Chapter 287 Decision (Part 2)

Luoyang. Zheng Duke's Mansion

There was a palace in Luoyang, but unfortunately it was burned down. A large mansion was built in a place with the best Feng Shui in the south city of Luoyang. It occupied a wide range of front, back, left and right. It was expected that the scale could be compared with the palace, but it was limited by specifications and was just a Duke's Mansion.

In Luoyang, Duke Zheng was the master. In front of the Duke’s mansion, he was very cautious and ordinary people could not rely on his door.

There are countless courtyards in the Duke's Mansion, and the Duke of Zheng Liu Man lives in a courtyard next to the back.

Among the houses in the courtyard, the most elegant decoration is not the bedroom of Duke Zheng, but the study room that he often visits on weekdays.

This is Liu Man's forbidden land. On weekdays, outsiders are not allowed to enter except him and those he allows.

There are many personal soldiers guarding the situation outside. Some people who trespassed here often receive severe punishment, even the concubines that Liu Man favored are the same.

There was a concubine of Liu Man before, who was very favored in front of Liu Man and was very respectful in the mansion. Not to mention other concubines, even Liu Man's official wife, they had to avoid their edge for the time being.

However, this girl was not very knowledgeable and was sought after by others that she broke into the important area of ​​the study. Liu Man was furious and ordered his personal soldiers to kill him on the spot. Later, the concubine begged hard, and she saved her life.

However, this humiliation was already a life-threatening person. The concubine died of depression shortly after she returned.

Since then, even Liu Man's own children have walked around the study without being summoned.

Those who could come to the study to report the matter were Liu Man's ministers. When someone brought an official to the backyard, he watched the official enter the Duke's study room. The personal soldiers guarding outside involuntarily fought and guarded carefully.

As soon as this man entered, he passed by for a long time.

It was getting late at this time, the sunset was bright, and the sunset was setting. It was late as the sky was falling. The study room was silent. Although there were many personal soldiers standing here, no one dared to say anything.

In the study of Duke Zheng Guo’s house, a crisp sound suddenly came, as if something had fallen to the ground.

The personal soldiers outside gave each other a wink. Two people hurried over, knocked on the door outside, and asked loudly: "Duke, Duke, Duke!!"

Soon a man's voice came from inside: "If you don't have anything to do, just step down!"

"...No!" Listening to the sound inside, it was indeed the familiar Duke of Zheng. There was a faint anger in his voice. The personal soldiers did not dare to come forward, and hurriedly retreated back to their original position and continued to stand guard.

In the study room, the originally spacious and tidy ground was in a mess.

Two glass bottles with gems were thrown to the ground and smashed to pieces. Emeralds and rubies fell on the ground and fell all over the ground.

A middle-aged official kneeling on the ground, with a pale face, bowed and said, "I am guilty, I am guilty!"

Sitting on the high chair was Liu Man, the Duke of Zheng. His face turned pale at this time. Not to mention the difficult thinking these days, the news I heard today made him angry. The black around his eyes made him look a little more gloomy than before.

However, Liu Man was not an ordinary person after all. He took a heavy breath and woke up from his anger. After a long time, he asked: "Jinling has indeed raised his troops?"

"Yes, our information is that this month, we have transferred 20,000 people to the five counties of Yanzhou to conduct front-line visits. Jinling has gathered another 200,000 troops, all preparing for troops and armor. We may go north at any time. I have ordered a department to find out the truth again and do whatever it takes to do at any cost!"

After hearing this, Liu Man said gloomyly: "What about the news from Luoyang?"

"Duke! Please calm down your anger. Speaking of which, this matter is incompetent, but it can be seen that there were secret spies in Jinling in Luoyang. The news and intentions of the envoy a few days ago were spread throughout the city within two or three days, and it was well known, which shows that the plan had been planned for a long time."

"I would like to ask the Duke of the State to give me some time. I will investigate it thoroughly and find out the source! I would like to ask the Duke of the State to put his own health first, so don't be angry."

Liu Man's face was gloomy and could almost drip water. He didn't even look at the official, but just said coldly: "When encountering this, how do you want me to calm down?"

"Hmph, on the one hand, prepare for soldiers and armor, on the other hand, send envoys to delay, and it also makes the city full of storms!"

This is forcing him to express his opinion!

Although Liu Man was a little stubborn and had extraordinary talents in terms of his ability, otherwise he would not have been able to promote Luoyang's governance, nor would he have the strength to attack Yanzhou. This contained the family wealth accumulated by Liu Man's father, but if Liu Man was incompetent, this family wealth would not be enough to support this person.

Seeing that Duke Zheng was still angry, the middle-aged official said: "Duke, regardless of whether this matter is related to the special envoy, the public opinion information in the city is very unfavorable to Duke. I also ask the Duke to make a decision."

"That's the reason." Liu Man's face calmed down slightly at this time.

When I realized this, I was indeed very furious.

It was not just Wang Hongyi's plot, but he was preparing for the army in a dignified manner, and sent envoys to persuade him to surrender, looking like he was famous for his master holding a magical artifact.

It is more of a disappointment with the people of Luoyang.

Luoyang City is its own capital and has been in operation for five years.

But there are not many people in the city. I believe they can win. Either the Announcement Club surrendered to the Emperor Dacheng or the Announcement Club surrendered to the Hu people. Even the people in Luoyang think so, why should we conquer the world?

Although Liu Man usurped power and became the throne, after taking office as Duke of Zheng, he twice waived money and grain to provide relief to the victims in the disaster areas of Luoyang and nearby counties, spending 200,000 yuan.

Originally, Liu Man had reason to believe in himself, and his reputation among the people exceeded that of several previous terms and united people's hearts.

After several consecutive years of harvest, there was enough food. I thought that the army was good and the food was sufficient, and the management of Luoyang was excellent and the support of the people, and sent troops to Yanzhou to win one after another, and it was already a succession.

The gap between himself and Wang Hongyi is just because he is not lucky. He started too late and had to work hard on everything himself. How could Wang Hongyi succeed to the throne at the age of 17 and achieve his grand ambitions?

Even if you only inherit one county, it is still a foundation, so you will be slow and unable to catch up with it step by step.

As long as Luoyang supports it, I have tens of thousands of elite soldiers and rely on the natural dangers of Hulao Pass, so it may not be impossible to cause others later.

Now Luoyang's discussion has made a crack in his psychology, making him feel hated. This is not talent, but luck.

But the more I think this way, the more angry I feel.

After walking a few steps, Liu Man's face turned pale and he sneered: "Since you are forcing me to see me, let Liu Chao come to see me on a date!"

On April 20th, it was sunny, and Liu Chao finally met Duke of Zheng in Luoyang City.

In the Deliberation Hall of the Duke of Zheng State, civil and military officials were dressed in two rows on the left and right, all of whom had identities and status in front of Duke of Zheng State.

Sitting in the middle, wearing a crown suit of a duke, she was thirty years old and looked a little heroic, with only a pair of eagle eyes staring at him without blinking, Liu Chao knew what was going on in his heart.

As he made an assessment in his heart, Liu Chao bowed: "Liu Chao met Duke of Zheng."

"Bold! Why don't you worship when you see Duke Zheng?" someone shouted.

Liu Chao smiled slightly, his back was straight, and he said loudly: "I am an official of the Ministry of Rites of Emperor Dacheng and a special envoy. This time I came here to represent Emperor Dacheng. Who are you? How dare you ask me to kneel down and bow down?"

As he said that, he swept across everyone and even forced Liu Man to look at him.

Liu Man spoke at this time and said to the speaker: "I won't retreat yet!"

"...No." The official hurriedly retreated.

"I wonder what the special envoy is coming?" Liu Man suppressed his anger and asked.

"The emperor condemned the little ministers and ordered Duke Zheng to come to Jin to meet him." Liu Chao glanced at him and said publicly.

Although he was mentally prepared, when he heard Liu Chao's naked oppression on the spot, Liu Man's face was still pale and blue.

The civil and military officials on both sides changed their faces and their eyes were chilling.

Liu Chao was not afraid at all and stood freely.

Many days ago, Liu Man should have known his purpose. Today, he summoned him to make a decision. He wanted to see what decision the Zheng Guild made.

However, judging from the fact that someone tried to give him a warning just now, the Duke of Zheng was afraid that he would make an inappropriate decision.

Sure enough, after thinking for a while, Duke Zheng refused the request of the special envoy.

"...Luoyang and Jinling are both ancient cities of several dynasties, but Luoyang is the foundation of the Liu family. My country's Duke has become accustomed to the customs and customs of Luoyang, and I am afraid I am not used to the Jinling. I have received the kindness of Emperor Dacheng, and I also ask Lord Liu to express my gratitude to Emperor Dacheng on behalf of my country." Liu Man said lightly.

These remarks are actually an open rejection.

Liu Man's meaning is very clear. I am staying well in Luoyang, but I don't want to move any more, nor do I want to surrender to others. This is my Liu family's territory. You, the Emperor of Dacheng, have less idea of ​​fighting against me in Luoyang.

Liu Chao heard it below, sneered in his heart, smiled on his face, and said, "Since Duke Zheng made such a decision, I will report back to the emperor like this."

I don't even want to say more.

In Liu Chao's mind, according to the tradition of Emperor Dacheng, if Liu Man surrendered immediately, even if he did not have the official title of Duke Zheng, he would be able to get a Marquis of Zheng.

Now that the emperor's surrender is rejected, he will be a dead person.

Even if you don’t die, according to the habits of Dacheng and the temperament of the emperor, you will get a seventh-rank scattered position to support your elderly life for the rest of your life!

Since this is the case, why bother to talk more about people who seem noble but are actually muddy now?

Liu Chao's reaction was like this, and the accident of the monarch and ministers in the hall was so great that Liu Man suddenly felt a chill coming up, but in a blink of an eye, it turned into anger again.

The anger rushed to his heart, and he almost wanted to call his personal soldiers to pull the abominable envoy out and behead him.

But he still endured it and said, "The envoy of Dacheng will go down first and welcome the adults at noon."

Liu Man smiled slightly, bowed and said, "Yes!"
Chapter completed!