Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1007: Chapter 90: Prince Han’s Ambition

The various events that occurred during the trade conference were reported back to the capital in full detail, leaving the court ministers extremely shocked.

As for Zhao Yao, this Prince Han, most ministers in the court looked down on him, even though over the years Prince Han had done many things beneficial to the country and the people.

For over a decade, the ministers were not unaware of Zhao Yao’s talents; they just chose to turn a blind eye. Obviously, what Zhao Yao accomplished was advantageous for the nation and its citizens, but the ministers deemed them useless.

Actually, the ministers didn’t genuinely believe that the things Prince Han did were useless; they just felt that what he did was of no use to them. To be precise, it didn’t win their favor.

Prince Han’s origins were indeed low among the Princes, but not the lowest. Compared to him, Lord Wei’s origins were the worst.

Although Lord Wei gained the leftovers of the deposed Crown Prince’s glory and support, many ministers had already secretly endorsed him when the deposed Crown Prince was still a prestigious heir apparent.

For the ministers, the origin of a prince is not that significant. Even if a Prince’s mother’s status is lowly, the Prince himself is noble and eligible to compete for the throne, which is what’s most important to them. By supporting a Prince, they get a chance to claim merit as kingmakers.

Compared to Princes whose maternal family has esteemed status, Princes with weaker maternal forces are easier to control. Princes with strong maternal forces do not need much support from other ministers, as they can rely on their maternal family alone to have a substantial chance at the throne. A Prince with a weak maternal force needs the ministers’ support the most. He can only depend on their endorsements to ascend the throne.

The former supporters of the deposed Crown Prince now wholeheartedly back Lord Wei, not just because he was once their associate, but mainly because Lord Wei lacks support from his maternal family.

Over the years, Lord Wei has disguised himself well, making the former supporters of the deposed Crown Prince believe he was indispensable to them and easily controlled. Thus, they went all out to assist Lord Wei.

Considering Lord Wei’s capabilities, he doesn’t need the deposed Crown Prince’s former supporters, but he outwardly requires their allegiance to participate "legitimately" in the fight for the throne.

The weakness of his maternal family is one reason ministers support a Prince, but if a Prince doesn’t try to win them over, they won’t actively back him. With so many Princes, why should the ministers support a Prince who doesn’t entice or coerce them?

Ministers who pledge early allegiance to a Prince also take considerable risks. They can’t just risk their assets and lives without any benefits in return.

While the emperor is still alive, ministers support the Princes vying for the throne primarily for their benefit. Although Lord Wei’s background is the worst among the Princes, he has provided plenty of benefits to the ministers supporting him.

Even though Lord Wei has a poor background, he is not short on money. The Southern Wei people are skillful at making money, providing Lord Wei with an endless stream of wealth, which he uses to bribe ministers.

The benefits ministers seek are nothing but money and power. While Lord Wei cannot temporarily grant the ministers immense power, he can give them the wealth they desire.

In Great Zhou, officials’ salaries are not low, but they’re not exceedingly high either. Among the ministers, only the three dukes and the nine ministers receive high salaries; the rest can only sustain their families and themselves, making amassing wealth impossible.

No one finds having more money excessive, and officials are dissatisfied with their salaries; they, too, wish to have more money. Over the years, ministers supporting Lord Wei have received substantial wealth from him, making their lives much better.

Now that they have money, once Lord Wei ascends to the throne, they will acquire power. By then, they will have both money and power.

As for Prince Han, although his background is notably better than Wei’s, his wealth is comparable, yet he is reluctant to spend money to win their favor and is quite infuriating.

Though Prince Han’s maternal family is weak, the Liang family are wealthy merchants in Yangzhou, having been in business for generations, with significant family assets. Moreover, Prince Han himself is skilled at making money, yet he never sends gifts or invites ministers for meals.

Many ministers in the court wish to support Zhao Yao, especially after seeing him go to Lingnan and make a fortune from glass, bolstering their desire to endorse him. They have covertly shown goodwill towards Prince Han, but he acts as if he is unaware. Since Prince Han disdains their support, they won’t attempt to ingratiate themselves at his expense either.