Emperor Li Shi was restored and returned to the throne. The news spread like wildfire and shocked the world. Although most court officials were intimidated by Li Shi's power and kept silent, noble families from other states criticized Li Shi for being greedy for the throne and for being unfair.
Even the Hebei vassal towns and the Central Plains vassal towns, which were ostensibly loyal to the Chengdu imperial court, issued statements, strongly criticizing Li Shi for launching a palace coup, improperly ascending the throne, and refusing to recognize Li Shi's restoration.
However, Guo Song, who had attracted much attention, remained silent, neither expressing support for Li Shi nor criticizing Li Shi's restoration.
At Xingqing Palace in Chang'an, Zhu Si received a letter from his brother Zhu Tao. In this letter, Zhu Tao strongly requested that his brother ascend the throne. Li Shi's restoration was a once-in-a-century opportunity. If he gave up this opportunity, he might not have another chance in the future.
This letter gave Zhu Si a huge shock. In fact, he had been thinking about ascending the throne during this period. Before, he had been thinking about ascending the throne after unifying the world. However, Guo Song captured Hedong and defeated the Northern Tang Army in Yuxiang County, which was a serious blow.
After losing Zhu Si's confidence, his belief in unifying the world began to waver, and what followed was his eagerness to ascend the throne.
Thinking of the auspicious omen two years ago, that jade tablet from a century ago, the person who represented the Tang Dynasty was the Zhu family. This was obviously God's will, but I suspected that it was a forgery. It was so inappropriate.
In fact, it was not wrong for Guo Song to bury the jade tablet. The person who replaced the Tang Dynasty in history was indeed the Zhu family, but it was Zhu Wen, not Zhu Si.
He longed to ascend the throne, but could not make up his mind. He also knew that this was a once-in-a-century opportunity, but he did not dare to grab it. In order to ascend the throne, Zhu Si had been restless these days.
At noon that day, Zhu Si was upset, so he walked alone in the back garden. When he came to a rockery, he heard a palace maid crying "woo woo", and another palace maid next to her whispered to persuade her.
"People cannot be resurrected, so there is no point in crying. Besides, your mother has always been in poor health, so her death should be expected."
"I'm not crying for my mother's death, but my mother has never worn silk clothes in her life. Her biggest wish is to wear silk clothes once. I obviously have silk clothes here, but they are never sent back to my hometown for various reasons. Now my mother
After passing away, my only regret is that I didn’t wear silk clothes. I regret it! Why didn’t I send it back earlier?”
The maid's cries rang in Zhu Si's ears like thunder. Wasn't it the same for him? He was always undecided about whether to ascend the throne. When there was no chance in the future, he might regret it.
At this moment, Zhu Si woke up from his dream. He turned around resolutely and walked quickly towards Qinzheng Palace. He made up his mind and could no longer hesitate. God had given him the opportunity. If he did not seize it, he would regret it like a palace maid in the future.
Out of reach.
Returning to the Qinzheng Hall, Zhu Si immediately sent for Liu Sigu, and also sent people to summon the left and right prime ministers Guoyuanxiu, Yao Lingyan, the eldest son Zhu Sui, and the general Zhang Guangsheng. They also sent people to find him.
Liu Sigu lived in Xingqing Palace, and he was the first to rush to the main hall.
"Lieutenant, is there anything important?"
Zhu Si handed him the letter from his brother Zhu Tao, "Sir, will you read this letter first?"
After Liu Sigu read the letter, he was secretly surprised. Zhu Tao was opposed to his brother's ascension to the throne at first, but now he has changed his stance. Liu Sigu knew Zhu Si, and he was afraid that Zhu Si was most likely persuaded by his brother to come to him.
He pondered for a while and said: "The humble position is to support the Taiwei's ascension to the throne, just like His Royal Highness Prince Ji, but I think the timing is a little later."
"Sir, do you still insist on your original position and think that the time is ripe after unifying Hebei, Hedong and the Central Plains?"
Liu Sigu nodded, "Exactly!"
"Sir, do you think we can defeat Guo Song and recapture Hedong?"
Only then did Liu Sigu realize that what really made Zhu Si change his mentality was probably the incident of Guo Song's capture of Hedong, and his confidence was shaken.
But Liu Sigu also had to admit that Guo Song was indeed like a big mountain lying in front of them. It was too difficult to move this mountain. He was silent for a long time and said: "It will take time to defeat Guo Song and seize Hedong."
"Hmph! How long will it take? Ten years, twenty years. I'm afraid I won't be able to wait until the day I die!"
"Why should the Taiwei be anxious for a moment?" Liu Sigu persuaded with a sigh.
Zhu Si shook his head, "I have been waiting for four years, and I have been waiting patiently. The year before last, there was a sign of heaven, and I gave up. Now that Li Shi has been restored, the opportunity has come again. If I don't seize the opportunity, I will definitely regret it in the future.
, please military advisor understand my decision."
Zhu Si spoke categorically and was no longer so hesitant. Liu Sigu had to take a step back and asked, "Has the Lieutenant really made up his mind?"
"I've made up my mind!"
"Okay then! No matter what decision the Taiwei makes, I will firmly support it."
.........
Not long after, the other four people hurried to the Qinzheng Hall. They were all a little surprised. This was the first time that the Taiwei had summoned them here with a gold medal.
The four people arrived and saluted one after another. Zhu Si, like an old monk in meditation, just waved his hand and asked them to sit down.
After everyone was seated, Zhu Si opened his eyes and said slowly: "I thought about it for five days and finally made up my mind. I decided to establish Sheji. Please stop blocking me and help me establish a new dynasty."
All four people looked at Liu Sigu. Liu Sigu smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying that he had nothing to do.
Yao Lingyan said cautiously: "The Taiwei is already the de facto hero, and everyone in the world knows it, so why take the risk and take that step?"
Zhu Si glared at him fiercely, "It's not a loss to your interests. Of course you don't take it seriously. Have you considered my interests?"
When Yao Lingyan saw that the Taiwei was angry, he lowered his head and dared not say a word. Yuan Xiu had already seen Zhu Si's determination. Even Liu Sigu couldn't persuade him, so he didn't have to waste his words.
He thought for a while and said: "The Taiwei will ascend the throne sooner or later. There is nothing wrong with ascending the throne now. The Southern Tang Dynasty is unstable. It is indeed an opportunity. The humble position also supports it, but we need to be more thoughtful and fully prepared."
"How long do you plan to take to prepare, five years, ten years or twenty years?" Zhu Si's anger could hardly be restrained.
Yuan Xiu was frightened and said quickly: "Don't take so long, two or three months is enough."
Zhu Si's anger calmed down a little, and he said again: "Two or three months is too long, one month at most, Yuan Xiangguo, I will leave this matter to you."
"I humbly obey orders!"
Seeing that Zhang Guangsheng remained silent, Zhu Si asked dissatisfiedly: "Why doesn't the general express his position? Don't you support it?"
Zhang Guangsheng sighed in his heart and had no choice but to bow and say: "How dare you not support me in your humble position? If you don't object in my humble position, you support me!"
"You can talk!"
Zhu Si stood up and said: "Start preparations from now on. Yuan Xiangguo will take the lead, and Yao Xiangguo and the general will assist you. I will give you one month to get this matter done!"
........
The three of them said goodbye and left, but Zhu Si left the crown prince Zhu Sui and military advisor Liu Sigu behind. Zhu Si walked two steps with his hands behind his back: "I still need to discuss something with you. Once I ascend the throne, what will happen to the deposed emperor Li Ji?"
Second, what should we do with the Li family who are under house arrest in Chang’an?”
The crown prince Zhu Sui said: "Li Jiang definitely can't stay. He has enjoyed all the glory and wealth in the past few years and will die with no regrets. As for the royal family who stayed in Chang'an, it is estimated that not many people pay attention to them. Boy'er suggested that they be killed secretly.
In order to eliminate future troubles, we will not admit the existence of these people to the outside world."
"What's the opinion of the military advisor?" Zhu Si asked Liu Si Gudao again.
Liu Sigu lowered his head and thought for a moment, and then said calmly: "The opinion of humble position is actually the opposite of the prince. Li Yu cannot be killed for the time being. We need him to give up the throne to the Taiwei. The Taiwei can make him an An Le Gong."
, put him under house arrest, and after a year, no one will pay attention to him. If he announces that he died of excessive drinking and illness, no one will say anything.
As for the royal family in Chang'an, if there was no Chengdu Southern Tang Dynasty, I would also agree to kill them all and eradicate them. But since there is Chengdu Southern Tang Dynasty, there is no point in killing these royal families. It is better for the Taiwei to be more benevolent and righteous on the surface and give him gifts.
When they leave the country, the people of the world can at least stop scolding the Taiwei for being cruel. It will not be too late to eradicate them after Chengdu is captured in the future!"
Zhu Si took a few steps with his hands behind his back, nodded and said, "The military advisor makes sense, so we've decided."