Yu Yizhi hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is wise, and in the end, your body will be shattered into pieces as retribution."
Huan Xuan was about to say the words of disbandment. Suddenly, a cold voice sounded from one side: "Your Majesty, you seem to have forgotten one thing. This matter is very important. If you don't do it, I'm afraid our army will be destroyed." Tian Luck, that’s where it ends.”
Everyone turned around and saw a thin, purple-robed official in his forties, holding a wat board, standing sternly, looking at Huan Xuan, not avoiding his confused and somewhat angry gaze.
Huan Xuan said in a deep voice: "Cao Qing, we are facing a formidable enemy. Do you think you are guilty of making such remarks that shake the morale of the army?"
This person was Cao Jingzhi, the official minister of the Chu Dynasty. He was also an old minister of Yuan Cong who had followed Huanxuan for many years. He was always known for his uprightness and loyalty. He repeatedly mentioned the advice that Huanxuan didn't like to hear, which also gave Huanxuan a headache. He was given an official position as a minister and sent away, but today, when life and death were at stake, he still kept this person, because at this time, telling the truth was more important than flattering, but he didn't expect that as soon as he spoke, he would be like this again. Remarks that make people extremely uncomfortable.
Huan Xuan suppressed the anger in his heart and said: "That's it, Minister Cao, Jingzhi, now there is no need to be too rigid in the court etiquette. What you want to say, just say it. As long as it makes sense, I will adopt it."
Cao Jingzhi said sternly: "Between heaven and earth, there is God's will, and everything is destined. The reason why we people respect heaven and earth and our ancestors is to get the support of this God's will. Your Majesty has strong soldiers and horses, and there are many talents in Chu. But Suffering such a big loss in front of Liu Yu and this small group of rebels, isn't it the will of God?"
Huan Xuan gritted his teeth: "Since I came to the throne, I have never neglected matters such as respecting heaven and worshiping gods. Maybe some people in the world are unhappy under my rule, but I have never offended God."
Cao Jingzhi sighed: "Does your Majesty really think so? I have reminded your Majesty before that when the emperor builds a temple, he must go back seven generations. Only in this way can he gain the support of his ancestors. However, your majesty's ancestral temple is only as good as the late emperor. There is no memorial tablet since the eldest father and above. Although Liu Yu made the biggest fuss this time when he rebelled against the bandits, can your majesty still remember where the first assassination of thieves in Jiankang City took place?"
Huan Xuan was silent for a long time, and then sighed: "You want to say that it was God's will that I was stabbed in front of my ancestral temple? Why didn't you remind me of this in the first place? Now that this has happened, you will come again Isn’t it a bit too unreasonable to say that God is not blessing me and offends my ancestors?”
Cao Jingzhi said calmly: "I am the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, not the Ministry of Rites. There are too many things that I want to advise your Majesty on every day. If your Majesty has read my memorials, you will know how many times I have mentioned this matter. ! It’s just that Your Majesty was surrounded by a bunch of sycophants all day long, and there were only all kinds of flattering and flattering voices in his ears, so how could he hear these unfavorable words of advice?!”
Huan Xuan stamped his foot bitterly: "It's all my fault, it's all my fault. After working for a long time, it turns out that the root is here. It seems that Liu Yu was sent by God to warn me. Cao Aiqing, from what you can see, there is What can be done to remedy this?"
Cao Jingzhi said sternly: "Your Majesty should re-establish a temple for seven generations to pay homage to the ancestors. Although it is said that this is based on Buddhist teachings, it is temporary, but there is another saying, sharpening a gun in the battle, it will be ruined if you are not happy. In the past, we neglected our ancestors. Zongzong, after all, you are a descendant of the Huan family, and you have ascended the throne as emperor. This is a matter of honoring the ancestors. Now that you have recognized your mistakes and corrected them, there is no greater good. Your Majesty will re-erect the ancestral tablets in the ancestral temple and beg for God's blessings. The soldiers on the front line will surely Everyone is brave, but Liu Yu is famous for his disrespect for ghosts and gods. His hands have been stained with the blood of Tianshi Taoists for so many years, and he even beat Sun En, the leader of the demon thief, to jump into the sea and die. Having offended God, your majesty summoned all the Taoist priests in the city to perform the art of curse and weariness of victory. He cursed Liu Yu to die early and defeat the rebels. If you do this one after another, great things will surely be successful!"
Huan Xuan's face was filled with joy and he nodded quickly: "Very good, very good. What you said makes sense, so I'll do as you say. Anyone who comes, please follow Cao Shilang there quickly and arrange for the re-establishment of the ancestral temple within today." , must be completed!”
Bian Fanzhi had been silent, but when he heard this, he suddenly said: "Your Majesty, according to the regulations, the establishment of the ancestral temple requires the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Civil Affairs (it was still called the Ministry of Civil Affairs at this time, but later changed its name to the Ministry of Work to avoid Li Shimin's taboo). The Ministry) and others will work together to handle it, which involves a lot. Now the time is urgent, so it is better for the ministers to coordinate and coordinate, and it can also make things easier for Cao Shilang."
A trace of hesitation flashed across Huan Xuan's face: "Well, Bian Shizhong, the war is about to begin, you..."
Bian Fanzhi smiled and said: "Your Majesty, I am a counselor, not a general. I always talk nonsense about military matters. If I stay here any longer, it will only affect the frontline war. You can just discuss it with the generals. When the time comes, With Huan Shangshu (Huan Qian) leading the troops in battle and controlling the overall situation, and with the protection of the gods, we will definitely win."
Huan Xuan's brows widened and he nodded: "Okay, respecting the ancestors, I'll trouble you about the ancestral temple. I'm here now. When the ancestral temple is built and the ancestors' tablets are put in, I will go to the Ancestral Temple to pray for the frontline soldiers." Fu, the spirits of my Huan family ancestors in heaven will definitely protect us and put down the rebellion!"
Amidst the shouts of "Your Majesty, Your Majesty," Bian Fanzhi and Cao Jingzhi walked out of the hall quickly. They walked side by side until they were at the foot of the steps and in the square. Bian Fanzhi stopped and looked at Cao Jingzhi. He sighed: "Jingzhi, you don't really believe this. I don't remember you mentioning this matter about the Ancestral Temple and the Seventh Generation before."
Cao Jingzhi smiled bitterly and said: "How can military and national affairs, decisive battles and defeats be decided by a few ancestors? I agree with you. It is too risky for Your Majesty to go to the front line to fight in person. If you don't say this, how can you do it?" Why don't we leave him in Jiankang City instead of going to the front line to take risks? In his current state, if the army is defeated, he won't even be able to escape."
Bian Fanzhi laughed: "You still have a way to think of this, but do you also think that we have a low chance of winning this time, so we shouldn't fight decisively?"
Cao Jingzhi nodded: "Although there are few soldiers on the other side, the morale is like a rainbow and the people are united. We have reached the current situation, the morale is low, and the superiors still have different opinions. They all insist on whether to fight or to go. The high-ranking families in the city are also with us. How can he be invincible when his appearance is in harmony with his spirit? His Majesty is reluctant to give up the foundation he has built throughout his life, and has fallen into a trap that he cannot extricate himself from. The Queen also wants him to live and die with Jiankang City out of personal selfishness. As ministers, we cannot give up the hard work, so we have to I have to find a way to leave a way out for His Majesty."
