The Three Kingdoms of Farming and War began with the incorporation of the Baiyue

Jin Mao was a little anxious because his fourth son had been away from home for ten years.

Because the fifth son Jin Jie was about to reach the age of experience, Jin Mao watched this youngest son grow up and loved him very much.

If the position of crown prince remains undecided, I'm afraid it will never be decided in this lifetime.

After all, year after year, week after week, there is never a result.

Helplessly, Jin Mao summoned several important officials to discuss the matter.

Zhou Yu, Xi Zhicai, Xun You, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Lu Su and others were all present.

"My dear ministers," Emperor Jin Mao said, "I have summoned you today because I am troubled by one matter. My fourth son has been away for ten years, and his return date is uncertain. My fifth son, Jin Jie, is also approaching the age of training. I am worried about this. The position of the crown prince remains undecided for a long time, which is not a blessing for the country, nor is it what I want.

I know that you are all pillars of the country and have far-reaching wisdom, so I want to hear your opinions. The selection of the crown prince is related to the foundation of the country, so we must be cautious. I want to know what you think about the current situation and what you think about the selection of the crown prince? "

Zhou Yu was the first to step out and said, "Your Majesty, the selection of a crown prince should be based on both ability and moral integrity. The Fourth Prince has been training outside and his achievements are not yet apparent, but his reputation for bravery has gradually spread throughout the world. The Fifth Prince is young, and although he is very intelligent, he has little experience. I think it would be a good idea to wait for the Fourth Prince to return and then make a decision based on his achievements and failures over the past ten years."

Xi Zhicai continued, "Your Majesty, the position of the crown prince also needs to consider the relationship between the crown prince and the court officials, and whether he can win the hearts of all officials. The fourth prince has been away from the court for a long time and his network of contacts is not solid; the fifth prince has been raised in the deep palace since he was young and has had many contacts with the court officials. This also requires your majesty to weigh."

Xun You pondered for a moment and said, "I think that the selection of the crown prince should also focus on the future. The fourth prince is brave and might be able to stabilize the country; the fifth prince is wise and might be able to govern the country. Your Majesty should focus on the long-term plan of the country and choose the best one."

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan and said slowly: "Your Majesty, the selection of the crown prince also needs to consider the will of the people. If the Fourth Prince can win the love of the people through experience, and if the Fifth Prince can solve the suffering of the people with wisdom, both can be selected as the crown prince. The will of the people is the will of heaven."

Pang Tong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the selection of the crown prince is actually a family affair of Your Majesty and a national affair. Although we are willing to make suggestions, the final decision is still up to Your Majesty. We only hope that the one Your Majesty chooses can be a pillar of the country and a blessing to the people."

Lu Su said, "Your Majesty, the selection of the crown prince is related to the stability of the country. I think you can set up a test to let the princes compete fairly and judge heroes based on their talents and virtues. This way, you can convince the people and show that your majesty is fair and selfless."

After listening to this, Jin Mao nodded slightly, as if he had some thoughts in mind. He knew very well that the selection of the crown prince was a very important matter and required careful consideration before making a decision. So, he said slowly: "What you said, my dear ministers, is reasonable. But I don't want to delay it any longer."

"My four sons, including the eldest prince, are all mediocre, but they are courteous and humble."

"The Second Prince has expanded the territory in the frontier and has outstanding martial arts skills."

"The Third Prince is devoted to research and is a pillar of the country."

"The Fourth Prince is smart, but he uses the wrong people!"

At this point, Jin Mao looked around at the ministers of His Highness with sharp eyes, as if looking for some resonance or rebuttal. After a moment of silence, he continued: "However, there is more to governing a country than just one aspect. The benevolence of the eldest prince can calm the people; the courage of the second prince can expand the territory; the wisdom of the third prince can promote science and technology; the agility of the fourth prince, if used in the right way, can also accomplish great things."

"What I am worried about is not the strengths and weaknesses of you, but who can truly shoulder the weight of this country and lead our new Han to prosperity. I want to set up a test, not just a theory, nor a simple martial arts competition, but to put you in the actual state affairs, observe their responses, examine their character, and judge their decisions."

"The trial site is chosen to be the disaster-stricken Nanjun. Nanjun has suffered frequent floods and the people are living in poverty. We need capable people to go and govern. I will order each of you to lead a team, bring food and silver, to Nanjun for disaster relief, and at the same time solve the local problems. The period is one year, and we will see the results."

"In the meantime, I will send trusted spies to monitor and ensure fairness and prevent cheating. After a year, I will make a comprehensive decision on the selection of the crown prince based on the performance of the princes in Nanjun, the reputation of the people, and the comments of the ministers in the court."

"This way, I can test your abilities and avoid criticism from the outside world. I will feel at ease. What do you think?"

After saying this, Jin Mao looked at his ministers with sharp eyes, waiting for their reactions, secretly calculating the possible consequences of this decision.

Zhou Yu was selfless and dared to speak his mind. He was the first to express his opinion: "Your Majesty's plan is brilliant. It not only reflects your concern for the people's livelihood, but also cleverly links the selection of the crown prince with the performance of state governance. It is indeed a wise move. The trip to Nanjun is not only a test for your highnesses, but also a comprehensive review of the future crown prince of our Great Zhou. I think this plan can not only motivate you to work diligently, but also let the people truly feel the grace of the royal family and strengthen the people's support. It is really a plan to kill two birds with one stone."

"Furthermore, your Majesty's dispatch of trusted spies to supervise not only ensures the fairness of the assessment, but also promptly corrects any deviations that may occur, ensuring that disaster relief and reform proceed smoothly. This is a well-considered move. I fully agree with your Majesty's policy, and am willing to fully cooperate to ensure that everything goes smoothly during the trip to Nanjun."

Zhou Yu's words not only expressed his loyalty and support for the emperor, but also showed his deep understanding and grasp of the overall situation, which attracted the ministers present to nod in agreement, and the atmosphere became warm and positive. Pang Tong echoed: "What Taiwei Zhou said is very true. The brilliance of your majesty's strategy is that it not only cleverly balances the power inside and outside the court, but also demonstrates the royal family's closeness to the people with practical actions. It is indeed the best strategy for governing the country and maintaining peace. Moreover, the establishment of spies is like a hidden piece in a chess game. Although it does not show its true colors, it can turn the tide at a critical moment, ensuring that government orders are unimpeded and reforms are effective. As ministers, we should follow your majesty's steps, work diligently, and live up to your trust. The trip to Nanjun is not only a response to the disaster, but also a practical test of the new policy. We must work together to overcome the difficulties and let your majesty's grand plan bear fruit in this land of Nanjun."

Zhuge Liang objected: "Although the commander's words make sense, I have reservations. Your Majesty's plan is indeed brilliant. Balancing the court and the opposition and showing kindness to the people are all good strategies for governing the country. However, the establishment of spies, although it has its advantages of being secretive and flexible, also has its hidden dangers. Hidden pieces can change the world in a chess game, but they can easily cause suspicion in the court. If this continues, the monarch and his ministers may become alienated and the people may be uneasy. Moreover, the implementation of the new policy focuses on the will of the people and the fairness of the rule of law. If we rely too much on spies and ignore the people's livelihood, it may not last long.

The trip to Nanjun is certainly a good opportunity to test the new policies, but it should also be used as an opportunity to go deep into the people, listen to their voices, and solve their urgent problems. We, the ministers, should treat the people with sincerity and govern the country by law, rather than relying on spies to spy on the people. Only in this way can we truly win the hearts of the people, stabilize the government, and make your majesty's grand plan come true, not just in Nanjun, but throughout the country and benefit all people. "

Xi Zhicai and Xun You spoke up one after another, each with different opinions.

Jin Mao looked at Lu Su, who had been silent, and asked, "Does Zi Jing have any objection?"

Lu Su pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I have devoted my energy to the northwest and know nothing about government affairs."

"You can talk about it." Jin Mao said with a smile: "Today, let's just talk about it among old friends."

Lu Su said: "I have heard that the second prince has made great achievements in southern Xinjiang, but he only knows how to command the army and not the people. If the second prince can also participate in the battle for the crown prince, it may not be a blessing for the people of the world."

Jin Mao's eyes flickered when he heard this, as if he was weighing the deep meaning of Lu Su's words. He said slowly: "What Zi Jing said is not without reason. The way to govern a country is to combine military and political affairs. None of them can be missing. However, people are not born with knowledge. Only by learning and teaching tirelessly can they improve day by day. The second prince is young and energetic. He may have some shortcomings, but he also has his valuable qualities. Given time, he may be able to master both military and political affairs and become a wise ruler."

Xun You took over the conversation and said, "Your Majesty is right. The Second Prince is very intelligent and has great ambitions. If he is guided by a good teacher and has more experience, he will surely become a great man. I think that the matter of appointing a crown prince should be considered comprehensively. Not only should his current abilities be considered, but also his future potential should be foreseen."

Xi Zhicai also nodded in agreement: "That's right. Now, both the government and the people have high expectations for the Second Prince. His prestige in Southern Xinjiang should not be underestimated. If he can be guided correctly and trained in both military and political affairs, he will surely be able to stabilize the four directions and benefit the people."

Jin Mao nodded, his expression solemn and firm: "I have made up my mind. The matter of establishing a crown prince is related to the safety of the country and cannot be taken lightly. I will personally examine the princes, not only to see their talents and virtues, but also to see whether they care about the people and whether they can shoulder the heavy responsibility of this country. As for the second prince, I will arrange appropriate training to observe his subsequent development."

After saying this, Jin Mao swept his eyes over the crowd, his tone filled with unquestionable majesty: "This matter is settled, you must assist me wholeheartedly, work together for national affairs, and don't let me down."

Everyone agreed in unison, but they all had their own thoughts in their hearts. They knew that the battle for the crown prince had just begun, and the real test was still to come.

After leaving the hall, it was already dark, and the moonlight poured down on the bluestone slabs like mercury, reflecting the solemn or hesitant steps of each minister. Several important ministers looked at each other, slowed down their pace tacitly, gathered in a remote corner, and talked in low voices.

"Your Majesty's attitude this time is clear. He intends to select the crown prince himself. We need to be more cautious." The Prime Minister said in a low voice, his brows furrowed, his eyes flashing with thoughtfulness.

“Yes, although the Second Prince is talented, the training that Your Majesty mentioned is undoubtedly a major test for him. The other princes are also no ordinary people, and they will definitely take this opportunity to show their strengths.” The Minister of War added, tapping the jade belt around his waist with his fingers, revealing his inner anxiety and expectation.

"We must be loyal to Your Majesty and also pave the way for the future crown prince. Perhaps, we can start by assisting the princes in handling government affairs and participating in people's livelihood projects, examining their abilities while secretly guiding them so that they can better meet the standards in Your Majesty's mind." The Minister of Revenue proposed a compromise, trying to find a balance in the complex situation.

"This is very much what I think." Everyone nodded and reached a consensus. They knew that this silent contest was not only a competition between the princes, but also a test of the wisdom and loyalty of their ministers. In the days to come, every step must be cautious and every strategy must be carefully considered, so that they can gain a firm foothold in this treacherous court, help the true wise monarch ascend the throne, and stabilize the country.

As a result, an undercurrent surrounding the establishment of a crown prince quietly spread inside and outside the court. Everyone was preparing for the coming storm, and the real king might be hiding in this silent contest, waiting for the opportunity to shine his own light.

In this delicate balance, some old officials began to contact each other secretly. With their years of political wisdom, they tried to judge the ability and virtue of each prince from the slightest clues, and strived to select a crown prince who could convince the people and lead the country to prosperity. They knew that the choice was not only about their personal future, but also about the fate of the country, so every step they took was full of caution and consideration.

At the same time, several princes also made their own subtle plans. Some of them, in the name of benevolent governance, showed great favor to the people in an attempt to establish a reputation for virtue; some of them secretly accumulated strength and made friends with capable ministers and warriors in case of emergency; and some of them kept a low profile, seemingly not fighting or competing, but actually observing in secret, looking for the best opportunity to strike. Inside and outside the court, various forces were intricately intertwined into a huge network of relationships, and every node could become the key to changing the situation.

And those literati who seemed to be standing aside were also influencing this contest in their own way. They used their pens as swords, or wrote books to praise the ideal monarchy; or wrote political commentaries to criticize the current ills, guide public opinion, and indirectly build momentum for the prince they liked. In this war without gunpowder, culture and wisdom also became important weapons.

As time goes by, the atmosphere in the court becomes more and more tense. Everyone is waiting for the decisive moment, the moment when everything can be settled, the new king will ascend the throne, and the country will usher in a new atmosphere. During this long wait, everyone is constantly adjusting strategies and correcting directions, because they understand that the real competition is often not in front of the stage, but behind the scenes, it depends on who can grasp the opportunity more accurately, understand people's hearts more deeply, use the resources in their hands more skillfully, and finally become the real king who leads the country to glory in this silent competition.

In this game of wisdom and strategy, the influence of culture and art has become a source of strength that cannot be ignored. Although the literati and scholars did not wear armor and wield weapons, they used their pens as swords and poems as shields. They used words to describe the blueprint of an ideal country and used poems and songs to inspire the people's patriotic enthusiasm and vision for the future. These works are like bright lights in the dark night, illuminating the way forward and gathering people's hearts, so that the country can still maintain an indomitable spiritual strength in the turmoil. (End of this chapter)