King Yan said that although he did not have so many sons, he still had his own advantages.
The first thing is to be a few years younger. After taking office, you can have the opportunity to be the emperor for a few more years, and be stable in the court for a few more years.
Stability is a big enough benefit.
In addition, there was King Yan in Manbian and Liang, and his reputation as a shrewd, capable and capable person was enough to prove that King Yan was not a fool, at least he was indeed a capable person.
King Yan didn't have that many sons, and he didn't have a long name. He could fight with King Yong for so many years, and he still didn't lose in the fight. He was definitely much smarter than King Yong.
A smart emperor who can devote his mind to state affairs is definitely better than a mediocre one.
If two people have to change their basic conditions, there will be no fight between these two kings.
As for Zhao Zongquan of Yuzhou, who may finally get a bargain, he also has the advantage of being diligent and thrifty.
After becoming an emperor, he will not be arrogant or extravagant, nor will he build a large palace. The royal family does not spend much money, so he is a friendly emperor to the people.
Personally speaking, due to the influence of his upbringing environment, Zhao Zongquan is a person who is good at forbearance.
If you are strong, he will be weak, and if you are weak, he will be strong. Relatively speaking, he is also a relatively easy-to-manage emperor.
But this man has a soft character and is timid, which cannot be completely considered as an advantage for an emperor.
It is obviously very difficult for Zhao Zongquan to break the superficial peace and start a war with Xixia or even the Liao Kingdom.
No matter how you say it, King Yong and King Yan are arrogant and domineering, but they are top dignitaries after all. This kind of behavior is considered normal in the feudal era.
In Bianjing City, there were many people whose status was far inferior to that of King Yong, and in King Yan's office, they were all much more arrogant and domineering than the two of them.
Gu Tingye dared to be lawless in Bianliang, let alone the two princes who had the best chance of ascending to power.
If he is brave enough and his country's strength permits, it doesn't seem like he would not dare to take back the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun.
Sheng Changbai had no direct contact with the three candidates, and all he heard were rumors.
Everyone is a multi-faceted person, but rumors cannot represent a person's reality.
I can't decide which of the three positions is best for the country, so I'm going to take one step at a time and wait and see.
Depending on the situation, see if there is any opportunity for you to participate.
There may also be a situation where Sheng Changbai cannot interfere with the throne at all.
If Gu Tingye was not troublesome, Zhao Zongquan would probably be eliminated first.
With the step-by-step improvement of the canonization etiquette regulations, the day of canonization is getting closer and closer.
After another day at the office, Sheng Hong called Sheng Changbai to the study and said secretly
"Bai'er, have you heard that there is faint news in the palace that the official family prefers King Yong?"
"Whether it's King Yong, at least he has many heirs and a huge empire will never have no successors." Sheng Changbai replied perfunctorily.
The canonization ceremony is coming soon, and all the work must be prepared, including the prince's dress and crown.
King Yong and King Yan couldn't have the same clothes, so the news couldn't be kept so tight.
Not only Sheng Hong heard the news, but Sheng Changbai also heard the news, and the old emperor was ready to establish a throne.
"Yes, in the past few years, the whole of Bianliang has never been at peace because of the matter of establishing a prince."
Because of the dispute over the prince, the internal strife in the imperial court over the years has caused losses that are definitely no less than a natural or man-made disaster.
From the emperor to the ministers, no one focused on developing national strength, and the country became much weaker economically and militarily.
"No matter what, there is only one last tremor left. With the crown prince's position confirmed, Bianliang will be at peace."
After it is settled, Bianliang will be at peace.
Before the peace, it was also the most chaotic time. For the sake of the peace of the family, after talking with Sheng Hong.
Sheng Changbai sent Liu Tao out of the city to Zhuangzi outside the city to transfer people to the capital.
Fifty young men who were trained regularly were transferred from Zhuangzi overnight.
The Sheng family is not a key figure. With these people here, it should be enough to prevent some small groups of rebels who want to take advantage of the situation to make a fortune, or other unscrupulous people who want to take advantage of the situation and take advantage of it.
"Bai'er, I heard that you transferred a lot of young people from Zhuangzi to the mansion yesterday. Why?" The next morning, during breakfast, Sheng Hong called Sheng Changbai over and asked doubtfully. .
Because the old Zhao family has inherited the throne several times and the people are relatively peaceful, Sheng Hong has no sense of crisis in this regard.
"Father, at this sensitive moment, it is always right for the family to have more manpower, guard the home, and keep an eye on the family." Sheng Changbai reminded vaguely.
"Bai'er, are you worried that something will happen to Bianliang because of your position as the crown prince? This has never been the case in our court?" Sheng Changbai asked in a low voice after driving the maid and mother-in-law out.
After Sheng Changbai reminded him, the previous dynasties fought for the throne in a bloody manner. The records in the history books were clear and vivid, so Sheng Hong would not be unable to react.
"Father, there has never been a precedent before our dynasty where two princes fought bloody battles for the position of heir apparent."
If the old emperor's health is still good, he will decide on the position of crown prince.
No matter the civil servants or military generals, they were of the same mind as the old emperor, so naturally no one would dare to cause any trouble.
Now it is obvious that the old emperor's time is running out, and his repeated illnesses have naturally caused many people to have strange thoughts.
"Bai'er, you are very thoughtful." Sheng Hong's face became much more serious and he nodded in response. He was also a cautious person in the first place.
"Father, if you go out these days, please bring more people with you. I have already made arrangements for you."
Sheng Changbai prepared ten people to take Sheng Hong to and from get off work every day.
These people cannot enter the imperial city and cannot guarantee Sheng Hong's safety in the imperial city, but they can protect Sheng Hong on the road.
I don’t know if or when King Yan will send troops to remonstrate.
If something happened while Sheng Hong was on the road, these people would be able to take Sheng Hong away.
If Sheng Hong really entered the imperial city, he would be in the Ministry of Works or at the construction site in Qingning Palace to supervise the work.
These are all insignificant places. Sheng Changbai is really not worried about Sheng Hong's safety problems in these two places.
Sheng Changbai himself said that as long as a few people are willing to do it, if they can cheat, there will be no security issues.
After the arrangements were made, Sheng Changbai counted the days and waited for the canonization ceremony to arrive.
If there are no surprises before the canonization, there is a high probability that nothing will happen.
When the countdown is seven days, five days, and when there are only three days left, it is time for the canonization ceremony.
Sheng Changbai still followed a group of officials to check the classics in a side hall in the imperial city, and finally checked the canonization etiquette. When he was transcribing the edict, a small yellow doorman ran in in a panic and reported
"My lords, there are rebels. There are rebels who have invaded the imperial city!"
"What happened? Why did the rebels enter the imperial city?" A minister from the Ministry of Rites, who had the highest official position among the people, asked.
"I don't know either." Xiao Huangmen said in a panic.
"Go and find out quickly." The waiter urged.
Seeing Xiao Huangmen trembling with fear, Sheng Changbai said
"Shilang Sun, please don't let this Huangmen go. I'll go out and check the situation. Just close the door and be careful if any rebels break in."
After Sheng Changbai came out, he saw groups of rioters running around the imperial city, killing everyone they saw.
This is obviously cleaning up the original guards in the imperial city.
But looking at the corpses on the ground, you can tell that these people didn't let go when they encountered eunuchs, maids, and officials.
In a feudal society with no faith in the army, there is no strict military discipline.
These rebels have dared to attack the imperial city, and they have already failed and become benevolent.
If there is anything I dare not do, I will do it with King Yan. To put it bluntly, it is for money and women.
Now that they entered the imperial city, they started burning, killing, looting, and raping the imperial city, becoming completely wanton.
After waiting for a while, Sheng Changbai saw most of the rebels heading towards the depths of the imperial city.
I found an opportunity and found a group of rebel soldiers. I took out the crossbows that the small world always had, killed a few and captured a few.
After confirming that these people were indeed King Yan's men, most of the rebel soldiers went to find the emperor and important ministers.
Sheng Changbai only killed a few people and returned to the side hall.
Sheng Changbai did not reveal it in vain, but still confirmed the news. Since King Yan led his troops into the imperial city, it meant that King Yong had been eliminated from the throne.
"Censor Sheng, how is the situation outside?"
"There are corpses everywhere. The soldiers outside are all King Yan's men and have gone deep into the imperial city."
"What is King Yan going to do? Is he going to imitate the changes of the Xuanwu Sect of the previous dynasty? What should we do?"
The current situation is still very obvious. King Yan wants to give the old emperor a military advice.
Li Shimin set a good example for future generations.
Emperor, if you don't pass the throne to me, I will take it myself.
"Although most of the soldiers have gone deep into the imperial city, there are still many soldiers outside who kill everyone on sight. It is still difficult for a few adults to go out. It is more important to close the palace door and preserve useful bodies." Sheng Changbai said. .
It doesn't matter whether these officials have any intention of dying in the service of the emperor.
Sheng Changbai did not recommend that these officials go out and die.
Since the old Zhao family is fighting for the throne, to be honest, it has nothing to do with the ministers.
Li Shimin's incident also told the world that even an emperor who rose to power through military admonishment does not necessarily mean he is not a good emperor.
"Censor Sheng, do you still want to go out?"
These people are obviously not die-hard loyalists of the old emperor.
No one wants to attack the rebel army with an egg against a stone to save the old emperor.
"I still want to go outside to inquire about the situation. When I come back this time, I just want to tell the adults about the situation outside."
Sheng Changbai was not prepared to stay outside in the side hall all the time. He was too passive.
Although Sheng Changbai didn't want to interfere with the affairs of King Yan and the old emperor.
This situation was all caused by the old emperor himself.
Nothing would have happened if he decided to be the heir early, but he had to delay the appointment of the heir out of unwillingness.
King Yong was selected, and the candidates for King Yan competed in the ring to distract the courtiers.
Originally, the ancestors of the old Zhao family had learned from the lessons of the previous dynasties, and the clans of the Zhou Dynasty did not hold real power.
The old emperor had a big heart and delegated power to King Yong and King Yan.
After playing for so long, King Yan has taken control of the military. One day, the old emperor will reap the consequences.
Not to mention that Sheng Changbai, alone and without a horse, could not save the emperor.
Even if we really saved the old emperor, the old emperor would only have a few days to live, which was obviously not worth it.
Li Er would not dare to kill his own father, and King Yan was not the emperor's son.
If you kill the emperor and take the throne yourself, then of course you will not dare to kill the old emperor if your reputation is not justified.
Sheng Changbai did not plan to go to the Funing Palace where the emperor was, but planned to go to Zhongshu Province where the important ministers were to have a look at the situation.
The emperor is not important no matter what, there are so many important officials in the Zhou Dynasty.
It's not easy to let King Yan take over everything, so Sheng Changbai wants to see how King Yan will deal with these important ministers.
If King Yan really wanted to carry out mass killings, Sheng Changbai would have to find a way to save a group of people.
At the very least, we should try our best to rescue high-ranking officials and ministers who have good relations with the Sheng family and the Hai family.
This is all Sheng Changbai's help, he can't just be cannon fodder.
After getting a suit of armor, Sheng Changbai tied a piece of red cloth around his arm like the rebels, and became one of the rebels.
It was not particularly difficult, so Sheng Changbai sneaked outside the Zhongshu Provincial Hall.
Seeing that King Yan still focused on controlling his important ministers, Sheng Changbai felt relieved for the time being.
I wandered around the imperial city. Except for a few palace gates in the imperial city, which were strictly guarded, no entry or exit was allowed.
The number of rebel troops was not enough, and the security inside the imperial city was not strict.
In the end, Sheng Changbai, who had nothing to do, walked to the Qingning Palace in the easternmost part of the imperial city.
The rebels entered the imperial city through Xihua Gate. When they reached the middle of the imperial city, most of them went to control the Funing Palace where the emperor was.
There were very few rebels coming from the east side of the imperial city, so it was relatively peaceful.
"Bang bang bang, open the door."
When they arrived outside the palace, Sheng Changbai started taking pictures at the palace door.
"Block the door, everyone, go, be sure to block the door. If the thieves come in, none of you will survive." Sheng Hong's voice came from inside.
After confirming that it was Sheng Changbai, Sheng Hong ordered the door to be opened and let Sheng Changbai in.
"Bai'er, why are you here? There are thieves in the imperial city. Why do you still dare to run around?"
Sheng Hong looked at Sheng Changbai wearing a suit of armor and asked in surprise.
"I don't know how long the war will last. It's dinner time. I brought you some food."
Sheng Changbai said while carrying a large food box.
It was also Sheng Changbai who was in the imperial city. After walking around for so long, he didn't see any maids going out to deliver messages.
Sheng Changbai had no chance to change the situation.
I thought I had nothing to do at the moment, so I might as well eat something, drink something, sit and watch the storm. So I took out some food and drink and came over to find Sheng Hong.
"..." Sheng Hong: "This is so urgent, how can you pay me back?"
"I don't know how long it will take for the war to end. I can't go without food forever."
"What's going on outside now? It's already like this. How dare you run around?"
"Let's talk while eating."
Sheng Changbai brought a lot of things, but Sheng Hong was not the only one in Qingning Palace.
There are dozens of craftsmen, and the things Sheng Changbai brings are definitely not enough to eat.
But in this case, most people don't have the appetite to eat, so a large food box is not a small amount of food.