Standalone Northern and Southern Dynasties

Chapter 332: On Stage and Off Stage

It has to be said that people change.

When Gao Huan and Su Ze became sworn brothers in Luoyang, although Gao Huan was young, he was magnanimous and at that time he disdained any conspiracies or intrigues.

However, after experiencing the betrayal of the Wuchuan people and the previous betrayal of Du Luozhou, Gao Huan no longer felt any psychological pressure in doing such things and was very adept at it.

In fact, there was no need for Gao Huan to instigate, as Ge Rong had already had a huge conflict with Xianyu Xiuli.

Sure enough, after Gao Huan finished speaking, Ge Rong did not react, nor did he order his personal guards to rush in and capture Gao Huan.

Gao Huan knew that his bet was right, and Ge Rong was really not prepared to be inferior to Xianyu Xiuli.

Seeing that Ge Rong remained silent, Gao Huan continued:
"Your Majesty, Xian Yu Xiu Li is far inferior to you in character and talent, but he was elected as the leader of the rebel army. Yuan Shen's troops are far fewer in number than ours, but Xian Yu Xiu Li's own troops are on hold, and we are here to consume the main force of the government army."

Gao Huan's words also touched Ge Rong's heart.

Since the joining of forces, Xianyu Xiuli has intentionally or unintentionally weakened the power of his direct lineage.

For example, Yuwen Gong and his son were sent to Dingzhou before. Now that the morale of the government troops is high, they are sent to fight a war of attrition.

Gao Huan continued:

"Mao Puxian, who is now favored by Xianyu Xiuli, is an old general of Yuan Shen, who has ulterior motives and has been trying to alienate the king in front of Xianyu Xiuli!"

Ge Rong nodded slightly. He also had spies in Xianyu Xiuli's camp, so he naturally knew that Mao Puxian was trying to alienate him.

Gao Huan felt that the matter was about 70% settled, and he continued:

"He Liuhun is willing to be the king's vanguard and support the king to become the leader of the rebel army!"

After hearing Gao Huan's statement, Ge Rong spoke up:
"If it weren't for the True King raising his arm and calling for action, there wouldn't be such a good situation today. Ge's talent and virtue are far inferior to the True King's. He Liuhun, please don't mention this matter again in the future."

"I will pretend that what happened today never happened."

After saying this, Ge Rong pretended to see the guest off.

When Gao Huan came out, Sima Ziru, Wei Jing and Dou Tai immediately surrounded him. After they returned to the camp, Dou Tai couldn't help asking first:

"He Liuhun! What is Ge Rong's attitude?"

Gao Huan sighed and said:

"Ge Rong was unwilling to follow my plan and drove me out of his camp."

Everyone lowered their heads.

Sima Ziru suddenly asked:

"General, the fact that Ge Rong allowed you to come out shows that he is also dissatisfied with Xian Yu Xiuli, but the time is not right now, so he did not agree to your request."

Gao Huan thought about it and figured something out. He suddenly said:
"Oh no! We Huaishuo people are one step late again!"

Sima Ziru also nodded, Wei Jing seemed to understand, but Dou Tai was completely confused.

Dou Tai asked quickly:

"He Liuhun, what's going on?"

Gao Huan stood up and said:
"If Ge Rong really wanted to be a loyal minister, he should have asked his guards to escort me to Xianyu Xiuli to apologize after I said what I said today. Ge Rong actually wanted to replace Xianyu Xiuli a long time ago."

Dou Tai still asked in confusion: "Then why didn't Ge Rong agree to your request?"

Gao Huan paced and said:

"The time has not come yet. Ge Rong has already planned to get rid of Xian Yu Xiu Li, but it is not the time yet!"

As a conspirator, Gao Huan quickly sorted out his thoughts. He stopped and said:

"Now they are the only ones who can help Ge Rong plan to get rid of Xianyu Xiuli! And they were beaten to it by the damn Wuchuan people!"

Upon hearing the three words "Wuchuan people", Dou Tai stood up immediately. His father Dou Le died in a battle because of the Wuchuan people's betrayal and surrender. His hatred for the Wuchuan people was even greater than his hatred for the rebels. After all, Dou Tai himself had become a rebel now.

The slow-witted Wei Jing finally caught up with his brother-in-law Gao Huan's train of thought. He asked, "Is it Yuwen and his son?"

Gao Huan nodded heavily and said:

"Among Ge Rong's subordinates, only Yuwen and his son are capable of planning this. I'm afraid Ge Rong has already planted a secret agent next to Xianyu Xiuli, and will launch the attack as soon as the time is right. Then Ge Rong can justifiably kill Xianyu Xiuli!"

Sima Ziru let out a long sigh. He and his group had finally arrived in Dingzhou, but they were still suppressed by the people of Wuchuan.

Where in this world can the people of Huaishuo make a name for themselves?

But he had just betrayed Du Luozhou and fled to Ge Rong. If he betrayed Ge Rong again now, wouldn't he be a slave of three surnames?
Gao Huan sighed and said:

"We can only pay close attention to the dynamics around Xianyu Xiuli. If Ge Rong mobilizes us, the Huaishuo people must respond immediately and earn the credit for supporting him!"
-
In the tent of Yuwen father and son, Yuwen Gong was accompanied by his second son Yuwen Lian and his youngest son Yuwen Tai.

The third son, Yuwen Luosheng, lifted the curtain and came in. Yuwen Tai quickly stood up and gave his seat to his third brother, while he stood guard near the tent.

After taking the water bag and taking a sip of water, Yuwen Luosheng said with uncontrollable excitement: "Grandpa! It's done!"

Yuwen Gong said happily:
"Did the man agree?"

Yuwen Luosheng nodded heavily and said:
"That man has already made an agreement with me. As long as Xian Yu Xiuli's military camp is in chaos, he will take action immediately!"

Yuwen Gong said happily:
"If this is accomplished, King Wei will be able to take a step further!"

The second son, Yuwen Lian, also said: "As long as Prince Wei can take power, Yuan Shen can be defeated easily, and my family can earn the credit of following the dragon!"

Yuwen Tai stood at the door of the tent, looking at his father and brother from afar, feeling filled with emotion.

Back then, the Yuwen family wanted to be loyal subjects of the Wei Dynasty. Yuwen Tai's elder brother, Yuwen Hao, died in battle, and the Yuwen family lost an heir for the Wei Dynasty.

Even though they pretended to surrender to Wei Kegu later, Yuwen and his son were both thinking of making meritorious deeds and returning to the court.

But as the situation has developed to this day, the attitude of the Yuwen family has also changed.

Hedong was the most fertile region of the Wei Dynasty. With just a call from Xianyu Xiuli, even the ancient capital of Yecheng was captured.

Yuan Shen, the most capable prince in the court, was also hesitating in Lingqiu and dared not advance.

Yuwen and his son felt the changes in the situation.

Not only Yuwen and his son, but anyone with a little knowledge in the world has already seen such changes.

Unlike modern times, rebellion was a common occurrence in ancient dynasties.

However, in the several rebellions before the Six Garrisons Rebellion, the imperial court was able to quell them quickly. Sometimes, the local nobles were able to destroy the rebels without the imperial court even sending troops.

But this time is different.

First there was chaos in the northern border, then there was chaos in Guanzhong, and now the five states in Hedong are also in chaos.

Everyone in the world saw the weakness of the court, and everyone's thoughts changed.

Yuwen Tai was precocious and had different opinions on his father and brother's plans.

Yuwen Tai believed that the court was not doomed yet, and even Ge Rong might not be the "real dragon".

But he was too young to participate in his father and brother's planning.

While his father and brother were discussing this, Yuwen Tai heard footsteps and shouted:
"Silence!"

Yuwen Gong and his son stopped discussing and saw an envoy in brocade clothes, surrounded by soldiers, breaking into Yuwen Gong's tent.

Yuwen Gong's face looked a little ugly, but since this was the envoy of Xianyu Xiuli, he could only bring his son and respectfully salute the envoy in brocade clothes.

"The True King has ordered that Yang Yu, the leader of the pseudo-Wei bandits, send troops to Wulu, and General Yuwen Gong, the brave cavalry general, lead his troops to meet the enemy."

Yuwen Gong had been in the officialdom before. After he received the order from the True King, he asked in a gentle voice:
"May I ask, Your Excellency, how many troops did the True King allocate to me to go to Wulu to stop Yang Yu?"

The messenger said arrogantly:
"The True King's order is very clear. Please ask General Yuwen to lead his troops to stop Yang Yu."

Upon hearing this order, Yuwen Gong’s second son Yuwen Lian was very angry!
After all, Yang Yu was the deputy general of the Wei army's main general, the governor of Dingzhou, and the second-in-command of the opposing Wei army.

Xianyu Xiuli actually issued an order, asking Yuwen Gong to take his own troops to stop Yang Yu.

You have to know that the Huaishuo soldiers that Yuwen Gong helped Ge Rong train, plus the troops he brought back from the Six Garrisons, totaled only about three thousand people.

These are the elite soldiers trained with great effort by the Yuwen family, and they are the capital for the Yuwen family to survive in troubled times.

Now Xianyu Xiuli actually issued such an order, which obviously wanted to weaken the power of the Yuwen family through military orders.

Just when Yuwen Lian was about to get angry, Yuwen Gong stopped his son and said kindly:
"Please tell your Excellency that Gong has been ordered to go to war and will die for the true king!"

Immediately afterwards, Yuwen Gong clapped his hands again, and his youngest son Yuwen Tai brought out a gorgeous brocade from behind.

The envoy was fascinated by the gorgeous brocade. He carefully stroked the brocade with his hands, and his attitude towards Yuwen Gong immediately improved a lot.

He said:
"The True King ordered General Yuwen to go to war immediately, but I can go slower on the way to give General Yuwen more time to prepare."

"Thank you very much, Your Excellency!"

After sending the messenger away, Yuwen Luosheng said hurriedly:

"Grandpa, has our plan been exposed?"

Yuwen Gong shook his head and said:
"It shouldn't be. It's just Xianyu Xiuli's routine suppression of us."

Yuwen Gong said to his sons:

"If I disobey, I will arouse Xian Yu Xiuli's suspicion."

"Alian, you will follow your father to fight Wulu. If the enemy is strong, you must protect the army and wait until King Wei takes the throne."

"Luo Sheng, you continue to stay in the King Wei's army, keep in touch with that person, and promote that great event."

"As soon as the mission is accomplished, report to your father immediately and we will lead the troops back immediately!"

Yuwen Luosheng nodded heavily. Only after everything was explained did Yuwen Gong say to his youngest son Yuwen Tai:

"Atai, I know you have always had your own opinions, but this matter concerns the future of our Yuwen family. You must help your brother."

Yuwen Tai always felt that something was wrong, but he just opened his mouth and nodded, obeying his father's orders.

At the end of the second year of Xiaochang, Yuwen Gong, a general under Ge Rong, and his son Yuwen Lian went to Wulu to resist Yang Yu, the governor of Dingzhou.

Countless heroes rushed onto the stage of history, wanting to play a more important role in it.

But Su Ze knew that it was not so easy to enter the stage of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
When the spotlight of the stage gives someone a highlight moment, perhaps the next moment will be his exit.

(End of this chapter)