I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 489 My Way of Filial Piety
"So you're waiting for us here?"

Huo Guang instantly understood Liu Ju's sinister intentions.

This cousin of the prince actually intended to use this method to make Lu Bode and Li Ling give up and achieve his goal of continuing to stay in the Western Regions.

But he still couldn't figure out what Liu Ju was thinking.

If Liu Ju wanted to reinstate the crown prince, this time he not only achieved something that made Emperor Liu Che hesitate, but even surpassed the achievements of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. If he could also keep his tail between his legs and return to the capital to report, the matter of reinstating the crown prince should be a piece of cake.

On the contrary, if he tried every possible means to stay in the Western Regions like he is doing now, Liu Che would definitely become more wary and dissatisfied.

If this continues, Liu Ju's situation will only become more and more dangerous, and the Wei and Huo families will also be in an extremely dangerous situation...

Could it be that this cousin of the prince really couldn't think of these things?
Huo Guang felt that Liu Ju should have realized that a man who could turn the Western Regions upside down in such a short period of time must be close to a demon in terms of strategy, wisdom, means and many other aspects.

How could such a monster not think of such a simple thing?

What's more, Liu Che had already sent many waves of envoys to summon him, and the identities and weight of the envoys were still increasing. Even the most dull person in the world should have realized Liu Che's thoughts long ago.

At this moment, Huo Guang suddenly felt it necessary to understand Liu Ju's thoughts first, so that he could give advice based on local conditions.

Liu Che has already pointed out that he and Liu Ju are of the same blood.

It is impossible to forcibly "escort" Liu Ju back to Beijing when he is unwilling to go back to report, right?

Once things developed to this point, although he completed the task assigned by Liu Che, Liu Ju was completely finished and would face an even more difficult situation after returning.

Although he could then keep himself safe, or allow the Huo family to have temporary peace, he would also be cut off from the Wei family. His aunt Wei Zifu would surely poke him in the back, and his deceased uncle Wei Qing would probably not be able to rest in peace as his body is still warm.

Although he also has his own thoughts and cruelty in his heart.

At Liu Ju's most difficult moment, even a moment of life and death, although he believed that he could stand idly by, it was absolutely impossible for him to obey the order to be the executioner and accomplice of Liu Ju's execution.

With this in mind, Huo Guang no longer considered the issue of avoiding suspicion. He bowed to Lu Bode and Li Ling and said:
"General Lu, General Li, could you allow me to have a few words with His Highness alone?"

"Of course, General Li, I just have to pee urgently, would you like to come with me?"

Lu Bode immediately understood and gestured to Li Ling to come in.

"After hearing what General Lu said, I can't hold it back any longer."

Li Ling also nodded quickly.

So the two of them bowed to Liu Ju again, turned around and walked out together.

At this time, Huo Guang turned to Liu Ju and said sternly:

"Your Highness, there are no outsiders here, so I will just speak frankly."

"Now His Majesty is worried about you. When I came here, His Majesty almost told me that if you don't go back to report, it will not only affect you, but also Queen Wei, Concubine Yi, your son who stayed in the palace, and the members of the Wei and Huo families. I'm afraid they will all be implicated."

“In addition, not only Lu Bode and Li Ling brought the tiger talisman bestowed by His Majesty himself.”

"In fact, Sang Hongyang should have carried the secret decree of His Majesty with him, but for some reason he has not yet complied with His Majesty's secret order and forced it upon you."

"But now that Lu Bode, Li Ling and I are here together again, Sang Hongyang will definitely understand your majesty's intentions immediately. No matter how much he favored you before, he will have to follow the secret decree now."

"The current situation is very unfavorable to you, and it is also extremely dangerous to the members of the Wei and Huo clans."

"To be honest, I have thought of countless scenarios on the way here, but the result of any one of them is hopeless. The only option that is beneficial to you and everyone else is for you to follow me back to the capital to report."

"As your cousin, I also hope that you will think carefully and never act willfully and make mistakes again."

After hearing what Huo Guang said, Liu Ju nodded and continued to smile:

"Cousin, I always treat you as one of my own, even though sometimes you disagree with me, or even refute and oppose me in public, this has never changed."

"So I firmly believe that you will never harm me. Even if you do something, it is out of necessity."

"But you still know a little less about me."

"Do you know why Sang Hongyang came to the Western Regions with my father's secret decree, but never acted in accordance with the secret decree, and ended up staying in the Western Regions for half a year, and still devoted his heart and soul to assisting me?"

"Could it be that Sang Hongyang is more loyal to me between my father and me?"

"This……"

Huo Guang had long felt that this matter was quite strange. Sang Hongyang was different from him, or it could be said that Sang Hongyang was different from most of the ministers in the court. He almost grew up with Liu Che.

Liu Che absolutely trusted Sang Hongyang, and Sang Hongyang was absolutely loyal to Liu Che.

However, even such an unbreakable relationship between the monarch and his subject changed after Sang Hongyang arrived in the Western Regions in a way that even Emperor Liu Che could not have expected.

"…Please explain clearly, Your Highness."

Huo Guang's curiosity had been completely aroused, and he asked subconsciously.

"Because the strategic goal I just told Lu Bode and Li Ling was not just talk. I can see that my cousin doesn't believe it in his heart, and Lu Bode and Li Ling don't dare to believe it either."

Liu Ju continued to laugh and said,

"But this is understandable, because you can't do it, and you don't believe anyone can do it."

"And Sang Hongyang saw this possibility in me. Generals such as Zhao Po Nu and the Han soldiers also saw this possibility in me. They are not loyal to me, they are still loyal to my father and the Han Dynasty."

"For the sake of the Han Dynasty, they are willing to stand together with me and stay in the Western Regions to help me, because they know that only I can accomplish this."

"..."

Huo Guang's heart trembled slightly when he heard this.

Although Liu Ju's tone was not passionate, the momentum of "who else but me" in his words was not weak at all.

But think about it again.

Although he, Lu Bode and Li Ling all felt that when Liu Chuan stated that strategic goal, he was still trying his best to make Lu Bode and Li Ling retreat in the face of difficulties and achieve the purpose of delaying their return.

But let’s look back at Liu Ju’s military achievements over the past two years.

The Huns in the north, who had threatened the Han Dynasty for nearly a hundred years, disappeared just like that. The countries in the Western Regions, which Liu Che had previously sent countless envoys to win over but to no avail, have all become members of the "Western Alliance" and follow the lead of the Han Dynasty.

Even Wusun, which had married into the Han Dynasty and was originally the largest country in the Western Regions, now had to follow the Han Dynasty's filial piety and worship Liu Xijun, who had never even seen her husband before the marriage, as the queen mother. Her words even carried more weight than the current Wusun king. The two-palace system of the Han Dynasty had been implemented in Wusun.

The Huns alone almost exhausted Emperor Liu Che's dynasty, and he even outlasted the two great Han dynasties before he could complete his plan.

But for Liu Ju, it was so easy, as if he had not even used his full strength...

So what about the Great Xia Kingdom?
What about the Parthian Empire?

Are they stronger than the Huns?

"Cousin, forgive me for being frank, but my father's definition of 'loyalty' is a bit narrow. Being loyal to him alone is just blind loyalty in my opinion. Being loyal to the Han Dynasty is the real loyal minister, and it is also the minister that the Han Dynasty needs most."

Liu Ju continued,

"Sometimes, it is precisely because of my father's narrow-mindedness that he limited the talents of his subjects and the achievements he made, which caused him to be stained with an indelible stain and unable to become a truly wise and holy ruler who will be remembered for generations." "In fact, even if I don't say these things, my cousin, as a close minister of my father, must have felt it a long time ago."

"And what I am doing now is to break the narrow-mindedness of my father's heart."

"One day, he will understand my intentions and feel my filial piety. Then there will be no more obstacles between us as father and son, and we can realize true fatherly love and filial piety."

How could Huo Guang not be touched after hearing this?

The reason why he has been so cautious over the years is not only because of his innate obsessive-compulsive disorder, but also to play the role of a loyal and lone minister in front of Emperor Liu Che.

Because he had always maintained an unknown connection with Wei Qing and Wei Zifu, he also knew that Wei Qing had actually been doing the same thing over the years.

The root of all this is naturally His Majesty Liu Che.

Otherwise, Wei Qing could definitely have done a better job, and the threat from the Huns might have been resolved earlier.

Unfortunately, this is simply unrealistic. Being a minister under Liu Che, there are too many things to consider...

However, these feelings did not cloud Huo Guang's rationality. He soon asked the most critical question:

"But what about before that day comes?"

"Did your cousin ever get beaten by your father when he was a child?"

Liu Ju did not answer but asked instead.

Although Huo Guang was puzzled in his letter, he still replied:

"Of course I have."

"What about now? My cousin has grown up and is holding an important position in the palace. If your father wants to teach him a lesson again, how will he respond?"

Liu Ju asked again.

Liu Ju asked again.

This time Huo Guang did not give a direct answer, but frowned and asked:

"What exactly does your Highness mean by asking about this matter?"

Liu Ju did not give a direct answer, and continued:
"If my guess is correct, now my cousin has both legs and status. If your father wants to teach my cousin a lesson, I will accept it if it is a small stick, and walk away if it is a big stick. After all, Confucius said that Emperor Shun also served his father in this way. This is not unfilial, but great filial piety."

"It's the same with me and my father."

"Now I have legs and feet, and a foundation. If my father teaches me, I will accept the small stick and walk away if I am beaten hard."

"Just like at this moment, if my father wants to take back the military power, I will return it to him. If my father wants to abolish my military position, I will return the seal to him. I will never fight against him."

"But if my father wants to detain me, escort me, control me, or put me under house arrest, then I will have to 'leave with a big stick'."

"Otherwise, when my father is furious, he will beat me with a big stick, or I will be seriously injured, which will make my father regret and worry, and give him the reputation of being unkind. It is better to escape for the time being."

“This is my way of being filial.”

"Cousin, I am not afraid to tell you that I now have a foothold in the Western Regions. Even if I lose the military power and status bestowed upon me by my father, even if I am demoted to a commoner, I can still thrive in the Western Regions and continue to advance my strategic goals. No one can stop me."

"So whether it's Lu Bode, or Li Ling coming, or all the generals and officials of the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions are forcibly recalled, my father will not be able to trap me anymore."

At this point, Huo Guang could no longer conceal his shock. He looked at Liu Ju with awe and could not help but say:

"Cousin...I'm afraid you have been planning this a long time ago, right?"

It is not difficult for ordinary people to "endure small beatings and run away when they are severely beaten". After all, it is just ordinary physical pain and it is just a matter of running a few steps.

But Liu Ju was the eldest son of the emperor, and he had a powerful father like Liu Che. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was as difficult as climbing to heaven for him to "accept small beatings and run away when faced with heavy beatings."

But looking at Liu Ju's current state, he obviously has enough confidence.

This is probably something that Liu Che never expected, right?

Before Liu Ju, Huo Guang had never thought that anyone could escape from this invisible cage alive.

Wei Qing failed to escape, Wei Zifu failed to escape, and the other princes could not escape either, let alone him... The only one who escaped before was probably Huo Qubing, who died young, but his son Huo Shan still had to continue to be trapped in the cage as Marquis of Guanjun.

And Liu Ju, the eldest prince who should have been at the center of the cage, was now telling him that he had successfully escaped?

Do not!
not yet!
Huo Guang suddenly thought of something and immediately asked again:
"Then what about Empress Wei? And what about Consort Yiliang and the little grandson you left in the palace? They are the people closest to you. Can you really just ignore them?"

"My father is a purely political creature, and he must be extremely sensitive to the pros and cons."

Liu Ju then said,
"As long as my father understands that treating my mother and wife well will bring more benefits than disadvantages, and the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages, then as long as I do not openly plot treason, my father will make the decision."

"What I lack most from them is probably their companionship day and night."

"But one day, I will do my best to make it up to them, and there are things that only I know and only I can take on to ensure they have a proper future."

"..."

Although Liu Ju's words did not explicitly point out the future disaster of witchcraft, Huo Guang might have understood it.

After all, Liu Ju was the eldest son of the emperor. No matter he was deposed as the crown prince or had no chance of becoming emperor in the future, it was unlikely that Empress Wei, Yi Shuo, Liu Fuling and others would have a good end.

But with Liu Che's style.

Since Liu Ju was deposed as crown prince, he might face other dangers in the future.

During the reign of Emperor Liu Che, whether being a prince or a minister, the only certainty was that nothing was certain. Except for Emperor Liu Che, no one could control their own future.

Then Huo Guang's eyes became dull and he fell into silence.

After a long time.

Huo Guang finally raised his head and looked into Liu Ju's eyes, then lowered his voice and said solemnly:

"Cousin, have you ever thought about keeping an enemy to protect yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ju knew that Huo Guang had been persuaded to rebel, so he no longer minded giving him some information:
"Cousin, he has recovered a long time ago."

"..."

Huo Guang was stunned for a moment, then immediately said,

"Then can you let Lu Bode and Li Ling suffer a defeat immediately after taking over the military power?"

"It would be best if, when you reveal the news that you will be returning to Beijing soon, these member states that have joined NATO will also fall into chaos and make it seem like NATO is unsustainable?"

"Also, it would be best if the Huns could launch a strong counterattack."

"It would be even better if Parthia and Daxia could also coordinate with the Xiongnu to act together. In short, we should put enough pressure on Lu Bode and Li Ling so that they will have no choice but to petition Your Majesty for help."

"Also let His Majesty know that the Western Region cannot do without you!"

(End of this chapter)