Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 192: Chapter 161: To speak the truth, Your Highness, you are more suited to be Emperor than Prince Yi Yong.

The Emperor appeared in the mansion dressed in casual clothes, ”What a surprise that you would voluntarily see me.”

The middle-aged man didn’t waste words with the Emperor, directly asking, ”What are you planning to do about the Xiongnu?”

Hearing the middle-aged man’s question, the Emperor raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise, ”Little Ten told you.”

The middle-aged man looked at the Emperor mockingly, ”Being friendly with the Wusun and relying on them, you really are clever.”

The Emperor ignored the middle-aged man’s sarcasm, ”When they proactively want to befriend us, why shut them out? Besides, I’m not counting on the Wusun to resist the Xiongnu.”

”Your plan.”

”I have already sent people to the Xiongnu, at least for the next five years, they won’t have any plans to move south.”

The middle-aged man smirked at these words, ”You’re really good at scheming.” Although the Emperor hadn’t said much, the middle-aged man had guessed the Emperor’s intentions.

The Emperor graciously accepted the middle-aged man’s ”compliment,” ”Thank you for the praise.”

The middle-aged man let out a cold laugh.

”Did you call me here just for this matter?” The Emperor looked at the middle-aged man teasingly, ”Are you worried about the Xiongnu moving south?”

The middle-aged man looked at the Emperor coldly, without saying a word.

”If the Xiongnu really move south, what do you intend to do?” The Emperor asked, ”Will you personally take to the field to drive them away?”

The middle-aged man said indifferently, ”I wouldn’t go to the battlefield for you.”

”Lao He, you should know who designated the name ’Great Zhou,’ and you should understand the significance of the name ’Zhou,’” the Emperor said, ”Once the Xiongnu move south, Great Zhou will be unsettled, could you bear that?”

No one understood the significance of the name ”Great Zhou” better than the middle-aged man. Because he was the first to hear of this name.

In the past, when Prince Yi Yong was selecting the national name, he considered many words and finally chose to use ”Zhou.” At the time, he even asked the master why he used the word ”Zhou.”

The master said, ”Zhou” implies completeness and continuity, endless cycles. He hoped that after establishing Great Zhou, it could protect the people throughout their lives, allowing them to live peacefully and joyfully. Most importantly, he hoped the establishment of Great Zhou would bring new hope to the people.

”I suddenly remember, you’ve never fought the Xiongnu, so if you’re afraid of them and don’t dare go to the battlefield, it’s understandable.”

The middle-aged man didn’t even acknowledge the Emperor’s childish and low-level provocation.

Even though he had never fought the Xiongnu, the middle-aged man did not regard them as a threat.

”You have five years to prepare. In these five years, you can study the Xiongnu thoroughly.”

The middle-aged man still did not respond to the Emperor.

”By the way, didn’t you say you wanted to kill my Little Ten?” The Emperor looked at the middle-aged man with mockery, ”Today Little Ten came to see you, why didn’t you kill him?”

The middle-aged man retorted sarcastically, ”Didn’t you forbid your youngest son from appearing in front of me?”

”I had no idea that kid was coming to find you.”

”He came here, and you didn’t know?” The mansion where the middle-aged man lived had many Hidden Guards. It was under surveillance by Hidden Guards, and whatever happened or whoever came, the Hidden Guards would report it all to the Emperor.

As soon as Zhao Yao entered this mansion, the Emperor in the palace would receive the news.

The Emperor was not surprised at all that Zhao Yao came to find the middle-aged man during his days off.

”I only knew after he arrived.” The Emperor said very frankly, ”I just wanted to see if you would really kill Little Ten.”

The middle-aged man looked at the Emperor with a chilling gaze.

”I knew you couldn’t bear to kill Little Ten.” The Emperor interlaced his fingers under his chin and raised an eyebrow at the middle-aged man, ”Isn’t my Little Ten cute and likable?”

”More likable than you.” The middle-aged man said coldly, ”He really doesn’t seem like your son. How could someone as treacherous and ruthless as you give birth to such a cute son?”

”Hahaha...” The Emperor laughed heartily, ”I knew you’d fall for Little Ten.”