One

After Yang Wu's death, the first thing to do was to stabilize the situation and prevent turmoil. Because few people knew about Yang Wu's death, and Xu Wen and Zhang Hao publicized in unison that King Wu had died suddenly, many ministers in the court believed it, and although some people in Yang's old ministry suspected it, there was no other evidence. At the same time, Xu Wen treated the old Yang family very humbly, and still handled the government with all his heart, without showing the slightest intention of wanting to control the government, making many people think that King Wu really died of sudden illness, and a crisis passed like this.

Zhang Han is a military general, can fight and has made military achievements, and his prestige in the army is higher than Xu Wen, but he is far worse than Xu Wen in handling government affairs, and many people in the DPRK are willing to discuss things with Xu Wen. Zhang Han felt that if Xu Wen was allowed to continue like this, it would not be long before he would control the government alone, Zhang Hao felt deceived by Xu Wen, so he said to Xu Wen angrily:

"Lord Xu, did you want to regret what you said about dividing Huainan equally? Don't forget, you can't get away with King Wu's death. ”

"Lord Zhang, this is not a cake, say half will divide half, and then how do you plan to divide it?"

"It's easy to do, Zhu Wen has become the emperor, we will surrender him, Huainan will become the territory of Liang State, and then you and I will take care of half of it."

"Master Zhang, don't forget, his son was killed by my Huainan army, can he easily trust us? In the end, I am afraid that I made a wedding dress for others. Also, Zhu Wen has coveted Huainan for a long time, if he really takes refuge in him, is he willing to hand over Huainan to us again? ”

When Zhang Hao heard Xu Wen say this, he immediately said angrily: "It seems that Lord Xu wants to swallow Huainan alone, since this is the case, then let's see." After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and left. Xu Wen will definitely not give Huainan to Zhu Wen, he will not do that, Huainan is what he has followed Yang Xingmi and many brothers for many years to be born and fight to the death, there are too many good memories and a sense of achievement, how could he surrender to Zhu Wen? That would not only be sorry for Yang Xingmi, but also make the people fall into war again, and he was confident that Huainan would be governed well. What's more, he is now in power and cannot give up easily.

The contradiction between Zhang Hao and Xu Wen has become public, and he wants to take advantage of Xu Wen's fledgling to get rid of him and become self-reliant, and seize the Yang regime naked. Xu Wen knew that with Zhang Hao's fierce personality, he could do anything, so he was worried, so he asked Yan Keqiu to discuss, and Yan Keqiu said after listening: "Zhang Hao is stubborn and self-serving, but he is ignorant and ignorant of achieving great things, and this matter is easy to deal with." ”

The next day, Zhang Hao arranged the swords and halberds in the mansion, summoned the generals to discuss the matter, and left the guards from the general Zhu Jin and then entered. Zhang Hao said directly: "Now that King Wu has died of illness, the court cannot be left without a master for a day, we should nominate a person to preside over the court, who do you say is qualified?" Zhang Hao asked three times in a loud voice, looking hideous as if he was about to kill someone, and no one dared to speak out. Zhang Hao's intention is obvious, that is, he wants to take advantage of his great influence to force everyone to nominate him. At this time, Yan Keqiu stepped forward and said:

"My lord, there are many things in the four realms now, if you are the right person according to your qualifications, but if you are promoted, I am afraid that you will act too fast, and there will be a lot of inappropriateness!"

"What's wrong?" Zhang Hao asked with a straight face and an unhappy face.

"My lord, do you think, Liu Wei, Li Yu and other generals who led troops abroad, they were all the generals of the former king of Wu, and they were all first-class people when the first king was alive, can they listen to you? Will they be your subordinates at your disposal? Can you control a few of them? Zhang Hao didn't say anything after hearing this.

Yan Keqiu continued: "My lord, in my opinion, it is better to choose one of the sons of the former king of Wu to be the new lord of Wu, and then the adult will preside over the overall situation of the military and politics. ”

Zhang Hao knew that his mind had been seen through by Yan Keqiu, and he couldn't say anything for a while, so he could only acquiesce to Yan Keqiu's words. Afterwards, the general Zhu Jin admired Yan Keqiu and said: "I have been born and died on the battlefield for a long time, and I have seen the world, I saw him like that, his legs were about to tremble, you are so amazing." ”

So Yang Xingmi's second son, Yang Longyan, was elected as the new King of Wu, and Yang Longyan was eleven years old at this time.

Two

Xu Wen is good at recognizing people and employing people, in military and government affairs, Xu Wen reuses Yan Keqiu, and in finance, Xu Wen reuses Luo Zhixiang, these two people were called "Yan Luo" at that time, is Xu Wen's right-hand man, with the assistance of the two of them, Xu Wen governs Huainan to the country's peace and security, social stability, which is obvious to all, and the ministers of the DPRK and China, including the old Yang family, also recognize Xu Wen's governance ability, so Xu Wen's prestige is getting higher and higher. But Zhang Hao has always been resentful, he feels that he has paid more than Xu Wen in the abolition of the master and the young incident, and Xu Wen has picked up his own cheapness. Therefore, Zhang Hao concealed Xu Wen and forced Yang Longyan to order Xu Wen to be appointed as Runzhou, wanting to control the government by himself. Yang Long's performance is just an ornament, and he doesn't dare not listen to Zhang Hao.

Xu Wen naturally wouldn't leave, so he discussed with Yan Keqiu and Luo Zhixiang, Xu Zhixun and Xu Zhihe have grown up, and Xu Wen now intends to cultivate them, so some things are also called to discuss with them, first, to let them understand the situation, and secondly, to exercise their ability to deal with problems. Xu Zhixun is an irritable character, and as soon as Xu Wen finished speaking, he couldn't wait to say:

"Dad, Zhang Hao is clearly attacking you, just don't do anything, and kill him directly."

"No, he just asked his father to go to other places to be an official now, and he didn't say that he wanted to kill his father, if we take the liberty of killing him, once it doesn't work, he will fall into the handle, which is not good for his father." Xu Zhihe said.

"He won't be stupid enough to stand in front of his father and tell him that I'm going to kill you." Xu Zhixun retorted.

"Big brother, I'm just thinking, Zhang Hao may just be testing his father to see what his father does, and he wants to brake quietly." Xu Zhihe added.

"My lord, the two sons, this is easy to do, just leave it to me to deal with." At this time, Yan Keqiu said confidently.

So Yan Keqiu found Zhang Hao and said straight to the point: "You and Lord Xu are entrusted together, some people say that you have robbed Xu Wen's soldiers, are you planning to kill him?" ”

Zhang Hao said arrogantly: "Well, things have happened, and it is impossible to stop!" Zhang Hao's tone was stiff, and he wanted to intimidate Yan Keqiu.

Yan Keqiu was not afraid, and said calmly: "Okay, since the adult said so, this is easy. With that, he turned and left.

At the court meeting the next day, Yan Keqiu asked Xu Wen in front of Zhang Hao and the generals: "Lord Xu, I heard that you are going to be an official in other places?" Xu Wen and Yan Keqiu looked at each other, and before Xu Wen could speak, Yan Keqiu pretended to reproach:

"My lord, this is not right, you are the first person entrusted by King Wu, and now King Wu has died of illness, and the court needs someone to manage it, you are so picky and left, who will handle the affairs of the court, are you worthy of King Wu's trust? Is it worthy of the people of Huainan? Is it worthy of the expectations of other adults in the DPRK? The ancients did not forget the kindness of a meal, not to mention that you are the general of the third Yang family, and now that the young king has just been established, when there are many events, do you want to hide outside in order to seek peace? ”

As soon as Yan Keqiu finished speaking, he heard someone say, "Yes, yes, how can Master Xu leave at this time." Yan Keqiu saw that many people echoed him, so he turned to Zhang Hao and said:

"Master Zhang, what do you think?" Zhang Hao saw that many people opposed Xu Wen leaving, and he didn't want others to know that he let Xu Wen leave, so he said reluctantly:

"Yes, Lord Xu, there are many things in the court that can't do without you now, you can't go!" Yan Keqiu looked at Xu Wen, and Xu Wen immediately understood what he meant, so he pretended to blame himself and said:

"It's because I didn't think it through, and since everyone doesn't agree with me going to other places, then I won't leave for the time being." Yan Keqiu immediately answered and said:

"Your Excellency is wise, and the DPRK needs adults more at this time." As soon as Yan Keqiu finished speaking, someone followed suit, and Zhang Hao's conspiracy made Yan Keqiu easily resolved.

Three

Zhang Hao is a person with a strong desire for power, but he is more reckless than enough to be strategic, and his plans have been sabotaged one after another, and Zhang Hao is angry. Li Chengsi, the deputy envoy of the march, was friendly with Zhang Hao, and realized that Yan Keqiu was completely dependent on Xu Wen, so he told Zhang Han that if he wanted to deal with Xu Wen, he must first deal with Yan Keqiu. Zhang Hao gritted his teeth when he thought of Yan Keqiu, because Yan Keqiu had ruined his "good deeds" several times, Zhang Hao decided to get rid of Yan Keqiu first and cut off one of Xu Wen's arms.

In the evening of that day, Xu Wen sent someone to ask Yan Keqiu to come to the mansion to discuss matters. Yan Keqiu was targeted soon after leaving home, Yan Keqiu knew this person, he was Ji Xiang, a general under Zhang Hao, and Zhang Hao was the Yang Wu who sent him to kill. Yan Keqiu understood that Zhang Hao was going to do something to himself, so he quickened his pace and walked in the direction of Xufu, but Ji Xiang also saw his intention and stopped him around a corner. Ji Xiang said straight to the point: "I'm sorry Lord Yan, although you and I have no grievances, but we have offended our mission." Before Yan Keqiu could speak, Ji Xiang pulled out his sword and stabbed at Yan Keqiu, Yan Keqiu was shocked and tried desperately to dodge, but after all, he was a civil official, and after dodging two swords in succession, the third sword was still stabbed in the arm. Yan Keqiu endured the pain and tried to run towards the Xu Mansion, Ji Xiang chased after him, and at the moment when he was about to catch up, he saw a figure flash out and block in front of Ji Xiang. Yan Keqiu looked back and saw that it was Xu Zhihe, knowing that he was saved, and hurriedly called Xu Gongzi. At this time, Xu Zhihe was twenty years old, and he had grown into a dignified man, after Xu Wen's years of training, coupled with his own intelligence and studiousness, Xu Zhihe practiced a good martial arts. Both of them used swords, and the fight was very fierce, Ji Xiang was eager to kill Yan Keqiu, so he made a ruthless move, Xu Zhihe fought steadily, blocking Ji Xiang like a mountain, Ji Xiang was helpless, and made a false move Escape.

It turned out that Xu Wen had always had a headache, Xu Zhihe went to the pharmacy to grab medicine for Xu Wen, and on the way back, he ran into Yan Keqiu and was chased and killed by Ji Xiang. Xu Zhihe helped Yan Keqiu to come to Xu's mansion, and Xu Wen was very angry when he heard it. Xu Wen understands that Zhang Hao has started to act, he is an unscrupulous and ruthless person, if he can't kill him today, there will definitely be a next time, and he can't hide.

Four

Xu Wen still has the same way of thinking, try not to cause major bloodshed, control the impact to a minimum, ensure the stability of the court situation and avoid turmoil, and he has already set a precedent in dealing with Yang Wu in this regard. Xu Wen consulted with Yan Keqiu, Xu Zhixun and Xu Zhihe and decided to get rid of Zhang Hao.

"Dad, why don't you take someone to kill me now." Xu Zhixun said, still an arrogant character.

"Fooling around, are you afraid that others won't know that your father did it? Besides, Zhang Hao must be prepared now, just waiting for us to send it to the door! Xu Wen reprimanded.

"Dad, it's better for us to treat others the way they do." Xu Zhihe said.

"I think Childe's method is feasible." Yan Keqiu said.

"Well, He'er is right, now it seems that only this method has the least cost." Xu Wen said. Seeing that everyone agreed with Xu Zhihe, Xu Zhixun's face was full of unhappiness.

"But who to send?" Xu Wen said to himself.

"Dad, I'll go." Xu Zhihe said suddenly.

"Dad, I'd better go." Xu Zhixun also hurriedly said, he was afraid that Xu Zhihe would steal the limelight.

"The two sons must not go, if outsiders know, then Lord Xu will be suspected of eradicating dissidents and ill-intentioned, which will inevitably arouse the suspicion of the minister, which is extremely unfavorable to Lord Xu." Yan Keqiu said.

"There's one person who works." Xu Wen said suddenly, and everyone else looked at Xu Wen, "My doorman will be Zhong Taizhang, but I don't know what his own wishes are?" ”

"My lord, I'll arrange this!" Yan Keqiu said.

So Yan Keqiu found Zhong Taizhang and told him what Xu Wen said, but he didn't expect Zhong Taizhang to readily agree. The person to deal with is Zhang Hao, Zhong Taizhang knows the seriousness of the situation, so he selected more than a dozen trustworthy and skilled people from his subordinates, and slaughtered cattle and sheep with them, and swore a blood oath. Everything is ready, only the east wind is owed, on a thunderstorm night, Xu Wen and Yan Keqiu felt that the time was ripe, and told Zhong Taizhang that he could act, so Zhong Taizhang led people straight into the Ya command hall, at this time Zhang Han and two of his subordinates were drinking, one of them was Ji Xiang, only to hear Ji Xiang say to Zhang Han:

"My lord, don't hesitate, I don't have the time to entangle with Xu Wen, we have the advantage of troops, and it is not difficult to get rid of him directly!"

Another general chimed in: "Yes, my lord, get rid of him as soon as possible, lest you have too many dreams at night." ”

As soon as the two finished speaking, Zhong Taizhang suddenly entered, which surprised Zhang Hao and the others, and they were also very frightened. Although Zhong Taizhang and the others were masked, Zhang Han guessed that it was Xu Wen's person, so he said to Zhong Taizhang:

"Xu Wen is very fast, it was really premeditated." Zhong Taizhang didn't want to talk to him more, so he just said coldly:

"Master Zhang, offended, kill!"

A group of masters surrounded Zhang Han and others and killed them, even if Zhang Hao was a military general who had been on the battlefield, he was quickly killed without defense and only two helpers, and at the same time, Ji Xiang was also executed, and Zhong Taizhang and others quickly disappeared into the vast rainy night.

Zhang Hao died, Xu Wen said in the court that Zhang Hao was the murderer of Yang Wu, the king of Wu, and that someone was avenging the dead king of Wu. As soon as many people heard that it was Zhang Hao who killed King Wu, they immediately scolded him for dying well as a chaotic minister and thief, and no one investigated how Zhang Hao died, everyone believed Xu Wen's words, but Xu Wen said that Zhang Hao killed Yang Wu is also a fact. In fact, after Xu Wen's painstaking management, many people in the court who were already him, even if some people doubted it, they were forced to speak out because of Xu Wen's power. On the one hand, Xu Wen's prestige is getting higher and higher, and no one dares to act rashly, on the other hand, Xu Wen blames Zhang Hao's death for Yang Wu's death, skillfully diverting the contradictory attention. With the death of Zhang Hao, the military and political power in the DPRK and China completely fell into the hands of Xu Wen, and Xu Wen alone held the power of Huainan until his death. And Zhong Taizhang was meritorious because of stabbing Zhang Hao, and since then he has become Xu Wen's confidant.