The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 321 Kowtow to the Wrong Head, Burn the Wrong Incense

Su Fengji, the elder of the imperial court, remained silent while the remaining ministers argued endlessly. Su Yugui alone could not suppress the situation and could only act anxiously.

"Cough cough~"

Liu Chengxun coughed and struggled to get up, and the eunuch serving at the side hurriedly supported him.

Su Yugui hurriedly said loudly: "Silent! Silent! Your Highness has something to say!"

The Long Live Palace became quiet, and dozens of pairs of eyes looked at Liu Chengxun eagerly.

Liu Chengxun covered his mouth and coughed, his face turned sickly red, and he said weakly: "Gentlemen, please don't argue anymore. What the Queen Mother said is reasonable. Kaifeng will suffer war and the world will fall into pieces again. It's better not to make unnecessary resistance anymore. We will welcome you." Duke Guo has entered the court, and from now on the court will be left to Duke Guo's arrangements."

There was silence above the Golden Palace, and all the courtiers looked at each other in shock.

A relieved smile appeared on Su Fengji's lips, and he raised his head and sighed silently.

Su Yugui hesitated.

Some ministers expressed their gratitude to Liu Han's court and immediately knelt down and cried bitterly.

There were also people with happy faces. If the people around them hadn't stopped them, they would have run out of the hall on the spot and all the way out of the city to meet Guo Wei and Ye Jun.

Some people also retorted in grief and indignation: "Your Highness, no! Guo Wei is a king-killer and treasonist. His crimes are beyond description. How can the court surrender to a traitor?"

"Now we should ask the Queen Mother to issue an edict, and then ask Her Highness to ascend the throne as soon as possible, take charge of the overall situation, prepare the palace troops and horses, and fight to the death against the Guo thieves!" Some courtiers were filled with indignation.

The main hall once again fell into a debate about whether to surrender or not.

It involves the interests of all parties, and all the ministers are red-faced.

No matter how loud Su Yugui shouted, he couldn't stop it.

Su Fengji looked on coldly, as if watching a group of clowns.

Liu Chengxun's face turned red with anger, and he raised his voice and said sternly: "I have decided to follow the Queen Mother's decree, surrender in Kaicheng, and welcome Duke Guo into the court! Anyone who disobeys should be expelled from the court!"

It's a pity that although Liu Chengxun is a prince, he is sick and has a weak voice, and he has not yet been officially titled a prince, so his prestige is not enough to deter the scene.

According to Liu Chengyou's cold nature, he would never confer the title of king while Liu Chengxun was still alive, so as not to give him the opportunity to cultivate his power.

Therefore, Liu Chengxun has not yet been awarded a title. His official status is that he is the Grand Master of the school and concurrently serves as a minister. He is a noble but does not hold real power.

"The Queen Mother is here!"

A shrill and high-pitched singing resounded suddenly through the Long Live Hall, and all the courtiers hurriedly turned around to look, only to see the Empress Dowager Li Sanniang, who was dressed in a white plain dress, stepping into the hall with the support of Zhang Gui, the eunuch of the inner palace.

Su Fengji straightened his robes and came forward to prostrate himself. Su Yugui and the other courtiers hurriedly stood on both sides.

"Welcome to the Queen Mother!" All ministers greeted.

Liu Chengxun supported the eunuch's arm and hurried forward, wanting to bow down, Zhang Gui stepped forward to stop him, and said in a low voice: "The Queen Mother has orders, Your Highness does not need a big gift, just go back and sit on the couch."

Liu Chengxun hurriedly said gratefully: "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your mercy."

Li Sanniang smiled slightly, nodded to him, walked straight through the ministers, walked up to the Imperial Palace's jade steps, and stood in front of the dragon throne.

After looking at the gold-painted Nine Dragons, Li Sanniang turned around and faced the ministers directly.

There was silence in the hall.

Li Sanniang's cold and indifferent voice sounded: "I have decided to open the palace city and welcome Duke Guo to the court! Su Fengji and Su Yugui, two ministers from the Qing family, will lead the fifth-rank and above officials to welcome you at the Zhuque Gate on behalf of the court and you! Do your job and make no mistakes!"

Ministers, you look at me and I look at you, but no one dares to answer.

Li Sanniang glanced at the ministers and her eyes became sharper: "Anyone who disobeys Yu Yi's order will be dismissed from their posts and sent to jail, waiting for the judge's decision!"

A few of the ministers originally wanted to speak out to refute, but when they heard this, they immediately shut up and did not dare to say more.

Su Fengji prostrated himself and said loudly: "I obey the Queen Mother's decree!"

Su Yugui's heart was shattered, and he prostrated himself and shouted.

Since the Queen Mother had made the decision and ordered Kaicheng to surrender, he had no psychological burden and could just go to Zhuque Gate to greet Guo Wei and Ye Jun.

Infamy for right and wrong will not fall on him.

~~~
The sky was bright, Kaifeng Waiguo City Yingchun Gate, the fire inside and outside the gate had just been extinguished, most of the city gate was burnt to collapse, the inner wall was burnt to pitch black, still emitting wisps of black smoke.

He Fujin's soldiers and horses have taken over Yingchun Gate and are clearing the battlefield, moving corpses, and transporting the wounded for centralized treatment.

"Woo~"

Two horses neighed, Zhao Hongyin and Zhao Kuangyin and his son arrived on horseback.

He jumped off his horse and hurriedly ran towards the city gate.

"Hurry up, Sir. I will welcome Mr. Guo into the city with my father!" Zhao Hongyin arranged his clothes and robes as he ran.

"Father, there is no need to worry. Brother Ye Jun said that Shuai Qi has not entered the city yet, and I think Duke Guo is still outside the camp." Zhao Kuangyin said with a smile.

Zhao Hongyin turned back and glared at him, and whispered: "How ignorant! Even if Mr. Guo's flag is still ten miles away, you and I have to wait here early, so that Mr. Guo can see the sincerity of our Zhao family!"

Zhao Kuangyin smiled helplessly.

"Look, Commander Guo's flag is coming!" Under the city gate, Zhao Hongyin saw soldiers gathering outside the city from a distance, flags fluttering, and in the lead was a majestic green flag with the word "Guo".

Zhao Hongyin took a deep breath, straightened his helmet, fastened the straps under his chin, cleared his throat, stood with his head bowed, his eyes fixed on his toes, and his expression was extremely respectful.

Zhao Kuangyin glanced at his old father's style and wanted to laugh but didn't dare.

Zhao Hongyin glared at him angrily and lowered his voice: "After entering this city, Mr. Guo has already sat on the throne with half of his buttocks. My father and son must pay homage as the emperor, and we must not be careless!"

Zhao Kuangyin felt awe-inspiring in his heart and hurriedly said solemnly: "Father, don't worry, the child will be spared!"

Zhao Hongyin sighed and muttered: "I think back then when we were serving under the late emperor, Guo Wei would call me brother when he saw me, and he would do a lot of work of serving tea and water in front of me. I didn't expect that things have changed now, and I You have to kneel down and kowtow to pay your respects.”

Zhao Kuangyin wanted to laugh when he heard this. Looking at his old father's eyes that were red from the heat, and the white hair on his temples fluttering in the cold wind, he felt a little distressed. He pitied his old father for having to worry about the future of the Zhao family at such an old age.

Zhao Kuangyin secretly made up his mind that he must grow up as soon as possible and become the backbone of the Zhao family.

As the handsome flag approached the Yingchun gate, Zhao Hongyin put down his robe and knelt down without saying a word, kowtowed and said loudly: "The last general, Zhao Hongyin, and his son Zhao Kuangyin, respectfully welcome the commander into the city!"

Zhao Kuangyin also knelt down and bowed his head. He saw a few horses stopped in front of them, but he couldn't see the people on the horses.

It was quiet for a while, no one answered, only the sound of the horse breathing could be heard.

Zhao Hongyin's heart trembled, and he was uneasy and said loudly again: "The last general Zhao Hongyin and his son Zhao Kuangyin respectfully welcome the commander into the city!"

One person got off his horse and walked towards them quickly.

Zhao Hongyin raised his eyes and saw that the person coming was wearing a green shirt and a fur robe, not the gold helmet and armor as he imagined.

And looking at his feet, he doesn’t look like a soldier.
Just as he was wondering, Zhao Hongyin heard a gentle voice above his head: "General Zhao please get up quickly, Brother Yuen Long please get up quickly!" Zhao Hongyin looked up and was dumbfounded.

The person who came was a handsome young man with a warm smile on his face.

"Zhu Xiu? You"

Zhao Kuangyin was startled, but he didn't expect that the person coming was Zhu Xiu.

Zhu Xiu helped Zhao Hongyin stand up with a smile, and then patted the dust on his knees thoughtfully.

"Junior Zhu Xiu, I have met Old General Zhao!" Zhu Xiu bowed his hands.

"You" Zhao Hongyin pointed at Zhu Xiu and then at Shuai Qi behind him. He seemed very puzzled and couldn't figure out why it was Zhu Xiu who appeared with Shuai Qi.

Zhu Xiu smiled hurriedly and said: "Old General Zhao doesn't know something. Duke Guo and Marshal Chai have already entered the city first. I have been ordered to guard the flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army, escort the military supplies, grass and baggage, and then enter the city."

Zhao Hongyin smacked his lips and stroked his forehead. There were still some red marks on his forehead, stained with some gravel, which were all caused by kowtowing just now.

Zhu Xiu looked apologetic, and raised her hand to wipe Zhao Hongyin clean.

Zhao Hongyin said "no need", stretched out his hand to block it, wiped off the residue on his forehead, and stared at Zhu Xiu with extremely resentful eyes.

It's really a big loss for him to kowtow without knowing.

Zhu Xiu smiled helplessly, she couldn't let herself knock back again.

"Dad, this is Zhu Xiu of Jingzhou." Zhao Kuangyin also glared with some annoyance and introduced him angrily.

Zhu Xiu bowed again.

Zhao Hongyin stroked his beard, coughed and said with a smile: "Dalang often mentioned in front of me that the Commander-in-Chief of Jingzhou is a talented person in the world. Today, when I see him, he is indeed a man of gold and jade!"

Zhu Xiu raised her eyebrows slightly, and she could hear Zhao Hongyin's implication that he was good-looking, but he didn't know if he had any real talent or knowledge.

This old man Zhao is really petty, he is obviously kowtowing to tease him for the loss just now, to make up for some face.

Zhu Xiu didn't bother with him, and smiled slightly: "I don't dare to be praised by the old general Zhao. The old general has been a soldier for half his life, and he has a great reputation. He can be called a role model for my generation! The younger generation and brother Yuen Long are called brothers, and we will respect the old general from now on." As an elder, I hope to have the opportunity to listen to the teachings of the old general."

Zhao Hong was stroking his beard with a smile on his face, and these compliments, both salty and mild, were quite helpful to him.

"My nephew, you're welcome. I'll often go back to my home with Da Lang in the future. I'm also very interested in your affairs in Jingzhou. Let's discuss it together!" Zhao Hongyin said with a smile.

"How dare you disobey me!" Zhu Xiu saluted.

"I wonder where Mr. Guo and Marshal Chai went?" Zhao Kuangyin asked hurriedly, ignoring the pleasantries.

Zhu Xiu said softly: "Situ Mansion."

Zhao Kuangyin was speechless, and looked at each other with Zhao Hongyin, showing a wry smile.

Guo Wei went back to Situ's Mansion to see if no one would dare to disturb him at this time.

They also wanted to meet Guo Wei as soon as possible to show the Zhao family's deference, but it seemed they had no choice but to give up.

Zhu Xiu looked at the two of them and said with a smile: "Mr. Guo ordered Wei Junshi and Wang Jun to be in charge of military affairs. All matters will be discussed after Guo Gong and Chai Shuai leave Situ's mansion. During this period, if you have nothing important to do, don't bother them.
Please rest assured that uncle and brother Yuen Long will find an opportunity to mention that uncle and brother Yuen Long are waiting at Yingchun Gate when I go to the Situ Mansion and see Mr. Guo.

The battle at night was also thanks to the Zhao family's help. Duke Guo will definitely not forget these contributions. "

Zhao Kuangyin said: "Since Mr. Guo has strict orders not to go to Situ's mansion to disturb him, how can you go to see him?"

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "Guo Gong granted me the right to act expediently, so that I can go and see him at any time without having to notify him."

Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Hongyin looked at each other. Zhao Hongyin stroked his beard and looked at Zhu Xiu with a more serious expression: "In that case, Nephew Lao Xian will send greetings to Mr. Guo on behalf of my father and son."

"Uncle, don't worry!"

Zhao Kuangyin helped Zhao Hongyin mount his horse, cupped his fists and said, "Thank you very much, brother. When you see Chai Shuai, you can also say hello to me."

"Brother Yuen Long, walk slowly!"

Zhao Kuangyin nodded, with a complicated look in his eyes, got on his horse, and rode back to the city with Zhao Hongyin.

Zhu Xiu watched them go away, waving his hand to Pan Mei to continue escorting Shuai Qi into the city.

"Little official!"

Hu Guangyue and Chen An arrived. Chen An was so excited that he knelt down when he saw Zhu Xiu.

Zhu Xiu led them to a deserted place on the side of the inner city wall, looked him over carefully, and patted him on the shoulder vigorously: "It's almost two years, you have worked hard!"

Chen An's eyes were red, and he wiped away tears and choked up: "Serving a small official, my subordinates will die even if they die!"

Zhu Xiu nodded and said in a deep voice: "It is not easy to run a business in Kaifeng. I will remember all your contributions. When the commander-in-chief enters the court, I will definitely fight for the rewards you deserve."

Chen An hurriedly knelt down and said, "I don't ask for promotion and wealth, I just want to follow a small official all my life!"

Zhu Xiu cursed angrily: "There is no future! We followed Guo Gong and raised troops in Yedu and fought all the way to Kaifeng City. Isn't it just for fame and wealth? In the future, if we don't have any official position, how can you serve me?" How can you hang out in Kaifeng City? You still want to be a white man? It will embarrass me if you tell me!"

Hu Guangyue covered his mouth to hold back his laughter, Chen An blushed and said, "The little official taught me the lesson, it's because my subordinates are short-sighted. Anyway, I will be whatever official the little official asks me to be. No matter what kind of official I am, I Chen An An only serves petty officials!"

Zhu Xiu curled her lips and raised her hand to signal him to get up.

"Where's Ma Qing?"

Zhu Xiu stared at him suspiciously.

Chen An grinned, muttered for a long time, and said with a wry smile: "He said he was going to track down Li Ye's whereabouts, so he won't come to see the little official for now."

Zhu Xiu scolded: "Fart! Where else can Li Ye go except to Li Hongxin, the governor of Shaanzhou? The deputy envoy of Shaanzhou is a member of the Fu family. I have already sent a letter to the Fu family to ask for help." Help warn Li Hongxin that he is not allowed to take Li Ye in. I don’t believe that Li Hongxin dares to refuse!

Li Ye will be a dead man sooner or later, why bother to trace it?Let Ma Qing come see me quickly! "

Chen An hesitated to answer, Hu Guangyue smiled wryly and said: "Ma Qing tidied up the old house at the entrance of Laoya Lane, saying that there is no place for the petty officials to live in the city, first tidy up the former Shenghe mansion, and invite the petty officials to rest. If you, the junior official, have anything to say, you’d better ask after seeing Ma Qing.”

Zhu Xiu looked at the two of them and said seriously: "Tell me honestly, how injured is Ma Qing?"

Chen An sighed bitterly: "Third brother doesn't allow us to tell the official. The official will know when he goes to see him."

Zhu Xiu's heart sank, and she had an ominous premonition.

He knew that the entrance to Lao Yaxiang was destroyed by the Imperial Army sent by Li Ye, and that the Zangfeng Battalion suffered heavy casualties, so he had to urgently dispatch manpower from Luoyang.

Ma Qing fell into the hands of Li Ye, and Chen An escaped with his life.

Li Ye would definitely torture Ma Qing if he caught him, but Zhu Xiu didn't know the extent of his injuries, and Hu Guangyue kept hesitating and dared not say.

Zhu Xiu took a deep breath: "Let's go! Go to Laoya Lane!"

(End of this chapter)