DPRK. This seems to be the fruit of victory after all his efforts, and it is worth celebrating.
After all the efforts, the butterfly finally spread its wings. As for the future outcome, we can only continue to rampage and wait and see.
