My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 334 I'd rather die for Lord Gaogui than live for Lord Changdao

Inside Xianyang Palace in Luoyang.

Wow.

Yuan Ziyou, who is usually good-tempered, swept all the official documents on the table to the ground with his left hand.

His handsome face was contorted with rage, and in his right hand was an official document. The three governors of Xiangzhou, Erzhu Shilong, Sima Ziru, and Wei Langen, had all submitted a memorial requesting Yuan Ziyou to issue an edict granting Erzhu Rong the Nine Bestowments, citing Erzhu Rong's outstanding achievements.

Nine bestowals.

If I give it up now, wouldn't the next step be forcing myself to abdicate?
"Someone, summon the Imperial Secretary!"

A moment later, a refined-looking man arrived in a hurry.

Wen Zisheng looked at the scattered official documents on the ground with surprise on his face, but still bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Normally, Yuan Ziyou would have stood up and greeted him with a smile, but he had no such intention at the moment. He simply waved his hand and said, "Pengju, no need for formalities."

"I wonder if Your Majesty has summoned me here because you have something to instruct me on."

Yuan Ziyou pointed to the official document on the ground, "Pengju, you'll understand after just one glance."

Upon hearing this, Wen Zisheng picked up an official document from the ground, glanced at it briefly, and his expression turned to one of utter shock.

After the Heyin Incident, Wen Zisheng refused to help Erzhu Rong write the abdication edict even at the cost of his life, demonstrating the integrity of a scholar and earning the respect of Yuan Ziyou.

Wen Zisheng, along with Xing Shao and Wei Shou, was known as one of the "Three Talents of the North," and was recognized as the most talented of the three.

Wen Zisheng's ancestors were descendants of Wen Qiao, a general of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and his family originally lived in Jiangzuo for generations.

He was somewhat similar to Yang Kan, but the difference was that Yang Kan's ancestors were forced to surrender to Wei, while Wen Zisheng's grandfather moved his entire family to Northern Wei to avoid persecution and settled in Yuanju, Jiyin.

The Wen family did not have a deep foundation in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and people with such a 'clean' background were the targets that Yuan Ziyou tried to win over.

"This this……"

Wen Zisheng now understood why Yuan Ziyou had lost his composure and was so angry.

Isn't Erzhu Rong's faction blatantly bullying people?

Having just been granted the titles of "sword and shoes in the palace, no need to name the person being praised, no need to hasten the court's arrival," he immediately demands the Nine Bestowments, making no attempt to conceal his ambition.

Wen Zisheng sighed inwardly. Two years ago, Erzhu Rong would at least put on a show of politeness.

They're not even bothering with the formalities anymore, probably because the Empress is pregnant.

As an observer, Wen Zisheng felt that Erzhu Rong didn't need to be in such a hurry at all. He could have waited until Erzhu Ying'e gave birth to the child, and then waited a few years until Yuan Ziyou died suddenly. He would have Yuan Ziyou's only bloodline in his hands, and it would have been more prudent for him to carry out his rebellion at that time.

But it's normal.

That would mean waiting for several more years. Although Erzhu Rong is currently in his prime, no one knows whether an accident or tomorrow will come, and no one is certain that Erzhu Ying'e will give birth to a baby boy.

Before the throne, who can remain calm and composed?

The next step is to become the ruler of the world. How many people can resist such a temptation?

"Pengju, come here."

Yuan Ziyou summoned Wen Zisheng to his side and asked in a low voice, "The Prime Minister is being too forceful. I wonder if Pengju has any plans to help me?"

Wen Zisheng was somewhat embarrassed.

Yuan Ziyou didn't press him further, but instead asked, "Pengju, you've also studied history. How is the Prime Minister's behavior different from that of Dong Zhuo during the Han Dynasty?"

Wen Zisheng shook his head.

Erzhu Rong did the same things as Dong Zhuo, including deposing emperors and slaughtering officials.

Oh.

In comparison, Erzhu Rong was slightly better, since he did not engage in debauchery in the harem.

It was precisely because of the precedent set by Dong Zhuo that General Tianzhu still cared a little about his reputation and face.

"Your Majesty, Dong Zhuo of the Han Dynasty acted tyrannically, incurring the wrath of both gods and men, ultimately alienating everyone from him. Yet even so... Minister Wang needed many schemes to eliminate him. I am of limited wisdom and have no plan to offer Your Majesty, but... I urge Your Majesty not to be too hasty. Such matters... require meticulous planning, and cannot be made carelessly. If the news leaks out, I fear..."

Wen Zisheng wisely kept quiet.

Yuan Ziyou chuckled lightly. How could he not know? But he had no choice at the moment.

"I ask you, if after Dong Zhuo was eliminated, Minister Wang had persuaded the Emperor to issue an edict pardoning the rest of the people, wouldn't Minister Wang have avoided his death?"

Wen Zisheng did not answer rashly.

After a moment of silence, he shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, times have changed. The Prime Minister is not Dong Zhuo, and we cannot generalize."

In the end, Dong Zhuo...

He was just a warlord from Liangzhou at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and he wasn't even the strongest one at the beginning.

Erzhu Rong is different.

Behind him was the entire Erzhu clan.

After Dong Zhuo's death, Liangzhou fell into chaos, with disagreements leading to internal strife.

Erzhu Rong had a greater control over his subordinates than Dong Zhuo.

Even if he dies, the Erzhu clan will not fall. What if the Erzhu clan elects a new leader?
of course……

There is another possibility.

After Erzhu Rong, the leader, died, the others were dissatisfied with each other and fought for power, and the Erzhu clan would fall apart in an instant.

Everything is possible.

Wen Zisheng bowed again and said, "My only suggestion is that Your Majesty should be cautious in your actions and plans, and make thorough arrangements. In particular, you must not let any information leak out. Moreover... you should learn from Minister Wang and feign compliance with the Prime Minister before taking action. You should even lower your stance to make the Prime Minister lower his guard and make him think that Your Majesty no longer wants to resist. This will make him arrogant and complacent."

Yuan Ziyou narrowed his eyes.

These words are almost identical to what Zhu Rui said before.

They were all trying to persuade him.

We must first feign weakness and make Erzhu Rong complacent.

Even though he was very tough, he didn't have any military power at the time. Gao Yu was far away in Shandong, so he couldn't help him in the immediate crisis. He also didn't have a suitable reason to get Gao Yu to bring his troops to Luoyang.

Moreover.

Gao Yu led his troops to Luoyang, so why would Erzhu Rong come to Luoyang?

Before taking action, someone must be sent to Shandong with the imperial seal to find Gao Yu and have him bring troops to protect the emperor as soon as possible.

"Your Majesty, I must also remind you."

Wen Zisheng fulfilled his duty as a subject, saying, "After much thought, Your Majesty's chances of winning are slim. If Your Majesty cooperates with the Prime Minister, you could still live out your remaining years in peace and tranquility..."

Even at the risk of offending Yuan Ziyou, I must make things clear to him.

If he obediently cooperates with Erzhu Rong, Erzhu Rong might, for the sake of appearances, feed and house him, making him a wealthy man.

But if one were to take a risky gamble, it would be to tear off the mask of civility and force Erzhu Rong or his clan members to kill him.

Even though the Sima family had a terrible reputation, it didn't do anything to Cao Huan.

Cao Wei did nothing to Emperor Xian of Han or Liu Shan, the Duke of Anle. As for Sun Hao, he brought about his own demise and had no one else to blame but himself.

Yuan Ziyou gave a bitter laugh, "I am of the Yuan clan. How can the empire that my ancestors painstakingly built be destroyed by my own hands?"

He declared resolutely, "I would rather die for the Duke of Gaogui than live for the Duke of Changdao! Even in death, I will let the world and future generations know that Erzhu Rong is a usurper!"

Seeing his resolute attitude, Wen Zisheng stopped trying to persuade him.

After spending these past few years together...

He knew very well what kind of nature the emperor before him was.

In times of peace, he would undoubtedly be a wise and capable ruler.

Of course...

In peaceful times, he wouldn't have been able to take the throne.

(End of this chapter)