Plan to cut off the nine states

Chang Yanzhi was drinking. When he saw the young master coming in, he was a little surprised. He chewed something and said vaguely, "I thought the young master would be back in a few days."

"You don't worry about my heart at all." Xu Chu smiled and sat opposite him, pouring wine for himself. He and Chang Yanzhi were no longer ordinary master and servant, but more like a pair of good friends. Although their personalities and pursuits were different, they were getting closer and closer without knowing it.

"Anyway, the young master will definitely be able to turn danger into safety, and I can't help. Why not take advantage of the opportunity and drink a few more glasses."

"Some people think the same as you." Xu Chu took a sip. It was still familiar in his mouth, but it didn't feel comfortable in his stomach. He had to put down the wine glass and picked up the chopsticks to concentrate on eating.

"Many people think the same as I do." Chang Yanzhi was somewhat proud. "When the world is in chaos, some people take advantage of the situation, some people always want to do something big, some people look for places to hide, and some people just muddle through. I am one of those people. While accompanying the young master along the way, I chatted with all kinds of people and found that there are many people who have the same idea. Come to think of it, you don't have the courage to take advantage of the situation, you don't have the ability to do something big, and you know that there is nowhere to hide in the world, so there is only one way left."

"You actually said it so that I can't refute it."

"Haha, it should be the credit of the wine." Chang Yanzhi looked at the wine in the glass, "The 'someone' that the young master mentioned is the King of Shu?"

Xu Chu nodded.

"Most people in Yizhou want to live a carefree life. In this posthouse, almost everyone is like this. It's not their fault. Yizhou is far away from disputes. The small disputes between the cities only make them cherish their current lives. The King of Shu follows the local customs. Tie Yuan is different. It must be because he left Yizhou."

"I guess so."

"Where are you going next?"

"Jingzhou."

"I'll say hello in advance. If I suddenly leave halfway, you don't need to look for me, worry about me, or blame me."

"I don't blame you. Do you think I'm going to Jingzhou to die?"

"I don't believe that the Xi family is unwilling to avenge Xi Tang. No matter what, How can I explain that you are always involved in Xi Tang's death. "

"Tang Weitian killed Xi Tang because of me, so I do have to take responsibility."

"Sir, do you have a good plan?"

"Not yet, but I think Jingzhou is a place that must be fought for by military strategists. It will not be the Xi family that dominates alone. There will be many heroes rising up. Maybe this is my chance."

"I can't figure it out. Is the young master trying to stop the chaos or to stir up the chaos?"

"Sometimes, this is just a matter of time. Great order comes after great chaos."

Chang Yanzhi glanced at the wine glass, "This wine is not good enough, or I didn't drink enough. I can't keep up with what the young master said."

Xu Chu laughed and chatted with Chang Yanzhi while eating.

The next morning, Tie Yuan's younger brother Tie Wei came to see him off. "I will see Master Xu off. The King of Shu asked me to present a few gifts, so I will also give some small gifts."

"General Tie is too polite."

"It's a pity that Master Xu refused to stay."

"I have an important trust, so I dare not stay."

"I hope Master Xu can succeed. If not, I will go to Hanzhou alone to help my brother."

Xu Chu smiled and said nothing. In fact, he knew very well that Tie Wei wanted to save his brother, and he would definitely be used by Gan Zhao in the end. Going to Hanzhou was not to help, but to take Tie Yuan and the soldiers back to Yizhou.

The horses and luggage were ready. The King of Shu's gifts were gold, silver, clothes and customs documents, while Tie Wei's "small gift" was a large box of pearls, which was worth a lot and far more valuable than the King of Shu.

Xu Chu didn't know it at first. When he left the city more than ten miles away and said goodbye in the post station, Tie Wei asked his followers to carry out the box of gifts and open the box to show them.

Xu Chu was surprised and said with a smile: "The Tie family's gift is so small, I want to know what the big gift is like."

Tie Ying dismissed his followers and bowed his hands and said: "Mr. Xu needs to take care of things when he goes to Jingzhou. I have too few things, but my family is just this much, I really can't give more."

"General Tie seems to really hope that I can ask for reinforcements from Jingzhou."

"Of course, Jingzhou, Luozhou... anywhere is fine. As long as Mr. Xu finds 100,000 reinforcements, the King of Shu is willing to send troops, enough to fight He Rong's army and save my brother from danger."

Xu Chu was not familiar with Tie Ying and didn't want to reveal too much. Seeing that he was eager, he decided to say a few more words, "If the King of Shu sends you to persuade General Tie to abandon Han and return to Yi, what will you do?"

"I know my brother's temper. He will never betray his promise, and neither will I. If the King of Shu sends me, I will go and stay with my brother and never come back." Tie Ying said generously.

"What if the King of Shu is in danger?"

"What danger can the King of Shu be in? Yizhou is very stable now. Counties in the south have sent envoys one after another. As long as the King of Shu does not over-exploit and maintains the previous taxes and levies, they are willing to pay tribute to the King of Shu and send food and soldiers."

"Things are unpredictable. If there is no external turmoil, there may be internal turmoil."

"Internal turmoil... Ji Gongche?"

"I don't doubt anyone, I just imagine it."

Tie Ying showed some hesitation, and said after a while: "My two brothers have followed the King of Shu for a long time. The King of Shu has been very kind to the Tie family. When the King of Yidu first got the three daughters, Ji Gongche advised the King of Shu to marry them together and make them one queen and two concubines. The King of Shu resolutely refused and insisted on dividing them between my two brothers. If the King of Shu is in danger, there is no doubt that my brother and I will come back to save the King of Shu first, even if we lose our faith in the world."

Xu Chu nodded, "It is difficult to be loyal and righteous at the same time. Loyalty comes first and righteousness comes second. No wonder the King of Shu treats you like brothers."

"But as long as nothing happens in Yizhou, we will still defend Hanzhou. Mr. Xu is out looking for reinforcements, and I will continue to persuade the King of Shu..."

"Will General Iron listen to a word from me?"

"Young Master Xu is worth a fortune. I came to see him off because I want to listen to his teachings."

"You're welcome. I advise you not to persuade the King of Shu."

"Um?"

"The King of Shu is not without foresight. Otherwise, he would not have sent General Tie to the Han Dynasty to attack Qin. However, the situation was unfavorable and the King of Shu had to stick to Yizhou. The current situation remains unchanged and the King of Shu will not change his mind. It is useless to persuade him. Resulting in discord."

"Just waiting like this? Who knows when the situation will change?"

"General Tie, don't be anxious. If the current situation remains unchanged, I advise you to follow the wishes of the King of Shu and persuade your brother to lead the troops back to Yizhou."

"Master Xu..."

"I am a man without a master, and I will do my best to change the situation. Since General Tie is a minister of the King of Shu, he must not cause trouble."

Iron Bird was speechless.

Xu Chu said: "If General Tie really wants to help, tell more about the situation in Jingzhou so that I can be prepared."

"Oh, I almost forgot." Tie Zhi carefully took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Xu Chu, "This is a letter written by my wife...Mrs."

Xu Chu was stunned and didn't dare to answer.

Tie Zhi smiled and said: "Don't be afraid, Mr. Xu, this letter is written to the second daughter-in-law of the Xi family. She is the niece of Princess Yidu. She has a good personal relationship with my wife. After reading the letter, she may be able to help. "

"Your Majesty, this letter is called 'a word of gold', and General Tie is very thoughtful."

Tie Zhi smiled and said: "How could I have thought of this? After discussing with the two sisters, Madam hopes to do something for Mr. Xu, but she also made a small request."

"Please tell me."

Tie Zhi smiled unnaturally, "After what I say, Mr. Xu, please don't laugh at me. My wife... is a bit weird, probably all the daughters of the Wang family are like this."

"I've seen it before, I don't know how to laugh."

"The three sisters told Mr. Xu to marry Princess Fangde no matter what, and not to let her fall into someone else's family."

Xu Chu did not laugh, but was very confused, "Princess Fangde and I have paid homage to each other before, but no one admitted it. I didn't expect the three princesses to care so much..."

Tie Zhi said with a smile: "They are not concerned, but jealous. Madam said that we were all princesses originally, playing together without distinction, but now Fang De has become a princess, and her brother has become the emperor. If she marries Shan Yuyi again, Is that okay for such a person? Even etiquette will be a problem when we meet in the future. So..."

Xu Chu couldn't help but laugh, "I'll try my best."

"My wife also said that the second son of the Xi family, Xi Ren, is especially greedy for money. When Mr. Xu arrives in Jiangling City, he does not need to spread his money widely, but just take care of Xi Ren. He is favored by Xi Yun, far more than Xi Su. If he can say a few kind words to Mr. Xu, , is better than a thousand words from others.”

"Thank you for informing me. Yizhou is adjacent to Jingzhou. Has General Tie ever heard that there are emerging heroes there who can compete with the Xi family?"

Tie Zhi thought for a while, "There are several kings and generals. The big ones occupy a whole county, while the small ones only gather thousands of people and don't even have a place to stay. If we want to compete with the Xi family, according to me Not one that I know of.”

"There is a Song Qizhu, has General Tie heard of him?"

Tie Zhi shook his head, "Kuimen Pass is close to Jingzhou, and news exchanges are frequent. When you get there, Mr. Xu can ask the guard Li Shengguo. He is also an old man in Qinzhou. He has been to the Eastern Capital and recognizes Mr. Xu, and he has captured the pass. Some days, a lot of information should be gathered.”

"General Li, I have some impressions. He is not tall and loves to use two swords?"

"That's him."

The two chatted for a while. After leaving the pavilion, the iron bird walked for another three to five miles before saying goodbye.

On the way, Xu Chu lamented to Chang Yan: "The king of Shu can dominate a country, he has his own merits, and you can tell by looking at the people around him."

"If you can't make the young master stay willingly, the King of Shu is still not 'excellent' enough." Chang Yan's judgment standard is very simple.

Xu Chu laughed first, then sighed, "Maybe I was the one who was wrong."

A guide and a soldier guarded Xu Chu and Chang Yan, leading six horses, two of which were dedicated to carrying luggage, all the way east, trying to take a safe road. Although Yinan County was willing to surrender to the King of Shu, they were only willing to provide soldiers. , food, refused to give up power, and refused to accept the officials appointed by the King of Shu, it was still somewhat dangerous.

The journey went smoothly. In the afternoon, Xu Chu arrived at Kuimen Pass. From here, he took a boat and crossed the gorge to reach the boundary of Jingzhou.

The guard general Li Shengguo had been notified in advance and went out of the city to greet him in person. He was very respectful and did not think Xu Chu was an ordinary person.

But he brought bad news: "I'm afraid Mr. Xu will be delayed here for a while. There is a war in Jingxi, and it is not yet known who will win and who will lose."

“Who fights against whom?”

"There are several groups of people, including the Xi family army, as well as the water bandit Yang Moyu, the southern bandit Chen Bingcai, the Xiangyang bandit Song Chujiao and others." Li Shengguo used to be a "stick bandit", but now he regards himself as an officer and soldier.

"Song Chujiao is Song Qizhu, right?"

"It seems that his name is that. He calls himself the King of Chu, but everyone calls him Chu Jiao. He is just a 'husband', haha."

This was the first time Xu Chu heard news about Song Qizhu after leaving Qinzhou, but it was not good news, which made him wonder if his expectations were too much.