My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 357 General, can you cry?

Night falls.

Cui Jie arrived at Tian Ce Mansion with a look of anxiety on his face and learned that Gao Yu was in the inner courtyard.

He then hurried toward the inner courtyard.

"Chief Secretary Cui Jie has arrived."

Liu Yi was guarding the entrance to the inner courtyard with his personal guards when he learned that Cui Jie was coming. Liu Yi immediately got up to greet him.

Although Liu Yi and the others were slaves that Gao Yu bought from the military market, they had followed Gao Yu in battles for more than ten years and had long been Gao Yu's most trusted confidants. They had all started their own families and careers, and they had the opportunity to go out and command an army on their own, but they did not do so. Instead, they continued to serve as Gao Yu's personal guards wholeheartedly.

Upon seeing Cui Jie, Liu Yi immediately bowed and greeted him. Having lived in the Central Plains for many years, apart from his appearance, his behavior had long since become like that of a Han Chinese from the Central Plains.

"Master Cui."

Cui Jie's expression was solemn. "Go immediately and report to the general that I have urgent news to report!"

Liu Yi's expression was somewhat strange, but he could also see Cui Jie's anxious look. It was obviously something important, otherwise the usually composed Cui Jie wouldn't be in such a hurry.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Cui, I will go in and report to the general."

Liu Yi entered the inner courtyard. The reason he was guarding the outside was because he had been instructed by Gao Yu. At this point, he had no choice but to bite the bullet.

Just then, he saw a group of maids waiting outside. Liu Yi's mind worked quickly, and he immediately shouted in a loud voice, "What are you all doing gathered outside the general's house!"

This roar startled the maids.

This obviously frightened some people as well.

A loud shout suddenly came from inside the room.

Did my shout startle the general and cause him to accidentally knock over the teacup?

But I didn't hear the sound of anything falling to the ground and shattering.

A moment later, Gao Yu's voice came from inside the room, "Liu Yi, is something the matter?"

"General, Lord Cui has rushed here, saying he has an extremely urgent matter to discuss with you!"

"I understand. Go tell Master Cui that I'll be right there."

"Here!"

Liu Yi, who was outside, quickly turned around and left.

Inside the room, Gao Yu was frantically dressing himself, while on the couch beside him, Cui Zhifan lay motionless like a dead fish.
The entire tatami mat was a mess.
Did I go a little too far?

Who could blame him when Cui Zhifan played the piano so seriously, looking so alluring? He had only made the mistake that all men make.

After getting dressed, Gao Yu went over and touched Cui Zhifan's face.

At this moment, Cui Zhifan also came to her senses. Her face turned red with shame and indignation, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

"Don't cry, don't cry. I was wrong this time. I will never do it again."

Gao Yu reached out and wiped away her tears.

He realized he had gone too far. Given Cui Zhifan's personality, Gao Yu was genuinely afraid she might do something rash.

"Why must you be treated like such a lowly slave?"

Looking at the mess in front of her, Cui Zhifan felt like dying. "How can I ever face anyone again..."

"Don't worry, who in this inner courtyard would dare to gossip?"

Gao Yu chuckled and bent down to kiss her forehead, then pinched her cheek before picking her up and placing her on the bed, covering her with the blanket.

"Should I have a maid come in and tidy things up?"

"do not want!"

Cui Zhifan's attitude was firm: "I will take care of it myself."

Gao Yu chuckled, saying nothing more, but couldn't help but smile as he glanced around.

She's not a little kid anymore, so why would she wet the bed?
Cui Zhifan seemed to notice Gao Yu's gaze and smile, and her face turned bright red with embarrassment. How could she be so weak-willed? Wouldn't this make Gao Yu look down on her in the future?
Actually, she was wrong.

With this skill, how could Gao Yu possibly underestimate her?
can only say……

That's quite a contrast!

Stepping outside, the cold wind invigorated Gao Yu. He shook his head, suppressed his smile, and hurried out.

"General."

"Master Cui, what urgent matter brings you here so late at night?"

Cui Jie looked around warily, then glanced at Gao Yu.

Gao Yu immediately understood, "Liu Yi, take your men and get away from here."

"Here!"

After dismissing his attendants, Cui Jie lowered his voice and said, "General... something has happened in Luoyang."

Gao Yu was not surprised.

From the day Erzhu Rong led his troops south, Cui Jie knew something bad was going to happen in Luoyang. But even bad things have varying degrees of severity and urgency; how serious would it have to be for Cui Jie to be so anxious?
"Speak frankly, Lord Cui, what has caused you to act this way?"

Cui Jie said with a solemn expression, "His Majesty...is dead."

Gao Yu, who was used to remaining calm in the face of adversity, was taken aback when he heard the news. His first reaction was to ask a question.

"Is this serious?"

"Absolutely true!"

Cui Jie nodded affirmatively and said, "This news was sent by my clansmen's spies in Luoyang."

"Tianbao... no, how could the Prime Minister commit such a treasonous act?"

"His Majesty first hid wandering knights in the palace, and then lured the Prime Minister into an attack under the pretext that the Empress had given birth to the Crown Prince, intending to kill the Prime Minister... The Prime Minister managed to escape from the palace by chance, and in anger, he assembled a large army. His Majesty then led loyal and righteous men out of the palace to meet them in battle..."

After learning the whole story...

Gao Yu thought it was normal. Yuan Ziyou was the kind of person who would rather die than live a miserable life.

However, Erzhu Rong actually killed the emperor.

King regicide!
Even Sima Zhao didn't dare to personally assassinate the emperor.

"The Prime Minister publicly claimed that it was General Xi Yi who bewitched His Majesty, and that after the matter was exposed, he resorted to desperate measures and assassinated His Majesty."

Very lame excuse.

But Erzhu Rong could make such a public statement.

“General, my people have learned that before His Majesty left the palace, he wrote a will and handed the imperial seal to Wen Zisheng and others. After His Majesty died, Erzhu Rong returned to the palace but did not find the imperial seal.”

"General! A golden opportunity is right in front of us!!"

"Wen Zisheng and the others will likely come to find you, General. If you can obtain His Majesty's edict and imperial seal, you can first choose an obedient person from among your relatives to be the new emperor, and then raise the banner of righteousness in the name of avenging the late emperor to punish the disloyal!"

"At that time, countless righteous men will surely come to your aid. If you, General, can kill the traitor Erzhu Rong and establish unparalleled merit, we will naturally..."

Speaking of this...

Cui Jie then realized that he might have said a bit too much.

But it's a conversation between intelligent people.

Just stop there.

Isn't Cui Jie and his group's attitude obvious enough?

First, establish a compliant member of the imperial clan as the new emperor. How can he be compliant?

Of course, it should be like Emperor Xian of Han.

He obediently played the role of a mascot, waiting for Gao Yu to pacify the world before obediently abdicating the throne.

These people would also try to persuade him to come in by saying it was cold and he should wear more clothes.

Gao Yu remained silent, not responding immediately.

He put his hands behind his back, turned his back, and after a moment spoke, "Lord Cui, what do you think I should do now?"

Cui Jie couldn't see Gao Yu's expression, so he gritted his teeth and asked, "A man as resolute and brave as General would certainly not shed tears easily, but it is precisely the tears of those who do not shed tears easily that are valuable!"

"General! You should spread the news and then set up a mourning hall for His Majesty. You must properly pay respects to His Majesty's spirit in front of everyone. Please make sure your weeping is sincere and heartfelt!"

"As for the memorial text, I met Zishan before I came here. With Zishan's literary talent, he will certainly not disappoint."

Zishan is Yu Xin.

Yu Xin's literary talent truly impressed Gao Yu's subordinates. Zheng Dache even considered having Yu Xin become Gao Run's teacher in the future and had mentioned it to Gao Yu several times.

Seeing that Gao Yu hadn't replied for a while, Cui Jie tried to persuade him again.

"General, you were promoted by His Majesty. Erzhu Rong's actions have delivered the great cause into your hands!"

"General, I know you have a personal relationship with Erzhu Rong and are related to the Erzhu clan by marriage, but you must not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of a small gain! If you do not seize a gift from Heaven, you will suffer the consequences! General, do not make a mistake!"

Gao Yu turned around and glanced at him.

Co-authored.

If Cui Jie were a little more ruthless, would he have tried to emulate Emperor Wen of Han?
Why should Erzhu Yuechan and the daughter she bore for her die a violent death?
Is this a way to further win people's hearts?

"I see."

Gao Yu nodded, "Then I'll trouble you, Lord Cui, to make the preparations. I know what I should do."

Cui Jie was overjoyed and quickly bowed, exclaiming, "General, you are wise!"

"I'll go prepare right away!!"

They are all tied to Gao Yu's ship.

Now a great opportunity is before us.

We definitely need to persuade Gao Yu to take it a step further!
(End of this chapter)