Guo Shao and several generals came out of the broken courtyard, took the reins from Qin Shi's hand and turned on the horse. The others also got on their horses, and immediately there were several shouts of "drive, drive".

The group returned to the Chinese army and met Wang Pu. Wang Pudao: "The old man has written a letter of persuasion and is trying to let General Guo read it." ”

"It is from the hand of the king's envoy, and it must be safe." Guo Shao said without hesitation, but he still took it and looked at it. Because he had just discussed with others how to rebel, he couldn't help but pay attention to Wang Pu again.

Guo Shao still remembers a story he saw in a book...... In history, after Zhao Kuangyin became emperor, he passed by the portrait of Wang Pu and said, "If this person is still alive, I can't get the throne." This can be regarded as a compliment from both virtue and ability, right?

He remembered again what happened after the Mutiny in Tokyo, where Wang Pu deliberately made remarks and suggested to prevent the generals from having too much power; At that time, the Queen Mother and Guo Shao were out of the nostrils, and Wang Pu's book had no effect at all, and the only use was to show his integrity and loyalty. Wang Pu still cares about his reputation very much, so Guo Shao can't let Wang Pu participate in the early conspiracy stage, even if his personal relationship with Wang Pu is already very good.

The more Guo Shao thought about it, the more he felt that it was a safer way to "recognize" Guo Wei's grandfather. He started with the favor of the Zhou Dynasty, and he recognized the status of Taizu Guo Wei, at least he looked good; Otherwise, just like the later Song Dynasty, there is no way to wash away the criticism of bullying orphans and widows and winning the country.

The general trend of the world is moving towards unification and stability, and the (later) Zhou and Zhou dynasties of the heroes and civil and military ministers have made great contributions, and no matter how they cover up, they can't wash away the essence of the latecomers picking peaches.

Regardless of whether the temple name in the future is Taizu or not, he is now the emperor, and his power and prestige are no different from those of the founding emperor, which is nothing more than a name; But being a Taizu is also a stain and infamy, what else do you want to do? Moreover, Guo Shao lacks a sense of identity with the family ancestors of this era, and the psychological need to honor the ancestors does not exist...... Before, Li Chuyun and others didn't want to persuade Guo Shao, maybe they felt that it was Guo Shao's own business to add glory to their ancestors; He didn't care about himself, what did outsiders persuade him to do?

Guo Shao's choice is not only to recognize the merits of his predecessors, but also to recognize the value of the countless soldiers who shed blood and sacrificed their horse leather shrouds under the banner of the Great Zhou. The credit is not his, but he stands on top of the pile of bones.

…… He handed back the letter of persuasion and said casually: "The words of the king are reasonable, modest, affectionate and righteous. But who to send to persuade him to surrender?

Wang Pu glanced back and said, "Lu Duoxun." ”

Among the several civil officials who accompanied him behind, a young man came over, hugged his fists and said, "The lower official took the initiative to ask for Ying, and he is willing to take on this position." ”

Seeing this, Guo Shao immediately remembered the past and said: "Back then, when I was fighting in Qinfeng and Shu, the person who was ordered to come to reward our soldiers was Mr. Lu. I got the letter of appointment as the commander of the Ascending Chamber, and I received it from you. ”

Lu Duosun said happily: "I am just acting on orders and running errands." I don't want Guo Dashuai to even remember such things so clearly. ”

"Almost everyone else remembers me for being good, but I don't remember what I eat." Guo Shao said with a smile.

The generals around him, such as Li Chuyun and Luo Yanhuan, all laughed when they heard it.

Guo Shao stretched out his palm and slapped it on Lu Duoxun's shoulder. Lu Duoxun's mouth grinned, and he inadvertently showed a painful expression. Guo Shao said: "There is only one ancient city left in the Southern Tang Kingdom, and it is only a matter of time before it falls, and now it's the last step, you have to come back alive, otherwise you won't be in a panic?" ”

Lu Duoxun hurriedly clasped his fists and said: "Xia Guan is willing to do his best for the Great Zhou Army to recover Jiangnan as soon as possible." ”

There are still risks, but it is precisely because of the things that carry the head that it can be regarded as a credit. Guo Shao nodded and said, "May Mr. Lu live up to his mission." ”

……

Lu Duoxun went to Jiangning City with a letter of persuasion, and after being caught by the scouts, he went to the city in a hanging basket. All the gates of Jiangning City are closed, and the power to open and close the city gates is restricted by several yamen, and it is very troublesome to open the door now. He didn't see the lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty for a while, but the letter of surrender was taken away. The book was first seen by many officials, and then it reached Li Yu in the deep palace.

There were also some civil and military generals standing on the hall, and people were immediately indignant.

A military general named Yu Yan came out from behind and said directly: "Your Majesty please drag these people out and behead them, and then return their heads to the people of Zhou to show our country's determination to fight to the death!" ”

Immediately, Ma Chengcheng, Ma Chengjun and other generals seconded the proposal.

Li Yu sat on the throne and his heart was very complicated, full of all kinds of negative emotions. He had to wonder what the intentions of these few people were, and now they can still fight to the death to keep the country? However, as long as the imperial court has not clearly stated its attitude of surrender, they really dare not mention surrender casually...... Even if I want to surrender in my heart.

Whoever offers to surrender will be suspected of loyalty, and you are waiting for the traitor to seek glory, right? Therefore, shouting and shouting to kill the envoys of the Zhou State is at least not wrong anyway.

Li Yu looked back at the princes in the palace and didn't see Chen Qiao...... Chen Qiao went to the southern capital, and his whereabouts are unknown after the Battle of Wankou, and now he doesn't know where he is.

He fixed his gaze on Han Xizai's body and asked, "How does Han Gong think he should respond to Zhou Guo?" ”

Han Xizai was asked by name, and immediately saluted: "The old minister seconded General Yu and others, and there is nothing wrong with beheading the envoy." ”

"There is a saying that the two countries will not fight each other, and if we do this, we will show enmity with the Zhou army." Li Yu said, although he has not been in good spirits recently, he has not fainted, "After beheading the envoys, how to protect the country next?" ”

Han Xizai was suddenly asked, and stood there stunned. Seeing this, Li Yu knew that this old thing's words were also perfunctory: This guy is a scholar clan in the north who cannot escape, and a group of scholars who moved from the north to the south below did not dare to persuade him to surrender for fear of being suspected of having two hearts.

There was silence in the court, and Li Yu sighed "sigh", he knew that he was powerless to return to heaven. However, Guo Shao must remember the revenge of sending someone to assassinate him, and the resentment has been settled, even if he surrenders, can he live and be tolerated?

At this moment, Huang Can, the champion handpicked by Li Yu, came out of the ranks, hugged his fists and said, "Your Majesty, Weichen thinks it's inappropriate to kill the messenger." ”

Everyone looked sideways when they heard this. But after all, this person is the emperor's protégé, and it's a little better for him to say this kind of thing.

Li Yu hurriedly asked, "Why is it wrong?" ”

Huang Can raised his head and looked back at the palace and said: "State affairs are like this, even if the princes are reluctant to say it, the situation is clear at a glance. Guo Shaofei, the commander of the Zhou army, and other idle people, attacked and destroyed Shu in two months; In a few months, he captured a large area of land south of the Yangtze River and defeated more than 200,000 troops of our country......"

Someone unceremoniously interrupted Huang Can's words: "Shu is not enterprising, and the monarch is dark, how can it be compared with my country?" ”

Huang Can said: "Then why has my country become like this in two or three months, why is it so unbearable?" It is those who bear the great trust of His Majesty, do not serve the country, defeat after defeat, and leave His Majesty's Long En behind......"

When Li Yu heard this, he felt that Huang Can was upright and daring to speak, and he said all the anger in his heart, which was a little sulky. If Zhu Lingyun of Hukou did not let the Zhou army go east, the guards of Chizhou, Tongling, and Dangtu would not be as easy as losing the city and losing the land, Huangfu Jixun and Lin Renzhao would not be defeated, and Liu Cheng would be able to make two fewer mistakes...... The Southern Tang Kingdom was not without strength, why did the situation deteriorate so much? It's all these people who have failed themselves! Hurt Lao Tzu.

At this time, a minister was unhappy and said: "Huang Zhuangyuan's export is a chapter, why don't you come up with a strategy for Your Majesty to retreat from the enemy?" ”

Huang Can said: "Send people to spread the news that Guo Shaohui will plot against the emperor and disrupt his country." ”

"Who will believe such empty words?" That's humane.

Huang Can said: "That Guo Shao is already the highest military general in the court of the Zhou State, and he has the great merit of quelling the rebellion of Erli and destroying the Shu State. According to the old path of the Central Plains, he did not rebel? This time, the army is outside, he has the power of the army, and when he returns to Beijing with the troops, it is a good opportunity to rebel and claim the emperor! Can this kind of talk be called spreading rumors, think about it, is Guo Shao really going to be the emperor? ”

There was a lot of discussion in the court, many people didn't think about it before, and after Huang Can's mention, everyone speculated that Guo Shao might really be the emperor.

Seeing this, Huang Can said again: "Also, didn't the imperial court send someone by sea to contact the Liao State and the Northern Han Dynasty a while ago...... If we surrender too quickly, the north will not have time to attack the belly of the Zhou State as a response. ”

Li Yu heard what this official, who was still very knowledgeable, was right, but he still didn't have any hope, mainly because the situation was too bad, and there was a lonely city left in the east of the border.

.......