The fire in the stove was very bright, and the fire in Qu Manbao's eyes seemed to be even brighter than the fire.
"What the eldest son said is absolutely true. According to the rules of our ancestors, whether it is to establish a direct heir or an elder, the eldest son will do his duty." Daosheng said seriously: "If you don't follow this rule, you will break the rule."
Although Qu Manbao had a bad temper, he was not stupid. He sneered and said, "You want to say that Man Ying will threaten my inheritance rights."
Daosheng said hurriedly: "I don't dare."
Qu Manbao thought for a moment and then whispered: "You are mine. If you have anything to say, just say it. I won't blame you." He leaned closer and said, "Daosheng, do you think my father will really give birth to Man Ying?" What’s on your mind?”
"My eldest son, if this happened before, this situation would never have happened." Daosheng said seriously: "If the general really goes away one day, the position of the head of the Qu family will of course be inherited by the eldest son." After a slight pause, he said: "But this time the northwest army entered the pass to help the third prince regain the throne. For the northwest army, this is a great thing and a great opportunity to make contributions. However... the general asked the young master to accompany the army on the expedition."
Qu Manbao said: "The northwest is the foundation of my Qu family, and Xianyang cannot be missed. My father left me in Xianyang because he entrusted me with a heavy responsibility, which is more important than going out with the army."
"But as a result, the eldest young master will have less opportunities to make contributions." Daosheng said: "The general is from the army, and the Northwest Army also has the most military merit. In the past, the young master's limelight was naturally not overshadowed by yours, but this time the young master continued to attack The next two cities, all the soldiers in the army are watching, this...!"
There was disdain in Qu Manbao's tone: "Tens of thousands of northwest troops entered the pass. There are only a few defenders in those two small towns. If anyone can defeat them, it is not a big achievement."
"But when the army entered the pass, they won two battles and two victories, and the ones who led the troops to attack the city were all young masters. He is very popular now." Daosheng sighed softly: "The eldest son also said that there are only two small cities in the northwest of me. In front of a large army, he is vulnerable, no matter who he hands it to, it will be a great opportunity to make achievements, but why does the general hand it over to the young master?"
Qu Manbao said: "If you don't give it to Manying, how can you give it to someone else?" But he felt a little unfair in his heart.
"If the young master continues to make great achievements, and even finally captures Luoyang, then in the entire Northwest Army, except for the general, no one can compare with the young master in terms of military merit." Daosheng said: "It is of course extremely important for the eldest son to stay in Xianyang, but... only I'm afraid that in the eyes of some people, Xianyang has not been threatened in any way, and the eldest son has no merit at all."
Qu Manbao stood up suddenly and said angrily: "If I were not in Xianyang, someone would definitely have evil intentions. Who can compare with my contribution?" He got up and went to the ground, put his hands on his back, walked back and forth, and said a little impatiently: "Daosheng, your worries are not unreasonable. , My father intends to support Manying this time. If this boy achieves military exploits in the Northwest Army, he will gain military morale. Even if I inherit my father's position in the future, he will be a big threat to me."
Daosheng also stood up and said: "The eldest son is really wise to be able to think of this."
"No." Qu Manbao waved his hand and said, "I can't just wait in Xianyang. Tell me, what should I do?"
"I shouldn't have said what I said today." Daosheng smiled bitterly and said, "It's just that in the past few years, the eldest son has been very kind to his subordinates. If the subordinates knew about it and didn't say anything, then they would be unworthy of the generosity of the eldest master Liao." kindness."
Qu Manbao patted Daosheng on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Of course I know your loyalty to me."
"Eldest Young Master, if you want the Northwest Army to know the difficulties of the Eldest Young Master, and let them remember your kindness, it is not impossible." Daosheng chuckled and said: "Eldest Young Master, don't forget whether the Northwest Army can win the battle. , it’s still up to you to have the final say.”
"You mean?"
"Food and grass." Daosheng stroked his beard and said with a smile: "When the general goes on an expedition, the army's rations can last for up to two months. If Luoyang is not captured within two months, the eldest son will be needed to support the food and grass from the rear." With one hand. Carrying it behind him, he said softly: "Luoyang City is extremely strong. Even if the general can win in the end, it will be really not easy to capture Luoyang within two months."
"That's right." Qu Manbao laughed and said, "If I didn't supply them with food and grass, they would still have a bloody battle."
"So the eldest son can now order all the food and grass in the city to be hoarded. The food in those grain stores must be under the control of the eldest son." Daosheng said: "In addition, the food around Xianyang must also be under the control of the eldest son." Mobilize into the city and let everyone know that if they want to eat food, they can only go to the eldest son."
Qu Manbao said excitedly: "That's right, that's right. If Manying keeps making meritorious deeds, I will cut off his food and grass to see how he can make meritorious deeds."
"Cutting off food and grass is only a last resort." Daosheng whispered: "If the food and grass are cut off, the young master will not be able to make contributions, but the Northwest Army will also be in trouble. If the Northwest Army collapses, it will not be of any benefit to the eldest son. .”
Qu Manbao nodded and said: "The Northwest Army is the leader of my Qu family. We must not let them collapse. Daosheng, what do you think we should do?"
"Eldest Young Master, in the final analysis, it is only the Young Master who poses a threat to you." Daosheng's eyes were profound: "Only by bringing down the Young Master can the Eldest Young Master sleep peacefully, so we still have to start with the Young Master."
Qu Manbao hesitated for a moment and then said: "Daosheng, Manying is my biological brother, and I have always had a good relationship with him. If...if we deal with him, will it be fratricide? I am a little...somewhat intolerable!"
"The storyteller raised in the mansion often tells stories to the eldest son. The eldest son is very knowledgeable about many things in the past and present." Daosheng sighed softly: "The struggle for power and position has always been a matter of life and death. The eldest son is a person who values friendship and does not want to I have no intention of taking any action against the young master, but with all due respect to my subordinates, if the young master really gains power in the future and turns around to deal with the eldest son, I don’t know if the young master will be as brotherly as the eldest son.”
Qu Manbao was silent for a moment.
There was silence in the room. After a while, Qu Manbao slowly clenched his fist and said: "Liang Xiao is neither a gentleman nor a poisonous husband. Daosheng, you are right. If Man Ying gains power, I'm afraid he won't show mercy to me." He motioned for Daosheng to sit down and asked, "How do you think we should deal with him?"
Daosheng thought for a while and then said: "I have three strategies for the eldest son to choose from: upper, middle and lower."
"oh?"
"As a last resort, the eldest son can send assassins to kill the young master." Daosheng whispered: "I know some strange people in the world, many of whom are assassins who use people's money to kill people. As long as the eldest son gives the order, the subordinates will They will secretly contact assassins to assassinate the young master, and these assassins are very disciplined and will not reveal their employer even if their heads fall to the ground."
Qu Manbao shook his head and said: "Jianghu bandits cannot be trusted. Who knows if they will confess with the knife on their necks? If they fail to confess us, even if there is no evidence, my father and Manying will definitely feel sorry for me. If I remain dissatisfied, my future situation will be even worse."
"This is also my subordinate's worry. After all, this is a huge risk, so I said this is a bad idea." Daosheng said in a low voice: "The middle plan is for the eldest son to set off immediately, take people to the army, and tell the general I want to go to war with the army."
"Since my father asked me to stay, it would be bad if I leave my post without authorization." Qu Manbao said: "And I am not willing to march and fight. I stayed in the military camp for a few days and it was miserable. Even if my father takes me this time, I’m not happy to go on an expedition either.”
Daosheng sighed: "In this case, there is only the best solution."
"Speak quickly." Qu Manbao said anxiously: "What is the best policy?"
Daosheng lowered his voice and said: "The eldest son has favored several concubines of the general. The general can use these concubines to complain to the general."
Qu Manbao's eyelids twitched and he frowned: "Complaining?"
"Now those concubines are in the mansion and under the control of the eldest son." Daosheng said: "They dare not not do whatever the eldest son asked them to do. The eldest son asked two of them to write a letter and send Give it to the general."
"Write a letter?" Qu Manbao was a little confused: "What's the content?"
"Let them tell the general that the young master once raped them." Daosheng said softly: "When this letter gets into the hands of the general, even if the general does not completely believe it, he will still have doubts in his heart, and he will definitely feel sorry for the young master. As long as the general is dissatisfied with the young master, the young master will not have to worry about his inheritance."
Qu Manbao raised his hand and scratched his hair, and said worriedly: "This... Isn't this inappropriate? If... if my father comes back to investigate and interrogate them, what if...!" He didn't say any more, but the meaning was clear.
It was Qu Manbao who raped the concubines. The concubines did not dare to publicize this matter, so there would be no disturbance. However, if Qu Manying was framed with this, when Qu Yuangu investigated, those concubines could not help but ask questions. If you tell the truth, won't you get yourself burned
"The general has no chance to see them." Daosheng smiled coldly: "After sending the letter, the two concubines will commit suicide. The reason is very simple. They were raped by the young master and have always been ashamed in their hearts, so they can't bear it. By committing suicide, the young master is guilty of forcing his concubine to death."
Qu Manbao was horrified, thinking to himself that Daosheng's move was really vicious.
"When the time comes, the eldest son will write a secret letter to the general, asking the general to severely punish the young master." Daosheng said: "This way the eldest son can sleep peacefully."
Qu Manbao shook his head and said: "Even if father is angry, Man Ying is his son after all. The most father can do is whip Man Ying. He will never kill Man Ying just because of two women. I understand father. We have tried our best. , still unable to defeat Manying."
"Don't worry, eldest son. In your letter, you ask the general to expel the young master from the house." Dao Sheng laughed: "As long as the eldest son tells the general, if the general does not do this, the scandal of the young master will be spread. Go out, once this matter is publicized, the general will lose his face. He cares about face very much, so in the end he has no choice but to expel the young master. At that time, it will be easy for the elder master to find someone to attack the young master. "
Qu Manbao frowned and said, "What if father insists not to do this?"
"Seal Tongguan and don't allow the young master to return to the northwest." Daosheng's face turned cold: "There is only one master in the northwest now, that is the general, and there will only be one master in the future, and that is the eldest master. The young master can leave Tongguan, but we let him I can’t come back to the northwest.”