Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Seeing the two men on the road, Jia Cong sighed inwardly that a weak country has no diplomacy, but the opposite is also true: the diplomacy of a strong country is very simple.

Yin smiled and said, "I'll be frank. The Celestial Empire will not send troops to Europe."

Xiao En and the other two were startled and said, "Your Highness..."

Jia Cong raised his hand to interrupt the two of them and said, "Don't be impatient, I haven't finished yet. There is an old saying in the Celestial Empire called 'Besiege Wei to Save Zhao'. Although I can't send troops to help directly, I can still help you out."

The two hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please explain clearly."

Jia Cong said: "The journey to Europe is long, and the long expedition will cost the Celestial Empire too much, so I decided to attack Luosha nearby and attack its Far East.

In addition, send a light cavalry from the Western Regions to raid the important places behind them, making it difficult for them to finish off their operations. They will have to withdraw their troops from Europe to rescue them. Wouldn't the pressure on you be relieved?
In addition, I will also send special envoys to persuade Frank and Austria to stop the war. This two-pronged approach should be effective, right? "

Hohenlohe's eyes lit up. If the Russians could be defeated, the pressure on the front battlefield would be greatly reduced. Austria would not be a concern, and the Franks would still have to deal with the English. Even if Jia Cong's lobbying was unsuccessful, the country's problems would be solved. He praised: "Your Highness is resourceful and can lead troops with ease. His reputation is well-deserved."

Sean thought about it and felt that this plan was feasible, so he hurriedly said, "Let's follow your suggestion, Your Highness. My country has no objection. I just ask Your Highness to send troops as soon as possible. Europe can't afford to delay any longer."

"Yes, yes." Hohenlohe said hurriedly, "As the old saying goes in the Celestial Empire, 'speed is of the essence in war'. Your Highness, please send the troops as soon as possible."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "That's easy. As long as we reach an agreement, I will give the order immediately."

"I wonder what Your Highness wants?" Sean asked.

Jia Cong raised a finger and said, "First, I need you to support the Celestial Empire's dominance and sovereignty over Southeast Asia in the agreement to be signed soon, and transfer the Ryukyu Islands occupied by the Dutch to the Celestial Empire's jurisdiction."

The two looked at each other and nodded, "No problem."

"Second, recognize the freedom of navigation of the Celestial Empire's navy and merchant fleets throughout the world, and the right to establish colonies in wild places such as North America, Africa, and South America."

Prussia didn't have many colonies overseas, so Hohenlohe naturally didn't care and just looked at Sean.

Xiao En hesitated for a moment. The warship was in Jia Cong's hands. He had no say over what Jia Cong wanted to do, so he nodded and said, "This one is fine too."

Jia Cong raised a finger again and said, "Third, the Celestial Empire has huge interests in Europe and must send troops to garrison and protect them. Your two countries should support and assist them and provide convenience."

Sean's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "Didn't Your Highness just say that Europe is far away and you are not planning to send troops to Europe?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Just because I said I would not send troops now does not mean I would not send troops in the future. I do not want to send troops far away, but we cannot trouble others to protect the interests of the Celestial Empire, right?"

Sean asked, "What does your highness mean?"

"The Celestial Empire needs a strategic support point in Europe to protect merchants, expatriates and trade interests nearby. Is this request not excessive? Moreover, by then, if your two countries are in trouble, won't I be able to send troops to help immediately?" Jia Cong said.

Hohenlohe asked, "Which place has your Highness taken a fancy to?"

"Netherlands." Jia Cong said.

Sean was a little hesitant. He knew the principle of letting a wolf into the house. It is easier to invite a god than to send him away. If Jia Cong was really brought to Europe, he would probably become a serious threat in the future.

Jia Cong observed his expression and naturally understood what he was worried about, so he said, "In order to show sincerity, our three countries can sign an offensive and defensive alliance. Any attack by another country on any of our countries will be regarded as an attack on all of us. All three countries have the obligation to send troops to help unconditionally. How about it? Of course, this agreement will take effect from the time when the Celestial Empire conquers the Netherlands."

Hohenlohe nodded slightly, obviously very interested. If he could pull China onto his chariot, wouldn't he be able to dominate Europe?
Xiao En pondered and said, "That's fine, but how does Your Highness want us to help?"

Jia Cong said, "I hope to rent a port near the Netherlands from each of your two countries for the convenience of stationing troops and supplying them. The term is fifteen years. If I cannot take over the Netherlands within fifteen years, the property will be returned to the original owner. As for the rent, you can name the price."

Xiao En looked at Jia Cong deeply and said, "It seems that Your Highness has made preparations. Which port do you want?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Aldeburgh in Suffolk, England, and Norden in Saxony, Prussia. What do you think?"

Sean nodded slightly and said, "Your Highness knows how to choose a place. Aldeburgh is indeed across the sea from Amsterdam."

Hohenlohe breathed a sigh of relief. He just wanted a small coastal town, so he said, "I agree."

Seeing Jia Cong looking over, Xiao En said, "It's not a big deal, it's just about the rent..."

"Just name your price. I never haggle when doing business." Jia Cong smiled.

"Twenty thousand pounds a year, payable in full at one time," Sean said.

Hornloch said quickly: "Me too."

Jia Cong cursed inwardly. The purchasing power of the British pound was incredible these days. A small, shabby place was actually so expensive. However, a little impatience could ruin a big plan, so he nodded and smiled, "Deal."

Sean smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to deal with His Highness. Cheers to the consensus reached between our three countries."

"cheers."

Soon, the attendants of the General's Mansion presented the agreement text written in the languages ​​of three countries.

Jia Cong took it and glanced at it, then said, "You two take a look. If you have no objection, we will sign it."

Sean and the other man quickly took it and looked through it carefully, then nodded in approval.

At that moment, the three of them signed the agreement in triplicate and pressed their seals on the wax.

This agreement, which introduced the power of the Celestial Empire to the West and profoundly changed the situation in Europe, was called the "Secret Treaty of the Three Kingdoms" by later historians and became one of Jia Cong's most important political legacies.

Half a month later, the Qing naval fleet easily captured the Strait of Malacca, wiped out the local Dutch garrison, and took over the city of Malacca, destroying the pro-Dutch Johor royal family.

When the news reached Guangzhou, all European countries were shocked. They did not expect Jia Cong to show his fangs so quickly. He easily took Malacca, which the English had been fighting for decades, and inflicted heavy damage on the Dutch.

Duke von Ilok of the Netherlands was so shocked and angry that he could no longer bear it. He slammed the table in the conference room and shouted, "Your Highness Prince Jia Cong, on behalf of the Netherlands, I strongly protest and severely condemn your country's brutal and arrogant behavior!
The Strait of Malacca has always been the sphere of influence of the Netherlands, and the city of Malacca was built by the Dutch. The Celestial Empire has no right to interfere! I hope that Your Highness can explain this matter and compensate our country for the losses!"

He also knew that Jia Cong would never let go of this piece of fat meat, so he decided to blackmail him and settle the score. It was likely that he would never get this strait back.

Jia Cong glanced at him, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and then glanced at the politicians from various countries present at the meeting, and said lightly: "Who else wants to condemn the Celestial Empire?"

Everyone looked at each other, and seeing that the major powers were silent, they knew what to do and didn't say anything. They just looked at the "Lone Warrior" von Ilok with either sympathy or ridicule.

Sean coughed dryly and added insult to injury, "As far as I know, the Celestial Empire had no choice but to seize the Strait of Malacca.

There are two reasons. First, it is the key to Southeast Asia and is very strategic. As a large and powerful country in East Asia and the sovereign of Southeast Asian countries for thousands of years, it is reasonable for the Celestial Empire to retain this place.

Second, countries like Johor have had close relations with the Netherlands for many years and have offended the suzerain country many times. The Celestial Empire is exercising its legitimate rights by sending troops to teach them a lesson. "

"Prussia holds the same view," Hohenlohe followed closely.

"Frank has no objection to this," Raoul also said.

"Austria has no objection."

"Rakshasa has no objection."

"Castile has no objection."

"The Portuguese have no objection."

……

In recent days, the European powers have been successfully handled by Jia Cong, Sean and others. Seeing that the powerful countries have all expressed their positions, other small countries dared not speak up and hurriedly expressed that they had no objection.

"You..." Von Irok felt a chill on his back, as if he had fallen into an icy cave. A huge sense of crisis surged in his heart. He pointed at everyone and shouted, "You betrayed me today, and you will be betrayed tomorrow! Don't forget, we are all from Europe!"

Everyone had a blank expression on their faces and didn't even look at him. There is no mercy for incompetent rage in the international political arena.

Jia Cong chuckled and said, "Duke Feng Yiluo, it seems unnecessary to bring the dispute between our two countries to the meeting to waste everyone's time. We can discuss it in detail after the meeting.

Now please take a look at this draft text. If there is no objection, it can be signed as the outcome of this meeting."

As he spoke, he raised his hand slightly, and a dozen maids came in with documents written in multiple languages ​​and placed them on everyone's table.

Everyone had heard about this before, and they carefully examined it. The meaning of the text was very simple:
1. The participating countries acknowledged that the Celestial Empire has had indisputable dominance, governance and sovereignty over the Southeast Asian countries since ancient times.

2. The participating countries acknowledged that from the date of signing the agreement, the Celestial Empire officially took over the Strait of Malacca and important places such as Malacca City and Temasek City.

3. The participating countries acknowledged that from the date of signing the treaty, the rights and interests of the Netherlands in the Ryukyu Islands would be fully transferred to the Celestial Empire as a punishment for their offense against the dignity of the Celestial Empire.

4. The contracting parties will have the right to trade freely in Southeast Asia and the Celestial Empire, and will automatically receive preferential foreign trade treatment from the Celestial Empire.

"It's a very concise and practical agreement. I signed it." Sean, Hohenlohe, Raoul and others knew the inside story and signed first.

Seeing this, the small countries hurriedly followed suit and signed the treaty. After all, it was the interests of the Netherlands that were sacrificed, and it had nothing to do with them.

Von Ilok held the document, his hands shaking with anger, his eyes gradually turning red, and he suddenly tore the agreement into pieces, shouting, "What a ridiculous agreement! I won't sign it! You! What right do you have to transfer the Netherlands' territory to the Wu Kingdom!"

Sean, who had always been at odds with him, sneered and said, "Duke von Ilok, this is the unanimous opinion of all the countries. Whether you sign or not cannot change the decision of the meeting."

Hohenlohe also said: "The Dutch must pay for their arrogance."

Jia Cong spread his hands and smiled, "Mr. Feng Yiluo, I always use courtesy before force. In ten days, the Celestial Empire Navy will come to Ryukyu. You can order the local garrison to evacuate with dignity, or... be annihilated.

If it is the former, the door of trade with the Celestial Empire will still be open to you. If it is the latter, the Netherlands will no longer be a friend of the Celestial Empire."

Sean, Hohenlohe and others could not help but look at each other, feeling a chill in their hearts. Prince Jing not only wanted the colonies of the Netherlands, but was also eyeing its homeland. Now he was still paralyzing von Ilok and weakening his fighting spirit.

This guy will definitely become a cold-blooded giant in the international political arena in the future, so it is better not to make an enemy of him.

Feng Yilok stared at Jia Cong for a long time, as if he had only now truly recognized this "friend" with whom he had cooperated pleasantly for many years and to whom he had provided great help. It was true that there were no eternal friends in the political arena, only eternal interests.

Yin took a deep breath, calmed down, looked around at everyone, and said slowly: "This is a sad day in the history of the Netherlands. Justice has been distorted and fairness has been trampled upon. The Dutch will never forget this day." After that, he turned around and strode away.

Jia Cong shrugged and said, "I hope our friends can make a wise decision."

Everyone laughed and agreed.

"Since everyone has no objection, let's sign the agreement. To celebrate the success of this meeting, I will host a banquet tonight. Please come and enjoy it."

"Your Highness's generosity is as broad as the ocean. Let us remember it in our hearts." Everyone laughed.

"As long as we maintain today's consensus, the Celestial Empire will always be your friend." Jia Cong said with a smile.

"It's an honor for us."

Later historians called the agreement signed today the "Nanyang Peace Treaty", which marked that the official power of the Celestial Empire officially dominated the situation in Nanyang and was recognized by major countries in the world, becoming another major achievement in Jia Cong's political career.

Ten days later, the Celestial Empire's navy successfully took over Ryukyu. The Dutch knew that they were in a hopeless situation, and in order to maintain strategic flexibility against the Celestial Empire, they stopped their futile resistance and retreated to New Guinea.

Two months after the Guangzhou Summit, in order to cooperate with the "Three Kingdoms Secret Treaty", the plan to swallow up the Far East was officially implemented. Since the Celestial Empire had been preparing for many years and the Russians had weak defenses in the Far East, their defenses were easily torn apart by the government troops and they feasted on the Siberian plains.

On the other hand, Sun Chi received the military order from Jia Cong and also marched northward from Lake Balkhash, personally leading 30,000 elite cavalry to raid the heartland of the Russians, conquering dozens of cities in succession and tying down their forces in the European direction.

The Russians hurriedly sent troops to rescue, and the pressure on the Prussians was immediately reduced. They seized the opportunity to defeat the Franco-Austrian coalition, annihilating more than 30,000 enemies and gaining a precious breathing space.

A year later, the European war ended with a hasty peace treaty signed after all parties were exhausted. The English obtained Frank's large overseas colonies as they wished through the Treaty of Paris, and Prussia obtained Silesia through the Treaty of Hubertusburg.

Because it was difficult for the Russians to take care of both the east and the west, they returned the occupied Prussian territories and focused on domestic issues.

Sun Chi also took the opportunity to withdraw his troops. It was not the time to engage in a head-on confrontation with the Russians. It was not because he could not defeat them, but because he was carrying out Jia Cong's strategic intention: the Russians were naturally restless, and as long as the Russians were in Europe, there was no way Europe could settle down.

Rakshasa is the time bomb that Jia Cong left for Europe.

At this time, the Celestial Empire also obtained the two coastal towns of Aldeburgh and Norden from England and Prussia respectively as it wished.

Although he paid a price of 600,000 pounds, Jia Cong believed that from the overall perspective, he would earn back tenfold or a hundredfold sooner or later. Just using it as a bridgehead to swallow up the Netherlands would be enough to make the money back, not to mention that Jia Cong did not intend to return them easily.

In his vision, the Netherlands would become the Celestial Empire's enclave in Europe, a strategic support point, and a cargo distribution center. As long as there was a steady flow of blood transfusions from the imperial court, coupled with the Netherlands' own foundation as the "Coachman of the Sea", it would not take long for it to become an important force in Europe.

With the newly born Netherlands, the Celestial Empire was able to influence the situation in Europe and even the world.
-
In the winter of the same year, after inspecting various military factories in Guangzhou and meeting with important managers and technical craftsmen, Jia Cong returned to Shenjing on the military's No. 1 ironclad ship "Shenwei" under the relay escort of the Nanyang, Dongyang and Beiyang fleets.

In just over ten days, the Shenwei traveled from south to north, as if traveling from early spring to winter. The capital was already cold and snowy.

As soon as he arrived home, Jia Cong saw that the whole house was in mourning. After asking in surprise, he learned that the old lady had passed away in Jinling three days ago at the age of ninety-one. The palace also gave her a grand funeral.

In the inner hall, Jia Cong's family finished their dinner. Daiyu rinsed her mouth and said, "You're back just in time. How are the old lady's affairs going? The master has already reported the mourning period and has gone south with Brother Lian." Jia Cong frowned slightly and said thoughtfully, "Logically, I should also go south to attend the funeral, otherwise I will be criticized, but..."

Ruyi asked, "Is there anything difficult?"

Jia Cong nodded slowly and said, "The court is planning a groundbreaking event that will be announced to the public soon. It is not appropriate for me to leave the capital at this time."

Ruyi said: "Then let someone go to show your filial piety to the old lady on your behalf."

Jia Cong thought for a moment and said, "Please ask Sister Bao, Pin'er, Sister Feng, Yun'er, Baoqin, Sister Wan, and Sister You to bring the boys and maids who can walk in their families and go south first." Now he also has a house full of children.

Baochai nodded and said, "Okay. I'll trouble Yan'er to take care of the family."

Ruyi smiled and said, "You are the ones who should be troubled. Take those troublemakers away so that I can have some peace and quiet for a few days. Besides, Sister Chan and Ping'er are taking care of the house, so I won't be tired."

Jia Cong said: "Also, quickly call back Huan Ge'er from Liaodong and have him lead me to pay tribute."

Ruyi said, "Sister Wanyan has already sent out a carrier eagle. I think he is on his way back now."

Jia Cong smiled and nodded, saying, "With you at home, I can rest assured outside. I almost died of fear when I came back and saw that the house was empty."

Ruyi pursed her lips and said, "Who among us do you think is missing?"

Jia Cong glared at her and said, "Don't talk nonsense." Qingwen's serious illness really scared him.

Baochai changed the subject and said, "Cong'er, the elder sister in the palace was so sad after hearing the news that she fell ill. You see..."

Jia Cong asked hurriedly: "How serious is the illness?"

Baochai said, "Yesterday we went to the palace to see elder sister. The imperial physician said that it was liver qi stagnation and her crying and mental distress. It was more serious than an ordinary cold and she must be taken care of."

Jia Cong nodded and said, "I will go to the palace to take a look tomorrow."

The next day, Jia Cong went to the palace early in the morning and visited Princess Yuan first to comfort her. Seeing that she looked depressed and tearful, he said, "Don't be sad, elder sister. The old lady lived a long and happy life. I may not live that long. Why should I be sad about her passing away now?"

Princess Yuan rolled her eyes at him and spat, "Bah, nonsense, why are you dragging this into your own hands?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I think that elder sister is lonely in the palace and her illness is hard to recover. It is better for her to stay at home for a while, with her brothers and sisters to accompany her, and just treat it as mourning."

Princess Yuan's eyes lit up, and she immediately shook her head and said, "This... may violate the ancestral rules."

Jia Cong sneered, "What ancestral rules? Could the Grand Ancestor still come out to oppose me? Don't worry, I will go and tell the Grand Empress Dowager later. Big sister, please ask someone to clean up first."

Princess Yuan said happily: "Okay, sister will listen to you."

Jia Cong said, "I'll come to pick up my elder sister later." After saying goodbye, he went to the Yangxin Palace to ask for leave from the Empress Dowager on behalf of Concubine Yuan, and then went to the study room, where he saw Sun Du attending a class.

When the old Hanlin who was giving the lecture saw Jia Cong coming in, he hurriedly bowed to him.

"Father!" Sun Du came forward and said happily.

Over the years, Jia Cong would come to the palace from time to time to tell him stories about the outside world and wars. He would also occasionally take him out of the palace to stroll around the city to understand the people's sentiments, which earned him great respect and love from Sun Du.

Jia Cong smiled and nodded, saying, "I will take the emperor out for a walk. Let's end the class here today."

Hanlin bowed and said, "Yes."

Sun Du followed Jia Cong out with a smile on his face, saying, "It would be great if my father could come to the palace every day and take me out to play. The officials in the Imperial Academy wouldn't dare to say anything."

Jia Cong said with a smile: "If you don't study hard when you are young, you will regret it when you are old. You are at the age to study hard, what will happen to you in the future if you play every day?"

Sun Du said nonchalantly: "My father is in charge of the important affairs of the court, and the officials of various ministries and departments are in charge. I just need to take care of Gao Le."

Jia Cong looked at him with deep meaning in his eyes and said, "Du'er, you have to grow up eventually, and you have to walk your own path in the future."

Sun Du laughed and said, "Doesn't my father support me anymore?"

Jia Cong did not answer, but took him to the Chengtian Gate Tower. Looking at the silver-white sky and earth, he took a deep breath of the cold wind, pointed at the snow-white roofs all over the city, and said, "Brother Du, this is the world."

Sun Du praised: "What a heavy snow! I still remember that my father wrote a poem about snow, which was very impressive and I love it very much. The scenery of the north is a thousand miles of ice and snow. Looking inside and outside the Great Wall, there is only vastness...

If there were no heroes like your father, I really don’t know what the world would be like.”

Jia Cong laughed and said, "Brother Du, you have reached the age of dancing elephants, and you have grown up. I want to ask the Empress Dowager to let you rule the country. What kind of emperor do you want to be in the future?"

Sun Du was surprised and delighted, but he calmed down immediately, instantly hiding the joy in his eyes and shaking his head, saying, "Father, don't think about being lazy. I just said that I am at the age of studying now. How can I understand the affairs of the court and the affairs of the country? I'd better trouble you to take care of it first. It won't be too late to bring up this matter in a few years."

Seeing that he was playing tricks in front of him, Jia Cong couldn't help but frown and said, "Is this what you learned in the study room?"

Seeing that Jia Cong was unhappy, Sun Du hurriedly said, "Du's words are rude, please calm down, father."

Jia Cong waved his hand and said, "As the ancients said, one should govern the country in his position. If you are in a position but don't want to govern the country, you are just a sycophant, a tyrant, or a mediocre emperor. Brother Du, do you want to be such an emperor?"

Sun Du hurriedly said, "I don't want to."

"Then tell me what kind of emperor you want to be."

Sun Du thought for a moment and said, "I should follow the example of my father, the king, and make great efforts in both civil and military affairs. We should expand the territory and spread the prestige of the Celestial Empire to all nations. Internally, we should be diligent in government and love the people, reduce taxes and levies, rectify the administration of officials, and return a peaceful and prosperous world to the people, so as to add fuel to the prosperity of the Great Wu."

Jia Cong smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Brother Du, I am very pleased that you have such great ambitions. I believe that you will become a good emperor who will go down in history."

Sun Du said: "It all depends on the good foundation laid by my father over the years."

Jia Cong changed the subject and said, "Brother Du, can you guarantee that your son, grandson, and great-grandson will be as wise as you?"

"This...what does the king mean?" Sun Du was stunned. Who can guarantee this? If it can be guaranteed, there will be no such thing as a tiger father and a dog son in the world.

Jia Cong said, "What I mean is that no matter how wise and brave the ancestors were, and how much wealth they built, if they encounter a prodigal son who messes around, even the best foundation will be gone in a few years."

Sun Du nodded thoughtfully and said, "What is your father's concern? Is there any way to deal with it? If such a thing really happens, our ancestors in heaven can only sigh helplessly."

"So we can't put the burden of the country's future and destiny on the shoulders of the emperor alone. If the emperor is wise, it's fine, but if he is incompetent, wouldn't it become the source of disaster for the country and the people?
You have read history books in the study room, so you should know that there have been few wise rulers but many foolish ones since ancient times. Even among the wise rulers, there were many who were wise in their early years but foolish in their later years, such as Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

Stupid rulers, tyrants, and rulers who were once wise but later became incompetent are not to be feared. The most fearsome type of emperor is this kind of emperor..." Jia Cong sighed.

Sun Du asked hurriedly: "What emperor?"

"It means that although one is completely ignorant and knows nothing, he is flattered by the sycophants around him and thinks that he can do everything and knows everything, and is determined to become a wise and holy ruler who will shock the world and surpass the Han and Tang dynasties.

This kind of emperor is ambitious, incompetent, arrogant and ignorant. He is manipulated by treacherous villains and still thinks he is wise and brave, with great talent and strategy.

He used the supreme imperial power to do whatever he wanted, thinking that he could be invincible thanks to the good foundation left by his ancestors.

If you want to start a war today, you start a war. If you want to dig a river tomorrow, you dig a river. This wastes people's money and time, harms the country and the people. It is beyond measure, just like Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty."

Sun Du smiled bitterly and nodded, "Father is right. This kind of emperor is indeed a disaster for the country."

"Why did such an emperor appear? Have you ever thought about it?" Jia Cong asked.

Sun Du said: "I think it is due to one's innate nature. Some people are humble and rational by nature, while others are arrogant and conceited by nature."

Jia Cong shook his head and said, "Du'er, this has nothing to do with the emperor's personality."

"Father, what does that have to do with anything?" Sun Du asked hurriedly.

Jia Cong said: "Power is like a tiger, its nature is to eat people, can you make a tiger not eat people?"

Sun Du shook his head.

"If we want tigers to stop eating people and bring welfare to hundreds of millions of people, there is only one way." Jia Cong raised a finger.

"What method?" Sun Du asked.

"Put it in a cage." Seeing that Sun Du seemed to understand, Jia Cong explained, "Since ancient times, the imperial power is supreme. The so-called thunder and rain are all the grace of the emperor. All the land within the four seas belongs to the king, and all the people in the world are the king's subjects.

In this situation, how difficult is it for the emperor to restrain himself from abusing his power with his own reason? It is like asking a cat to guard a fish market and not steal food.

This is the fundamental reason why wise and virtuous rulers are rare in history, while foolish and tyrannical rulers are everywhere.”

Sun Du was silent for a moment, then said, "What the king's father said is reasonable, but who will manage the imperial power? Letting the ministers manage the emperor, isn't that a violation of the order?"

Jia Cong said: "Use the system to manage, or use the law to manage, use the law as a cage to ensure that the imperial power will not act recklessly."

Sun Du said, "There is no such article in the Great Wu Law. Could it be that your father wants to add a new one?"

Jia Cong shook his head and said, "The Great Wu Law is only a law for daily use, and is not qualified to regulate such a major matter.

We must compile a new code of law that details the political system and the state system, stipulates what the emperor and the court can and cannot do, and what rights the people should have, as the fundamental law for the establishment of the Great Wu State. "

Sun Du was dumbfounded and said, "Father, I don't understand... Will this cause criticism from the court and the people?"

Jia Cong smiled and shook his head, saying: "The royal family and the court restrain their own interests and give benefits to the people. The people can only support it, how can they oppose it?"

Sun Du was unwilling and could not help but ask, "Father, if the emperor's words do not count, then is this country still the royal family's?"

Jia Cong laughed and said, "Brother Du, you finally asked this question, good.

Let me ask you, most emperors in ancient times never even left this small imperial city in their entire lives, so how can they claim to own this vast territory?"

Sun Du opened his mouth, speechless.

"The second question is, if this country belongs to you, what would you do with it?"

Sun Du said: "Of course, it is to make the country prosperous and the people live and work in peace and contentment."

Jia Cong said: "Since you are working for the welfare of the people, why do you have to cling to power? Do you want future emperors to become tyrants who bring disaster to the country and the people?"

Sun Du finally understood Jia Cong's logic. If we want to prevent the emergence of a tyrant ruler in the country, we must fundamentally limit the imperial power, so that he cannot become tyrant even if he wants to. So he asked, "Father, if the imperial power is empty, who will lead the officials and govern the country?"

Jia Cong said, "Isn't there a Military Affairs Council? You haven't been in charge these years, and neither have I. Has the country collapsed? Has it become chaotic? No.

This is enough to show that this country does not necessarily need an emperor who has complete control over every detail and whose words are final.”

"Then does that mean the Grand Secretary of Military Affairs has become the new emperor?" Sun Du said.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "The Grand Secretary of the Military Affairs Council is different from the emperor. He is not a lifelong official. He will have a term limit, such as two terms of ten years. When the time is up, no matter how well he does, he will have to leave."

Sun Du said unwillingly: "Father, what can I do?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "You will know when the time comes. After the New Year, you can leave the palace in plain clothes and tour the country, from the coast of the West Sea in the west to the East Sea Province in the east, from Lake Baikal in the north to the Strait of Malacca in the south.

Take a good look at this land, see how the people live, listen to their voices, and you will know what you should do for the country."

When Sun Du heard that he had to walk so far, he immediately backed off and said with a dry laugh, "Father, I still have to go to school."

"Then bring your master with you. They have studied all their lives, but they may not have traveled thousands of miles."

"Yes, father." Sun Du had no choice but to agree.

Jia Cong patted him on the shoulder and said, "When you are an emperor, you can't just enjoy the pleasure of ruling the country and being flattered. You have to work for the country and the people.

If you want to get things done, you have to step down from the throne room, walk among the people, live their lives, and then you will learn without a teacher. "

Sun Du looked at Jia Cong and nodded.

Jia Cong looked at him deeply and said, "Brother Du, let go of your obsession with the supremacy of imperial power. I know this is difficult for the emperor, but for the long-term benefit of the country and the royal family, this must be done.

Don't let me and your father down." Then he turned and left.

Sun Du looked at Jia Cong's tall back and stood there speechlessly, with mixed feelings in his heart, like sorrow and pain. He didn't even hear the eunuch who came up to remind him to return to the palace. (End of this chapter)