Chapter 53: A dull atmosphere? Then warm up the atmosphere with a family recognition meeting! "What does the Dali Duan family owe you?" Duan Zhengchun was very Yanqing sneered: "The throne of Dali was originally mine. Do you acknowledge this, Duan Zhengming?" Duan Zhengming had to admit it and said, "That's true. Emperor Shangde was murdered and you, Prince Yanqing, were rumored to be dead. The country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and the people cannot be without a master for a day, so we recommended Emperor Shangming to the throne. However, Emperor Shangming was not happy to be an emperor, and he became a monk in Tianlong Temple and abdicated the throne to me. So the throne is indeed yours, senior." Although Dali's culture is a self-contained system, it has also been greatly influenced by the Central Plains dynasties. After all, Dali itself was once part of the Central Plains dynasty, although it was a tributary rule. The feudal dynasty was influenced by Confucian ideology, and orthodox ideas were deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. This is why Zhu Di kept looking for Emperor Jianwen after his successful campaign to quell the rebellion. As long as the title of Emperor Jianwen existed as the legitimate monarch, Zhu Di's legitimacy would always be threatened. The same applies to the fact that Kangxi brazenly tortured the utterly threatening Prince Zhu San. Eight years ago, Sima Guang, a famous official of the Song Dynasty, compiled "Zizhi Tongjian", the opening chapter of which is "I have heard that the duty of the Son of Heaven is nothing greater than propriety, propriety is nothing greater than status, and status is nothing greater than reputation", expounding the importance of reputation. Although the Song Dynasty lacked military virtue, its culture was exported to the Liao Kingdom, Western Xia, and Dali. Dali has been deeply influenced by Confucianism in recent years, and Duan Yanqing's title as the former crown prince is indeed quite meaningful.
Duan Zhengming directly acknowledged Duan Yanqing's status, which was unexpected by Gao Shengtai and others. Duan Zhengming was not panicked, but they were a little panicked and looked at each other. "Back then, I was being hunted by traitors and went to Tianlong Temple for help, but the monks there pretended not to know me and left me to fend for myself." Duan Yanqing said, "Duan Zhengming, you are honest and upright, much better than the monks there." Duan Zhengming said: "Senior, your appearance is completely destroyed, so of course the monks of Tianlong Temple cannot recognize you. But, what exactly do you want?" Duan Yanqing said: "Of course I want to take back what I lost. I want the throne of Dali. Do you agree?" Duan Zhengming said, "If I give up the throne and abdicate to become a monk, will you release the Prince of Zhennan?" "Of course! And I have no son, so even if I become emperor, I will not have a crown prince. In terms of bloodline, you, brother Duan Zhengming, are closer to me. Not only will I release Duan Yu, I will also make Duan Yu the crown prince and treat him as my own son. I will let him serve as the heir to both houses and inherit both my lineage and yours. His future throne will be more stable." Duan Yanqing followed Murong Fu's bad idea and proposed a strategy of "serving as the heir to both houses", which he said with great righteousness. When it comes to politics, the purpose can be dirty, but the slogans must be loud. Duan Zhengming and his brothers were stunned, let alone Gao Shengtai and others. Gao Shengtai thought: Could it be that Prince Yanqing is a genius? "Would you really do this, senior?" Duan Zhengming asked. "Of course." Duan Yanqing said, "I have already accepted Duan Yu as my apprentice and am currently teaching him the Duan family's unique martial art, One Yang Finger. This shows my sincerity. Duan Zhengming, I have to admit that even if I had succeeded to the throne successfully, I might not be as good as you." "As an emperor, you have a very good reputation and have regained some power. Your martial arts skills have not fallen behind, and you have also practiced the One Finger Zen to the fourth level. You are truly an excellent emperor, and everyone praises you." "I heard that you are pure-hearted and have few desires. I don't think you are someone who is greedy for power. If you are willing to follow the example of Yao and Shun, become a monk in Tianlong Temple, and abdicate the throne to me, I will pass it to Duan Yu in the future. The Dali Duan family will be unprecedentedly harmonious, which will be a good story." Duan Yanqing's move is indeed interesting. At least it is no longer just nonsense, at least on the surface it seems reasonable and justifiable. However, Duan Zhengming had already made up his mind, and he said calmly: "Senior, what you said makes sense. If you can keep your promise, I am willing to abdicate the throne to you and resolve the grievances between the Duan family and you. If you can make you turn from evil to good, it will be a blessing for the martial arts world!" As soon as Duan Zhengming finished speaking, Duan Zhengchun immediately became anxious and was the first to kneel down and plead, "Brother, please take back your order. Although Prince Yanqing is the son of Emperor Shangde, he has abandoned himself and become the leader of the four evil men. He is full of evil. People will not accept such a person as the ruler of Dali! Moreover, he is physically disabled and ugly. He does not look like a ruler. When friendly countries see him, they will be surprised and look down on Dali." Duan Yanqing had a blank expression on his face, thinking: This Prince of Zhennan is so annoying, I was much more handsome than you back then. "Yes, Your Majesty, please take back your order!" Gao Shengtai bowed, "The Dali Kingdom cannot be in turmoil anymore. Prince Yanqing has committed many evil deeds, is cruel by nature, and is domineering. He is not fit to be a king. Moreover, although Yang Yizhen's party was executed, the Yang family has not disappeared. When they learn that Prince Yanqing has made a comeback, they will definitely rebel! By then, the people of Dali will suffer and the people will suffer from separation and chaos! Your Majesty, our Dali Kingdom is now most important for stability. Everything is for stability. Please think twice!"
Gao Shengtai kept saying that the Yang family would definitely rebel, but the subtext was that if Duan Yanqing really came to power, he would definitely rebel, and he could not accept Duan Yanqing's return. "Your Majesty, please take back your order!" "I beg the Emperor to revoke his order!" The three dukes and the four great guards also bowed down one after another. For a moment, all the officials of the Duan family of Dali knelt down. It was as if they would die if Duan Zhengming really abdicated. Duan Zhengming showed a distressed look, and said to Duan Yanqing: "Senior, you also know that if it is the general trend, the emperor cannot go against it alone, otherwise he will be a tyrant who wins the hearts of the people with his own heart. The important officials of Dali do not support you, and Dali Kingdom really cannot be in turmoil. Since you want to pass the throne to Yuer, why don't we each take a step back, I will abdicate and become the emperor, the Prince of Zhennan will take over the throne, and Yuer will be the crown prince. When Yuer is familiar with the government, I will resign the position of the emperor and become a monk in Tianlong Temple. The Prince of Zhennan will abdicate and become the emperor, and Yuer will be in charge of the government and be the king of Dali. How do you think?" Duan Yanqing looked at Duan Zhengming in a daze. After a long while, Duan Yanqing sighed and said, "Duan Zhengming, you are indeed more suitable to be the emperor than me. You are really amazing and a man of means. But Dali is a weak ruler and powerful ministers, so it is difficult for you to achieve anything. If you were in the Song Dynasty, I don't know how much stronger you would be than Renzong and Shenzong." Duan Zhengming said nothing, but asked Gao Shengtai and others to stand up. Gao Shengtai looked at Duan Yanqing and said, "Prince Yanqing, don't lie. The ruler and his subjects are of one mind in Dali. There is no such thing as a weak ruler and a strong subject. You said you captured the prince of Zhennan and asked him to worship you as a teacher, but we haven't seen the prince. How do we know if you are talking nonsense or have killed the prince? You have to let us see the prince before we can talk again!" "Gao Shengtai is indeed the tiger of the Gao family!" Duan Yanqing looked at Gao Shengtai and did not dare to look down on him. The Gao family represented by Gao Shengtai held the real power in Dali. All the important positions in Dali that held military power were held by Gao family members. Duan Yanqing had already thought about how to eradicate the Gao family and pave the way for his own son. "Okay, I'll let you meet Duan Yu!" After saying that, Duan Yanqing whispered something to Zhong Wanchou, who gave an order. Soon, several servants from Wanjie Valley came escorting Duan Yu. Duan Yu was fine, he changed into clean clothes, still clean and white, and when he saw Duan Zhengming and his brother, he was overjoyed and said, "Dad, uncle, you are here? This is the Prince of Yanqing." As he was speaking, Gao Shengtai suddenly attacked Duan Yanqing. Duan Zhengchun also launched the One Finger Zen and attacked Duan Yanqing almost at the same time. The two of them joined forces to besiege Duan Yanqing. The three dukes of Dali then set out to block Zhong Wanchou's way. "Your Highness, run to the Emperor, he will protect you!" Gao Shengtai said as he made his move. But Duan Yu did not run away, saying: "It is better to resolve a feud than to create one. Prince Yanqing told me that the Duan clan of Dali should value peace and not fight among themselves. We should have a talk." It is not surprising that Duan Yu was able to persuade Sikong Xuan to be magnanimous, but now he is bewitched by Duan Yanqing and believes that peace is the most precious thing. But his lack of action made Gao Shengtai feel awkward. Duan Yanqing made a quick move to block the attack of Gao Shengtai and Duan Zhengchun, stepped back a few steps, protected Duan Yu, and said coldly: "Yu'er is my beloved disciple now, I am not kidnapping him, he is kind-hearted, and he really hopes that the Duan family can value peace. Unlike the two of you, the Prince of Zhennan and Gao Shengtai, you actually attacked me." At this moment, the two sides were on the verge of a fight and the situation was somewhat out of control. Seeing this, Murong Fu walked to the center of the field, stood between the two groups of people, and said with a smile: "Don't be so nervous, we can talk, a gentleman talks, not fights. Everyone take a break first, let's have a family recognition meeting first!" "A family recognition meeting?" Everyone in Dali felt puzzled. Murong Fu waved to Wang Yuyan and said, "Come on, cousin, you have to face it." Wang Yuyan walked forward and looked at Duan Zhengchun. Murong Fu smiled at Duan Zhengchun and said, "Lord Duan, do you still remember Li Qingluo by the Taihu Lake?"
(End of this chapter)