Yecheng.
On the street, there were several children trotting along the road, holding candied fruits in their hands and humming nursery rhymes happily.
"Bei Youliang, holding the king's sword, raising the big flag, heading towards the throne~~"
The carriage passed slowly on the street, and the sound of nursery rhymes slowly sounded around and entered the car.
The carriage suddenly stopped.
Zu Jue poked out his wrinkled face and looked at the noisy children.
Zu Jue looked at the driver and said, "Help me down!"
The coachman did not dare to neglect, jumped out of the car, and helped Zu Jue out.
Zu Jue limped out of the car, grinning in pain, his buttocks were almost broken. He Shikai secretly gave orders to the executing soldiers, almost beating Zu Jue to the point of paralysis.
The position of Zhongshu cannot be kept, and now he has to be sent to a border area to serve as an official.
Zu Jue staggered, walked in front of the children in a few steps, stretched out his hand to stop them, and then showed a gentle smile.
It's just that this guy was not good-looking to begin with, but when he smiled like this, he looked even more sinister. Some little kids were so frightened that they cried.
"Don't cry! Don't cry!"
"You just sang very well, I'm here to reward you!"
He took out some money from his sleeve and asked the coachman to distribute it to the children. The children immediately lost their fear and hurriedly thanked him.
Zu Jue grinned, and his smile was quite strange.
"Your nursery rhymes are good, but they don't sound very good to me."
"How about I correct you a thing or two?"
"good!"
"You have to sing like this: There is a king in the west, he is benevolent and heroic, he raises the banner, and he is on the right track."
"Doesn't it sound much smoother?"
"Here, get them some more money, sing like this, and someone will give you money."
Zu Jue divided the money and quickly got into the carriage under the leadership of the coachman. Then, he disappeared on the road. The children hid the money on their bodies and did not dare to let others know. They ran towards their homes and talked in their mouths.
Still singing loudly:
"There is a king in the west, benevolent and heroic"
The driver drove the car and listened to Zu Jue's humming voice. He didn't dare to ask about the situation. He took Zu Jue back home.
Zu Jue's home is also a famous entertainment destination in Yecheng. The courtyard occupies a large area and there are many servants in the house, making it quite lively.
Zu Jue limped to the study room and then lay flat on the ground.
His servant hurriedly applied medicine to him, his eyes full of surprise, "Master, Your Majesty obviously loves you very much, why do you punish you?"
"Oh, pampering?"
"I'm not a manly woman, how can I pamper him?"
Zu Jue said unhappily: "Although I have not been with him for a long time, I have done a lot of things for him in the past few months, and I have never made any mistakes. It's just because He Shikai is often in his presence."
He didn't reward me for speaking ill of me in his ears, and now he wants to drive me away."
"I have the ambition to be a prime minister, but he doesn't have the ambition to be an emperor."
The servant felt that these words were a bit treacherous and did not dare to continue.
Zu Jue suddenly said: "He spends all his time drinking and having fun and treats national affairs as child's play. Liu Taozi will kill him sooner or later."
The slave's hands shook in fear, and Zu Jue screamed in pain.
"I didn't say I would kill you, so what are you afraid of?"
The servant turned pale and whispered: "Master, you cannot talk about this kind of thing openly."
"What are you afraid of? Is this the only family in this world?"
"I asked him to comfort Empress Wenxuan, but he actually occupied her. I asked him to divide Hu Luxian and Liu Taozi, but he actually wanted to frame Hu Lvxian!"
"In the end, this sin still became mine?"
Zu Jue was indignant, "He will be defeated sooner or later. I have to find a wise master to realize my ambition to rule the world!"
The servant asked in a low voice: "Are we going to the west?"
"Turning to the West? I have to ask for you too! There are many military leaders over there, and the warriors have the final say. Where can I still have a foothold?"
"What about Tounan?"
“There’s even less of it in the south.”
Zu Jue blinked, "There is one person who is my master. If the two of us join forces, great things can be accomplished!"
He suddenly grabbed the slave's hand and said, "First take your family elders and leave Yecheng secretly and wait for me in Sizhou!"
"You, the master of the house."
"To seek refuge with the Ming Lord, can you still go empty-handed?"
"I have to prepare a generous gift for him!"
"You go ahead and do it!"
"only!!"
The servant left in a hurry.
Zu Jue narrowed his eyes and tapped the bed in front of him with his fingers. After a moment, his sinister laughter came from the inner room.
Yecheng, inside the imperial palace.
Gao Zhan had a straight face, his expression gloomy to the extreme.
There was a lot of fine wine placed in front of him, but Gao Zhan couldn't eat it at all and had no appetite at all. This was indeed rare.
Gao Guiyan, King of Ping Qin, sat aside, a tall man and a big horse.
After assisting Gao Zhan to ascend the throne, Gao Guiyan's power reached an unparalleled level. Even Duan Shao and others were unable to compete with him. He vaguely felt like the first minister under the emperor, just like back then.
The Changguang King Gao Zhan is like the earlier Changshan King Gao Yan.
He must have eaten a lot of wine these days, his abdomen is protruding, he is much fatter than before, and his face is rosy.
He smiled and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry."
"Liu Taozi will not rebel."
"When he tried to rescue Gao Jun, we could see that he had no intention of rebellion."
"At present, the officials are conniving at him and writing memorials to guarantee it, all because he has no intention to rebel. If he wants to rebel, he will be the enemy of the world. People related to him in the court will be the first to stand up and attack him."
After listening to Gao Guiyan's words, Gao Zhan took a sip of wine.
He said slowly: "Some people say that when Liu Taozi was born, she was wrapped in black clothes. Her whole body was as black as ink, and she did not fade away for three days."
"The sign of the dead man's black clothes comes from him."
"There is even a nursery rhyme in the city that says: There is good in the north, holding the king's sword, raising the big flag, and heading towards the throne."
"Liu Taozi is definitely planning to rebel."
"But all the ministers and generals in the court do not agree with my use of troops."
Gao Zhan said angrily and took another sip of wine. He felt unhappy and took several sips in a row.
Gao Guiyan shook his head disdainfully, "This is all Wei Xiaokuan's method!"
"Wei Xiaokuan likes to use this trick the most. He is eager for His Majesty to send troops to attack Liu Taozi, and the harder he fights, the better."
"How can your Majesty believe this?"
"Your Majesty, the most important thing today is to defeat the Puppet Zhou. We will defeat the Puppet Zhou first. Your Majesty will gain military merit in this way, and then continue Gao Jun's policy to enhance the national strength. Five years later, I am willing to capture the jade for your Majesty and create a new world."
A prosperous foundation!!"
Gao Guiyan was very high-spirited. For a moment, he did not look like a bad drunkard, but really looked like a wise king. He said seriously: "Liu Taozi is someone your Majesty can reuse. I have met him before and he has not rebelled."
If you use Gao Xun to control your internal thoughts and Liu Taozi to control your external thoughts, why should the world worry about not being able to control them?"
Gao Zhan didn't say anything and just continued to drink. He didn't know how much he drank. Gao Zhan started to shake a little.
He shook his head, "It's not important whether you can rebel, but whether you can rebel is important."
Gao Guiyan's expression changed and he immediately dared not speak.
Gao Zhan realized his mistake and laughed, "After all, he is a foreign minister and not a member of his own family, how can he be credulous?"
Gao Guiyan's face just improved and he poured him another drink. The two continued to drink. Gao Zhan asked: "Just because he saved Gao Jun, you don't think he will rebel?"
"Your Majesty, if he wanted to rebel, he would not act like this. How could a rebel use money and food to settle the people? He is not close to the local big families, has no contacts with nobles, and there are people inside and outside the court who want to kill him.
There are more people than the Puppet Zhou Dynasty. The people who really want to rebel should be to win over all parties and use money and food to recruit soldiers and horses. How can they be used to resettle the refugees and set up schools? These refugees will be able to fight against fully armed people if they train for another ten years.
Is he a knight? If those junior officials study for another ten years, can they give him advice?"
Gao Guiyan shook his head, "Your Majesty, don't worry too much."
Gao Zhan stopped talking and the two of them continued to drink.
Soon, both of them had almost finished the wine on the table.
Gao Zhan also changed the topic, and the two chatted happily. Gao Zhan promised: "After some time, I will let you lead the Prime Minister!"
After eating for a while, Gao Zhan suddenly said: "I have one more thing to ask you."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"Do I have a concubine named Sima?"
"Ah, it seems that there is no Your Majesty, why would you ask such a question?"
Gao Zhan said oh and glanced at the beauty dancing beside him, "That's okay."
"Go and call Xu Zhicai over. It's time for me to take medicine."
Zu Jue was wearing luxurious clothes and stood at the door. The servants behind him were busy getting ready.
Some people were cleaning the ground, some were sprinkling water, and some were carrying prostitutes to the house in horse-drawn carriages.
Zu Jue looked around, his face turned red from the cold. From time to time, he breathed into his hands and slapped his face hard, making his face even redder.
After a long time like this, the sound of chanting Buddhist sutras suddenly came from the distance.
As soon as the chanting came out, every house along the road quickly closed its doors and did not dare to go out.
He saw a large group of monks, chanting sutras, walking towards here on foot. Zu Jue hurriedly walked forward with a smile.
He walked through the monks, came to the carriage, and bowed to the carriage.
"Zu Jue meets Gao Shizhong!!"
The carriage suddenly stopped, and a man with a fat head and big ears, wearing a cassock, stepped out of the carriage and walked quickly in front of Zu Jue. This man had a similar appearance to Zu Jue. He was quite well-behaved and had little beard on his face.
He sounds very gentle and has the generosity of a person who respects the Buddha.
He hurriedly helped Zu Jue up, "Why are you so unfamiliar with me, Zu Jun? We used to get together to talk about world affairs, study Buddhist scriptures, and discuss Yin and Yang. Why are we doing such a great ceremony now?"
Zu Jue stood up and said with a wry smile: "I am now dismissed from my position, but you are serving as a servant, accompanying your majesty. How can I dare to treat you like before?"
Gao Shizhong laughed loudly, shook his head and said, "You and I have always been close, and it's not about state affairs now. You can just be like you used to be."
Zu Jue then helped the other person walk toward him, and the monks followed them into the lobby.
Servants have already prepared fine wine and delicacies.
Zu Jue asked the other party to take a seat, and she sat next to him.
This servant is called Gao Yuanhai.
He is the grandson of Emperor Shenwu.
This man was obsessed with Buddhist scriptures and was a very pure person who worshiped the Buddha. When he was in Yecheng, he fully supported Gao Zhan, so now he became a servant and followed the emperor.
Zu Jue ordered his servants to bring more delicacies, and then invited the prostitutes. Gao Yuanhai was overjoyed and let the two women sit on his lap, eating wine and chatting with them.
Another musician came to play music, and the atmosphere became better and better.
At this moment, Gao Yuanhai's expression changed, he frowned and looked at Zu Jue.
"Master Zu, you are becoming more and more respectful to me in words, but your actions are becoming more and more rude."
Zu Jue was shocked and said, "Servant, I wonder why I neglected you?"
Gao Yuanhai asked displeasedly: "Those famous musicians in Ye City, every time I came here in the past, you would call them over to serve you. Why can't you see any of them today? How come I, who plays instruments and sings, can't see any of them?"
I don’t know anyone!”
Zu Jue hurriedly apologized and called his servants. The two said something loudly. After a long time, Zu Jue came back and sat next to Gao Yuanhai.
His face was complicated, his head was lowered, and his pitiful appearance was really heartbreaking.
"Gao Gong, this is all my fault. Next time, next time I will definitely invite them all over."
"Zunjun, you have always been the most playful, and nothing like this has ever happened in the past. What is going on now? Can't you bring people here now?"
Hearing Gao Yuanhai's question, Zu Jue smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Gao, I sent people to invite them very early and made preparations for the banquet."
"Unexpectedly, there was a nobleman in the court who held banquets for several days in a row. They were not allowed to go out and kept them all with him. My people couldn't even get in."
Gao Yuanhai was furious, "Who is it?"
The anger on his face disappeared and he asked in a low voice: "Isn't it in the palace?"
"no."
"Pengcheng Palace?"
"no."
Gao Yuanhai's anger returned to his face again, and he immediately raised his head, "Which thief dares to be so rampant?! Shouldn't he have a banquet and enjoy himself?!"
Zu Jue looked around and whispered: "It's the great king."
"Your Majesty? There are many kings in Yecheng, who dares to call you the Great King?"
Zu Jue said again: "Gao Renying. Gao Renying, King of Ping Qin."
Gao Yuanhai suddenly realized, "Oh, Gao Guiyan."
He sneered and said: "This guy has always been capricious and indulged in drinking and reveling. Your Majesty was originally going to let me take the post of secretary, but this guy actually instigated me by your majesty's side, saying that my talent and virtue were not worthy. In the end, I only got the position of servant!"
"
Zu Jue quickly took his hand and said, "Mr. Gao, don't dare to say too much!"
"The king's reputation is now at its peak, and he has countless relatives and friends in both the government and the public. He holds banquets in the palace every day to entertain his ministers and generals. No one refuses to obey, and no one refuses to obey. I also heard that he promised to his left and right that anyone who is close to him will be
You can all be promoted in the future.”
"He! He thinks Daqi belongs to his family!?!"
Gao Yuanhai stood up suddenly, with a ferocious expression on his face.
The banquet suddenly became silent. Everyone looked at him in fear. Gao Yuanhai really had no intention of having fun. He pinched the beauties a few times and walked out quickly. Zu Jue hurriedly followed him.
Behind him, he was in a state of embarrassment, "Gao Gong, please don't be angry. It's my fault. I didn't prepare properly. Please don't let me."
Gao Yuanhai ignored him and walked all the way to the door, then looked at him and said, "It's okay, it's not your fault. It's because I'm not interested. I'll come to your house for a banquet in the future."
After saying that, he simply got in the car and left the place.
Zu Jue looked anxiously at the carriage going away, then looked to his left and right, and the servant nodded.
Gao Yuanhai sat in the car, feeling sick in his heart. He hated being interrupted while having fun.
I haven't had time to study the Dharma today, but I can obviously do many things. I'm so stupid.
The carriage just turned around from the intersection.
"There is a king in the west, he is benevolent and heroic, he raises the banner, and he is on the right track~~"
"There is a king in the west~~"
The sound of nursery rhymes came from not far away, and a group of children were having fun.
The next moment, Gao Yuanhai gave an abrupt order.
“Royal Palace!!”
"Go to the palace!!"
The carriage immediately changed direction and left here at an extremely fast speed.
When the group of people disappeared on the road, Zu Jue slowly poked his head out of the alley not far away. He stared at the group of people going away and grinned.
"Let's go, the small gift is ready, let's go find Mr. Zheng and ask him for a name card! Take the big gift and leave!!"
"Your Majesty, King Ping Qin is too powerful! Most of the people in the government and the public are his cronies!"
"Relying on your trust, he won over ministers from all over the world, held banquets every day, and countless important ministers came in and out of his house!"
Gao Yuanhai knelt in front of Gao Zhan and spoke loudly.
Gao Zhan was sitting in the upper seat with disheveled clothes, and his interest was interrupted.
He asked displeasedly: "What on earth do you want to say?"
"Your Majesty, Gao Guiyan may be detrimental to you! Emperor Daxing succeeded as prime minister, and so did you. Now, if you want to make him prime minister, won't this cause trouble?"
"There is a nursery rhyme in the city that says: There is a king in the west, he is benevolent and heroic, he is holding up a big flag, and he is marching towards the throne!"
"This is clearly a sign that Gao Guiyan will rebel!"
Gao Zhan was stunned and said, "No, the nursery rhyme says that there is good in the north."
"Where did your Majesty know the nursery rhymes? I heard them with my own ears. I am afraid that the nursery rhymes that your Majesty heard were also modified by some people!"
"Gao Guiyan's fiefdom is in the west, and his nickname is Renying, which fulfills this nursery rhyme!"
"Besides, after I heard the nursery rhyme, I conducted a divination and found that the rebel was not at the frontier, but on the side of the Emperor Star! Maybe it was Gao Guiyan, so we must be on guard!"
Gao Zhan was a little shocked. He walked back and forth a few steps, "Have you really done divination?"
Gao Yuanhai held his head high, "You can't be wrong!"
Gao Zhan frowned and pondered for a moment, "Here comes someone, go and call Zheng Daoqian over!!"
Gao Yuanhai was stunned and blinked, "Your Majesty, this matter cannot be divined twice."
"No problem! Let's listen to what he said!"
"You go out and rest first."
Gao Zhan sent someone to take Gao Yuanhai to rest. Standing in the other hall, Gao Yuanhai was quite uneasy. He came in a hurry, and the divination was just an excuse for him.
If the result of Zheng Daoqian's divination is different from his own, will it lead to alienation between the emperor and his ministers?
What to do now?
Just when Gao Yuanhai was anxious, the soldier brought him to Gao Zhan again.
"You were right!!"
“Zheng Doqian’s divination is the same as yours!!”
Chapter completed!