Chapter 854: Time Is Running Out

Track Carriage.

Xie Tianyao had been touring his own empire.

He suddenly fell in love with this feeling.

From south to north, from east to west.

For Xie Tianyao's sake, the Prince of Qin specially crafted a very spacious, very luxurious horse carriage, which was called a true mobile palace, as it could be considered a palace that could travel.

Xie Tianyao was happy.

But the group of civil and military officials following him, along with the honor guard, were exhausted.

When the Emperor travels, the first consideration is naturally safety. One must know that back when hunting at the besieged city, Xie Xuan had led a group of assassins to attack Xie Tianyao and had abducted Zhai Qing'er. After that incident, Xie Tianyao had not dared to leave the Imperial Palace for decades.

Why?

It was very obvious that the atmosphere of Longyan today was different, no matter where one went.

The Longyan of today was truly a land of peace and prosperity, with favorable weather for the crops.

: rg

However.

At the beginning, these people were nervous.

Later, they slowly relaxed.

He could still distinguish between the real and the fake.

But now.

It was different.

No one picked up lost items on the road, and doors were not locked at night.

In the past, when Xie Tianyao went around to the lower regions, he could often see refugees, often see people eating tree leaves, and often see the false prosperity manufactured by those officials.

Xie Tianyao was not stupid.

Xie Tianyao had now passed through Hanzhong, traveled through Chuan Shu, and arrived in Jingchu; the entire journey was like this.

He was very happy.

He was also very worried.

It is truly different now.

Everyone could eat their fill, and their complexions were ruddy. After the start of spring, everyone was busy with spring plowing, and they couldn't help but hum little tunes on the road. When they saw the Emperor's honor guard, the sincere kneeling and cheering were also truly filled with piety, without any resentment.

If it were only around Jinghua, that would be one thing.

The entire Longyan was thriving.

One cannot help but admire him.

And it was impossible not to feel frustrated.

Of course, there was even more frustration.

He had been on the throne for forty years, busy every day with the schemes and intrigues of the imperial court, busy every day with the checks and balances between the nobles and the scholar-officials, and busy every day watching the succession struggles of his own sons. But what about the governance of Longyan?

Looking back at this Liu Zheng, he had only appeared for a few years.

And he was so young.

Should he continue to let him stay?

"Your Majesty, the arrangements for the Li Dynasty have been made."

But after all, this was his own empire, his own magnificent land.

As he grew old, Xie Tianyao once again fell into contradiction.

Vice Minister Liu.

Xie Tianyao laughed heartily: "So, the model is already in place; whether Vice Minister Liu is here or not is no longer important, is that right?"

Inside the carriage, there was silence.

That was correct.

Grand Eunuch Zhou also sighed from the side.

Xie Tianyao looked at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window and chuckled: "Am I being a bit too heartless?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou smiled slightly: "Since ancient times, the imperial family has been heartless. Several Scholars of the Hanlin Academy have also said that the current Longyan has entered a proper path; if it continues to develop like this, our Longyan will surely be glorious for hundreds of years more! Therefore—"

You cannot deny that their reforms and changes have a tremendous driving force for a dynasty. Therefore, this is also the art of kingship: use one person to reform, then pile all the hatred onto him, and wait until the reform is successful to discard the donkey once the work is done.

Vice Minister Liu.

In Xie Tianyao's eyes, he was just such an existence.

Since ancient times, those who carried out reforms never had a good end, such as Shang Yang, such as Wu Qi.

Because they overturned too many systems and affected the interests of many powerful people.

However.

In terms of ideology, Heart Learning had been sought after by everyone, and it had also re-interpreted and upheld the legitimate status of imperial power.

Just as Grand Academician Chen Qian of the Hanlin Academy said.

The reforms of Longyan had stabilized.

Therefore, he could tolerate his tossing and turning.

But now, Liangzhou, Yintan City, Hanzhong, Chuan Shu, and the Southern Barbarian Lands had all been developed. Even Liaodong, after the Hanlin Academy researched the Black Soil, looked like it would become the granary of the nation.

The Imperial Examination had also begun.

He began to cough violently.

Everyone's expression changed drastically.

Nowadays.

They could enter a new era, and could let Longyan remain glorious for another few hundred years.

"Several hundred years."

Xie Tianyao laughed heartily: "Enough, enough. I have the face to go down and meet my ancestors now. Cough, cough, cough."

Die.

Everyone silently recited this in their hearts.

Vice Minister Liu.

It was already the third day of the third month.

It seemed.

The one-year mark for Vice Minister Liu was drawing ever closer.

Everyone's expression changed drastically.

"Emperor, you absolutely must not."

"Emperor."

It is time to die.

"Go to Wudi and take a look."

Xie Tianyao suddenly said.

The people of the Scholar-official Group grew excited one by one.

During the time Zhu Zhen was seriously ill, they thought this old man would probably just remain bedridden like this. Recently, the activities of the Scholar-official Group in the court and in Longyan had also become much more low-key.

After all, he was already over seventy years old.

Jinghua.

The "seriously ill" Zhu Zhen was able to get out of bed.

"My lord."

"Lord Zhu!"

Soon, the people of the Scholar-official Group arrived at the Shangshu Mansion one after another.

Seventy years of age.

Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, he shakily stood up.

The Scholar-official Group had not perished!

As expected.

Some had previously guessed that Lord Zhu's serious illness was feigned to avoid the brunt of the opposition. Seeing him today, it was indeed so. This fellow, who only grew more cunning with age, chose to "wake up" at this time quite appropriately, and he must have still had absolute control over the situation in Longyan while he was on his sickbed.

"My lord, this time, the Emperor seems to have made up his mind."

Zhu Zhen's complexion was somewhat ruddy; when people saw this, they were all overjoyed.

Zhu Zhen personally lit a stick of incense again and said indifferently: "Has Vice Minister Liu gone to the Li Dynasty?"

The crowd looked at each other.

Xie Tianyao was clearly about to die.

There must be a way to deal with Liu Zheng.

Some time ago, when Zhu Zhen decisively cut off his own arm during the tea trade, there was a reason for it. Because the Wa pirates were still affecting the peace of Longyan, everyone knew clearly that it was because of the Scholar-official Group that the Wa pirates had the opportunity to slowly grow stronger. Now that the tail was too big to wag, it was even more the responsibility of the Scholar-official Group.

"Yes, and Longyang Princess remained in Liaodong; it is indeed a great opportunity to take action."

"The Emperor, he..."

A group of people analyzed this matter.

He should step out now.

Not just Zhu Zhen.

Who wouldn't be jealous looking at the prosperous age created by this Vice Minister Liu?

Following that, the New Aristocracy represented by Vice Minister Liu was sharp and aggressive, in the prime of their power.

Zhu Zhen chose to "feign illness" to avoid the brunt of their power.

Today.

Zhu Zhen pondered for a moment and said: "The time left for us is not much."

Anyone would scramble to take over the mess.

If Xie Tianyao were to die as well...

If Vice Minister Liu were to die...

Everyone was shaken to the core.

"We await your lordship's arrangements!"