"Is Aiqing's illness getting better? I previously ordered the imperial doctor to come to diagnose and treat Aiqing, but the people around you refused. They said that there are already doctors to treat you, but too many doctors will cause chaos. I think this is right.
The important thing is that there are doctors who can treat the disease, and there is no need for too many people. Too many people will be troublesome. Each has different treatment methods and different prescriptions for medicine, which is not helpful to the condition. So I don’t insist on it anymore." Guo Xu
He looked at Yang Jundao with concern.
Yang Jun hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I have also received Your Majesty's kindness, and I have also received the medicines and supplements sent by the imperial physician in the palace. But it is true that because I have already invited a doctor, I did not dare to leave the Imperial doctors behind."
.My disease is actually a disease caused by anger attacking the heart. It is not a difficult disease and can be diagnosed and treated by any doctor. The medicinal prescriptions are actually similar. If it is a difficult disease, there is no need for the emperor to send an imperial doctor. I'm afraid
I also need to ask the emperor to allow the imperial doctor to diagnose my illness. I can’t say whether my illness is good or bad. This disease of anger attacking the heart is simply a heart disease, and it is not easy to cure. So I can only follow the doctor’s advice.
I am resting in the mansion. After returning to Beijing for so many days, I have not been able to see the emperor. I feel really uneasy. Please forgive me."
Yang Jun's response was spotless. In fact, Guo Xu did send imperial doctors to diagnose and treat Yang Jun a few days ago. But how could Yang Jun dare to let them diagnose and treat him? Wouldn't that expose the fact that his condition was not a serious matter? How could he pretend to be seriously ill?
He hid at home as an excuse. So of course he refused the diagnosis and treatment from the imperial doctor.
"My dear, when you say that, I blame myself even more. During this period of time, I have been reflecting on myself and feeling more and more ashamed. The current situation is like this, and it can be said that it is all my responsibility. When I wanted to join forces with the Jurchens to march to the north,
You tried your best to persuade me. But at that time, I was blinded by my power and did not listen to your advice. I insisted on going my own way. Now that I think about it, I feel ashamed and blame myself. Aiqing's willingness to step forward and lead the army in that situation was actually a disservice to me.
The greatest loyalty. You must know in your heart that this Northern Expedition may fail, but you have not evaded responsibility. This is my Privy Yang of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I always face difficulties and never shirk. I think about it every time.
At this time, I am full of admiration and sigh in my heart. At the same time, I feel ashamed. Now that Aiqing is seriously ill because of this, I am really anxious. I have long wanted to visit Ai, but the court has too many affairs during this time, so I can't.
If you are not busy with these things, I can only let the imperial concubine come to visit you. After the imperial concubine returned to the palace, she reported that your condition was serious, and I couldn't sit still anymore. No, the most important things in the court were dealt with today, so I took the time to see you.
Already."
Guo Xu sat next to the fallen bamboo and whispered these words, his brows furrowed and his expression regretful, making people feel that all this came from the heart, and his words were extremely sincere.
Yang Jun was originally very doubtful about Guo Xu's visit that night. He suspected that Guo Xu was here to ask questions, so he was full of wariness. But now, Yang Jun suddenly had some other feelings. He felt that what Guo Xu said
It doesn't seem like falsehoods. The fact that he could say these words shows that he has thought deeply about the whole matter. Maybe the emperor really feels that his decision-making mistakes have led to the current results. It is unknown whether he was too wary before.
It's a bit serious. The emperor may not have any intention of raising an army to hold him accountable.
"My dear, I know that you must be very frightened and uneasy right now, and it must be difficult for you to calm down and recuperate. I will not hide it from you. During this period, I have received a memorial from the officials to impeach you. I hope that I will accuse you of no less than 100%.
, including Prime Minister Lu. But even if you relax, I will not approve any of these memorials. I will burn these memorials. If they want to impeach you, it is equivalent to impeaching me. I will do it
When I first asked you to lead the army on the expedition, I said that regardless of victory or defeat, I will bear the responsibility. You are fighting for me, and I will take care of all the consequences. I am the emperor, and I will keep my promise and I will not break my promise.
Therefore, the only thing I look forward to now is that you can rest assured and recover as soon as possible, and return to the court as soon as possible. I cannot live without you, you are my loyal minister, and I still have to rely on you."
Yang Jun looked at Guo Xu blankly. Suddenly he got up and knelt on the bamboo collapse and kowtowed to Guo Xu repeatedly, his lips trembling with excitement. Guo Xu's words really touched Yang Jun. The emperor defended himself in this way, how could he?
Could you please shed tears of gratitude?
"Old minister...I don't know what to say. I feel so ashamed. I have failed to live up to the emperor's expectations. This situation makes me really sad." Yang Jun choked and shouted.
"My dear, don't do this, don't hurt your body, lie down quickly. My dear... don't say anything about letting me down, I am doing this for the sake of the country and the country. I can't live without a virtuous person like you in the Zhou Dynasty.
My good general. I have also learned some things. The failure of the war was caused by a general who did not listen to your orders and advanced rashly. That Han was defeated in the first battle just after he attacked Zhuozhou, which destroyed the morale of the army. And that Ma Qingshan, when he attacked Jinfu
I have betrayed your trust, made mistakes in siege decisions, and failed to consider everything carefully. It is really difficult to rely on your own efforts. To put it bluntly, I still have too few good generals in Zhou Dynasty, and Aiqing is alone. Under this situation, I
How can I accuse you of losing this battle? I know they will besiege you, but I will not allow them to do this. My grandfather... I am also very clear about Prime Minister Lu's thoughts. He wants to use this opportunity to impeach you.
My heart is like a mirror. But I will not allow him to do this. Not only will I not allow them to impeach you, I also plan to make the concubine my queen when you are well, and then you will be my father-in-law.
Instead, I want to reuse you..."
"Your Majesty...I am ashamed of myself." Yang Jun trembled as he lay prone on the ground with the sound of the bamboo falling.
Up to now, the doubts in his heart have almost completely disappeared. Guo Xu came to visit him today, and he really didn't mean the slightest bit of blame. The words he said were reassuring and touching. Yang Jun didn't know what to do.
In order to express my inner gratitude, I can only keep kowtowing and blaming myself.
"My dear, this is what I came here to say to you tonight. You can rest in peace and recuperate. It's getting late. It's time for me to leave. Hey, I... I have to draft an edict when I get back. What a blessing.
Man, back then my father drafted an imperial edict to punish the reform and the Qingjiao rebellion. At that time, I thought that my father really shouldn’t have done this. But now, I understand my father’s state of mind at that time. I also
Just like my father, I have to issue an edict to punish myself and announce it to all the people in the world." Guo Xu sighed twice, stood up and was about to leave.
Yang Jun shouted: "Your Majesty, do you want to issue an edict to sin against yourself?"
Guo Xu turned around and stopped, sighing softly: "Yes, I said, I have to bear this responsibility. Such a huge defeat... There was an uproar in the imperial court and all over the Zhou Dynasty, and they were all asking for someone to stand up and take responsibility. I can only
If you can stand up, how can you calm down their anger? Today, the court meeting has already agreed on the terms of peace with the Liao people. Alas, once those terms are announced, it will make the subjects even more angry and the world will be shocked. I am here at this moment.
I’m worried that even issuing an imperial edict may not quell people’s anger.”
Yang Jun was silent and kept kneeling on the bamboo raft, frowning and thinking.
Guo Xu sighed and waved his hands: "That's all, I shouldn't tell you these things. Doesn't this make Aiqing worry about state affairs and affect your physical recovery? I'm gone, and Aiqing can take good care of her health."
Guo Xu sighed softly, walked out of the pavilion, and slowly walked down the steps.
"Your Majesty, please stay." Yang Jun suddenly shouted.
Guo Xu had a smile on his face in the darkness, but when he turned his head, he had a serious and helpless expression.
"What else can I do, my dear?"
"Your Majesty, this edict cannot be issued." Yang Jun shouted.
"Why can't you issue an edict to sin against yourself?" Guo Xu asked with surprise on his face.
"Your Majesty... the sinner will be punished and it will become a pretext. The Emperor's... foundation is not stable. He has only been on the throne for a year and he has to bear such responsibilities. Someone with ulterior motives will make a big fuss. The people will be disturbed and turbulent.
Then people with ulterior motives will take the opportunity to agitate. For example, Guo Bing, Guo Kun and Lin Jue, who are rebels, will take the opportunity to make loud noises. People who do not know the truth will defect to them one after another, and they will take advantage of the opportunity. The veteran is worried that such
If we do this, the Emperor will lose his support and things will become more difficult. The danger of this matter is no less than the danger of invasion by foreign enemies. Please think twice before acting." Yang Jun said hurriedly and excitedly.
Guo Xu stood blankly, frowned and thought for a while, then spread his hands and smiled bitterly: "What Aiqing said makes sense, but... what can I do? If I don't take this responsibility, how can I calm down the anger of the government and the public? How can I calm the people's anger?
Resentment? I don’t want to issue an edict to offend myself, but I have no choice. Don’t I have to punish Aiqing according to their requirements? Doesn’t that mean Aiqing should bear undue punishment? No, I can’t do that. It’s a crime.
How can I put the blame on others when I am on my own?"
Yang Jun sat there, frowning and thinking silently. He didn't want to take the blame on himself. Otherwise, he would be doomed. But if the emperor sinned, the consequences would be serious. Guo Xu's throne was meant to be robbed.
Later, people in the world were suppressed by strong means and were not allowed to talk about this matter. The Northern Expedition was originally an opportunity for Guo Xu to clear his name, but now it has turned out like this, causing the Zhou Dynasty to face collapse. If Guo Xu sins again, the consequences will be
It's unimaginable. In the past, I might not have cared about this, but now, I and Guo Xu have come together. If you don't think about Guo Xu now, you don't think about yourself. As long as Guo Xu can get through this difficulty, in the future
He was about to become the head of the country, and he could compete with Lu Zhongtian. Guo Xu was no longer an outsider, but someone he had to protect. If he protected him, he would protect himself. How could he ignore it?
Guo Xu looked at Yang Jun for a long time and suddenly said: "My dear, I suddenly had an idea."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"Otherwise, my dear, can you pretend to plead guilty, which can also calm everyone's anger. But my dear, don't worry, I will not punish you severely. Even if you accept the blame, I will defend you. You can calm me down.
Everyone is angry, so I don’t need to issue this self-incriminating edict. I will only take away your title, fine you a salary, and reprimand you. In addition, I will place the responsibility on your behalf on Han Gang, Ma Qingshan and other generals. I will say that they will not listen before the battle.
Your order led to the defeat. I killed a few of them and absolved you. In this way, your guilt will be greatly reduced. I will also go to talk to Lu Xiang. At this time, if he ignores the overall situation and focuses on
I will not agree to internal fighting. Mr. Lu is extremely wise and he will not understand my thoughts. If I fall, he will not have a good life. In this way, a compromise can be reached and things will slowly calm down.
When things calm down completely in the future, I will find another opportunity to rehabilitate you and restore your reputation. If you can endure the humiliation and take this responsibility for me, I will be grateful to you, and I will never forget that you are here.
What do you think of your dedication at a critical moment, my love...?" Guo Xu said in a deep voice.
