Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 18: A Single Sentence Reveals the Art of Emperorship

"Uncle Zeping?!"

Looking at the middle-aged scholar before him, Zhao Dezhao couldn't help but be surprised.

Throughout the Northern Song Dynasty, a great number of talented individuals emerged.

Zhao Kuangyin was like the bright moon in the sky, but the higher one climbs, the colder it gets.

Pan Mei, Cao Bin, Li Jilong, Cao Wei, Fan Zhongyan, the Three Sus, Wang Anshi, Di Qing, and many others are like stars scattered across the entire starry sky.

Zhao Pu was the most brilliant star in the entire sky. It could even be said that without Zhao Pu, there would be no Song Dynasty!

Unfortunately, perhaps because he was involved in too many secretive matters, and too many things could not be brought to the forefront, the records about him in the "History of Song" are pitifully few, so much so that Zhao Dezhao, as a person of later generations, could not even guess his true face.

On the one hand, he took the affairs of the world as his own responsibility, and history records him as being resolute and decisive, unmatched by anyone.

On the one hand, he is deep and jealous by nature, and when he is ruthless, he can kill without shedding blood. On the other hand, when he is shameless, he is more shameless than anyone else.

But none of this seems to affect Zhao Pu's status in the Northern Song Dynasty.

The title of the greatest strategist of the Northern Song Dynasty has always belonged to him alone, and no one can shake it!

Zhao Dezhao never expected that the tutor his cheapskate father had found for him would be this man.

"Your Highness seems surprised?"

Zhao Pu's face was expressionless, as if he had facial paralysis.

"No, it's just that seeing Uncle Zeping makes me feel very close to him." Zhao Dezhao obediently bowed and said, "Dezhao greets you, sir."

However, what many people don't know is that although Zhao Pu was not a member of Zhao Kuangyin's branch of the Zhao family, when Zhao Kuangyin's father, Zhao Hongyin, was seriously ill in his early years, Zhao Kuangyin was unable to leave due to war, and Zhao Pu served Zhao Hongyin as a nephew for a long time.

Before his death, Zhao Hongyin instructed Zhao Kuangyin to treat Zhao Pu as a brother.

Therefore, Zhao Pu and Zhao Kuangyin were not only ruler and subject, but also brothers.

With this relationship in place, Zhao Pu naturally regarded Zhao Dezhao as his own son. Moreover, historically, Zhao Pu had always insisted that Zhao Kuangyin should establish his son as the heir apparent, even at the cost of breaking ties with Zhao Guangyi.

Zhao Pu twitched the corners of his mouth, which was probably a smile, and then raised his hand and said, "Your Highness, please sit down. Let's begin."

"Uncle Zeping, what are we learning? The Analects of Confucius?"

Zhao Dezhao vaguely remembered that this person seemed to have once said the famous saying, "Half of the Analects can govern the world."

Zhao Pu shook his head: "What's the use of studying the Analects?"

Zhao Dezhao was completely stunned upon hearing this.

He remembered his Uncle Zeping, who seemed to only know the Analects. He had once made quite a fool of himself because of the issue of the reign title, and was even ridiculed by Zhao Kuangyin for "the prime minister must be a scholar".

If he doesn't teach the Analects, then what does he teach?

A serious look flashed in Zhao Dezhao's eyes, and he sat up straight.

Seeing Zhao Dezhao's expression, Zhao Pu's eyes flashed with a look of "this child is teachable," and he continued:

"Your Highness, if it were anyone else, learning half of the Analects would be enough to govern the world, but as the eldest son of the emperor, such knowledge is of no use to you."

"Furthermore, if we only talk about the Four Books and Five Classics, there are plenty of great scholars and doctors in the three academies who are well-versed in ancient and modern times, so there is no need for me to teach Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao narrowed his eyes, a strong interest rising in his heart.

If anyone else had said this, it would have been like dancing on a grave, because it would have touched on the realm of imperial tactics!

The art of emperors, as the name suggests, is a discipline that only emperors can use!

Moreover, only one person in each era can do it!

That person was the emperor!

The day the Crown Prince learns and flexibly integrates the principles of the state will be the day the old emperor abdicates and the new emperor ascends the throne.

Zhao Dezhao was a little unsure about Zhao Pu's blatant lectures on imperial strategy. He wasn't sure if it was at his father's behest.

After all, he still wanted to keep a low profile and didn't want to expose himself to Zhao Guangyi too early.

When Zhao Pu saw Zhao Dezhao's expression, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

Your Highness can indeed understand!

A flicker of interest arose in his heart, and Zhao Pu asked, "Your Highness, what do you consider the orthodox learning of the world? Is it Confucianism?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao did not rush to answer, but looked at Zhao Pu for a while. Zhao Pu did not flinch at all, his face still showing the same unchanging expression as he quietly looked at Zhao Dezhao.

Zhao Dezhao sighed: "The imperial family has its own system, which is a mixture of the ways of the king and the ways of the tyrant."

Upon hearing this, the entire Imperial Library fell into a deathly silence.

Zhao Pu remained expressionless, but his pupils trembled almost imperceptibly, and he fell silent for a long time.

These words came from Emperor Xuan of Han because the crown prince was "gentle and benevolent," and Emperor Xuan rebuked him in a fit of anger.

One sentence sums up the art of rulership!

Since the Han dynasty abolished all other schools of thought and exclusively honored Confucianism, successive dynasties have adhered to the system of outwardly Confucianism and inwardly Legalism.

But Confucianism is Confucianism, and Legalism is Legalism. The two schools of thought were at odds during the Warring States period. How could they be used together?

Ordinary people don't understand, but the emperor knows it all too well.

Confucianism, Legalism, and even the so-called Taoism, Yin-Yang School, and other schools of thought—these things have nothing to do with me!

I will use whatever works best!

Was Confucianism the only state ideology that was revered?

I am the one who reigns supreme!

It can be said that almost all ambitious and powerful rulers in ancient times, whether it was Qin Shi Huang, Liu Bang, Liu Che, Li Shimin, Zhao Kuangyin, or even Zhu Yuanzhang, did this!

Why did Ying Zheng delay in appointing his son Fusu as crown prince?

The fundamental issue is that while it's true that you, Fusu, used Confucianism, you can't rely solely on it!

The same was true for Emperor Xuan of Han's crown prince, but Emperor Xuan explained it to him clearly.

The Ming crown prince Zhu Biao was the same way at first, and the old Zhu explained it to him clearly.

But Ying Zheng deliberately kept Fusu in suspense, letting him go to the border to figure it out on his own. As a result, before he could even fully understand it, he himself died, and his son also died.

Previously, Zhao Dezhao also had this problem, which is why Zhao Kuangyin specially invited Zhao Pu to teach him.

But looking at it now...

Zhao Pu looked at Zhao Dezhao expressionlessly.

Zhao Dezhao blinked, looking blank and bewildered.

But those words, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, lingered in Zhao Pu's ears for a long time, and this contrast shocked him greatly.

"Is there anything else you would like to say, sir?" Zhao Dezhao asked with interest, tilting his head as he saw Zhao Pu remain silent for a long time.

"Well……"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu finally came to his senses, took another deep look at Zhao Dezhao, and pondered for a moment before saying, "Why don't we talk about the current state of affairs in the world?"

"Since the end of the Tang Dynasty, in just a few decades, emperors have come and gone like a revolving lantern, with eight families and twelve emperors in total. May I ask Your Highness why this has happened?"

"This is not due to any other reason than that the regional military governors are too powerful, and the emperor is weak while the ministers are strong," Zhao Dezhao replied without hesitation.

"What do you mean?" Zhao Pu asked again, expressionless.

Zhao Dezhao gave Zhao Pu a meaningful look and smiled, "If we can only strip them of their power, control their finances, and take over their elite troops, then the world will be at peace."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Pu was completely stunned.

……