The palace of Xianyang.
Qin Shi Huang looked at Zhao Gao with a slightly serious expression.
“I have received a reply from the Black Ice Guard, and after Long’er received the order, he has already rushed to Xianyang.”
“Counting the time, it’s almost time to arrive.”
“How are the preparations for the enthronement ceremony going?”
Zhao Gao smiled back and
“Your Majesty, everything is almost ready, we are only waiting for Gongzi Lang to return.”
After a brief report on the progress, Qin Shi Huang nodded his head in satisfaction and said.
“Well done.”
He still trusted Zhao Gao’s ability to get things done.
After just a slight thought, Qin Shi Huang continued to ask
“What is the private reaction of the ministers in the court?”
He had already announced this matter long after he had rejoined the court, and on the surface, no one had much to say.
Zhao Gao soon returned and
“Your Majesty, the court has the support of Wang Jian, Marquis of Wucheng, and Li Si, the prime minister, and most of the ministers do not have much of an opinion.”
“It’s just that there are some ministers, who still support Imperial Prince Fusu, and the Black Ice Guards have reported that these days Imperial Prince Gao seems to be lobbying for Imperial Prince Fusu…”
Halfway through his words, Zhao Gao did not continue, as he had already seen Qin Shi Huang’s face change colour.
Sure enough, he had only stopped when he heard Qin Shi Huang say, coldly
“Gao’er and Fusu have also followed Lang’er for some time, and they have learnt half of Lang’er’s daring and courageous nature, but they have used it to unite in a fight!”
“Humph, counting the time, Fusu should also return.”
“I will see if the two of them can compete with Long’er!”
He also wanted to see what Zhao Lang would do to the members of the royal family.
Being an emperor, of all places, was something to behold.
Hearing this, Zhao Gao was slightly startled in his heart and said, with a few moments of caution
“Your Majesty, I’m afraid that if several emperors fight each other, there will be damage.”
Qin Shi Huang laughed and said.
“Don’t worry, Lang’er is not that easily injured.”
Zhao Gao blinked, it wasn’t that he was concerned about the two men, it was that he was worried that Zhao Lang would strike hard and just get Gao and Fusu killed.
It would not be good for Zhao Lang’s reputation.
From his own majesty’s words, Zhao Gao also heard something else; his own majesty still seemed to care about his other imperial sons.
Otherwise he would not have misjudged the situation so much and actually thought that the imperial sons Gao and Fusu could bring trouble to Zhao Lang.
He, an outsider, could see clearly that nowadays, with Zhao Lang’s power, the other princes combined would not be enough for Zhao Lang to beat him with one hand.
The difference in power was too great!
Only as a father, he might think that Zhao Lang was excellent and that the other princes should be able to catch up with him if they worked hard.
It was not that Emperor Qin Shi Huang believed in these imperial sons much, but he felt that they were all his own seed and thought he was excellent.
Of course, he would never say these words out loud.
He just nodded repeatedly, remembered something in his mind and said, after hesitation.
“Your Majesty, recently the people from all the sons and daughters are heading for Xianyang, should we keep an extra watch?”
After hearing this, Qin Shi Huang pondered slightly and quickly said that
“There is no need, these people are all from Lang’er, and it seems that they have also received the news and want to come to see this enthronement ceremony.”
“However, it is not certain whether this will be good or bad for Lang’er.”
Hearing this, Zhao Gao said, with a little confusion
“Your Majesty, weren’t you still happy for Gongzi Lang before? How come now that Gongzi Lang has become the head of the Hundred Schools, you are instead saying that there is a downside?”
Qin Shi Huang said indifferently.
“Before, Long’s son was in charge of the agricultural school, the medical school, and even the military school, so the three of them are mostly complementary to each other.”
“This Confucianism, the Mohists can’t say the same thing.”
“The philosophical goals of each school are different, and it is not an easy task for Long’er to coordinate and unify them.”
Only then did Zhao Gao nod slightly as he listened.
Soon after, Qin Shi Huang waved his hand and said
“That’s all, just go and organize the enthronement ceremony, although there is a shortage of supplies now, we can’t be sloppy!”
Zhao Gao smiled and said.
“Your Majesty, don’t worry, your servant won’t be a burden to Gongzi Lang!”
“The ceremony will be grand!”
“Not only that, this time when Duke Long returns to Xianyang, the old slave will also arrange for someone to greet him at the city gates.”
Only then did Qin Shi Huang nod his head and
“Long’s son also deserves a reward for defeating the rebels this time!”
He actually wanted to compensate Zhao Lang.
Just as Zhao Gao was about to go out, a Black Ice Guard hurriedly walked in and said that
“Your Majesty, Crown Prince Zhao Lang and Imperial Son Hu Hai, are outside the palace gate asking for an audience!”
Hearing this, Qin Shi Huang visibly froze for a moment and said that
“And Long’s son is back?”
Zhao Gao was also baffled, he was thinking of organising a ceremony to welcome the other side.
This was straight to the palace gate?
But the two men weren’t surprised, this kind of action was like the other’s style.
Wasn’t that what happened last time?
“Hurry up and let the wave in!”
Qin Shi Huang said in a rush as soon as he came back to his senses.
The Black Ice Guard froze for a moment and wanted to ask something else, but he heard Qin Shi Huang urging once again that
“What are you still standing there for? Go and pass on the order!”
At once the Black Ice Guard hurriedly left to pass on the order.
But Qin Shi Huang, for some reason, suddenly felt slightly nervous.
This seemed to be the first time he had met with Long’er inside the palace since he had revealed his identity.
How should they have a conversation?
Should they use Zhao Lang’s father, or the identity of the First Emperor of the Great Qin?
Just as he was still hesitating a little, Zhao Lang and Hu Hai were at the palace gate.
“Brother Long, I remember this is the first time you’ve been back to the palace, right?”
“It’s alright, don’t be nervous, I’ll talk to Father when the time comes and put your palace closer to mine.”
“We’ll do more stringing together later too.”
Hu Hai said gleefully at this time.
“Our palace is not big, but there are many interesting places that I am familiar with, so I will show you around when the time comes.”
“When the a(e1) room (pang2) palace is built, we’ll change to a bigger one!”
“I’m telling you, the palace there, it’s luxurious!”
Zhao Lang, however, just said indifferently that
“I don’t have much time lately.”
When he returned this time, the others were put directly on the stately home, and he went directly to the palace here with Hu Hai.
It was to meet his old father and to go and meet with the sons and daughters to agree on what would happen afterwards.
The Great Qin needed to recover, and the people of the Hundred Schools could contribute.
As for these palaces and stuff, he was not very interested.
With the level of technology in the Great Qin, even if the houses built were more luxurious, the comfort would certainly not be comparable to that of the previous life.
He would rather hurry up and finish these matters before focusing on improving the living standards of everyone.
Hu Hai was about to say something else when a Black Ice Guard stepped out.
Hu Hai was instantly smiling and ready to go in, for this was definitely the one who had come to deliver a message to let them in, and
“Brother Long, let’s go, let’s go and see Father.”
But who knew that the other party would stop Hu Hai directly, saying that
“His Majesty has decreed that the Crown Prince be summoned to see you; you, Imperial Prince Hu Hai, have returned from outside and cannot enter the palace without an imperial decree.”
Hu Hai’s smile suddenly froze directly on his face.
Zhao Lang didn’t care too much and walked straight in with his slave.
All the way outside the palace, the black ice guard was about to say for Zhao Lang to wait first while he went to report.
This was the normal process.
When an emperor’s son met the emperor, he also had to ask for instructions and a briefing.
This is the way it is, no matter which prince it is.
Zhao Lang, however, simply shouted that
“Father, I have something to say to you.”
And he had already pushed the door directly and walked in.
He had done this all the time at the manor, and it hadn’t bothered him.
The black ice guard’s heart tightened and he hurriedly followed him in, saying that
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince…”
Only before he could finish his words, he was driven out by Zhao Gao at the door.
When the Black Ice Guard saw the smile on Qin Shi Huang’s face, he knew that nothing was wrong.
But in his heart, he had to marvel at how much Zhao Lang was favoured.
At this moment, inside the palace, Zhao Lang was grinning broadly and saying to Qin Shi Huang that
“Father, you called me back, and I also happen to have something to say to you.”
After being called father twice by Zhao Lang, Qin Shi Huang had by now returned to the way he had communicated with Zhao Lang before.
“Well, you speak.”
Zhao Lang naturally found a place to sit down, making Zhao Gao, who was on the side, look a little nervous inside.
This was the imperial palace!
“Father, I said in my letter with you before that I wanted to regain the Chu land as soon as possible and see if I could grab a wave of seeds, otherwise it will be hard for the people to survive this winter.”
Hearing Zhao Lang’s words, Qin Shi Huang revealed a smile, his previous estimation was not really wrong.
But he didn’t say much, instead he said back that
“Long’er, the matter of eliminating the rebellion will be left to you.”
“Meng Yi’s army will also come under your command afterwards, but Father can only give you so many troops.”
“Recently there have also been movements by the Xiongnu, and the border army cannot be moved.”
“As for Zhao Tuo, he is also having a hard time.”
“After you have recovered the land of Chu, you are close to South Vietnam, so you can go and see him.”
Zhao Long naturally nodded in response, he understood the state of the Great Qin and hadn’t expected his old man to give him much more in the way of troops.
“Father, on the Xiongnu side, once my son has recovered the Chu land, I will go and deal with the Xiongnu, and I will definitely make them submissive.”
Hearing these words, Qin Shi Huang only smiled.
He understood Zhao Lang’s thoughts, before he had broken the Goguryeo rebellious army in Liaodong, and also counter-attacked to someone else’s homeland.
A great victory, so to speak.
And then to have routed hundreds of thousands of Chu troops, such confidence and prowess was not something that could be obtained by ordinary people.
Naturally, he had no regard for the Xiongnu, but he knew that fighting the Xiongnu would not use any of his previous experience.
Just look at Meng Tian, although he had defeated the Xiongnu before, he had not been able to completely destroy the other side and was still staying at the Great Wall.
Of course, he would not strike Zhao Lang’s confidence now, and said with a smile that
“Good, father will leave it to you, but you can take a good rest now.”
“First finish this crown prince’s enthronement ceremony, it’s already being prepared, see what else you need.”
Zhao Gao, who was on the side, took over with a smile and said, with a few curt words.
“The enthronement ceremony has already been prepared, and all the supplies are the best!”
“If Your Highness has any requests, just mention them to your servant.”
Saying that, he also took out a piece of cloth and silk from his bosom, as if to write down Zhao Lang’s request.
Hearing this, Zhao Lang looked at Zhao Gao and said.
“Many thanks, Uncle Zhao.”
When he heard the name “Uncle Zhao”, Zhao Gao felt that his body was a little lighter, and he could not hide the smile on his face.
How could the position of the Commander of the Central Chariot be more important than Zhao Lang’s Uncle Zhao?
Zhao Gao also said in a hurry.
“It’s all as an old slave should be! I should!”
Zhao Lang laughed at this time and
“Uncle Zhao, but I do have a different use for these supplies.”
“I want to give all these things, to the people.”
Zhao Gao said, with a slight frown.
“How does that make sense?”
Zhao Lang returned.
“How is this not possible, these ceremonial things, when used on me, are just nice to look at.”
“It would be better to give them to the people in real terms.”
Zhao Gao hastened to advise that
“It is good that Your Highness cares for the people, but this is a royal majesty that should not be taken lightly!”
“Your Majesty, you see…”
Zhao Gao said, and looked to the Qin Shi Huang who was at the side.
Qin Shi Huang’s eyes moved slightly at this point and said indifferently that
“This ceremony is for Lang’er, it is fine for Lang’er to make the decision.”
“However, if that ceremony is too rudimentary, the damage can be done to your majesty.”
Zhao Lang said, full of disinterest.
“Father, these things, my child does not care.”
Of course he knew the importance of majesty, but now, it was not the time to talk about it.
Qin Shi Huang didn’t force the matter, Long Er had always done things differently from others.
“Father, if there is nothing else, I will go out first, my son still has some things to take care of.”
Zhao Lang quickly said.
Qin Shi Huang nodded his head and said that
“Well, just go and get busy, right, you take this token, in the future, it will be easier to come to Father when you come in and out of the palace.”
Zhao Lang accepted it without ceremony and then left.
Zhao Gao looked at Zhao Lang, who treated the palace as his own manor, and gave a bitter smile, then got up and wanted to see him off.
A short while later, he returned to the palace and looked at the thoughtful Qin Shi Huang and smiled bitterly, saying
“Your Majesty, Gongzi Lang has lived in the stately home for so long that he is just a little too spontaneous.”
“And not too considerate of etiquette.”
When it mattered, saying two harmlessly bad things about Zhao Lang was more useful than saying good things.
Sure enough, Qin Shi Huang waved his hand and said
“What Long’s son has put in his mind are great things, and there is no harm in ignoring these small gifts.”
Zhao Gao smiled and nodded repeatedly as he continued.
“But Gongzi Lang gave the people the supplies for the enthronement ceremony, although it can gather some hearts and minds, but it actually costs more.”
“This still needs your teaching too.”
Qin Shi Huang, however, narrowed his eyes slightly at this time and said that
“I see that Lang’er is not only for the sake of the people, or to see if these things can be delivered to the people, but also to use this to spread his name and reach the ears of officials at all levels.”
“That’s a good tactic.”
Zhao Gao listened to the man was dumbfounded for a moment, how could he not have thought that within a single move of Zhao Lang, there were actually so many meanings.
Qin Shi Huang said with a smile at this time that
“But with such a humble enthronement ceremony, I would like to see how he is going to come down.”
He knew that his ministers, and his other sons, would not let go of this opportunity.
Zhao Gao gritted his teeth at this time and said that
“Your Majesty, why don’t my old slave go and prepare some more supplies.”
Qin Shi Huang shook his head and
“When a prodigal son does something, he has to bear the consequences himself.”
“This matter, let it be done.”
But speaking of these sons of his, Qin Shi Huang seemed to remember something and asked
“Hmm? How come I haven’t seen Hai’er, hasn’t he returned?”
At this moment, outside the palace gates, Hu Hai was crying and crouching in circles in the corner of the palace gate.
As he drew, he said in a resigned voice.
“By what right!”