My life is like walking on thin ice

Chapter 4 Chessboard Man Liu Qi

It's not majestic enough to be majestic.

——This is the answer given by the prime minister Xiao He who was responsible for building the palace after the founding of the People's Republic of China when faced with Taizu Liu Bang's accusation that "it's just a palace, why waste so much money?"

Xiao He told Liu Bang: Your Majesty seldom returns to Chang'an, and the only way for people in the world to feel the emperor's majesty is through the imperial palace.

If the palace is not built grandly and spectacularly, I am afraid that people in the world will not be able to feel the emperor's majesty and will despise His Majesty...

I have to say that Changle and Weiyang palaces are indeed worthy of the word 'magnificent' in Xiao He's words.

In particular, the front hall of the Xuanshi of Weiyang Palace is based on Longshou Mountain and rises tens of feet from the ground!
Standing on the far platform outside the palace, you can have a panoramic view of the entire Chang'an City;
Entering from the palace gate and looking towards the Xuanshi along the palace road, it is like a mortal looking up at the temple towering in the clouds.

After climbing up the stairs, Liu Rongcai finally followed the eunuch to the outside of the Xuanshi Hall.

Without the eunuch reminding him, he took off his clothes and sword voluntarily, and then walked into the announcement room alone under the eunuch's eyes.

"My son, please see your father."

"I hope my emperor will live happily forever..."

"——No need~"

Before the words of greeting were finished, a slightly hoarse voice sounded, arousing three or two echoes in the huge palace room.

He straightened up and raised his head, and saw Emperor Qi, who was wearing a dark crimson crown on the imperial couch, burying his head in his desk and reviewing memorials.

"There are no outsiders here, so who are you showing off with those false gifts?"

"I?"

The emperor didn't even raise his head, it seemed like he was joking, but it only made Liu Rong laugh at himself;
Zi Guzi walked forward, came to the emperor's father's side, and obediently studied the ink for the emperor.

There is no way~
If a mother doesn't know how to behave, the son can only make up for it.

Between mother and son, there must be one who knows etiquette, right?
——Publishing the ink on his hand, Liu Rong thought in his heart.

Emperor Qi knew nothing about Liu Rong's psychological activities;
Liu Rong's unobtrusive behavior did not seem to make Emperor Qi feel anything was wrong.

He skillfully wrote comments on the memorial, rolled up the bamboo slips from left to right, placed it on the right side, picked up a scroll from the pile of bamboo slips on the left, and spread it out in front of him.

Looking at the memorial in front of him, he pretended to be casual and said: "The eldest son of the emperor~"

"As long as I don't have a legitimate son, from the day I was born, I would already have half a foot in the crown prince's womb."

"Why are you rejecting the marriage offer from the East Palace again?"

Hearing the hidden meaning of the emperor's words, Liu Rong laughed at himself again, and kept moving his hands, but his face was even more bitter.

"Parents to enrich people."

"No matter how unreasonable the mother is, the son can only suffer..."

In response, when Emperor Qi raised the rabbit hair in his hand, Liu Rong naturally pushed the inkstone down;
But he saw the emperor's hand holding the pen hanging in mid-air. He was stunned for three breaths before he dipped his pen in ink and put pen to paper on the bamboo slips.

No matter how unreasonable the mother is, the son can only accept it.

Just these words made Emperor Qi feel inexplicably depressed.

After all, he had already established himself as a prince, had been a prince for more than 20 years, and even served as the superintendent of the country for several years in the later years of the late emperor. The emperor's face showed no emotion at all.

His eyes were still fixed on the bamboo slips in front of him, but the topic was unexpectedly brought to the topic by Liu Rong's slightly plaintive response.

"I have issued an edict to bring the King of Liang to the court for his funeral."

"This matter has been widely criticized both inside and outside the government."

"What do you think, Master?"

Seeing that the emperor's father finally got down to business, Liu Rong couldn't help but feel the pain on his face, and his expression gradually became serious.

"During the time of the late emperor, Chao Cuo repeatedly offered the "Code of Vassal Reduction", but it was repeatedly shelved by the late emperor."

"Now that my father has ascended the throne and taken power, he hastily selected Chao Cuo as the internal history officer, ranking first among the nine ministers..."

"The policy of cutting down the feudal lords is already on the string and has to be launched?"

The answer was not what he asked, but it made Emperor Qi look at him, and a coldness flashed in his eyes. After a while, he resumed his working state and picked up his pen without raising his head: "Continue talking."

His eyes were still locked on the bamboo slips in front of him.

Seeing his father's reaction, Liu Rong felt relieved, took a deep breath, and took the opportunity to organize his words.

After making sure that there was nothing wrong with his manuscript, he said in a deep voice: "Chao Cuo's "Cutting the Vassal Policy" directly touches the lifeblood of the princes and vassals. If it is implemented, there will be changes in Guandong."

"Once sword fighting breaks out, the safety of our Han family's ancestral temple and the country will all depend on Uncle Liang."

"——Liang Guoan, then Hangu Pass will be worry-free, the people in the pass will be stable, and the court can plan the layout and deal with it calmly."

"Liang Guo is in danger, and the rebel troops point at Hangu, and the people in the pass are in chaos."

"At that time, the country will be in doubt and the ancestral temple will be in danger..."

I don't know if it was a coincidence, but after Liu Rong said these words, Emperor Qi happened to finish reviewing another memorial.

Only this time, Emperor Qi did not put away the approved memorial, but continued to focus on the memorial that he had read several times.

What Liu Rong didn't know was that Emperor Qi's attention at the moment was no longer on the memorial in front of him.

"Young master, you also think that the "Cutting the Vassal Policy" will force the princes of Guandong to rebel?"

"——At least King Wu will rebel."

Liu Rong gave the answer without thinking.

"The Strategies of Cutting Down the Domain", as the name suggests: a strategy to cut down the power of the princes and vassals.

What is being moved is the cake of the Kwantung princes and vassals. It aims to remove the minions of the Kwantung princes and solve the huge hidden danger that threatens the center of Chang'an.

If their own interests are harmed, the princes and vassals with strong troops and horses will naturally not let others slaughter them, and will certainly provide varying degrees of resistance.

Those who are incompetent must at least cry twice and make trouble twice to show their unwillingness;

Those who are capable are more likely to be ready to take action.

The king of Wu, Liu Bi, was an example of someone who would definitely rebel no matter whether there was a policy to reduce the feudal vassalage or not that harmed his own interests.

Investigating the reason, we have to mention that today Ziqi has a nickname of "Chessboard Man" in the market.

"If you can't beat someone at chess, just smash them to death with a chessboard..."

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

"The prince's eldest son died in Chang'an like this, and he has endured it till now without resisting;"

"I wonder if Wu King Liu Bi is also a very tolerant person?"

While Liu Rong was slandering his father, Emperor Qi had returned to his previous state of concentrating on handling state affairs while taking the time to communicate with Liu Rong.

"The King of Liang has entered the court this time, and I am also interested in clarifying the interests here with the King of Liang."

"It's just a national mourning. Government affairs are busy. Although I want to welcome you personally, I have no time to leave."

"The emperor's eldest son will leave Chang'an twenty miles on my behalf during the holiday to welcome King Liang into the city."

Although his tone was as casual as a casual chat, it only made people feel unquestionable firmness, and Liu Rongzi had no choice but to bow down and accept the order.

I studied ink for the emperor's father for a while, but couldn't find anything to do, so I didn't bother him anymore and resigned.

After Liu Rong left the announcement room, it took a while for Emperor Qi's mask-like face to finally show some signs of emotional fluctuations.

"King Wu Liu Bi..."

"Humph!"

"The traitor who relies on his old age and betrays his old age!!!"

·
"It's a pity that this kid couldn't give birth to a good mother..."

(End of this chapter)