Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 77 Father and Son (Part )

Gongzi Chao felt that it was a bit strange that an important new member of the family was not told about it.

But as soon as he returned to Zhongmu, he was busy with his coming-of-age ceremony and taking his friends to appreciate the customs and people of Zhongmu. Naturally, he had no extra thoughts to guess the reason.

As long as my parents give me a reason,

He believed it.

Could the father who gave birth to him and the mother who raised him deceive him?

But after he was crowned, Zhao Huai suddenly proposed to arrange a marriage for him.

"When you become a man, you have to start a family."

"Tian of Qi has a beautiful girl who is about your age. I would like to marry her to be my daughter-in-law."

The young master shook his head and said no.

He told his father about his ambitions, "I know that getting married is a good thing, and I also yearn for beautiful women, but there are too many beautiful things in the world. If I get married but still travel to faraway places, I will be sorry for her."

"I don't want to get married, or I can get married after I realize my dream. Is that not okay?"

Zhao Huai was furious, "Traveling around the world?"

"Isn't Zhao State big enough for you to run around enough?"

Who are the people who "travel around the world" at this time?
They were either noblemen wandering in other countries, or scholars as destitute as stray dogs. The former went to beg the princes for support in fighting for the throne, while the latter went to sell their knowledge to the princes in exchange for official positions.

Zhao Huai is now the ruler of Zhao State. Does his son still have to run around like a stray dog who doesn't know where his home is?
"Get a wife!"

"do not want!"

"If you ask me to marry you, I will marry you! Tomorrow I will send someone to Qi to propose marriage!"

"No, then no!"

Gongzi Chao quarreled with his father.

In the end, Zhao Huai was so angry that he grabbed the bamboo slips on the table and wanted to chase and beat this disappointing eldest son.

"Humph!"

"Can't hit!"

Gongzi Chao ignored the Zhou etiquette and ran away directly, not forgetting to turn back and laugh at his father who could not catch up with him!

"What a beast he has turned into, running so fast!"

Zhao Huaizhui was out of breath and then gave up.

A guard stepped forward and whispered, "Why don't I go find the young master?"

"What are you looking for? Are you going to continue to piss me off?"

Zhao Huai snorted, put his hands behind his back and went back into the room, "Forget it, forget it!"

……

At night, when Zhao Huai was about to go to bed, he suddenly remembered what happened during the day and talked about it with his wife.

His original intention was to let off some steam and then have a good night's sleep, but his wife frowned slightly and said, "I'm a little worried!"

"What are you worried about?" Zhao Huai asked puzzledly.

The lady said to him, "After you became the ruler, Gongzi Chao was granted the title of Gaolang, where he spread his reputation as a virtuous man and attracted the Mohist school to join him."

"When he returned to Zhongmu this time, he did not introduce you to any outstanding talents of the Mohist School, but only won them over to his own hands."

"Now you should ask for a woman from the Tian family of Qi to marry him, so that he can become more powerful."

"Have you forgotten what he claimed back then? Isn't this something I should worry about?"

"As for the ambition he mentioned, is it true?"

His reputation spreads,
With capable people to assist,
Another father-in-law is Tian, who controls the government of Qi and is about to replace Jiang Qi...

Zhao Huai was shocked and realized that his silly son had unknowingly grown into more than just a chirping baby bird.

He was suddenly filled with mixed feelings of sadness and joy.

What made him happy was that his eldest son, who had no expectations but only hoped for a stable life, has now become an adult.

Sadly, he has decided to be a "Duke of Zhou" who is not greedy for power. How can he bear to see Prince Chao and Crown Prince Zhang having disputes?
He fell silent.

The lady stood up and said that she wanted to go and see Master Cheng who was sleeping in the compartment.

But after leaving the house, she called the servant and asked him quietly, "Does Prince Zhang know about this?"

The servant nodded silently.

So the lady breathed a sigh of relief and gently stroked Gongzi Cheng's face.

She thought:
She did not covet the throne of Zhao, she just wanted Zhao Huai's position to be her son's.

Gongzi Chao has enjoyed the love and favor of being the only son for more than ten years. Why can't Gongzi Cheng also receive such favor?
……

The next morning,
Zhao Huai heard from someone that Prince Zhang came to visit.

So he went out to greet him and brought Prince Zhang into the hall.

As soon as he entered the room, Prince Zhang suddenly knelt down and burst into tears, "My uncle wants my throne, why must he do this?"

"I am willing to let Gongzi Chao succeed me, but please don't kill me, uncle!"

Zhao Huai also knelt down in fear, his expression changed drastically, and he even spoke nervously, "What are you talking about!"

"I have sworn an oath to my ancestors and to the heaven and earth. How could I be a villain who breaks my oath?"

"If the prince does not believe me, I can only kill myself today to prove my innocence!"

Prince Zhang then said, "If my uncle didn't have such intentions, why would he let Gongzi Chao spread his reputation and win over wise men from all sides?"

"I heard in Zhongmu that he was close to the gods and ghosts of Gaolang Land and was assisted by the Mohists."

"Uncle, you know where Gaolang is."

"Uncle, you are also clear about the power of the Mohist School."

"How can I not be terrified?" Zhao Huai covered his face and shouted, "So that's how it is!"

"I originally just wanted my eldest son to be happy, but I didn't expect it would cause such troubles!"

"I want to be a good father, but I don't want to cause unrest in the State of Zhao!"

"I have made up my mind, please rest assured, Your Highness!"

Prince Zhang then relaxed his expression, stood up again, and supported Zhao Huai's arm, "I know that my uncle is a virtuous man with high morals, but there are too few people with morals in the world."

Zhao Huai remained silent.

Prince Zhang went out and met Madam Zhao Huai who came to greet him with her children.

then,

He played with Gongzi Cheng for a while.

Zhao Huai stared blankly at this "brotherly love and respect" and felt confused.

When Prince Zhang walked out of the gate, he happened to meet Gongzi Chao who was coming back from shopping with his friends.

Gongzi Chao has always disliked Prince Zhang, who is good at chicken and dog fighting. He thinks that Prince Zhang is so young, but he is addicted to gambling with adults. He uses his power when he can't afford to play. He is very deep-minded and not as simple as a normal child.

"What are you doing here!"

The young master asked him warily, with his hands on his hips, looking very angry.

Prince Zhang approached him directly and said with a smile, "Of course I came to congratulate you on having a kind mother!"

"She heard that her uncle was going to marry you to a girl from the Tian family, so she sent someone to tell me overnight."

"I hope you won't become the second Gongzi Shensheng!"

Prince Shensheng,

He was a famous unlucky person during the Li Ji Rebellion in Jin State.

Because of his filial piety and loyalty, Duke Xian of Jin forced his eldest son to death and drove away his other sons. He then made Li Ji's son the crown prince, and the country was then in turmoil.

Duke Xian of Jin's massacre of the royal family of Jin was also a major reason for the rise of ministers such as Zhao, Wei, and Han to control the government.

No matter how ignorant Gongzi Chao was, he had to learn about this history and understand the reasons for the decline of the Jin family and the rise of the Zhao family.

He thought of his mother's previous behavior and his father's love for his young son, and he began to feel flustered.

So he went in to find Zhao Huai and discovered that his father looked very unhappy.

"I'm planning to let you change your fiefdom, no... you should go to Korea and be a proton!"

Gongzi Chao said, "Yesterday you asked me to get married and not to run around, and today you want me to go to Korea as a hostage. Is it so easy for you to change your mind, father?"

Zhao Huai just sighed and said nothing.

Gongzi Chao continued to ask, "I want to know if my mother said anything to you?"

Zhao Huai was shocked, "How did you know?"

"This is my decision. It has nothing to do with your mother!"

He frowned and said, "Don't mess around anymore. Korea is also a fun place. I will ask the new Marquis of Han to take good care of you."

"Then wait for more than ten years, until Prince Zhang has firmly established his throne, and then be sent back?"

Gongzi Chao cried in grievance, "Father, you have changed. You have been framed by your reputation and you don't even trust your own son!"

"If you are worried that I will threaten Prince Zhang if I stay in Zhao, then why not recognize my ambition and give me some money!"

"I swear that I will not return to Zhao before Prince Zhang becomes the king!"

Zhao Huai was helpless, "I hope you can keep your promise and don't... don't make it difficult for me."

Gongzi Chao wiped his tears and kowtowed to his father, "I know I am a ridiculous son, but my heart is true. I hope father will not be suspicious."

After saying that, he stood up and ran out, and saw his mother who was holding Gongzi Cheng and talking to her.

He looked at the woman who had raised him and found that her appearance and expression were very different from what he remembered.

She seems,
I have never smiled at myself with such a gentle and comfortable smile.

She was making various demands on Gongzi Cheng, who was less than two years old, asking him to study hard, learn to read early, and become a talented person.

Instead of just letting him "have fun".

Then the young master understood in his heart.

He walked over quickly, took out a toy and wanted to give it to his younger brother.

"This is a wooden falcon that I made myself after learning Mohist techniques. It can be thrown out and made to fly. It's perfect for Cheng to play with."

The lady was startled by his sudden appearance and said subconsciously, "Cheng is going to do great things in the future, how can he indulge in playing?"

After saying that, she reacted, lowered her head and stopped talking.

"Take it. It will be difficult for me to return to Zhao in the future. If we have a chance to meet in the future, Cheng will be able to recognize me as his brother with this thing."

The young master smiled and put the small wooden falcon into his brother's hand.

Gongzi Cheng liked the toy very much and held it tightly, but his mother took it herself and held it in her palm.

Gongzi Chao was still smiling, "This is safe and won't hurt Cheng."

Finally, he asked softly, "Mother, I heard that parents who truly care for their children will hire strict teachers for their children so that they can learn the wisdom of the ancient sages. Is this true?"

The lady also responded with silence.

So the young man stepped back, nodded and said to himself, "I understand, I understand!"

He laughed and said, "No wonder the ancients said that after the crown is put on, you become a human being!"

"I see!"

"I guess I am indeed a grown-up now!"

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(End of this chapter)