Song Emperor Jiangshan

Xiao Shan glanced suspiciously at Zhao Gou next to him, and at Chen Gui, the magistrate of Xiangyang, and said, "What did you just say? Your Majesty is here!"

Only then did Chen Gui look at Zhao Gou, startled, took two steps towards Zhao Gou, and whispered in his ear.

Xiao Shan was at a loss, he never believed that it was a stereotyped slip of the tongue just now, there must be something wrong with it.But with all the doubts in his belly, it was not convenient to ask others at this time, so he could only wait by the side.

Liu Kai's body was transported back to the Xiangyang government office. Most of the soldiers had heard that Liu Kai had died in battle, and they all surrounded the Xiangyang government office and refused to leave, crying and howling loudly.Seeing that Chen Gui was talking to Zhao Gou, Xiao Shan saw that the guards of Xiangyang Mansion were also in confusion, so he could only temporarily guard the people he brought with him outside the mansion.

Not long after, Xiao Shan saw Zhao Yuan walking towards him, he wanted to have a few words with Zhao Yuan, but before he could speak, he heard Zhao Yuan say: "I have something to talk about later." After saying that, Zhao Yuan walked in Fuya.

Xiao Shan waited outside for about an hour, the situation outside the Fuya was already a bit difficult to suppress, many soldiers began to sit on the street outside the Fuya, instead of guarding the city, and discussed Liu Kai's death in private.

Xiao Shan didn't know about Chen Gui either, Zhao Yuan and Zhao Gou were discussing something inside, and after a while, he suddenly saw Chen Gui and Zhao Yuan coming out, Chen Gui had been talking to Zhao Yuan, and Zhao Yuan's expression was firm, Shaking his head for a while, he was denying stereotyped opinions.

Xiao Shan wanted to go up and ask, but he saw Feng Yi, the eunuch next to Zhao Gou, come out, bowed to Xiao Shan, and said: "General Xiao, the officials have summoned you."

Xiao Shan was full of suspicion, and followed the eunuch Feng Yi towards the main hall where Zhao Gou was.

Zhao Gou was frowning, walking around the hall with his hands behind his back, he didn't stop when he saw Xiao Shan coming, he just let everyone around him go out.

The last eunuch exited the hall and closed the hall door.

It wasn't until there was no one in the room that Zhao Gou said: "Xiao Aiqing, you have done a great job in saving me this time, and I will never forget you."

Xiao Shan had no choice but to say a few words of humility, and after coping with it, Zhao Gou said again: "But there is one more thing, it seems that only you can handle it now."

Xiao Shan bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please tell me, I will definitely go through fire and water, and I will die."

Zhao Gou nodded, and said, "Liu Kai has been guarding Xiangyang for the past few years, and Chinese and foreign soldiers have respected him very much. But he never thought that he would die in battle. Although a general should be like this, some foolish people can't understand it. You have been outside just now, and you have seen the situation outside, if you don’t give an explanation, those soldiers may change temporarily.”

Xiao Shan said: "This is easy. Your Majesty will go out and lead the Sixth Army to avenge General Liu. He will definitely be able to suppress the situation, boost morale, and defeat Wanyan Liang."

Zhao Gou froze for a moment, then hurriedly shook his head: "If anything happens to me, the country will be in danger."

Xiao Shan thought to himself: You are just afraid of death and cowardly, and you still say it so high-soundingly, it seems that Zhao Gou has almost made up his mind, but he is just too embarrassed to speak.

Xiao Shan said: "Your Majesty is stupid, please enlighten me."

Zhao Gou turned around in the hall again, and said with his hands behind his back: "More than ten years ago, I also experienced this kind of situation. At that time, I did not handle it properly, which led to a mutiny, so that I was imprisoned for two full months. , if it wasn't for the three generals to rescue me, I would die."

Xiao Shan knew what Zhao Gou was talking about, and it was in the early years when the Jin soldiers went south, because Zhao Gou himself went against the grain and caused the guards around him to rebel, forcing Zhao Gou to abdicate, and helping his son who was not yet one year old. The throne is actually the rebels coercing the emperor to order the princes.Now that Zhao Gou said this suddenly, Xiao Shan vaguely understood what Zhao Gou meant, but he couldn't take this kind of talk, so he had to wait for Zhao Gou to say it.

Zhao Gou waited for a while but did not see Xiao Shan speak, so he had to say to himself: "Now Liu Kai died in battle, Wan Yanliang besieged the city, and the situation is critical. I... I also acted biasedly, which caused Liu Kai's death. If no one is satisfied The past is bound to repeat itself. If there is a mutiny, Yuan Yuan and I will be trapped in the city, and no one can leave. For the sake of the overall situation, I want to issue an edict to abdicate temporarily and let the crown prince Take over. Wait until the catastrophe is over before thinking about it.”

When Xiao Shan heard Zhao Gou say this himself, he was overjoyed at first, but when he heard the words "temporarily abdicate", his brows frowned slightly.

This guy really wanted to throw the burden on Zhao Yuan, and after the matter was over, enjoy himself again.

Seeing that Xiao Shan was silent, Zhao Gou tried his best to persuade him: "The crown prince has always had a good reputation. If he ascends the throne at this time of crisis, he will definitely be able to suppress the situation in the city. When the new king ascends the throne, everyone has illusions and will definitely work hard. Fighting. I have thought about it, and this is the complete strategy." Zhao Gou didn't say anything about the deeper content. What he planned in his mind was: if Wan Yanliang broke through the city, if he wanted to catch the emperor, he would also catch Zhao Yuan. At any rate, I can run around without causing too many goals.

Zhao Gou saw that Xiao Shan remained silent, so he asked, "Xiao Aiqing, what do you think?"

Xiao Shan thought for a while and said: "I'm afraid the crown prince will not be willing. It's not because he doesn't want to rescue Junfu from his danger, but because he thinks in his heart that this is taking advantage of others' danger to steal a great treasure. If His Highness the crown prince is unwilling, there is nothing he can do."

Zhao Gou finally let out a long sigh of relief, and said: "Xiao Qing really knows the prince's character well. I have told him just now that he would rather die than die. I... hey, when I was out of the city, I kept it secret. , ordered him to pretend to be me, and I have never seen him pushing back and forth like this."

Only then did Xiao Shan understand why Chen Gui would say "Your Majesty will be here later" when he first entered the city. It turned out that Zhao Gou asked Zhao Yuan to pretend to be himself in order to attract the attention of the enemy, and he took the opportunity to escape.

Now that he failed to escape and returned to Xiangyang City, Zhao Yuan naturally refused to continue pretending like this, that would be too dishonest.

Xiao Shan said: "Now that His Majesty has returned to the city, His Highness the Crown Prince will of course live and die with His Majesty, there is no need to pretend anymore."

Zhao Gou shook his head and sighed, and said: "I have said so much, why haven't you understood? You and Yuan Yuan have always had a good relationship. You are about the same age, and your peers are better at talking. Go and persuade him. Zhen Chan Being with him can be regarded as letting him share my worries, no matter what method you use, you must always persuade him!"

After finishing speaking, Zhao Gou waved his sleeves and ended the conversation without giving Xiao Shan any chance to refute.

Xiao Shan had no choice but to bow and say, "I obey the order."

It was completely dark when he came out of the hall, Xiao Shan was wondering about Zhao Yuan's situation, it was obviously not a good time to ascend the throne at this time.Zhao Gou came out in a hurry, and the procedures must have been incomplete, and he couldn't even follow the etiquette of the new emperor offering sacrifices to the heavens and praying to the four directions.Moreover, the situation in the city is critical, and there is no time for him to perform these ceremonies for the new emperor's ascension to the throne.

Besides, Zhao Gou was still in the city, even if Zhao Yuan ascended the throne, Zhao Gou would be the mastermind behind the scenes, and he would be restrained in whatever he wanted to do.What made people even more uncomfortable was that according to Zhao Gou's words, when Wan Yanliang retreated and the two arrived in Lin'an, Zhao Yuan would give up the emperor's position to Zhao Gou.Who would want to do this kind of dishonest thing?

What's more, Zhao Gou tried his best to persuade Zhao Yuan to ascend the throne at this moment, but the people outside Xiangyang City didn't understand the situation, and most of them would only think that Zhao Yuan was coercing captives to invite the king, which would also be a great damage to Zhao Yuan's reputation .

In short, under the current circumstances, accepting Zhao Gou's abdication to become emperor would be harmful but not beneficial. Zhao Yuan would be damned if he was willing.

But Zhao Gou's order had to be followed, Xiao Shan thought for a while in the courtyard, but he didn't know how to persuade Zhao Yuan, so he could only take one step at a time.

Xiao Shan straightened his clothes, and then came outside Zhao Yuan's room, bowed and said: "Your Highness, I have something to see you."

Zhao Yuan's voice sounded a little tired and low: "Come in."

Immediately, a little eunuch came out to open the door for Xiao Shan, Xiao Shan looked around and noticed that the eunuch Gan Min who had been with Zhao Yuan all the year round was not here, he was a little surprised in his heart.

He walked into the room, the eunuch in the room retreated without waiting for Zhao Yuan to speak, and closed the door.He and Zhao Yuan hadn't seen each other for only seven or eight days, but now when Xiao Shan saw Zhao Yuan sitting listlessly on the chair in the room, he felt as if a century had passed.

He took a step forward, his voice trembling slightly: "Are you... all right?"

Zhao Yuan's posture didn't move, he just raised his eyes and looked towards Xiao Shan.

Xiao Shan had the urge to hold Zhao Yuan in his arms and rub it fiercely, but he was a little entangled in his heart, not knowing whether he should go forward.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yuan waved at him and said, "Come here."

Xiao Shan walked over, Zhao Yuan stretched out his hand, and gently held Xiao Shan's hand.

This action made Xiao Shan no longer hesitate, he stood beside Zhao Yuan, put his arms around Zhao Yuan, let his head rest on his waist.

No one mentioned the changes in Xiangyang City, the two of them just maintained this posture and stayed quietly.

Xiao Shan whispered: "How come you have lost so much weight in just a few days?"

Zhao Yuan smiled and looked up at Xiao Shan: "I didn't expect you to come. I was a little worried when I first heard that you were coming, but now after seeing you, I feel much better."

Xiao Shan lowered his head, and lightly kissed Zhao Yuan's lips. He was just planning to skim the water, but he didn't expect Zhao Yuan's reaction to be a bit violent.

Xiao Shan squatted down slowly, half kneeled on the ground, and kissed Zhao Yuan.

At the moment when lips and tongues intertwined, Xiao Shan felt that his restless heart was much calmer.They held each other's lips, sucked gently, and separated after a long time.

Zhao Yuan stretched out his hand, gently stroked Xiao Shan's hair on the sideburns, and said in a low voice: "You have lost a lot of weight too, it's getting late, you should go to rest early."

Xiao Shan felt that Zhao Yuan was extraordinarily gentle today, he refused to leave like this, but just shook his head: "I'm not tired, I want to sit by your side."

Zhao Yuan nodded, and did not rush Xiao Shan back. After a while, he said, "Amao, I don't want to be the emperor."

Xiao Shan was taken aback, Zhao Yuan said: "Is it the official who asked you to persuade me?"

Xiao Shan nodded, and said: "At this time, it is not a good thing to be enthroned. I have no intention of persuading you. I just... just want to see you. I haven't seen you these days, and I miss you very much."

The corner of Zhao Yuan's mouth twitched slightly, and he looked at Xiao Shan: "I miss you very much, too."

Xiao Shan felt that this was the best thing he had heard in his life. An impulse surged up in his heart, and now he hugged Zhao Yuan in his arms and treated him tenderly, but obviously now is not the time to do these things.

After a while, Xiao Shan said: "I don't think it will be long before Wan Yanliang will know that the official family is still in the city, and will definitely attack aggressively. Now that Mr. Liu is gone, everything is in a mess, what are you going to do?"

Zhao Yuan said: "I have just discussed with the prefect Chen. There is enough food and grass in the city, and the soldiers and horses are strong. Let alone support for a month, even half a year is no problem. Now it is spring, and it will be hot soon. The Jin people are not used to the heat. At that time, the soldiers and horses of our army should be able to arrive everywhere, and the retreat of the Jin people will not be a problem."

Xiao Shan said: "I will come back after retiring. The current state of the official family is definitely not a good thing in the long run."

Zhao Yuan turned his head slightly and looked into Xiao Shan's eyes: "So you actually still hope that I will be enthroned now? The official family is in the city. If I agree now, I will be in great trouble when the golden soldiers retreat and return to Lin'an. "

Xiao Shan said: "No matter what your Highness decides, I will support it." After finishing speaking, he said after a while: "In fact, I really hope that His Highness can ascend the throne as soon as possible and revive the country. The longer it is delayed, the more unfavorable it will be for Song Dynasty. Qin Hui It has been dead for such a long time, but the government has not changed in any way, and it is even worse than before his death. Of course it is not a problem for the Jin people to retreat, but what I am worried about is that the Jin soldiers will come again, and the court still has no preparations. I am afraid that at that time It will lead to even greater disasters. Besides, even if the Jin soldiers don't come, if things go on like this, the recovery of rivers and mountains will probably have to wait until the next life."

Zhao Yuan said: "I have thought about what you said, but it's hard to decide in my heart."

Xiao Shan said: "Actually, it's not all without benefits. If this battle is won, His Highness's prestige will definitely increase. If the official's Zen position document can be announced to the world, after a month or two, after the golden soldiers retreat, it will be difficult for him to change his words." .”

Zhao Yuan remained silent, this matter was indeed a big problem for him, and the harm outweighed the benefit.

Seeing that Zhao Yuan could not make up his mind, Xiao Shan said: "There is some chaos outside now, the officials are not willing to go out to meet people, if His Highness stays here for a long time, I am afraid it will not be very good."

Zhao Yuan nodded and said: "Yes, you can go with me to see the official, it is better to persuade him to lead the Sixth Army in person. You should explain the pros and cons to him, the official should be able to understand."

Xiao Shan stood up. He had been squatting for a long time, his legs were numb, and his posture was a little stiff when he walked.

The two went to Zhao Gou's room together, Zhao Gou was eating, when he saw Xiao Shan and Zhao Yuan coming together, he was overjoyed and smiled at Xiao Shan, "I knew that you would not disappoint me." Zhao Yuan said: "Yuan Yuan, make preparations immediately, I will give you an order to abdicate."

Zhao Yuan knelt down slowly, and said: "I don't dare to do such a thing, please change your mind and make a long-term plan."

Zhao Gou was taken aback for a moment, then his face became angry, he turned to look at Xiao Shan, and reprimanded: "How do you do things?"

Zhao Yuan said: "It's none of his business. Your Majesty's abdication at this moment will inevitably cause shocks both at home and abroad. The situation can only become more chaotic. The Lin'an court may not know what happened for a while. If it leads to greater disasters, it will be regretted at that time." Not as good as."

When Zhao Gou heard Zhao Yuan's words, he showed his face and said, "This is easy. This matter is only known in Xiangyang City, and it will not be announced elsewhere."

Both Zhao Yuan and Xiao Shan were very surprised, Zhao Yuan was inconvenient to speak, Xiao Shan said: "How can such a big event be so trifling? When the time comes, the Jin people will hold His Majesty's abdication edict to go around, not to cause even bigger troubles. Is it a disaster? If His Majesty insists on abdicating, he should make known the reason to the world, so as to reassure the people."

Zhao Gou was silent, and when there was no sound in the room, he heard the commotion outside getting louder.

Zhao Gou said: "Listen, what's the sound outside?"

Xiao Shan and Zhao Yuan had already heard the commotion outside, before it was just an ordinary quarrel, now there was the faint sound of weapons colliding, obviously some soldiers couldn't control it and started an armed conflict.

Zhao Gou looked a little anxious: "Yuan Yuan, you don't want to share my worries, that's all right. If you don't want Xiangyang City, you have to find a way to get back. The city is more dangerous than the outside. Xiaoshan, you bring your own soldiers and horses." , escort me out of the city and talk about it later.”

Xiao Shan was taken aback for a moment, Zhao Gou wanted to repeat Liu Kai's old ways!

He looked back at Zhao Yuan, and then at Zhao Gou. Wan Yanliang outside the city must have had an ambush for a long time. If Zhao Gou ran again, he would die a hundred times and he would never be able to protect his safety. Besides, if Zhao Gou really did this Running away at the right time will inevitably arouse even greater anger from the crowd. Whether he can take Zhao Gou out of Xiangyang City safely is a question.

But at this moment, Zhao Yuan straightened his body suddenly, and said to Zhao Gou: "If dad insists on doing this, I am willing to share the worries of my father. Xiao Shan can't leave now, not to mention the mutiny of the soldiers outside, even if he didn't, He also couldn't bring more than a hundred people to escort Dad to leave safely."

Zhao Gou never imagined that Zhao Yuan would suddenly change his mind when he insisted on refusing before, and he asked, "Really?"

Zhao Yuan bowed and said, "I should share my father's worries. It's getting dark now, are the officials planning to notify the mutinous soldiers outside now, or wait until tomorrow?"

Zhao Gou finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and hurriedly said: "Right now, tell the soldiers outside to stop making trouble. Yuan Yuan, you go out with me!"

Zhao Yuan stood up and followed Zhao Gou, Xiao Shan followed Zhao Yuan closely, and asked in a low voice, "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Zhao Yuan looked back at Xiao Shan, bit his lip, and after a while, said in a barely audible voice: "If I don't agree, you will go to die... I... don't want to see you die like this."