Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 254 Liu Heng’s Determination

Liu Ruyi's angry scolding did not change Liu Heng's expression, but it made the surrounding ministers see the "childishness" of King Zhao.

From now on, no one will support Liu Ruyi anymore.

Even if Liu Ruyi can retain the title of King Zhao this time and continue to retain Liu Bang's favor, it will be the same.

Because being loyal to such a prince and helping such an emperor ascend to the throne was a shameful thing for the courtiers of this era.

The imperial power of this era has not yet been completely centralized, and even those who have ascended to the high position of the Three Dukes will not do anything "following the dragon".

They stood in a similar position to the emperor, or at most a little worse than the emperor.

Heroes will only choose those whom they want to be loyal to, rather than eagerly begging the emperor to favor them and gain supreme power.

This is the glory of the times.

Liu Heng looked down at the ferocious-looking Liu Ruyi for the first time, and it was at this time that he discovered a problem.

Of course, this kind of growth is a positive development, not a mistake. Even at this time, Liu Heng wants to gain power not because he wants to have the ability to deal with others at will, but to use this power to help Guizhou leaders.

There was realization in his voice: "So that's it."

Chen Bi raised his head, with calmness and depth in his eyes, which was an emotion that Liu Bang couldn't understand.

The sound of footsteps sounded in Liu Bang's ears, but Chen Bi's figure walked further and further away. Liu Bang looked at Chen Bi's figure quietly, not knowing what to think in his heart.

"King Dai worships you as his disciple. Mrs. Chen wants to assist King Dai in ascending to the throne. This is just a small matter."

After finishing speaking, he saluted again: "My lord, I'll take my leave first."

Chen Bi could see the panic hidden in Liu Bang's heart from these eyes of Liu Bang. At this moment, he was actually a little disappointed with Liu Bang.

He may develop ambition, but he will not be controlled by ambition.

This is Liu Heng.

"Are you here to act as king?"

He did not expect that Chen Bi would do such a thing at this time. He did not believe that Chen Bi did these things for the head of Guizhou, for the Chang'an Order, and for the ordinary people whose fields were occupied.

"Today you are impeaching and attacking Ruyi in the court. Is it because you are acting as the king?"

His voice is cold yet convincing, making people want to believe it as soon as they hear it.

Liu Ruyi is so weak.

"So, whether it is the crime of King Zhao's cousin or the crime of King Zhao himself, it is all true."

Liu Bang's mind moved very quickly, and he reacted instantly.

"Mr. Chen has a clear conscience for what she did."

"Chen will not fabricate charges for a certain prince."

"It is precisely because of this that people from Queen Zhao's mother's family don't know what is going on with these lands, so they want to occupy them."

Liu Heng looked in the direction of Changle Palace, ambition slowly growing in his heart.

Liu Bang even waved his hand: "Although Liu Heng is not very similar to me, he is better than Ying'er at least. Wouldn't it be better if you had made it clear to me earlier?"

He raised his eyes and said word by word: "Govern by the law, and take morality as the heart. Guizhou, the leader of the world, can be content with itself."

Chen Bi sat there, quietly listening to Liu Bang's speculation about him, without commenting.

In the past, Liu Ruyi, who could immobilize or even exhaust him with one finger, was nothing more than an ant that could be dismissed in front of the real power holder with just one word.

After Liu Bang finished speaking, Chen Bi said in a very calm voice: "Your Majesty, you know."

The messenger in embroidered clothes whispered: "Queen Zhao's mother's family intends to occupy the fields near the imperial mausoleum. Those fields were given to the late Zhongchehou by you. Zhongchehou gave them to Emperor Wu Lie before he died." The fields were distributed to local Guizhou officials.”

"When Chen was an official in the previous dynasty, he always prided himself on being "just and honest." Now that he is an official in the Han Dynasty, although he is not a court lieutenant or a Sikou, he dare not forget the oath he made to his ancestors."

He thought that after Liu Bang gained the world, he would try his best to treat the leaders of the world as kindly as possible, but he did not expect that in just seven years, Liu Bang would become what he is now.

Liu Bang, who thought he had figured out Chen Bi's motives, calmed down instantly. He even looked at Chen Bi with a smile to hide his inner panic.

He just looked into Liu Bang's eyes lightly.

After thinking of this, the ideas in Liu Bang's mind seemed to become clear all of a sudden: "I always heard Ruyi say that you are different from Dai Wang. I have never thought in this direction before."

Chen Bi lowered his eyes.

His words were calm and somewhat cold and bloody.

"Why do we have to make such a fuss?"

Chen Bi stood up, then bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty, please deal with King Zhao and all his followers in accordance with the law."

At this time, an embroidered messenger quickly walked up to Liu Bang and whispered: "Your Majesty, something happened at the Mausoleum of Emperor Wu Lie."

Liu Bang said in an almost determined tone: "The King has worshiped you as his disciple. Do you want to clear the obstacles in front of the throne for the King?"

Liu Bang pressed his forehead: "What's the matter?"

This is a qualified emperor.

Changle Palace
Liu Bang looked at Chen Bi sitting in front of him, his expression was actually a little gloomy.

After Emperor Wu Lie was buried in the imperial mausoleum, Liu Bang asked people to keep looking over there.

"In the beginning, it was necessary to use money to buy it, but the villagers were unwilling. Later,"

"Later, they seemed to have encountered bandits, and almost all the villagers were slaughtered."

Liu Bang stood up abruptly, his eyes instantly filled with endless anger. He looked at the embroidered clothes messenger, but the embroidered clothes messenger seemed not to feel his anger and continued: "There is a local Guizhou leader who shouted out." "Kill the violent Liu and restore the mountains and rivers".

"Has been captured by the local magistrate."

"but"

But needless to say, Liu Bang also knew what was going on, and he closed his eyes again.

Liu Bang did not expect that things would develop to this point.

How many years has it been since the Han Dynasty was established? Has it become corrupted to this extent?
He sat there dryly, his expression even gloomier.

At the end of the seventh year of Qin Dynasty.

When the first heavy snow fell, the emperor's decree came from Changle Palace.

King Zhao Liu Ruyi was arrogant and pampered his wives and concubines, disrupted the government, invaded fields, committed crimes against the people, and acted wantonly. He took the title of King Zhao and the country, and was imprisoned in the palace. He could not leave without an edict.

Mrs. Qi Ji had no idea how to teach her son, so she went to the Madam's house and was imprisoned in the palace.

If Queen Zhao is given death, Queen Zhao's mother's family will be executed; if Mrs. Zhao is given death, Mrs. Zhao's mother's family will be executed.

A major case came to an end very quickly, and the favored prince Liu Ruyi and the arrogant prince Liu Ruyi disappeared in an instant like a meteor in the sky.

Such is the emperor's favor.

In the winter of this year, the head of Guizhou in the world got a good news, or in other words, the princes sitting in the court also got a good news.

General Han Xin and General Chen De defeated the Xiongnu, killing tens of thousands of enemies and capturing thousands of Xiongnu. However, the Xiongnu traveled more than 800 miles and forced them to the vicinity of Langjuxu Mountain again.

Although the Hun Khan who violated the Han border this time was not killed or captured alive, he was forced to flee in embarrassment under the joint efforts of the two generals. This was the first victory after the founding of the Han Dynasty, and it also demonstrated the national power of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Bang, on the other hand, thought more.

Now that the Huns have been forced to Langjuxu Mountain, is it possible to drive them away completely and let them flee to Mobei or further, so that the Central Plains dynasty is completely free of this threat?

After thinking for a long time, Liu Bang gave up this very tempting idea.

After all, although "martial arts" was important to Liu Bang, after what happened with King Zhao, he began to slowly look at the leaders of Guizhou. With Han Xin and Chen De here at this time, it would certainly be easy to deal with the Huns.

But can today's big men still support such a huge war?

A huge war requires not only "talented and strategic" generals, but also a large amount of food and grass to support it.

To put it simply, after this battle, the Central Plains Dynasty, which had experienced the wars at the end of Qin Dynasty, once again fell into poverty.

It cannot fight anymore.

In desperation, Liu Bang finally issued an order, ordering Han Xin and Chen De to return to the court with their troops and celebrate the rewards generously.

The spring of the eighth year of the Qin Dynasty has arrived.

With the arrival of spring, the armies of Han Xin and Chen De who were fighting outside the Great Wall also came back. Because of their outstanding performance in this war, Liu Bang worshiped General Han Xin as "General", and General Chen De as "Lieutenant".

Since then, someone from the Chen family has once again occupied the position of the Three Dukes.

Such glory once again caused the non-existent layer of "dust" on the Chen family's plaque to fade away, and the Guandu Chen family once again became a dazzling family.

Even though he was already dazzling enough before.

This also breaks the rumors that have been circulating in the world recently - that the emperor has opinions on the Chen family because of the incident involving Zhao Wang Liu Ruyi, and is preparing to deal with the Chen family.

In the palace of Mrs. Bo Ji
Bo Ji and Liu Heng were chatting, and suddenly there were footsteps outside, and both of them were a little confused.

Why did the emperor come here at this time?

After Liu Bang entered the palace, he was surprised by the desertedness of the palace. According to him, after King Zhao and Qi Ji were dealt with, only Bo Ji was favored in the entire harem.

He couldn't help but temporarily put aside the purpose of his trip, looked at Bo Ji and asked, "Why is your palace still so deserted?"

"Is it because you think the reward I gave you is not enough?"

Bo Ji raised her head slightly, with a slight softness in her expression: "What your Majesty gives you are rare treasures, but even if the items your Majesty gives are not treasures, I will not dislike them."

"It's just that those objects are too precious, so I don't dare to show them for fear of something going wrong."

Liu Bang felt that his face looked much better now. When he looked at Bo Ji, he felt a little satisfied in his heart.

Bo Ji was able to get the emperor's favor while Qi Ji was favored, naturally because of her good looks.

At this time, the combination of this indifferent temperament and appearance makes him even more beautiful.

Liu Bang suppressed the itch in his heart and looked at Bo Ji: "I'm going to talk to Heng'er. You guys, please step aside first."

Bo Ji was stunned for a moment, and then realized that this "all of you" should include herself.

He immediately bowed and left with the maid and others.

Only Liu Bang and Liu Heng's father and son were left in the entire hall.

Liu Bang sat there quietly, looking at Liu Heng in front of him with a complicated look in his eyes.

This son who he didn't put much effort and attention into was actually so capable that he was able to get help from Chen Bi, the Chen family, and even tried to clear the way for him even at the cost of offending himself and impeaching King Zhao.

Yes.

No matter how Chen Bi complained, Liu Bang still firmly believed that Chen's purpose of doing this was probably because of "Qian Shou", but it was probably more for Liu Heng.

After a long time, when the atmosphere between father and son had solidified, Liu Bang finally spoke.

"Acting King."

There was a peaceful look in his eyes: "Do you want to get the position of prince, or even the position of the emperor under me?"

Liu Bang didn't hide anything and directly asked the doubts in his heart.

After Liu Heng was stunned for a moment, he didn't hide it at all and nodded directly: "Yes, Father."

"I want to be a prince, I want to be an emperor."

Liu Bang squinted his eyes: "Why?"

He looked at Dai Wang, expecting Liu Heng to say something like "for the sake of the world," "to protect the people he wants to protect," or "want to control power," "want to sit in the supreme position." kind of discourse.

But Liu Heng's words made Liu Bang a little "dumb".

Liu Heng said very calmly: "I want to do something I want to do."

He looked into Liu Bang's eyes: "I want Guizhou to be taken seriously, I want the law to be stricter, and I want the great man to pass it on forever."

Liu Heng stroked his heart: "I want it, with a clear conscience."

Have a clear conscience!

This is the second time Liu Bang has heard these four words. The last time he heard them was in Chen's ancestral precepts.

Liu Bang's expression remained unchanged, looking a little gloomy and uncertain.

"You told me like this, aren't you afraid that I will deal with you?"

The corner of his mouth curved into a mocking arc: "It's because Mr. Chen is standing by your side that you are no longer afraid of me, right?"

Liu Heng shook his head slightly, looked at Liu Bang with suppressed anger in his eyes, and said word by word: "That's not the case."

"Father, Mr. Chen will not disobey you because of me. Even if you choose not me, it will still be Ruyi, or the eldest brother."

He lowered his head silently: "I just want my father to know."

At this time Liu Heng called Liu Bang his father.

"I want you to know, to know my determination."

Liu Heng raised his head and looked at Liu Bang.

There was a bit of determination in the expressions between father and son.

At this time, Liu Bang felt that this child was "like himself".

The spring of the eighth year of Qin Dynasty.

The emperor once again did something, but it did not attract the attention of the courtiers because it was very ordinary.

But some people in the court were very happy after hearing the news.

The emperor issued an edict: Huainan King Liu Chang and Dai King Liu Heng returned to their fiefdoms.

From then on, Prince Ying was the only adult prince in Chang'an City.

It seems that the winner of this battle for the throne has been decided.

But is this really the case?

(End of this chapter)