Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 475 The Great Han Dynasty's Chosen Emperor

In the fourth year of Yuanyan,

Under pressure from the court and the public, the emperor finally ordered that Liu Xin, the Prince of Dingtao, and Liu Xing, the Prince of Zhongshan, be summoned to Chang'an.

It is clear,
He intends to choose one of his two closest blood relatives as his successor.

Upon receiving the news, Empress Dowager Fu of Dingtao decided to accompany her grandson to the capital.

"How could a sixteen-year-old boy be capable of doing great things?"

"Only with me managing things from the sidelines can we win this victory!"

Holding a cane, Fu's body, bent and stunted by age, no longer possessed the vigor of her youth.

But her expression revealed a radiance and strength far exceeding that of her youth.

She is full of expectations for a bright future.
That immense power, within reach, was nourishing her aging body from afar.

after all,

Power, this "miracle drug," can nourish the vitality of anyone.

Liu Xin served her grandmother by her side, listening to her blunt words. Her lips moved slightly, but she ultimately said nothing.

He quietly helped his grandmother onto the carriage, and then, as he climbed into his own royal chariot, he turned back to look at his mother, Lady Ding, who was not far away.

His grandmother disliked his mother.
After losing her son

This woman, who craved power and had a strong desire for control, wished she could hold her grandson, Liu Xin, firmly in her grasp.

As Liu Xin's biological mother, Ding Ji was much closer to him than Fu Shi, both emotionally and by blood.

Therefore,
The Fu family could not allow her to have contact with Liu Xin.

This grandson,

Just rely on yourself!
Even as one is about to embark on a long journey,
Even with good luck, it's unlikely we'll ever return to the present state of Dingtao.

Madam Fu also forbade Ding Ji from appearing in front of Liu Xin and taking her grandson away from her.

therefore,

Liu Xin could only see herself in a corner of the palace.

It wasn't until Fu's mother boarded the closed vehicle that she dared to peek out.

He looked at her for a while, then got into the car and left without looking back.

Ding Ji was left standing there, silently shedding tears.

In Zhongshan,

Liu Xing's convoy is about to set off.

His mother, Feng Yuan, also came to see him off.

Liu Xing reluctantly tugged at his mother's sleeve, but because of the pregnant concubine beside him, he didn't cry like a baby.

But his concubine, Wei Ji, still pointed to his round belly and laughed at him:
"Between the King of Zhongshan and me, who is greater and who is less?"

Liu Xing blushed at her teasing, so he loosened his sleeves, put his hands behind his back, and sternly said that she was disrespectful to him.

Wei Ji wasn't afraid at all; she just chuckled.

Feng Yuan laughed for a while, but then, looking at the servants coming and going and the piles of luggage, she couldn't help but feel a little worried.

"No matter what, just go home safely."

The beautiful, intelligent, and courageous Feng Jieyu said to her son:
"You are honest by nature, but you lack both the wisdom to understand literature and the courage to lead troops into battle."

"To be able to become a local vassal king and enjoy a peaceful and wealthy life is already a blessing from heaven."

"There is no need to harbor delusions about the throne that is mired in the quagmire, lest you lose what you originally possess."

Liu Xing obediently agreed.

After being advised by his mother, he realized that his chances were slim, so he stopped having any extra thoughts about clinging to certain things.

He walked over and touched Wei Ji's belly, feeling the baby's movements inside, and said with some regret:
"With such a long journey, I'm afraid I won't be able to get back in time to see the baby born."

Emperor Yuan's sons,
They all inherited his meager energy.

Most of the emperor's children died young, and he also abandoned two of them himself.
Liu Kang, the Prince of Dingtao, had only one son, Liu Xin.
When it was his turn,
He was nearly forty years old when he had his first child with Wei Ji.

Liu Xing had high hopes for the child, and even though it might be a daughter, he continued to make preparations for it, hoping that she would have a carefree life.

As the due date approached...
But he was about to embark on a long journey to Chang'an.

Wei Ji comforted her husband, saying:
"You are going back to the place where you were born, and this child will be waiting for you there!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xing revealed a simple and happy smile.

Subsequently,

He then boarded the carriage and, amidst a bumpy ride, headed towards Chang'an.

When the sun is shining,
The carriages of the two feudal lords entered Chang'an together.

Imperial Censor Kong Guang received the emperor's order and came to greet them.

He first met with the King of Dingtao, and then paid his respects to the King of Zhongshan.

As for the former, Kong Guang thought he was a handsome and talented young man with proper manners, and he admired him.

The latter was somewhat simple-minded, with a plump physique befitting his age. His voice wasn't loud enough, and he seemed unable to bear the summer heat as he constantly sweated, making him look even more disheveled.

But etiquette and law come first.
Kong Guang still preferred the King of Zhongshan.

He told his disciples, “Although the King of Zhongshan is quite different from the King of Dingtao, he is older, honest and simple in nature, and his belongings and daily necessities are very simple.”

"This is a very precious quality for the Han people right now."

Peace has come to this point.

The upper echelons of the Han Dynasty displayed an atmosphere of extravagance and lavishness in many aspects.

The simple and frugal lifestyle of the early days of the nation's founding has completely disappeared.
The only popular pastime among the wealthy is flaunting their wealth and competing for power.

Kong Guang naturally disapproved of this.

He hoped that future emperors would set an example and lead their ministers to restore the simplicity and honesty of the first three generations of the Han Dynasty.

"Moreover, the mother of the King of Zhongshan, Lady Feng, was a wise and virtuous woman."

"The Feng family's family traditions were much more upright than those of other powerful nobles and dukes."

"If the King of Zhongshan becomes emperor, with his mother's guidance and a virtuous minister like you to assist him, the moral climate of the land will surely be corrected!"

Wang Mang nodded repeatedly in agreement with his teacher's words.

But when he returned home and faced his uncle Wang Gen, he told him this:
"Liu Xin, the Prince of Dingtao, is more suitable to be the emperor!"

Wang Gen, who had just received a large pile of gifts from the Fu family, did not ask Wang Mang for the reason, but simply smiled and nodded, "I think so too!"

This surprised Wang Mang, who was prepared to explain his judgment.

Fortunately, he quickly realized what was happening and praised Wang Gen's wisdom with a smile.

afterwards,

He then suppressed his smile and thought to himself:
Compared to Wang Shang, Wang Gen was even more foolish and greedy!
unfortunately,

This person is currently the one in power in the Wang family.

Last autumn,
Feeling much better, Wang Shang began to indulge himself again.

He took several new beauties as concubines to demonstrate his renewed virility.

As a result, joy turned to sorrow.

When autumn and winter turn cool,
Wang Shang, whose vital energy had not been restored and had been extensively dissipated, fell ill again and was unable to get up.

The position of Grand Marshal and General, which was passed down from brother to brother, thus fell into the hands of Wang Gen, who was so greedy that he would do anything as long as he was paid enough.

"Such a person may not be reliable."

"I need to figure out a solution myself to avoid any problems!"

Thinking this through, Wang Mang then wrote a letter and sent it to the palace, presenting it to Consort Zhao Hede.

Just like Chunyu Chang curried favor with Empress Zhao Feiyan,
Wang Mang could naturally seek new support in the harem through his own efforts.

Upon receiving Wang Mang's message, Zhao Hede had an idea in mind.

When the emperor finished receiving the two vassal kings and came to accompany Zhao Hede...
The latter then asked the emperor, "Which of these two do you prefer?"

The emperor pinched her cheek and teased, "Of course, you're the younger one."

Liu Xin's words and actions were always very proper, showing respect for himself and awe for imperial power at all times.

This made the emperor feel very comfortable.

Although Liu Xin is the son of his second younger brother Liu Kang.
The latter had also challenged his position as crown prince.
But that's all in the past now.

Liu Kang is now nothing but a skeleton in a tomb.
His son was especially submissive in his presence...

The emperor actually felt a hidden sense of pride about this.

As for Liu Xing

This brother, who also relied on his mother's favor, almost threatened his position as crown prince back then.

Despite the passage of time, he retains a gentle and magnanimous demeanor. His wisdom has not grown.

His talents did not develop.

But that happy, simple-minded look has never changed.

The emperor could see it.

He has not suffered any grievances or troubles over the years.

This annoyed the emperor, reminding him of some past events.

but,

Zhao Hede had no idea what the emperor was thinking.

She simply breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good. I thought you were going to choose Shanno!"

The emperor asked her, puzzled, "Why are you worried about this?"

this woman,

He doesn't even care about or love his own children.
Why is he now showing such concern about choosing a successor?

Zhao Hede replied, "I know why His Majesty summoned the two vassal lords."

"My sister and I depend on this for our future, so how can we not care?"

She paused, then continued, "I've heard that in ancestral temple sacrifices, it's always the son who sacrifices to the father, and I've never heard of a younger brother sacrificing to his elder brother."

"Even if there are a few examples, can the offerings prepared by the younger brother be any more thoughtful and appropriate than those prepared by the offspring?"

"I am thinking of His Majesty's sake, and I also like the young Prince of Dingtao very much."

The emperor was silent for a moment after hearing her words, then embraced the wicked yet beautiful woman.

"you're right!"

"Since you have already made your choice, then I will not hesitate any longer!"

Just right,

Liu Xin was adopted as his son.
From a legal perspective, it can still be considered "the son succeeds the father after the father dies".

Thus,
After he dies,
The Wang family, a branch of the imperial family.

The Zhao sisters, widows of the late emperor,

They could all use this to get involved with the new emperor.

The throne was passed to Liu Xing.

The change in lineage could lead to the interruption of old connections, resulting in a bad end for both the Wang and Zhao sisters.

In this case,

Why did he have to kill those two children himself?

The emperor stroked the soft face of the beauty in his arms, his heart churning with emotions.

He suddenly asked, "Hede, how much sincerity do you sisters have for me?"

Zhao Hede immediately replied, "Of course, it's all given to His Majesty!"

"Otherwise, why would my sister and I cling to His Majesty all the time?"

Upon receiving this answer, the emperor smiled with satisfaction.

"That's good!"

"As long as you sisters do not let me down, I will never let you down either!"

"Your Majesty..." Zhao Hede murmured tenderly, then leaned against the emperor.

quickly,

The two then became entangled.

Only Emperor Yuan of Han, Liu Shi, remained watching from the sidelines, looking pale and sickly.

Do you want to continue watching?

He Bo, who was planning to leave to avoid damaging his eyes, called out to him.

Liu Shi originally thought,

The emperor finally summoned his two blood relatives and began to consider the possibility of establishing an heir.

I should at least come and take a look, no matter what.

Some of Liu Han's ancestors fled to the Western Sea and began playing a game of "stealing each other's bases" with Ying Qin.

However, the Western Sea has yet to integrate with the Central Plains Ghost Kingdom like the New Xia.

Therefore,
Even if the emperor announced to the world and worshipped at the ancestral temple to say that he had chosen an heir, the news would not be known to the Taizu and Shizong emperors for a while.

Liu Shi felt that,

Faced with this situation, he felt he should take responsibility, so he mustered his spirits, left the secluded yin house, and asked the spirits to take him to Chang'an.

result,

But he witnessed firsthand the scene of his amorous son "loving beauty more than the country"!

"Let's go!"

"If you look at me again, I'll gouge my own eyes out!"

The once refined and elegant Emperor Yuan had lost his mind due to his rebellious son and was forced to adopt some of the demeanor of the Liu family.

"If you feel uncomfortable, you can take your brain out and soak it in the water of forgetfulness when you get back."

Many parts of the left and right dead ghosts can be disassembled.

Those corrupt officials who sought an imperial seal and the power to control a region would, when overwhelmed by work pressure, choose to have their heads removed and let their colleagues use them to play football, while their bodies lay aside to rest.

"This is much more comfortable than dealing with paperwork!"

After the game ended, these ghost officials would say the same thing.

He Bo, who had learned about this, also asked a couple of questions out of concern:
"Isn't this a bad idea?"

"His head isn't as round as Ju Qiu's, so it doesn't feel very good to kick!"

"I don't think the key issue lies in this aspect."

Physician Ximen, who was in charge of Yin-Yang affairs, replied calmly.

Having received advice from the spirits, Liu Shi also tactfully expressed his refusal, saying, "It's not that serious."

He Bo then said "Oh," and stopped forcing Liu Shi to comply with his ideas.

He simply sent the dead man back to the underworld. After Emperor Liu Ao personally held the coming-of-age ceremony for Liu Xin and made his choice clear to the court officials, he went to the Western Sea to inspect the work of the Way of Peace.

……

"Open the door!"

I know you're home!

"If you're so capable of spreading your word, why don't you dare open the door for me!"

Longnan Commandery of the Qin State

In a small village,
Birds fluttered down, transforming into a handsome gentleman in a secluded spot. They then arrived at a simple house and began knocking on the gate.

There was no response from inside.

Even the owner's yellow dog didn't bark twice at his arrival.

He Bo angrily waved his sleeve and said, "Fine, you forced me to do this!"

He turned around, took two steps away from the gate, found the lowest section of the courtyard wall, and began to climb over it.

As He Bo perched on the wall, smugly peering inside,
The Great Teacher of the Western Sea region was calmly holding his nine-section staff, sitting in the courtyard eating the grapes he had grown himself.

He glanced casually at the aloof He Bo, then lowered his head and gently kicked the yellow dog that was trying to sneak over and steal some grapes.

"Even if this thing falls on the ground, it's not something you can eat!"

"What's there to be afraid of? Even if you turn into a dead dog, I'll still take care of you!"

He Bo, who had jumped off the wall, waved his hand arrogantly and declared that the yellow dog could eat as much as it wanted.

Bingwu day,
God made a covenant with the dog:
"Any food thrown on the ground belongs to the dog."

"of course."

"Eating dirty things will still get you slapped!"

"What about the cat?"

The Great Master of the Western Qin Branch of the Way of Peace glanced at the cat lying on the roof sunbathing, and asked God again, hoping that He would not show favoritism.

So God made another covenant with the cat:
"Cats can ride on dogs!"

The great teacher nodded in satisfaction.

The kitten basking in the sun seemed to sense this and meowed, then rolled over on the roof to sunbathe the other side of its fur.

(End of this chapter)