"What? Lord Chen, where did you hear the news, aren't the emperor and the queen mother both in the palace? Where can they run? Chen Hongliang said that the adults present were all panicked, helped him up and sat down, and hurriedly asked him what happened and why he fell here.

"Alas, I now know that no wonder there has been no movement in this palace recently, and the Queen Mother is not embarrassed by our old men, it turns out that they have already secretly brought the property and soldiers in the palace to King Xiang by boat. Here's how it happened......"

Chen Hongliang told these old ministers about the conversation between the two attendants he had just heard in the latrine, and these ministers were still waiting for the Queen Mother to send her soldiers to meet the battle, but now they were shocked when they heard the news, and they all strongly condemned the Queen Mother's irresponsible performance.

"Master Chen, what do you say is the best thing to do now? The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has already arrived in the city. Without soldiers to guard the gates, it won't be long before they storm the palace. Our safety is not important, but this palace is the foundation of Southern Chu for hundreds of years! How can it be said that it is occupied by these bandits? "These veteran ministers of Southern Chu who stayed in the Imperial City were already completely loyal to Southern Chu, and no one could change their minds. It is not so much that they are stubborn, but that their behavior may be the so-called foolishness!

At this time, Chen Hongliang got up with a heavy face and said in the support of everyone: "We are all important ministers of Southern Chu who were raised by Emperor Taizu, from the unknown junior at the beginning to the current court veteran, I only have gratitude to Emperor Taizu in my heart, no matter how good the praise of this People's Liberation Army is, in my opinion, they are all a group of robbers who want to usurp the throne!" As long as I, Chen Hongliang, live for a day, I won't let such a thing happen. I am ready to die, and if any adult is willing to die with me to confess to Emperor Taizu, he will stay here, and if any adult is unwilling, he can also leave on his own, Chen will not be reluctant. ”

"Lord Chen, we are born as people of Nanchu and died as ghosts of Nanchu, I am willing to die with you to thank Taizu for his grace!" Chen Hongliang saw that it was Master Situ of the Ministry of Rites who said this, he was the most important etiquette on weekdays, and now he was the first to stand up without hesitation, Chen Hongliang nodded with satisfaction and expressed his appreciation.

The next dozen or so adults also expressed their willingness to die with the two of them. Chen Hongliang glanced over and was willing to repay Nan Chu with death, and felt very happy, but when he looked closely, he found that there was a person hiding in the back of the crowd, his expression was solemn, as if he was thinking about something, and he didn't have the resolute expression of wanting to die at all.

He immediately turned unsightly and said, "Aren't you going to repay Emperor Taizu's kindness with us, this lord in the back?" If you don't want to, you can go back now, you're not welcome here. ”

"No, no, no, I didn't mean that, Lord Chen, it's just that the lower officials are thinking about something." At this time, the person in the back appeared from behind in fear after Chen Hong's name was highlighted, Chen Hongliang recognized him, this is the imperial physician Hua An who was next to Emperor Taizu before, when Emperor Taizu was on the battlefield in the past, he was by Emperor Taizu's side to take care of his health, and he saved Taizu's life when Emperor Taizu was seriously injured in several battles. It can be said that this is Emperor Taizu's life-saving benefactor, and it stands to reason that it is not that Emperor Taizu has the grace of knowing him, but that he has the grace of saving his life. But Chen Hongliang was more or less disappointed when he saw him hesitate like this.

"Imperial Physician Hua, I know that you are kind to Emperor Taizu, and we can't force you to be like us. But don't forget that Emperor Taizu didn't treat you badly! You see that you are old, and Emperor Taizu did not dislike you, so he asked you to continue to serve in the palace as the envoy of this hospital, and gave you more than a little silver every month, and also built a big mansion next to the palace for you to live for your life. Sometimes people still have to repay their kindness! I hope Dr. Hua Tai understands what I said. Chen Hongliang reminded.

When Doctor Hua heard Chen Hongliang say this, he said: "Lord Chen, what you said is a bit excessive, although I am just a grass man who has not studied anything, I am fortunate to be the instrument of Emperor Taizu and become a doctor, and now I am still a hospital envoy living a worry-free life, but I know that a person must be grateful to repay his kindness." Now that there is a crisis in Nanchu, I know that I have no power to return to heaven, and I can only thank the emperor by dying. But have you ever wondered if we would die like this, wouldn't it be too cheap for those bandits who invaded Jingzhou City? They didn't encounter a little resistance and broke through the century-old Jingzhou City, don't you feel distressed? ”

"This ...... Although what you said makes some sense, but now that the soldiers have been taken away by the Queen Mother, the remaining troops are still not enough to make up 100 people, how can this be compared with the tens of thousands of PLA outside? You and I are both civilian officials, and we don't know how to lead troops to fight and how to contend with them, do you want to lead troops hard, and they will be captured alive and humiliated? Chen Hongliang said.

"I didn't mean that, we naturally have no chance of winning head-to-head with them, but if we outwit them, we may be able to pull a few of their generals on their backs, which can be regarded as our last contribution to Nanchu."

"Doctor Hua, I don't understand what you mean, can you explain it clearly? Do you have any ideas? Let's hear about it. Chen Hongliang asked with joy in his eyes.

Hua An took out a small medicine bottle from his sleeve and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please see that this is my secret poison, called Seeing Blood to Seal My Throat." It is taken from a kind of sap called poison dart wood in the woods in the extreme south of southern Chu. After a few procedures, such a bottle of poison was made. Don't underestimate this vial of poison. This is refined after cutting down hundreds of trees, and it is no problem to poison hundreds of cattle, let alone a mere bandit army. ”

"Good, great! But how could they obediently drink these poisons? We're afraid we won't have a chance to get them to take it first, right? Chen Hongliang and the ministers were happy and distressed again.

Hua An had already made up his mind, and he said, "Lord Chen, don't you know what these bandits are doing? They have always advertised that they want to serve the people, and will not kill innocents indiscriminately, but only those who resist them. Then it will be easy to do, we will first deceive them, lower their vigilance, and give them to drink this poisoned wine mixed with poison, and then they will all die! No matter how bad it is, we can still poison a few of their key generals, and our mission is completed, what do you think of my idea? ”

"Wonderful, wonderful! Just do as the doctor says! The ministers suddenly put aside the thought that they were about to die, and rekindled their fighting spirit.