novelhk Chapter 1029 Lü Zhi Takes the Initiative!
Chapter 1029 Lü Zhi Takes the Initiative!
More importantly, he was unwilling to prematurely and openly become involved in a potential direct conflict between Gao Lin and Gao Zhe. Therefore, he chose Gao Ning, a "hidden dragon." This was both a risky investment and a shrewd form of self-preservation. Secret support allowed for both offensive and defensive maneuvers: if Gao Lin and Gao Zhe were to fight each other, leaving Gao Ning weakened, he could rise to power through his abilities and the support he had secretly built. Zhang Liang, Ying Bu, and others would then be invaluable allies, providing crucial assistance. Furthermore, even if Gao Ning ultimately failed to ascend the throne, as long as they didn't openly break ties, they could still maintain a place in the future emperor's court. This strategy reflects the prudence and foresight of a high-ranking strategist in complex power struggles.
However, beyond the power struggle centered on the three princes, a new force, perhaps poised to redefine the future of power, is quietly emerging. This force is the young Prince Gao Qun, and his unassuming supporter, Li Zhao.
Gao Qun's talent is mainly reflected in his astonishing passion and comprehension for research and invention that is beyond his years. Although his current achievements have not yet surpassed the heights reached by his father, Gao Yao, his innate intelligence and focus far exceed those of his peers and even surprise many adult master craftsmen.
He seemed to have an innate affinity for mechanics and the study of things. What others found incredibly boring—blueprints and formulas—was full of endless charm in his eyes.
The person who truly connected Gao Qun's intelligence with the grand scheme of power was Li Zhao. Li Zhao's background was extremely unique. He came from the renowned academic and political group "The Four Sages of Shangshan," and was the successor nurtured by these four great scholars. His extensive knowledge and profound insights were beyond question. More importantly, from the time Gao Yao served as prime minister, Li Zhao followed him closely, assisting in handling complex political affairs, making him one of Gao Yao's most loyal executors and most insightful interpreters of his policies.
Now he holds a high position in the cabinet and concurrently serves as the vice minister of six ministries. He is a key figure connecting the political ideals inherited from Gaoyao with the current administrative system.
Li Zhao possessed an understanding of Gao Yao far beyond that of ordinary people. He had a profound insight into Gao Yao's character and a deep conviction in the technological ideals that Gao Yao had strongly advocated during his lifetime. In Gao Yao's blueprint, science and technology were not merely gimmicks or tricks; they were the fundamental force driving leaps in productivity, determining the future of the nation, and even the form of warfare.
The emergence of gunpowder, like a lightning bolt piercing the night sky, completely solidified Li Zhao's belief. He clearly saw the decisive power a force wielding such a formidable weapon as gunpowder would possess on future battlefields. It was not merely a powerful tool for conquering cities and capturing strongholds, but also the most crucial bargaining chip on the political stage—whoever controlled it would control most of the discourse.
Li Zhao astutely observed that among Gao Yao's sons, only the young Gao Qun not only inherited this strong interest in science and technology, but also, due to his youth and being pampered by Gao Yao, was highly likely to take over the fields related to science and technology and the development of new weapons in the future. Therefore, Li Zhao made a highly strategic decision: to secretly support Gao Qun.
This support was not solely the work of Li Zhao. He represented the vast Shangshan faction. Over the years, Shangshan Academy had cultivated a large number of students, who, though perhaps not holding the highest positions in the government, were like nodes in a network, densely permeating every corner of Gaoyao's sphere of influence.
Nearly 40% of the grassroots officials come from this school or have intricate connections to the Shangshan School. This is a vast and resilient network that controls the final implementation of policies and maintains the daily operation of the entire ruling machine. Their collective will is a latent force that no high-ranking official, including prominent figures like Xiao He and Cao Can, dares to underestimate. Li Zhao is the natural leader and core of this force.
Li Zhao's support for Gao Qun was not simply political opportunism, but more like an investment in and inheritance of his ideals. He bet the future of the Shangshan lineage on "technology," the variable representing the future, and also on Gao Qun, the youngest son who carries the technological dreams of Gaoyao.
He may not expect Gao Qun to win the current struggle for the throne—that's unrealistic for the young Gao Qun. His plan is much longer-term: by supporting Gao Qun, he ensures the continuation and strengthening of the scientific and technological research path; by controlling the grassroots, he accumulates strength for possible future changes; and more importantly, he wants his school of thought to firmly seize the initiative and maintain a dominant position in the upcoming era of technological change.
Thus, the power struggle within the royal city presented an unprecedentedly complex situation:
On the surface, it is a three-way power struggle between Gao Lin, Gao Zhe, and Gao Ning.
Beneath the surface lies a grand, long-term strategy orchestrated by Li Zhao and the grassroots civil servant group he represents in Shangshan, based on investments in the future of technology and the potential of high-level talent.
Empress Lü, on the other hand, held the key of "convening a court assembly" and carefully controlled the pace of the situation, waiting for the most suitable opportunity for her son Gao Lin.
At this moment, the capital city resembled a giant powder keg, with various factions cautiously adding their own chips, both wanting to ignite the situation to achieve their own goals and fearing being the first to be blown to pieces. Gao Lin's legitimacy, Gao Zhe's military prowess, Gao Ning's potential, Li Zhao's cunning and grassroots strength, and Lü Zhi's renowned weapons and patience... all these factors intertwined to form a bizarre and dangerous balancing act.
No one knows whether what will ultimately break this balance is a prince's irrepressible ambition, an unexpected conflict, or... the disruptive power called technology that Li Zhao firmly believes in, which has not yet fully revealed its fangs.
The twilight, like blood, stained the continuous ridgeline of Mount Li. The early summer wind should have carried warmth, but as it blew across the gate of Han Xin's camp, it only stirred up a gust of desolate dust, carrying the unique, cold, earthy scent of the depths of the mine.
Inside the central command tent, the flame of the oil lamp flickered uneasily, casting Han Xin's once upright but now slightly hunched figure onto the tent wall, swaying uncertainly, as if the anxiety in his heart had taken on a tangible form.
Day after day, the excavation progressed at a despairingly slow pace. Today, the news that came was still less than three feet. These three cold words, like a dull knife, repeatedly cut at the already dwindling flame of hope in Han Xin's heart. Counting the time Gao Yao was initially trapped, it had been almost a full month.