There is the smell of rotting dead grass in the nose, the air is mixed with moisture, and the stone walls on both sides are always damp - but there is no moss.
The light was very dim, but Guo Huai was used to this dimness, so he could see the surrounding scenes.
This is the prison in Quyang County.
Guo Huai's hand was tied with a heavy iron chain - given his status, even if he was imprisoned in the prison of Yingdu, he would not need to be chained... Maybe it was the negligence of the minor officials under Xiong Wuliang. This is normal. After all, they are young people who have just started working. It is understandable that they lack experience.
Guo Huai let out a long sigh.
The assassin was indeed from the Guo family... But Guo Huai couldn't figure out how the assassin could have missed, let alone how he was captured after he missed, let alone why these dead soldiers would betray the Guo family after being captured...
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't imagine that Xiong Wuliang had the Qingyu Guards and the Black Feather Guards under his command, and they were extremely skilled in arresting and interrogating people.
Guo Huai's original intention was to give Xiong Wuliang some color.
Even if they failed to assassinate Qu Yuan and Huang Xie, it would still be enough to scare them - maybe it would make these hateful reformists use caution in the next government decree and be gentler...
But now, the assassin failed, and the most terrible thing is that the dead man actually revealed that Guo was the mastermind...
Thinking of those wolf-like and tiger-like soldiers rushing towards the Guo clan, Guo Huai closed his eyes in pain!
No! still have a chance!
Guo Ziyu! He is a high-ranking official in Dachu, and he will definitely not sit back and watch his family fall!
If Guo Yu goes all out, he might be able to persuade Xiong Wuliang... at least, he can save the lives of the Guo family.
…
Yingdu, Ling Yin Mansion.
Guo Ziyu was like a headless fly, his former calmness was completely gone, and he no longer had the image of the cold courtier who could decide life or death with a single word.
"Ling Yin! Save me!"
Zhaoju was also dumbfounded - he never expected that Xiong Wuliang could use a "Quyang Academy" to reverse the defeat and come back to life.
Unexpectedly, the Guo family actually sent an assassin... The assassin was captured by mistake, and in turn revealed the mastermind...
What an outrageous and outrageous operation this is!
"Your Majesty, save our Guo clan, Guo Yu is willing to do the hard work of dogs and horses!" Guo Ziyu begged with sweat on his face.
Zhaoju thought for a moment - if the Guo family is destroyed, then Guo Ziyu will definitely step down... Do you think he got this position by virtue of his own ability? Nonsense, if you want to be a high-ranking official in Chu State, the only deciding factor is whether the power behind it is strong.
The Guo clan is the largest powerful force north of the Huai River. In terms of strength, it ranks among the top eight clans in the entire Chu Kingdom... That's why Guo Ziyu can become the powerful court official.
Zhaoju didn't want to lose such a powerful party member.
We really need to save him!
"For this plan, my words are of no use... There is only one person who can persuade Xiong Wuliang!"
"Prince! Go and ask the prince to intercede!"
…
Prince's Mansion.
Zhaoju and Guo Ziyu were sitting at the base, and the prince was sitting at the main seat - Mi Heng was confused now! Why do these two powerful ministers have the leisure to visit me today?
Zhaoju coughed lightly: "Prince, I'm here to ask for help..."
Then, Zhaoju explained the confrontation between the Guo family and Xiong Wuliang and the current tragic situation.
Of course, it is not inevitable to avoid the truth and the imaginary.
Zhaoju never mentioned that the Guo clan incited more than a dozen big clans to join forces to go on strike, but emphasized how aggressive Xiong Wuliang and Qu Yuan were, hurting the interests and feelings of the Guo clan, a heroic family, during the reform process...
The Guo family was so angry and miserable, yet they were helpless under Xiong Wuliang's lustful power.
In the end, Guo Huai impulsively sent out assassins when his family was in ruins... Ah Bu sent out swordsmen to 'persuade' Xiong Wuliang to stop.
The idiot Prince Mi Heng was so stupid that he was stunned for a while.
"My brother Wang has always been kind-hearted, how could he be such a bully?" Mi Heng was dubious.
Zhaoju sighed deeply and said meaningfully: "People will change!"
"Qu Yanghou has made great achievements many times, and he feels that his achievements are outstanding! I once heard such a story - Qu Yanghou heard in the fiefdom that 'someone in Yingdu said that Prince Heng was deposed and supported Qu Yanghou as the crown prince.' He laughed and said, 'It's not a bad idea.' , and sent people to make noises saying, 'The prince is not as talented as Qu Yanghou' and so on..."
Mi Heng's eyes bulged and he was speechless.
This was his deepest heartache, but at this moment, it was revealed without reservation by Zhao Ju.
"Of course... Marquis Quyang may not have any negative intentions... but it is an indisputable fact that his temper has become more domineering due to his numerous military exploits." Zhaoju added sinisterly.
Guo Ziyu stood up, bowed deeply to the prince, and cried bitterly——
"Prince! Prince!"
"We, the Guo family, have made great contributions to the great Chu state. For hundreds of years, we have strictly abided by the laws of Chu and firmly maintained the prestige of the great Chu royal family..."
"Now...now I have not made any mistakes, but I am facing the disaster of the Yi tribe!"
"How can the laws of heaven exist! Where can the laws of heaven exist!"
…
Zhaoju struck again while the iron was hot and said seriously: "The old minister's words just now were inappropriate. Please forgive me, Prince."
"Prince, please rest assured - we have always wholeheartedly supported you as the crown prince. Whoever dares to abolish the establishment of the throne must sacrifice his life to defend the country!"
"It's just... that after you succeed to the throne, you must not carry out reforms... You have also seen that - the reforms are really unreasonable!" Zhaoju spoke with such sincerity that he almost burst into tears.
Guo Ziyu added: "Prince Mingjian, although my brother sent swordsmen, he only wanted to coerce Xiong Wuliang to change his ways out of grief and anger, and he had no intention of taking anyone's life."
Prince Mi Heng nodded at a loss, then looked at Guo Ziyu and said: "Ting Li, there is no need to be sad - from my point of view, there are many misunderstandings about this matter, maybe the king's brother was a little harsher."
"Brother Wang also thought poorly about the reform, which hurt the Guo family."
"I will send someone to join hands and write a letter to persuade Qu Yanghou to release the Guo clan, and at the same time stop this inexplicable reform, and restore everything to normal!"
…
Guo Ziyu was so happy that he threw himself to the ground and kowtowed to Mi Heng: "The prince is wise! The prince is kind!"
Zhaoju also echoed: "That's right! That's right! This reform will harm all the descendants of the heroes! It's tantamount to destroying Qiancheng! It's really confusing!"
At this moment, Zhaoju's heart was filled with the joy of victory.
The prince, that is the future king! If the prince speaks personally, he can save the Guo family, right? That would save Guo Ziyu, a die-hard party member.
Moreover, with his sharp tongue, he once again succeeded in driving a wedge between Mi Heng and Mi Liang; at the same time, he made Prince Mi Heng feel prejudiced and wary of the reform!
political reform? What method should be changed?
Our Zhao family is one of the most powerful clans in the Chu State. If a reform is really launched in the Chu State, the Zhao family will suffer the most!
And will reform definitely make the country strong? Nonsense!
…
It is said that the messenger sent by the prince to Quyanghou Mansion is also an old acquaintance - it is General Jin, the partial commander of the Forbidden Army.
Not to mention how General Jin greeted the Marquis of Quyang when he came to Quyang City.
Xiong Wuliang took the letter from General Jin, opened it, and frowned deeply!
…
