Riding and cutting the imperial pirates of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 581 The Eloquent Zhou Gongjin

Liu Biao has seen countless people in his life, but this is the first time he has seen such an elegant and suave person like Zhou Yu. While secretly praising him, he turned to Lu Su. After all, this person is the envoy, and asked casually: "The three of you are coming to Xiangyang, But came here to borrow food?"

Lu Su nodded and was about to speak, but Zhou Yu who was on the side smiled slightly and said boldly, "It's not only for borrowing food, but also for keeping Jingzhou peaceful!" Then, he cupped his hands to Liu Biao and said, "Don't you know that you are dead?" The disaster is just around the corner!"

Liu Biao was startled when he heard the words, but before he could say anything, a general on the left was furious when he heard the words, he stood up without looking at his manners, pointed at Zhou Yu and shouted, "Presumptuous!"

"Spreading rumors to confuse the public and lie to deceive the king, do you think that you are officials in Yangzhou, and I can't beat you in Jingzhou?" Then he shouted to the outside of the hall: "Come on, take this scorpion down for me, and tie me up." Get fifty lashes first!"

"No!"

As soon as the general finished speaking, he heard a civil servant on the other side stand up hastily, "General Cai, if the two countries are at war, they will not be executed, let alone Liu Gong was an ally of Xuzhou Mushang before."

"Let's listen to what he has to say first. If there is any lie, it will not be too late to punish him."

"What's there to say!"

The military general was Cai Mao, and he snorted coldly, "Wang Yukou started a private war, and the poor soldiers redeemed the military, which led to the decline of the people's livelihood. It's up to me to take the blame. What does Jingzhou have to do with me? Now I send envoys here to ask for food, and it's really audacious to scare the public with sensationalism. "

"If you don't punish, how can you face your eyes and listen? Wang Zuoli doesn't need to say too much." Then, turning his head to the soldier who entered the palace again, he pointed at Zhou Yu viciously and said, "Come here, I'm going to tie this person out!"

"Here!"

Seeing that the soldiers were about to step forward to capture Zhou Yu, Lu Su was anxious and was about to speak when he saw Gongsun Shu stand out with his chest up: "Who are you scaring?"

"Thinking of your envoy from Jingzhou, you have been to my Yangzhou several times. My general is so considerate. We have a small banquet every three days and a big banquet every five days. The friendship we have treated you as an envoy is profound!"

"Nowadays, we have traveled thousands of miles, crossed mountains and rivers, and come to Xiangyang from afar. It's fine if you don't receive us hospitablely, but you throw us away in your spare time, and you don't even see each other. Now it's so easy to meet, and you still put it outside It's fine to put down the soldiers, but you're still yelling and shouting and shouting when you enter your hall, and now you're still being treated with knives and sticks."

As he spoke, he looked around, then turned to Liu Biao who was in the main seat, threw his arms and eyes, and shouted sharply: "Although I am a man, I have also heard that Liu Jingzhou has always been kind, courteous, kind and hospitable. Why, is this how your honor treats guests?" ?”

"You guy"

Cai Hao became more and more angry, and was about to explode, but Liu Biao, who was in the main seat, waved his hand suddenly and said, "De Gui, please be safe and don't be impatient."

Seeing Cai Mao sitting down resentfully, Fang Cai glanced sideways at Zhou Yu and the others, and said with a slight smile: "Just now what my minister said was just for jokes, luckily the three of you are not to blame."

Looking at Zhou Yu again, he saw that he was refreshed, with a calm face, without any hesitation, as if he was not affected by the turmoil just now, his impression got better, and he said warmly:

"Your name is Zhou Yu? I heard that the Lujiang Zhou family has a descendant with this name, don't you know?"

Since Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty and established a new dynasty, the two-name ban was implemented. Although Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu later revived the Han Dynasty, this rule was still inherited and became a social trend, which led to the Eastern Han Dynasty and even the later Western Jin Dynasty. Regardless of high or low, they are all named after single characters.

However, if a single surname is added to a single name, there will often be duplication of names. This also led to the Han and Jin Dynasties, when people self-reported their families, they usually added their own hometowns to avoid misunderstandings.

Zhou Yu replied neither humble nor overbearing: "I report to Mr. Liu, I am from Lujiang."

"It turns out that you are the nephew Gongjin, no wonder you have such an imposing aura, you are as clear as a god."

Liu Biao's expression became more and more relaxed, and he nodded again and again: "My nephew just said that the catastrophe of Jingzhou's destruction is imminent, I don't know what it means?"

Since the other party became more polite, Zhou Yu didn't mind saying a few good words first, "Yu went all the way south, passing through several counties, all the bones were covered with soil, weeds were overgrown, and the pity of the people made people cry. Seeing the merchant ships coming and going, the faces of all the people are happy, and the school enlightens the young children, reading the Confucian classics of the sages, and the sound is in the ears, which shows that Liu Gong has made great achievements in politics."

Hearing this, Liu looked pleased on the surface, but his mouth became modest: "My nephew is too famous, Jingzhou can have today's weather, it is nothing more than respecting the emperor and loving the people, Wangzhou Muruo also acts like this, Xu and Yangzhou also do the same. Can be safe and peaceful."

"But people have immediate worries without long-term worries."

Zhou Yu smiled slightly, "There is peace in the country, but there are ambitious people outside the country who covet it all the time. This is the reason why I came to Jingzhou with Lu Zhengshi today, not only to ask for food and fodder for the people of Yangzhou, but also to relieve Liu Gong's troubles." Come."

This sentence means that lobbyists have different purposes, such as Zhang Yi and Su Qin, who seek wealth and honor, and those such as Zigong, who seek to resolve difficulties.

At this time, another Jingzhou civil official stood up on the right side, and said mockingly: "If you don't understand the chaos, Zigong will be ashamed of you. If you don't say you are rich, Yi and Qin will be ashamed of you. You are calling yourself Zigong, don't you? Haven't you heard the story of 'Zigong argues his wits and loses Lu'?"

Compared with Zhang Yi and Su Qin, the political strategists who seek wealth and wealth, Zigong who solves problems has a much better image in the hearts of Confucian scholars. However, the biggest stain in Zigong's life is that when Qi State attacked Lu, no matter how much he lobbied, the people of Qi State I just stick to an extremely simple point of view. What you said is very reasonable, but what we want is land, not to listen to your reasoning. In the end, we will attack Lu on a large scale until ten miles away from the capital, and redefine the border between the two countries.

This story was later introduced into "Five Beetles" by Han Feizi, saying that "Zigong argues wit and cuts Lu." The so-called wit and eloquence is not the way to preserve the country at all. Only improving one's own strength is the right way to survive.

Zhou Yu smiled when he heard the words, and asked, "Excuse me?"

The man proudly replied: "Servant Pang Ji."

"It turned out to be Mr. Pang who said Jiangxia thief Zhang Hu."

Zhou Yu nodded: "Yan Wang was benevolent and righteous and Xu died, and Zigong argued for wisdom and Lu cut it. These are the words in Han Fei's "Five Beetles". , not because of holding the country.” Confucian scholars are also one of the “five beetles” he talked about.”

"I've heard for a long time that your name is a famous scholar in Jingzhou, with literary names all over the world. According to Han Fei's 'five beetles', then you are also among them. The Confucian classics you have learned and the words of sages you have learned are all useless. Also, Mr. agrees with Han Feizi's "Zigong argues wisdom and cuts Lu", so don't you also agree with his opinion, are Confucian scholars one of the five worms?"

Pang Ji was dumbfounded.Speechless.

Zhou Yu also said: "Han Fei's words are insulting to the gentlemen. Let's not say whether the story of 'Zigong cutting Lu' is true or not. Even if it is true, 'Zigong said it is equal but it will not work'. However, However, some former sages said, 'As soon as Zigong comes out, Lu will be preserved, Qi will be chaotic, Wu will be destroyed, Jin will be strengthened and Yue will be overrun'. What's the reason for that?"

Even if what Han Feizi said is true, although Zigong did not succeed in his mission, which led to the consequences of "cutting Lu", he did have the achievement of "preserving Lu". Why is this?

At this time, all the people in the hall did not raise any doubts, but all concentrated on listening to his explanation.

Zhou Yu looked around at everyone, paused for a while, and then said, "There is no such thing as the word profit. In troubled times, everyone seeks profit. Zigong's preservation in Lu is indeed beneficial to the enemy country. Realize the 'preservation of Lu'. Zigong's reduction of Lu is indeed of no benefit to the Qi State, so he said that Qi State cannot be moved, resulting in the 'reduction of Lu'."

Although the most fundamental purpose of Zigong's mission was to preserve the state of Lu, according to his strategy, it did have the side effect of "strengthening Jin and dominating Yue".In other words, while his strategy is "preserving Lu", it does have the side of helping the enemy country.This is why he was able to persuade the enemy country, and finally achieved the success of "preserving Lu".It is self-interested and beneficial to others.

Zhou Yu bowed his hands to Liu Biao again and said, "Zigong is a sage in the Spring and Autumn Period. Liu Gong occupies the belly of the world today. In the Spring and Autumn Period, it was all the land of Chu. I would like to ask Liu Gong, and I would like to ask you, in terms of the situation, the most powerful Chu State in the past. Who is the enemy?"

Someone replied: "One part of the Spring and Autumn Period, half of it is about Jin and Chu. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the strong enemy of Chu State is naturally Jin State."

"That's right." Zhou Yu nodded, and asked again: "Then after the division of the next three families, who is Chu's powerful enemy in the Warring States Period?"

"Of course it's Qi and Wei."

"Then who is the state of Wei today?" Zhou Yu stood in front of Liu Biao, asking with a persuasive look in his eyes, "Mr. Liu must know who is the state of Qi today."

"And the disaster Yu just mentioned should be in these two places!"

Needless to say, the State of Wei is talking about Cao Cao who now occupies the northern part of Yuzhou, Sili, and even Yanzhou. Its territory is almost the original miniature version of Wei State.
Liu Biao's expression was uncertain for a while, he looked up at Zhou Yu, and asked in a deep voice: "The other thing that my nephew said, could it be Yuan Shao?"

"Exactly!"

Zhou Yu said loudly: "Grand Liu, Yuan Shao's son Yuan Tan has occupied Linzi for several years, and his wolfish ambitions are clearly revealed! Once the Gongsun Jihou in the north is dealt with, Jizhou's powerful crossbows will surely move south!"

"If he goes south, Xuzhou will definitely bear the brunt. Once Xuzhou loses, Yuan Benchu ​​will be swept away, and Yangzhou will not be guaranteed. May I ask Mr. Liu, once Yangzhou falls under Yuan Shao's control, what will he do next? Could it be that because of Liu Gong's virtuous name in the country and his clan status, he will stop moving forward?"

This is naturally impossible. Once Wang Zheng loses to Yuan Shao, the opponent will naturally come to Jingzhou in the next step. What Liu Biao is most afraid of is that Cao Cao will also take advantage of the situation, and then he will fall into a situation where it is difficult to cope. up.

Between the twists and turns, Zhou Yu had already mixed up the matter of borrowing food and the cold lips and teeth, and told everyone the facts clearly:

One, Gongsun Zan can't last long, and Yuan Shao will definitely go to fight Qingzhou next, so he asked Yuan Tan to capture Linzi first.

Second, the safety of Xuzhou and Yangzhou is not a matter of Wang Zheng alone. He and Liu Biao are now in the same camp, and they are in the same camp to face the pressure from Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. If Liu Biao refuses to borrow food, when Yuan Shao goes south in the future, Wang Zheng will also It must be unstoppable, not only unstoppable, it may even be defeated quickly, defeated!
[-]. In this way, the Jizhou army will form a sweeping momentum. Although Yuan Shao is far away from you now, under such circumstances, I am afraid that the Jizhou people will attack your door in a few months.

Ever since Cao Cao catered to the emperor and moved his capital to Xu County, Liu Biao has been secretly afraid and extremely defensive, but Zhou Yu's remarks today made him wake up.
That's right, Gongsun Zan can't last long!
Once Gongsun Zan is dealt with, Jingzhou has already analyzed where Yuan Shao will attack next, either to fight Cao Cao or to fight Wang Zheng, and most people think that Wang Zheng is more likely.

One point so far, Cao Cao is still Yuan Shao's younger brother on the face of it, and he is regarded as a good man, and Wang Zheng has fought with Yuan Tan before, and now he has taken Yuan Shu's foundation. Well, although Cao Cao is not as powerful as Wang Zheng, he has the emperor in his hands, and Wang Zheng not only has a larger territory, but also has a black spot of yellow scarf bandits.

Of course, due to the extremely strong record of Wang Zheng in the past few years, even though most of the officials in Jingzhou are more optimistic about Yuan Shao, they still think that this two-hero meeting will not be one-sided and will not be separated in a short time. win or lose.

But if the food and grass are not enough, it's hard to say.

And once Yuan Shao defeats Wang Zheng, Jingzhou is indeed likely to face the threat of Jizhou army, and this threat is ten times stronger than Cao Cao!
Of course, Liu Biao also thought of another more crucial thing.
If Wang Zheng is defeated, it means that both Xuzhou and Yangzhou have fallen into Yuan Shao's hands, so wouldn't this battle of heroes come to an end in advance?Yuan Shao has absolutely achieved the general trend, not to mention joining forces with Cao Cao, even if he fights alone, Jingzhou has no chance of winning!

After a moment of silence, Liu Biao said: "Yuan Shao is ambitious and dares to change the emperor. Of course I am worried about it." For a while, until Liu Yu himself jumped out to object, the situation gradually subsided.

"What does my nephew think of me?"

Zhou Yu said: "Wangzhou Mu will be very grateful if he can get the grain of dendrobium to solve Yangzhou's urgent need. In the future, if there is an enemy in Jingzhou, no matter whether it is Yuan or Cao, he should spare no effort to repay his kindness. Jingzhou has culture and governance, and Yangzhou has military equipment. The harmony between the two families will ensure peace in the world, and the Liu family will be in harmony!"

Cai Mao sat beside him, and after listening for a long time, he interjected disapprovingly, "Zhou Yu, you go around talking like this, don't you still want to ask me to borrow food from Jingzhou and Yangzhou?"

"Yangzhou has armed forces, and the reputation of Wang Zheng as good at war is now known all over the world. I will not deny this, but don't forget that Yuan Benchu ​​is definitely a tiger and wolf, and Wang Yukou is a good person? And you leave Jingzhou? It's even closer!"

"Once I lend you food, even if you can defeat Yuan Shao's Jizhou army, how do you know that you won't covet me in Jingzhou? If so, isn't my lord just raising tigers for trouble?"

(End of this chapter)