Thief Emperor

Chapter 650 Everyone’s Calculation

Prime Minister Cui is already over sixty years old this year. He has experienced two dynasties and followed the previous emperor all the way, serving as an official in the previous emperor's dynasty for thirty years.

He knew the late emperor quite well.

The previous emperor had this kind of temperament. Everything seemed normal at ordinary times, but once he encountered some troubles, or something that might "tarnish his reputation", that is, something that might make the emperor himself responsible, the emperor would retreat behind a group of ministers without hesitation.

Never stick to the pan.

However, although the former emperor had this kind of personality, his personal abilities were not a big problem. In the early years of his reign, there was even a hint of revival. But later he gradually neglected his duties and the government became somewhat neglected.

And now, the emperor’s temperament is exactly like that of the late emperor, but his personal ability is probably not even one or two percent of that of the late emperor!
Mr. Cui sighed deeply in his heart.

This may be due to the country's destiny.

Originally, although the Great Zhou Dynasty was on the decline, as long as it behaved itself and relied on its remaining power of two hundred years, it would not be a big problem to survive for another twenty or thirty years. But at this time, there would be someone who would give it a kick and accelerate the process.

After leaving the palace, Prime Minister Cui returned home.

At this time, there were only a few people left in the Cui family in the capital. Most of Mr. Cui's children and grandchildren had returned to their hometown. Only one son and one grandson were left in the capital to accompany him.

After arriving home, he called his children and grandchildren together. The old prime minister looked at his son, then at his grandson, and sighed silently: "From today on, both of you should not go out. Stay at home, don't go anywhere, and don't see anyone."

"Even if someone comes to look for you, don't meet them again."

Aristocratic families are extremely strict about filial piety. In addition, Cui Yuan can be said to be the person with the highest status in this generation of the Cui family. The current heads of the Cui family are his nephews. The two children and grandchildren who followed him nodded their heads without even asking any questions.

The grandson that Cui Xianggong brought with him was only sixteen or seventeen years old this year and had a handsome appearance. He thought about it seriously and asked, "Is Grandfather going to work in the court again?"

Cui Xianggong nodded and said silently: "We live in the capital, and the old man has no choice."

At this point, he touched his grandson's head and suddenly asked with a smile: "Two years ago, when the capital was in turmoil, most people in the family returned to their hometown in Qinghe. Why didn't you want to leave?"

The grandson of Prime Minister Cui was named Cui Shen. He was the smartest among Cui Yuan’s seven or eight grandchildren, and also the only grandson who stayed in the capital.

"Auntie is old, and it's not good here in the capital because there are no young people. I will stay in the capital and help Auntie to some extent."

"and…"

He lowered his head slightly and said, "And my grandson feels that Qinghe's hometown may not be safer than here."

Cui Xianggong glanced at him and shook his head slightly: "You are thinking the wrong way. With the reputation of our Qinghe Cui family, no matter who comes to Qinghe in the future, they will most likely treat our family with courtesy and will not embarrass us."

"And the capital will definitely become a place of trouble and danger."

The young man Cui Shen said softly: "Aunt, things are different now than they were in the past. In the past, the dynasties changed because of the rebellion of the aristocratic families or the local big families. Those people were all educated. Only our big families were able to survive."

"And now, who is the real troublemaker?"

"It's Wang Junping, Wei Quanzhong, and now Liang Wen from Zhongyuan. The books these people have read combined may not be as many as my grandson has read in half a month. They are not necessarily polite and courteous."

Upon hearing this, Cui Xianggong thought for a moment, then said, "That's safer than a troubled place like the capital."

Cui Shen smiled and said, "Grandfather, the capital is definitely not safe, but I think it is safer to follow you than to stay in Qinghe."

This flattery made Prime Minister Cui stunned, and then the prime minister couldn't help but smile: "Little rascal."

He rubbed Cui Shen's head and said with a smile: "Then you should stay with Aong, listen more, see more, and maybe you will have a place to stand in this chaotic world in the future."

Cui Shen bowed his head deeply: "Yes, Aung."

…………

Luoyang City.

Eunuch Gao, dressed in purple, arrived in Luoyang City with the emperor's edict. Soon in Luoyang City, he met Liang Wen, the governor of Henan Province, who had almost occupied Luoyang and become the king.

After seeing Liang Wen, Eunuch Gao first carefully glanced at Liang Wen's expression, then bowed and said, "Greetings, Lord Liang."

Liang Wen looked at the eunuch Gao who was bowing his head in front of him with a smile, enjoying it for a while, then he stepped forward, helped the eunuch Gao up, and shook his head and said, "What are you doing, eunuch?"

"Without my father-in-law, I wouldn't be where I am today. My father-in-law can be said to be my benefactor. How can I do such a great favor?"

Eunuch Gao breathed a sigh of relief.

When Liang Wen was the defense envoy of Ruzhou, Eunuch Gao was ordered to inspect Jiangdong. At that time, Eunuch Gao made a lot of money in Ruzhou. After returning, he praised Liang Wen in front of the emperor. It may be for this reason that the emperor later reused him.

But now Liang Wen is no longer the former Defense Commander of Ruzhou, and he no longer has only 10,000 or 20,000 remnant soldiers under his command. It is a different time now, and Eunuch Gao is already trembling with fear in front of him.

Seeing that Liang Wen had not "forgotten the past", Eunuch Gao forced a smile on his face.

"Mr. Liang is so polite. So polite."

Liang Wen invited Eunuch Gao to sit down at the main seat in the main hall, personally poured tea and water for Eunuch Gao, and then asked with a smile: "Eunuch, what errand do you come here for this time? Does His Majesty have any instructions?"

Eunuch Gao took the tea with both hands, thanked him, and then said, "Lord Liang, we really have an imperial edict here."

Liang Wen immediately stood up and was about to kneel down, but Eunuch Gao quickly supported him and waved his hand, saying, "No outsiders, no outsiders, Lord Liang, just take it and have a look."

"How did this happen?"

Liang Wen knelt down in front of Eunuch Gao without saying a word and kowtowed respectfully.

Seeing him like this, Eunuch Gao's eyelids twitched, but he still unfolded the imperial edict, read it once, and then hurriedly helped Liang Wen up.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Liang Wen held the imperial edict in both hands and stood up. He then looked up at Eunuch Gao and said, "Eunuch, does His Majesty want me to seize Xiaoguan and drive the Shuofang Army out of Guanzhong completely?"

"Yes."

Eunuch Gao whispered, "The southeast is in turmoil, and the whole country may be in turmoil again. The four passes in Guanzhong must be in the hands of the court. Your Majesty trusts Duke Liang, so he sent Duke Liang to take back Xiaoguan and then seal the gate to Guanzhong."

Liang Wen held the imperial edict in both hands and sighed: "Eunuch, I understand the court's difficulties, but you just said that the southeast is in chaos."

"Li Yun is very ambitious and will soon occupy Jingzhou and Xiangyang. After he takes Jingzhou and Xiangyang, his next step will definitely be to the Central Plains. If I leave the Central Plains at this time, wouldn't that be opening the door wide and letting the thief Li in?"

Eunuch Gao blinked his eyes and said innocently: "Mr. Liang, I don't know anything about military affairs..."

"It's no use telling our family."

Liang Wen thought about it, then sighed and said, "Forget it, forget it. The emperor's order is hard to disobey. I will lead the troops into the pass and head straight to Xiaoguan. However, if the Central Plains is lost next year, you must say a few good words for me in front of His Majesty."

Eunuch Gao nodded hurriedly and said, "Of course, of course."

The two men exchanged a few more polite words, and Liang Wen asked someone to bring a gift list and handed it to Eunuch Gao. He also prepared a whole page of gifts for him. Eunuch Gao took the gift list and left with a happy smile on his face.

After he left, Liang Wen's subordinate Yang Hou stood beside Liang Wen. After thinking for a while, he said, "General, do we really have to enter Guanzhong and fight to the death with the Shuofang Army?"

"The emperor has issued an imperial decree."

Liang Wen said slowly: "I'm afraid you have to go even if you don't want to."

"If we don't go, the emperor will never trust us again."

Yang Hou's eyebrows twitched, with some fear in his eyes: "Marshal, that's the Shuofang Army..."

They were Wang Junping's subordinates. When they followed Wang Junping in the rebellion, their army of tens of thousands was defeated by the 5,000 Shuofang troops.

Until now, the Shuofang Army has been a very terrifying existence in their hearts, and has almost become a psychological shadow for them.

"What happened to the Shuofang Army?"

Liang Wen clenched his fists and said in a muffled voice: "We are much stronger now than when we rebelled before. As long as we can accomplish this, at worst we can retreat to Guanzhong!"

"By then, it's unclear who will have the final say in Guanzhong!"

Yang Hou still didn't quite understand. He looked around and whispered, "Marshal, then this Central Plains..."

"In the past two years, we have robbed what we should rob and taken what we should take in the Central Plains. There won't be much profit in the short term, so let them fight for it."

"If Li Yun marches into the Central Plains, I don't believe those military governors will be able to sit still!"

Liang Wen took a deep breath and gritted his teeth and said, "Go and pass the order. Tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow we will raise our army and enter Guanzhong!"

　I'm almost recovered from my cold! I'll try to update three times today!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)