〖In July of the nineteenth year of Xiande, Prince De Zhao Jue returned, and the lord asked him about the attack on Shu. At that time, the prime minister, Shang Weijun, tried to attack Shu. On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, Liang, the righteous daughter of King Ling, held a banquet at Mingyue Tower and invited Prince De to attend the banquet. Looking at this, I may be puzzled. Jiang Zhe, an official Wei, did not know why he was able to attend the table to hear about the important events of the society. Or, he had two minds at that time. However, the actual evidence does not seem to be necessarily.
After the banquet, Prince De returned angrily, Jiang Zhe caught up, talked with Prince De, and the prince was silent. Afterwards, the court discussed the matter of attacking Shu. Some people say that the prince did not stop the discussion of attacking Shu, and it was Jiang Zhe's fault, and he was guilty.
— "The History of Chu in the Southern Dynasties: The Biography of Jiang Suiyun"〗
The Prince of Germany, Zhao Jue, came back, and the hustle and bustle of the attack on Shu calmed down a lot, because Zhao Jue went directly to pay homage to the late king. It has been settled, Zhao Jue is an important military official, and the proposal to attack Shu must listen to his opinion, so he specially ordered him back. After Zhao Jue cried and sacrificed, he went to the palace to meet the lord of the state, and he spoke bluntly in front of the lord of the state, and resisted the attack on Shu. Zhao Jue had a very high prestige in the court, so many people immediately stopped talking about the attack on Shu, but more people came to persuade them, especially the courtiers and celebrities on Shang Weijun's side, but Prince De was always reluctant. promise.
On July 15th, Princess Liang Wan of Mingyue posted a post to invite Prince De to a banquet, and at the same time invited King Li Xian of Qi and Prime Minister Shang Weijun. Everyone knows what this means. It has nothing to do with me, but why should I participate. I looked at King Qi in disbelief. I just said that I was just a small official and was not eligible to participate. His Highness King Qi's face did not change color and said: "It's just Miss Liang who called the banquet. You were sent by the lord to receive me, so naturally you have to participate." Although I had the heart to refuse, the guards beside His Royal Highness King Qi were full of murderous intent. When his eyes looked at me, I still agreed. Whoever said that might be unbearable, you let them try to say nothing in front of these battle-hardened guards.
His Royal Highness King Qi was the second to arrive. This time the banquet was on the Mingyue Upstairs. Now it is midsummer and the heat is unbearable. All the windows are open in this small upstairs, and there are buckets of hidden ice everywhere. , the building was cool and cool, Liang Wan was wearing a light yellow shirt, sitting on the main seat, Shang Weijun was wearing a silk robe, sitting on the second chair from the left, and below him sat a black-shirted scholar Shi, is Shang Weijun's aide Nianyuan. When Shang Weijun saw King Qi's highness coming, he stepped forward to greet me with a smile on his face, and frowned when he saw me. I hurriedly took the opportunity to say, "Xiaguan is here to accompany His Highness Prince Qi. Since your lord is here, please allow Xiaguan to retire." Shang Weijun showed a satisfied smile and praised me for my knowledge. I figured it out, and was about to go downstairs. King Qi, with a wicked smile, grabbed my arm and said, "Don't go, Master Shang, since Jiang Hanlin is an official sent by the lord of the state, an attendant of the Hanlin Academy, and Yingjie, your talented Southern Chu scholar, It's better to let him listen here." Shang Weijun frowned, finally not daring to offend His Highness King Qi, but gave me a warning look, so I couldn't say more.
King Qi sat first on the right, Young Master Qin sat next to him, I had to sit next to Young Master Qin, but never on the left. After all, King Qi insisted that I stay. After waiting for a long time, I heard loud laughter from outside the door, and walked in a handsome man dressed in the clothes of a prince. Because King Ling passed away less than a year ago, he wore a filial piety on his crown. Zhao Jue, Prince of Germany, followed by a middle-aged scholar in blue clothes and a warrior in black clothes with swords. As soon as I saw Zhao Jue, I almost didn't call out. This man was actually the man in gray who told him his fortune before high school. If he was Prince De, then he must have been stationed in Hengjiang at that time, ready to attack Moling. No wonder he wanted me to be lucky at the time. I answered him at the time, "There are disputes inside and strong enemies outside." Now that I think about it, it actually coincides with the situation. This Prince De is the younger brother of King Ling, and he is an important military official. I never thought that I had fortune-telling for him. I wonder if he still remembers me
Zhao Jue's gaze swept across the people in the room one by one, but did not stop on me, probably because he had no memory of me. It just seems a little suspicious of my identity.
Zhao Jue sat on the left first chief, the samurai stood behind him, and his staff sat on the left last seat, because I deliberately separated a seat from Qin Gongzi, so that person was sitting opposite me, four. Looking at each other, I smiled ingratiatingly, but the man looked at me inquiringly for a while with sharp eyes.
Zhao Jue sat down, a maid served tea, and then they all withdrew. Liang Wan stood up and said: "The concubine has been entrusted by the monk of King Qi and invited Prince De to a banquet. Although the concubine should not be involved in military affairs, it's just that the adults need someone to serve after all, and the concubine has no choice but to stay. The matter concerns me Dayong and Nanchu, my concubine was born in Dayong, and I received the grace of the late king of Nanchu, so I absolutely dare not divulge just a few words."
Zhao Jue smiled lightly and said, "Miss Liang is the righteous daughter of the first king, and she can also be regarded as Zhao Jue's niece. Zhao Jue naturally believes in Miss, but I don't know what His Royal Highness King Qi and the Prime Minister have to teach you."
Li Xian looked at Zhao Jue and said with a smile: "I have heard for a long time that Prince De is the number one general of Southern Chu, and the commander of the army of Southern Chu. When I saw it today, he was indeed elegant and high-profile, with extraordinary demeanor. Although Li Xian is the esteemed prince, he is still in the dark. The army is just a general. If it comes to the position, Li Xianyou is under the prince, and he is ashamed to see the word "teaching". It's just that Prince De's efforts to block the attack on Shu do not match the name of a famous general. ."
Zhao Jue said lightly: "Shu State refuses to submit to Dayong, although he is guilty, but the lord of Shu State was once a relic of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Although he and Dayong once served as ministers of the same dynasty, they are not monarchs and ministers. Now I don't know the great Why did Yong attack the state of Shu on the grounds that the state of Shu would not surrender? Dayong thinks that there are sufficient reasons, although I am called the minister Dayong in Southern Chu, I have never been assigned by Dayong."
Li Xian said with a smile: "Prince De's words are wrong. I, Dayong, are wise and wise. The King of Shu is divided into regions and refuses to be a minister. This is sincere intolerable. If Shu had declared himself a minister to our country earlier, my Dayong would not have attacked Shu. , I heard that the emperor's revenge can be revenged after the ninth generation. At the beginning of our day, the kingdom of Shu sent troops to Qinchuan to burn, kill, and loot. I heard the blood of the emperor Dayong. I can be a human being. Later, I Dayong attacked Southern Chu, and the Shu Kingdom sent troops again. Although I was kind to Southern Chu, my Dayong suffered heavy losses. The land of Sanqin was thousands of miles of ruins, and life was ruined. The country has blackmailed countless women of gold and silk. From this point of view, the kingdom of Shu is a wicked wolf hiding in the dark. Usually, he can't dormant. If he sees a gap, he will definitely come out and bite. Now that Prince De speaks for the kingdom of Shu, I am afraid that One day, it will be swallowed up by this kind of merciless friend who only knows interests."
Zhao Jue said coldly: "Although Jue is not talented, he knows the allusions about the death of lips and teeth. I'm afraid that after the fall of Shu, it will be my turn to Nanchu."
Li Xian was at a loss for words. He knew very well that after attacking the Shu Kingdom, Nan Chu would be the next target, but he did not expect that Zhao Jue would not be afraid to offend Dayong so straightforwardly. As Prince Dayong, he was unwilling to lie. At this time, Young Master Qin took over the conversation and said, "That's too bad. The so-called "lips and teeth are cold" is to rely on each other and help each other in the same boat. Now Shu has repeatedly provoked Nanchu, and regards friendship as hatred. , I don't know that Prince De's so-called cold lips mean this."
Zhao Jue smiled lightly, and his aide, the middle-aged man in green shirt, put down the swinging fan in his hand, and said, "Although Nan Chu and Shu State Primary School have entanglements, it is not a great shame. In the ninth year of Xiande, Dayong settled the Central Plains, and Chen Bing The Yangtze River, if the Lord of Shu did not help and dispatched troops to Qinchuan, how could Dayong give up his troops and make a truce. Even so, my Southern Chu still calls Dayong a minister. This is really a humiliation. Although the two countries are now reconciled, Princess Changle is married to our country. Lord, the two countries have formed a good marriage, but your country has been training a navy army in the north of the Yangtze River every year, and the intention of the southern expedition has not ceased, I do not know how His Royal Highness King Qi explained it."
Li Xian said with a smile: "Although the two countries are reconciled, there are not a few people in your country like the prince who never forget the enmity between the two countries. If our country does not practice navy, I am afraid that your army will have crossed the river long ago. , don't you know the situation, what's more, since our country has long been married to your country, my imperial sister is the daughter of the father and the emperor, and married to Nanchu. In our country, there has been a military discussion for a long time, and instead of attacking Shu to avoid the troubles of confidants, we will pacify Southern Chu in order to clear the side of the couch."
Zhao Jue sneered and said, "It's unreasonable. For the past ten years, I have contributed gold, silver, wealth, and silk to Nanchu every year, but your country has never been willing to sell weapons and horses. If you are sincere, how could this be the case? Although the queen is Princess Dayong, then How can you care about women in important national affairs, and Zhao Jue dare not forget the matter of marrying his beloved daughter in order to attack Hu State."
Qin Gongzi said angrily: "Prince De insults our country like this, which is tolerable, but unbearable, but if you think about it carefully, what the prince thinks is not unreasonable, please listen to the prince's explanation below. my country's ban on the sale of weapons and horses is not aimed at expensive my country, the northern border of our country is restless, the frontier soldiers sleep every day, how dare to sell warhorse weapons, not to mention that your country has been in Jiangnan for a long time, and Jiangnan is full of rivers and lakes. If your country does not want to attack Dayong, why do you want warhorses? Is it Do you want to attack Shu?"
Zhao Jue was at a loss for words, and Shang Weijun hurriedly turned around and said, "Your Highness and Young Master Qin have both made a blunder. Today I'm waiting for the meeting, not for the sake of arrogance. Please don't hold grudges."
Zhao Jue and Qin Gongzi both raised their teacups and took a sip, indicating that they would give up arguing.
Qin Gongzi took a breath and said: "Our country seeks Shu, of course, because Shu is stubborn and unwilling to be a minister. Although we have formed an alliance, we have broken the covenant. The most hateful thing is that our country's salt production is insufficient, and the rest needs to be purchased from Shu. , Shu has repeatedly raised the price, the special products in Shu are rich, and the Shu country gathers according to the treasured land. This is really intolerable. If our two countries conquer Shu and are willing to share the population and land of Shu with your country, you and our country will be separated from each other. Jiang Erzhi, when the military strength of Southern Chu increases greatly, my Dayong still has border troubles, and Nanchu occupies the whole of the Yangtze River, so what should I worry about? If this is the case, Prince De is not at ease, thinking that he cannot resist my Dayong. It would be better to abandon the armor and surrender as soon as possible, does Nan Chu only want to be in the south of the Yangtze River, and his life and death are dominated by others?"
Zhao Jue was silent, but just shook his head. He knew that the soldiers of Southern Chu were not strong enough to fight. If they attacked the Shu Kingdom, most of the land population would fall into the hands of Dayong. If the results of the battle were divided equally, who would fight them later? who's it. Everyone looked at each other, and they all saw the determined look on Zhao Jue's face. It seemed that no matter how bright a lotus flower was, he couldn't change his mind. Li Xian flashed a distressed look in his eyes and glanced at Liang Wan. Liang Wan stood up and said, "Everyone is tired today. If you don't dislike it, please go downstairs to have a meal. My concubine has prepared sour plum soup to cool off the heat. Please taste it."
Shang Weijun stood up and said with a smile, "Miss Liang's banquet must be attended, please."
Zhao Jue stood up, looked at Young Master Qin, and asked, "Excuse me, what is your surname, and what official position do you hold in Dayong?"
Qin Gongzi said: "I will serve under Qin Zheng and the King of Qi."
Zhao Jue said with a smile: "Young Master Qin's tongue is like a sharp sword, Zhao Jue admires it, but some things, no matter how good they are, can't match the strength and interests. I, Nanchu, don't think I have the right to compete with Dayong. If Dayong attacks Shu Country, I, Southern Chu, should be fiercely fighting for self-protection.”
Seeing Zhao Jue being so stubborn, Young Master Qin said with a wry smile: "Prince De chooses Shan to be stubborn and not moved by his words. Qin Zheng, Meng Lang, please forgive me."
Zhao Jue nodded slightly and said: "This king is busy with military affairs, so I will leave first, and I ask you to forgive me." Everyone did not expect Zhao Jue to be so decisive, and they originally planned to persuade him after the wine fever, but at this time they had to helplessly. deliver. Several people exchanged glances from time to time, I was moved, and suddenly stood up and said: "Everyone is exhausted, let the lower officials send the prince." King Qi and the others did not care, Shang Weijun said bitterly: "Also All right, all right."
I followed Zhao Jue out. Zhao Jue was a little tired. I carefully looked at the thirty-year-old prince. He must have been under a lot of pressure over the years. There is a perseverance in his body. This is my Optimus Prime of Southern Chu. I admire him and feel sorry for him. I can't understand it because of my painstaking efforts. I really don't understand why there is such courage. Zhao Jue noticed my gaze and asked lightly, "Who are you?"
I respectfully said: "Xiaguan Jiang Zhe, a student in the Hanlin Academy, is now driving with the king."
Zhao Jue was taken aback and asked, "You are Jiang Zhe, why are you sitting with King Qi?"
I quickly explained: "Xiaguan was ordered to receive the King of Qi, and the King of Qi must be present today. Xiaguan is fortunate to be able to listen to the prince's teachings, and it is a blessing for three lifetimes."
Although Zhao Jue was a little strange, he didn't go into it, and said bitterly, "I have heard your poems, and they are so well written. There are voices outside the fortress. Autumn troops are deployed in the battlefield. The horse-made Lu is fast, and the bow is like a thunderbolt. But the king is in the world and won the name before and after his death. It happened in vain.'" He seemed to be addicted to the song "I wrote in Jiangxia" In the mood of "Break awhile", he accidentally stroked his temples for a while, and after a long time, he said lightly: "Do you think we should attack the Kingdom of Shu?"
Seeing that there were no outsiders around, I said, "Before Xiaguan expresses his opinion, please allow Xiaguan to ask three questions?"
Zhao Jue glanced at me in amazement and said, "Just ask."
A trace of sadness flashed in my eyes, and I asked: "First, may I ask your lord, I am from the lord of Nanchu, down to the common people, but there are people who understand Dayong's wolf ambitions as well as the lord."
Zhao Jue was silent for a while and said, "There are not many people, even my cronies, who persuade me to attack Shu."
I asked again: "Second, may I ask your lord, if Dayong himself attacks the State of Shu and the State of Shu asks me to send troops to help me, will I, Nanchu, dare to send troops?"
Zhao Jue said tragically: "Don't dare, our monarchs and ministers will surely sit back and watch the state of Shu die."
I know his heartache, but I still asked the third question: "Thirdly, if the lord tries to stop the attack on Shu, and the government's purpose is firm, I have to choose another general. I don't know that there are people in southern Chu who can lead the way better than the general. Are you fighting?"
The three questions I asked in a row were sharper than the first, and Zhao Jue was sweating as he listened, and he looked at me fixedly.
I bowed my head and said: "Now, our country can no longer be independent. If the prince insists and refuses, and the lord sends others to attack Shu, our soldiers are not as good as Shu and Dayong. If they consume too much when attacking Shu, they will At that time, Dayong wanted to break our southern Chu, and his momentum was like a broken bamboo. If the lord personally marched into the army, he could get some of the key points of Bashu as the foundation, and after obtaining the Longyou Pass as a buffer, and then firmly defend Xiangfan, then Dayong was forced by the situation. At least can protect southern Chu. After decades of being a kingdom, if I, Nan Chu, can live my life and try my best, I may not be able to gain the world."
Zhao Jue's face showed sadness at first, then calmed down again, and then showed a determined look in his eyes, and said, "Master Jiang is truly an unparalleled countryman. If I lead the army to attack Shu, Master Jiang would be willing to be my advisor."
What a joke, I don't want to go to the battlefield, so I said lightly: "Xiaguan does not know the military strategy, and dare not follow. If the prince asks, he will know everything and say everything."
Zhao Jue glanced at me in astonishment, as if he didn't understand why I rejected such a road to Qingyun, he said solemnly: "Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of a country, Lord Jiang is my servant of Southern Chu, how can you not help me in the south? Chu do your best, think about it." After that, he left with someone.
I looked at Zhao Jue's back angrily, the guy who repays the kindness and revenge, I just pointed you, you just repaid me like this, you want me to go to the battlefield, it's really unreasonable, what should I do, who can I ask for help so that I don't have to join the army, I'm suffering Thinking hard.
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Note: Chou Yu (sound Chou) means the enemy.