At this point, Li Chengfeng had completely understood the root cause of the conflict between the two factions in the Divine Capital.
He had also completely understood the reason behind the irreconcilable opposition between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince. He also deeply understood what it meant by 'one's position determines one's position.'
To the Fourth Prince, he had already taken the position of opposing the Crown Prince, so he would definitely not turn back.
The officials under him could switch allegiances and 'defect to the enemy', but he couldn't.
Once he admitted defeat, what awaited him would be a lifetime of imprisonment. The Crown Prince would definitely not let this political enemy of his out to harm the world.
Therefore, the Fourth Prince could only walk this path to the end. He had to win!
If he wanted to go up against the Crown Prince, who had won the hearts of the people, the recognition of scholars, and the recognition of the majority of middle and lower level officials, he had to take the path of the higher-ups. He had to work together with the Lord of the Land, great aristocrats, and great cultivation clans. If he wanted these great figures to completely support him and defeat the extremely powerful Crown Prince, he had to give in and pay a huge and tragic price.
Did the Fourth Prince not understand what the Crown Prince was saying?
Li Chengfeng had heard from Zhao Feiyue that the Fourth Prince was a rare intelligent person in the world. He was proficient in the four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and could recite poems at the age of six. At the age of seven, he had left behind a famous sentence, 'If one day I snatch the beauty of a hundred flowers, I shall repay the kindness of the green mountains'. He was known as a prodigy among prodigies.
How could someone like this not understand such a simple logic?
No, he must have thought it through!
But he had no choice but to do this!
If he did not do this, Zhao Liexian would not be able to obtain the absolute support of these great aristocrats, landlords, and great cultivation clans!
Most importantly, Li Chengfeng felt that Zhao Liexian truly felt that he should first compromise with the various factions. It was because Zhao Liexian had very quickly stood out and refuted Zhao Hanqing's words.
When everyone heard what the Crown Prince said, most of them fell silent. No one who could be in this position was stupid. Once the Crown Prince pointed it out, they immediately understood and agreed with him.
However, even if they agreed with the Crown Prince, they could not express their opinions as they stood on different sides.
This was because officialdom was not a place to speak according to right or wrong. It was a place to speak according to one's standpoint.
Sometimes, you would say the right thing, but unfortunately, you would stand on the wrong side, and you would be doomed eternally. However, sometimes, you would say the wrong thing, but stand on the right side, and you would be able to rise to the top.
It was absurd, but very realistic.
Zhao Hanqing's words were like a sharp arrow, fiercely piercing into everyone's heart, even touching their conscience. Thus, Zhao Liexian immediately came out in an attempt to reverse the situation.
Zhao Liexian himself was also a master of eloquence. He immediately asked, "May I ask Third Brother?
There are priorities. Should we take care of the urgent matters first? "
Zhao Hanqing snorted coldly. "Of course it's urgent!"
Zhao Liexian pressed again, "Then may I ask, among the many important matters at hand, which one is the most urgent and which one isn't?
Which one seems to be urgent, but is actually far away? "
Zhao Hanqing immediately realised it was a trap. Although he was not an eloquent debater like Li Chengfeng and Zhao Liexian, he was an expert in debating. He sneered, "The most urgent matter is not a national crisis!"
Zhao Liexian said angrily, "Sophistry!
This is sophistry! "He then turned to Zhao Bairen and said," Father!
At this time, it was urgent to act according to the situation!
First solve the rebellion, then focus on attacking the Nine Hells, and finish it all in one go!
If we want to do this, we must ally with the other sects, and we must compromise!
As for what you said, it's just a groundless worry!
How can a normal person be suffocated by peeing?
Let the sects govern themselves, but there are conditions! "
Zhao Bairen said with interest, "Oh?
What are the conditions? "
Zhao Liexian said, "First, we must maintain governance. The sects must admit that the land they are on belongs to Daqi. As the saying goes, the land belongs to the king!"
Zhao Bairen quickly nodded. "That's right, that's right!"
Zhao Liexian continued, "Second, we must maintain the appointment of officials!
These cultivators do not have the time to manage the mundane affairs of the mortal world.
Would they be able to handle their relationship with the bumpkins?
Would they be able to calculate the mountain of accounts and debts?
They do not have the manpower and resources, so the only thing they can rely on is the scholars, the officials appointed by the court. So as long as the management is still in our hands, the situation that you mentioned will not happen! "
The officials of the fourth prince were immediately convinced and nodded. "That's right, Your Highness is right!"
Zhao Bairen nodded like a grass on the wall. "That's right, that's right."
Zhao Hanqing was furious. He straightened his neck and said, "Nonsense!
When the time comes, the money will be in their hands, and the people will be in their hands!
As the saying goes, a county official is not as good as a ruler!
Who do you think these officials will listen to then? "
Everyone was speechless for a while. Zhao Bairen said, "Yes, how can we be thorough when we give them a handle?"
Zhao Liexian was furious. He could not help but curse in his heart, 'You stupid old man, who do you listen to!
You are the emperor, the emperor, not a grass on the wall that will be swayed by the wind! '
Zhao Liexian said angrily, "Do you think they will dare to disobey the imperial court's official decree?"
Zhao Hanqing said angrily, "The view of a scholar!
I have traveled all over the Daqi Kingdom, and the most I have seen are those who obey on the surface but oppose on the inside.
Corruption is rampant everywhere, and the imperial court has repeatedly issued policies to benefit the people, but in the end, why did it increase the burden on the people?
It is because these local officials are in cahoots with each other, deceiving the people!
If you hand over the money and the people to the various sects, these officials will be even more fearless in collusion with the local sects, and will become a small kingdom!
At that time, a needle won't be able to pierce through, and water won't be able to splash through. It'll be too late to turn back!
This sentence poked at Zhao Liexian's soft spot, and made him even angrier.
On this point, no one could find fault with Zhao Hanqing. Before he was in power, he had already begun to follow his teacher, the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, Zhang Datong, to travel around and learn, going down to the common people to taste their suffering.
He was different from Zhao Liexian, who loved to eat, drink, and play. He had traveled all over the country, and had rich experience. Almost all the prefectures of the Daqi Kingdom had stories of the Crown Prince traveling incognito.
Therefore, he deeply understood the corruption of the local governments, and the corruption of the Daqi Kingdom!
He knew better than anyone else just how potent Zhao Liexian's poison that could solve this urgent situation was!
Therefore, he stood out with a clear and firm attitude to express his strong opposition.
For this, he did not hesitate to gamble his political future!
Zhao Hanqing knelt on the ground and said with a sincere and sorrowful tone, "Imperial Father, this plan of drinking poison to quench thirst must not be carried out!
Once it is carried out, the destruction of the Daqi Kingdom is just around the corner! "
Zhao Liexian also knelt on the ground and sobbed, "Imperial Father, I also think that Imperial Brother's words are very reasonable, but even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice!
If the national treasury was full, why would I need to carry out this plan?
As the saying goes, choose the lesser of two evils. In order to solve this difficult situation, I have no other choice! "
Zhao Bairen's brows knitted together. He sighed deeply and said, "What the Crown Prince has said is the words of an experienced strategist, and what the Fourth Prince has said is also very reasonable, but … is there no way to satisfy both sides in this world?" As he said this, he looked at the officials and said, "Ministers, do you have any way to share the burden of the Emperor's father?"
The officials looked at each other. How could they have any good ideas?
Even if there was a good idea, it would not be their turn to say it!
This idea must be reported to their superiors first, and let them say it, and let them claim the credit!
Which official hothead would speak at this time?
But … there really was such a hothead here. He was hot-blooded and hot-headed, so he bravely stood out and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I … I have an idea!"
Everyone was shocked when they heard this!
What the hell, who dared to jump out at this time and step on the lightning?
Who could be so iron-headed?