Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1007 - 90: Prince Han’s Ambition

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Previously on Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne...
The citizens of Swamp Prefecture swelled with pride and security after witnessing the formidable display of Prince Han’s Personal Guard during the military parade, banishing fears of foreign aggression and past wars that had ravaged their lives. Foreign merchants reaped substantial profits at the trade fair, forging long-term business contracts and committing to expand operations in Swamp Prefecture, with many renting shops and planning residences amid surging demand. Zhao Yao responded by establishing a real estate department under the Ministry of Industry to manage the influx, while directing efforts to build schools, houses, and additional roads, leaving officials overwhelmed but optimistic with incoming manpower.

Reports of all the incidents from the trade conference reached the capital with complete accuracy, shocking the court officials to their core.

Regarding Zhao Yao, this Prince Han, the majority of courtiers held him in contempt, despite the numerous contributions he had made to the realm and its inhabitants over the passing years.

For more than ten years, the officials had been fully aware of Zhao Yao's abilities; they simply opted to ignore them deliberately. Clearly, Zhao Yao's achievements benefited the country and the populace greatly, yet the ministers considered them worthless.

In truth, the courtiers didn't actually think that Prince Han's actions were pointless; they merely viewed them as irrelevant to their own interests. To put it more accurately, these deeds failed to curry their approval.

Prince Han's background was indeed modest among the imperial sons, though not the most humble. In contrast, Lord Wei's lineage was the most disadvantaged.

Even as Lord Wei inherited the remnants of the fallen Crown Prince's prestige and backing, numerous officials had already quietly pledged their loyalty to him during the time when the deposed Crown Prince remained the favored successor.

To the ministers, a prince's birth origins aren't overly crucial. Even if a prince's mother's rank is low, the prince himself carries noble blood and qualifies to vie for the imperial seat—that's the key factor for them. By backing such a prince, they position themselves to earn accolades as pivotal influencers in his rise.

Princes backed by powerful maternal clans are harder to manipulate compared to those with feeble family ties on that side. Those with robust maternal support rarely require extensive aid from other officials, as their kin alone can propel them strongly toward the throne. A prince with scant maternal backing relies heavily on the ministers' endorsements. He must count on their alliances to claim the crown.

The old allies of the deposed Crown Prince now fully commit to Lord Wei, not only due to his past connections with them, but chiefly because he suffers from a lack of maternal clan assistance.

Throughout the years, Lord Wei has masked his true self effectively, convincing the deposed Crown Prince's previous backers that he was essential to their plans and simple to direct. As a result, they threw their full efforts into helping Lord Wei succeed.

Given Lord Wei's own strengths, he truly doesn't require the support from the deposed Crown Prince's old faction, yet he pretends to need their loyalty to join the throne contest in a seemingly proper manner.

While a prince's weak maternal lineage draws ministerial backing, if he fails to court them actively, they won't rally to his side unprompted. With countless princes in the running, why would officials choose to aid one who neither tempts nor pressures them?

Officials who swear loyalty to a prince at an early stage face immense dangers. They won't hazard their fortunes and existences without gaining some rewards in exchange.

As long as the emperor lives, the courtiers prop up the throne-seeking princes mainly to advance their own gains. Though Lord Wei boasts the poorest pedigree among the princes, he has lavished abundant perks on those who stand by him.

Despite his lowly heritage, Lord Wei never lacks funds. The folk of Southern Wei excel in commerce, supplying him with a ceaseless flow of riches that he deploys to sway the officials.

What the ministers crave boils down to riches and authority. Though Lord Wei can't yet bestow vast authority on them, he readily provides the fortunes they yearn for.

Within Great Zhou, the pay for bureaucrats isn't meager, but it falls short of lavishness. Only the three dukes and nine ministers enjoy generous stipends; the others can barely maintain their households and personal needs, rendering wealth accumulation out of reach.

Excess cash never seems too much to anyone, and bureaucrats chafe at their modest incomes; they too hunger for greater wealth. In recent years, those officials aligned with Lord Wei have pocketed hefty sums from him, vastly improving their circumstances.

With riches already secured, should Lord Wei seize the throne, power will follow for them. At that point, they'll possess both fortune and influence in abundance.

Prince Han, however, despite his far superior lineage to Wei's and matching affluence, refuses to dole out funds to gain their loyalty, which proves endlessly frustrating.

Although Prince Han's maternal kin are not influential, the Liang clan consists of prosperous traders in Yangzhou, engaged in commerce across generations with vast holdings. Furthermore, Prince Han possesses a keen talent for generating wealth, but he never dispatches presents or hosts banquets for the officials.

A significant number of courtiers yearn to back Zhao Yao, particularly after witnessing his venture to Lingnan where he amassed riches through glass production, which intensified their inclination to support him. They have subtly extended overtures to Prince Han, yet he behaves oblivious to them. Since Prince Han rejects their allegiance, they refuse to debase themselves further in pursuit of his notice.