Early the next morning, Gou Xi entered the palace to request that the Emperor immediately issue an edict appointing Wang Jun as Jizhou Inspector.

The Emperor hesitated. Now Zhao Hanzhang was close to Pingyang Jun, which meant she was just one corner away from recovering all of Sizhou.

Once Sizhou was recovered and she invited him back to Luoyang, if he issued an edict appointing Wang Jun, whom she didn’t support, at this time, it might cause complications. Better to maintain the status quo or appoint Liu Kun, whom she supported.

Thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind, and the Emperor refused Gou Xi, “Great General, didn’t you also have trouble deciding before? Why have you suddenly settled on Wang Jun?”

Gou Xi didn’t believe the Emperor didn’t know why. Zhao Hanzhang had nearly occupied all of the Central Plains. Liu Kun was obviously in league with Zhao Hanzhang. If he still supported Liu Kun, where could he stand in the future?

“Though Liu Kun has reputation, he has made no achievements in commanding troops, unlike Wang Jun. He dominates Youzhou and has good relations with the Duan branch of the Xianbei. He can lead Duan forces to recover Jizhou,” Gou Xi said. “Liu Kun only has talent in governing the people, not in commanding troops. If he becomes Jizhou Inspector, I fear Jizhou will never be recovered.”

But how could Jizhou compare to Sizhou?

If Wang Jun became Jizhou Inspector, Liu Kun, being loyal to the throne, would reluctantly withdraw from Jizhou even if unwilling. Then he could focus wholeheartedly on dealing with the Xiongnu. But what if this angered Zhao Hanzhang and she refused to invite him back to Luoyang?

When undecided, the Emperor chose a middle ground, saying, “Let’s set aside the appointment of Jizhou Inspector for now. Have Wang Jun and Liu Kun temporarily cease their fighting. The prefectures and counties they currently occupy will remain under their own administration. We’ll discuss it again after the court determines the Jizhou Inspector.”

Gou Xi was frustrated and couldn’t help slapping the table. “Is Your Majesty favoring Liu Kun? Currently in Jizhou, Zhongshan Jun, Dai Jun, Shanggu Jun, and Guangning Jun have all sided with Liu Kun. How many prefectures does Wang Jun have?”

At this moment, Gou Xi glared with furious eyes. He was already built like a powerful warrior, and when he angrily stood up, a bloody, violent aura surged toward the Emperor’s face.

The Emperor’s complexion instantly paled. He was angry inside but didn’t dare provoke him at this moment. The guards on both sides also tensed up, watching Gou Xi warily.

Under Gou Xi’s coercion, the Emperor had no choice but to sit at his desk and draft an edict. But he would write a line and rest a while, chatting with Gou Xi about this and that, just refusing to quickly finish writing the edict.

He was stalling for time.

Gou Xi noticed too and grew frustrated, pacing back and forth in the hall, occasionally glaring at the Emperor. “Is Your Majesty not finished yet?”

The Emperor dipped his brush and said, “No rush, no rush. It’s cold, the ink has dried. The characters written won’t look good. I need to grind fresh ink.”

Gou Xi’s patience ran out. He strode forward and grabbed Zhou Neijian beside the Emperor, clutching his throat. “Such a lowly slave can’t even grind ink properly. What use is keeping him?”

As he spoke, he applied force, about to snap his neck. The Emperor was shocked and pale, jumping up and directing those around him, “Quickly stop the Great General!”

He anxiously pleaded from the side, “Great General, you mustn’t! This is a eunuch who has served me since childhood. You… how can you be so discourteous?”

The guards didn’t dare draw their blades. They rushed forward to grab Gou Xi’s arm, but Gou Xi was immensely strong. With a shake of his arm, he threw them off, then kicked them away one by one.

The guards were kicked flying and couldn’t get up for a long time.

Seeing his hand about to twist and snap the neck, the Emperor disregarded the danger and rushed forward, grabbing his arm. “No… you mustn’t…”

Gou Xi’s hand, which had been about to twist, paused, but he didn’t let go either. Though he didn’t immediately snap the neck, he was gradually tightening his fingers. He lowered his eyes to look at the terrified Emperor, saying pointedly, “Even a eunuch who has served since childhood can be discarded if he doesn’t obey his master’s words, Your Majesty. Don’t be soft-hearted, or who knows when such subordinates might turn and bite back?”

Gou Xi was implicitly referring to Zhao Hanzhang, but at this moment, all the Emperor could see in his heart and eyes was Gou Xi, and all he could hear were Gou Xi’s threatening words.

They were at an impasse. Zhou Neijian’s mouth gaped wide, his tongue nearly protruding. His eyes rolled back, and his hands had already dropped limply. Zhao Zhongyu, having heard the news, rushed in with people.

Seeing Gou Xi committing such insubordination before the Emperor, he was instantly furious. He rushed forward and drew a guard’s blade, holding it to Gou Xi’s neck. “Gou Xi, you dare kill someone before His Majesty—are you plotting rebellion?”

The officials who had followed Zhao Zhongyu in also urged, “Great General, quickly release him! Don’t harm His Majesty!”

Only then did Gou Xi release his grip. His eyes were sinister as he stared at Zhao Zhongyu. “Minister Zhao, you and your granddaughter have schemed well. One in Luoyang, one at His Majesty’s side, playing the entire court for fools. What, does the Zhao clan want to replace Jin?”

“You harbor treasonous thoughts—don’t try to frame others!” Zhao Zhongyu’s face flushed red with rage as he declared righteously, “Our Zhao clan is loyal to the Emperor and serves only as Jin officials! Hanzhang works diligently abroad, recovering lost territories for Great Jin. Do you think everyone is like you, daily indulging in sensual pleasures, fighting over trivial gains, hiding military funds, and raising taxes? Gou Xi, to this day, do you still remember your aspirations when you first entered office? Do you remember that upright and incorruptible General Gou Dao from Luoyang city?”

Zhao Zhongyu’s fury erupted, his spittle flying onto Gou Xi’s face. “Do you know what the common people outside call you now?”

“Butcher Bo! They call you Butcher Bo!” Zhao Zhongyu’s eyes widened with anger, stepping forward aggressively. “This past year you’ve raised troops for your own power, loved harsh punishments, appointed only your cronies, and even enjoyed killing for pleasure. Now you dare act violently before His Majesty. Gou Xi, oh Gou Xi, you’re not trying to become a second Prince Donghai—you’ve surpassed him!”

“You!” Gou Xi was enraged. He reached out and grabbed Zhao Zhongyu’s throat, about to snap it. The officials on both sides were shocked and hurried to stop him. The guards also drew their blades and attacked Gou Xi.

Zhao Zhongyu was different from Zhou Neijian.

Zhou Neijian’s death would be just that—a death. But if Zhao Zhongyu died, the realm would be shaken, and Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t let it rest.

The Emperor’s hands and feet went weak, too angry to speak for a moment.

Fortunately, the officials on both sides remained steady. They all rushed forward to grab Gou Xi’s arms, shouting in his ear, “Great General, release him quickly! If Minister Zhao dies by your hand, the realm will never know peace again!”

“Zhao Hanzhang commands two hundred thousand troops and holds Yuzhou and Luoyang. She’s now close to occupying all of Sizhou. Great General, you’re placing the Jin imperial house on the edge of a cliff!”

Attendant Gentleman Wei Cao rushed in. Discovering the officials in a chaotic melee with guards holding blades but unable to intervene, he hurried forward. He grabbed an official and threw him backward, then rushed forward and struck Gou Xi’s elbow hard…

Only then did Gou Xi release his grip. Zhao Zhongyu had already lost consciousness entirely.

The Emperor collapsed onto his mat, utterly disheveled. He cried out, “Quickly, quickly summon the imperial physician!”

Zhou Neijian, who had been lying on the ground and had just barely regained consciousness, lifted his eyes to see the hall in chaos. He had blacked out earlier and was now staring in confusion at Zhao Zhongyu lying not far away, not knowing when Lord Zhao and the others had arrived, much less how he had ended up lying down too.

—