My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 204 The Golden Caster!
After explaining everything.

Xi Yi, Erzhu Tianguang, and Erzhu Shilong, accompanied by several attendants, rode at full speed towards Luoyang under the cover of night.

Gao Yu was not surprised when he learned of this news.

The Erzhu clan's members were Erzhu Rong's true confidants. The people of the Six Garrisons ranked third within Erzhu Rong's power structure. Above the people of the Six Garrisons were various cousins ​​and in-laws of the Erzhu clan.

Gao Yu and Erzhu Yuechan are not yet married; they are only engaged. They can only be considered half in-laws and half family.

In the eyes of the imperial court.

There is no essential difference between "purging the emperor's inner circle" and "rebellion"; both are acts of traitors, just with different names.

Led by Erzhu Rong, those surrounding him were also considered rebels by the court.

This time, when they followed Erzhu Rong south to purge the court of corrupt officials, everyone was already risking their lives to join him in this rebellion.

Can't stop.

When it comes to rebellion, either you don't start it in the first place, or once you do, you have to see it through to the end, even to the point of utter destruction, leaving no way out.

The next day!

Erzhu Rong's army passed through Changzi and then arrived at Changping. By the time they reached Changping, they had already entered the territory of Sizhou.

Erzhu Rong then ordered Erzhu Zhao to lead Gao Yu, Gao Huan and others to capture Gao Du, while he himself led his men to capture Jianxing County.

Looking at the map, you can see why Erzhu Rong wanted to take over these two places.

These two places happened to be on his only route of retreat.

Whether heading south to Luoyang or north back to Bing and Si prefectures, these two places are essential stops.

Erzhu Rong did not rush to head south to Luoyang. Instead, he wanted to control the retreat route first, so that he could advance or retreat with a clear plan.

"Tianbao... is no ordinary person."

Gao Yu's evaluation of Erzhu Rong has reached a new level.

The closer you get to success, the closer you are to failure.

People tend to become impatient and anxious in such situations, but Erzhu Rong did not have this problem. On the contrary, he showed extraordinary caution in such situations.

Gao Yu had even thought that it would take some time to conquer Gao.

result……

Erzhu Rong had planted spies in the city long ago, and when Gao Yu led his army there, the spies opened the city gates.

This army captured Gaodu without shedding a drop of blood.

Soon after, a guard came to deliver a message, instructing Erzhu Zhao to bring Gao Huan and Gao Yu to Jianxing County for a meeting.

Once everyone had arrived, Erzhu Rong made the following arrangements.

"Sima Ziru was appointed Sima, holding the imperial insignia, supervising the vanguard, and serving as the governor of Jianxing. Heba Yun was appointed as the acting general who pacified the south and oversaw all affairs of Gaodu Commandery."

It seems that these two people, one from Huai Shuo and the other from Wu Chuan, are both from the Six Garrisons.

However, these two individuals are not leaders of their respective factions; their positions are neither too high nor too low.

The descendants of the Erzhu clan will definitely all follow south. This is a meritorious act of following the emperor, and it would be reasonable and justifiable for them to receive the lion's share of the rewards afterward.

The leaders of each faction were also brought along, and they could be used as hostages.

In short.

Erzhu Rong was extremely cautious, having calculated everything carefully.

He then led his army south again, continuing to approach Luoyang. Now, the only thing blocking Erzhu Rong's army was the Hanoi Commandery.

Hanoi Commandery is under the jurisdiction of the Northern General, who also serves as the Prefect of Hanoi Commandery. The current Prefect of Hanoi Commandery, the Northern General, is someone that Empress Dowager Hu had previously tried to win over.

Yang Shun was born into the Yang clan of Hongnong.

Before Erzhu Rong's army even reached the outskirts of Hanoi, Yang Shun personally led his guards and attendants outside the city to meet Erzhu Rong, demonstrating his attitude and intentions through concrete actions.

Yang Shun was not Erzhu Rong's confidant; he had a close relationship with Yuan Ziyou.

obviously.

After Xi Yi and his group traveled south, Yuan Ziyou also began to secretly exert his influence, making connections in Luoyang to pave the way for Erzhu Rong's southward journey to Luoyang!
We passed through Hanoi County.

Heading south to Luoyang, only the Yellow River remained as a natural barrier.

The imperial court had deployed heavy troops to guard Beizhongcheng, Heqiao, and Xiaopingjin.

Erzhu Rong had no choice but to slow down, not because he was unwilling to go south, but because... he needed to bring Yuan Ziyou out.

Erzhu Rong dispatched his trusted bodyguard, Wang Xiang, to Luoyang to deliver a message.

quickly!

Xi Yi, Erzhu Tianguang, and Erzhu Shilong then escaped from Luoyang under the cover of night, crossed the Yellow River, and met Erzhu Rong in Heyang.

"Tianbao, everything has been settled!"

Erzhu Shilong was extremely excited, "All the Imperial Guards are willing to help us enter Luoyang!"

Erzhu Tianguang added, "Although the officials in Luoyang did not explicitly support it, their attitude was very clear. They were all dissatisfied with Empress Dowager Hu and wanted our Erzhu clan to go south to Luoyang to cleanse the court of corrupt officials. They even... even hoped that we would kill the Empress Dowager as well."

Erzhu Rong sneered, "They've certainly played a clever game. They'll have my Erzhu clan do the dirty work and play the villains, while they reap the benefits afterward."

Erzhu Tianguang remained silent for a moment, then said, "Hasn't it always been like this? The nobles in Luoyang City always act superior and aloof. When have they ever given us a second glance? Let alone come to join forces with my Erzhu clan."

Erzhu Rong didn't speak, but a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

You want all the benefits, but you're unwilling to take any responsibility for the bad reputation, right?

Don't blame me for not giving you a chance.

After taking a deep breath, Erzhu Rong said, "The three of you go back into the city and bring Yuan Ziyou, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Zizheng out of the city tomorrow night."

"I will vindicate him in Heyang, allow him to ascend the throne and become emperor, and then march south to Luoyang in the name of the new emperor and with his edict to eliminate traitors for the country!"

Erzhu Tianguang couldn't help but retort, "Why go through all this trouble?"

Erzhu Rong shook his head, "This is a matter of righteousness, and the world should know that my Erzhu clan is not a rebel."

"Here, in our army camp, the initiative is in our hands. Yuan Ziyou thinks he can seize the throne with just a few letters? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"Moreover... there is one final step before Yuan Ziyou ascends the throne."

"what?"

"The Goldsmith!"

From a legal standpoint, Yuan Ziyou was far from qualified. There was no way he could be chosen as emperor through normal channels. The only way to legitimize his ascension to the throne was through other means.

Erzhu Rong approves of him, and the Erzhu clan also approves of him—that's not enough!

Erzhu Rong wanted to use the casting of golden statues to silence the gossips among his subordinates, and to ensure that all those who came to join him and his soldiers recognized Yuan Ziyou.

Especially in times like these, it is crucial to unite the hearts and minds of the team.

And it has to be done in such an indisputable way to silence everyone.

After the three left the camp.

Erzhu Rong then summoned Liu Lingzhu, his top charlatan, to his side.

"Have you prepared everything I'm telling you?"

"Rest assured, Grand Commander, everything is foolproof!"

P.S.: The killing begins tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)