Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Inside the Dragon Head Palace,

Just as the Emperor Emeritus was pondering this in secret, Prince Yi did not echo his sentiments, but instead continued speaking with an enigmatic expression:

"At the victory celebration banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony just now, Jia Zijie was publicly appointed as the military governor of the Twelve Battalions, with full authority over the reorganization and deployment of the 180,000 troops of the Twelve Battalions in the capital."

"He has also been granted the additional power to control the military affairs around the capital. Now he has surpassed the Prince of Nan'an and is truly the greatest military hero of the Han Dynasty!"

When the Prince of Yi said this, his tone couldn't help but carry a hint of sighing!

Regardless of whether Jia Jing is a treacherous minister disguised as a loyal one or a truly loyal and virtuous minister, it cannot change the fact that he already holds great power!

With the power of 180,000 troops in the capital, coupled with his terrifying military strength and leadership ability, he was truly invincible in the court and the country. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he could control the sky with one hand!

As long as they have this person's support in the Qianqing Palace, their attempt to restore the monarchy will be as difficult as climbing to the sky!

Upon reading this, the Prince of Yi's expression darkened, and a hint of doubt appeared on his face!

Like the retired emperor, Prince Yi also couldn't understand how Emperor Jingsheng dared to entrust Jia Jing with such great power!

Was he really not worried at all about Jia Jing usurping the throne? Did he really have no suspicions about Jia Jing whatsoever?

In his opinion, even if Jia Jing and Emperor Jingsheng were like father and son, they shouldn't trust each other so absolutely!

Moreover, although Emperor Jingsheng was a man of strong emotions, judging from his actions over the past decade, he was by no means a brainless person who was inept at political maneuvering!

What exactly is he thinking?

Just as Prince Yi was filled with doubt and speculation, the Emperor Emeritus, already visibly shocked by Prince Yi's words, turned somber and couldn't help but say coldly:

"Excellent! The commander of the Twelve Battalions! Controlling the military and political affairs of the capital region! All military power in the capital is in one person's hands, and the safety of the nation is controlled by his subject!"

"I think he's been blinded by the victory in the Northwest, and has become so arrogant with the praise and flattery of the so-called 'restoration emperor' that he's completely forgotten that he is the true ruler of the world!"

"The Duke of Zhou feared rumors, and Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation! How can a ruler tolerate another's snoring beside his bed?"

"His reckless behavior will eventually backfire!"

The retired emperor's tone was filled with barely suppressed resentment.

He withdrew his hand from the window frame, tucking it into his sleeve. His fingertips were slightly white, and sunlight streamed in through the window cracks, casting an unpredictable shadow on his face.

"Come here, Chen'er!"

After the retired emperor gave a cold rebuke, he remained silent for a long time before suddenly calling out to Prince Yi.

He then strolled to the base of the north wall inside the palace, where a calligraphy scroll was hanging.

It was written by him recently, and it was beautifully framed, with four large characters inscribed on it: "The Way of Balance!"

Next to it was a line of smaller text: "Open-minded and selfless, upholding justice and righteousness!"

The calligraphy is excellent, with strong strokes and a well-proportioned structure.

The retired emperor looked at the calligraphy with a touch of nostalgia on his face, and slowly admonished the Prince of Yi, who had followed behind him:

"Taking advantage of Jia Jing's matter, I will teach you today the most important principle of being a ruler!"

"These are also the imperial strategies and methods of governing your subjects that your grandfather taught me while holding my hand on his deathbed!"

"A ruler needs to know a lot, including recognizing and employing talent, the art of leadership, and governing the country, but the most crucial thing is to understand... the way of balance!"

What is balance?

"The first point is to prevent the ministers from conspiring against me and to maintain a balance of power among the civil and military officials in the court."

"Secondly, we must balance the interests of the gentry, officials, and powerful clans throughout the land, ensuring they all prosper alongside our Great Han!"

"As long as they are of one mind with my royal family, my Great Han Dynasty can last for thousands of generations!"

"The key lies in striking the right balance. You can skip court and ignore governance, you can even... suffer defeats, but you cannot allow the balance of power in the court to become unbalanced!"

"I realized this truth too late, which allowed someone to exploit my weaknesses and seize the throne!"

"Today I entrust this principle to you; you must remember it well and pass it on to your descendants in the future!"

"Remember! The weight of the world, the responsibility of the nation, and the burden of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty can only ever be borne on the shoulders of the Emperor!"

"If I were not the emperor, I would rather forgo a prosperous era of restoration and a court full of virtuous and capable ministers!"

As the retired emperor finished speaking, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, clearly recalling the unpleasant experience of being dethroned!

Upon hearing the Emperor Emeritus's words, Prince Yi's expression was a mixture of joy and worry!

What pleased him was that the retired emperor was able to pass on these imperial strategies to him, which meant that he was being taught as the next emperor!

After all, these insights into being an emperor are a more practical form of inheritance than empty rituals like the coronation ceremony!

These insights were typically passed down orally between the emperor and his successor, and were not known to others.

What worries him is that his father has now lost the throne, and given the current situation, his hope of ascending the throne in the future seems extremely slim!

Even if one knew all these imperial strategies, it seemed there was no way to use them!

Furthermore, he was actually not really willing to believe the lessons learned by the retired emperor, this "loser"!

After all, no matter how you look at it, the reality is that you lost your country and your sovereignty in a major war, were captured and forced to surrender, and lost your position!

Facts speak louder than words! Saying more is futile!

The retired emperor, of course, was unaware of the complex emotions in Prince Yi's heart. Still exuding imperial authority, he saw the worry on Prince Yi's face and comforted him once more:

"You don't need to worry about the current situation! Although I didn't expect Jia Jing to be such a variable, I have been on the throne for so many years, how could I not have some confidence?"

"It seems that the Qianqing Palace side has the upper hand over us for now, but I still have many other options!"

"Your Majesty's wise words will be remembered by your son!" Prince Yi nodded with a complicated expression.

The hall was quiet for a while. The sandalwood in the Boshan incense burner had burned down to its end. The last wisp of smoke squeezed out from the gap in the lid, twisted a few times, and dissipated into the air!

The retired emperor took a deep breath, slowly calmed himself down, and pondered the current situation. After a long while, he said:

"For now, we should remain calm and wait for the right opportunity!"

"The Prince of Nan'an has been kept in touch with the Duke of Cao. He failed to take command of the capital garrison this time and was overshadowed by Jia Jing, so he is certainly not convinced."

"I know his temperament. This is a good time to win him over. He has considerable influence in the southern army, and we might need him in the future!"

"You need to keep a close eye on what's happening in Jiangnan. With Jia Jing's return to the capital, the Qianqing Palace has gained confidence and will definitely push forward the new policies."

"The new policies harm the interests of the gentry and scholars across the land, and they will not remain indifferent..."

The Emperor Emeritus paused here, walked to the imperial desk, picked up a teacup, took a sip, and said slowly with a meaningful look in his eyes:

"As for Jia Jing, I will eliminate him after my restoration to prevent future troubles!"

"But now, we still need to try to... win him over."