As the Crown Prince rode in his armored car, he ordered his subordinates to summon Liu Yuzi to his residence. It had been a long and eventful day, and he needed to return home.
The Crown Prince felt a need to change his approach. His father had shared many hard truths with him today, and he could see that the Emperor was genuinely growing old and weary.
He needed to prepare himself to take control of the Empire and ensure a smooth, secure transition of power. In the future, the entire Central Region would be plunged into chaos. Safeguarding the continuity of the Imperial throne was no longer just his father’s burden; it was his own.
“Sigh,” the Crown Prince exhaled deeply, gazing out the window.
Soon, the convoy arrived at his sprawling residence. As he stepped out of the car, he saw the Crown Princess, Tang Yanyan, standing at the main gate.
“Your Highness,” Tang Yanyan curtsied gracefully in greeting.
“Why are you standing out here in this heat?” the Crown Prince asked, walking toward her.
“Liu Yuzi arrived a short while ago and said he needed to wait for you. I decided to wait here as well. Many people came to the residence today seeking an audience with you, but I turned them all away.
“Given the current situation, I felt it was unsafe to receive them, especially the scions of the military clans,” Tang Yanyan explained, falling into step slightly behind him.
“Mm. You did well. Whenever I am not home, you are not to receive any clan scions. Not even your own brother,” the Crown Prince instructed.
“I understand. Junjie was acting foolishly today and tried to bring people with him. I refused to let him past the gate,” Tang Yanyan nodded.
“Mm. Go rest. It’s too hot out here; go back to the air-conditioned rooms. I have matters to discuss with Liu Yuzi,” the Crown Prince smiled warmly.
“Alright. But please, don’t overwork yourself. You haven’t rested for a single moment since you woke up this morning,” Tang Yanyan urged gently.
“I’m fine. Oh, where are those two little rascals?” he asked, referring to his sons.
“They’re in the study hall, having their lessons,” the Crown Princess replied.
“Good. They need to study. Make sure the other boys attend as well; don’t let them run wild all day,” the Crown Prince instructed.
“I know. But they are still young; it’s the age for playing, too,” she nodded.
They walked together down a long corridor until they reached a fork. Tang Yanyan excused herself, knowing her husband had summoned his chief advisor for a private discussion. She had no intention of interfering in political matters.
The Crown Prince proceeded to the antechamber outside his private study. Seeing him arrive, Liu Yuzi immediately stood up.
“Bring two pots of tea,” the Crown Prince ordered the servants trailing behind him. He nodded to Liu Yuzi and gestured toward the study.
Liu Yuzi followed him inside. The Crown Prince took his seat behind the grand desk.
“Sit,” he offered.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Liu Yuzi bowed and sat down. Two maidservants quickly brought in the tea, poured a cup for each of them, and quietly exited, pulling the heavy doors shut.
“Many things happened today. I was… taken aback. Furthermore, there are several matters I haven’t fully thought through. I need you to help me analyze them,” the Crown Prince began.
“I have heard some of the news. The Imperial Assembly… and Hu Hao’s promotion to full General and Commander of the 1st Group Army,” Liu Yuzi nodded.
“Mm. I summoned you because I need your analysis. I will recount the events to you first. Listen carefully, and once I’m finished, break them down for me point by point,” the Crown Prince instructed.
“Understood,” Liu Yuzi nodded attentively.
The Crown Prince spent the next half hour detailing the events of the Imperial Assembly, the video conference with Hu Hao, and the subsequent furious phone call from Hu Hao regarding the intelligence leak.
However, he deliberately omitted the private conversation he had shared with the Emperor in the gardens. He knew those words were strictly between father and son; they could not be shared with anyone, not even his most trusted confidant.
Liu Yuzi listened in silence. When the Crown Prince finished, he took a slow sip of tea, his mind racing as he processed the information.
“Your Highness’s stance toward the Grand Marshal is entirely correct. You cannot allow him to manipulate you. His primary motivation is always the advancement of his own clan’s interests. While he supports you, he does so primarily to benefit the Tang family.
“In this situation, the Grand Marshal’s smartest move would have been to ignore Jiang Kai entirely, and certainly not target him. Whether Jiang Kai was promoted or not shouldn’t have concerned him. In fact, if the Grand Marshal had openly supported Jiang Kai, His Majesty would likely never have considered replacing him.
“Jiang Kai won victories; if the Grand Marshal supported him, a portion of that glory would naturally reflect on High Command. Why would His Majesty replace him then? Furthermore, even if the Grand Marshal managed to eliminate Jiang Kai, His Majesty could simply elevate a ‘Li Kai’ or a ‘Wang Kai’! It’s nothing more than a single decree from the Emperor,” Liu Yuzi analyzed.
The Crown Prince’s respect for Liu Yuzi deepened instantly. The Emperor had said almost exactly the same thing: ‘If Jiang Kai thinks he can control the army, the next one is Li Kai.’
“Mm. That makes perfect sense,” the Crown Prince nodded.
“Furthermore, the Grand Marshal’s attempt to sabotage Hu Hao was a foolish move. It was utterly despicable. Not only did he place an Imperial General in grave danger, but he completely disregarded the existential crisis currently facing the Empire.
“I have spoken to Your Highness about Hu Hao before. You must bring this man firmly under your wing. His Majesty’s directive for Hu Hao to communicate directly with you confirms this; His Majesty clearly intends for Hu Hao to become your sword.
“Your Highness, ask yourself: who is more valuable to you? A Grand Marshal like Tang Long, who doesn’t know how to fight and prioritizes his own interests above all else? Or a brilliant general who commands hundreds of thousands of troops and wins battles?
“Hu Hao is incredibly young. If he continues to amass combat merits, His Majesty will continue to reward him, and he will inevitably command even larger armies.
“Moreover, I doubt Hu Hao is a fool. He is communicating directly with you—the Crown Prince, the future Emperor, and his former Principal. He isn’t going to abandon the most powerful patron available to gamble on one of the other Princes.
“The only way he would turn to the other Princes is if you actively pushed him away. I know you would never do such a thing. But Tang Long absolutely would!” Liu Yuzi pointed out.
“Tang Long’s actions today infuriated me. Regardless of whose faction Hu Hao belongs to, he is first and foremost a full General of the Empire. High Command has an absolute duty to protect the intelligence of its senior commanders. Yet Tang Long deliberately exposed him to the enemy!” the Crown Prince scowled.
“Indeed. He thought he executed his little scheme flawlessly, but everyone sees right through it. He did it solely to undermine Jiang Kai. What he fails to realize is that Jiang Kai is nothing more than a target His Majesty erected specifically for Tang Long to attack!” Liu Yuzi nodded.
“Mm,” the Crown Prince agreed.
“Your Highness, your primary focus now should be the front lines. You should personally call Commander Jiang Kai to inquire about the situation there. As for what Tang Long thinks, you can completely ignore it.
“Because you are the Crown Prince. The future Emperor. Strictly speaking, all the generals are your men. Your duty is to demonstrate magnanimity. It doesn’t matter if a general leans toward the Second Prince or the Third Prince.
“You must actively inquire about their combat situations and offer whatever assistance they require. When the generals witness your magnanimity, do you think any of them would dare cross the line?
“The military clans are not fools. They have survived for centuries by adhering to a strict set of survival rules. If they see you acting with the grace of a true sovereign, they won’t dare engage in reckless plotting. They wouldn’t dare offer excessive support to the other Princes. At most, they might hope to secure a minor noble title for their chosen Prince. That is the extent of their ambition.
“Both Jiang Kai and Tang Long are ultimately your subjects. That is the perspective of a magnanimous ruler.
“On a smaller scale, Hu Hao is your student. He wins battles, and now, whenever he faces a problem, he comes directly to you. This is an unparalleled opportunity. When an issue arises, you can contact Jiang Kai and ask how he plans to support Hu Hao.
“Hu Hao was Jiang Kai’s subordinate, and Jiang Kai clearly favors him. If Jiang Kai sees you supporting Hu Hao so strongly, won’t he naturally consider the benefits of supporting you? He knows the Grand Marshal position is likely out of reach for him, but what about General of the Left?” Liu Yuzi smiled knowingly.
“Mm? That is an excellent point!” the Crown Prince’s eyes lit up. He immediately understood the implication.
In Jiang Kai’s eyes, if the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Tang Long would likely remain Grand Marshal due to his familial ties. However, the position of General of the Left would almost certainly not remain with Ma Zhenling. Ma Zhenling openly supported the Second Prince. Therefore, if the Crown Prince took power, he would undoubtedly remove Ma Zhenling and could very well install Jiang Kai in his place!
“Furthermore, Your Highness, if one day you sit upon the throne, you will need men like Jiang Kai. You will need them to serve as a counterbalance against the Grand Marshal.
“Look at His Majesty’s current strategy. Tang Long, Ma Zhenling, Luo Xin, and Admiral Feng Jichun of the Navy… they all balance each other perfectly. Even though the Grand Marshal controls a few Vanguard General positions, His Majesty ensures he cannot monopolize power within High Command!” Liu Yuzi explained.
“Mm! But the Grand Marshal will never understand that. That is my greatest concern right now. He is solely focused on the Tang clan’s interests, entirely disregarding mine.
“I have no conflict with Jiang Kai. And Jiang Kai currently hasn’t thrown his support behind any specific Prince. Yet, thanks to Tang Long’s scheming, Jiang Kai is now perceived as my enemy!” the Crown Prince sighed in frustration.
“Indeed, Your Highness. You are the Crown Prince. His Majesty is advancing in years, the nation is in peril, and His Majesty’s health is a significant concern.
“You must begin paving the way for your own future now. Not merely to secure your position as Crown Prince, but to prepare yourself to govern the Empire. Within the Civil Administration, you can replace ministers relatively easily.
“But the military is different. They control the armed forces. You must handle them with extreme care. Speaking of which, there is one crucial detail I must remind you of!” Liu Yuzi leaned forward slightly.
“What is it?” the Crown Prince asked.
“You are the Principal of the Royal Command Academy. You have thousands of military officers who technically answer to you as their headmaster. Yet… you have never once reached out to them!” Liu Yuzi pointed out.
“Mm?” The Crown Prince looked at him, not fully grasping the implication.
(End of Chapter)