The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

The boat trip from Quanting County to Lingnan was relatively peaceful.

Although some people with ulterior motives saw the vastness of Zhao Yao's fleet and had thoughts that they shouldn't have, they saw that these ships were all official ships, and they were full of guards.Although these guards did not wear official uniforms, the swords on their waists were not for decoration.

Robbery of an official ship is not that easy.If you are caught, you will be severely punished, and this punishment is not something ordinary people can withstand.

At this time, Zhao Yao and He Lianfang were sitting on the deck, chatting and fishing.

I have been at sea these past few days. It was fresh at first, but after three days I felt tired.Besides, there is really nothing to see on the sea except the sea, just the sea.

If he hadn't been so bored on the boat, Zhao Yao would have been too lazy to look at the vast sea.To be honest, after seeing too much, I don’t think there is anything good about the sea.

Fishing is a rare recreational activity at sea, and it’s a good way to pass the time.

There was a thumping sound, and someone came to the deck, expressing their joy.He took the letter he just received and handed it to Zhao Yao.

When Zhao Yao saw that it was Wen Daoji's letter, he quickly put down the fishing rod in his hand, took the letter and opened it to read.

He Lianfang noticed that Zhao Yao's expression became more and more solemn when he read the letter, and asked with concern: "What happened?"

Zhao Yao read the letter, handed it to He Lianfang to read, and said with an ugly face: "Mr. Wen has been inspecting towns all over Lingnan these days, and then found that the price of salt in Lingnan states has increased again. Officials from Lingnan He colluded with the chieftain and colluded with salt merchants from other places to smuggle salt from the Great Zhou Dynasty and sell it to Annan, Siam, Luzon and other countries."

He Lianfang carefully read the letter written by Wen Daoji.In the letter, Wen Daoji wrote in great detail the situation of salt in Lingnan states.

"What makes me most angry is that those officials let the people in Lingnan eat bitter sea salt and sold the good salt to Luzon and other countries." In the past few years, when he was in Jinling, Zhao Yao had a deep understanding of the greed of salt merchants. and ruthless. "The price of good salt in Lingnan has been driven up very high. People cannot afford good salt and can only eat cheap and unpalatable sea salt."

He Lianfang said with a cold face: "They are so courageous."

Zhao Yao sneered and said: "I'm talking about the wild land of Lingnan. The officials there don't have much salary. Where did they get their money? Unexpectedly, they got it through smuggling. They not only smuggled salt, but also smuggled tea, porcelain, and cloth." And medicinal materials and other things.”

"They colluded with businessmen in the interior?" Zhao Yao mentioned the word "inland".The geographical location of Lingnan is too remote compared to the Central Plains.

"I originally thought they were just colluding with Lingnan chieftains and overseas businessmen, but I didn't expect that they were also colluding with inland businessmen." Zhao Yao felt that he still knew less about the situation of Lingnan officials, "That's what I was thinking about. Why didn't the officials who were sent to Lingnan actively ask for connections to be transferred back to the inland? It turned out that they didn't want to go back to the inland. When serving as officials in Lingnan, the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. They are the local emperors. They can do whatever they want and cover the sky with one hand. They colluded with foreign merchants or officials for smuggling, and secretly worked with inland merchants to earn a lot of money. They lived a luxurious and luxurious life in Lingnan, and of course they did not want to return to the inland to serve."

He Lianfang also looked down on the officials in Lingnan, "These officials always find ways to embezzle and accept bribes. They can think of all kinds of ways to make money even in Lingnan. It's really amazing."

"Of course it's great. I guess the officials in the capital or the aristocratic families are not as rich as the officials in Lingnan." Zhao Yao thought that when he asked his second uncle to go to Lingnan to do business, he was not blackmailed by the local officials or the chieftain. He thought they didn't dare to blackmail, but now it seems that he was stupid. "Now that I think about it, when Second Uncle and the others went to do business in Lingnan, they were not extorted. It's probably because those people looked down on the little money that Second Uncle and the others made, and they didn't want to alert others."

He Lianfang felt that what Zhao Yao said was very reasonable, "It seems that they are far-sighted and don't care about the small money your second uncle and his friends have. They don't want to lose the big smuggling money just for those small money."

"These people are very smart and have great foresight." Zhao Yao frowned and said with a stern face, "When I get to Lingnan, they will find a way to deal with me."

"You, the King of Han, suddenly landed in Lingnan and became the most powerful person in Lingnan. They will definitely not want you to go." He Lianfang analyzed, "They will send people to assassinate you on your way to Lingnan. If you fail, they will wait until you arrive in Lingnan. , send people to get rid of you again."

"They should have found out that I, the tenth prince, are not favored and think that if I were to be killed, my father would not have any reaction." Zhao Yao looked at the sea in the distance, "In a few days, they will send someone to assassinate me. Me, and disguised as a pirate.”

He Lianfang asked: "What are you going to do with these officials?"

"Investigate their crimes first. If they are all involved in smuggling and doing other harmful things, I will naturally not let anyone go." Zhao Yao said with a cold face and a green face, "The law does not punish everyone. , it won’t work for me. Lingnan is my fiefdom and my country, and I am the real master of Lingnan. Of course I will not let any of these people do things that harm Lingnan.”

Seeing Zhao Yao like an unsheathed sword, exuding a cold and ruthless aura all over his body, He Lianfang felt a little chill in her heart.

After leaving the capital, Zhao Yao stopped pretending to be himself and showed his truest self.

"When I arrive in Lingnan, it seems that I am going to go on a killing spree." First I have to deal with officials from all over Lingnan, and then I have to deal with the chieftains and people of various tribes.There are many people on these two sides, but they still have to be killed.If he didn't kill him, they would have thought that he, the King of Han, was a soft persimmon. "Oh, Lingnan is really too big."

He Lianfang glanced at Zhao Yao, "You still dislike Lingnan being too big?"

"Second uncle, don't you think Lingnan is too big?"

"The towns in Lingnan are very small, and the places where people can actually live are also very small. When you say big, you mean the forests in Lingnan are big."

After hearing this, Zhao Yao smiled and said, "It's true."

He Lianfang said with a profound look on her face: "Only Lingnan University can support one hundred thousand private soldiers."

Speaking of private soldiers, Zhao Yao thought of Zhennan Camp, also known as Lingnan Camp, which guarded southern Xinjiang.

"When I was leaving, my father gave me the Tiger Talisman of the Lingnan Camp. The entire Lingnan Camp was at my disposal. Now I have an army of 20. Second uncle, let's forget about raising [-] private soldiers. "Now that we have the Lingnan Camp, we no longer need to raise [-] private soldiers.Although he does not lack the money to support a hundred thousand private soldiers, if this money is saved, it can be used for other conveniences.

When Zhao Yao remembered that the emperor gave him the tiger talisman of Lingnan Camp, he looked very surprised. He couldn't believe that his father gave him the tiger talisman of Lingnan Camp.

"You brat, what's your expression?" The emperor saw Zhao Yao's expression of disbelief and felt disgusted, "Don't you dare to ask for this tiger charm?"

"Father, what you are holding in your hand is the Tiger Talisman of a 20-strong army, not a toy."

"Of course I know it's a tiger talisman, but you don't dare to ask for it?"

Zhao Yao still didn't reach out to pick up the tiger talisman: "Father, why did you give me the tiger talisman from Lingnan Camp?"

The emperor looked at Zhao Yao with raised eyebrows: "Why do you think I gave it to you?"

"Father, I know you love me, but was it too hasty for you to give me the tiger talisman of Lingnan Camp?" Zhao Yao knew that the emperor loved him, but to be honest, he didn't feel the emperor's love for him too deeply. Feeling.Now that he saw the emperor giving him the tiger talisman from the Lingnan Camp, he felt timidly the emperor's love for him.To be honest, he was very frightened.

"I can give it to you if I want. There's nothing rash about it." After saying that, the emperor threw the tiger talisman to Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao saw the emperor throwing the tiger talisman at him so casually and hurriedly caught it.After he caught the tiger talisman firmly, he looked at the emperor speechlessly: "Father, this is the tiger talisman of the 20-strong army. It is not a stone on the roadside. How can you throw it away?" If the tiger talisman is broken, then What should I do if I don’t get on?

The emperor looked at Zhao Yao who was carefully taking care of the tiger talisman, and joked: "Oh, I didn't see that you care about the tiger talisman so much."

Zhao Yao said angrily: "You are too casual."

"It's just a tiger talisman." The emperor really didn't take this tiger talisman seriously.

The emperor's indifferent tone left Zhao Yao speechless.

"Father, if you give me the tiger talisman of the Lingnan camp, aren't you afraid that I will lead the Lingnan camp to rebel in the future?"

When Zhao Yao talked about rebellion, the emperor was not only not angry, but his eyes lit up.

"If you want to rebel, that is really great. I will wait for you to rebel, and then I will pass the throne to you, so that I can be the Supreme Emperor and take Xiaoxiao around." He has had enough of being an emperor. He has long since not wanted to be emperor.

After Zhao Yao listened to the emperor's words with a dark face, the corner of his mouth twitched fiercely and said: "You have a beautiful idea!"

The emperor looked at Zhao Yao tenderly, and his tone was full of encouragement: "You brat, when you get to Lingnan, you will lead Lingnan to create a rebellion."

Sun Kui on the side said: "..." Your Majesty, you are probably the only one in the world who wants your son to rebel.Zhao Yao did not take the emperor's words seriously, knowing that the emperor was not serious and was joking with him.

"Haha, you asked me to rebel and become the emperor, and you asked me to work hard for you while you took your mother and concubine to play around, eat good food, and dream!" He would never rebel and become the emperor.He has not yet fulfilled his dream.

The emperor deliberately asked: "You brat, don't you want to be the emperor?"

Zhao Yao didn't hesitate at all, "I don't want to, I really don't want to, just let other people rebel. Anyway, I won't rebel." Even if he is full and holding on, he will not rebel.

The emperor pretended to be angry and asked: "You don't want the emperor. Do you have any future?"

Zhao Yao shrugged and said, "I'm just hopeless."

This brat is the only one who can say he has no future so openly and honestly.

"Tell me why you don't want to be emperor?"

"Tired!" Zhao Yao added, "Still annoying!"

Zhao Yao's words reached the emperor's heart.The emperor has endless memorials to deal with every day, endless matters of all sizes, and has to deal with the various thoughts of his courtiers. It's really annoying.He was almost bored to death, and every day he wished he could give up his job.

"I won't rebel. Just give up on this idea." Zhao Yao threw the tiger talisman in his hand back to the emperor. "I don't need or want this tiger charm."

"Everyone wants to be an emperor, but it's better for you. I dislike being an emperor because it is tiring and annoying." As expected of his son, he deeply understands that there are no benefits to being an emperor. "This tiger talisman that can mobilize the 20 troops of the Lingnan Camp is also wanted by everyone. It's better for you to not want it out of disgust."

"Trouble." Zhao Yao said with a look of disgust, "I hate trouble the most."

"You don't want it, but I want to give it to you." The emperor threw the tiger talisman to Zhao Yao again.

Sun Kui was speechless when he saw the father and son throwing the tiger charm around as worthless things.The Tiger Talisman was something that everyone wanted, but in the hands of the Emperor and his son, it was like a hot stone.

"No, father, why do you insist on giving me the Tiger Talisman? I can't use it either."

"Are you sure you won't need it?" The emperor looked at Zhao Yao playfully, "Without these 20 troops to help you, do you think you can kill those people in Lingnan?"

Zhao Yao said nothing.

"There are a lot of people from the tribes in Lingnan. With the thousands of guards I gave you, do you think you will be their opponent?"

Zhao Yao thought about it seriously.If there were 20 troops from the Lingnan camp, it would be much easier for him to act in Lingnan.The most important thing is that he will be much safer and have a lot of confidence.

"You brat, these 20 troops are my birthday gift to you. Use it to defend Lingnan." The emperor's expression became serious, "Siam, Annan and Luzon, the foreign countries, did not completely surrender to the Zhou Dynasty. As long as they seize the opportunity, they will counterattack, and with this 20-strong army, you can also take good precautions against them."

The emperor was right, Zhao Yao put the tiger talisman into his arms.

"Then I'll take it."

Seeing Zhao Yao accept the tiger talisman, the emperor smiled with satisfaction: "You brat, I still hope you can rebel."

Zhao Yao rolled his eyes at the emperor: "Don't even think about it."

"I'll say hello to you at Lingnan Camp."

"Okay, thank you, Father." Don't give up the 20 troops for nothing, they don't need him to support them anyway.

Memories over, back on deck.

"Do you think 20 troops are enough?"

"20 is not enough. Second uncle, you don't really want me to raise an army of 40, do you?"

He Lianfang nodded slightly: "40 is still about the same."

Zhao Yao: "..." He knew it! ! !
"Second uncle, what do I need an army of 40 people for?"

"Aren't you going overseas in the future? 20 is not enough, 40 is almost enough."

"But……"

He Lianfang interrupted Zhao Yao's words and said in a tone that could not be refused: "One hundred thousand private soldiers, not one can be missing."

Zhao Yao: "..."

"Lingnan Camp is yours now, what are you going to do?" He Lianfang did not expect that the emperor would give Zhao Yao the tiger talisman of Lingnan Camp.The emperor really believed that Zhao Yao would not rebel.

"Let's leave it alone for now." Zhao Yao has a lot to do when he goes to Lingnan, so Lingnan Camp is not in a hurry. "Don't let people over there know that Lingnan Camp belongs to me."

He Lianfang agreed: "It is right to use Lingnan Camp as a trump card." Since it is a trump card, it cannot be revealed easily.

"I will find a time to secretly go to Lingnan Camp to see how the soldiers in Lingnan Camp are doing."

"Of course it can't be compared with the soldiers you trained." He Lianfang felt that Zhao Yao's method of training soldiers was very good.

"Second uncle, why don't you personally train the soldiers of the Lingnan camp?" Zhao Yao said with a smile, "You congratulate the general on his great name, and no soldier will be unconvinced. If you train them, they will be happy."

He Lianfang wanted to train the soldiers of Lingnan Camp and make them completely become his soldiers, but he knew that he could not touch Lingnan Camp.Once he touches Lingnan Camp, the emperor will never let him stay with Xiao Shi.

He had a bet with the emperor, but there were some things he couldn't touch.

"I can't train Lingnan Camp."

"Why is this?"

He Lianfang did not speak, but looked at Zhao Yao quietly.

Soon, Zhao Yao understood.

"Okay, let's keep the Lingnan Camp as it is." He didn't have the energy to train the Lingnan Camp.Besides, the soldiers in Lingnan Camp may not listen to his instructions in training.

"There is nothing wrong with Lingnan Camp remaining as it is."

"There are only a few days of peace, so hurry up and enjoy it now." It is true that there are not a few days of peace, and he will be assassinated in a few days.When he gets to Lingnan, he will be as busy as a top and cannot be as idle and happy as he is now.

Zhao Yao had guessed that the officials from Lingnan were waiting for them to approach. (End of chapter)