Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 897 Plot to seize power

Zhao Guangyi was shocked when he heard Cheng Dexuan's rebellious words. Although he wanted to seize the throne, he just wanted to expand his power and rely on his brother's trust, tolerance and love to compete with his nephew Zhao Dezhao for the qualification and opportunity of succession.

After all, in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era, although the eldest son's succession from the father was orthodox, it was rarely realized. Among the hundreds of emperors in Chinese history, there were not many who were the eldest sons who inherited the throne. So Zhao Guangyi felt that he had a chance!

But Zhao Guangyi never thought of really taking action against his brother, launching a power grab, deposing his brother Zhao Kuangyin, or killing him. This was a bit beyond Zhao Guangyi's original intention.

The elder brother is like a father. Zhao Kuangyin was twelve years older than Zhao Guangyi. When their father Zhao Hongyin died, Zhao Guangyi was only sixteen years old. After handling his father's funeral, he joined the army and stayed with Zhao Kuangyin, witnessing his brother Zhao Kuangyin's bravery and wisdom. At the age of twenty-one, Zhao Guangyi followed a group of military generals to support Zhao Kuangyin as emperor in Chenqiao, and then he began to have a prominent status.

Over the past ten years, he has treated Zhao Kuangyin as both a father and a brother, and he has great respect for him. Moreover, they have a very good relationship. When Zhao Guangyi is sick and cannot take care of himself, Zhao Kuangyin will personally go to take care of him, showing his responsibility as an elder brother. For example, when he helps his younger brother burn moxa, he burns it on himself first to avoid scalding his younger brother. Many things about the deep brotherly love are vivid in Zhao Guangyi's mind, and it is difficult for him to make a decision.

"Your Highness Prince Jin, the current situation is critical and the opportunity is fleeting. If you don't seize it, you may be doomed!"

Cheng Dexuan saw that Zhao Guangyi was hesitant and unable to make a decision for a moment, so he immediately spoke to comfort him, with a sense of urgency in his voice.

Fan Min took the opportunity to say, "Yes, Your Highness Prince of Jin, we are now in a difficult situation. It is no longer a question of whether Your Highness will send someone to assassinate the eldest prince, but the delicate situation in the court is about to be broken. Even if we don't do it, we have to bite the bullet and fight for the imperial power!" His words were full of decisiveness.

Wang Yande, Zhang Xun, and Yang Shouyi all stood up to advise: "Your Highness, Prince of Jin, you should make a decision sooner rather than later. If you don't make a decision, you will suffer the consequences."

Zhao Guangyi still hesitated in his heart. After all, seizing power was risky, and he was a little timid in front of his brother. After all, his brother was as dazzling as the sun, which made Zhao Guangyi always in awe of Zhao Kuangyin.

However, people are selfish, and anyone would be tempted by imperial power, after all, it is the symbol of wealth and power.

Dou Zhen also advised: "As the old saying goes, if you don't take what heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences; if you don't act when the time comes, you will suffer the consequences. If such a divine opportunity is right in front of you, but you ignore it and don't take it, wasting the chance given by heaven, then heaven will punish you afterwards. Xiang Yu, the King of Chu during the Chu-Han period, was like this. He overthrew the tyranny and destroyed the Qin State. He could have replaced it and become the emperor of the world. This was the opportunity given to him by heaven, but Xiang Yu had no ambition. Instead, he went against the will of heaven and divided the world into eighteen territories. This violated the trend of the unification of the six countries. Facing the torrent of history, he was bound to fail, because the separatist rule of the princes accelerated the conflict of interests among the vassal kings, and wars continued. The people could not enjoy peace, and heaven could not stand it either." There was a firmness in his voice and a seriousness in his eyes.

These words touched Zhao Guangyi deeply. All the family affection, respect, etc. in his heart were gradually overwhelmed by the throne, and he made a decision in his heart: do it!

"Okay, since this is an opportunity given to me by God, I must take it. This is destiny. Everyone, you are the participants in this matter and you must provide your full assistance. Once successful, I will not treat any of you unfairly!" There was a resoluteness in Zhao Guangyi's voice and a firmness in his eyes.

The civil officials, staff, counselors, and military commanders present were all of low rank. Although some of them worked in Kaifeng Prefecture, they were only minor officials, and most of them did not even hold official positions.

However, once this thing is done, they will be the successors of the dragon, and they can become prime ministers, ministers of six ministries, or generals. This can be a great leap in life class, who can not be excited?

"Your Highness Prince Jin, please rest assured. We will go all out, risk fire and water, and sacrifice our lives to help Your Highness accomplish your great cause!" Everyone stood up excitedly and expressed their willingness to fight to the death, even at the risk of being beheaded.

Zhao Guangyi breathed a sigh of relief. Since he had decided to do it, he could not back down. The most urgent task was to find a good countermeasure to seize power in a clever way. Zhao Guangyi did not want to do such a low-level method as leading troops to attack the palace, because he would be criticized. He hoped to use a method that was subtle and silent, so that he could obtain the right of inheritance in an open and aboveboard manner.

"Everyone, please think calmly now and give me advice on how to deal with today's crisis. If the Wude Division and the Imperial Guards get evidence of frame-up, the emperor will probably summon me to the palace soon." There was a seriousness in Zhao Guangyi's voice and anticipation in his eyes.

Cheng Yu nodded slightly and said calmly: "Your Highness, the most urgent thing is to stabilize the situation and not let Zhao Pu's faction get hold of us. We can first send people to the Wude Division and the Imperial Guards to try to confuse the public and delay time." Shi Xizai continued: "At the same time, we can prepare a detailed defense letter to prove the innocence of Your Highness. In addition, we can secretly contact some ministers in the court and ask them to speak for us in front of the emperor."

Jia Yan also added: "We can also use this opportunity to bite back and say that this is a trap set by Zhao Pu and Zhao Dezhao to frame His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin, thereby causing conflicts within the royal family."

Zhao Guangyi nodded slightly, his voice full of satisfaction: "Okay, let's do as you said. Cheng Yu, you are responsible for going to the Wude Division and the Imperial Guards and try to delay time. Shi Xizai, you prepare a letter of defense. Jia Yan, you go to contact the ministers in the court. Everyone else, prepare yourselves and be ready to be deployed at any time."

Everyone responded in unison: "Yes, sir!" There was a firmness in their voices and a hint of expectation in their eyes.

Cheng Dexuan analyzed again, "Your Highness, Prince Jin, you have a close relationship with the Emperor. With the Emperor's wisdom, he will not easily believe the assassin's words. In the worst case, he may interrogate you and imprison you for a few days to find out the forces and clues behind the assassin. But because the Emperor is ill, power may be transferred to the hands of the eldest prince. At this time, we should make a decision early, control the city gate, send people to hold the eldest prince hostage, enter the palace, take advantage of his unpreparedness, force the Emperor to make a will, designate an heir, and then imprison the Emperor for a period of time. When his illness relapses, he will naturally die."

Chai Yuxi went on to say: "Then we all need to cooperate with the action, send people to contact the generals defending the city, control the city gates, bring people into the palace, and carry out a coup!" There was a decisiveness in his voice and a seriousness in his eyes.

Zhao Guangyi frowned slightly, and there was a hint of hesitation in his voice: "What if His Majesty did not put me under house arrest?"

Liu Qi smiled slightly, his voice revealing a hint of cunning: "That's the best. Your Highness can reason with him, appeal to his emotions, and cry to express that you have no intention of harming the eldest prince, so as to reassure His Majesty. Then, we will find someone to tamper with the medicinal food and wine in the palace. As long as His Majesty falls asleep and the situation becomes chaotic, we will have an opportunity to take advantage of it." He stared at Zhao Guangyi with anticipation in his eyes.

Zhao Guangyi looked at these people, frowned slightly, and there was a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice: "Are you going to let me poison you? How can I not be exposed when the imperial physician examines my body afterwards? This will make me bear the infamy for all eternity?" There was a trace of worry in his eyes. Obviously, he didn't want to murder his brother so simply and directly. Otherwise, how could he face these ministers? How could he face the criticism of history?

Even if the usurpers wanted to force the emperor to abdicate, they would pretend to refuse three times before they were willing to ascend the throne, all for the sake of reputation! Zhao Guangyi knew this very well, and he did not want to bear such a bad reputation.

Liu Qi smiled slightly, his voice revealing a cunning: "We don't need to use poisonous drugs like Qianji medicine, but medicinal wine, or tonic medicine, etc. As the saying goes, a person with a very weak constitution cannot be nourished, we can find some medicines that conflict with the medicines Your Majesty uses. Once taken, there will be conflicts between the two, and the person may fall into a coma or die, but afterwards there will be no signs of being poisoned..." His eyes were fixed on Zhao Guangyi, with some expectation in his eyes.

Zhao Guangyi nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in his voice: This is a good idea, the autopsy can be performed in public afterwards and the record can be recorded in the palace minutes to "prove" his innocence.

Cheng Dexuan said calmly: "Please rest assured, Your Highness. We will act immediately and perform our duties to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Zhao Guangyi nodded slightly, his voice revealing a sense of determination: "Okay, everyone, today's matter is of great importance, you must go all out. Once you succeed, I will definitely reward you handsomely in the future." His eyes were fixed on everyone, and the meaning was self-evident.

Everyone responded in unison: "Yes, sir!" There was excitement in their voices and anticipation in their eyes.