Outside the Hall of Eternal Life, people waiting for the call stood densely on the ground.
Everyone waited anxiously, and finally saw the palace servant come out to pass the message, "Sun Mou, the Minister of the Ministry of War, has an audience!"
Sun Shilang breathed a sigh of relief, and rushed in hastily.
The palace servants were about to go back, but Taifu Bao stopped him, "Did Your Majesty only summon Sun Shilang?"
"Yes, only Sun Shilang was summoned, and please wait here, my lords."
The palace people looked at him respectfully, then looked at Gu Huaijiang and his son, and finally bowed and returned to the palace.
Everyone was anxious in their hearts, but they couldn't express anything on the face, accidentally, Taifu Bao and Gu Huaijiang's eyes collided.
Both of them are highly respected and respected elders. Although they seldom get in touch with each other, they are polite when they meet occasionally.
Looking at each other today, I just felt awkward, Taifu Bao quickly moved his eyes away.
In the case of Gu Shubai, they can only be opposites, there is no room for negotiation.
Because the matter was of great importance, he also invited Tian Yunpo who was "recovering in the palace" to the palace, just to persuade Yufu better at the critical moment. At this moment, he couldn't help looking at Tian Yunpo, wanting to ask for an idea.
Tian Yunpo who had been standing beside him just now had disappeared.
Taifu Bao looked around, and saw Tian Yunpo standing under the corridor outside the Hall of Eternal Life, leaning against the window, obviously in an eavesdropping posture.
He was taken aback, and rushed to stop him, "What are you doing? Overhearing the conversation between His Majesty and the courtiers in public?"
Bao Taifu subconsciously looked at Gu Huaijiang and his son, seeing that his father and son also followed, he hurriedly persuaded Tian Yunpo to leave.
Tian Yunpo took a look at Gu Huaijiang and his son, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty has withdrawn all the palace people outside the palace. Isn't this a clear way to let us eavesdrop? Your Majesty is so kind, why don't you accept it?"
Taifu Bao was stunned for a moment, seeing that Gu Huaijiang and his son were already listening carefully to the movement in the hall, he stopped talking immediately and put his ears on the window.
Yu Fu was sitting on the couch with a cold face, Sun Shilang hurried into the hall to salute, "Your Majesty, something is wrong! General Gu refused to return to the capital for disobedience, and he threatened him with Shang Fang's sword. The city has rushed back, please make a quick decision, Your Majesty!"
Yu Fu glanced outside the hall and saw shadows outside the window, then turned to Sun Shilang.
Not long after she returned to the court, she didn't know much about the ministers below the third rank in the court, but she still had some impressions of this Sun Mou.
In addition to the head of the Ministry of War, there are three servants, and this Sun Mou is the most capable man among the three servants.
Not only does he have a good understanding of the military power, weapons, and equipment under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War, but he also writes good documents.
Yu Fu has always been quite optimistic about him, he didn't expect him to make such a big mistake this time.
She couldn't help sneering, "Resisting the decree is not respectful, whose decree is it resisting? I want to ask Sun Shilang, what is written in the decree?"
Sun Shilang's back stiffened, he looked up at Yufu's face, wondering if she was being sarcastic or serious.
He thought for a moment, and couldn't help asking: "I don't understand what your majesty means. Does your majesty mean that your majesty didn't know about this purpose in advance?"
"Did Sun Shilang know that I didn't know beforehand?"
Yu Fu quickly asked back, and Sun Shilang fell to his knees with a thud, "Your Majesty, forgive me, I really don't know! I was ordered by the Grand Tutor to go to Xixian City to retrieve the Xikun Imperial Seal and the military talisman in the hands of the general. Including the soldier talismans of the Xikun army and the Beili army, and set off to return to Beijing within three days. The Taifu also gave the minister Shangfang the sword as a token, and the minister really didn't know that this was not His Majesty's will!"
Taifu Bao heard this outside the hall, and was about to enter the hall to speak, but was stopped by Tian Yunpo.
"Wait a little longer, let Sun Mou finish talking about what happened in Xikun before going in. Marquis Gu, Commander-in-Chief, I think you two think the same way, don't you?"
Tian Yunpo looked at Gu Huaijiang, who nodded slightly and continued to listen to the movement in the hall.
Hearing Sun Shilang's answer, Yu Fu's expression softened a little, "Get up. The Grand Master is recuperating in the residence, and the affairs of the court should be presided over by the Grand Tutor. He does have the power to order the Imperial Academy to draft edicts. As a subordinate official I don’t blame you for obeying orders. Then tell me how General Gu resisted the order? Tell me every word in detail without missing anything.”
Sun Shilang stood up slowly, wiped off his sweat, "Yes. Reporting back to Your Majesty, General Gu did not accept the order immediately after hearing the order, but asked me if it was His Majesty's order. At that time, I thought that Your Majesty knew about it. , so he said yes. Later, General Gu thought for a while and accepted the order, and ordered someone to hand over the Xikun Imperial Seal and three Xikun army talismans to the minister."
"Did you bring back the Imperial Seal and the three soldier talismans?"
"Bring it back, please preview it, Your Majesty."
Sun Shilang waved his hand, and ordered the attendants behind him to bring the two brocade boxes to Yufu, in which were the imperial seal and military amulet that Gu Shubai had handed over to him.
Yu Fu smiled, and looked out of the window, the expressions of the "eavesdropping" people outside the hall were mixed.
Gu Huaijiang and Gu Hanmo naturally breathed a sigh of relief, while Taifu Bao and Tian Yunpo frowned, both surprised and puzzled.
"Since the things have been handed over to you, why do you say that he resisted the order and disrespected?"
Sun Shilang said: "I asked General Gu to hand over the talisman of the 100,000 soldiers of Beili in his hand to the minister. Now General Gu became anxious and refused to hand it over. Even if the minister uses Shangfang's sword to kill the faint king Intimidating in the name of treacherous minister, he refused to hand over, and he refused to return to Beijing to report on his duties within three days. If the minister tried to persuade him again, he actually ordered someone to throw him out of the barracks, and said that even if His Majesty wanted to punish him for disobedience and disrespect I will not come back either, so I have no choice but to hurry back to Beijing and report this matter to His Majesty."
Yu Fu nodded slightly, "Have you finished?"
Sun Shilang thought for a while, "There is nothing missing."
As soon as she waved her hand, Yao Lan stepped forward and said to Sun Shilang: "Master Sun, please drink tea outside, His Majesty will inform you later."
Sun Shilang followed Yaolan to the outside hesitantly, still in disbelief.
Is it over
Your Majesty made him sit and drink tea, so you shouldn't blame him, right
Sun Shilang picked up the teacup fearfully, the tea in the cup was fragrant and clear, his eyes lit up when he tasted it, "Is this the Mingqian Longjing that was newly tributed this year?"
Yao Lan nodded beside her, and Sun Shilang showed a relaxed smile.
Not only did His Majesty not blame him, but he also gave him such a good tea. It seems that he really doesn't intend to pursue him.
The palace servant who sent the message before went out again to ask Gu Huaijiang and Bao Taifu to wait in. This time, as soon as he entered, some palace servants seated the two elders Bao Taifu and Gu Huaijiang, and the two young ones Tian Yunpo and Gu Hanmo Just stand aside.
This behavior is puzzling.
Does she blame no one and treat everyone equally
"Did you all hear what Sun Shilang said?"
Yu Fu patted the brocade box next to his hand, "General Gu is disrespectful to resist the decree, he resisted half of it, and then complied with the other half. But what I want to know most now is, why did the Taifu hide this decree from me? "
She glanced at Tian Yunpo who was standing beside Mr. Bao, her eyes no longer had the trust they had before.
Tian Yunpo thumped in his heart, always felt that Yufu's eyes seemed to be suspicious of something... Could it be that she suspected that she had instigated Taifu Bao to make an order
Bao Taifu subconsciously got up to answer, Yufu pressed his hand to signal him to sit down, "I know that no matter what Taifu does, it is for Bei Li's sake. I don't blame you, I just want to know the whole story."
Taifu Bao felt a little relieved, "Returning to Your Majesty, General Gu has more and more troops, and the situation in Xikun is becoming more and more peaceful under his control. On the other hand, looking back at Beili, the Dongling refugees who flowed into Beili Almost all of them went to Xikun, and the veteran felt deeply uneasy. Hearing some news about General Gu's suppression of Beili soldiers, the veteran couldn't help but think that the generals around General Gu were either from Xikun or Dongling. Myself... the veteran has to be on guard."
He sighed, knowing that it was his fault no matter how he explained it behind Yu Fu's back.
He took this into consideration when he ordered the Imperial Academy to draw up the decree, but as long as Xikun can be successfully received into Bei Li's bag, he is willing to accept any punishment.
Yu Fu said: "Since this is the case, why didn't the Taifu discuss with me, but wanted to make decisions privately? Does the Taifu think that I am a very unreasonable and stupid king?"
Taifu Bao hurriedly said: "Of course not! But..."
He glanced at Tian Yunpo, thinking that Tian Yunpo was dismissed and returned to the mansion just because of persuading Yufu, how could he dare to speak to Yufu again
In case even he is dismissed and returned to the government, who else in the court can control this matter
This gaze made Yu Fu's suspicion deepen a bit, she glanced at Tian Yun Po, her heart was full of disappointment.
Bao Taifu said: "Excuse me, my majesty is a woman after all, and she is too young. I heard that women tend to lose their minds in love, and your majesty bears the responsibility of the entire Beili, so there must be no loss. The old minister really It is a last resort to make such a bad move, please punish me, Your Majesty!"
After finishing speaking, he supported the chair and got up, when he was about to kneel down, Tian Yunpo had already supported him.
Yu Fu sighed, "I won't blame Taifu, what you said is not unreasonable. But since I have become the monarch of Beili, I will not gamble with the country like ordinary women. Taifu doesn't believe Gu Da General, don't you believe me?"
Taifu Bao didn't say anything more, he just said: "Your Majesty, although the decree was announced by the old minister without telling him, but Gu Shubai resisted the decree and did not respect the ironclad evidence, will your majesty still tolerate it? Even the old minister took the Shangfang sword bestowed by the late emperor. After coming out, seeing Shang Fang's sword is like seeing His Majesty, what Gu Shubai disobeyed is not only the old minister's self-imposed edict, but also His Majesty!"
Gu Huaijiang, who had been sitting silently by the side, raised his eyebrows and finally responded.
Yu Fu looked at him, "Father, what do you think?"
Hearing her intimate tone, Taifu Bao already understood that she still trusted Gu Shubai.
He didn't look at Gu Huaijiang, he knew without thinking which side Gu Huaijiang would stand as Gu Shubai's father.
Gu Huaijiang thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Bao is right."
Both Taifu Bao and Tian Yunpo were taken aback, looking at Gu Huaijiang in disbelief, even Gu Hanmo was amazed.
There was the sound of the teacup and the teacup being touched in panic from outside, presumably Sun Shilang also heard Gu Huaijiang's answer, it was considered good if the teacup didn't fall to the ground in shock.
Gu Huaijiang said calmly: "Teacher Bao ordered the Imperial Academy to draw up the imperial decree, and there is also the Shangfang sword given by the imperial court as proof. The one who proclaimed the decree was Sun Shilang, a third-rank official in the court. He would not know that the decree was drafted by Taifu Bao privately." , and would not know that Shang Fang’s sword was bestowed by the late emperor and not by His Majesty, so... he really disobeyed the imperial decree."
Tian Yunpo frowned and looked at Gu Huaijiang, his heart turned a thousand times in an instant, admiring Gu Huaijiang's sensible words.
Taifu Bao felt that these words were ironic, as if they were sincerely drawn from his own heart. He didn't expect that it was not Yufu who could understand him, but Gu Shubai's father whom he suspected.
At this moment, he suddenly felt that his doubts were unnecessary.
With such a father teaching, how could Gu Shubai do rebellious things
Yu Fu was noncommittal, "Go ahead."
Gu Huaijiang nodded, "The other sentence that Bao Taifu said is even more correct. Your Majesty is not only His Majesty himself, but also the lives of all the people and soldiers in Beili. It is a heavy burden. Your Majesty cannot make a mistake, a mistake Perhaps countless families will be ruined. Therefore, I hope that when His Majesty acts, he can keep in mind that he should not believe or deny anything lightly, and everything should be safe."
As he talked, he unconsciously taught Yufu from the perspective of his father, "For example, the intentions of the grand master and the grand master are actually good. They didn't say that Bai must have a rebellious heart, but I hope that His Majesty can put safety first and call him back to Beijing to report on his duties. This will not only prevent him from being tempted by power at a young age, but also reassure the courtiers."
"Yes, that's what the old man meant!"
Taifu Bao was so excited that he almost cried, he didn't care too much, he already regarded Gu Huaijiang as his confidant in his heart.
Yu Fu secretly laughed in his heart, but his face remained silent.
She didn't think that Gu Huaijiang came to speak for Bao Taifu and the others today.
Sure enough, Gu Huaijiang looked at Bao Taifu, and suddenly changed the subject, "But Taifu made a mistake in one thing."
Taifu Bao was taken aback, "What's the matter?"
Gu Huaijiang said: "You think that nothing will happen if you take back Shubai's soldier talisman and recall him to the capital. Have you thought about what to do without Shubai in Xikun?"
His words were much sharper, not as persuasive as when he spoke to Yu Fu just now, "He has a 250,000 army under his command, and he has experience at his age. Tens of thousands of troops? Once he leaves, which general has the ability to subdue them? Once there is a commotion in the army, can you take responsibility?"
Bao Taifu trembled all over, perhaps because Gu Huaijiang's previous words had convinced him, and now he heard these words, he subconsciously chose to believe them.
Gu Huaijiang breathed a sigh of relief, "The Grand Tutor is a civil servant, strategizing in the court, and he doesn't understand military affairs, so you can't blame you. And I have served in the army for decades, and I am not speaking for my son. There is nothing wrong with his actions, he really shouldn't have left Xikun."
He stood up from his seat and cupped his hands towards Yu, "but he was indeed wrong. He should not have resisted the order and disrespected. Your majesty is a wise king. Please see that he is loyal and considerate of Beili Sheji. We can deal with his mistakes lightly."
Seeing Taifu Bao and Tian Yunpo being taken aback by Gu Huaijiang's words, Yu Fu felt secretly refreshed, but he didn't show it at all on his face.
She nodded lightly, and said: "Father, you know that when I was in the Gu family, I admired you everywhere. But there is only one point that I not only do not admire, but also strongly disagree with."
Gu Huaijiang smiled slightly, "Which point is it?"
Yu Fu said: "I hate you the most for always respecting the emperor's order. You clearly know that the old Emperor Ning did not understand military affairs and often gave wrong orders, but you still obey them everywhere. For example, you are only allowed to defend the city and not attack the border city of Xikun. For example, knowing that it is a trap for Xikun to send the princess to get married, you have to accept everything. Another example, in the end, Emperor Xiao Ning forced Gu Hou's family to a dead end. My third brother and I wanted to lead troops to resist, but you forcibly stopped them …”
Before Gu Huaijiang opened her mouth, she smiled again: "But after today's incident, I know why you did that in the first place. In the past, you held a large army in Dongling, and your prestige was even greater than that of General Gu today. Even he You can't avoid being suspected, let alone you back then?"
The father and daughter looked at each other and smiled, showing a tacit understanding.
Bao Taifu couldn't help being ashamed when he heard this, Yu Fu suddenly looked outside, Yao Lan knowingly invited Sun Shilang out.
She said seriously: "I once said that I will never punish meritorious ministers such as Tai Tuo and Tai Shi. From now on, Tai Shi can return to the court at any time. As for the fact that Tai Tuo hid my decree from me, I naturally cannot pursue it." It is your responsibility not to allow such a thing to happen again."
Yu Fu glanced at Sun Shilang, "Come here, demote Sun Shilang to three ranks, and leave for the northern desert to serve as the commander in chief. I don't want to see him again."
－－－－－Off Topic－－－－－
Take a little rest on the weekend, there is no second update today.
Sun Shilang (black question mark face):? Damn it's none of my business...