Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 501: The Word "Power" (Special thanks to book friend daddycool for 2 monthly tickets!)

The ministers tried to persuade him for a long time, but Chai Zongxun refused to listen, so they had to give up.

After retiring from court, Chai Zongxun went to Baoci Hall to have lunch with Empress Dowager Fu and the two empresses and sixteen concubines.

As he was still a little hesitant about personally leading an expedition to the Maya continent, he did not tell them about this.

After waking up from a nap, Chai Zongxun, accompanied by the chief eunuch Tang Qi and others, went to Yanfu Hall to read memorials.

While taking a break for tea, Chai Zongxun said:
"General Manager Tang, do you think I should personally lead the expedition to the Mayan continent?"

Tang Qi hesitated for a moment and said:

"Your Majesty, our Great Zhou has a vast territory and a large population. As the saying goes, 'a country cannot be without a ruler for a day.' If Your Majesty were to personally conquer the Mayan continent, you would not be able to return home within one or two years. I am afraid... I am afraid that there will be people with evil intentions in the country who will rebel!"

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
“Of course I have considered this point.

Since I ascended the throne, I have promoted industry and commerce, governed the country by law, and cracked down on bureaucratic privileges, leading to the current prosperous commodity economy.

However, I expanded the territory and founded the Royal Navy and Army, which made me too powerful. No one in the country dared to show any rebellious intentions when I was in power.

I have led the imperial family out of the capital for tours several times, but I have never attracted potential forces in the country that oppose industry and commerce and protect privileges. However, is it true that there are no people in my Great Zhou Empire who are dissatisfied with my national policies and want to destroy them at any opportunity?
The ignorant and barbaric forces of fifty or sixty years ago could still revive, let alone the fact that I have only been on the throne for more than thirty years, and the national policy has not yet been completely stable. "

Tang Qi suddenly realized and said:

"Your Majesty, is this a plan to leave the country for a few years and lure the snake out of its hole?"

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said:

"The fate of a country depends on the emperor and his ministers. If the decision is made properly, a single word can make the country prosperous. If the conservative and stubborn forces revive, restore the privileges of the bureaucracy, and abandon industry and commerce, it will be a disaster for China!
Under my careful instruction and influence since childhood, the prince should understand the principles of "putting people first" and developing the country through industry and commerce. However, everything needs to be verified in practice before we can be completely assured!

This time, I am personally leading the army, which is an excellent opportunity to "test gold". "

Tang Qi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the arrangements you made for the government are as stable as Mount Tai. There are now dozens of royal corps in the country that are in control of various places. It's just that I am a little worried and I don't know whether I should tell Your Majesty."

Chai Zongxun's heart moved, and he said, "Manager Tang, just say whatever you want to say."

Tang Qi leaned close to Chai Zongxun's ear and whispered:

"Your Majesty has made every possible effort, but I think that the Queen is now in charge of the harem, the Crown Prince will be the regent after you go to war, and Lord Li is the head of the civil service and the chief minister of the cabinet. If Your Majesty is away for a long time, what if..."

After Tang Qi finished speaking, he looked at Chai Zongxun with a look of panic in his eyes and quickly knelt down.

Chai Zongxun was silent for a moment, knowing that Tang Qi was absolutely loyal to him, so he risked his life to give him advice.

Considering the respect and admiration that Empress Diwu Chaolu had shown her in the past few years, the filial piety and respect of Crown Prince Chai Jiyu, and the loyalty and obedience of Prime Minister Li Hang and other ministers, there was absolutely no problem with that.

However, if he leads the army on a long expedition, under the temptation of supreme power, will these people whom he is closest to and trusts be unable to resist the temptation of power, or be bewitched by treacherous people and seize the throne?

During the Sixteen Kingdoms period of the Five Barbarians in history, Wang Meng's "Golden Knife Scheme" was extremely powerful, and it was difficult for those who fell into its trap to escape. Chai Zongxun was worried that Diwu Chaolu and Chai Jiyu, who had always been under his protection, lacked life experience and would fall into the trap of the traitor.

Human nature is evil, as Chai Zongxun knew very well. Without supervision, human nature will tend to do evil. Throughout history, it is not uncommon for fathers and sons to kill each other, husbands and wives to quarrel, and monarchs and ministers to fight for the supreme power.

Can I absolutely trust the Queen, the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister and others?

Chai Zongxun said: "If I cannot completely trust the people closest to me, then what is the point of being rich?

In the past, when Taizu went to war, he left behind Liang Wang's father, the Emperor, as regent, and he had complete confidence in him.

I am completely confident in the Queen and the Crown Prince.

It’s just that China has finally entered an unprecedented prosperous era under my leadership and is on the road to light. Just in case, I have some instructions for you, Zhang Yong, Hu Yanzan and others.”

Chai Zongxun immediately wrote a secret decree and ordered it to be delivered to several trusted ministers, instructing them that the secret decree could only be opened when an emergency situation that endangered his throne occurred.

Chai Zongxun and Tang Qi discussed secretly for a long time and agreed that Tang Qi would lead the Wude Division and the Imperial Household Department to stay in Bian Jing to assist Crown Prince Chai Jiyu in regulating the country and handling state affairs.

A few days later, the ministers in the morning court tried to persuade him for many days, but Chai Zongxun refused to listen. Finally, he decided to lead 90,000 imperial troops, 30,000 Wude Division, Zhang Ning's 5th Corps of the Longxiang Army, and Cao Kefan's 10th Corps, and personally lead the expedition to the Mayan continent.

Crown Prince Chai Jiyu was left as regent, assisted by the palace steward Tang Qi, the commander of the Dragon Guard Zhang Yong, and hundreds of civil and military officials.

As for the civil official who would accompany him to offer advice and suggestions, Chai Zongxun chose Ding Wei, who was currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Cao Guangshi turned sixty last year and retired from his position as commander-in-chief of the corps. He no longer commanded troops, joined the military cabinet, and stayed in Bianliang.

Cao Kefan was the son of Cao Guangshi. He was born in the second year of Kaixi (961 AD). In the twentieth year of Kaixi, he passed the military imperial examination and joined the Longxiang Army. Because he was brave in combat, good at military tactics, and had made many contributions, he was promoted by Chai Zongxun to the commander-in-chief of the Tenth Corps.

When Ding Wei heard that Emperor Chai Zongxun would take him to accompany him to the war, he was overjoyed, as it was obvious that Chai Zongxun trusted him.

Seeing that the emperor had made up his mind, the ministers had no choice but to prepare to lead the army in person.

During lunch in Baoci Hall, Chai Zongxun told Empress Dowager Fu and the concubines the news that the emperor was going to lead the army in person.

Chai Zongxun said:

"This time I am on an expedition to Maya, and it may take several years for me to return. The Crown Prince will govern the country, and my mother and the two queens will preside over the harem.

I am going with Concubine Yi, Jun'er, and Concubine Shu."

Empress Dowager Fu, Empress Fu, and Diwu Chaolu advised:
"Your Majesty, the world is peaceful now, and the Mayan continent is extremely far away. Why does Your Majesty need to take such hardships and risks and lead the expedition in person?"

Chai Zongxun said:

"The unrest in Liao is ultimately a hidden danger to our Great Zhou. Moreover, I have been implementing new policies in the country over the years, and I am still somewhat worried that stubborn and backward forces will revive!
Therefore, I must lead the army in person this time to decide several important matters that are related to the stability of our country for generations to come!

Don't worry, mother and my dear ministers, I have made proper arrangements for the government, and with the crown prince as regent, nothing will go wrong."

The concubines had never cared about state affairs, but after a while of persuasion, they had no choice but to obey Chai Zongxun.

Zhou Nuying knew that Chai Zongxun brought her and her son to the expedition this time because he was planning to let his son, "King of Ya", Chai Jijun, become a vassal of the Mayan continent after pacifying the Mayan continent, so she immediately agreed.

After several months of preparation, Chai Zongxun saw that everything was arranged properly, so he decided to lead the army in person on the first day of February in the 38th year of Kaixi.

In order to facilitate the rule after conquering the Mayan continent, Chai Zongxun brought thousands of newly selected governors and other officials and hundreds of officials from the "Yawang Palace" with him to go on the expedition.

The day before his departure, Chai Zongxun summoned Crown Prince Chai Jiyu to the Yangxin Palace and explained to him in detail many ways of governing the country.

(End of this chapter)