Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 783 Rumors

Bianjing City, Zhao Guangyi's residence.

It is now the fifth year of Qiande (967 AD). Zhao Guangyi has not yet been conferred the title of King of Jin. He is only the prefect of Kaifeng. Although he does not have a royal title, his status and position are actually the same as those of a king or a prince. His power is already tremendous.

However, as Zhao Guangyi watched his two princes grow up, he began to feel anxious.

Although the Song Dynasty was established only eight years ago, there was no title of king, only the emperor and the empress, Zhao Guangyi was able to make many court officials bow down to him. This was certainly because he was the emperor's younger brother, but since the end of the Tang Dynasty, dynasties have changed frequently. Many emperors would rather choose to pass the throne to their younger brothers or adoptive sons than to pass the throne to their young biological sons in order to ensure the stability of the country. Therefore, it is not impossible for Zhao Guangyi to become the emperor.

  However, Zhao Kuangyin's rule had been stable for eight years, and the Zhao Dynasty was becoming increasingly powerful, with the potential to unify the Central Plains. The emperor was in his prime, strong and healthy, and it would not be difficult for him to live another thirty or fifty years. By then, the prince would have grown up, so would he still need his elderly brother to inherit the throne?

If in a few years, Zhao Kuangyin's legitimate son grows up, he will definitely be supported by officials such as Zhao Pu to be named the crown prince, or even be made a king and have his own government established, and be entrusted with important tasks. At that time, the signal will be announced to the outside world: the crown prince has been decided!

It can be predicted that as time goes by, Zhao Guangyi's power will probably dissipate like monkeys scattering when the tree falls. Within a few years, the prestige and power of the crown prince Zhao Dezhao may be equal to him, or even surpass him, causing many officials who originally depended on him to leave him.

This was exactly where Zhao Guangyi began to worry, because deep in his heart, he did have an uncontrollable greed for the throne.

In the study, Cheng Yu, Fan Min, Zhao Rui, Shi Xizai, Dou Zhen, Jia Yan and several other aides saw that Mr. Zhao had a strange expression on his face. They looked at each other and knew that Zhao Guangyi was in a bad mood and seemed to be worried about something.

At this time, two people walked in. They were Chai Yuxi and Mi Dechao. Both of them were Zhao Guangyi's confidants and were responsible for intelligence organization. They had placed their people in teahouses, taverns, and all kinds of people in Bianjing to collect intelligence on a regular basis.

It can be said that with the privileges of the Kaifeng government office, Chai Yuxi and Mi Dechao had more means to control the entire city of Bianliang. As time went on, it was possible for them to undermine the imperial city and prevent the imperial orders from being implemented in Bianliang.

This is also the reason why Zhao Kuangyin later wanted to move the capital, because in history, when Zhao Kuangyin was planning to train his eldest son as the crown prince in the ninth year of Kaibao, he discovered a problem. Many ministers in the court supported Zhao Guangyi, and even in the city of Bianjing, his power had gotten out of control. The complex forces in the entire city of Bianjing blocked the imperial amnesty.

At that time, Zhao Kuangyin wanted to propose the idea of ​​moving the capital to Luoyang in order to "take advantage of the mountains and rivers and get rid of redundant troops." Unfortunately, his foresight was not understood by the ministers. He was opposed by Li Fu, the attendant of the emperor, and Li Huaizhong, the commander of the left and right wings of the cavalry. Zhao Kuangyin did not adopt the idea. Zhao Guangyi dissuaded him by saying "virtue is more important than danger." After hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin had to give up the idea of ​​moving the capital.

Later generations generally believed that Zhao Kuangyin's intention was to weaken the power of Kaifeng prefect Zhao Guangyi by moving the capital, which was fiercely opposed by Zhao Guangyi. Zhao Guangyi's so-called "virtue is more important than danger" was also a naked challenge to Zhao Kuangyin, meaning that my position as the second son of the Zhao family depends on virtue, and it is useless for you to weaken me by moving the capital!

It was the signal released by Zhao Kuangyin's relocation of the capital that made Zhao Guangyi smell the smell of gunpowder and he had to take action in advance, which led to the "Candle Shadow and Axe Sound" in October of that year.

But that happened in the ninth year of Kaibao, in 976 AD, nine years away from now!

Zhao Guangyi glanced at the two and asked, "What's the matter?"

Chai Yuxi looked around, then bowed and said, "Your Excellency, recently, rumors, storytelling, and scripts about the Golden Chamber Alliance have been spreading in the streets!"

"What Golden Casket Alliance?" Zhao Guangyi was a little impatient, thinking that it might be some historical event that was made up by a boring storyteller.

Chai Yuxi hesitated for a moment and said, "It's about you, the emperor, and Empress Dowager Du!"

Zhao Guangyi suddenly became cautious. The rumors had spread to him, his brother, and his mother. "Tell me about it!" Zhao Guangyi sat up straight and planned to listen to it himself.

The rest of the staff also concentrated their attention, wanting to know what the rumors were.

Chai Yuxi said with a stiff face: "It is said that in the second year of Jiande, when Empress Dowager Du died, you and the emperor were by her side. Before she died, she summoned the prime minister Zhao to the palace to record her last words, to explain the future succession to the throne, and to persuade the emperor to pass the throne to her brother, that is, to you, after her death. This will was hidden in a golden box, so it was called the "Golden Box Alliance."

  "What?" Zhao Guangyi was shocked after hearing this. Is there really such a Golden Casket Alliance? How come he didn't know about it?

If it is true, then the Queen Mother really loves him and asked the Emperor to pass the throne to him!

However, Zhao Guangyi did not dare to ask for too much before, because the throne was not established by his father, but by his elder brother Zhao Kuangyin himself. He was the founding monarch and had the real ability. It would be understandable if his elder brother wanted to pass the throne to the legitimate prince.

  But is this news true?

"Where did the news come from?" Zhao Guangyi asked.

Mi Dechao replied at this time: "It is rumored in the streets, and our secret sentry heard it."

Zhao Guangyi was somewhat excited, with a hint of joy on his face. If the news spread and he was confirmed as the successor to the throne, then it would be possible and paved the way for him to ascend the throne in the future.

He glanced at several of his trusted aides and asked, "Do you think this matter is a good or a bad thing?"

Cheng Yu, the judge of Kaifeng Prefecture and Zhao Guangyi's confidant, was the first to speak: "There is something fishy about this matter. Who spread it and what was the intention? If we can't judge it accurately, it may cause disaster!"

Zhao Guangyi's smile froze for a moment, and then he quickly calmed down. He also felt that this matter was not simple. If this news spread to the palace, how would his elder brother, the emperor, view him?

If he was misunderstood, Emperor Zhao Kuangyin might think that he was the one who sent people to spread the news, which might be an attempt to force the emperor to abdicate and pass on the throne.

Zhao Guangyi's face darkened and he looked at the others: "What do you think?"

Dou Zhen said: "This matter is not simple, we must send someone to investigate it in detail! If it is not handled properly, it may cause trouble for the adults!"

Jia Yan said, "Yes, I'm afraid someone is deliberately trying to sow discord!"

Zhao Guangyi became worried, nodded and said coldly: "That makes sense, send someone to investigate thoroughly, and block the news, don't let this matter escalate!"

Fan Min said: "However, this is not a completely bad thing. If some ministers hear about it, it will accelerate their determination to surrender to you. There are pros and cons. Blessings are often accompanied by disasters, and we must look at it dialectically. Everything depends on human efforts!"

Zhao Guangyi nodded repeatedly: "We must handle this matter carefully and turn the passive situation into the active one! It seems that someone is going to stir up trouble in Bianjing City. I must find out the truth!"