Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Jiang Zhao's eyes were slightly red as he bowed.

Zhao Zhen was taken aback, then waved his hand and said, "Please take a seat."

Jiang Zhao looked sorrowful as he slowly sat down.

"You have come to the palace specifically to report something?" Zhao Zhen asked slowly.

From Jiang Zhao's sorrow, he had already guessed the possible situation.

Jiang Zhao rose and said with grief, "My grandfather, who is over seventy years old, suddenly fell seriously ill, and his condition worsened day by day. As a member of the court, I should have been loyal to my duties, but I cannot bear to part with my father and cannot attend to his medicine."

I humbly beg Your Majesty to have mercy on my selfish desires and grant me permission to resign my post and temporarily return to my hometown to care for my ailing father. This is truly a time of torn between loyalty to the emperor and filial piety; I only beg Your Majesty to grant my wish, for I am driven by a foolish filial devotion!

After speaking, she silently shed tears and bowed deeply.

really!

However, is he to be dismissed and attend to his ailing wife?

Zhao Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly, not asking too many questions, and readily agreed: "Filial piety and brotherly love are the foundation of one's character. Your filial piety pleases me greatly. Order the Imperial Hospital to allocate one hundred coins for fine medicine and bestow some decoction. If your return date needs to be extended, please report it to me as always."

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Jiang Zhao bowed deeply.

Just as Jiang Zhao was about to turn and leave, Zhao Zhen spoke up and asked, "Six years ago, when I was reading the Book of Han, I came across the stories of Emperor Zhao and Emperor Cheng of Han. I was worried that members of the imperial clan would rise to power and posthumously honor their biological fathers, disregarding the late emperors. I asked for your opinion on this matter. Do you still remember?"

Zhao Zhen looked on with a look of reminiscence, glancing subtly at the side room.

"Your subject replied: Perhaps the Crown Prince could be adopted by His Highness the Prince of Wei. In this way, the Holy Grandson's ascension to the throne would alleviate our worries," Jiang Zhao answered.

"Ah."

Zhao Zhen nodded and slowly asked, "That's why five members of the imperial clan went to the border for training. You are serving as the Grand Master of the Palace, instructing these members of the imperial clan, so you must know them well. In your opinion, who is suitable to be the heir apparent?"

In the side room, a young man in his late twenties was breathing rapidly.

"I am unaware." Jiang Zhao had no intention of interfering in the selection of an heir.

From the moment he proposed the secret succession law, he had already rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor.

Whoever ascends the throne will be grateful to him.

Moreover, his teacher was Han Zhang.

Both master and disciple were destined to serve the emperor.

Influencing the establishment of an heir apparent from a macro perspective is undoubtedly a very good thing.

However, if you go down to the smallest details and focus on a specific person, the risk becomes too high and the return isn't great.

"Never mind." Zhao Zhen was not surprised and waved his hand. "Go then."

Jiang Zhao bowed respectfully and strode out.

After a while, the person disappeared without a trace.

Zhao Zhen looked outside and closed his eyes slightly.

If two emperors, one focused on recuperation and the other on expanding the territory, achieving unification, it would surely be a new "Reign of Wen and Jing," worthy of being praised for generations and recorded extensively in history books.

To expand territory and achieve unification, one must pay attention to the right timing and the right people.

Among them, Jiang Zhao, Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, and a group of officials from Xihe Road, a group of ministers whose age was not much different from that of "Good Grandson", were all popular.

The most outstanding person was Jiang Zhao, who was capable of governing the country and fighting in politics, and also capable of expanding the territory with his military prowess. He was the "family heirloom" that Jiang Zhao had chosen.

A family heirloom that can achieve unification!

If a family heirloom is to be passed down through generations, it must be valued by each successive head of the family.

Now, a few words of conversation have revealed the origin of the throne to the "good grandson," thus solidifying the family heirloom.

"Cough cough!"

"Cough-cough-"

After coughing for more than ten breaths, Zhao Zhen let out a long sigh.

As an elderly monarch without children, he no longer cared about anything except being recorded in history and leaving a lasting name for himself.

Everything is for the sake of a timeless tale!

The door to the side room slowly opened.

Zhao Ceying lowered her head slightly and walked out slowly.

“Originally, I intended to have him impeached and demoted to a remote border region to govern a local area.”

"In this way, if Ying'er promotes him again after ascending the throne, it will be a favor. The two of them, ruler and subject, can work together to expand the territory and establish an everlasting dynasty."

"Now, his voluntary resignation to care for his ailing wife will have a similar effect."

Zhao Zhen patted his chest and said slowly.

He felt that he might not survive the year!

The calm words sent a shiver down Zhao Ceying's spine.

"Your Majesty!" Zhao Ceying knelt down without realizing it.

There was nothing more to it than the Emperor saying, "Ying'er has ascended the throne."

Given the claim that "the grandson was adopted by the King of Wei, and the holy grandson ascended the throne," doesn't this imply that he was the one who was adopted?

Is he, Zhao Ceying, the crown prince?

hiss~!

Zhao Ceying trembled slightly, her face flushed.

He, a member of the imperial clan with the bloodline of the founding emperor, actually had the opportunity to rule the world.

Even though they had some suspicions in their hearts, the fact that the emperor himself admitted it was ultimately very different.

"Of all the holy grandsons, you are the most virtuous in martial arts and have the potential to expand the territory."

"I have my heart set on you."

Zhao Zhen helped his grandson up and said slowly, "Once the senior ministers of the cabinet take power, your age and prestige are too far behind theirs, and you may not be able to deal with them."

"Jiang Zhao is a man of upright character, truly a loyal, capable, and virtuous minister. If you employ him well, he will become a wise prime minister for all time!"

"And you, are the greatest emperor of all time!"

Chapter 154 Wang Lao Tai Tu Shi's Disciples and Former Officials!

Bian River, riverbank.

The shallows echo with the sound of jade chimes, and the river flows gently.

Jiang Zhao stood at the ferry crossing, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

A dozen or so steps away, led by Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, Su Zhe, and Han Jiayan, there were about twenty or thirty people standing solemnly.

Jiang Zhao waved his sleeve and cupped his hands, saying, "Everyone, take care."

"Your Majesty, please take this seriously."

Dozens of people returned the gift in unison.

These people, either fifth or sixth grade officials, were all former officials of Xihe.

Jiang Zhao nodded and waved his hand, saying, "Go ahead."

Dozens of people bowed in unison and then walked back one after another.

Jiang Zhao boarded the ship, stood with his hands behind his back, and felt a strange sense of melancholy.

Non-vegetation, ruthless Practice makes perfect?

I wonder how my grandfather from Huaizuo is doing?

"Set off—"

With a long roar, the large ship dropped anchor, changed direction, and headed straight for the left bank of the Huai River.

The administrative center of Huainan East Road.

The Office of the Pacification Commissioner.

At the head of the table sat an elderly man, thin and with white hair, around fifty or sixty years old, holding a classic book and engrossed in reading it.

This man, named Feng Xu, was actually the Pacification Commissioner of Huainan East Circuit, a powerful regional official who held military and political power over the area.

"grown ups."

A man approached, dressed in a blue robe, and appeared to be around forty years old.

"Chengxu, what's wrong?" Pacification Commissioner Feng Xu asked slowly without turning his head.

This seventh-rank official was a subordinate official of the Pacification Commissioner's Office, responsible for drafting documents and coordinating government affairs.

As officials similar to secretaries, the officials under the Pacification Commissioner wielded considerable influence, and there was a long-standing saying that they were "fake Pacification Commissioners."

"The Grand Physician Jiang of Huaizuo is seriously ill, and Vice Minister Jiang has already traveled south by boat to attend to him," He Shao reported.

The title "Chengxu" used by the pacification commissioner was his courtesy name.

Dr. Jiang was Jiang Zhi, who was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Master of the Palace.

"Returning home to care for the ailing?" Feng Xu looked up, gently setting down the books.

When an official is ill, he must report to the imperial court and obtain its approval.

Each of the two capitals and fourteen circuits had a corresponding official in charge of reporting to the emperor.

Once the request for medical treatment is approved, the official in charge of reporting will immediately issue a document to notify the local authorities.

When a high-ranking official returns to his hometown, there are many intricacies involved.

Countless officials from all levels of government and local administration longed to visit him, hoping to secure a smooth career path.

Of course, most officials only fantasize about it.

To be truly qualified to visit the Junior Grand Secretary, one must be at least a fourth-rank official.

If one can find connections, there might be a chance at the fifth rank.

Feng Xu stood up and paced back and forth in thought.

He didn't really crave to see them.

After all, he is already fifty-eight years old.

When his term as pacification commissioner ended, he was exactly sixty years old.

At that time, one would either be transferred to a second-rank official position in the capital, or to a nominal second-rank position, or simply submit a petition to retire.

Whether or not he meets the young Grand Secretary makes no difference to him.

After a moment, Feng Xu waved his hand and said, "Let Vice Envoy Song go, and grant him permission to mobilize three thousand troops."

When a high-ranking official returns to his hometown, the local government is not obligated to receive him, as per his duties.

Of course, defining responsibilities is one thing, but implementing them at the local level is another.

Whether or not a reception is held often depends on the influence of the official returning to his hometown.

If someone has a large influence, someone will be there to handle their reception.

If the influence is small, then nobody cares.

The Junior Grand Secretary was a person with far-reaching influence.

"Yes." The subordinate He Shao nodded and was about to leave.

Feng Xu waved his hand and instructed, "Remember to have him thank the young Grand Secretary on my behalf."

Without Jiang Zhao's strong support, the disaster relief efforts in Huainan East Road might have led to a rebellion.

Whether he will be able to land safely at that time is still uncertain.

"Yes." He Shao nodded emphatically.

The Deputy Envoy's Office was responsible for appeasing the envoys.