Around Unity Time, the sky was gradually darkening. On the street in front of Prince Su's Mansion, there was a rush of footsteps, accompanied by the sound of armor shaking, gradually approaching from far away.
They were two teams of fully armed guards, one coming from the east side of the street and the other coming from the west side of the street. They happened to meet in front of the gate of Prince Su's Mansion.
The leader was none other than Prince Hongyu’s Zongwei Chief Zhou Yue.
I saw Zhou Yue looking at the closed door of Prince Su's Mansion in front of him with a complicated expression, sighing secretly.
At the same time, in a row of low buildings diagonally behind Zhou Yue, a second-floor window was slightly opened. Behind that window, the leader of the Blue Crows, Ya Wu, and several of his subordinates were looking at him with frowns.
The street is full of guards below.
"Fifth brother, something is wrong. Why are there so many guards? Is the prince trying to harm His Highness?"
Behind Ya Wu, a member of the Blue Crows said with an ugly expression, and even proposed to quickly summon all the Green Crows in the city.
Seeing this, Ya Wu waved his hand and said calmly: "Don't be impatient. Your Highness will be fine... Let's see what these people want to do first."
Ya Wu was not anxious at all, because he did not believe that Prince Hongyu really dared to be cruel to their Royal Highness, Prince Su.
Su Wang Zhao Run, who is that character?
He was not only a hero of the Wei State, but also the son-in-law of the King of Qin and the brother-in-law of Xiong Tuo, Lord of Chu Yangcheng. How could Prince Hongyu dare to seriously harm the former?
If Prince Hongyu really dares to do this, then his crown prince will also be sitting on the throne. I believe that before long, Qin and Chu will definitely raise troops to attack - so, as long as Prince Hongyu is not crazy, he will never
If he would harm King Su Zhao Run, he would be under house arrest at most.
"In short, we must not act rashly before His Highness sends the signal."
Afraid that his followers would secretly contact his companions behind his back, Ya Wu warned in a deep voice.
Hearing this, several of the Green Crows behind Yawu had no choice but to suppress their anxiety.
At this time, a call sounded from the street below: "Lord Zong Weichang."
Following this soft call, the two guards commanders quickly walked towards Zhou Yue who was standing in front of Prince Su's Mansion. After approaching, one of them clasped his fists and said, "Mr. Zong Weichang, we have blocked the entire street as ordered.
.”
This person was Cao Pu, one of the eight former imperial guards who had defected to Prince Hongyu.
As soon as he finished speaking, another commander of the imperial guards also clasped his fists and said: "My side is also sealed."
This other guard commander was Shi Zhao, whom Zhao Hongrun had met several times in the past two days.
Zhou Yue nodded and was about to speak when he suddenly seemed to feel something and subconsciously looked back at the row of low buildings across the street behind him.
At the same time, Ya Wu also noticed Zhou Yue's movements and subconsciously stepped aside.
"You're so perceptive..."
While muttering to himself, Yawu quietly closed the window, waved his hand and lowered his voice and told the few Qingyas in the room: "We have been discovered, retreat."
At this time, Zhou Yue was still staring at one of the second-floor windows in the row of short buildings.
Just now, he seemed to vaguely see a figure passing by - it was a man wearing gray cloth.
"Blue crow?"
Zhou Yue said secretly.
Seeing Zhou Yue looking at the row of low buildings, Cao Pu, the commander of the imperial guards, seemed to have realized something. He beckoned several imperial guards and pointed at the short buildings not far away.
The imperial guards understood, nodded and were about to leave, but were stopped by Zhou Yue, the chief of the Zong's Guards: "There's no need to go... It's useless to pursue them."
Indeed, even if we catch up with those Green Crows and catch them, what will happen? Is it really true that they were killed with one sword? Will Su Wang Zhao Hongrun be resentful for no reason?
Therefore, there is no point in chasing after him.
"Call the door." He raised his hand and pointed at Prince Su's Mansion in front of him. Zhou Yue immediately warned: "Remember, don't hurt anyone."
"Yes!" Cao Pu and Shi Zhao accepted the order with clasped fists, and then they walked up the steps in front of the palace together. During this period, Shi Zhao grabbed the knocker on the door and knocked loudly.
After knocking seven or eight times, an impatient voice came from inside the door: "Who is it?"
After a while, a Su Wang guard opened the door with an impatient expression, stretched out half of his head and took a look outside.
And when he saw that the street outside the mansion was filled with dense guards, his expression suddenly changed, and he subconsciously wanted to close the door. Unfortunately, Cao Pu, the commander of the guards, got there first and pushed the door open with all his strength.
, and immediately, the guards behind him rushed in.
"This is Prince Su's Mansion, what are you going to do?!"
After the King Su guard was knocked away, he subconsciously wanted to take out the sword from his waist, but unfortunately he was held back by the guards.
The noise at the gate of the mansion alerted the Su Wang guards in the front yard. They shouted "What happened to Lao Li?" and ran towards the gate of the mansion. When they saw their companion Lao Li being killed by several guards,
When the guards were restrained and a steady stream of guards came in, the expression of one of King Su's guards suddenly changed and he shouted: "Report to Your Highness quickly!"
Upon hearing this, one of the Su Wang guards turned around and ran towards the depths of the mansion.
At the same time, in the study room of the palace, Zhao Hongrun was lying on the rocking chair, with his eyes closed and he didn't know what he was thinking.
After a while, several clan guards came to the study with packages. The leader of the clan guards, Wei Jiao, saw that His Highness seemed to be concentrating with his eyes closed, so he signaled in a low voice: "Your Highness, everything has been packed away."
Zhao Hongrun opened his eyes after hearing this and asked casually: "Where is Madam?"
"I'll urge you again," Mu Qing said, then turned and walked outside the house.
But before he had gone far, he saw a member of Prince Su's Mansion running towards this side with a worried look on his face, shouting as he ran: "The guards... the guards have rushed into the palace!"
"What?" Mu Qing's expression changed upon hearing this, and he was about to ask in detail when his eyes suddenly changed slightly.
Because after seeing the Su Wang guard, a group of unfamiliar guards also rushed here quickly. In just a few blinks, they rushed in front of them.
"..." Mu Qing calmly took two steps back, blocking the study door with his body, and then shouted in a deep voice: "What do you want to do?"
At this time, Zhao Hongrun, who heard the noise in the study, slowly came to the threshold under the protection of Wei Jiao, Gao Kuo and Zhongzhao. When he saw the guards outside the study who were still increasing in number,
, Gao Kuo sighed quietly.
"Are you serious... sending troops to put me under house arrest?"
A hint of disappointment flashed through Zhao Hongrun's eyes without leaving any trace.
Immediately, he gently pushed away Wei Jiao who was standing in front of him, stepped out of the study, looked at the guards who were only one foot away, and asked in a deep voice: "Who is your chief?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Hongyu's Zongwei Chief Zhou Yue walked quickly from a distance. Seeing this person, Zhao Hongrun understood in his heart.
"Chief Zhou Zongwei." Zhao Hongrun greeted him expressionlessly.
Zhou Yue breathed out secretly, walked to Zhao Hongrun bravely, and said with a dry smile: "Zhou Yue, pay homage to His Highness Prince Su."
Zhao Hongrun glanced around at the guards around him, then turned his attention to Zhou Yue, and said with a sneer: "Chief Zhou Zongwei, what do you mean?"
Zhou Yue opened her mouth, a look of embarrassment flashed across her face.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun was not interested in talking to him and said calmly: "It's pointless to tell you. Zhou Yue, send someone to invite the prince. I want to ask him face to face about some things." After that, he
He took a deep look at Zhou Yue and added: "This afternoon, I have been waiting in the palace for several hours. I have fulfilled my duty as a minister, which is truly the most benevolent and righteous... If the prince still refuses to come this time
To meet this king, then..."
He didn't say any more, but he believed Zhou Yue understood what he meant.
"His Royal Highness Prince Su." Zhou Yue cupped her hands towards Zhao Hongrun and whispered: "In fact, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is on his way here."
"..." Zhao Hongrun nodded, turning a blind eye to the guards around him, walked back to the study, and said lightly: "I'll wait for him in the study."
Seeing Zhao Hongrun and several clan guards returning to the study, Zhou Yue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand to the surrounding guards and said: "Go, guard the passages in the house, and send away the idlers. Remember, don't hurt anyone, don't collide.
The female relatives in the house."
"yes!"
The guards clasped their fists in response.
About a full time after burning incense, a carriage stopped in front of Prince Su's Mansion.
Immediately, Prince Hongyu and his staff Zhang Qigong walked out of the carriage.
After seeing that both the inside and outside of Prince Su's palace were controlled by the imperial guards, a dark and obscure color flashed in Prince Hongyu's eyes.
But after taking a deep breath, he recovered as before.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Shi Zhao, the commander of the imperial guards who was waiting at the gate of the palace, quickly came up to him, clasped his fists and said, "The entire palace has been surrounded... and protected by my imperial guards."
"Hmm." Prince Hongyu nodded and asked casually: "Where is Prince Su?"
"In the study room of the mansion." Shi Zhao replied.
After hearing this, Prince Hongyu didn't ask any more questions, and took Zhang Qigong directly to the study room in the mansion.
After a while, he arrived outside Zhao Hongrun's study.
Seeing His Royal Highness coming, Zhou Yue, the Chief of Zongwei, immediately came up to greet him and signaled in a low voice: "Your Highness, Prince Su is waiting in the study."
Prince Hongyu nodded and walked towards the study. Sure enough, he saw Zhao Hongrun sitting in the rocking chair with his eyes closed, as if unmoved by the current crisis.
"cough!"
Prince Hongyu deliberately stood at the door and coughed.
Hearing this cough, Zhao Hongrun slowly opened his eyes and glanced sideways at Prince Hongyu who was standing outside the door.
"Wei Jiao and Zhou Yue will stay, and the rest should leave." Prince Hongyu glanced at Wei Jiao.
Hearing this, Zhao Hongrun's clan guards turned to look at Zhao Hongrun and saw the latter nodded slightly before exiting the study.
The staff member Zhang Qigong also retreated from the study after that. In the entire study, only Zhao Hongrun and Prince Hongyu were left, as well as the two clan guards Wei Jiao and Zhou Yue.
Looking back at the guards who were under martial law in the study, Prince Hongyu closed the door of the study, and then turned to look at Zhao Hongrun who was still lying on the rocking chair, only to see the latter smiling with a bit of sarcasm: "Stay here
Wei Jiao and Zhou Yue, are you afraid that I will beat you?"
Prince Hongyu was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile, and then said with an incomprehensible expression: "Hongrun, don't blame me..."
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun's face showed no emotion. He looked at Prince Hongyu and said calmly: "This afternoon, I waited outside the palace for a full three hours to see you...Prince, I have done my best to my brother.
It’s my duty.”
After hearing this, Prince Hongyu was slightly moved and nodded silently.
At this time, Zhao Hongrun took a long breath and stated calmly: "You have put my father under house arrest, right? Now, they have sent guards to surround Prince Su's Mansion... But I still want to ask, why?"
As he spoke, he sat up straight, looked at Prince Hongyu, frowned and said, "After I returned to the palace in the evening, I couldn't figure it out even after thinking about it. What reason do you have for doing this?"
"Are you referring to the list of papers?" Prince Hongyu asked calmly.
"That's right." Zhao Hongrun frowned and said as if scolding: "You pushed Zhao Hongxin too hard. Do you know that when he sees this letter, he will definitely..."
"They will definitely raise troops to attack Daliang, right?" After interrupting Zhao Hongrun, Prince Hongyu still looked calm: "Maybe even the fourth child and Xiaojiu will side with the fifth child, right?
"
"..." Because Prince Hongyu said what he wanted to say in advance, Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth wordlessly.
At this time, Prince Hongyu was seen looking around the study, while slowly walking to the inner room, choosing a seat and sitting down, during which he said: "I know everything you said."
Frowning slightly, Zhao Hongrun also stood up from the rocking chair, walked to the seat opposite Prince Hongyu and sat down. He looked at the latter in confusion and asked: "Since you know that this move has caused civil strife in our great Wei Dynasty,
Why are you forcibly publishing this list? Are you not deliberately provoking trouble?...Why?!"
"Because of you."
Looking at Zhao Hongrun who was a little excited, Prince Hongyu said with a complicated expression.
"I?"
Hearing this, Zhao Hongrun's face flashed with astonishment, and then he said as if he was mocking himself: "Your Highness, have you always suspected that I would participate in seizing the throne? Ridiculous! If I have the intention to seize the throne, the throne..."
"The throne is at your fingertips!...Is that so?" Interrupting Zhao Hongrun again, Prince Hongyu said with a half-smile: "You want to say that you gave me the crown prince's position, right?"
"..." Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
At this time, Prince Hongyu took a long breath and said seriously: "Hongrun, since we have the opportunity to talk straight to the point today, you and I can feel calmer. What I just said "because of you" is not that I suspect that you have
The thought of seizing the throne, but... To be precise, this is not your problem, but my father's problem."
"Father?" Zhao Hongrun frowned, a little hard to understand.
Seeing this, Prince Hongyu explained: "I still remember that nine years ago, Xiong Tuo, the king of Yangcheng of the Chu State, attacked my country, the Wei Dynasty. At that time, my country, the Wei Dynasty, was weak and the available troops were only 80,000 "six battalions of troops", so
People's hearts are in panic... At that time, you, who were only fourteen years old, led an army to go on an expedition and defeated the 160,000-strong army of Lord Xiong Tuo of Yangcheng City.
Ten Thousand Army...that is, the original Shangshui Army and Yanling Army."
"..." Zhao Hongrun nodded slightly, but his eyes showed confusion, as if he didn't understand why Prince Hongyu mentioned this matter.
Seeing this, Prince Hongyu explained: "When you returned in triumph, you did not disband the two armies, nor did you hand over the two armies to the court. Logically speaking, as a man who has no ambition to be emperor, you
A prince cannot control the military, let alone fifty thousand people. However, my father acquiesced in this matter and approved the designations of the "Shangshui Army" and "Yanling Army" for you to take charge..."
"..."
"Since then, you have been out of control, conquering Chu and conquering Korea. Gradually, the number of troops under your command has reached 100,000. This does not include the "Shangshui Youma" and Sanchuan.
Those tens of thousands of foreign cavalry... I remember that two years ago, you organized the "Shangshui Army Reserve" in Shangshui City. With full calculation, the number of troops you can dispatch actually reaches 200,000. The military power in your hands, the soldiers under your command
Generals account for almost half of our military generals in the Great Wei Dynasty, which is amazing..." At this point, Prince Hongyu looked at Zhao Hongrun, suddenly changed his tone and asked: "But have you ever thought about why you
Can you command an army of 200,000 people? In other words, why did Emperor Father acquiesce to your ability to mobilize an army of 200,000 people?... The reason is very simple, because you are the candidate chosen by Emperor Father for the throne. In his opinion, it will happen sooner or later anyway.
Things handed over to you, and over the years, my father has also gradually transferred power to you, such as the Smelting Bureau and the Military Casting Bureau that you established, which almost controlled the military industry of our Wei Dynasty and our hundreds of thousands of troops.
Almost all of our armors and weapons are produced by the Smelting Bureau and the Weapon Casting Bureau... What kind of authority does this have? If it were another person, do you think my father would allow it?"
Speaking of this, he laughed at himself and said: "Take me for example. I still remember that a year ago, Zhao Hongli withdrew from the fight for the throne and I became the crown prince. However, my orders could not even be issued... I am the crown prince.
Ah! He is the prince of the prison country! Why is it that what I say is not as good as yours?"
By the time he finished speaking, Prince Hongyu had become excited.
"..." Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
At this time, Prince Hongyu took a deep breath, looked at Zhao Hongrun and continued: "Because of you, I, the crown prince, have to face a problem before I succeed to the throne, and that is my brothers who hold great power.
There are two of us, each with an army of 100,000 or 200,000 in hand. If it were you, would you feel at ease?"
"..." Zhao Hongrun blinked.
At this moment, Prince Hongyu said again: "You won't care, because you are the invincible "King Su", and King Huan holds a hundred thousand northern army. That is your brother.
The King of Yan, who is in charge of the Shanyang Army and the Nanyan Army, you have a life-saving grace for him. Only the remaining King Qing and King Xiang, you will not take it to heart at all... But that is you Zhao Run, I Zhao Run
I neither have great military exploits nor know how to lead troops in war, let alone be invincible in battle. My brothers have so much military power that I can't sleep well! ... If the imperial power is reduced to a puppet in the future, then I will
Zhao Yu would rather give it a try! I want to be a king, but I will never be a puppet left to chance!"
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun suddenly realized.
In the final analysis, he couldn't understand the reason why Prince Hongyu did this. It was because he didn't care at all about brothers like Qing Wang Zhao Hongxin who held military power. At worst, he could raise an army to conquer the Central Plains. How could he, Su Wang Zhao Run, conquer the Central Plains?
There is no Qing Wang Zhao Hongxin?
He has the confidence!
But the Crown Prince in front of him at this moment did not have the same confidence as him.
"That's why you want to take back the military power of our brothers..." Zhao Hongrun nodded suddenly, and then he shook his head and said, "But even so, you are too hasty."
"Is it too hasty?" Prince Hongyu shook his head, then looked at Zhao Hongrun and said seriously: "Hongrun, I understand what you mean. If I spend twenty years, I can slowly take back the power in the hands of my brothers, but you have to
You know, I am thirty-four years old this year. My father ascended the throne at the age of twenty-six. After reigning for twenty years, he began to feel powerless when he was less than half a hundred years old... I can tell you clearly that I did put my father under house arrest, but
This is not the reason why my father did not come forward to stop me. The real reason is that my father is really not in good health... He is only fifty-one this year. And what about me? I am thirty-four this year, and I don’t have twenty years left.
! I also want to surpass my father, lead the Wei Dynasty to open up new territories, and become a wise king respected by future generations. But if I am always constrained by my brothers, then what is the point of becoming the king of the Wei Dynasty? Instead of doing this, it is better to fight
Give it a try!"
"..."
Zhao Hongrun remained silent.
After listening to Prince Hongyu's words, he was finally able to understand why the latter did what he did.
But understanding is understanding, and he couldn't agree with it in his heart, especially when Prince Hongyu said, "It's better to give it a try than to do this."
Thinking of this, Zhao Hongrun said quietly: "Give it a try? How? Use the great situation of Wei Dynasty to bet on whether you can win this civil war, take back the military power of your brothers, and be crowned supreme. The power is in your hands."
King of Wei? Did you know that you are betting on the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers of our Wei Dynasty and the foundation of our entire country?!"
"..." Prince Hongyu was silent for a while, and then said in a deep voice: "...This is also for long-term peace and stability."
Zhao Hongrun looked deeply at Prince Hongyu, then slowly shook his head and murmured: "Brother Yongwang, you have changed, you no longer trust others... Even if I, Zhao Run, keep promising you, I
No one in this generation of brothers will dare to hinder you in the future. Even if there is, I will solve it for you. I'm afraid you won't believe it, right?"
"..." Prince Hongyu said nothing.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun shook his head in disappointment and said lightly: "I'm tired. If your Highness the Crown Prince has nothing else to do, please go back to your home... Or, it's not enough to put me under house arrest. You have to put me under house arrest."
Put in jail?"
"That's not the case." Prince Hongyu shook his head, and then said seriously: "But before I leave, I would like to ask Hongrun for a favor." After that, he narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Please
Hongrun gave me the tiger talismans of the three armies of Shangshui Army, Yanling Army, and Youma Army."
"Is this the real purpose of why you came to see me today?" Zhao Hongrun seemed to have expected it, and was not surprised at all. He smiled and said: "Do you think I need a tiger charm to command the army? ...Nothing like that
I don’t need anything.”
Prince Hongyu frowned, and then said: "Then please Hongrun write a few letters in his own hand so that I can mobilize the three armies...Hongrun, I don't want to threaten you with your wife and children, please don't let me
Difficult to do.”
"..."
Zhao Hongrun took a deep look at Prince Hongyu, with a hint of imperceptible ridicule flashing in his eyes, as if he was amused by Prince Hongyu's request.