Chen, the first year of Tiankang, Jiankang.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was visibly tense.

The samurai holding a halberd stood guard at the door, his eyes not as firm as before, with a hint of fear.

The eunuchs who came in and out lowered their heads and looked pale.

In the inner hall, Emperor Nanchen Chen Qian was lying on the bed. He struggled to get up several times, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not get up and his hands lost their strength.

Chen Qian was very surprised by this, "Back then I was able to ride a horse and draw my strong bow, but today I don't even have the strength to stand up?"

On the side, Han Zigao, a regular servant of Tongzhi Sanqi, had red eyes and couldn't help but shed tears.

It was Chen Baxian who established Chen, but it was Chen Qian who really gave Chen a foothold.

When the General of the Universe went south, it triggered a great melee in the Southern Kingdom. During this chicken battle, Chen Baxian defeated several powerful enemies one after another, established a foothold in the Southern Kingdom, and established the Chen Kingdom.

But when he died, the Southern Kingdom was not unified. At that time, Chen could only be said to be the strongest among the many separatist regimes in the South. The situation presented by the Southern Kingdom at that time was one of separatism among heroes.

There was Wang Lin in Xiangzhou, Liuyi in Dongyang, Chen Baoying in Jian'an, Zhou Di in Linchuan, and Xiong Tanlang in Yuzhang. The powerful forces in various places raised armies and separatized the local areas, ignoring the Chen court.

Political, financial, administrative and other aspects have even exceeded the lower limit.

Due to the previous great melee in the Southern Kingdom, many cities were almost reduced to ruins. Economically, the people were back to bartering for things, and the farmland was, needless to say, desolate.

There are people outside who are all watching with eagerness, always ready to intervene in things going on in the south.

Although Chen Qian is Chen Baxian's nephew and not a prince, she has made great contributions in the past and has a high reputation. Her succession to the throne is recognized by everyone.

After inheriting the throne, Chen Qian implemented many reforms in the country, attached great importance to agriculture and mulberry, defeated many separatist regimes, completed the initial unification of the southern country, unified the currency, and revitalized the economy.

In order to accomplish so many things, Chen Qian almost worked hard.

He got up very early, started checking the music table early in the morning, went to bed very late, and was busy all day long.

The clothes and food at night came from him.

Such high-intensity work left Chen Qian physically and mentally exhausted. She was just forty-five years old, but she was already too sick to get up.

Chen Qian looked at her favorite minister Han Zigao. His eyes were clear and he was not panicked because of his condition.

"Please, Mr. Han, please go and call all the ministers in. I have something important to tell them."

Han Zigao stood up hurriedly, turned around and left.

Chen Qian was lying alone on the bed, looking at the ceiling, but her eyes were full of worry.

My situation is getting worse and worse.

But the situation in the world is getting more and more urgent. There is Liu Taozi in the north and Yuwen Yong in the west.

Both of these people are extremely young and cannot be underestimated.

And if I am no longer here, it will be a serious matter for the country.

Chen Qian was lying on the bed, meditating repeatedly.

After an unknown amount of time, Han Zigao led several important ministers from the country into the palace, and everyone said their names loudly.

"Help me sit up."

Han Zigao supported the emperor so that he could sit on the bed.

Chen Qian looked at the people in front of her. Several important ministers including Zhongju, the Minister of Military Affairs, Kong Huan, the Minister of the Fifth Army, Chen Xu, the King of Ancheng, Yuan Shu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Liu Shizhi, the Minister of Zhongshu, knelt in front of the emperor. All are sad.

Chen Qian's eyes swept across them one by one, and finally fell on her younger brother Chen Xu.

"My time is running out."

Chen Qian said calmly.

Kong Huan said hurriedly: "It's just a minor illness. Why do you speak like this?! Your Majesty."

"I know exactly what it is."

Chen Qian interrupted Kong Huan and sighed again.

"I heard that after Yu Wenyong executed Yu Wenhu, he implemented several different decrees."

"I will ask people to find those decrees and read them to me one by one."

"After listening to it, I just felt amazed."

"Young boy Yuwen, you are truly extraordinary."

"He is by no means a person like Yu Wenhu, and cannot be underestimated. I have been afraid of Liu Taozi from the north for a long time."

"Liu Taozi has occupied Hebei and is getting stronger and stronger. Not long ago, Wang Lin even led his navy to defect. Wang Lin is a strong enemy!!"

"Liu Taozi sent people all the way to summon him, didn't he have the ambition to annex the world?"

"After Yu Wenyong took office, he sent officials to show his goodwill. This was to appease us and compete with Liu Taozi. Doesn't this mean that he also has the same ambition?!"

"How can we sit back and wait for death as these two people compete?"

Chen Qian looked at the people in front of her, and finally her eyes fell on her younger brother Chen Xu.

"The prince is young and ignorant, but there are two powerful enemies in the north. The country is in danger. I decided to follow the example of Taibo Wu who passed the throne to his younger brother."

Chen Xu was shocked and turned pale. He hurriedly lowered his head again, howled and refused.

This is not the first time Chen Xu has expressed such thoughts.

Likewise, this is not the first time Chen Xu has performed like this.

Looking at Chen Xu who was unwilling to accept it, Kong Huan said loudly again: "Your Majesty, King An Cheng is your brother, and he will definitely follow the example of Duke Zhou to assist the government. If he has the intention to abolish the establishment, even though I am stupid, I will not dare to Obey!"

Chen Xu suddenly raised his head and took a deep look at Kong Huan.

Chen Qian's expression suddenly became solemn.

"Enough!!"

Chen Qian used to be very kind, and she was humble and courteous to all the ministers. She even treated prisoners of war without humiliating them, but today, his expression was different from before.

He looked at Kong Huan angrily, "Can you guys change my edict?"

The ministers were stunned for a moment, their faces full of confusion.

What's the meaning??

In the past, Chen Qian had hinted at Chen Xu many times, but Chen Xu never dared to ask for it. He refused every time. If he didn't refuse, he would probably be killed.

And the ministers also have enough experience, so they just need to cooperate and finish talking together.

But why did the emperor suddenly become so powerful?

Chen Qian looked at Chen Xu, who was crying bitterly, and yelled: "If you dare to cry again, I will order you to be dismissed as Bai Shen!"

Chen Xu immediately stopped talking.

It was quiet inside the palace.

Chen Qian said seriously: "The king is young and has always been on the path to disaster."

"What's more, now, with the foreign enemies facing us, if there is only Yu Wenyong, that's fine, there is Liu Taozi who is more powerful than him."

"In the past, every time Chen Xu discussed military affairs with me, he said that we should send troops to rob Huainan. However, I felt that with the strength of the southern country, if we were not determined to capture the entire Central Plains, we could not easily send troops, otherwise we would not be able to hold it even if we captured it. .”

"Because of his remarks, I don't dare to trust the country to him."

"But based on the current situation, it is not easy to wait until the Southern Kingdom has sufficient troops to seize the Central Plains from Liu Taozi or Yuwen Yong. On the contrary, as Chen Xu said, it can be done quickly Send troops, continuously expand the territory, enhance the national strength, and maybe there is a way to avoid the country's demise!"

He looked at Chen Xu and said solemnly: "Since I came to the throne, I have been lamenting all day long and forgetting to eat and sleep. I only think about preserving the country left by my uncle. I dare not neglect it for a day."

"I'm leaving now, but the Southern Kingdom has just been pacified, and there are still many important things that I haven't done well."

"And there are powerful lords in foreign countries, and they will go south soon."

"Xu, the current critical situation requires a strong king to take on important responsibilities. Are you willing to help me protect this family fortune?"

Chen Xu looked at his brother in front of him, and his mind suddenly became confused.

Chen Xu has more and more official positions and more and more power. As long as Chen Qian leaves, there is really no one in the country who can restrict him. Several generals in the country have already taken the initiative to move closer to Chen Xu, just because the emperor is still there. , just don’t dare to be too obvious.

Every time Chen Qian asked him something similar, Chen Xu just cried and refused, because he didn't know if he nodded, whether he would be greeted by the emperor's throne or a knife hand that suddenly rushed out.

But now, the emperor's eyes were so solemn, and he didn't seem to be fake at all.

Chen Xu was extremely panicked at this moment and looked at several ministers. Whether they had good or bad relations with him, they all lowered their heads and were unwilling to participate in this matter.

Matters involving the crown prince have always been the most dangerous matters.

Looking at Chen Xu and Chen Qian who were at a loss, she could understand him in her heart.

If his uncle had called him over and said that he would directly pass the throne to him, maybe he would be so afraid.

Chen Qian did indeed ask Chen Xu with the intention of testing him at first.

His health was getting worse day by day, but the prince made no progress. His son Chen Bozong was just twelve years old.

Youth is not a problem, character and talent are the most important issues.

His son has been weak since he was a child and is harmless to humans and animals.
To be continued...