I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

...

Seeing his parents so heartbroken because he was about to die, Zhao Shou felt a pang of regret.

In fact, Zhao Shou also wanted to live another twenty years so that he could do more meaningful things as the emperor of the Song Dynasty and the ruler of the world.

It's important to know that this was the first dynasty in human history to almost completely unify the entire world.

Moreover, humanity has developed rapidly in this era. Agriculture and industry have made great strides. War has almost disappeared. The whole world is connected by railways, highways and air routes. A truly globalized era has begun.

Perhaps no one would be unwilling to take control of such a great era?
In any case, Zhao Shou was willing to make some contributions to this great era and leave a good mark on history.

However, fate played a cruel trick on him, and Heaven made him fall ill just before he was about to become the Emperor of the Song Dynasty and the ruler of this world.

Even if Zhao Shou had a thousand reasons to be unwilling and ten thousand reasons to refuse, what could he do?
At this moment, facing his deeply saddened parents, Zhao Shou even tried to persuade them to think more positively.

Zhao Shou said, "Life and death are preordained, and the way of Heaven is natural. Even sages and worthies throughout history have not been able to escape it. I have no regrets. I hope that Father Emperor and Mother Empress will grieve in moderation."

Seeing how sensible Zhao Shou was, Zheng Xiansu could no longer hold back. She buried her face in Zhao Yu's arms and wept uncontrollably.

Zhao Yu was also very sad.

What a wonderful son!
What a fine heir!

Everything was perfect at first...

However, Zhao Yu was, after all, the greatest emperor of all time. He quickly recovered from his grief and then issued an edict: "All my beloved ministers, listen to my decree!"

Upon hearing that Zhao Yu was about to issue an imperial edict, everyone except the seriously ill Zhao Shou knelt down to receive it.

Zhao Yu didn't waste any words, but directly issued an edict: "Crown Prince Shou is intelligent and matures day by day, and his filial piety, brotherly love and gentleness are well known throughout the land. He has ruled for twelve years and is well-versed in the classics. It is appropriate to entrust him with the affairs of state. This is the hope of Heaven and the people, and I dare not presume to grant it to you. Crown Prince Shou may ascend the throne."

Seeing that Zhao Shou was in such a state, Zhao Yu still wanted to abdicate in favor of Zhao Shou, which shocked everyone.

Many of those present were elites of the Song Dynasty and even the world. They quickly realized that Zhao Yu's move was probably to fulfill his son's wish, who had been the crown prince for over thirty years and ruled for more than ten years, by making him emperor while he was still alive, rather than having him posthumously confer the title of emperor upon him.

Li Gang and Chen Gou said almost in unison, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

According to ancient customs and etiquette, when the emperor abdicates in favor of the crown prince, the crown prince becomes the emperor, and the emperor is then honored as the retired emperor.

Therefore, if Zhao Yu abdicated in favor of Zhao Shou, Zhao Shou would become the legitimate emperor, and according to the established system, a crown prince should be established to consolidate the foundation of the state.

However, Zhao Shou was seriously ill and his life was hanging by a thread. If he had selfish thoughts on his deathbed and hastily appointed an unsuitable person as the crown prince, such as Zhao Ziwen, it would inevitably lead to chaos in the court and cause further strife in later generations.

When Zhao Shou passes away, his appointed crown prince Zhao Ziwen will legally succeed to the throne. If Zhao Yu is still alive, then Zhao Yu will become the supreme emperor. With seniority, etiquette, and power overlapping, and the succession to the throne intertwined, the Song Dynasty and the world may face many new uncertainties.

Now that the Song Dynasty has unified the world and all industries are thriving, what it needs most is a stable succession.

It could even be said that for the Song Dynasty at present, stability is more important than anything else.

The key point is that everyone can see that after Zhao Shou passes away, Zhao Yu will still have to be the emperor, and then choose a suitable heir to slowly pass on his throne. This is the best strategy to stabilize the country and bring peace to the world.

Now, Zhao Yu's attempt to force Zhao Shou to abdicate is tantamount to disrupting the established order and creating unnecessary trouble.

More importantly, Zhao Shou suffered a serious injury on the eve of his ascension to the throne and then fell ill and never recovered. It was clear that although he had the virtues of a crown prince, he was not destined to rule as emperor.

In the prevailing view of destiny in that era, this was seen as an omen that Heaven would not allow Zhao Shou to inherit the throne.

The right to rule is ordained by Heaven; those who obey Heaven prosper, while those who defy Heaven risk divine retribution and bring calamity upon all living beings.

If Zhao Yu were to defy the will of Heaven and abdicate, not only would it fail to fulfill Zhao Shou's wishes, but it would also cause the world to question whether the Mandate of Heaven was with the Song Dynasty, shake the people's loyalty, and bring nothing but harm to the long-term survival of the nation.

Therefore, following Li Gang and Chen Gou, others also risked offending the emperor to strongly advise against it, urging Zhao Yu to uphold the rites, obey the will of heaven, and safeguard the state.

Finally, even Zhao Shou slid off the bed to the floor, kowtowing to Zhao Yu while saying:
"Your Majesty, I humbly beg you to rescind your decree! Abdication is absolutely unacceptable!"
Your subject knows that he is seriously ill and his life is hanging by a thread. He is no longer fit to be the ruler of the world. If he were to ascend the throne by force, he would only have an empty title, which would bring no benefit to the country or the people and would only cause a hundred harms.

Today, the world is unified and all under heaven are at one. Our Great Song Dynasty is enjoying a golden age that has never been seen in a thousand years. What we value most is the word 'stability'.

If Your Majesty were to abdicate in favor of me today, I would be obliged to establish an heir according to propriety. However, I am on my deathbed. If an heir is hastily chosen, the position of heir and imperial power will inevitably become entangled after my death, causing chaos in the laws and regulations and shaking the court. This is a path to chaos, not a strategy for national stability.

Moreover, I fell seriously ill on the eve of my ascension to the throne, which was already a sign from Heaven.

The right of kings is ordained by Heaven and cannot be reversed.

Your subject does not wish to defy the mandate of Heaven for the sake of personal fame, thereby causing fear and suspicion among the people and bringing disaster to the nation.

Your subject has no other desires in this life. I do not seek the throne, nor do I covet the empty title of emperor. I only wish that the Song Dynasty be forever secure, that the world be at peace, that the succession be orderly, and that it enjoy lasting stability.

May Your Majesty prioritize the well-being of the nation, rescind your decree, follow the will of Heaven, reassure the people, and solidify the foundation of the country. This would be a blessing for all people and for the Great Song Dynasty.

Even if I were to die, I would have no regrets.

Seeing Zhao Shou's attitude, Zhao Yu felt even more gratified and regretful!

Finally, even Zheng Xiansu advised Zhao Yu, hoping that he would grant Zhao Shou's request and not let Zhao Shou "ruin his later years":
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is benevolent, filial, wise, and understands the importance of the nation. His words are sufficient to proclaim to Heaven and Earth and comfort the people."

The act of abdicating the throne was originally intended to fulfill the wishes of a beloved son. Now that the Crown Prince has firmly declined, and with the will of Heaven and the laws of propriety in place, and the strong remonstrances of the court and officials from all walks of life, if we force it to happen, it will not only damage the Crown Prince's reputation, but also disrupt the very foundation of the Song Dynasty's succession and shake the world.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to heed the Crown Prince's wishes and obey the will of Heaven and the people, and rescind the edict of abdication. This would ensure peace in the ancestral temples and stabilize the realm. Only in this way can we honor the Crown Prince's sincere devotion to the country and guarantee the eternal peace of our Great Song Dynasty."

Seeing this, Zhao Yu gave up and did not pursue the matter further.

After everyone else had left, leaving only Zhao Yu and his son Zhao Shou, Zhao Yu bluntly asked Zhao Shou, "Whom does my son prefer as the crown prince?"

To be honest, it was rather cruel of his father to ask him who was suitable to replace him.

On the other hand, if his father didn't ask for his opinion on this matter, it would make him seem like a father and son with little affection and a lack of loyalty to the country.

Zhao Shou knew that his father had asked this question after careful consideration. His purpose was not to remind him of his impending death, but to acknowledge Zhao Shou's lifelong dedication to the Song Dynasty and to make a final decision for its perpetual succession. Zhao Shou understood that with the world now unified and all industries thriving, the matter of the crown prince concerned the safety of the nation and could not be decided by personal feelings. Furthermore, the foundation of the nation could not be disrupted because of Zhao Shou's personal regret.

However, humans are not plants or trees; how can they be without feelings?
After much hesitation, Zhao Shou couldn't completely escape his own selfish motives and tentatively asked, "Wen'er is feasible?"

After speaking, Zhao Shou dared not look at his father, the emperor.

Clearly, Zhao Shou knew that Zhao Ziwen was not suitable to be the crown prince.

Knowing son Moruo father.

Zhao Shou knew better than anyone that Zhao Ziwen had been immersed in poetry and literature since childhood, and was close to civil officials. Deep down, he had already developed a strong belief in the superiority of civil officials over military officials. If he were to ascend the throne one day, he would definitely value civil officials over military officials, suppress military achievements, and slowly push back the global hegemony that his father had built up through a lifetime of conquest to the old path of civil officials ruling the country and the weak and conservative approach of the Renzong era.

The Song Dynasty's current unified state is the result of a combination of civil and military achievements, and the parallel development of iron-fisted rule and civil administration. If any aspect is neglected, dissent will inevitably arise from all sides, and the territory that countless soldiers fought and bled to expand may very well fall apart again.

Even more fatally, Zhao Ziwen is too easily swayed by others' opinions, lacks decisiveness in handling matters, and has no ruthless means to control the global territory and balance the power of various parties.

As an emperor who unifies the world, the worst thing is to be indecisive, lack resolve, and be irresponsible. Once he is swayed by his courtiers or personal feelings, his decrees will be changed frequently and the laws will be shaken, which will inevitably lead to great chaos in the world.

Zhao Yu could see Zhao Shou's guilty conscience, but given Zhao Shou's impending death, Zhao Yu did not expose him. Instead, he asked him in a serious tone, "Is Wen'er suitable to lead my Great Song?"

"This……"

Zhao Shou was speechless for a moment.

After a long while, Zhao Shou said somewhat dryly, "Now that Father Emperor is in his prime, he can teach Wen'er. Perhaps... Wen'er will be the most suitable person to inherit our Great Song Dynasty."

After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Shou continued, "Even though Wen'er may not be as good as others, he is, after all, the Emperor's grandson. There is an order of seniority, and a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children..."

Yes.

Zhao Ziwen's personality had certain flaws for an emperor.

Although Zhao Ziwen's personality had certain flaws in terms of imperial power and decisiveness, and he was more gentle than ruthless, lacking the demeanor of a powerful ruler, he possessed an innate advantage that others could not match: his status as the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife.

Zhao Yu had tens of thousands of descendants, and his imperial clan was vast and diverse, with a mix of wise and foolish individuals, and varying strengths and weaknesses. If talent, character, and courage were used as the sole criteria for selecting a crown prince, not only would there be no unified standard to follow, but it would also lead to all the imperial clan members vying for the position, with each faction in the court depending on the other, ultimately resulting in a great disaster of fratricide and political instability.

In such a situation where there are countless descendants, some good and some bad, the only option that is most in accordance with the patriarchal system and that the throne is passed down to the eldest grandson is the one that best satisfies the people's hearts and minds.

The primogeniture system is the universally recognized orthodox principle. Once the title is established, there will be no objections from the ministers and no disputes among the imperial clan. Even if Zhao Ziwen has some flaws in his character, he can still secure his position as crown prince by virtue of his unshakeable patriarchal title, thus maintaining the stability and order of the succession of the country. This is the most solid and irreplaceable foundation for standing under the patriarchal system.

Therefore, while Zhao Shou's proposal may have had some personal motives, it was not entirely unfounded.

Of course, Zhao Shou also knew that Zhao Ziwen was not suitable to be the emperor of the Song Dynasty. He hoped that his father could nurture Zhao Ziwen as well as he had nurtured him, so that he could become a qualified successor and inherit the Song Dynasty in the future.

Frankly speaking, this was one of the reasons why Zhao Shou invited Zhao Yu back, and it was also the direction that Zhao Shou most hoped for in the succession of the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Yu did not hide the fact that Zhao Shou, who was dying and had made outstanding contributions to the Song Dynasty, was dying. He said truthfully, "If our Song Dynasty were still in the same precarious situation as the previous dynasty, I could consider making Wen'er the crown prince. And as you said, I could personally train him for ten or eight years. Perhaps he could carry on the legacy and pass on our Song Dynasty."

After a pause, Zhao Yu continued, “But our Great Song is now unified under heaven, with an infinitely vast territory and countless affairs. If we are not careful, it may cause turmoil and even overthrow our Great Song. Wen’er is indecisive. When there are external changes, he will not only be unable to solve the problem, but may also lead our Great Song into an abyss of no return, just like Zhao Huan before him.”

Zhao Shou knew that Zhao Huan's poor handling of the situation in Damascus had led to his own capture, along with his concubines and children, by the holy war forces.

Although Zhao Shou was unwilling to admit it, it was clear from an objective perspective that Zhao Ziwen's personality was indeed somewhat similar to Zhao Huan's.

Therefore, the possibility that Zhao Yu mentioned exists.

Zhao Shou couldn't help but ask, "Is Wen'er truly beyond redemption?"

Zhao Yu did not answer, but looked at Zhao Shou and asked in return, "What do you think?"

Zhao Shou wanted to rely on his impending death to confront his father head-on and fight for the throne for his son and grandson. However, under his father's unwavering gaze, he slowly gave in and said with a sense of dejection, "Your subject... will leave it all to Your Majesty."

After letting Zhao Shou rest well, Zhao Yu left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

As soon as he came out, Zhao Yu saw his empress, Zheng Xiansu.

Zheng Xiansu, who was no longer young, seemed to age instantly after experiencing the pain of losing his son, becoming a complete old man.

Upon seeing Zhao Yu emerge, Zheng Xiansu walked shakily to Zhao Yu's side.

After a moment's hesitation, Zheng Xiansu couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, who will become the new Crown Prince... is it Wen'er, or..."

Zheng Xiansu wanted to ask if it might be one of her other three sons.

But Zheng Xiansu swallowed the words back down his throat.

Zheng Xiansu also knew that her other three sons were not suitable to be the emperor of the Song Dynasty, so she did not want to make things difficult for herself.

Zhao Yu did not answer, but instead asked, "How did you educate Wen'er? Why did he grow up to be like this?!"

Zheng Xiansu knew what Zhao Yu meant, and she stammered, "It was Shou'er and the Crown Princess who were educating Wen'er... Shou'er is so busy with state affairs... Your Majesty... I never imagined that Shou'er would die so young, so it was inconvenient for me to interfere in Wen'er's education..."

Zhao Yu thought about it and agreed.

With Zhao Ziwen's parents both alive and young and strong, and more importantly, one of them was a qualified crown prince and the future emperor of the Song Dynasty, while the other was a well-bred lady and a famous virtuous concubine, it was indeed difficult for Zheng Xiansu, the grandmother, to interfere in her grandson's education.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Princess was so eager to educate Zhao Ziwen that she found him a whole host of great Confucian scholars to be his teachers.

These great Confucian scholars learned from the experience of Sima Guang and others who failed to "teach" Emperor Zhezong of Song, Zhao Xu, and taught Zhao Ziwen "too well," which can be said to have completely met their expectations.

The problem is, this isn't the emperor of the Song Dynasty that Zhao Yu wanted...

……

...(End of this chapter)