Plan to cut off the nine states

Thinking that there were so many people in the valley, and most of them were riding horses, the old servant had to carry the few chickens and ducks he raised into an empty room to avoid being trampled to death.

The Prince of Jibei took today's match very seriously and invited many relatives and friends to watch. Before the official start of the game, several people were sent to the field to show off their skills. Every ball hit was greeted with cheers.

Zhang Shiqing refused to cheer, and said to Chang Yan and others beside him: "It's all just a show, and only people who don't understand think it's good. When it comes to the competition, both sides are fighting for it, how can they have a chance to use it?"

Chang Yan and others took it seriously and nodded in agreement, but when they saw a good shot, they still cheered loudly.

In front of Fan Guan's tomb, Yu Zhan had just gotten up and was practicing etiquette in a serious manner. However, the noise reached his ears and he could not calm down at all. He was irritated and angry, but he did not dare to raise an army to question the crime. The other party was the prince of Jibei. Yesterday, Someone was sent to build him a wooden house, but he had nothing to repay, so he could only tolerate such ridiculous behavior a little.

Yu Zhan returned to the house and drank the tea sent by Xu Chu, feeling no gratitude in his heart.

When junior brother Yan Wei came in, Yu Zhan was thinking about how to spend today.

"Senior Brother Yu is so determined. Why won't he go out and take a look when it's so busy outside?"

Since entering the valley, Yu Zhan has looked down on his former brothers. When he saw Yan Wei, he did not get up. He snorted coldly, picked up a book, and said without raising his head or eyes: "Come on." They are all relatives of the emperor, why should I join in the fun? How did Junior Brother Yan get in?"

"Haha, Senior Brother Yu is joking, I didn't sneak in, I came with the Crown Prince."

Yu Zhan turned his gaze and asked, "When did you work for the Crown Prince?"

"It's been a while. Not long after my master passed away, I was invited to serve as a secretary in the Prince's Mansion in Jibei."

Being a clerk in the palace was a very inconspicuous idle position, so Yan Wei rarely mentioned it.

Yu Zhan listened but was still a little jealous, especially the word "invited", which made him feel deeply unfair. He said lightly: "Congratulations, Junior Brother Yan should have announced it earlier so that everyone could have a banquet to celebrate. Now No, I am guarding the house and do not want to eat or drink."

Yan smiled and said: "My father insisted that I accept this position. I had no choice but to do it. If I could choose, I would rather come here to accompany my senior brother."

"Well, people who can come never speak up, and people who can't come always have excuses."

Yan Wei stepped forward and bowed deeply, "Junior Brother Yu has brought glory to Fan Sect. We respect him. Whether he comes or not, we feel guilty in our hearts."

Yu Zhan became embarrassed instead, and his tone became gentle, "I understand that everyone is burdened. Unlike me, I have no father, no mother, no wife, no children, and I don't move around with my relatives. I just live here and have nothing to fear."

"There are many people who are born in this world, but there are still only a few who can sacrifice their lives for righteousness. Senior Brother Yu's righteous deeds not only bring glory to our Fan family, but also set a standard for scholars all over the world. Please accept my worship again, Senior Brother Yu."

Yu Zhan was even more embarrassed and hurriedly stood up to help him, "Junior Brother Yan has said it."

"Nothing at all, Senior Brother Yu, please take a look." Yan Wei took out a folding book from his arms and handed it over.

Yu Zhan took it in his hand and opened it to look at it. He saw that it was full of names, some familiar and some unfamiliar. "What does this mean?"

"It's all signed by scholars from Yecheng. It's not for anything else, but because I respect my senior brother's righteous deeds. I can't come in person, so I signed to show my support. I entrusted me to give it to my senior brother Yu, just to express my deep feelings."

Yu Zhan was overjoyed and said seriously: "Junior Brother Yan, please express my gratitude to all my colleagues."

The two chatted for a while, and Yan Wei said: "Senior Brother Yu has entered the valley to guard the hut and is famous in Jizhou. Can this be considered a success?"

Yu Zhan patted the case and said: "I only guard the house to fulfill my filial piety. How can I accomplish anything? Only by expelling Xu Chu and taking back Siguo Valley can I fulfill my wish."

"But what are Senior Brother Yu's plans for the future?"

Yu Zhan was silent for a while and then said: "In terms of courage, I think I still have some, but in terms of resourcefulness, I feel ashamed. Xu Chu is a shameless person. When he saw me entering the valley to guard the hut, he didn't chase me away, but he didn't leave either. , Stuck here, I...I haven't figured out a way yet. "

"The last time we had a drink together, Senior Brother Yu said something right: Xu Chuneng relies on his thoughts, not on his knowledge and resourcefulness, but on the protection from above."

Yu Zhan sighed helplessly, "No need to say more, we just know it well. There are many people outside, and it will be troublesome if heard. I don't mind. Junior Brother Yan should be careful since he is seeking a position in the palace."

"I was in the palace and heard some rumors. I don't know whether they are true or not. They are quite detrimental to Xu Chu."

"What should I say?" Yu Zhan immediately became interested.

"It is said that the King of Jibei intends to marry Princess Fangde to King Zuo Shenwei of the He Rong tribe."

Yu Zhan was stunned, "Didn't Princess Fangde marry Xu Chu a long time ago?"

"That happened in Dongdu. The two only worshiped each other but did not sleep together. After that, Xu Chu assassinated and rebelled. Although the marriage was not dissolved, it was in name only. The palace still regarded Princess Fangde as the unmarried one. female."

"Well, I saw that Princess Fangde is still unmarried. Since she exists in name only, why did the princess come to live here? Don't you care what others say?" Yu Zhan said angrily.

Yan smiled and said: "This is often the case in the world. People who should observe etiquette the most treat etiquette as a plaything. Without scholars like us, the world would be in chaos."

Yu Zhan was filled with emotion. "Thinking carefully, Xu Chu is really the enemy of scholars. He changed his surname, assassinated the emperor, plotted rebellion, became enemies with his father and brother, watched his biological father being killed, seized the Valley of Repentance, and used evil words to confuse the people... He violated etiquette in every way and committed treason. I really don't understand why such a person would be protected. Alas, if the ruler of Yecheng was a man, he would never allow such a thing to happen."

"Soon, Xu Chu's protection will end."

"What do you mean?"

"The King of Jibei wants to marry Princess Fangde to the He Rong tribe. If this happens, Xu Chu's reputation will be tarnished. , but this person is tough and doesn't care about his reputation. Senior Brother Yu may not know that Princess Fangde secretly escaped to the Valley of Repentance, and Xu Chu was arrogant and accepted her, which caused many dissatisfactions. "

Yu Zhan stared, and felt that the royal family was really lawless. "If so, why didn't the King of Jibei severely punish Xu Chu?"

"The King of Jibei had this intention a long time ago, but it was difficult to do it because of the King of Xiangdong."

"Things have come to this point, and the ruler of Yecheng still wants to protect Xu Chu?" Yu Zhan tried not to mention the four words "Princess Huanyan", one is to avoid trouble, and the other is to express disdain.

"Senior Brother Kou is a staff member in the Xiangdong Palace and is highly valued. I learned from him that the Xiangdong Palace has actually lost patience with Xu Chu, but it is not easy to change its attitude suddenly, so it can only hope that Xu Chu will bear the consequences."

"The Xiangdong Palace has always been vigorous and resolute, why is it hesitant on such a small matter? She only needs to make a hint, and someone will naturally punish Xu Chu."

"Xu Chu once let the Xiangdong King go, and after abdicating, he came to surrender, seized Siguo Valley with his debate skills, and still had the name of husband and wife with Princess Fangde. All these things made the Xiangdong Palace very embarrassed, the so-called "A dumb person cannot express his pain when he eats lotus." This is what it means. "

"Will Xiangdong Palace continue to endure this?"

"Xiangdong Palace needs a 'legitimate reason'."

"Hmm?"

Yan Wei stood up and bowed, saying, "Xu Chu seized the Valley of Repentance and claimed to be the direct descendant of our master. All of our disciples of Fan Sect are irreconcilable with him. It is legitimate to take revenge. Among all the brothers, only Senior Brother Yu has the style of a fierce general. He has taken the lead and has entered the enemy's city gate. Do you intend to take another step?"

Yu Zhan raised his eyebrows and vaguely understood Yan Wei's intention.

Yan Wei said no more, took out a dagger from his bosom, and gently put it under the book, "The names on the memorial are all backing up Senior Brother Yu."

"Hey, everyone wants to be a backing, no one is a pioneer."

Yan smiled and said: "Senior Brother Yu jumped on his horse, and both the enemy and I were terrified. Even if they were our own people, they dared not surpass half a step. Goodbye, see you again someday, when I and the scholars of Yecheng will clear Senior Brother Yu's name."

Yan Wei left, and the noise outside was still coming. Yu Zhan stood for a long time, opened the book, revealing the dagger underneath, and quickly covered it with a book, took a few more books, covered it tightly, and murmured: "Xu Chu was just a scholar at that time..."

Although Yu Zhan was hot-tempered, he was not the kind of person who would be moved by what others said. He was in a state of anxiety, and he couldn't read at all. So he walked out of the wooden house, bypassed the polo field and the crowd, and unknowingly walked to the back of the courtyard.

The houses built by Fan Bisheng are still there, and several new ones have been built around them, without any planning. They are standing in the valley in all directions. I don’t know whether it is intentional or not, but they are taller than the old houses.

Yu Zhan became more and more angry as he looked at them. He quietly came to the study and wanted to take another look at the master’s residence. At least the old mats inside were not removed, and they were still the same as before.

To his surprise, there were still people in the valley who were not interested in polo and stayed in the study to talk.

Yu Zhan thought for a while, then stood by the window, filtering out the noise in the distance and listening to the voices in the house.

"Mr. Xu was not a hesitant person before." A strange voice laughed.

"Mr. Qiao, you don't need to say more. The past is the past, and the present is the present. Besides, I didn't hesitate. I said it very clearly: I will not disclose this matter, nor will I participate in it. Xu is a sojourner here, and I will not be an ungrateful person."

"Of course, we can't do ungrateful things, but what if we are ungrateful? There is no point in saying more. Mr. Xu, wait a little longer and see whether the Xiangdong Palace is more grateful or resentful to Mr. Xu. Mr. Xu must understand that the situation is pressing, and the Jibei King and his son cannot make the decision. The fate of Princess Fangde is not up to them, but Mr. Xu. I believe that Mr. Xu is a tight-lipped person. When Mr. Xu thinks it through, he can send a message to me."

The man said goodbye, and Yu Zhan, who was outside the house, hurriedly dodged. He peeked out and saw an old scholar walking away, whom he didn't recognize.

After the old scholar left, Yu Zhan went back to the window to continue listening. There was no sound in the room for a long time, so he looked inside and saw Xu Chu sitting at the table, reading an unknown book. The doors and windows were not closed, and there was constant noise, but he was not affected at all and read very seriously.

Yu Zhan quietly returned to his room, his heart pounding, thinking carefully about what he had just heard, and muttered: "Junior Brother Yan is right, the Xiangdong Palace and Xu Chu have indeed had a rift..."

Yu Zhan pushed aside the book on the table, revealing the dagger, and his heart was confused and excited.

The cheers outside suddenly rang loudly and continuously, presumably the winner had been decided. Yu Zhan didn't care about it at all, just staring at the dagger.