(I've been sick for the past two days, and the updates are few and not timely, I'm sorry!) ）

Lu Zhongtian suddenly said goodbye and left, which made Yuan Zhenqian quite embarrassed, he sensed Lu Zhongtian's unhappiness, although he really acted as a privy envoy, but the premise was that he could not offend Lu Zhongtian. So he hurriedly shouted: "Lu Xiang, the lower officials have no such intentions, Lu Xiang, please stay." ”

Lu Zhongtian laughed and said: "The old man is just not strong enough to drink, and besides, the enemy is currently the enemy, and it is not appropriate to drink too much, the old man will go back and sleep well, tomorrow may be another fierce battle." Lord Yuan, you also have to be temperate. Don't learn from some people, they will their tails when they get some cheapness, they think they have won the battle, and they think that the world is peaceful. As everyone knows, the more you think this is the case, the more dangerous it is. ”

Lu Zhongtian brushed his sleeves and left, and Chen Bin, Zhu Zhirong and others also said goodbye and left one after another. Most of the dozens of officials who participated in the banquet left in an uproar, and only a few of the seven or eight officials were left standing in the main hall at a loss, not knowing whether to leave or stay.

Guo Xu sneered in his heart, waved his hand and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, the prime minister is right, the enemy is not suitable for drinking at the moment, and today's banquet will stop here, you can all go." ”

A cadre of officials hurriedly bowed and saluted and retired. They didn't want to offend both Lu Xiang and the emperor's duplicitousness, and this was the most embarrassing time for them. It's best to get out of here as soon as possible, and not offend the emperor, who sent a message to let them leave, it would be like being pardoned.

Several officials rushed out, and Yuan Zhenqian also hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Weichen has also retired." ”

Guo Xu smiled and said, "Where is General Yuan going?" ”

Yuan Zhenqian said: "The minister's soldiers and horses are still stationed outside the West City, so the minister naturally wants to go back to the camp." Although we won today, we should not take it lightly. Early tomorrow morning, the minister will lead the army into the city and participate in the defense of the city. The emperor rested early, and there may be war tomorrow. ”

Guo Xu slowly walked back to the throne, slowly sat on the dragon chair, and pondered silently with his hands on his cheeks. Yuan Zhenqian didn't know what Guo Xu was thinking, and he didn't dare to leave, so he just stood quietly under the royal command.

"Close the door of the palace, and all irrelevant people and others will leave the Chongzheng Palace." Guo Xu suddenly sat up and commanded in a deep voice.

The chamberlains and guards hurriedly agreed, and rushed to close the temple door. The hoarse grinding sound echoed through the empty hall as the doors closed. With a clang, the heavy deadbolt fell, followed by the sound of the footsteps of the inner guards withdrawing from the Chongzheng Palace. Soon after, all the noise died down, and the hall fell into a dead silence. Guo Xu still sat motionless on the throne, like a clay wood sculpture.

Yuan Zhenqian waited for a long time and didn't see Guo Xu speak, so he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty ......"

"Yuan Aiqing......" Guo Xu suddenly interrupted Yuan Zhenqian's words, staring at Yuan Zhenqian condescendingly.

Yuan Zhenqian was flustered for no reason, and replied calmly: "The minister is here." ”

Guo Xu said: "Does Yuan Aiqing know my current situation? ”

Yuan Zhenqian's heart moved, and he muttered: "Don't worry, the soldiers and horses of the Liao State have been defeated by the ministers in Taiyuan Mansion, and there are less than tens of thousands of defeated soldiers left, and they have no time to take care of themselves. The Jurchen soldiers and horses also failed to attack the city today, and suffered heavy losses, and the ministers were confident that they would hold Bianliang, defeat the Jurchens, drive them out of my Great Zhou, and return my Great Zhou to a peaceful and prosperous world......"

Guo Xu nodded and smiled: "Yuan Aiqing, I am not talking about the Liao and Jurchens, I am talking about the affairs of the imperial court." I'm talking about my current situation in the court. ”

Yuan Zhenqian said in a hoarse voice: "This ...... I don't understand......"

Guo Xu smiled and said, "Don't you understand? Yuan Aiqing, I'm afraid you understand it better than anyone else. I'm a loner now, I'm an ornament now. Do you really not understand or are you pretending to be confused? Didn't you see it tonight? Some people don't take me seriously at all, some people think of me as a canary he raises, and when he is happy, he feeds me and waters, and when he is unhappy, he starves me to death and dies of thirst. Sadly, I have been in the country for more than 150 years, and in my hands, there have been traitorous ministers in the court, but I can't do anything. Yuan Aiqing, you tell me that even if Bianliang is saved, and the Jurchens are defeated, what is the meaning for me? ”

Yuan Zhenqian's heart was beating wildly, of course he understood what Guo Xu's words meant. Guo Xu left himself behind, why did he say these words to himself? What was his intention? Saying these words to the emperor here, if Lu Zhongtian knew about it, what would he think?

"Yuan Aiqing, do you know why I went up to the city tower today to participate in the battle in person? I'm just begging for death. I want to die on the battlefield defending Bianliang, I don't want to die at the hands of traitors. I don't want to be kept in captivity and be at the mercy of pigs at will. If I die on the battlefield today, I may have a little face to see the emperor and ancestors, at least I will die for the sake of the Great Zhou Sheji. But I couldn't do it. I feel bitter in my heart, who knows the anger and pain in my heart? Who can you talk to? Guo Xu continued to say in a deep voice.

Yuan Zhenqian hurriedly said: "The emperor must not have this kind of thought, the emperor is the backbone of the army and the people in the world, how can he not cherish the dragon body, how can he have the intention of dying?" If something happens to the emperor, won't the morale of the army and the people be dissolved? ”

Guo Xu glared at Yuan Zhenqian and said, "Yuan Aiqing, I know that you are very afraid in your heart now, and I also know that you are the prime minister's person." I can understand your distress. As soon as Yang Jun dies, those of you who have been with Yang Jun will naturally have to protect yourself. The prime minister killed dozens of local leading generals in order to purge Yang Jun's cronies, and you took refuge in him for self-protection, I can understand you. ”

Yuan Zhenqian was shocked in his heart, and knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, minister...... The minister is only loyal to the court and the emperor. The minister is not a person of any one, the minister is a person of the court......"

Guo Xu frowned and waved his hand: "Yuan Aiqing, why bother? I don't blame you, can I not know these things? Why do you plead your case? ”

Yuan Zhenqian was sweating and speechless.

"But, Yuan Aiqing, have you forgotten that you were also the person who was brought up by Yang Jun and Yang Shumi, and I heard that Yang Jun treats you like a parent. At the beginning, you were just a poor boy, but it was Yang Jun who took you with you to fight in all directions, and you rose all the way. If there was no Yang Jun, would you be where you are today? Yang Jun tried his best to recommend you to command the Northwest Army, and he had high hopes and trust in you. If a man forgets his roots, how is he different from beasts? Guo Xu shouted coldly.

Yuan Zhenqian's face turned pale, this was the most painful scar in his heart, after Yang Jun's death, his actions were scolded by many people as ungrateful, and many of his generals were also dissatisfied with him. There were also generals in the army who pointed at his nose and insulted him in front of him after getting drunk, and Yuan Zhenqian endured a lot of accusations, especially his own psychological guilt and pressure were even more difficult to dispatch. Even Guo Xu said this about him today, and Yuan Zhenqian couldn't bear it anymore.

"Your Majesty, forgive the ministers for being rude, speaking of which, isn't it the emperor who ordered Yang Shumi to be killed? Privy Envoy Yang has been loyal to the country for decades, and how many meritorious achievements have he made, did the emperor ever think about these when he killed him? If the emperor accuses the minister, the minister accepts, and the minister is also in a dilemma of loyalty and righteousness, and the minister can only obey the orders of the court. The minister also did not shy away from saying that he was selfish, wanted to live, and did not want to follow in the footsteps of Yang Shumi. But Yang Shumi was not killed by the minister, and it was not the minister who destroyed the Great Wall. How could the emperor let his ministers bear all this? Yuan Zhenqian raised his head and said loudly, he was ready to tear his face.

Guo Xu did not have the anger he imagined, his face was very calm, and after Yuan Zhenqian finished speaking, he nodded lightly and said, "Yuan Aiqing, you are right." I made a big mistake, it was I who killed Yang Shumi with my own hands, and I was dizzy. Since then, every time I think of this, I secretly scold myself for being stupid, falling into the trap of traitors, killing my Great Zhou Liangjun, and destroying the Great Wall. I set up a Yang Shumi tablet in the dormitory, and often repented and blamed myself for his spiritual position, because of this big mistake. But...... Yuan Aiqing, do you know why I killed Yang Jun in the first place? Do you know why? ”

Yuan Zhenqian said softly: "Didn't the emperor agree to the condition that the Liao people kill Yang Shumi in order to make peace with the Liao people?" That was a request made by the Liao people, did the emperor have to tell the ministers, and the emperor was also forced to do so? ”

Guo Xu suddenly burst into laughter, and Yuan Zhenqian looked at Guo Xu blankly and frowned.

Guo Xu laughed wildly, and finally became like he was crying, shaking his head and sighing: "Yuan Aiqing, I'm afraid you don't believe it when you say it, and you've fallen into someone else's trap." But this trap was not set by the Liao, but by me

The people around him. You know what? The original agreement of the Liao people did not contain such a clause to kill Yang Shumi, but only three clauses to pay silver and increase the annual coin, and to ask me to call Liao the country of my uncle. Yelu Zongyuan didn't even propose this clause to kill Yang Shumi. ”

Yuan Zhenqian was stunned: "How is it possible? So how could such a clause come out of nowhere? What does the emperor mean by the trap of the people around him? ”

Guo Xu stood up, slowly walked off the throne, came to Yuan Zhenqian's side, gritted his teeth and said in a very low voice: "That's because, in order to achieve the goal of monopolizing power, someone sent someone to take the initiative to propose this article with the Liao people. Hehe, Yuan Aiqing, I'm afraid you didn't expect it. In order to gain power, traitors and thieves actually disregarded the safety of the Great Zhou and did such a thing that brought disaster to the country and the people. And I was completely kept in the dark, thinking that it was a condition proposed by the Liao people. I was indeed stupid, indeed weak, and I was really angry after the defeat of the Yang Privy Counsellor in the Jinfu. It's all being taken advantage of. Someone took advantage of my anger, took advantage of my eagerness to reach a peace agreement, and took advantage of my trust in him, and secretly did this kind of thing. I naturally have great responsibility for the death of Yang Shumi, but the biggest culprit is not me, but the people who deceived me and used me for their own ambitions. ”

Yuan Zhenqian couldn't believe his ears, Guo Xu's words were too shocking, Yuan Zhenqian never expected that there was such an inside story behind Yang Jun's death. The person the emperor said about who took the initiative to collude with the Liao people to kill Yang Jun for his own ambitions, and took the initiative to collude with the Liao people to kill Yang Jun for his own ambitions, I am afraid that the person the emperor said is that person.

"Your Majesty...... This is ...... Seriously......? Yuan Zhenqian asked in a trembling voice.

"Can I still talk nonsense? They thought it was seamless, but there were people who were loyal to me, and I had my own eyes and ears. I swear to heaven that if there is half a lie in this matter, I will die without a place to be buried, and I will be burned by the thunder and fire of heaven and earth, and my body and spirit will be destroyed, and I will not be able to live forever. Guo Xu made the most vicious oath.

"Then ...... The person the emperor said...... Could it be ...... Is...... Lu...... Lu ......: "Yuan Zhenqian's tongue is not good.

"It's him, my maternal grandfather Lu Zhongtian, that's right, you guessed right. He and Yang Jun are incompatible, and Yang Jun's defeat is his opportunity to kill Yang Jun. He had instigated me to kill Yang Jun before, but I felt that it was inappropriate, so he asked Liu Zhenbang to reach a secret agreement with Han Desui, the king of the Southern Court of Liao, so Han De added a clause to the peace agreement to kill Yang Jun. Lu Zhongtian had an old friendship with Han Desui before, and when the relationship between my Great Zhou and the Liao State had not yet broken down, he had sent an envoy to the Liao State, and it is said that he became a good friend with Han Desui . I had also heard him say something about what he had seen and heard in the Liao Kingdom before, and he admired Han De in his words. I didn't care about these at the time, but now it seems that it was the trip to the Liao State that allowed Lu Zhongtian to have a connection with the Liao people. And all this, I was kept in the dark all over the week. Yuan Aiqing, you may not believe that he would do this, but it is easy to conclude that my Great Zhou is now in the hands of him Lu Zhongtian, and all the important official positions in the court are his people. I am not exaggerating to say that I am alone. I'm empty-handed now, and I'm at his mercy on everything. You also saw that I wanted to mention you as a privy envoy, and he immediately threw his face and left. In his heart, is there still me, the emperor? The reason why I kept you today is that I think that you, Yuan Zhenqian, are loyal to my Great Zhou court, because you are the person Yang Jun fancies, and Yang Jun's vision will not be wrong. That's why I dare to tell you this. I only hope that Yuan Aiqing knows my situation, I may be killed by him soon, I don't want to die in vain, I want to tell these secrets to someone I can trust. In the future, Aiqing can publish the truth to the world, expose the ambition of the old thief, expose his ugly face, and don't let the world be deceived by it. I want Aiqing to protect my Great Zhou Sheji from falling into the hands of the old thief. It is necessary to rehabilitate Zhaoxue for Yang Shumi, so as to comfort his soul in the sky. If Aiqing can do this, he is a person who combines loyalty and righteousness. Even if I was killed by the old thief, I would be able to look at it. Yang Jun under the spring will also be blinded. And Aiqing will turn the tide to save my Great Zhou, and leave a name in history for etern......ity."