novelaction Chapter 418 Emperor Chongzhen's Life
Chapter 418 Emperor Chongzhen's Life
Chapter 418 Emperor Chongzhen's Life
Gao Yingxiang instructed his men to settle Wang Wenzhou's troops and then hosted a banquet for Wang Wenzhou.
Gao Yingxiang picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. For some reason, he felt the wine in his mouth tasted astringent and bitter. He couldn't understand why he found Wang Wenzhou increasingly unpleasant to look at.
Wang Wenzhou is such a scoundrel! He's outrageous! Right in front of his father-in-law, he's embracing two women, and he gets all his food and drinks from them.
"My dear son-in-law, today we, father-in-law and son-in-law, are enjoying a hearty drink. Please have your wives and concubines leave for now." Gao Yingxiang could no longer bear to watch.
"Huh?" Wang Wenzhou was puzzled and was about to speak when Gao Guilan's face changed. She pointed at Gao Yingxiang and scolded, "Dad! What do you mean? I came to see you with Uncle, and you not only shamelessly fawn over me, but you also find fault with Uncle! What's wrong with Uncle? You should know that if it weren't for my sake, Uncle would have already led a large army to wipe you out!"
"Pfft..." Gao Yingxiang spat out a mouthful of wine.
“Little Lanlan, that’s not what Lao Gao meant. How could Lao Gao not welcome me? Lao Gao just thinks the cup is too small and he can’t drink enough, right Lao Gao?” Wang Wenzhou suppressed a laugh and looked at Gao Yingxiang.
Gao Yingxiang nodded awkwardly. Since Wang Wenzhou had given him a way out, he couldn't very well refuse. After all, Gao Guilan was his most beloved youngest daughter, and he didn't want things to escalate to the point where she wouldn't recognize him as her biological father.
"Come, come, change to a big bowl!" Gao Yingxiang turned around and ordered.
The maidservant serving at the table quickly placed the bowl on the table.
Gao Guilan held the bowl, pouted, and complained, "Uncle, the bowl is too big, I can't drink it all in one gulp!"
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Little Lanlan, be good. You drink half, and then let your sister-in-law drink the other half."
“Mmm!” Gao Guilan nodded quickly.
"Old Gao! Let me toast you!" Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
"Huff..." Gao Yingxiang let out a deep breath in anger, really wanting to stand up and give Wang Wenzhou a good beating. That bastard had corrupted his own daughter! The Lan'er of the past was a gentle, lovely, and poised young lady from a respectable family. But now, she looked like a hostess in a brothel!
Wang Wenzhou took a sip of wine from Gao Guilan's baby mouth, then from Wang Ying's baby mouth. When he turned around, he saw Gao Yingxiang staring blankly at the wine bowl.
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "What are you thinking about, Lao Gao? Drink up!"
"Sigh..." Gao Yingxiang picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp. Only he knew the bitterness in his heart. They say a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl, and Gao Yingxiang had never believed it before. Now he had no choice but to believe it!
A few days ago, Gao Yingxiang and Li Zicheng disagreed on strategic planning. In a fit of anger, Li Zicheng led his troops away from Gao Yingxiang. What angered Gao Yingxiang even more was that his eldest daughter, Gao Guizhi, not only complained about him and refused to listen to his advice, but also ignored his attempts to persuade her to stay and resolutely followed Li Zicheng.
My youngest daughter is like this again, always speaking up for that bastard Wang Wenzhou. Lan'er, my heart is aching! I've raised you with such hardship, being both father and mother to you for over ten years, yet your place in your heart is less than that of the man who slept with you for a year.
"Bang!" Gao Yingxiang slammed the wine bowl down on the table, tilted his head and glanced at Wang Wenzhou. This bastard was just getting angrier the more he looked at him.
Look at this bastard's subordinates, more than two thousand men, the vast majority of whom are beautiful girls! Long, white legs, riding horses, they look quite presentable, but can women like these fight? On the battlefield, when the enemy sees such beautiful enemies, won't they risk their lives to charge forward, capture one, and have a good time?
"Old Gao, I'm here today to discuss something with you," Wang Wenzhou said seriously.
“We’re all family, so you can speak freely, my dear son-in-law.” Gao Yingxiang didn’t even look up, unwilling to look directly at Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou hugged Wang Ying and kissed her, then said, "Old Gao, you probably already know. Zhu Youjian has the silver and has stopped levying the three taxes. Moreover, the national treasury is now full, and all the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty have received their previously owed rations and pay. The soldiers are eager to make their mark, and you are the prime target for many!"
"Haha!" Gao Yingxiang laughed loudly, "Boxin, with hundreds of thousands of troops under my command, are you afraid of the government army?"
"Old Gao, listen to my advice. You only have two paths before you: either fight to the death with the government troops and die on the battlefield, or surrender to the imperial court. With me here, I guarantee you'll live a life of comfort and wealth," Wang Wenzhou advised.
“Boxin! I would rather be a wealthy man than raise an army. My ancestors were merchants, and by my generation we have accumulated some wealth! I only started this rebellion because I saw that the people had no way to survive,” Gao Yingxiang said.
"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny? Old Gao, you have quite the ambition!" Wang Wenzhou said sarcastically. "You don't even have a son. Even if you become emperor, to whom will you pass the throne?"
Gao Yingxiang tilted his head, looked at Gao Guilan with gentle eyes, and said, "Although I have no sons, I have a daughter! My dear son-in-law, as long as you assist me, we will surely conquer the Central Plains. You also said that I have no sons, so after I die, everything I own will be passed on to you!"
Although Gao Yingxiang disliked Wang Wenzhou, he hated Li Zicheng even more. Li Zicheng was someone he had personally mentored, and Gao Yingxiang had even betrothed his eldest daughter to him. But Li Zicheng, once he gained power, stopped listening to Gao Yingxiang.
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou laughed and waved his hand, saying, "Old Gao, I'm not destined to be an emperor! Not only am I not destined, but neither are you! Stop dreaming. Sun Chuanting's Qin soldiers are no rabble. In my opinion, you can't even take Xi'an, and you might even be defeated by Sun Chuanting!"
"Haha! My dear son-in-law, I toast you!" Gao Yingxiang raised his wine bowl.
Wang Wenzhou felt embarrassed to refuse, so he quickly had the babies feed him.
"Bang!" Gao Yingxiang put down his wine bowl and said, "Zhu Youjian sent you to pacify me, so I will play along. As long as you cooperate, taking Xi'an will be a piece of cake. After taking Xi'an, we can head straight for the capital and cut off Zhu Youjian's dog head."
In Wang Wenzhou's timeline, Li Zicheng did exactly the same thing. However, back then, there were no troops available near the capital. Now, because of Wang Wenzhou's appearance, Zhu Youjian has both money and troops. It will likely be very difficult for Gao Yingxiang to take the capital.
"Old Gao, is being an emperor really that interesting?" Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "You have no idea what kind of life Zhu Youjian lived. Compared to me, he was just a beggar."
"Clap clap!" Wang Wenzhou patted his chest and said, "I drink water from a crystal cup. Would Zhu Youjian be willing to use one? He wouldn't! I have a harem of beautiful wives and concubines, and I have thousands of beautiful female guards to sleep with. If Zhu Youjian hadn't embezzled my money, he wouldn't have recruited any palace maids since he ascended the throne."
"Getting up earlier than the rooster, sleeping later than the dog, eating worse than the pig, and working harder than the donkey! This is the life of Emperor Zhu Youjian. Old Gao, would you like to live such a life?" Wang Wenzhou asked.