Chapter 600: Chapter 77: Manipulation Again, Gu Yi Makes His Move
The moment his gaze touched the seated Gao Xianzhi and the stern-faced Gu Xuan, this sharp-minded Confucian general instantly captured the unusually heavy atmosphere in the study.
Gu Xuan was about to rise and salute.
"Young Master, please wait!" Feng Changqing acted faster, gently closing the door with a backward hand, then swiftly stepped forward, supporting Gu Xuan’s arm with an earnest tone and an undeniable respect:
"The Gu Clan has been a benefactor of Feng Changqing’s!"
"The Young Master is the eldest heir of the Gu Clan, how can Feng dare to accept such courtesy?"
"Especially today!"
His attitude was resolute, yet nonetheless, Gu Xuan still offered him a proper junior’s salute.
Feng Changqing had no choice but to sit aside helplessly.
Afterward, Gu Yi once again controlled Gu Xuan, looking seriously at the two, Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing, and said, "I wonder, would you two generals be willing to trust the Gu Clan?"
——This abrupt question instantly made both furrow their brows.
What does the Gu Clan intend to do?
Gao Xianzhi could not help but look at Feng Changqing, and Feng Changqing did the same.
Both saw the other’s confusion and refrained from speaking.
Gu Yi did not wait for a response and, through Gu Xuan, his expression grew even more solemn, spoke in a deep voice, "If my Gu Clan determines that chaos will fall upon the land, would you two generals believe it?"
——Rumbling!
It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in the entire room.
As soon as the words fell, Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing’s expressions almost simultaneously changed dramatically!
In the next moment, they suddenly thought of the testament held by the Gu Clan from Emperor Taizong.
Could it be because of the Emperor’s attitude?
Is the Gu Clan about to rebel and depose the throne?
If it were any other family, the two would definitely have confirmed this immediately.
But this is the Gu Clan!
From the Later Han to the present, how many opportunities to ascend the throne has the Gu Clan forsaken, and how can they not know this?
How could they possibly do such a thing now?
"Young Master, what do you mean by this?" Feng Changqing asked in a deep voice, tightly furrowing his brows.
Gu Yi did not hesitate, looked at the two, and earnestly spoke of the recent situations in Hebei learned from the Imperial Censorate.
"There are things you two generals may not know, An Lushan’s recent actions have all shown signs of rebellion!"
"His troops are well-equipped, abundant in armor, horses, and provisions, far exceeding what a border town requires, beyond imperial regulation!"
"His subordinates increasingly consist of Hu generals, while the Han generals dwindle."
"..."
"Looking at the court! Yang Guozhong and An Lushan oppose each other, frequently slandering, insisting on rebellion."
"Yet the Saint is enamored with the Consort, and misled by Lu Mountain’s sweet words and slick talk, fully trusting, wrongly accusing Chancellor Yang of framing."
"Indeed, is this not adding fuel to the fire?"
"An Lushan holds a powerful army, entrenched in Hebei, with uncertain imperial favor internally, and pressured externally by Chancellor Yang’s relentless advance. How could his heart not brew treacherous intentions?"
The echoes of his words rang out loud in the entire study.
Gu Yi was not speaking nonsense, but merely recounting the situations the Gu Clan had investigated.
This instantly settled the two men’s hearts, although their expressions grew more severe.
They understood very well—
For the Gu Clan, obtaining such information was not difficult.
So it must be true!
Even after Gu Xuan finished speaking, the two remained speechless for a long time, staring intently at Gu Xuan, deep in thought.
"Why does the Grand Tutor not admonish His Majesty?"
After a long silence, Gao Xianzhi asked again.
"His Majesty will not see my father." Gu Yi replied naturally, pausing before giving a relieved smile, "And even if they met, before anything happens, he would not believe it."
"You two generals mustn’t forget how An Lushan reached this point."
Upon these words, the two immediately understood what Gu Xuan meant.
Li Longji, being the Emperor,
would not slap his own face so easily.
Admitting to all this would be telling the world he couldn’t recognize talent?
How could such a proud man like Li Longji admit that?
The study was quickly enveloped in silence once more.
Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing both wore complex expressions, torn between worry borne of believing Gu Xuan’s words and their complicated feelings towards Li Longji.
They had received countless rewards.
This was imperial grace.
They instinctively suspected that the Gu Clan might now seek to use Emperor Taizong’s testament to depose.
Gu Yi naturally recognized their concerns.
In this time, his growth wasn’t just empty talk, quickly grasping their thoughts, he again bowed and said, "Rest assured, generals, the Gu Clan will not commit sedition."
"This action—"
"Is only to save the world."
The three words "save the world", weighty as a thousand junctures, carrying a near-tragic sense of mission, struck fiercely on their hearts.
Feng Changqing’s tense jawline noticeably relaxed, the sharp scrutiny in his eyes turned into deep contemplation.
His body leaned slightly forward, fixedly staring into Gu Xuan’s eyes, he asked in a deep voice, "What exactly does the Grand Tutor intend?"
"What does he want me and General Gao to do?"
"Loyalty to the sovereign and serving the nation, nothing more."
Gu Xuan smiled slightly, then bowed once more toward the two, asking, "I wonder if the two generals have thought about stepping out of this Luoyang city once again?"
"Stepping out of Luoyang City!"
These five words, like a muffled thunder, suddenly exploded in the minds of Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing!
In an instant, whether Gao Xianzhi or Feng Changqing,
their expressions both stiffened simultaneously.
How could they not want to?
Being confined in Luoyang, far from the battlefield, for these two once-dominant generals, is no different from a tiger being deprived of its claws, an eagle with its wings clipped!
To them, Luoyang City is a cage!
Not to mention Gu Yi now made clear to them the forthcoming crisis.
Observing the change in their eyes, Gu Yi immediately felt at ease.
——Noble ideals cannot bind everyone.
Gu Yi naturally would not use the salvation of all people to coerce these men, concrete benefits must be offered.
This is the iron law of politics.
Though the Gu Clan’s influence had waned significantly, facilitating these two’s departure from Luoyang to regain military authority was not too difficult.
This was also one of Gu Yi’s assurances!
After a moment, as expected, the two gave their decisions.
Whispering voices rose again.
Not until noon did Gu Xuan leave the Gao Mansion and return to the Champion Marquis Mansion.
Gu Hao was not in the mansion.
Gu Yi initially hadn’t noticed this fact, until a series of chaotic noise erupted, he rushed out with Gu Xuan only then did he realize.
——Gu Hao went to request an audience with Li Longji again.
And he knelt outside the Imperial Palace from dawn until noon, finally collapsing from exhaustion.
Looking at Gu Hao in front of him, pale and breathless.
Gu Yi couldn’t help but maneuver Gu Xuan to look toward the direction of the Imperial Palace, as if through the palace walls, he saw Li Longji leisurely playing with Consort Yang. ...
.......
(Ps: Bowing, begging for monthly votes, seeking the support of brothers and sisters, Yu is deeply grateful!)
