One day, Xia Ji suddenly received a message from Zheng Guolai, informing her biological mother, the young concubine Peach, that she was seriously ill.

Although Xia Ji knew that this biological mother was actually the mother of Princess Ji Shao, the young concubine did not know that when Xia Ji got married, the young concubine treated it sincerely and made a lot of efforts for Xia Ji to marry smoothly.

Besides, Xia Ji has always remembered the friendship of Princess Ji Shao, and from the bottom of her heart, she is willing to do her filial piety on behalf of Princess Ji Shao.

And Uncle Xia Yushu also received a secret report from the spies of Chu State: Chu State is actively preparing for war and will attack Chen State after the summer grain is ripe.

Chen is between Chu and Zheng, and Zheng is also at the junction of Chu, if Chu and Zheng are caught between Chen, Chen will be in a very passive position, so it is very important to stabilize Zheng.

Uncle Xia Yu knew very well that if Xia Ji, the princess of Zheng Guo, came out to intercede with Zheng Mugong, the effect would be twice the result with half the effort.

Uncle Xia Yu went to the Bamboo Garden first for this reason, and by the way, he also wanted to hear what Mrs. had to say.

"Madame, I have something to tell you."

"Coincidentally, my lord, the concubine also has something to ask your lord. Adults' affairs are important, and adults will talk about them first. ”

"I just received a secret report that the State of Chu intends to attack our country after the summer harvest, I don't know what Madame thinks."

"My lord, the concubine thinks that if you fight after the summer harvest, in addition to plundering the land, the Chu State should want to reduce the burden of grain and grass logistics support, which may mean that this will be a large-scale war."

Madame has a point. What does Madame think we should do? ”

"The last thing that Chen can face is to make enemies on both sides, that is, Chu from the southeast, Zheng from the southeast, or Chu from the northwest through Zheng to attack Chen. Therefore, stabilizing the northwest and focusing on protecting the southeast is what Chen Guo has to do. ”

Madame has a point. But how to stabilize the Northwest? ”

"My lord, Zheng Guo is the motherland of the concubine, although the concubine is a woman, she is willing to do her best to persuade the monarch to protect the interests of Zheng Guo and Chen Guo, and not to collude with Chu State."

"Madame is really a woman who does not let her eyebrows, if Madame can come forward to persuade Zheng Mugong to remain neutral, it will be more effective than sending any messenger."

"The concubine is now a Chen Guoren, and this is the responsibility that every Chen Guoren should have."

"Great. Tomorrow morning, the husband will report to the king what his wife has invited. ”

"My lord, in addition to Zheng Guo, the concubine thinks that Chen Guo should also try his best to contact Jin Guo and strive for Jin Guo to give support; In addition, although the state of Chu wants to attack the state of Chen, it may not be without room for maneuver now, such as sending peace envoys to the state of Chu, as long as the disaster of war can be avoided, it is okay to make a little conciliatory posture appropriately, and by the way, you can also find out some of the military posture of the state of Chu. ”

"Mrs. Gao Jian, there are many views that are consistent with the husband, and there are many additions, and the husband really did not ask the wrong person. By the way, Madame said that there is something to tell me, so what's the matter? ”

"Oh, I just received the book, and the concubine's mother and concubine are sick."

"Even if the mother-in-law is sick, the husband should also visit, tomorrow in the court, for the husband to play the request for the king to agree to send Zheng Guo, and his wife to go to Xinzheng together, if the king allows, the husband will go with the wife; If the king does not approve, the lady can only go to Xinzheng alone to visit as soon as possible. The lady can prepare first, and then set off after inviting the gentleman for her husband. The husband also hopes that his wife can stay in Xinzheng for a longer time, even if it is a year and a half, and then return to Zhuye after giving birth to my son after resting for a while, and the war should be eliminated at that time. ”

"Obey my husband's orders." Natsuhime replied.

The next day, Uncle Xia Yushu played a chapter in the early dynasty, urging Chen to stabilize the importance of Zheng State, prevent Zheng State and Chu State from jointly attacking Chen or open Zheng State's territory to allow Chu State to attack Chen State through the channel, and suggested that envoys be sent to Jin and Chu at the same time to seek support from Jin State and persuade Chu State to give up attacking Chen.

"Sima, the widow also knows that you can't make enemies on both sides, but Zheng Guojing was defeated in a battle with Chu State, how can he resist the pressure of Chu State to make him join forces with Chen? I don't know what Sima's plan is. Chen Gonggong said.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that although Zheng Guo was defeated by Chu State, he has not completely fallen to Chu State, at least he has not become a vassal of Chu State, but he will not take the initiative to fight with Chu State. If a goodwill envoy is sent to persuade Zheng Mugong to remain neutral, it should still be possible. Uncle Xia Yu said.

"It's good for Zheng Guo to remain neutral, but going to Xinzheng is indeed a great mission, so can Sima be recommended by anyone?"

"Your Majesty, Weichen is willing to send envoys to Zheng Guo and Jin Guo." At this time, Secretary of State Fan Rui, who was standing aside, did not wait for Sima to speak, and spoke first.

Fan Rui took the initiative to ask Ying to envoy Zheng and Jin because he knew that this errand was likely to fall on Uncle Xia Yu, Zheng Mugong's son-in-law, because family affection could put aside a lot of red tape; Since Sima sent an envoy to Zheng and Jin, it is very likely that the mission of envoying Chu will fall on his head.

Relatively speaking, the powerful state of Chu, which was about to meet Chen Guo's soldiers, not only needed to endure humiliation and burden, but also needed superb means to make the other party turn war into a jade silk, which was not easy to do, it was a veritable drudgery; And the envoys to Zheng and Jin, both of which were friendly countries of Chen, were more likely to bear fruit in this kind of goodwill trip.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that although it is feasible for Fan Rui to go to Xinzheng, it is better to let Weichen go with his wife. First, because Weichen is the son-in-law of Zheng Mugong, such a close relationship is more conducive to communication between the two sides, and secondly, Weichen has dealt with Zheng Guo for many years, and many secretaries and ministers in Zheng Guo's court are very familiar with Weichen, and more than a dozen princes of Zheng Guo are also very familiar, which is more conducive to persuading Zheng Guo to seek the greatest interests for Chen Guo. Mrs. Weichen was also willing to go to Xinzheng together to persuade her father, Zheng Mugong, not to betray the interests of Chen Guo, so as not to repeat the incident of false Yu and the death of the tongue and the cold again. ”

"Your Majesty, it is precisely because Lord Sima attaches a horse to Zheng Guo that Wei Chen thinks that he cannot be ordered to envoy Zheng Guo. Because Zheng Guo's envoy was asking Zheng Guo for this time, Wei Chen was worried that Zheng Mu Guild would take the opportunity to put forward conditions that were unfavorable to Chen Guo, and Master Sima, who was Zheng Guo's attachment, would accept it because he was inclined to Zheng Guo's position, which would endanger Chen Guo's interests. Fan Rui said.

"Master Fan's words are wrong. Although Weichen is the son-in-law of Zheng Mugong, he is also the great Sima of Chen Guo, when he takes the interests of Chen Guo as his mission, how can he damage the interests of the country for the sake of his children's affection? If Zheng Mugong wants to put forward conditions that are unfavorable to Chen Guo, is it possible that you will not mention it when Lord Fan is an envoy? The minister thought that the conditions that would only be mentioned would be more stringent, because Zheng Mugong didn't need to consider your personal face. "Uncle Sima Xia was very angry at Fan Rui's crooked reasoning.

"Lord Sima, don't be angry, Lord Fan is just talking about things, worried that you, as a half-Zheng Guo, will despise Chen Guo's interests. Besides, if Lord Fan sent an envoy to Zheng Guo, he represented Chen Guo and had nothing to do with his personal face. At this time, Yu Shi Guan Kui, who was standing behind, said.

"Lord Guan is only half right. Although the envoy represents the state, it is not without personal face, if you follow what the lord said, just imagine: if you send a low-level official as an envoy, will you be treated in the same way as if you send an important minister of the state? Uncle Xia Yu sneered.

"Master Sima, Wei Chen is just worried, and he did not indicate that you have betrayed Chen Guo's interests." Fan Rui continued.

"Your Majesty, Lord Fan's words are clear, but they are actually secretly hammering people and slandering books, and Weichen will never accept it. Weichen, as the son-in-law of Mu Gong, sent Zheng Guo, which was originally a matter for the benefit of the country, but in the mouth of Lord Fan, it became a traitor, and Lord Fan must apologize for this kind of slander. Master Sima said.

"Lord Sima, Weichen's wording is just a little biased, but the heart of the country is obvious to all, you don't have to be so serious." Fan Rui said.

"Your Majesty, what Master Fan said is biased and can be brushed aside? It is clearly an insinuating attack on Weichen, if Lord Fan refuses to apologize, please allow Weichen to retreat from the court, and do not share the same roof with Lord Fan before Lord Fan apologizes. Uncle Sima Xia said.

Chen Gonggong saw that Uncle Sima Xia was really angry, and hurriedly said to Fan Rui: "Fan Aiqing, Fang is the one who made a mistake in your wording, and you should apologize to Sima." ”

Fan Rui saw that Chen Gonggong said this, so he reluctantly said to Uncle Xia Yu: "Lord Sima, there are many inappropriate words in Weichen's suitable words, and I have offended Lord Sima, please bear with me." ”

"Master Fan, don't think that Weichen is making a fuss, it's really the traitorous hat you deducted is going to crush people to death. Since you have apologized, Wechen will never mention this matter again in the future, you and I are officials in the same dynasty, and we should focus on unity. Uncle Xia Yu said.

"Lord Sima is elegant and admirable." Fan Rui smiled and said.

"Okay, everyone is an official in the same dynasty, and they should seek common ground while reserving differences, harmony but differences, and this matter will be over." Chen Gonggong said.

The widow agreed that Sima would send Zheng Guo to prevent Chu Zheng from conspiring against Chen. After Sima sent an envoy to Zheng Guo, he continued to go north and contacted the Jin State to resist Chu. Fan Aiqing sent an envoy to the state of Chu to explore the truth of the state of Chu, and tried his best to dispel the Chu people's attempt to commit Chen. Chen Gonggong thought about it and announced his decision.