A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 6 A Masterpiece
"When Gongyang rose to power, he sent Zhongshu to Jiangdu; when the crown prince was established, he chose a wise teacher based on empty reputation."

Liu said with a smile.

The emperor admired the Gongyang School, but sent Dong Zhongshu to the dangerous Jiangdu Kingdom as prime minister. In Chang'an, people opposed the new system everywhere.

His father appointed him as the crown prince, and instead of choosing learned scholars or powerful nobles to teach him, he chose someone who was not worthy of the title.

I wonder how much effort Father Emperor put into finding these two idiots who could be included in the Imperial Archives.

Awkward silence.

Wei Qing remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Shi Qing is the youngest son of Lord Wan Shi, and he has his own unique abilities..."

Neither Liu Ju nor Huo Qubing responded; they simply watched as their uncle, pale and feeble, made his defense of the emperor.

Mr. Wan Shi.

That's Shi Fen.

During the reign of Emperor Gaozu, he was merely a servant. Through his respectful conduct and the turbulent times, he rose to the position of one of the Nine Ministers without any merit.

He had four sons, Jian, Jia, Yi, and Qing. During the reigns of Emperors Xiaowen and Xiaojing, when they were widely recommended for their filial piety and brotherly love, they all became officials with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain).

Five of them, each worth two thousand, total ten thousand, which Emperor Xiaojing praised as "Lord of Ten Thousand Stones".

Are the Shi family members capable?
They have no ability whatsoever. From the old to the young, none of them possess any literary talent or learning. Apart from being respectful and cautious in their speech, they are utterly useless.

Are we to make the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty learn how to serve others?
As for the Junior Tutor Zhuang Qingzhai, he came from a distinguished family. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu, his ancestor Zhuang Bushi was ennobled for his merits, and Zhuang Qingzhai inherited the title during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen.

The second-generation descendants of the founding heroes of the Han Dynasty, with the exception of a very few, were mostly pampered and spoiled princes.

In the first seven years of His Majesty's reign, Empress Dowager Dou abolished all the new policies, dismissed Chancellor Dou Ying and Grand Commandant Tian Fen, executed Zhao Wan and Wang Zang, and replaced them with trusted ministers who aligned themselves with the "Huang-Lao philosophy" that she admired.

Marquis Zhuang Qingzhai of Wuqiang was the Imperial Censor at that time.

Zhuang Qingzhai was also punished and dismissed immediately after Empress Dowager Dou's death. For thirteen years, he was never mentioned again in the court, which shows the emperor's hatred.

However, the emperor suddenly wanted to promote such a person to the position of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince.

What will the Crown Prince learn by following Shi Qing and Zhuang Qingzhai?
Morally misguided?
To neglect one's studies?

Is there an unfortunate health condition?

While criticizing the crown prince for being "unlike his father," they also do not want him to achieve anything. This is the nature of the royal family.

A son who is not like his father will be disliked by his father.

If a son resembles his father, the father will resent it.

Liu Ju winked at his elder brother.

Huo Qubing coughed lightly and said, "Uncle, people like Shi Qing and Zhuang Qingzhai who seek fame and fortune are not suitable to be my son's teacher. Please write a memorial to His Majesty and advise him to choose the Prime Minister as the Crown Prince's tutor."

Wei Qing fell silent again.

Liu Ju had no choice but to speak: "Uncle, whether it is Gongyang, Guliang, or Huang-Lao Taoism, to me they are just steps to understanding the principles, and will not affect my national policies after I ascend the throne. It is not important who my teacher is. What is important is that my teacher is the Prime Minister."

Water dripping from the eaves signifies generation after generation, and power is passed down from one generation to the next.

If you're the crown prince in the Liu family, you won't even know how you died if you don't have enough power.

The first deposed crown prince in history, Liu Rong, was like this, and so was he in official history.

Wei Qing looked at Liu Ju and said, "With me here, what are you afraid of?"

"What I fear is when my uncle and elder brother aren't around," Liu Ju said calmly, his eyes meeting Huo Qubing's. Huo Qubing smiled and said, "Brother Ju, aren't you worrying too much?"

Your Majesty is thirty-five years old.

My uncle is thirty-two years old.

He was only eighteen.

Even if my uncle doesn't outlive His Majesty, won't he outlive His Majesty?
"An accident on the battlefield could be a gust of wind or a sip of water. No one can guarantee whether an accident or tomorrow will come first," Liu Ju said quietly.

He liked his elder brother's confidence and would make preparations for it. However, among the three, compared with his father, who was in the palace and rarely in danger, and his uncle, who was deliberately neglected and could no longer go to the battlefield, his elder brother, who was charging into battle and as dazzling as a comet, was the most likely to die first.

Huo Qubing was taken aback.

Wei Qing kept his eyes fixed on Liu Ju, "The Crown Prince's palace is too large, and his sharp edge is too great. It's not necessarily a good thing."

Unless under special circumstances such as overseeing the country, the crown prince generally does not handle political affairs, and the emperor does not allow officials who are not subordinate to the crown prince to have too much contact. If the crown prince forms power with court officials too early, it is easy for him to force the emperor to abdicate in advance.

Chinese history is too long, and this kind of thing has happened many times before.

With the prime minister serving as the crown prince's tutor, and the heads of both the outer and inner courts residing in the crown prince's palace, His Majesty, with his suspicious and ambitious nature, would inevitably see this as a challenge to the crown prince's palace. It is not impossible that father and son might turn against each other.

“With my uncle here and my elder brother here, what do I have to fear?” Liu Ju slightly altered Wei Qing’s words and replied, “Uncle, ‘a son who is not like his father’ is too harsh.”

Regardless of victory or defeat, such an evaluation should not be placed upon him. The crown prince, who has the blood of both the Liu and Wei families flowing in his veins, cannot bear such an injustice that has been utterly unjust throughout the ages.

Wei Qing stopped arguing with him and sighed softly, "Let's submit the memorial like this. Qu Bing, you write the memorial, sign your name, and I will take the lead in submitting it."

"Thank you uncle."

Liu Ju expressed his gratitude to Wei Qing, tugged at Huo Qubing's armor, and they left the short-armored hall together.

"Brother, how should this memorial be written?"

Liu Ju was stunned for a moment before realizing that his elder brother's literary talent and learning were not high enough to write such a major memorial concerning the foundation of the country. After thinking for a while, he said, "Find someone to write it."

Who can write it?

"Sima Xiangru".

"The one who wrote 'Changlin Fu'?"

"Yes. I just don't know if he'd be willing to write it?"

"I can write it."

……

Maoling.

Sima Xiangru, who was trying to find a concubine, suddenly had a sword held to his neck, so he picked up his brush and wrote a magnificent piece of writing.

"I have heard that the stability of Mount Tai is built from the accumulation of soil, and the prosperity of a nation is based on the inheritance of knowledge and virtue. In the past, the Duke of Zhou spat out his food to welcome guests, and the world turned to him. He kept his plans hidden in golden boxes, not only giving his all but also enlightening King Cheng's wisdom. Now, the position of heir apparent is of great importance to the nation. If the prime minister were to concurrently serve as tutor to the crown prince, it would be like the North Star, surrounded by all the stars, ensuring the eternal stability of the holy dynasty."

The Crown Prince is the jewel of the ancestral temple. Jade, if uncarved, will have its brilliance hidden in its roughness; a dragon, without guidance, will have its power diminished in the abyss. The Prime Minister is the pivot of all officials, governing the world, participating in political affairs, discussing principles with the Three Dukes, and receiving guidance from the Nine Ministers. His mind is filled with wisdom and his vision encompasses the entire realm. If he were to hold the torch in the Eastern Hall, imparting to him the wisdom of the *Spring and Autumn Annals* and the principles of the *Great Plan*, then the heir apparent would be as sharp as a whetstone, his virtue shining brightly across the land. Moreover, the passing of the sword and seal is like the continuous flow of a river; only those deeply versed in the nation's pulse can ensure its transmission. The Prime Minister bears the weight of the imperial seal and holds the reins of power. Enlightening him day and night is like forging the mold for the nine tripods; the jewel will surely shine like the sun, radiating the renewed glory of the nation.

However, the teachings of the ancients were not merely about the minutiae of classical texts. The prime minister, working tirelessly day and night, was intimately familiar with the affairs of state, his every move controlled. The crown prince, observing his strategic planning and receiving his keen insight into the complexities of governance, was like a seedling nurtured by gentle rain, silently gaining a profound understanding of the subtleties of governance. In the past, Duke Shao divided the land between Shaanxi and Qin, leaving behind a legacy of virtue and kindness, not only through his diligence and humility but also by allowing his successor to personally experience his benevolent influence. Shang Yang abandoned propriety for law, which, while making Qin strong, ultimately led the crown prince astray, neglecting the fundamental principles of benevolence—the lessons of the past are clear; should we not be cautious?

Your Majesty's wise and far-sighted considerations dictate that a trusted and capable minister should concurrently serve as tutor and guardian. This will allow the Crown Prince to learn the ways of the court early on, sharpening his resolve before it is even unleashed. Thus, when he ascends the throne and assumes power, he will surely be able to uphold order and bring peace to the realm. The foundation of the dynasty for ten thousand generations truly depends on the wise decision made today in selecting a tutor. I am filled with trepidation and humility, and bow my head twice in reverence: I humbly entrust the weighty responsibility of the nation to a virtuous tutor. This would be a great blessing for the ancestral temple, a great blessing for the state, and a prosperous and lasting dynasty!

(End of this chapter)