Chapter 297: Imperial King's Heart Technique!

Inside the Dragon Head Palace,

Just as the Grand Emperor was secretly pondering, Prince Yi did not echo him, but instead continued speaking with an inexplicable expression:

"Just now at the Hall of Supreme Harmony's victory banquet, Jia Zi Jie was publicly appointed as Military Governor of the Twelve Regiment Camps, fully responsible for the organization and deployment of the 180,000 troops of the Twelve Regiment Camps in Shenjing:"

"He was also granted great authority to command the military affairs of the surrounding capital region, and now he has surpassed the Prince of Nan'an, truly becoming the foremost military hero of the Da Han Empire!"

Prince Yi said this, his tone inevitably carrying a hint of sigh!

Whether Jia Jing is a treacherous villain feigning loyalty or a truly loyal and virtuous minister, it cannot change the fact that he already holds great power in his grasp!

With control over the 180,000 troops of Shenjing in his hands, plus his terrifying martial prowess and command ability, there is truly no one who can rival him in court and countryside, and even saying he can cover the sky with one hand is not an exaggeration!

As long as the Qian Qing Gong side has his support, their desire to restore the old order would be as difficult as climbing to heaven!

Upon reaching this point, Prince Yi's expression grew gloomy, and he could not help but reveal a hint of doubt on his face!

Just like the Grand Emperor, Prince Yi actually cannot fathom how Emperor Jing Sheng dared to entrust such great power to Jia Jing!

Could it be that he truly has no worry at all about Jia Jing usurping the throne and seizing power? Does he truly harbor no suspicion toward Jia Jing in his heart?

In his view, even if Jia Jing and Emperor Jing Sheng were as close as father and son, such absolute trust would still be unwarranted!

Moreover, although Emperor Jing Sheng is a man of temperament, observing his actions over the past ten years shows he is certainly not a fool ignorant of political scheming!

Just what is he thinking?

Just as Prince Yi's expression wavered between shock and suspicion, with guesses swirling in his mind, the Grand Emperor had already been startled by Prince Yi's words, his face darkening, and he could not help but speak coldly:

"Excellent! Military Governor of the Twelve Regiment Camps! Command over the Capital Region's Military Affairs! All military authority over Shenjing's troops placed in a single hand, with the safety of the state controlled by a subject!"

"I see him as having had his head turned by the victory in the northwest, and flattered by the praise of the restorer emperor, forgetting himself, no longer remembering that he is the sovereign who rules over all under heaven!"

"The Duke of Zhou feared slander; Wang Mang, before his usurpation, was respectful and humble! For a ruler, how can one allow others to snore beside his bed!"

"His reckless lawlessness will surely one day reap what he sows!"

The Grand Emperor's tone carried an irrepressible resentment.

He withdrew his hand from the windowsill, folded it into his sleeve, fingertips turning slightly white; sunlight streamed through the crack in the window, casting his face in shifting light and shadow.

"Huan'er, come here!"

After the Grand Emperor's sharp shout, he remained silent for a long while, then suddenly called out to Prince Yi:

Thereafter, he paced to the base of the north wall inside the palace, where at that moment a piece of calligraphy hung.

This was his own recent work, finely mounted, bearing four large characters: "The Way of Balance!"

Beside it was a smaller line: "Impartial and selfless, upholding the middle and correctness!"

The calligraphy is superb, with strong and vigorous strokes, its structure upright.

Looking at this calligraphy, the Grand Emperor's face showed a hint of nostalgia, and he softly admonished Prince Yi, who had followed him from behind:

"Taking advantage of this matter concerning Jia Jing, I will today teach you the most important principle for a ruler!"

"This is also what your grandfather, on his deathbed, holding my hand, taught me—the emperor's heart technique and the way to govern subordinates!"

"A ruler must understand many things: knowing people and employing them, the art of command, statecraft and so on, but the core is still to understand…… the Way of Balance!"

"What is balance?"

"First, it means not allowing the officials to unite and plot against me, maintaining a good check and balance among the civil and military factions of the court."

"Second, it means balancing the interests of the gentry, officials, and powerful clans across the realm, so that they all follow my Da Han Empire to prosper together!"

"As long as they are of one mind with my imperial house, my Da Han Empire can be passed down for myriad generations!"

"The key lies in mastering the degree of balance; you may skip court and neglect governance, even suffer a defeat…… but you must not let the court's power fall out of balance!"

"I only grasped this principle late in my youth, which allowed others to find a loophole and seize the throne!"

"I now impart this principle to you; you must keep it in mind and later pass it on to your descendants!"

"Remember! The weight of the myriad regions, the state's burden, and the load of the Da Han Empire's two capitals and thirteen provinces can forever rest only on the shoulders of the Son of Heaven!"

"If I am not to be the Son of Heaven, I would rather forego the glorious age of restoration and a court full of worthy ministers!"

At the end of his words, the Grand Emperor's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness, evidently recalling the unpleasant experience of having been deprived of the throne!

Upon hearing the Grand Emperor's words, Prince Yi's expression was a mix of joy and worry!

The joy naturally came from the Grand Emperor being able to impart this emperor's heart technique to him, treating him as the future emperor being instructed!

After all, these insights of an emperor are a more practical inheritance than the empty rites of enthronement ceremonies and such!

Ordinarily, it is only passed orally between the Son of Heaven and his successor, unknown to others.

The worry, however, is that his father has already lost the throne, and given the current situation, his hope of ever ascending the great treasure seems extremely slim!

Even if he knows this emperor's heart technique, it seems there would be no place to use it!

Moreover, regarding the principle grasped by this 'failed' Grand Emperor, he actually is not very willing…… to believe it!

After all, saying a thousand things and ten thousand things, the reality of your defeat in a great battle, loss of authority and humiliation of the country, capture and calling at the gate, and loss of the throne lies before us!

Facts often outweigh eloquence! Saying more is in vain!

And the Grand Emperor naturally does not know Prince Yi's complex state of mind; he still exudes an imperial aura, seeing Prince Yi's worried face, he again comforts him:

"You need not worry about the current situation either! Although I did not anticipate the variable of Jia Jing, after ruling for so many years, I certainly am not without some foundation."

"For now the Qian Qing Gong side seems to have overwhelmed us, but I still have plenty of tricks up my sleeve!"

"Father's wise words, I, the child minister, will keep them in mind!" Prince Yi nodded, his expression complex.

The hall fell silent for a moment; the agarwood in the boshan burner had burned down to the tip, and the last wisp of blue smoke squeezed out from a crack in the lid, twisted a few times, and drifted into the air.

The Grand Emperor drew a deep breath, gradually calmed himself, pondered the present situation, and after a long while spoke:

"For now, our side should still use stillness to control movement, and wait quietly for the opportunity!"

"Have the Prince of Nan'an continue to have Duke Cao maintain contact; he failed to seize command of the Jingying troops this time, and was suppressed by Jia Jing, so he certainly will not be resigned."

"I understand his temperament; this is exactly a good time to win him over, for his power in the southern forces is not small, and perhaps he will be useful later!"

"As for the affairs in Jiangnan, you must continue to monitor them; this time Jia Jing returns to the capital, and the Qian Qing Gong side, having gained confidence, will surely vigorously implement the New Policies."

The New Policies harm the interests of the scholars and gentry of the world; they will not remain indifferent…

The Grand Emperor Emeritus paused here, walked to the imperial desk, picked up his tea cup, took a sip, his eyes holding deep meaning, and spoke slowly:

"As for Jia Jing, after I regain the throne, I will eliminate him to prevent future trouble!"

"But for now, we still want to try to see if we can... win him over."