In the Privy Council, Wang Pu looked at the rain outside the window in silence for a long time, then turned to Wei Renpu and said sternly: The hundreds of thousands of soldiers and millions of common people in our Great Zhou Dynasty have reached a critical moment. You and I are in important positions, and we must take responsibility and not let the world fall into chaos.
After hearing this, Wei Renpu's expression also changed. He clasped his fists and said: I will stay in the Privy Council and do my job with caution.
The two men spoke with serious expressions, as if countless emotions were suddenly surging.
In the turbulent times since the end of the Tang Dynasty, the once powerful Central Plains Empire gradually became riddled with holes and worse day by day. The Hu and Yi took advantage of the opportunity to rise and once dominated the rise and fall of the Central Plains regime. The situation has become even worse since the Jin Dynasty. In the Zhou Dynasty, there was a hope of revival, but if we are not careful, no one knows where the country's fortune will slide to and whether it will fall into chaos again.
At this time, Wang Pu took out a piece of paper from his sleeve pocket and handed it over: I have drawn up a city defense deployment for all gates inside and outside the capital, and just slightly adjusted the existing garrisons. Deputy Envoy Wei, please take a look to see if there are any omissions.
Wei Renpu took it, pondered it carefully, and said: The emperor has always praised the prince for his great talent. Since it came from the prince's hand, it must have been carefully considered.
In this case, I will send this defense map to Jinxiang Palace for you to take a look. Wang Pu said, you and I will each have our own responsibilities. Deputy Envoy Wei will stay in the Privy Council and send someone home to inform them. Don't go back recently.
Wei Renpu bowed in response.
Wang Pu returned the greeting, turned around and walked away without looking back. Wei Renpu watched him leave, then stood in front of the window, watching Wang Pu holding an umbrella and walking quickly with a few people to the road outside the government office.
In the Jinxiang Palace, Chai Rong never got up after lying in bed. When the eunuch Yang Shiliang saw Wang Pu, he whispered: The emperor is still conscious, but he usually doesn't speak. It's best to guess what he means and say it in front of the bed. If you are right, the emperor will nod.
Wang Pu asked: How is the dragon's body compared to yesterday
Yang Shiliang shook his head: "When the official asked if he wanted to eat porridge, the official just shook his head. Your Excellency, please come and see for yourself. You follow me."
The two of them walked through a corridor, one in front of the other, and went directly to the back of the main hall, and then to the door of a palace, where they saw many palace maids and eunuchs standing inside and outside. There were even imperial guards under the eaves on the south side. In the past, the military academy would definitely not come to these places.
When they crossed the threshold, Wang Pu could smell the aroma of medicine, and then heard a heavy sigh from time to time, as if he was having difficulty breathing. Yang Shiliang stretched out his arm and pressed his hand slightly downward, indicating that Wang Pu should stand at the door first.
Then the eunuch Yang Shiliang walked to the imperial couch and stood there for a while. He was heard asking in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Privy Envoy Wang Pu wants to see you. Do you want to see him?"
After a moment, Yang Shiliang turned around and waved to Wang Pu.
Wang Pu stepped forward and kowtowed. The eunuch stepped aside and said softly, "The emperor knows that you are respectful and wants you to stand up and talk." Then he said, "My lord, you need to come closer and don't speak too loudly."
Wang Pu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have thought about it. The Palace Guards have not been moved for a long time. I feel that it needs to be adjusted a little. I have discussed something with Deputy Envoy Wei. Do you want to hear it?"
Chai Rong closed his eyes, nodded slightly, and then stretched out one hand from under the quilt and waved it gently. Although these were small movements, everyone's attention was on the emperor, so they saw it clearly.
Yang Shiliang then asked his attendants to leave, leaving Wang Pu to talk quietly in front of the couch. Finally, Chai Rong nodded and responded to the Privy Council's arrangement. Wang Pu bowed and left, asking Yang Shiliang and other eunuchs to come forward.
At this moment, Chai Rong suddenly opened his eyes and stared at the roof in a daze. Yang Shiliang hurriedly bent over and stood in front of the bed, constantly paying attention to whether the emperor's bloodless and dry lips moved.
After an unknown amount of time, Chai Rong suddenly said: Order the Queen to stay in Jinxiang Palace as well.
"I obey your order." Yang Shiliang bowed hurriedly.
Chai Rong sighed and stopped talking.
Guo Shaoxian returned home. Although the imperial edict was to leave the capital immediately, he had to arrange for some entourage. Besides, wasn't there Zan Jurun who was to be the military supervisor? Zan Jurun didn't receive the imperial edict on the spot. After he received it, he should have sent someone to contact him. It would take time for everyone to coordinate the itinerary.
Of course, if the queen had been seriously ill at that time, Guo Shao would not have returned home without even getting up.
Zuo You followed him into the living room in the front yard, then closed the door and immediately said: We must not go to Huashan, otherwise if something changes, it will be too late when we come back.
I know. Guo Shao nodded.
Zuo You pondered and said: Zan Jurun is easy to deal with, we all know how many people he brought with him. But Zhao Kuangyin will pay extra attention to this matter. He should send people to watch along the way, or find someone to pretend to be an assassin and cause some trouble on the road, so that the lord can take the opportunity to escape.
This is not the best strategy. Guo Shao said, I am going to look for the elixir for the emperor and I am accompanied by guards. If I am assassinated, it can only be done by Zhao Kuangyin's men. Once we claim to have encountered an assassin, Zhao Kuangyin will know that it was not him who did it, and he will be sure that we are cheating, and he will be alert. Maybe when I want to sneak back to Tokyo, I will be discovered by his men on the way or in the city. But if there is no better way, this cannot be considered an option.
Guo Shao pondered for a moment: Tokyo is eight hundred miles from Huashan
Zuo You said: About the same, about a hundred miles away.
Guo Shao rubbed his palm on his forehead for a while: If you want to get back to Tokyo quickly, you can only take the post road and ride a fast horse and change horses at the post station. This is too easy to expose. The weather is not good these days.
Zuo You was at a loss: the lord wanted to go to Huashan first, then leave the group and rush back after entering the mountain.
I have thought about this, Guo Shao said, but doing so is more risky.
At this time, there was a knock on the door. Zuo You got up and opened the door, took out a visiting card and handed it to Guo Shao. Guo Shao took a look and said hurriedly: "The palace people, please bring him in and hold the umbrella."
Guo Shao walked out of the door and waited under the eaves. After a while, he saw Zuo You and his men coming. Zuo You did not enter the house, so Guo Shao welcomed them into the hall and saw that it was the eunuch Cao Tai.
Cao Tai looked around and said in a deep voice: I risked my life to come here to tell the queen. The queen said that General Guo should stay in Tokyo at all costs. He paused and whispered, "The emperor is already bedridden, and the queen is worried that there may be changes at any time."
Guo Shao said: I know. He paced a few steps and asked again, "Did you bring the words I asked Eunuch Cao to bring for me last time?"
I must have brought it there, Cao Tai said.
Guo Shao pondered for a moment and said: This time when you go back to see the queen, remind her to think about that sentence more.
Cao Tai was puzzled and thought for a moment: General Guo had a wish to see the queen again.
Guo Shao did not comment, but said: "Just remind the Queen. Eunuch Cao, aren't you afraid of being caught when you go back? In this situation, some people can't afford to use any means."
The two of them lost no time, speaking quickly and nervously, without much time to think. Cao Tai said: "We have been prepared for this, General Guo, just rest assured."
Guo Shao said: I will send someone to get on your carriage. You can go through the small door on the kitchen side. Take off your clothes later.
After hearing this, Cao Tai nodded and said: That’s good. I can’t see the queen now either.
What? Guo Shao was suddenly surprised.
Cao Tai said: Before I came here, the queen was taken to Jinxiang Palace by the eunuch Yang Shiliang. It was the emperor's intention. The queen was only allowed to bring a few palace ladies with her, and eunuchs were not allowed to go to Jinxiang Palace. Right now, Yang Shiliang and a few other eunuchs are in charge of it, and there are also troops from the East Third Class. Now I can't get in either, so I can only stay in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and leave it to fate.
Guo Shao frowned for a moment, his face looked very ugly. The queen would not be in danger.
Cao Tai said: Probably not. The Queen guessed that the Emperor was worried that someone would be by the side of the little prince a hundred years later, so the Queen was the most appropriate. But now the Emperor was very suspicious, he needed the Queen to help him but was afraid of being held hostage behind his bed. So it became like this.
It's no different from house arrest, Guo Shao said.
Cao Tai said: "That's right. Now the people in the palace are in a panic. The important people are near the Jinxiang Palace." After he said that, he glanced at Guo Shao. My words have been conveyed. Now it's useless for General Guo to say anything to me. I can't see the queen. Goodbye.
Guo Shao suddenly asked: Why did Eunuch Cao go back
Cao Tai was stunned by the question and said to himself: Yes, why should I go back? But I am a eunuch, where else can I go if not to the palace
Guo Shaodao: Just stay in my house.
Cao Tai remained silent, as if he had tacitly agreed. As a eunuch, he could only show his value by being a eunuch. But in the current situation, if the queen failed, Cao Tai would definitely not have a good ending, and staying outside would not be any worse.
Guo Shao said: I can't say some things just now, for fear that you might be caught and leak secrets. Now, Eunuch Cao, don't go anywhere, just stay at home. Now I want to ask you, do you remember the guards and defenses at each palace gate
Cao Tai said: "Of course I remember that some of the gates were still manned by my people. Now the inner palace is a mess and no one has the time to replace them. Yang Shiliang and his men are busy serving the emperor in the Jinxiang Palace, and they will not do anything to get involved. Besides, if they want to do something, they should go after Wang Zhong and Wang Jie'en. The queen is still the queen and the mother of the little prince. Who has the time to mess with the queen's people now?"
That makes sense, Guo Shao said calmly.
Cao Tai suddenly came to his senses and asked in amazement: "What does General Guo want that thing for?"
Guo Shao's murderous look was filled with madness, and he said coldly: What does Zhao Kuangyin want to do
Cao Tai suddenly trembled, his face turned pale, and he spoke incoherently: What does Zhao Kuangyin want to do