Xianxia version of Water Margin

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Although Jiang Hongfei is only 40 years old, he is still very young and energetic.

But don’t forget that in the eyes of outsiders, Jiang Hongfei’s life is quite undisciplined. He has sex with more than a dozen women every day, and at least one of them is a virgin.

If Jiang Hongfei dies in a woman’s belly one day, and the Yuan Empire still has no crown prince at that time, the Yuan Empire may fall apart.

Don’t forget that Jiang Hongfei has countless children and grandchildren.

The key is that Jiang Hongfei’s sons are all over the various departments of the Yuan Empire. Some of them are princes with military power, or they are married to generals with more military power.

Such a pattern is like an undercurrent. Once it is unbalanced, the unity of the empire will be in jeopardy and it will be difficult to recover.

After all, no one believes that there will be another Jiang Hongfei in this world.

Therefore, the issue of crown prince has become an urgent problem that the empire needs to solve.

One morning, Chen Gongfu stepped forward and said earnestly: "The foundation of the country lies in the establishment of the crown prince. I beg Your Majesty to think deeply and lay the foundation for the future of our Great Yuan Empire."

As soon as this was said, all officials resonated and echoed, asking Jiang Hongfei to establish the crown prince.

However, people's hearts were also different in the court.

Some people took the opportunity to praise the eldest son of the emperor, Jiang Zai, and based on the ancient teachings of "establishing the eldest instead of the youngest, passing on the throne to the legitimate instead of the illegitimate", emphasized that he was kind, friendly to the wise, studious, gentle, respectful, frugal and modest, and was the only choice for the crown prince.

Moreover, Jiang Zai was deeply influenced by the Confucian idea of ​​benevolent government. He advocated that civil officials should govern the country, and he had the intention of restoring the Song system. He did not like the separation of civil and military affairs set by Jiang Hongfei, so he won the favor of many civil officials.

The pens of the literati turned into a torrent of public opinion, pushing Jiang Zai to the forefront of the position of crown prince. For a time, a quarter of the court officials in the court supported him.

But at the same time, another voice cannot be ignored.

Some people strongly recommended Jiang Xiu, the eldest son of Jiang Hongfei, as the crown prince, claiming that he was diligent and frugal, had been a regent for many years, was experienced, and had no mistakes. He was an ideal candidate to break the convention and be the crown prince.

Many ministers believed that Jiang Xiu not only had the actual ability to govern the country, but also could stabilize the overall situation in the complex and changing times and lead the Yuan Empire to a more stable future.

This debate about the crown prince was actually a profound discussion on the future direction of the Yuan Empire.

On the one hand, there were conservatives who followed ancient teachings and focused on pure blood;

On the other hand, there were reformists who emphasized ability and practical experience.

The two factions each held their own opinions and quarreled fiercely.

It is not difficult to see from this that the matter of establishing a crown prince has reached a time when it must be done.

It is not an exaggeration to say that a group of ministers in the Yuan Empire were "forcing the palace".

But in the face of such a situation, Jiang Hongfei just raised his hand calmly, pointed to the "Zhengda Guangming" plaque hanging high, and said in a steady and powerful voice: "I have selected the crown prince, and his name is hidden behind this plaque. If I am unlucky, you can act according to this will."

When Jiang Hongfei said this, all the civil and military officials in the court were shocked!

Some ministers wanted to put pressure on Jiang Hongfei in the name of "the current situation forced us to establish a crown prince for safety".

The reason why they dared to do so was not out of fearlessness or arrogance, but because they were well aware of the truth that "the country cannot be without a king for a day, and the establishment of a crown prince is related to the stability of the country".

They were worried that once Jiang Hongfei suddenly passed away, the empire without a crown prince would fall into disputes and fall apart.

In other words, these ministers held the righteousness in their hands.

Otherwise, even if these people had ten thousand courage, they would not dare to force Jiang Hongfei to establish a crown prince.

But unexpectedly, Jiang Hongfei had already planned it - to establish a crown prince in secret!

Jiang Hongfei's move not only calmed the undercurrents in the court, but also left everyone speechless, whether it was the loyal ministers who were worried about the future of the empire or the forces that intended to nominate Jiang Xiu, Jiang Zai and other heirs as the crown prince, they were all speechless.

Aren't you afraid that if I die suddenly, the Yuan Empire will fall apart because there is no heir?

But I have already appointed the crown prince.

Even if I die now, the Yuan Empire will not be without an heir, let alone fall apart because of this.

However, none of you want to know who the crown prince I appointed is.

Some ministers lamented that Jiang Hongfei was far-sighted and watertight; some praised his political skills, which were beyond the reach of ordinary people; and some ministers sighed in their hearts: "Your Majesty is Your Majesty after all, and he will never let his ministers lead him by the nose!"

Since ancient times, the Chinese royal family has followed the system of primogeniture inheritance to avoid chaos among the sons fighting for the crown prince.

However, in the long river of history, there has been no shortage of bloody storms caused by disputes over the crown prince.

Qin Shi Huang's indecision eventually led to the death of Qin II, becoming a mirror for later emperors.

Therefore, all dynasties tried to avoid this disaster, but no matter how they handled it, the outcome did not change much.

Moreover, the situation faced by Jiang Hongfei was obviously much more severe than that of the emperors of previous dynasties, because Jiang Hongfei had too many children and grandchildren. Jiang Hongfei's sons had entered various key departments of the Yuan Empire and even began to take charge of various key parts of the Yuan Empire. What's more, some of them began to take charge of some armies. In addition, the territory of the Yuan Empire was too large. In this case, if one did not handle it well, the Yuan Empire would easily fall apart.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Hongfei showed extraordinary wisdom and courage in this difficult problem.

Faced with the complex situation of many descendants and intertwined forces, Jiang Hongfei knew that the matter of establishing a crown prince was by no means easy.

——If it is established too early, it may lead to competition among various forces, and the crown prince will become a victim; if it is established inhumanely, it will even endanger the foundation of the Yuan Empire.

Therefore, Jiang Hongfei chose to establish a secret heirloom, which not only gave him enough time to examine the successor, but also allowed him to make flexible adjustments when necessary to ensure the stability of the inheritance of the Yuan Empire.

In addition, Jiang Hongfei also cleverly used the secret reserve to check and balance the forces of all parties.

Before the identity of the prince is clear, there is a force that cannot be ignored behind every prince who is eligible to compete. They restrain and fear each other, and no one dares to act rashly. The situation can never get out of hand.

In this way, the stability and balance of the court are maintained.

It can be said that Jiang Hongfei's strategy not only cleverly resolved the crisis of establishing the throne, but also demonstrated his extraordinary wisdom and foresight as an emperor through the ages.

In short, Jiang Hongfei suppressed the issue of establishing the crown prince with one move.

This shows that Jiang Hongfei's political skills are high.

Under Jiang Hongfei's governance, the Dayuan Empire was like a giant ship, able to move forward steadily without any wavering even on rough seas.

When all the ministers saw this scene, they were all convinced.

They realized that no matter how the times changed, Jiang Hongfei was always the first emperor through the ages who strategized and won the victory thousands of miles away. As long as he is around, the Great Yuan Empire will be as solid as a rock and unshakable.

actually--

The reason why the "forced palace" scene occurred today is because the ministers who supported Jiang Xiu or Jiang Zai as the crown prince felt that the situation was not good.

Especially the latter.

yes.

Jiang Zai is Jiang Hongfei's eldest son.

But Jiang Hongfei didn't seem to like his eldest son very much.

Hmm...that's not right either.

It should be said that Jiang Hongfei had no intention of letting Jiang Zai become the crown prince.

When Jiang Xiu and other princes first came of age, Jiang Hongfei arranged for them to enter politics.

It can even be said that Jiang Hongfei trained Jiang Xiu as the prince.

But it’s Jiang Zai’s turn.

It has been quite some time since Jiang Zai came of age.

However, Jiang Hongfei never had any intention of letting Jiang Zai enter politics.

This is not a good sign.

In addition, there was news that Gao Liang had a candid and in-depth talk with Jiang Hongfei about establishing a prince.

In other words, Gao Liang had hoped that Jiang Hongfei could train Jiang Zai just like Jiang Xiu.

It can also be said that Gao Liang still hopes that her eldest son, Jiang Hongfei, will be the crown prince of the Yuan Empire.

But the conversation between Jiang Hongfei and Gao Liang was concise and decisive.

He bluntly pointed out Jiang Zai's weakness in character and lack of political skills, asserting that he was unqualified for the important responsibilities of the crown prince and even the throne.

Gao Liang, as Jiang Hongfei's first wife, although she knew that her son was restricted, she did not dare to refute too much because of the couple's friendship over the years and her own gentle personality.

In the end, Jiang Hongfei only promised to give Jiang Zai a chance to compete fairly as a consolation to Gao Liang.

Although Gao Liang was a queen, she was always known for her meekness and never dared to disobey Jiang Hongfei's decision.

Moreover, Gao Liang knew very well that the matter of the crown prince was related to the country, the entire royal family, clan, and even relatives of the Yuan Empire, so she chose to remain silent, even if it was related to the future of her biological son.

Jiang Hongfei's determination was unwavering. He would rather establish the crown prince secretly than be influenced by the officials, especially those who strongly recommended Jiang Zai.

Suddenly, the wind direction in the court changed suddenly, and everyone realized that Jiang Zai's path to becoming the crown prince was already slim.

Hu Xian, Jiang Zai's mentor, saw the bleak future of his beloved disciple and was unwilling to do so. He stepped forward and tried to win the last glimmer of hope for Jiang Zai on the grounds of "primogeniture inheritance".

However, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Jiang Hongfei's cold gaze. He said lightly: "Old Ai Qing, you really want to be the minister of Conglong?"

Jiang Hongfei's words made Hu Xian feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar and his clothes were wet with sweat.

The atmosphere was so tense that Hu Xian almost thought something bad was going to happen to him.

Hu Xian, who was already quite young, was soon so frightened that he huddled on the ground.

But at this time, Jiang Hongfei took back his momentum and said with a smile: "Old Ai Qing is old and can't stand anymore. Stop being obsessed with power and go home and study hard."

After hearing this, Hu Xian burst into tears of gratitude as if he had been reborn, and quickly thanked him.

After this incident, no one in the court dared to mention the candidate for the crown prince easily. Everything seemed to be under Jiang Hongfei's control.

All civil and military officials witnessed what happened to Hu Xian, and they were secretly alert, knowing that in such a major matter, only by complying with the holy will can the lives of the whole family be saved.

Jiang Hongfei's will enveloped the entire dynasty like an iron curtain, and he alone would ultimately decide the choice of prince.

It is worth mentioning that although Jiang Hongfei was not optimistic about Jiang Zai, soon after, Jiang Hongfei secretly arranged for Jiang Zai to join Yue Fei's army.

Gao Liang learned that Jiang Hongfei had really given their son Jiang Zai a fair chance, and quickly arranged for Gao Chong, known as the "first master of the Yuan Dynasty", to join the army with Jiang Zai to protect Jiang Zai secretly.

——Gao Chong is the nephew of Queen Gao Liang of the Dayuan Dynasty. He is also the most outstanding person of the younger generation of the Gao family. He is also the number one master of the younger generation of the Dayuan Dynasty. Jiang Hongfei even personally said that if there is someone who can come close to him in terms of combat power in the future, , then this person must be Gao Chong.

As an emperor and a father, Jiang Hongfei would definitely not favor one over another or show partiality.

While arranging Jiang Zai to train in Yue Fei's army, Jiang Hongfei also arranged Jiang Xiu to train in Wu Jie's army.

At the same time, Jiang Hongfei arranged a large number of his sons to join the army.

Jiang Hongfei once said inadvertently that an emperor who did not know how to fight in the army could not be a good emperor. The implication was that those who wanted to inherit Jiang Hongfei's throne must have military experience and must have been on the battlefield, truly understand military affairs, the army, and soldiers.

Jiang Hongfei's decision-making, like spring rain, quietly and profoundly affected the future of the Yuan Dynasty.

Jiang Hongfei knew that the inheritance of imperial power was not only the continuation of blood, but also a test of ability and responsibility.

Therefore, a silent competition quietly kicked off among the princes. They each embarked on different journeys, vowing to hone their will and talents to take on the world in their military careers.

Jiang Zai and Gao Chong stepped into the camp of Yue's army side by side, which was a melting pot of iron and glory.

Yue Fei's reputation is well-known. His strict military discipline and unique use of troops have frightened countless enemies.

Jiang Hongfei hopes that under the training of Yue's army, Jiang Zai can put away his naivety and become a man of both wisdom and courage, regardless of whether he can become the crown prince.

Wu Jie is known for his stability and is good at defeating the enemy with fewer troops. His strategic vision and tactical arrangements are outstanding.

Jiang Hongfei hopes that under Wu Jie's careful guidance, Jiang Xiu will learn how to find opportunities for victory in complex and ever-changing battles and how to remain calm and tenacious in adversity.

It can be seen that Jiang Hongfei also has high hopes for Jiang Xiu.

Other princes also showed their strengths. Some resisted foreign enemies in the northwest border and made great military exploits; some controlled floods in the water towns of Jiangnan and won the hearts of the people; and some participated in state affairs in the court and showed their talents in governing the country.

Jiang Hongfei looked at all this with both relief and worry in his heart.

Fortunately, his children are all shining in their respective fields.

What worries him is what kind of turbulent decision will be made in the future succession to the throne.

However, Jiang Hongfei knows that a true king must not only have extraordinary wisdom, but also a broad mind and profound foresight.

Jiang Hongfei is looking forward to the day when a prince can win the recognition and respect of everyone with his own strength and virtue, become the new leader of the Yuan Dynasty, and lead the country to a more glorious future.

As for Jiang Hongfei sending Jiang Xiu and Jiang Zai out for training, isn't he afraid that if he has an accident, he will be out of reach?

What is he afraid of?

What Jiang Hongfei lacks the least is sons.

Jiang Hongfei can make a bold statement: he can have as many sons as he wants.

As for the heir?

He can decide whoever he wants.

What if Jiang Xiu and Jiang Zai both died on the battlefield?

The real dragon never dies.

To be an emperor, you must not only have ability, but also life.

In short, as an emperor who climbed up from the bottom, Jiang Hongfei was never careless and never compromised in choosing his successor.

Zhao Ji's example was right in front of him, and Jiang Hongfei could not help but take it as a warning!

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