My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 203 The Merit of Supporting the Emperor?

The second day of April.

Erzhu Rong personally led his troops to Shangdang County.

Gao Yu glanced at it briefly and immediately understood... This time, Erzhu Rong had come out in full force. Those who came to join him and the Erzhu clan members were all by his side. Even Erzhu Tianguang and Erzhu Zhongyuan, who had gone to occupy Mayi and Jingxing, rushed to join Erzhu Rong with their personal guards after completing their assigned tasks.

It's about purging the court of corrupt officials.

They must have a great cause at their disposal.

But it can only be called "removing the emperor's inner circle" if it is ultimately successful.

If it fails, then it is a rebellion.

at night.

Xi Yi, accompanied by several personal guards, hurriedly arrived in Shangdang County to meet Erzhu Rong.

"Wucheng!"

"Tianbao!"

The two were cousins, and Erzhu Rong gave him a big bear hug upon meeting him, saying, "You've worked hard these past few days, so don't go back to Luoyang now, or I'll be afraid of you..."

"Why should one waste one's life when one is doing great things?"

Xi Yi, with an air of righteous indignation, then explained, "I have come here with the Empress Dowager's decree. If I do not return to Luoyang, the Empress Dowager will take strict precautions. At that time, it will be extremely difficult for Tianbao to cross the Yellow River into Luoyang. We must keep the Empress Dowager at ease at this moment."

A hint of joy flashed in Erzhu Rong's eyes; Xi Yi's words were exactly what he wanted to hear.

My feelings of goodwill and trust towards him have only intensified.

After all, he continued to lead his troops south, and Xi Yi's return to Luoyang was indeed risking his life. But as Xi Yi said, he had to go back after delivering the message.

If Xi Yi doesn't go back, it's clear that Erzhu is determined to fight Empress Dowager Hu to the death, leaving no room for negotiation.

However, Xi Yi could say such things on his own initiative, Er Zhu Rong could hint at them, or they could be said through others, but they absolutely could not say them themselves.

Erzhu Rong patted Xi Yi's shoulder heavily and said with delight, "What is the Empress Dowager's decree?"

Xi Yi handed the imperial edict to Erzhu Rong.

Erzhu Rong glanced at it briefly. The edict instructed Empress Dowager Hu to say all the right things and promised her a princely title and the position of prime minister. It could be said that as long as Erzhu Rong did not continue to lead his troops south, Empress Dowager Hu would announce it to the world in the name of the new emperor, allowing him to rise to the top and become the most powerful minister.

"Ha, that thieving woman."

"With the elite troops under Tianbao's command pointing directly at Luoyang, she was naturally afraid."

"She wasn't afraid; she knew her death was imminent."

Erzhu Rong tossed aside Empress Dowager Hu's edict without the slightest hesitation.

Does she need to offer him a high position?

He led his troops south to Luoyang, seized control of the emperor and the court, and appointed officials and prime ministers as he pleased.

"Wu Cheng, about what you mentioned in your last secret letter..."

"I have come here on behalf of Yuan Ziyou."

Xi Yi's expression turned serious. "Yuan Ziyou said that he and Tianbao were old friends when they were officials in the Imperial Guards, and they had served the late emperor together. In the Luoyang court, he was the only one who understood Tianbao and knew his worries."

"If Tianbao helps him ascend the throne, he can swear to Heaven that he will never betray Tianbao for the rest of his life."

"At present, the Great Wei Dynasty is in turmoil and the country is in chaos. If he ascends the throne, he will surely make good use of Tianbao, quell the rebellion, and restore the country."

"Later generations should regard him and Tianbao as a legendary tale of a ruler and his minister, like that of Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong, or Emperor Zhaolie of Han and Zhuge Liang."

Erzhu Rong did not respond.

In terms of bloodline succession, Yuan Ziyou had absolutely no chance of inheriting the throne.

Yuan Ziyou was not even the eldest son of Prince Pengcheng, Yuan Xie. Yuan Xie's eldest son was Yuan Shao, and Prince Pengcheng, Yuan Xie, was the brother of Emperor Xiaowen, Yuan Hong. Neither of them could be considered to be of Emperor Xiaowen's bloodline.

But right.

During his lifetime, Prince Yuan Xie of Pengcheng served Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Xuanwu. He was a famous wise prince, but he was always guarded against and eventually died at the hands of Gao Zhao.

Yuan Ziyou seems to have some of his father's traits.

He was equally capable and extremely handsome. The literati in Luoyang described him as "elegant and intelligent, with a very beautiful appearance," making him an even more famous and handsome man than Prince Yuan Yi of Qinghe. The reason he was able to accompany Yuan Xu as a student and stay by Yuan Xu's side was because Empress Dowager Hu took a liking to his appearance.

"Wu Cheng, in your opinion, should we support Yuan Ziyou?"

After hesitating for a moment, Xi Yi said, "I think it's feasible. Yuan Ziyou has no other support in the court. If Tianbao supports him to ascend the throne, his only reliance will be Tianbao himself. Moreover, Yuan Ziyou also comes from the Imperial Guard and is an old friend of ours..."

Yuan Ziyou did indeed come from the Imperial Guard system.

He initially served as the Commandant of the City Gates, a key military post in the Imperial Guard that was just as important as other positions such as Commander-in-Chief, Palace General, Supervisor of the Feathered Forest Guard, and Tiger-like General.

Because it controlled all the city gates of Luoyang.

Erzhu Rong squinted.

What Xi Yi said is true, but there is one major problem.

Yuan Ziyou's ranking is too low.

In Yuan Ziyou's case, it wouldn't be enough if Emperor Xuanwu's branch of Yuan Ke were to die out; Emperor Xiaowen's branch would also have to die out before it would be the turn of Emperor Xiaowen's brothers' descendants to inherit the throne, not to mention that he also had Yuan Shao, who was the eldest son of the legitimate wife, above him.

Gotta think of a way.

"Wu Cheng, wait a moment. I will write one letter by hand. No... I will write two letters. We still need to play along with the Empress Dowager and not let her be too wary. We still need to lull her into a false sense of security."

"This handwritten letter is a gift from me to Yuan Ziyou."

"wrong……"

Erzhu Rong then felt it was inappropriate and said, "Someone! Bring Shilong and Tianguang here!"

Before long, the guards brought Erzhu Shilong and Erzhu Tianguang to meet him.

Erzhu Rong looked at the two of them and said, "You two should quickly return to Luoyang with Wu Cheng to reconnect with old acquaintances in the Imperial Guard and try to win them over, understand?"

Erzhu Shilong and Erzhu Tianguang were barely considered to be people with brains, slightly better than Erzhu Zhao and Erzhu Zhongyuan.

no way.

This task can only be undertaken by these two people.

Firstly, Erzhu Shilong and Erzhu Tianguang had both served in the Imperial Guard system in their earlier years.

Secondly, in such situations, only members of the Erzhu clan would be able to take the lead, otherwise others would believe him.

Otherwise, even if he sent outsiders, Erzhu Rong himself would not feel at ease, even if they were willing to trust them.

Erzhu Shilong and Erzhu Tianguang didn't quite understand what had happened.

Erzhu Rong then revealed some of his intentions.

"Win over the Imperial Guards, then go with Wu Cheng to meet Yuan Ziyou and tell him that our Erzhu clan is willing to honor him and support him as the new emperor!"

Erzhu Tianguang and Erzhu Shilong exchanged a glance, secretly delighted!

At the crucial moment, Erzhu Rong indeed still cared about his Erzhu clan members.

This is a meritorious act of supporting the emperor and assisting him in his ascension.

If Yuan Ziyou ascends the throne, the two of them will definitely deserve the most credit!
"Rest assured, Tianbao. This battle will be decided in a matter of life and death. We two will not let you down. Our Erzhu clan will surely reach a new level!"

"and then……"

Erzhu Rong quickly interrupted him, preventing Erzhu Shilong from continuing.

He said in a deep voice, "We must be careful in this matter. When trying to win them over, we must keep our eyes open. We must not try to win over those who are two-faced. They must be people who are already disappointed and disheartened with the court. Do you understand?"

Erzhu Shilong nodded repeatedly, "The Imperial Guard has no shortage of such disheartened people!"

The military men of Luoyang have long been dissatisfied with the imperial court!

The previous issue with the central army was only appeased, not completely resolved.

The upward mobility for military men remains very limited, or even nonexistent.

Compared to the nobles, the members of the Imperial Guards would certainly be more supportive of Yuan Ziyou and Erzhu Rong, who came from the Imperial Guards.

(End of this chapter)