My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 335 The Meticulous Gao Dalang
It wasn't just the governor of Xiangzhou.

The governors of Guanzhong, Shanxi, including Yanzhou and Youzhou, who were the actual territories controlled by Erzhu Rong, all submitted memorials.

The news quickly spread throughout Luoyang.

By demanding the "Nine Bestowments," everyone knew that Erzhu Rong was no longer hiding his ambition. Many shrewd individuals either began to plan their escape routes in advance or continued to observe the situation.

But Luoyang has clearly become the eye of the storm.

The emperor and the prime minister are now irreconcilably at odds, and one of them is bound to fall.

Yuan Ziyou did not respond for a long time; he was waiting... waiting for Gao Qian to return.

But instead of Gao Qian, he was greeted by an uninvited guest.

at night.

The nights in Luoyang are starting to get cooler, and the occasional evening breeze can soothe the restlessness in people's hearts.

Inside the Mingguang Hall, Yuan Ziyou had the names of important officials in Luoyang and the imperial palace written on the table in front of him. He was calculating the relationships. Since he had decided to take action, he had to do as Wen Zisheng said and plan meticulously. He was doing something that could cost him his head.

Between him and Erzhu Rong, someone will inevitably end up with a completely baffling outcome!
After careful calculation and inventory.

Yuan Ziyou felt utterly hopeless, for the central army in Luoyang and the imperial guards in the palace were all under Erzhu Rong's control.

The important positions of Left Guard General, Right Guard General, Martial Guard General, and Palace Guard General are all held by Erzhu Rong's men. So... even if he can kill Erzhu Rong, how can he guarantee the safety of the palace afterwards?
How can we ensure the safety of Luoyang and hold out until reinforcements arrive?
Every step in this process must be flawless. If any mistake is made, even if he successfully kills Erzhu Rong, it will be in vain, and he may even be doing all the work for someone else.

"Damn it... Can Yuanlong and Wucheng really be trusted?"

At this moment, a sound of footsteps outside the hall caught Yuan Ziyou's attention, followed by the sound of a familiar voice.

"Your Majesty, this humble general has come to request an audience."

"come in."

Xi Yi entered the hall. He was about to bow in greeting when he looked down and saw the list on the table. He pretended not to notice it.

"Wu Cheng, is there something you need to do here?"

"Your Majesty! I have come here regarding the Prime Minister's affairs."

Yuan Ziyou looked at him expressionlessly.

Xi Yi and Zhu Rui are the two people Yuan Ziyou understands the least right now.

The two of them were Erzhu Rong's trusted confidants, one a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate and the other a General of the Imperial Guard. One was a civil official and the other a military officer, and they were specifically responsible for keeping an eye on Erzhu Rong's every move in Luoyang.

However, both of them showed him kindness to varying degrees.

Zhu Rui offered him advice and suggestions.

What's going on with Xi Yi?

"Oh? You want to persuade me to bestow the Nine Bestowments upon the Prime Minister?"

"Exactly!"

Xi Yi said with a serious expression, "Your Majesty! Why not take a step back? If you take a step back, the world will see how aggressive the Prime Minister is."

"The people of the world?"

Yuan Ziyou sneered repeatedly.

For ordinary people, the Nine Bestowments were of no concern whatsoever, and even who the emperor was, was of no importance.

No matter who the emperor is, it doesn't affect their farming.

For ordinary people, good weather and a good harvest are the most important things.

As for aristocratic families?

It's true that most aristocratic families disliked Erzhu Rong, but dislike didn't necessarily mean they had to oppose him. On the contrary, they were well aware that Erzhu Rong's rise to power through unconventional means was illegitimate.

They would inevitably have to do what the Sima family of the Jin Dynasty did: in order to win the hearts and minds of the powerful families and silence their gossip, they would have to relinquish a great deal of power and benefits in exchange for the support of those families.

To them.

It might not necessarily be a bad thing if Erzhu Rong really came to power.

Whoever wins, they help.

"His Majesty!"

Xi Yi said helplessly, "I know Your Majesty is unwilling to trust me, but surely Your Majesty trusts the words of the Imperial Attendant?"

“I have discussed this with Yuanlong. His Majesty has agreed to bestow the Nine Bestowments upon the Prime Minister, so there is still room for a reversal. However, if His Majesty insists on refusing, there will be no room for maneuver.”

"Isn't Your Majesty putting pressure on the Prime Minister?"

Yuan Ziyou remained silent for a long time; he actually understood Xi Yi's unspoken message.

Erzhu Rong is now being "boiled like a frog in lukewarm water." Although the pressure is excessive, he is slowly and gradually following the normal abdication process.

But if Yuan Ziyou refuses now...

That is to tell Erzhu Rong that she is unwilling to cooperate with him and that she is unwilling to be a puppet.

Erzhu Rong has now completely abandoned any pretense of integrity.

Yuan Ziyou's proactive act of tearing off the mask of civility is forcing Erzhu Rong to immediately raise an army and march south to remove him from the throne in an undignified manner.

"Your Majesty needs time, and you also need the Prime Minister to come to Luoyang in person. If the Prime Minister is in Jinyang... Your Majesty's many plans will be impossible. Everything depends on the Prime Minister coming to the palace in Luoyang, isn't it?"

"Isn't this the perfect opportunity to be granted the Nine Bestowments?"

Yuan Ziyou suddenly looked at him.

Xi Yi looked at him and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, your subject and the Yellow Gate Attendant are willing to lend Your Majesty a helping hand."

Having said that, he bowed again and left.

Only Yuan Ziyou remained, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

Is Xi Yi a friend or foe?

Yuan Ziyou was undecided for a moment.

Now that things have come to this, he dares not easily trust anyone.

Human behavior requires motives, but he couldn't immediately figure out what Zhu Rui and Xi Yi's motives were for betraying Erzhu Rong to help him.

Fortunately.

August 19th.

Yuan Ziyou finally got to see Gao Qian return from Hexi!

He was having his meal when he heard that Gao Qian had returned. He didn't care about anything else and quickly got up to go out and greet him.

"Qian Yong, you're finally back!!"

"His Majesty!"

"Come, come, you look so travel-worn, you probably haven't had a meal yet, have you? Have a meal with me."

"Your Majesty, minister..."

Even if there is something very important, we should have a meal first before discussing it.

They ordered the maids to bring various tableware, and the two of them enjoyed a hearty meal.

Yuan Ziyou then dismissed everyone around him and looked at him expectantly, "How is it?"

Gao Qian could not hide his smile and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty! The Hedoulingbu tribe and other Tiele tribes are willing to lend Your Majesty a helping hand!"

"it is good!"

Yuan Ziyou was overjoyed!
Gao Qian then added, "On my return journey, I met with Gao Huan, the governor of Hengzhou."

"Upon his return, Gao Huan asked me to deliver a message to His Majesty."

"Your Majesty, please accept this temporary humiliation, feign compliance, and grant the Prime Minister's request for the time being. Bestow upon him the Nine Bestowments and allow him to leave Jinyang."

Yuan Ziyou nodded.

He has been thinking about this carefully these past few days.

This Nine Bestowments should indeed be given.

As a delaying tactic, what he needs right now is time, and he also needs to 'trick' Erzhu Rong into coming from Jinyang.

Although Erzhu Rong had previously sent a message through Zhu Rui that he would come to Luoyang in September, who could guarantee that he would arrive as scheduled?
It is perfectly reasonable to send Erzhu Rong to Luoyang under the pretext of bestowing the Nine Bestowments!

"In addition, Gao Huan has another request."

"What request?"

"He wants to borrow two people from His Majesty."

"who?"

"Gao Huan frankly stated that he had no brave men under his command, so he wanted to ask His Majesty to 'lend' him Shedi Gan and Daxi Wu."

Yuan Ziyou's mind raced.

He certainly knew about Shedi Gan and Daxi Wu.

During the Battle of Luoyang, the two of them followed Gao Yu out of the city to meet the enemy, and Gao Yu told them this in person.

These two men were also rare and valiant warriors.

He was one of the few imperial guards that Yuan Ziyou could still command.

Right now, he needs brave men to protect him.

If these two were to leave Luoyang, it would be equivalent to further weakening his already limited strength.

However, Gao Huan's request was reasonable.

"Qian Yong, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, this is Gao Huan offering his loyalty to Your Majesty. He took the initiative to ask Your Majesty to send someone to his side, which shows that he has no disloyalty to Your Majesty."

Yuan Ziyou agreed wholeheartedly with this statement.

He couldn't easily trust Zhu Rui and Xi Yi.

Why could they so easily trust Gao Huan?
Just because he's Gao Yu's brother?

"I had heard before that the Prime Minister had a very high opinion of Gao Jia Dalang, and now that I see him... he is indeed a very meticulous person."

Gao Huan used this method to express his loyalty.

What else can Yuan Ziyou say?
"Then, under the pretext that the Rouran might raid southwards, order Daxi Wu and Shedi Gan to go to Hengzhou to assist Gao Huan in defending against the enemy and prevent the Rouran from raiding the border from the south!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"I hereby issue another imperial decree: the Prime Minister's merits are immense. I intend to hold a sacrificial ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple to honor our ancestors and Heaven, and bestow upon the Prime Minister the Nine Bestowments. The Prime Minister shall come to Luoyang to complete the ceremony of bestowing the Nine Bestowments!"

at this point.

There was no way out for them!

Then there's no other way but to go down this dead end!
(End of this chapter)