Realistic governance games for both male and female audiences

Chapter 42 provides an example: Cai Yong weeps for Dong Zhuo!

Having made up his mind, Gu Suyue's eyes flashed with a ruthless glint—he wanted to go and see for himself whether Gu Xiaoxiao was among the troops that appeared in the west and blocked the retreat route of the Western Frontier Army!

If they have them, they will take them down directly; if they don't, they will completely crush them!

"Order—All troops, listen up! Target: West Gate!"

"Here you go!"

…………

Soon, the elite cavalry of the Western Frontier, having completed their formation, surged towards Gu Xiaoxiao's location like a black torrent of steel.

Then, the elite cavalry of the Western Frontier and the "remnants of defeated troops" organized by Huo Zhong gathered in an open square inside the west gate of the palace.

There, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, who had led his army to this place, reined in his horse. Then, his gaze passed over the layers of soldiers and fixed on a simple object that could be vaguely identified as a royal carriage.

Of course, the imperial carriage wasn't the main point. The real point was that Gu Suyue saw Gu Xiaoxiao, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, on the imperial carriage!

However, what puzzled Gu Suyue was that Gu Xiaoxiao was not only pale, but more importantly, he was missing a hand—no wonder he looked so pale, he had lost too much blood!

Beside Gu Xiaoxiao stood Huo Zhong, wielding a long sword, its blade pressed against her neck.

"Huh? Wait... General Huo Zhong has placed a sword against Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao's neck?"

Suddenly realizing what this scene meant, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, was dumbfounded!

"What's going on here?"

"Shouldn't those two be working together?"

"Could it be... that the General believes Gu Xiaoxiao is my brother, and therefore thinks he can threaten me by endangering my safety?"

…………

With a strange expression, Gu Suyue couldn't help but ask, "General... what are you doing?"

Honestly, even now, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, still can't figure out how General Huo Zhong managed to put a sword to the emperor's neck!

"Brother...you've come far too late! I...I've been waiting for you here for a long time!"

Gu Suyue did not receive a reply from General Huo Zhong, but he did hear the voice of Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao, who was being held hostage by General Huo Zhong.

Hmm... Judging from the way General Huo Zhong and Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao are acting, they're probably holding her hostage, right?

However, what made Prince Su, Gu Suyue, feel somewhat awkward was that when Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao spoke, his voice... sounded like he had a handful of sand in his throat, which was very unpleasant to listen to.

In addition, Gu Xiaoxiao's empty sleeve, fluttering helplessly in the evening breeze, and the strip of cloth on her severed wrist, which, although simply bandaged, was still soaked with dark red bloodstains, were particularly jarring to Prince Su, Gu Suyue.

Where is this the aloof and pampered emperor of the Great Liang Dynasty?

He clearly looks like a... miserable person!

Gu Suyue tightened his grip on the reins, feeling extremely uncomfortable. After all, no matter how he and his brother had ended up like this, his brother was still his brother. It would be strange if he felt good to see him in this state.

At the same time, the warhorse beneath Prince Su, Gu Suyue, seemed to sense its master's emotions, and immediately pawed at its front hooves with some unease, letting out a short neigh.

"wait for me?"

After calming his emotions for a long time, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, was finally able to speak. While staring intently at the "disabled" figure on the imperial carriage, he asked a question in a somewhat hoarse voice.

To be honest, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, really couldn't understand the current situation.

After a slight pause, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, asked again:

"Your Majesty, what are you waiting for me for?"

"Will you wait for me to send you on your way?"

"You can't expect me to come and rescue you, can you?"

"So... what exactly is the situation between you and the General now?"

"Internal strife?"

"Or is our great general also preparing to rebel?"

…………

Unfortunately, Prince Su's inquiry was destined to go unanswered!

Because, realizing that his time was running out, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, decided that it wouldn't be too late to ask about his doubts after he had dealt with the group of people in front of him!

So, not wanting to waste any more time, Gu Suyue immediately ordered his soldiers to charge!

And at the very moment Gu Suyue gave the order, Huo Zhong's longsword moved slightly...

Therefore, Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao had no choice but to shrink back to avoid Huo Zhong's sword cutting her neck!

Then, filled with grief and indignation, Gu Xiaoxiao immediately followed General Huo Zhong's prior instructions and roared loudly:

"All generals, heed my command!"

"Whoever can take the head of Prince Su will be enfeoffed as a marquis with ten thousand households; the rest will all be promoted five ranks!"

"If we can hold the Western Frontier army within the palace, and wait for reinforcements from other units to surround them, everyone will be promoted three ranks!"

"Gentlemen, please follow the General and me... into battle!"

…………

At this moment, the soldiers surrounding General Huo Zhong and Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao all unleashed a fierce, green light in their eyes.

That's the look in a wolf's eyes when it sees meat!

After all, that's a Marquis with ten thousand households!

Moreover, even the worst ones get promoted three ranks!

This is truly an overwhelming fortune!

Most importantly, the emperor gave the order, and the general endorsed it... Regardless of the circumstances under which they made this promise, since both of them agreed to it, no one would dare to renege on the agreement, even if something unexpected happens later!

To give a somewhat inappropriate example... In Gu Xiaoxiao's previous life on Earth, during the Three Kingdoms period, after Dong Zhuo was killed by Lü Bu, his body was displayed in the marketplace, and the people celebrated. Some even used Dong Zhuo's navel as a wick to burn lamps for several days. However, when Wang Yun held a banquet to celebrate, someone reported that Cai Yong was weeping beside Dong Zhuo's body.

Cai Yong explained that although he knew Dong Zhuo was a traitor, Dong Zhuo had shown him kindness and support.

Dong Zhuo promoted him three times within a month, from Imperial Censor to Attendant-in-Ordinary, giving him a very high official position and trust.

Although Cai Yong was initially forced into service by Dong Zhuo under threat of exterminating his entire clan, Dong Zhuo's subsequent reliance on and respect for him made him feel appreciated.

However, Cai Yong's weeping angered Wang Yun, who imprisoned him on charges of "crying for a thief."

Despite the pleas of Grand Commandant Ma Ridi and others, who argued that Cai Yong was a genius of his time and that allowing him to continue compiling the history of the Han Dynasty would illuminate the ages, Wang Yun insisted that a "treacherous minister" should not be allowed to write history beside a young emperor. In the end, Cai Yong was executed at the age of sixty.

This is the historical fact known to most people in Gu Xiaoxiao's previous life.

But there is another theory: Cai Yong cried for Dong Zhuo in order to legitimize Emperor Xian of Han's throne!

If Dong Zhuo was a treacherous minister with rebellious intentions, then the legitimacy of Emperor Xian of Han's throne would be questioned!

After all, is an emperor who was installed on the throne by a traitor "legitimate"?

Therefore, Cai Yong's weeping for Dong Zhuo was, in effect, a kind of "final verdict," that is, Dong Zhuo was merely a powerful minister, not a traitor, and thus the Emperor Xian of Han he installed was a "legitimate and compliant" orthodox emperor of the Han Dynasty!

Similarly, since General Huo Zhong and Emperor Gu Xiaoxiao have acknowledged the legitimacy of this "reward" in front of everyone, they must accept it even if it's just to maintain their own prestige. Regardless of whether General Huo Zhong ultimately gains complete control of the emperor or the emperor wrests power back from the general, this reward will be considered a "meritorious service" for their decisive command and defeat of the rebellious King Gu Suyue!

P.S.: The examples I gave of Dong Zhuo and Cai Yong may be somewhat inaccurate and not in line with historical facts. I hope you, dear readers, will forgive me!