In the Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion, Huo Zheng summoned the Censor Zhongcheng Gao Zhong to give him instructions.
Gao Zhong stepped forward and said politely: "Master Xiangguo, why are you calling me here?"
Huo Zheng said: "Gao Zhong, in a few days, Guard Du Chen will step down. After you take over as Guard, I plan to let you be the teacher of the new crown prince, and you will be responsible for guiding His Highness how to handle government affairs."
Gao Zhong said in fear: "I will definitely live up to your high expectations, Mr. Prime Minister."
Huo Zheng said: "Well, I am sending you to the Crown Prince, not only to guide His Highness the Crown Prince's government affairs, but also to guide His Highness the Crown Prince's every word and deed. You must report to me in a timely manner. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, Gao Zhong smiled bitterly in his heart. Sure enough, it was no good. It was a serious crime to spy on the emperor. Now that Young Master Sheng is the prince, it's okay. Could it be that after the prince succeeds to the throne, he will have to spy on the emperor for the prime minister? How many heads do you have that the emperor can chop off? He still had to test the Prime Minister's intentions a little.
Gao Zhong stepped forward and cupped his hands and said: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I understand, but now that the Crown Prince has been established, when will we announce His Majesty's will and officially welcome His Royal Highness to the throne?"
Huo Zheng frowned and said: "Don't be anxious now. The late emperor's mausoleum has not yet been completely completed. Let's wait until next spring. The imperial master has a magic elixir that can protect the late emperor's holy body from damage. We can still delay it for some time. During this period We must arrange for our own people to take over the key departments of the imperial court as soon as possible. Only then will the foundation of the new dynasty be stable enough. But you are right to remind us that the late emperor's edict has been made public. It is already known that the late emperor's holy body is ill. In order to stabilize the world People's hearts, we really need to publish the succession edict as soon as possible to arrange for His Highness the Crown Prince to succeed to the throne."
Gao Zhong said: "Master Xiangguo, you have a far-sighted vision. This is exactly what we should do."
Huo Zheng pondered for a long time and asked Gao Zhong: "The old man Zhao Chu has already sent him back to his hometown. Now the position of Shaofu, one of the nine ministers, is vacant. Do you have a suitable candidate to recommend?"
Gao Zhong muttered: "I can't think of anyone suitable to take over his position right now. Mr. Enxiang, Mr. Zhao has already retired. Mr. Zhao participated in our conspiracy throughout the whole process and now returns home..."
Huo Zheng said with a gloomy face: "I understand what you are worried about. In the name of the late emperor, I have ordered the governor of Yue County to send people to closely monitor Zhao Chu's every move. Don't worry, he can still afford it after leaving the capital." What kind of big wave is coming? If this old man dares to make any changes, don't blame me for not thinking about our past friendship and deal with him for not saying anything more than the truth."
Gao Zhong said: "Your Majesty Xiangguo has thought carefully, and I admire you."
Gao Zhong was frightened when he heard such murderous words. At this moment, the lives of Zhao Shu's family were all at the whim of the Prime Minister. Since ancient times, political struggles have been extremely cruel and ruthless. On my side, I can only get rid of it quickly. If it weren't for the fact that the Zhao and Huo families were related by marriage in the past, it's hard to say that Lao Zhao might have been accused by the Prime Minister with excuses, just like Yang's relatives.
In the East Palace of the Crown Prince, Mu Sheng also received the edict from the Prime Minister. Only now did he know that when he became the Crown Prince, his uncle Zhao Chu had been dismissed by Huo Zheng and returned to his hometown. Originally, he wanted to rely on him after he officially ascended the throne. Here's my uncle.
After Mu Sheng learned the news, he couldn't help but feel a little worried. What did Huo Xiang mean? After all, Zhao Chu was one of the auxiliary ministers personally designated by the emperor. Does this mean he should be dismissed from office? Doesn’t the emperor have any objections?
Unless the emperor was terminally ill and unable to manage the government, and completely entrusted the government to Prime Minister Huo, how could he allow Huo Zheng to decide on the appointment and dismissal of important officials in the court? What's more, he is an important figure like the Assistant Minister...
The current situation, inside and outside the court, is probably just Huo Xiang's words. Mu Sheng is just the newly crowned prince, and he is not qualified to compete with an old minister like him. If Zhao Chu is still in the court, maybe he can be more calm and composed. , after all, Shaofu Zhao is the prince’s uncle and a natural political ally. With his departure, the prince will really be alone in the future...
At this time, the people from the Donggong Temple came to report, and the high minister came to see him. When Mu Sheng heard this, his heart moved slightly. What was he doing here? He was Huo Xiang's confidant, so he couldn't neglect him now. Mu Sheng went out to greet the tall man in person.
Outside the East Palace, Gao Zhong was waiting for the prince to be summoned. As soon as he turned around, he saw His Highness the Prince arriving in person. This really shocked him. He hurriedly stepped forward to greet His Highness and said, "I am here to see His Highness. How can I bother to bother His Highness to kiss you?" welcome."
Mu Sheng said with a smile: "Master Gao, it's only because I respect Master Gao that I went to greet him in person."
Gao Zhong waved his hand and said, "Your Highness, you are too polite."
He actually understood in his heart that the reason why the prince was so polite to him was not just because his backer was Prime Minister Huo, who was now in power.
The two of them greeted each other politely at the door, then entered the main hall of the East Palace. After entering the palace and sitting down, Mu Sheng asked, "Master Gao, why did you come here today?"
Gao Zhong cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, your Majesty, I am here today just to teach you how to handle daily government affairs at the request of the Prime Minister. This is also your Majesty's intention."
When Mu Sheng heard this, his heart moved slightly, and he said even more politely: "Since it is the wish of the Prime Minister and His Majesty, then I must obey it."
Gao Zhong said: "Your Highness, the humble minister has overstepped his bounds."
After Gao Zhong said this, he summoned his attendants outside the door, placed the memorials and texts from inside and outside the court in the past few days in front of the prince's case, and began to personally teach the prince how to handle government affairs. This was originally the regular configuration when the prince was truly the crown prince of the country. After the prince was appointed, the emperor personally appointed ministers of the court to teach the prince to handle government affairs and supervise the prince's studies. This was also a treatment that Mu Sheng had never received before as an ordinary prince.
In the early days, his reading and writing were handled by someone in the palace who specialized in reading and writing. He was just an ordinary teacher with no official position in the court. However, his uncle Zhao Shaofu was busy with government affairs on weekdays and was actually just a teacher in name only. Just come here occasionally to supervise Mu Sheng's studies. I'm too busy with other matters, so how can I have time to take care of him? He basically belongs to a semi-laissez-faire model, which shows the gap in educational resources between the crown prince and ordinary princes.
After several hours of guidance, Gao Zhong stood up to say goodbye. Mu Sheng naturally stood up and said goodbye respectfully. The next day, Gao Zhong would still come to the East Palace to meet with the prince to guide the government affairs. In fact, the so-called government affairs memorial had already been processed at the Prime Minister's Mansion. He was brought here to learn how to judge the situation and how to approve memorials from officials from various places.
The next day, Mu Sheng, as the current crown prince, issued an appointment letter for the first time. Guo Xuan also successfully became the crown prince of the East Palace and officially took office. As the crown prince, he still has the power to appoint and remove personnel in matters in the East Palace, but that's it. That's all.
At this time, the newly appointed Prince Sheren Guo Xuan came to meet His Royal Highness with a letter in hand.
Guo Xuan presented the letter and said: "Your Highness, news from Yucheng."
Mu Sheng finished reading the letter and frowned: "It seems that Mr. Wu can't come to the East Palace for the time being?"
Guo Jue nodded and said: "Now is the critical time for the three kingdoms Shanpup, Xizu and Taisha to compete with each other. Yucheng cannot leave Mr. Wu for the time being. Now that your highness is in the East Palace, then the northward strategy we formulated earlier will be It’s basically time to give up. Now the mountain puppets are about to go south with all their strength to encroach on Taisha together with the Xi tribe. In another year or two, Taisha should be able to gradually restore its national strength. The three-legged power in southern Xinjiang has been completely established, but the prince In the future, Your Highness, you will be able to control thousands of miles of mountains and rivers in the Central Plains. The mountains and mountains are much smaller than those of the Central Plains. After all, you are a small country, and now it is of no importance."
Mu Sheng nodded and said: "What you are saying is that Shan Puppet has indeed become insignificant to Gu. It is impossible for me to continue to be the King of Zhennan when I return to Shan Puppet. The problems I face now are after I ascend the throne. Well, Gu has been away from the capital for a long time, and the foundation here is too weak."
Hearing this, Guo Jue took it seriously and said, "Your Highness, the one you are worried about is the Prime Minister Huo Zheng of the Left, who has great power in the government and the public. Huo has been the Prime Minister in the court for more than ten years and has won the trust of Your Majesty. Your Highness, Prince, you will be able to do anything in the future." If you really ascend to the big position, I'm afraid you will have to be controlled by this group of veterans from the previous dynasty."
Mu Sheng sighed: "Yes... the days are long, there is no need to rush!"
Mu Sheng was helpless. Who would have thought that he would be able to occupy the East Palace? Even he himself had not thought that he had originally planned that if the Central Plains was in chaos as Wu Xie expected, he would be able to raise his troops and go north to take advantage of the situation.
During these days in Shanpu, he went south to expand his power and continuously strengthen Shanpu's country. In fact, his ultimate goal was to take the opportunity to prepare for going north. Good guy, he can't handle this situation now. He has been preparing hard for a long time. , the throne fell directly from the sky and hit him on the head. Judging from the current situation of the emperor who is seriously ill and unable to govern, it won't be long before he will definitely be able to sit on the coveted seat.
Mu Sheng suppressed the mood of forcing his way into the inner palace to visit the emperor. He thought of how he was suddenly canonized as a prince. There seemed to be a lot of mist in this. He thought of the empty dragon chair at the canonization ceremony that day. There was something strange about it from beginning to end. .
If he had some realization in his heart, he was afraid that his position as the prince was also the result of Huo Xiangguo's secret operation. If the emperor was still alive, how could he easily depose An Guojun and his son Xiu? It's just that he is the biggest beneficiary of the current results, and he can only wait and see what happens.
Thinking of this, Mu Sheng turned his back and pondered for a while, then asked: "Guo Xuan, you are right. My father, the emperor, has already gone to the west. I am afraid that I will be alone after he officially ascends the throne. My uncle Zhao Shaofu has also been dismissed from his official position." , is Huo Xiangguo trying to imitate the story of Doctor Zhong in the Li Gong Dynasty?"
Hearing this, Guo Xuan was secretly shocked. The Doctor Zhong mentioned by His Highness the Crown Prince was Doctor Zhong Sun Ming, the Prime Minister of the Jin State during the Warring States Period more than 300 years ago. After the death of Jin Pinggong, the fifth generation king of the Jin State, Zhong Sun Ming secretly joined forces. The important officials in the court secretly did not announce the funeral, poisoned the prince, and forged an edict to appoint the nine-year-old son of Duke Ping of Jin as the king, who was the sixth generation king of the Jin Kingdom in this different world, Duke Li of Jin.
Dr. Zhong had meritorious service in supporting the new king, and was able to dominate the government and the opposition. Until Jin Li Gong came of age and took charge of the government, Zhongsun Ming, the powerful prime minister, still refused to hand over his real power. He controlled the Jin Dynasty for more than 30 years until Zhongsun Ming's death. Only then did Duke Li of Jin take charge.
Guo Xuan understood in his heart that His Highness the Crown Prince obviously meant something when he mentioned this person at this time.
Guo Xuan pondered for a long time and said: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, I think that with Huo Xiangguo's current power, it is best for us to lie dormant in secret. We will only wait for His Majesty to be honored and take charge of government affairs. In time, he will naturally sit down. Now that we have secured the throne, Your Highness, please do not act too hastily, at least for now we still have to rely on Huo Xiangguo's support."
Mu Sheng heard this and said: "Well, that makes sense. Now I am just the crown prince, but I have to prepare for a rainy day..."
After saying this, Mu Sheng's eyes flickered, as if he was thinking about something.
Mu Sheng naturally understands what Guo Jue means. As long as he can keep his composure now and ascend the throne, as an emperor, his legitimate authority will naturally have a moral advantage. The prime minister is also the second-in-command despite being extremely powerful. , after officially ascending the throne, a group of people will naturally come closer. With supporters behind him, he will be able to slowly secure his position over time. Moreover, he has another advantage: as long as he officially ascends the throne, he can personally govern. He has already When Jia Guan reaches adulthood, there is no situation where the young master is unable to govern personally and can only rely entirely on foreign ministers to handle government affairs.
If Prime Minister Huo Zheng of the Zuo really wants to dominate the government and the public like Zhongsun Ming did in the Li Dynasty, he will have to monopolize power for a long time. Only by arranging his own people inside and outside the government can he be consistent. By then, even the monarch will not be able to use him. There is a way, Mu Sheng will still have cards to play in the future.
Thinking of this, Mu Sheng frowned. Although the road ahead was difficult and dangerous, his mood was not as heavy as before...
