A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 217 The Temple
"Generals and ministers are not of the same race, and it is difficult to excel in both civil and military affairs."

Gongsun Hong looked at Huo Qubing and said slowly, "If this is a 'peaceful world,' you and your men will become arrogant and fierce. Before I die, I will kill you all and repeat the case of Huaiyin."

The old prime minister's body, which was like a withered branch, now seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and even Wei Qing could not lift it.

The emperor appointed the Grand Marshal and the Grand General to jointly lead the military and political affairs of the Han Dynasty. Strictly speaking, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing held positions above Gongsun Hong.

This undisguised "threat" made the uncle and nephew feel an unprecedented sense of crisis. Wei Qing was pressed down and could not move, while Huo Qubing's hand involuntarily pressed on his sword, and vigilance and fear appeared in his tiger eyes.

This old man, without hesitation, declared his intention to kill the emperor of the Han Dynasty, yet no one doubted whether he could actually do it.

"My lord, there is no need to be nervous. This is simply fate." Gongsun Hong's imposing aura dispelled Wei Qing's sense of unease, and even Huo Qubing was momentarily stunned. "My fortune is still good, which is due to my long lifespan. My lord, your fortune is exceptional. You were able to be ennobled in a single battle at a young age. This is something that countless subjects dare not even dream of."

If Wei Qing and Huo Qubing had lived during the reigns of Emperor Hui, Empress Lü, and Emperor Wen, they might have achieved great things, but they would never have been so brilliant. If Li Guang had been born at the end of the Qin Dynasty and associated with Emperor Gaozu, it would not have been difficult for him to be enfeoffed as a marquis.

This is fate; it can make or break a person.

Of course, even if one's luck is slightly worse, one can still live a long life. Gongsun Hong took himself as an example. He was born in the reign of Emperor Gao and has lived from the beginning of the Han Dynasty until now. If he can't serve one emperor, he will serve the next. He will wait and see if he can meet a suitable monarch.

In life, ability is essential, but luck and lifespan are the keys to success.

Wei Qing continued to lift Gongsun Hong up, and Gongsun Hong's voice clearly reached Huo Qubing's ears, "Your Excellency is the sharpest sword of the Han Dynasty that His Majesty has cultivated. It is a sword that can cut through thorns and brambles and sever everything. However, without a sovereign, and with His Majesty holding it for too long, Your Excellency's sword will break soon. Even without human intervention, Heaven will take it away."

His Majesty's principle for employing people is simple: "The world's talents are inexhaustible."

The reason why His Majesty keeps accepting the beauties offered by Princess Pingyang, and even the women of the bandit clan in Nanyang, is not only due to his own desires, but also because he wants to find a maternal relative who is the same as, or even surpasses, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.

This seemed impossible to outsiders, but His Majesty was very confident. As a result, His Majesty did not spare any effort when employing people. The stronger Huo Qubing was, the more powerful the "stone" His Majesty would find for Huo Qubing to hit.

Even the strongest and sharpest sword will be damaged or even broken if touched for too long.

"Fortunately, you met me and trusted me completely, which is why you have achieved what you have today."

The first half of the sentence was spoken by Gongsun Hong to Huo Qubing, while the second half was addressed to both Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.

In the spring of the second year of Yuanshou, the court originally planned to send Huo Qubing with 10,000 light cavalry to sweep through Hexi. The purpose was simple: to drive the Xiongnu Right Wise King's tribe away from the right flank of the grasslands.

Then, the conflict between His Majesty and the Emperor broke out. In order to prove that there were many talented people in the world, such as Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, His Majesty increased the number of troops to 40,000 light cavalry in a mere battle in Hexi. The other 30,000 light cavalry were commanded by Li Guang, Li Gan and Han Shuo.

Then, His Majesty fell into a disadvantageous position and retreated to Ganquan Palace. After the night of the Emperor's ascension to Chang'an, he entered Weiyang Palace and directly reduced the troops of Li Guang, Li Gan, and Han Shuo to 10,000. Huo Qubing, the General of the Guards who was going to the battlefield for the second time, commanded 30,000 light cavalry, which was nearly half of the elite troops of the Han Dynasty.

With 10,000 light cavalry, Huo Qubing could only sweep through the Hexi Corridor from east to west along the normal route. According to the plan of the Xiongnu Right Wise King Yudan, the Han army would retreat as soon as it attacked. Unless Huo Qubing flew there, even if he could find the Right Wise King's headquarters, it would be an empty nest.

With 30,000 light cavalry, Huo Qubing was able to cross the Alashan Desert, strike directly at the heart of the Xiongnu Right Wise King's territory, block the river valley, and annihilate a tribe of 30,000 households. After killing hundreds of thousands of Xiongnu people, he advanced into the rear of the right flank tribes of the grasslands, fighting across thousands of miles and cutting through the entire Hexi Corridor. The sword that is Huo Qubing is fundamentally different when wielded by His Majesty and when wielded by a sovereign.

The same principle applies to Wei Qing. When Zhao King Liu Pengzu colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, intending to exchange the Dai territory for the support of the Xiongnu Chanyu Yizhixie, the emperor actually allowed Wei Qing to take away the vast majority of the guards in Chang'an, using the Dai territory as a trap to trap the main force of the Xiongnu Chanyu's court and the Left Wise King's invasion.

It should be noted that King Liu Pengzu of Zhao, King Liu Duan of Jiaoxi, King Liu Ji of Jiaodong, and King Liu Shun of Changshan secretly ordered their vassal states to rebel, and Princess Pingyang was causing trouble in Chang'an. When the Emperor was in his most difficult time, he had less than two thousand personal guards to protect him. Half of these guards were still in Changle Palace protecting Empress Wei. If trouble were to arise from within, whether Wei Qing or Huo Qubing failed or succeeded but became complacent, the Emperor's excellent situation could be completely ruined.

Even the most outstanding military generals cannot understand how rare it is for an emperor to relinquish almost all military power to his generals when the emperor is not threatened, thus placing himself in danger of collapse.

Throughout history, this is absolutely unique!
Wei Qing was startled. Just now, the Prime Minister's "prestige" made it difficult for him to move forward, but in the past few months, the Han Dynasty had always been supported and carried forward by the Emperor and the old Prime Minister.

"Old Prime Minister, you've worked hard!" Huo Qubing said solemnly.

Wei Qing said the same thing.

Gongsun Hong shook his head. "Your Majesty is like the green mountain, and we are like pine and cypress. Pine and cypress can be felled, but the green mountain cannot be shaken. I only hope that such things will never happen again."

Since the beginning of the reign of the emperor and the reforms of the Han Dynasty, there has always been a huge opposition force in the Han court and among the people: His Majesty, the princes, Confucian scholars, powerful families, merchants... Although this force has gradually shrunk as the reforms have progressed, especially the opposition among the princes has been completely disintegrated, it is still not time to be complacent.

In order for the Han Dynasty to maintain the "three iron ladders" of the emperor, the prime minister's office, and Wei Qing or Huo Qubing, the power structure in the imperial court could be cleansed from top to bottom.

At least one of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing had to be in office; neither could be "absent" at the same time.

"Now that the matter of the land transfer is complete, I will not leave the capital region again," Wei Qing assured him.

He will participate in the design of the Han Dynasty's strategy, but he is very likely to no longer lead troops into battle. The war in the second year of Yuanshou will be the final war.

"With Lord Qin here, I am naturally at ease."

Gongsun Hong nodded, then sighed, "But I must go first."

As he approaches death, the central hub, which holds crucial and influential positions, will become a "vacant space" within the power structure, and the "three iron ladders" will be incomplete.

Wei Qing and Huo Qubing's hearts tightened. Huo Qubing thought for a moment and said, "Old Prime Minister, I heard that you have taken on a disciple of the Mohist school. I have a younger brother who studies under a Confucian scholar and is quite intelligent. I wonder if you could teach him?"

"Zi Mo is my last disciple..."

"The old prime minister wouldn't want to die without a single Confucian disciple, would he?"

(End of this chapter)