Plan to cut off the nine states

There were people everywhere inside and outside the valley. When the latecomers heard what happened, they all defended the Fan disciples.

"The King of Wu can't even keep his own name. How can Mr. Fan pass on the mantle to him?"

"Yes, the King of Wu is a bereaved dog and came to our Yecheng to take refuge. Let's just forget about his murder of the children of Jizhou in the east capital. We must not let him show off his power in front of Mr. Fan's grave again. Drive him out of the Valley of Thought!"

"And the King of Wu is not worthy of being a scholar. I have heard that when he was in the Eastern Capital, he forcibly recruited people to serve as soldiers. Even knowledgeable scholars were pulled out of their homes and forced to go to the battlefield with swords and guns. Such atrocities, Comparable to the faint king of the Five Kingdoms! Drive him away, drive him away immediately!"

…

The people were furious, and when An Chongqian questioned and understood, he drove the King of Wu out of Siguo Valley, and even out of Jizhou.

Chang Yan regretted it too much. It was useless to blame himself at this time. No one believed it at all. He had to gather his followers together, lined up in a line, barely protected the room behind him, and flashed the sword in his robe from time to time. This move was especially good. Yes, most of the people who came to express condolences were literati and ordinary people, who were somewhat afraid of weapons and did not dare to rush up and provoke.

After half an hour, the Fan disciples had begun to suspect that their senior brother had been killed. An Chongqian, who had gone to meet King Wu alone, finally walked out of the room with a confused look on his face, as if he was going to plead guilty rather than asking for guilt.

Everyone immediately gathered around to ask. An Zhongqian waved his hands repeatedly, suppressed the noise, and said: "This... the matter is a bit complicated, and it is difficult for me to decide alone, so I have to choose three more people to go with me to see Mr. Xu and listen to him. explain."

"Is there any explanation for this? Your husband passed away yesterday, and King Wu arrived on the same day. It's hard to say whether he saw your last face. How could he be accepted as a disciple?"

"Where is Senior Brother Song? He has been taking care of Mr. Song since we left. He must have seen the cause and effect."

An Zhongqian waved his hand again, "Anyway, I want to choose three more people. Junior Brother Yan, among my classmates, you are the most intelligent and good at eloquence. Come with me. And...Mr. Tang, who is highly respected, please also..."

Mr. Tang is a teacher in a nearby village. He admires Fan Guan's reputation and occasionally interacts with him. Today he came to express his condolences. When he encountered such an incident, he mainly wanted to watch the fun and did not want to participate. He hurriedly shook his head and waved his hands and retreated. , life and death refused to come forward.

An Chongqian had no choice but to call another junior brother named Yu, and scanned his eyes, trying to find a suitable outsider. However, the news of his death had just come out one day ago, and most of the mourners were ordinary people and disciples like them who had been prepared for it. No real "respectable person" showed up.

When he was in trouble, a voice from behind the crowd shouted: "Someone is coming from the Yecheng Yamen, please give way."

An Chongqian was overjoyed, separated his junior fellow apprentices, and went to greet him.

When Fan Guan was still alive, Zhou Guan, the governor of Yecheng, came to visit him personally and gave him a valley. After he found that he could not persuade the old man to leave the mountain, he never came again. This time, only a general judge was sent to express his condolences.

Tongpan was not a small official, but in the eyes of a group of common people and scholars, he was particularly noble. An Chongqian happened to recognize this person, so he stepped forward and bowed deeply, "Student An Chongqian, I would like to pay my respects to Mr. Ge."

Ge Tongpuan nodded, frowned slightly and said, "Mr. Fan's body is still cold. Why is there such a chaos here? Is there no one in charge?"

An Zhongqian's face turned red, and the people around him shouted that they were wronged. After a brief scolding from Tongsuan's entourage, everyone shut up.

An Zhongqian said: "Master Tongpan came just in time. Mr. Xu, the abdicated king of Wu, stayed in Siguo Valley yesterday. For some reason, he claimed that he was Mr. Fan's closed disciple and had accepted the mantle. He would succeed Mr. Fan in preaching. We were about to Go and find out. It would be great if you can get justice from Lord Tongjian.”

Ge Tongpuan frowned even more tightly, "I was ordered to come here to express my condolences. I have to go back after offering incense sticks to Mr. Fan..."

An Chongqian said: "Mr. Fan's name is heard by everyone in the world. If the master's inheritance falls into the hands of outsiders and the Fan family is humiliated, what shame will Ye City have?"

Ge Tongpian was still hesitating. Someone came over and whispered a few words. Ge Tongpian said angrily: "An Chongqian, didn't you just go in? You didn't ask such a simple thing clearly?"

An Chongqian's face turned red again, "It's because I didn't know clearly that I asked Lord Tongpan to make the decision."

Ge Tongpan became more cautious, "This matter is so big that I can't handle it anymore. I have to go back and ask for instructions. You guys wait here and don't allow any more trouble."

"Yes, it all depends on Lord Tongpan."

The King of Wu had a special status. Just because he heard that he was in the valley, the governor was unwilling to come to express condolences. Therefore, Ge Tongpian was extremely reluctant to hear the word "call the shots."

Afraid of being questioned again, Ge Tongpuan did not go to the grave to offer incense, called his entourage, and left in a hurry.

Some of the Fan disciples had a bad temper. As soon as Ge Tongpan left, he loudly said: "Mr. Fan is known as the 'Su King'. The emperor must be courteous when he sees him. He has learned from his master and is responsible for important matters. How can a small Tongpan make the decision?" "Senior Brother An is too humble and has lost his reputation as a gentleman."

An Chongqian said coldly: "Why didn't you say anything just now?"

"Hmph, we don't have to wait for the Yamen to make the decision. When I go to question King Wu, I need to let him come out and admit his mistake face to face."

"Junior Brother Yu has such ambitions, nothing could be better. I will accompany you to go in again."

"No, I can be alone."

"I'll accompany you in." An Zhongqian insisted. Outsiders thought it was a sign of friendship, but all he thought about was "Ju Niang".

Junior Brother Yu is generous and righteous, but a bit clumsy. An Zhongqian called someone else, "Junior Brother Yan, you still have to come with us. Forget about outsiders. The three of us are enough."

Junior Brother Yan cupped his hands and said, "It depends on senior brother's arrangements."

The three of them straightened their clothes and walked towards King Wu's residence with square steps. When they arrived at the door, An Chongqian turned around and reminded in a low voice: "Be careful, Mr. Xu is not the only one in the house."

"The affairs of the world cannot be discussed in a single word. The truth is on our side. Even if there are thousands of troops hidden in the house, I will not be afraid."

Feng Juniang had just finished tracing the words and stood at the table to admire it. She felt quite satisfied. When she heard the door, she turned around and said with a smile: "Mr. An is back again. Oh, he has brought helpers."

"Yeah." An Zhongqian wanted to act more dignified, but when he saw this woman, he couldn't help but squirm.

Junior Brother Yu was also stunned, "It turns out that King Wu hides his beauty in this golden house."

Feng Juniang said: "Master Xu is wrong. This is Mr. Fan's old residence. The old man is indifferent and his residence cannot be called a 'golden house'. As for me, I am just the maid beside Mr. Xu. I dare not bear the name of 'Jiao'. Xu The young master didn’t ‘hide’ either.”

The four words were refuted, and no one was left. Junior Brother Yu snorted twice, "I won't tell you, where is the King of Wu?"

In the end, Junior Brother Yan, the only one among the three who maintained his dignity, nodded deeply to Feng Juniang without saying a word, and his eyes did not stop for a moment.

The screen was very light, so Feng Juniang moved it to make way for an open space, "The King of Wu is not here, but there is one, Mr. Xu."

Xu Chu was still sitting where he was, facing the guests and staring at the opposite side, as if he was distracted.

Junior Brother Yu was about to speak, but was stopped by An Chongqian. Fan disciples had to observe etiquette. The three of them saluted at the same time. An Chongqian said: "Master Xu, these two are Mr. Fan's beloved disciples. This one's surname is Yu Mingzhan." , this person’s surname is Yan Mingwei.”

Xu Chu woke up from a dream, put his hands on the mat, turned around, and said with a smile: "It's a great honor to meet Mr. Disciple."

Yu Zhan held his breath, and without waiting for his senior brother's signal, he loudly said: "Whether you are the King of Wu or Mr. Xu, I only want to ask: Why do you claim to be Mr. Fan's disciple and accept the mantle? There is nothing worse than deceiving the world and stealing your reputation!" "

"Because it's true."

Yu Zhan laughed angrily, "As expected of the King of Wu, he is very thick-skinned. He can lie to his face without blushing at all."

Feng Juniang happened to bring tea over and said angrily: "Look, you are a scholar. Why do you speak so badly and accuse others of lying for no reason? This cup of tea... I won't give it to you. Mr. An and Mr. Yan, please."

With just these few words, An Zhongqian was shaken out of his mind again. Yu Zhan wanted to refute, but when the words came to his mouth, they always felt too heavy and he couldn't say them out. Only Yan Wei looked at them without squinting, said "Thank you" and refused to take the tea cup. .

Xu Chu said: "Mr. Fan just left not long ago, can you still feel him in this room?"

Just as Yu Zhan was about to speak, An Zhongqian stopped him and nodded to Yan Wei, indicating that he would speak.

Yan Wei said: "I have studied with Mr. Wang for several years and learned from his words and deeds. I have his form in my heart and can feel it no matter when and where."

Xu Chu smiled and said: "I envy you all for being able to accompany Mr. Fan for many years. I have only met him twice, and the last one was the eternal farewell."

"So everyone has doubts, how did Mr. Xu get Mr. Fan's mantle?"

"Mr. Fan was buried with only a few items. The remaining clothes were all in the next room, and there was no clothes and bowl."

Yu Zhan couldn't help but said: "We all know that there is no mantle, so we come to ask you."

Xu Chu raised his fingers to the sky and said, "Although I don't have a mantle, I have learned the essence of Fanxue."

"Ha!" Yu Zhan laughed when he was angry.

Yan Wei took half a step forward, cupped his hands and said, "Master Xu, do you have to teach yourself, or do you need to be taught?"

"Junior Brother Yan, you..." Yu Zhan didn't understand the meaning of his words. He thought that Junior Brother was about to give in. He was pulled down by An Zhongqian's sleeves, and then he shut up.

"teach."

"Mr. Fan teaches it personally?"

"Mr. Fan left a message and Song Qizhu was transferred to me."

"Where is Senior Brother Song?"

"Come out of the mountain with an ax in hand."

"Based on this, there shouldn't be many words from Senior Brother Song."

"Not much, three words."

"Regardless of whether it's true or not, just based on the three words left by Mr. Fan, Mr. Xu thinks he has the essence of Fan Xue?"

"Um."

Yan Wei held up his hand again, "May I ask what three words it is?"

"Can't say."

"Mr. Xu thought it was 'unspeakable', or did Mr. Xu leave a message of 'unspeakable'?"

"I thought it couldn't be said."

"Then how can Mr. Xu convince me, the disciples of Fan Sect, and the world?"

"You can ask me."

“What’s the use of asking if it says ‘you can’t tell’?”

"You can ask me about Fan's knowledge. If my answer is different from Mr. Fan's, it will be deceiving the world and stealing the name. Or if it is the same, I will get the essence. For example, it can be called 'accepting the mantle'."

Yan Wei's expression became more and more serious, as if facing a formidable enemy, but Yu Zhan laughed again, "What a loud tone, I'll go first: etiquette is the foundation of the world..."

Not that Zhan had finished speaking, Xu Chu had already given a three-word answer: "Shut up."