Zhu Nao

The room was so quiet that only the breathing of the three of them and Zhang Ling's drinking tea remained, and no one spoke for a long time.

After an unknown amount of time, Tao Bei finally said slowly, "According to what Mister sees, if I can keep the country alive, will the princes of all walks of life submit to me?"

Zhang Ling touched his fingers unconsciously: "General, in the current situation, it is better to lure him with profit than to subdue him with force."

Just now he kept saying that the princes from all walks of life would voluntarily submit to Tao Bei, but in fact it was just a polite talk.Although those little princes have no chance to fight for hegemony and can only survive in the cracks, they will shrewdly choose a path that is most beneficial to them.

However, it is indeed better to subdue the opponent by means of lure than to launch a crusade with a large army. This sentence is true.You must know that among the three major princes today, although Tao Bei occupies the Central Plains where the national line is located, he is the poorest one.In recent years, the Central Plains has had the most wars, and the once-rich land has long been riddled with holes.Tao Bei has no shortage of elite soldiers tempered in the flames of war, but he worries about military expenses all the time.

Temptation...

Tao Bei remained silent for a long time again, lowering his eyes as if thinking carefully.

After a while, Zhang Ling said again: "As far as I know, Sun Xiang in Changsha has an old grudge against Zhu Nao. At the beginning, he was defeated by the Shu army, and two generals defected, losing tens of thousands of troops and greatly hurting their vitality. , and that's how the overlord turned into a petty vassal. It should be the easiest to win over this person."

He also said: "Zhao Wu from Jinzhou is very womanly. One of his most important staff is named Qian Ming, who cherishes jade and stone artifacts. Zhao Wu often obeys Qian Ming's advice. The general might as well give it to Zhao Wu. Wu sent a few slim beauties, and then sent a batch of precious toys to Qian Ming, and they would make their hearts fall in love with the general.” —— These were all the news Henry Zhang had inquired through Xuantianjiao.Because of the Xuantian Sect, his news is much better than others.

Of course, these are just small favors used to buy people's hearts.The most important thing is to support the new emperor, so that those old dignitaries believe that their honor can continue, and naturally they will no longer fight desperately.

Zhang Ling explained something in this way, and Tao Bei listened to them one by one, and carefully wrote them down.

Until it was getting late and only the cicadas were chirping outside, Tao Bei finally got up to say goodbye: "Thank you for your teaching today, sir."

Zhang Ling stood up and saw him off: "You are welcome, General."

Tao Beike saluted politely, turned around and left.

After Tao Bei left, Zhang Ling returned to the house.The little monk was still meditating in the corner.

Zhang Ling stepped forward and said lazily, "I said, why do you like chanting sutras so much? It's been a day, don't you feel tired?"

The little monk didn't make a sound.

Zhang Ling waited for a while, feeling something was wrong, and leaned forward to look carefully for a while, only to find that the little monk had fallen asleep after chanting sutras, with his head slightly lowered, breathing peacefully.

Xu Shi noticed Zhang Ling's approach, and the little monk suddenly woke up, rubbed his eyes blankly, and sucked back the saliva left by the corner of his mouth: "Master, brother."

Zhang Ling laughed for a while, and sat down cross-legged opposite him: "Did you hear what we just said?"

The little monk asked blankly, "What are you talking about?"

Zhang Ling knew that he was stupid, so he was bound to be uninterested in these things, so he said in a low mood, "I'm talking about making you the emperor."

The little monk blinked ignorantly, obviously not knowing what a big deal it was.He asked curiously, "Brother, what's the difference between being an emperor and being a monk?"

Zhang Ling said with a "ha": "Of course there is a difference. Being an emperor can eat enough, you can eat whatever you want, beef, sheep, pigs and chickens, delicacies from mountains and seas. There are no precepts governing you, and no old bald donkeys bullying you. No one dares to beat and scold you! Men and women in this world, whoever you like, don’t need to pay them attention, if you sleep with them, they will all be grateful, because you favor them.”

The little monk still didn't understand the meaning of the second half of the sentence, he just thought about the first half of the sentence, and couldn't help swallowing: "Then, wouldn't it be a great thing to be the emperor?"

But Zhang Ling frowned: "That's not necessarily the case. Being an emperor has its disadvantages. When you are a monk, you take a broken bowl for alms, go wherever you want, and do whatever you want. Become a monk." Emperor, you can’t control anything. Someone always tells you what you want to do. What you can do in a day, someone else will make a mess for you in three months. .”

The little monk didn't understand how much trouble this was.He tilted his head and thought for a while, then asked: "Then, if I become the emperor, I don't need to be hungry, can I make everyone no longer need to be hungry?"

Zhang Ling was taken aback, thinking that he still remembered his hometown or the people in some temple, and asked, "Everyone? Who do you want to keep hungry?"

The little monk said honestly: "I want to make everyone in the world no longer need to be hungry. It's hard to be hungry."

Zhang Ling: "..."

He rolled his eyes speechlessly, sneered, bent his fingers and flicked the little monk's head: "If you have such an idea, you can only be a stupid monk who recites scriptures and Buddha every day."

The little monk groaned and rubbed his head.When he raised his head again, Zhang Ling had gone back to the house to rest.

……

On the other side, Tao Beipixing came out of the South Courtyard and ordered to the attendants beside him: "Have someone check out the lineage of the Marquis of Fenyang to see if they can pick out one or two powerful ones, and get someone to write some stories to praise them." flatter."

The entourage was surprised when he heard the words: "The general really decided to let that little monk be enthroned?"

Tao Bei gave a simple "hmm".

The lineage of the Marquis of Xunyang where "Zhu Xin" belongs has always been relatively unknown.In order for the people of the world to accept the new emperor, it is necessary to add color to this vein.Find a few more promising ones from this branch, and find a storyteller to add fuel to them and praise them. It is best to use some brains on the genealogy to draw them closer to the late emperor. When the time comes, Zhu Xin will take over. When the time comes, it becomes even more justifiable.

The entourage couldn't help persuading: "General... That Zhang Ling brought a young master here alone, and he can say everything by himself. How can he know that he is not a liar who deceives the world..."

Tao Beidao: "Didn't you send someone to check it? No problem was found."

In fact, after learning of Zhu Xin's identity at first, Tao Bei vaguely had similar thoughts, so he immediately ordered someone to investigate Zhu Xin's life experience.The token that Zhang Ling took out to represent the identity of the royal family is true, and it is also true that the family of Xunyang Hou was displaced during the war. Much evidence.

The follower said: "But..."

Tao Bei glanced at him, and the man suddenly died down, unable to speak any more.

So what if it's true or false?When they choose the emperor, they don't really care whether that person is from the Zhu family's blood, even if they catch someone whose surname is Wang and Li, they can insist on saying that the surname is Zhu.Holding an emperor of the Zhu family is nothing more than a necessary step for Tao Bei to unify the world under the current situation.

In fact, Tao Bei was not very satisfied with making Zhu Xin emperor.After all, Zhu Xin is a little bit older. Although he is still ignorant at the age of eleven or twelve, he will have his own opinions in four or five years.And if you can find a three- to five-year-old child, you can sit back and relax for at least ten years in the future.

But Zhu Xin also has several advantages.One is that he came here in exile, and he has no relatives, so he has no backing and moths pointing at him to suck blood. Candidates should not be delayed for at least a year or so, and Zhu Xin is at hand, so it is most convenient to take and use anytime; thirdly, this Zhang Ling is really smart and scheming, and Tao Bei attaches great importance to him.If Zhu Xin is placed on the throne of God, Zhang Ling should devote himself to himself from now on until he dies.

This matter really cannot be dragged on.He came to Zhang Ling today just to test Zhang Ling's attitude.He has stabilized the Central Plains here, and Zhu Nao has also moved back to Hanzhong. The battle between the two sides is about to start officially. He has to win over other princes before Zhu Nao!

Tao Bei had already made up his mind, so he didn't say any more, and only ordered his subordinates to find what he ordered to prepare as soon as possible, and then went back to rest.

……

In the blink of an eye, everyone in Yedu has already figured out the lineage of Marquis Xunyang clearly, and they have really started to build momentum before the new emperor's ascension to the throne...

=====

Two months later, Golden State.

Zhao Wu sat in the hall and stretched his neck expectantly.Not long after, the envoy from Yedu led more than a dozen women swaying gracefully up to the hall.

I saw those women neatly lined up in two rows, dressed in water-blue and goose-yellow silk clothes, all of them were slim, some had delicate faces, some were full of charm, and there were also exotic beauties mixed in.As soon as they entered the main hall, the aroma in the hall immediately wafted.

What Zhao Wu loves most is the beauties under heaven, and he stares straight at her for a moment, only missing a puddle of saliva on the spot.He made no secret of his liking, and was so happy to see his teeth but not his eyes.

The envoy of Yedu saw his expression and was overjoyed. He said, "General Tao has heard that Zhao Zhoumu is very elegant and likes singing and dancing. Therefore, he heard that Zhao Zhoumu's birthday is coming, so he specially chose this dancer to give to Zhao Zhoumu. I don't know. Is Zhaozhou Mu still satisfied?" It's also fortunate that he can describe his lust as being elegant.

"Satisfied, of course satisfied!" Zhao Wusheng was afraid of making these women sad by saying lightly, with a loud voice and piercing eyes, "I'm so satisfied! General Tao has a heart!"

The messenger smiled and said, "It's good that Zhao Zhoumu likes it. If General Tao knows about it, he will be happy too."

Zhao Wu immediately wanted to call the beauties to look at them carefully one by one, touch their little hands, and kiss their little faces.However, he also knew what the purpose of Yedu's envoy's visit was, and he also knew that he had plenty of time, so there was no need to rush at this moment.

So he asked people to take the dancers down first, gave the envoy a seat, and set up a banquet for hospitality.

"By the way," Zhao Wu said, "I heard that General Tao rescued the youngest son of Marquis Xunyang a while ago, is there such a thing?"

The envoy hurriedly said: "It is indeed the case. The mob rioted the year before, and the Xunyang Hou family was forced to flee. After going through many hardships and dangers, they were in danger of being destroyed. Fortunately, a heartfelt retainer protected the young master to Yedu. When the general heard about this, he hurriedly took the young master back to his residence to take care of him."

"Oh..." Zhao Wu said meaningfully, "Now that the emperor's branches are withering and the dragon veins are weak, General Tao should take good care of the young master."

Changing the subject, he laughed again: "Recently, I've heard stories about the old Xunyanghou were told in many teahouses among the people, saying that there were quite a few heroes who served the country and the people from the line of the Xunyanghou."

It was hard to tell whether he was being sarcastic or flattering.Those recent rumors are Tao Bei's efforts to promote Zhu Xin's ascension to the throne, and anyone with a brain understands what's going on.

The envoy just pretended not to understand, and said with a smile: "The Marquis of Xunyang's lineage indeed has a large number of enlightened masters."

Zhao Wu chuckled, and said loudly, "Masters come forth in succession? Well said! Come, drink!"

Everyone raised their glasses, and the envoys from Yedu kept complimenting him during the banquet, expressing in every possible way that if Zhao Wu was willing to submit to Tao Bei, not only would he be able to keep his current glory and wealth, but he would be given more jurisdiction to govern.

Zhao Wu was naturally also very happy, and responded with many good words, praising Tao Bei's outstanding military exploits over the years, which is admirable.I am in awe of Tao Bei, and I will never dare to do anything like this.

However, these are all polite words on the scene, but in fact, whether to submit or not, how to be promoted is not something that can be negotiated at the wine table, and the envoys from both sides need to sit down and fight with each other, and discuss in every possible way.

Until it got dark, everyone was drunk with wine, and finally broke up.Zhao Wu ordered someone to entertain the envoy to go back to rest, while he himself invited his staff to continue the discussion.

After everyone gathered, Zhao Wu said, "It seems that Tao Bei intends to make the son of Marquis Xunyang the emperor." The matter has become so obvious, and those who don't see it any more are fools.

"It's a smart move." Zhao Wu's aide Qian Ming said, "If Tao Bei follows Han Rushan's example and proclaims himself emperor, he won't be able to convince all the heroes in the world."

Zhao Wu nodded in agreement.After all, Tao Bei's qualifications are too low and his foundation is not deep. If he wants to be the emperor, he will definitely not be able to convince everyone.Instead, help a puppet emperor and distribute more power so that people can consider joining them.

Zhao Wu was still very satisfied with the conditions promised to Zhao Wu by the envoy of Yedu during the banquet.But he wouldn't just agree to it out of the blue.He knows his current situation better than anyone else - he has no chance of competing for world hegemony, but Jinzhou is located between the Shu Mansion and the Central Plains, which is both a crisis and an opportunity.

He is likely to become the target of Chengdu and Yedu vying to win over in the future. He only needs to walk around in the middle and raise his own value to win the greatest benefit!

Thinking of this, Zhao Wu showed an excited smile on his face.He suddenly said: "By the way, why hasn't the Shu Mansion sent anyone over these days? If Zhu Nao doesn't hurry up, he won't be afraid that I will be drawn over by Yedu?"

Everyone shook their heads blankly, and they hadn't heard of any recent movements in the Shu Mansion.In the past two years, people were often sent to and from there, giving gifts and doing business, and the desire to win over was clearly revealed.On the contrary, Zhu Nao moved back to Hanzhong recently, and it was obvious that he was going to fight Tao Bei, but there was no movement.

What is the plan over there?

Just when everyone was puzzled, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and a special envoy rushed in.

"Zhou, Zhou Mu!" The special envoy said, "Come from the Shu government, write a letter! Zhu Nao, he, he..."

Everyone in the hall hurriedly held their breath, waiting for the special envoy to speak.It's just that the man ran too fast and was panting so badly that he couldn't speak a word for a long time.

"What happened to Juno?"

"Junao, Junao has become emperor!! He will be enthroned in Hanzhong next month!!"

Everyone: "...!!!"

Zhu Nao actually wants to proclaim himself emperor? ? ! !