Volume 4: Hot! The whole world is a warring state Chapter 740: No Longer Fighting for the National Foundation
"Father, regarding the selection of the governor of America, I suggest that you ask your uncle to take action ."
"Are you talking about Lu Xiangsheng?"
"That's right, father. The situation in America is still very complicated. The ministers in charge there are not only responsible for fighting wars. How to coordinate the relationship with the Indians, native whites, mixed-race people and black slaves, how to quickly transform the resources of South America into the actual benefits of our Ming Dynasty, all require very superb political skills. In short, only someone who is good at both military and political affairs can be competent. Moreover, South America is too far away from our Ming Dynasty after all, and this minister who can take charge of a matter must have a very close relationship with our royal family... On the way back from South America, I discussed with my father-in-law many times, and we all agreed that my uncle is the best choice at the moment."
"Well, I am confident in Lu Xiangsheng's talent. But if I let him go to America, your aunt will come and kill me."
"Can't Aunt go to America with me? Oh, I asked a stupid question. Aunt is now the chief textile material expert of our Ming Dynasty. All the bedding and clothing of our Ming Dynasty soldiers are designed by Aunt herself. They must not leave their homeland... However, I can't do anything to appease Aunt, so I can only trouble my father."
"You kid..." After poking his son in the air with his finger, Zhu Youdong said, "Then let's temporarily choose Lu Xiangsheng as the commander-in-chief of America. Next, let's consider the question of the general who will lead the troops."
"Father wants to replace Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong. I wholeheartedly agree. After all, these two men came from humble backgrounds and were sent to America after only one year of simple training. Over the past fifteen years, these two men have enjoyed a high prestige among the American Indians, and their families are all in South America. Therefore, they must be transferred back. As for their replacements, I think that the most important thing in fighting in America is to lead by example, after all, the Indians will obey this... I suggest that Yan Yingyuan continue to stay in South America and take over my position as the general commissioner.
As for the specific generals, I heard that there are a group of rising stars in the Ming army recently, such as Li Dingguo, Zhang Huangyan, etc. They can actually be sent to America. Give them the opportunity to be independent and accelerate their growth. "
"Heh~" Zhu Youdong smiled noncommittally after hearing his eldest son's recommendation, then waved his hand to interrupt the conversation: "You should also go to your mother's house for the family dinner. She misses you a lot after not seeing you for a few years."
"Isn't Father going?"
"No, if I go, Sun Chuanting and the Sun family will be uncomfortable. I'll be more sensible and not go."
"Your Majesty, you are joking... In this case, I will take my leave."
After Zhu Ciyi retreated, Zhu Youdong looked up at the roof of the Qianqing Palace, which had not changed in hundreds of years, and sighed helplessly.
This year is the 25th year of Tianqi. Including the time he was the regent, he has actually been in charge of the country for more than 30 years. As he has been in power for longer and longer, especially after the group of old ministers who accompanied him in his growth have retired one by one. Now in the entire court, the ministers are more and more afraid of him, which has also led to his increasing loneliness. In this Ming Dynasty, except for a very few people, for most people, eating with him, Zhu Youdong, is really a chore.
He shook his head and stretched his neck to drive away this untimely feeling of sadness. Zhu Youdong said to the air, "Is Wei Zhongxian's health still not well?"
Fang Zhenghua, who had been hiding in the heavy curtain, came out and said, "I went to check again this morning, and Eunuch Wei's condition has not improved."
"Hey, I remember that Old Wei should be 75 this year, right?"
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Wei will be seventy-five this September."
"It's rare for a person to live to be seventy. Let's put it this way. Go and tell Old Wei. I've approved his resignation. But don't mention returning to Cangzhou to retire. After all, the famous doctors in the capital will be good for his health. Tell him that the heavy cruiser Wei Zhongxian, which he's always thinking about, won't be launched until the end of this year. Tell him to work harder and get better soon so that he can attend the launching ceremony in person. If...if he really can't hold on any longer, I'll put his hair on that heavy cruiser."
"Wow, wow, Your Majesty has been so kind to me that I am moved to tears."
"As you should. You have been by my side since I was four years old. It has been almost forty years now. These forty years have not been easy for anyone."
"We are fine. As long as Your Majesty points out the direction, we will just keep our heads down and charge forward. But Your Majesty, you are the one at the helm. You have worked the hardest over the years."
"It's been very hard for me, but I chose this path myself, so what can I do? Well, let's not talk about this anymore. As for the job of the East Factory, are you interested in taking over my job?"
"Uh..." After hesitating for a while, Fang Zhenghua said, "I still want to stay with Your Majesty. Your Majesty, I am not lying. The main reason is that the affairs of the East Factory are too complicated, and I can't bear the hardship. In addition, I have been with Your Majesty for a long time, and I will be very uncomfortable leaving suddenly."
"Don't say you're not used to it. I'm not used to it either. In the huge Forbidden City, there are fewer and fewer people who can talk to me like this. I'm sorry to trouble you. Your position will remain unchanged. I'll give you the title of Silijian Dingbi, and let Wang Chengen take over the East Factory."
"As ordered, I will go to the Internal Affairs Bureau to pass on the order to Eunuch Wang later."
"Okay, the matter of the East Factory has been settled. Next, let me ask you, what do you think of Ci Yi?"
"It is a crime of treason to criticize a master for a slave, but since the emperor has asked, I will dare to say something. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been in charge of things in America for many years, and his talent is beyond doubt. Although he is not as good as Your Highness when he was in his twenties, he is still a talented person. During this audience with Your Highness, I felt that the biggest change in His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was that his personality became more stable, which is something that even Your Highness could not match."
"Hahaha, let me think about it, what was I doing when I was 25? Oh, at that time, steam engine technology had just been opened to the public, a large number of factories were built, many farmers abandoned their wasteland and went to the city to work, and the Little Ice River began to show its power. At that time, I was so anxious that I couldn't calm down... Hahaha, so many years have passed in a flash. Well, when you go to convey the order to Wang Chengen later, tell him that his first task after taking office is to keep a close eye on Ci Yan for me."
"..." After sighing softly, Fang Zhenghua said helplessly: "I obey your order."
When the princes grow up, no matter how talented they are, as long as they have ambitions, they will naturally have ideas about the throne. Then the family love of fatherly love and filial piety will suddenly move away from them - this is what most emperors will encounter, and Zhu Youdong is no exception.
He now has four sons, except for the youngest son who was born not long ago. Among the three adult sons, the third son Ci Yan is far inferior to his two elder brothers in talent and character, and has voluntarily withdrawn from the competition for the crown prince.
The remaining two. The second son, Ci Yan, was the legitimate son, and was initially treated and trained by the ministers as the only choice for the crown prince. The teachers and guards assigned to him were all top-notch at the time.
In fact, this was also Zhu Youdong's fault: when the civil officials treated the eldest son and the legitimate son differently, he did not interfere. Because he was only 25 years old at that time, he had no idea what changes would happen to his son in the future.
Moreover, in his opinion, this competition would last for a hundred years. When I win, I might have to choose my successor from my grandchildren. Therefore, when the cabinet simply sent three teachers to teach the concubine's eldest son Ci Yi and nearly ten teachers to teach the legitimate eldest son Ci Yan, he did not interfere at all.
But later, as time went by, he felt more and more that relying purely on genes could not guarantee the quality of the heir. So when he revised the Imperial Ming Constitution, he replaced the eldest son inheritance system with a secret succession system. But at this time, the eldest son Zhu Ciyan had already received imperial education for a long time!
Later, his two sons gradually showed quite good talents: the eldest son Ciyi was steady and calm. When he was really on his own, he was able to bend down and take the lead in enduring hardships. When facing major events, he was able to show a strong sense of the overall situation.
As for the second son, Ci Yan, his character is not as stable as his elder brother. But he is generous and sincere, and can easily get along with people from all walks of life. In recent years, he has been working in the Tongzheng Department and has performed well, which has won the recognition of a group of ministers.
Originally, the bodies of time travelers were transformed. As long as this competition is not over, Zhu Youdong can live to be a hundred years old without any accidents. It is too early to consider the issue of succession at this point in time. However, investing in potential stocks and becoming a minister of the dragon in the future is the instinct of many ministers. In recent years, the two princes have gradually formed their own factions around them, forming the eldest son party and the legitimate son party.
The leaders of the two parties, the eldest son party's side is the deputy prime minister Li Jia: he is Zhu Ciyi's teacher. And the legitimate son party's side is the official Huang Daozhou: Huang Daozhou's teacher is Yuan Keli, and Yuan Keli is Zhu Ciyan's teacher...
In the past two years, the two parties have gradually formed. The eldest son party has not made any moves in the court because Zhu Ciyi has been in America for a long time. But the legitimate son party has become more and more anxious about the achievements of the eldest son in America. The way they address the eldest son has changed from "that prince" to "that bastard".
There is no doubt that with Zhu Ciyi's return to China, if he does not make a decision, party struggles will begin.
From the perspective of the emperor's mind, the fight between the two princes and their followers is actually a good thing for the emperor as long as the fight is controlled within a certain range. But that is just common sense - in this plane, Zhu Youdong needs to concentrate every bit of power in the country to participate in this cruel competition, and he cannot accept internal friction.
Therefore, the crown prince must be chosen as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, there is only one throne, and naturally there can only be one crown prince. As a father, he is destined to not be able to satisfy all his sons.
