Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

Gongliang nodded, "The day of the rehearsal was the anniversary of my parents' death. I asked for leave to go to worship, but the captain refused to allow me to leave, saying that it was such a big deal for the prince to choose a bodyguard. Everyone was fighting for it. The captain said I It was in his regiment of 25 people, and there were only two regiments that were candidates. The captain said that the commander expected someone to be selected, but I wanted to ask for leave, which made him very angry. In the end, there was a big fight. Shixiong, you were trying to persuade the fight, but you got involved for no reason. I was injured by the captain. I was angry and injured the captain. Later, the capital army sent people to tie us up and hand them over to the commander. Make punishment." Gong Liang took a deep breath and continued, "The emperor Taizu and the prince who was still a prince had already taken their seats on the training ground, but found that there were two people missing from the regiment, so he asked why, and learned that someone had clashed with the school captain and injured others. Unhappy, the captain held a grudge, and said in front of Taizu that you and I contradicted the officer, refused to obey the military order, and wanted to escape from the palace. Taizu was furious and wanted to kill you and me according to the military law. Please suspend the execution, and ask the reason in detail, so the Emperor Taizu sent the commander to take you and me to the training ground. I explained the reason before the Emperor Taizu, and the Emperor Taizu asked me, before I died what I want."

"Brother Gongliang" Zhou Shixiong said, "I remember your request is to offer another stick of incense to the deceased parents, kowtow to show their filial piety."

Gongliang looked at Zhou Shixiong, "I still remember what you said, brother Shixiong. You said that you would be punished for the crime of hurting others, but the school captain obstructing others from performing filial piety is an evil behavior in human relations. If you are executed by military law for this, although you are not convinced, but I am still willing to go to the underworld with brother Gongliang."

"I was the only son of a peasant family outside Beijing. Later, my father joined the army and died in battle, and my mother died of exhaustion. I became an orphan at a very young age. I grew up relying on the charity of my neighbors. I was lucky enough to be selected as a small military officer in the palace. After I entered the camp, it was all thanks to Brother Gongliang Take care of me, teach me martial arts patiently, practice with me until late at night, and protect me from being bullied by others." Zhou Shixiong said with tears in his eyes, "I respect and love Brother Gongliang like a father, not to mention, I have already Brother's parents are my own parents, I can't stand by when my brother's filial piety is hindered, even if I die, I will follow Brother Gongliang."

"Good brother!" Gong Liang said, "But at that time I really thought I was going to die, so I only hoped that the Emperor Taizu would be kind enough to allow me to offer the last stick of incense and kowtow to my parents for the last time."

"That's what I thought at the time, I went with my eldest brother, and then went to the execution platform together." Zhou Shixiong said, "I never thought that at this time, the prince suddenly asked, if you do it all over again, would you still give up the selection of the prince and leave the palace on leave? Brother Gongliang, you said without thinking twice that you would still choose to be filial."

Gongliang took a deep breath, "Because of this sentence, the prince chose us to be the prince's bodyguards and asked Taizu to spare us the death penalty. After the prince moved into the Nanqing Palace, he helped us get married and rebuilt the old house for our two families. He also left this small courtyard in the mansion. When the children grew up, the prince gave them money to open a shop and helped the girls find a good husband. On weekdays, the prince treats us like brothers, such a kindness can never be repaid , but how do we repay the lord?" Gong Liang pressed the scroll, "Only this matter, if I can fulfill the lord's wish, I think I have done something that can repay the lord."