Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1008 - 90: Prince Han’s Ambition (Part 2)

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Previously on Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne...
The detailed reports of events at the trade conference reached the capital, shocking the court ministers. Despite Prince Han's talents and beneficial actions for the nation over the years, most ministers looked down on him because he failed to win their favor through bribes or invitations. In contrast, Lord Wei, burdened by his weak maternal background, secured their loyalty by providing substantial wealth from his Southern Wei connections, promising future power upon his ascension. Though Prince Han's merchant family and business skills afford him ample riches, he refuses to use them to entice supporters, leaving even those inclined to back him at a distance.

Certain court ministers anticipated Zhao Yao initiating contact with them, yet Prince Han took no action. Witnessing Prince Han's utter cluelessness, the officials' aversion toward him grew even stronger.

Within the thoughts of these officials, Zhao Yao, referred to as Prince Han, appeared as a profoundly idiotic individual, utterly hopeless.

Last year, upon the emperor's 'demotion' of Zhao Yao to Lingnan, numerous court officials smugly felt it was well-deserved. Beyond their schadenfreude, they were convinced Zhao Yao could accomplish nothing noteworthy in Lingnan and eagerly awaited his impending embarrassment.

When Zhao Yao proposed organizing a trade conference in Swamp Prefecture, a multitude of officials resisted, asserting that Prince Han harbored hidden intentions, with some even accusing him of potential alliances with foreign tribes. The emperor, however, dismissed their concerns.

Throughout the trade conference, officials persisted in badmouthing him before the emperor. Fully cognizant of their intrigues, the emperor chose to overlook them entirely.

Once the trade conference concluded and reports emerged of Zhao Yao's substantial earnings, the officials felt not just astonishment but deepening jealousy. They had never foreseen Prince Han pulling off the trade conference so effectively.

Over half a year prior, when Zhao Yao aimed to host the trade conference, many presumed failure was inevitable and anticipated him becoming a spectacle. Surprisingly, Zhao Yao not only triumphed but amassed wealth surpassing the national treasury's yearly tax income.

The officials resisted accepting this reality, yet the evidence was irrefutable, compelling their reluctant acknowledgment. From this trade conference, they realized Prince Han's talents exceeded their expectations, especially his prowess in generating revenue.

Although the trade conference stunned the officials with Zhao Yao's wealth-creating abilities, the military parade shocked them further regarding Prince Han's expertise in military drills.

Zhao Yao's arrangement of the military parade daunted outsiders, something the officials hadn't predicted. Yet, even more unforeseen was Prince Han's underlying ambition.

To many officials, Zhao Yao's true intent in staging the military parade wasn't merely to intimidate foreigners but to compel their allegiance. Similarly, they saw Prince Han's trade conference not primarily for profit but for gaining influence over the foreign realms bordering Lingnan.

At present, it appears Prince Han's assignment to Lingnan was exactly for executing this strategy.

Yang Ling shares this perspective, though Prince Chu disagrees.

'Tenth brother traveled to Lingnan not for allying with the foreign states of Annan and Johor,' Prince Chu, who places faith in Zhao Yao, declared. 'His journey to Lingnan was to escape the conflicts in the capital.'

'Your Highness, could the goal of Prince Han's trade conference truly have been solely to generate profit?'

Prince Chu nodded with certainty: 'Indeed, it was purely to make money, specifically by profiting from foreigners.'

Yang Ling, on the other hand, shook his head repeatedly: 'I disagree. I suspect Prince Han seeks to draw those foreign states into his fold.'

Prince Chu arched an eyebrow and inquired: 'Sir, do you suppose the tenth brother deliberately headed to Lingnan and organized the trade conference to enlist those foreign states?'

Yang Ling affirmed with a nod: 'Precisely.'

Prince Chu pressed further: 'Sir, what benefit do you see in the tenth brother's efforts to buy the loyalty of those foreign states? How could they aid him?' Those foreign states lack any influence in the court; they cannot assist the tenth brother in claiming the throne.

Yang Ling met Prince Chu's gaze directly and stated: 'They can enable Prince Han to assemble a private army and produce armaments.'

Prince Chu started to counter but was cut off by Yang Ling: 'Your Highness, Lingnan lies distant from the capital, surrounded by Annan, Johor, and additional foreign states. Should Prince Han recruit a private force in these areas, would the court even detect it?'

'The tenth brother would never resort to such measures,' Prince Chu asserted firmly. 'Nor would the tenth brother incite rebellion.'

'Your Highness, while you all engage in a deadly clash within the capital, Prince Han could muster troops and advance on the city, leaving us powerless to oppose him.' Yang Ling was convinced Zhao Yao was scheming exactly that. 'In the end, Prince Han could claim the throne with minimal resistance.'

Prince Chu shook his head: 'The tenth brother wouldn't take such a path.'

Confronted with the evident truths yet observing Prince Chu's unwavering trust in Prince Han, Yang Ling experienced a wave of frustration: 'Your Highness, can you honestly think Prince Han conducted the trade conference and military parade without any self-serving agenda?'

'The tenth brother once confided in me that he went to Lingnan, to Swamp Prefecture, aiming to transform Swamp Prefecture into Great Zhou's premier trading hub, drawing foreigners to conduct business in Great Zhou, and extending Great Zhou's commerce to foreign territories.' Prince Chu went on, 'Beyond amassing wealth, the key objective is importing beneficial items from abroad into Great Zhou. Long ago, the double and triple cropping rice from Annan reached Lingnan thanks to the tenth brother's recommendation to Father Emperor, as did the spices from Annan and Johor, all proposed by the tenth brother.'