Chapter 289 The New Emperor Ascends the Throne

The Crown Prince bowed and entered the hall, prostrating himself.

"Grandson pays respects to the old ancestor!"

Li Long stared at the Crown Prince for a long time with a hawk-like gaze, his voice hoarse.

"What do you think of Jingtai?"

The Crown Prince replied, "My ancestor, Grandpa is wise and brave, but Grandpa is far inferior to him!"

Li Long's face was gloomy, and he said in a cold voice, "Jingtai is stupid and cruel. He framed our ancestors in the royal family and caused rebellions in the country. You are not even as good as him, so why are you an emperor!"

"Grandpa, the ancient sages said that a son should not speak of his father's faults, and a minister should not expose the king's evil! Grandpa and Grandpa are both grandfather and grandson, and monarch and minister, so they can't discuss privately."

"When my father was alive, he had different opinions about Grandpa, but he was trapped by blood and family affection, so he had to pretend to be confused. He often taught Grandpa that as a son and a minister, filial piety should be put first!"

The Crown Prince changed his tone and said, "However, in terms of the concept of governing the country, Grandpa and Grandpa have many differences."

"Well? How do you plan to govern the country?"

Li Long nodded slightly, which was considered to be an approval of what the Crown Prince said.

From others to himself, Li Long also wanted to leave a good name after his death, and the Crown Prince's character of not fearing threats suited his appetite.

"Grandpa Emperor regarded Taizu and Zhongzong as role models, ruled the country with military force, and suppressed everything with force."

The Crown Prince said: "The Grandson believes that the times have changed, and the overall national situation of Dagan is stable, which is completely different from the time of Taizu and Zhongzong."

"Governing the country should be based on appeasement, so it is advocated to govern the country with filial piety!"

"Governing the country with filial piety..."

Li Long thought for a moment and nodded slightly.

Li Long didn't care who was the emperor. He never asked about the emperors before Jingtai. It didn't matter whether they were wise or mediocre, as long as they didn't commit suicide to the extreme.

Being too wise is not necessarily a good thing. Jingtai taught Li Long a lesson.

Besides, the Crown Prince's idea of ​​governing the country with filial piety is very consistent with Li Long's current mind. Jingtai was too unfilial, which caused the disaster.

Li Long thought for a moment, and there was still a big problem that needed to be assessed by the Crown Prince.

"Nine Nether Immortal Lotus, do you know about it?"

"I have heard a little bit about it."

The Crown Prince said: "Your Highness is familiar with the classics of the country. The Great Ancestor became a Martial Saint with the Immortal Lotus, and then he established his rule in Yunzhou!"

"But it's not just that. The Emperor Zhongzong and I were both gifted by the Immortal Lotus!"

Li Long simply told the Crown Prince about the theft of the Nine Nether Immortal Lotus, omitting the fact that Jingtai colluded with demons for immortality, and only said that he provoked the Supreme True Immortal.

First, it made him look too stupid, and second, it prevented future generations from following suit.

"My life span is no more than fifty. Now that the external demon court is about to be established, the Great Work must be led by a Martial Saint. Jingtai plans to march north to the Demon Kingdom to ripen the Immortal Lotus. What do you think?"

"Please wait a moment, Grand Ancestor, let the Grandson think for a moment."

The Crown Prince had a draft in mind, and quickly replied: "Your Highness thinks it shouldn't be..."

"Hmm?"

Li Long frowned slightly. Even if Jingtai made a thousand mistakes, he had to admit that his methods were good.

Going north to the Demon Kingdom to ripen the fairy lotus is indeed the only option at the moment. With fifty years of steady progress, it is entirely possible to become the fourth Martial Saint before Li Long dies.

The demon god who has gained immortality under the protection of the Martial Saint will not easily risk his life for this.

The Crown Prince said, "I think we should march south to Qingqiu!"

Li Long asked in confusion, "What's the reason?"

"First, it's for the greater good. It's better to refine the demon clan than to refine humans. After all, the Demon Kingdom is a human territory. It's far better to capture the demons from Qingqiu and directly fill them into the demon cave."

"Second, it's for safety. The Demon Court doesn't want a unified human race to occupy the land of two continents."

"Third, it's for advantage. The demons are far inferior to humans in organized military battles. What's more, the demon city-states are independent and can be easily broken down one by one."

The Crown Prince said, "Fourth, it's for revenge. General Gongsun Qi died in a sneak attack by the demons. The murderer is still at large. It's just the reason for the march south!"

Li Long kept nodding his head. His hatred for the demons far exceeded that of the Jizhou Demon Kingdom. Finally, he asked.

"Go south to Qingqiu and kill the fox fairy. What if it causes dissatisfaction in the demon court?"

The crown prince asked back: "Grandfather, how strong are you compared to that real fairy?"

Li Long said confidently: "Of course I am stronger. Even if it is the Taoist Buddha, I can defeat him!"

The crown prince said: "Then will you avenge the emperor?"

"No..."

After Li Long finished speaking, he suddenly realized it. Seeing the crown prince's increasingly satisfied look, he said: "I am focused on martial arts and don't know much about governing the country. I will leave the millions of people to you!"

Li Shi showed a happy face and said loudly: "This minister will not disappoint the old ancestor's expectations!"

Li Long shouted to the outside of the hall: "You guys, get in."

Soon.

The four remaining elders of the Dragon Guard came in with fear on their faces and bowed to apologize.

The ancestor even killed his own nephew, so they, the collateral royal family, had to be afraid.

"From today on, Li Shi will take the throne. You must protect him well."

Li Long warned: "If anyone disobeys me again in the future, he will die!"

The four elders breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. The matter of Jingtai was over.

"Yes, sir!"

"I am tired. Everyone, please leave."

Li Long still needs to continue to refine the immortal lotus spirit body and recover from his injuries as soon as possible before he can go to the demon cave to check the Nine Nether Immortal Lotus.

Several people bowed and left the hall. Two of them continued to guard the Fulong Hall, and the other two protected Li Shi closely until the new king officially ascended the throne and took control of the court.

That night.

The third prince returned to his mansion. Unwilling to be suppressed by his nephew, he joined hands with his fourth and fifth brothers to enter the palace again to pay respects to his father.

The general on duty had received orders from the Dragon Guarding Department and the Internal Service Department, as well as the news that Li Shi was chosen by the Protector of the Nation Martial Saint to succeed him, and he was determined not to open the formation restriction.

The three princes did not dare to force their way in, and had to return home in disgrace.

Then, the news of Emperor Jingtai's death quickly spread to the royal family and officials.

The princes had their own supporters in the court and the clan, and Li Shi was weak, so he planned to make trouble in the court the next day.

It was dawn.

The officials and clansmen were outside the palace gate, waiting to go to court.

At the hour of Mao, the palace formation restriction was opened, and the officials hurried to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

When they entered the hall, they saw that it was not Emperor Jingtai sitting on the dragon throne, but the crown prince, Li Shi.

The crown prince stayed in the palace for a night, and the officials and clansmen were not unaware of it, but under Li Shi's deliberate blockade, the news of the Martial Saint's choice was not spread.

For a while, the officials and clansmen looked at each other, neither polite nor easily stepped forward to accuse.

Eunuch Chu received Li Shi's signal, stepped forward, and read the imperial edict.

"I have succeeded Datong for 57 years, and have worked hard to govern the country, and dare not slack off... The grandson Li Shi, both the eldest and the legitimate son, has a good moral character, and should follow the ancestral teachings and ascend the throne... Announce it to the world, let everyone hear it!"

After Eunuch Chu finished reading, all officials remained silent.

Wang Bo'an, the Minister of Agriculture, took the lead and kowtowed three times and nine times, shouting.

"Your servant Wang Bo'an greets you! Long live, long live, long live..."

When Wang Ye, the Minister of Rites, saw his son's statement, he immediately knelt down and shouted long live. A group of officials close to the Wang family, as well as many non-factional relations, followed closely and bowed to Li Shi.

There were less than 50% of the officials and relatives standing in the court, but those who dared to ignore the last emperor's edict were all high-ranking officials.

Wang Bo'an knelt on the ground, feeling uneasy.

The Wang family was the late emperor's staunch confidant. They thought Jingtai would have at least a few years to live, so they could arrange their funeral affairs with peace of mind, or Wang's father could get the first rank by relying on the luck of the country.

As a result, Jingtai died suddenly. If the new emperor targeted the Wang family, the officials in the court would not mind stepping on them.

After all, the aristocratic family that was destroyed by Wang Bo'an had complicated relationships throughout the court, and the new emperor would not mind killing the Wang family to gain the favor of the officials.

In this way, it seems that the ascension of Li Shi, who has no foundation, is a good thing for the Wang family.

The new emperor has no one to use, and urgently needs a group of supporters to stabilize the court. At the same time, this supporter must be an isolated official, so as not to take the opportunity to form a party for personal gain and become too powerful to be removed.

The father and son of the Wang family are more suitable!

The moment Wang Bo'an heard the imperial edict, he thought about it and quickly found a way to survive.

As long as the new emperor is not stupid, he will not kill the Wang family to establish his prestige and please the officials.

The struggle between the monarch and the officials is unyielding. Once the new emperor retreats, it will be even more difficult to control the court in the future.

Li Shi glanced at the father and son of the Wang family, smiled, and said: "I have heard from my father and the late emperor that the Wang family is a loyal family and the pillar of the court. Please stand up quickly."

Wang Bo'an's face was delighted. The new emperor really had a tacit understanding. No wonder he was passed on to the throne by the late emperor.

Whether the edict of succession was true or false, from now on, it was true in the eyes of the Wang family!

At this time.

Censor Feng received the eye signal from the third prince, stepped forward, and questioned.

"The late emperor was in good health. He asked about the military review yesterday. How could he die overnight? Can the grandson explain it clearly?"

Immediately, someone stood up and refuted Censor Feng.

"People are subject to misfortunes and blessings at any time. The soul lamp in the clan's mansion has gone out, and the prince has also had signs. The late emperor is not impossible to die. However, since it was an accident, how could there be a decree of succession left behind?"

Another royal relative stood up and said, "As far as I know, the emperor's grandson rushed to the palace after the soul lamp of the late emperor went out last night, so this decree..."

Every word from the officials and relatives was a hint that the decree was forged.

The three princes each have the support of the cabinet elders, and only the chief minister Yan Gao has reached the peak of power. There is no benefit in supporting the princes except rebellion.

Li Shi's face was calm, and he did not refute it. Instead, he looked at the father and son of the Wang family.

Wang Bo'an immediately understood that this was a token of surrender. Empty words would not work. The emperor does not need a mad dog that does not bite people.

Cough cough cough!

Wang Bo'an coughed loudly, suppressed the arguments of the ministers, and took out a memorial to report.

"Your Majesty, the late emperor personally asked me yesterday how the investigation of the demon clan spies went. Today I have brought the list, please take a look!"

Li Shi's face suddenly became solemn, and he said: "Since it is the late emperor's will, please submit it quickly!"

Eunuch Chu took the memorial and presented it to Li Shi.

Li Shi opened the memorial, which was blank, and said coldly: "There are so many people, Wang Aiqing, tell me, which one of them should be executed!"

"Your Majesty, the censor Feng Zhen colluded with the demon clan, and there is solid evidence, he should be executed!"

Wang Bo'an said: "The Internal Service Department has also found that the Feng family members have committed crimes and injured the people. They also treated slaves harshly and beat them to death at will! The two crimes should be punished together, and the nine clans should be executed!"

"Nonsense! This is slander!"

Censor Feng turned pale and roared "Wang is slandering me, you are retaliating!"

"Censor Feng, it's hard to prove that the demon clan is a spy, but the latter two are proven."

Wang Bo'an threatened: "Do you dare to swear in this palace that what I said is false? If any clan member commits a crime or treats slaves harshly, the entire clan will be killed!"

All officials in the court are from wealthy families. Who doesn't have a skeleton in the well or under the tree in the inner house? The doormen of the censor dare to take money to settle the matter. How can the blood relatives not kill a few people?

Wang Bo'an was born in a wealthy family, but he knew everything about the family.

Even if Censor Feng was strict in managing his family and his clan members were all humble gentlemen, the eunuch department could still fabricate evidence.

"I, I, I..."

After hearing this, Feng Yushi turned pale. He wanted to swear an oath, but he also took into account the old and young in his family.

"Is this irrefutable, Lord Feng?"

Li Shi said calmly: "In this case, according to the will of the late emperor, the nine clans will be executed!"

Feng Yushi's legs softened and he said loudly: "Your Majesty, it's unjust..."

Seeing this, the third prince had to stand up, otherwise the people would be scattered, and persuaded: "Nephew, Feng Yushi's crime is not worthy of death!"

"Uncle San, what do you mean by this? Did the late emperor's will not take care of it?"

Li Shi looked at the eunuch Chu on his left and said: "Eunuch Chu, according to Feng Yushi's crime, how should he be dealt with?"

"Your Majesty, the nine clans should be executed!"

Eunuch Chu secretly signaled, and immediately two eunuchs suppressed Feng Yushi. They only needed to make up evidence and confiscate the family and exterminate the clan tomorrow.

Li Shi turned the memorial over and asked: "Do you have any opinions, my dear ministers?"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

No one dared to refute the officials and relatives, and they answered in unison.

The memorial was blank, and the officials and relatives could see it, but no one dared to point it out.

Wang Bo'an only needed to say that he had taken the wrong thing, and he would write your name on it when he got home, and just wait for the eunuchs to come.

"Wang Aiqing is indeed loyal and patriotic, and he deserves a reward for his hard work!"

Li Shi said: "He will be promoted to a cabinet scholar, and he can refer to the affairs of various departments."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Wang Bo'an's eyes were filled with tears, and he was grateful.

The cabinet scholar is equivalent to the four assistants in reserve, which is equivalent to the name, and referring to the affairs of various departments is equivalent to the power. The two together are comparable to the fifth cabinet minister.

"Wang Aiqing, please rest, and you will need to investigate more in the future to completely eradicate the spies of the demon clan and return peace to the country!"

Li Shi encouraged him a few words, coughed lightly, and said: "There is another imperial edict, please read it for the trouble of the third uncle."

The officials and relatives frowned slightly, wondering who the third uncle was and why there was another imperial edict.

As soon as the words fell, an old monk appeared beside Eunuch Chu, holding a piece of white paper in his hand and said loudly.

"Holy edict, Li Shi ascends the throne!"

Six short words, no beginning or end, the old monk disappeared after reading it.

Yan Gao and others saw the old monk's appearance and recognized him as the elder of the Dragon Guarding Division. When they connected it with the holy edict, they immediately understood where the order came from.

The oral edict of the Martial Saint!

This is more important than the edict of Jingtai, even if it is rare to see one for decades.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, long live long live long live long live!"

The four cabinet ministers headed by Yan Gao immediately knelt down and saluted, shouting long live.

Some of the remaining officials and relatives recognized the origin of the old monk, and some followed the wind and knelt down to acknowledge Li Shi's ascension to the throne.

Li Shi smiled, swept over all the officials, and nodded slightly.

Every official and relative whose eyes were focused felt a chill on their backs, as if they were stared at by a terrifying beast and would be devoured at any time.

Li Shi said, "My dear Lord Yan, the late emperor praised you for your knowledge of history and modern times, and your proficiency in poetry and prose. You can choose a reign title for me?"

Yan Gao thought for a moment, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the late emperor's will praised you for your upright character, how about the reign title Zhengde?"

"Zhengde, Zhengde..."

Li Shi muttered a few words, shook his head and said, "I always feel that it is not auspicious, let's change it."

Yan Gao said, "Hong means to glorify, so the reign title can be Hongde."

"Not bad, not bad, I will choose the reign title, Hongde!"

Emperor Hongde clapped his hands in praise.