Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 204: Can Be a Novice
Wuchuan.

official office.

Liu Taozi sat in the upper seat and watched the minions chatting enthusiastically.

"How can we start?! The army's food is provided by Jinyang. If we start, they will cut off the food supply. How can the soldiers go to war on an empty stomach?"

"Then wait for Gao Zhan to take the throne? Gao Zhan has been captured by my brother. If he becomes the emperor, he will still cut off our food supplies!"

"Why not attack Jinyang before he comes up and the border defenses are not ready!"

"Do you know how many elite troops there are in Jinyang? Attack Jinyang? We still have a pseudo-Zhou here!!"

"The Zhou people are making unusual movements. It's obvious that an important person is coming. At this time, can we abandon Wuchuan and go to Jinyang?"

They stood here, talking excitedly about some treasonous things, but it was very natural, and they themselves did not seem to realize it, especially Cui Gang, a gentleman who came from a prominent family and had learned the etiquette of patriotism and loyalty to the emperor for many years, but at this moment he was arguing with Tian Zili because he was opposed to sending troops at this moment.

Tian Zili believed that they could not sit and wait for the enemy to take power, so he followed the Tao Party’s usual style and attacked Jinyang first!

However, Cui Gang felt that it was easy to break through the defense line, but it was almost impossible to take Jinyang, especially since the Zhou people were eyeing them covetously.

Yao Xiong cleared his throat and said, "I think what Old Tian said makes sense. When Gao Zhan comes to power, he will issue an imperial edict to ask you to go back. Will you go back or not? We might as well take action first."

Kou Liu and Zhang Heizu looked at each other and stood up to support.

But Potala Ku said, "Mr. Cui is right. We have no more than 20,000 knights capable of fighting, and we don't know how many of them can follow my brother to attack Jinyang! How can we win? No way! No way!"

Some generals also stood up and supported his side.

"Everyone sit down."

Liu Taozi spoke, and these angry people quickly calmed down and hurriedly took their seats.

The room suddenly became extremely quiet.

Everyone frowned and looked worried.

The emperor was ill and stayed in the palace, not going out. Gao Changgong hadn't seen him for a long time.

And the prince is very young.

In this case, Gao Zhan's probability of becoming the heir greatly increases.

However, the enemies outside the Great Wall were frequently mobilized, as if they were making preparations.

Attacked from both inside and outside!
The current border fortresses are not yet self-sufficient and rely heavily on the government. It takes time to reclaim wasteland, not to mention that the population and material resources of the border fortresses are limited.

"When the fifty riders went to Jinyang, they were not so panicked."

"Now, you are so panicked just because of a few words from a wizard?!"

Liu Taozi asked.

Everyone lowered their heads and dared not answer. Tian Zili and Cui Gang looked at each other and did not speak.

Only Yao Xiong raised his head at this moment, "Brother, I am also afraid of missing the opportunity. It is much easier to go from Yecheng to Jinyang than from Wuchuan to Jinyang. What should we do?"

"Do your own thing well."

"Gather the dead, distribute land, assign officials, train the soldiers, and stabilize the local area."

"only!!!"

Everyone said in unison.

Liu Taozi then let everyone leave, leaving only Chu Jiande.

Everyone left one by one. Yao Xiong wanted to stay, but Kou Liu pulled him away.

Chu Jiande looked at Liu Taozi and said, "My Lord, I think the news is coming."

"Have your fellow disciples arrived?"

Chu Jiande was stunned. "Some have come, and many more are on the way."

"Arrange them well. These people are now handed over to you. Have them train more people. People like them will be needed in various places in the future."

"I know what to do"

"Do you know that Zheng Daoqian?"

"I have seen him in Yecheng. Although he is young, he has a great reputation. I won't talk about divination, but he has a sharp eye, knows the overall situation, has a good vision, and is eloquent."

“I think what he said is quite credible.”

"This person would not come all the way to Wuchuan to deceive the lord. He just came to the lord to sell some things, make some money, and get rich."

"Why would he come to me if he didn't go to Gao Zhan?"

Chu Jiande smiled and said: "He doesn't think highly of Gao Zhan. He thinks he is just a name with a false reputation and is weak inside."

Liu Taozi did not speak again. Chu Jiande was silent for a moment before he said, "My lord, although Tian Zili is a little impatient, his worry is not unreasonable."

"I have never met Gao Zhan, but Zheng Daoqian told me that the King of Changguang would capture sorcerers to tell fortunes for him, and would not let them go until the result was known. If the result was not accurate, he would kill the sorcerer directly. If it was accurate, he would not reward the sorcerer much."

"It seems that Gao Zhan is not kind at all, but cruel and stingy. If he were to take the position, it would be detrimental to the lord."

"Ah."

Jinyang, Jinyang Palace.

Gao Yan's face was pale, and he was lying on his side on the bed. Wang Xi and Xian An were sitting on both sides, informing him of the situation.

"Your Majesty, the Pseudo-Zhou has sent Yang Zhong to the Guizhen Camp. A large army has gathered there, and it seems that there is a big move."

Wang Xi said this and then stopped, feeling a little reluctant, and secretly glanced at Gao Yan.

Gao Yan said, "No problem, just continue."

Wang Xi then continued, "General Liu Taozi of Anxi wrote to the emperor, saying that Zhou soldiers were frequently mobilized at the border, and that they seemed to be the troops of Han Xiong, the pseudo-Zhou general."

Gao Yan suddenly sneered, "I know Yuwen Hu is not a man who will keep his promises, but I never thought he would be so anxious."

"Are you planning to use Yang Zhong and Han Xiong to attack Wuchuan?"

Wang Xi hurriedly said, "Don't worry. With Huluxian and Baoxian heading to Shuoheng to help General Anxi, they will definitely not let the Zhou thieves commit crimes!"

He looked at Xian'an who was standing aside, and Xian'an also said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this is the memorial from King Pengcheng."

"Take a look"

Gao Yan's face was solemn. "I have seen it. I am fine now. Even if there are bad things, don't hide them. Good things like this don't need to be shown to me over and over again."

The two men quickly bowed their heads and confessed their guilt.

Gao Yan slowly sat up and looked at the two people in front of him, "The matter between Yang Zhong and Han Xiong cannot be taken lightly."

"Yang Zhong is good at fighting, and most of his men are elite soldiers. Although Qi Haizhen is a fierce general, he still has too little experience compared to those people. Moreover, the knights under his command are scattered in various garrisons. Let's dispatch troops to Huluxian and Baoxian and let them assist Qi Haizhen in guarding the border. Also, send someone to tell them that if the bandits come, they don't have to wait for the military order from the temple, and let them go out on their own. Well, send an imperial edict to Qi Haizhen as well, asking him to obey Huluxian's orders if there is a battle."

"Huo Luxian has more experience. Even if he cannot defeat Yang Zhong, he will not be defeated instantly."

Gao Yan had already prepared for a fight with the Pseudo Zhou. After Liu Taozi unveiled the masks of the border defense army, he knew that the Zhou people were coming.

The appearance of Yang Zhong means that the rest are already on the way.

When the Zhou people and the Qi people fought each other, they basically launched expeditions from multiple directions, so a major war was inevitable.

Just when Gao Yan was discussing the selection of garrison commanders for various places with Wang Xi, Xian'an, Gao Yang, Yang Yin and others, a soldier suddenly came in and informed them of an important event.

The Queen Mother arrived in Jinyang.

Gao Yan was overjoyed and hurried out to greet him, but Wang Xi and others strongly opposed it and asked the emperor to rest in the house while they went to greet the empress dowager.

Empress Dowager Lou stepped down from the carriage, leaning on a cane. She looked around gloomily with a stern face.

Wang Xi smiled and saluted, "Queen Mother, His Majesty is in the palace."

Empress Dowager Lou ignored her and walked quickly towards the main hall. Wang Xi and others followed behind her. Lou Zhaojun did not look like an old person at all at this moment. She walked so quickly that Wang Xi and others felt that she was almost running.

The soldiers and servants along the way knelt down and saluted.

Empress Dowager Lou walked into the inner hall.

As soon as she entered the hall, Empress Dowager Lou smelled a strange odor.

That was the smell of burning ritual. Empress Dowager Lou paused. Gao Yan, supported by several servants, walked to his mother.

Gao Yan pushed aside his attendants, hurried forward, and knelt before the Queen Mother. Tears welled up in his eyes, his face was filled with indescribable fatigue and sadness, and his voice was trembling, "Mother."

Empress Dowager Lou looked at her son, who had a haggard face and a trembling voice, and a trace of confusion flashed across her face, but then the confusion was replaced by anger.

"I ask you"

"Where is Yin'er?"

Gao Yan's face froze.

"Mother. Me."

"I'm asking you! Where is my grandson?!"

"Where is Jinan King Gao Yin?!"

The Queen Mother asked three times in a row, her face flushed and her whole body trembling with anger.

Gao Yan stood there in a daze, remaining kneeling, without saying a word.

Empress Dowager Lou burst into tears immediately. She cried and cursed: "You actually sent someone to strangle him to death!!"

"Isn't he your nephew?"

"How could you bear to do this to him? He's only fifteen years old!!"

"My grandson, how scared he must be!!"

Empress Dowager Lou burst into tears. Gao Yan looked dazed and motionless. "I am not me."

"He has no ambitions, he just likes to study, and he is timid. Why did you want to kill him? I thought you were kind and asked him to give up his position to you, but I never thought that you would be such a beast!!"

Empress Dowager Lou pounded the ground with her cane.

"Why didn't you die of illness? You deserved to die!"

After she finished speaking, she no longer paid attention to her son in front of her, turned around and left. Wang Xi and others stood not far away, trembling and not daring to speak.

Gao Yan knelt on the ground, staring blankly at his mother as she left. He wanted to say something, but nothing came out. The hall was incomparably silent.

The candlelight flickered gently.

Gao Yan suddenly became irritable again and said something to those around him.

Wang Xi walked forward slowly and helped Gao Yan up.

Gao Yan finally came to his senses. He looked at Wang Xi and asked in surprise, "Why would I kill the King of Jinan?"

Wang Xi's lips trembled for a moment, "Your Majesty, the King of Jinan died of illness."

"Lord."

“I seem to have become like my brother.”

"Get out of my way!!"

Gao Yan suddenly roared again, but it was obvious that he was not roaring at Wang Xi. He was swearing and fighting with someone he couldn't see. Wang Xi's eyes were full of despair.

Angry roars were heard from the palace.

Wang Xi and Di Xian'an stood outside, both of them looking heavy-hearted.

"When the Queen Mother returns this time, she will definitely release Prince Changguang."

Wang Xi spoke up, "Your Majesty's condition is getting worse and worse. I don't know why we can't find any famous doctors near Qingdu. Is this fate?"

Xian'an was silent for a moment before asking, "What should we do?"

“Continue to look for a famous doctor”

"That's not what I asked."

"what should we do?"

Wang Xi trembled all over and his hands and feet became cold.

"I do not know."

Xian'an said seriously: "I am not disloyal to Your Majesty, but the situation in the world has just improved. Prince Changguang is frivolous, tyrannical, greedy, and surrounded by villains. He is definitely not a wise ruler. If he takes the throne, he will definitely endanger the world and destroy Your Majesty's great cause."

Wang Xi was a little angry, "Now is not the time to discuss this matter!! Your Majesty is still young and strong!!"

"We don't negotiate, but Prince Changguang does."

"The prince is young. If we are not prepared, we will end up like Yang Yin, Yan Zixian and others."

Wang Xi exhaled, "Then what do you think we should do?"

Xian'an narrowed his eyes.

"At the moment, the only ones who can deter the internal traitors and support the crown prince are the two generals."

"Let these two generals, one inside and one outside."

Wang Xi looked at him in astonishment.

Yecheng.

Gao Zhan sat in the hall. He had returned to his old self, dressed in tattered clothes and playing with spears with a few of his confidants.

There were soldiers outside the palace staring at them with a murderous look in their eyes.

These soldiers were all Lou Rui's soldiers, and Gao Zhan couldn't mobilize them at all.

Gao Zhan seemed to have let it go and didn't care about his current situation at all. He ate, drank and had a great time.

At this moment, a female official suddenly came in and interrupted their game.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is back."

"Ah? Mother is back!"

Gao Zhan stood up happily and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He Shikai and others also stood up and hurried to congratulate.

When the Queen Mother left, the one who was most afraid was Gao Zhan. He was afraid that once his mother left, he would get sick and die in the palace. He even suspected that Gao Yan would forcibly detain the Queen Mother and let Lou Rui secretly deal with him in her name.

Fortunately, the thing Gao Zhan feared most did not happen.

He was about to ask where his mother was when he saw Empress Dowager Lou walk in, supported by several people.

When Empress Dowager Lou saw Gao Zhan, she suddenly burst into tears.

Gao Zhan was horrified and rushed forward, "Mother! What happened? Why are you crying? Is His Majesty rude to you?!"

"Yin'er, Yin'er was killed by him!"

Empress Dowager Lou cried and said, "I thought he was a good person, but this beast didn't even let his own nephew go."

Gao Zhan was stunned and asked in disbelief, "What did mother say? Who killed who?"

Empress Dowager Lou didn't say anything, she just cried.

Gao Zhan's face flushed red, and he said angrily: "Your Majesty killed Ah Yin?"

"I"

He gritted his teeth, turned around and was about to leave, but Empress Dowager Lou quickly grabbed him, buried her head in his arms, and began to cry.

Gao Zhan had a stern face and said nothing.

"I didn't believe you at first, I thought you were going to rebel, but now I see clearly that he is not a good person, Zhan'er"

"I"

Empress Dowager Lou was about to say something when she suddenly fell down.

Gao Zhan held her in panic and shouted. Both the female officials and Gao Zhan's confidants were in chaos at this moment.

Gao Zhan picked up his mother and rushed towards the bedroom.

Soon, an imperial physician came to diagnose the patient.

Gao Zhan has always been by the Queen Mother's side.

After a while, the Queen Mother finally woke up. She looked extremely sad and didn't want to say anything more. She just shook her head and cried silently.

"Don't worry, mother. I will definitely invite the best doctor."

"I don't want a doctor, I want a witch doctor"

"I see."

Gao Zhan comforted his mother before leaving with his trusted followers.

This time, no one stopped him, and he walked out of the palace smoothly.

However, many of his close confidants did not dare to show any joy at all. They were worried and looked at the solemn Gao Zhan beside them, and did not dare to speak.

The Queen Mother has always been in good health. I didn't expect that she would be so angry after going to Jinyang.
They returned to their residence smoothly.

After entering the mansion, Gao Zhan looked around solemnly without saying a word.

He Shikai walked to his side cautiously, "Your Majesty, don't worry, the Queen Mother's."

"Hahahaha~~~"

Gao Zhan suddenly burst into laughter.

He laughed so hard that he could hardly stand up straight. He held his stomach and laughed extremely exaggeratedly.

Everyone was stunned and just looked at him. Even He Shikai was stunned at this moment.

"Your Majesty actually killed the King of Jinan?"

"Your Majesty actually killed him!"

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

Gao Zhan almost fainted from laughing, "He doesn't dare to kill me, so he takes it out on the King of Jinan? What an idiot!"

"This is God helping me! Destiny is in my hands!"

"After he kills me like this, my mother will stand on my side, and the royal family will no longer dare to get close to him like before. The world belongs to me!!"

He Shikai also laughed quickly, "Yes! Yes! God's will is with the king!"

The other few close confidants also hurriedly smiled along.

Gao Zhan wiped his eyes from laughing, and then looked at everyone, "Since he made a stupid mistake, he should not miss such a good opportunity."

"Send someone to contact the royal family in various places first, let them look at Yang Yin's affairs, and then look at the fate of the King of Jinan, and make a decision."

"My two brothers are hopeless. Shikai, I asked you to contact those rebels earlier. Have you found them?"

"Let them be prepared. If they dare not obey, we can trick these rebels into killing them. It would be best to arrange one of our people to lead them all."

"And Liu Taozi!!"

At this moment, Gao Zhan's face became extremely ferocious, his eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he gritted his teeth.

Gao Zhan had never suffered such a great loss. If the emperor had not made the stupid mistake of killing the King of Jinan, he would have died in Yecheng. After all, his mother was old, and who knew how long she could live. When she died, the emperor would kill him!
He Shikai stepped forward and whispered, "My lord, I will lead my troops to capture his grandfather and cut him into pieces."

Gao Zhan quickly calmed down again.

"No need."

"Send someone to give some money and a BMW to his grandfather. Also, write a letter and send it to Liu Taozi, telling him that I will not hold the past against him. Everyone has his own master. I can be Xiaobai, and I hope he can be Guan Zhong."

He Shikai was shocked.

Gao Zhan looked at him and gave him a weird smile, revealing his white teeth.

He Shikai immediately understood and laughed.

"only!!!"

(End of this chapter)