Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 299 City Palace
Opposite Chen Qiu sat "Liu Che", the current prince and one of the popular candidates for the throne.

At this time, Liu Che was very respectful and humble. He looked at Chen Qiu sitting in front of him and whispered: "Prime Minister Chen, my father told me some time ago that it's time for me to enlighten myself and find a teacher."

"After much thought, I feel that among the big men, there are few who can surpass you."

"And in this capital, who else is proficient in political science besides you? But I also know that you don't want to get involved in the fight for the throne, but I really want to become your disciple. "

"So I took the liberty of coming to visit tonight."

After Liu Che finished speaking, he quietly glanced at Chen Qiu who was sitting there, with a reserved and slightly embarrassed look on his face, but there was temptation shining deep in his eyes.

He was testing Chen Qiu's "true attitude" towards him, and wanted to know what Chen Qiu was thinking.

This was the only purpose of his adventurous trip tonight.

Liu Che could see things more clearly than both Liang Wang and Liu Rong, even though he was just a child who was much younger than Liu Rong and Liu Wu.

He lowered his head, waiting for the verdict of the real referee of this game.

Yes.

In Liu Che's view, the Chen family, which has been passed down for so many years, is the only referee in this battle to establish the throne. Don't look at the fact that the Chen family has begun to retreat slowly and is hidden in history.

Don't think that the Chen family has fallen apart now.

In Liu Che's view, if the emperor wants to touch the Chen family, then Chen Tuo and Chen Qiu will merge into one Chen family again in an instant!
Dividing his huge self into two parts made the emperor less wary and suspicious of him. This is the biggest reason why the Chen family's power is gradually declining.

And if Chen Qiu wants to support a certain prince, then at the last moment, Chen Tuo, who has always stood in a neutral place, will definitely agree.

I am afraid it will be difficult to change what the two Han prime ministers decided on.

Even if the person who wants to change is the Emperor of Han Dynasty.

Chen Qiu, however, only felt it was amusement. He looked at Liu Che and did not answer Liu Che's question directly. Instead, he smiled and said, "That's it."

He sighed and asked, "Why do you think your Highness would like to become my disciple?"

"Aren't you afraid that Prince Liang or His Royal Highness, the eldest son of the Emperor, will think too much?"

This was a question and temptation from Chen Qiu. He wanted to see what the "understanding" of the child in front of him was like.

Chen can support the crown prince's appointment, or he can stand by a certain prince's side to help him.

This prince can be ambitious, he can have a deep palace, he can be a self-centered person with a strong desire for control and suspicion, but he must not be a fool.

Smart people all know the significance of Chen's existence, so even if they want to burn bridges after becoming emperor, they also know the extent of control and burning bridges.

And if you meet a fool.
That would be a real disaster.

Chen will never be afraid of a fight with the emperor. He is only afraid that the emperor will run rampant like a brainless man.

Although Mrs. Chen has the ability to resist such reckless men, Mrs. Chen does not want to encounter such a thing.
After Liu Che heard Chen Qiu's question, a thoughtful look flashed on his face.

He just raised his head and looked at Chen Qiu with a smile: "What's the point? Even if I worship you as my teacher, what can I prove?"

"Is it true that the Chen family will only accept the future prince as a disciple, as the rumors say? Even if the disciple is not a prince, will he help him become a prince?"

Liu Che asked curiously: "Would Mr. Chen really do this?"

Chen Qiu also looked at Liu Che with a smile: "Your Highness, it doesn't matter whether Chen will do this. What matters is the King of Liang and the eldest son of the emperor."

Having said this, Chen Qiu paused and said meaningfully: "If even the emperor thinks so, your purpose of worshiping Chen as your teacher is worth guessing."

"Is not it?"

Chen Qiu asked in return: "If we talk about political science experts, they are everywhere in Chang'an City. It can be said that I, the Chen family, have many disciples and former officials."

"Even if it is to match your status as a prince, many two thousand stone officials in Chang'an City are also political scientists, which are enough to match your status."

"Then why don't you go find them?"

Chen Qiu looked at Liu Che and asked the heart-wrenching question again: "Or is it true that you came to see Mrs. Chen with the purpose you just mentioned?"

Liu Che and Chen Qiu looked at each other, the expressions in their eyes flickering,

After a moment, he chuckled and said, "What if it's true?"

Chen Qiu's expression did not change and he said calmly: "Then Your Highness has really found the wrong person. Chen does not have such ability and will not do such a thing."

"The position of crown prince or prince has always been decided by the emperor himself. Let alone the Chen family accepting disciples, even if there is a prince with Chen family's blood flowing in his body, the Chen family will never influence the emperor's choice."

When Liu Che heard this, he laughed on his face and in his heart at the same time. He looked at Chen Qiu and said, "Mr. Chen, are you telling the truth?"

Chen Qiu's expression did not change: "Of course."

Liu Che then stood up, cupped his hands and said, "I see, I was wrong."

He sighed: "But, I really don't have this intention."

"But I have a piece of advice to tell Prime Minister Chen."

Chen Qiu raised his eyebrows: "Oh? What kind of advice?"

Liu Che and Chen Qiu looked at each other again, and this time Liu Che's eyes were full of solemnity. He just said: "Prime Minister Chen, do you think you are standing from a neutral perspective and that no one has been offended?"

Chen Qiu did not nod or shake his head.

A hint of realization flashed in Liu Che's eyes, and he just told the truth that Chen Qiu didn't want to tell.

"It turns out you know it too."

He said word for word: "Between the strong and the weak, choosing neutrality is a choice. Choose the strong one!"

"Prime Minister Chen, your neutrality can only be true neutrality when those who are fighting for heirs are on the same starting line!"

Liu Che stood up, saluted and stood there without saying anything more.

He just said the last thing: "I am afraid that today my father will let King Liang return to the country, and after King Liang returns to the country, your majesty will probably establish a crown prince."

"Toru is hopeless."

He squinted his eyes and looked at Chen Qiu: "But, if Chen Xiangruo wants to be neutral, can he guarantee neutrality?"

"Not interfering with the interference of the rest?"

This sentence was a mouthful, but Chen Qiu understood what Liu Che wanted to do. After a moment of silence, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Chen will naturally remain neutral during this period of time."

He whispered: "No matter what happened, no matter who took action." "It will be like this."

"Within a month, I will go into seclusion and sort out my ancestors' books."

"Chen Mansion will be closed."

"Your Highness is free to do whatever you want."

Chen Qiu looked at Liu Che, with gentleness in his voice, and what Chen Qiu said made Liu Che feel even more excited: "If within this month, you can change your current situation, at least stand on the side of the eldest son of He Huang. If they are equal, then Chen will naturally make his own choice."

Liu Che bent down and saluted: "Thank you, Prime Minister Chen."

He turned around and strode away.

After Liu Che left, Chen Qiu subconsciously looked at the backyard not far away, but this time no clever and weird person came out of the backyard and complained to him about Liu Che's brain.

He shook his head: "That's all."

"The fight for the right to inherit the throne is inherently difficult. Let's see what His Highness is capable of."

Chen Qiu smiled playfully.

The purpose of Liu Che's visit this time was not to become a disciple, nor to rebuke Chen Qiu, nor to get Chen to take sides.

"His Royal Highness Che is much smarter than the emperor's eldest son."

Liu Che knew very well that Chen's body was too big, and it was absolutely impossible for such a large body to make a bet easily.

Why did you place a bet on Liu Qi back then?
That's because of Liu Qi's identity!
Liu Qi is the eldest son of Zhenger Bajing, and his mother is very favored by the emperor, and is even very capable. She even paid filial piety to Chen Bi when Chen Bi passed away.

What kind of identity is this?

This is an identity that absolutely no one can shake.

The reason why Liu Heng allowed King Liang and Liu Qi to fight for so long was probably because he wanted to hang King Liang.

Otherwise, do you really want Liang Wang to become the emperor's younger brother?

If you really had this intention, how could you not leave any backup plan behind? Liu Bang left behind a series of imperial edicts back then!
Liu Che wanted an "opportunity".

He clearly understood that he had almost no chance of winning against Liu Rong. The Chen family was able to refuse even the emperor's eldest son Liu Rong, so at this moment, he would never agree to his request for some messy reasons.

Even if he agrees to make the Chen family's daughter the queen, it will be the same.

In fact, Liu Che really had such an idea, but he just tried it secretly and was blocked by Chen Qiu's words.

Even if it is a child with Chen's blood, they will not help, let alone you just married my Chen's daughter?
When Liu Che saw that the situation was not good, he immediately changed his mind. He began to be moved and let Chen Qiu know what the so-called "neutrality" was. When he saw that Chen Qiu was intentional, he began to ask Chen to give him a chance.

"At such a young age, with such a deep mind, he is indeed a moldable talent."

"Just to see how far he can go."

It was late autumn in the fourteenth year of Jingyuan.

The King of Liang made many memorials and requested to return to the country, saying that he was not talented enough to be the crown prince's younger brother. But now that he was a vassal king staying in the capital, there would be many rumors, many of which made him uneasy.

So, he asked the emperor to let him return to his fiefdom.

The emperor refused the first request, saying that the talent of King Liang was recognized by the previous emperors. How could it be said that he was lacking in talent and learning?
He also said that during the Nine Kings Rebellion, King Liang made great contributions. How could such contributions not be rewarded?

You must want this position of the Crown Prince!
He even held a court meeting and said in front of everyone that he would make Prince Liang the crown prince, and asked who in the court disagreed.

Of course, there were many voices in the court, most of them were opposed, and a small part were supportive - all of these people were just submissives, except for a very small number of people who really wanted King Liang to ascend the throne and wanted to see the excitement of the emperor.

There is no doubt that this time the battle for the throne has fallen into a fierce dispute.

After being immersed in it for more than ten days, King Liang wrote again. This time he wrote more sincerely, saying that his health was very poor and now he wanted to return to the feudal country. He even lamented that his children had not been in the feudal country for many years. Met.

Therefore, I asked the emperor to let him return to the country in view of his identity as an old wife and young son.

This time the emperor's reaction was not as big as the first time. He just hesitated slightly and rejected the request of King Liang.

He also said that if you miss your child, then I will summon the Crown Prince of Liang to Chang'an City.

The matter died down again briefly.

And half a month later, King Liang wrote again.

This time, it was not his own petition, but the petition of Prince Liang. After he came all the way to Chang'an City, he served at his father's side.

The reason for the letter was very simple - King Liang was ill.

The prince of Liang Dynasty stated in his memorial that his father was seriously ill and he dreamed of the late emperor when he was seriously ill.

The late emperor scolded him in his dream for wanting to seek the throne. No matter how much King Liang begged, Emperor Gao, the late emperor and others disapproved of him, so King Liang fell ill in panic.

This time, the Crown Prince of Liang stood up and asked the emperor to let Prince Liang return to his country.

This time, the emperor held a court meeting to discuss this matter specifically, and made all his postures very clear - this is not what I asked him to give up, this is not true, it is the King of Liang I have repeatedly requested to return to my country!
At the meeting, after intense discussions and peaceful and friendly exchanges, the meeting finally came to a conclusion.

That is to say: the fact that King Liang could not serve as the crown prince was vetoed by the late emperors and emperors of Gao, as well as the emperors of the Han Dynasty. They could not go against the will of the emperors, so today the emperor can only suffer a little loss and take back his words. go.

This does not mean that the emperor keeps his word, so the emperor still speaks eloquently, and the emperor still keeps his word.

The conference was successfully held, and the following decisions were reached at the conference.

First, let the king of Liang return to his country.

Secondly, the current Liang Kingdom was basically destroyed, and King Liang must not be able to clean up the mess with such high achievements. This mess should be left to the emperor to solve, so the King of Liang was changed to other fiefdoms, such as his initial The fiefdom of "Daiguo".

Thirdly, because the territory of Dai State was too small and not suitable for this great hero, part of the original fiefdom of King Wu was transferred to Dai State.

After receiving this edict, King Liang was grateful to the emperor and then left.

It was also at the end of this year, perhaps because the emperor's brother's matter was finally resolved, or perhaps because the emperor had been working too hard in the harem recently.

all in all.

The emperor fell ill.

And it is a very serious disease.

(End of this chapter)