There was an explosion in Bianliang City. People flocked to the notice boards in the major city gates and market squares to read the emperor's public edict. Because the hearsay news was so shocking, it was the first time that they could not believe the rumors on the streets.
, before this they all believed in the rumors on the streets, because that was the only way for them to understand the situation. But today, they must see to believe.
There were huge crowds of people in front of the notice boards in major squares and markets. People crowded in front of the notice boards and stretched their necks to take a look at the contents of the notice. However, there were too many people and too noisy, and the scene was extremely chaotic.
The cries of mourning concubines were heard everywhere. Those who saw the edict finally confirmed the authenticity of the rumors, and their hearts inevitably collapsed. Because, according to the contents of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Great Zhou Dynasty they were once proud of,
The prosperous and prosperous Zhou Dynasty was about to come to an end, and it ended in a way that was difficult for people to accept.
"Inform the officials and people of the Zhou Dynasty. Since I came to the throne, internal and external troubles have emerged one after another. Although I have tried my best, I have no choice but to lack moral integrity and talent, and I am unable to make a difference. I also made the wrong decision and jointly attacked the Liao Dynasty with the Jurchens, which led to the defeat of the country and the decline of the country.
, were taken advantage of by foreign enemies. Now the Jurchens and the Liao Kingdom jointly attacked our Great Zhou Dynasty, causing the loss of life in thousands of miles of Chidi.
Once defeated, I, the Zhou Dynasty, have very few available troops. It is imminent for the Jurchens to destroy the city. At this time, I have to stand up and bear this responsibility."
"The Jurchens came south this time to destroy our Zhou Dynasty and then quickly. Our army and civilians of the Great Zhou Dynasty have tried their best. In the current situation, if the Jurchens attack Bianliang City, they will slaughter millions of soldiers and civilians in Bianliang. Although all civil and military officials are equal,
I want to fight to the death for my country, but I cannot be so selfish. I know I am outmatched, but I have to bet the lives of millions of people in the capital. I have already made a big mistake, and I can never make another big mistake. Therefore, I sent
To negotiate peace with the Jurchens, as long as the Jurchens can spare the people of Zhou Dynasty, I will do anything. Although the conditions proposed by the Jurchens are harsh, as long as I can save the lives of millions of people, I will agree to them. After negotiation
, I agree to the Jurchens’ conditions.”
"First, from now on, two roads in Hebei and two in Jingdong will be ceded to the Jurchens, and all the lands and cities belonging to the people will belong to the Jurchens. The Jurchen leader Wanyan Aguda promised to treat our Zhou people well and not to kill innocent people indiscriminately. Other
Second, the Jurchens asked me to take my Guo family to the Jurchen army as a hostage, and I agreed. I knew that I might not have a chance to return, but I had to do this for the lives of millions of people. This was the last thing I could do.
This is the last blessing that the people of Dazhou can do. Thirdly, after I leave, I will have no heirs, but the country cannot be without a master for a day. I can only entrust my Dazhou to someone I can trust. Prime Minister Lu is
My grandfather is also a wise minister of my Great Zhou Dynasty. At this time, he is the only one I can entrust to the country. He is also the only person who can cheer you up and allow me to continue the Great Zhou Dynasty. Although Lu Xiangxiang
The Jurchens asked to put themselves as pledges on my behalf, but the Jurchens never allowed him to do so, and neither did I. I am responsible for the disasters I have caused, and I want to protect my people. Prime Minister Lu also refused to accept it, even threatening death.
I have to give in, but I know that he will put the overall situation first and the people first."
"After I left, my Great Zhou Dynasty was actually dead. I ruined my 150-year foundation of Great Zhou Dynasty. I am very sad
I feel ashamed and regretful. Let me use my last useless body to protect my people for the last time. My only hope is that you can cheer up, start over, follow the new emperor, and create a new situation. Maybe in the future, you will help me
The snow on Monday is a shame today. I appreciate this!"
Every common person who saw the edict was moved. In the more than three years since Guo Xu ascended the throne, the common people did not have a good impression of him at all. Not only because of the widespread rumors about his unethical behavior of killing his father and brother to usurp the throne,
What's more, during his reign, people's livelihood took a turn for the worse. Exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes were numerous. The court was also high-pressure. People were convicted for their speeches and innocent people were killed indiscriminately. The upright ministers in the court were running to death and their hearts were broken. The people mentioned Guo Guo.
Xu has nothing but fear and hatred. But the content of today's edict is clear. The Jurchens want to massacre the city. For the sake of millions of people in the capital, he is willing to go to the Jurchens as hostages. He is willing to sacrifice himself to save the people. This move
It is extremely surprising and also touching.
Regardless of whether he is good or bad, he is the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty after all. And this emperor is now going to sacrifice himself to save the people. The people are kind-hearted, and complex feelings naturally arise in their hearts. But as an ordinary citizen
, what can they do? The news that the Jurchens are going to massacre the city has been confirmed. Are they going to risk the lives of millions of people for this last dignity? I am moved, and some people may be bloody.
, vowed to surround Bianliang and live and die with the emperor, but most of the people were thinking about how to protect themselves. The emperor was willing to take the responsibility to save the people in the city, which was naturally touching and admirable, but other than him
Besides, I'm afraid there is no other good solution.
What is even more surprising is that the emperor did not say that he would entrust the throne of the Zhou Dynasty to other royal relatives of the Guo family. There was one person in front of him who was most qualified to ascend the throne, and that was Guo Kun, the son of Prince Liang who had left the capital. Instead, the emperor entrusted the throne to
Giving it to Lu Zhongtian, this has to make people feel abrupt. But perhaps, in the emperor's mind, Guo Kun is already a traitor to the royal family and is no longer qualified to be the emperor. Therefore, the emperor should follow the example of the sages Yao, Shun, and Yu and abdicate the throne to Lu Zhongtian to ensure that
The people can have a qualified leader. Although this matter is confusing, maybe the emperor has no other good solution.
But in any case, ordinary people have no way of judging these things. Although they feel despair, sadness and fear in their hearts, they can't help but feel a little lucky. If the sky falls, someone will hold it up, and it is always something to be thankful for if it doesn't hit you.
In the late afternoon, Zhuque Street outside Daqing Gate was crowded with people. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered on both sides of the street, stretching their necks and wiping tears as they looked in the direction of the palace gate. Because there was news that Emperor Guo Xu was leaving the palace and going to the enemy camp.
.
No matter what his emotions are, Guo Xu's willingness to sacrifice himself in exchange for the lives of the people in the city is admirable and grateful, so at this moment, it is appropriate to come and see him off.
Led by Lu Zhongtian, a group of civil and military officials stood waiting outside the Daqing Gate. Lu Zhongtian looked sad and thoughtful. All the civil and military officials also looked mournful, as if they were mourning for their heirs. Finally, the palace door opened slowly, without the grand ceremony and drums.
Accompanied by the chorus, only a few guards came out carrying a sedan chair. Sitting on the sedan chair was the Emperor Guo Xu of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who was wearing an ordinary cotton robe and had a pale complexion and a stiff body.
As soon as Guo Xu showed up, Lu Zhongtian and others knelt down and cried sadly: "Your Majesty."
The people on the long street also knelt down one after another, and hundreds of thousands of people cried out in unison: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty." The scene was extremely touching.
Lu Zhongtian even knelt down and kowtowed and shouted: "Your Majesty, I am incompetent and cannot protect the country of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I am ashamed of myself. Now I want the Emperor to risk his life, which is even more unacceptable to me. As a minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty, I am ashamed.
, died as a ghost of the Great Zhou Dynasty, today the old minister bumped his head and died in front of the emperor to fulfill his duty as a minister."
As he spoke, Lu Zhongtian got up and bumped against the stone pillar on the side. Chen Bin, the commander of the palace front department on the side, hugged him quickly with quick eyes and hands.
"Prime Minister Lu, you can't do it. Your Majesty has entrusted Prime Minister Lu with important responsibilities. Although we all know that Prime Minister Lu is very loyal and would like to sacrifice his life for him, but now that the matter has come to this, we must put the overall situation first and the lives of the millions of people in the capital."
Life is most important. Don't disappoint the emperor's entrustment. You cannot die. Once you leave, what will happen to the people in the city? What will happen to the country and the country of the Great Zhou Dynasty?" Chen Bin and a group of ministers cried.
Lu Zhongtian burst into tears, beat his chest and said: "We ministers can't even protect the emperor, so how can we survive? I wish I could die immediately."
Everyone hurriedly tried to persuade them, and the scene became noisy for a while. Guo Xu seemed to have no reaction at all, his whole expression was dull, without any sadness or emotion, without any emotion. With the help of several guards, he was lifted off the sedan chair.
Then he mechanically boarded the black carriage that was waiting nearby. The curtains fell, and his face was no longer exposed.
The carriage moved slowly, the officials started crying like crazy, and the people also started crying like crazy. Some people were so excited that they rushed to the street to stop the carriage, and were protected by the guards in front of the palace.
The police were tight and whips were like rain, and they were not allowed to get close. Some officials were so excited that they shouted slogans of serving the country with loyalty and were killed on stone pillars. Some people stabbed themselves in the chest with scissors and committed suicide. The scene became extremely extreme.
Chaos. But under the strong protection of the Forbidden Army, it did not affect the progress of Guo Xu's carriage at all.
More than half an hour later, with cries all over the city, the carriage arrived at Fengqiu Gate. There were already dozens of carriages waiting in line, and there was a sound of crying and cursing in the carriages. They were all from the Guo family in the capital.
The princes and princes of the royal family must follow Guo Xu to the Jurchen army. It is said that this is a request made by the Jurchens.
The suspension bridge was lowered and the city gate was opened. Dozens of carriages, surrounded by cavalry guards, drove out of Bianliang City and arrived outside Bianliang City. As the city gate slowly closed, the cries all over the city were also shut down.
Within the city gate, Guo Xu was sitting stiffly in the carriage. His mind was awake, but his body was paralyzed. Before leaving the palace, he was forced to drink Ma Fei San.
He could hear and see, but he could not move or speak. The majestic Emperor of Zhou was like a zombie at the mercy of others, letting others act in front of him, but he could not expose them.
The cold wind blew in from the crack in the carriage door, blowing the two lines of tears on Guo Xu's face to the bone. The carriage and horses bumped forward, thinking of the Jurchen army's camp several miles away, slowly driving away.
