My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 170 Turning the Second-Year High School Students into Our Own People
Xiu Rongchuan.

The official document and seal appointing Erzhu Rong as the governor of Sizhou finally arrived.

He is currently considered the head of a state.

Previously, with the court's power, the governor's future was certainly far less promising than if he had stayed in the Luoyang palace as a General of the Imperial Household, a position that would have been a close advisor to the emperor and allowed him to be infinitely close to the center of power!
But right now.

The situation in the country was unclear and the imperial court was weak.

Being appointed as the governor of a prefecture means being a powerful local official with great authority. All the restrictions that the court originally imposed on governors are now lifted.

Erzhu Rong was openly expanding his power; so what if he recruited soldiers and horses?

The imperial court could not afford the impact of a second rebellion in a short period of time, and could only turn a blind eye to it.

Moreover, for the young Emperor Yuan Xu, he couldn't be happier that Erzhu Rong's power continued to grow, so that he could help him overthrow Empress Dowager Hu and completely regain the imperial power!
"Damn it! That damned old scoundrel!"

Erzhu Rong angrily tore the letter in his hand to shreds.

"Tianbao, what's wrong?"

"That old scoundrel Wei Qingbin! I sent someone with a letter to try and befriend him, and he actually sent someone with a letter to humiliate me!"

Erzhu Rong really wanted to befriend Wei Qingbin and establish a connection with him to recruit some talents from the eight major Xianbei clans for his own use, which could be seen as a way to indirectly strengthen his own power.

But those people from the eight major clans are truly powerful, and they don't even look down on him, a mere Qihu chieftain.

Gao Yu had no choice but to speak up and advise, "Tianbao, a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan."

"If I could not bear it, I would have sent a large army to capture him long ago."

Erzhu Rong also suppressed his anger and said fiercely, "Let him be arrogant for a few more days, then he will suffer."

Before the world was in great chaos, the class differences brought about by this status were already very obvious. Despite Erzhu Rong’s seemingly great power, he was looked down upon by the people of the eight major clans and was not even a member of their core circle.

The Cui family thought that saying a few nice words to Gao Yu was 'forming goodwill'. In other people's eyes, the fact that they were willing to lower themselves to communicate normally with a military household like Gao Yu in a military town was already a great honor.

Only when the old order is broken will these powerful clans, who were once high and mighty under the old order, bow down and fawn upon the warriors who can physically eliminate them.

"Why wait until another day?!"

Erzhu Zhao slammed his fist on the table. "Tianbao, I'll take my elite troops right now and capture Wei Qingbin!"

"You've openly led troops to arrest the governor! Are you planning a rebellion?!"

Erzhu Rong glared angrily at Erzhu Zhao. How come the clan is full of people who only know how to fight and kill?

Can court infighting be resolved simply by fighting and killing?
He then looked at Gao Yu and asked, "Gao Lang, in your opinion, how should I take this step forward?"

"I suppose Tianbao has his own thoughts on this."

"I have indeed considered it, but I still want to hear what Gao Lang has to say."

Gao Yu glanced at Erzhu Rong and saw that he was also looking at him with a slight smile on his face, making him hard to read.

He then realized that he couldn't pretend to be stupid and get away with it this time.

He immediately said, "The essence of Shanxi lies in Bingzhou, and the essence of Bingzhou lies in Jinyang. Bingzhou is rich in iron ore and has a large number of skilled craftsmen who can provide the army with a continuous supply of excellent weapons. Jinyang is also a strategically important place, controlling the mountains and rivers, and gathering the strength of the world. It is the foundation of Hedong and a place that has been fought over by military strategists throughout history."

"If Tianbao wants to make further plans, he must first take control of Bingzhou and then take Fenzhou. At that time, he will be able to attack or defend at will, and will be in an invincible position."

Jinyang is Taiyuan. Gao Huan will establish his hegemony here, as will Erzhu Rong. During the Five Dynasties period, the military governor of Hedong was most likely to become emperor because this place had such a good terrain that it could control Shanxi, lead Hebei, look out over Henan, and control Hetao and Guanzhong.

Erzhu Rong wholeheartedly agreed, "As expected of Gao Lang, your thoughts are exactly as I imagined. The governor of Bingzhou is my sworn cousin, Yuan Tianmu..."

Gao Yu knew, of course, that the reason Erzhu Rong was trying to establish a relationship with Yuan Tianmu, a nobody in the imperial family, was simply because Yuan was a confidant of the young emperor, and he was indirectly showing his loyalty to the young emperor in this way.

But he only became sworn brothers with Yuan Tianmu, not with the young emperor Yuan Xu.

The relationship is still a bit strained.

Gao Yu immediately reminded him, "If you want to seize control of Bingzhou, the first priority is to gain His Majesty's trust. Tianbao, you might as well think of a further way to make His Majesty trust you even more."

Having said all that, there's no need to explain further.

Erzhu Rong nodded slightly.

After Gao Yu left, Erzhu Rong couldn't help but sigh, "You all should learn from this: always use your brains!"

"Again?"

Erzhu Zhao retorted in a gruff voice, "Tianbao could have simply consulted Gao Lang; why bother asking us?"

Erzhu Zhongyuan said sarcastically, "Gao Lang is indeed talented, but he is ultimately not a member of our Erzhu clan. How could he always think about the interests of our Erzhu clan? Naturally, we cannot ask him about everything. Tianbao does not need to call him every time we discuss things. Wouldn't it be better for us to discuss things among ourselves first?"

Erzhu Zhao laughed, “What’s so difficult about that? Just make her one of my Erzhu clan members, right? Isn’t Ying’e just the right age to get married? Marry her to Gao Lang, and Gao Lang will be Tianbao’s father-in-law and son-in-law in the future. Naturally, he will act in the best interests of the Erzhu clan in everything he does.”

"If Tianbao is too embarrassed to speak up, I will go and talk to Gaolang."

After all, it was rather strange that Gao Yu treated Erzhu Rong as a brother, yet Erzhu Rong wanted Gao Yu to be his son-in-law.

But it wasn't for nothing; he even gave her a young, unmarried woman.

"Ying'e won't do."

Erzhu Rong shook his head. "If I had indeed had this thought before, after hearing what Gao Lang said just now, this matter is not appropriate..."

Gao Yu's hint to him couldn't be clearer.

To gain the young emperor's trust without making him wary of her, the solution was a marriage alliance.

otherwise……

Even if the young emperor desperately wanted the Erzhu clan as an ally, he couldn't just stand by and watch them forcibly take over Bingzhou.

Bingzhou is located below Sizhou, and Luoyang is within Sizhou. In terms of terrain, Bingzhou has a flat plain and a commanding view of Sizhou.

The Erzhu clan has also occupied Bingzhou. Wouldn't their elite Qihu cavalry be able to march south and take Luoyang in no time?

He married his daughter to the young emperor and sent her to the palace to become a concubine.

Yuan Xu currently has no children. If Erzhu Ying'e can give birth to a son for him, then Yuan Xu's successor will be the Crown Prince and the future emperor of the Great Wei. The Erzhu family will also become a top-level maternal relative and noble family, just like the Gao family during the reign of Emperor Xuanwu Yuan Ke. Yuan Xu will naturally be able to let the Erzhu family hold power with peace of mind.

After all, the baby boy born to Erzhu Ying'e was Erzhu Rong's grandson.

Erzhu Rong was indeed ambitious, but his ambition was currently limited to further strengthening the Erzhu clan and making his grandson emperor, so that he himself could wield power like Gao Zhao before him. Wasn't this a disguised way of replacing the Yuan clan Xianbei and ruling the world?
The struggle for supremacy is fraught with uncertainty and constant fighting.

Sending their daughter to the palace is currently the lowest-cost and most successful option.

Having gained the young emperor's trust, the young emperor, in order to win him over, would surely favor Erzhu Ying'e, using this method as an exchange to express his sincerity to Erzhu Rong.

"What do you plan to do about Ying'e that day, Bao?" "I will write a letter and send it to Luoyang to His Majesty, expressing my willingness to send Ying'e into the palace as a concubine. Let Ying'e enter the palace first, and then we will make further plans."

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Zhao immediately realized that it wasn't just him.

Erzhu Zhongyuan, Erzhu Tianguang, and the others also understood.

However, Erzhu Zhao sighed, "It's a pity."

Erzhu Rong smiled and shook his head, “What’s there to regret? Although Ying’e is going to enter the palace, Yuechan is also of marriageable age. Letting Yuechan marry Gao Lang is also a way to win him over.”

“That is indeed a good idea. If we can get Gao Lang as our son-in-law, I will also have something to be proud of, and in the future I can rest assured that Gao Lang will give us advice.”

Erzhu Zhao did not hesitate or waver at all.

Like Erzhu Rong, he valued Gao Yu highly, and marrying off his daughter was indeed the most practical way to win him over.

Affinity is a close relationship second only to blood ties, and in some ways even stronger than blood ties.

"If it were any other man, Yuechan might feel resistant, but if it were someone as handsome as Gaolang, Yuechan wouldn't feel resistant at all; she would probably be overjoyed. What woman wouldn't like a man like Gaolang?"

Erzhu Zhao thought about it more and more and it seemed feasible.

He found a very good marriage for his daughter.

Although the Gao family lacks family power, Gao Yu himself is capable, and with the help of the Erzhu clan, he may very well rise to great heights in the future.

If Erzhu Yuechan marries him, Erzhu will truly regard Gao Yu as 'one of her own' and will also become a great help to Gao Yu.

At worst, we can each go our own way later.

He continued to treat Gao Yu as a brother, while Gao Yu called him father-in-law.

"Wanren, when you get back, you can first talk to Yuechan, and then have your wife find an opportunity to talk to Gaolang's sister."

"Ah."

Erzhu Zhao chuckled and teased, "Why would Yuechan need to communicate?"

Xiu Rongchuan isn't very big; how could Erzhu Yuechan's actions, right under his nose, possibly go unnoticed?

They didn't think Gao Yu would refuse at all.

Who would refuse such a golden opportunity to gain the assistance of the Erzhu clan?

........................

Luoyang.

Xi Yi received a message from Erzhu Rong.

"Tianbao has a clever plan. If his Jurchen daughter enters the palace as a concubine, His Majesty will surely favor her greatly in order to gain her support. If she can give birth to a son, wouldn't he be the future crown prince?"

"Very well, when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven. If it can really be like what Tianbao planned, I can also hold a high position in the future."

As early as the second year of Xiping, which was the second year of the reign of the young emperor Yuan Xu.

Through his father Xi Jian's connections, Xi Yi was appointed as "Fengchaoqing," a sinecure that granted him the right to attend court assemblies. He was later promoted to General Zhizhai, which gave him the right to meet the emperor.

Xi Yi put the letter away and left his residence, going directly to the palace. He easily arrived at Xianyang Hall and met the young emperor, Yuan Xu.

"Greetings to Your Majesty!"

Upon seeing him arrive, Yuan Xu dismissed his attendants and personally rose to help him up, saying, "Why such formalities? General, have come to see me for some business?"

Xi Yi nodded and said, "I have a letter from Emperor Tianbao that I will pass on to His Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xu was overjoyed and carefully read the letter.

Xi Yi secretly observed Yuan Xu's expression. Yuan Xu's expression was somewhat subtle, but he still managed a slight smile. "Have you ever seen Erzhu Tianbao's daughter?"

"Your Majesty, I have seen her. Ying'e has been exceptionally beautiful since childhood."

"Hmm... This matter is of great importance. You should go back first, and I will consider it."

After seeing Xi Yi off, Yuan Xu immediately summoned Yuan Ziyou to the palace and relayed the contents of Erzhu Rong's letter to him.

After a moment's thought, Yuan Ziyou spoke.

"Your Majesty should grant this request. This is a gesture by the Erzhu clan to show their loyalty to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty marries Erzhu Rong's daughter, Your Majesty's relationship with Erzhu Rong will be further strengthened. Erzhu Rong will surely serve Your Majesty with his life. Moreover... the ancestors of the Erzhu clan were once imperial relatives. If Your Majesty proposes to have a woman from the Narzhu clan as a concubine, the Empress Dowager will not be able to refuse."

The emperor must become a breeding boar to produce many successors.

No subject would complain that the emperor had too many sons, since the probability of infants dying young was extremely high in ancient times, and having more children was necessary to ensure the smooth and orderly succession of the regime.

Even Yuan Ziyou thought the matter was acceptable.

Yuan Xu did not wait any longer, but went directly to Jiafu Palace to find Empress Dowager Hu.

When Yuan Xu entered, Zheng Yan and Xu He were already inside the Jiafu Hall.

Yuan Xu himself had a favorite concubine, so how could he not know what the presence of the two of them here meant?
He glanced coldly at the two men, making no attempt to conceal the murderous intent in his eyes. The day he came to power, he would tear these two to pieces and vent his anger for his father, Emperor Xuanwu Yuan Ke.

The two men were terrified. After exchanging a glance, they whispered to each other.

"His Majesty's gaze suggests he intends to kill us both."

"So what? He is His Majesty, and we are his subjects."

"And what about His Majesty..."

Zheng Yan hardened his heart, "I heard that Consort Pan seems to be pregnant..."

Xu He seemed to understand his meaning, and stared wide-eyed in fear, "You...you want to."

the other side.

The young emperor explained his purpose to Empress Dowager Hu.

"Your Majesty always says that I cannot favor only one person in the harem. I have heard that Erzhu Rong's daughter is exceptionally beautiful and wish to bring her into the harem as a concubine. I hope Your Majesty will grant my request."

Empress Dowager Hu gave him a deep look.

"Your Majesty's frequent taking of concubines and the birth of many children is a blessing for our Great Wei. You may order Erzhu Rong to send his daughter into the palace."

"Thank you, Queen Mother!"

(End of this chapter)