My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 587 Prime Minister, you forced me to do this!
A feeling of despair can spread.

If the siege drags on for too long, the soldiers inside will become exhausted and their morale will drop.

At first, only two or three people might have thought this way, but in the end, after some private collusion, even Hou Mo and Chen Yue might not be able to control them.

Moreover.

Even if I were to sacrifice myself here in North Central City, would my wife, children, and elderly parents truly enjoy endless wealth and luxury?
Erzhu Rong is now in dire straits, and if things continue like this...

Whether Luoyang can be defended is a question.

If Luoyang falls, Erzhu Rong will have no choice but to retreat to Guanzhong.

Leaving aside whether Erzhu Rong could maintain the situation and suppress the powerful clans and aristocratic families in the Guanzhong region with his dwindling prestige at that time.

His own wife, children, and elderly parents.

Without him as the pillar of support, will anyone really take care of the orphans and widows?

Erzhu Rong himself was barely able to take care of himself, so how could he have the mind to take care of them?

After all...

Even generals of Houmo Chenyue's caliber began to have a crisis of trust in Erzhu Rong in the face of the cruel reality of Erzhu Rong's repeated defeats, loss of territory and cities.

Making empty promises is indeed a tried-and-true tactic for every leader.

But when the people below start to doubt whether the promises you've made to them will actually come true, that's a big problem.

Hou Mochenyue frowned.

Is there a third way?

Is there a third option that allows me to have the best of both worlds?
He turned his head to look at Hou Mochenrui, who was still lying on the ground and had not gotten up, and suddenly an idea came to his mind.

Without saying a word, he turned and walked into the house.

Seeing this, Hou Mochenrui scrambled to catch up with him, crying, "Father, Father..."

Hou Mochen Yue ignored him completely, instead picking up paper and pen and starting to write furiously. After a while, he blew the ink dry and sealed the letter.

Only then did he look up at Hou Mochenrui.

“I’m telling you… Listen carefully! You must do as I tell you. If this succeeds, there will be a chance for you and me, father and son, and even your brother and mother will be spared from being implicated.”

"If we mess this up..."

"You, my son, and even your elder brother and others are all facing imminent death. We are afraid that we will not live to see the day when the city of Beizhong falls!"

Hou Mochenrui nodded hurriedly, swallowing repeatedly, "Father, please tell me, I...I will definitely do as you say."

Hou Mochenyue handed him the sealed letter, saying, "You must immediately return to Luoyang, present this letter to the Prime Minister in person, and then..."

"Okay, okay, okay, I understand."

Hou Mochenrui nodded repeatedly, afraid of missing any details.

After giving his instructions, Hou Mochenyue stared at him for a while before speaking, "Be exactly the same as you were on ordinary days when you meet the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and his entourage are all shrewd people; you must not let them see through your act. If word gets out..."

But seeing Hou Mochenrui's uneasy expression...

Hou Mochen Yue was still a little worried, so she immediately went to the door and shouted, "Someone! Bring the wine!"

After a while, the servant brought the wine.

Hou Mochenyue personally filled the bowl with wine and handed it to Hou Mochenrui, saying, "Drink."

One cup, two cups, three cups!
After a few drinks, Hou Mochenyue stopped forcing people to drink and shouted, "Cheer up!"

Hou Mochenrui was startled, but his expression recovered considerably, no longer as it had been before.

"We don't know when the bandit army will arrive, so we need to act as soon as possible!"

"Yes."

Hou Mochenrui turned and left in a hurry.

Hou Mochenyue watched her second son's departing figure until he disappeared from her sight.

Then he looked up and looked south.

Prime Minister, I have never wronged you, yet you treat me as a pawn to be discarded.

You forced me to do this!
He then turned back into the house. He needed to conduct a more thorough investigation, and he began to ponder the time when his personal guards had followed him.

………………

The sun sets over the western mountains and night falls.

Hou Mochenrui, accompanied by several personal guards, hurried back to Luoyang.

The city gates were already closed. After Hou Mochenrui revealed his identity, the news was immediately relayed to Erzhu Rong.

Upon learning that Hou Mochen Rui had come to deliver a message and specifically requested to meet with him by name, he was surprised.

After pondering for a moment, Erzhu Rong said, "Go and summon the Chief Clerk and the Military Advisor, and bring General Houmochen Yue's second son to see me."

Wang Xiang and Su Chuo soon arrived before Er Zhu Rong. They were both taken aback when they learned that Hou Mo Chen Rui had returned with a message.

It doesn't take a while.

Houmo Chenrui was then brought before Erzhu Rong.

"Greetings, Prime Minister!"

"Please rise quickly. There are no outsiders here. Nephew, there's no need for you to be so polite."

Erzhu Rong, with a kind face, even took the initiative to get up and help him up, saying, "Nephew, you just led your troops to Beizhong City, why are you rushing back to Luoyang now?"

Hou Mochenrui said with a wronged expression, "Prime Minister, my father scolded me, saying that I have neither the ability to fight bravely against the enemy nor the ability to share weal and woe with the soldiers. He sent me back and said that he would let my elder brother take my place and go to Beizhong City to defend the city with him."

“These are my father’s words, all of which are in the letter.”

After saying that, he handed the letter to Erzhu Rong, but still couldn't help but complain a couple of times, "Father is really biased. What is it about me that I am inferior to my brother? Why do you look down on me like this? Prime Minister, please judge for me. Just because my brother is the eldest son, does that mean he is necessarily better than me?"

“Nephew, please calm down. You look so travel-worn. You must not have had dinner yet.”

"Someone! Take my nephew downstairs to have his meal!"

They ordered Hou Mochenrui to be taken away.

Erzhu Rong's smile vanished abruptly, replaced by a cold and ruthless expression.

He opened the envelope and read the contents of Houmo Chenyue's letter. Indeed, Houmo Chenrui was incompetent and unfit for important tasks, and Houmo Chenyue hoped that his eldest son would be transferred to Beizhong City to defend the city with him.

Erzhu Rong handed the envelope to Su Chuo and Wang Xiang, then said coldly, "What a deep father-son bond! What do you two think Hou Mochen Yue's intentions are?"

Su Chuo and Wang Xiang exchanged a glance, and then Wang Xiang spoke up, "It seems that General Houmo Chenyue has already noticed something. He does indeed dote on his eldest son. If we send his eldest son there according to his wishes... I'm afraid he might surrender."

“That’s absolutely right. If that’s the case, how could I let him have his way? Since he can’t bear to part with his family, then he should just focus on defending the city. I will take care of his wife.”

Erzhu Rong thought for a moment and then gave the order, “Go to the palace now and find His Majesty. Have him issue an edict saying that the eldest son of General Houmochen Yue is intelligent and that he should be promoted to the position of Attendant Gentleman of the Palace. Then bring the edict back.”

Wang Xiang nodded, "Yes!"

After Prime Minister Wang left, Su Chuo finally spoke up, "Prime Minister, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Erzhu Rong countered, “What’s wrong with that? By bestowing honors upon his eldest son, I believe Houmo Chenyue will understand my intentions.”

"Can……"

Su Chuo opened his mouth, his brows furrowed. He felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

After a long while, Prime Minister Wang hurriedly returned with the emperor's edict.

Erzhu Rong then summoned Houmo Chenrui back.

“My dear nephew, your father may indeed look down on you, but I know your talent!”

"Besides! Even the finest iron needs a skilled craftsman to forge it properly before it can become a peerless weapon. How can you become a useful tool without being tempered?"

Erzhu Rong forced a smile and patted his shoulder with difficulty, saying, "This defense of the city is a great achievement for both me and His Majesty. If you can help your father defend the city successfully, you will be able to prove your talent to him."

"I will also be in Luoyang awaiting your father and son's successful return, to personally meet His Majesty and petition for your commendation!"

"In that case, when others mention General Houmo Chenyue, they will surely say that the general has a promising son, not his eldest son, but you!"

Hou Mochenrui was moved to tears.

"You need not fear your father. I have issued an edict appointing you as my deputy general. I trouble you, my dear nephew, to set off for Beizhong City now and deliver His Majesty's edict to your father as well!"

(End of this chapter)