Strange Tales from the Northern Qi Dynasty

Chapter 275 Gao Rui's Death
"I now confer the title of King of Pingcheng to General Liu Taozi."

After the imperial edict was sent out, Hu Changren sent someone to inform Gao Rui and Gao Yin.

There was still no response from Gao Yun.

He was now busy and sweating profusely. The disaster in Qingxu made it impossible for him to spare any thought for other things.

However, it was different for Gao Rui. After learning that Hu Changren had issued an edict without his knowledge and appointed Liu Taozi as king, Gao Rui became furious. The first person he looked for was Qinghe King Gao Jie.

Gao Jie was still drunk from yesterday when he learned about Gao Rui's arrival.

Gao Jie quickly washed his face, making himself feel much more awake, and then went out to greet them.

When he walked out of the inner room, Gao Rui, with a dark face, was waiting for him surrounded by many soldiers.

"Greetings to Prince Zhao!"

Gao Jie was the first to pay his respects.

"How could a dignified prince do such a thing?!"

"Foreign generals colluded with court officials to seek benefits for themselves. How can you, the King of Great Qi, be an accomplice to the tiger?"

Gao Rui started scolding as soon as he opened his mouth.

Gao Jie had no idea what Gao Rui was talking about. The angel flew directly to the border with the imperial edict. In order to complete the task as quickly as possible, Hu Changren skipped Gao Jie's step.

Although he didn't know what Gao Rui was talking about, Gao Jie was extremely angry in his heart, because he could still understand the words "foreign generals colluding with court officials" and "acting as accomplices to the tiger".

He immediately put away his respect and replied with a straight face: "Colluding with foreign generals, isn't this what the right prime minister is doing? I heard that you sent someone to contact Pingyuan King Duan Shao and asked him to send 3,000 cavalry to station near Linzhang. How could you, the great King of the Great Qi, do such a thing?!"

Gao Rui looked at Gao Jie in disbelief.

"You are a member of the royal family of Da Qi."

"Do you know what you are doing?"

"The royal family of Da Qi? So what?"

When talking about this, Gao Jie's eyes could not help but show anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "When my father was still alive, he fought desperately for King Gao. He fought hundreds of battles and had great achievements. His reputation spread far and wide. But Emperor Wenxuan sent Gao Guiyan to poison him just for some ridiculous reasons!"

"Later, he called me to his side. Sometimes he threatened me, sometimes he insulted me, and sometimes he doted on me. He was so unpredictable that I could only be very careful, fearing that if I said something wrong, I would end up like my father!"

"At that time, why didn't anyone say that my family was a royal family and stand up for my family? After Gao Guiyan poisoned my father and killed my relatives, why didn't he say that my family was also a royal family when he tortured and killed them for fun?"

"Besides, who says that royal family members can't assist foreign generals? My general Wei was born in a humble family, the son of a military slave, but he has a broad mind that no royal family can match. He doesn't reject or alienate me just because I'm a royal family member. All important meetings are recorded by me!"

"He can be tolerant of others. If someone says something wrong after drinking, he will wait until the other person sobers up before reprimanding him. If someone makes a mistake, he will deal with it impartially. He will not pardon someone just because he is close to him, nor will he exclude someone just because he has just returned!"

Gao Jie became more and more excited as he spoke.

He simply pointed at Gao Rui in front of him and yelled, "What on earth are you guys from the royal family doing now?!"

"My general Wei has promoted new disciplines in the frontier, opened many schools, encouraged agriculture, and ruled over a vast expanse of fertile land. The people are gradually becoming wealthy, the government is clean, and the soldiers are brave. In just a few years, the frontier has changed its appearance, and everyone praises his virtue!"

"There are countless fertile fields on the border, the people have something to rely on, and the wise men have a place to use their talents. The 40,000 new troops have completed their training. They will go north to resist the Turks, east to defeat the Khitans, and west to kill the Zhou generals. But what are you doing?!"

"It has been a year since the Emperor ascended the throne. When he came back this time, you are still scheming against each other, forming cliques for personal gain, plotting schemes, fighting and killing each other. There is no improvement, no change, and it is even worse than before!!"

"I really don't understand how a hero like General Wei could live under the same sky with people like you!!"

Gao Rui's face flushed, the corners of his mouth trembled, and he wanted to interrupt the other party several times.

But he was unable to interrupt Gao Jie until he finished speaking.

"Hu Changren wants to make your general the king. Do you know about this?"

Gao Yi was stunned, "Now I know."

"I hope you can go back and tell General Wei immediately to ask him to refuse."

"Reject? Why?"

"Hu Changren has ulterior motives. I believe that people like General Wei should not bother to collude with people like Hu Changren. Hu Changren is just using the tiger's skin to scare the others, but it really works. Many ministers think that Hu Changren has joined forces with General Liu. They are afraid of his power and have submitted to him. If General Wei accepts the imperial edict, then villains like Hu Changren will monopolize power in the temple."

"If General Wei cares about the country, he should not allow a villain to take the position just for the sake of empty reputation."

"If Hu Changren comes to power, I really don't know how many people will be killed and persecuted by him, and how many local people will be killed or injured?"

Gao Jie chuckled, shook his head slowly, and looked sideways at Gao Rui.

"If Hu Changren hadn't come to power, would the local people have lived well?"

"It's not good now, but if we wait until he goes up, it will be worse."

"Do not."

Gao Ma's answer was simple and direct.

He said seriously: "In my opinion, all these things of yours are like the frolicking of naughty children. They are useless."

"This title is beneficial to my general. If he is crowned as a king, he will be able to do more and have a greater influence. It will be beneficial rather than harmful."

"Don't even think about forcing my general Wei by using any reason like morality or the suffering of the people."

"My general doesn't buy into this. He doesn't care about empty reputation when it comes to the great things he wants to do."

"Just think of him as a villain who is greedy for fame, ignores the people and the country, and has no moral integrity!"

"After all, he is the son of a military slave, not a great prince of the Great Qi clan like us!"

"Please come back!"

Gao Yi waved his sleeves, which rustled. Although he was still very young, he exuded a strong aura, and even overwhelmed Gao Rui in front of him. He turned and left. The knights coming from Wuchuan came forward, blocked the entrance, and confronted the armored soldiers brought by Gao Rui.

Gao Rui watched him walk away blankly, just standing there, unable to speak for a long time.

It was already dark.

Gao Rui sat in the inner room. Gao Jie's words echoed in his mind again and again, but he became more and more frustrated.

He also doesn't want to do 'naughty frolics', he also wants to do something big.

When he was at the frontier, he did a very good job and governed well, making people praise him for his ability.

But when he arrived at the imperial court, he became restrained and could do almost nothing, and his imperial orders were not carried out.

The person he promotes today will be dismissed by someone else tomorrow, and the person he dismisses today will be promoted by someone else tomorrow.

Yecheng was like a huge quagmire that trapped everyone. No matter which direction they went, they could not move forward.

Suddenly someone knocked gently on the door.

Gao Rui looked outside the door.

"come in."

The next moment, Gao Zheng walked in with her head down, holding a plate with a few small bowls on it. She walked to her husband's side and placed the things in front of Gao Rui one by one.

"My dear, eat something before you get busy."

Gao Rui's expression finally relaxed a little, and he lowered his head and began to eat. Gao Zheng did not rush to leave, but just sat beside him and looked at him gently.

"My dear, you haven't been out all day today, but what's the matter?"

"I was just scolded by someone, and I couldn't scold him back at the time, so I felt unhappy and didn't want to go out."

Gao Zheng couldn't help but laugh, "I heard them say they were going to see the King of Qinghe. How could my dear not be able to scold a ten-year-old kid?"

"I didn't react at the time, but now that I think about it, it's really hard to fall asleep."

The couple chuckled.

Seeing the fatigue in her husband's eyes, Gao Zheng's smile slowly froze, and she said very seriously: "My dear, you should rest for a while."

"Well"

Gao Rui nodded and said nothing.

Gao Zheng was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Today Zheng Xin said he wanted to go to the front yard to take a look, so I asked Chang Zi and the others to help him, and Zheng Xin took several steps."

"It's better not to let him walk too much. Last time I forced him to walk that far, he was in pain for several days."

"I know."

"That time he only walked six or seven steps before he couldn't walk anymore. This time, he walked dozens of steps in a row. If he continues like this, maybe he will be able to recover and walk normally in the future."

Gao Zheng said softly.

Gao Rui's lips trembled again for a moment.

"I heard that there are many famous doctors in Xianzhou. How about you take your child there to see them?"

Gao Zheng was startled and looked at Gao Rui fiercely, "What do you want to do, my dear?!"

"The country is in danger. The three officials are all vicious and incompetent. With these people controlling the government, no matter who comes to power, nothing can be changed unless these villains are killed first."

"Hu Changren rehired the officials I dismissed not long ago and promised them high positions."

"I sent people to thoroughly investigate the smuggling of Lou Rui and others, but none of the people I sent came back alive to report."

"The Pseudo-Zhou is about to send out troops, and the government and the people are all such villains. I previously submitted a memorial, wanting Duan Shao to go to Heluo and other places to deploy defenses, but they thought I wanted to join forces with Duan Shao to clean up the traitors in the court, and they tried every means to obstruct me."

"None of the officials and generals they have deployed to the front lines can be trusted." "Those officials are as timid as chickens. As long as they see the Zhou soldiers, they will definitely surrender. Most of the generals they trust have become famous because of their fathers and ancestors. They have no talent themselves and will definitely not be a match for the Zhou people."

"In four or five months, we will have to go to war with the Zhou people. I can't wait. Given the current situation, if the Zhou people attack forcefully, I'm afraid that people along the way will surrender one after another. It won't take much effort to surround Jinyong Luodi, and then divide our troops to attack the heartland without encountering any obstacles. If they kill their way outside Yecheng, these thieves in the city will either lead the emperor to flee or persuade him to surrender."

Gao Zheng stepped forward and held Gao Rui's hand, her voice trembling.

"My husband, I don't understand the world's affairs."

"But in this great world of Qi, can't we find other people who can do things?"

"I lost my father when I was one month old, and the Emperor Shenwu took me to the palace and raised me personally. I lost my mother when I was nine years old, and the Emperor Shenwu helped me with my funeral affairs and gave me comfort and guidance."

"After Emperor Shenwu passed away, Emperor Wenxiang saw that I was alone and arranged for me to get married."

"When Emperor Wenxuan founded the country, he didn't care about my young age. He entrusted me with important tasks and promoted me many times. He made me the Grand Commander at the young age of twenty and ranked me among the Three Dukes."

"Emperor Xiao Zhao, the Grand Emperor, has also been very kind to me and treated me with courtesy."

"I have received the kindness of several generations of emperors of the Great Qi Dynasty, but I cannot repay them when the country is in danger. What is the difference between me and an animal?"

Gao Zheng just shed tears silently.

Gao Rui stroked her hand and opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Yecheng, Zhao Mansion.

The house was quiet and no one was walking around.

It was not until we got near the inner room that we could hear some noises.

In the inner room, Zhao Yanshen sat aside with the familiar harmless expression as he looked at Gao Rui who was sitting in the upper seat.

There are many warriors hiding inside and outside the lobby.

"Lord Situ, if you can accomplish your mission today, you will be the number one minister of Da Qi."

After hearing Gao Rui's words, Zhao Yanshen just lowered his head and remained silent.

Gao Rui had no soldiers in the city, only the guards who accompanied him, and it was not easy to get rid of traitors like Hu Changren through these people.

Therefore, Gao Rui came to Zhao Yanshen's house.

As an old minister in the court, Zhao Yanshen had not received any bad reviews for decades and had friends all over the place. He was a rare person with good relationships and a good minister.

Be it clan members like Gao Rui, or foreign relatives like Hu and Lou, or even villains like He Shikai, they all have a good relationship with him.

Because of this, Gao Rui needs his help.

Gao Rui continued to talk about his arrangements.

Zhao Yanshen sighed, "Why would the king do this?"

"As ministers in the same court, we should support each other, understand each other, and be of one mind. How can we have the thought of harming each other?"

"Situ Gong is an old man in the court. He has been receiving the emperor's salary for many years. He should also know the current situation. The country has reached the current situation. Can we do nothing?"

"I hope Mr. Situ can help me with all his strength."

Zhao Yanshen will celebrate his birthday in his mansion tomorrow. Since he has a wide range of friends, many people will come to celebrate with him, including Hu Changren, Gao Yuanhai and others.

Gao Rui wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to set up an ambush in Zhao's mansion and kill these people.

Before dawn today, Gao Rui came to the Zhao Mansion in the name of early celebration and brought several carts of gifts. It turned out that the carts were full of warriors.

Someone changed into Gao Rui's clothes, left Zhao's house, and led his "subordinates" out of the city to Cheng'an to do business.

Everyone was given the illusion that Gao Rui was about to leave Yecheng, and was afraid that he would not be able to attend the birthday banquet after leaving, so he attended it in advance, left gifts and left.

However, he himself led the warriors to hide in Zhao Mansion.

Now the Zhao Mansion has been under control, and Zhao Yanshen himself has been forced to stay in the inner room, unable to go out.

Zhao Yanshen sighed again.

"It can't be hidden. We have to send someone to prepare for the banquet. You don't allow anyone in my house to go out. With the door closed like this, everyone will be suspicious and it won't work. Prince Zhao, please leave now. I won't tell anyone about this."

Gao Rui shook his head again, "Things have come to this point, I won't change my mind."

"I never thought that Mr. Situ would be so opposed to this matter."

Zhao Yanshen sighed for the third time, and he slowly looked at Gao Rui, "Since the Prince of Zhao is ready to die, how can I just stand by and watch?"

"How about this, you don't have to show up, send someone to follow me to meet the people in the mansion. They should all be frightened, I will comfort them and let them do their work normally. If anyone else comes, I can meet them."

Gao Rui stood up quickly and bowed to Zhao Yanshen, "If Lord Situ is willing to help, that would be great."

Zhao Yanshen stood up with difficulty using a crutch. Gao Rui sent a warrior to take him to meet everyone in the mansion.

He stayed inside the house.

Zhao Yanshen came to the villa trembling, comforted the frightened servants, and told them to do their work normally and buy some things needed for the banquet.

Everyone started to get busy.

When Zhao Yanshen returned to the inner room again, Gao Rui's attitude towards him had changed and he no longer dared to be so rude.

Some slaves began to process livestock and prepare meat in the backyard, while others hung up various decorative items.

Carriages and horses were constantly coming in and out of the mansion, making it extremely lively.

Gao Rui looked at all this and finally breathed a sigh of relief. What he was most worried about was that Zhao Yanshen would not cooperate. Now that he was willing to help him, all great things could be accomplished.

Looking at Zhao Yanshen, who was leaning on a cane, staggering, looking exhausted and coughing continuously, Gao Rui felt a little guilty. Zhao Yanshen was almost sixty years old, and he was tormented like this.

"Mr. Situ, please go back and rest first. You don't have to work until tomorrow. There's no need to rush."

Zhao Yanshen nodded, and with the support of two guards, he walked to the backyard. The two warriors sent him into the house, closed the door, and stood guard at the door.

Zhao Yanshen walked into the room and quickly became energetic, no longer showing any sign of sluggishness. He dropped the cane in his hand and quickly walked to the bedside. He looked outside the door vigilantly, coughing while slowly pushing the wooden bed with both hands. The bed slowly moved forward, revealing a dark passage.

"Your Majesty!!"

"Oh no!!"

The warrior rushed into the hall, looked at Gao Rui, and said in horror: "Your Majesty! Zhao Yanshen is missing! Just now we went to bring him some tea, but no one answered when we knocked on the door. After we entered the room, we found that no one was in the house."

Gao Rui, who was discussing important matters with a few of his confidants, was shocked at this moment, "What?!"

Everyone hurried to Zhao Yanshen's bedroom, and sure enough, there was no one around. However, Gao Rui smelled smoke. The warriors searched everywhere, and soon someone discovered the secret passage under the bed.

Looking at the dark passage in front of him from which smoke was slowly coming out, Gao Rui stood there in a daze, not saying a word for a long time.

The tide is gone.

Suddenly, shouts and screams were heard outside the courtyard. The warriors were fighting. Everyone drew their weapons and gathered around Gao Rui.

Gao Rui had a calm expression on his face. He straightened his clothes, turned around and walked towards the main entrance.

"Stop it!!"

At Gao Rui's command, the warriors who were about to fight to the death stopped and slowly retreated.

Armored soldiers kept rushing in from various exits and surrounded everyone. Archers appeared from a distance and aimed rows of powerful crossbows at Gao Rui and others.

Gao Rui looked up, "Where are Hu Changren, Zhao Yanshen and the others?!"

The soldiers standing in front of Gao Rui slowly made way. Hu Changren and Zhao Yanshen walked out from among the soldiers, but did not dare to get too close.

Gao Rui didn't look at Hu Changren, but looked at Zhao Yanshen.

"Situ Gong, you are a senior official for several generations and you can see the situation in the world clearly. Why is that?"

Zhao Yanshen and Gao Rui looked at each other, without a trace of guilt in their eyes.

"Several generations of veteran officials can see the situation clearly, so what can we do?"

"Does Prince Zhao still remember what happened to Prime Minister Yang?"

Gao Rui's upright body suddenly deflated, he became depressed, and his eyes were dim.

"I want to support the sky, but I don't have the talent to do so"

He finally looked at Hu Changren.

"These warriors were deceived by me, they are innocent, please pardon them."

After saying that, he raised the blade.

The sword flashed and blood splattered.

The tall body fell down with a loud bang.

The sky was covered with dark clouds. Although it was not dark yet, the whole world was gloomy and there was not much light to be seen.

Hu Changren was panting excitedly as he watched the other person fall in a pool of blood, his eyes bloodshot and gasping for breath.

"finally."

"They all belong to me."

(End of this chapter)