NOVEL NEXT chapter 18
Chapter 18: Entrapment (2)
Prince Chunshan’s Mansion.
In the courtyard of the mansion, by the pond, Prince Chunshan was fishing.
As the former crown prince, Prince Chunshan’s current life could be described as “comfortable.” After all, for Prince Chunshan, withdrawing from the power struggle meant the emperor had to compensate him accordingly. The compensation was generous; not only did Prince Chunshan have a luxurious mansion second only to the emperor’s, but the emperor also sent a group of carefully selected women to the mansion for Prince Chunshan’s enjoyment. This treatment could be considered the highest level for a loser in a power struggle. Those who didn’t know might think he was the winner.
However, the former crown prince, now Prince Chunshan, was not satisfied.
The desire for power is hard to shake off. If a person has never been in contact with real power, it’s fine. But once they have tasted real power, the craving for it far exceeds that of ordinary people, and Prince Chunshan was such a person.
He was once the crown prince, and almost everyone believed that he would become the emperor, holding the supreme power of the empire. But things didn’t go as planned; his father handed this power to his sister.
Now, Prince Chunshan still hasn’t completely given up on the idea of seizing power. In his eyes, he is the one who should ascend the throne. Anyone else is not the true heir. He is eager to regain control of everything and take back what should have been his.
And now, Prince Chunshan is working on this very thing.
“General Du, do you know what you are saying?”
Prince Chunshan asked with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
The fishing rod in his hand was trembling, not because a fish had bitten, but because the tall general beside him had just revealed a shocking plan.
“How dare I,” General Du said with a smile, “The reason I came to visit Your Highness today is because this matter has been mostly planned out. I now need a true collaborator, or rather, someone who can truly help me realize my ideals. I believe Your Highness is such a person.”
When General Du said this, he flattered Prince Chunshan, even though he knew that someone of Prince Chunshan’s stature would not easily believe his flattery. But it was better than nothing.
“General Du, you flatter me.” Prince Chunshan quickly regained his calm demeanor. “General Du, I must ask you, do you know what your words represent?”
“They represent legitimacy, Your Highness,” General Du straightened his body and put on a righteous look. “Your Highness, I have always believed that matters of the world should be done according to rules. Although the late emperor had an edict, the crown prince’s succession is the rightful course. According to the ancestral rules, Your Highness should be the emperor.”
“But my sister is indeed more capable than I am. What is this called? Abdicating in favor of the virtuous.” Hearing this, Prince Chunshan did not lose his composure but said lightly, “I am not capable enough. Since that is the case, it is only natural for my sister to take on this responsibility for the sake of the Great Xia’s continuity.”
“Your Highness, you are too kind.”
General Du said indignantly.
“You have given up the power that rightfully belongs to you, which is already a great concession. But what has the current emperor done? The Great Xia is surrounded by enemies on all sides, which should be conquered by our iron cavalry to awe the world. But what has the emperor done? Ignored the provocations of neighboring countries and instead fought internally, suppressing the voices of ministers…”
At this point, General Du drank the tea in his cup in one gulp and placed it on the tea table with a domineering air. “Why? Our Great Xia is rich and powerful, why should we fear those barbarians? Look at the internal affairs, the current emperor is incompetent, and the Duke of An has monopolized power in the court with his wolfish ambitions known to all. But what has the emperor done? He has repeatedly forgiven him, which has disheartened many ministers.”
“So, you want me to usurp the throne?”
Prince Chunshan shook his head and then looked at the other party seriously:
“General Du, the emperor has treated me with great kindness. Now I have money, I have beauties, what more could I ask for? Besides, the Duke of An is just a minister. The emperor merely hopes to extract his value, how can you call that incompetence?”
“Your Highness, we are ready. Just waiting for your command. My Western Army of fifty thousand and other generals totaling over two hundred thousand are at your disposal. Please do not disappoint us!”
Seeing that Prince Chunshan seemed to want to refuse, General Du hurriedly knelt on one knee and said sincerely.
Prince Chunshan looked at the general kneeling on one knee and then sighed deeply.
Every day, even fishing is not peaceful.
“Get up, General Du. I will not participate in this matter.” Prince Chunshan said, looking at the calm water.
However, just as General Du’s expression stiffened, he glanced at the general’s expression and then smiled and added: “However, considering that you are worried about the country, I can pretend this matter does not exist. If you are truly concerned about the country and the people, I don’t mind providing you with some support. But I have no troops to support you.”
“No need for Your Highness to pay any price, I will handle it myself.”
General Du was overjoyed. Although Prince Chunshan did not explicitly say he would help him, his words undoubtedly showed some flexibility. This was in line with General Du’s expectations. After all, Prince Chunshan had fought fiercely for power with the current emperor back then. How could he completely give up his power now? Once the time is ripe, he will definitely not give up this great opportunity.
Of course, this prince is as cunning as a fox. He did not openly say he would join his side, but gave an ambiguous statement. This way, he would not bear much risk, but if there were benefits, he could become the ultimate beneficiary.
What a beautiful thought.
But General Du didn’t mind. The military power was in his hands. Prince Chunshan wanted the emperor’s position, and he wanted real power. For now, they had the possibility of cooperation. With his friends, gathering an army of two to three hundred thousand was not a problem.
Creating chaos within the court was not a problem at all. For him, the more chaotic the empire, the better. Once Prince Chunshan ascends to the throne, all problems will naturally be solved. After all, as long as there is this small flexibility on Prince Chunshan’s side, he has the opportunity to complete his plan.