My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 363 Wang Sizheng
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The sound of arrows piercing the air echoed continuously throughout the vast manor.

The target in the distance was covered with arrows.

"Xiao Ze is truly a divine archer!"

An untimely voice interrupted the archer, and although the last arrow did not miss the target, it failed to hit the bullseye.

The archer frowned and turned back to look at him in annoyance.

"Ideological and Political Education, what brings you here? Didn't I tell you not to come see me unless absolutely necessary, and not to reveal my whereabouts!"

The archer was Yuan Xiu, whom Gao Huan was looking for.

He wasn't entirely without an official position before, but after learning that Erzhu Rong was going to bestow upon him the Nine Bestowments and lead his troops south to Luoyang, Yuan Xiu chose to go into hiding.

How many members of the Yuan clan died when Erzhu Rong led his troops south last time?
He escaped the last one, but he didn't want to die in this purge by Erzhu Rong.

Wang Sizheng chuckled and reminded him with a rather strange expression, "With the situation so chaotic, how can Xiao Ze remain unscathed while hiding here?"

Yuan Xiu still didn't put down his bow. Instead, he seemed to want to continue shooting arrows. Without turning his head, he said, "The situation is chaotic, and I have no interest in politics. Erzhu Rong wouldn't be so intolerant as to send people to arrest me, would he?"

"Xiao Ze, as a member of the royal family, can you really bear to watch the fate of the Great Wei Dynasty end like this?"

Whoosh!
As the arrow was shot, Yuan Xiu's mind became flustered, and he missed the target.

"Dynastic changes are the will of Heaven, how can I defy it? The ancestors of the Yuan clan will not blame me."

Wang Sizheng slowly walked over and advised, "The opportunity is right in front of us. Although Erzhu Rong doesn't admit it, in the eyes of the world, he is nothing more than a regicide and usurper!"

"Opportunity? What opportunity?"

"There are still people in this world who are not convinced by Erzhu Rong. Not to mention those far away, there is Gao Huan, the governor of Hengzhou, who wants to support a new emperor with the late emperor's edict and the imperial seal, raise the banner of righteousness, and punish the disloyal. Why are you unmoved when the opportunity is so close, Xiao Ze?"

Yuan Xiu turned around and looked Wang Sizheng up and down. "Are you Gao Huan's envoy now?"

Wang Sizheng shook his head.

Yuan Xiu chuckled lightly, "I'm curious, Erzhu Rongduo employs many people from the Wang family, why don't you go and serve him?"

Wang Sizheng came from the Wang clan of Taiyuan.

Looking at Taiyuan's location and whose territory it is, it becomes clear why Erzhu Rong would heavily rely on the Wang family of Taiyuan, and why his confidant Wang Xiang also came from the Wang family of Taiyuan.

"We're not from the same branch. Our branch in Qixian has long since declined. How can we possibly climb to a higher branch?"

The Wang clan of Taiyuan is divided into two branches: Wang Sizheng is from the Qixian branch, while Wang Xiangcai is from the Jinyang branch.

"Furthermore, my Qixian Wang family is descended from the Grand Minister of Works of the Han Dynasty. My ancestor was willing to die to eliminate traitors to the country. How can I disgrace the name of my ancestor?"

Wang Sizheng looked serious.

Yuan Xiu scrutinized him closely.

He had known Wang Sizheng for a long time. Initially, Wang Sizheng served under Yuan Hao, the Prince of Beihai, and offered him advice. When Yuan Xiu heard about this person, he recruited him as his retainer.

The two know each other inside and out, so there's no need for pretense. Wang Sizheng is indeed that kind of person.

In today's world, ambitious people are everywhere, which makes people like Wang Sizheng seem like a breath of fresh air, so out of place.

"Speak plainly, what brings you here today?"

"They have come to offer advice!"

Wang Sizheng said solemnly again, "Back then, Empress Dowager Ling caused chaos in the court, which made the Great Wei Dynasty precarious. Emperor Xuanwu's lineage has died out. Among the surviving members of the imperial clan, you are the one who is closest to Emperor Xiaowen by blood. Why don't you go and meet Gao Huan, let him support you as the new emperor, raise the banner of righteousness, and punish the disloyal one!"

"How could I not know?"

The lineage of Emperor Xuanwu dwindled, and after Yuan Xu's death, it became extinct.

If they wanted to select someone from the imperial clan to be their enemy, they would have to go back further and choose from the descendants of Emperor Xiaowen's other sons.

Why did Yuan Xiu run away and hide?

Isn't it because he was very aware that he was too close to Emperor Xiaowen by blood?
Yuan Xiu sighed, "With the emperor's throne before me, how could I not be tempted? However... Yan Da is a cautionary tale!"

Yanda is the courtesy name of Yuan Ziyou.

"At first I envied Yanda, but you saw his fate... With Yanda's talent and skill, he still ended up dying a violent death in the street. I am far inferior to him, and I am powerless to face this even more chaotic situation."

Wang Sizheng countered, "The late emperor's efforts were in vain. When he first ascended the throne, everyone thought he was just a puppet installed by the prime minister."

"But in just a few short years, the late emperor forced the traitor Erzhu Rong to take desperate measures, earning him the infamy of regicide. If it weren't for luck, Erzhu Rong would have died in the palace like Dong Zhuo!" "But Heaven does not help Yanda... what can be done?"

Yuan Xiu remained as pessimistic as ever.

"Takanoori!"

Wang Sizheng suddenly raised his voice, "The current chaotic situation is actually to your advantage!"

"how do I say this?"

Yuan Xiu countered with a question, then chuckled, "They say they're supporting him as the new emperor, but I'm afraid he has no real power and can only be used as a puppet."

Wang Sizheng shook his head and continued to persuade him, "Let me explain in detail."

"Times have changed. Xiao Ze, you are facing a better situation than the late emperor!"

"When the late emperor ascended the throne, Erzhu Rong held immense power and dominated the region. Even though the late emperor was exceptionally intelligent, he was still subject to the control of others in every way."

"However, if you, Xiao Ze, were to go and meet Gao Huan to have him enthrone you as the new emperor, it would seem that you would be subject to Gao Huan's control. But Gao Huan is not Erzhu Rong!"

"Firstly, Gao Huan's foundation is still shallow. He was only a governor of one prefecture before, and it was only through various coincidences that he acquired the current territory of several prefectures. He needs the emperor's righteousness!"

"Secondly, Gao Huan intercepted the late emperor's edict and imperial seal instead of sending them to Shandong immediately, which shows that he is an ambitious person. However, it was precisely his ambitious actions that caused a rift between him and General Tian Ce."

Yuan Xiu squinted, pondering Wang Sizheng's words intently.

Wang Sizheng specifically emphasized these two points.

Nothing more than...

He was installed as the new emperor by Gao Huan, seemingly a mascot controlled by powerful ministers, just like Yuan Ziyou.

However, Gao Huan did not have the strength of Erzhu Rong before him, and he needed the righteousness of the emperor to maintain the situation.

This would inevitably lead to Gao Huan having to relinquish more power and return more power to the emperor himself.

Once the emperor has power in his hands!

As the biggest pie-in-the-sky liar in the world, one can cultivate one's own core team and power.

"But isn't there also General Tian Ce?"

"Everyone knows that General Tian Ce was promoted by the late emperor. Now that the late emperor has died at the hands of Er Zhu Rong, how can General Tian Ce live in the world if he does not avenge the late emperor?"

Reputation can be really important sometimes.

"Xiao Ze, a golden opportunity is right before you! You must not miss this chance to restore the Great Wei dynasty!"

Yuan Xiu remained silent, his heart filled with conflicting emotions. In truth, he had already been swayed by Wang Sizheng's words.

With the emperor's throne right before their eyes, who wouldn't be tempted?

His conversation with Wang Sizheng completely dispelled his doubts, so he had nothing to hesitate about.

Yuan Xiu gritted his teeth, "If Si Zheng helps, we might give it a try. At worst, I'll die like Yan Da. If that happens, I won't be ashamed to face my ancestors."

"Let's go! I'll send someone to contact Gao Huan right away."

Having made up his mind, Yuan Xiu decided to take the initiative!

I was thinking of contacting Gao Huan in advance, as some political understanding needed to be established beforehand.

Wang Sizheng laughed loudly, "Why should we go? Gao Huan is already on his way."

Yuan Xiu was stunned and stared at him in astonishment.

Only then did he come back to his senses.

"So you had already contacted Gao Huan?"

"Exactly!"

Wang Sizheng did not refuse, and immediately bowed and said, "I hope Xiaoze will forgive me for acting first and informing you later."

"That's all."

Yuan Xiu waved his hand, "Since things have come to this, why bother with such matters? Since Gao Huan is already on his way, I will have him make preparations to show him hospitality."

(End of this chapter)