In a dark Zen room in the backyard, Gao Shilian was dressed in black, with a haggard face. A breeze blew slowly through the open window, the candlelight on the table swayed, and his snow-white hair on the temples flickered.
The candlelight flickered, reflecting his slightly hazy eyes.
The experiences of this life seemed to come to my mind in an instant...
When he was young, he was very thoughtful, and he also dabbled in literature and history. He was a close friend of Xue Daoheng, the official of Sili, and Cui Zujun, the resident of the house, so he was praised by the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty. However, when his father died of illness when he was young, he was heartbroken and self-righteous.
The clan of the Northern Qi Dynasty was not suitable for making friends with celebrities, so they lived in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain and closed their doors to thank guests.
It was not until the early years of the Sui Dynasty that he became an official and became the chief minister of Honglu Temple after being recommended by his relatives and friends for a long time.
In the ninth year of Daye, Hu Sizheng, Minister of the Ministry of War, fled to Goguryeo. Gao Shilian was implicated because of his association with Hu Sizheng and was demoted to be the chief administrator of Zhu Yuan County.
Zhuyuan County is a land in the extreme south. It was established during the Han Dynasty and was affiliated with Jiaozhi County. It is located in the Annan area. It is a real frontier wilderness and a smog-stricken place. At that time, my wife was sick in bed. When she heard about this, she became very angry.
He passed away under the attack of his heart.
Gao Shilian had to endure his grief and prepare for the funeral
He was extremely filial to his mother. Due to severe malaria in the Lingnan area, he could not take his mother with him. As soon as the mourning period was over, he married Xianyu as his second wife. Not long after, he left his wife Xianyu to support his mother on his behalf. He also thought of his brother-in-law's eldest grandson.
After Sheng died, her younger sister Gao was criticized a lot in the eldest grandson's family and could not bear the harsh criticism and had no whereabouts, so she sold the big house and bought a small one to settle her sister. She also divided the remaining money between her mother and sister and went on her own journey.
Now that I am over seventy years old, I thought that my life has gone through all the twists and turns, and I am just waiting for my soul to return to the underworld at the end of my life. However, I never imagined that I would have to endure such heart-wrenching pain at the end of my life.
My son is organizing a funeral...
There are three major misfortunes in life: losing your father when you are young, losing your wife in middle age, and losing your son when you are old.
There is no greater sadness in the world than this.
Gao Shilian raised his eyes and looked out the window at the gradually gloomy courtyard, with a confused expression. If God treated him well, why did he allow him to taste the sorrows of this world one by one without losing a single cent?
God treated him harshly, but he allowed all the power and wealth in this world to be appreciated, his scenery was illustrious, and his family was illustrious.
Between gains and losses, it all depends on God's will; sorrow and joy are intertwined, without roots and reasons...
Footsteps sounded outside the door, and then the door behind him was opened, and the draft blew the candlelight swaying.
"Father, Duke Guo of Zhao came just now and took Duke Guo of Song to drink tea in the side hall and were talking."
When Gao arrived at the traveling room, he saw that the candle was almost extinguished. He quickly turned around and closed the door. He walked forward and knelt down in front of Gao Shilian. He reached out and picked up the teapot to test the temperature. He found that the water temperature was already cold, so he put it next to the coffee table.
I brought the small red clay stove over, opened the lid, used an iron bar to pull the charcoal fire in the stove a few times, the red candle lighted, and put the kettle on the small stove.
Gao Shilian retracted his gaze from the window, glanced sideways at the small red clay stove, and asked in a hoarse voice: "What are they talking about?"
Gao Zhixing took out the tea can from the hidden compartment under the coffee table, grabbed a handful of tea leaves and put it in the teapot, while whispering in detail the conversation between the two.
Now that Gao Zhenxing died tragically in the Western Regions, although there is no evidence directly pointing to Changsun Wuji's instruction, Changsun Guang's identity destined Changsun Wuji to be unable to clear away the suspicion.
Although the children of the Gao family generally do not know the whole story, the direct descendants of the family have long believed that Changsun Wuji was the mastermind behind the murder...
Therefore, Changsun Wuji came to the mansion to express his condolences, but took Xiao Yu to talk in a side hall. How could Gao Zhixing not arrange for someone to eavesdrop secretly?
Changsun Wuji didn't care about being heard by others. It was obvious that he wanted to win over the Jiangnan nobles headed by Xiao Yu. As long as he had a little bit of political wisdom, he could guess it. It's just that he invited Xiao Yu before.
Several times, Xiao Yuji was excused by Xiao Yuji for various reasons. It happened to happen today, so naturally he would not let the opportunity pass by.
After listening to Gao Zhixing's words, Gao Shilian snorted coldly and said: "You really have the heart of a wolf! The dignified Zhao Guogong, the imperial tutor, actually used such despicable means to threaten and intimidate, it is simply shameless! How could I do it back then?
You were unable to see through his face, but you tried your best to cultivate him for decades and treated him as if you were your own son?"
Although the scolding was harsh, Gao Shilian had to admit that the more shameless the method, the more effective it was.
The famous Xiao family in Lanling has been prominent in the world for hundreds of years. However, after Xiao Yu, the rest are mediocre. There is no outstanding person who can take on the important task of continuing the family. Only Xiao Rui can be regarded as a middle-aged man.
If you devote resources to training, you may be able to barely establish a family.
Serving as the Great Protector of Hanhai is the most important node in Xiao Rui's career. As long as he succeeds in this term without any danger, he will at least be in the position of Jiuqing after being transferred back to Chang'an. Even if he fails to become the Minister of the Sixth Department, he will only be a short distance away.
Yao, relying on his qualifications and accumulating some merits, ten years later, it would be impossible to be promoted to the six ministers and become the pillar of the imperial court.
The power of the Guanlong nobles in Mobei not only allowed Xiao Rui to achieve extraordinary feats, but even killed him in Mobei and left him dead in the snow...
Under such circumstances, it was difficult for Xiao Yu to resist Changsun Wuji's threats.
This matter has nothing to do with the Gao family. Today, the Gao family has to go into hibernation. Even though Gao Xiuxian is dissatisfied with Gao Shilian's strategy and is unwilling to lower his head and act in a low-key manner, he has repeatedly tried to raise the Gao family to the throne.
It also cannot interfere with whether the Guanlong nobles and the Jiangnan gentry can form an alliance.
But now that Gao Shilian has determined that his son's death was at the instigation of Changsun Wuji, how can he be willing to watch Changsun Wuji unite the Jiangnan gentry and remain unscathed by the emperor's suppression, even with great strength?
increase?
The Jiangnan nobles did not only rely on their tyrannical wealth to gain a foothold in the court. Xiao Yu was known as the "Leader of the Qingliu". Seventy-eight of the imperial censors in the Manchu Dynasty were his disciples. Their strength should not be underestimated...
Just wanting to destroy the alliance between these two families is not easy.
If you can't help Xiao Rui resist the threat of the Guanlong nobles in Mobei, you can't stop Xiao Yu from relying on the Guanlong nobles for the future of his eldest son.
This is a dead end.
The sound of boiling water interrupted Gao Shilian's contemplation. Gao Zhixing lifted the kettle, poured boiling water into the teapot, washed the teacup, and made a cup of hot tea for his father.
"The fourth brother died suddenly, and the child was as heartbroken as his father. However, the fourth brother was able to wrap his body in horse leather and died tragically. He was finally a well-known man. Not only did he find a wife and son, but he also did not fall into the lintel of our family, which is also considered a great man.
Father, please don’t be too sad when it comes to honoring you. Otherwise, if you are too sad and hurt your body, your fourth brother’s spirit in heaven may not be stable either.”
In such an era of poetry, wine, romance and impassioned life, death is actually not a terrible thing.
Gao Zhenxing's wanton behavior previously ruined his reputation, which can be regarded as a shame for the Gao family. Now he has changed his ways and returned to join the army in the Western Regions. Although it is a pity to lose his life in the army, and as a father and brother, it is inevitable to be sad, but such tragic and tragic deeds are remembered by every Tang Dynasty person.
We must respect those who are extremely respectful. In the face of life and death, if you can sacrifice your life for justice and live up to your family and country, you are a hero.
Man is destined to die, and if he can be so generous and tragic and be remembered for eternity, he will be considered a worthy death.
Of course Gao Shilian understood the truth in Gao Zhixing's jargon, but it would be fine if he persuaded others with these words, but how could he be so relieved when Gao Zhixing was his own son?
The father and son were talking when they suddenly heard footsteps outside, and then someone said: "Master of the house, Erlang, a message came from the front door, saying that Fang Shaobao, Prince of Jiangxia County, and Ma Fuyin came hand in hand to ask Erlang to go out.
Entertain guests.”
Gao Zhixing stood up quickly and said, "Father, please have a good rest, and let me go and entertain you."
There is a minister of the Ministry of official affairs, a minister of Jingzhao Yin, and a minister of the Ministry of war. It is indeed too disrespectful for the disciples of the branch to come forward to entertain such a formation. Furthermore, these three people are now very powerful, and the eldest
Ma Zhou is only forty-two years old. If nothing happens, he will be a powerful figure in the court for a long time to come. He is a person that every family member must make great efforts to make friends with. How can he be disrespectful in the slightest?
Gao Shilian raised his hand to stroke his beard, and with a thought in his heart, he ordered: "After we go out, place the three of them in the side hall."
Gao Zhixing was stunned: "In the side hall...there are Duke Zhao and Song Guogong. Isn't it a bit rude?"
Gao Shilian lowered his eyelids and said slowly: "Of course Zhao Guogong will be displeased, but whether he is pleased or displeased...what does it have to do with it? On the contrary, Song Guogong and Fang Jun will probably have to thank him..."
Gao Zhixing didn't quite understand, but he didn't dare to ask again. Since his father told him, he would just do it.
He stood up and walked out of the room, striding to the front yard. When he saw Fang Jun and the others walking into the courtyard, they hurried forward to greet them.