Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1008: Chapter 90: Prince Han’s Ambition (Part 2)

Some court officials were waiting for Zhao Yao to approach them first, but Prince Han did nothing. Seeing Prince Han being so oblivious, the officials naturally disliked him even more.

In the minds of the officials, Zhao Yao, this Prince Han, is an extremely foolish person, and beyond redemption.

Last year, when Zhao Yao was "demoted" by the emperor to Lingnan, many court officials gloatingly thought it served him right. Aside from gloating, the officials also believed Zhao Yao wouldn’t achieve anything significant in Lingnan and were waiting to watch him make a fool of himself.

When Zhao Yao wanted to hold a trade conference in Swamp Prefecture, many officials opposed it, claiming that Prince Han had ulterior motives, and some even said he might collude with foreign tribes. However, the emperor ignored them.

During the trade conference, officials continued to speak ill of him in front of the emperor. The emperor, well aware of their schemes, simply ignored them.

After the trade conference ended and it was learned Zhao Yao had made a significant profit, the officials were not only surprised but even more envious. They never expected Prince Han would successfully hold the trade conference.

More than half a year ago, when Zhao Yao wanted to hold the trade conference, many believed he would not succeed, and were sure he’d make a laughingstock of himself. Unexpectedly, Zhao Yao not only succeeded but also earned more money than the national treasury’s annual tax revenue.

The officials were unwilling to believe this was true, but the facts were undeniable, forcing them to accept it. Through this trade conference, the officials discovered that Prince Han’s capabilities were far greater than they imagined, particularly his ability to earn money.

While the trade conference left the officials astonished at Zhao Yao’s ability to generate wealth, the military parade left them in shock at Prince Han’s military training skills.

Zhao Yao’s hosting of a military parade intimidated foreigners, which the officials had not anticipated. However, what they didn’t expect was Prince Han’s ambition.

In the eyes of many officials, the main purpose of Zhao Yao hosting the military parade was not to shock foreigners, but to make them submit to him. In their view, the main purpose of Prince Han holding the trade conference was not to earn money but to win over the foreign states near Lingnan.

Now it seems that Prince Han going to Lingnan is precisely for this plan.

Yang Ling also believes this to be true, but Prince Chu does not think so.

"Tenth brother went to Lingnan not to win over Annan and Johor’s foreign states," Prince Chu trusts Zhao Yao. "He went to Lingnan to avoid the disputes in the capital."

"Your Highness, was the purpose of Prince Han hosting the trade conference really just to earn money?"

Prince Chu nodded affirmatively: "It really was just to earn money, to earn money from foreigners."

Yang Ling, however, shook his head continuously: "I don’t think so. I believe Prince Han is looking to win over those foreign states."

Prince Chu raised his eyebrow and asked: "Sir, do you think the tenth brother specially went to Lingnan and hosted the trade conference to rope in those foreign states?"

Yang Ling nodded: "Exactly."

Prince Chu asked again: "Sir, of what use do you think the tenth brother’s buying over of those foreign states would be? How can they help him?" Those foreign states have no standing in the court; they can’t help the tenth brother secure the throne.

Yang Ling looked straight at Prince Chu and said: "They can help Prince Han raise a private militia and forge weapons."

Prince Chu was about to refute but was interrupted by Yang Ling: "Your Highness, Lingnan is far from the capital, with Annan, Johor, and other foreign states nearby. If Prince Han raises a private militia in these foreign states, do you think the court would find out?"

"The tenth brother wouldn’t do such a thing." Prince Chu said decisively, "And the tenth brother won’t rebel."

"Your Highness, when you all are caught in a mutual destruction struggle in the capital, Prince Han will raise an army and march into the capital, at which point we won’t be able to resist." Yang Ling believed Zhao Yao was indeed plotting this, "By then, Prince Han can seize the throne without much effort."

Prince Chu shook his head: "The tenth brother wouldn’t do that."

Seeing the facts laid before him, with Prince Chu still so trusting of Prince Han, Yang Ling felt a sense of helplessness: "Your Highness, do you truly believe that Prince Han held the trade conference and military parade without any personal motives?"

"The tenth brother once told me, he went to Lingnan, to Swamp Prefecture, to turn Swamp Prefecture into the Great Zhou’s foremost trade prefecture, to let foreigners come to Great Zhou for business, and also to take Great Zhou’s business out to foreign lands." Prince Chu continued, "Besides making money, the most important thing is to bring the good things from foreign countries into Great Zhou. Years ago, the double and triple cropping rice of Annan were introduced to Lingnan at the tenth brother’s suggestion to Father Emperor, as were the spices from Annan and Johor, also suggested by the tenth brother."