Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 1010 - 91: The Northern Situation Is Complicated

Chapter 1010: Chapter 91: The Northern Situation Is Complicated

In the Imperial Study, the Emperor couldn’t help but laugh after reading the secret letter sent back by the Dragon Guards, "Hahahahaha..."

Sun Kui, who was quietly dozing off nearby, was startled awake by the Emperor’s laughter. He quickly turned around and looked at the Emperor, seeing the smile on his face, and curiously asked, "Your Majesty, what good news has made you so happy?"

The Emperor said proudly, "That little rascal, Little Ten, really didn’t let me down."

Mentioning His Highness Prince Han, Sun Kui immediately perked up. He quickly praised, "Like father, like son."

The Emperor laughed and said, "I didn’t teach him how to do it. The smooth organization of this trade conference is all thanks to Little Ten’s own efforts."

Previously, when Zhao Yao wanted to hold a trade conference, although the Emperor was worried that he might not succeed, he didn’t interfere to help him. The Emperor wanted to see whether his youngest son could organize the trade conference and, if so, how it would turn out.

As for the specifics of organizing the trade conference, Zhao Yao never detailed them to the Emperor. He only reported the list of foreign dignitaries attending the trade conference to the Emperor.

When the Emperor learned that Annan and other foreign countries would be sending members of the Royal Family to attend Zhao Yao’s trade conference, he knew that his youngest son could organize it, but he didn’t expect him to make it so successful.

"I previously thought he might be just playing around with the trade conference, but I never expected that during the conference, that kid would earn more than the Ministry of Revenue’s annual tax revenue," the Emperor marveled, "and this is just the beginning. By next year, this kid might earn several times more than now."

Sun Kui opened his mouth wide in shock, exclaiming, "So much?" More than several times the Ministry of Revenue’s annual tax revenue, how much money is that? His Highness Prince Han is truly the God of Wealth of the Great Zhou.

"There will be more in the future," the Emperor remarked, "That rascal was right; Swamp Prefecture is a good place with great potential for development. In a few years, that rascal will turn Swamp Prefecture into the top trade prefecture of the Great Zhou, and by that time, Swamp Prefecture won’t lose to Yangzhou."

"Is Swamp Prefecture really that incredible?" Sun Kui had never been to Swamp Prefecture, but he heard that all the prefectures in Lingnan were very poor. How could His Highness Prince Han, after going to Swamp Prefecture, make it more prosperous than Yangzhou? Yangzhou Prefecture has always been a wealthy place, with half of the Ministry of Revenue’s taxes coming from Yangzhou Prefecture.

"Swamp Prefecture is by the sea, close to foreign countries like Annan and Johor, with very convenient sea transportation," the Emperor said, "That rascal previously mentioned to me that far from Annan, there are many countries, one of which is called Mysir, said to be even more prosperous than Annan. He plans to send people to Mysir in the future to do business there."

"Your Majesty, from what this servant knows, there are about a dozen countries in the Annan area. How many are there in the area distant from Annan, like Mysir?"

"I’ve heard there are also a dozen countries," the Emperor said, clasping his hands under his chin, "That rascal plans to build a maritime Silk Road."

"Your Majesty, is His Highness Prince Han planning to go to Mysir?"

"He plans to expand his business there," the Emperor finished, squinting slightly, his brow furrowing, "Knowing that rascal’s character, he might really be preparing to go overseas to those countries, but I won’t give him the chance to go." The Emperor was clear in his heart that if Zhao Yao went overseas to foreign lands, he might not return.

"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Han’s successful trade conference and military parade have made many court officials envious." These days, in the morning court, people would accuse His Highness of being ambitious, colluding with foreign tribes, and intending to rebel.

At the mention of this, the Emperor’s eyes turned icy cold.

"I am aware of what they are up to."

Sun Kui thought, luckily, the Emperor favors and trusts His Highness Prince Han. Otherwise, hearing those ministers speak ill of His Highness these days, one might really think His Highness was plotting rebellion.

Those ministers didn’t know that the Emperor actually wished for His Highness Prince Han to rebel. If His Highness really planned to rebel, the Emperor would gladly hand over the throne to him and then become the Supreme Emperor, traveling around with Lady Liang.

"Your Majesty, aren’t you worried those people might harm His Highness Prince Han?" This trade conference has indeed demonstrated His Highness Prince Han’s ability to make money. Although His Highness is far off in Lingnan, those people surely won’t easily let him go.

"I’m not worried. If that rascal can’t handle even this, then he should stay in Lingnan as Prince Han." The Emperor truly wasn’t concerned about Zhao Yao. "That rascal is smart; those people can’t deal with him."

"His Highness Prince Han is truly remarkable. In less than a year in Swamp Prefecture, he has transformed it from a poor backwater to a place as prosperous as Yangzhou." Sun Kui hadn’t been to Swamp Prefecture nor seen its transformation after the trade conference, but he could imagine the before and after.

"This is just the start of it," the Emperor leaned back in his chair, resting his hands behind his head, and placed his feet on the imperial desk, "That rascal hasn’t even fully utilized his abilities yet."

Upon hearing this, Sun Kui was stunned, "His Highness is nearly making Swamp Prefecture like Yangzhou, and he hasn’t fully utilized his abilities? If he fully utilizes them, what would happen?"

"He’ll transform many of the Great Zhou’s prefectures into Swamp Prefecture," said the Emperor, unconsciously revealing a hopeful smile, "When that time comes, the Great Zhou will enter an era of peace and prosperity."

Sun Kui imagined the sight of such a prosperous period and showed a hopeful expression.

"I wonder if I’ll have the honor of witnessing the Great Zhou’s prosperous era."

"Live a little longer, and you’ll see it," the Emperor glanced up and down at Sun Kui and said jokingly, "Eunuchs live long lives. You’ll definitely live to see it, Sun."

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. I’ll strive to live a bit longer." If he could live to see such an era, his life would be worth it, and he would die without regrets.

"You watch closely then, and when you get to the underworld, recount to me in detail what kind of peaceful era that rascal created."

Sun Kui was startled by the Emperor’s words, "Your Majesty, you must see it too."

The Emperor waved it off, "I won’t live that long."

"Your Majesty, you’ll surely live to a hundred."

"I’m not a turtle," the Emperor remarked. He certainly wished to see with his own eyes the prosperous era his youngest son created, but alas, he wouldn’t. He knew his own body well enough; if he could last twenty more years, that would be very good.

"Your Majesty..." Sun Kui was made anxious by the Emperor’s words.

The Emperor interrupted him, "If that rascal can ascend the throne sooner, maybe I’ll live a few more years." He pursed his lips, filled with grievance, "If I continue this broken emperorship, even if I had a turtle’s lifespan, I wouldn’t live to a hundred."

Feeling the Emperor’s soaring resentment, Sun Kui thought, "...Your Majesty, you truly dislike being Emperor."

At this moment, Hidden Guard A walked in, taking a secret letter from his chest and handed it to Sun Kui.

Sun Kui took the letter and then respectfully presented it to the Emperor.

The Emperor recognized the envelope as a letter from the northern frontier. His eyes narrowed slightly as he opened it to read.

Seeing the Emperor’s expression turn solemn, Sun Kui’s heart tightened, and he instinctively lightened his breath, standing to the side.

After reading the letter, the Emperor gravely instructed Sun Kui, "Go call Prime Minister He and the others."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

An hour later, Prime Minister He, Grandmaster Liu, and Song Weikang appeared in the Imperial Study.

The Emperor handed the secret letter from the northern frontier to them.

After reading it, Grandmaster Liu and the others immediately turned serious.

"I intend to send the Second Prince to the northern frontier. What do you think?"

"Your Majesty, the situation at the northern frontier is currently complex. Are you sure you want to send Prince Dai?" Prime Minister He thought that sending Prince Dai at this time would only complicate matters further there.

"Prince Dai has once served in the northern frontier; he is most familiar with it, making it appropriate for him to go. Regarding Prince Han in Youzhou, Grandmaster Liu didn’t consider it. Once Prince Dai goes to the northern frontier, it will be his concern. Given Prince Dai’s military leadership, he will resolve the dangers there."