After Gao Hongtu's words full of passion and expectation were finished, the entire apse was suddenly as silent as death.

Zhu Cihong hung his head, as if he had not yet recovered from Gao Hongtu's words, and his pale face was full of sluggishness.

And the eunuch Wang Chengen standing next to him was in a cold sweat, his expression was terrified, he stared at the emperor who was curled up on the dragon chair, and he couldn't say a word.

Only Gao Hongtu, who was still kneeling on the ground, still looked at Emperor Zhu Cihong eagerly. Now he is anxious, and his eyes are full of heat.

It's just that seeing that the emperor was speechless for a long time as if he was stunned, Gao Hongtu beat the drum in his heart, and then said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, this matter must not be delayed for a long time, please make a holy decision quickly and take action immediately." You know, things change over time, and change leads to chaos. ”

Zhu Cihong's lips trembled as if he had been stung by a bee, he slowly raised his head, stared straight at Gao Hongtu's anxious face, with a confused and sluggish expression, but still didn't say a word.

Seeing Zhu Cihong hesitating like this, Gao Hongtu's heart became more and more impatient, and he was about to speak, but he saw Zhu Cihong on the dragon chair sitting up and waved his hand weakly: "Gao Hongtu, you can step down." What you say, I, I still have to think about it. ”

Hearing this, Gao Hongtu's heart seemed to be poured with a scoop of cold water, and it was half cold in an instant.

"Your Majesty, if you keep interrupting, you will suffer from the chaos, this ......"

"Needless to say, stand down. As I have said, I still need to think about it. Zhu Cihong turned his face away, his face full of irritability.

Seeing that the emperor was reluctant to make up his mind, Gao Hongtu was very helpless, and finally had to whisper, arched his hand to Emperor Zhu Cihong, and then withdrew from the palace on his own and returned to the pavilion to rest temporarily.

In the huge apse, only Zhu Cihong and Wang Chengen were left, full of suffocating silence, so oppressive that it was difficult to breathe.

The master and servant, one standing and one sitting, were silent, as if they were not two living creatures, but like two lifeless puppets.

The candlelight swayed, and the lights and shadows were hazy, setting off the expressions of the two of them very weird and distorted.

In the end, it was Zhu Ciliang who slowly opened his mouth and asked Wang Chengen: "Chengen, according to your opinion, is it feasible to have a lofty plan?" ”

The muscles on Wang Chengen's face trembled violently, and then, with a plop, he knelt on the ground, his gray hair buried deep on the steps.

"Your Majesty! Forgive the old slave for bluntly saying that Gao Hong's plan is to harbor evil intentions, and his intention should be punished! Do not listen to his words and kill yourself! When Wang Chengen said this, his voice trembled, and the end note brought the meaning of crying.

Zhu Cihong was expressionless, looking down at Wang Chengen who was kneeling on the ground, and was speechless for a long time.

In the end, he smiled bitterly and said: "Chengen, don't you think that Gao Hongtu's words seem to be very arrogant and unreasonable, and there is a suspicion of provoking the relationship between my monarch and minister." But in fact, is it true? These words, since they came out of their mouths, how could I pretend that I hadn't heard them at all. ”

"The Emperor's ......"

Zhu Cihong sighed softly, got up slowly, and paced lightly in front of the imperial table for a few steps before slowly standing and said softly: "Gao Hongtu, although the idea he gave me is selfish and exaggerated, but in my opinion, his description of Li Xiao, the king of Tang, is indeed appropriate. ”

Without waiting for Wang Chengen to reply, Zhu Cihong looked out the window, his eyes were empty and confused, and he said to himself: "Tang King Li Xiao, the heavenly posture is heroic, can be literary and martial, is a strange material in the world, if he is really willing to serve my Ming Dynasty loyally, it will be the pillar of my Ming country, the pillar of the imperial court, but it is a pity ......"

When he said this, he suddenly stopped.

He stretched out his right hand, slowly touched it into his arms, and from the pocket of his underwear, he found a golden lion that was a little worn out but still shiny.

He stared at the delicate and delicate golden lion, but his eyes were full of complexity and confusion, as if the whole person had suddenly returned to the memories of the past.

Zhu Cihong clearly remembered that this little golden lion was a gift to himself when Li Xiao first went to the capital to meet Emperor Chongzhen in the ninth year of Chongzhen. At that time, her sister Zhu Yujiao Li Xiao gave a jade Ruyi, and herself, who was only nine years old, received this exquisite little golden lion.

Time flies so fast, everything that day has long been a matter of fact. The ignorant child also grew into a handsome young man in a series of setbacks and changes. It's just that time has changed, and this little golden lion has been hiding beside him.

For a while, Zhu Cihong only felt that all kinds of indescribable tastes came to his heart at once.

This Tang King Li Xiao was once the biggest hero in his heart, he was so handsome and handsome, so charming, as if in front of him, there was no difficulty to defeat him. Therefore, I have been keeping this gift from him, as if I had carefully preserved a worship of idols.

Although Li Xiao was so embarrassed by Gao Hongtu, to tell the truth, it was precisely because of his desperate attack on the capital that day that he had to rescue himself and his younger brother, as well as his sister Princess Zhaoyang, who was secretly hidden by the eunuch into the people and was secretly rescued by his subordinate security personnel. If he hadn't saved him so desperately, if he was just like other military towns, he couldn't hear the order and didn't move, then he and his younger brothers and sisters might have already become ghosts under the knife, and An would have today.

It's just that Li Xiao's later behavior is indeed a big disappointment.

Although he set himself up as the emperor, he acted domineeringly, and he had no respect for him, and all the military and political affairs of the DPRK and China were all under his rule, and he was the emperor who was completely a puppet in name only. In this small palace of King De, he spends his days doing nothing, and there is no freedom of speech and action. Although now because Li Xiao went south and went to Nanjing, his monitoring has been relaxed a lot, but as the Son of Heaven, even if he wants to go to Jinan City to play at will, such a status quo is indeed depressing when he thinks about it.

And Li Xiao killed all the way, and after conquering Nanjing, he was indeed as Gao Hongtu said, and he was even more good at Weifu and rampant. As the Prince of the Ming Dynasty, he moved to live in the palace of the Southern Capital, giving orders in it, without any scruples, as if he was the real emperor of the Ming Empire.

And Li Xiao, as a subordinate, is so domineering, and he doesn't take himself as the so-called Emperor of Rejuvenation, so what's the difference between him and those other military leaders? He conquered all directions, expanded his territory, and what is the significance of his rubber stamp?

The most important thing in the order of the empire is the difference between the upper and lower levels and the inferior, if even this most basic point can be put before the horse, then the so-called great tomorrow of oneself is completely a joke-like existence.

It's tolerable, it's unbearable.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cihong's eyes instantly dimmed, and a trace of hideousness flashed on his face.

Hmph, no matter how many selfish desires are mixed with those lofty words, but in order to regain the power that should belong to him, in order to truly become the ruler of the Ming Emperor, it is necessary to try his best to regain the supreme power back in his own hands.

He quickly put the little golden lion back into his arms, then turned around with hatred, looked directly at Wang Chengen, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said in a loud voice: "Chengen, I think about it, that Tang King Li Xiao, although he has great merit to my Ming Dynasty, but his domineering actions are rampant and arrogant, and I will never tolerate it, so I really plan to do it......"

"Your Majesty!" Wang Chengen let out a terrible shout, and he raised his head tremblingly: "Forgive the old slave for being blunt, what kind of dragon and phoenix among the people Li Xiao, what a hero and hero, his subordinates are like gone, the people are like rain, and what a strong force and solid foundation." Even if he has all kinds of mistakes, if you want to get rid of him, isn't it like an ant shaking a tree, isn't it like a praying arm blocking a car? What's more, the emperor, you are the emperor, and you have no personal power at all, how can you make such a major and difficult decision-making and planning? Forgive the old slave for saying another inappropriate word, Your Majesty, you are young and vigorous, and you are very easy to be instigated by others, how can you make a correct and reasonable decision in such a short period of time. ”

When Wang Chengen said this, his face was already full of tears, and he said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, please forgive the old slave for saying bluntly, with your strength, it is extremely difficult to kill Li Xiao, the king of Tang, and the possibility of success should be less than one in ten thousand!" Moreover, in case of failure, how can you easily escape from Jinan City to Jiaozhou Port as Gao Hongtu said, are you really Li Xiao's soldiers and horses along the way and the personnel of the Security Division under him all eat dry food and don't care about anything? What the old slave is even more afraid of is that if this matter does not work out and the emperor cannot escape, then Li Xiao, the king of Tang, will definitely refuse to give up and will most likely kill the king. The old slave has followed the first emperor for many years, and he really can't bear to see the only bit of blood and blood left by the first emperor in this cruel struggle for power. Your Majesty, what the old slave said was from the bottom of his heart, and there was no half-heartedness! I hope Your Majesty will not be impulsive, so that you will regret it! ”

After Wang Chengen finished speaking, he kowtowed down again and again, and his forehead smashed the marble steps with a thumping sound, which made people's hearts palpitate.

Seeing that Wang Chengen's forehead was rapidly swollen and red blood was constantly flowing out, Zhu Cihong tightened the corners of his mouth, the muscles on his face kept trembling, and there were even a little tears in his eyes that kept flashing.

He knew that Wang Chengen flattered their father and son for two generations, and followed him to escape from the capital, and he was loyal to him, and he had no objection at all. His words, of course, are all heartfelt, and there will be no hypocrisy in them.

It's just that he can really listen to the words of this old royal minion?

Zhu Cihong was stunned for a long time, and finally shook his head slowly.

No.

The power and majesty of the royal family will never allow anyone to look down on or trample on it, even Li Xiao, who once desperately saved himself.

Gao Hongtu is right, no matter how worn out the hat is, it must be worn on the head, and no matter how gorgeous the shoes are, it must be worn under the feet.

Besides, Li Xiao is now so domineering and reckless, when he really sweeps away the heroes and dominates the world, his own puppet emperor may really be as Gao Hongtu said, which can be regarded as the end.

At that time, whether it is a white silk or a cup of poisonous wine for oneself, maybe it really can only depend on Li Xiao's personal intentions.

Taking a step back, even if Li Xiao had the intention to be a so-called loyal minister who sold his reputation and reputation, and had the intention to imitate King Wen of Zhou, he was still loyal to the Shang Dynasty, but his subordinates of the tiger and wolf would not let go of this rare opportunity to become developed in vain, and would they always be willing to live behind the people, without thinking of going further, to seek power and wealth that forced others.

Since ancient times, people's hearts have been the most difficult to be satisfied, and when they were all angry, they gave Li Xiao a yellow robe, which was simply logical, and it can also be said that it was destined to happen.

The situation is stronger than people, and the current situation has changed, and we can no longer be soft-hearted.

If you still want to do something, and you still want to regain the supreme power of the Ming Empire, and you still want to not be given to death by Li Xiao with a cup of poisonous wine at that time, and not be forced to the palace by Li Xiao, then you can really only do what Gao Hongtu said, and attack Li Xiao first.

The first strike is strong, and the second attack suffers, although the risk is great, the profit is greater, since ancient times, the political struggle is extremely cruel, and it is simply a fool's dream to sit back and enjoy its success and even win without shedding a drop of blood.

In front of the imperial power and Jiangshan Sheji, he could only attack the most trusted benefactor in the end.

Li Xiao, I'm sorry, until now, I can only stop thinking about the old feelings, and I'm going to kill you......

Zhu Cihong was bitter in his heart, he sighed, and two lines of tears rolled down.

He slowly stepped forward and helped Wang Chengen, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet.

Then, he took out an embroidered dragon handkerchief and gently wiped the blood on Wang Chengen's forehead.

Wang Chengen burst into tears and couldn't cry: "Your Majesty, what Weichen said, I still hope that Your Majesty will ......"

"Cheng'en, there is no need to say any more." Zhu Cihong interrupted him in a low but firm voice: "I have thought about it, I have made up my mind, and tomorrow I will call Gao Hongtu to come to the palace again to discuss in detail how to get rid of Li Xiao." ”

When he said this, he looked coldly at Wang Chengen's stunned face, and asked with a wry smile: "My words can only be told to you Chengen." I was thinking, Cheng'en, should you turn around and report to Li Xiao, take my head, and ask him for merit and reward, right? ”

When Wang Chengen heard this, two lines of turbid tears rolled down again.

He pounced, knelt on the ground, and said loudly: "Your Majesty! The old slave has followed the emperor and the emperor for many years, and his mind is stronger than iron and stone, and he has the heart to betray the king and seek himself! The old slave said a heart-to-heart word, even if His Majesty did not listen to the old slave and was determined to deal with Tang King Li Xiao, the old slave would only adopt an attitude of ignoring and would never confide in Tang King Li Xiao. Whether this matter is successful or not, the old slave will treat it as if he has never heard of it, and will never interfere with it. If this oath is violated, heaven and earth will punish it! ”

When Wang Chengen said this, Zhu Cihong only felt that the softest and most delicate place in his heart was hit fiercely, and all kinds of sour and painful parts of it destroyed his viscera.

A miserable smile appeared on his face, and he helped Wang Chengen up again. It's just that when he looked at the eunuch's wrinkled face and sparse gray hair, his heart was so sour that he couldn't hold back his crying anymore.

For a while, in this huge apse, the emperor and his cronies and eunuchs wept opposite each other, mourning and mourning, and the scene was not bleak.

。 Wonderful Book House