Jinyang is divided into two large and small cities, the west and the east, with the middle city sandwiched between them. Above the Fen River, there is a wide middle city bridge connecting the two sides to facilitate the connection and exchange between the east and west cities.
As night fell, with some doubts in his heart, Liu Chengyou drove through the streets and pavilions in the city until under the bridge. Liu Zhiyuan invited him, but the place of summons was actually on this bridge.
There was still a strange ruddy look on his face, but under the cover of the dark night, it was not clear that he was being interrupted and summoned when he was having an in-depth exchange with Mr. Geng. Although Liu Chengyou is an ascetic male protagonist, he is not frigid after all. When he really wants to vent his desires, he will never be pretentious.
Under the bridge, I bumped into Liu Chengxun. The two brothers got out of the car and met each other. Liu Chengxun was a little surprised: "Erlang, father actually called you here?"
After looking at each other, Liu Chengyou just nodded indifferently: "Yes!"
Probably feeling that his question was inappropriate, Liu Chengxun's handsome face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he hurriedly greeted: "You and I will go up the bridge together. Don't keep father waiting for too long."
"Yeah!" Liu Chengyou still responded like this. When he walked to the front helplessly, Liu Chengyou swayed and followed behind, casting his cold eyes on Liu Chengxun, but he didn't know whether his elder brother felt a thorn in his back.
Recently, the curfew time in Jinyang City has been advanced a lot, and the roads in the city are completely silent except for the inspection soldiers patrolling back and forth. It was also surprisingly quiet on the Zhongcheng Bridge, completely free of the hustle and bustle of the crowds of people during the day.
Above and below the bridge, hundreds of royal guards were on guard, alert to possible threats from the surroundings. Liu Zhiyuan stood quietly in the center of the bridge, leaning against the railing facing south, staring at the flowing Fen River in trance. He was dressed in brocade clothes and had a robe draped over his shoulders. Looking from behind, Liu Zhiyuan's back was majestic and aloof, and his whole body seemed to exude a commanding majesty.
"Father!" The two brothers stepped forward to greet him, and then stood respectfully on both sides of him.
Liu Zhiyuan responded softly. Looking closer, Liu Chengyou found that Liu Zhiyuan's face did not have the serious expression he imagined. On the contrary, Liu Zhiyuan looked peaceful under the mottled bridge lights.
"I wonder what instructions my father has for calling us here?" The two brothers stood with their father for a long time, but Liu Chengxun couldn't hold back and asked.
After hearing the question, Liu Zhiyuan pressed his hands on the stone railing and said leisurely: "For these days, the civil and military officials in Hedong have been constantly urging me to proclaim myself emperor and establish a title. The crowd was very enthusiastic and rushed to make suggestions. Tonight, the list of persuasion to enter the palace has been written on the official case of the palace. It’s full! I feel a little unsure in my heart. You brothers, what do you think?”
With his two sons, Liu Zhiyuan no longer pretended to be reserved or pretentious, but instead discussed it straightforwardly. Calling the second son here may also mean taking a test in school.
Facing Liu Zhiyuan's question, Liu Chengxun was a little tangled and pondered for a while. Just then, while observing his father's eyes, he replied hesitantly: "The invitations from the officials are all words of loyalty and sincerity, and they are a piece of cake." I wish you all the best, but it’s hard to disprove it. However, the Khitan is powerful after all, so it’s understandable for my father to be more cautious. You may want to wait and see for a while to wait for changes!"
Liu Zhiyuan didn't seem too satisfied with Liu Chengxun's answer, and just sighed: "Those who persuaded him to join may be loyal, but most of them are probably for the success of the dragon, for fame and wealth. I think my father is now It may not be difficult to advance further in status, but there is no way out. Since the Tang Dynasty, in all nine states in the world, I don’t know how many families have sat on that throne, but in the end they ended up dead and their country destroyed..."
Liu Zhiyuan's tone was indeed a little wistful, but in Liu Chengyou's opinion, it was a bit pretentious. In front of the emperor's throne, all worries are in vain! How could Liu Zhiyuan really care about so many things that had risen and fallen since ancient times? It was not his character to look forward and backward.
Liu Chengxun obviously couldn't grasp Liu Zhiyuan's mentality. Hearing his sigh, he opened his mouth to comfort him: "Father's concerns are not unreasonable. But since ancient times, those who win people's hearts win the world. Now you are the people's aspiration and everyone's hope. You are the hero of the world. If you inherit Tianjing’s destiny, how can you follow in the footsteps of the previous dynasties?”
Hearing what he said, Liu Zhiyuan couldn't help but turn his head and look at Aizi. There was a bit of simple pedantry in that handsome face. I sighed silently in my heart: It is not easy to win a country, but it is even harder to defend it...
Liu Chengyou listened silently to the conversation between his father and brother, until Liu Zhiyuan turned his attention to himself, and said firmly: "If God doesn't take it, you will be punished. The Hu invaders seized the two capitals, and the people of the Central Plains were in danger. My father established the title to honor him and advocated To order the world to punish the people and save the common people, this is a matter of nature and people, why should you hesitate?"
Liu Chengyou's words were actually nothing new. Liu Zhiyuan smiled and said without comment.
However, Liu Chengyou did not deliberately speculate on Liu Zhiyuan's mentality, but continued to express his truest thoughts: "Son of Emperor, those who have strong soldiers and horses should be the ones who are better off! An Chongrong's words are really enlightening. This is the truth in these troubled times. Now Hedong has strong soldiers and horses, and is the leader of all the vassals. My father is trying to take the throne. How can others dare to disobey, and how can they not agree with him!"
After Liu Chengyou finished speaking, a bright light flashed in Liu Zhiyuan's eyes. The eldest brother Liu Chengxun on the other side couldn't help but turn his head and look at his second brother, stunned.
"Now, our Liu family has great power, and Hedong has a favorable position. If we raise the flag of righteousness, we will surely support people and people. With these three, with my father's wisdom and the strength of Hedong, can't we still achieve something?" Unknowingly, Liu Chengyou The words became more numerous.
"Time, location, and harmony?" Liu Zhiyuan's interest was aroused.
Under Liu Zhiyuan's gaze, Liu Chengyou slowly said: "Aside from those righteous rhetoric, the Khitan's destruction of the Jin Dynasty was a disaster for the country and a scourge for the people. But for my father, it was a huge opportunity. Without the Khitan's The threat is that the suspicion and conflict between my father and the imperial court in the past years will turn into a sword fight sooner or later. At that time, my father may be in the same difficult situation as the ancestors of Jin, fighting against the greatness of the world with only one corner."
"But that's not the case now. The Khitan is causing trouble in the Central Plains. Although my father's name only covers a few states east of the river, with a single call from the top, he can gather the hope of the world and gather the power of a country to resist the Khitan. If you advance, you can gain the country, if you retreat, you can protect the family business. . Don’t you understand the difference between them?”
After listening to Liu Chengyou's words, Liu Zhiyuan showed a serious expression. Probably because he was tired from standing, he looked around, greeted Erzi directly, and sat down on the floor. After sitting down, Liu Zhiyuan looked at Liu Chengyou: "Erlang, if you say such unjust words in front of others, I will definitely reprimand you severely. But tonight, you and I, father and son, have to admit that as a father, you said It’s a fact!”
Liu Zhiyuan's calm reaction made Liu Chengyou raise the corners of his mouth twitchingly. He took a breath of the cool air of the spring night and continued to talk: "The mountains and rivers in the east of the river are dangerous and the location is conducive. There is no need to elaborate. As for people and people, With the Khitan army and horses brutally wreaking havoc, how can we, the Chinese people, not unite as one to fight against the enemy?"
