Volume 1 The Wind Rises Chapter 5: Ladder Down the Stairs
Watching Luo Youdu escorting Zhao Kuangyi away.
There was murderous intent in Zhao Kuangyin's eyes, but a hint of doubt flashed through his heart, and he did not take action.
Luo Youdu escorted Zhao Kuangyi to the prison in Kaifeng Prefecture.
Zhao Kuangyi was wearing shackles, and they made a rustling sound when he walked.
Passersby avoided the scene, but curiosity is a common human trait.
Passersby did not dare to watch closely, but they all pointed and talked from a distance.
I don’t know whether Zhao Kuangyi was afraid of being kicked or of losing face, but he walked very quickly.
Luo Youdu was strolling behind, leading the little donkey, looking contented.
He had no good feelings towards the second son of the Zhao family. Now that he had traveled through time and space, only God knew what the future would be like and whether the Zhao brothers could become emperors. He had no extra concerns in his heart and did not care about offending him.
The most urgent thing is to stay alive. In such a chaotic world, it is too easy to die as a pawn.
Wasn't it that my previous incarnation was forced to hang himself because he couldn't survive?
In fact, from Luo Youdu's perspective in later generations, his predecessor was just worrying about nothing.
Who is Guo Rong?
He was the wisest ruler of the Five Dynasties. He was in office for only a few years. He reorganized the army and trained soldiers, eliminated redundant soldiers, and fought wars in the south and the north. He defeated the Later Shu in the west and took over the four prefectures of Qin, Feng, Cheng, and Jie. He defeated the Southern Tang in the south and took over the fourteen prefectures north of the Yangtze River and south of the Huai River. He defeated the Liao Kingdom in the north and captured three passes and three prefectures. Historians praised him for his "divine power and heroic strategy, and he was an outstanding ruler of his generation."
How could such a heroic figure embarrass a small figure caught between Wei Renpu and Zhao Kuangyin?
But it is no wonder that the predecessors were frightened. Looking at historical figures from the perspective of future generations is like being a wise man after the event.
Not to mention his predecessor, even in the current Zhou Dynasty, there are not many people who can see Guo Rong's true potential.
After all, Guo Rong was too strong and radical. Just a few months after he ascended the throne, he wielded his butcher knife and killed more than 70 generals and more than 30 corrupt officials.
His murderous nature was so severe that everyone in the government and the country was shocked.
As an insignificant little character, his predecessor had no idea that Guo Rong was clear about rewards and punishments, and only thought that he was a murderous devil.
Therefore, in Luo Youdu's view, if his predecessor had really committed suicide, it would most likely have been a death in vain.
But even if you don't die, you will lose half your life.
He was forced into a job that caught the attention of Wei Renpu and Zhao Kuangyin, and his own minor ailments were inevitably noticed by Guo Rong.
This emperor, who cannot tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes, is not someone who is easy to talk to.
The only way to cover up these minor problems is to show your own value. At the same time, only by gaining a certain status can you survive in this chaotic world.
No one understands the chaos of this era better than Luo Youdu. If one wants to avoid becoming a skeleton buried in the broken walls and weeds, the only way is to climb up.
At the end of the street, Luo Youdu and Zhao Kuangyi saw two roads in front of them. One road led straight to Kaifeng Prefecture, while the other turned right and entered another residential area.
Seeing Zhao Kuangyi walking straight ahead, Luo Youdu immediately stopped him and said, "You are going the wrong way. Turn right!"
Zhao Kuangyi said with some caution: "Aren't we going to Kaifeng Prefecture?"
Luo Youdu said: "Just go to Kaifeng Prefecture!"
Zhao Kuangyi thought Luo Youdu didn't know the way, so he said, "Go straight here, turn left after two blocks and you will reach Kaifeng Prefecture."
Luo Youdu said: "Turn right, walk three streets, turn left for two blocks, and turn left again for three streets, and you will reach Kaifeng Prefecture!"
Zhao Kuangyi was only slightly startled, then smiled and said, "Okay, I'll do as you ask, sir."
Luo Youdu nodded in satisfaction, but secretly sighed in his heart: "This second son of the Zhao family is really cunning, calling me 'official'..." He paused and thought, "I wonder if Old Hu has passed on the news!"
Wei Mansion.
Wei Renpu walked into the study room in a depressed mood. Ever since his grandson- Jiang Jilong got into trouble, his wife, Mrs. Wei, had not been kind to him. Recently, she even didn't let him sleep in a bed, so he could only make do in the study room.
As the Privy Councilor of the Great Zhou, Wei Renpu was mainly responsible for the military affairs of the Great Zhou.
The world is in turmoil, and anyone with a little military power is waiting for a price. Arrogant and fierce generals either follow orders but not instructions, or think rebellion is normal, and there is no loyalty at all.
In the first battle of the Zhou Dynasty, against the coalition forces of Northern Han and Khitan, veteran generals such as Fan Aineng and He Hui were afraid before the battle and fled with their guards. The soldiers under their command knelt in front of the enemy and shouted "Long live the enemy".
The morale of the Great Zhou army collapsed in an instant and it was on the verge of destruction.
Fortunately, Guo Rong remained calm and led his personal soldiers to supervise the battle despite the arrows and stones. The guard general Zhao Kuangyin was extremely brave and fought back with the general Zhang Yongde on the left and right wings, thus turning defeat into victory.
After this battle, Guo Rong felt deeply the weakness of his generals who did not obey orders and soldiers who were unable to fight, so he made drastic changes to the army and train the soldiers. Zhao Kuangyin's military talent was the most important part of the reform.
As a Privy Councilor, Wei Renpu certainly understood the key point. He understood Guo Rong's difficulties, but who could he turn to for justice when his beloved granddaughter was widowed at a young age?
Moreover, if I were to settle the matter so easily, how would I be able to continue serving as the Privy Councilor?
Wouldn’t the arrogance of the military generals be even more insolent?
It is a dilemma both publicly and privately, and both emotionally and logically.
Just then, a piece of news came to my ears.
"Sir, there's news from outside that Zhao Kuangyi, who accidentally killed Mr. Jiang, has been captured in Kaifeng Prefecture and is being taken to Kaifeng Prefecture!"
Wei Renpu's heart was slightly shaken, and he asked, "Is this really true?"
The housekeeper said, "Really, they are all in shackles, and it seems that they will pass in front of our house."
Wei Renpu was suspicious and said, "Let's go and take a look!"
As he said this, he strode out of the mansion.
The news spread very quickly, and his wife and granddaughter appeared on the street.
Looking at Zhao Kuangyi with a heavy shackle on his neck, Wei Renpu was also a little surprised. It was well known how much Zhao Kuangyin valued and cared for his younger brother. He was even willing to use all his achievements to be a small pawn in exchange for Zhao Kuangyi not being punished. Is there really someone who has the courage to capture him and punish him?
While he was still in doubt, the next scene left him dumbfounded.
The clerk who was escorting Zhao Kuangyi actually kicked Zhao Kuangyi hard on the butt.
The kick was so fast and fierce that it knocked Zhao Kuangyi to the ground, where he fell outside their mansion.
The shackles were heavy, and Zhao Kuangyi, who fell to the ground, was unable to get up for a while and looked extremely embarrassed.
Wei Renpu's depressed mood was relieved a lot, his mind raced, and he understood everything.
This is like giving yourself a ladder to step down!
Even though Zhao Kuangyi is suffering such a heavy crime now, when he really arrives in Kaifeng Prefecture, I am afraid that it will be just a lot of noise but little rain.
Maybe this is the best result!
Wei Renpu saw that his wife and granddaughter were both very happy, and thought to himself...
