Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 27: Creating the Yongping Noble Family, the Power Struggle Underway

"Are Lao Si's men still guarding Xishan?"

Awakening from his reverie, the retired emperor looked at the pale dawn breaking on the horizon and said expressionlessly.

"The Great Emperor."

"His Majesty's men have never left Xishan."

"Jia Yan went to Xuanzhen Temple twice, and each time he stayed for less than half an hour."

Dai Quan knelt on the ground and answered respectfully.

"madness."

Upon hearing this, the retired emperor uttered two words, with a hint of disappointment, "Six years."

"I gave him six years, and what did he do?"

"For a ruler, it is not important whether he is cold-hearted or not; what is important is to be fair in rewarding and punishing and to bestow kindness upon his subjects."

"In this respect, the fourth son is far inferior to the fourteenth son."

"If he can't even protect Lin Ruhai's wife, how can he expect people to serve him faithfully and risk their lives?"

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for profit."

"What is profit? It is high-ranking official positions and generous salaries, and family wealth and honor."

"An emperor's empty promise can make a greenhorn who has just taken the imperial examination devote himself to the cause until his dying breath."

"But those officials and military officers in the court are all seasoned veterans; how could they be moved by such empty words?"

'.'

Dai Quan lowered his head even further. He couldn't interrupt Emperor Shunkang's comments about Emperor Yongping, much less listen to them.

"The most crucial element in bringing the founding lineage under our control is the Jia family."

"If he had known how to treat scholars with respect, why would Jia She have closed his doors to guests, and why would Jia Jing have been forced to become a monk at the Xuanzhen Temple outside the capital?"

"He thought the Jia family was a soft persimmon that he could easily manipulate, but little did he know that Jia Jing had been making connections with the fourteenth prince right under his nose all these years, and the Jia family had been sending more than a million taels of silver to the fourteenth prince."

"This was such a clear situation, yet he managed to turn it into this mess with his schemes and tricks. Humph."

Emperor Shunkang looked down on Emperor Yongping's behavior, deeming it petty and narrow-minded.

The Jia family produced two dukes, and their influence as a founding lineage surpassed even that of the four great princes.

The coup in the capital that year was not just a struggle for the throne. Many people took advantage of the chaos, which allowed the Eighth Prince's faction to kill the Crown Prince's faction by surprise. Even when Jia She and Jia Jing reacted, it was too late.

If things proceed smoothly and no one schemes against him, the Crown Prince, with the support of the Jia family, will surely succeed in ascending the throne.

The Jia family has followed the founding emperor, the retired emperor, and the former crown prince. Three generations of their blood and energy have been almost exhausted. Can't we allow Jia Jing and Jia She to slack off?
However, Emperor Yongping couldn't stand it and forced Jia Jing from being a nobleman to become a monk. Who could tolerate that?
This behavior not only made the Jia family completely disillusioned with the imperial family, but also made Jia Jing realize that his existence was a thorn in the side of Emperor Yongping. This is why the Jia family chose to secretly transfer benefits to Prince Yizhong.

The reason why Emperor Shunkang held onto power for six years after his abdication, instead of handing it over to the current emperor, lies precisely in this point.

If a ruler treats his ministers like his own hands and feet, then the ministers will treat the ruler like their own heart and soul; if a ruler treats his ministers like dogs and horses, then the ministers will treat the ruler like a stranger; if a ruler treats his ministers like dirt and weeds, then the ministers will treat the ruler like an enemy.

The empire was conquered by the imperial family and the nobles. On the surface, Emperor Yongping was only dealing with Jia Jing, but in reality, he had already made the founding line see his true colors.

The nobles are disheartened, and this is only one aspect. If the nobles harbor hatred, then the world will be in danger.

"The Great Emperor."

"His Majesty wishes to summon his former retainers from his time as a prince back to the capital."

Suddenly, Dai Quan's words made Emperor Shunkang's expression freeze.

"It's been six years. His people are either in charge of a region or hold key positions."

“One or two people are talented but unappreciated, and they have a lot of grievances to share. These people are full of ideas about reform and innovation, and they want to be like Zhang Juzheng.”

"Do they have that ability?"

Emperor Shunkang's face showed a mocking expression: "Go and tell Zhang Tingyu that none of them are allowed to return to the capital." "Also, the Hidden Dragon Guard is going to purge those people in the Western Hills. The Jia family consists of orphans and widows. They are risking their lives in the front lines, and you are scheming here. What kind of nonsense is this?"

"Yes."

Dai Quan quickly responded, but he did not leave immediately. Instead, he cautiously inquired, "The Emperor Emeritus, the Jia family, and Prince Yizhong?"

"Don't bother."

"Jia Jing has already stepped forward, so let's leave it at that."

"Besides, this trouble was created by the fourth prince himself. If he can't even handle this small matter, what kind of emperor is he?"

Emperor Shunkang flicked his sleeves and gave the order with some impatience.

"Old slave, please resign!"

Dai Quan's expression changed drastically, and he hurried out of the Daming Palace.

As dawn broke, Emperor Yongping was basking in self-satisfaction inside the Qianqing Palace.

"good."

"Wang Ziteng is truly a capable person."

"In such a short period of time, more than 100,000 Beijing troops have been trained."

"With the addition of the troops recruited by the founding nobles, the chances of victory for the 200,000-strong army of the dynasty in Datong will be even greater."

"His Majesty."

Wu Sidao slowly turned his wheelchair and said, "Apart from the Shi family, most of the remaining founding nobles have sent their eldest sons to lead the troops."

"It seems that after holding back for so many years, they can't hold back any longer."

'Historian!'

A shadow fell over Emperor Yongping's eyes.

The first Marquis of Baoling, Shi Gong, was the first civil official to follow Emperor Taizu in raising an army. He was the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and was specially granted the title of Marquis of the Superior Rank, which was hereditary. The second Marquis of Baoling had always been in poor health. He followed Emperor Shunkang to Liaodong and unfortunately died. Only then did he receive the title of Marquis of Zhongjing.

The Shi family had two marquises, making them second only to the Jia family in prestige among the nobles of the dynasty. Marquis Baoling, Shi Nai, and Marquis Zhongjing, Shi Ding, were on good terms with Prince Yizhong, which greatly enhanced Prince Yizhong's reputation in the court and caused him a lot of trouble.

"His Majesty."

"Perhaps we can reward a group of people during this battle in the northern frontier."

Sitting upright in his wheelchair, Wu Sidao was dressed in black, his face pale and bloodless, giving off a sinister feeling.

"What you mean, sir?"

Emperor Yongping turned his head to look at the advisor he trusted most.

"The founding lineage aims to reclaim their former power; they may not necessarily stand behind His Majesty."

"Moreover, there are not many capable people, far less outstanding than some veteran generals of the dynasty."

"Instead of relying on these people, it would be better to cultivate a new group of people who can stand firmly behind His Majesty, just like the relationship between the Yuan Cong lineage and the retired emperor."

Why can't Your Majesty support a group of meritorious nobles during the Yongping era?

With a deep, thoughtful gaze, Wu Sidao began to speak slowly.

"Yongping Nobles"

At this moment, Emperor Yongping was already interested in the proposal and ordered: "Su Peisheng, collect information on some of the generals of the dynasty and submit it, especially those with outstanding military achievements."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Su Peisheng, the Grand Chancellor of the Qianqing Palace, responded loudly, saying that collecting this information was a piece of cake for the Blood Droplets.

During their conversation, no one mentioned Jia Yan at all. How could a mere fifteen-year-old boy attract attention?

(End of this chapter)