The Grandmaster Strategist

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 made great efforts to attack Shu. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Liang, the righteous daughter of King Ling, held a banquet in Mingyue Tower, and invited Prince De to the banquet. The rest of the guests, the prime minister Shang Weijun, the king of Qi Li Xian of Dayong, and Qin Zheng and Jiang Zhe, the aides of the king of Qi, were also invited. Here, it may be puzzled that Jiang Zhe's official Weibo did not know why he was able to attend the banquet to hear about the major events in the society, or he said that he had two minds at the time, but the actual evidence of the test seems to be uncertain.

After the banquet, Prince De returned angrily. Jiang Zhe caught up and talked with Prince De. Some people may say that it is Jiang Zhe's fault that the prince did not obstruct the idea of ​​attacking Shu, but went after the root cause, which is a heinous crime.

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

Prince De Zhao Jue came back, and the hustle and bustle of discussions to attack Shu subsided a lot, because as soon as Zhao Jue came back, he went directly to pay homage to the former king. It has been calmed down, Zhao Jue is an important military minister, and his opinion must be listened to when discussing the attack on Shu, so he was sent back specially. Zhao Jue went to the palace to meet the king after the sacrifice, and spoke out in front of the king, trying his best to prevent the attack on Shu. Zhao Jue's prestige in the court was very high, so many people stopped talking about attacking the Kingdom of Shu immediately, but more people came to persuade them, especially courtiers and celebrities from Shang Weijun's side, but Prince De still refused promise.

On July 15th, Princess Mingyue Liang Wan posted a post to invite Prince De to a banquet, and at the same time invited Qi Wang Li Xian 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 dumbfounded, I just said that I was just a small official and not eligible to participate. His Royal Highness Qi Wang didn't change his face and said: "It's just Miss Liang calling for a banquet. You are sent by the lord to receive me, so naturally you have to attend." When I looked at me, I still agreed, who said that the mighty can't be subdued, you let them try to say no to these battle-tested guards.

His Royal Highness King Qi was the second to arrive. This time, the banquet was held at the Mingyue Building. It is midsummer and the heat is unbearable. All the windows in this small building are open, and there are buckets filled with hidden ice everywhere. The building was cool and cool. Liang Wan was wearing a light yellow shirt and was sitting at the head seat. Shang Weijun was wearing a silk robe and was sitting on the second chair from the left. The scholar is Shang Weijun's staff member Nian Yuan. When Shang Weijun saw His Highness Qi Wang coming, he stepped forward to greet him with a smile on his face. When he saw me, he frowned. I quickly took the opportunity and said: "Your Majesty is ordered to accompany His Royal Highness King Qi, since your lordship is here, please allow me to leave." Shang Weijun showed a satisfied smile and praised my understanding. I thought I had a plan and was about to go downstairs. With a smirk, King Qi grabbed my arm and said, "Don't go, Lord Shang, since Jiang Hanlin is an official sent by the king, he is also an attendant of the Imperial Academy, and he is also a talented scholar from Southern Chu. It's better to let him listen here." Shang Weijun frowned, and finally didn't dare to offend His Royal Highness Qi Wang, but gave me a warning look, telling me not to say more.

King Qi sat at the head on the right, and Young Master Qin sat at the bottom of him. I had to sit at the bottom of Young Master Qin, and I couldn’t sit on the left. After all, it was King Qi who insisted on me staying. After waiting for a short 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 died less than a year ago, he wore a filial piety on his crown, which was exactly the same. Prince De Zhao Jue, followed by a middle-aged Confucian scholar in green clothes and a warrior in black with a sword. When I saw Zhao Jue, I almost cried out. This man was actually the man in gray who I told his fortune before high school. If he was Prince De, then he must have been stationed in Hengjiang at that time.

I was about to attack Moling, no wonder he asked me to count it as bad luck. I told him that "there are disputes inside and powerful enemies outside", but now that I think about it, it actually coincides with the situation. This Prince De is the youngest brother of King Ling, an important military minister, I never thought that I would tell his fortune for him, does he still remember me?

Zhao Jue's gaze flicked over everyone in the room one by one, but did not stop at me, probably because he has no memory of me. It just seems to be a little suspicious of my identity.

Zhao Jue sat at the first seat on the left, the warrior stood behind him, and his aide sat at the last seat on the left, because I deliberately separated a seat from Young Master Qin, so that man was sitting opposite me, four Looking at each other, I smiled flatteringly, but the man looked at me inquiringly for a while with sharp eyes.

Zhao Jue sat down, a maid brought refreshments, and then they all backed out. Liang Wan stood up and said, "My concubine was entrusted by the king of Qi and his minister to invite Prince De to the banquet. Although I should not interfere in military and state affairs, you adults need someone to serve you after all, so I have no choice but to stay here. Everything is about Dayong and Southern Chu, I was born in Dayong and received the favor of the former king of Southern Chu, so I absolutely dare not reveal a single word."

Zhao Jue smiled lightly and said, "Miss Liang is the righteous daughter of the former 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 Qi Wang and the Prime Minister have to teach."

Li Xian looked at Zhao Jue, and said with a smile, "I have heard that Prince De is the number one general in Southern Chu, and the commander of the Southern Chu army. When I saw him today, he is indeed elegant and handsome. The army is just a general, if you talk about his position, Li Xianyou is under the prince, and he is ashamed to be taught. It's just that Prince De tried his best to block the idea of ​​attacking Shu, which doesn't quite match the name of a famous general. I would like to ask Prince De to show me .”

Zhao Jue said indifferently: "Shu Kingdom refuses to submit to Dayong. Although it is a crime, the Lord of Shu Kingdom was once a relic of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Although he and Dayong were ministers in the same dynasty, there is no distinction between monarch and minister. Now I don't know Da Yong. Why did Yong attack the Kingdom of Shu on the grounds that the Kingdom of Shu refused to surrender? It is because Dayong thinks that the reason is sufficient. Although I in Southern Chu have called Dayong a minister, I have never been assigned by Dayong."

Li Xian said with a smile: "Prince De's words are wrong. My Emperor Yong is a wise and wise minister. The king of Shu who separated the territory and refused to be a minister is intolerable. If the Kingdom of Shu surrendered to our country earlier, I, Dayong, would not attack the Kingdom of Shu." , I heard that the enmity of the Son of Heaven can be retaliated after nine generations. At the beginning of the founding of our Dayong, the Shu Kingdom sent troops to Qinchuan, burned, killed and looted, which made my Emperor Dayong cry blood. Able to be a human being. Later I, Dayong, attacked Southern Chu, and the Kingdom of Shu sent troops again. Although I was kind to Southern Chu, Dayong suffered heavy losses. In the land of the Three Qin Dynasty, there were thousands of miles of ruins, and the people were miserable. The country has extorted countless gold and silk women. From this point of view, the country of Shu is a vicious wolf that hides in the dark. One day it will be swallowed up by this kind of friend who has no heart and only knows interests."

Zhao Jue said coldly: "Although Jue is not talented, he also knows the allusion to the death of lips and teeth. I am afraid that after the death of Shu, it will be my turn in Nanchu."

Li Xian was at a loss for words. He knew very well in his heart that after the attack on Shu Kingdom, Southern Chu would be his next target, but he didn't expect Zhao Jue to go straight in without fear of offending Dayong. As the prince of Dayong, he didn't want to lie. At this time, Mr. Qin took over the conversation and said: "This statement is wrong. The so-called dead lips and cold teeth mean that we need to rely on each other and help each other. Now Shu has repeatedly provoked Southern Chu, and regards friendship as enemies. Now, teeth are as sharp as knives, biting lips to see blood. , I don’t know what Prince De refers to when he says that the lips are dead and the teeth are cold.”

Zhao Jue smiled faintly, and his middle-aged man in green shirt put down the swinging folding fan in his hand, and said, "Although Southern Chu and the Kingdom of Shu have minor entanglements, it is not a great disgrace. In the ninth year of Xiande, Dayong pacified the Central Plains, and Chen Bing Yangtze River, if the lord of Shu hadn’t helped him and sent troops to Qinchuan, how could Dayong stop the war. Even so, we in Southern Chu still surrendered to Dayong. My lord, the marriage between the two countries is very good, but your country has been training naval forces in the north of the Yangtze River every year, and the intention of the Southern Expedition has not ceased, I don't know how His Royal Highness Qi Wang will explain 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 the navy, I am afraid that your army will have crossed the river long ago. The prince of Germany has been in the Yangtze River for a long time , Don’t you know the situation? What’s more, since our country has long been married to your country, my imperial sister is my father’s beloved daughter. She married far away in Southern Chu. Our country has long had a military plan, not to attack Shu to avoid the troubles of the confidantes, but to flatten the southern Chu to clear the side of the couch."

Zhao Jue sneered and said, "It's unreasonable. In the past ten years, I, Southern Chu, have paid tributes of gold, silver and silk every year, but your country has never been willing to sell weapons and good horses. If they really got married, how could this be so? Although the queen is Princess Dayong, then How can you be scruples about women when it comes to national affairs, Zhao Jue dare not forget the fact that Duke Wu of Zheng married off his beloved daughter in order to attack Hu State."

Mr. Qin said angrily: "Prince De insulting our country like this is tolerable and unbearable, but when you think about it carefully, the prince's concerns are not unreasonable. Please listen to explain to the prince. The sale of weapons and horses in our country is not aimed at nobles. my country, the northern border of our country is restless, and the frontier soldiers sleep on their arms day and night, how dare they sell horse weapons, not to mention that your country has long occupied the south of the Yangtze River, and the south of the Yangtze River is full of rivers and lakes. If your country does not want to attack Dayong, why do you need war horses? Do you want to attack Shu?"

Zhao Jue was at a loss for words, but Shang Weijun quickly turned around and said, "My lord and Mr. Qin have both made a bit of a slip of the tongue. We are waiting for a meeting today, not for the sake of arguing. Please don't hold grudges."

Zhao Jue and Young Master Qin both raised their teacups and took a sip, expressing their abandonment of the argument.

Mr. Qin took a breath and said, "Our country seeks Shu because of its stubbornness and refusal to be a vassal. Although it formed an alliance, it violated the covenant. The most hateful thing is that our country's salt production is insufficient, and the rest needs to be purchased from Shu. , The Kingdom of Shu has repeatedly raised the price, and the special products in the middle of Shu are rich, and the Kingdom of Shu has accumulated treasures according to its treasures. Jiang Zhizhi, when the Southern Chu's military strength increases greatly, I still have border troubles in Dayong, and Southern Chu occupies the entire Yangtze River, so what else can I worry about? If this is the case, Prince De is not at ease, thinking that he can't resist my Dayong, It's better to abandon the armor and surrender as soon as possible, does Nanchu only want to settle down in the south of the Yangtze River, and let others decide his life and death?"

Zhao Jue was silent, but just shook his head. He knew that the soldiers of Southern Chu were not strong in combat. If they attacked Shu, most of the land and population would fall into Dayong's hands. What about dividing the results equally? In the end, it would be difficult to know who won the battle. Whose it is. Everyone looked at each other, and they could see the resolute look on Zhao Jue's face. It seemed that no matter how he spoke, he couldn't change his mind. Li Xian's eyes flashed distressed, and he glanced at Liang Wan. Liang Wan stood up and said, "Everyone is tired today, if you don't mind, I invite you to have dinner downstairs, I have prepared sour plum soup to cool off the heat, please taste it."

Shang Weijun stood up and said with a smile: "Ms. Liang's banquet must be attended, please."

Zhao Jue stood up, looked at Young Master Qin, and asked, "May I ask your honorable name and your official position in Dayong?"

Qin Gongzi said in a suit, "I'm under Qin Zheng, and I will work under the tent of King Qi."

Zhao Jue said with a smile: "Young master Qin's tongue is as sharp as a sword, Zhao Jue admires it, but there are some things that no matter how well they say, they can't match the strength and benefits. I think that I am not qualified to stand against Dayong. If Dayong attacks Shu In order to protect ourselves, we in Southern Chu should fight hard and mobilize horses and horses.”

Seeing Zhao Jue's stubbornness, Young Master Qin smiled wryly and said, "Prince De chooses kindness and is stubborn, not to be moved by words, Qin Zheng and Meng Lang, please forgive me, my lord."

Zhao Jue nodded slightly, and said: "I am busy with military affairs, so I will take my leave first, and please forgive me." Everyone did not expect Zhao Jue to be so decisive. They originally planned to persuade them with good words after drinking, but now they had no choice but to help each other. deliver. Several people exchanged glances from time to time, and my heart moved, I suddenly stood up and said: "Your lords are already tired, so I will send you off to the prince." King Qi and others didn't pay attention, Shang Weijun said bitterly: "Yes OK, that's OK."

I followed Zhao Jue out, Zhao Jue was a little tired, I looked carefully at this 30-year-old prince, he must have been under a lot of pressure these years, I haven't seen him for three years, his temples are slightly frosted, and his There is an indomitable spirit on his body. This is my Optimus Prime from Southern Chu. I admire him and feel sorry for him. His painstaking efforts are incomprehensible to others. I really don’t understand why he has such courage. Zhao Jue noticed my gaze and asked calmly, "Who are you?"

I respectfully said: "Jiang Zhe, the next official, attendant of the Imperial Academy, is now accompanying the lord of the country."

Zhao Jue was taken aback and asked, "You are Jiang Zhe, why are you sitting with King Qi?"

I quickly explained: "The lower official was ordered to receive the king of Qi, and the king of Qi must be present today. The lower official is fortunate to be able to listen to the teachings of the prince. It is a blessing for three lives."

Although Zhao Jue was a bit strange, he didn't delve into it, and said bitterly: "I've heard your poems before, and they're really well written. 'Looking at the sword with the lamp on while drunk, and dreaming of blowing the trumpet. Eight hundred li points under the command, fifty strings The sound of turning over the fortress. The soldiers are ordered in autumn on the battlefield. The horse is flying fast, and the bow is like a thunderbolt. It ends the affairs of the king and wins the fame before and after his life. It happened for nothing.'" He seems to be intoxicated by the song I wrote in Jiangxia. In the artistic conception of "Broken Form", he brushed his temples unintentionally for a moment, 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 I express my opinion, please allow me to ask you three questions?"

Zhao Jue glanced at me in surprise, and said, "Just ask."

A trace of sadness flashed in my eyes, and I asked the question: "Firstly, I would like to ask the lord, my Southern Chu goes up to the lord and down to the common people, but there is someone who understands Dayong's wolfish ambitions as well as the lord."

Zhao Jue was silent for a long while and said, "Not many people, even my cronies and subordinates, advised me to attack the Kingdom of Shu."

I asked again: "Secondly, I would like to ask my lord, if Dayong attacks Shu by himself and Shu asks me to send troops to rescue him, would I dare to send troops from Southern Chu?"

Zhao Jue said sadly: "Don't dare, the monarchs and ministers of our country will definitely sit back and watch the Kingdom of Shu perish."

I knew his heart was hurting, but I still asked the third question: "Thirdly, if the prince tries his best to block the attack on Shu, and the king's purpose is firm, he has to choose another general. Do you fight?"

I asked three times in a row, and each question was sharper than the first one. Zhao Jue was in a cold sweat, and he looked at me fixedly.

I bowed my head and said: "Nowadays, our country is no longer independent. If the prince insists on refusing to do so, and the lord sends others to attack Shu, our soldiers are not as good as Shu and Dayong. At that time, Dayong wanted to destroy our Southern Chu, and the momentum was like a broken bamboo. If the prince personally marched, he could get some key points in Bashu as a foundation, and get Longyou Pass as a buffer, and then hold Xiangfan firmly, then Dayong can at least protect Southern Chu due to the situation After decades of Guozuo, if we in Southern Chu can live our lives and taste our courage in the future, we may not be able to win the world."

Zhao Jue showed sorrow at first, then returned to calm, and then revealed a look of determination in his eyes, and said: "Master Jiang is really a peerless national soldier. If I lead the army to attack Shu, Master Jiang is willing to be my aide."

What a joke, I don't want to go to the battlefield, so I said lightly: "I don't know the military strategy, so I dare not follow. If the prince asks, I 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 in a deep voice: "Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of a country, Mr. Jiang is my subordinate of Southern Chu, how can he not help me to the south?" Chu tried his best, you should think about it carefully." After finishing speaking, he took his people and left.

I looked at Zhao Jue's back angrily, the guy who repays his kindness, I just pointed out to you, you repay me like this, wanting me to go to the battlefield, it is really unreasonable, what should I do, who can I ask for help so that I don't have to go to the army, I am miserable Thinking hard.

Note: Qiu Yu (yin Qiu) means enemy.