The Grandmaster Strategist

In July of the 22nd year of Xian De, Dayong sent envoys to seek peace. The monarchs and ministers of Southern Chu were afraid of war, so they agreed. Not long after, some people in the court and the public praised the lord of the country for his sage, defeated Shuzhong, rejected Dayong, and accepted the throne of the Jin Dynasty. Confused by the words, he believed what the King of Qi said that day, so he promised to ascend to the throne of emperor on August 1st. He expressed his gratitude to Dayong and expressed his wish to be a country of brothers. At that time, wise people in the court came forward to advise him. The king was angry and criticized many people, including Jiang Zhe. First, Jiang Zhe wrote the "Book of Remonstrance to the Emperor of Jin". His words were profound and his tone was passionate, and he denounced the wrongdoings of the king. The king was furious and wanted to kill him. The servant advised him: "Jiang Zhe is the most talented person in Southern Chu. He should not be added lightly." Punishment." The king calmed down and issued an edict: "If you are forced to serve in an official position, you will never use it." Jiang Zhe accepted the order and perhaps advised him to endure it for the time being. He would later use the camera to persuade the king to withdraw his order. Jiang Zhe only said: "Thunder and rain. , It's all your kindness." He retreated calmly, and everyone respected him.

--"History of Chu in the Southern Dynasties Biography of Jiang Suiyun"

Seeing my cold expression and Chen Zhen's expression of hesitating to speak, I said calmly: "What do you want to say?"

Chen Zhen hesitated and said, "Sir, you have quite a connection with Dayong, but why are you so sad about Prince De?"

I was silent for a long time and then said: "Dayong has prosperous talents, strong military power, and wise kings and wise ministers. It can be said that the opportunity for the unification of the world lies in the development of Dayong. Although we in Southern Chu have outstanding people, we are focused on literary strategy and neglect military affairs. , the people in the south of the Yangtze River are mostly literate and weak, and the evil is difficult to eradicate. I knew from the beginning that Nanchu would definitely fall to Dayong, it was just a matter of time, so when I took part in the scientific examination, I had no intention of working hard for Nanchu. Hansheng, it is impossible to hold power in Nanchu. Even if I can reach a position below one person and above ten thousand people, Nanchu is not a place where I can show my ambitions. What's more, I know myself, and I can't bring peace to the country. The country cannot be ruled by force. What I am good at is making plans and winning thousands of miles. If there are no wise kings and wise ministers, I will not be able to play any role. But after all, I am from Nanchu. I am not willing to watch Nanchu decline like this. , when I first met Prince De, I hoped that he would be the wise king in my heart, but unfortunately he was not. He was a loyal minister, not a tyrant. He was good but could not use it, and was evil but could not get rid of it. Therefore, he died in the army with tears in his heart. People from Great Yong, I have met King Yong and King Qi. His Highness King Yong has the demeanor of a king and must be a generation of Holy Lord. Although His Highness King Qi is a bit reckless, he is also a talented overlord. I have never met Prince Li An, but To think that I can resist King Yong for a long time is extraordinary. I am an ordinary person, so I never want to offend King Yong and King Qi, just to save my life in the future."

Chen Zhen said: "Your Excellency once gave advice to Prince De and Prince Yong respectively. What was your purpose?"

I said calmly: "I don't need to tell you this at first, but since you are willing to serve me, I might as well say it bluntly. I offered advice to Prince De. Now that I have achieved my goal, there is no need to talk about the plan to destroy the city. Now that the policy has seen results, why do you think it was King Qi who attacked Nanchu this time?"

Chen Zhen thought for a while and said, "Prince Li An must be worried that King Yong's contribution is too great and he cannot control it."

I closed my eyes and said: "Yes, I forced the King of Shu to death not because Dayong could not rule Dongchuan better, but for the sake of the princess, Mrs. Jinlian. Sure enough, Mrs. Jinlian came to Dayong, and Emperor Yong Li Yuan loved her. Because of her beauty, she was included in the harem. If the King of Shu was still there, Emperor Yong would definitely not be able to do this, and King Yong would not be angry because of his direct remonstrance. Otherwise, why do you think King Yong would be embarrassed because of the attack by the prince? .”

Chen Zhen said doubtfully: "But I have never heard of King Yong admonishing him."

I smiled and said: "How could King Yong give advice on such a matter in person? Unfortunately, even the secret advice would be frowned upon by the father. Prince De didn't know what happened next. King Yong sent an envoy to ask for advice. , I asked him to pretend to be poisoned and support the border. Although it saved King Yong's status and safety, it also made him further separate from his father and brother. This is the entire content of my alienation strategy.

"

Chen Zhen looked at me in surprise and said, "My subordinates did not expect that this would be the reason why Your Excellency fell ill and planned for King Yong."

I shook my head and said: "Don't admire me too much. In fact, the conflict between King Yong, Emperor Yong, and the prince was already very acute. I just added fuel to the fire. Moreover, King Yong's current predicament is not without benefits for him. When the time comes, King Yong is determined to win the throne, then the unification of Great Yong will be unstoppable. What I do is just to buy some time for Nanchu. If Nanchu is strong, then King Yong will have to slow down. Nanchu is safe. It is not impossible that it was twenty or thirty years ago, but now that the king has destroyed the Great Wall and Prince De is dead, Southern Chu no longer has a general who can fight against Dayong. Rong Yuan is not popular enough, and Lu Xin is stupid. Loyal but lacking in strategy, the important ministers in the court are all short-sighted. Those with a little talent are either addicted to wine and sex, or they are hiding in the countryside. Chen Zhen is in civil strife in Yong Dynasty. I think Southern Chu will be in ruins within a few years, but Also because of the civil strife in Dayong, I expect that there will still be some remaining forces in Nanchu and separatist rule in Shuzhong in the south of the Yangtze River. If Dayong wants Jiangnan to be healthy, it will not be possible for more than ten years."

Chen Zhen took note of my words and asked, "So, sir, what should we do next?"

I said calmly: "If there is nothing I can do about Nanchu, I will resign immediately after I return, and then we will wait in Jianye. I think my chance for revenge will come soon."

Chen Zhen asked: "What if after revenge, King Yong and King Qi both value you very much. If Southern Chu is destroyed, the two highnesses will probably come to recruit you. How will you deal with it then?"

I was silent, and then said: "I thought I would be willing to take refuge in Dayong, but I found that it was not possible. After the fall of Southern Chu, I naturally hope to live the rest of my life in peace. If King Yong and King Qi refuse to let me go, then I will have to stay away from the Central Plains , if unfortunately I am captured by them, I will not die for Nanchu. After I take revenge, I will temporarily hand over the power around me to you. For Dayong, my power is too small. If you are by my side, , it will just be noticed, or even be overturned. If it is hidden in the dark, it may save my life."

Chen Zhen hesitated for a moment and said, "Sir, why don't you let Mr. Li lead them."

I shook my head and said, "Xiao Shunzi is more useful by my side. He has strong martial arts skills and a meticulous mind. He is my close friend. If he is outside, he will not be calm enough and cannot hide his strength well."

Chen Zhen nodded sincerely and said: "In that case, I will obey your orders."

Returning to Jianye sadly, I learned that the king really regretted it and accepted Prince De's will. He made Rongyuan the Minister of War and guarded Xiangyang, and appointed Lu Xin as the Grand Governor. When Lu Xin returned to the court to receive the Jie Yue, I saw that his style was still the same as before. His son, the young Marquis Lu Can, my student, is already a majestic young man of 21 years old. I heard that over the years, Lu Can has become the vanguard of Lu Xin's men. He was brave and strategic in combat, and was highly praised among the Southern Chu army. Not long after I returned home, Lu Can came to visit. After all, I had been his teacher. Lu Can excitedly told me that he had benefited a lot from the art of war that I taught him when I was bored. This time he came to ask me if I would continue to teach him the art of war. Looking at his enthusiastic expression, I could only He said calmly: "I was just talking on paper back then. It's only right for the little Marquis to ask the Marquis for advice." After sending Lu Can away, I felt a pain in my heart. This student who was taught in front of me has become Nan Chu. General, how could I not be sad when I thought about what he would face in the near future? After thinking for a long time, I asked Chi Ji to send some of the military formations I had organized to Lu Can, and asked him not to talk about it to outsiders. Maybe I His military formation can allow him to win several more victories on the battlefield. Although the final result may only be the death of a few more people, this is his fate and the fate of Nanchu. This is also the last bit of my contribution to Nanchu. ?

Soon, someone wrote a letter saying that the leader of the country was wise and powerful. He had ruled for several years and defeated the Shu Kingdom. This time he defeated the Yong army. In terms of his virtue and ability, he should be promoted to emperor and fight against the Yong Dynasty. Zhao Jia's ears were too soft. After hearing this, he actually believed that he was destined to die, and forgot the bloody and tear-stained suicide note of Prince De, who was forced to die by him. He quickly issued an edict to consult the courtiers for their opinions. As a result, most of the courtiers who were confused by the victory agreed and went to court one after another. Advise to enter the table.

After I heard this, I wanted to resign first, so I thought for a long time and wrote a letter "Remonstrance to the Emperor of Jin Dynasty". As soon as this letter was handed over, the king was really angry. In my letter, It was clearly explained that although Dayong was victorious in the initial attack on Shu, the benefits gained by Dayong were greater than those of our country, and the strength of the armies of the two countries was also very obvious. I also mentioned that the defeat of Dayong this time was just because the King of Qi led the battle too much. Tough, and Xiangyang is very solid. Now that Prince De has died in the army, we in Southern Chu have no generals who can compare with him, and the foundation of Dayong has not been damaged. If the king of the country becomes emperor, then Dayong can betray his country as a vassal. There is a reason to attack Nanchu. When the time comes, Nanchu will be in a loss and it will be difficult to resist Dayong's offensive. It is rare for me to write down my true opinion on this form, because it is the last form before I leave Nanchu. If the king is really willing to accept it, then I would rather devote all my talents to it. Nanchu, even if he died on the battlefield, he would not regret it.

Unfortunately, what I expected happened still happened. The king was furious and almost ordered me to behead me immediately. Finally, I persuaded the servant who had been bribed by Xiao Shunzi in advance, and I was dismissed from my official position. Originally, I wanted to formally resign, but in the end I took this form as a final gamble, and sure enough, I was dismissed from office. In this way, Nanchu and I no longer had any disputes, and the grudges were eliminated. When I listened to the official reciting the decree with a calm expression, I almost wanted to laugh. In this way, Dayong should have no high-sounding reason to accuse me, and he would not be able to use the reason to pardon me. I surrendered. The person delivering the edict was Liu Kui, who was ranked second in the same class as me. He is now taking orders from the king's side, and it was he who wrote this edict on behalf of the king. Full of regret, Liu Kui said: "Brother Jiang Nian, you don't have to be depressed. Although the king said he would never use it, in a few years things will calm down. We will advise you. Brother Jiang Nian is sincere and for the sake of the Southern Chu State. At that time, the king will definitely take over again."

I ignored his comfort and just said lightly: "Thunder, rain and dew are all your kindness. How dare I complain at all? A few years ago, I joined the army in Shuzhong, and ended up with the root cause of the disease. I have been recuperating at home in the past few years. I was originally ill." You shouldn't have a vegetarian meal." After seeing off the guests, I said calmly: "Let's go home."

Before I took Chen Zhen and others out of the gate of the official department, I saw Liang Wan signaling to me on a carriage. Chen Zhen looked at my gloomy face and whispered: "Sir, no, sir, don't forget……"

I stopped him, walked forward and said, "It turns out to be Miss Liang. I don't know what her orders are."

Liang Wan smiled and said: "It's not easy to talk here. Please ask the champion to get in the car and talk."

I got in the car with a smile and said to Liang Wan: "Okay, please give me a ride, just to the north gate."

Liang Wan waited for me to get in the car, ordered us to go on the road, and asked with a smile: "It's really pitiful that the number one scholar came to this end after speaking outly to remonstrate this time. Bigan was heartbroken at the beginning, and Zixu Chenjiang, although he was a loyal minister, but for Everyone in the world laughs at you because of what you do. If the number one scholar does not dislike you, I know you well in Dayong and am willing to recommend you to be an official in Dayong."

I smiled slightly and said: "Miss is now the confidant of the Queen of Nanchu, and she is also the adopted daughter of the late king. She does not worry about Nanchu, but works for Dayong. It is a bit inconsistent."

Liang Wan said contemptuously: "Who cares about the power of Southern Chu? The number one scholar is extremely smart. His Highness the King of Qi has praised him many times. If he is willing to change his ways, he will surely rise to the top and his future will be limitless."

I smiled and said nothing, and kept turning the jade ring on the middle finger of my right hand with my left hand. It was a relic of my beloved wife. After a long time, I said: "My lady has been in Nanchu for many years. Although she has made outstanding achievements, she only relied on the power of Dayong. Now Nanchu is the most powerful one." The relationship between Yong and Yong is about to end, so please take care of it when the time comes." After that, I ordered the car to stop, and before getting out of the car, I said calmly: "As a parting message, please don't blame me, Miss."

Liang Wan watched me leave in confusion. She didn’t understand why I refused to surrender but also tried to persuade her to be careful. After thinking for a long time, she thought to herself, could it be that he was just waiting for a price? That’s all. Wait until I cross the Dayong River. , still afraid that you would not surrender, so he ordered to continue moving forward.

After I got out of the car, I recalled the beauty and beauty that had just been so close to me, and I felt a sense of disgust in my heart. Such a woman should really be cut into pieces. I thought that if Dayong really relied on her to control the secret spies in the south of the Yangtze River, then I would be suspicious. The wisdom of the people in Dayongzhong is great. But thinking about the rumors in recent years, they all said that Liang Wan did not marry because she had an affair with the king. This time the king became emperor. As far as I know, Liang Wan's secret operation is an indispensable factor. She is indeed an outstanding person. She was a spy, bribed courtiers, and spread rumors. I did not stop her actions. Now the king of the country regards her words as Lunyin. In this way, Dayong will still look at his opponents when employing people, so the spy leader in Nanchu is... Using such a beautiful female spy.

After me, there were many people who came to dissuade me from becoming emperor, but were ignored by the king. For example, Xie Xian, the scholar in charge of the Hanlin Academy, and Mr. Luo, the senior official, but they ended up being demoted, repelled, and Mr. Luo finally died. Remonstration, the imperial palace is stained with blue blood, but it is a pity that the king has not woken up. I have not participated in these turmoils. I am just a commoner now.

Just like that, on August 1st, the emperor officially proclaimed himself emperor and announced the change of Yuan Dynasty to Hua. I remembered that when the emperor succeeded to the throne, he ordered that the title of Xiande should be used. I also felt strange. Maybe the emperor just wanted to proclaim himself emperor. Using a new year's name, it seems that the country's leader still has great ambitions, but unfortunately he has great ambitions and lacks talent and lacks perseverance. This Zhihua era name may be the era name of the country's subjugation.

At the same time, in the territory of Dayong, in Prince Yong's Mansion, Li Zhi looked at the information in his hand and said: "Liang Wan is too arrogant. She doesn't know the benefits of being cautious in her words and deeds. If it weren't for her disciple, I would never indulge her like this." .”

A middle-aged man with a gentle appearance and a black beard sitting next to him said: "Your Highness, Fengyimen is the leader of Dayong Baidao. They made outstanding contributions during the founding of Dayong. Now their hands are stretched too long. Liang Your Highness Wan Xiao ordered you to act in Southern Chu, but you often made your own decisions, and got very close to the Crown Prince and King Qi's people. And King Qi's soon-to-be princess Qin Zheng is Liang Wan's junior sister. I suspect they are planning to support the Crown Prince's succession. .”

King Yong said coldly: "No doubt, I have received information. Through their disciples, Fengyi Sect, my father's favorite concubine Ji Guifei, told my father that I am a soldier and respect myself. If I succeed to the throne, I will definitely kill my brothers." , and although the prince is slightly less talented, he can better govern the world as long as he is assisted by wise ministers. Huh, it's just because I refuse to accept their disciples as princesses. A group of women want to control the world. I, Li Zhi, am not a puppet. Clay sculpture.”

The middle-aged man said worriedly: "But the Fengyi Sect is very powerful. What if we try our best to prevent His Highness from ascending the throne? Alas, my subordinates are not good at planning and cannot share the worries of His Highness."

Li Zhi's eyes flashed and he said: "If that person is willing to join me, he will definitely be able to deal with the Fengyi Sect. In fact, I am not afraid of the Fengyi Sect's martial arts. Although they are strong in martial arts, I have already made friends with the famous and decent sects in Shaolin. At least it can prevent the Fengyi Sect from using force. What I’m worried about is that they are good at stirring up dissensions. If we can’t make good use of strategies and let them continue to develop, I’m afraid that Dayongjiang Mountain will fall into the hands of women.”

The middle-aged man said: "I have always heard His Highness talk about Jiang Zhe. I am very eager to see him. But are you sure that Your Highness will let him serve?"

Li Zhi smiled bitterly and said: "How can I put it, it is not difficult for him to serve as an official under me, but it is difficult for him to serve loyally. This man's mind is unpredictable, and he does not care much about prosperity, wealth, the country and the people's livelihood. In this way How can I make him fall in love with a cold person? I received information that he went to the court to remonstrate and was dismissed from office in Nanchu. When I saw his seal, I was shocked. He was very concerned about the situation in Dayong in Nanchu. I know very well that if such a person cannot be used by me, it will be a real regret for Li Zhi in his life."

The middle-aged man took the watch and stamp Li Zhi handed him, looked at it for a long time, and then raised his head and said, "Your Highness, you must send someone to Nanchu immediately. If we can't get this person, it will be difficult for us to accomplish our great cause, and Fengyimen is not blind. If they see this talent, they will definitely recruit him. If he becomes the prince's staff, we will be in danger."

Li Zhi smiled and said: "I believe that Fengyi Clan does not have the ability to convince him. The performance of 'serving the country and the people' that Fengyi Clan is good at cannot move him, and Li An has no possibility of making him surrender. However, King Qi is very It is possible for him to surrender. This time King Qi sent a secret message, talking about meeting Jiang Zhe in Nanchu and Jiang Zhe saving his life. Although King Qi was reckless, he treated people with sincerity. If Jiang Zhe followed him, Qi would The king must obey his advice. That is our big crisis. Now that King Qi is recovering from his illness, I have informed my father to attack Nanchu immediately. As long as I defeat Chu first, Jiang Zhe will definitely fall into my hands. Ziyou, we are indeed We should send people to Nanchu, not to persuade him to surrender, but to grasp Jiang Zhe’s whereabouts. If you want to persuade Jiang Zhe to surrender, no one can succeed except me."

At this time, the guards outside the door loudly asked for permission. After entering, they knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has summoned His Majesty to enter the palace to discuss the attack on Chu."