Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 427: The Thirty-second Year of Kaixi (Special thanks to book friend 2022…6725 for two monthly tickets!)
It has been nearly ten years since Zhang Qixian succeeded Wang Zhu as the chief minister in the early 22nd year of Kaixi.

If Chai Zongxun follows the new "term system" for central court officials, his term as prime minister will end after he retires early next year.

Zhang Qixian said:

"Your Majesty has a far-sighted vision and has established a term system and a retirement system, which will surely bring eternal peace to our Great Zhou!

As the Prime Minister, I should set an example for all other officials. According to the term system, I should step down at the beginning of next year and let others take over."

Chai Zongxun was quite satisfied with Zhang Qixian's ability to understand the big picture and know when to advance and retreat, and he sighed:
“Since becoming the Minister of War and Prime Minister of the Cabinet, Minister Zhang has managed the government affairs in an orderly manner, especially the supply of our Great Zhou’s foreign wars. He has never made me worry about it. He is truly a minister of the country!

Considering Zhang Aiqing's ability and his prime years, he could have continued to serve as Prime Minister for many years.

However, after careful consideration for several months, I have decided to use the system to establish an everlasting foundation for our Great Zhou and completely eradicate the soil for the emergence of aristocratic families.

I am very pleased that Mr. Zhang is so sensible, so I will promote him to the position of Grand Tutor, grant him an additional fief of 3,000 households, and allow him to continue to offer advice and suggestions to me."

Zhang Qixian felt a little disappointed, but when he saw that Emperor Chai Zongxun promoted him to Grand Tutor, the first of the "Three Ancient Dukes", although it was an honorary title, it was a highly respected position in the court.

After Zhang Qixian bowed and expressed his gratitude, he took his leave and left the hall.

Chai Zongxun looked at Li Hang who was standing in the hall and said:

"Our Great Zhou has already secured victory in the war against the Star Religion countries. Once the Samanid dynasty is destroyed, it will be easy to wipe out the remaining countries.

The next ten years will be a decade of great development for our Zhou's industry, commerce and production technology.

Li Aiqing is well versed in industry and commerce and has a quick mind, making him just the right person to serve as the next Prime Minister.

My dear, please try your best. "

Li Hangxun thanked him and said:
"Your Majesty, I am a mediocre person with few achievements since I became an official. I do not dare to be entrusted with the important task of being the chief minister by Your Majesty.

Minister Kou is talented and in his prime, and he is qualified to take on this important task."

Chai Zongxun initially planned to keep Li Hang to assist the Crown Prince Chai Jiyu, but on the one hand, he was still old and rich, and second, after the implementation of the term system and retirement system, the bureaucracy was completely brought under institutionalized management. The role of a talented minister to assist the new monarch became so crucial.

Li Hang can be said to be the minister who is most proficient in economics in the court. It is a pity not to use him as the prime minister.

Li Hang declined several times, but Chai Zongxun refused. Li Hang had no choice but to perform a grand ceremony to express his gratitude.

After Li Hang left the hall, Chai Zongxun said:
"General Manager Tang, have there been any unusual movements in the court or outside the court in the past six months since I led the imperial family on a tour?"

Tang Qidao:
"Your Majesty, now the various armies of the Longxiong Army are firmly guarding all provinces across the country, the Longxiong Guards are investigating enemy countries outside, and the Wude Department is monitoring the subjects inside.

The country's industry and commerce are flourishing, and the judiciary is fair, and there is nothing unusual."

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly.

Tang Qidao:
“Your Majesty, since Mo Zang arrived in Bianjing with the Wude Division more than a month ago, I have followed your Majesty’s order and arranged for her and her son to practice solitude in the Baoen Temple.

This is a poem that Mo Zang wrote during his journey. Your Majesty, please take a look at it."

Tang Qi took out a roll of rice paper from his pocket and placed it on Chai Zongxun's desk.

Chai Zongxun took a quick look and saw beautiful handwriting, which was exactly the same poem "Drawing the Silver Bottle from the Bottom of the Well" by Bai Juyi from the Tang Dynasty.

After reading it, Chai Zongxun smiled and said:

"One day of kindness from you will cost me a hundred years of my life."

Liuyun, isn't this too exaggerated? "

After saying this, he couldn't help but recall the night in the Gaochang Palace when he and Mo Zang Liuyun were in ecstasy...

With the Imperial Household Department already preparing magnificently, Chai Zongxun spent the New Year's Eve of the 32nd year of Kaixi together with the imperial family in the Bianjing Palace.

All the ministers came to the palace to pay New Year's greetings, and the procession gradually stopped on the sixth day.

At 9:00 p.m. on the seventh day of the first lunar month, Crown Prince Chai Jizhou, Crown Princess Sun Tong, Princess Chai Wodan and Princess Dipu went to the palace together to wish their father, Emperor Chai Zongxun new year congratulations.

Chai Zongxun, along with Empress Dowager Fu, Empress Fu, the Fifth Empress, and Consort Yi Zhou Nvying, hosted a banquet in the Huangyi Hall to entertain the four people. After the greetings, everyone sat down together and chatted while eating and drinking.

Because it was a family dinner of the imperial family, the atmosphere was quite cordial.

Chai Zongxun felt relieved when he saw that Crown Prince Chai Jizhou and Princess Chai Wodan were both in high spirits.

Queen Mother Fu said:

"Yu'er, your brother, the King of Song, has already given birth to a grandson, Meitai. This year, the Grandmother hopes to hold the grandson born to you and the Crown Princess."

Chai Jiyu knew in his heart that during the more than one month that the imperial family had been waiting in Gaochang for his father's triumphant return, his usual performance had improved Empress Dowager Fu's impression of him, and the relationship between the two had become closer.

Seeing the shame on Crown Princess Sun Tong's face, Chai Jiyu hurriedly said:

"Grandson thanks Grandmother for her care!

My grandson will definitely work hard, and I believe the Crown Princess will be pregnant this year."

The fifth Chaolu said:
"Your Majesty is an eternal sage king, who treats his people with kindness. The imperial family of our Great Zhou Dynasty has enjoyed long-lasting blessings.

With your majesty being favored by heaven and having many sons and heirs, I believe Yu'er will soon give birth to a royal grandson."

Empress Dowager Fu nodded.

Zhou Nuying looked at the eldest princess Chai Wodan and her husband Di Pu and said:

"Dan'er, you are the eldest princess and the princess your father loves the most. You must give birth to your father's eldest grandson as soon as possible."

Chai Wodan curled his lips and said:

“Mother, giving birth is so hard. I have a poor appetite and limited mobility.

Now, every day I go sightseeing with my husband, and enjoy poetry and wine together. Isn't it a great pleasure?

I don't want to have a baby so early!"

Queen Mother Fu smiled and said:
"Dan'er is such a silly child! The most important mission of a girl is to carry on the family line and give birth to offspring for her husband's family.

How can you not want to have a baby just because you are afraid of pain? "

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"Don't blame Dan'er, mother.

Dan'er and Pu'er are still very young, so there is no need to rush to have children.

After a few years, when Dan'er has had enough fun, she will want to be a mother and enjoy the joy of raising a child."

Dipper said respectfully:
"Father, I will obey your and the Princess' wishes in everything."

The family dinner that day did not end until late at night.

Festive times always pass quickly, and the Lantern Festival is here in the blink of an eye.

At noon, after Chai Zongxun presided over the Lantern Festival banquet in the imperial palace, he suddenly had the idea of ​​going on a private visit to see the folk Lantern Festival.

After the Ministry of Internal Affairs was ready, at 2:00 p.m., Chai Zongxun, escorted by Tang Qi and a thousand Wudesi and imperial guards, went out of the Hanhui Gate, a small gate on the east side of the palace, in plain clothes in the dark.

Walking along the streets of Bianjing, you can see lanterns as bright as day, and people are strolling and admiring the lanterns.

Chai Zongxun looked around casually and saw that almost all the people in Bianjing were wearing silk and brocade clothes. Many men carried jade pendants and sachets on their waists, and almost all the women wore gold hairpins and silver ornaments. It could be said that there was no one who dressed simply.

There are many children in the crowd. Often a couple brings five or six children of different sizes to go out and play on the streets during the Lantern Festival.

Many snack vendors along the street are doing a brisk business and are surrounded by people looking to buy.

The Lantern Festival lanterns in Bianjing have always been most concentrated in Junyi Street in the east city. Chai Zongxun was very interested and also went to the east city.

(End of this chapter)