My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 197: Uncertainty
On the other side, Gao Huan and Gao Yu simply rested in Erzhu Rong's camp.

Clearly, they all have something to say.

Finally, Gao Yu broke the silence. He looked at Gao Huan and chuckled, saying, "I never imagined that the situation would have become like this."

Gao Huan nodded subconsciously, "The court's ineffective suppression of the rebellion, coupled with the infighting between the emperor and the empress dowager, has led to this predicament, it's a pity..."

Gao Huan's final sigh was actually a sigh for the two brothers.

Given such a favorable situation, if they had the same substantial resources as the Erzhu clan, they might as well use the pretext of "purging the court of corrupt officials" to storm Luoyang and seize the emperor.

Then they did what they did: 'hold the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords'.

Cao Cao has already provided a good model; we can simply imitate him.

The Cao Wei dynasty was eventually replaced by the Sima family, but this does not mean that the Cao Wei's path to power was wrong. It was simply that each successor was less capable than the last, and that the capable successors all died too young.

The fact that all the relatives were incompetent gave people the opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

"If the current situation continues to develop, Tianbao only needs to go to Luoyang to control His Majesty and the court, then send troops to quell the rebellion, and establish sufficient prestige in the court with the momentum of a great victory, and all the affairs of the world can be settled."

"Yes."

Gao Yu shared the same view.

After everything is settled.

They were like Cao Cao, spending their entire lives as a "loyal minister" of the Great Wei, at most using their power to obtain some minor privileges for themselves.

He was granted the Nine Bestowments, allowed to wear a sword and shoes in the palace, and was exempt from hasty bowing when entering the court and from using his name during ceremonies...

They still wanted the Erzhu clan to replace the Yuan clan as rulers of the world, hence their three refusals and three requests.

That's entirely up to Erzhu Rong's own choice.

Gao Huan glanced at Gao Yu. Actually, there was one more thing he didn't say: the Gao family could have easily become wealthy by associating with the Erzhu clan.

The power struggles within the Erzhu clan were quite severe; the fact that this group of people obeyed Erzhu Rong did not mean they would obey his son.

Gao Yu was young and, being related to the Erzhu clan by marriage, had a private relationship with Erzhu Rong.

Most importantly, the Gao family is not a traditional aristocratic family; their family power is practically nonexistent.

This is definitely a plus in the eyes of those in power.

If anything were to happen to Erzhu Rong, Gao Yu would undoubtedly be the trusted minister entrusted with his care after his death.

At least for now, the Erzhu clan has a 'broad road' that can elevate their family to the top in one step.

The next day.

Erzhu Rong then led his men south to Bingzhou and marched toward Luoyang.

Not long after they set off, Gao Huan and Gao Yu were summoned to Erzhu Rong's side again. Erzhu Rong was overjoyed, as if he had received some excellent news.

"Haha, Da Lang and Er Lang are here?"

"What makes the Grand Commander so happy?"

"look."

Erzhu Rong handed all the letters and edicts to Gao Yu. Gao Yu took them and read them with Gao Huan. After seeing the contents of the edicts, the two of them looked at each other in shock!
No wonder Erzhu Rong was so happy.

The young emperor personally issued an edict ordering him to go to Luoyang to eliminate traitors and purge the court of corrupt officials.
I was just about to go to sleep when someone handed me a pillow?
Did the emperor personally hand Erzhu Rong a knife?
However, Gao Yu and Gao Huan patiently glanced at the contents of the letter again. The young emperor's handwritten letter was nothing more than chatting with Erzhu Rong about everyday matters, saying how much he trusted and valued Erzhu, and that Erzhu was the only one he could rely on at the moment, and other such nauseating words.

Xi Yi's letters contain a great deal of information.

Erzhu Rong could not hide his excitement. He laughed loudly and arrogantly, "Hahaha, now no one can stop me from heading south to Luoyang!"

Gao Huan quickly advised, "Grand Commander, according to Xi Yi, His Majesty made this decision in a moment of extreme anger and fear because of his quarrel with the Empress Dowager and the replacement of the Imperial Guards. Once he calms down, he will surely realize the impropriety of this edict."

"The Grand Commander must immediately dispatch several thousand elite troops on horseback south to Luoyang. He cannot give His Majesty any time to react. Once he does, he will surely stop the Grand Commander from going south to Luoyang."

"Marching under the stars, we will quickly head south to Luoyang. The Grand Commander is a meritorious official who has received the imperial edict to eliminate traitors for the country. The great cause lies with the Grand Commander."

"If His Majesty realizes this and issues a decree forbidding the Grand Commander from going to Luoyang, but the Grand Commander openly disobeys His Majesty's decree, then the Grand Commander will lose his sense of righteousness."

Erzhu Rong was taken aback and quickly demanded the letter back.

So, he only read the edict to clear the court of corrupt officials and never read the contents of the letter again?
After reading Xi Yi's letter, Erzhu Rong finally realized what was happening. He looked up at Gao Huan and Gao Yu, still extremely excited, "With you two brothers, what is there to worry about!"

"What you say makes sense. His Majesty was clearly blinded by anger when he issued this decree."

"Then it is so. If it would be too conspicuous for me to personally lead the troops, then you two will each take a thousand elite Qihu cavalry and head south to Luoyang immediately. I will follow shortly!"

"Here!"

A hint of joy flashed in Gao Huan's eyes.

This kind of thing definitely needs to be handled by someone trustworthy and capable.

A great achievement!
Erzhu Rong's attitude clearly showed that he trusted and would give great importance to the two brothers.

He quickly pulled Gao Yu to muster the troops without stopping, and the action was very swift.

When Erzhu Shilong saw the two brothers leading their troops away from the ranks, he had no idea what had happened and couldn't help but complain.

"How could Tianbao be so foolish? We are his own relatives, sharing the same roots. Why would he trust outsiders so much?"

"If you don't even consult us when you have something to say, then what are we, your blood relatives, to you?" No one answered him.

………………

Luoyang.

Inside the Xianyang Hall.

Three days have passed since the last time I entered the palace late at night.

Yuan Ziyou, without receiving an imperial edict, took the initiative to enter the palace to meet Yuan Xu.

Yuan Ziyou actually already knew that after he left that day, Yuan Xu had hurriedly summoned Xi Yi to the palace. He had even guessed that Yuan Xu, in that state of extreme anger, had lost his mind and done something astonishing.

But he still waited patiently for a few days.

Wait until Yuan Xu's emotions subside and he calms down enough to listen to reason before entering the palace to offer advice.

"Greetings to Your Majesty!"

"Ziyou, there's no need for such formalities."

Yuan Xu waved his hand, and only the two of them remained in Xianyang Palace.

The two, who were once inseparable, became like strangers due to suspicion, and Yuan Ziyou could feel Yuan Xu's indifference towards him.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that you once summoned Xi Yi to the palace?"

"Yes."

"Then, I dare to speculate further, did Your Majesty... issue a secret edict to Xi Yi to convey to Erzhu Rong, instructing him to lead troops south to Luoyang to purge the court of corrupt officials?"

Yuan Xu glanced at him but did not deny it.

Yuan Ziyou could only smile bitterly. The worst thing had happened. He couldn't care less about anything else and hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, if Erzhu Rong really brings his troops here, then disaster is imminent!"

Yuan Xu sneered, "It's always like this. Is it because Xu He and Zheng Yan know their deaths are imminent, that they're asking you to speak on their behalf?"

Yuan Ziyou shook his head. "I have no personal relationship with these two traitors. I do not know why Your Majesty misunderstands me so deeply. My heart towards Your Majesty is as clear as heaven and earth and as clear as the sun and moon."

Seeing Yuan Ziyou's sorrowful expression, Yuan Xu didn't know how to speak for a moment.

Did he really misunderstand Yuan Ziyou?
Yuan Ziyou did not continue to complain, but instead earnestly continued to persuade him, "Your Majesty, you and I studied together and read about He Jin's summoning of Dong Zhuo to the capital during the Han Dynasty. You once ridiculed He Jin for being unwise. Why should Your Majesty do something as unwise as He Jin?"

“How is Erzhu Rong any different from a military man like Dong Zhuo? If he were to lead his troops into Luoyang, I fear there would be widespread suffering and death, and even Your Majesty would find it difficult to protect yourself.”

Yuan Xu hesitated for a moment, his attitude seemingly softening, "It shouldn't be. Erzhu Tianbao is my father-in-law, and Ying'e is my empress."

How could you be so naive?
When it comes to family interests, even daughters and sons-in-law can be sacrificed.

But Yuan Xu's attitude softened, and Yuan Ziyou saw hope.

He quickly continued to persuade, "If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can write another letter and instruct Erzhu Rong to wait in place with his troops. If he is loyal to Your Majesty, he will surely obey Your Majesty's order and remain in place. If he does not obey Your Majesty's edict and continues to lead his troops south, then his disloyal intentions will be obvious!"

"Ever since Erzhu Rong left Luoyang, Your Majesty has never met with him. How can you be so certain of Erzhu's loyalty to you based solely on a few words in his letters?"

"At such a critical juncture, what harm is there in Your Majesty testing him a little more? If this action proves his loyalty, Your Majesty can then boldly appoint Erzhu to important positions and eliminate all future worries!"

With such a good opportunity in front of him, Erzhu Rong would be willing to stop his southward march.

Yuan Ziyou himself began to doubt whether he had misunderstood Erzhu Rong.

Yuan Xu didn't speak, but frowned in thought. What Yuan Ziyou said was indeed very reasonable.

Issuing a secret edict to summon Erzhu Rong to purge the court of corrupt officials was indeed an impulsive act on that day. After calming down and thinking about it carefully, he was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat.

The things Dong Zhuo did in Luoyang back then are all clearly recorded in the history books.

“Ziyou’s words are indeed reasonable. I will issue another edict, ordering Erzhu Rong to lead his troops to wait in place and see what his attitude is.”

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Yuan Ziyou shouted loudly.

But his unease continued to grow.

Once a person's ambition is fostered, it is very difficult to eradicate.

Erzhu Rong was initially taking a wait-and-see approach, but Yuan Xu's previous edict to "purge the court of corrupt officials" likely fueled Erzhu Rong's ambition and caused him to become arrogant.

The imperial court no longer has any spare troops.

If Erzhu Rong truly harbored rebellious intentions and acted arbitrarily, leading his troops south...

How can Luoyang possibly cope?

But since things have come to this, we can only take it one step at a time.

When Xi Yi received the imperial edict, he was unsure of Yuan Xu's attitude, but he still sent the edict over.

Gao Huan and Gao Yu have already led their troops to Shangdang County, and are only one step away from Luoyang.

But at this moment, he met the person who delivered the letter to Xi Yi.

(End of this chapter)