Yuan Ke laughed sadly and said, "That's all... I've been rebellious, please leave me a legacy. Well, this time it's true. Don't embarrass me with your words like a dog crawling again... Xu Jian, help me up...
…”
You Zhao, Liu Fang, and Cui Guang stood up quickly, brought in several cases, paper, ink, and pens and inkstones, and placed them in front of the emperor.
"Okay..."
Li Chengzhi gritted his teeth and took the brush handed over by Cui Guang. Yuan Jia bowed and bowed, and the tiger in the palace knelt down as if he had pushed down a jade pillar.
"I will keep everything simple in my future affairs: sleeping tombs, living halls, ancestral temples, etc., as simple as possible. There should be no complicated rituals such as going to the mausoleum (for funerals), offering sacrifices to heaven, and paying homage to the temple. There is no need to stop the spirit or call the soul, all according to "
Place it in accordance with the rites and bury it in seven days.
In addition, when the obituary is announced to the world, kings, princes, princes, governors, governors, etc. from all over the country are strictly prohibited from going to Beijing for the funeral. All officials can lead the people to watch the funeral...
On the occasion of my visit to heaven, it is the time when the prince ascends the throne. It is necessary to change the title and name immediately. The rest of the head and tail can be determined as usual, or the queen can discuss with the ministers..."
At this point, everyone's face was filled with tears. The emperor's eyes flashed with tears, and he glanced at every minister, and finally settled on Gao Ying's face.
"The prince is young and cannot govern personally after he has inherited the throne, so he needs the queen and other ministers to assist him. I, the Queen, will respect the queen as the empress dowager, stay in the palace, and take charge of the court. After the new emperor is crowned, I will take the throne again.
Return the government..."
The queen was already bursting into tears. She shouted "Your Majesty" and was choked with sobs that she could not speak.
"When the late Emperor was here, he often said, 'If Rencheng is not a body without consciousness and change, Rencheng is my son'. I deeply believe it. Since I inherited the treasure, the general's civility and virtue have been outstanding internally, and his martial arts have been outstanding externally.
To carry forward the great strategy and conquer Jiangwu is actually my strength... Therefore, I want to respect the general as the head of Gu Ming (auxiliary ministers)..."
Although due to Emperor Xiaowen's secret edict, Yuan Cheng had many ups and downs during Yuan Ke's reign. However, because of his loyal temperament and ability in literature and military affairs, he could be called a virtuous minister without peer, so Yuan Ke loved him very much.
Also taboo.
Yuan Cheng, on the other hand, had no ambitions, was able to keep himself clean, and had an excellent reputation. Even when the emperor had a narrow escape from death and the building was about to collapse, he was the first person he thought of.
Therefore, no one is surprised that Yuan Cheng is the first person to take care of life.
When a person is about to die, his words are also kind. At this time, all the resentment and indignation in his heart have been wiped away. Yuan Cheng shed tears and knocked his head heavily on the ground: "I... obey the order!"
"Under Ren Cheng, Yuan Jia was the second, Yuan Ying was the second, Yuan Yi, Gao Zhao, You Zhao, Liu Fang, Cui Guang were the second... Gu Ming all became servants, and the remaining positions continued as usual..." All the ministers bowed down together and cried sadly: "I obey my command!"
"Yuanjia still leads the Taiwei and is in charge of the military power of the world.
Yuan Ying was appointed as the leading general (chief of the Imperial Guard), and Yuan Hui led Yu Lin to assist him.
Yuan Cheng led the guard, Yuan Yuan led the right guard general, and the imperial edict was sent to Yuan Kuang, the governor of Pingzhou, to immediately come to Beijing and take charge of the left guard general. The three of them jointly led the two governments and the central army.
In addition, the Tiger Guard formed its own army on that day, and Yuan Yi also led it. Gao Zhao still served as the seven soldiers, led the new army alone, and took charge of the conquest of Shu..."
The ministers shouted to obey the decree, but their thoughts were different and their tastes were mixed.
Even in death, Yuan Ke never forgot the instinct of an emperor: balance.
Not only did the Wei Mansion be divided into three parts, but the Yulin Army was also independent from the Wei Mansion. It was no longer led by one person as when Yu Zhong was appointed Wei Qing.
In addition, the Huwei also became independent from the Ministry of War, and Yuan Yi, who had become the uncle of the new emperor and actually his biological father, was in sole control.
This is to dilute military power as much as possible and allow several people to restrict each other...
Well, where is Huben?
Yuan Yuan has been promoted to the right-guard general, and it is impossible for him to also serve as the tiger and guard general. Why didn't the emperor mention who his successor would be?
Some people have guessed a little, while others are wondering, has His Majesty forgotten?
Just when I was suspicious, I heard the emperor call softly: "Li Chengzhi!"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is here!"
Li Chengzhi responded, his voice sounding hoarse and hoarse like using a steel file to brush an iron saw.
If you look closely, you will see that the facial features have been distorted and changed. They are no longer handsome, but instead look extremely ferocious.
"How unwilling are you?"
The emperor sighed leisurely, looked at Li Chengzhi's face, and then looked at the imperial edict under his command.
This is already the third piece that Li Chengzhi has rewritten because he used too much force in anger and soiled the silk.
From the moment he picked up the pen barrel, Li Chengzhi's hand felt like he was holding a knife.
The pens and strokes are like iron hooks drawn with silver, which are powerful enough to penetrate the back of the paper. They are sharp and sharp, like rows of spears, with sharp arrows pointing straight to the sky, with a murderous intent.
It is said that words are like people and words are like their nature. It can be seen that Li Chengzhi's mood was agitated and indignant at this time?
How unwilling are you?
The emperor's words were like sparks thrown in by gasoline, burning Li Chengzhi's heart.
Yuan Ke is dying?
Every time he thought about this problem in the past, Li Chengzhi always thought that time was too tight and not enough. He also hoped that Yuan Ke could live a few more years so that he could have more time to develop and grow.
When this day really came, he knew what it meant.
The emperor is going to die, and five years early...
History has changed...
And it has completely changed!
Yuan Ke's son is no longer the emperor...
Hu Chonghua is no longer the Queen Mother regent...
Yu Zhong, Yuan Ji, and Hou Gang are no longer the ministers of the dragon who eradicated the powerful minister Gao Zhao, and Yuan Yi and Liu Teng are no longer the treacherous sycophants who look like the Supreme Emperor and dominate the world...
Everything has changed!
He didn't know if there would be another rebellion in the Six Towns, another change in Heyin, another division of the Wei Dynasty, let alone whether there would be thousands of troops avoiding the white robe...
It was only then that Li Chengzhi suddenly realized that the prophetic ability he had pressed on the bottom of the box to save his life and used it as a magic weapon to stay safe was of no use...
How should we move forward in the future?
Li Chengzhi bit the tip of his tongue fiercely, and a stream of bright red blood snaked down the corner of his lips. His eyes were misty: "You are going to die..."
Seeing him overwhelmed with grief and swallowing his tears, he recalled the scenes in which Li Chengzhi risked his life and risked his life several times to save him. As well as every bit of the past, it was like a ray of warm wind blowing through the emperor's heart.
A stream of heat is generated.
Among all the civil and military officials in this palace, I am afraid that this is the only one who is really grieving that I, the emperor, is about to die, and is so miserable...
His nose was a little sore, and his eyes were wet again after drying up. Yuan Ke wanted to laugh, but he couldn't.
"You were burdened with a hundred arrows, and you didn't shed tears when the spear was broken and pierced through your abdomen. The poison was so deadly that you didn't shed tears when you narrowly escaped death. You didn't shed tears when you had a knife and ax on your neck. You didn't shed tears when life and death were at stake. But now you are just like a little girl?" Yuan Ke held back tears: "Don't be sad... Do you remember that on the day of the assassination, I promised to give you a duke?"
"What's the use of just giving me a prince?"
How dare Li Chengzhi react to His Majesty like this?
Yuan Ying had not been in court for a long time, and she didn't know the truth. She was about to reprimand, but she was glared back by Yuan Jia and Yuan Cheng who were on her left.
What does it mean to call him "you" instead of calling him "Your Majesty"?
Li Chengzhi has become His Majesty’s grandfather not once or twice in front of the emperor and all the ministers.
In the past, there were many people who were jealous of Li Chengzhi's unique favor and complained about the emperor's favor. But now, many people have belatedly understood the reason.
There is great terror between life and death. Ask yourself, who dares to defend the emperor from the sword again and again like Li Chengzhi?
No one can match this kind of loyalty and bravery. Therefore, Li Chengzhi suddenly became a public official with the rank of fifth grade, but no one thought there was anything wrong.
"Prince? That's what I promised you after I got under Jiuquan. You can do countless things in the world. Besides, you don't have the slightest ability to expand the territory and open up new territories. Not to mention the prince, even the king of the county is far behind...
But with your efforts in rescuing the enemy and suppressing the rebellion, there is no danger of you being granted the title of Duke...Well, I will give you the title of servant again!"
The emperor pointed to the imperial edict and said, "Leave it in the imperial edict: Confer Li Chengzhi the title of Duke of Pingding County, add him as a minister, lead the army, and move Hu Ben to the rank of Lang General..."
All the ministers suddenly realized it and thought it was natural: No wonder the emperor missed Huben alone and was waiting here?
Those who react faster and think more quickly can't help but feel their hearts skip a beat.
Dukes are just nobles, and in the Yuan and Wei dynasties, their symbolic meaning is greater than its practical significance. At most, they can only get one more lumi and one more honor.
Although Huben is an elite force, there are only 10,000 soldiers. Li Chengzhi, who has repeatedly sacrificed his life to save his troops, does not appear to be too out of the ordinary.
But these leaders are very particular.
If it is not a permanent position, it is a temporary position, and it is only given to the generals who are in charge of the imperial palace. If it is permanent, it is the second assistant of the leading general, assisting the leader in taking charge of the imperial palace. And such as the left guard general, right guard general, Wuwei general and other imperial generals are in charge of the palace imperial guard in rotation.
At any time, we will all be subject to its control.
It just so happens that the new leading general Yuan Ying is seriously ill, and it’s not going to be a holiday?
It means that the emperor has not only appointed Li Chengzhi as Yuanying's successor, but also entrusted Li Chengzhi with the important task of protecting the new emperor and the Queen Mother.
A group of veterans looked at Li Chengzhi as if they saw Yu Lie (the father of Yu Zhong) when Yuan Ke came to the throne...
It has been a long time, but Li Chengzhi has yet to start writing.
Just when the ministers were extremely puzzled, Li Chengzhi suddenly dropped his pen and hissed: "There is no need to grant me a title, let alone an official position. I am willing to ask for your majesty's permission to release me...
Regardless of whether it is a general or a county, even if you are granted the title of a county magistrate, the ministers will be happy with it..."
"Why?"
"I...I want to return home!"
The eyes of a group of ministers almost fell to the ground.
Could it be that the poisoning was too deep and Li Chengzhi’s brain has been poisoned?
How can anyone leave the county prince without being awarded the title of a third-grade general, and then go back to the border area to serve as a partial general or county magistrate?
Regardless of the rest, let’s just look at the eight Gu Ming. Except for Yuan Cheng, who has been living at home recently, and Yuan Ying, who has just entered the capital, the remaining six have a close friendship with Li Chengzhi.
He, the leading general, is a sure thing...
"Absurd!"
Yuan Jia straightened up and sternly rebuked: "With the grand plan of the military and the country, how can it be that you take up the post when you want and resign when you want? If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will break your legs..."
The emperor shook his head slightly and laughed softly: "You have always been a rebellious minister, but you don't want to make me feel comfortable even before you die? Don't give up on yourself. If you really care about me, cheer up and help me take good care of the Queen Mother and the new emperor.
Please protect this great country for me...please leave an edict!"
Is it because I miss you?
Li Chengzhi felt sad in his heart: He had determined to be a rebel, but at the end of the day, he was entrusted with high hopes by the emperor?
He nodded heavily and held the pen barrel again. It felt as heavy as a mountain. He exerted 12% of his strength before dropping the pen.
"The Emperor Gaozu issued an edict: all the concubines in the harem are not allowed to die (no longer buried), and those who have no children from the third wife onwards are to be sent back to their homes. I, the Queen of Heaven, have followed this edict... Queen, summon all the concubines as well.
Well, let me speak to you and others... Sir, please step aside first..."
"Yes!"
The queen wiped away her tears, stood up, and stumbled out of the palace.
All the ministers performed the prostration ceremony with tears streaming down their faces. Some of them could no longer hold back their voices and let out low sobbing sounds.
This is a farewell, and goodbye is already the time of the emperor's funeral...
After kowtowing, all the ministers stood up silently. Starting from Yuan Ying at the end, they lowered their heads and raised their hands and retreated one by one. For fear of surprising the emperor, they all stood on tiptoes to avoid making any noise.
But as soon as he took two steps back, Yuan Ying had not yet finished the last step of the palace, when he suddenly heard an urgent cry from outside the palace.
Queen?
The ministers were shocked.
The screams died down, and there was another rush outside the palace. Two maids supported the pale-faced Gao Ying. Behind them came Yuan Hui, with a look of panic on his face. Yuan Hui was also holding a woman in his hand, as if he was already dead.
I can't stand, my whole body is shaking.
Seeing the emperor, Gao Ying suddenly came back to his senses and shouted urgently: "Don't... Taboo..."
Yuan Ke raised his eyes and vaguely recognized that the woman seemed to be Hu Chonghua's assistant. He felt cold and said sternly: "Say..."
The woman collapsed into a pile like mud, unable to speak. Yuanhui glanced at the emperor, knelt down, and knocked his head heavily into the blood. It was as if there were two harps in his throat.
Strings, trembling and humming:
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, when the chaos broke out, some rebels accidentally entered the side hall and shocked the noble... The noble was so frightened that he accidentally... accidentally miscarried..."
Hu Chonghua had a miscarriage?
The ministers were so frightened that they did not even dare to breathe out. It was as if the pause button had been pressed in the hall, and time had stopped.
The emperor raised his upper body and lay on his side in front of the couch, staring at Yuan Hui motionless: "Heaven wants to kill me? I...I am so unwilling..."
Yuan Ke's voice was bone-chilling, as cold as a knife, and every word seemed to burst out from between his teeth, "Liu Teng, Yuan Huai, Yu..."
To the end of the roar, he couldn't even utter the word "loyalty". As if his neck was being strangled, Yuan Ke opened his eyes hard, and with a "Xiao" sound, he suddenly took a breath, and then all the bones in his body seemed to be pulled away.
The emperor fell down slumped.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"
Looking at the two eyes that almost bulged out of their sockets, Xu Jian endured the fear and called in a low voice. Then he stretched out his hand tremblingly and placed it on the emperor's pulse.
His snow-white beard trembled violently.
Yuan Hui cried urgently: "Li Shilang, please give me acupuncture... You have the power to restore heaven. If you can revive Yuan Huai, you will definitely be able to revive His Majesty... Give me acupuncture..."
Li Chengzhi seemed to have lost his soul. He stood up numbly and put his hand on the emperor's neck.
Dead?
Changed... everything has changed...
Confusion came over me like a tidal wave, as if I had fallen into a bottomless abyss. My thoughts were twisted into a web, and the web became tighter and tighter, and my heart ached with pain.
My mind was like a gong that kept vibrating, my ears were roaring like thunder, and stars were popping up in front of my eyes.
Like a mountain, Li Chengzhi fell straight back.
Xu Jian cried out sadly: "Your Majesty... Bintian is in trouble..."