Guo Shao sat upright on the chair and exhaled, then stretched out his hand and rubbed his forehead for a while. He thought that if he had told Bai the reason earlier, there would not be such an embarrassing scene. Today, there were many things to do. As soon as he saw Bai, he went to see the ministers and really didn't take care of this Wang Zhong. It must be arranged by him, otherwise Bai would not be able to enter this room.
Wang Zhong, the eunuch, usually did a good job, but occasionally he did something that made Guo Shao laugh and cry. Guo Shao didn't want to punish him, because those who could do practical things all paid attention to integrity and etiquette, and it would be quite boring without a servant like Wang Zhong who had such shattered integrity.
There was a rustling sound behind the screen, and Bai was dressing and tying her belt. A lamp was lit in the warm room, and the light was reflected on the screen embroidered with a picture of mandarin ducks playing in the water, casting Bai's shadow on it, but she might not be aware of it.
Guo Shao, however, sat outside, watching her live performance, feeling a burning sensation in his heart.
His heart was in turmoil. He thought that if he was just looking for desire, Bai Shi was not bad either because she had no psychological burden. Anyway, Bai Shi was already like this, so playing with her wouldn't be a problem.
But this matter is indeed troublesome, and Guo Shao dare not act rashly.
Bai put on her clothes, not daring to look at Guo Shao. She walked out with her head lowered and knelt down, saying: I am sorry for my rudeness, Your Majesty, please forgive me.
Guo Shao thought that if he said Lu Lan lived in the palace, he could explain why he rejected her so ruthlessly. But it would be even more embarrassing to say it now, and he would be so ashamed that he wanted to die. So he held back and didn't say it for the time being.
Get up. Guo Shao was not willing to humiliate this woman.
Bai was still very ashamed and choked up, saying: "I am overestimating my own abilities. I am a weakling, yet I dare to ask for your Majesty's favor.
Guo Shao felt soft-hearted after hearing this, and hurriedly tried to persuade her kindly: Madam is very beautiful, there is no need to belittle yourself.
Bai gritted her teeth and lowered her head: Your Majesty, what you said is true
Guo Shao said with a serious face and a voice full of pity, "You were taken away by Xiao Siwen, and you had no choice. Madam, your skin is whiter than snow, and your bones are plump, which makes me feel even more pity."
Bai's mood calmed down after hearing this. I am really as good as your majesty said.
Guo Shao nodded without any pressure and spoke: I felt that Madam was beautiful when I saw her today. People like you know the warmth and coldness and have charm. I don't look down on you at all.
Bai's mood improved after being praised by the emperor himself. She gently touched her ear with her fingers and whispered: "It will be better when my hair grows longer."
Guo Shao said calmly: Before I ascended the throne, I met Doctor Lu and he treated me.
Ah Bai immediately raised her head and asked, "Your Majesty, please know where he is now."
Guo Shaodao: Died of illness.
Bai's expression suddenly became gloomy, not knowing what to say. Guo Shao advised: Madam, please accept my condolences.
Bai said: I have a daughter who lives with her father. Your Majesty, do you know her whereabouts
Guo Shaodao: He first went to Wushan to seek refuge with his uncle's hometown, and later cured the illness of the Privy Councilor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He recognized Wang Pu as his adoptive father and is now in Tokyo.
Bai looked sad but also relieved, with a very rich expression.
Guo Shao glanced at her and said: Madam, don't worry, follow me back to Tokyo and you will be reunited with Madam Lu. I am also very happy to see you and your daughter reunited.
Bai said hurriedly: "Thank you, Your Majesty. It is getting late, I will not bother Your Majesty any more, so I will take my leave now."
Guo Shao nodded in agreement and watched her slim figure walk out.
He breathed a sigh of relief and finally calmed down. There was still a map on the table. Guo Shao took a look at it. The pressure was not great at this time, but the big thing was not over yet. The victory and defeat of Youzhou had been decided. I am afraid that all the states in Hebei would have to surrender. The problem could be solved without bloodshed. There were only two places in the Sixteen States of Youyun that were still obstacles: the original Lulong Jiezhen land, and Yunzhou.
The news of Youzhou's fall soon reached Shangjing, and Yelu Jing received Xiao Siwen's memorial a little later.
Xiao Siwen said in his memorial that he had made great efforts to deploy defenses for Youzhou. Unexpectedly, Yelu Xiu'ge's reinforcements were annihilated, and Zhou's army threw heads into the city, causing panic and low morale. Rumors spread that the Liao emperor wanted to delay until autumn to find an excuse, and there would be no more reinforcements to save Youzhou. At this time, the soldiers in Youzhou complained and plotted a mutiny.
He had no choice but to open the city and fight a decisive battle. He attacked the Zhou army from two directions and wanted to die with the Zhou army. However, his generals were afraid of death and took him away from the battlefield when they were defeated.
Yelu Jing was furious after reading the memorial and tore it to pieces.
He escaped from the battlefield and tried to deceive the Khan. He deserved death for deceiving the emperor. The generals of the army were summoned to the palace to see the Khan. Yelu Jing was already furious in the palace and cursed loudly. The officials and attendants on duty around him were all shocked.
After a while, Yelu Jing shouted again, "Bring me some wine!"
The attendant hurriedly brought the wine, but Yelu Jing immediately started cursing, saying that there was no food to go with the wine, so how could the Khan ask the imperial chef to roast lamb
Yes, yes. The young man said hurriedly.
Yelu Jing pointed at him and said fiercely: One day I will kill you and crush your body to pieces.
The young man was terrified and crawled to the kitchen to pass on the order. The cook Xingu and others saw that he was trembling all over and asked him why. The young man then cried and told them what had just happened.
At this time, the eunuch Da Lie came to the kitchen and asked: Why haven't the dishes been served yet? The Khan said he would kill all the cooks.
Xingu and the others' faces turned pale.
If the Khan was just venting his anger, it would be fine, but there were too many such incidents in the past. Almost every once in a while, the Khan would brutally kill people around him for some inexplicable trivial matters. There were too many real examples in front of us. At this time, no one thought that the Khan was joking.
Seeing this, the eunuch Da Lie said: We will die sooner or later if we stay by the Khan's side, so why not kill him together
Xingu Dao: The Khan has his trusted guards outside the palace. How can we attack him with bare hands
The eunuch replied fiercely: "When you serve the meat later, hide the kitchen knife in the plate, and go close to the Khan. I will urge the guards not to search, so as not to anger the Khan. After entering, I will take advantage of the unpreparedness and kill him with a random knife."
Those people were still very scared, and Dalie spent a lot of time inciting and intimidating them, saying that the guards and generals knew him, and as long as the Khan died, they might be able to save their lives.
After some hasty preparations, several cooks and attendants carried mutton into the Khan's palace.
The eunuch Da Lie really urged them to enter the palace quickly. He stood quietly in the corner of the door, waiting in fear.
He should have acted as his superiors had ordered a few days ago. Perhaps some other people he didn't know were also looking for an opportunity. However, it was too risky to act on his own. He might be hacked to death. When he encountered such a thing, Da Lie felt that his chances of survival were greater, so he simply took the opportunity to set up a trap and took the risk.
Although Khan Yelu Jing was cruel, most people would have little chance or courage to do so. Killing the Khan would involve many people and result in the deaths of many people unless there was a powerful force backing them up from behind.
At this moment, Xingu took out a kitchen knife from the plate.
Da Lie stared expectantly, thinking:
Yelu Jing was shocked, raised his wine pot to resist, and dodged. The ceramic wine pot was chopped into pieces by a knife, and the kitchen knife chopped Yelu Jing's hand. He screamed in pain, and blood flowed from his hand.
But Yelu Jing was also a ruthless man. Regardless of his injury, he immediately lifted the table with his other hand and shouted: There is an assassin!
Before the last word fell, the servant boy at the back picked up a meat-cutting knife and stabbed Yelu Jing in the back. Yelu Jing screamed again. The boy was shocked and frightened, and he didn't stop holding the knife in his hand, stabbing wildly.
The guards have rushed in.
The incident was so sudden that it happened almost in an instant. The table in Yelu Jing's hand fell back with a clang, and he screamed as he was stabbed countless times in the back. At this time, the cook Xingu in front of him swung a kitchen knife and chopped at his face, with bone scraps and blood splattering everywhere.
The guards rushed over, yelling and picking up the iron bones, they beat those people wildly, and there was blood and gore inside.
The eunuch Da Lie and other guards rushed in, and then he slipped out of the palace gate. When he saw someone, he shouted: "Hurry up and protect the emperor! The Khan has encountered an assassin."
The palace was in chaos, and the guards and officials all ran inside.
Da Lie slipped out of the palace without making a sound.
In Yelu Xizhen's army camp, Xiao Siwen, with his head and face wrapped up so that only a pair of eyeballs were left, walked quickly into the central army tent and said to Yelu Xizhen in a deep voice: Once the matter is done, immediately summon all the generals and first support Yelu Xian as emperor; then command the coalition forces to advance to Shangjing.
Yelu Xizhen said: As for the rest of the tribes, I will entrust them to Lord Xiao.
Xiao Siwen said: I have sent someone on a fast horse to deliver the message.
Yelu Xizhen said happily: "The great thing has been accomplished."
Xiao Siwen sighed: Some people in the palace army, as well as the ministers and nobles of Taizong's line, may rebel. Civil war is inevitable. This king is extremely sad.
Yelu Xizhen said coldly: The tyrant and the brutal chaos have brought the Liao Dynasty to such a state. If people like Xiao Gong who are loyal to the Liao Dynasty are no longer in power, the country will be in danger. Those who dare to resist are treacherous and cunning people who do not care about the overall situation. Only by shedding blood can the treacherous and cunning people be cleansed and the Liao Dynasty can be revived.
Xiao Siwen said seriously: The Marshal is wise and righteous, and the country is fortunate.
He then said calmly: “The Marshal has supported me and I will be your loyal minister in the future.”
Soon, a row of Liao soldiers outside the tent puffed up their cheeks and blew the sobbing horn, and the generals walked towards the big tent one after another. On the surrounding grassland, there were tents in a row, and a large group of cavalry were galloping on the field, the sound of horse hooves roared, and they gathered in front of the camp.
The sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind was raging, horses were galloping on the ground, weapons were everywhere, it seemed as if the whole grassland was about to turn over.
The Ming Dynasty 1617 written by Dan Mo Qing Shan is highly recommended today. It is a very good book.