Chapter 27: Coup d’état (1)
The meeting was adjourned.
Zhang Ren stayed, and Zhou Cheng immediately sent the others away.
"Your Majesty has really grown a lot—"
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, are too kind. I would like to hear your opinion."
"I have said everything that needs to be said, and I have achieved my goal. What does Your Majesty want me to say?"
"Of course it's about the State of Zhao!"
Zhou Cheng went straight into the topic without any hesitation or beating around the bush when talking to Zhang Ren. Although he had been just watching from the side all this time, many ministers, including those who were usually wise, had various suggestions, but most of them supported sending troops. Only Zhang Ren had not made any suggestions on this matter from beginning to end. He had planned to use this opportunity to test Zhang Ren's thoughts, but from beginning to end, Zhang Ren did not say a word, not even a single word, just like when he was testing the ministers. Zhang Ren had been watching like a bystander, which made Zhou Cheng very concerned. Since Zhang Ren took the initiative to stay alone, Zhou Cheng would certainly not miss this opportunity.
In all aspects, Zhou Cheng respects Zhang Ren very much, and he also admires him very much. Zhang Ren was promoted by the late emperor, Zhou Cheng's father. When he replaced the former prime minister, he was only in his early thirties. With his wise mind and flexible thinking, he quickly gained recognition. Now he is also regarded as one of the most famous wise ministers and good prime ministers in contemporary times. Zhou Cheng has also received guidance from Zhang Ren since he was a child, so to him, Zhang Ren is also his mentor.
As far as the current situation is concerned, although Zhou Cheng has his own ideas, he also wants to hear the opinions of Zhang Ren, the wise prime minister of Zhou who is respected by the world.
"Your Majesty, do you want to ask whether we should continue to maintain friendly relations with the State of Zhao?"
"If you want to send troops to conquer other countries, then you will have to break the peace treaty that our ancestors made with Zhao. Zhao will also take the lead in attacking our Great Zhou. Joining forces with other countries to attack us will be very disadvantageous to us. It's not that I don't want unify the world and benefit the people, but I don't want to destroy the treaty that my ancestors made with Zhao—"
"It is enough for Your Majesty to have such consideration. In fact, the main cause of the current misconduct is not in Zhao State . Zhao State is just caught in civil strife. However, some people took advantage of this civil strife to cause disputes. It was originally thought that King Zhao could quell the civil strife after escaping death and returning to Zhao State. Unfortunately, King Zhao is not like a battlefield. He has not given due sanctions to the leaders of the civil strife. Although I appreciate the brotherhood he takes into account, doing so is also a violation of the law for personal gain as a monarch. However, he also used his ability to suppress the expansion of the civil strife. Unfortunately, other countries invaded at this most inappropriate time, and the most unexpected thing was that King Zhao actually took the initiative to go to the border to join the battle, which unintentionally gave a great opportunity to those who caused the civil strife and deliberately usurped the throne of a certain dynasty. Although King Zhao suppressed the aggression, as long as the mastermind of the civil strife does not get the due sanctions, Zhao State will still be in an unstable state, and even a large-scale coup is likely to occur. In this way, Zhao State will definitely be destroyed-"
"Well, I agree with what the Prime Minister said. In fact, I think so too. External enemies are troublesome, but the most troublesome thing is the treacherous ministers. Although the King of Zhao is brave and good at fighting and has the talent to govern the country, he is too indulgent in the relationship between brothers, which makes the other party more reckless. I also have a younger brother, so I also understand his concern for family affection and indulgence of a younger brother who will lead to the demise of the country."
Zhang Ren's explanation hit the mark exactly what Zhou Cheng was thinking, and Zhou Cheng also found the meaning in Zhang Ren's words. Although he knew that Zhao Ziheng had concerns, the relationship between brothers was not so easy to give up. Thinking back to the time when he was willing to go to war with the State of Zhao because of Zhou Yan, fortunately the war did not really break out , otherwise the consequences would be disastrous. It seems that he and Zhao Ziheng are both people who particularly value the relationship between brothers.
"Your Majesty is right. It is commendable that the King of Zhao is considerate of his brotherhood, but it cannot be linked to the survival of the country. If he does not take action, sooner or later the State of Zhao will be destroyed by his benevolence."
"Yes, I understand his position, but this matter is of great importance. If he does not make a choice quickly, not only Zhao State, but the whole world will inevitably fall into chaos, and more innocent lives will be lost—"
Although Zhao Ziheng's ability has been recognized, what really requires Zhou Cheng to accept is his choice. It seems that Zhao Ziheng's choice not only affects the State of Zhao, but also the State of Zhou's next actions.
"I trust your judgment, and I will support you no matter what choice you make, so please do what you think is right."
"Well, thank you—"
Throughout this conversation, Zhou Cheng never acted like a king in front of Zhang Ren, although he seldom acted like a king when he was alone with Zhang Ren. Zhang Ren, on the other hand, kept a distance between a king and his subject from Zhou Cheng. Only the last sentence did not seem to be spoken in the tone of a subject, but as a mentor who had once taught Zhou Cheng.
As the conversation came to an end, both parties suddenly fell silent. The sudden silence made people feel depressed, but it seemed that both parties had their own thoughts?
"Yin Yin she——"
Zhou Cheng could no longer suppress his silence and spoke up.
When Yin Yin was mentioned, Zhang Ren's shoulders slightly tensed but he didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry, even though we sent so many people, we only found one elixir—"
For more than half a year, Zhou Cheng missed Yin Yin every day. Yin Yin was able to sleep in the extremely cold ice cellar because of the 'Fire Soul Jade', and there was a famous doctor guarding her all the time. Although one of the herbs was found not long ago, he could not do anything because of the loss of the other one. This feeling is heavier than not finding either one. In other words, he can only watch and can't do anything.
Zhang Ren shook his head and said, "That's enough. You've done enough for Yinyin. Ever since Yinyin fell into a coma, you not only didn't give up on her, but also sent many soldiers to various places to look for the legendary elixir. You also sent Yinyin to the mausoleums of successive kings despite the opposition of the ministers to ensure her life continued. My wife and I are very grateful for what you have done for Yinyin--"
At the end of his words, Zhang Ren couldn't help but use the honorific title, which showed that he was really grateful to Zhou Cheng. Everyone knew that Zhang Ren loved his daughter. At first, he hated Zhou Cheng because he rejected Yin Yin and then forced Yin Yin off a cliff, leaving her life and death unknown. But as a court official, he was also extremely awe-inspiring. He clearly distinguished between public and private affairs, and would not have any ill intentions towards Zhou Cheng, the king of a country, because of Yin Yin's affairs, but in private, he would not forget his love for his daughter and become extremely cold to him just because Zhou Cheng was the king of a country.
After many years, and especially since Yinyin appeared in front of him after escaping death, Zhou Cheng's attitude towards Yinyin has completely changed. It is a feeling that even he cannot understand. He personally carried Yinyin to his bedroom on the wedding day regardless of the eyes of others. He took good care of Yinyin despite his serious injuries. He turned against Zhou Yan, who had a brotherly relationship with Yinyin, and even tried his best to save Yinyin regardless of the obstruction or opposition of the ministers . Zhang Ren saw all of this. He knew that Zhou Cheng really loved Yinyin. Yinyin had given everything to Zhou Cheng and finally got a response. However, he did not know what happened to Yinyin, let alone that Yinyin was no longer his biological daughter...
