〖In the twelfth month of the first year of Zhihua in Southern Chu, Jiang Zhe was imprisoned in Prince Yong’s mansion. Although the king treated him with extra courtesy, he was unyielding. King Qi Xian loved Zhecai and urged King Yong to pardon him. King Yong had no choice but to promise him. Zhe has a noble character, so he presented him with a golden helmet and wine. Zhe was so grateful that he surrendered to King Yong.
— "The History of Chu in the Southern Dynasties: The Biography of Jiang Suiyun"〗
I took the golden helmet almost subconsciously, and my mind was full of the scene of Li Zhi pressing the wine glass. He actually let me go, let go of a madman like me who has repeatedly offended him, and it can still make his great career ashes. Heart poisoning. Somehow, my tears fell drop by drop, in the golden helmet, on the snow-colored placket, and I could hardly move. I remembered the day when the Prince of Germany realized that I could not serve Nan Chu faithfully, he was very kind to me. Beware, I am in Jianye recovering from illness, and the secret agents of Prince De are always watching me, I remember the last time I gave the remonstrance, all my heart is for Nanchu, but in return I only get reprimands, I thought I didn't care about these at all, to this day It was only then that I realized that these were buried deep in my heart. These were tragic past events that I didn't even notice, or didn't want to think about.
I picked up the golden helmet, and I drank the fine wine in the helmet without worrying about spilling the wine, thinking to myself, this is probably why Zhuge Wuhou exhausted himself. The wine was so sweet, I felt like a fire in my chest, I raised my golden helmet, I bowed to the ground, and said in a loud voice, "Your Highness is deeply gracious, although the minister's liver and brain are scorched on the ground, I can't repay it in case, if Your Highness does not dislike the capriciousness of the minister, the minister Jiang Zhe I wish to serve His Highness."
Li Zhi was already disheartened, but unexpectedly I suddenly surrendered. For a while, I didn't know what to say. Still, Shi Yu was smart and pushed Li Zhi lightly. Li Zhi hurriedly stepped forward to help me up and said excitedly: "Sir, you actually changed your mind, this king, this king really doesn't know what to say, hurry, hurry, hurry up."
How could I, a scholar with no power to hold back the chicken, have any room to resist, I was helped by Li Zhi, my mood gradually calmed down, and I whispered: "If you don't meet me at that time, you will be an old hero. Tang and Wu meet by chance. Hu Yunlong." Looking at Li Zhi, he said indifferently: "Your Highness is generous and generous, spare your life, but I have nothing in return for it. Only by doing your best for His Highness can you make up for the offense you have done to His Highness these days."
Li Zhi shook his hand and looked at me in shock. He was glad that he didn't kill Jiang Zhe, otherwise he would have lost the wise man, but listening to my tone, I actually knew about his poisoning.
I looked at Li Zhi who looked uneasy, and said with a smile: "Your Highness does not have to worry about it. If it were not for His Highness's mercy, Zhe would not be willing to serve."
Li Zhi looked at Shi Yu. Shi Yu had already sent his servants back, but when he heard what I said, his heart shuddered, and he also looked at Li Zhi.
I didn't hide it, and said, "Your Highness, Mr. Shi, don't worry about it. Zhe was ashamed of His Highness's grace in the past, and it is natural for His Highness to give death. Now things have changed, and the minister will not hold grudges. Please don't see the arrogance of the minister these days."
I say this, not to expose my shortcomings. Now that I have decided to be loyal to King Yong, I must consider the way the monarch and his subjects get along. King Yong wants to kill me and deliberately provoke King Yong with me. If these are kept in mind, it will inevitably become a problem in the future. Now that I put it up like this, King Yong will not feel ashamed of me, nor will he resent my offense to him. In the future, the ruler and the minister will naturally be at peace with each other, but don’t say that I have too many thoughts. The ridicule, but to be clear, it is one reason that the king is afraid of the hero, and the ministers are also responsible for overstepping the way of the ministers, so I want to leave a way for the future.
After Li Zhi's expression changed, he finally became cheerful and said, "It's good that you don't blame this king. Zhi is willing to appoint him as the Sima of Tiance Commander, and work together with Ziyou to assist this king."
I bowed down to thank you again, and Li Zhi smiled bitterly: "Sir, you don't need to be so polite. I regard you as a teacher and friend, and you shouldn't be so alienated."
I smiled and said: "The ceremony of honor and inferiority should not be neglected, Suiyun should not be disrespectful, but if His Highness does not blame Suiyun for not counting the rituals, Suiyun will not be polite." This is my original intention, since I have surrendered to King Yong , I will inevitably meet every day in the future. If it is always respectful, it will be very painful. Anyway, before King Yong ascends the throne, I don't need to think too much about the etiquette.
The goal has been achieved, so I said solemnly: "Your Highness, Suiyun also wants to have a deep talk with His Highness, but it is not possible now, please send someone to report to King Qi, saying that Suiyun suddenly relapsed and had to stay to recuperate, and King Qi must have a kiss. Come to visit, Suiyun is bold, and asks His Highness to personally serve the decoction and medicine. This is the first, and the second, although Suiyun knows a little about Dayong, but the forces in the court are still entangled, and it is still unclear. I have collected all the information and sent it. After Suiyun researches it, I will discuss it with His Highness tonight. Thirdly, Guanxiu and the others still don’t know what happened today, so there is some suspicion in their hearts. Please come and tell Mr. Ziyou. Today’s affairs are to demonstrate His Highness’s kindness and the heart of a counselor, these three things are crucial.”
Li Zhi's eyes lit up when he heard my words, and he said, "Suiyun is really thoughtful, this king will do it right away, and this king will accompany the gentleman back to the guest house immediately, Ziyou, you should inform the king of Qi first." Shi Yu and I are ministers Looking at him with a smile, Shi Yu hurried away, and I did the show to the end, and asked King Yong to help me out of the hall. Xiao Shunzi, who was waiting anxiously outside, saw me coming out, and hurried over and gave Yong a cold look. The king said, "Young Master, what happened." Then he took over for King Yong and supported me. I said lightly: "Xiao Shunzi, you have a way to make me temporarily sick, I want to see King Qi."
Li Xian, who was full of joy, arrived at Yongwang's mansion, but a basin of cold water was poured down. When Shi Yu told him that Jiang Zhe's old illness had relapsed, Li Xian's first reaction was that Yongwang deliberately forced him to stay, but he thought about it, Yongwang. The means would not be so clumsy, no matter what, Li Xian still offered to see Jiang Zhe and left Qin Zheng in the car, Li Xian went straight to Qi Fengxuan, he was full of anger, but when he entered the room, Seeing Jiang Zhe lying on the soft couch with a pale face, while his second brother was concentratingly holding a bowl of steaming soup, he was blowing his breath, and when he saw himself coming in, he just smiled and said, "Sixth brother , Mr. Jiang had a talk with several staff members in my house last night, and today I saw him off, Mr. drank a few more glasses of wine, but the old illness relapsed, I am afraid that I will not be able to go."
Li Xian looked at Jiang Zhe's face, and said angrily, "How could it be so coincidental, your medicine is ready when he is sick."
Li Zhi said lightly, "Since Mr. Jiang arrived at the palace, he has been taking medicine almost every day. This is a common practice, so my brother instructed to prepare soup and medicine at all times. Fortunately, today Mr. suddenly fell ill. If there is no such medicine, I am afraid that Mr. I'm going to be sick for days."
I opened my eyes with difficulty, and cursed in my heart why Xiao Shunzi was so serious. The yin and cold infuriating energy that entered my body made me feel cold all over, and my actions were difficult. I have frequent attacks, no matter the time, but I can't think of it today, I am really ashamed of His Royal Highness Qi." After that, I coughed a few times.
His Royal Highness King Yong took a sip of the soup and said, "Okay." After that, let Xiao Shunzi help me up, and King Yong personally fed the medicine. After taking the medicine, my complexion seemed to be a little better, and I said, "Your Highnesses, after taking the medicine with Suiyun, you will have to take a nap. Please don't take offense to your two Highnesses."
King Yong said quickly: "Sir, please have a good rest, this king is leaving now."
I nodded lightly, looked at King Yong with "grateful" eyes, and then seemed to slowly fall asleep.
King Yong stood up and said in a low voice, "Sixth brother, let's not disturb sir, let's talk outside."
After leaving Qifengxuan, Li Xian said with a dull expression, "God's will is like this, it seems that you have won the second brother."
Li Zhi said with a smile: "Sixth brother is too concerned, and when Mr. Jiang recovers, he will naturally go to the Qi Palace."
Li Xian sneered and said: "He's very sick. Marshal Tiance, His Royal Highness King Yong, personally serves the soup and medicine. If he doesn't care, I'll be surprised."
Li Zhi said in his heart, I didn't do less work in the past, but unfortunately he refused to submit, but he said, "Sixth brother is too much."
Li Xian walked away with a flick of his sleeve, left the house, and did not get into the car. He dragged a guard's horse and whipped his whip fiercely. The horse neighed and galloped away. Li Xian ignored the people behind him. call, and leave angrily.
I was in Qifengxuan, and asked Xiao Shunzi to release the restraint on my body, and said with a smile, "I'm sweating again and smelling alcohol, hurry up, I want to take a bath."
Xiao Shunzi smiled and said, "I've already prepared it, I still don't know the temper of the young master?"
I looked at him and said, "You don't ask me how I changed my mind."
Xiao Shunzi said lightly: "I can hear it clearly from a distance of more than ten meters. Xiao Shunzi will never doubt his decision. You can rest assured, as long as Xiao Shunzi is here, no one can hurt him."
The tone of his speech was so calm and firm, I warmed my heart and said: "Of course, Xiao Shunzi, you have to practice hard, in the sea of Huan I can be wise and safe, but there is another world in this world. , if there is a top expert to assassinate me, it is up to you."
There was a hint of excitement in Xiao Shunzi's eyes, but he said coldly, "Young Master, don't worry, I have mastered all the swordsmanship that Master gave me back then. Although I can't beat some people, no one can easily beat me. this."
I nodded, Xiao Shunzi has never been vain and boasted, but I asked suspiciously, "I remember that you said that you need masculine true energy for some swordsmanship, how can you use it now?"
Xiao Shunzi smiled lightly: "Young master is proficient in Yili, don't you know the truth of negative and positive?"
I looked at Xiao Shunzi's undisguised joy. Although I didn't quite understand it, I knew that Xiao Shunzi's martial arts had reached a new level. How can Xiao Shunzi only be in his early twenties this year, and he is so powerful? Could it be that he is really a genius in martial arts. But I don't know that my wild thoughts are mostly correct. Xiao Shunzi is talented and intelligent, has a persevering temperament, and has practiced martial arts that is in line with his physical condition. In addition, he has followed me over the years, and he has also made a lot of achievements in literature and science. Today's achievements, although still far behind the three great masters, have far surpassed that of the top masters in the ordinary sense.
After I changed into a Tsing Yi, I followed Shi Yu to the confidential study room of the Yongwang Mansion in a happy mood. This place is located on the right side of the palace and is heavily guarded. In this ordinary study room, all the confidential documents of the palace are kept, except for Yongwang’s house. Except for Wang himself and Shi Yu, no one else could enter without authorization. The study was taken care of by four 18- or 19-year-old book boys. These people were all well-behaved and fast-moving. After a while, as long as an order was given, I could become King Yong's capable general. I secretly praised King Yong for being extraordinary, so I went into the study and began to inquire about the information I needed to know, although Xiao Shunzi had already obtained information from Chen Zhen. The information I received told me, but how could it compare to the comprehensive information collected by King Yong? The book boy who stayed to serve me was very effective. I asked for the documents according to the catalog, and he could get them immediately. I'm not used to it, but it doesn't matter. I will work in my study in the future. I've read the things here once is enough.
Li Xin once again peeked at the handsome young man in his twenties, full of curiosity. Li Xin's father was King Yong's personal guard. He was killed in an assassination attempt, leaving only an orphan. Li Zhi saw that he was lonely and had no one to support, so he took him into the care of the mansion. After a few years, his diligence, studious and loyalty Li Zhi's shrewdness was appreciated by Li Zhi, and he was given a name and surname to enter the confidential study. Although his actions were strictly restricted here, he was able to participate in the confidential study and follow His Royal Highness King Yong. However, when they become adults, they will be allowed to go out to become officials. Li Xin is very clear that this is a road to prosperity. Of course, the price is that he needs to be loyal forever, and he must not be overly cautious, so curiosity is the biggest disadvantage. There was once a book boy who peeked at the document out of curiosity and violated the rules. After being discovered by King Yong, His Highness, who was always kind, was furious and ordered to kill with a cane. Li Xin will always remember the tragic situation at that time, so he never went beyond the book. He knew that he should not guess the identity of this young man, but when he found that His Royal Highness King Yong was waiting for this young man in another study, he couldn't help but feel curious.
In another study, although Li Zhi was reading the military book, he was always uneasy. He looked at Shi Yu and said, "Ziyou, you should go to rest, this king can just wait for him, don't be too tired. already."
Shi Yu said with a smile: "Today, as soon as Jiang Suiyun returned to His Highness, he acted resolutely, first letting King Qi let go, and then reassuring his advisors. Ziyou was very impressed, so he also wanted to know what strategy he would offer to His Highness. His eagerness, Not under His Highness."
Li Zhi smiled and said: "Yes, I really look forward to his advice, you know the current situation very well, this king is caught in the net, the more he struggles, the tighter the net is, I really want to know what he has. The way to get this king out of the siege. Thinking about it, I really scared this king into a cold sweat. If I really kill Jiang Zhe, I am afraid it will be doomed."
Shi Yu said: "Yeah, thanks to His Highness's kindness, otherwise Jiang Zhe would not be willing to be conscientious. After thinking about it, I am afraid that our minds are all in his control. Today's cup of poisonous wine is probably Jiang Zhe to His Highness. test."
Li Zhi said doubtfully, "But if this king hadn't reined in his horse, would he really have drunk that glass of poisonous wine?"
Shi Yu smiled bitterly and said, "This subordinate has no way of knowing his arrangements, but since things haven't reached that point, His Highness doesn't have to bother."
Li Zhi also smiled and said, "Yeah, what is this king worrying about in the past, Ziyou, I'm afraid he won't come out very quickly, we might as well play a game of chess to pass the time."
Shi Yu said: "Since Your Highness has such an elegant atmosphere, your subordinates will naturally accompany you, and please show mercy to His Highness."
The two smiled at each other, put on the chessboard, and played against each other.
After a while, Li Zhong, a book boy, came in and reported: "Your Highness, when my subordinates were delivering tea, I saw that Mr. Jiang seemed a little annoyed, and he asked where his subordinates were."
Li Zhi was stunned for a moment, looked at Shi Yu, Shi Yu's mind changed, and said: "Your Highness, this subordinate sees that Jiang Zhe relies heavily on Li Shun by his side, it seems that he can't be separated from him for a moment, and Li Shun is also loyal to Jiang Zhe. No, it's better to let Li Shun go in and serve, anyway, Li Shun will inevitably have access to secrets in the future."
Li Zhi thought for a while and said, "Yes, Li Shun is not an ordinary person. There must be a deep friendship between their master and servant. Li Zhong, you should send someone from Qi Fengxuan to call Li Shun to serve in the study."
After a while, Li Zhong came back and reported: "His Royal Highness, Mr. Shi, Mr. Jiang is very happy, and Li Xin replied, that Li Shun is very disciplined, he just concentrates on serving, and never pays attention to the contents of the document."
Only then did Li Zhi feel relieved and said, "That's it, Ziyou, it's your turn."
Shi Yu looked at the chessboard and said with a smile: "Your Highness is not in the mood, it seems that this game is going to be won by your subordinates."
Li Zhi smiled bitterly and looked at the trapped Bai Long, and said, "Yes, this king lost."
Shi Yu said: "This is the subordinate's concentration. Your Highness doesn't have to worry about that side. Don't let the subordinate win the next game."
As Li Zhi picked up the pieces, he said, "Okay, let's see what this king killed you bloodshed."
The two gradually got into it. When the third chess game was over, Shi Yu got up and looked out the window. It was dawn, and it was pitch black outside. Li Zhi looked at the chessboard and said, "This king won by half a piece."
Shi Yu smiled and said, "His Royal Highness has extraordinary chess skills. As long as you pay attention, your subordinates will be defeated."
At this moment, Li Zhong came in and said, "Your Highness, Mr. Shi, Mr. Jiang, please see Your Highness."
When Li Zhi heard this, he didn't care about picking up pieces, jumped up and said, "How does he look?"
Li Zhongdao: "Although Mr. looks a little tired, but his bearing is very calm, and he even joked with the villain, saying that the villain should go and drag His Highness out of the bedroom?"
Li Zhi finally let go of his heart that had been hanging all night. He let out a long sigh and said, "It's okay, it's okay."
Shi Yu looked out the window and said in surprise, "His Royal Highness, look."
Li Zhi looked up and saw outside the window, the dawn sun had passed through the thick clouds, and the eastern sky had turned white. Li Zhi smiled and said: "Good omen, let's go, let's go see Jiang Zhe?" After saying that, Shi Yu walked out, looking at Li Zhi's heroic stance, he couldn't help putting down a big stone in his heart, and followed him.
(End of the first "Southern Chu Champion")
The Second Xiaoqiang Rebellion