"Dad, don't say anything, just have a good rest. Your health will get better day by day."
Zhao Hong said before Zhao Kuo could speak.
He really couldn't bear to see a familiar old man suffering so much from his illness, and he had to work so hard to worry about such nonsense.
"With your filial piety, Daddy will be satisfied. Help me up."
Zhao Hong quickly stepped forward, helped Zhao Kuo up, and leaned back on the couch.
Zhao Kuo looked at Zhao Hong with a gentle expression, but there was pain in his eyes.
"It has been thirty years since my father ascended the throne in the fifth year of Shaoxi. He was first appointed Han Yuzhou, and succeeded Shi Miyuan. The two traitors dominated the country, and the power of our Song Dynasty declined day by day. My father has been a puppet all his life, and even the roll call of Jinshi was the queen. We listen to the government behind the curtain, and when the concubine is pregnant, we will make the adopted son the prince. Some people ridicule that my father is virtuous but not talented, and a waste, which is really heart-breaking."
Zhao Kuo looked at the stunned Zhao Hong, with bitterness in his eyes, but more expectation.
"I want everyone in the world to know that although I am useless and have been a coward all my life, the crown prince of the Song Dynasty that I chose is actually a great and wise king. If you can lead your army to the north, you will be the first emperor in history to restore the mountains and rivers of the Song Dynasty! My child, can you bear this heavy burden?"
He stared at Zhao Hong with hope in his eyes.
"Don't worry, dad. The child will definitely recover to the Central Plains and live up to dad's high hopes!"
Zhao Hong squeezed Zhao Kuo's cold hand and said solemnly.
At this time, he didn't want Zhao Kuo to be disappointed.
"Okay! My child, I want you to swear in front of my bed that you will restore the old rivers and mountains of the Song Dynasty, restore the Central Plains, and move my corpse back to the land of our ancestors!"
Zhao Kuo's eyes were extremely warm.
Zhao Hong knelt in front of the couch and spoke word by word with a firm tone.
"Your Majesty, I swear that when I ascend the throne in the future, I will do my best to lead the Song Dynasty out of the predicament and restore the Central Plains. Horses will trample Yanran, wolves will be sealed in Xu, and the boundary monument of the Song Dynasty will be erected in the Western Regions, Mobei, and the South China Sea. Earth, let everyone in the world know that anyone who offends me and the Song Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away they are!"
"Okay, okay! Baby, get up quickly!"
Zhao Kuo said three good words in a row, and his whole face turned red.
"If this can be done, dad can rest assured."
Zhao Kuo said something quietly, and Zhao Hong felt uncomfortable, but he didn't know how to speak.
Who in the world can resist birth, old age, illness and death?
"My child, I want to test you. Do you know what is the biggest malpractice of our Song Dynasty?"
Zhao Kuo looked at Zhao Hong, as if he was testing his cognition.
"Dad, do you want your child to tell the truth?"
Zhao Hong raised his head with sincere eyes.
"There is no need to beat around the bush between you and me, father and son."
Zhao Kuo's eyes are eager
"Dad, please forgive me for your arrogance. The biggest drawback of this dynasty is the ancestral law and the lack of imperial power."
Zhao Hong took a long breath and concluded decisively.
"Speak more carefully!"
Zhao Kuo leaned forward and his eyes lit up.
Zhao Hong was secretly frightened. Zhao Hong was in good and bad spirits. Why did he feel that his life was in danger at any time.
"Dad, according to the laws of our ancestors, the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats ruled the world together. As a result, the imperial power was greatly weakened, and the scholar-bureaucrats became the dominant family. The Song Dynasty seemed to be prosperous, but it was the prosperity of the scholar-officials and gentry. The country was weak and the people were poor. The shortcomings of the Song Dynasty, It all stems from this. Since ancient times, the king is the king, and the ministers are ministers. It has always been the emperor's arbitrary decision. How can there be a saying that the king and his ministers rule the world together? "
Zhao Hong slowly said it based on the knowledge of later generations.
"Just like my father, the mighty Emperor of the Song Dynasty was restrained by the scholar-bureaucrats of the Manchu Dynasty and confined to the small palace of Lin'an City. How can we govern the world when the king is weak and the other is strong? The scholar-bureaucrats colluded with the gentry, and most of the country's wealth was lost. Gathered in his hands. The people are in poverty, the treasury is empty, and the military is weak, this is the ironclad proof."
“There are many disadvantages, but how to solve them?”
Zhao Kuo's eyes became brighter and his breathing became rapid.
Zhao Hong's words were enlightening and spoke to his heart.
Wasn't he just ignored by powerful ministers and served as a puppet emperor for thirty years?
"Daddy, your body..."
"I can still hold on. Tell me quickly, do you have a good solution?"
Zhao Kuo urged Zhao Hong, looking a little tired.
"Dad, the solution to this problem cannot be solved in one sentence. But by promoting martial arts, forging firearms, training new armies, and popularizing education, in less than ten or twenty years, the imperial examinations will become increasingly rare. By then, both civil and military personnel will be ready. If the country's limbs are healthy, it will naturally embark on the road of self-reliance."
To run universities and establish higher education, scholar-bureaucrats have stepped down from their lofty altars. The most important thing is that the divine right of kings must be strengthened.
Isn't it nonsense that kings and scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together?
"Universal education? Wouldn't this mean more officials?"
Although Zhao Hong was tired, Zhao Hong's words aroused his interest.
"Universal education is important in opening up people's wisdom and cultivating practical talents. For example, iron smelting, shipbuilding, water conservancy, astronomy, criminal justice, taxation, etc. are not all used to be officials, agriculture, industry, business, and all walks of life. They all need professional people to do professional things. Unlike today’s officials, who only make money as officials and feed the common people, they are actually useless.”
Replace the imperial examination with compulsory education and higher education, use the wisdom of the people to control the rhetoric of the scholar-officials, use the elite of the whole people to fight against the few elites of the scholar-officials, and use the concentration of imperial power to replace the king and the scholar-officials to rule the world together.
"You are talking about practical learning, right? Being targeted is better than the Four Books and Five Classics. But with so many official positions, how to arrange so many scholars? If not handled properly, will it cause commotion?"
Zhao Kuo asked softly, seeing that his eyes were cloudy, as if he was suppressing pain and fatigue.
"Dad asked a good question. The Song Dynasty has a small land area and insufficient flexibility. For the survival of our people in the Song Dynasty, we need a larger living space. Three acres of land for one person is completely different from thirty acres of land for one person. This requires Better soldiers, better weapons. This brings back the military."
"You should tell me."
Zhao Kuo was attracted by Zhao Hong's words and cheered up.
"In the military, we can establish an armament school to train professional officers batch after batch. It won't take long. Not only will the quality of the officers be greatly improved, but it will also help to suppress the feudal towns..."
The chat box was opened, Zhao Hong was very interested, and wanted to continue talking, Zhao Kuo gently held Zhao Hong's hand, exhausted.
"My child, what you said is very good. Daddy just wants to test you. Listening to what you said, it seems that we have countermeasures, so Daddy is relieved."
Zhao Kuo looked at Zhao Hong with relief, but his hands were cold.
Zhao Hong couldn't help being shocked, and squeezed Zhao Kuo's hand with both hands.
It's a pity that he doesn't know martial arts, can't open up the Ren and Du channels, and there is no Nine Yang Magic in the world.
"Your mother has been here several times in the past few days and talked to me about many things. Some of the things she said were also considered necessary by my father."
Zhao Kuo turned his head sideways and glanced at the back of his head.
"Kid, take it out."
Zhao Hong took back his hand, stood up, and took out a round stick-shaped cloth bag about one foot long from behind Zhao Kuo's jade pillow.
"Dad, is this the bag?"
Zhao Hong asked in surprise.
"Hide it and look again when you go back! Remember, you can't let anyone else see it!"
Zhao Kuo's eyes suddenly shined with excitement.
"My son, I will keep this in mind!"
Zhao Hong quickly took it and looked at Zhao Kuo, who seemed very tired.
"Dad, do you want to call the imperial doctor over?"
Seeing Zhao Kuo's exhausted look, Zhao Hong asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about anything else! Hurry and hide it!"
Zhao Kuo stared at Zhao Hong with a very anxious expression.
Zhao Hong hid the cloth bag under his arm and felt it was stiff, as if it was...
Fortunately, the clothes I wear in winter are thick and can't be seen from the outside.
"Dad, hide it!"
Zhao Hong suppressed the waves in his heart and said softly.
Subconsciously, he felt that this thing might change his destiny.
What did his stepmother Yu say to Zhao Kuo?
"Dad has done everything he needs to do, now it's up to you."
Seeing that Zhao Hong had hidden the bag, Zhao Kuo was relieved. He waved his hands tiredly, sweating profusely and exhausted.
"Go back, daddy needs to rest."
What needs to be done, he has done. As for the future, it is up to Zhao Hong himself.
"Dad, take care of yourself. I will bring my grandson to see you someday."
Zhao Hong wiped Zhao Kuo's sweat, covered him with a quilt, and retreated gently.
When I walked to the entrance of the main hall, I happened to see Yang Guizhi coming in with a group of palace people, and they met each other.
"Prince, you are here too."
Yang Guizhi glanced at Zhao Hong coldly and swept his eyes around his body.
"Mother, I learned that my father was unwell, so I came here to visit."
Zhao Hong bowed and looked gloomy.
In front of this shrewd woman, at this moment, he did not dare to show any flaws.
From the history, when Zhao Kuo died, Shi Miyuan repeatedly advised her to "change the civet cat for the prince". It can be seen that she did not know about Shi Miyuan's activities.
But she could agree to this matter because her selfishness still prevailed. It also shows that she will not stand on her side.
From the moment she withheld her appointment as the Imperial City Secretary, to the sarcastic remarks made by the crown prince on the day he took office, Zhao Hong repeatedly warned himself not to have any luck or illusions about this ruthless empress of the Song Dynasty.
"The prince is interested."
Perhaps seeing the tears on Zhao Hong's face, Yang Guizhi nodded lightly.
This arrogant piece of trash has some conscience.
"Li Gu, why don't you lead the way?"
The maid Cuizhu next to her raised her voice and glanced at Zhao Hong a few times.
Zhao Hong raised his head and noticed that Cuizhu, with picturesque features and slender figure, was looking at him with wide eyes, and couldn't help but be startled.
Yang Guizhi's attention was no longer on Zhao Hong, nor did he notice Cuizhu's expression.
"Mother, please!"
Li Gu glanced at Zhao Hong secretly, bowed his head, and led Yang Guizhi and his party in.
Cuizhu saluted Zhao Hong and followed with a blushing face.
The figure who was sending Yang Guizhi off disappeared, and Zhao Hong turned around and muttered to himself.
That beautiful woman has pretty features, a slender waist, and a good figure. Why is she staring at me?
How long has it been, and I am still in the mood to look at beautiful women?
Zhao Hong shook his head mockingly and left quickly.
Back in the East Palace, Zhou Xiuniang was waiting anxiously. Zhao Hong asked Li Tang to guard the door of the study, while he and Zhou Xiuniang went in and closed the door.
Zhao Hong took out the cloth bag from his armpit and carefully cut it open, revealing something yellow.
"Holy... decree!"
Zhou Xiuniang cried out in surprise.
"Shh!"
Zhao Hong quickly made a "silence" gesture and opened it with trembling hands. The couple were shocked when they saw the contents of the imperial edict.
Zhao Hong's eyes were hot, and Zhou Xiuniang covered her mouth with tears.
Zhao Hong patted his wife's back gently, and his own heart could not help but beat wildly.
His stepmother was really perceptive and loved her son so much that she persuaded the confused "father" Zhao Kuo to leave this life-saving Shangfang sword.
"...Sages are wise, and there is no escape from ancient times...I am physically weak, and my heirs are in trouble, and I have suffered from it...The prince Yan Nian, Zhao Hong, has an honest and honest nature, thrift, benevolence and filial piety...Zhao Hong succeeded me as the ruler and succeeded me to the throne. Succession to the throne of the emperor... Xianshi reported..."
On this succession edict written by Zhao Kuo himself, the jade seal and red seal are clearly visible.
This succession edict may really be able to turn things around at a critical moment.
"Your Highness, Xu Sheng is back."
Li Tang's voice sounded softly outside.
"Let him in!"
Zhao Hong regained his energy, put away the imperial edict, and nodded towards Zhou Xiuniang.
"Xiu Niang, be careful that the walls have ears!"
Zhou Xiuniang nodded, wiped her tears, and left the study with light steps.
Of course she would not reveal anything about this top-secret matter.
"Your Highness, Zhang San has sent word that arrangements have been made outside. Once things change, take action immediately."
Xu Sheng came in and reported in a low voice.
Zhao Hong nodded slightly.
Zhou Ping and Zhang San were watching outside, and now with this edict, everything was ready, just waiting for emergencies.
