N-A-A Chapter 774 Summon all the ministers and prepare to become king!
Chapter 774 Summon all the ministers and prepare to become king!
When the dust settled on the last decree concerning the foundation of royal power, Gao Yao did not rest for a moment, and urgent summonses arrived in various places like arrows from a bow.
In just ten days, those loyal ministers and wise men who had been tempered in the smoke of war gathered in front of the vermilion lacquered door of the Prime Minister's residence, which symbolized the core of power.
"Meet the Prime Minister!" a voice rang out in the tall and spacious front hall of the mansion.
Xiao He, Han Xin, Cao Shen, Li Si, Li Zhao, Zhang Liang, Ying Bu, and even Er Niu were all there. They came from very different battlefields: Han Xin was still wearing his armor, as if he was still wearing the biting wind and frost outside Hangu Pass; Xiao He's sleeves seemed to still be lingering with the ink scent of the grain and fodder books; Zhang Liang was dressed in a plain long gown, with a calm look between his brows; Ying Bu's tiger eyes were shining, and his fierce spirit had not yet completely calmed down,
As for Erniu, he was a little apprehensive and excited about being promoted suddenly. No matter if they had fought in the battlefield or were in charge of the center, Gao Yao's summons was like an unquestionable royal order, which made everyone work day and night without delay.
Thanks to the post-war renovation of the crisscrossing roads and post stations in the southern border, the speed of transportation is far beyond what it was in the past. Even if everyone is in different places, the round trip time is no more than ten days at most. If you spur your horse and whip it day and night, you can make it within ten days. This speed is amazing in this era.
The shadow of war has dissipated, and everyone knows the significance of gathering here at this moment - Gao Yao is about to take that crucial step: becoming king! This is not just a coronation of a crown, but also lays an unshakable foundation for the supreme "emperor" throne in the future.
At this moment, all those who could stand in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion were heroes who fought their way out of the sea of blood and corpses and assisted Gao Yao in establishing the country. When their eyes met, they flashed with a fervent desire to redistribute the power map and an infinite longing for their own glorious status in the future.
Therefore, before Gao Yao showed up, the hall was already filled with greetings and compliments. Han Xin praised Xiao He for his good command, while Xiao He complimented Han Xin on his military prowess. Zhang Liang admired Xiao He's talent for governing, while Xiao He praised Zhang Liang's brilliant plans. Even Ying Bu, who was usually rough and uncouth, imitated others and praised Li Zhao's bravery and Li Si's foresight.
Everyone generously used the most gorgeous words to praise their companions, as if the light of their achievements had already illuminated the court of the upcoming new dynasty. The entire main hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion was filled with a tacit excitement and restlessness about the future feast of power.
"Thank you for your hard work." A steady and penetrating voice came from the hall, and Gao Yao appeared in the main seat. He glanced at the ministers gathered in the hall, his eyes were deep and unfathomable.
"Thank you for your hard work, Prime Minister!" The voices of response rang out again, in unison. Everyone understood that the greatest credit at this moment must and could only go to the ruler who was about to ascend the throne.
Gao Yao just waved his hand casually, as if brushing off a piece of dust: "Alright, forget the formalities. I'm sure you all know the reason why I urgently summoned you all to return to the capital overnight."
Gao Yao got straight to the point. His voice was not loud, but every word struck everyone's heart like a hammer. "The ceremony of crowning the king is imminent. With it comes a reshuffle of the court structure, a change of positions, and a redistribution of power. Furthermore, although Xianyang is good, it is not the place where the king's career will flourish. The matter of moving the capital must also be put on the agenda. These are important matters concerning the foundation of the country, so we should gather all the wise men to discuss and make a decision together."
Everyone held their breath and stared at Gao Yao with burning eyes. Every word he said touched their most sensitive nerves. Where should the capital be moved? Who will be the most powerful official? How will the power of the new dynasty be distributed? The answer lies in Gao Yao's next words.
"All of you present here are my trusted and loyal brothers, so I will speak frankly." Gao Yao leaned forward slightly, his eyes as sharp as a hawk. "Before I can become king, I still need to solve a problem that concerns me. This plan was proposed by Li Si."
He turned his gaze to Li Si, who nodded slightly, his expression calm, "That is - when the capital relocation procession passes through Nanjun, use Wu Can to make Gongzi Gao's 'accidental' death. In this way, we can take Nanjun directly and completely recover Nanjun!"
When this plan was put forward, although no one in the hall questioned it, the air seemed to stagnate for a moment. This was no longer an open fight on the battlefield, but a hidden conspiracy outside the court.
Then, Gao Yao said no more and raised his hand and waved gently towards the door.
Under everyone's suspicious gaze, the hall door slid open silently. Several men in simple green robes filed in. The leader was tall and thin, with a gaunt face. At first glance, he looked like a weak young scholar, with a gentle temperament and a shy look in his eyes.
The clumsy long sword hanging at his waist, and the people behind him who seemed to be standing casually but had a hidden momentum and exuded a cold aura, silently indicated their extraordinaryness.
"Greetings, Prime Minister!" The leading scholar in green robe spoke in a clear voice and bowed in a respectful but not humble manner.
"Yes." Gao Yao nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping over the ministers with different expressions in the hall, "Let me introduce you. This is the president of Qingyi Society, Li Qing. From today on, he and his Qingyi Society will also be the backbone of our dynasty, and will serve as ministers in the same hall with you."
Upon hearing this, Li Qing bowed to everyone again, with a modest smile on his face, as if he had just entered the officialdom. Then, without saying a word, he took a few steps back very naturally and merged into the end of the crowd silently, like a drop of water merging into the sea.
This scene made Ying Bu, who was already full of doubts, frown even more, and he almost blurted out, "Qingyi Society? Unheard of! This Li Qing is even less well-known! The eldest son Gao Lin is now nearly ten years old, and he can already have a preliminary understanding of military formations. Gao Yao has never let his children get in touch with them. Even Wu She and Chen Hao have real merits on record. Ying Bu also knows the hard work of capable officials in governing the local area. But this Li Qing...what is his basis?
As soon as he moved slightly, a steady and powerful hand pressed his arm lightly. Ying Bu glanced sideways and met Zhang Liang's eyes, which were as deep as an ancient well. Zhang Liang's eyes were extremely complicated, with warnings and restraints, and even deeper, there seemed to be a hint of... fear? He shook his head slightly, almost imperceptibly, and the movement was so subtle that only Ying Bu could detect it.
Ying Bu was shocked. What kind of person is Zhang Liang? He is so wise and has many plans, but even he is so secretive about this person? Although Ying Bu has a fiery temper, he is not a fool. He suppressed his restlessness and doubts, swallowed the question that was on the tip of his tongue, and just snorted heavily and turned his head away, but his eyes could not help but glance at the green-robed scholar standing quietly in the corner, as silent as a shadow.