Wuchuan.
Official office.
Liu Taozi sat in the upper position and watched the minions chatting fiercely.
"How to take action! The food for the army is provided by Jinyang. If we take action, they will directly run out of food. Can the soldiers still go to war hungry?"
"Then wait until Gao Zhan comes to power? Gao Zhan was captured by his brother. If he becomes emperor, he will still cut off our food and grass!"
"It's better to attack Jinyang before he comes up and the border defense is not properly prepared!!"
"Do you know how many elites there are in Jinyang? Attacking Jinyang? We still have a fake Zhou here!!"
"There is a sudden movement among the Zhou people. It is obvious that a big shot is coming. At this time, can we leave Wuchuan and go to Jinyang?"
They stood here, excitedly talking about some treasonous things, but it was very natural. They themselves did not seem to be aware of this, especially Cui Gang, a gentleman who came from a famous family and had learned the etiquette of patriotism and loyalty for many years.
, he was actually scolding Tian Zili at this moment because he opposed sending troops at this moment.
Tian Zili believed that he could not wait for the enemy to take over, so he followed the Peach Party's usual style and attacked Jinyang first!
But Cui Gang felt that it was easy to defeat the defense line, but it was almost impossible to take down Jinyang, and there were people from Zhou Dynasty watching eagerly.
Yao Xiong cleared his throat, "I think what Lao Tian said is very reasonable. When Gao Zhan comes to power, he will receive an edict asking his brother to go back. Should he go back or not? It's better for us to take action first."
Kou Liu and Zhang Heizu looked at each other and stood up to support.
But Poduoluogu said: "What Mr. Cui said is right. We currently have no more than 20,000 knights who can fight, and I don't know how many of them can follow my brother to attack Jinyang! How can we survive this? No way.
!No!"
Some generals also stood up and supported his side.
"Everyone sit down."
Liu Taozi spoke, and the angry people quickly calmed down and hurriedly took their seats.
The room instantly became extremely silent.
Everyone frowned, worried.
The emperor was ill and stayed in the palace and stopped going out. Gao Changgong didn't see him for a long time.
And the prince was extremely young.
In this case, Gao Zhan's probability of becoming the successor is greatly increased.
However, the enemies outside the fortress were making frequent moves, as if they were making preparations.
Attack from inside and outside!
The current frontier fortresses are not yet self-sufficient and rely heavily on temples. It also takes time to reclaim wasteland. Moreover, the population and material resources of the frontier fortresses are small to begin with.
"When I rode fifty horses to Jinyang, I was never so panicked."
"Now, because of a few words from a wizard, have you become so panicked?!"
Liu Taozi asked.
Everyone lowered their heads and did not dare to answer. Tian Zili and Cui Gang looked at each other but did not speak.
Only Yao Xiong raised his head at this moment, "Brother, I am also afraid of missing the opportunity. It is much easier to go from Yecheng to Jinyang than from Wuchuan to Jinyang. What should we do?"
"Do your own thing well."
"Gather the dead, grant land, distribute officials, train soldiers, and stabilize the place."
"only!!!"
Everyone said in unison.
Liu Taozi then let everyone leave, leaving only Chu Jiande.
Everyone left one by one. Yao Xiong originally wanted to stay, but Kou Liu directly pulled him away.
Chu Jiande looked at Liu Taozi and said, "Master, I think there is news."
"Have your fellow disciples arrived?"
Chu Jiande was stunned, "Some are coming, and there are many people on the way."
"After arranging them, these people will be handed over to you. Let them teach more people. People like them will be needed everywhere in the future."
"I know what to do"
"Do you know that Zheng Doqian?"
"I met him in Yecheng. Although he is young, he has a great reputation. He doesn't talk about divination or anything like that. He has a sharp eye, knows the overall situation, is very discerning, and is very eloquent."
"I think what he said is quite credible."
"This person didn't come all the way to Wuchuan to deceive the lord. He just came to the lord to show off some things, make some money, and become rich."
"Why would he come to me if he didn't go to Gao Zhan?"
Chu Jiande smiled and said: "He doesn't think highly of Gao Zhan. He thinks he has a false reputation and is strong on the outside but hard on the inside."
Liu Taozi didn't speak anymore, and Chu Jiande was silent for a moment before saying, "My lord, although Tian Zili is a little impatient, his worries are not unreasonable."
"Gao Zhan, I have never met him, but Zheng Daoqian told me that King Changguang captured sorcerers to perform divination for him, and after questioning, he would not let them go, but would wait for the results. If the results were not effective, he would kill the sorcerers directly.
, if it is effective, the warlock will not be rewarded much."
"It seems that Gao Zhan is by no means a kind person and is cruel and stingy. If this person were to rise to power, it would be detrimental to the Lord."
"Um."
Jinyang, Jinyang Palace.
Gao Yan's face was pale and he was lying on his side on the bed. Wang Xi and Xian'an were sitting on both sides, informing him of the situation.
"Your Majesty, the Puppet Zhou Dynasty sent Yang Zhong to the Guizhen Camp. A large army gathered, and it seemed that there was a big move."
Wang Xi said something, then stopped, a little unbearable, and secretly glanced at Gao Yan.
Gao Yan said: "It's okay, you can continue talking."
Wang Xi then added: "General Liu Taozi of Anxi wrote a letter saying that there are frequent mobilizations of Zhou soldiers in the border fortress, which seems to be the troops of Han Xiong, the puppet general of Zhou Dynasty."
Gao Yan suddenly sneered, "I know that Yu Wenhu is not a man who keeps his promises, but I never thought that he would be so eager."
"Do you want to use Yang Zhong and Han Xiong to attack Wuchuan?"
Wang Xi hurriedly said: "Don't worry, with Hu Luxian, Baoxian and the two going to Shuoheng to help General Anxi, they will not let the Zhou thieves succeed!"
He looked at Xian'an aside, and Xian'an also said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this is the memorial from King Pengcheng."
"Take a look"
Gao Yan's face was solemn, "I have already seen it. I am fine. Even if there are bad things, don't hide them. There is no need to show me good things like this again and again."
The two quickly bowed their heads and confessed.
Gao Yan slowly sat up and looked at the two people in front of him, "The matters between Yang Zhong and Han Xiong cannot be taken lightly."
"Yang Zhong is good at fighting, and most of his men are elites. Although Qi Haizhen is a fierce general, his experience is still too little compared to those people. Besides, the knights under his command are scattered in various garrison towns. Let's go to Hulvxian and Baoxian.
He mobilized his troops and asked them to assist Qi Shaizhen in garrisoning the border fortress. In addition, he sent people to tell them that if the thieves came, they did not need to wait for military orders from the temple and let them go out on their own. Well, they also sent an edict to Qi Shaozhen.
If there is a fight, let him obey Hu Luxian's orders."
"Hu Luxian has more experience. Facing Yang Zhong, even if he loses, he will not be defeated instantly."
Gao Yan had long been prepared to fight against the puppet Zhou. After Liu Taozi unveiled the mask of the border guards, he knew that the Zhou people were coming.
If Yang Zhong appears, it means that the others are already on their way.
The Zhou people and the Qi people fought each other and basically sent out multiple expeditions, so a big battle was inevitable.
Just when Gao Yan was discussing with Wang Xi, Xian'an, Gao Yang, Yang Min and others about the candidates for the generals in various places, a soldier suddenly came in and informed him of an important event.
The Queen Mother arrived in Jinyang.
Gao Yan was overjoyed and hurriedly went out to greet the Queen Mother, but Wang Xi and others firmly objected and asked the emperor to rest in the room while he went to greet the Queen Mother.
Empress Dowager Lou walked out of the carriage, leaning on a cane, looking around gloomily with a straight face.
Wang Xi smiled and saluted, "Queen Mother, Your Majesty is in the palace."
Empress Dowager Lou ignored her and walked quickly towards the main hall. Wang Xi and others followed her. Lou Zhaojun didn't look like an old man at all at this moment. She was walking so fast that Wang Xi and others felt that she was almost running.
.
The soldiers and slaves along the road knelt down and saluted.
Empress Dowager Lou just walked into the inner hall.
As soon as she entered the palace, Queen Mother Lou smelled a strange smell.
It was the smell of burning practices. Empress Dowager Lou paused for a moment. Gao Yan walked up to his mother with the support of several servants.
Gao Yan pushed aside and hurriedly stepped forward, bowed and knelt down towards the Queen Mother, with tears in his eyes, indescribable fatigue and sadness on his face, and his voice was trembling, "Mother."
Queen Mother Lou looked at her son who looked haggard and had a trembling voice. A trace of confusion flashed across her face, but then the confusion was replaced by anger.
"I'm asking you"
“Where is Yin’er??”
Gao Yan's face solidified.
"Mother.I."
"I ask you!! Where is my grandson?!"
"Where is Jinan King Gao Yin?!"
The Queen Mother asked three times in a row. Her face turned red and her whole body was trembling with anger.
Gao Yan froze on the spot, keeping his kneeling position and saying nothing.
Empress Dowager Lou immediately burst into tears. She cried and cursed: "You actually sent someone to strangle him to death!!"
"Isn't he your nephew?"
"Why are you willing to do this to him? He is only fifteen years old!!"
"My grandson, how scared he must be!!"
Empress Dowager Lou burst into tears. Gao Yan looked dull and motionless, saying, "I am not who I am."
"He has no ambition, just likes to study, and is timid. Why do you want to kill him? I thought you were kind and asked him to give up his position to you, but it was unthinkable that you are such a beast!!"
Queen Mother Lou hit the ground with her cane.
"How come you didn't die of illness?! You deserved to die!"
After she finished speaking, she ignored the son in front of her and turned around to leave. Wang Xi and others stood not far away, shivering and not daring to speak.
Gao Yan sat on his knees and watched his mother leave blankly. He wanted to say something, but nothing came out.
There was great silence in the palace.
The candlelight flickered gently.
Gao Yan suddenly became irritable again and said something to his left and right sides.
Wang Xi walked forward slowly and helped Gao Yan up.
Only then did Gao Yan wake up. He looked at Wang Xi and asked with some surprise: "Why should I kill the King of Jinan?"
Wang Xi's lips trembled for a moment, "Your Majesty, the King of Jinan died of illness."
"Your Majesty."
"I seem to have become like my elder brother."
"Get out of my way!!"
Gao Yan suddenly roared again, but it was obvious that he was not yelling at Wang Xi. He was scolding and then fighting with someone who could not see him. Wang Xi's eyes were filled with despair.
There were roars one after another in the palace.
Wang Xi and Shedi Xian'an stood outside, their faces heavy.
"The Queen Mother will definitely let King Changguang go when she returns this time."
Wang Xi spoke, "Your Majesty's condition is getting worse and worse. For some reason, none of the famous doctors near Qingdu can be found. Is it destiny?"
Xian'an was silent for a moment and then asked: "What should we do?"
"Keep looking for famous doctors"
"That's not what I asked."
"What do we do?"
Wang Xi trembled all over and his hands and feet felt cold.
"I have no idea."
Xian'an said seriously: "I am not disloyal to Your Majesty, but the situation in the world has just improved. King Changguang is frivolous, cruel, greedy, and surrounded by villains. He is by no means a wise king. If he ascends to the throne, he will definitely do harm.
The world will make your majesty’s great cause disappear.”
Wang Xi was a little angry, "Now is not the time to talk about this matter! Your Majesty is still young and strong!!"
"We won't discuss it, but King Changguang will."
"The prince is young. If we are not prepared, this will be the fate of people like Yang Min, Yan Zixian and others."
Wang Xi exhaled, "Then what do you think we should do?"
Xian'an narrowed his eyes.
"At the moment, the only ones who can deter the traitors and support the crown prince are two generals."
"Let these two generals, one inside and one outside."
Wang Xi looked at him in shock.
Yecheng.
Gao Zhan was sitting in the hall. He was back to his former appearance, disheveled and playing with a few of his confidants.
There were soldiers outside the palace staring at them with eager eyes.
These soldiers were all Lou Rui's soldiers, and Gao Zhan couldn't mobilize them at all.
Gao Zhan seemed to have looked away, not caring about his current situation at all, eating, drinking, and having fun.
At this moment, a female official came in and interrupted their game.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is back."
"Ah? Mother is back!"
Gao Zhan stood up happily and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He Shikai and others also stood up and hurriedly congratulated him.
When the Queen Mother left, Gao Zhan was most afraid. He was afraid that once his mother left, he would fall ill and die in the palace. He even doubted whether Gao Yan would forcibly detain the Queen Mother and let Lou Rui deal with it secretly in her name.
Own.
Fortunately, what Gao Zhan feared most did not happen.
He was about to ask where his mother was when he saw Queen Mother Lou walking in with the support of several people.
Queen Mother Lou suddenly burst into tears when she saw Gao Zhan.
Gao Zhan was shocked and rushed forward, "Mother! What happened? Why are you crying? Is His Majesty being rude to you?!"
"Yin'er, Yin'er was killed by him!"
Empress Dowager Lou cried and said: "I think he is a good person, but this beast will not even let his nephew go."
Gao Zhan immediately froze on the spot and asked in disbelief: "What did mother say? Who killed whom?"
Queen Mother Lou didn't speak, just cried.
Gao Zhan's face turned red and he said angrily: "Your Majesty, did you kill Ah Yin?"
"I"
He gritted his teeth and turned to leave. Empress Dowager Lou quickly caught him, buried her head in his arms, and began to cry.
Gao Zhan kept a straight face and said nothing.
"I didn't believe you at first and thought you were going to rebel. Now I see clearly that he is not a good person, Zhan'er."
"I"
Empress Dowager Lou was about to say something, when suddenly she was about to fall down.
Gao Zhan supported her in a panic and shouted. Both the female officer and Gao Zhan's cronies were in a mess at this moment.
Gao Zhan picked up his mother and rushed towards the bedroom.
Soon, an imperial doctor came to diagnose.
Gao Zhan always stayed by the Queen Mother's side.
After a while, the Queen Mother woke up. She was extremely sad and unwilling to say anything more. She just shook her head and cried silently.
"Mom, don't worry, I will definitely invite the best famous doctor."
"You don't want a doctor, you want a witch"
"I see."
Gao Zhan comforted his mother and then led many of his close followers to leave.
This time, no one stopped him, and he walked straight out of the palace without any obstruction.
However, many of his close friends around him did not dare to show any joy at all. They were worried and looked at the solemn Gao Zhan beside him, and did not dare to speak.
The Queen Mother has always been in good health. Unexpectedly, she was so angry when she went to Jinyang.
The group of them returned to their mansion smoothly.
After entering the mansion, Gao Zhan looked around solemnly without saying a word.
He Shikai walked to his side cautiously, "Your Majesty, don't worry, it's the Queen Mother's."
"Hahahaha~~~"
Gao Zhan suddenly laughed loudly.
He laughed so hard that he could hardly stand up straight, holding his stomach and laughing in an extremely exaggerated way.
Everyone was stunned and looked at him. Even He Shikai was stunned at this moment.
"Your Majesty actually killed the King of Jinan?"
"Your Majesty actually killed him!"
"Ha ha ha ha!!"
Gao Zhan laughed so hard that he almost shuddered, "He doesn't dare to kill me, so he takes advantage of the King of Jinan to vent his anger? What a fool!"
"This is God helping me! God's destiny is mine!"
"After he killed me like this, my mother also stood by my side, and the clan no longer dared to get close to him like in the past. The world belongs to me!!"
He Shikai also hurriedly laughed, "Yes! Yes! The destiny lies with the king!"
Several other close confidants also hurriedly laughed with him at this moment.
Gao Zhan wiped his laughing eyes, and then looked at everyone, "Since he made a mistake, he shouldn't miss such a good opportunity."
"Send someone to contact the clans in various places first, let them see what happened to Yang Min, and then see what happened to the King of Jinan, and make a decision."
"My two brothers are hopeless. Shikai, I asked you to contact those rebels earlier. Have you found them?"
"Let them be prepared. If they dare to disobey, then coax these rebels to kill them. It is best to arrange for one of our people to lead them all."
"And Liu Taozi!!"
At this moment, Gao Zhan's face became extremely fierce, his eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he was gritting his teeth.
Gao Zhan has never suffered such a big loss. If the emperor hadn't been stupid and killed the King of Jinan, he would have died in Yecheng. After all, his mother is old. Who knows how long she can live. When she dies,
The emperor will kill himself!
He Shikai stepped forward and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, I will lead the troops to capture his grandfather first and cut him into pieces with five horses."
Gao Zhan quickly calmed down again.
"No need."
"Send someone to send some money and a horse to his grandpa. In addition, I will repair a letter and send it to Liu Taozi. Tell him that I will forget about the past and everyone is their own master. I can do something for the little one."
Bai, I hope he will be Guan Zhong."
The warrior was shocked.
Gao Zhan looked at him and showed a strange smile, revealing his white teeth.
He Shikai suddenly understood and laughed.
"only!!!"
Chapter completed!