Reborn in the late Northern Wei Dynasty

Chapter 420 Kaifu (4000)

In the later years of Kangxi, there was a so-called elder brother in charge, that is, the princes who were valued were in charge of one of the six departments.

This is not a regular and formal political system, and it only appeared during the Kangxi Jiulong seizure of the throne, which has advantages and disadvantages.

For Gao Cheng, a son without military power is a trustworthy good son, and he is undoubtedly more reassuring than outsiders.

He can raise his brothers like pigs, but he can't turn his sons into waste materials.

Of course Xiao Gaowang himself hopes to live a long life, but if something unexpected happens, the future heir will have to choose among them.

No matter how capable the brothers and nephews are, they are not as good as their own sons. This point is clearly proved by the story of Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhengde, father and son, uncles and nephews.

Gao Cheng sent his four sons to the six departments to study in detail, so that they would be familiar with the operation of the entire government and the departments. Ministry, let them manage together with the six Shangshu.

Knowing people and making good use of them is not only for outsiders, the son should also be praised for his competence.

And to determine who is the most suitable successor by evaluating their merits and demerits among the six films is undoubtedly better than just focusing on the intelligence and wisdom of these drama stars in front of me, and the kindness and filial piety they play with him every day.

Real knowledge comes from practice, and only with such an arrangement can we truly understand their strengths. Even if there is an expert behind the scenes to make great achievements, it is also a kind of ability to recognize the virtuous and foolish of subordinates and listen to correct opinions. ability.

Of course, it is a good thing for the country for Gao Cheng to send his sons to practice in the Six Parts, but for Gao Xiaozhang and others, it is undoubtedly cruel.

Participating in the practice of the six departments gave them the opportunity to promote their confidants and manage their power, and made the competition for the reserve position more intense.

But no matter how many party members they cultivated and how many courtiers they wooed during their tenure in the Sixth Ministry, it was useless if they had no military power.

Yinhu, the eighth elder brother of the Kangxi dynasty, is an example. Even though the court was full of virtues and sang sages all over the world, it was no match for Kangxi's use of the suspicious eagle killing incident to make use of it.

As for the military power, it is precisely the point that Gao Cheng grasps the most tightly. For example, when Gao Xiaoguan drew the Ministry of Rites, Gao Cheng pointed out that rituals are punishments. Some people are really lucky. If they can be drawn to the Ministry of Military Affairs that manages the promotion of generals, Gao Cheng can also choose another one. Ministry, as an arrangement, he is the rule maker of this game and has the final right of interpretation.

The reason for such an arrangement is also related to Gao Cheng's change of mentality. After the new year, he will turn 30. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, when people in their [-]s can be called husbands, they can no longer be called young people.

When I was in my 20s, I felt that I had a long time and no scruples. When I was in my [-]s, I had to plan for the future.

People are contradictory. Of course Gao Cheng hopes that his sons will be harmonious and friendly, but the Gao Qi regime he created with his father Gao Huan is far more important in his heart than the so-called father-son relationship.

In order to choose the best successor, the sons were placed in the cruel field of Shura, and while they were tempered, the sons were madly involuntary.

Such an approach is ashamed of the scholars and worthy of the country.

Just like the Kangxi Dynasty, in the cruel competition for the nine sons to seize the heir, Yongzheng was finally selected as the most suitable helm. After 13 years in power, he worked hard to govern and exhausted himself so that the country could get back on track.

Of course, there was a prodigal son in Yongzheng's booth, known as the old man of perfection, this right track didn't go very far, and he gave up the track again.

It is also interesting to say that what the father left behind is a mess, the son lost all his hard-earned family fortune, but the descendants are talking about the prosperity of Kangxi and Qianlong.

Gao Cheng didn't dare to hope to have such a good son who could wipe his ass clean. He only hoped that under the rule of the second generation monarch, the common people would live a better life. As for the third generation successor, it is beyond his ability to interfere. up.

For example, Gao Xiaozhang and Gao Xiaoyu were raised by Gao Huan himself, but if Gao Cheng is not very satisfied with the two, he still has no hope of saving his position.

Speaking of Mingguang Palace, Gao Xiaocong saw that the four elder brothers were going to study in one each, and thought it was a novelty, so he begged Gao Cheng to give him a place to go, but was driven away by Gao Cheng, and warned him not to tease the palace people again, otherwise Next time he will carry out the execution with the cane himself.

Gao Xiaocong feebly agreed, turned his back, stuck out his tongue at the four elder brothers, and slipped away.

The other four people also bid farewell to Gao Cheng and walked out of the Mingguang Palace. Gao Xiaozhang, Gao Xiaoyu, and Gao Xiaowan each went back to their mother's concubine's bedroom to discuss with their mother about entering the ministry and training. The three of them did not leave the court and lived in Miyagi. It is not easy to connect with supporters, so many things are used to discuss with the mother.

And this time studying in the ministry also gave them more opportunities to contact foreign ministers. At least in their view now, this arrangement by their father was undoubtedly a reward for them to intercede for the fifth brother.

After the three elder brothers left, Gao Xiaoguan turned back to the Mingguang Palace, and the question in his heart still hadn't been answered.

After saluting, Gao Xiaoguan asked his father:

"The Ministry of Rites that the child clearly drew, why did the emperor change it to the Ministry of Punishment?"

Gao Cheng walked down the imperial steps to the lowest level, beckoned Gao Xiaoguan to sit with him, and patiently explained:
"The Ministry of Rites governs the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Ancestral Hall, the Ministry of Catering, and the four divisions of host and guest. It is in charge of culture and education, rituals and music, sacrifices, and diplomacy. As far as you are concerned, you can only gain something from the host and guest division. It is useless to leave the rest, and it is difficult to accomplish anything.

"Although the Ministry of Punishment has been occupied by Shangshu Zuocheng and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, at least in name, it has jurisdiction over the country's criminal decrees and review of criminal names. It is more beneficial to have a clear understanding of the law through the experience of the Ministry of Punishment."

Gao Xiaoguan was silent for a while, and it took him a long time to raise his head, mustering up his courage, and said to Gao Cheng:

"The child only wants to be a general."

Gao Cheng didn't expect his well-behaved son to refute his decision. First, he was habitually annoyed. After all, since Gao Huan's death, no one dared to disobey him, and even raised his hand to slap this stubborn son.

It's just that when the palm fell, it touched the top of Gao Xiaoguan's head.

"Guan'er, if you were born in an emperor's family, you can just settle down as a rich and idle king, get drunk all day long, play games among your wives and concubines, and spend the rest of your life in a daze.

"If you want to make a difference, you have to fight. Even if you are dedicated to being a general, how can your brothers rest assured that you will entrust the military power to you."

Speaking of which, Gao Cheng grabbed Gao Xiaoguan's palm, looked at the callus in his palm and said:

"If you don't want to go to the six parts to practice, you don't need to learn the riding and archery and the art of war. After more than ten years of hard training, you can only hunt rabbits in the end. From now on, you will specialize in poetry and prose. When you come out of the cabinet in the future, you will be bestowed by your father." The mansion is for you to drink and sing with literati."

Gao Xiaoguan's face changed when he heard the words, so he could only lower his head and say:

"Just go, baby."

Gao Xiaoguan had already left the Mingguang Palace, but Gao Cheng was still sitting on the imperial steps and meditating.

Maybe he was really not a good father who encouraged his son to compete for the position of crown prince. After all, even if the brothers fought for it, even if they fought each other back, as long as they did not give them military power, it would not affect the overall situation.

But as the son of heaven, it is more beneficial for the country and the people to have one more son join the competition, let them involve wildly, and compete to make achievements.

In the final analysis, seizing the heir is not better than being bad. It is not enough to hinder the brothers, and one has to do well so that Gao Cheng can see their abilities.

Of course, after the successor is determined, for the losers, it is the beginning of a miserable life. Gao Cheng will suppress them vigorously and basically wipe out their influence in the court.

It is indeed cold-blooded and ruthless, but it is not the last kindness of the father, wanting to save their lives.

After years of fighting, don't expect any friendship between the brothers, but if Gao Cheng has removed the threat of the brothers for the successor, he still refuses to leave a way out.

Gao Cheng naturally wouldn't choose such a vicious heart, and he was also afraid that the wolf cub would bite him back.

Gao Xiaoguan returned to his bedroom, and retreated all the palace people, leaving only Mistress Cui, he rested on his mother's lap, and talked to her about today's events, compared to Gao Cheng, he was still closer to his mother, his father was a brother Our father and mother belong to me alone, at least her heart is only for me.

Lady Cui certainly didn't want her son to be involved in the dispute over the heir apparent. Her husband Yuen Long was originally a side branch of the clan. The prefect of Bohai did a good job. The husband and wife were loving, but because Gao Huan wanted to set up another central government to fight against the Erzhu family, he was pushed out. Became the Son of Heaven.

After the incident was completed, she was deposed immediately, and was smothered by Yuan Quan together with Yuan Ye and Yuan Gong. She had an intuitive feeling of the danger of the battle for the throne.

"Your Majesty asked you to go to the Ministry of Criminal Justice. You should do your job well. You don't want to be meritorious, but you want to be innocent. You just don't want to make trouble for your brothers. They are all reasonable people. If you know that your ambition is not here, how can you?" There will be a brotherhood."

However, Gao Xiaoguan kept lingering in his mind the words of his father:
'If you want to make a difference, you have to fight. '

He didn't want his brothers to turn against each other, but he didn't want to be a rich and idle person. His father led the army and conquered himself, and he did a great job in expanding the territory. Correspondingly, his uncles could only get drunk with singing and dancing. Isn't this kind of life what he wants.

"Mother, since my father asked me to go to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to practice, my child should do his best and make achievements, so how can he encourage himself with no faults."

Cui Gongfu sighed in her heart, why did she only give a little hope, and then went in to fight with others? It was the same in Yuen Long back then, when the five clothes were released early, but they still had to wade into the muddy water. This throne is really like this attractive.

In the past, Gao Xiaoguan was unwilling to get involved in seizing the heir, and naturally he was mostly influenced by Mrs. Cui, but as the child grew up, he had his own thoughts at the age of eight, and was no longer swayed by his mother's thoughts.

And the reason was just instigated by Gao Cheng's words, which made him firmly believe that his father was willing to give them an equal opportunity to prove his talents.

The inferiority complex in the past was shattered. It turned out that he, Gao Xiaoguan, whose biological mother could not treat outsiders, existed on the same level as the three elder brothers in his father's heart, and they were all candidates who could be considered as heirs.

For the past eight years, the mother and son, who have been practicing non-competition, had a disagreement for the first time.

But as a mother, her tolerance for her only child is unlimited. Cui Gongfu raised her head for Gao Xiaoguan, and said with a forced smile:
"Guan'er has ambitions, and she is also happy to be a mother. If she can do things, she must be upright and upright, but she must have a clear conscience."

Gao Xiaoguan knew what his mother meant to tell him not to take the initiative to provoke the three elder brothers, to be less intriguing, and to focus on managing state affairs, so that even if his hopes fail in the future, he would not form an inextricable enmity with them.

"Don't worry, mother, the child knows."

Gao Xiaoguan glanced sideways at his mother's face and said with a smile.

In the third year of Zhaode (550), on October 28, Gao Cheng issued an edict ordering Taiyuan County King Gao Xiaozhang to reside in the Household Department, Jingzhao County King Gao Xiaoyu to reside in the Industry Department, Guangping County King Gao Xiaowan to the Official Department, and Lanling County King Gao Xiaoguan to reside in the Criminal Department , Learn to manage affairs.

On the third day of November, Gao Cheng issued another edict to elevate the titles of his four sons from county kings to princes. The so-called prince titles, except for Gao Xiaowan, all came from the places where their county titles were located.

Gao Xiaozhang was made King of Jin, Gao Xiaoyu was made King of Qin, Gao Xiaowan was made King of Zhao, and Gao Xiaoguan was made King of Lu.

Gao Xiaowan's original Guangping County King was actually more suitable than Zhao, Qi or Wei. The city of Ye was built by Qi Huangong, and Wei Wenhou used it as his accompanying capital during the Warring States Period.

It's just that the country name is Qi, so it is naturally impossible to designate Gao Xiaowan as the king of Qi, and the king of Wei is too sensitive. After all, Gao Qi replaced Wei, after much deliberation, Gao Cheng gave a title of King Zhao.

Among the four, only Gao Xiaoyu felt that her title was the most unlucky, because the tyranny of the Qin Dynasty had been smeared by Confucianism for hundreds of years. At least before Tang Taizong, the King of Qin was never a good title. Do your best to add luster to this title.

Gao Cheng's arrangements for the four sons were not limited to this, more importantly, he distributed the mansion in Luoyang for the four, and granted them the right to open the mansion, allowing them to recruit their own staff.

In fact, the four of them were far from the age when the prince left the court. The eldest son Gao Xiaozhang and the second son Gao Xiaoyu were only 13 years old, the third son Gao Xiaowan was only nine years old, and Gao Xiaoguan was only eight years old. Gao Cheng gave the mansion just so that they could have a place to live The aides, discussing political affairs with the aides, must be at least 15 years old before they will actually be released from Miyagi.

As soon as the edict was issued, the houses of Gao Xiaozhang, Gao Xiaoyu, and Gao Xiaowan were full of people, and there was an endless stream of defectors.

Of the three, Gao Xiaozhang is Er Zhurong's grandson and the eldest son, who has a direct descendant and a direct descendant, and who has no direct descendant, so he is naturally the most favored.

Gao Xiaoyu was born to a Han girl. His mother, Mrs. Song’s grandfather, Song Bian, was one of the six auxiliary ministers left behind by Emperor Xiaowen. Raised by Huan, the limelight is no less than that of his brother.

Although Gao Xiaowan has the blood of the previous dynasty, due to Wei Qi's peaceful handover, Northern Qi treated the Yuan family kindly, so he would not be as embarrassing as Li Ke. Good impression, willing to work for it.

Compared with the three elder brothers who can recruit a large number of talents sitting in the mansion, Gao Xiaoguan seems to be ignored.

After all, according to the official statement, his mother was just a maidservant in Prince Qi's mansion, maybe it was because of the foolish things that King Qi lost his morals after drinking at that time.

The titles of county kings of the three elder brothers have their own interpretations, pointing to Jinyang, Chang'an, and Yecheng respectively. When they came to him, they became Lanling. What significance could Lanling have to the Gao family?

　Thanks to book friends Liu Xiaorui, Yuzu Pineapple, book friends 20230105193927330, Aoyama Zixu, book friends 20180524230326027, read books when you are in a good mood, and barbaric insects for their rewards.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)