Chapter 8: The Greatness (IV)

Chapter 8: The Greatness (IV)

The sunset couldn't bear to watch this tragedy on earth, and finally sank behind the thick smoke.

The official boots stained with blood slowly walked on the long street. With each step, the darkness became stronger. With each step, the night became thicker and several layers. Guo Yunming walked forward step by step. The darkness followed like a giant beast, swallowing the streets and courtyards one foot after another, and finally swallowing the entire Bianliang City into the long night like ink.

A few ghost fires suddenly jumped up in the boundless darkness, faintly illuminating the color of half of the palace walls. The flying dragon envoy Houzang, with more than ten eunuchs, walked through the palace gate like ghosts. Under the guidance of the ghost fire-like lanterns, he trotted through the blood-stained street. In the deepest part of the darkness, he gathered with another large group of ghost fire-like lanterns.

"Mr. Guo, Your Majesty, please go back to the palace immediately!" He didn't care to adjust his breathing evenly, and bowed to Guo Yunming, who was looking at the head under the lantern, and announced loudly.

"Entering the palace? It's so late. How dare you ask Your Majesty what happened to Mr. Guo in the palace?" Guo Yunming frowned slightly, and in the question, he replaced the word "未" with the word "圪" without any trace.

He just killed the ministers of Guming Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, and a group of "parties" under the command of the three of them for the emperor, and took back the power to the Liu family. He asked himself that he was qualified to be admitted to the inner palace to discuss matters, rather than continuing to be confused with the emperor as before.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Feilong Envoy also sensitively realized the difference between the two words "return" and "enter". He wiped the oily sweat from his face and said hesitantly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty didn't say anything. I guess he was worried about the safety of the Lord when he saw the night was deep!"

"Your Majesty's kindness to treat you, I will never forget you!" Guo Yunming immediately turned his face to the palace and saluted from afar. Then, he raised his face again and said loudly to Houzhe, "Please report to Your Majesty," he said, "I'm asking you to report to Your Majesty in the city. He said that the remnants of Yang and other thieves have no time to clone him. If it weren't for an urgent matter, please support Weichen to report to him in person in Zichen Palace."

The Bianliang Palace City was originally the governor of the Xuanwu Army. After the continuous reconstruction of the three courts of the Later Liang, Later Tang and Later Jin, the scale has now reached the Daming Palace in the Tang Dynasty. The layout and names of many buildings inside have also been copied from the Daming Palace in its original state.

At this moment, the Zichen Hall mentioned by Guo Yunming is located in the Wende Hall. It has been a place where the ministers, prime ministers, privy envoys and other important officials discuss the government affairs with the emperor in a small scale, commonly known as the cabinet. Since the early Tang Dynasty, anyone who can enter the Zichen Hall to report to the meeting was called the En Pavilion. As long as one foot enters this door, no matter how old or young, or the title is high or low, the status is a hundred times more prominent than that of officials who can only discuss matters in the outside court.

Therefore, the three words "Zichen Palace" fell into Houzan's ears, which made the man's face sweat roll like slurry. After a while, Qiqiai Ai'ai gritted his teeth and persuaded: "This is not good! Your Majesty, Your Majesty is taking it, taking it as the heart of the Lord. Although these traitors who were killed today are unforgivable, Your Majesty is, after all, a benevolent monarch. At this moment, you may be a little sad in your heart. Need, you need to explain it in person, Lord Guo."

It was rare that he could say that the little emperor urged Guo Yunming to go back to the inner palace to hang out was so magnificent. This made Guo, who was full of confidence, not only satisfied his face, but also felt the urgent need of His Majesty the Emperor. So he picked up a piece of white silk and wiped his hands, and agreed with a smile, "Well, since Your Majesty summoned him, no matter how busy he is, he should not delay. Go back and reply to His Majesty first, and tell His Majesty that I will arrive later."

"Yes, Lord Thank you!" Hou Zan gave a salute and responded with gratitude. The moment he turned around, the expression on his face immediately turned into contempt, "Hmph, he's just a person who sells ass, why are you pretending? He wants to enter the cabinet, grandma, even if your Majesty doesn't take his reputation seriously, you can't pass the empress dowager's level!"

However, contempt is contempt, on the surface, he did not have the courage to speak out to the little emperor's obsession with breaking his sleeves and splitting his sleeves. He ran back to the palace and reported to Liu Chengyou in person that Guo Yunming was about to be ordered.

Liu Chengyou was worried all day long, and was so irritable that he felt uncomfortable. Hearing that Guo Yunming was about to return to the palace to meet, he felt relieved all over his body. He cheered up and shouted, "Come on, prepare a banquet for me. I, I will drink a few drinks with Guo Aiqing in a while, to celebrate, to celebrate his achievements in killing the treacherous slander for me!"

"Yes!" The eunuchs and palace maids had long been accustomed to Liu Chengyou's personal habits, and they all agreed to go to the imperial kitchen to pass the order. After a while, they presented several cold foods and precious fruits and vegetables into the bedroom.

Guo Yunming rushed back, deliberately not changing the blood-stained burqa and official boots, and bowed to Liu Chengyou with murderous aura, "My minister, Guo Yunming meets Your Majesty. Congratulations to Your Majesty for cutting off the treacherous and reshaping the court's principles!"

"This, isn't it all my credit for my dear?" Liu Chengyou didn't feel the murderous aura and blood on the other party's body annoyed at all. He walked forward and grabbed Guo Yunming's wrist, "We don't have to be so polite between us. Hurry up, go and change into regular clothes. I, I have someone to wait for you with warm wine!"

"I am grateful to Your Majesty for your kindness!" Guo Yunming bowed to thank him again, and took the opportunity to break free from his wrist quietly.

Liu Chengyou frowned slightly, and a little loss suddenly surged in his heart. However, he quickly suppressed this emotion, opened his arms and hugged Guo Yunming in his arms, and urged him in the ears of the other party in a very low voice, "Hurry, my dear, go and change clothes, I, I asked someone to prepare a set of Su silk for you. It was specially used by Jiangnan people to pay tribute to the fake Tang Hunzhu, and it is not available on the market. You must wear it, it must be much more suave than Li Jing!"

"Your Majesty, your Majesty's great kindness, I'm engraving the five inner world!" Guo Yunming's face changed slightly, but he did not dare to break free again. He endured the disgust in his heart and thanked him loudly.

"I've said it all, you don't have to be polite between you and me!" Liu Chengyou was finally satisfied, let go of his arm, and smiled and ordered: "Come on, take Guo Aiqing to change his clothes."

"Abide by the order!" The eunuchs responded with a long voice, and then sent Guo Yunming into the side hall like serving concubines.

He changed his clothes inside and outside the body, and then carefully washed his hands, cleaned his face, combed his hair, and made powder. He was not until he dressed up from head to toe that he returned to the emperor.

Guo Yunming is already handsome, and under the candlelight, he looks more and more like a beautiful tree in the wind. Liu Chengyou looked straight, his eyes straight, and his claws in his abdomen were scratching his heart. He was stunned for a long time before rubbing the saliva at the corner of his mouth and said with a smile: "I don't know that Zidu is beautiful, but the eyes are blind! I, after reading this before, I always feel that the ancients are exaggerated. Now I know that the ancients are really not bullying me!" (Note 1)

"I am not talented, I wish to be your Majesty Song Ziyuan and Zhou Gongjin!" Guo Yunming bowed to the ground and responded loudly. (Note 2)

Fearing that Liu Chengyou wouldn't understand, he deliberately added surnames before Song Yu and Zhou Yu's letters. He hoped that the other party would understand his intention to be a pillar minister from today, rather than a plaything in the harem. Unexpectedly, Liu Chengyou's eyes had not even moved, staring at his fair neck that showed his collar, and nodded with a smile, "Okay, okay, I agree to whatever you want. How can Song Yu and Zhou Yu compare to their dear? Come on, take a seat and have a fight with me first. From now on, I and you will never have to look at other people's faces again!"

"Thank you for your gift!" Guo Yunming sighed in his heart, took a seat and took the wine cup and drank it all in one go.

"I, I have been worried about you today, for fear, for something wrong with you." Liu Chengyou also drank the wine in his hand, and continued to stare at Guo Yunming's face while shouting. "Actually, I don't care at all when I escaped a few traitors. Shi Hongzhao was killed by me personally. The others are just lonely ghosts, so what other storms can cause? I, I am only worried about you!"

"Your Majesty is worried about it. I am guilty of death and death!" Unable to bear Liu Chengyou's hungry gaze, Guo Yunming bowed and responded loudly.

"I told you, don't be polite to me!" Liu Chengyou didn't feel the alienation in Guo Yunming's words at all, or did he deliberately ignore it. He grabbed another cup of wine and walked towards the latter with a smile, "Come on, let me feed you the second cup. In my heart, ten thousand remnants of rioters are not as good as you."

"Thank you Your Majesty, thank you for your respect!" Guo Yunming wanted to refuse, but was afraid that Liu Chengyou would not be able to get out of the way. He gritted his teeth and took a sip in Liu Chengyou's hand, and then loudly reminded, "Your Majesty, I have something to do, please make a decision early!"

"What can't be left until tomorrow?" Liu Chengyou's hot heart was immediately splashed with cold water. He frowned and complained loudly, "I've been worried about you all day long, so can't you make me happy for a while?"

"I know my crime, but this matter is related to your life and death, so I have to start the report as soon as possible!" Guo Yunming shivered in his heart, quickly took a step back and bowed to apologize.

"Forget it, tell me!" Liu Chengyou suddenly felt a little unbearable again, waved his hand, and ordered angrily. "When did I really blame you?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Guo Yunming sighed secretly in his heart and thanked loudly. Then, he stood up straight and solemnly added: "After the Wei Minister's original plan, after killing the two thieves Shi Hongzhao and Yang Bin, the people in Kaifeng Prefecture should be dispatched immediately and captured all of Guo Wei's family alive. Use this as a hostage to threaten Guo's thief. Even if he cannot be bound by his hands, he can still kill his whole family when the two armies are fighting, which will disrupt his mind..."

Liu Chengyou didn't understand what Guo Yunming was talking about at all. He just wanted to end this boring topic earlier. He waved his hand and interrupted loudly: "I already know this. Liu Zhu became bloodthirsty. I just thought that he had an old grudge with Shi Hongzhao, but forgot that he would ignore it after killing him red! Now that I still keep him useful, don't blame him anymore. When the country stabilizes in the future, I will definitely punish him severely and give up my anger for my beloved!"

"I am grateful to you, I am grateful to you!" Guo Yunming sighed secretly again, thanked Liu Chengyou again, and then continued to add patiently, "If the dead person cannot be resurrected, I am afraid to blame Liu Zhu Wujing anymore. However, as soon as the family members die, Guo thief will be completely unwilling to worry. As long as the news reaches Yedu, he will lead his soldiers to take risks!"

"Oh, this, I have ordered my two uncles to lead troops into the guards according to your arrangement." Liu Chengyou was unwilling to waste his brains on "insignificant" matters, and smiled and responded loudly.

His two uncles, Liu Chong, the governor of Hedong, and Murong Yanchao, the governor of Taining Army, were both top-notch generals. The soldiers under his command could also be called powerful troops. If they could be ordered to join the guard and join forces to deal with Guo Wei, they might not be able to capture the latter in one battle.

However, the premise is that both emperors are willing to obey the imperial edict. Guo Yunming dare not speculate on how Murong Yanchao reacted, but he firmly believed that Liu Chong might not be willing to work for the young emperor. First, when Liu Zhiyuan passed away, this person was ready to move, and he was only able to stop his battle with the joint suppression of Shi Hongzhao and Guo Wei. Secondly, from the reaction of the slaves in Liu Chong's family when Nie Wenjin led his troops to siege Shi Hongzhao's mansion today, the relationship between the Shi and Liu families is probably not as simple as neighbors. It is very likely that the two sides had already colluded secretly, but they had not had time to put the conspiracy into practice.

"The two emperors are famous generals of the world. If they can lead troops into the guard in time, they will definitely make Guo thief run away!" After all, after being an official for such a long time, Guo Yunming is no worse than the ministers outside. After a little consideration, he expressed his concerns to Liu Chengyou. "However, there are still two states of Zelu. The Zelu Jieduan Chang Si and Guo Wei are in harmony. If he brings troops to block the way of the Hedong Jieduan, the Taiyuan soldiers may not be able to enter Bianliang before Guo thief arrives!"

"Hiss..." Hearing this, the desire in the little emperor Liu Chengyou's heart finally dropped a little. He pondered for a moment and whispered: "Indeed, the old thief Chang Si and Guo thief may collude. In that case, what should we do? Don't keep it a secret, just give me an idea!"

"The current plan is to drive the tiger to swallow the wolf!" Guo Yunming had long guessed that Liu Chengyou would push the whole thing to him. He pretended to be embarrassed and thought for a while, and then slowly gave the answer he had prepared long ago. "Fu Yanqing tried to marry his daughter into the Guo family a few days ago, but Guo Wei politely refused. He could not feel humiliated. Your Majesty can give Fu Yanqing an imperial edict and order him to lead his troops to wipe out the Guo thief. As long as he is willing to obey the order, Guo thief will be tripped north of the Yellow River and will not easily reach Bianliang!"

"Authentication! Acceptance! My dear will be able to draw an edict for me soon. The seals of the Privy Council and the Secretariat have just been taken back and placed here!" Liu Chengyou felt relieved and waved his hands happily.

"Your Majesty also sends an imperial edict to Gao Xingzhou and his son, ordering them to raise troops above the Yellow River so that Guo thieves could not cross the river!" Guo Yunming bowed and continued to add loudly.

"Accurate! Accurate!" Liu Chengyou agreed loudly without hesitation. It seemed that Guo Yunming was the master of Liu Han's Jiangshan, and he was just an eunuch who was desperately trying to please his master.

"Dingzhou Defense Envoy, Mozhou Jiedushi, Yingzhou Jiedushi and Cangzhou Defense Envoy, please ask Your Majesty to give them a separate imperial edict to send troops to contain Guo's thieves!" Guo Yunming was not polite and listed the soldiers and generals who were preparing to mobilize one by one.

"Accurate, accurate!" Liu Chengyou nodded repeatedly, but suddenly, he widened his eyes and asked loudly, "Cangzhou Defense Envoy? My dear, my dear, is the scoundrel of the Shi family? He is supported by the old thief Guo Wei, how can he obey my order?"

"Have you forgotten the matter that this man sent someone to do in Bianliang?" Guo Yunming smiled coldly and his face was full of viciousness. "I once advised Your Majesty to pretend to be fooled by him and no longer regard him as a confidant. Now, it is the time for Your Majesty to take the trick. As long as the imperial edict is sent to Cangzhou, whether he is willing to obey the edict, Guo Wei will be wary of him. And when he feels Guo Wei's suspicion, he will probably leave some capital to protect himself and refuse to do his best to go through fire and water for Guo Jie. This is equivalent to Your Majesty's use of an edict to destroy Guo Jie's minions. Why don't Your Majesty do such a huge profit?"

Note 1: Those who do not know that Zidu are beautiful are those who have no eyes! This sentence comes from "Mencius". Zi is the most beautiful man in the Spring and Autumn Period, and is deeply favored by Duke Zhuang of Zheng. Later generations used Zidu to refer to handsome men.

Note 2: Song Yu, one of the four great beauties in ancient times. He was famous for his literary talent and elegance, and actually made great achievements in politics. He once advised the kings of Chu to join forces with Zhao to fight against the Qin army. Among the ministers of Chu at that time, it was rare to foresee the tragic prospect of the six countries being destroyed one after another if they were not united.
Chapter completed!