On the fifth day of the first month of the fourth year of Guanghe, Yang Xiu returned to Luoyang. The little emperor of the pen %fun %pavilion www.biquge.info has been waiting for the six gods without a master, and as soon as Yang Xiu arrived in the palace, he was dragged by the little genius: "Say it quickly, what did he say?" ”

In order to hurry, Yang Xiu rode back on horseback this way, and he did not change people and horses, and ran for four days in one go, running a distance of 1,800 miles, and the hard work can be imagined. The bigger problem is that the inside of his thigh is worn out, and it hurts so much when he walks that it hurts, and it's not so easy to kneel down and think about it again.

"General Che Cavalry......" Yang Xiu grinned, took two breaths of cold air, and finally stood up, with dense beads of sweat already appearing on his forehead. When Xiao Tianzi saw it, he hurriedly asked someone to help him to sit down on the brocade couch on the side, and asked someone to bring wine, and asked Yang Xiu to drink two sips first to relieve the pain, and then send the imperial doctor to Yang Xiu to see the injury. The imperial doctor soon came, and after examining Yang Xiu's wounds, he applied medicine to Yang Xiu. When the slightest coolness penetrated into his skin, Yang Xiu's face was a little better.

Under the anxious gaze of Xiao Tianzi, Yang Xiu began to tell about his trip to Jiangling. What Xiao Tianzi wants to know most now is what Liu Xiu's reaction is to his imperial conquest, but Yang Xiu has been talking for a long time, and he is still talking about the imminent implementation of the new policy in Jingzhou, which is not what he wants to hear, he wanted to interrupt Yang Xiu several times, but looking at Yang Xiu's serious and heavy expression, he finally held back his urgent mood and listened to Yang Xiu patiently.

After talking about the new policy, finally talking about the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, talking about the confrontation with Kualiang, Xiao Tianzi held his breath, did not speak for a long time, his face was red for a while, white for a while, anger and disappointment were mixed together, making his little face look a little hideous.

"He's going to do the opposite?" Xiao Tianzi said coldly: "I want to drive the expedition in person, but he doesn't come to serve him, so he wants to sit and watch the success or failure?" ”

Yang Xiu licked his lips and said with confidence: "The minister thinks that the general of the chariot cavalry may not have such an idea. ”

"Not necessarily?" Xiao Tianzi glanced at him, his mouth moved, and he didn't say anything, as if he had swallowed something back. He took a breath. After calming down for a while, he asked, "Then what do you mean by him?" ”

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the move of the general of the chariot also has the meaning of making His Majesty prestigious." Yang Xiu said cautiously: "If the general is here, even if he wins, who will remember His Majesty's merits?" ”

Tianzi sneered: "Then do you think if he doesn't come, I can win?" ”

"I don't dare to say that I can. But at least there is a chance. Yang Xiu said: "Your Majesty's personal expedition is not for Your Majesty to charge into battle. As long as His Majesty takes advantage of the public opinion to go to the revolving gate pass and reward the three armies, the morale will inevitably be greatly boosted. With famous generals such as Taiwei Duan Gong, former general Huangfu Song and General Zhendong who can fight well, what is impossible for His Majesty to win a few victories? He paused, and then said: "Although the general of the Che Cavalry does not come to the front line in person, he should not sit back and watch the success or failure, as long as he makes a little statement, it is enough to contain the Yuan family and make them unable to go all out." ”

"That's it. His prestige is a few points heavier than that of my royal conquest. Xiao Tianzi said sarcastically. He rubbed the jade seal in his hand, thinking about Liu Xiuren in Beihai at the beginning. A few letters cracked the Yuan family's offensive, and I couldn't help but feel a little depressed, and the fear in my heart not only did not reduce, but became heavier. Yang Xiu also heard what the Son of Heaven meant, and didn't dare to say any more, but just fell to the ground and remained silent.

The Son of Heaven looked at him and did not embarrass him anymore. Let him go back to the house to rest for two days first, recover from his injuries and then enter the palace on duty. Yang Xiu left, and Xiao Tianzi walked back and forth in the hall for a long time. His steps were slow, but his head was down, and he looked a little overwhelmed. Jian Shuo, who had just arrived, saw his appearance, and suddenly remembered that the first emperor was the same back then, and his nose couldn't help but be sour.

"What's wrong with you?" Xiao Tianzi noticed the expression on Jian Shuo's face, frowned and asked, "The Queen Mother is called me?" ”

Jian Shuo hurriedly raised his sleeve and wiped the corners of his eyes, nodded and said, "The Queen Mother heard that Yang Xiu was back and wanted him to reply." ”

The Son of Heaven smiled silently, turned around and walked towards the Jiaofang Palace. Jian Shuo followed behind, Xiao Tianzi asked again the reason for his tears just now, Jian Shuo explained, Xiao Tianzi was silent, he didn't say a word anymore, and walked forward with his head stuffy. came to the Jiaofang Palace, saluted the Empress Dowager Song, and concisely relayed what Yang Xiu had just said to the Empress Dowager Song.

The Empress Dowager Song listened quietly, and it was not until Xiao Tianzi finished speaking that the Empress Dowager Song said calmly: "That's what Yang Xiu said? ”

The Son of Heaven blinked his eyes and insisted: "Queen Mother, I remember clearly what Yang Xiu said, and I didn't say it wrong. He thought about it, and then said angrily: "If the queen mother doesn't believe it, I will let people chase Yang Xiu back, and the queen mother will ask in person." ”

"I'm not saying anything wrong. I just feel that your emotions are not right. Empress Dowager Song said lightly: "What does Yang Xiu think of the reaction of the Che Cavalry General?" The Son of Heaven was a little frustrated, pouted and repeated Yang Xiu's words, and finally said with some injustice: "I don't know how much he received from the Che Cai General, he actually spoke for the Che Cai General." ”

Empress Dowager Song sank her face: "Don't be suspicious, don't be suspicious." Yang Xiu is the person you trust the most, you actually doubt him like this, who else will dare to tell you the truth in the future? ”

The Son of Heaven was taken aback by the sudden stern attitude of the Empress Dowager Song, and did not dare to answer with a red face. Empress Dowager Song said without hesitation: "The emperor lives in the deep palace, how can he control all the people in the world? Without Baiguan, you can't do anything. It is not appropriate to blindly obey ministers, but it is also very dangerous to be suspicious of others at every turn. Yang Xiu has been by your side for many years, if you say good things about the Che Cavalry General just because you received a gift from the Che Cavalry General, it is your ignorance, not Yang Xiu's fault. If this is not the case, then you just don't have confidence in yourself, it's not that you don't believe in Yang Xiu, but you don't believe in yourself. ”

The Son of Heaven became nervous and bowed down to plead guilty.

Only then did the Empress Dowager Song ease her tone and patiently persuade: "The Yang family and the Yuan family are in-laws, the Yuan family raised an army, and the Yang family broke with it and refused to betray the court, even if it has been suppressed in those years. If you don't believe in such loyal ministers, who else can you trust? ”

"The lesson of the queen mother is that I think too much."

Empress Dowager Song nodded and thought for a moment: "I think what Yang Xiu said makes sense, maybe the general of the chariot cavalry will not come to obey the chariot driver, it is a chance for you to establish your authority." Your Majesty is now useless, of course he has no prestige, and of course he has no self-confidence, and of course he feels that everyone is an opponent and a threat. Wait for Your Majesty to make meritorious service and get the respect of the ministers for you. With confidence, it is natural not to feel that there are crises everywhere, and everyone is an enemy. ”

The Son of Heaven raised his beautiful eyebrows, feeling that the Empress Dowager Song's words seemed to be talking about Yang Xiu, but in fact, he accused him of easily suspecting Liu Xiu, and he was a little unconvinced, and protested: "Queen Mother, are these things done by the general of the chariot cavalry that a courtier should do?" In his eyes. Am I still an emperor? ”

"In his eyes, you are more than just an emperor." Empress Dowager Song stared at Xiao Tianzi's eyes and said word by word: "General Che Cai has the grace of nurturing you, he has always treated you as a child, maybe the way is a little inappropriate, but I believe that he is definitely not as dangerous as you think." ”

"Why does the Queen Mother say that?" Xiao Tianzi's voice was a little sharp.

"On my instincts." Empress Dowager Song's eyes tightened: "With my understanding of the Che Cavalry General for so many years. Your Majesty, you have to attract the lessons of the first emperor. If the first emperor had not been suspicious of Hengsheng, but had always trusted the Che Cavalry General, where would the Yuan family have today. How could he be overworked and die young? ”

The Empress Dowager Song blamed the first emperor. This made Xiao Tianzi a little unacceptable. For the Venerable, this is an important principle of Confucian ethics, not to mention that the first emperor is not only his father, but also the supreme, but also a dead person. He was very dissatisfied, and now the queen mother actually accused the first emperor of suppressing Liu Xiu in front of him.

"The Queen Mother. Do you dare to guarantee that the general will not usurp the throne? ”

Empress Dowager Song stared at Xiao Tianzi's flushed face, thought for a moment, and nodded solemnly: "I dare to promise." He will not usurp your throne. ”

The Son of Heaven was speechless for a while, and it took a long time before he asked unconvinced: "It's your intuition again?" ”

"Yes." Empress Dowager Song laughed and waved her sleeves. "Your Majesty, I don't think you should now put your mind on doubting my intuition, but think more about how to win this battle. Fighting a war is a very complicated matter, and it is by no means something that can be done by riding a horse in the palace, shooting arrows, and reading two sentences of Sun Tzu's Art of War. Now that this opportunity is in front of you, why don't you seize the opportunity to test the results of your learning over the years? ”

The Son of Heaven was still immersed in anger, twisting his head and not speaking. The Empress Dowager Song did not persuade her, and she issued an edict to invite Duan Cheng, who was resting at home, to enter the palace, and at the same time invited Situ Luzhi and Sikong Tang Zhen to set the date of the Son of Heaven to set off for the revolving gate on the tenth day of the first month, and politely invited Duan Cheng to accompany him.

Duan Cheng was originally a little resentful, but the Queen Mother interceded in person, and he couldn't refuse, so he had to respond. Lu Zhi was very happy, not only reported the relevant material preparations, but also took the initiative to say to the Son of Heaven, I will write a handwritten letter to Liu Xiu, asking him to arrange people to cooperate with the battle, and when the time comes, what he is thinking will naturally be clear, no longer have to guess so much, it will hurt the tacit understanding between the monarch and the minister.

Only then did the Son of Heaven smile and thank Lu Zhi.

After Lu Zhi left the palace, he rushed to the palace of the king of Chu again. Liu Yuanqi, the king of Chu, was very surprised, since Lu Zhi moved out, he rarely came to the palace of the king of Chu, so he personally greeted the gate. went to the main hall, Lu Zhi explained his intentions, the Son of Heaven wants to be personal, and now there is a lack of manpower and material resources, is the king of Chu writing a letter to the general of the Che Cavalry, and let him help him. Now some people suspect that he supports the army and respects himself, and sits back and watches the success or failure, if you can take the initiative to help the Son of Heaven make meritorious contributions, this rumor will naturally be self-defeating.

I don't know if it was out of trust in Lu Zhi or for what, Liu Yuanqi agreed, in addition to the 100 million money donated last time, donate another 100 million, and asked Liu Xiu to send capable people to help the Son of Heaven. After getting Liu Yuanqi's promise, Lu Zhi was skeptical, and he couldn't believe his ears. He is clear about the truth that Liu Yuanqi arranged for Wang Chu and the three to go to Jiangling, in his opinion, Liu Yuanqi is preparing for the final rupture, how can he really help the Son of Heaven to make meritorious contributions.

Is he true or false? Lu Zhihu was undecided. However, Liu Yuanqi quickly sent someone to send 100 million yuan to Situ Mansion, which really solved many of Lu Zhi's problems.

With the full cooperation of everyone, on the tenth day of the first lunar month, the Son of Heaven left Luoyang City under the protection of the forbidden army and rushed to the Revolving Gate Pass. He had just been gone for two days, and he received a note from Liu Xiu who sent a fast horse back: he fully supported the Son of Heaven's imperial expedition, and had already sent the chariot cavalry general's mansion Sima Fu Xie, Yokono Zhonglang general Xu Rong to lead 10,000 cavalry, Fubo Zhonglang Gan Ning led the Yizhou naval division to block the Yangtze River, and responded to the imperial court's army, and sent the chariot cavalry general's mansion chief Shi Xunyou to lead the army to plan ten people to help the Son of Heaven, these people have set off and will meet the Son of Heaven at the Revolving Gate Pass.

After reading this letter, the Empress Dowager Song breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Xiao Tianzi: "How?" ”

The Son of Heaven pursed his lips and handed over the song to Zhou Yu to put away, but he muttered in his heart, saying beautifully, but he only sent ten scribes, and none of the fierce generals he knew or didn't know showed up.