The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 578 Escorted back to Beijing
In mid-June, Zhu Xiu and Zhang Yongde escorted the Holy Emperor to the north bank of Wuzhang River and stayed at Chenqiaoyi, across the river from Kaifeng.

The entire city of Kaifeng has been sealed off, and it is difficult to send news out of the city for a while. The situation in the city is now unpredictable.

At night, Zhu Xiu personally waited on Chai Rong's bed.

On the way back to Kaifeng from Chanzhou, Chai Rong spent less and less time awake every day, and his breath became weaker and weaker. The doctor accompanying him was helpless and could only use some precious medicinal materials to breathe.

There were footsteps outside the house. Zhu Xiu looked back and saw Zhang Yongde leading two people in a hurry.

"Wencai, look, who's here!" Zhang Yongde couldn't hide his joy in his low voice.

Under the dim light, two familiar faces appeared.

"General Wang! Ambassador Cao!"

Zhu Xiu was greatly surprised and hurriedly stood up and came forward to meet him. The visitors turned out to be Wang Shenqi and Cao Han.

"Greetings to Duke Zhao!" The two of them couldn't hide their excitement when they saw Zhu Xiu. They clasped their fists and knelt down in obeisance.

"You two don't need to be polite, please get up quickly!" Zhu Xiu leaned over and helped the two of them up.

"How is your Majesty's condition?" Cao Han asked hurriedly, and Wang Shenqi also looked worried.

Zhu Xiu sighed: "Your Majesty is in the inner room, you two come closer."

Zhu Xiu led the two of them into the inner room. Under the dim light, they saw a man who was as angry as a thread lying on the bed.

"Your Majesty!" Cao Han and Wang Shenqi knelt on the ground, unable to hide the grief in their hearts, and couldn't help crying.

Chai Rong, who was lying on the hospital bed at the moment, was as thin as wood and had a sallow complexion. Only by putting his ear close could he hear his weak breathing.

A generation of great emperors will pass away early before the age of 40, how can we not make people sad and sentimental.

The two of them knelt in front of the hospital bed and wept. After a while, they got up with the help of Zhu Xiu and Zhang Yongde and sat down in the next room.

Cao Han's face was full of sorrow: "Does your Majesty have any intention to stay?"

Zhang Yongde said wait a moment, took back the brocade box, and took out an edict from the brocade box.

"This is His Majesty's last edict. Please take a look at it."

Cao Han looked solemn, took it with both hands solemnly, looked at each other with Wang Shenqi, and slowly unfolded the edict.

Judging from the handwriting, it was indeed written by Chai Rong himself.

Zongxun, the eldest son of the emperor, was appointed as the king of Liang, and he inspected the palace of Kaifeng. After the collapse of Shanling, he ordered his ministers to ascend the throne in favor of the king of Liang.

The Taifu and Duke Zhao were all inspected in front of the palace, and Zhu Xiu, the deputy commander of the guards and horse infantry, was appointed as the minister of Gu Ming to assist in military affairs.

Cao Han and Wang Shenqi glanced at each other, there is no problem with the edict, and this is probably the last decree made by His Majesty during his lifetime.

Your Majesty entrusted the emperor's eldest son and the great Zhou Dynasty to Zhu Xiu.

"I am willing to act according to Taifu's orders!" They both knelt down and paid homage.

Zhu Xiu hurriedly stood up and supported him: "You two, please get up quickly!"

He held their hands and said sincerely: "Your Majesty is in danger and the country is in catastrophe. I hope you two can work together with me to protect King Liang and stabilize the government!"

The two of them said solemnly: "Everything must be obeyed by Taifu!"

After sitting down again, Cao Han and Wang Shenqi looked more cautious and humble.

Zhang Yongde hurriedly said: "What's the situation in Beijing right now? How did you two escape from the city?"

Wang Shenqi smiled bitterly and said: "That day I happened to be at the Waiguocheng military camp when I suddenly heard that Han Lingkun, Gao Huaide, An Shouzhong, Mi Xin, Tian Chongjin and other Forbidden Army generals had been summoned to the palace by Zhang Mei and Wu Yanzuo on the pretext of discussing military affairs. After not seeing anyone for two days, I had a feeling something was going to happen.

I made an excuse to go home, sneaked into the West Street Market on the way, and hid for a whole day. Then I heard that someone in the palace had taken the Privy Council's military order, mobilized the soldiers and horses in front of the palace, and sent people around to inquire about my whereabouts.

I asked someone to deliver the letter home, and then fled out of the city. As soon as I left, the whole city was sealed off. "

Cao Han said: "After the news from Chanzhou came back to Beijing, Zhang Mei, Wu Yanzuo, Zan Jurun, Zhao Kuangyi and others conspired in Zhang Mei's house for days. I sensed something was wrong and sent the Wude Inspector to follow up and investigate. I learned that Zhang Mei and others wanted to correct themselves. The imperial edict appointed the concubine as the queen, and then regent in the name of the queen. I originally wanted to contact the prime ministers Fan Zhi and Wang Pu, but only one day later, I received the news that they had been placed under house arrest in Wende Palace.

In this way, the Kaifeng court situation would inevitably fall into the hands of Zhang Mei, Wu Yanzuo and others. As a last resort, I borrowed a canal boat to hide and took the canal waterway out of the city. "

Cao Han and Wang Shenqi looked at each other and smiled bitterly: "I want to send the news to the Holy Driver as soon as possible. We met on the way."

Zhang Yongde said in shock and anger: "Zhang Mei, Wu Yanzuo, Zhao Kuangyi and other rebellious officials dare to fake the imperial edict and usurp the queen? And dare to imprison the court officials? It is really a crime that cannot be punished!"

Cao Han smiled bitterly and said: "This group of rebels supervises the country under the supervision of the King of Liang, and oversees the power of the imperial court in the name of the queen's regent. In fact, the decrees are all of their own accord."

Wang Shenqi said solemnly: "Han Lingkun, Gao Huaide, An Shouzhong and other forbidden army generals were detained. Most of the military power of the front department fell into the hands of the Zhao family forces headed by Zhao Kuangyi. Zhang Qiong secretly returned to Beijing and colluded with Zhang Lingduo, Zhang Guanghan, Zhao Yanhui, Wang Zhengzhong, Yang Guangyi, Liu Shouzhong, Liu Qingyi and other generals at all levels wantonly bought people's hearts.

Han Tong, the Marquis of Yu in front of the palace, seemed to have taken refuge with Zhang Mei and others, and was ordered to command the military power in Beijing. "

Zhang Yongde took a breath, the situation in Kaifeng was worse than he expected.

Zhu Xiu's face was gloomy and she thought for a moment:
"Han Tong is loyal to His Majesty, but he must have been deceived by Zhang Mei and others. When he knows clearly who is the treacherous minister who is correcting the imperial edict and disrupting the government, he will definitely abandon the secret and turn to the bright side.

Forbidden army generals such as Zhang Lingduo, Zhang Guanghan, Zhao Yanhui, Wang Zhengzhong, and Yang Guangyi did not seek refuge with Zhang Mei and Wu Yanzuo, but with Zhao Kuangyin who was far away in Yunzhou.

Only Zhao Kuangyin had enough prestige to win over the people in front of the palace.

I predict that the next goal of this gang of thieves will be to try their best to get rid of me, and then recall Zhao Kuangyin to take over the military power, so that the situation in the court can be completely stabilized.

Before that, they did not dare to act rashly. "

Zhang Yongde said angrily: "After the imperial edict was established, hundreds of officials were imprisoned, and the king of Liang held them in their hands like puppets on strings!"

Cao Han hesitated and said in a low voice: "Before I escaped from the city, I heard the news that the puppet queen sent Zhao Kuangyi soldiers to surround the Duke of Zhao's mansion and took away Mrs. Zhao and the eldest son of the prince."

Zhu Xiu's eyes narrowed sharply, she clasped her hands tightly, but her face remained calm:

"Taking my wife and children into the palace is nothing more than taking them as hostages, so that I dare not act rashly.

The more the rebellious party is like this, the more it shows that they are very guilty, knowing that Queen Jiaoli can't convince the courtiers at all.

They will first find a way to get rid of me, then the son-in-law, and finally everyone who questions or threatens the legitimacy of their control of the government. "

Zhu Xiu shook his head and laughed contemptuously: "A gang of mobs can't make a big deal!"

Cao Han and Wang Shenqi looked at each other. Zhu Xiu knew that his wife and children had been taken into the palace as hostages, but he was still so calm and composed. This magnanimity was admirable.

Seeing Zhu Xiu so calm, the two of them felt a lot more at ease.

Zhang Yongde said worriedly: "But now Kaifeng is in the hands of the chaos. Under such dangerous circumstances, you still want to go to Beijing?"

"Of course!" Zhu Xiu nodded, "Escorting His Majesty's Holy Emperor back to Beijing is the top priority. The rebellious party would not dare to stop His Majesty's Holy Emperor from returning to Beijing. Otherwise, if the world can see their faces of pretending to usurp power, wouldn't it cause public outrage? "

Zhang Yongde said: "But once we enter Beijing, we will be closely monitored. What can we do?"

Cao Han smiled bitterly and said: "Luo Yanhuan, the deputy envoy of Wude Division, has secretly defected to the Zhao family. Today's Wude Division is no longer trustworthy. Otherwise, I would not have received the news at the last moment about this incident in the palace."

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. Without Wu Desi, I still have other people available."

After looking at Cao Han and Wang Shenqi, Zhu Xiu said: "You two come back to Beijing with me in disguise, and I will send reliable people to help you.

The envoy Cao was in charge of contacting the cronies of Wu Desi in Jingzhong, trying to find the place where Han Lingkun and others were detained, and then contacting the courtiers imprisoned in the Wende Palace.

General Wang is in charge of secretly contacting the general in front of the hall. After you two are ready, continue to hide your whereabouts and wait for my follow-up orders.

The consort will accompany me to escort His Majesty's royal carriage into the palace.Your status is valuable and conspicuous, and you will definitely be closely monitored, so there is no need to do anything. Just wait for the day of the incident and help me stabilize the hearts of the ruling and opposition parties! "

Cao Han and Wang Shenqi didn't think too much, clasped their fists and said: "I will obey the Taifu's order!"

Zhang Yongde was surprised and said: "How are you going to start an uprising?"

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "I will find a way to mobilize the Imperial Army out of the city. As long as the army leaves the city and is freed from the constraints of the imperial court, there will be a chance to get rid of the traitors and eliminate the imperial gang!" "But right now you have no available generals at all." Zhang Yongde's plan for him Expressing doubt, he immediately thought of something and said in surprise:
"Qianliuzhuang? No wonder you asked Shi Shouxin and Shi Xiangwen to go there early!"

Zhu Xiu smiled and said nothing.

Long before the division of troops in Chanzhou returned to the city, he asked Shi Xiangwen to lead a 2000-strong imperial army to Qianliu Village in advance. In addition, there were more than 1000 tenant farmers in the village, who were actually veterans of the Zhangyi Army in Jingzhou. Thousands of soldiers and horses.

Zhu Xiuhao stood up, looking at the faces of the three people one by one with sharp eyes, and said in a deep voice: "The country is in danger, I hope you will work together with me to sweep away the filth and filth, and restore the world to a bright and peaceful world!"

The three people clasped their fists and shouted: "I am willing to follow Tai Tu Kuang to help the country!"

~~~
At noon the next day, the Holy Master arrived at the north gate of Kaifeng.

The towering city wall was full of Imperial Army soldiers, and Zhu Xiu and Zhang Yongde straddled under the city.

After a while, Han Tong climbed to the top of the city and saw the emperor's chariot and the guard of honor covered with yellow flags and umbrellas.

There were only a thousand people escorting the Holy Emperor back to the capital. Han Tong immediately ordered the city gate to be opened, but was stopped by Yang Guangyi, the patrolling envoy:
"It seems to be a scam, so I'd better inform Erlangjun and Mr. Zhang first!"

Han Tong stared closely at the Emperor's chariot parked not far outside the city, and said angrily: "His Majesty's Holy Chariot is just outside the city. Do you dare to stop the Holy Chariot from returning to Beijing?"

Yang Guangyi glanced outside the city, and said coldly: "Zhu Xiu is full of tricks, Mr. Erlang and Mr. Zhang have repeatedly told you to be careful!"

Han Tong said impatiently: "If I want to report it, go and report it. I will go out of the city first to meet the Holy Driver!"

Yang Guangyi suddenly grabbed his arm: "No!"

"Release!" Han Tong glared at him viciously, his bull's eyes widened, and his face was very ferocious, no wonder he was nicknamed Han Gaiyan.

Yang Guangyi couldn't help but feel a bit chilly, let go of his hand, and watched angrily as he ran down the road to the city.

"Keep an eye on him!" Yang Guangyi ordered in a low voice. Liu Shouzhong and Liu Qingyi clasped their fists in salute and followed Han Tong.

Yang Guangyi himself hurried back to the inner city to report.

The city gate opened, the suspension bridge was slowly lowered, and Han Tong took the lead and rushed out of the city.

"I want to see Your Majesty!"

Han Tong rushed to Zhu Xiu on horseback, reined in his horse and kicked, and shouted anxiously.

Zhang Yongde said: "Your Majesty is seriously ill and has not woken up for two days. If General Han wants to see you, please be quiet and don't disturb the holy commander."

Han Tong had a dark face and looked at Zhu Xiu and Zhang Yongde, "Okay!"

When he came to the side of Tianzi's chariot, Zhang Yongde said softly: "General Han, please be quiet."

Han Tong took a deep breath, stepped on the footstool and boarded the carriage, gently opened the curtain, bent down and tiptoed into the carriage.

"Your Majesty~~wuwuwu~~" Soon, the sound of suppressed crying came from the carriage.

Beside the car, Liu Shouzhong and Liu Qingyi, who had been keeping their faces cold and not looking sideways, suddenly cast their gazes at Zhu Xiu. Zhu Xiu didn't speak, but nodded slightly.

Zhang Yongde saw this scene with an expression of confusion and surprise.

After a while, Han Tong stepped out of the emperor's chariot with red eyes, his face could not hide his sadness.

"Your Majesty's illness is serious," Han Tong choked.

Zhu Xiu sighed and nodded.

Han Tong wiped his tears fiercely. It was hard to imagine that a general who killed many people on the battlefield and was famous for his might was crying so sadly at this moment.

"Your Majesty, can you tell me about your future affairs?" Han Tong asked sadly.

Zhu Xiu took out Chai Rong's edict and handed it to him. Han Tong read it several times and found no fraud.

"Your Majesty really has no intention of establishing a queen?" Han Tong asked suspiciously.

Zhang Yongde sighed: "Queen Xuanyi passed away, and your Majesty made it clear that he will not establish a queen in the future. Doesn't General Han understand your Majesty's thoughts?"

Han Tong remained silent. He was also a trusted minister of Chai Rong. He knew that Chai Rong had no feelings for Fu Jinwan, so making her a noble concubine was just to maintain the marriage with Fu.

Han Tong stared at Zhu Xiu closely: "After entering the city, you can take out His Majesty's edict, summon the courtiers and officials, and announce in public that King Liang has ascended the throne."

Zhu Xiudao: "When I return to the capital, I will of course abide by His Majesty's will and be enthroned by King Liang. However, this edict will not be made public in a short time. You should be the last person to see it with your own eyes."

Han Tong asked in confusion: "Why?"

Zhu Xiu said calmly: "Zhang Mei, Zhao Kuangyi and others will ascend the throne in honor of King Liang, but they will never allow me to become a minister of Gu Ming.

These people dare to pretend to be the queen, just to use the name of the queen as regent to control the government. How can they be willing to hand over the auxiliary power? "

Han Tong frowned and said nothing.

"General Han, I hope you can make the right decision one day!"

Zhu Xiu lowered her voice and spoke quickly.

Then he passed him and looked toward the north gate of Kaifeng.

I saw thick dust rising from the north gate, and a large number of forbidden troops rushed out of the city. The leaders were none other than Zhao Kuangyi, Zhang Mei, Wu Yanzuo, and Zan Jurun, who currently monopolize power in the court.

Zhang Mei glanced at Han Tong coldly. This man dared to open the city gate without notification. If Zhu Xiu returned with his army, wouldn't a war have broken out?

"Mr. Zhao, the queen has a decree, please escort the Holy Driver back to the palace with us!"

Wu Yanzuo cupped his hands and smiled.

Zhu Xiu pretended to be confused and said, "Where are Fan Xianggong, Wang Xianggong and the other princes?"

Wu Yanzuo smiled and said: "The princes are already waiting in the palace. We will know when Duke Zhao enters the palace."

Zhu Xiu hesitated for a moment: "Would you please Wu Liushou to ask the Imperial Medical Office to send someone to accompany you as soon as possible? Your Majesty is seriously ill and can no longer afford the trouble."

Wu Yanzuo said: "Mr. Zhao has worked hard all the way. Now that he has returned to Kaifeng, it is up to us to serve His Majesty. Mr. Zhao, please take a rest."

With a wave of Wu Yanzuo's hand, Zhang Lingduo, Zhang Guanghan and other generals of the Forbidden Army led troops and horses to take over the emperor's chariot.

Zhao Kuangyi suddenly said: "Does Duke Zhao know where the two traitors Cao Han and Wang Shenqi are hiding?"

Zhu Xiu asked in surprise: "What crime did the two of them commit? How could it be rebellion?"

Zhao Kuangyi sneered: "The two of them blatantly violated the Queen's decree and defied the imperial court. They are already guilty of death!"

Zhu Xiu shook his head: "We escorted the holy driver all the way back from Chanzhou, but we have never seen these two."

Zhao Kuangyi stared at him for a long time, snorted coldly and said nothing.

Wu Yanzuo smiled and said: "Duke Zhao and Wu, please come into the city!"

Under the custody of Zhao Yanhui, Wang Zhengzhong and others, Zhu Xiu and Zhang Yongde accompanied the imperial army into the city.

Han Tong was guarding the emperor's chariot, and Liu Shouzhong and Liu Qingyi followed him closely.

Zhang Mei and Zhao Kuangyi walked at the end and said coldly: "Han Tong is not trustworthy, so we should get rid of him as soon as possible."

Zhao Kuangyi said confidently: "With Er Liu monitoring us, Han Tong's life is not yet in our hands. When King Liang comes to the throne and the situation becomes more stable, these people will not be afraid."

If Zhang Mei wanted to say anything else, Zhao Kuangyi said: "Ms. Zhang should think about how to get rid of Zhu Xiu, he is our biggest enemy!"

Zhang Mei always felt that their arrangement was a bit unstable, but she couldn't think of a better way for a while.

Fortunately, the emperor's emperor was successfully retrieved, Zhu Xiu and Zhang Yongde were also under control, and the situation developed in their favor.

(End of this chapter)