My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 603 Devastating News Arrives!
Luoyang.

Inside the residence of General Tianzhu.

It was already late at night, but Erzhu Rong did not fall asleep. Instead, he sat alone in the pavilion in the backyard. Later, he simply asked someone to summon Su Chuo and Prime Minister Wang.

"I just had a dream. In the dream, all the ancestors of my Erzhu clan and my clansmen were standing in a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood..."

Erzhu Rong explained why he had summoned the two men late at night, and also explained why he was still awake at this hour.

Wang Xiang and Su Chuo did not rush to respond...

That's a difficult question to answer.

With a major battle looming, Erzhu Rong had made all his preparations to settle things with Gao Yu at Mangshan, but then he had this dream.

Su Chuo hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, "I also have some knowledge of dream interpretation... The scene in the Prime Minister's dream is actually an auspicious omen!"

"Those mountains of corpses and seas of blood were formed from the bones of the soldiers of Gao's army!"

Dream interpretation.

It's essentially the same principle as horoscopes, face reading, and palmistry.

To put it nicely, it's psychology.

To put it bluntly, that's charlatanry.

Those who excel in this line of work are all shrewd and have a set of standard talking points.

Su Chuo had an inherent advantage in being able to argue in this way.

He worked by Erzhu Rong's side every day, and was very familiar with Erzhu Rong's mood changes. He knew very well what Erzhu Rong was worried about, and he also knew what words could make Erzhu Rong happy.

It may seem like 'flattery,' but it's something we have no other choice but to do!
He's boarded a pirate ship. Although Erzhu Rong's prestige is declining, only Erzhu Rong can maintain the current situation.

Others lack the qualifications, prestige, and ability.

He had to maintain Erzhu Rong's mindset...

Take ten thousand steps back.

For the sake of the future, we should also try our best to help Erzhu Rong and create great 'united front value' under Erzhu Rong's command.

He assisted Erzhu Rong, which brought great trouble to Gao Yu.

When he seeks refuge in the future, Gao Yu will value him even more.

Erzhu Rong chuckled twice upon hearing this, "Lingchuo, you always manage to bring me some surprises."

How could he not know that Su Chuo was just comforting himself?
But right now, he really needs this kind of "chicken soup for the soul" to stabilize his emotions and confidence.

"I was just telling the truth."

Su Chuo said calmly, “The Prime Minister’s arrangements around Luoyang will be in place in a few days. We can take back what we lost in one battle, or even more. A huge defeat will incite conflict among Gao’s subordinates.”

Once a force grows too large...

There will inevitably be various disagreements within the organization, which will inevitably give rise to different interest groups. When interests clash, conflict is unavoidable.

Just like Gao Yu's subordinates.

How could the powerful families of Shandong and Hebei not have conflicts with each other?

The two sides engaged in various battles over the mere establishment of a temporary capital.

The best way to suppress internal conflicts.

It means expanding outwards, continuously extracting greater benefits from the outside, and being able to continuously drain resources from the outside world, which can alleviate conflicts.

Once it becomes impossible to expand outwards.

The conflict will only accumulate until it can no longer be contained and explodes when the competition for incremental growth turns into a competition for existing resources!

Gao Yu didn't feel much pressure from internal conflicts, largely because he kept winning.

He continuously built up his personal prestige and expanded his territory.

However, once a crushing defeat occurs, all sorts of problems will inevitably arise.

"However... I have a vague feeling of unease in my heart."

Erzhu Rong said, "I always feel like I've overlooked something, which keeps me tossing and turning at night."

"North Central City... I'm worried about it."

"Prime Minister, you are overthinking it. Judging from the messages that have come back these past few days, General Houmo Chenyue has already understood your meaning and has responded with actions," Wang Xiang quickly flattered.

"It's precisely because everything went too smoothly..."

Erzhu Rong shook his head.

Could a mere Attendant Gentleman of the Palace be enough to make Houmo Chenyue willingly send himself to his death?

Houmo Chenyue could have made even more demands of Erzhu Rong.

such as……

They selected a woman from the Erzhu clan to marry Houmochen Yue's eldest son, demanding more conditions to pave the way for their eldest son's future.

Erzhu Rong had even made preparations for this long ago.

But Hou Mo and Chen Yue never brought it up, and that's what's strange about it.

Hou Mochen Yue is indeed exceptionally capable, which ironically makes his life seem worthless.

The more this is the case, the stranger things seem.

Erzhu Rong only came to his senses in the last two days, and started thinking about whether he should try to make amends.

"Prime Minister, please put your mind at ease."

Wang Lian offered words of comfort.

Su Chuo then reminded him, "If the Prime Minister is still worried, he can send another trusted confidant to take away some of General Houmo Chenyue's military power."

"If that's all..."

North Central City was regarded as a 'discarded pawn,' and the people sent there naturally suffered the same fate.

It's like using a trusted confidant to buy yourself a few months.

"Let me think about it again."

"It's late, and I'm afraid I'll keep you both from resting. You should go back and get some rest."

Su Chuo said no more.

He was only responsible for giving suggestions; the final decision rested with Erzhu Rong.

For a subject, the most taboo thing is to overstep one's bounds and make decisions for the ruler.

Even with great ability, such behavior will not prevent one from dying.

Because decision-making power is one of the most core powers of the team's 'top leader'.

To covet this power is to harbor 'disloyal intentions'!
The two turned to leave!

But then they heard a series of hurried footsteps and saw two soldiers in armor running over in a panic!
Upon seeing Erzhu Rong, he cried out in a panic, "Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened, Prime Minister!!"

Erzhu Rong's heart sank.

"Damn... my premonition was so accurate?"

As the two approached, Erzhu Rong frowned and scolded, "What's the rush? Has the sky fallen?"

"Speak, what has made you so flustered and out of your mind?"

The two soldiers exchanged a glance, and one of them stammered, "Prime Minister... just now there were several cavalrymen who rushed from the riverbank under the cover of night outside the city."

broken!

Su Chuo's heart skipped a beat.

Hearing that the news came from the military camp on the riverbank, he felt a vague unease in his heart.

Erzhu Rong, his face grim, pressed on, "Speak, what news is it?"

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, one of them claims to have rushed back from Beizhong City with crucial military intelligence. He...he..."

"What do you mean, 'he'?! Tell me!"

The soldier gritted his teeth and said, "This man said that Beizhong City has fallen... and when he was rushing from General Wei Xiaokuan's camp to Luoyang, he faintly heard... sounds of fighting at the entrance of the river bridge, which seemed to be the Gao bandit army taking the river bridge!!"

"What??"

Erzhu Rong's head exploded with a loud bang!

(End of this chapter)