Jinting Han people

Chapter 94 Yang Jun's Power Scheme (4k, extra for the leader)

While Liu Xian and Lu Ji were drinking and talking, a crucial conversation was also taking place in the Taiji Hall.

It was already evening, the setting sun a blood-red blaze etched across the clouds. A strong wind suddenly picked up in the palace, rustling the leaves in the courtyard. The sunlight had dimmed, blurring the lines of light and shadow within the palace. Even with the doors open for ventilation, the vast inner courtyard couldn't hide the gloom within. Therefore, the palace servants had lit the lanterns early, but the shadows cast by the flames only made the atmosphere within the palace even more gloomy and eerie.

At this time, General Yang Jun was sitting on the chair, his expression sometimes gloomy, sometimes nervous, and sometimes frightened.

On either side of him sat four scholars in Confucian robes and turbans on his left, and on his right four warriors in military uniforms and swords. They were Yang Yao, Minister of the Chancellery; Wu Mao, Grand Chamberlain; Zhu Zhen, Chief Clerk of the Chariots and Cavalry; Jia Mo, Sima of the Chariots and Cavalry; Yang Ji, General of the Northern Expedition; Liu Yu, General of the Tiger Guards; Duan Guang, General of the Palace; and Zhang Shao, Deputy Minister of the Imperial Household.

These are all core members of the Three Yangs' Party. As the central figures in the vortex of imperial power, they gather here today, and of course they are only pursuing power.

The cause was simple: a major event happened in Luoyang: Sima Yan, the emperor of the Western Jin Dynasty, suffered a stroke.

A few days ago, the newly built Taimiao (Ancestral Temple) was officially completed, and Sima Yan presided over a ceremony to welcome the ancestral tablets from the old temple to the new one. The weather was quite hot, and the ceremony lasted a long time. The emperor stood there for two hours. By the end of the ceremony, sweating profusely, he returned to the palace and drank some chilled wine. Unexpectedly, that night, he fell ill and fell into a coma.

"How is His Majesty?"

The person who spoke was Chief Clerk Zhu Zhen. His face looked extremely ugly. He was waving a feather fan in his left hand while his right hand was placed across the table. His eyes were wandering and he was obviously thinking about something long-term.

"The situation isn't good." Yang Jun sighed deeply and explained, "Several doctors in the palace have examined it. His Majesty has suffered a stroke on his left side and is unable to get up. He is still not fully conscious."

He paused and emphasized, "The point is, Huangfu Medical said that although he survived this time, there is a high probability that he will relapse. He will pass away in a year at most."

After he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat depressing. Everyone present had expected this outcome, but hearing it with their own ears was another matter entirely.

"One year, one year..." Yang Ji sat cross-legged, his body trembling slightly. He said to Yang Jun, "Brother, I'm afraid it's time to make the final preparations, right?"

Yang Ji was a brave man. When he spoke out the meaning of this sentence, everyone understood: since the emperor was so seriously ill, it was impossible for him to rule the country personally.

When the emperor's authority fell, they should take the opportunity to eliminate their political enemies and establish the ruling position of their party in the court in one fell swoop. Otherwise, they would not be able to maintain their own safety and the stability of the court.

This was said simply, but in reality, it involved the entire Western Jin Empire and even determined the course of history for the next few years or even decades. Everyone was shocked when they heard this, but they also knew that this was something that had to be done.

Although Shangshu Ling Yang Yu was quite resourceful, he was a little timid at this moment. He said, "In governing a country, I have never heard of a minister who monopolized government affairs and ended up having a good ending. Brother, you should think twice before you act."

Zhu Zhen objected to this, retorting, "There's nothing to think about! Even when Cao Shuang gave up power, he didn't have a good ending!"

He advised Yang Jun, "Mingsir, this is how political struggles are. Since the emperor is seriously ill, we can only face the challenge head-on. Sometimes, taking a step back means there is no way out, but taking a step forward means there is wealth and honor."

Yang Jun frowned, raising a cup of honey water to his lips. He neither drank nor put it down. Instead, he hesitated for a long time before saying, "I understand what you're saying. But I'm already fifty-eight. Even if I don't worry about state affairs, I still have the responsibility of such a large family business. I dare not be careless."

"Seizing power? Hey! It's easy for you to say, but the current political situation is very complicated. Involving either the aristocratic families or the royal family princes, if you want to seize power from them, there are so many things to deal with. Where do you start?"

This was indeed a difficult problem. The current situation at court was, frankly, orchestrated by the Emperor. He had the Three Yangs assisting in government, but he also didn't want any single Yang to dominate, so he deployed Sima Liang, Prince of Runan, to counterbalance him. Sima Liang, Yang Jun's rival, though he didn't interfere in the affairs of the three provinces, was in charge of the Imperial Guards, which were also supported by many young princes.

How to seize power from them had to be considered carefully. After all, no matter what, Yang Jun's surname was not Sima. If he offended the royal family and forced them to launch a mutiny, it would not end well.

The other people present also obviously felt that this was a tricky issue. They remained silent for a while, and the hall fell into silence.

Yang Ji lost his temper. He turned around and asked Zhu Zhen directly, "Zhongyuan, you are my elder brother's think tank, what do you think?"

Zhu Zhen did have an idea in mind early on. He didn't speak out because he was still unsure of some people's opinions. But since he was named, he no longer hid it and spoke truthfully:

"I think the biggest problem with the current situation is that we lack the righteousness to seize power."

"Great justice?" Everyone looked at Zhu Zhen with shining eyes.

"Yes, righteousness. When doing things in the court, one must always be justified and legitimate, so that the world can be tamed with moral principles. And what you are worried about, to put it bluntly, is that power is seized without righteousness. If you act rashly, you will immediately be attacked as a corrupt and chaotic person."

"You mean, we can find a righteous cause to seize power?"

"That's right." Zhu Zhen straightened his posture and said slowly to Yang Jun, "Right now, the Prince of Runan has allied with the princes and the royal family, which is why he can control the imperial guards and compete with you. But in fact, the two can be separated. As long as we think of a greater good, we can first send the princes away, and then replace the imperial guards with our people. Is it possible that the Prince of Runan can still compete with you?"

This is the truth. To put it bluntly, the current government was Yang Jun in charge of politics, while Sima Liang was in charge of the military. Yang Jun relied on his own staff and cronies, while Sima Liang relied on his collaboration with the imperial clan, especially the princes Sima Wei and Sima Yun. They were very popular in the army, and if they could be transferred and replaced with their own people, Sima Liang would be rootless and would collapse without any attack.

But where can we find such a great cause?

Zhu Zhen finally revealed the answer: "I wonder if you have heard of Lu Shiheng's theory of feudalism recently?"

After the Qingming Literary Festival, the debate between Lu Ji and Liu Xian had become widely circulated. Compared to Liu Xian's theory of feudalism, which emphasized meritorious service, Lu Ji's theory of feudalism, which emphasized virtue, was more highly praised by scholars. Now that Zhu Zhen had mentioned this matter, everyone present had heard of it, but their understanding of its relevance to the greater good remained unclear. Zhu Zhen said with a smile, "Your Majesty is now seriously ill. Not only are we concerned about his affairs after his death, but he himself must also be thinking about his own. How can we ensure the long-term stability of the Great Jin? Lu Shiheng's idea is for Your Majesty to fully implement the Zhou system and enfeoff the gentry throughout the country. While this idea is a good one, Your Majesty will never allow it."

This is natural. The world belongs to the Sima family. If the feudal system of the Western Zhou Dynasty is restored, the power of the Sima family will not extend beyond the capital, and the status of the royal family will decline instead of rise. This is something that no emperor can allow.

"But what if we only enfeoff the princes?" Zhu Zhen asked. "If we transfer the Prince of Shiping, who is in charge of the Imperial Guard, and several other princes, out of the Imperial Guard and assign them to other provinces, allowing them to control local military and political power, wouldn't Your Majesty approve? How could the officials and the royal family not agree with you and praise your loyalty to the country?"

By the time he said this, everyone understood. It was indeed a very clever arrangement. Dividing the princes into different states gave them real power, not a promotion in name only. However, the position of the imperial guards in the capital remained vacant, allowing Yang Jun to easily appoint new personnel. Neither the emperor nor the officials could find fault with it.

But this also has hidden dangers.

Wu Mao questioned, "But if the princes really control the local military and political power, won't it be detrimental to Ming Gong in the future?"

Zhu Zhen quickly explained, "That depends on the method we use. We don't need to transfer all the princes. We only need to transfer the three princes who have already come of age—the Third Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Ninth Prince—and place them in Jingzhou, Yangzhou, and Yongzhou, places that haven't been completely settled. We control Hebei and the Central Plains, so even if the three of them cause trouble together, what's there to fear?"

"If you are still worried, this is only a temporary solution. We will first send the princes away and take control of the imperial guards. When His Majesty passes away, we will drive out Sima Liang and recall the princes to the capital. By then, you will have full power in your hands, and they will be helpless!"

After this speech, everyone applauded.

Ultimately, if they simply wanted to transfer the princes out of the capital and assign them to border fiefdoms, it would be a simple exchange of benefits. However, during this special period when the emperor was seriously ill, they could promise to do so, transfer the princes, and then, after they had truly won the factional struggle and seized power, reconsider and revoke the princes' power. In that case, Yang Jun wouldn't have to pay anything, faced no threats, and everything would be perfectly legal and unacceptable.

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun's face lit up with joy, and he clapped his hands in admiration, saying, "Zhongyuan's plan is truly brilliant! Wenju (Yang Yu), go write a memorial now, arguing over the pros and cons of enfeoffment. I'll discuss this matter with His Majesty as soon as he regains consciousness!"

Just as Yang Yao was about to nod in agreement, Zhu Zhen stopped him, saying, "Don't worry, my lord. I haven't finished what I'm saying yet!"

"It's easy to transfer the prince, but Your Majesty is not a tyrant after all. If you want to interfere with the Imperial Guards, you can't arrange it directly! Otherwise, His Majesty will be suspicious!"

Yang Jun was suddenly startled, as if he had been hit by a stick! Indeed, he had not thought of this level, or was a little careless! The Imperial Guards were the imperial family's forbidden food. No matter what situation they encountered, the emperor would not allow him to interfere.

Such a thought made his face twitch unnaturally. He turned around to look at Zhu Zhen, waiting for his next words.

Zhu Zhen didn't reply immediately. Instead, he glanced at Jia Mo beside him. Seeing Jia Mo's smile, he continued to Yang Jun, "Mingshou, if you want to interfere with the Imperial Guards, this list shouldn't be given by you. In my humble opinion, it should be given to someone...whom Your Majesty has no doubts about."

"who is it?"

"The Crown Prince, or rather, the Crown Princess..."

As soon as these words were spoken, Yang Jun's face changed again. However, before, he was horrified by his own negligence, but now he could not hide his disgust for Jia Nanfeng.

Whenever the word "Crown Princess" was mentioned, Yang Jun inevitably thought of Jia Nanfeng's unsightly face: triangular eyes, drooping eyebrows, a pointed chin, protruding lips, and dark skin. At first glance, she looked nothing like a human, but rather like a demon from hell in Buddhist legend. If she were simply ugly, it would be fine; ancient people were often ugly but pure within. But the Crown Princess's heart was a venomous snake! It sent a chill down Yang Jun's spine.

For those in politics today to still talk about morality is naturally extravagant and ridiculous, but this does not mean indiscriminate killing. Politics is the art of compromise. Ultimately, it's about achieving the greatest benefit at the lowest cost while preserving the balance of the environment. Reckless killing may achieve short-term results, but in the long run, it will only lead to endless harm.

But the Crown Princess Jia Nanfeng was a bloodthirsty person.

But Yang Jun had no other choice. Since he wanted to be the future regent, and the only regent, he had to establish a good relationship with the future queen. Moreover, the two were indeed allies now. Otherwise, he would not have recruited Jia Mo, who came from the Jia family, as the Sima of Chariots and Cavalry, and let him participate in such an important secret meeting.

But when it really came to this critical moment, Yang Jun was still a little hesitant. He was not sure what the consequences would be if he gave power to the Crown Princess.

After Yang Jun pondered for a moment, he turned to Jia Mo and asked, "What do you think about this matter, Sifan?"

As Jia Nanfeng's cousin, Jia Mo immediately replied, "Cheqi is the Empress's father, which means he is the Crown Princess's maternal grandfather and elder. The Crown Princess has made it clear to me that she will obey Cheqi's orders. After all, Cheqi saved her life, and she is always grateful and wants to repay him."

Jia Mo was referring to the incident in which Jia Nanfeng had previously slaughtered the crown prince's other concubines, causing the miscarriage of the emperor's grandson. After Jia Chong's death, Sima Yan briefly considered deposing Jia Nanfeng, but it was Yang Jun and Empress Yang who persuaded him to do so, ultimately preserving Jia Nanfeng's position as crown prince. This incident also marked the beginning of Yang Jun and Jia Nanfeng's collaboration.

Hearing this, Yang Jun breathed a sigh of relief. He changed his mind and thought: No matter what, the Crown Princess is not morally sound. If she has ulterior motives, the worst that can happen is that she becomes public, and it will be easy to depose her then. For now, using her for mutual benefit is just a temporary measure, so there is no need to worry about it.

Thinking of this, Yang Jun said to Jia Mo, "Since that's the case, Sifan, please wait a moment. I'll write a list and you hand it to the Crown Princess. After I submit my proposal to His Majesty, you can ask the Crown Princess to arrange for everyone on the list to be included."

After saying these words, Yang Jun asked several staff members to draft a list and a memorial, while he sat on the chair to rest.

Strangely, when he closed his eyes slightly, Jia Nanfeng's ugly and strange smile emerged in his mind. It was a smug smile, and at the same time, Jia Nanfeng turned her face away.

Yang Jun opened his eyes and shook his head, trying to get rid of Jia Nanfeng's gloomy image. He ordered a palace maid to come in and play a song "Erotic Song".

　Please vote! Please subscribe! Please support me! Your support is my motivation to update!
　　At the same time, thanks to the leader of Reichsbanner, I feel like I can add chicken legs tonight~
　　Thanks also to Mobius9999 and 2501tm for the tips~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)