Sui Dynasty: I, Yang Guang, am both scrupulous and stable

Chapter 320: Establishing leaders and virtuous people?

When the emperor announced such a big thing, no one seemed to be surprised. The prince had been under house arrest for such a long time. At first, he was allowed to go to court out of concern for his face, but later he was not even allowed to go to court. The reason was that although There are different opinions, but everyone thinks that the most reasonable reason is that the battle in Goguryeo and the death of King Wei caused the emperor to be completely disappointed with the prince.

Everyone knew that the prince must be replaced, so Yang Xiucai worked so hard, and even Yang Jun worked hard too.

Everyone wants to have enough.

Of course, everyone knows who is the most reasonable and suitable person to take this position.

Yang Jian first looked at everyone's faces to observe their attitude towards this matter.

Seeing that everyone was not surprised or upset about this matter, Yang Jian was a little dissatisfied. The emperor would discuss this important matter with you, so you must show some attitude.

No one spoke or took a stand, which even made Yang Jian feel a little helpless.

In the end, he returned to Gao Xi: "Gao Xi, what do you think?"

Gao Xi was helpless. The prince was deposed, and he had nothing to do about it. His daughter was a good example for the prince. He had to speak for the prince regardless of circumstances or reasons. But from his observation of the emperor during this period, he knew that, There is no way around this matter.

He even went to see Empress Dugu, but Empress Dugu was more firm than the emperor. However, Empress Dugu also promised to protect the safety, prosperity and wealth of Yang Yong and his concubines.

For a person without political sensitivity and ability to respond, staying away from the center of power may be a better choice.

Gao Xi was silent for a moment and then said: "Your Majesty, I don't dare to make rash comments."

"My sons are all very outstanding. The King of Shu is here today, and I often praise him in front of him. Although he is young, he is a handsome man. The other princes are also very outstanding, so I often feel worried. What should I do? Xiu'er, who among you do you think is qualified for the position of Crown Prince?"

Everyone showed slightly surprised expressions at this time. Yang Jian actually asked his son so bluntly, who was now a strong contender for the position of prince. This seemed to be inconsistent with the emperor's consistent behavior.

Yang Xiu immediately realized that this question was a trap for him.

If he was bold enough at this time and followed the emperor's words, he would appear to be eager for quick success. The most powerful ministers in the court were all present now.

If someone is too eager for quick success and instant benefit, he will definitely be looked down upon by others. Although he has made some connections during this period, these important ministers in the court are not his direct descendants. How many people will really stand up to speak for him when the time comes, in case he recommends himself? It’s embarrassing that no one has come forward yet.

But if he doesn't recommend himself now, but says a few words modestly, saying that his second brother is more virtuous, will the emperor just give up?Since the king of Shu thinks that the king of Jin is virtuous, then why not make the king of Jin the prince?

So now he couldn't recommend himself or recommend other brothers humbly. He said with a smile: "Father, I have never thought about this. I am stupid and can't give any answer for a while. I know that the East Palace is the kingdom of the country." Therefore, we should establish virtuous people according to the father's ideas and listen to the father's holy judgment."

Yuan Yan looked at his Highness the King of Shu with great satisfaction. The King of Shu was alert and responded quickly, so there was no need for him to worry about this.

He avoided a difficult question and brought the topic to the word virtuous.

Establishing elders and virtuous people has been a big problem since ancient times. Although the palms and backs of the hands are all flesh, when there are more children, there will always be smart ones but not smart ones, some like them but not like them, and the mothers of these children also like some and dislike them. , those who are favored and those who are not, once these conditions are superimposed, the thoughts in your mind will become complicated.

Whether to establish a leader or to establish a virtuous person. Throughout the ages, at home and abroad, basically the political power has always chosen to establish a leader in the selection of successors, because it is simple to establish a leader. Whoever comes out of the mother's womb first will be the one. This time sequence is still very simple.

But establishing a virtuous person is different. There is no standard for measuring virtuousness, and there is no question on the forehead of who is more virtuous. In the end, there is no way to tell who is superior or inferior. We can only see the truth in front of the Xuanwu Gate and see who wins. , whoever kills the other party is virtuous.

This is the way to create chaos.

So the best choice is the eldest son with a normal brain, but now the eldest son has been abolished. If the turn is followed in order, it would be the second son Yang Guang, but Yang Xiu and others also want this position, and several sons are also older. As they grow bigger, competition between them will inevitably continue.

Yang Jian and Empress Dugu didn't want their sons to continue fighting, but they didn't have a good solution to this eternal problem.

Gao Jiong stood up at this time and said: "Your Majesty, please summon the heads of the six ministries and all the princes to discuss this matter together."

Yang Jian said: "Gao Jun, after you return home today, write me a name of the person you think is suitable to become the prince."

Gao Jiong looked at the emperor helplessly. When he said this, the eyes of Yang Xiu and others immediately fell on Gao Jiong. Isn't this the emperor deliberately pushing himself to the forefront?

However, Gao Jiong could not resist the matter, so he had to accept it.

Yang Jian asked everyone to leave first, leaving Gao Jiong alone, and asked: "Gao Jiong, you really haven't thought about who will be the prince."

Gao Yan showed bitterness on his face: "Your Majesty, I feel more and more recently that I am old and not as strong as before. You and the Queen will decide on this matter, and I will support it no matter what."

"Are you old? Didn't you return your eighteen-bedroom concubine a few days ago?"

Nothing could escape the emperor's eyes. At this time, the emperor's words put aside the courtesy of a monarch and his ministers. Gao Jiong retracted his hand and sighed: "Your Majesty, aren't you making things difficult for me? If you throw this problem out, you I am quite happy and free, what should I do?"

The corners of Yang Jian's mouth turned up slightly: "I'm not just asking you questions, I really want to see how you feel."

Gao Jiao waved his hand and excused himself: "Then I will go back to the palace to give His Majesty some ideas."

He understood that the emperor wanted him to initiate the recommendation of the crown prince. When the time came to mention it in the court, people with different opinions would naturally jump out, and then the emperor could make it clearer who was who.

If the emperor initiated it himself, many people would be too afraid to speak out, and the situation would not be clear.

As a chess player, you must understand the situation clearly.

The emperor's damage transfer caused Gao Jiong to be stopped by Yang Xiu as soon as he left the palace gate.

Yang Xiu couldn't wait to stop Gao Jiong and bowed respectfully: "Mr. Situ."

"His Royal Highness the King of Shu."

"My king is hosting a banquet at Xinghua Tower today. I wonder if Mr. Situ would be willing to have a meal with me." The King of Shu invited him personally. He had to be free even if he didn't have time. Gao Jiong understood the purpose of the King of Shu, but he had no choice but to go. Eat this meal.

At night, Changlefang is still a place that never sleeps. The Xinghua Tower is brightly lit, the orioles sing softly, the swallows dance, and from time to time, the clear laughter of a woman can be heard, which makes people yearn for it.

The best hall upstairs in Xinghua is called Chunyu Hall. There are only special facilities in the hall, so that except for the dining table, light rain falls from the roof. To reach the table, you have to pass through the rain curtain.

Gao Yan couldn't help but sigh: "Elegance, indeed elegance, sipping tea and exploring the quiet, listening to the rain and brewing wine in the bustling city. Once the door is closed, it is like being surrounded by mountains and only the sound of the piano is heard. Unexpectedly, Xinghua Tower is truly worthy of its reputation."

"Prime Minister Gao is busy with his affairs, so it seems he hasn't been to the Xinghua Building very often."

"I don't like lively scenes, so I don't come to Changlefang often. I only come when there is an auction of famous calligraphy and painting. The auction is really good, and there are often works by famous people."

After chatting for a while, Yang Xiu stretched out his hand to signal Gao Jiong to take a seat first. There were only two people at the table.

A wide range of sumptuous dishes are available.

"Your Highness, King of Shu, let's eat these sixteen or seventeen dishes for the two of us, they are too much."

Yang Xiu said nonchalantly: "It's not a year of great disaster, so it doesn't matter. These dishes are all precious dishes collected by Xinghualou from various places. Gao Xiang, you can try them first."

Gao Jiong didn't know how to eat for a while, but instead called the waiter: "Give me a bowl of porridge."

"Your Highness the King of Shu, I can't eat too much meat. Please forgive me. I can just eat some porridge with my meal."

Yang Xiu was not very happy. The old guy didn't like food and salt, so he actually had to drink porridge with such a table full of delicacies.

But because of Gao Jiong's current tasks and his high moral standing, even if Yang Xiu was a little dissatisfied, he would not show it.

What followed was a non-nutritious mutual compliment, which was a common routine in official circles. Yang Xiu even brought out wine to have a drink with Gao Xuan, but after three glasses of wine, Yang Xiu himself turned red, while Gao Xuan's complexion turned red. Nothing has changed.

Gao Jiong couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. At such a young age, he actually relied on drinking to get closer. He had never heard of Gao Jiong's previous reputation.

After the founding of the Sui Dynasty, Gao Jiong rarely drank, because essentially he didn't like drinking. In the past, there were many official events, so he had to drink, and he didn't like drinking. However, Gao Jiong drank a lot and could not get drunk after a thousand cups. Now he is in a high position. As for the weight, you don't need to drink other wines except the toasts from the emperor and empress. It seems that the officialdom has gradually forgotten the appearance of Gao Jiong killing everyone at the wine table.

Now Gao Yan was holding a glass of wine to greet Yang Xiu. He thought that as long as Yang Xiu was drunk and couldn't ask questions, he would be able to go home peacefully today.

Fortunately, Yang Xiu was just too drunk, not mentally weak. Seeing that his drinking capacity was no match for Gao Jiong, he stopped drinking and asked very straightforwardly: "Prime Minister Gao, my father asked you to recommend a candidate for the crown prince. How did you do it?" Thought?"

"Your Highness, King of Shu, you should not ask such a question."

"There is no one else here. I just want to discuss it with Prime Minister Gao. What does Prime Minister Gao think of me?"

Gao Jiong shied away: "Your Highness, are you drunk?"

"Drunk? I'm not drunk. I have always respected Prime Minister Gao. As the most trusted minister of Emperor Father, Prime Minister Gao's moral character and ability are obvious to all. Father must have wanted to see what you meant when he asked you to recommend him, so I also want to hear it. Gao Xiang, what do you mean?"

Yang Xiu asked again: "What does Prime Minister Gao think of me?"

After asking again and again, it would be impolite not to answer, but it would be impolite to answer because he could not give Yang Xiu the answer he wanted.

"His Royal Highness, King of Shu, is young and promising. He has military exploits, literary talent, and both moral and moral qualities. He is naturally a man of great rank. It is a blessing for the Sui Dynasty to have a vassal king like His Highness King of Shu."

"Looking at other things, it seems that the Prime Minister thinks that I can't be the crown prince. Does it mean that the Prime Minister already has a candidate in mind?"

Facing Yang Xiu's slightly threatening words, Gao Jiong was neither humble nor overbearing: "Your Highness, King of Shu, this is an order issued by His Majesty. I only speak as a family and have no other meaning."

"Then I would like to ask the high minister, do you think the position of the prince should be based on the elders or the virtuous?"

"Since ancient times, there has been an orderly process from childhood to adulthood, so that everything can be organized."

Yang Xiu immediately said: "In terms of age, my eldest brother is the best candidate for the crown prince. However, because my eldest brother has lost his moral character, my father wants to choose a virtuous person as the crown prince. If this is the case, then according to my father's wishes, the virtuous man should be selected from among the brothers." It has nothing to do with the relationship between elder and younger, you think so."

"The old minister asked His Highness, how do you think the word virtuous is judged?"

Yang Xiu's slightly flushed face showed a smile: "Governing the place, marching and fighting, respecting parents, these are all standards."

Gao Jiong stroked his beard and said: "When you govern a place, the people and the local noble families will judge who is better. When marching and fighting, the victory or defeat is determined on paper, but several princes can't compete with each other to see who is better." That’s great, as for respecting and loving parents, Your Highness, Prince of Shu, having heirs is a great filial piety, Your Highness, Prince of Shu, you have to work harder in this regard.”

Yang Xiu didn't expect Gao Jiong's refusal to be from such a strange angle, and he couldn't refute it. He indeed had no heirs. Now, except for Yang Yong, the only one with heirs was Yang Guang, and he was the eldest son of the emperor and empress Qin. He was the son of Princess Jin of Dian, and did not have any other collateral heirs.

Among the brothers, the concubine of King Qin Yang Jun is pregnant with a child. It is not yet known whether the boy or girl is pregnant, but Yang Xiu has not yet.

At this time, heirs are a very important bargaining chip. Having the eldest son like Yang Guang means making him the prince, and the next orthodox heir has also been selected. As long as Yang Zhao is not stupid or stupid like Yang Yong With such nonsense, the emperor's position in the Sui Dynasty can be steadily handed over to three generations. For the courtiers, especially those who are at the center of their interests, this is even more important than Yang Guang's own ability.

Yang Xiu was helpless, but it would be a bit difficult to go back and conjure one at this time.

Gao Jiong continued: "Whether it is about appointing officials or virtuous people, the two saints should make their own decisions. Your Majesty's order for me to recommend is just an excuse. Your Highness, the King of Shu, I can't help you with this matter, and I don't really intend to recommend anyone. This is the royal family." The old minister has decided not to take part in the matter, and His Highness does not need to pay attention to me."

After that, Gao Jiong walked towards the door.

Yang Xiu did not stop him, but Gao Jiong's words reminded him that the emperor and queen were very important in this matter, and he had to deal with his mother.

But Queen Dugu had just brought his concubine Dong into the palace and said that she must discipline her to avoid ignorance. He was worried that his concubine might offend Queen Dugu.

(End of this chapter)