Li Xiong came from a military background and lacked Fan Changsheng’s imagination. He immediately denied it: “Impossible! The gentleman does not speak of strange powers and chaotic spirits… no, I mean there is no divine power in this world, also not… “
Li Xiong painfully closed his mouth. “Prime Minister, just pretend I said nothing.”
How could he tell this Prime Minister who believed in immortals and divine places that he didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits at all?
Fan Changsheng was quite calm, seemingly unconcerned by the emperor’s words. He insisted: “Humans are too small within the universe. Human power is limited, and human knowledge is also limited. Your Majesty judges there are no divine anomalies in the world based on your own knowledge and experience, which is not wrong. However, I use my own experience to determine there are divine anomalies in the world, which is also not wrong.”
So he was still wrong, wasn’t he?
Li Xiong grumbled inwardly. After all, in terms of knowledge and experience, Fan Changsheng had half a century more than him.
Fan Changsheng firmly believed Zhao Hanzhang possessed something divine and therefore demanded Li Xiong pay more attention to Zhao Xin.
Li Xiong agreed. Even without the divine aspect, he needed to pay more attention to Zhao Xin and his party anyway.
As Li Xiong finished giving instructions, Fan Changsheng prepared to take his leave. Li Xiong quickly called him back and said solemnly: “Prime Minister, I wish to establish a crown prince.”
Fan Changsheng paused, then understood. They had already decided to yield a step. Then before formally establishing the alliance, they needed to establish the crown prince. Otherwise, once Emperor of Cheng became King of Cheng, Li Xiong alone would no longer have the final say in establishing the heir.
Jin would become the suzerain state, and Zhao Hanzhang would have the right to participate in Cheng’s selection of an heir. If she was dissatisfied with Li Xiong’s choice, she would always find various excuses to refuse, then interfere in selecting the successor. Fan Changsheng could already imagine how, if she used this to weaken Cheng, what kind of bloodbath would arise within the Cheng imperial family.
Especially since Li Xiong’s chosen heir was somewhat special.
Fan Changsheng asked with a grave expression: “Has Your Majesty made a firm decision?”
Li Xiong nodded seriously. “I have long had this intention. Previously, I merely wanted to wait until Shu was more stable and the children more mature. Now, however, we cannot wait.”
Fan Changsheng bowed: “This subject obeys Your Majesty’s decree!”
Thus, the next day in court, Li Xiong formally proposed establishing his nephew Li Ban as crown prince.
Hearing this, the officials all submitted memorials to remonstrate, believing that with so many sons, Li Xiong should not select an heir from among his nephews but should give the position of crown prince to his own sons. Otherwise, the dynasty would descend into chaos in the future.
Li Xiong refused to listen and insisted on establishing Li Ban. “When we first raised our army, we did not seek imperial foundations. It was only because of great chaos, with lives lost everywhere, that we raised righteous troops in response to popular sentiment. Everyone elevated me above lords and princes—this merit belongs to the Late Emperor.”
After Li Xiong declared himself emperor, he posthumously honored his father as emperor.
“My elder brother was of direct legitimate bloodline. The great endeavor should have passed to him for inheritance. He was wise and intelligent, magnanimous and virtuous. Born into this mortal world, he came bearing Heaven’s mandate. Yet with great achievements nearly complete, he died on the battlefield.” Li Xiong said sorrowfully: “Li Ban possesses superior qualities, a benevolent temperament, and is both filial and studious. Inheriting his father’s excellent nature, he will certainly achieve great things.”
Though these were his words, the court officials of Cheng did not think this was a good idea. Especially Li Xiang and Minister of Works Wang Da, who knelt on the ground kowtowing loudly: “Your Majesty, please reconsider! The former kings established crown princes to prevent usurpation and power seizure. The precedents of Wu Zi and Song Xuangong stand as warnings. No matter how much a nephew resembles a son, how can he compare to one’s actual son? We earnestly beseech Your Majesty to think deeply!”
But Li Xiong had already thought deeply and insisted on the establishment. Unable to dissuade him, the officials could only watch helplessly as he issued the decree.
At the guesthouse, when Zhao Xin heard this news, he stood frozen for a long time holding his teacup. Returning to his senses, he looked down at the tea in his hand and sighed: “Why has the King of Cheng lost his wits? With the precedent of Zhuan Zhu assassinating King Liao before us, has he not read the ‘Strategies of the Warring States’? And even if he hasn’t, surely the court officials have all read it?”
An attendant standing nearby thought hard before saying: “Envoy, I’ve just learned my ninety-eighth character and haven’t read the ‘Strategies of the Warring States’ either. However, I roughly know why the King of Cheng would establish his nephew rather than his sons.”
Zhao Xin: “Why?”
“Because his sons are all bastards,” the guard quickly corrected himself under Zhao Xin’s gaze: “I mean, they’re all terrible.”
“You don’t know—because the King of Cheng became emperor, the Li family’s young men have all become extremely fierce. They run rampant through the city, especially his several sons. Extravagance is their constant manner. I hear the King of Cheng eats only four dishes and one soup at each meal, very frugal indeed. Yet his sons feast daily on delicacies from land and sea, parading about ostentatiously, heeding no one’s counsel.”
“But Li Ban is different. He has a gentle temperament, treats people generously, and shows courtesy to the worthy and talented. Among all the Li family descendants, his reputation is the best.”
Having followed Zhao Hanzhang and grown accustomed to her calculated performances, Zhao Xin first suspected: “He’s pretending?”
The guard shook his head. “It doesn’t seem like pretense, because he’s genuinely good.”
“In the territories they occupy, families like the Fan, Zhu, and Li families hold vast landholdings. Common people lose their land due to war and famine. He proposed equalizing land distribution so all people could have fields to cultivate.” The guard said: “This subject has inquired—Shu territory differs from our Central Plains. Here mountains are many and land is scarce. Both gentry and commoners value land far more than in the Central Plains. So because of the land equalization matter, he offended many people. Yet he persisted and, it’s said, achieved good results.”
“Therefore, Li Ban’s prestige among the common people is very high, very substantial.”
Zhao Xin felt solemn respect. This one could compare with their family’s General.
Though Zhao Hanzhang was glib-tongued—oh no, had a sweet tongue and hard heart—well, that wasn’t quite accurate either. Anyway, she was very smooth on the surface but actually quite benevolent inside. This compassion for the common people did seem quite similar.
Still, he shook his head. “This matter won’t succeed. Since the King of Cheng’s sons are so vicious, how could they willingly yield the position of crown prince to Li Ban? The State of Cheng has already planted the seeds of disaster.”
Zhao Xin couldn’t suppress his delight. Without a beard to stroke, he rubbed his chin, smiling gleefully: “Once the King of Cheng dies, that will be when the Great Jin recovers Shu territory.”
By that time, whether it would still be Great Jin was uncertain.
Zhao Xin was immensely pleased.
The guard was very confused. “Why? Isn’t choosing Li Ban good? He’s so virtuous, while the other princes are all terrible.”
Zhao Xin then explained: “They are of poor character, but once enthroned they would have all officials to constrain them. The dynasty’s collapse would still require time. Perhaps before they could ruin the State of Cheng, they might die first, and their descendants take the throne instead?”
“But if the position of crown prince goes to Li Ban, these villains will refuse to accept it. Once the King of Cheng dies, they will fight for power and position, and the dynasty could collapse in an instant.”
Seeing the guard still looked bewildered, Zhao Xin simply said: “Do you know the story of Zhuan Zhu assassinating King Liao?”
The guard shook his head directly.
“During the Spring and Autumn period, King Zhu Fan of Wu believed his brothers were more worthy than his sons, so he passed the throne to his brother. He had three brothers in total. First, he passed it to his eldest brother Yu Ji. After Yu Ji died, it went to the second brother Yu Mei. After Yu Mei died, it should have gone to his youngest brother Ji Zha, but Ji Zha refused and fled. So Wu let Yu Mei’s son Liao take the throne. Zhu Fan’s son Guang believed that if it was brother-to-brother succession, it should go to Ji Zha. Since it was passing to a son, it should go to him—he was Zhu Fan’s legitimate heir.”
“So he sent the assassin Zhuan Zhu to assassinate King Liao and seize the throne. Wu descended into chaos.” Zhao Xin said: “Prince Guang had the forbearance to wait two generations with such character and virtue. Do you think the King of Cheng’s sons possess such character and virtue?”
The guard stared blankly and shook his head.
Zhao Xin smiled: “Exactly. The State of Cheng’s chaos has already begun. We no longer need to do anything.”