The emperor of the Five Dynasties was indeed a high-risk profession. The founding emperor risked beheading to seize the kingdom. Once the founding emperor passed away, the kingdom was no longer stable. The blood-stained dragon throne passed down to one or two generations, and the country was ruined and the family was ruined.

Liu Zhiyuan was even more unlucky. He had not yet sat on the throne, and he was emperor for only one year before he left. This was definitely a major crisis for a newly established empire, especially in the Five Dynasties where political power changed frequently.

Originally, Liu Zhiyuan had a very good successor, Liu Chengxun, who was the eldest son of the emperor. He was "filial to friends and loyal to politics," and was trusted and supported by his subordinates. With such an emperor's successor, the prospects of the new Han Empire were promising.

It's a pity that Liu Chengxun died just after his status as crown prince was established. There was a very strange phenomenon in the Five Dynasties. The founding kings often had a good son who was a wise king.

For example, Zhu Wen's son Zhu Youyu, Li Siyuan's son Li Congjing, and Shi Jingtang's son Shi Chongxin. However, these wise men's spare parts were often short-lived and died before they could take over from their father.

He is a fool's seedling, and he plays himself to death with a series of stupid moves. It seems that God also wants to see the world continue to be chaotic.

After the death of his eldest son, Liu Zhiyuan bypassed his disabled second son and chose Liu Chengyou, the third son of the emperor. An inexperienced boy who was only seventeen or eighteen years old obviously could not support the new empire. Liu Zhiyuan, who was dying, boldly adopted the orphan model.

This was very rare in the Five Dynasties. After all, there was a lot of suspicion between the emperor and his ministers in this era. Once the wrong person was chosen, it would mean that the country would be handed over to others.

It must be said that Liu Zhiyuan had a sharp vision. After his death, the Minister Gu Ming he selected did not rebel but presided over the suppression of the rebellion in three towns, which was very rare among the Five Dynasties.

The biggest beneficiary of putting down the rebellion in the three towns was naturally Liu Chengyou, which meant that he could continue to be emperor. When the rebellion in the three towns broke out, Liu Chengyou was absolutely terrified. After all, most of his predecessors had a bad end, and he was frightened for a year.

Now I can finally live a more comfortable life.

Liu Chengyou's life is very leisurely. After all, he has five ministers who take care of his life. These are really loyal and hardworking at work. I am afraid that young Liu Chengyou will be tired and have nothing to do except go to court every day like a wooden stake.

Dry.

It is the age when you are full of energy. If you don't study and work, you will have nothing to do but play. The silk and bamboo in the back cabinet of Chongyuan Hall are melodious, and the actors are babbling and singing beautifully.

Twenty-year-old Liu Chengyou has a clear face, red lips and white teeth, and is definitely a young man. Although his father is from Shatuo, except for the deep eye sockets, there is no sign of a foreigner in his body.

He looked tipsy, holding his cheeks and staring at the opera singer below without blinking. He gently beat the rhythm with one hand on the table. When he saw the ministers sitting next to him raising a glass to toast him, he picked up the table and put it on the table.

He took a gentle sip from the wine glass.

"Stop singing!"

A loud shout suddenly sounded, and Liu Chengyou couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat, thinking: "Here we go again!"

A big man broke into the pavilion. He was tall and tall with gray beard and hair and a fierce look on his face. The actors in the room immediately shrank their throats and huddled together like quails.

He came to Liu Chengyou, cupped his hands and said, "The humble minister Shi Hongzhao has met your Majesty."

Liu Chengyou subconsciously sat up straight and asked, "What's the matter with Grand Master?"

After Liu Chengyou came to the throne, he granted Shi Hongzhao the title of Grand Master and Imperial Attendant, and also granted him the title of Zhongshu Ling. These were all false titles. Such false titles were common during the Five Dynasties. For example, many Jiedu envoys had the title of Zhongshu Ling.

Shi Hongzhao's actual position was the Commander-in-Chief of the Mabu Army Guards, that is, the commander-in-chief of the Central Group Army. He was in charge of the garrison and public security in central Beijing. He belonged to the real-power faction among the real-power faction. He was Liu Zhiyuan's old teammate and entrusted minister when he was in Hedong, so he had a very high status.

"I heard that your Majesty rewarded some actors with jade belts and brocade robes yesterday?" Shi Hongzhao said and glanced at the actors, "It seems to be true."

An official who was sitting with him suddenly stood up and said, "The Grand Master's control is too lenient. As an emperor, His Majesty is rich all over the world. Isn't it okay to reward him with a few belts and brocade robes?"

This person was Empress Dowager Li's natal brother Li Ye, and he hated Shi Hongzhao in his heart. Last year, the son of a distant relative wanted to serve in the army, but when he came to Shi Hongzhao, he killed him without saying a word. This was simply a slap in the face of the Empress Dowager. Ear scraper.

This year, the Xuanhui envoy in charge of palace affairs was vacant, and Li Ye wanted to fill it. Empress Dowager Li thought that it would be good to let her brothers take care of things since she lived in the palace. Besides, the Xuanhui envoy was not an important errand, so she asked him to People spread the word.

However, he did not expect to be rejected by Shi Hongzhao and another minister who cared about life, Yang Bing. Prime Minister Yang Bing was also the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, so it was reasonable for him to refuse. Why should Shi Hongzhao take advantage of the dog? From then on, the relationship was forged.

Shi Hongzhao didn't even look at him and just said: "My uncle's words are wrong. As the emperor, your majesty has the right to reward others, but you have to reward the right people. The soldiers guarded the border and braved the cold and heat for the country, but they couldn't get it all." Enze, why should you reward a group of actors!"

He turned his head and roared at the actors: "Whatever merit you have, you are worthy of your brocade robes and jade belts, why don't you take them off quickly!"

Shi Hongzhao was a good military leader but he was also ruthless and murderous. His murderous aura was beyond the tolerance of a group of actors and actresses. He immediately took off his brocade robe and jade belt and rolled out of the house.

People who do not understand the history of the Five Dynasties may say that Shi Hongzhao has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor and should punish the nine tribes. In fact, this is the normal relationship between emperors and powerful officials.

Those who conquer the world with merit will always have strong ministers; those who conquer the world with strength will always have arrogant soldiers. The founding kings of the Five Dynasties all conquered the world with "merit" and "strength", so naturally they also had a bunch of "strong ministers". But as an emperor, he seemed to be a little shorter, especially in front of Yuan Cong's old subordinates.

Don't say that the emperor is Liu Chengyou. Even if it is Liu Zhiyuan, Shi Hongzhao can still be with him regardless of age. Liu Zhiyuan can only laugh with him. If he falls out, some people will say that he has forgotten his roots. On the contrary, Guo Wei is cautious in front of the emperor. Powerful ministers belong to a different category.

After all, Liu Chengyou was young and did not have a big city, and his face was already turning white and red with anger, but he was the emperor and it was not easy to criticize people in person. It would be embarrassing if he was criticized back, and he was afraid of Shi Hongzhao in his heart. .

He winked wildly at the ministers sitting next to him, and one of them jumped out immediately. This man was lean and sinister in appearance. He was Guo Yunming, the tea and wine envoy of the Hanlin Academy and the saddle and bridle store envoy. Just by his official name, he knew he was a tea server. A petty official who brings wine and raises horses.

"The Grand Master has gone too far. To be so rude in front of His Majesty is to lose the duty of a minister..."

Bang! Shi Hongzhao raised his hand and knocked him to the ground, "I, surnamed Guo, disliked you when I was in Hedong. I am the minister appointed by the late emperor to guide me, and I have the responsibility of admonishing and teaching the emperor. As a minister, not only did you not dissuade me, , and you are still fooling around with the emperor, let’s see if I don’t kill you!”

As he spoke, he drew out the sword from his waist. Li Ye, who originally wanted to continue firing at Shi Hongzhao, suddenly turned pale. The other eunuchs in the palace were also trembling with fear and didn't know what was wrong.

I heard someone outside the door scolding: "Shi Hongzhao, are you planning to commit regicide and rebel?"

Shi Hongzhao was startled and suddenly saw that Liu Chengyou had got under the table, with half of his head exposed and looking at him with a worried expression. Then he realized that he had gone too far, and quickly threw the knife on the ground, knelt down and kowtowed: "Wei Chen I am loyal to Your Majesty and have no disloyal heart. Please forgive me!"

Liu Chengyou then got out from under the table, cleared his throat and said: "I know how much the Grand Master cares about my fists. What the Grand Master said makes sense. You can take those jade belts and brocade robes and send them back to the official treasury today." Don’t mention it to anyone.”

"Your Majesty is an example of a wise king in his remonstrances. I have to resign!" Shi Hongzhao stood up, held those brocade robes and jade belts in his arms, turned around and left. When he saw the scribe standing in front of the door, he said in a strange way: "Su Xiangguo, as the prime minister and assistant, is I am entrusting you to a lonely and important minister. He knows more about the principles than I do. It is not good for me to just focus on the government affairs of the previous dynasty. I should teach Your Majesty more."

This scribe's name was Su Fengji, and he was Liu Zhiyuan's old kinsman when he was in Hedong. In fact, he was just a half-hearted literati.

A total of five Tuogu ministers were divided into two groups. Prime Minister Yang Bin, Third Chief Envoy Wang Zhang, Guard Ma Bujun Commander Shi Hongzhao and Privy Councilor Guo Wei were in one group, and they were political allies.

It's just because Yang Bin, Wang Zhang and Shi Hongzhao don't like literati. Yang Bin and Wang Zhang were born as minor officials and are not considered literati. They probably had enough of the arrogance of literati Shangguan when they were young. As for Shi Hongzhao, they didn't like literati. The above is hatred. No one can offend Guo Wei if he belongs to him, but Guo Wei, who was born as a soldier, may not necessarily like literati.

Su Fengji, a semi-literate scholar, could only hug the emperor's lap. On the surface, they were ministers who cared about life, but secretly they were competing for power and gain, and they were already incompatible.

"Master, don't leave in a hurry!"

"What else does Su Xiangguo have to do?"

Su Fengji smiled and said, "I heard that the Grand Master is rectifying the public order in the capital."

"Indeed, there is something wrong! You still think I stole your business."

"Haha... Grand Master is overly worried. Prison is Su's duty. Grand Master worked tirelessly to handle it for Su. That's what we hope for. Only by working together can we ensure that the world does not close its doors at night and does not pick up lost things."

"Humph, if you are serious, you can bring them to me if you catch them." After speaking, Shi Hongzhao strode away.

"Humph..." Su Fengji sneered twice and entered the room.

When Liu Chengyou saw Shi Hongzhao walking away, he slapped the table angrily, "Shi Hongzhao bullied me too much!"

"Your majesty, your majesty, why should you be angry for a crude soldier? If the dragon body is destroyed by anger, it will not be worth it."

Li Yedao: "Su Xiangguo just said to him about working together, maybe he is also afraid of him."

"What did your uncle say? Why should Her Majesty the Queen Mother be afraid of Shi Hongzhao when you are with Su? Su deliberately killed him and allowed him to be rampant until he made the world angry and resentful. If your majesty kills him again with the emperor's sword, everyone will praise him." .”

The others were silent after hearing the words. Liu Chengyou also had a livid face and did not comment. He picked up the wine glass on the table and drank it in one gulp. After a while, he said: "Su Xiangguo, be careful! What do you want to see me for?"

Su Fengji said: "Wei Chen wants to tell His Majesty that the matter of choosing a concubine was refuted by Yang Xianggong. Wang Jixiang also said that there is no money in the official treasury and should be used to save expenses."

Liu Chengyou, who was calm at first, finally got angry and kicked the table in front of him, "The old dog bullied me too much. I just want to find a few more women, but I won't give them to the Liu family. This is because I want to live in heaven." The incense is cut off so that they can occupy my place."

Seeing Liu Chengyou's rage, Su Fengji and several other ministers quickly tried to comfort him. After a while, they finally recovered and said, "The late emperor gave me five ministers who can take care of my life. They are Su Xiangguo who is most in line with my wishes, Mrs. Guo." It is rare for me to cause trouble for you, but since I came to the throne, three old dogs, Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin and Wang Zhang, have been working together to bully me when I am young. This is unbearable!"

Su Fengji said: "I'm afraid Guo Wei may not be as loyal as His Majesty thinks. He and King Shi Yang are in the same group. Hasn't Ambassador Guo told His Majesty the matter yet?"

"We haven't had time to talk yet!" Guo Yunming said as he took out a note from his waist and showed it to Liu Chengyou, but Liu Chengyou said, "What's wrong with this?"

Li Ye looked at the note and said: "Your Majesty, Guo Wei is trying to buy the morale of the army! This loyal and traitor teamed up with King Shi Yang to deceive Your Majesty. When he suppressed the rebellion last year, he used money from the government treasury to buy the morale of the army. This is I'm trying to dig into His Majesty's lifeblood."

How could the young man resist such teasing? Liu Chengyou pulled out the long sword hanging on the wall and slashed it on the overturned table, "I'm going to kill four old dogs!"

Su Fengji hurriedly advised: "Your Majesty, please do not be impulsive. This matter should be considered in the long run!"
Chapter completed!