A Clash of Gods - Chapter 110

Chapter 110 The Emperor’s Brother Took the Throne
The emperor of the country passed away. Although Yang Ning was surprised, he didn’t have many feelings. Seeing that Mao Wenshou was worried, he couldn’t help but say, “His Majesty passed away, and the crown prince will take the throne. I think that the imperial court is prepared. After the new emperor takes the throne, everything must be peaceful soon.”

Mao Wenshou nodded. “I hope so.”

Qi Feng couldn’t help but cut in, “Now I am worried that the crown prince can’t come back in time. Maybe there will be an accident.”

“The crown prince can’t come back in time?” Yang Ning was astonished. “Why did you say that? Isn’t the crown prince in the capital?”

Qi Feng replied in a low voice, “The king of the Eastern Qi State holds a ceremony after choosing the crown prince, and our crown prince led the envoys to attend it. I didn’t hear that they have returned to the capital.”

“The Eastern Qi State?” Yang Ning was confused. “Why is there a state Eastern Qi? Isn’t there only the Northern Han State?”

Qi Feng and Mao Wenshou looked at each other. Mao Wenshou pretended calm, while Qi Feng looked awkward and smiled. “Your Excellency, you are right. The Eastern Qi State is not a country and has a narrow area and few people, but… Aha.” But he didn’t continue. He knew that his master was muddleheaded not long ago and just got smart recently, so it was not surprising that he didn’t know many things.

Seeing that Yang Ning was still confused, Mao Wenshou explained, “Your Excellency, the Eastern Qi State is in the Shandong Peninsula and has a small territory. It occupied Qingzhou and has only nine prefectures. It’s even not as large as our Jingnan. Neither our country nor the Northern Han State takes it as a country, but they have a navy in the East Sea, good at fighting on the sea, so although it is weak, it can live in peace in a corner.”

“So it is.” Yang Ning finally knew that there was a small Eastern Qi State between two strong countries. He heard Mao Wenshou’s words clearly and knew that the Eastern Qi State occupied the Shandong Peninsula. Because the peninsula was surrounded by the sea in three directions, it was reasonable that they had a navy.

It was difficult for such a small state to survive in a corner between two powerful countries.

But since the two powerful countries didn’t take the Eastern Qi State seriously, why did the Chu State send the crown prince to attend the ceremony in the state for their new crown prince?

However, he just thought about it and soon understood the reason.

The Southern Chu State and Northern Han State were well-matched in strength and confronted each other. Under the situation, the state which could win over the Eastern Qi State would be more powerful. After all, although the Eastern Qi State was weak, it was not good for nothing. At least they had a powerful navy. With such a navy, it was enough to make the Northern Han and Southern Chu covet.

As expected, Mao Wenshou explained, “Our crown prince attended the ceremony in the Eastern Qi State, so it is a great honor for the people in that country. If the navy can be made use of by us, the people from the Northern Han State won’t dare to act rashly.”

Yang Ning asked, “So the crown prince is still in the Eastern Qi State now? His Majesty passed away, and the crown prince would naturally come back as soon as he got the news.”

But Mao Wenshou looked worried and didn’t speak.

Yang Ning couldn’t help but ask, “You said that somebody in the capital would cause trouble when it is in chaos. Who is so bold?”

Mao Wenshou responded, “With the Marquis of Loyalty in the capital, there must be no problem.” He waved his hand. “The imperial court has its arrangements. His Majesty was a wise emperor and must have made proper arrangements before he passed away. We just talk about it, and I can’t discuss the major issue in the country.”

“I am just afraid…” Qi Feng didn’t finish his words. However, he looked serious.

Seeing that both of them said vaguely and wanted to speak but stopped, Yang Ning questioned involuntarily, “Can’t you make it clear? I have listened to you for a long time, but I don’t know what you are talking about.” He pointed at Qi Feng. “What are you afraid of?”

Qi Feng hesitated for a while and lowered his voice. “Your Excellency, you know what? Some people…don’t think that the crown prince can take the throne.”

“What?” Yang Ning was stunned. “The crown prince won’t take the throne? Why was the crown prince chosen? Isn’t the crown prince the heir to the throne?”

Mao Wenshou nodded slightly. “Your Excellency, you are right. The crown prince is the heir to the throne. It’s God’s truth that the son inherits his father’s title. Logically, there is nothing to be said against that the crown prince takes the throne, but…what happened in the past always makes some people feel a grievance. I am afraid that those people would seize the chance and change something.”

“Who?” Yang Ning still couldn’t understand.

Qi Feng finally answered, “The Duke of Huainan! We are afraid that he will take the opportunity and cause trouble.”

“The Duke of Huainan?” Yang Ning immediately remembered that when the coffin of the Marquis of Honor Qi Jing was carried out of the mansion, before somebody was sent from the imperial palace to declare the imperial decree, the Duke of Huainan came first and cried for the Marquis of Honor at the city gates, and even many people were moved then.

He remembered that the Duke of Huainan was more than forty years and looked like a nobleman, but when the eunuch from the imperial palace arrived, the duke looked indifferent and even took his people away before the imperial decree was read, which was disrespectful, so he greatly impressed Yang Ning. Hearing that Qi Feng talked about the Duke of Huainan, he was astonished and asked, “Are you afraid that the Duke of Huainan would cause trouble?” He frowned. “What can he change? Can a duke prevent the crown prince from taking the throne?”

“Maybe other dukes don’t have so much power, but the Duke of Huainan is different.” Mao Wenshou whispered, “Your Excellency, as far as I know, in fact…the Duke of Huainan has the qualification to take the throne.”

Yang Ning was petrified. “The Duke of Huainan has the qualification? Lord Mao, what do you mean?”

Mao Wenshou explained, “The founder of our country, Emperor Wude had excellent military accomplishments. He conquered the world and established the Chu State, but…he died at a young age, less than forty years old. Before the first emperor passed away, the Duke of Huainan was still a baby. At that time, the country was not stable, and there were many traitors in the south. Ba Shu wasn’t suppressed, and the people from the Northern Han State cast covetous eyes on our country…”

“The Duke of Huainan is the first emperor’s son?” Yang Ning asked.

Mao Wenshou nodded. “He is not only the first emperor’s son but also his only son. The first emperor lived in a troubled world and fought everywhere. He had a son who died in infancy, and the Duke of Huainan is his second son, but the first son died when he was a baby, so the Duke of Huainan is the first emperor’s only son.”

Yang Ning asked with curiosity, “Since the Duke of Huainan is the first emperor’s only son, why…is he only a duke now?”

Mao Wenshou replied, “It has something to do with the situation then. The first emperor passed away, and the situation was dangerous, with domestic trouble and foreign invasion. At that time, the only one who could maintain the situation was the second emperor. The second emperor is the first emperor’s brother. When the first emperor battled, the second emperor followed him all the time and had a lot of battle achievements. He was the first emperor’s right arm…”

Yang Ning understood in an instant. “So his brother inherited the throne.”

He was clear that there were mainly two kinds of situation for taking the throne. The son inherited the title or the brother took the throne. It was rare that they would give the chance to a wise outsider.

It was rare even for the brother to take the throne in the history unless it was forced under the situation. Usually, the son inherited the father’s throne, which was natural.

After Mao Wenshou said that, Yang Ning understood the reason.

Undoubtedly, the first emperor was a hero and conquered half of the world, but he died at a young age, and the Duke of Huainan was still a baby then.

It was reasonable for the Duke of Huainan to take the throne, but under the situation with domestic trouble and foreign invasion, a powerful man with prestige was needed to control the Chu State which was just established and unite all people in the country. Otherwise, it would surely be in chaos. And a baby certainly couldn’t have the ability to unite all people.

The second emperor followed the first emperor to battle in the world with outstanding military exploit, and his prestige was enough to calm all people. Under the situation, it was the best choice to let the second emperor inherit the throne.

“As you said, the second emperor took the throne after his brother died. The first emperor considered the country and gave the chance to the second emperor…” Mao Wenshou hesitated for a moment and then continued softly, “But later it is rumored that before the first emperor passed away, he gave the throne to the second emperor, who refused it, but the first emperor insisted and told the second emperor to care about the great cause, so the second emperor accepted the imperial jade seal and promised to the first emperor that he would give the throne to the Duke of Huainan after the latter grew up.”

Yang Ning thought, “No matter whether it is true or not, even if the second emperor said that then, it couldn’t be real. Once the power is in hands, probably nobody is willing to give it up.”

“The Duke of Huainan is still a duke, so the second emperor didn’t give the throne to him,” Yang Ning expressed.

Mao Wenshou stated, “After the second emperor took the throne, he took the cause that the first emperor didn’t finish and continued to suppress all the traitors. He conquered all the area in the south of Huaishui River except Ba Shu. He was on the battlefield all year round and became sick. In fact, since the second emperor took the throne, many officials advised him to select a crown prince, but he ignored them all the time. Till he was sick, he finally made our emperor the crown prince and gave the title of the Duke of Huainan.”

“I see. No wonder you said somebody would be reluctant.” Yang Ning finally knew the cause and effect. He could understand the grievance of the Duke of Huainan, but he understood the second emperor. As a matter of fact, although the first emperor established the country, he didn’t confirm the territory of the Chu State, which was roughly confirmed by the second emperor. Before he died, he certainly wanted to give the country he had won to his descendants and wouldn’t let the Duke of Huainan take the throne.

The Duke of Huainan was the first emperor’s only son. In his opinion, the Chu State was established by his father, and it was God’s truth to let him inherit the empire, and in his eyes, the second emperor and his descendants were robbers who broke the promise and snatched his throne.

Mao Wenshou expressed, “Our emperor, the third emperor was learned and knew military strategies. He assigned the wise and able officials and made Ba Shu a part of our territory. His Majesty was always respectful to the Duke of Huainan. In the current world, nobody could be as honorable as the Duke of Huainan, but unfortunately…” He shook his head and didn’t continue.

Qi Feng kept silent all the time and finally couldn’t help but speak. “Your Excellency, anyway, we can’t make the Duke of Huainan succeed. If he becomes the emperor, our Qi family would…” He clenched his fists and looked cold.