Han Shizu

Chapter 2127 Sejong Chapter 2 Only Conclusion

Judging from what has happened or is happening in the upper class of Luoyang, there are actually four options for the succession of the emperor.

When the new year came, there were three voices in the imperial court that had the highest voices: King Liu Wenhuan of Annan, King Liu Wenji of Jing, and before the two kings arrived in Beijing, Shangshu Ling Wang Dan proposed that a son with outstanding talents be selected from among the emperor's nephews and established as the king. The crown prince, who ascends to the great treasures and continues the orthodox imperial line of the great emperor, must, of course, be a descendant of Taizong.

Needless to say, the first two, but the third one, since it was proposed, has a huge market. No matter nobles or bureaucrats, no matter what origin, what position, what group, it seems to find recognition and support for it. that part of the people.

Of course, this suggestion is also questionable. First of all, Empress Dowager Murong and the Murong family behind this proposal have made all the major factions fearful. It is true that this empress dowager is capable of making troubles, but nothing good can come out of them. In the past eight years, there have been a large number of cases to prove this. a little.

It has to be said that although it was Wang Dan who proposed the "adoption proposal," anyone with a discerning eye could see that there was a strong will of Empress Dowager Murong behind it. Moreover, after the adoption, it may be followed by the "proposed title of dynasty." "Control" or "listen to politics behind the curtain".

In this matter, perhaps Empress Yang has more say. After all, she is the empress of the main palace, and her mother is the queen of the world. Compared with the Murong family, the Yang family is not weaker in influence and strength, and its reputation is much better. However, neither Queen Yang nor the Yang family behind her seem to have any ideas in this regard.

As a minister, the de facto prime minister of the Han Empire, Wang Dan made such a decision on such an important and sensitive matter, and formed an alliance with the seemingly unreliable Empress Dowager Murong. Let’s take a look at his position. , in fact it is not complicated.

Taizong's imperial line was something he unswervingly and resolutely maintained, but he was not only an old minister of Taizong, but also an old minister of Liu Wenpeng's East Palace, and was promoted to the position of prime minister by him. No matter how unpopular Emperor Daxing was during his lifetime and how many idle things he did, his kindness to Wang Dan was real.

Therefore, under Taizong, Wang Dan also had to protect Emperor Daxing. It is a highly feasible method to adopt a son from among the emperor's nephews and inherit Liu Wenpeng's lineage. Moreover, whether you choose Liu Wenhuan or Liu Wenji's son, it is also a kind of comfort for both of them.

Of course, this idea is somewhat wishful thinking. Even if we put aside Empress Dowager Murong's involvement in politics, it would be tempting to establish a young emperor (sons of Liu Wenhuan and Liu Wenji, the older ones are only in their teens), but for those who really care about their country and the country, it is tempting. For knowledgeable people, it is worth debating. The lesson of Emperor Daxing is too profound at the moment.

Therefore, each of the three options has its shortcomings and criticisms.

As for the fourth opinion, it comes from King Wu Liu Hui (after Liu Wenpeng succeeded to the throne, he was promoted to King Wu). Liu Hui, who lived in the eighth year of Pingkang, was already fifty-eight years old and in the twilight years of his life. In the past twenty years, he has played the piano and listened to politics in the Taihe Tower under his name for twenty years.

In his heart, Liu Hui was a talkative figure, so when he was about to die, he released another "big star".

The throne of emperor was never his turn, so when he saw that the country had no ruler and various parties were arguing, he got excited and simply proposed that King Liu Zhao of Yan should succeed him.

King Yan Liu Zhao was the tenth son of Emperor Shizu and the legitimate son of Empress Fu. Of course, the current King of Yan was fifty and six years old. From a legal point of view, King Liu Zhao of Yan really has a relatively higher succession position than the clans in the world, and there are people who really agree with this idea. For example, after learning the news, they came to Xijing early to attend the funeral (play). By the way, Anton King Liu Wenyuan fished in troubled waters.

Not to mention the psychology and considerations of Wu King Liu Hui's proposal, at least Yan King Liu Zhao himself was so anxious that he clearly refused and resolutely resisted. In order to avoid misunderstanding, he even ran to Mang Mountain.

It has to be said that among the sixteen sons of Emperor Shizu, the one who gained the most understanding and freedom was none other than King Yan Liu Zhao. He really did not fight or grab, he was single-minded, and lived his own small life behind closed doors (including the management of the Nanyang fiefdom). Even the position of Zongzheng was forced on him by Emperor Taizong.

The rightful owner was not happy and even ran away to avoid the proposal. Naturally, there was no room for discussion on this proposal. Of course, the success rate is almost zero.

However, Wu King Liu Hui's proposal also reflected a serious problem. When eight years have passed since Pingkang, the throne of the Han Dynasty is still vacant, and various forces are still wrestling with each other. This situation is undoubtedly a harm to the Han Empire.

The King of Hell is gone and the Alone is in charge. Even an unreliable King of Hell like Liu Wenpeng in the past had quite strong suppressive power over those below. However, when the Golden Crow fell and the sun failed to show, more and more people in the Han Empire were Ghost Xiaoxiao also took advantage of this period to go rampant. Such an opportunity was really rare.

However, the system of the Han Empire determined that such chaos would have its limits after all. When the high-level dignitaries and people of insight in the court realized the seriousness of the problem, a consensus slowly formed, and the new king It must be "out of the oven" as soon as possible.

In the study room of Prince Jing's Mansion, Liu Wenji sat silently with a serious expression on his face. There is a piece of paper on the desk. On the paper is a map of the relationship between major forces and powerful people in Gyeonggi Province drawn by Liu Wenji himself.

Clan, relatives, nobles, bureaucrats, army, ministries, elders. The complicated connections and relationships are enough to make people’s heads explode. However, what worries Liu Wenji the most is that these people hold the right to speak in the Han Empire. No matter how they are classified, the support for him from the groups that have great influence on the throne is seriously insufficient. Even though his mind has long been as solid as stone, this situation still makes Liu Wenji feel a little unsure.

In addition to Liu Wenji, there was also Concubine Xiao in the room, sitting silently aside, elegant, calm and calm.

After studying for a long time and not being released, Liu Wenji couldn't help but raise his head and said meaningfully: "The news came from Senior Officer Zheng that the eldest brother went to visit the fourth uncle today! People from the Zhao family are also contacting everywhere and actively seeking advice for the eldest brother. Seek support.”

Due to the spatial distance, Liu Wenji arrived in Beijing much earlier than Liu Wenhuan. After returning to Beijing, he kept a low profile. Although many people in the court praised him, including ministers like Kou Zhun, he did not Dare to have the slightest sense of pride. I just do the things of worshiping and keeping vigil, and continue to build a good reputation.

Of course, things are done in secret, such as collecting intelligence, analyzing the situation, observing trends, and winning over those who can really help him.

To say that the biggest surprise Liu Wenji got after returning to Beijing was the surrender of the internal chamberlain Zheng Yuan. As the head of the chamberlain during the Taizong period, he naturally had to retreat behind the scenes in the Pingkang era, but he still held the position of chamberlain supervisor. Of course, more importantly, he also controlled the emperor's last piece of information insurance, the "Xiaobu".

Only three days after Liu Wenji returned to Beijing, Zheng Yuan secretly approached Liu Wenji and expressed his support for his ascension to the throne. Liu Wenji was shocked at that time. With a cautious mind, after struggling and hesitating for several times, I asked "why".

Then, he saw the old Zheng Yuan, sighing and feeling sad, and explained the reason emotionally and confusedly. According to him, in his later years, Emperor Taizong hesitated several times about becoming the crown prince, and expressed his approval of Liu Wenji several times in private. He even tried to tell Zheng Yuan that the King of Linzi, who could bring glory to the founder, was just extremely self-disciplined. Emperor Taizong, who was restrained, finally chose to maintain the most stable line of succession.

As a loyal servant of Taizong, Zheng Yuan naturally had the drive in his heart to fulfill his old master's long-cherished wish. At the same time, he also had a good impression of Liu Wenji, a gentle and gentle man. When Liu Wenji was already qualified to succeed, he chose to push him decisively.

Moreover, Zheng Yuan also bluntly told Liu Wenji that he would never dare to think so if Emperor Daxing lived for a long time. At the same time, Zheng Yuan also said that after he succeeded, he asked to leave the palace and return to his hometown to retire, as a show of sincerity. Zheng Yuan had already considered it carefully and firmly in supporting Liu Wenji.

Liu Wenji, who received the support of Zheng Yuan and his "Xiao" department, was like a shot in the arm, especially the words of "Taizong's wishes", which made Liu Wenji even more grateful and moved, and made him more confident. Basically, an analogy can be made. Taizong's status in Liu Wenji's mind is similar to Shizu's status in Taizong's mind, with more respect than fear.

In the days that followed, no matter the changes in the capital, Liu Wenji was able to get the most critical and critical intelligence support from Zheng Yuan. Of course, during Liu Wenpeng's era, the development of the "Xiao" Department did not receive much support. The Imperial City and Wude Division were enough for other purposes.

However, the concealment and rigor of "Xiao" also enable it to often play a special role in key and crucial places.

Speaking of Zheng Yuan and "Xiao", we have to talk about the Imperial City Division and Wude Division. As the emperor's hawks and secret police, perhaps what they hate most is the death of the emperor.

Without their master, they degenerate from rampant hyenas into drowned dogs. Their teeth are no longer sharp and they don't dare to bark.

During the past period, the Second Division had of course been paying close attention to the development of the situation, and of course they did not dare to participate rashly. However, nine years after entering Pingkang, they also began to take action. What Wang Yue, the envoy of the Imperial City, did was dance on three eggs, and all forces would sell well and place their own bets. Lin Te, the military commander who had mastered the Wude Division twice for eighteen years, chose to wait and see in silence and remain neutral.

On Liu Wenji's side, he had naturally received overtures and news from Wang Yue. With Zheng Yuan's concentration and dedication, Wang Yue's half-heartedness seemed to be inferior. Liu Wenji's response was also more hypocritical and submissive, taking advantage of it. That’s all.

When it comes to seizing the throne, Liu Wenji is more afraid of his eldest brother Liu Wenhuan than Empress Dowager Murong's troubles. After all, his eldest brother has always had the upper hand on him since he was a child. If it hadn't been for the incident with Concubine Chang, he would have been a millionaire. Unbeatable.

In fact, Liu Wenji is not too afraid of the many voices supporting Liu Wenhuan, including the Zhao family. This also has historical origins. After Emperor Taizong appointed the crown prince, he suppressed the Zhao family a lot and cleaned up a lot internally and externally. This also led to the fact that although the Zhao family remained in the political and military circles, It maintains a certain influence, but it is far less than it was in its heyday.

The two branches of the Zhao family, Zhao Kuangyi's line, have long been disappointed after the defeat that year. What's more, today is different from the past. The scheming Zhao Kuangyi can see the situation clearly, and his attention has long been focused on the inheritance of the family.

Liu Wenpeng's death seems to be an opportunity, but to be fair, the chance is not great. At the same time, although the voices supporting Liu Wenhuan are not small, there is almost no cohesion. In contrast, on Liu Wenji's side, there was Kou Zhun. Although he did not have a strong voice, his ambition was very strong and his fighting power was extremely strong.

What's more, the really important supporters are often those who don't speak loudly, but quietly follow the development and analyze the situation. The key is that Liu Wenhuan's shortcomings can be pinched to death.

However, when he heard that Liu Wenhuan was going to visit Zhao Wang Liu Fang, Liu Wenji had to be careful. Zhao Wang Liu Fang, even though he had been hiding for eight years, if he came forward to speak, it would have an effect.

"Mom, do you think the eldest brother can get the support of the fourth uncle?" Liu Wenji asked Mrs. Xiao with doubts.

After hearing the question, Mrs. Xiao raised her eyes and looked at Liu Wenji. She actually knew what her son was really worried about, so she did not answer the question, but asked leisurely: "You are trapped in your own shortcomings, but you don't know that this is your strength? "

When Dowager Xiao said this, Liu Wenji couldn't help but be startled. He looked at the Dowager with wide eyes, facing his mother's calm and wise gaze. After a while, Liu Wenji's eyes gradually brightened.

Liu Wenji does have his shortcomings, including Khitan blood, low prestige, weak mother clan, etc. But none of them are fatal shortcomings, and these shortcomings are actually a great advantage in today's world when the center of the empire is trying to seize the throne.

With Emperor Daxing teaching him a lesson, wouldn't it be more desirable for many powerful people to have a successor who is older and more prudent, whose mother's family is weak, and who can barely be a legitimate successor?

Empress Dowager Xiao had obviously seen through this a long time ago. When Liu Wenji realized this and looked at his mother, who was already over sixty years old, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. This mother helped him far beyond what outsiders imagined. He stood up and bowed deeply to him.

Concubine Xiao accepted it peacefully, and seeing that he still had a worried look on his face, she said calmly: "You are worried about your fourth uncle. However, what kind of person your fourth uncle is, who can influence his choices and thoughts in today's world?"

Hearing this, Liu Wenji was silent for a moment. After a while, I heard Mrs. Xiao say in an exhorting tone: "Do your duty!"

Liu Wenji thought for a while and then bowed: "Thank you, mother, for your teaching!"

When the mother and son were confiding in each other, Xiao Hui came to ask for an audience and reported that the minister of Zhongshu came to ask for an audience. He was dressed low-key and moved furtively.

The mother and son immediately became interested in this, and after some explanation, Xiao Hui also secretly brought him into the house, and Liu Wenji received him alone.

The meeting was not long, only a quarter of an hour. Wang Qinruo left with a solemn expression, and Liu Wenji ordered Xiao Hui to send him away from the house.

After he left, Liu Wenji, who was sitting alone at the desk, had a wonderful expression on his face. At this time, Mrs. Xiao came from behind the screen, glanced at him, and said lightly: "You see, such people will become more and more popular." Many!"

"I understand!"

As a favorite of the Daxing Emperor, Wang Qingruo, who had weak qualifications, found his situation in the court immediately awkward after his death.

After such a long period of observation, Wang Qinruo also began to place bets. This time he came to surrender his allegiance to Liu Wenji.

Wang Qinruo obviously had some skills. The very next day, he used practical actions to demonstrate his ability and loyalty to Liu Wenji.

As a fringe figure in the "adoptive sect", Wang Qinruo went to the palace to ask to see Empress Dowager Murong. For the first time, he "sincerely" and "thoroughly" stated the interests and harms to the Queen Mother, reviewed the historical grudges, and successfully made the Queen Mother shift her main attention to Liu Wenhuan.

There were two points in Wang Qinruo's remarks that touched the Queen Mother's heart. First, the grudge between her and Concubine Zhao's mother and son could not be resolved. If Liu Wenhuan was not beaten down, he would suffer harm in the future; secondly, Liu Wenji " "Weak", it will be easier to deal with Liu Wenji after Liu Wenhuan is squeezed out; thirdly, even if the adoption fails in the end, Liu Wenji will obviously be more beneficial to Empress Dowager Murong than Liu Wenhuan. He is the legitimate mother and she still had a feeling of raising her.

The most direct effect of Wang Qinruo's words was that the situation in the fight for the throne changed drastically. From a three-party stalemate, it quickly turned to two parties joining forces to attack Liu Wenhuan, and the voices supporting Liu Wenhuan were quickly suppressed.

By the 21st day of the first month of the ninth year of Pingkang, Liu Wenpeng had been lying in Zi Palace for two months. There was finally a breakthrough in the matter of succession to the throne. There were two "candidates", or rather Two categories: Jing Wang Liu Wenji, son of Jing Wang Liu Wenji.

Although the two parties are still at a stalemate, at this point, the results are not far away. Therefore, Wang Qinruo made timely suggestions again and began to vigorously promote the "Queen Mother Curtain" in the court to make up for the problem that the adopted emperor was young and found it difficult to control the country.

One can imagine how the powerful people in power reacted when such voices were raised.

On the twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month of the ninth year of Pingkang, probably because he could no longer stand the chaos caused by this kind of seizure of the throne, King Zhao came out of the mountain, returned to the capital from Mang Mountain, and went straight to the court to formally express his intervention in the inheritance of the throne.

Liu Fang did not find many people to boost his momentum. There was only one person accompanying him, Yang Ye, who was already over eighty years old.

One was white-haired and the other was haggard. However, these two old men stepped into the Guangzheng Hall with slow steps, summoned all the ministers, ministers and ministers, and said the four words "Kuni Lai Changjun" in front of everyone. , the debate about the succession of the throne also came to an end, but the successor king of the Han Empire was finally revealed after more than two months of "constipation".

On the first day of March in the ninth year of Pingkang, King Liu Wenji of Jing, supported by all his ministers, ascended the throne in the Qianyuan Hall and changed to Yuan Duangong. He was thirty-nine years old.

PS: When Liu Fang and Yang Ye clearly supported Liu Wenji, the tide turned and completely overwhelmed the Queen Mother. Seeing that the situation was irreversible, Wang Qinruo went to persuade the Queen Mother again, rather than continue to create difficulties and create obstacles and provoke the hostility and suppression of the new king after he succeeded to the throne. If you don't support it, try to find a different face.

Empress Dowager Murong was persuaded again. Therefore, although there was a fierce battle for more than two months, the throne of Liu Wenji was finally unanimous and the whole court recognized it. Even Empress Dowager Murong put aside her grudges and endorsed her, and Liu Wenji succeeded to the throne. The legal rationality has also reached the highest level and is difficult to be shaken by others.

Such a result is not unexpected, but such an ending is beyond the expectations of many people. To be able to achieve such a point, it is worth noting the depth and wisdom hidden under the gentle face of the new monarch Liu Wenji. .

However, many people only noticed the succession of a "weak elder" and were immersed in the joy of the emperor taking the initiative to adopt the Duangong reign title.