Plan to cut off the nine states

(Please collect and recommend)

Lou Chu went home, found the hidden dagger, and took his old servant to his new house.

The new house is a cross-yard of the General's Mansion, with a separate door, and all the practical things are provided by the manor. Although the place is not big, it is extremely luxurious, on par with the inner house, with piles of cloth, boxes full of jewelry, and full columns. Wrapped in brocade, the green bricks in the courtyard have just been re-paved, and they need to be sprinkled with clean water three times a day to keep them new and give a good impression to the bride who is about to enter the house.

The old servant stood at the door and did not dare to go in. He said in surprise: "How much does this brick cost?"

He was too embarrassed to even step on the ground, so he walked around the verandah, pretending to check the room, and hid the dagger in a jewelry box. If someone discovered it, they would think it was something in the house.

There are a lot of things to do in the building and he has to leave soon. The old servant stayed in the new house to look after the house. He only had time to say a few words to the master: "There are many people visiting the young master these days, especially the three members of the Dongyang Hou family." Sir, I’ve been here several times.”

"Zhou Lu is here again?" Lou Chu frowned. He remembered that Zhou Lu said that he would not come to ask for help again in the future.

"They also sent many gifts, but I didn't dare to accept them."

"Well, don't accept it. Who else has been here?"

"Then there are my relatives, and... Master Mahou has also sent people here twice to ask if the young master is back." The old servant was reluctant to mention Ma Wei.

"Hmm." Lou Chu hesitated whether to see Ma Wei. He had not made any actual progress yet and could not even bring the dagger into the imperial city.

"By the way, I sent a letter from Bingzhou. I specifically asked me to hand it over to the young master. Look at my memory, I almost forgot about it."

The old servant groped in his arms for a long time and took out a letter. The corners were a little frayed, but the seal was still intact.

"When was it delivered?"

"Three days ago."

Lou Chu opened the letter and read it hastily. The content was very simple. He first reported that he was safe, and then talked about the chess game. He wrote, "If the stone falls three or six, I will not regret it. I will guard one corner and wait for the seventeenth son to make a clever move."

The general claimed that Shen Zhi, the governor of Bingzhou, would definitely come to Luoyang, but Shen Dan hinted that he would stay in the north. I don't know who is right and who is wrong.

At the end of the letter, another line was added, which was obviously written in a hurry, and the handwriting was different from Shen Dan's: Zhongnan Buyi is attached to Jiwei, and I would like to ask how the Seventeenth Young Master is doing.

Lou Chu put away the letter and said to the old servant: "Don't pay attention to Zhou Lv again, let alone collect his things. If Lord Mahou sends someone, tell him that I am on standby in Zishi Garden and cannot leave easily. In the future, I’ll visit you again when I have the chance.”

"I understand, young master." Since entering the new house, the old servant has become much more humble and dare not say more.

After Lou Chu went out to mount his horse, he had to rush to the military camp outside the city to meet his father.

One hundred thousand troops mobilized from all over the country have gathered outside Luoyang City. They are divided into five military camps, stretching for dozens of miles from east to west, not far from each other, and each led by a general.

The general is in charge of the Central Army, which occupies the largest area and is the closest to Luoyang City. Both sides of the road outside the camp are full of temporary and simple houses and tents. People are coming and going, which is more lively than the city.

Behind the 100,000-strong army were at least 30,000 traders and accompanying servants. The more powerful or capable soldiers were able to hide their followers in the camp.

Lou Wen returned to the military camp, and his affairs were extremely complicated. He could only take time to see his son and explain some things. He also ordered his other sons to return to the city to help Lou Chu prepare for the wedding. Finally, he left his seventeenth son alone to talk.

"Your Majesty is willing to forgive you because he cares about the Lou family's face and your luck. Don't think that this is the end of the matter. You must redouble your efforts to serve His Majesty. You are not allowed to make random friends with outsiders, especially people from the Five Kingdoms. Stay away from them. Yes, do you understand?”

"My child understands. There is something that father should know." Lou Chu discussed with Qiao Zhisu that some words could only be said by him as a son. After the general was tempted, Qiao Zhisu followed suit.

"What's up?"

"Shen Bingzhou probably won't return to Luoyang."

"Huh? I got news that Lao Shen is on the way and will arrive in the capital in three or four days. Where did you get the news?"

"The fifth son of the Shen family wrote me a letter." Lou Chu handed over the letter.

Lou Wen read it over and noticed the last sentence first, "Is Zhong Nan Buyi Liu Youzhong? Did he go to Bingzhou?"

"That must be the case. Does father think it is Mr. Liu's handwriting?"

Lou Wen looked at it carefully for a while, nodded, and asked: "What does the chess game mean?"

"The secret code I agreed with Mr. Shen Wu, he said, 'Stand by one corner and stand still.' That is to persuade Shen Mu to succeed and stay in Bingzhou and not return to the capital."

Lou Wen read the letter again, handed it back to his son, and said, "Burn it."

He lit candles at the base of the building and burned the letter to ashes in front of his father.

"There are over a hundred descendants of the Lou family, and the other people together don't give me as many surprises as you alone. Lou Chu, what on earth are you playing?"

Lou Chi cupped his hands and said, "I just want to make friends and get more news channels, nothing else."

Lou Wen actually didn't get angry this time and pondered for a while, "I'm not very familiar with the fifth son of the Shen family. What kind of person is he?"

"Hai'er has only met him a few times and thinks that Mr. Shen Wu is of extraordinary magnanimity and has a big heart. He once replaced Huangfu Jie in charge of the entourage at the Mamen Gate, and His Majesty also thinks highly of him."

Lou Wen hummed unnecessarily, not caring about his son's judgment, and more concerned about Liu Youzhong's whereabouts, "Liu Xiangshi claims to be attached to Ji Wei. Is this 'Ji' Old Shen or Xiao Shen?"

"Mr. Liu appended a postscript to the letter from Mr. Shen Wu. Presumably the attached title is 'Xiao Shen'."

Lou Wen sneered, "Is it time for young people to come out and show off? They all haven't even grown their beards yet, but they talk about 'the world' as if they are very capable. We conquered the world, It’s not enough for you to just sit back and enjoy the results, do you want to do it again?”

The more Lou Wen talked, the angrier he became. He stood up and strode over. Lou Chu was startled, thinking he was going to be beaten again, but Lou Wen walked past him and went straight out of the tent.

Lou Chi didn't know why, so he had to wait in the tent, thinking over and over again, thinking that he might be able to convince his father.

Lou Wen came back, sat on the chair and breathed heavily, and after a while he said: "I sent someone to greet Old Shen, and they must see him in person. If Old Shen comes, Xiao Shen is lying, and his heart is terrible. You are also blind. If Old Shen doesn't come..."

Lou Wen didn't say anything for a long time, then Lou Chu said: "That's what the Shen family noticed."

"Old Shen will not fail to discuss with me..."

"My father once said that if you are a friend today, you may be an enemy tomorrow..."

"Don't use my words to teach me a lesson." Lou Wen was dressed in military uniform and his eyes were more majestic than usual. "When you have a son of your own, use it to teach him a lesson."

Lou Chi shut up.

Lou Wen said to himself: "As long as we enter Qinzhou, everything will be fine. If Old Shen seeks death, let him go."

Lou Chi almost spoke, but held back at the last moment.

"Go back, keep your mouth shut, don't do anything, and wait for my instructions. This is not a joke. You are too young. You will have a few more years of experience before you are qualified to make irresponsible remarks."

"Yes, father."

The foundation of the building did not move, so Lou Wen asked, "Do you have anything else?"

"My child heard that Duke Xiao was appointed by the imperial court to be in charge of military rations."

"Yes." Lou Wen's face darkened slightly. He originally thought that Duke Xiao Guo, Cao Shenxi, would leave after he regained control of the army, but he did not expect that he would be appointed elsewhere.

"Of course, if you are in charge of food, you must also be in charge of the river. If your child talks too much, please be careful, father."

If an army of 100,000 people is without food, it will collapse in less than three days. Lou Wen has been fighting for many years and knows this best. "I can't think of such a simple thing? It doesn't matter. As long as I get to Qinzhou, I will have a way to get rid of Cao Shen." wash."

The key to everything was whether he could lead his army to Qinzhou. Lou Wen was quite confident about this. Lou Chu sighed in his heart. He still couldn't convince his father, so he resigned and returned to Luoyang.

Lou Jian stayed in the imperial city as a general of the Chinese army, serving as deputy to the King of Jibei and sharing the guard. This made him very proud, and he was completely unwary of the emperor. He started drinking before it got dark, and Lou Chu entered the house. By then, Lou Jian was already half drunk, "I came back just in time, let's have some drinks together."

"If Your Majesty wants to greet you, Third Brother can't do it like this."

"It's okay. Your Majesty will leave the palace tonight, so we can have some peace and quiet."

Lou Chu's heart moved, and he went to the table to pour wine for his third brother, "Your Majesty, aren't you worried that Taifu Liang will block your way?"

"So there won't be any fanfare when leaving the palace this time. It's just a few people. No one outside will know about it."

Lou Chu's heart moved again, and he said with a smile: "Your Majesty left the palace, and third brother was left here. Don't you feel sorry?"

"It is naturally a great honor to be taken by His Majesty, but sometimes, it is better not to participate, you know..." Lou Jian smiled ambiguously and persuaded his brother to drink.

"What do I know?" Lou Chu didn't understand.

"Although you are my biological brother, there are some things I cannot say to you."

"Of course, royal matters cannot be discussed. Come on, let me toast Third Brother."

Lou Chu acted indifferently, but Lou Ji couldn't help it, "But since my father values ​​you, I shouldn't hide it from you. Besides, you are so old and will be getting married soon, so you should know more about people."

"personnel?"

"Your Majesty has that outside."

"What?"

Lou's face turned cold, "Are you really not understanding, or are you pretending not to understand?"

"I need Third Brother's advice."

"Haha, with you like this, what will you do on the night of your wedding?" Lou Jian looked at the door three times, hesitated to speak three times, and finally said: "Your Majesty has a small harem outside."

"Small harem?" Lou Chu finally understood, "There are so many beauties in the harem, Your Majesty is still not satisfied?"

"I feel tired after eating too much meat. Your Majesty also wants to try unique side dishes from time to time."

Lou Chu recalled the dirty words that his third brother and Huangfujie had said when he went on a night outing with the emperor for the first time. Only now did he realize that those words had something to do with them.

"Third brother is so capable, he can even find out secrets like this."

"Secret? Your Majesty has never hidden anything from us. The small harem is hidden among us."

"At Third Brother's house..."

"I don't have one in my house. Who asked me to marry a princess? It's an outhouse of mine. Huangfu Jie and Shao Junqian are not so lucky and have to give up their home."

"Has Third Brother seen Shao Junqian again?"

"I've seen it before, and everyone understands it tacitly. If he doesn't tell me, I won't tell either. I often joke with Huangfu Jie, but not with Shao Junqian."

"I mean, did Shao Junqian mention that thing again?"

"Oh, I didn't mention it. He is testing the Lou family on behalf of His Majesty. I can't expose him in public and embarrass Your Majesty, right?"

Lou Gang drank too much, and the things he said became more and more unbearable. Finally, he said with emotion: "Your Majesty is so energetic that I am afraid that a god will come to this world. Fortunately, there are many close followers and they are divided into several groups. If one group of people follows him to the end, he must A large number of them will be exhausted.”

Listening to the third brother's nagging, Lou Chu felt that there was another glimmer of light in front of his eyes.