After a long silence, Juicong said, "I understand what you're trying to say, Jiang Heng. But no matter what I do, it's all for the sake of finally bringing this world of contention back together. I don't think I'm wrong."
Jiang Heng smiled and said, "How about we make a bet? Your Majesty, I'm sure that when that time comes, you will find that it's different. To conquer the world and to rule the world are two different things."
The expression in Juicong's eyes flashed away, and there was a moment of confusion.
Jiang Heng knew that what Juicong wanted to say at this moment was "Am I really wrong?".
"But I'm willing to let you try," said Juicong, "to go the other way, provided you really have the ability to lead the Yong Kingdom. After returning to Luoyan City, you must first convince everyone, and then convince me. If you can't do it, I still won't listen to you."
Jiang Heng said: "You understand now, Your Majesty, whether it is successful in the end or not, it is also one of the most important rules to allow me to speak and convince you."
Juicong looked at Jiang Heng for a long time: "What can you bring me?"
Jiang Heng sighed and said, "I will try my best."
He understood that this was the first test given to him by Juicong, and he had to tell him that he knew the overall situation of the world.
"Yong Kingdom is the youngest country among the Five Kingdoms since its founding a hundred years ago. Because of its youth, it does not have the drawbacks of the Four Kingdoms in the Central Plains, but it is precisely because of its youth that it is more than enough to fight for the world's hegemony." Jiang Heng thought for a while and said, "If you want to participate in this world of great competition, King Yong must completely unite the various ethnic groups in the country, form an iron plate, and mobilize all that can be mobilized to support your great cause of the Southern Expedition."
"This is what the Lone King did," said Juicong. "This is also the century-old policy that my brother Wang made before his death."
Jiang Heng wanted to say that if this was the case, then why did the three clans in Yong Kingdom risk rebelling when they heard the news of your assassination? But now is not the time for him to ask questions. Juicong listened patiently. What he cares most about is what to do first and what to do after entering the customs. He wants to know whether Jiang Heng's strategy coincides with his own.
Jiang Heng paused for a while, then replied cautiously, "The first battle will be to retrieve Yubi Pass."
"Well," said Juicong, "that's natural. What's next?"
Jiang Heng: "Afterwards, we exit through Yubi Pass. Tong Pass is not conducive to transporting a large number of troops and horses."
Juicong: "First take Luoyang and go straight to Song County. This is what the Lone King is doing. If you hadn't interrupted, the Lone King would have already made the first step."
"You will definitely fail," Jiang Heng said. "Even without me, you will fail. What you despise is not the tactics, but the overall situation. Zheng and Liang are closely related to Luoyang, and they will definitely interfere with you. You occupy Luoyang, and you are not stable, and sooner or later you will be kicked out."
Juicong didn't get angry, but found it very interesting and said, "Do you have a better way?"
"Far and close attack, cooperate vertically and horizontally, that's all." Jiang Heng said, "If you want to gain a firm foothold in the Central Plains, you must form an alliance with the State of Ying at all costs, as long as King Ying is willing to contain Zheng for you, then your opponent will be , only Liang Guo is left."
Juicong didn't speak, Jiang Heng said, "First take Liang, then Zheng. We negotiated with the State of Ying to rule the Yangtze River and give the south of Liang and Zheng to the State of Ying."
"In this way, there are only two sides left in the world." Juicong didn't ask how to get it, those were secondary, which also coincided with the plan when Juicang was still alive.
The juice family has always been ambitious, and generations have been determined to return to the Central Plains.
"That's right," Jiang Heng said. "After acquiring the two kingdoms of Liang and Zheng, there will be only the north and the south, and there will be no five places in the world. Next, there is the problem of how to solve the problem of Luoyang. From what I see, it is still inappropriate to call the emperor of the north and the south."
Juicong's eyes became sharp, Jiang Heng looked into his eyes and said, "It is best to find a descendant of the Ji family to support him as the successor to the emperor, and King Yong to serve as the regent, but how to do it? It depends on the situation at that time.”
Juicong declined to comment.
"Then, incite civil unrest in the Li family," Jiang Heng said, "support them to declare war on the Ying Kingdom, and then control the Dai Kingdom through marriage and trade."
"This process may last ten or twenty years." Jiang Heng added, "Similarly, it is also a process of encroaching on the south of the Yangtze River. At that time, Song County will become the front line adjacent to Yingdi. I don't know King Yong, or even I. In this life, can I witness the day of the war with my own eyes?"
"When can we go to war with the Ying Kingdom?" Juicong said.
This question is difficult to answer, but Jiang Heng still gave the answer smoothly.
"As long as Dai Guo is under Yong's actual control," Jiang Heng said, "the war is not far away."
"The exact time." Juicong said.
"When the grain tax in the whole territory of Yong country is equal to the grain tax in Ying country." Jiang Heng gave an accurate timing, "It's still the same sentence, even if you risk attacking the land of Ying, even if you get it, it won't last long. You The navy and the army are needed, and without the strength to be crushed by the whole country, this battle cannot be easily started.”
"When will it be reached?" Juicong still asked.
"It depends on the administration," Jiang Heng said. "If it is fast, it will be ten or twenty years. If it is slow, it will be a hundred years. The premise is that there is no civil strife in your king."
Juicong said: "The solitary king is confident that as long as he recaptures the Yubi Pass, he will be able to sweep across the land of Shenzhou like a gust of wind sweeping leaves."
"I'm also confident," Jiang Heng raised his eyebrows, "but you won't be able to win the Divine State in this way. Your dynasty can't last forever. After two generations, there will be rebellion, and then the world will resume the great conflict of disintegration. world."
Juicong didn't answer, he pondered, what Jiang Heng said was to draw up the future chess game for him. As early as Juicong's father's generation, Guan Wei had already proposed the outline. Follow this chess game step by step, there may be changes, but the future is roughly predictable.
His father often said that what he lacked the most was patience. Juicong has always been patient. Thinking of such a long-term goal, he even left it to his son. Who can accept it? The grand cause of domination of the world, he only hopes to accomplish in his own hands.
But what Jiang Heng said was a supplement to Yong Guo's ambitions over the years. Back then, the world was full of heroes. Liang Chongwen, Zheng Zilu, Dai Gongzisheng, Ying Changlingjun... all of them could be the best in the world. By. He is known as the unparalleled military god, and he is also a formidable enemy of Juicy Cong.
Who would have thought that in the end, he died under the assassination of Geng Yuan? Nowadays, the talents of the four countries are withering, all thanks to the gift of the world, Yong Guo has kept a low profile for a hundred years, and now, he can participate in the competition in the Central Plains dignifiedly.
It's just that there is not much time left for him. Juicong is already in the age of confusion. If he wants to achieve his ambition to dominate the world in his lifetime, he must personally drag this chariot, work hard without complaint, and drag it all the way forward.
"It's time for my son to listen to your thoughts." Ju Cong finally said, and at the same time found that Geng Shu had come to Jiang Heng at some point. He thought for too long, and he didn't even notice Geng Shu.
"But there is always a chance," Juicong said, "That's it."
Jiang Heng heard the words and knew that he had passed the first level.
"Tomorrow I'm going back to the teacher's door to get something," Jiang Heng said, "I have to take my brother. But since I promised you, I will come to Luoyan and never break my promise."
"I'm not afraid of you breaking your word," Juicong said, "Take Jie Gui with you. After all, the situation for the two of you is still very dangerous."
"No," Jiang Heng smiled, "my brother will protect me."
"That's right," Juicong laughed and said, "Even Li Hong succumbed to his sword and became famous in Zhongshan. I hope you can give me a different answer, Jiang Heng."
Jiang Heng got up: "This is my father's piano, just give it to me."
"Naturally." Juicong said, "I once sent someone to Xundong to renovate the home you grew up in, and found it in the scorched ruins. It was originally brought to Juicong, and I hope he will see it today. Qin, you can remember my affection."
"No matter how much thinking a piano has," Jiang Heng said, "how can it be compared to others?"
Juicong stood up, Jiang Heng hugged the qin and bowed slightly, just like the night when Geng Shu said goodbye to Juicong and left calmly in the breeze of the moonlit night.
small book booth
Spring is blooming, spring is here.
In Cangshanhaige, Geng Shu and Jiang Heng returned to Fenglin Village at the foot of the mountain, where the peach blossoms were blooming brilliantly.
However, standing in the burnt ruins, Jiang Heng realized that Luo Xuan didn't lie to him - Mr. Ghost and Songhua really left, and they burned it cleanly, leaving no traces.
Geng Shu said, "This is your teacher's door."
"This is my division." Jiang Heng murmured.
The sea pavilion completely disappeared that night, and only in the ruins of broken tiles and rubble, countless green seedlings grew.
In the Four Gods mural, the three gods have collapsed, but the northern Xuanwu is still standing in the deepest part of the hall, built against the mountain, like a screen wall standing upright.
"I didn't expect that," Jiang Heng said, "Mr. Ghost actually... left nothing."
But soon, he changed his mind and smiled sadly: "That's fine."
"He left you," Geng Shu said, "you are his last apprentice."
"Yeah." Jiang Heng even felt that the heavy responsibility he shouldered was actually the last person who was involved in Haige and affected the Central Plains world. In other words, whether he succeeded or failed, Mr. Ghost who went overseas may never again. No disciples will be sent here.
"Come on," Jiang Heng said, "Xiangzhou is there, and I see the tower where the ashes are kept."
Jiang Heng was a little surprised that Luo Xuan didn't take Xiang Zhou's ashes away, which meant that he would come back one day
Geng Shu sacrificed to Xiangzhou and asked, "Heng'er, where are my ashes?"
Jiang Heng said: "That's not you, but it was thrown into the Changhai. I cried for a long time at the beginning."
Geng Shu said: "When we all die, we will come back and be buried in your teacher's gate."
Jiang Heng nodded, held hands with Geng Shu, and went down the mountain again.
The bamboo raft was parked on the long seashore, Geng Shu propped up the pole, a little on the shore, the bamboo raft rippled and galloped towards the lake.
"It's here." Jiang Heng said.
Geng Shu said: "Do you remember? Didn't you cut a boat and ask for a sword?"
Jiang Heng smiled and said, "Look at the qi of the land of Shenzhou and the arrangement of the Xuanwu God? Dive once and give you a stick of incense time."
Geng Shu took off his shirt, half naked, and with a sound of water, he plunged into the bottom of the lake.
Jiang Heng was uneasy and waited by the lake. Soon after, Geng Shu emerged from the water, changed his breath, and re-entered.
In the third breath, when Geng Shu appeared, Jiang Heng said, "Forget it, brother! Don't look for it!"
But Geng Shu plunged down again, Jiang Heng thought about it, and immediately took off his robe and jumped into the lake.
The spring sun shines into the icy lake water, the bottom of the lake is like a quiet world, the sky light shines on the fine sand, and the fine sand is covered with bones covered with algal moss. They have been sleeping here for ten years? Twenty years? Thirty years? Nobody knows.
The bottom of the endless Changhai Lake is like a huge, deadly battlefield, only the sun shines on the water above.
Jiang Heng approached Geng Shu slowly, Geng Shu turned around, glanced, and leaned over.
Jiang Heng waved his hand, but Geng Shu couldn't help but say that, passing the breath in his mouth to him, holding his hand, like a swimming fish, sliding towards the center of the lake.
Jiang Heng made a gesture, but Geng Shu shook his head and pointed forward.
Yu Jue floated up, in front of Geng Shu's chest, floating in the deep lake, reflecting the sunlight falling from the water surface, the rays of light shot not far away, in the center of the huge bone-burying battlefield, a ray of light flickered in the distance, as if it was a response.
In the center of the countless bones, in the fine sand at the bottom of the lake, was a black sword. A small package was tied to the hilt of the sword.
Geng Shu and Jiang Heng swept past, pulling up the black sword with one hand, and the sediment rolled up at the bottom of the lake, forming a vortex that engulfed the surrounding bones.
On the surface of the lake, Geng Shu came out of the water with a bang. He first put Jiang Heng on the raft, then threw the black sword and the golden seal up, and climbed onto the bamboo raft.
The two took off a | silk | no | hanging, spread their clothes on the raft to dry, and let the spring sun shine on their bodies.
"Spring is here." Jiang Heng looked around, unable to open his eyes due to the sunlight.
"Well," Geng Shu said, "spring is here, look, the geese flew back."
The team of geese returning from the south crossed the mountains, starting from Yingdi, crossing the steep mountains and flying towards the north.
Jiang Heng and Geng Shu rode their horses, followed the road that the wild geese went north, left Cangshan, passed Yuheng, passed Liangdi, exited Yubi Pass, crossed the vast grassy sea, merged into the wild horses, and galloped towards the black fortress in the north. City.
On the Hengjiang sandbar, the geese are drinking water, and the snow top of Juqing Mountain is golden in the sun.
"The place where all the geese live." Jiang Heng couldn't help being impressed by this magnificent city.
"Go home," Geng Shu said. "The place where we are together is home. You will like it here, Heng'er."
At the height of the city gate, the ancient bell bestowed by the Emperor Jin to the royal family of the Ju clan roared, and the prince returned home.
The geese are flying, and their feathers are swept; their sons are marching, and they are laboring in the wild.
Jiang Heng seemed to see the figures of two young men, one was standing in a royal uniform; the other, with a black cloth covering his eyebrows, sat high on the city wall, playing the ancient song of Yan Luoping Pingsha.
"It's finally back."
The heroic spirit in the royal uniform showed a smile on the corner of his mouth.
—Volume 3·Yan Luopingsha·End-