Chapter 1588 Xinzijuan Selection

Zhang Jingqiu felt hot in his heart, and even his nose felt a little sore.

The emperor still trusted him as before. Looking around the court, Zhang Jingqiu believed that only Lu Song could rival him.

But Lu Song has been following the emperor since he was hiding in his residence. How can he be compared with someone like him who has been with him for decades? The so-called kindness of knowing and meeting him is nothing more than this.

Zhang Jingqiu's nephew got married to Concubine Guo's family, but it was not what Zhang Jingqiu expected. However, if it was because the Guo family did not want to borrow their identity at all, it was impossible to think about it. However, Zhang Jingqiu would not be worried because of his nephew. If this level of origin means disregarding the overall situation, that would be too underestimated of oneself.

"The emperor loves you so much, how dare I disobey my order?" Zhang Jingqiu could only kneel down and thank him again.

"Okay, Zhang Qing, I also know that it is not appropriate to ask foreign ministers about the Tian family's family affairs, but then again, has there ever been any family affairs in the Tian family?" Emperor Yonglong said leisurely: "After a hundred years, who will succeed me? If it is not the case. Don't people make the country suffer and the people suffer? So I never think that this is a family matter, and family matters are also state affairs!"

Zhang Jingqiu didn't understand it in his heart, and why didn't all the princes in the past dynasties understand it? But the risk of getting involved in this kind of thing is too high, and the civil servants would rather stay away from it.

When Shilin Wenchen clearly has a better and more stable path to promotion and advancement, why should he get involved in such a risky game? Can the prince be able to circumvent the officials in the court when he is in power? Or do you want to win over? In this case, isn't it good to sit on a mountain and watch the tiger fight? Or it's not too late to wait until the overall situation is decided before taking sides.

 Sending help in times of need is far better than adding icing on the cake, but in this case, providing help in times of need will freeze the person doing it to death, but adding icing on the cake is the safest move, unless there is no other choice.

 But when the emperor asked this question today, it seemed difficult for Zhang Jingqiu to shrink back.

"The emperor intends to select a heir apparent in Qiu, but I don't know from what aspects the emperor wants to determine it?" Zhang Jingqiu calmed down and analyzed and planned for the emperor.

Choosing a prince is a complex and highly variable matter. The selection of a prince should not be mixed with personal emotions, even if it is the emperor himself. Whatever is conducive to the sustainability of the throne and the stability of the country is the most suitable, regardless of whether the prince is most popular with the emperor or not. Pamper like.

 But in practice it is simply impossible to do it.

The prince who is not liked by the emperor must be eliminated first, unless the prince's strength is so strong that the emperor himself cannot control or ignore it, such as Tang Taizong Li Shimin, or Tang Xuanzong Li Longji. But as far as the current situation is concerned, the emperor's None of his sons have such tyrannical strength.

 The problem is that these princes now have their mothers and concubines in the palace behind them, and they all have their own advantages.

Concubine Xu has the highest status, and King Shou is still the eldest son. Even in the Great Zhou Dynasty, there was no custom of establishing a chief, but there were still a lot of people habitually supporting the establishment of a chief, both among the people and in the court. This should not be underestimated.

Concubine Su gave birth to two sons, Prince Fu and Prince Li, both of whom were adults. Both of them were born with outstanding talents. They held various poetry and cultural activities in Beijing for many years, and were friendly with scholars in the scholarly community. They had a high reputation in the scholarly community and had a close relationship with Yi Zhong. Prince Cheng and Prince Cheng are also known as the three wise kings in the clan, but Prince Fu and Prince Li are said to have a close relationship with Prince Beijing, and Prince Beijing is a leading figure in martial arts, together with Prince Niu Jizong, Wang Ziteng and other princes Yi Zhong. The relationship between important figures in the department was irreversible. Zhang Jingqiu didn't know how the emperor would view this in his heart.

 Another one is King Lu who was born from Concubine Mei.

King Lu has just come of age and is currently studying at Qingtan Academy. He is courteous to virtuous people and has a friendly style. He is highly praised by the young scholars in the North who are based in Qingtan Academy. It is also rumored that King Lu is very similar to the emperor when he was young. He was very popular for this. The emperor favored her, and her mother, Concubine Mei, was the most favored when the emperor was still King Zhongxiao. She was favored by thousands of people, but she was replaced by Concubine Guo just before and after the emperor ascended the throne.

As for Prince Gong, the son of Concubine Guo, he has just turned ten this year. He looks like the emperor when he was young. He is talented and has a photographic memory. He intends to imitate his brother Prince Lu and study at Qingtan Academy after the beginning of next year. He is also quite successful. The emperor loved her, and Concubine Guo was the emperor's most favored concubine before he meditated and cultivated his character. In addition, due to the relationship between Chen Jingxuan and himself, many people in the palace and court believed that the emperor might eventually choose Prince Gong as his prince.

Zhang Jingqiu’s words made it difficult for Emperor Yonglong to answer. What criteria should be used to select and reserve reserves? What conditions are standard?

 Emperor Yonglong himself was very conflicted.

In terms of love, Emperor Yonglong undoubtedly liked Zhang So and Zhang Ji more. These two sons looked the most like him. Zhang So was calm and generous. Although Zhang Ji was young, he was extremely talented. The mother of the two sons was also a former man who had forbidden sexual **** with women. The second most favored concubine, from an emotional point of view, Prince Lu and Prince Gong are the ones who suit her best.

But I told myself rationally that if Zhang So and Zhang Gao wanted to establish a reserve, there would be insurmountable obstacles.

Although Zhang So performed well in Qingtan Academy and was highly praised by the young scholars in the North, this only made a good impression among the young scholars in the North, and most of these scholars had not yet taken the imperial examination or the imperial examination. Among those who did not win, the scholars and civil servants who were actually in the court were still more inclined to the King of Fu and Li Wang. After all, Zhang Qi and Zhang Ji had worked hard to make friends with the scholars in the past few years. This relationship was hard work for Zhang Qi and Zhang. Ji has done enough.

As for Zhang Ji, the issue of age is a fatal obstacle. At the age of ten, if the emperor can live for another ten years, then maybe Zhang Ji can grow up with his own support, but in three to five years, it will be difficult for Zhang Ji to grow up. To become powerful enough to play games, not to mention Emperor Yonglong's worry that his lifespan might not last five years.

"Zhang Qing, I have never been so upset about other matters as I am about this matter." Emperor Yonglong did not hide anything in front of Zhang Jingqiu. Since he recruited Zhang Jingqiu, he just wanted to listen to the other party's suggestions sincerely. "Prince Lu and Prince Gong are my favorites, but they are too young and have little impression in the court. Prince Shou is older, but has a frivolous personality and is not good at doing things. Prince Fu is rough and shallow-minded. Prince Li is hesitant and indecisive. , Prince Lu and Prince Gong are too young to tell, what do you think I should do?"

 Zhang Jingqiu was silent.

"I also want to wait, wait a few years before confirming, but now my body can't afford it. If I don't set up the savings earlier and support me while I can persist for a few years, I'm really afraid of this in the future. The country, the country, and the country will be ruined if left in their hands."

What Emperor Yonglong was worried about was not losing his glory, but worrying about being taken away by the boss's lineage.

It is unlikely that he will be defeated. After all, there are still prime ministers and assistants watching. It is impossible for his sons to reign like their father for more than 40 years before becoming an iron-clad empire. Even the prime ministers and assistants can do nothing. No, but if my sons behave too badly and something happens in the country, if the ministers think that the eldest son, Prince Cheng, is more wise, they will be in big trouble.

Since Emperor Yonglong had spoken out to this extent, Zhang Jingqiu knew that it would be inappropriate for him to remain silent.

After pondering for a while, Zhang Jingqiu said: "I can't say what I want to say about the princes, but the emperor is still confused about whether to choose one of King Shou, King Fu, and King Li, or one of King Lu and King Gong."

Emperor Yonglong nodded. The first three sons dissatisfied him, but the second son was quite risky.

"Then I would venture to say that the emperor might as well focus on selecting one from King Shou, King Fu, and King Li as the main candidate, and then select one from King Lu and King Gong as the main candidate. Taking the Autumn Festival of Tieweng Mountain as an opportunity, come again To make an assessment, in the opinion of the ministers, the emperor may not express it to the public for the time being, but he may consider hinting it to the ministers who are popular among the public or influential and representative among the scholars when the new emperor ascends the throne a hundred years later, and they can help or make it clear. Or secretly inspect and assist, wait until the time is right, listen to everyone's opinions, and then make a decision..."

It is absolutely impossible for Zhang Jingqiu to really directly choose who to be the crown prince for the emperor. This kind of thing can only be decided by the emperor himself. All he can do is make suggestions for the emperor, and he can only propose some choices. It was a strategy suitable for the crown prince. This method was so majestic that no one could tell anything wrong even if it was known.

Emperor Yonglong was slightly disappointed, but after thinking about it again, this should be a mature way of planning a country. How could a minister directly suggest who should be appointed as the heir apparent? That would be a serious taboo, and he would not believe it.

Zhang Jingqiu figured out his thoughts very accurately. The three adult princes were not satisfied, and the two young princes had obstacles, so he simply chose the best one from the two small groups, and then let him My favorite ministers will help me evaluate and inspect them, and finally make a decision. Anyway, there are still two or three years left, and there is room for maneuver in the middle.

After thinking for a while, Emperor Yonglong asked again: "What did Zhang Qing mean when he said that the new emperor's ministers were highly popular and influential and representative when he ascended the throne?"

Zhang Jingqiu thought for a while, "The emperor's wishes should not be limited to the cabinet and the six ministers and governors. We should also take a long-term view. All the princes are not young. It is difficult to say whether there will be any changes in three to five years. Some should be elected." The ministers who are young, powerful and talented are included among them, so that they can be used by the new king in the future."

Emperor Yonglong nodded slightly, this suggestion was quite insightful.

Among the cabinet ministers, Ye Xianggao is over fifty, Li Tingji is nearly seventy, Fang Congzhe, Qi Yongtai and Li Sancai are all nearly sixty, so they are not young, and Li Tingji and Qi Yongtai are also There are many illnesses, and it is hard to say what changes will happen in three to five years. Moreover, many of them have close relations with the Jiangnan gentry. These factors also need to be considered. Therefore, when choosing to inspect or assist ministers, it is indeed necessary to take into account many aspects.

"What Zhang Qing said is true. I understand." Emperor Yonglong nodded, "That's it for now. Zhang Qing, please tell me about the situation with Prince Yi Zhong."

 (End of this chapter)