I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

...

Your subject Zhao Tang bows deeply and respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health.

Your son was ordered to lead his brothers, nephews and nieces to manage the Imperial Continent, making it a fiefdom of our Great Song Dynasty. It took twenty years, and fortunately, he did not fail in his mission.

Today, your sons, brothers, nephews, and I have been ordered to guard the Imperial Continent. Thanks to the divine protection of our father, the legacy of our ancestors, and the submission of the indigenous tribes, the western border is now largely pacified and we are almost safe.

Your Majesty has summoned your son back to the capital to discuss the selection of the heir apparent. Upon hearing this, your son is filled with trepidation and restlessness. I dare to humbly submit my heartfelt advice before Your Majesty.

The Prince's Continent is a hundred thousand miles away. It is the territory that the Emperor's father created through hard work and perseverance. More than a hundred vassal states were all established by the descendants of the Zhao clan. They are all related and share the same roots.

However, the new territory has just been settled, and the people's hearts are not yet at ease. Although the princes are relatives, their power is divided and scattered. The strength of the local people still needs to be pacified. If I were to leave lightly, I fear that the imperial family would become disloyal, the barbarians would rebel again, causing turmoil on the imperial continent and affecting our Great Song.

Your son is a junior member of the imperial clan, and has been entrusted with the great responsibility of the frontier by Your Majesty. I only know to prioritize the ancestral temples and the state, and to keep the peace and security of the border regions in mind.

The crown prince is the foundation of the nation, and there are capable brothers, sons, and nephews who are qualified to assume this great responsibility. Your son dares not hope for anything undeserved. I wish to resign from the struggle for the crown prince position, to pacify the vassal states and princes, to pacify the local people and border people, to defend the mainland of the imperial prince, to secure the west for my father, and to protect the foundation of our Zhao family.

I humbly beseech Your Majesty to take pity on the perilous situation on the border, and to grant my humble request, to rescind your decree and allow me to remain in command.

Your son will devote his utmost loyalty and wisdom, diligently perform his duties, safeguard the ancestral temples above, and comfort the common people below, so as to consolidate the Song Dynasty and preserve the Zhao clan.

Your subject is filled with trepidation and awaits your orders.

Your son Zhao Cheng respectfully submits this memorial.
Zhao Cheng personally submitted a memorial to Zhao Yu, stating that the Prince Continent had only recently stabilized, and if he were to return, the more than one hundred vassal states on the Prince Continent, as well as the indigenous forces they had painstakingly suppressed, were likely to descend into chaos. For the sake of the stability of the Prince Continent and the integrity of the Song Dynasty, he was willing to give up the election for crown prince and remain on the Prince Continent to guard the west for the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Cheng's choice surprised many people.

This also includes Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu truly never expected that Zhao Cheng would give up being the crown prince and take control of the world.

It is worth noting that under Zhang Chun's tutelage, Zhao Cheng studied diligently from a young age, learning statecraft during the day and practicing military tactics at night. He passed the imperial examination at the age of thirteen with top honors and volunteered to join the army at fourteen. In every battle, he always took the lead and charged into battle. He was also good at strategizing and anticipating the enemy's moves. At a young age, he had already made many outstanding contributions. Later, when he governed a region, his political achievements were also remarkable. It is no exaggeration to say that he surpassed his brothers in both civil and military affairs.

In his early twenties, under Zhang Chun's leadership, Zhao Cheng was ordered by Zhao Yu to go to the Prince's Continent to expand its territory.

Over the course of twenty years, Zhao Cheng led his many brothers and nephews to defeat all the natives on the Prince Continent, pacify the various vassal states, subdue the barbarians, and transform that desolate land of the Prince Continent into a stable fiefdom of the Great Song Dynasty.

Everyone in the court and among the people could see clearly that Zhao Cheng not only had ambition, but also the ability to match it. His brilliance even surpassed that of Zhao Shou, making him the most powerful candidate for the throne.

No one could have imagined that such a prince, with his lofty ambitions and aspirations for the world, would, when he truly had the opportunity to ascend the throne, take the initiative to submit a memorial, resigning from the struggle for the crown prince position and only requesting to remain forever on the Prince's Continent.

After thinking about it, Zhao Yu could understand Zhao Cheng's choice.

North America and South America together cover approximately 40 million square kilometers.

The three continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania together cover a total area of ​​just over 90 million square kilometers.

In other words, although the Prince Continent is not as large as other territories of the Song Dynasty, it has actually exceeded the area of ​​the Song Dynasty's mainland, and even reached half the area of ​​other regions of the Song Dynasty (excluding Antarctica).

Unifying the Prince Continent, while not as glorious as unifying the whole world, is, in a way, a feat that surpasses that of all emperors except Zhao Yu.

As long as Zhao Cheng stays on the Prince Continent, he can accomplish this great feat.

The key point is that the Prince Continent was conquered by Zhao Cheng over the past twenty years through hardship and bloody battles led by his relatives and nephews. From the submission of the various vassal states to the surrender of the natives, the foundation rests entirely on him.

In the Prince Continent, the laws were established by Zhao Cheng, the feudal lords were governed by Zhao Cheng, and the government decrees were issued by Zhao Cheng. No one could hinder him, no power could check him, he did not need to rely on others, and he did not need to pay attention to the court's opinions. Zhao Cheng was truly a ruler of his own domain.

In contrast, returning to the Song Dynasty and vying for the throne, while offering the opportunity to rule the world, actually presents a perilous and unpredictable path ahead.

In Zhao Cheng's view, even if his talents surpassed those of his many brothers and nephews, the position of crown prince would not be easily obtained. After all, Zhao Yu had too many children and grandchildren, many of whom were capable. More importantly, the imperial family, court officials, and various factions were deeply entrenched in the country. He had been away from the Song Dynasty for more than twenty years. How could the position of crown prince be so easy to win?

Even if he were to be fortunate enough to become the Crown Prince, he would still have to proceed with extreme caution under Zhao Yu's power, waiting patiently for his ascension to the throne. And in those long years, there would be endless variables.

Once one truly ascends the throne, one must reconcile the interests of the court and the people, balance the various factions, and govern this vast and complex world, which will require a hundred times more effort.

To put it simply, in Zhao Cheng's view, vying for the throne was about securing a title with an uncertain future within the empire Zhao Yu had built; while remaining in the capital meant becoming the absolute ruler within the empire he had conquered. The former was an heir subservient to the imperial power, while the latter was the true master of territorial expansion.

Zhao Cheng was well-versed in political maneuvering and pragmatism; what he sought was not empty fame, but real power.

Giving up the position of crown prince means abandoning the abstract and embracing the concrete, simplifying the complex and firmly grasping the new land of the Prince Continent, a land with unlimited potential that is entirely under his control.

Therefore, the calmest and wisest choice for a powerful ruler is not the unknown variables, but the vast empire that already belongs to him.

Having guessed Zhao Tang's thoughts, Zhao Yu felt a mixture of regret and admiration.

Giving up the struggle for the crown prince position was seen by many as jeopardizing his future, but in Zhao Yu's eyes, it might not have been the safest and smartest decision.

Zhao Yu was all too aware of the complexities of the court. The Song Dynasty's imperial family, nobles, civil and military officials, and imperial relatives were deeply entrenched, with their interests intertwined like a tangled mess. Whoever inherited the throne would have to work hard to secure it. A slight misstep or lack of ability would leave him as a monarch constrained by the various forces he had left behind.

The Prince Continent, on the other hand, was free from the constraints of the old system, the entrenched interest groups, and the powerful nobles who could overpower him. Every inch of land was conquered by him, and every act of submission was won through his strategic planning. From laws and regulations to personnel appointments and dismissals, from troop deployment to territorial governance, everything was decided by him alone. He had no need to be subservient to anyone, no need to compromise or yield, and no need to rely on anyone's support. He was a true uncrowned king, a sovereign who held absolute power and whose word determined life and death.

Therefore, if it were Zhao Yu in Zhao Cheng's place, he might have made the same choice. Although Zhao Cheng had his own selfish motives and even the intention to divide the world, Zhao Yu did not force Zhao Cheng to return to participate in the selection of the crown prince.

The reason why Zhao Yu did not force Zhao Cheng to return to court to participate in the selection of the heir apparent was...
Firstly, as Zhao Cheng said, the Prince Continent has only recently stabilized. There are more than a hundred vassal states there, as well as tens of millions of natives who were just suppressed by Zhao Cheng and his people. Once Zhao Cheng is gone, this vast territory, which has been pacified after twenty years of bloody battles, will inevitably fall into a crisis of turmoil and collapse in an instant.

The key point is that, currently, it seems that no one can replace Zhao Cheng.

The crucial point is that among Zhao Yu's more than one hundred sons and grandsons, there were many who were brave and skilled in battle, harbored ulterior motives, and were ambitious.

With Zhao Cheng around, he could use his ruthless methods to pacify the feudal lords, use his outstanding military achievements to subdue the natives, and use the blood ties of the imperial clan to maintain the bonds between the various vassal states. He could unite the Zhao clan members, who were like a scattered pile of sand, into one, suppress all selfish desires and covetousness, and make all the vassal states submit and the barbarians submit.

Once Zhao Cheng is gone, the Prince Continent will lose its only check and balance, and the tragic situation of the Spring and Autumn Period, with its warlords rising up and vying for power, will reappear.

Throughout history, the world has always been a place of division and unification. The unification of the territory depends on the power of a strong ruler, and the stability of the regional warlords depends on the authority of the central government. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Zhou royal family declined, and the feudal lords had no common ruler, which led to the warring states, the collapse of the social order, and a century of endless war, causing great suffering to the people.

The current situation on the Prince Continent is remarkably similar to that of the states during the Spring and Autumn Period. More than a hundred vassal states were all enfeoffed by members of the Zhao clan, each commanding troops and governing their own territories. They each had their own foundations and ambitions, but now they are only behaving themselves and not daring to act rashly because they share Zhao Yu as their father and grandfather, and are intimidated by the prestige and military power that Zhao Cheng has built up over twenty years of conquest.

Once Zhao Cheng left, the princes and grandsons of the various vassal states no longer had any fear or restraint. The bonds of kinship and blood ties were no match for the allure of power and territory, just like on the European continent.

At that time, older princes will rely on their seniority to vie for power, while skilled princes will seize territory with their military might. Wealthy vassal states will win over the weak, form alliances, and expand, while impoverished vassal states will covet neighboring states and launch raids. Without a leader, the Zhao clan's members and nephews will inevitably kill each other and fight amongst themselves. The princes' fiefdoms will instantly transform from stable domains into bloody battlefields where vassal states vie for supremacy.

This is definitely something Zhao Yu wouldn't want to see.

Furthermore, Zhao Yu had tens of thousands of descendants, many of whom were talented, capable, composed, and brave. While none of them possessed the same talent for expanding territory and prestige for pacifying the surrounding areas as Zhao Cheng, there was no shortage of suitable candidates to inherit the throne and take charge of the Song Dynasty. There was no need to call Zhao Cheng back.

Therefore, Zhao Yu not only granted Zhao Cheng's request, but also had someone bestow upon Zhao Cheng his own imperial seal and a precious sword, thus consolidating his "dominance" in the Prince Continent.

Unlike Zhao Yu, who was so open-minded, Zhang Chun, who was eagerly waiting for Zhao Cheng to return and seize the position of crown prince so that she could become empress, flew into a rage when she learned that Zhao Cheng did not want to return to compete for the position of crown prince!
Zhang Chun felt that Zhao Cheng lacked ambition.

Yes.

Even if Zhao Cheng doesn't return, he can still become the ruler of the Prince Continent, which was the path Zhang Chun originally planned for him.

But then again, how can a prince, the ruler of a continent, compare to the ruler of this world?

Unifying the world, whether in the past, present, or future, is something that perhaps only Zhao Yu could accomplish.

And as long as one becomes Zhao Yu's successor, one can become the ruler of the world and stand at the top of the world.

Zhang Chun, who was well-versed in history, knew better than anyone else in the world how rare and unparalleled the opportunity to reach the top of the world was.

She painstakingly cultivated Zhao Cheng, teaching him political strategy, military tactics, and vision. From governing the world to conquering territories, everything was honed to the standards of an emperor who would unify the world and rule the universe. All this was so that when the opportunity arose, he could seize it and become the supreme ruler who would truly oversee the world after Zhao Yu.

However, Zhao Cheng submitted a memorial resigning his position as crown prince, willingly choosing to remain in the Prince's Continent as a ruler of a region.

In Zhang Chun's eyes, this was not wisdom or composure, but utter shortsightedness, cowardice, and lack of ambition; it was discarding the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the world's ruler like trash.

Zhang Chun knew the vastness and weight of this world. Zhao Yu relied on the power of the five transmigrators, which was equivalent to having five cheat codes, to conquer this world, encompass the four seas and swallow the eight wastelands, and establish an unprecedented unified pattern.

Such a foundation is the pinnacle that no monarch throughout history has dared to dream of.

Becoming the crown prince means that one will soon be able to hold the reins of power over the entire world, command all nations, and rule the four seas. He will be the true ruler of the world, and his achievements, prestige, and vision will be far beyond what a regional prince can achieve.

However vast the Prince Continent may be, it is still just a corner of the world. Even if Zhao Cheng is the only one who can make decisions and has no one to check him, he is still just a local lord. His vision is always limited to his vast territory and his perspective is confined to the newly acquired land. There is an insurmountable gap between him and the supreme ruler who controls the entire world.

In Zhang Chun's view, Zhao Cheng's so-called real power, stability, and foundation are all self-deceptions that avoid the important issues, a fear of the variables in the struggle for the crown prince position, and a cowardly desire for vested interests.

'You've calculated every advantage and disadvantage, weighed every gain and loss, but you've lost the ambition and spirit that an emperor should possess, and you've abandoned the grand vision of the world that I've painstakingly instilled in you over decades.'

In Zhang Chun's view, the uniqueness and supremacy of the unified imperial power was not a question of whether or not to choose it, but rather that as her son, he should take it upon himself to conquer the world and consider it an honor to inherit the eternal imperial legacy, rather than retreating to new lands and becoming a peaceful ruler of one region.

Zhao Cheng's choice rendered Zhang Chun's lifelong plans futile, and her schemes that transcended time and space completely thwarted.

Zhang Chun was furious that Zhao Cheng lacked ambition, was narrow-minded, and had the opportunity to seize power, yet chose the safest, most mediocre, and least strategic path.

"You possess martial arts skills capable of sweeping across the continent, prestige to pacify the feudal lords, and universally recognized talent and virtue. You were the most natural heir to the throne, yet due to selfishness and a desire for temporary stability, you relinquished your right to stand at the pinnacle of the world, forfeiting the possibility of being remembered in history and transcending eternity!"

'The one I poured all my energy into nurturing wasn't a future ruler, but a vassal king content with the status quo and limiting his own potential?'

'If that's the case, I'd rather not have this son!'

The key issue is that if Zhao Cheng doesn't return to compete for the crown prince position, Zhang Chun won't be able to become empress, and all her plans will fail.

In a fit of rage, Zhang Chun wrote another letter to Zhao Cheng, denouncing him and saying that if Zhao Cheng did not return to fight for the position of crown prince, he would be unfilial and he would no longer want him as his son!

Zhang Chun then went to Zhao Yu and asked him to issue an imperial edict forcing Zhao Cheng to return and participate in the selection of the crown prince.

However, Zhao Yu rejected him on the grounds that everyone has their own ambitions...

...(End of this chapter)