After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 723 - 713 Arrogance
Early the next morning, Gou Xi entered the palace to request the emperor immediately issue an edict appointing Wang Jun as the Governor of Jizhou.
The emperor hesitated, now that Zhao Hanzhang was near Pingyang County, which meant she was only a step away from recapturing the entire Si Province.
With Si Province recaptured, she would invite him back to Luoyang. Issuing an edict now appointing Wang Jun, whom she did not support, might cause complications. It would be better to maintain the status quo or appoint Liu Kun, whom she supported.
The thought flashed quickly in his mind, and the emperor refused Gou Xi, "Did not the Great General himself also waver previously? Why suddenly choose Wang Jun now?"
Gou Xi did not believe the emperor did not know why Zhao Hanzhang was almost about to take over the entire Central Plains, and Liu Kun was evidently collaborating with Zhao Hanzhang. If he still supported Liu Kun, where else could he stand in the future?
"Although Liu Kun is reputable, he has made no achievements in military affairs. Unlike Wang Jun, who dominates Youzhou and maintains good relations with the Duanbu Xianbei, he could enlist them to help recapture Jizhou," Gou Xi said, "Liu Kun only has the talent for governance, not military command. If he were to be the Governor of Jizhou, I’m afraid Jizhou would never be recovered."
But how could Jizhou compare to Si Province?
If Wang Jun were made Governor of Jizhou, Liu Kun, loyal to the emperor, would withdraw from Jizhou, unwilling though he might be, and then could focus entirely on dealing with the Xiongnu. But what if Zhao Hanzhang got annoyed and didn’t invite him back to Luoyang?
When unable to resolve the matter, the emperor decided on a middle ground, saying, "Let’s put aside the appointment of Jizhou’s Governor for now. Let Wang Jun and Liu Kun cease their struggles temporarily. Counties they currently control will remain under their management until the court later decides on Jizhou’s Governor."
Gou Xi was annoyed and couldn’t help but slam the table, saying, "Is Your Majesty favoring Liu Kun? Now Jizhou’s Zhongshan County, Dai County, Shanggu County, and Guangning County all lean towards Liu Kun; how many counties does Wang Jun actually have?"
At this moment, Gou Xi’s eyes were wide with anger. His imposing and mighty stature, when standing up in anger, projected a fierce and menacing aura towards the emperor.
The emperor’s face turned pale instantly. Although annoyed, he dared not provoke him further at this moment. The guards around him also became tense, watching Gou Xi with vigilance.
Under Gou Xi’s coercion, the emperor had no choice but to sit at the desk to draft an edict. However, he wrote a line and then paused, chatting with Gou Xi about irrelevant topics, refusing to complete the edict immediately.
He was stalling for time.
Gou Xi also noticed and couldn’t help but pace back and forth in the hall, glaring at the emperor from time to time, "Majesty, have you not finished writing yet?"
The emperor, dipping his brush into ink, said, "No rush, no rush. The weather is cold; the ink dries, making the writing subpar. It needs to be ground fresh."
Gou Xi’s patience wore thin. He strode forward, grabbing Zhou Neijian, who stood by the emperor, by the neck, saying, "Such a worthless slave, who can’t even grind ink properly, what’s the use of keeping him?"
With that, his hand exerted force, intending to snap the man’s neck. The emperor was startled and rose suddenly, instructing those around him, "Stop the Great General quickly."
He anxiously pleaded from the side, "Great General, you mustn’t. This is an eunuch who has served me since childhood. How could you be so discourteous?"
The guards dared not draw their swords, so they ran forward, trying to pull Gou Xi’s arm away. But Gou Xi was strong, and with a shake of his arm, he threw them off and with a kick sent one flying.
The guard who was kicked took a long time to get back up. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Seeing him tighten his grip on Zhou Neijian’s neck, the emperor, disregarding the danger, rushed forward to grab his arm, "No, you mustn’t..."
Though Gou Xi planned to twist the neck, he paused, yet did not let go. Although he did not immediately snap the neck, he gradually tightened his grip, lowering his eyes to look at the frightened emperor, hinting, "Even if it’s an eunuch who grew up serving you, if they don’t listen to their master, they can be rid of. Your Majesty must not be soft-hearted; otherwise, who knows when such subordinates will turn back to bite."
Gou Xi was subtly alluding to Zhao Hanzhang, but at this moment, what the emperor saw and heard was all the threat from Gou Xi.
In the deadlock, Zhou Neijian’s mouth gaped wide, his tongue almost sticking out, eyes rolling back, hands powerless and hanging. Zhao Zhongyu, having heard the commotion, rushed in with others.
Seeing Gou Xi’s audacity, Zhao Zhongyu flew into a rage and rushed forward, drawing the guard’s sword and placing it across Gou Xi’s neck, saying, "Gou Xi, daring to kill in front of His Majesty, are you plotting treason?"
Following Zhao Zhongyu, other ministers entered and urged, "Great General, quickly release your hands. Do not harm His Majesty."
Only then did Gou Xi release his grip, glaring fiercely at Zhao Zhongyu, saying, "Minister Zhao, you and your grandson have made quite a plan, one in Luoyang and one beside His Majesty, playing the entire court like a fiddle. What, does your Zhao Family intend to replace the Jin Dynasty?"
"You have treacherous intentions; don’t falsely accuse others!" Zhao Zhongyu, his face flushed angrily, spoke righteously, "Our Zhao Family is loyal to the emperor, only serving as Jin Ministers! Hanzhang is diligently working outside to recover lost lands for Great Jin. Do you think everyone is like you, wallowing in indulgence, stealing national resources for fleeting pleasures, hiding military supplies, and raising taxes? Gou Xi, do you still recall your original aspiration when you first entered the officialdom, and remember that virtuous and upright Gou Daojiang in Luoyang City of the past?"
Zhao Zhongyu, his fury overflowing, spat directly in Gou Xi’s face, "Do you know what the common people outside are calling you now?"
"Butcher! They call you Butcher!" Zhao Zhongyu, with eyes widened in anger, pressed on, "For a year, you have hoarded troops, loved harsh punishments, and appointed only your kin, even taking joy in killing. Now you dare to act violently in front of the emperor? Gou Xi, oh Gou Xi, you’re striving to be a second Prince East Sea, but far exceeding him!"
"You!" Gou Xi was furious, reached out, and grasped Zhao Zhongyu’s neck, intending to twist it. The surrounding ministers were shocked and rushed to intervene, while the guards drew their swords and attacked Gou Xi.
Zhao Zhongyu and Zhou Neijian were different.
If Zhou Neijian died, he’d just be dead. But if Zhao Zhongyu died, the world would be in turmoil, and Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t let it go easily.
The emperor, paralyzed, was speechless from anger.
Fortunately, the ministers were calm enough, all stepping forward to hold Gou Xi’s arms, shouting in his ear, "Great General, stop. If Minister Zhao dies by your hand, there will be no peace in the world anymore!"
"Zhao Hanzhang, with an army of two hundred thousand, sits guarding Yu State and Luoyang. Now she’s about to retake the entire Si Province. Is the Great General intending to place the Jin Dynasty at the brink of peril?"
Scattered Horse Attendant Wei Zao rushed in, finding ministers tangled together, while the guards, holding swords, hesitated. He hurried forward, yanking a minister away and then delivering a heavy blow to Gou Xi’s elbow...
Only then did Gou Xi release his grip, and Zhao Zhongyu had already fainted completely.
The emperor slumped onto a mat, in utter disarray, and shouted, "Quick, call the Imperial Physician!"
Zhou Neijian, who had barely recovered, lifted his eyes to see the hall in chaos. He had been on the brink of death just now, and now looking at the unconscious Zhao Zhongyu not far off, he was utterly bewildered, not knowing when Mr. Zhao and the others had arrived, and even less how he ended up lying down.
