N-A-A Chapter 980 Xiao He's suggestion: Establish an empress as soon as possible!
Chapter 980 Xiao He's suggestion: Establish an empress as soon as possible!
Gao Yao turned directly to Li Zhao, a general known for his prudence, and said, "You will accompany the army to assist Erniu and ensure the smooth progress of the operation. After taking Longxi, immediately begin to deploy defenses, station 20,000 troops there, and keep them firmly in place for me!"
Upon hearing Gao Yao's words, Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and the others immediately showed a thoughtful glint in their eyes, and then nodded in agreement. Although the overall strategy at this stage should focus on recuperation and consolidation of internal forces, seizing the opportunity to take Longxi, which had already been abandoned by the Chu army, was indeed a brilliant move, with extremely low risk and high reward.
Xiao He stroked his beard and pondered, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. The Chu army's abandonment of Longxi was truly out of necessity. If they were to divide their forces to garrison it, the northern defenses would inevitably be weak, and our army might concentrate its forces to break through in one fell swoop. At that time, they wouldn't even have the chance to retreat to Longxi, and would only be driven into the bitter, cold land occupied by foreign tribes to fend for themselves. Therefore, Xiang Yu had no choice but to concentrate his forces and retreat to the north. At this moment, Longxi is indeed as easy as taking candy from a baby."
Zhang Liang chimed in, his tone tinged with approval: "Taking Longxi is of great significance. It not only completely eliminates any thought the Chu army might have of retreating westward, but it also hangs like a sharp sword on the flank and rear of the Chu army in the north, forming a powerful strategic constraint. Any future moves by the Chu army will have to be preoccupied with our army in Longxi, and they will not dare to act rashly again."
Wu She added, "In addition, the three camps that His Majesty has already set up outside the North Pass, which form a pincer movement, like an iron clamp, strangle the Chu army from the front. Now, with the support of the Longxi army on the flank and rear, the Chu army in the North is now in our strategic encirclement. Although it is not completely blocked, its space for maneuver and strategic choices have been greatly compressed. Our army has completely taken the initiative."
Gao Yao listened to his trusted subordinates' analysis and nodded slightly. His gaze fell on the map again, as if he could already see the banners being planted on the walls of Longxi, and the Chu army in the north restless in that invisible net. With this first move, the storm that followed was already quietly brewing.
"Since there are no objections, Erniu and Li Zhao, go and prepare immediately. I want to hear the news of Longxi's change of allegiance within five days."
"Your subordinate obeys!" Erniu and Li Zhao responded in unison, their voices echoing in the silent hall with a resolute tone like the clanging of metal.
As Erniu bowed and accepted the order, he strode out of the hall, his sturdy back disappearing into the slowly closing palace gates. The main matters of today's court meeting thus came to a temporary end.
The flickering flames of the giant whale oil candles burning in the hall illuminated the solemn or contemplative faces of the ministers, seemingly easing the tense atmosphere. Gao Yao, the newly enthroned king who had seized supreme power through his illustrious military exploits and extraordinary methods, sat high on his throne, his gaze sweeping over the ministers below like a hawk's. Seeing that the agenda was finished, he waved his hand, a gesture carrying a hint of imperceptible fatigue, yet also an undeniable decisiveness.
"Alright," his voice was steady, yet carried an imposing aura that echoed in the spacious hall, "What we discussed today concerns the very foundation of the nation. After you return, follow the instructions, set aside all distractions, and do your utmost to implement them as soon as possible. If there are any obstacles, report them immediately without delay."
This was both an order and an expectation. Having finished discussing the important matters, Gao Yao prepared, as usual, to dismiss the court and allow these pillars of the empire to attend to their myriad military and political affairs. He was accustomed to this efficient and direct pace, and abhorred red tape and procrastination. However, just as he shifted slightly, about to rise, the head of the civil officials stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, please remain here for now. Your subject, Xiao He, has another urgent matter that remains unresolved, concerning the long-term well-being of the nation. I hope Your Majesty can make a swift and decisive decision to reassure the people."
The one who spoke was Xiao He, the current Grand Secretary, who oversaw the complex administrative operations of this newly established kingdom. He was known for his composure, competence, and meticulous thinking, and was an indispensable assistant to Gao Yao. At this moment, although his tone remained respectful, a deep and unyielding seriousness lingered between his brows.
Gao Yao raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise, then sat up straight again, his gaze falling on Xiao He. "Oh? What has made Prime Minister Xiao so serious?" He was somewhat curious, as Xiao He had not shown this expression when they were discussing important military and national affairs earlier.
Upon hearing this, Xiao He hesitated for a rare moment. He raised his head slightly, his lips trembled, and he was momentarily speechless, as if the words weighed a thousand pounds and he didn't know how to begin. This was quite different from his usual clear and eloquent manner when he presented his memorials.
Gao Yao noticed his hesitation and couldn't help but chuckle, but his laughter carried a hint of inquiry: "Xiao He, you have followed me for quite some time and know my temperament well. When did you start to become so hesitant and indecisive? This is a hall for discussing state affairs, not a place for idle talk. If you have something to say, please speak frankly! Even if you do something inappropriate, I will not blame you."
Xiao He took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, and bowed deeply again: "Yes! Your Majesty is right, I was being impetuous." He straightened up, his gaze becoming resolute, "Your Majesty, now that the world is newly settled, you have officially ascended the throne and are now in power. This is a blessing for all the people and a boon for the nation. However, with the foundation of the country newly established, many things need to be rebuilt, and there are two major matters concerning the foundation of the nation and family that are urgent and require Your Majesty's attention as soon as possible. The first is... the position of the Queen Mother!"
He deliberately emphasized the words "Queen Mother," and seeing that Gao Yao's expression remained unchanged, he continued, "The position of Empress cannot remain vacant for long. I dare to suggest that Your Majesty should establish a Queen as soon as possible to serve as the mother of the nation. This matter is not merely about the order of the harem, but is also deeply related to the stability of the previous dynasty and the support of the people, and will greatly contribute to the stability of the new dynasty!"
Xiao He's words were by no means unfounded or alarmist. As the Grand Secretary, he oversaw all government affairs and knew that the position of "Mother of the Nation" was far more significant than simply managing the palace and serving the monarch. It was a crucial cornerstone for maintaining the stability of the empire on multiple levels, including politics, etiquette, and succession.
First and foremost, it is crucial to maintain the stability of the core of the regime and the orderly succession of power. A formally appointed queen, whose virtue is sufficient to win the hearts of the people, can effectively govern the harem, keeping it in order and preventing internal strife from affecting the court; this is called "pacifying the interior."
She was an indispensable and wise assistant and pillar of support for the monarch when dealing with heavy state affairs. She could bridge differences and ease conflicts in many subtle ways, which was her role as a regent. But the most crucial aspect was the clarification of the right of succession. The establishment of the queen meant the foundation of the legitimate heir system. Throughout history, the struggle for the crown prince had often been the source of disaster that shook the foundations of the country. By clearly identifying the empress as early as possible, the succession order could be initially established in terms of legal principles, preventing princes from forming factions and killing each other after they came of age due to their covetousness for the throne.