In Bianliang City, in the back house of Lu Zhongtian's mansion, Lu Zhongtian listened to Liu Zhenbang's report with a gloomy expression, and did not speak for a long time.

Liu Zhenbang didn't dare to say much, only stood with his hands down. The room was quiet and terrifying, and Lu Zhongtian's aging trachea made a heavy snoring sound, sounding like a dying person was trying to breathe, as if every breath was as difficult as his last.

"Liu Zhenbang, according to your observation, will Guo Kun and Lin Jue agree to the old man's conditions? Although they said that they would not be able to reply until three days, I think that the attitude of Lin Jue and Guo Kun is the key, in fact, they don't need to ask their subordinates for advice. I suspect it's a pretext. Lu Zhongtian said slowly.

Liu Zhenbang coughed, bowed down and said, "Lu Xiang, the lower official has a feeling. There seems to be a rift between Guo Kun and Lin Jue. Lin Jue was very strong, but Guo Kun, as the emperor, seemed to be submissive, as if he was acting on Lin Jue's face. ”

Lu Zhongtian stroked his beard and sneered: "Sure enough, it's not surprising. That Guo Kun relied on Lin Jue's assistance to get to where he is today, and he has nothing but his royal identity. The Luoyan Army is Lin Jue's soldiers and horses, of course he has to look at Lin Jue's face to act. Hehe, Lin Jue, Lin Jue, what are you thinking in your heart, don't think that the old man doesn't know. You are not ambitious yet, and Guo Kun will not be a puppet in your applause in the future. The road that the old man has walked, you have to walk too. What qualifications do you have to slander the old man? Zhenbang, go on. Are the two of them not in agreement on this matter? ”

Liu Zhenbang nodded and said: "The lower official felt it, although Guo Kun was furious and scolded, but in fact, he wanted to agree in his heart." The reason why he was angry was precisely because Lu Xiang's condition hit the weakness in his heart, which was why he was so angry. But then Lin Jue was calm and terrifying. Guo Kun said well, but Lin Jue was very difficult to entangle. I'm worried that things will be in Lin Jue's hands. ”

Lu Zhongtian sighed softly and said, "Yes, this is exactly what the old man is worried about. According to what you said, Lin Jue was obviously completely dominant over Guo Kun, and Guo Kun could only listen to Lin Jue's opinion. However, Lin Jue may not be able to let go of his hatred for the old man so easily. The so-called reply after three days is obviously just a delaying tactic. Although the old man was unwilling, I am afraid that he had to admit that the old man's plan was miscalculated. This battle may be difficult to avoid. ”

Liu Zhenbang said softly: "This is also the judgment of the lower officials. Xia Guan felt that Lu Xiang had already made plans and should not have too much hope in this matter. ”

Lu Zhongtian sneered: "Hope? The old man didn't have much hope, the feud between the old man and Lin Jue was too big, and the old man had long known that he would not let the old man go. I'm just doing this with the idea that there is one in ten thousand, what if Guo Kun has some prestige in the Luoyan army, what if they will be afraid of the city and the people of the capital and agree to the old man's conditions? But now, it seems, none of this happened. However, this is not unexpected by the old man, although the old man is disappointed, he is not so disappointed. ”

Liu Zhenbang comforted in a deep voice: "Lu Xiang doesn't have to be completely disappointed, after all, the other party didn't say anything to death." In three days, it is unknown whether there will be a turning point. Although Lin Jue is strong, Guo Kun is the emperor after all, and he will not openly oppose Guo Kun. If Guo

Kun insisted on agreeing to Lu Xiang's plan, and I am afraid that things may still go in the direction that Lu Xiang wants. ”

Lu Zhongtian shook his head and said, "Zhenbang, you are wrong. He said yes, and he said yes today, so why wait three days? What is the difference between three days later and three days ago? Lin Jue is saving face for Guo Kun, and it is also a delaying tactic for us. He was determined to take the city. The old man can't hold any illusions, and now what the old man has to do is to abandon all distractions and prepare to fight a bad battle with them. ”

Liu Zhenbang nodded yes, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked the question in his heart.

"Lu Xiang, the lower officials have the courage to ask, if Bianliang is not guaranteed, does Lu Xiang really want to destroy the city? Do you really want to kill the people of the city? ”

Lu Zhongtian was stunned for a moment, then immediately raised his head and laughed loudly.

"Hahaha, Zhenbang, the old man thinks you are a smart person, but I didn't expect you to be so confused. Kill the people? What's in it for the old man? Once the old man does that, Bianliang City will be self-defeating, and the millions of people in the city will rise up to resist, do they still need them to attack? Why are you so confused? ”

Liu Zhenbang laughed dryly and hurriedly said: "Xia Guan expects that Lu Xiang will not do this, Xia Guan just wants to confirm this." ”

Lu Zhongtian said with a smile: "It is impossible to kill the people, not only can you not kill, but at this time, you must be doubly good to the people." However, if Bianliang can't hold on, the old man can't let Lin Jue and Guo Kun have a good time. Liu Zhenbang, think about it for the old man, how to win the hearts of the people in the city, so that they can help us get through this hurdle? ”

Liu Zhenbang thought for a while and said, "Xiaguan has an idea. Xiaguan heard what he said from Lin Jue's mouth, and in order to show that he didn't care about Lu Xiang's threat to kill the people in the city, he said, 'The people of Bianliang never rebelled from thieves, and they died innocently.' ’。 That's not an easy thing to say. Xia Guan thought that we could spread Lin Jue's words and tell the people that they were now regarded as traitors by the Luoyan Army to the Great Zhou, and when the Luoyan Army broke the city, they would be liquidated. In this way, the people will inevitably panic, and they will inevitably help us defend the city with all their might. Lu Xiang showed mercy again and distributed food and materials to alleviate the hunger and panic of the people, and the people would be even more desperate. I don't know what Lu Xiang thinks? ”

Lu Zhongtian nodded slowly and said, "Okay, this is a good idea." Zhenbang, you can do it immediately. If the people were really willing to defend the city, they might not be able to capture Bianliang. Even if they can't defend the city, we will leave them a hidden danger. The people must be wary of Lin Jue and Guo Kun, even if only a small half of these millions of people are disobedient, Bianliang City will be a mess, this can be regarded as a gift left to them by the old man. ”

Liu Zhenbang nodded again and again: "Yes, the city is broken, they have entered Bianliang, and they don't want to have a good life." Lu Xiang, the lower officials still have some words, I don't know whether to say them or not. ”

Lu Zhongtian said in a deep voice: "But if you say it, why shouldn't you talk about it?" ”

Liu Zhenbang suddenly fell to his knees with a pop and kowtowed to Lu Zhongtian. Lu Zhongtian frowned and said, "What is this for?" ”

Liu Zhenbang said in a deep voice: "There is something that the lower official has wanted to say for a long time, but he has never dared to speak. Now at this time, Xia Guan felt that he had to speak out

。 A few months ago, the emperor ordered the throne to be given to Lu Xiang, and everyone in the world heard and witnessed it. Out of loyalty to the king, Lu Xiang did not ascend the throne for a long time. In the eyes of the lower officials, this is a losing move. It was precisely because Lu Xiang had too many scruples and did not have a decree to ascend the throne that Guo Kunlinjue took advantage of the loophole and announced the succession to the throne of the Great Zhou Dynasty in advance. Although Guo Kun's name on the throne is not justified, but at this time, when the hearts of the people in the world are fluctuating, ignorant people naturally do not distinguish between truth and falsehood, and only follow the emperor, regardless of whether his throne is justified or not. This made Guo Kun the emperor that the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty thought of, but thought that Lu Xiang was a thief. Lu Xiang's concerns have instead caused undesirable consequences. Xia Guan believes that this is the time to set things right. Lü Xiang should immediately be enthroned as emperor. First, he showed his attitude, took a clear banner, and told the people of the world that Guo Kun's throne was not right, and Lu Xiang was the orthodox Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the first emperor Chan let the Great Zhou Emperor. Second, after you ascend the throne, issue an edict and summon people from all over the world to come to the rescue, and the local soldiers and horses who are willing to help us can come to the rescue in the name of justice. Third, the new emperor ascends the throne, the weather is new, and you can issue an edict that benefits the people, which will be inspiring. The lower officials want to think about it for you, you can give amnesty to the world, you can issue an edict to exempt the people of the world from paying taxes on money and food, and you can also give local officials more officials to win their hearts. In this way, in parallel with the previous disclosure to the people that Lin Jue slandered the people of the capital, a combination of several measures will make the situation more favorable. At least it can boost the morale of the officials and soldiers and civilians in the city, right? In terms of the feelings of the official, now that an emperor is outside the city, the lower official is followed by Lu Xiang, which gives me the feeling that I, the deputy minister, also seem to be unjustifiable. Pushing others by themselves, I feel that other generals and adults must think the same thing in their hearts, after all, it is Lu Xiang who follows and not the emperor. I don't know whose official it is. But as soon as Lu Xiang ascended the throne, everything would be justified. It's also more purposeful and energetic to do things. Please also ask Lu Xiang to think about this matter twice, if you feel that what the lower officials say is true, you need to ascend the throne immediately. ”

Lu Zhongtian stood there in a daze, staring at Liu Zhenbang in front of him. He didn't expect Liu Zhenbang to actually say this, which surprised him greatly. But Liu Zhenbang's words really aroused the desire in Lu Zhongtian's heart, which had been suppressed in the bottom of his heart in the past few months and did not dare to think about it anymore. The defeat in the past few months, the terrible situation, made his heart of the emperor have been pressed in the deepest part of his heart, because it is really out of place. He believes that the time to become emperor lies when the overall situation has been decided, not when the situation is bad. But Liu Zhenbang's words ignited the flame in his heart that was about to be extinguished.

It's not that he thinks that Liu Zhenbang's words complaining that he missed the opportunity are right, but at this moment, a thought surged in his heart: If he doesn't ascend the throne and become the emperor at this time, he may not have a chance in this life. Since it has reached this point, since the future is uncertain and bleak, why not simply ascend the throne, at least he has been an emperor himself, and he will not regret it in the end.

Lu Zhongtian's mentality is just like those generals and officials in the city who are seizing the time to indulge in lust at this moment, holding the doomsday mentality of dying if they are addicted, with the last crazy color. As for whether it can really have the effect of turning the situation around as Liu Zhenbang said, Lu Zhongtian does not think so.