How many guards are there in the imperial court? This question is very straightforward, and its intention is also very obvious.
No matter how much you talk, you can't defeat the swords and guns of powerful soldiers.
Whether the court has great righteousness, whether it has the so-called popular support, whether it has the support of Jiangnan scholars...it seems extremely pale and powerless now.
Looking at King Yong sitting in front of him, Fang Hongji didn't know how to reply at this moment.
Leaning back on the chair, Zhao Yanxun continued: "Old sir, our army has strong soldiers and strong horses, and high fighting spirit. To put it bluntly, as long as our army exerts its strength, the army will collapse at the first touch!"
"At this time, you are here to persuade me to surrender. Do you think I have lost my mind?"
At this moment, Zhao Yanxun looked sincere, because this was what he was thinking.
"Even if I lose my mind and follow your advice to make peace, the generals below will not agree!"
This sentence shattered Fang Hongji's last fantasy.
In the face of absolute strength, the imperial court, which was in a weak position, did not have the capital to make peace with Yong's army.
At this moment, Zhao Yanxun stood up from the chair and slowly walked towards Fang Hongji.
"However, for the sake of the common people in the world, I am willing to give in!"
Upon hearing this, Fang Hongji quickly asked: "How to give in?"
"Old sir, you can return to the capital and persuade my eldest nephew to plead guilty and repent, commit suicide to thank the world, and I can keep his clan status!"
Let the emperor commit suicide to thank the world. Zhao Yanxun clearly wanted the emperor's life. This is the real regicide.
Being able to talk about regicide in such a fair and just way opened Fang Hongji's horizons.
"As long as Zhao Weilong dies, the common people and soldiers will be saved from disaster, so everyone will be happy, and the old gentleman will also have countless merits..."
Before Zhao Yanxun could finish his words, Fang Hongji, who was extremely angry, angrily yelled: "Zhao Yanxun, don't get carried away..."
"presumptuous!"
When they heard Fang Hongji calling Zhao Yanxun by his name, all the officials present scolded him, and the guards even stepped forward to take down the old man.
"Back off!" Zhao Yanxun said calmly.
His expression was calm, indicating that he was not angry, because it was not worth being angry about.
"Old sir, I am not complacent, but I am telling the truth..."
"The outcome of this next battle has already been decided. Can't you understand?"
"Zhao Weilong will die, but as long as he takes the initiative to die, there will be fewer people to bury him with him. The reason is that simple!" Zhao Yanxun spread his hands, looking like he should take it for granted.
At this moment, Fang Hongji had nothing to say, and he even had no intention of getting angry. His anger could not hurt King Yong at all.
After hearing Zhao Yanxun's words, the mentality of the officials standing behind also changed dramatically at this moment.
Overthrowing the current imperial court does not seem to be a big deal!
With his strength here, no matter how much he talks, it's all nonsense. Qiu Youxian has nothing to say at this moment.
"Old sir, just now I asked you how many guard posts there are in the imperial court. Now I give you the opportunity to walk freely among our army... Look at the situation of our military guard posts!"
Having said this, Zhao Yanxun smiled slightly and said: "Even if you don't persuade the emperor to surrender, and you return to your hometown in the future, you can also tell the gentry in the southern counties what the consequences will be if you don't listen to my order!"
The whole army is still looking at you, and they are not afraid that you will know any secrets. This is the confidence brought by absolute strength.
"Hu Dabiao!"
"I'm here!"
"Send the old gentleman to various health clinics to check. Don't neglect him, otherwise I will question you!"
"yes!"
After giving this order, Zhao Yanxun glanced at Fang Hongji and said: "Save one person and a hundred people, or save 100,000 and millions of people...it all depends on what you think!"
After saying this, Zhao Yanxun passed Fang Hongji and walked directly outside.
The officials in the rear also left at this moment, but Fang Hongji and his two men stood still.
In Qiu Youxian's eyes, Fang Hongji's waist was a bit stooped, which was very different from his previous appearance.
"Old sir, you..."
Qiu You wanted to say something first, but for a moment he had nothing to say because he was also in a desperate mood.
Whether they come or not, whether the officers and soldiers west of Jishui are united, whether the court's dispatch is appropriate, the support of the southern counties... these are not important.
In the face of the powerful force of Yong's army, the court's so-called efforts are meaningless. This is the most despairing thing.
"Old sir, please..." Hu Dabiao said solemnly.
…………
Although Fang Hongji had no intention of watching, Hu Dabiao still set up the carriage and asked the old man to look at all the Yong troops spread out for more than ten miles from the north to the south.
It can be said that this was the last blow to the opponent Hongji. At this time, he was already a little lost.
When the sun went down, Fang Hongji and his wife were sent back to the shore.
After several hours of departure, it was almost getting dark, and the people waiting on the boat were very worried.
When they speculated that Fang Hongji and his wife might have been killed, Hu Dabiao sent them back.
"Sir, sir...are you okay?"
"Did they humiliate you, old man?"
"These evil thieves..."
Seeing Fang Hongji's slumped appearance, all the students were extremely worried and even checked to see if he was injured.
"Get on the boat, I'm fine!" Fang Hongji said solemnly.
After saying these six words, Fang Hongji walked directly to the boat to prove that he was indeed fine.
What happened... everyone was extremely curious.
Seeing Fang Hongji's appearance, they didn't dare to come forward to ask, and finally Fang Hongji entered the cabin.
Everyone originally wanted to ask Qiu Youxian, but the latter also had a gloomy look on his face and followed him into the cabin and closed the door.
"Old sir..."
Before Qiu You could finish speaking, Fang Hongji interrupted: "As King Yong said, the result is already determined..."
"I'm old and I don't want to see tragic things, so I won't go back to the capital. You tell the emperor for me and ask him to take care of himself!"
Hearing this, Qiu Youxian felt sad, but he could not blame Fang Hongji.
Fang Hongji did everything he could, but the outcome was already determined, so it was normal to make this choice.
"I will convey the old gentleman's words!"
The two of them said these few words, and then there was silence in the cabin until the ship docked ten minutes later.
The officers and soldiers also surrounded Fang Hongji and others, and only let them off the boat after verifying their identities.
"Master Qiu, farewell!" Fang Hongji said with his fists clasped.
"Sir, are you leaving?"
"Where to go?"
Fang Hongji's students were surprised. They only knew they were leaving now.
"Go back to Meishan!" Fang Hongji said.
"Why do you want to go back? Could it be that you are afraid, sir?" a student asked.
This is usually unimaginable, and all students respect Fang Hongji very much.
Fang Hongji sighed: "I am an old teacher. I am ashamed of the emperor for this trip. How can I return to the capital with dignity?"
At this moment, Qiu Youxian cupped his hands and said, "Sir, take care of yourself!"
Fang Hongji left with his people, and there were thirteen students who came with him. Only four of them were willing to serve him and return, while the others stayed behind to advance and retreat with the court.
On the way back south, Fang Hongji sat in the carriage, tears streaming down his face.
He was crying not only for the emperor, but also for his students, because they were all going to die.
"Lufeng..."
"The students are here, sir, what are your orders?"
Fang Hongji asked: "Rescuing one person and hundreds of people, or saving hundreds of thousands of people, which one do you think should be chosen?"
This question seems easy to answer, but it is not simple when you think about it.
"We are all living beings, and we should pay equal attention to them. Students... don't know which one to choose!"
Fang Hongji sighed and said: "If I choose the latter for my teacher, in order to save hundreds of millions of people, I would sacrifice those ten and hundreds of people. Is this right or wrong?"
The young man outside replied: "At least...it's not wrong!"
