Gao Hongtu raised his head, and with a pair of eyes like lizards, he looked straight at the angry young emperor in front of him.

"Your Majesty, Weichen dared to ask, the emperor thinks, is this Tang King Li Xiao a loyal minister or a traitor?" Gao Hongtu said this slowly.

This seemingly insipid sentence was like a heavy bomb, which exploded in the heart of Emperor Zhu Cihong, making him tremble all over his body.

Zhu Cihong replied: "You, what do you mean by this? This Tang King Li Xiao, for my worries, went around to fight against rebellion and disobedience, let me be peaceful in the Ming Dynasty, and the people live in peace, how can such a pillar of the country not be a great loyal minister? ! ”

After Zhu Cihong said this, Gao Hongtu had a wry smile on his face, he shook his head, and replied in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, forgive the minister, you think that this Li Xiao is the humerus of the country and the pillar of the Ming Dynasty, but he thinks that the great traitor is like loyalty, and the great evil is like good, this person looks like a loyal minister on the surface, but in secret, he is a traitor comparable to Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao!" If Your Majesty allows it, please let Wei Chen explain in detail. ”

"Good! You said! Zhu Cihong's face flashed with a hideous color, he gritted his teeth and said: "You have to tell me well, if the words are ridiculous and purely slanderous, then don't blame me for being ruthless!" ”

When Gao Hongtu heard this, he bowed again, and said: "Your Majesty, it was said in "Han Feizi" that no matter how worn out the hat is, it must be worn on the head, and no matter how beautiful the shoes are, it must be worn under the feet. This order of dignity and inferiority, the difference between monarchs and ministers, is the foundation of the establishment of ancient and modern countries, and it is also the guarantee of the unification of the Ming Dynasty. Since the Chongzhen years, the country has sown chaos, swords and soldiers have risen in all directions, there are rogues and poisons in all directions, and there are Tartars who invade the border outside. It is precisely because the country is so turbulent that the monarchy quietly falls, and the traitorous ministers sit proudly, and finally Mu Monkey and crown, the mausoleum is the monarch, good at prestige, and controls people's hearts. ”

Seeing that Zhu Cihong's face changed again, without waiting for the emperor to speak, Gao Hongtu hurriedly continued: "Your Majesty, if you know people and things, you should not only see the surface, but not the inside." This Li Xiao, since Emperor Mengxian has been promoted all the way, starting from a nobody, all the way to the king of the Ming Dynasty with a different surname, such an honor, it can be described as unparalleled in the world, and the world is beyond the reach. Even if it is the founding of the Ming Dynasty since the founding of the country, there are few people who have this glory. However, Li Xiao was favored by the Holy Grace, but he did not want to repay the service at all, but sold the name of righteousness, secretly formed a family of tigers and wolves, clearly contributed to the country, and secretly formed a party for personal gain, and actively cultivated his personal power. Over the past few years, the Ming Dynasty has been declining, the fortunes have declined, and all kinds of turmoil inside and outside the country have intensified, but Li Xiao has been promoted to become rich, and his subordinates have developed and grown like a snowball. ”

Gao Hongtu paused, and said: "What's even more hateful is that he has such a large force and army, but he doesn't want to actively exterminate the rogues for the country and resist the Manchus, but instead conspires with himself, but goes all out to open up overseas land, and grabs countless money and land for himself." He has made a lot of money, but what is the benefit to the country and the emperor? What's even more ridiculous is that because in the twelfth year of Chongzhen, because the first emperor had a slight disagreement with him, this guy immediately showed his face, rebelled against the imperial court, fought against the imperial court, and attacked the city and plundered the land in my Ming Dynasty, which was extremely rampant. Li Xiao's house, after making a fuss out of control, the first emperor canceled the requisition against him out of consideration for maintaining the overall situation, and restored his official title. Your Majesty, you say, which of these evil deeds is the duty of a courtier, and which one is the appearance of a loyal minister? ”

Zhu Cihong's face was ugly, faintly pale, he opened his mouth, but he couldn't say anything.

Seeing that the emperor had been moved by his own words, Gao Hongtu immediately struck while the iron was hot and continued: "Although, when Li Xiao was besieged by the heavy troops of the Liukou in the capital, he pretended to personally lead reinforcements to break through the siege and enter the city to rescue the first emperor. It's just that his actions seem to be heroic, but they are actually famous, and they have ill intentions. Your Majesty, think about it, if it weren't for Li Xiao leading his troops into the capital and angering the rogues, how would the first emperor easily die under the thieves' knives. And although he finally ensured that the emperor and King Yong and others escaped smoothly, it was by no means a loyal act of loyalty, but out of his personal ambition. His actions like this, to put it bluntly, are nothing more than imitating Cao Cao back then, and snatching Emperor Han Xian from the hands of that Li urged Guo Yan! “

"Nonsense! You, how could you say such a thing......" Zhu Cihong's face became more and more pale.

Gao Hongtu sneered and continued: "Therefore, after he brought the emperor to Shandong, he couldn't wait to establish the emperor as the emperor. He made the emperor the emperor, but the emperor had no name and no power, and he had no name. All the big and small things in the country are all cut by Li Xiao, the king of Tang, how can you ask about the slightest affairs, the emperor. Subsequently, this person even shamelessly forced the emperor to appoint him as the generalissimo of the world's soldiers and horses, so as to actually control the military power of the world. He mobilized troops and horses, went around to conquer, employ people to govern the country, and did he ever ask His Majesty for any instructions? The minister said it ugly, even if this guy is just on the surface, he doesn't have the slightest respect for the emperor. Hmph, which of this person's actions and actions is not a model for treacherous ministers, and which one is not more presumptuous and domineering than Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao? ! “

When Gao Hongtu said this, he deliberately accentuated his tone and ended his words with an extremely sharp final tone. Then, he looked coldly, carefully watching the emperor's expression.

When Emperor Chongxing heard this, he was already in a state of despair. His face was pale, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he took a mechanical step, slowly came to the dragon chair, and sat back into the chair with a thud, like a beast crouched in a hole with a serious injury.

Seeing that the emperor had been confused by what he had said, Gao Hongtu continued to strike while the iron was hot: "Your Majesty, since you ascended the throne, although the southern lands are in charge of Hongguang Jianguo, the southern ministers, including Jianguo, are all devoted to Your Majesty and believe that Your Majesty is the only lord of the Ming Dynasty. It's just that because of the long distance and poor communication, he failed to return to His Majesty in time, which made His Majesty secretly suspicious, which is indeed the fault of the country. And the giant thief Li Xiao did not take the opportunity to communicate between the north and the south, and advised the prison country to respect the emperor in order to eliminate disputes and calm down the incident. Instead, he forced the emperor to give an order, sent troops, and immediately went south to attack. Its subordinate Tang army, the elite generals, and a sudden attack, so I Hongguang Jianguo could not resist, the soldiers and horses were defeated, so that Li Xiao quickly beat from Huaibei to Jiangnan, and finally had to carry the loyal ministers in the palace and move to Fuzhou, thinking that it was a temporary place. As soon as Li Xiao got the south of the Yangtze River, he became more and more rampant, the fierce flames, the soldiers and horses marched westward, and destroyed the Ningnan Hou Zuo Liangyu, and seized all his land, and the battle to this time, the essence of my Ming Dynasty has been in the hands of Li Xiao, the strength of his subordinates, the strength of the soldiers and horses, not only the subordinate officers and soldiers of the Hongguang Supervision State are difficult to match, but even the thieves of Dashun and Daxi are the Tatar Qing in the north, and they are all inferior. “

Zhu Ciliang looked at the eloquent and spitting Gao Hongtu in front of the steps with a very indifferent and gloomy look, and let him continue: "Your Majesty, forgive the minister for saying a word of punishment. Tang King Li Xiao occupied the entire essence of the Ming Dynasty, as well as all the palaces in the southern capital, and it was the duty of a courtier to welcome the emperor to the south and ascend the throne in the southern capital. But he was good, and on the grounds that the world was still chaotic and the emperor should not move lightly, let His Majesty continue to be a puppet emperor in name only in this corner of the Jinan Dewang Mansion. But he himself moved into the Nandu Imperial Palace without shame, as if the emperor was giving orders in it. Its obscenity is widespread, and all the ministers of the world dare not obey. It's a pity that the traitor is so disrespectful and rampant, and the righteous man and gentleman in the whole world can only be afraid of his head and tail, and his jaws are silent, how sad it is! “

When Gao Hongtu said this, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh, and said with a worried face: "It's a pity that Your Majesty, you are young and promising, just when Peng Fei is exalted, but he was held hostage by Li Xiao, a treacherous minister, and became a puppet under his control, and his actions and speech are not free, let alone the power of an emperor." In such a sad situation, what does it have to do with Your Majesty no matter how much territory Li Xiao conquers and destroys more forces? Wei Chen was even thinking that after Li Xiao swept away the heroes and completely eliminated the dissidents, this person would be like Cao Pi, completely tearing off the mask of hypocrisy and forcing His Majesty to practice Zen and concessions, and when it came to such a situation, how could His Majesty dare not obey! Even if Li Xiao's guy can't usurp the throne for the time being in order to sell his fame and reputation, how can his subordinates not force him to act out of consideration for their own future? When the time comes, with a yellow robe like Song Taizu, Li Xiao can only push and half-push, and Anke will not follow? And after Li Xiao really usurped the throne and became self-reliant, His Majesty Hugh said that he wanted to be a puppet but couldn't get it, that is, he wanted to save the life of the whole family, which was very difficult! In case one day Li Xiao doesn't like His Majesty, and a cup of poisonous wine is given, even if Your Majesty regrets it so much, what can you do? ! “

"Say no more!" Hearing this, Zhu Cihong finally lost his temper, and like a wounded wolf, he yelled at Gao Hongtu: "You say, after counting all the sins of Li Xiao, it is nothing more than to let me kill Li Xiao." It's just that you know that Li Xiao is an important minister of the country, and he has a lot of guards and horses, and it is extremely difficult for me to get rid of him even if I have the heart to get rid of him. And if this matter is revealed, my net worth and life will not be guaranteed. When you say that, don't you bake and boil on the fire?! “

Listening to Zhu Cihong's almost gaffe answer, Gao Hongtu was very proud.

He knew that he had completely moved this young emperor who was eager to hold power and ignorant of the world, so he pretended to be sympathetic and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to be so self-defeating. Everything is man-made, and Encore gave up before he did his best? There is a way to do one's best, obey the destiny of heaven, as long as Your Majesty is determined to forge ahead and act resolutely, this will have a lot to do in addition to the evil thing. Such a sinister situation is also painfully reversed. Your Majesty, although Weichen is blunt, he also has a subtle plan, which can help His Majesty get rid of Li Xiao, revitalize the dynasty, and return me to a bright future! “

Zhu Cihong silently stared at Gao Hongtu's old face full of anticipation, he raised his hand slightly, as if he wanted to say that he didn't want to continue, but in the end he let it go.

Finally, he said in a weak tone: "You, you say." “

A faint smile appeared on Gao Hongtu's face, he coughed lightly, and said: "Your Majesty, according to Weichen's opinion, the emperor can summon Li Xiao to the Hajj to show comfort after fighting abroad for a long time, and it is too hard. Li Xiao has been rampant for a long time, and it is when he is smug that there is no one in his eyes, how could he have thought that His Majesty, who has always been honest and has no name and power, would have the intention of killing him. He will gladly go to the order to show that he is a loyal servant. And when he returned to Jinan from the southern capital to meet him, His Majesty could choose the dead soldier as the knife and axe hand in the palace, hide behind the pepper board, and when Li Xiao arrived, he would kill it all and cut it into meat sauce together! As long as Li Xiao is removed, his subordinates and the Tang army will be leaderless and scattered, and there will be civil strife at that time, and there will be no threat to the imperial power. His Majesty, on the other hand, can deal with it calmly, either by beating or pulling, completely eliminating and cleaning up Li Xiaoyu's party, and absorbing and digesting all of Li Xiaoyu's remnants. At that time, Hongguang Jianguo will also go to its name, and lead all the ministers in the south to submit to His Majesty, then the emperor will be completed, and the dynasty will be revitalized to unify the United States, and my Ming Dynasty will be able to regain its glory again. “、

When Gao Hongtu said this, he let out a long breath and looked at Zhu Cihong who was sitting on the dragon chair expectantly.

Zhu Ciliang's face was expressionless, but his face became more and more gray, he sat on the dragon chair like a puppet, and did not speak for a long time.

The whole apse was as silent as a tomb.

Finally, Zhu Cihong smiled bitterly and said slowly: "Gao Hongtu, you said so much, haven't you ever thought about it, if this matter doesn't work out, then how will I deal with myself?" “

As if he had guessed that Zhu Cihong would ask this question, Gao Hongtu smiled faintly and immediately replied: "Your Majesty, a wise man will have a thousand thoughts, and there will be a mistake." This matter is extremely important, since there is a lot of danger, it is a last resort, how could Weichen not think about it, in case of failure, how can you put the emperor in danger, but by the furious Li Xiao, come to kill the monarch and stand on his own? “

Speaking of this, he lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will all be careful about this action, and we will always pay attention to Li Xiao's actions." If he finds out what we are doing, we will immediately take the emperor's escape from Jinan and go all the way to Jiaozhou, where they will board the merchant ships disguised as the subordinates of Zheng Zhilong, the Marquis of Zhennan, and then go all the way south from the port of Jiaozhou to Fuzhou. After arriving in Fuzhou, His Majesty told the world again, accusing Li Xiaozhi of all kinds of crimes, and ordering the whole world to discuss it. “

Gao Hongtu's eyes were bright, and his voice became louder and louder: "Li Xiao lost the emperor and was summoned by the emperor, and he no longer had any legitimacy, from the so-called Prince of Daming and the generalissimo of the world's soldiers and horses, to a traitorous national thief who was condemned by everyone in the world. When the time comes, his subordinates and soldiers will be in internal strife. Taking advantage of this opportunity, our Ming official army will raise troops to conquer again, and the traitor Li Xiao and his Tang army will fall apart and collapse without a fight. “

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