Jiuxi

Chapter 580 578 [Power in Hands]

In the right side room, the atmosphere was quite solemn.

Li Zongben pointed to the empty seat on the right and said gently, "Lord Lu, take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the seat."

Lu Chen glanced at Han Zhongjie and Shen Yulai who were below him, then looked at Li Daoyan and Xue Nanting opposite him, and he immediately understood.

Apart from Li Tianrun, Xiao Wangzhi and Liu Shouguang who were still in charge of the overall situation in Jiangbei, and Zhang Xu who was stationed at the border in Taiping Prefecture in the south, the five people in the room including Lu Chen were the core power group of Da Qi.

Li Zongben first asked Lu Chen: "What is the current situation in Jiangbei?"

Lu Chen took his time to briefly describe the situation on the border, and finally said, "Your Highness, with Duke Rong personally commanding the army, it will not be a problem to recover the northern part of Dingzhou. There will be victory reports within a month at most. By then, our dynasty will actually control Jing, Huai, and Ding in Jiangbei. I suggest that the second northern expedition be postponed in order to complete the pacification and digestion of the newly recovered areas. In addition, the army has fought hard for a long time and needs some time to rest. It is not advisable to continue to use force."

Li Zongben nodded and said, "That makes sense, let's do it. Another thing, my father said in his will that Duke Rong should return to Beijing to preside over the Military Academy, Duke Huai'an should return to Beijing to recuperate, Lord Liu should take over as the Grand Commander of Jingzhou, and Marquis Lu should take over as the Grand Commander of Dingzhou. I wonder if Marquis Lu has any suggestions on this?"

Li Daoyan and Han Zhongjie looked calm.

Xue Nanting raised his head and glanced at the prince.

These words were indeed the last will of the late emperor, but there was a very slight difference.

Li Duan's arrangement for Li Tianrun was to let him return to Jiangnan to recuperate, and he did not require him to return to Beijing.

Lu Chen's heart was slightly moved, and he responded calmly: "I have no objection."

Li Zongben said with relief: "That's it, but there's no rush for these transfers. We have to wait until the funeral is over."

After a brief silence, Li Daoyan stood up and said, "Your Highness, the country cannot be without a ruler for a day. I implore Your Highness to follow the late emperor's will and take the throne. Let the world know and reassure the people!"

The others stood up to second the motion, including Lu Chen.

At this moment, he finally realized the origin of that strange feeling.

Although he is now in a high position with great power, and his prestige among the border troops is comparable to that of Xiao Wangzhi and Li Tianrun, and he is even more favored because of his age, but when it comes to the huge proposition of court rules, he is actually still unclear about many aspects.

According to common sense, if the crown prince still exists, the important officials of the court should immediately invite the crown prince to ascend the throne as emperor after the emperor's death.

This is why a country cannot be without a king for a day.

The enthronement of a new monarch and the national funeral ceremony do not conflict with each other, and the two are basically carried out at the same time.

However, today is the tenth day since the emperor's death, and the prince has still not ascended the throne. This is not normal at all.

Li Daoyan has been in the political arena for decades, how could he not understand this rule?
There is no doubt that he had proposed this idea a long time ago, but for some reason Li Zongben did not agree.

Li Zongben glanced at Lu Chen, stood up and said, "I am very worried and afraid that I will fail my father's expectations."

Li Daoyan insisted this time: "Your Highness has been the regent for more than half a year. You have governed the country in a diligent and upright manner. The late emperor often praised you, and the will also clearly stated it. Please consider the foundation of the Great Qi country and the people of the world and take the throne!"

"Your Highness, please take the throne!"

The others all agreed in unison, with Lu Chen's voice being quite loud.

Li Zongben did not continue to refuse. There was no need to refuse again and again in this room. He agreed gently.

As long as he agreed, the subsequent matters were not complicated. The Ministry of Rites had already made preparations for the new monarch's ascension to the throne. All they needed to do was set the time for the ceremony. Li Zongben could then offer sacrifices to the heavens, the earth, and his ancestors in the Taimiao and become the emperor of the Great Qi.

Lu Chen now fully understood.

The reason why Li Zongben deliberately postponed the meeting was certainly not because he was afraid that the commander-in-chief of the border army would have objections.

This matter is actually very simple.

It was a foregone conclusion that Li Zongben would ascend the throne as emperor as the crown prince, but he did not want anything to be missed in his coronation ceremony, especially since Lu Chen, who could represent more than 200,000 elite border troops, would not be present.

In other words, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a person who pursues perfection.

After everyone sat down, Li Zongben said solemnly: "Regarding the funeral ceremony and the coronation ceremony of the late emperor, I hope that Prime Minister Li and Marquis Lu will be jointly responsible. Is that possible?"

Lu Chen and Li Daoyan looked at each other and said in unison: "We obey your orders."

Li Zongben nodded and said, "Lord Lu, you are the Minister of Military Affairs of the Military Academy. Now you have the merit of stabilizing the overall situation of the border. I hope you can temporarily take charge of the military affairs of the Beijing Camp and use your great reputation to deter the scoundrels, so as to prevent someone from taking advantage of the unstable situation to do something bad."

The commander of the imperial army, Shen Yulai, looked at his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose.

He was very clear about his responsibilities, which were to manage the imperial guards and guard the capital, and he didn't care about anything else.

Han Zhongjie lowered his head slightly, and others could not see his gaze clearly.

Lu Chen could understand the meaning of the word "temporarily".

After the national mourning is over and the new emperor's throne is secure, perhaps before this point in time, as long as Xiao Wangzhi returns to Beijing, he will take over the power from him.

However, during this period of time, Lu Chen was able to control the garrison forces in the capital area and his power was extremely profound.

Is this trust?
Lu Chen raised his head and looked at Li Zongben, only to see that his eyes were warm and full of trust.

"I accept the decree."

Without much hesitation, Lu Chen stood up again.

Li Zongben said with relief: "I know you have been on a long journey and have hardly rested along the way. You were also busy with military affairs before. Even a strong body can't stand it. You don't have to keep vigil today. I will make a decision. You go back to your house and have a good rest for a day, and come to the palace tomorrow." "Thank you for your sympathy and care, Your Highness."

Lu Chen accepted the gesture with a bow.

About an incense stick later, Lu Chen walked out of the palace in the drizzling rain.

Qin Zilong was waiting outside the square with more than 20 elite cavalrymen. When they saw him come out, they hurriedly came to greet him with umbrellas.

Lu Chen suddenly stopped and looked back at the palace in the rain.

Like a dormant giant beast.

……

into the night.

Prime Minister’s residence, Jinlin Hall.

Li Daoyan leaned on the couch with his eyes slightly closed.

A boy of about fourteen or fifteen stood beside the couch, massaging the old man's legs carefully and earnestly.

Under the bright candlelight, the hairs on the boy's lips are clearly visible. Although he still looks childish, he can vaguely see some masculinity.

"Is this also from a military school?"

After a moment, the old man asked with a smile on his face.

The young man said respectfully, "Grandfather, yes."

The old man sighed with some satisfaction and some regret: "I am old and useless. After standing in the palace for a long time, my legs seem to have no feeling."

The young man said earnestly: "Grandfather is in good health and will live a long life."

The old man smiled slightly, and then said: "An old man who refuses to die is a thief. A long life is not necessarily a good thing. Your Majesty is really a pity. If God can give him another ten years, Da Qi will surely return to its heyday."

There was a hint of tired sadness in his tone.

As the head of all officials who is most polite to his colleagues, he must always maintain the demeanor of a left prime minister so that people will not become chaotic. Even if the crown prince postpones the time of ascending the throne for some reason, there will still be no undercurrents in the court.

But isn't he sad?
After all, the emperor in the coffin of Fuqing Palace was a wise ruler who grew up under his own eyes.

To put it in a very disrespectful way, Li Duan was like a very close son or nephew to him.

Although there have been many disputes in the past ten years, it did not affect his sadness about Li Duan's departure.

But he had to consider the overall situation. Only in the dead of night, in the dark room of his private residence, in front of his most beloved grandson, could he reveal a little of the depression in his heart.

Li Gongxu kept moving his hands, and summoned up the courage to ask: "Grandfather, I wonder how much of the late emperor's character the current crown prince has?"

Li Daoyan looked at him with a little surprise.

Li Gongxu could not help but lower his head and said hesitantly: "Grandson, I spoke nonsense to Your Majesty, please punish me, grandfather."

Li Daoyan raised his hand and patted the back of his hand, motioning him to sit down on the round stool next to him, and said gently: "It's okay if you say it, but it's also okay if I hear it. It seems that the experience in the army is really beneficial. At least your courage has improved. You would never ask this question in the past."

Li Gongxu breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Daoyan then asked, "What do you think of the trip to Jiangbei?"

This question is so big that Li Gongxu doesn't know where to start.

He followed Lu Chen north and joined the Dingbei cavalry in Guangling Prefecture. Then there were the Battles of Shiquan, Cuiting, Luwushan, and the final decisive battle of Yongqiu.

He did not participate in the fighting personally, but he watched almost all the battles. Since Lu Chen did not deliberately exclude him, he was familiar with many details.

Li Daoyan said gently: "Don't be anxious, speak slowly."

Li Gongxu thought for a moment, briefly recounted his experience, and finally said: "Grandfather, Lord Lu is truly a gifted genius, especially during the Battle of Yongqiu. The pressure on his shoulders was unimaginable, but he did not show any emotional fluctuations and was extremely calm. If such a person were an opponent, he would definitely be very scary."

Li Daoyan narrowed his eyes and asked, "If one day he becomes your opponent, will you be afraid?"

Li Gongxu was startled for a moment, then said cautiously, "Yes."

Li Daoyan continued to ask: "Then what?"

Li Gongxu did not hesitate this time and said frankly: "My grandson will avoid making enemies with people like Lord Lu, but if he really can't avoid it, my grandson will try his best."

Li Daoyan raised his skinny palm and rubbed his head, smiling and said, "You are wrong."

Li Gongxu was stunned.

Li Daoyan was silent for a while, then slowly said: "You only saw his appearance, but not his inner self. Lu Chen is a very peculiar young man. The previous standards of loyalty and treachery are not suitable for him. For him, loyalty or treachery does not depend on himself, but on external forces, at least for now."

Li Gongxu looked at his grandfather with a confused look.

Li Daoyan leaned against the soft pillow, a trace of fatigue in his eyes, and said softly: "It doesn't matter if you can't figure it out now. Just remember one thing, Lu Chen is your teacher, learn from his strengths, don't care about right or wrong, success or failure, and don't be surprised by the storms outside."

"Just like...he did around His Majesty."

(End of this chapter)