Jinyang is divided into two cities, the west and the east, with the middle city sandwiched between them. Above the Fen River, there is a wide middle city bridge connecting the two sides to facilitate the connection and exchange between the east and west cities.
When night fell, Liu Chengyou, with some doubts in his heart, drove through the city's pavilions and pavilions until under the bridge. Liu Zhiyuan had invited him, but the place of summons was actually on this bridge.
There was still a strange ruddy look on his face, but under the cover of the dark night, it was not clear. He was called when someone interrupted him while he was having an in-depth exchange with Mr. Geng. Although Liu Chengyou is an ascetic male protagonist, after all, It's not a case of frigidity. When you really want to vent your desires, you won't be pretentious.
Under the bridge, he bumped into Liu Chengxun. The two brothers got off the car and met each other. Liu Chengxun was a little surprised: "Erlang, father actually called you here?"
After looking at each other, Liu Chengyou just nodded indifferently: "Yeah!"
Probably feeling that his question was inappropriate, Liu Chengxun's handsome face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he hurriedly greeted: "You and I will go up the bridge together, don't keep father waiting for too long."
"Yeah!" Liu Chengyou still responded like this. After he had no choice but to walk to the front, Liu Chengyou swayed and followed behind, casting his cold eyes on Liu Chengxun, but he didn't know whether his elder brother felt a thorn in his back.
Recently, the curfew time in Jinyang City has been advanced a lot. The roads in the city are completely silent, except for the patrolmen patrolling back and forth. The Zhongcheng Bridge is also surprisingly quiet, without the hustle and bustle of the crowds of people during the day.
Up and down the bridge, hundreds of royal guards were on guard, alert to possible threats from the surroundings. Liu Zhiyuan stood quietly in the center of the bridge, leaning against the railing to the south, staring at the flowing Fen River in trance, dressed in brocade clothes. There was a robe draped over his shoulders. Looking from behind, Liu Zhiyuan's back was majestic and aloof, and his whole body seemed to exude a commanding majesty.
"Father!" The two brothers stepped forward to greet him, and then respectfully stood on both sides of him.
Liu Zhiyuan responded softly. Looking closer, Liu Chengyou found that Liu Zhiyuan's face did not have the serious expression he imagined. On the contrary, under the mottled bridge lights, Liu Zhiyuan's face looked peaceful.
"I wonder what instructions my father has for calling us here?" The two brothers stood with their father for a long time, but Liu Chengxun couldn't hold back and asked.
After hearing the question, Liu Zhiyuan pressed his hands on the stone railing and said leisurely: "For these days, the civil and military forces in Hedong have been constantly urging me to proclaim myself emperor and establish a title. The crowd was very enthusiastic and rushed to make suggestions. Tonight, the list of persuasion to enter the palace has been written on the public record of the palace. It’s full! I feel a little unsure in my heart. What do you brothers think?"
Regarding his two sons, Liu Zhiyuan no longer pretended to be reserved and pretentious, but discussed it frankly. Calling the two sons here may also have the meaning of taking a test.
Facing Liu Zhiyuan's question, Liu Chengxun was a little tangled, pondered for a while, and then while observing his father's eyes, he replied hesitantly: "The invitations from the officials are all loyal and sincere words, and they are one of them." I wish you sincerely, but it’s hard to disprove it. However, the Khitan is powerful after all, so it’s understandable for my father to be more cautious. You may want to wait and see for a while to wait for changes!”
Liu Zhiyuan didn't seem too satisfied with Liu Chengxun's answer, and just sighed: "Those who persuaded him to join may be loyal, but most of them are probably for the success of the dragon, for fame and wealth. I think my father is now It may not be difficult to advance further in status, but there is no way out. Since the Tang Dynasty, in all nine states in the world, I don’t know how many families have sat on that throne, but in the end they ended up dead and their country destroyed..."
Liu Zhiyuan's tone was indeed filled with a little regret, but in Liu Chengyou's opinion, it was a bit pretentious. In front of the emperor's throne, all worries were just a cloud! How could Liu Zhiyuan really care about the rise and fall of so many things since ancient times? A lot of foresight and hesitation is not his character.
Liu Chengxun obviously couldn't grasp Liu Zhiyuan's mentality. Hearing his sigh, he opened his mouth to console him: "Father's concerns are not unreasonable. But since ancient times, those who win people's hearts win the world. Now you are the people's aspiration and everyone's hope. You are the hero of the world. If you inherit the destiny of Tianjing, how can you follow in the footsteps of previous dynasties?"
After hearing what he said, Liu Zhiyuan couldn't help but turn his head and look at Aizi. There was a bit of simple pedantry in that handsome face. He sighed silently in his heart: It's not easy to conquer a country, but it's even harder to defend it...
Liu Chengyou listened silently to the conversation between his father and brother, until Liu Zhiyuan turned his attention to him, and said firmly: "If God does not take it, you will be punished. The Hu invaders seized the two capitals, and the people of the Central Plains were in danger. My father established the title to honor him and advocated To order the world to punish the people and save the common people, this is a matter of nature and people, why should you hesitate?"
Liu Chengyou's words were actually nothing new. Liu Zhiyuan smiled and said without comment.
However, Liu Chengyou did not deliberately guess and agree with Liu Zhiyuan's mentality, but continued to express his truest thoughts: "The emperor, the one who has strong soldiers and horses should be the one who is better off! An Chongrong's words are really enlightening. This is the truth in these troubled times. Now Hedong has strong soldiers and horses, and is the leader of all vassals. My father is trying to take the throne. How can others dare to disobey, and how can they not agree with him!"
After Liu Chengyou said these words, a bright light flashed in Liu Zhiyuan's eyes. The eldest brother Liu Chengxun on the other side couldn't help but turn his head and look at his second brother in a daze.
"Now, our Liu family has great power, and Hedong has a favorable position. If we raise the flag of righteousness, we will surely support people and people. With these three things, with my father's wisdom and Hedong's strength, can't we still achieve something?" Unknowingly, Liu Chengyou, The words became more numerous.
"The right time, the right location, and the right people?" Liu Zhiyuan's interest was aroused.
Under Liu Zhiyuan's gaze, Liu Chengyou slowly said: "Apart from those righteous rhetoric, the Khitan's destruction of the Jin Dynasty was a disaster for the country and a scourge for the people. But for my father, it was a huge opportunity. Without the Khitan's The threat is that the suspicions and conflicts between my father and the imperial court in the past will turn into a sword fight sooner or later. At that time, my father may be in the same difficult situation as the ancestors of Jin, fighting against the greatness of the world with only one corner."
"But it is not the case now. The Khitan is causing trouble in the Central Plains. Although my father's name only covers a few states east of the river, with a single call from high up, he can gather the hope of the world and gather the strength of a country to resist the Khitan. If you advance, you can gain territory, but if you retreat, you can protect your family business. .Don’t you understand the difference between them?”
After listening to Liu Chengyou's words, Liu Zhiyuan showed a serious expression. Probably because he was tired from standing, he looked around, directly greeted his second son, and sat down on the floor. After sitting down, Liu Zhiyuan looked at Liu Chengyou: "Erlang, if you do this in front of others, I will definitely reprimand you severely for your unjust words. But tonight, as a father and me, we are the only three of you, and as a father, I have to admit that what you said is the truth!"
Liu Zhiyuan's calm reaction made Liu Chengyou raise the corners of his mouth twitchingly. He took a breath of the cool air of the spring night and continued to talk: "The mountains and rivers in the east of the river are dangerous and the geographical location is very important. It goes without saying. As for human harmony, With the Khitan army and horses brutally wreaking havoc, how can we, the Chinese people, not unite as one to fight against the enemy?"