My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 157 The oriole is behind
"Damn it! Damn it!"

"That Prince Gaoyang and His Majesty have gone too far in bullying me! They have gone too far in bullying me!!"

After the court session ended, he returned to his residence.

Yuan Yi was extremely angry, his whole body like a mad beast, his eyes red.

He smashed many precious porcelain pieces that had been presented as tribute from the Southern Dynasty, and overturned the table to the ground, but even so, he could not quell the anger in his heart!

The servants and maids were all trembling with fear. Even Erzhu Rong had never seen Yuan Yi so angry.

Anger stems from fear and unease within.

Yuan Yi thought he had everything under control, but things were now developing in a direction completely different from his plan.

When he could no longer control everything, his inner unease and fear eventually bred into boundless rage.

During the Xuan Quang coup, he killed many people and offended many others. He could only feel secure if he held power firmly in his hands.

Once he loses power, he has no way out and there is no possibility of him becoming a carefree prince after being stripped of his official position.

There is only one dead end.

He has even completely offended Empress Dowager Hu.

After venting his anger, Yuan Yi finally calmed down and waved his hand to dismiss those around him.

"Tianbao, I was negligent before, and I underestimated His Majesty."

"Your Majesty..."

Yuan Yi raised his hand to stop him, and then continued, "His Majesty cannot be so meticulous. It must be the Empress Dowager who taught him. I should not have been soft-hearted and released the Empress Dowager from Jiafu Palace. Otherwise, how could I have ended up in this state today?"

"We can't delay it any longer!"

"In two days, you will leave Luoyang under the pretext of returning to Xiurong to prepare provisions and supplies for the imperial army. But remember not to go far. Return to Luoyang secretly at night and come with me to the palace to Yongxiang Gate..."

During the court session, the young emperor ordered Yuan Tianmu to go to the central army to muster troops for the northward march, which made Yuan Yi feel a great sense of crisis!

obviously.

The young emperor Yuan Xu intended to use this opportunity to eliminate all of Yuan Yi's trusted confidants who had been placed in the central army to control everything. In addition, Yuan Yong's son, Yuan Tai, had been serving as the Tiger General for more than a year and had also won over a group of people through various means.

The main reason is that the Imperial Guards have been replaced, and Yuan Yi's control over the new batch of Imperial Guards is obviously not as strong as before.

If we let the little emperor be raised like a frog in slowly boiling water, it won't be more than two years.

Yuan Yi will completely lose control of the Central Army and the Imperial Guards, and by then it will be too late for him to do anything.

This emperor dared to repeatedly reject his own memorials; this was no ordinary emperor. We must strike hard again to deter those hiding behind Yuan Xu and completely eliminate the young emperor, making him a mere figurehead once more.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Erzhu Rong was also seething with anger!
My mind is filled with the image of Prince Gaoyang, Yuan Yong.

He solemnly warned, "This time, we must eliminate the Prince of Gaoyang. If he hadn't betrayed the King, would the King be in this situation?"

"Yes! I swear to kill Yuan Yong!"

Yuan Yi nodded repeatedly!

In the past, in addition to Liu Teng, Yuan Yong, the Prince of Gaoyang, and others were also important helpers in eliminating Yuan Yi, the Prince of Qinghe.

However, these people, in order to seize power from him, have clearly stood on the opposite side and are also key targets for elimination.

Power must be held in absolute consolidation; it cannot be divided among us!

Yuan Yi has made up his mind this time. He will eliminate all those who can threaten him. The entire Luoyang must respect him. The young emperor will no longer need to attend court in the Taiji Hall. He can just stay in the Shiqian Hall and read the books of the sages. Yuan Yi will take sole control of the power.

The next day.

The Secretariat then sent the list of the central army soldiers who accompanied Yuan Tianmu northward to Yuan Yi.

Yuan Yi glanced at it briefly.

Shedi Gan...

As expected, most of them were his trusted confidants whom he had previously placed in the central army.

Yuan Yi wanted to laugh. When did the officials of the Great Wei court become so efficient?
The list of attendees for yesterday's morning assembly has already been drawn up today. Isn't this premeditated?
He immediately summoned Erzhu Rong.

"From this day forward, you will replace the Imperial Guards on duty in the palace with trustworthy people, and take control of Qianqiu Gate, Yongxiang Gate, Wansui Gate, Yunlong Gate, Shenhu Gate, and Duan Gate."

Historically, palace coups have not required the so-called deployment of large armies from outside.

The reason why the General of the Army and the General of the Palace must be the emperor's confidants is because... all it takes to launch a palace coup is the cooperation of these key personnel.

They guarded all the palace gates, preventing outsiders from entering. Even if the emperor shouted himself hoarse, it was no use.

"Yes, Your humble servant will go and prepare immediately."

After arranging everything, Yuan Yi picked up his pen again and began to record the names of all the officials who had been close to Yuan Yong and lived in Luoyang over the past two years.

Those who can be executed should be marked with an "X," and those who cannot be executed should be driven out of Luoyang under some pretext.

After finishing his preparations, Yuan Yi looked towards the Xuan Guang Hall within the palace, his eyes flashing with a fierce glint as he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, blame yourselves for going too far! I am not so easily bullied!"

………………

"Mother, all the Imperial Guards on duty in the palace today have been replaced."

The young Emperor Yuan Xu hurriedly went to find Empress Dowager Hu and told her what he had learned.

Empress Dowager Hu, however, remained unhurried, slowly glancing at Yuan Xu before calmly saying, "Why is Your Majesty so alarmed?"

“This is clearly the Prince of Jiangyang…”

"As the emperor, one should remain calm in the face of adversity. Even if Mount Tai collapses before the emperor, one should not change one's expression. How can one panic in front of others?"

Empress Dowager Hu, however, still had the leisure to educate Yuan Xu.

"Queen mother?"

"Your Majesty, please go and study in the Shiqian Hall."

The young emperor was puzzled; he didn't understand what Empress Dowager Hu was up to, and could only get up and leave indignation.

Even after returning to the Shiqian Hall, he couldn't calm down at all and paced back and forth inside.

"Your Majesty...have you forgotten that the Empress Dowager also launched a coup back then?"

Yuan Ziyou patiently reminded him.

Yuan Xu is good in every way and listens to advice, but he is just too impatient. How can one become fat in one bite?
Haste makes waste; slow and steady wins the race.

Yuan Xu suddenly realized.

He had no maternal affection for Empress Dowager Hu, but this reminder brought him back to his senses.

Yup!

When Empress Dowager Hu faced coercion from powerful officials and relatives like Gao Zhao, her situation was far more perilous than it is now.
We still made it through.

People who have seen great storms are different; their temperament is much more stable than his.

"It was I who was too hasty."

Yuan Xu suddenly understood, and simply sat down, holding the classics. After a moment...

A maidservant rushed over, carrying a wooden tray filled with various pastries. After the newly appointed food connoisseur had tasted them, the maidservant brought the pastries into the Shiqian Hall.

"Your Majesty, please use..."

"Leave it alone."

"His Majesty."

The maid called out again, secretly placed a note in the wooden tray, and then got up and left.

Yuan Xu was taken aback, then quickly tore open the note and immediately understood.

………………

"Tianbao, success or failure hinges on tonight. After you head north to Mangshan, find a grove of trees to hide in. Return to Luoyang at night. The soldiers guarding Xiyang Gate tonight are your trusted confidants. They will open the gate and let you in."

"Yes, Your Majesty, please take care. I have already made arrangements with Xu He for the palace guards."

Xu He was also one of Yuan Yi's confidants. His official position was Commander of the Army, and he was one of the subordinate officials under Yuan Yi, the Commander of the Army. He had great power and assisted Yuan Yi in handling the daily affairs of the Imperial Guards. His status was even higher than that of Erzhu Rong.

The heavy snow had stopped, but it was still cold. Erzhu Rong wore a hat made of tiger skin to keep warm, and a thick black cloak. He was accompanied by several attendants, one of whom was his cousin Erzhu Dulu.

After bidding farewell to Yuan Yi, Erzhu Rong led his men out of Luoyang on horseback, heading north to Mangshan Mountain. After confirming that no one was following him, he slipped into the woods.

Yuan Yi, meanwhile, was at home preparing for the evening's events.

He polished his precious sword. The last time he used this sword was during the Xuanguang Coup, when he personally killed Prince Yuan Yi of Qinghe.

"Tonight... I'll have to make you drink blood again."

As the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) approached, the time for him to take action was drawing ever closer.

The steward in the mansion was similar to a steward and was one of the mansion's trusted confidants.

"Your Majesty! A messenger has arrived from the palace, saying that the Empress Dowager is seriously ill and summons you to the palace immediately!"

"The Empress Dowager is seriously ill? How could it be so sudden?"

Yuan Yi was greatly alarmed!

His eyes darted around. Sending him to the palace at this critical juncture was probably a trap.

The Empress Dowager was perfectly fine a few days ago. Erzhu Rong reported that the Empress Dowager went to Jiafu Hall to burn incense and worship Buddha every day. How could she suddenly become seriously ill?
but……

He then thought about it again.

The imperial guards currently stationed in the palace are all trusted confidants planted by Erzhu Rong and Xu He, so there is nothing to worry about.

He sneered, "I'll go right now. I want to see what the Empress Dowager and His Majesty are really up to!"

After changing his clothes, Yuan Yi left the mansion and took a carriage to the outside of the palace. He was very cautious and got off the carriage before entering the Duanmen Gate, passing the Zhongshu Sheng and Menxia Sheng.

Duanmen Gate is the last gate leading into the inner palace.

He took a closer look and recognized the soldiers on duty. Only then did he feel reassured and walk inside.

He would stop and take a closer look at each palace gate he passed.

Finally, he arrived at the Yongxiang Gate. Crossing this gate would lead him into the inner palace. He glanced around by the faint light of the torch. It was still the same familiar soldiers. Xu He was also waiting there, followed by several burly, valiant men with powerful strides.

Yuan Yi was finally relieved.

"Go! Quickly take me to see the Empress Dowager!"

He hurried to the outside of Jiafu Hall, where the lights were on. Yuan Yi went inside.

They discovered that the young emperor Yuan Xu was also among them.

He quickly bowed and asked, "Greetings, Your Majesty. How is the Empress Dowager now?"

He didn't finish his sentence.

Empress Dowager Hu walked out and appeared in front of him in perfect condition. Yuan Yi was stunned for a moment, and then he was shocked!

Yuan Xu had already spoken!
"Guards! Yuan Yi, the Prince of Jiangyang, has shown contempt for the law and harbors rebellious intentions. Seize him!!"

Under Yuan Yi's incredulous gaze!
Xu He, whom he regarded as an absolute confidant, suddenly stepped forward and, together with another armored soldier, captured him from the left and right and pinned him to the ground.

By this point, even if Yuan Yi was slow to react, he would understand.

Xu He betrayed himself.

He began to struggle frantically, roaring almost hysterically!

"Xu Wubo! You have actually betrayed me!"

"Ah! I will tear you to pieces! You will suffer a terrible death!"

No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free.

Xu He smiled and retorted, "Prince of Jiangyang, I am a subject of the Great Wei, serving His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. How can you say I have betrayed them?"

He leaned down and whispered in Yuan Yi's ear, "Your Majesty, you wronged me first. How is Erzhu Tianbao any better than me! Your Majesty consults with him on everything but never asks for my opinion?"

"Since Your Majesty is heartless towards me, then don't blame me for being ungrateful."

Yuan Yi finally understood completely.

Yuan Xu quickly followed suit and spoke up.

"Wu Bo helped me quell the rebellion and is a meritorious official of the Great Wei. He shall be richly rewarded!"

"Take the Prince of Jiangyang away and keep him under strict guard. No one is to approach him without my decree!"

"Here!!"

Outside Luoyang city.

Erzhu Rong and several other riders took advantage of the darkness and rode swiftly to the outside of Xiyang Gate.

He shouted loudly at the city gate, announcing his identity.

"I am General Erzhu Rong, the guerrilla commander! Open the door and let me in at once!"

quickly!

The gate to Xiyang was slowly opened, and Erzhu Rong was about to ride his horse in.

But in the firelight, he noticed something was amiss.

He glanced at the soldiers guarding the Xiyang Gate and found them to be completely unfamiliar faces; he had never seen them before!
He knew all of Yuan Yi's confidants; there was no way he wouldn't recognize them.

His mind was racing.

How could Yuan Yi make such a mistake? If that's really the case...

Then there's only one possibility!
Erzhu Rong secretly realized something was wrong.

He immediately reined in his horse and turned it around, shouting loudly.

"Run! Don't enter the city!"

(End of this chapter)