Thief Emperor

Chapter 1091 Jiangnan Kidnapping Official
The human heart is like water; as we grow older and our environment changes, our thoughts will also change.

Back then, Li Zheng, the second prince who had just been enfeoffed as the Prince of Yue, had no intention of vying for the throne; he was quite pure-hearted.

Now, several years have passed. He went to Youyan, then to Jiangnan, and then to Jiannan. Not to mention anything else, he personally experienced more than a dozen battles, both large and small.

Now, it is the eleventh year of Zhangwu, and he is almost twenty years old. His thoughts have changed somewhat from when he was the second prince at the age of sixteen or seventeen.

Most royal brothers are like this: when they are young, they are simple-minded and have no relationship with ordinary brothers. Although the eldest prince Li Yuan and the second prince Li Zheng were not biological brothers, their relationship was no different from that of biological brothers.

Now, some subtle changes have occurred.

As they grow older, when they reach their thirties or forties, their thoughts will likely be quite different from what they have now.

This was without Li Yun interfering.

In fact, throughout history, emperors like Li Yun have intentionally or unintentionally, or even deliberately, promoted another son after the crown prince came of age to counterbalance the crown prince.

Even between ordinary fathers and sons, there is a sense of rivalry. But between royal fathers and sons, it is even more different. The emperor and the crown prince are natural political enemies, and the kind of political enemies who are very difficult to eliminate.

Once an emperor becomes emperor, seizes power, and experiences the allure of power, he is unlikely to be willing to relinquish it. Therefore, when faced with a young and vigorous crown prince, the emperor will almost instinctively support another person to restrain or even suppress the crown prince.

For example, Li Shimin's relationship with Li Jiancheng.

Li Taizhi's relationship with Li Chengqian.

That's generally the case.

Some of these arrangements were even subconscious actions of the emperor, who himself might not have been aware of them.

If Li Yun follows this arrangement, then Li Zheng, the second prince, would be the best choice. If that were the case, Li Zheng wouldn't be wondering where to take up his fiefdom, but would be stationed in Luoyang for an extended period. Even if he didn't stay in Luoyang, he would at least be the Grand Commander of the Liaodong or Longyou Circuit.

Meng Qing looked at the second prince with great appreciation and said with a smile, "It's good that Your Highness has such thoughts."

He handed the piece of roasted meat to Li Zheng and said, "Your Majesty is a man of extraordinary talent, possessing both literary and martial prowess."

He looked at Li Zheng and said seriously, "I'm not flattering His Majesty."

“When Your Highness was still a child, when we were still in Jiangdong, His Majesty had already begun to build the court. By the time His Majesty entered the Central Plains, the court was already in its infancy. Now, from the court to the political system and the military system, everything has been reshaped by His Majesty.”

Meng Qing took a big bite of meat and said, "Although His Majesty is in Luoyang, the entire world is under His Majesty's control."

He said to Li Zheng, "I'm not exaggerating at all when I say this."

The King of Yue nodded silently and said, "Yes, I understand."

“There are nine departments in each region, and there is an inspection department in the army. No matter what it is, Father Emperor can find out if he wants to know.”

Meng Qing shook his head and said with a smile, "If it's just about being sharp-eyed and sharp-eared, that doesn't count as control. Your Highness, no matter who it is, there are only twelve hours in a day."

The world is too vast. If one were to truly read all the information, not to mention one Li Yun, even a hundred or a thousand might not be able to finish reading it all.

Li Zheng seemed thoughtful and asked, "What does Uncle mean?"

Meng Qing touched his chest and said, "Firstly, it depends on the system, and secondly, it depends on this place."

The King of Yue looked down at his chest, lost in thought.

"Alright, let's leave it at that for today, that's all we should say about things we shouldn't have."

Meng Qing smiled and said, "A few days ago, His Majesty instructed me that if Your Highness wanted to learn military strategy, I should teach Your Highness more."

His Highness the Prince of Yue immediately rolled over and stood up, bowing deeply to Meng Qing and clasping his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Uncle!"

Meng Qing stood up, helped him up, patted his shoulder, and said quietly, "If Your Highness is determined to lead troops, you should think it through carefully. The more you lead troops, the further you will be from the court."

The King of Yue said quietly, "I have no other skills, but I only ask to do something for my father and the court. I dare not ask for anything more."

He had no official political status; neither the emperor nor the Grand Secretariat would allow him to participate in politics in the court, nor would they allow him to govern a region. Leading troops was practically his only option.

"it is good."

Meng Qing looked at the Second Prince with great appreciation and said with a smile, "Your Highness, it would be best if you were to take up your fief in Guanzhong in the future. There may be frequent wars in the Northwest. Your Highness's fief is in Chang'an, which will make it convenient for you to lead troops into battle."

"Chang'an..."

The King of Yue smiled wryly and asked, "Does my father allow me to go to Chang'an?"

"Your Highness is His Majesty's second son, and of noble birth. You are going to Chang'an to serve the Prince of Qin."

Meng Qing said seriously, "There is absolutely no problem."

"Your Highness, please do not forget that the title of King of Yue may have been unremarkable in the previous dynasty, but in this dynasty... it originated from Yuezhou."

Li Zheng took a deep breath, bowed again, and asked, "Will Uncle report today's conversation to Father?"

Meng Qing thought for a moment and replied, "If Your Majesty asks, I will answer." The King of Yue nodded and said nothing more.

He knew very well that the general in front of him only recognized his father and no one else.

No matter who it is, as long as the father gives the order, this great general of the imperial family will crush them without hesitation.

Thinking of this, Li Zheng recalled what Meng Qing had said to him while touching her heart, and suddenly understood.

To truly gain control over the world, one must not only rely on clever eyes and ears, but also on winning people's hearts and minds.

His own father may not have been able to subdue the civil officials and aristocratic families, but he did manage to subdue the military officers and generals in important positions.

They probably only recognize their father.

As he was pondering, Meng Qing had already mounted his horse and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Li Zheng, saying, "Tomorrow, I will report to the Privy Council. If Your Highness wishes to study military strategy before taking up your fief, you can come to the Privy Council to find me. General Su and I both studied Su Gong's military strategy, but we have fought different battles over the years, so our insights are different."

"Your Highness can learn all of them."

The King of Yue hesitated for a moment: "Can my nephew go?"

Meng Qing was speechless and said, "Your Highness has been ordered to study military strategy. What's wrong with that? Don't worry, don't worry, the whole court and the people are at ease."

"They can't suspect me or General Su."

Having said that, Meng Qing turned his horse around and rode away.

He's right. No one in the court would doubt his and Su Sheng's loyalty to His Majesty, let alone that they would help the Second Prince seize the throne.

Besides, even if the two of them were determined to help the Second Prince seize the throne, the Privy Council…

In reality, the twelve imperial guards could not be mobilized.

Even assuming they could be mobilized, among these twelve imperial guards are the Eagle-Winged Left and Right Guards, commanded by generals...

But he's the Crown Prince's own father-in-law!
The King of Yue clasped his hands in a salute and said loudly, "Nephew understands!"

………………

July.

Summer has come again, and Luoyang has become hot and dry once more. Fortunately, this year's heat is not long-lasting, and there is no drought. Rain falls from time to time, nourishing the Central Plains.

In the imperial city, Prime Minister Du Qian, leading Prime Minister Guo You, strode towards the Ganlu Hall. Upon entering, both prime ministers bowed and greeted the emperor with clasped hands, saying, "Your Majesty."

"His Majesty."

Emperor Li was engrossed in reading a sheet of paper, which was densely covered with writing. He was startled by the voices of the two prime ministers. He glanced at it and then frowned slightly: "What is it that has brought you two here together?"

Du Qian remained silent. Guo You stepped forward, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty, this is my matter. Since I have little experience, I request that Minister Du accompany me to meet Your Majesty."

Emperor Li then smiled and said, "Speak, speak, what has happened now? Just a few days ago we were saying that the weather has been good all year, it can't be that there's another famine somewhere."

"It's not a famine."

Guo Xiangong bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, in Jiangdong Province and Jinling Prefecture, some people have instigated scholars to cause trouble. Many scholars from Jiangnan have participated in it and have flocked to Jinling, almost smashing up the Jinling Examination Hall."

Emperor Li frowned and asked, "Why?"

Guo You took a deep breath, glanced at Du Qian, and after Du Qian nodded slightly, he said with a wry smile, "According to the report from Zhang Sui, the Prefect of Jinling, this is due to the new policies. The new policies encourage commerce and allow the sons of merchants to take the imperial examinations..."

"Furthermore, the examinations at the prefecture and county levels all used the new curriculum, which caused some scholars to be dissatisfied and thus they started to cause trouble."

"Cause, cause..."

Minister Guo lowered his head and said, "The cause was this year when the Ministry of Personnel dispatched a county magistrate to Jinling. He came from the Agricultural Academy, and the local gentry surrounded him, pressuring him to answer questions about the Four Books and Five Classics. He couldn't answer, so these scholars tied him up and carried him all the way into Jinling city..."

"Later, the matter escalated and became so bad that the local authorities could no longer contain it, and it was reported to the Central Secretariat."

"Nonsense!"

Emperor Li glanced at Du Qian, then frowned and said coldly, "The new policies started last year. Why didn't they go and cause trouble for the Crown Prince when he was in Jinling last year?"

"They even dared to kidnap the county magistrate sent down by the imperial court!"

Emperor Li was furious.

"Send an imperial envoy, send an imperial envoy down."

The emperor clenched his fist and said.

"Act according to the law!"

(End of this chapter)