Qiming 1158

Chapter 527 The Crown Prince Zhao Tan

As we all know, Zhao Gou himself is infertile and has no offspring, so he is not too sensitive about who inherits his throne.

His request for the successor is very simple, don't threaten his throne, don't toss him with some difficult things, just be filial and obedient enough, that's all.

And such a request is not easy to achieve, so he has always had a very contradictory feeling about welcoming Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan back.

Until the news of Zhao Huan's death came, he was finally freed from that kind of contradiction, so he shed a tear from the heart for the love of blood.

This is the first time, and maybe the last time.

In fact, when the ministers asked him to arrange an heir, he was able to accept it calmly from the initial resistance. As time went by, Zhao Gou gradually felt that his energy was not enough, and he did not have much to do with the throne earlier. So persistent.

He felt that as long as he could choose a filial person who would not cause trouble to be the emperor, even if he abdicated and became the supreme emperor.

Anyway, after so many years of fear and fear, he also wanted to leave this position, make up for himself, and let himself live a leisurely life without worrying about survival.

So he was ready to choose the best of the two princes as his heir.

As a result, just as he was about to start, Zhao Ji's ten sons, his two older brothers and eight younger brothers were coming back over there.

This is good, one side is the selected heir, and the other side is the same father and brother, the issue of the heir to the throne, I am afraid that there will be another wave...

To or not to?

Zhao Gou couldn't come up with an answer after thinking hard, so he called the Zaisukes and planned to talk to them before releasing this matter.

The Zaifu team other than Chen Kangbo was soon called up to hold a small meeting with the emperor. After listening to the emperor's distress, they also felt that the matter was quite difficult.

Zhao Ji, Zhao Huan and the Northern Song Dynasty clans have been kidnapped for so long, which is a problem for everyone.

Now that he is back, he must be very sympathetic. If someone asks Zhao Gou to pass the throne to his hard-working younger brother because of sympathy and compensation, then it is really difficult to do.

So after a group of Saisukes discussed it for a while, they felt that people could not refuse, but they could not cause disputes about the throne because of them.

Zhang Jun said it very directly.

"They all lived and grew up in the Jin Kingdom. They have never been educated in the Great Song Dynasty, they have never understood the customs of the Great Song Dynasty, and they do not know the hardships of the people. opportunity.”

Zhang Jun's plan was also the best one. Even Tang Situi, who had been not dealing with Zhang Jun, did not object, but supported Zhang Jun's proposal.

"Your Majesty, if the identity of the crown prince has been determined, then if anyone dares to mention the matter of changing the crown prince, it will not be a trivial matter. In this way, the arrogance of most people can be stopped."

Zhao thought about it for a moment, and felt that what they said made sense.

He doesn't have a son, so it doesn't matter who he must pass the throne to, but in terms of the choice of the heir, it's better to watch him grow up from a young age.

Those Zhao Wanshi and Zhao Tieshi who grew up in the Jin Kingdom, do ghosts know what kind of crooked melons and cracked dates they have grown into?Who the hell knows if they have learned the skills and techniques to be emperors?
Letting the emperor's younger brother who grew up in the Jin Kingdom be the emperor, the risk factor is too high to be recognized.

In order to avoid political storms caused by some people with unclear minds in the future, the Zaisuke team suggested that Zhao Gao take precautions before it happens.

So Zhao Gou nodded and agreed to this strategy, and decided to secretly select the crown prince in private.

Saying it is a choice is actually a choice between two.

In the early years, Zhao Gou searched for the descendants of Zhao Kuangyin, Taizu of the Song Dynasty.

After a lot of searching, many descendants of Zhao Kuangyin were found. After strict education and screening, the last two were left, both of them are the seventh-generation grandsons of Zhao Kuangyin.

One of the two was named Zhao Ai, and the other was named Zhao Zhuo, and they were both given the status of princes by Zhao Gou, and they were regarded as Zhao Gou's adopted sons.

These two children have undergone strict education and have good talents when they grow up. Now they are both over [-] years old, they each have their own thrones and official positions, and they are waiting for Zhao Gou to make the final choice.

Zhao Gou was undecided about this.

Zhao Ai is a little better in talent, but he is tall and thin, and doesn't look like an emperor.

Zhao Zhuo is fat and very lucky. Zhao Gou likes his face better, but his talent is slightly inferior, and he is a little slow in his work.

In order to make the final choice, Zhao Gou called his trusted official, Dr. Guozi Shi Hao, and asked him for a solution.

Shi Hao became an official relatively late, but he was similar in age to Zhao Gou. He was relatively calm, experienced in his work, and his attitude was very appreciated by Zhao Gou. Therefore, Zhao Gou had always been close to Shi Hao, and he also followed Shi Hao's advice on the education of the prince.

Shi Hao learned about Zhao Gou's predicament and his decision from Zhao Gou. After thinking about it, he made two suggestions to Zhao Gou.

"The heir that Your Majesty needs should have a tenacious will and an unshakable character, and can control his own behavior. He will not be arrogant and domineering because he is an emperor. Such an emperor is the emperor who can lead the country."

Zhao Gou stroked his beard and nodded slowly, agreeing with Shi Hao's opinion.

So Shi Hao said again: "Then ask Your Majesty to conduct two rounds of tests on the two princes to test the will and temperament of the two princes."

Shi Hao told Zhao Gou his suggestion. After Zhao Gou heard it, he felt that it was okay to do so, so he commissioned Shi Hao to test the two princes.

The first test was that Zhao Gou asked the two princes to transcribe the "Orchid Pavilion Collection Preface" a hundred times within five days.

Zhao Ai and Zhao Zhuo all looked embarrassed and felt that it was a bit difficult, so Shi Hao told them that this was [the emperor's order], and the emperor's order could not be violated.

Shi Hao deliberately put the word "Junming" very seriously, and made a suggestion to Zhao Ai and Zhao Zhuo. Zhao Ai recorded this suggestion in his heart, but Zhao Zhuo didn't care a little and felt that it didn't matter.

So in the next five days, Zhao Ai not only copied the rated [-] times, but also copied [-] more times, while Zhao Zhuo was lazy and only copied [-] copies.

Zhao Gou saw the reaction of the two and felt that Zhao Ai was obedient and diligent, while Zhao Zhuo was lazy and disobedient, and the balance in his heart began to tilt towards Zhao Ai.

Then Zhao Gou ordered to give Zhao Ai and Zhao Zhuo five beautiful palace maids each to serve them in their daily lives, and Shi Hao was responsible for the reward.

When Shi Hao sent the glamorous palace maid, he noticed that Zhao Ai and Zhao Zhuo were both very excited and eager to try.

So Shi Hao also persuaded the two of them separately, saying that this is the person who served by Zhao Gou's side on weekdays, and now I give it to you, why don't you treat them with the etiquette of a concubine?
Listening to Shi Hao's words, Zhao Ai felt that there was something in Shi Hao's words, and remembered the previous copying of Lanting's preface, and suddenly felt that it was not easy.

Although the five palace maids had beautiful looks and attractive eyes, Zhao Ai still resisted the urge and did not attack.

Zhao Zhuo thought about it and felt unwilling, as if there was a monkey tickling in his heart, and finally couldn't hold back. He did two that night, two more the next day, and the last one on the third day. One was also done.

After more than ten days, Zhao Gou ordered the ten palace maids to be recalled, and sent female officials to examine their bodies. It was found that the five palace maids given to Zhao Ai were still in perfect shape, while the five palace maids given to Zhao Zhuo had already been taken. Zhao Zhuo owns it.

Zhao Gou felt that Zhao Ai could withstand temptation and loneliness, and was a good seed for the emperor.

And Zhao Zhuo is not only disobedient, but also anxious, if this is the emperor?
I'm afraid not all the maids in the inner palace will be occupied by him!
Zhao Gou, who had not been able to appreciate the joy of being a man for a long time, was finally disappointed with Zhao Zhuo with unhappiness and a little jealousy.

So he summoned the Zaifus and announced to them that he had decided to make Zhao Ai the crown prince.

"Ai respects the father of the king, abides by the etiquette of people and ministers, and has filial piety, so he can be established as the crown prince."

As for who is to be the crown prince, any courtier with a head will not interfere with the emperor's decision. Unless the emperor asks, he must give an ambiguous answer. In short, there can be no clear direction and no emotion.

So this matter is settled.

In time for the announcement of the impending return of the Northern Song Dynasty clan, Zhao Gou officially announced on the sixth day of June that the crown prince Zhao Ai was established as the crown prince and renamed him Zhao Tan.

This year, Zhao Yan was 33 years old.

(End of this chapter)