N-A-A Chapter 762: Agreeing to be king is not easy!
Chapter 762: Agreeing to be king is not easy!
"What they care about is always the sky above their heads and the food in their bowls! Is the government's tax light? Can they live a stable life? Is there a place to seek justice when they are wronged? As long as you, the Prime Minister, can give them peace, a way to make a living, and let them live and work in peace, they will support you! As for who changed the position and how it was changed, to them, it is just a gust of wind that does not matter!"
Xiao He's analysis was like a cold scalpel, cutting through the gorgeous outer layer of politics and revealing its naked essence: "Officials, in fact, are the same."
He glanced at Li Si and Li Zhao, "They may know it well, but what they really care about is whether they can gain a future by following the new master? Is the new dynasty stable? Can their own power and interests be guaranteed? Prime Minister, the more you hesitate and the longer you delay taking that step, the more torment and anxiety these officials who have tied their lives and futures to you will suffer."
"A lord who is reluctant to ascend to the top will make them doubt whether their investment is worthwhile, and will plunge the entire power structure into an inexplicable anxiety and uncertainty. Becoming a king will certainly attract some opposition voices, and even some die-hard elements loyal to the old Qin will jump out, but they are ultimately a minority! It's labor pains!"
Xiao He's tone became unusually firm, with an unquestionable force of persuasion: "As long as you, Prime Minister, can govern properly after ascending to the throne, quickly stabilize the situation, and let everyone see the atmosphere and hope of the new dynasty, these opposing voices will naturally be drowned out by the general trend of the world's heart returning. As long as it is handled properly and the Gordian knot is cut quickly, there will not be any long-term impact. Therefore, I, Xiao He, also implore the Prime Minister, for the sake of the world, for the sake of all the people, and for the sake of all the ministers and soldiers who have followed you here - advance to the throne and become king!"
Xiao He's words, like a heavy hammer, struck Gao Yao's heart again and again. It stripped away the cloak of morality and exposed the cruel logic and practical needs of power change.
In Xiao He's words, the fate of Prince Gao was nothing more than a cold political sacrifice prepared for the birth of the new dynasty. And Gao Yao's hesitation, in Xiao He's view, became an unwise move that could shake the foundation of the entire group. This cold and almost cruel "pragmatism" is the sharpest weapon in the power field.
Gao Yao looked around. Li Si had eager eyes, Xiao He had a clear position, and Li Zhao silently agreed to become king. It seemed that it was no longer a choice, but a procedure that must be carried out, an irreversible procedure promoted by his most core think tanks.
"I suspect," he paused deliberately, his eyes sweeping over the three of them sharply, "that the three of you have been in collusion for a long time? Setting up a trap? You deliberately chose this juncture and came to me in unison, just to force me... to sit on that hot butt throne, right?"
Gao Yao sighed helplessly, a sigh mixed with fatigue, understanding, and a hint of self-mockery. He rubbed his brows and said in a half-seriously teasing tone: "Okay, you guys played well together, using both hard and soft tactics, and taking every step carefully."
Before he finished speaking, the air in the hall suddenly froze. Li Si, Li Zhao, and Xiao He knelt on the ground in unison, their foreheads pressed against the cold floor tiles, their voices carrying an unquestionable tone.
"We have absolutely no such intention! We would never dare to do so even if we die!"
Gao Yao could test them half-jokingly, but the three of them didn't dare to leave even a hint of joking. Any monarch, as long as he still has a clear mind, will never be happy to see his loyal ministers stick together and say the same thing. This is not about trust, but the core survival rule of the power structure - balance.
Even during the unified Qin Dynasty, Emperor Qin Shi Huang still had to appoint left and right prime ministers to divide and rule the country. During the great Han Dynasty, the prime minister had great power, but was always checked and balanced by the chief censors and the nobles, feeling like a thorn in his side.
The reason is simple: when subordinates reach consensus like precision gears, without any noise, how can those in high positions not be suspicious? This "consensus" itself is enough to constitute an invisible threat, like an invisible net being quietly woven. People's hearts are hidden, so who can guarantee that there is no trick behind this "consensus"?
This is an instinctive vigilance deeply rooted in the emperor's bones and an irrefutable iron law in the field of power.
Gao Yao looked at the three people lying on the ground, and his fear was not fake. He was silent for a moment, and the only sound in the hall was the crackling of the candle wick. Finally, he waved his hand, as if brushing away a layer of invisible dust, and his voice was full of fatigue after the dust settled:
"Well." He paused, his eyes becoming solemn and resolute, "Let's do as you say. All affairs in Xianyang City will be coordinated and dispatched by Prime Minister Li Si. Li Zhao, you will be the deputy and assist him wholeheartedly. The rest of the military and national affairs will be in charge of Xiao He. Let's start preparing immediately."
He raised his eyes, his gaze was sharp: "Within three days, submit the ceremony for the kingship and the constitution you have drafted in detail. I want to see the proposal."
"Here!!!"
The word "yes" was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the three people's suppressed ecstasy. The voice was so loud that it almost overturned the roof of the hall, and the excitement that burst out from the bones could no longer be concealed. Gao Yao finally gave in!
This was more than just agreement. It was the door to supreme merit that was suddenly opened! Founding father of the nation, the merit of following the emperor - these eight heavy words were enough to make any ambitious minister and general excited and willing to pay any price!
Throughout history, there are many tragedies of good bows being put away after the birds have flown away, and running dogs being cooked after the cunning rabbits have died, which hang over the road to meritorious service like a dark cloud. But this huge risk seems so insignificant in front of the temptation of "being recorded in history and shining for generations".
This honor is beyond the family honor. Compared with this, the so-called "opening a single page of the family tree" in later generations is just a firefly to the bright moon. What they are pursuing at this moment is to personally participate in the creation of a brand new history book, and let their names become the cornerstone of this history book! It is to create a brand new family genealogy, and they will become the source ancestor that future generations look up to!
Gao Yao, a soul from the modern era, even though he has lived in this era for so many years, still cannot empathize and fully understand how great the temptation is for a Li Si, a Xiao He, or even a Li Zhao to be able to stamp his name on the cornerstone of the founding of a dynasty.
Since he couldn't understand it anyway, he just let the three of them deal with it. He had been patrolling outside for two whole months and it was time for him to have a good rest. He would have to deal with Gongzi Gao's problem and the Baijia's problem later.