Aspirations

Chapter 46
King Jing held the sunspot in the air and held it up in the air. He didn't drop it for a long time. He suddenly threw the sunspot in his hand and laughed: "The big picture is still there, even if you lose another corner, it doesn't matter. Mr. Li, Xia Xiang's corner must be guarded. "

Mr. Li also put down his chess pieces, smiled slightly, picked up the jade pot and poured a cup of tea for King Jing's Dehua white porcelain teacup: "Xia Xiang's corners are guaranteed to be safe."

King Jing took the white porcelain teacup, played with it for a moment, and drank all the tea in the cup: "Why do you believe in Xia Xiang so much, sir?"

"Xia Xiang is my close disciple." Mr. Li stood up, the sun shining on him through the window lattice, it was Li Dingshan, Li Dingshan held a Ruyao teacup and smiled calmly, "If I have nothing to do with Xia Xiang again Confidence means not having confidence in yourself. Xia Xiang is talented and intelligent, and is a rare talent."

"Can Xia Xiang really be a big deal?" The white porcelain teacup in King Jing's hand was engraved with a picture of a lady flying in the sky. The lady bounced back on the pipa, and was about to fly away, lifelike, "He is just a young man in the beginning, how can he be entrusted with important tasks?"

"Your Highness doesn't believe in Li's vision?" Li Dingshan laughed, and his laughter was quite complacent, "Three or two things can tell Xia Xiang's talent, one, Xia Xiang came to Beijing from Zhongshan Village without any danger, not only I got to know Zhang Hou, Shen Bao and others, and met Cao Shujun at first sight. Because of the magical effect of the medicine bed and medicine chair, I was recognized by Mr. Jin Jia and saved Cao Yongguo's life. Although the emperor's condition has not seen any miraculous effects, it is also because the emperor's condition is more serious. If the medicine bed and medicine chair can make the emperor's condition improve, it will be a miracle. Secondly, Xia Xiang is calm in the complicated situation , has never been chaotic, and has the style of a general. Third, Xia Xiang has a moderate advance and retreat and handled it properly with the conflict when he saw Wang Dang Street. The official style of long-sleeved dance and long-sleeved dance has begun to appear. Go up to the sky and achieve something amazing."

"I hope so." King Jing put down the white porcelain teacup in his hand and pressed his forehead, "Now the emperor is critically ill, Hou Pingpan is in charge of the government and implements new laws. The third brother is in charge of Wutai, blocking the way of speech, and the suffering of the people cannot be passed on to the emperor. In my ears, the new law does not harm the people lightly, and it misleads the country and the people, but Hou Pingpan let the imperial history book tout the new law, but the emperor listened to the slander and thought that the new law was a good way to save the world and make peace. Not to mention the misery of the people around Shangjing Yan, I heard that the people of Zhending Palace have been harmed by the new law, they can’t pay their taxes, the people are struggling to live, and there is a human tragedy of selling their children to pay off their debts, alas…”

In the royal family of Daxia, the emperor and the prince are sometimes called brothers.

"I turned from Lingshou to Zhending Mansion, and went back to Beijing along the way north of Zhending Mansion. What I saw along the way, there were indeed many sorrows, and the new law brought disaster to the country and the people." Li Dingshan's eyes were firm and his expression was determined, "It is precisely because of this that Xia Xiang shoulders a heavy responsibility. Take the overall situation as the top priority, and forgive Xia Xiang's disrespect to the king."

"This king doesn't like to hear this, sir, do you mean that this king is a person who cares about everything or someone who will pay back?" King Jing's face sank, and his face showed displeasure, "The matter of Xia Xiang and his predecessors, but It's a battle of wills, just like a child playing a house, this king will care about such trivial things? If this king is really like this, you, Mr. Li, will not help this king."

"Yes, the prince is concerned about the country and the people, and is a role model for all officials." Li Dingshan gave a respectful salute, "Li is willing to serve the prince."

"Hehe, you said that you are serving the king, but still let this king have a good meal? Mr. came to the capital from Zhongshan Village and hid for more than ten days before coming to meet this king, which caused this king to send people to inquire about you everywhere. The whereabouts of you, I thought something happened to you, and even Zhongshan Village also sent people to check... What do you have to say?" King Jing waved his hands and walked to the window with his hands behind him: "Useless flattery and nonsense are just words. Needless to say, let me ask you, does Xia Xiang have the heart to serve the country with the responsibility of saving the people of the world? I am worried that he does not have the courage and responsibility to speak up for the people of Li and offend the dignitaries."

"My lord, forgive me. When Li returned to Beijing, he also had some personal matters to deal with first. During the three years that Li has been in Zhongshan Village, he has always been concerned about the lord." Li Dingshan said decisively, with a determined look on his face, "Xia Xiangyou, There must be. As long as he is not deliberately made difficult by Wen Changju, it will be fine if his name falls to Sun Shan."

"Hmph, regardless of whether it's true or false, this king thinks that you have a heart. Now the court is in trouble, and the emperor is in danger. If you can't live in seclusion again, you will be in vain as a subject and a scholar... Speaking of Dabi, if Wenchang is true If Xia Xiang fails, isn't his chess piece even worse than Xie Jianhua?" King Jing turned around and looked directly into Li Dingshan's eyes, "Sir, I really don't need me for the Xia Xiang competition. Come out?"

"You don't have to work as a prince. Judging from the current situation, people still think that it is better for Xia Xiang to be alone, and it is not appropriate for the outside world to speculate that he has any relationship with the prince, which is the most beneficial to Xia Xiang's growth. Even I am separated from him in Zhongshan Village. After that, I never met him again, and only helped him with some things behind his back." Li Dingshan thought about it for a long time. The simpler the origin of Xia Xiang, the more innocent the background, the better, so that it would be more convenient for Xia Xiang to act." Although letting outsiders know that Xia Xiang has the support of the prince behind it may make some people who are unfavorable to Xia Xiang stay away, but it is not conducive to Xia Xiang's experience. In my humble opinion, if there is no major matter, it is related to the life and death of Xia Xiang, otherwise the prince Still don't show up."

Although the three princes already knew about Xia Xiang and his teacher-student relationship, and asked Wen Changju to obstruct Xia Xiang's path to becoming a scholar, but the three princes only knew one of them and did not know the other. How close is his relationship with King Jing, let alone what kind of big things he and King Jing are conspiring.

If the third prince knows about his relationship with King Jing, then there is no doubt that Xia Xiang's career as a scholar and official career will be completely blocked by the third prince.Although the third prince may not really be able to cover the sky with one hand, the third prince really wants to do his best to stop the political road of an unknown person. King Jing will not fall out with the third prince because of Xia Xiang. Xia Xiang will definitely become an abandoned son very unfortunately.

Li Dingshan felt a little apologetic in his heart. From the moment he served as the teacher of Xia Xiang, Xia Xiang was engraved with his imprint, and he could never get rid of the fate influenced by him.Fortunately, if it was only his student's first-level status, the third prince would not have to kill Xia Xiang. After all, compared with King Jing, Xia Xiang was much less of a threat to the third prince, and as long as Xia Xiang agreed to the conditions of the third prince. , and can completely turn enemies into friends with the Three Kings.

King Jing was different. The hidden danger between King Jing and the third prince could not be resolved.If the third prince can inherit the throne, there is no doubt that the third prince will be the first to attack King Jing.Not only is King Jing's throne unsecured, but his life is in danger, and even seeing the king is not spared.Similarly, if King Jing or King Jian finally inherit the throne, the third prince will not escape the end of being ousted, and it is not surprising that he loses his life.

Li Dingshan sighed in his heart for a while, when Taizu passed on the throne to Taizong, there were rumors that Taizong forced Taizu to death before he sat in the world.As soon as the precedent of the death of a brother and a brother is opened, there will be endless troubles.Taizong passed the throne to Zhenzong, and Zhenzong passed the throne to the current sage. It would be good if the current sage had a prince, but the sage had no children and suddenly fell ill. Daxia has a precedent of being a brother and a brother, and the sage is located in addition to King Jing. Any of the princes are in line with the rules.King Jing is older than the emperor and is an elder brother, which is not in line with the example of a brother and a younger brother. However, the emperor named King Jing's son Xia Cunxian as King Jian, obviously intending to let King Jian join the fight for the throne.

Therefore, several princes who have always been brothers and sisters still love each other on the surface, but secretly they are fighting each other, and each staged a colorful drama for the throne.

Originally, several princes had their own positions. The eldest prince, King Jing, was in charge of the Ministry of Military Affairs, and he was also the ambassador of Hebei and Hedong Road. Censorship Desk.The fifth prince, Prince Yun, is in charge of the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Households, and is also the deputy envoy of the Privy Council.Although the four princes were nominally in charge of various ministries and held official positions, in fact, the four of them did not have any specific involvement in political affairs.

King Jing is in charge of the Ministry of War. It seems that he has a high position and authority, but it is not the case. The Ministry of War in Daxia has no real power. The Privy Council is responsible for dispatching troops. After the order is issued, it is enough to be responsible for implementing it and do a good job of transporting food, finishing care, and drawing money.As for Hebei and Hedong Road Xuanfu envoys, the duty is to inspect the locality, ask the officials and people, and the local army commander. King Jing is in the capital and rarely goes out of the capital.

The Three Kings, the Xingwang, is in charge of the personnel department and is also the governor of Shangjing, but he has real power in his hands.Needless to say, the Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the selection and promotion of officials in the world. Since the Three Princes took charge of the Ministry of Personnel, officials have been promoted and transferred constantly. Some people have been demoted, and naturally some people have been promoted.

The Shangjing government's post is responsible for government affairs and public security in the capital, and has great authority.Although he is under the Shangshu and the Servant, and his taste is not high, he is almost on an equal footing with the Imperial Censor Terrace, the Infantry Commander Yamen, and the Jiumen Admiral's Mansion, and all complaints from all parts of Daxia must first be submitted to the Shangjing Mansion. The above-mentioned capital is equivalent to a small punishment department, which undertakes part of the functions of the punishment department, and is even more arbitrary than the punishment department.In addition, the Shangjing government is in charge of the public security and government affairs in the capital, and even the affairs of the six ministries, as long as the public security and government affairs of the capital are involved, the Shangjing government can intervene, but it is not an overreach!
What's more, the Shangjing government can refuse to carry out the orders of the six ministries or even the prime minister on the grounds of endangering the public security and political affairs of the capital. Although the Yin of the Shangjing government is only an official of the third rank, he is everywhere in the capital of the second rank and the first rank. It is not prominent, but it can directly go to the palace.There is no trivial matter under the emperor's feet, and the post of the governor of Shangjing is indeed extremely important.

When Daxia had not yet headed north, the capital was Lin'an, and Taizong served as the governor of Lin'an for more than ten years as a prince. Later, when Taizu saw that Taizong was gradually gaining momentum, Lin'an was already under Taizong's control, and he wanted to move the capital to Chang'an. As a result, under the opposition of Taizong, no one in the Manchu civil and military agreed to move the capital.In desperation, Taizu had to withdraw his life.

The third prince served as the governor of Shangjing Prefecture for only half a year, and Fu Zhuang, the young Yin of Shangjing Prefecture, took charge of the affairs of Shangjing Prefecture. The Shangjing Prefecture was not controlled by the third prince.The emperor's ingenuity has always been like this. Presumably, although the emperor trusts the third prince and Hou Pingpan, he does not want to hand over all the power of the country to the hands of the third prince and Hou Pingpan.Therefore, although Hou Pingpan was the prime minister of the Pingzhang affairs under the door of Tongzhongshu, he also appointed Su Que as the deputy prime minister of the political affairs to contain Hou Pingpan.

In the same way, although the five princes control the Privy Council and have the power to transfer troops, after the deployment of troops, the specific implementation is given by King Jing, which is also a check and balance.

No one can understand the situation in Beijing more clearly than Li Dingshan, just because Li Dingshan has been an official in the capital for several years, he has been a local official for many years, and he has been hiding in Zhongshan Village for another three years. , He is both a person in the court and a wild crane. He is worried about the people when he lives in the temple, and the king when he is far away from the river and lake. Can clearly see the complicated and confusing situation in Shangjing.

Compared with King Jing and King Xing, the fourth king, King Qing, and the fifth king, King Yun, don’t even ask about specific matters. The yamen they are in charge of, no matter how big or small, are all under the control of their deputy. Unless there is a major matter that needs to alert the emperor, otherwise It's all little things.Daxia Chengping has been in peace for many years. For decades, there have been no wars or natural and man-made disasters.

It's just that after the emperor became seriously ill, the third prince first began to ask him about all matters of the Ministry of Personnel on the grounds of sharing his worries on behalf of the emperor. .What's more, the three kings also intervened in this year's competition!

Dabi was originally under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, Zhigongju Wen Changju was also the Minister of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites was originally in the charge of the fourth prince, King Qing. Listen to what he says, as if he doesn't exist.

King Qing was inevitably a little angry. The premise of governing by the arches is that everything is within control. If the arches that are out of control are governed by the arches, it is not called the governance by the arches, but the general trend is gone.King Qing has always had a good temper. He is known as Mr. Laughing Face. Few people have seen him get angry. Therefore, when King Qing gets angry, the consequences will be serious.

King Qing began to take power.

King Qing thought that it would be easy to take over the power. After all, it was his own one-third of an acre of land, and it was the sphere of influence that the emperor handed over to him. Unexpectedly, after taking it over, he realized that the problem was much more troublesome than expected. First, the emperor was sick. Heavy, unable to uphold justice, and second, the star king refused to let go of power.He was very unhappy, and when he found the Palace of the Three Kings, he wanted to make it clear with Xingwang face to face.

King Qing thought he was done, but only after he went back did he find out that the Star King was just talking about it. All the officials still reported everything to the Star King, and the Star King ruled, no one cared about any matters within his sphere of influence. his opinion.

King Qing was very angry, so he went to King Yun to complain, seek King Yun's understanding, and strive for King Yun to become his ally.Unexpectedly, King Yun was dancing a sword at home. He was wearing a Taoist robe, and his face was bright and bright. He was full of immortal energy. King Yun expressed his resentment about what happened to King Qing and persuaded King Qing with good words, so that King Qing would not be trapped by the floating clouds in front of him. Dare to pursue the supreme road.

The avenue is not in the palace, nor in the palace, but at the top of the mountains, in the depths of the forest, in the hinterland of the grasslands, in the ends of the earth... King Qing was covered in mist by the mysterious words of King Yun, and he returned in anger.

However, Li Dingshan didn't believe that Qingyun would stop there, and he didn't believe that King Yun really devoted himself to the Tao and didn't care about world affairs.If the emperor's dragon body is healthy, there are at least ten or twenty years of spring and autumn, and King Yun will not think too much. After 20 years, he will be nearly fifty, and it is impossible to inherit the throne.Besides, in ten or twenty years, the emperor may give birth to a prince.

It's just that the emperor suddenly became seriously ill unexpectedly. As the youngest emperor brother, it is most in line with the order of succession. It is absolutely impossible for King Yun not to be tempted. Besides, judging from the current situation, King Xing wants to be so desperately. Succession, with Xingwang's strength, if he really becomes the emperor, the princes will no longer be as carefree as they are now. Xingwang will probably take away the power of the princes, or move out of the capital to a remote place. It is also reasonable that the land of the emperor will never be allowed to enter Beijing.

If it goes further, it is not impossible to force a few princes to death to stabilize the throne.Although Taizong treated Taizu's two princes favorably in those days, one was nine thousand years old and the other was the Eight Sage Kings, it was also because Taizu's eldest son was imprisoned to death by Taizong, which triggered countless imperial history books, and Taizong did it because of his reputation.

Li Dingshan knew most clearly that among the four princes, although King Jing was the oldest, the one who had the most strength to compete with the king for the throne was none other than King Jing.It's just that King Jing, as the emperor's elder brother, does not conform to the example of a brother and a brother, and he is afraid that he has no hope of inheriting the throne.The emperor named Xia Cunxian to see the king, and he also deliberately set up a confusion, making people mistakenly think that the emperor intended to adopt Xia Cunxian as the crown prince.It's just that Xia Cunxian can't compare with several princes in terms of city government, virtue or prestige.

Based on Li Dingshan's understanding of the emperor, the power of heaven is unpredictable and the sacred heart is difficult to fathom.

Now the situation in the capital is full of fog, and the emperor has been ill for many days. The outside world has no way to know what his condition is, except for the eunuchs who are closest to the emperor and the star king.No, there is also the emperor's most trusted imperial physician, Mr. Jin Jia.Xia Xiang met Jin Jia, and he didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.He helped Cao Yongguo make a medicine bed and medicine chair, but Jinjia used it to treat the emperor. If it was effective, it would be very good. If it was useless, the emperor would blame it, and Xia Xiang would definitely take it on his behalf.

In the current situation in the capital, due to the emperor's critical illness, the wind is getting tighter, and the whole body is swayed by a single hair. Xia Xiang is in it. With his talent, he should be able to protect himself. Although Xia Xiang is his student, he has not yet. Falling into a court battle, whether the Star King wants to fight for the world in order to inherit the throne, or to govern the world after inheriting the throne, he needs talents to be used by him, and the world can become a sage when the world returns to his heart.Therefore, Li Dingshan wanted Xia Xiang to enter the court with a clean body without background or origin, so it was more convenient to act.

He was on good terms with King Jing, but King Xing did not know about it. Not only King Xing, King Qing and King Yun were also kept in the dark.

King Jing nodded and said: "Okay, I won't show up if it's not appropriate for this king to show up, but Xia Xiang must be placed in the right position, and it's better not to make mistakes like Xie Jianhua. Something happened, this king is tired and needs a rest."

"Yes, my lord, I'll retire." Li Dingshan left King Jing's study, and Sun Xi dared to lead the way to the secret room.

(End of this chapter)