The prince is more stable

Chapter 800 Preparing for the Coronation
Historically, Zhao Hao died relatively young, around the same age as he is now.

After all, he was his own father; he couldn't just stand by and watch him run wild and then die.

Inheritance and such... of course I want it too, but there's no rush. Anyway, Zhao Xiaoqian is the only heir in the Chu royal family, so he can't escape it.

"You unfilial son, you just want to starve me to death so you can inherit my estate!" Zhao Hao said angrily.

"What are you saying! Have I starved you? You can eat as many green vegetables as you want at home."

"That's for feeding livestock. I've been eating grass for over half a month, and with a plow, I can plow two acres of land!"

"Father, don't worry. With your weight and the thickness of your fat, you could survive for two months in the desert without food or water... Hmm? Throwing you in the desert seems like a good idea..."

Zhao Hao, filled with shock and anger, pointed at him and shouted, "You, shut up! Don't think about these strange things!"

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "Father, after these two weeks of restricting your diet, do you feel any difference in your health? Have your previous problems such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and lack of sexual function improved?"

Zhao Hao was taken aback, took a few deep breaths, and suddenly his face lit up with joy: "I didn't realize it until you mentioned it, but it seems to be true, at least I'm not as tired anymore..."

Zhao Hao suddenly turned hostile: "You unfilial son! Who are you saying is indecisive in bed? I am very vigorous and have absolutely no problem in that regard!"

"If you eat grass for a few more days, your stubbornness will be cured."

Zhao Xiaoqian said earnestly, "Father, if you live a few more years, our family will have many wealthy days waiting for you to enjoy in the future. Just imagine, we have won that position, but after sitting on it for only a few days, Father, you suddenly die. After that, we can no longer eat and drink well, but can only eat candles, ingots, and paper money. Don't you think it's a huge loss, Father?"

Zhao Hao hesitated for a long time before reluctantly saying, "That makes sense. I... alright, I'll endure it for a while longer. I'll live to at least seventy. It's not for wealth and glory, but... I haven't even held my grandson in my arms yet. Just for that reason, I must live a long life."

"Father, rest assured, I have many wives and concubines, and in the future I will have a whole brood of grandchildren, which you can hold as many as you like."

Zhao Hao nodded with great satisfaction. Having many wives and concubines was definitely not a drawback for this cynical old playboy. He himself had a bunch of concubines, but none of them had laid a child for him.

If he could really have a brood of grandchildren, Zhao Hao could die in peace.

"Finish this damned business quickly and bring your wives and concubines back to Bianjing. How can you talk about having a bunch of grandchildren when you can't even see your husband?"

Then Zhao Hao remembered the important matter and said, "Liu Mao, the commander of the Palace Guard, I took him to a brothel yesterday. Liu Mao was very happy. This guy... he really didn't hold back. He ordered several girls to serve him. Yesterday's drinking session cost me a thousand taels of silver."

"and then?"

"Then, after he had eaten and drunk his fill and had his fun with the girls, he patted his butt and left, saying he had important military business to attend to. Ha!" Zhao Hao sneered.

Zhao Xiaoqian frowned: "They're treating you like a great traitor..."

"No rush. Dealing with this kind of old fox requires a slow and steady approach. While I'm trying to win him over, I'll also have my men find dirt on him."

"Liu Mao has served as the Commander of the Palace Guard for more than five years. I don't believe he has been completely clean and untainted all these years. The court allocates a lot of silver to the Palace Guard every year. It's impossible for him not to take a single penny. I could tell from his behavior in the brothel yesterday that he is no good."

The Song Dynasty's military system consisted of three departments: the Palace Guard Department, the Infantry Guard Department, and the Cavalry Guard Department.

The Infantry Division and the Cavalry Division were distributed throughout the Song Dynasty, in charge of local imperial guards and garrison troops, while the Palace Guard Division was responsible for the defense of Bianjing (Kaifeng).

The Palace Guard troops were under the control of the Privy Council. Without orders from the emperor and the Privy Council, the Palace Guard could not mobilize a single soldier.

The nearly 200,000 imperial guards protecting Bianjing, including the famous Upper Three Armies, were directly under the control of the Privy Council and the Palace Guard.

This is why Zhao Hao suddenly tried to win over Liu Mao, the commander of the Palace Guard.

As long as Liu Mao is won over and bribed, the defense of Bianjing Imperial City will be in the hands of Zhao Hao and his son, thus reducing casualties and even achieving victory without bloodshed.

Zhao Xiaoqian naturally agreed with Zhao Hao's attempt to win over Liu Mao, as he did not want the soldiers of the Song Dynasty to fight a civil war, and he had always tried to avoid the bloodshed and sacrifice caused by such internal strife.

"Father, please put in more effort and try to win over Liu Mao as soon as possible. If that doesn't work, start by taking action against their high-ranking generals. If the Palace Guard is leaderless, the Imperial Guards below will be unable to accomplish anything. Besides, I am the Deputy Privy Councilor, and this position can be useful at crucial moments."

Zhao Hao nodded: "That's right. I've made two preparations. If Liu Mao only responds to force and not persuasion, then don't blame me for being impolite. I've arranged for people to closely monitor Liu Mao's residence. His every move is under my watchful eye."

…………

With the new emperor in power, the State Council immediately issued official documents to local governments throughout the Song Dynasty.

Bianjing City was naturally the first to know the news, and the city was immediately filled with cheers and jubilation.

The establishment of Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, as the new emperor was naturally a good thing for the Song Dynasty.

The good thing wasn't because Zhao Ji was about to become emperor, but because the Song Dynasty now had an emperor. It didn't matter who it was, as long as there was an emperor.

The common people were unfamiliar with Zhao Ji, and even less aware of the intrigues and power struggles among the high-ranking officials in the court and palace before and after the new emperor's ascension. They only knew that the Song Dynasty could not be without an emperor, and the uncertainty surrounding the new emperor would cause unrest among the people.

Now that the emperor has been chosen, the people are at ease and continue to make a living and live their ordinary lives.

Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, was now at ease. He stayed in his residence, feeling quite pleased with himself, and politely declined the visits of court officials, saying that he would avoid suspicion and not see any outside guests.

This attitude immediately won the favor of the court officials. Whether the positive evaluation of Zhao Ji was genuine praise or flattery, at least both sides made their attitudes very clear. Outsiders would only be moved by the wisdom and virtue of the Song emperor and his ministers.

The day after the new emperor was established, the Imperial Observatory observed celestial phenomena, calculated the auspicious day for the emperor's ascension to the throne.

The coronation ceremony was scheduled for ten days later, on the eighth day of the second month of the fourth year of Shaosheng. Of course, after Zhao Ji ascended the throne, he could no longer use the reign title "Shaosheng".

After deliberation, the ministers decided to set the reign title as "Jianzhong Jingguo" and officially changed the reign title in early March. This year, the fourth year of Shaosheng, is the first year of "Jianzhong Jingguo".

The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review were also busy compiling and organizing the lists of criminals sent by local governments throughout the Song Dynasty. On the day Zhao Ji ascended the throne, he would issue an edict to grant amnesty to the whole country, and many criminals whose crimes were not too serious would be released.

Meanwhile, various government offices, including the State Affairs Hall, the Ministry of Rites, the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, were also busily preparing for the enthronement ceremony.

The enthronement ceremony was characterized by its simplicity and low-key nature, with no extravagance or festive atmosphere.

After all, it was still a period of national mourning. From the capital to the cities in various parts of the Song Dynasty, the main theme was still mourning the late emperor. The world was still covered with white banners and mourning ribbons.

The late emperor's body is barely cold, and you're already joyfully ascending the throne with drums and gongs. Is that right?

For an emperor about to ascend the throne, this is of course normal. Throughout history, most monarchs have ascended the throne amidst a vast expanse of white, unless it was a complete rebellion that led to a change of dynasty.

Upon hearing that the astrologer from the Imperial Observatory had calculated an auspicious day, Zhao Xiaoqian became quite busy ten days later.

A secret letter was urgently sent to the Youzhou camp, and Zhao Hao also accelerated the pace. Under his secret orders, many people disguised as ordinary merchants and civilians entered Bianjing City in batches.

On an ordinary day, as dusk approached and the gates of Bianjing were about to close, a caravan hurriedly arrived outside the city gates.

The imperial guards who were stationed in the city were typical workaholics; they would never work overtime. When they saw the caravan trying to enter the city, they immediately stopped them.

"The city gates are closed. You should stay outside the city and wait until the gates open tomorrow morning before entering."

As he spoke, the head of the Imperial Guards was about to order the city gates to be closed.

The merchant at the head of the caravan, dressed in fine silk robes, hurriedly stepped forward with a smile: "Sir, please don't be in such a hurry. We've rushed to Bianjing and are about to enter the city. Please make an exception for us."

The constable said impatiently, "Rules are rules, what can I do about them? Let's go into the city tomorrow, I'm not serving you today!"

The merchant's smile grew even more ingratiating: "Sir, sir, please reconsider. I've been traveling around trying to make a living, and this batch of goods needs to be delivered tonight. I really can't stay outside the city overnight."

While talking, his hands didn't stop moving, and he subtly slipped two heavy silver ingots into the captain's hand.

The constable paused for a moment, secretly weighing the amount of silver in his hand. His impatient expression softened, and he even managed a polite smile.

"We're all just trying to make a living, and you've certainly had a tough time. I'll be lenient with you today. Hurry up and go in, don't be late."

The merchant thanked him profusely and bowed, then waved for the caravan of camels and horse-drawn carriages behind him to enter the city.

The caravan had barely started moving when the head constable stopped them again: "What goods are loaded on the carriages?"

The merchant said ingratiatingly, "It's just some pig iron. I was entrusted by my master to send it to Bianjing to be smelted and made into farm tools, iron pots, kitchen knives and the like, and then sold to various prefectures and counties around the capital."

The constable stepped forward suspiciously and lifted the coarse cloth covering the goods, only to find two thick, cast iron pipe-like objects on it. These objects were thinner in the front and thicker in the back, with an opening in the front and a solid, sealed opening in the back, making them look like a round, iron buttock.

The captain tapped the thing with his finger, and was a little confused by the shape of the tubular object; he had never seen anything like it in his life.

"What is this?" The constable circled around it, pondering it intently.

"I don't know what it is either, but it's the master's order. Besides, it'll be smelted after it's brought into the city, so who cares what it is... Sir, it's getting late, what do you think..."

The constable studied it for a long time, but with his limited knowledge and experience, he really couldn't figure out what the tubular object was for.

Regardless of what this thing is, it has no impact on his monthly salary of two taels of silver. Besides, he just got two unexpected windfalls.

"Go in. Next time, come earlier, or you'll miss me closing the city gates." The head constable simply stopped studying the matter and waved for the caravan to enter the city.

(End of this chapter)