The Good Grandson of the Red Chamber

Chapter 96: An Unexpected Choice

After bowing, Xia Chengzong asked, "I wonder why Father summoned me here?"

Prince Chung-jang took a deep breath and then asked, "Your imperial grandfather asked me to select a minister to observe politics."

"Zong-ge'er, could you advise your father on which faction he thinks is the most suitable?"

The system of observing governance was a unique national policy system of the Great Qian Dynasty, which had never appeared in any previous dynasty.

Xia Chengzong felt that the system of princes observing politics in the Great Qian Dynasty was somewhat similar to the post-doctoral training system for doctors in later generations.

Typically, adult princes who had a chance to seize the throne would be assigned to one of the Six Ministries to observe politics in rotation and learn in each ministry.

The learning process is also an assessment process.

Each department would assess the princes and then privately submit the results to the emperor.

Now, Emperor Yonglong has suddenly allowed Prince Zhongzheng to observe the administration of the government.

This indicates that Prince Zhongzheng has suddenly entered the ranks of those vying for the throne.

This greatly pleased Prince Chung-cheng, but at the same time, it also filled him with apprehension.

The struggle for the throne is extremely dangerous.

Victory may grant one the throne of supreme power, but defeat will inevitably lead to a miserable end.

Although Prince Chung-cheng had high hopes, when the time actually came, he suddenly felt that he was not ready.

With the crown prince deposed, the struggle for the throne among his three close brothers has reached a fever pitch.

The three of them have been preparing for a long time and have a wealth of experience.

As for his Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion, it had nothing. Well, perhaps only Zong Ge'er could be relied upon.

If he steps forward now, he will surely be targeted by his three good brothers.

Who knows how many open and hidden attacks, swords and shadows, they will face in the future.

He hesitated when it came to choosing a department.

The six ministries' observation of governance involves studying in rotation among the six ministries, but it is not necessary to visit all six ministries.

Generally, the succession struggle will be decided after two or three rotations.

Therefore, generally speaking, they will choose the department that is most helpful to them and most likely to win them over to observe politics.

The first choice is the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue. One of these two ministries is in charge of official administration and the other is in charge of finance. As long as you can control either one, your chances of succeeding in the succession struggle will greatly increase.

Next were the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War, with the Ministry of Rites being the least favored.

However, his three good brothers had been observing politics for many years, and they were fighting tooth and nail to seize important departments such as the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of War.

If he rushes in, the three of them might join forces and target him first.

Therefore, Prince Zhongzheng hesitated for a moment and summoned Xia Chengzong back to ask him for advice.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Chengzong said, "I think it would be best for Father to go to the Hanlin Academy."

"The Hanlin Academy?"

Upon hearing this name, Prince Chungjang looked bewildered.

Some princes who were qualified but unwilling to vie for the throne would choose to observe politics at the Ministry of Rites, indicating that they were indifferent to worldly affairs.

At least the Ministry of Rites was still among the Six Ministries, but the Hanlin Academy had already jumped out of the Six Ministries.

However, it's not impossible to be selected from the Hanlin Academy.

During the Great Qian Dynasty, there were indeed precedents of princes choosing to observe politics at the Hanlin Academy.

At that time, the prince had no interest in the throne at all; he only wanted to go to the Hanlin Academy to compile history.

This is as if saying to the other princes: "The old man has already competed with others for a seat, why should the seagulls doubt each other?"

In the end, he was able to save his life.

After a moment's hesitation, Prince Zhongzheng asked, "Zong'er, do you want your father to give up and enter the Hanlin Academy to protect himself?"

Xia Chengzong smiled slightly and said, "Father, who says that choosing the Hanlin Academy necessarily means giving up?"

Prince Tadashi said, "But everyone thinks that way, doesn't that seem to be the case?"

Xia Chengzong thought to himself, "That's true for others, but not for you."

Because the Emperor's standards for choosing a successor are completely different from those of other emperors.

The Emperor's selection criteria were to choose the mediocre, with the possibility of choosing someone from a generation older.

Therefore, ability is secondary; as long as one is mediocre enough, that's fine.

Like some entrepreneurs of later generations, they are not afraid of their children indulging in food, drink, and entertainment, but they are afraid that their children will be ambitious and start their own businesses.

You can't squander the wealth your parents built by indulging in food, drink, and entertainment, but you can certainly start a business!

It was difficult to say this directly, so Xia Chengzong said it tactfully:

"Father, others may think you've given up by choosing to go to the Hanlin Academy, but that doesn't matter. The key is still Grandfather."

"The Hanlin Academy was indeed a place for compiling history, but it was also a place for drafting imperial edicts, and all the edicts from previous years were kept in a register."

"These edicts are the governing strategies of our Great Qian Dynasty over the years. My father is wise and powerful; having read through these governing strategies, how could he possibly be afraid of not being able to learn them?"

"And how could Grandfather not be concerned about Father? Once Grandfather knows Father's choice, how could he not understand Father's ambition?"

After listening to Xia Chengzong's analysis, Prince Zhongzheng suddenly understood.

He sighed, "This is a plan that kills two birds with one stone! My son is indeed exceptionally intelligent, and his thinking is even more comprehensive than yours."

Xia Chengzong laughed and said, "Father is just too caught up in the situation to see clearly, and hasn't thought of all that yet. Give Father more time, and Father will figure it out himself!"

These words made Prince Chung-jung even more satisfied.

The next day, Prince Chung-cheng chose to observe politics at the Hanlin Academy, which greatly surprised everyone.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince, Sixth Prince, and Eighth Prince sneered, realizing that their good Third Brother was no longer a threat.

Whether or not the Third Brother truly didn't want to get involved in the succession struggle is no longer important.

The struggle for succession is not a dinner party, nor is it a game of make-believe.

You must raise your flags and display your carriages and horses to attract civil and military officials to come and join you.

If you've already chosen to give up, how can anyone possibly have faith in you?

If you don't even have a single fan around you, what are you competing for?

In the struggle for succession, the worst thing to do is to play dumb to take advantage of others, and to hesitate.

If you pretend to be a pig too many times, you'll eventually become a real pig.

Other officials also seemed surprised that Prince Chung-cheng had chosen to give up.

Emperor Yonglong did not show much emotion on his face after learning about this.

Because he knows more than others.

He knew that the third brother had called Zong Ge'er over the night before.

This choice was probably made for him by Brother Zong.

Some things are not about how you choose, but how you do them.

Emperor Yonglong ordered his men to continue keeping a close watch on what the third prince would do after he went to the Hanlin Academy.

……

After Jia Lian returned to the Jia family mansion, he began to ponder how to perfectly complete the task assigned by the prince.

Why didn't the prince do this himself, but instead asked him to do it?

The key issue is that the difference in status between the Prince and Ni Er is too great, and the Prince's involvement will inevitably cause Ni Er to have wild thoughts.

Similarly, his own identity is quite different from Ni Er's.

If he were to personally take action, it might arouse Ni Er's suspicion.

To accomplish this, we need to find someone of similar status to Ni Er; that would be more appropriate.