Chapter 5 Some people also think so

  In the scorching heat of June, although there were ice blocks placed in several areas inside the house, Yang Hui still felt very hot and was drenched in sweat after getting excited for a while.

  Ping'er sat on the edge of the couch fanning him, while Yang stood nervously beside.

  They had just stood outside the house and heard Yang Jie's loud shouting, but they didn't know what he was saying specifically, and thought that Yang Jie was being scolded by Master. It wasn't until Yang Guozhong came out of the house with a smile on his face, instructing them to take good care of the Fourth Young Master, without any mistakes, that they felt at ease. However, they could still see Yang Jie's anger and anxiety, both were very tense and didn't dare ask what was going on.

  Yang Hui also calmed down after lying down for a while, turned his head and asked Yang Zheng beside him: "Yang Zheng, has the old master left the house?"

  "Yes, Fourth Master, the old master has gone to the palace again to attend to matters!" Yang Zheng replied very honestly: "In recent days, the old master has had too many things to attend to, and most of the time he is in the palace discussing matters with Your Majesty. Just now, he only came back to the mansion to visit you because of your injury."

  "Do you know about the battle situation in front of Tongguan?" Yang Hui asked again.

  "I know very little!" Yang Zheng shook his head, "Fourth Master, I don't know the latest situation! These things, Master won't tell us, perhaps he'll discuss with First Master and Second Master!"

  As soon as Yang Zheng said this, Yang Hui suddenly regained his spirit and sat up to ask: "Are they at the mansion?"

  Yang Guozhong also said that he would often discuss state affairs with his eldest son Yang Huan and second son Yang Xi, and if they were persuaded, the brothers could join forces to persuade Yang Guozhong. He wanted to talk to two of his unmet elder brothers about this matter.

  "Fourth Master, for some time now the First Master, Second Master and Third Master have all been very busy. It's been a long while since they've come back to the manor. I heard they're all busy with matters in the palace or government offices, and even rarely return to their own respective manors!" Yang Zheng replied very honestly.

  Yang Jue's three older brothers Yang Qi, Yang Xun and Yang Xiao were all adults and had their own households, not living in the Wei Guo Gong Fu of Yang Guozhong.

  Yang Qi served as the Vice Minister of Revenue and concurrently as the Minister of Rites, Yang Ao served as the Minister of Diplomacy, and Yang Xiao served as the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works. Due to An Lushan's rebellion, during this time the imperial court also formulated new strategies, they were all very busy like Yang Guozhong, not daring to slack off at all, rarely returning home.

  Lian Yang Qi came to visit only once after Yang Qi was injured and fainted, and left after knowing that Yang Qi's life was not in danger.

  "It's actually like this!" Yang Hui felt an extreme sense of disappointment in her heart and painfully closed her eyes.

  He knew what kind of outcome was coming, a great disaster would befall the Tang Dynasty, and it would happen to him and many people around him. But he had no ability to do anything now. He spent half a day persuading Yang Guozhong, who held an important position in the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty, and his father, but to no avail. And he couldn't reveal the fact that he was a time-traveler who knew what would happen later. What could be more helpless and painful than this?

  What would happen if he were to tell these words directly to Emperor Li Longji? Thinking of this, Yang Hui's heart lit up and he immediately sat up, having the urge to rush into the palace to request an audience with Emperor Li Longji and explain the reasons behind these events. However, he soon became disheartened again - in matters like this, he couldn't even convince his own father Yang Guozhong, so what could he use to convince Li Longji? Yang Guozhong was Li Longji's most trusted minister, and on such important matters, he would definitely listen to the advice of a seasoned official like Yang Guozhong rather than that of a young man like him.

  Even if he enters the palace, it's possible that the emperor won't see him, but his father will, which would not only be of no help, but might even make things worse.

  Yang Jie felt that the only way was to go and find Yang Guozhong again, to plead his case more urgently, to speak more clearly, and to strike directly at Yang Guozhong's most vulnerable spot. Only then would he change his mind and no longer advise the Emperor to order Geshu Han to lead troops out of the pass to fight.

  The court should not have ordered Geshu Han to go out of the pass and fight, right? At least Yang Guozhong's words just now did not imply this meaning. Yang Hui let out a slight breath and asked Yang Zheng: "Yang Zheng, where does my father usually handle affairs after entering the palace?"

  "The Fourth Master, the Old Master is entering the palace, either to discuss important state affairs with Your Majesty or to handle matters in the government hall!"

  "All right, I'll go into the palace and find my father. There were still some things that weren't clear with him just now!" Yang Hui said as he immediately sat up.

  "Fourth Master, you can't get up now. Your illness has just been cured and you need to rest well. If you go out now, the old master will kill us!" Ping'er, who was fanning him, suddenly knelt down beside the bed in a panic. Yang Zheng was also shocked and knelt down to beg Yang Hui not to go out.

  At this moment, someone outside shouted loudly that the lady had arrived. Following the shouting and the sound of footsteps, a group of people rushed into the room. The leader was a middle-aged woman with a haggard expression but quite good-looking features. Yang Hui naturally recognized her as his biological mother, Pei Rou. After sighing heavily in his heart, he could only make a courtesy greeting, "Child sees Mother!" and prepared to get out of bed.

  Pei Rou hastily stepped forward, supporting Yang Hui who was about to get out of bed, and said with great affection: "My child doesn't have to do this, hurry up and rest! Mother heard that you woke up early today and can also get out of bed, I don't know how happy she is. Taking advantage of being able to get out of bed, she came over to take a look. My child, do you feel better? Is there anywhere uncomfortable? In a while, mother will let the imperial physician come and take another look. These days, you must rest more!"

  As she spoke, Pei Rou supported Yang Hui to sit on the edge of the bed, looking him up and down, stretching out her hand to gently stroke him, and from time to time asking if he was uncomfortable anywhere, with a very caring expression, tears also flowed down.

  The residual memories of his past life made Yang Hui feel an inexplicable closeness and affection towards this extremely kind mother. He also forced a smile to wipe away the tears on her face, comforting her: "Mother, don't worry, I'm fine now, I can get up and do things, what we talked about with Father earlier wasn't anything difficult, you don't have to worry! I heard that you're also ill, I was just thinking of going over to see you!"

  "Xiao'er, mother is fine, mother is just afraid that something big will happen to you, and she's worried sick. Your father and several brothers have been busy with things these past few days, they haven't had time to come take care of you. Mother has fallen ill again, and can't be by your side to take care of you, it's really heartbreaking!" Pei Rou said emotionally, tears still streaming down her face: "Luckily you've woken up, mother is at ease now. Once mother's body recovers, she will definitely go to the Great Ci'en Temple to burn incense and make a vow, praying for your health and safety throughout your life."

  "Mother, I'm really fine! It's you who has been exhausted and fallen ill, looking so haggard. You should go back and rest now, don't worry about me anymore, my body has already recovered, I'm fine. I'll come visit you later!" Facing the woman's tears, Yang Hui's heroic spirit seemed to have diminished a lot, the feeling of being loved made him involuntarily call out "mother" without any unnatural feelings.

  If there was no residual memory of his past life in his body, he might not have had this emotional feeling. But with a part of the memory of his past life, when facing Yang Guozhong, especially the deeply affectionate mother Pei Rou, that intense familial feeling naturally emerged.

  This kind of familial feeling must be unforgettable, making him more determined and resolute to do everything in his power to prevent the tragedy from happening.

  Facing her son's persuasion, Pei Rou shook her head resolutely: "Xie Er, mother is fine, seeing that you've recovered from your injury, mother's illness has also improved. Mother hasn't come to see you for many days, so today I'll just stay here and chat with you for a while!"

  "Mother, you're not well and can't overexert yourself. Go back and rest. Even though it's hot today, don't go out in the sun, be careful of heatstroke! The child is fine now and will come to see you later. I don't want my illness to get better only for you to catch one too!" Yang Hui continued to persuade, "I'm a bit sleepy myself and want to take a nap. Mother, please don't force yourself to stay here with me, it would make me worried!"

  The relationship between Pei Rou and her child made Yang Hui a bit at a loss, he also wanted to be alone for a while to think about things, didn't want so many people around him, let alone thinking of running out to find Yang Guozhong again to talk things over.

  "Alright, you get a good rest and sleep well, mom is going back to rest too!"

  Pei Rou was overcome with emotion for a while, but eventually returned to her room with the support of the maids under Yang Hui's consolation.

  The house was quiet, and Yang Hui's idea of going to the palace to plead with his father, Yang Guozhong, had inexplicably dissipated. He felt tired, sleepy, and extremely drowsy. Perhaps it was because he had said too many words earlier, or because he had been excited too many times, and also because this body had just recovered from illness, which made him feel unspirited; or maybe it was because his soul and body were not yet fully matched after crossing over, and he couldn't completely control his body.

  "Fourth Master, you're tired, take a good rest!" Ping'er's soft voice came over, like a lullaby.

  After thinking for a while, Yang Hui couldn't help but feel drowsy and eventually fell into a deep sleep, not even having a single dream.

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  Inside the Daming Palace, in the Zhongshu Province where the Policy Hall was located, Yang Guozhong, who had hastily returned to handle affairs, was convening a meeting with several trusted ministers to discuss matters.

  Geshu Han petitioned several times after receiving the imperial edict, but was forced to go out of the pass and fight after failing to get the court's consent.

  The war has already occurred, according to the secret report sent back by the eunuch monitor Bian Lingcheng, the government army has won several small victories and is preparing to advance in the direction of Lingbao to fight against An Lushan's rebel forces, but for now the two main forces have not yet clashed.

  The situation ahead was as Yang Guozhong had wished, and the progress of the war was also quite satisfactory.

  However, after returning to the mansion and listening to Yang Hui's words, he felt a little uneasy. If the terrible consequences that Yang Hui mentioned were really going to happen, then his good days would be over, and even the entire family might suffer a tragic fate. Before this, he had never thought about it in such a way, even though many officials in the court had said so, but after hearing his most beloved son Yang Hui say so, he couldn't help but think more about this situation.

  His own son would never go against him, let alone kick him when he's down, and only consider the interests of the family.

  After consulting with his trusted officials, he left behind Wu Shi Shangshu and Wei Jianzhi, who had been promoted to the position of Ping Zhangshi, as well as Jingzhao Yin Wei Fangjin. He roughly told them what Yang Hui had said to him today, but naturally omitted any words related to the interests of the Yang family.

  Wei Jiansu and Wei Fangjin were both shocked after hearing this, they looked at each other and then Wei Jiansu stepped forward and said in a low voice: "Yang Gong, I really didn't expect the Fourth Master to have such insight, able to say such far-sighted suggestions, it's truly astonishing!"

  Yang Guozhong asked in a calm tone, "Do you think the Young Master's words make sense? Was the decision I made earlier to have Geshu Han lead the army out of the pass and fight to annihilate the main rebel forces as soon as possible incorrect?"

  This question made Wei Jian see that he didn't know how to answer for a moment. After carefully looking at Yang Guozhong several times and thinking seriously, he said: "Yang Gong, the fourth son's words are very reasonable, but he said so because he doesn't understand the military situation on the front line. If he knew the current situation in Tongguan, he wouldn't say that! The strategy you suggested is also completely correct! Now that the northern armies have won several major victories, the enemy is anxious and wants to abandon Luoyang and defend Fanyang. The court should take advantage of the enemy's scattered morale and launch a surprise attack, which will definitely achieve victory, and it's even possible to annihilate the main force of the rebels in one battle and quickly put down the rebellion!"

  "Hmm, I think so too!" Yang Guozhong smiled and relaxed, then fell silent. He waved his hand to let Wei Jiansu and Wei Fangjin leave.