One

In the twelfth year of Tianyou (915 AD), under the instruction of Xu Wen, the ministers invited Yang Long, the king of Wu, to enshrine Xu Wen as the Duke of Qi, and took Sheng, Run, Xuan, Chang, Chi, and Huang as the territories of Qi. first sealed himself as the Duke of Qi Guo, and then took the initiative to ask for release, in fact, all this was written and directed by Xu Wen. Xu Wen monopolized the power, and many people in the DPRK and China were dissatisfied with this, especially the old Yang family, but Xu Wen's power was not fully vented, and Xu Wen also knew this. Xu Wen left the imperial court, just to put on a show to tell them that he had no intention of monopolizing power, nor was he greedy for power, and the Yang family was still the lord of Huainan.

Wu Wang Yang Longyan wanted to hold a ceremony for Xu Wen to be canonized, and Xu Wen's sons, including Xu Zhihe, all attended. After receiving the imperial edict, Xu Zhihe decided to return to Guangling immediately, and then Song Qiqiu said: "This time is different from the past, adults need to bring more people by their side!" ”

"Sir is too worried, going back to Guangling is going home, what is there to worry about, just let Zhou Zong go back with me." Xu Zhihe said with a smile.

Song Qiqiu was a little disappointed when he heard that Xu Zhihe only let Zhou Zong accompany him, Song Qiqiu actually wanted to go to Guangling together, because he wanted to see Xu Wen. But he immediately answered: "Your Excellency is also an important member of the court and the central government now, so you should bring more people with you just in case!" ”

"Yes, according to the gentleman. I'm not going to bother Mr. in the next few days. ”

"Don't worry, my lord, Song will live up to his trust."

Two

Xu Zhihe took Zhou Zong and several guards back to Guangling to participate in Xu Wen's canonization ceremony. Since Yang Xingmi established Southern Wu, Xu Wen, who could be crowned a duke in the court, was the first person, so the ceremony was very grand, and all the important officials and major local officials from the king of Wu also attended, and Xu Zhihe was secretly amazed at the power and influence of Xu Wen. At the enthronement ceremony, the ceremonial officer first read out the edict issued by Yang Longyan, praising Xu Wen's merits, Huainan Zhushi, noble character, model in the court, Wu **, under the love of hundreds of officials, etc., and then Xu Wen received the big seal and official uniform on behalf of the power of Xu Guogong from the ceremonial officer, and then the hundred officials congratulated, and finally Xu Wen thanked him, saying that he would do his best, and after his death, he would be loyal to King Wu, seek work for Huainan, and seek happiness for the people.

Although Xu Wen asked for a foreign appointment, he did not relax his control over the imperial court at all, and in order to control the command remotely, he transferred his eldest son Xu Zhixun back to the court as the deputy envoy of the march. As for such an arrangement, the people of the DPRK and China knew at a glance that this was just a trick for him.

Xu Zhixun was extremely excited to learn that he was appointed as the deputy envoy of the march between the DPRK and China, and his father had made the Duke of Qi Guogong alone, so he was quite proud and walked with the wind. In the evening, Xu Wen gathered his sons to dinner together, he was in good spirits, talked eloquently, and reviewed the difficulties he had made along the way. Then turning the topic to his sons, he first praised Xu Zhihe.

"He'er really didn't disappoint me, I've grown a lot in Shengzhou for a few years, and I've done a good job, I heard that the local people in Shengzhou have praised you, very good, and my father is very satisfied."

"Dad has won the award, this is my job, thank you dad for your support to me!"

"It's better for you to do it yourself, otherwise no matter how much Dad supports, it will be in vain."

Xu Zhixun was very unhappy when he heard Xu Wen praise Xu Zhihe, he glanced at Xu Zhihe, and then looked at Xu Wen, his face showed displeasure, and said angrily:

"Dad, don't always protect him, if you don't help him in the back, I don't know what he can do?"

"Shut up, look at what you've done in Xuanzhou? Well, it's almost a laughing stock. ”

"Dad, I'm not idle in Xuanzhou! I'm not in charge of what is inside and outside? Besides, isn't Xuanzhou good now? Nothing went wrong! ”

"Do you think I don't know what you did in Xuanzhou? You and He'er went out as officials at the same time, and in a few years, He'er has to have achievements, praise and praise, and look at you again, my face has been lost by you. Xu Wen reprimanded.

"Dad, I have worked hard in the past few years! I don't understand why you always protect him and always look down on me. Xu Zhixun left angrily after speaking.

Three

Everyone fell asleep at night, Xu Zhixun had no intention of sleeping, he gritted his teeth when he thought of Xu Zhihe, Xu Zhixun knew that Xu Zhihe was not a fuel-efficient lamp, and his ability exceeded his expectations. "I didn't expect him to do it in just a few years, and he was deeply respected by his father, and now he handed over such an important matter as Shengzhou to build a city. The second brother Zhixun has a weak personality, and the other younger brothers are still young, and he is now the deputy envoy of the march, and it is natural for him to inherit his father's power in the future. But if he is allowed to go on like this, how can he, the son of the Xu family, gain a foothold, and one day his father is gone, Xu Zhihe will inevitably fight for power with himself. Simply, don't do anything, and get rid of him while he is still fledgling, so as to prevent future troubles. Thinking of this, Xu Zhixun slammed the table hard.

He quietly found his younger brother Xu Zhixun and said: "You have also seen that Xu Zhihe is now a assassin, my father appreciates him very much, always protects him, and may have to promote him in the future, and our two brothers may not get anything." Xu Zhixun's personality is relatively weak, he doesn't have too many opinions, and he usually listens to his eldest brother Xu Zhixun at home, so he asked:

"And what do you want to do?"

"Kill him, it's over." Xu Zhixun gestured with his hand and said viciously.

"Big ...... Big brother, isn't this too much, we are brothers after all! Besides, if Dad had known, he wouldn't have forgiven us. Xu Zhixun said a little nervously.

Xu Zhixun grabbed Xu Zhixun's collar and said heavily: "My stupid brother, take a good look, we are brothers, what kind of brother is he, he is just an adopted son picked up by his father." As long as you don't say it, I won't say it, and my dad won't know. ”

"And how are you going to kill him?" Xu Zhixun asked uneasily.

"Tomorrow I will invite him to drink, I will secretly ambush people, and take the opportunity to deal with him while he is almost drunk."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"If it doesn't work, I expect that he will definitely escape, and I will ambush people in advance in the necessary places outside the city to return to the state, I don't believe that he can get lucky everywhere." Xu Zhixun said through gritted teeth. After listening to Xu Zhixun's words, Xu Zhixun hesitated, although he didn't like Xu Zhihe either, he always felt that he didn't have to kill him.

In order to make Xu Zhixun make up his mind, Xu Zhixun patted him on the shoulder and comforted: "Don't worry, I am now the deputy envoy of the march, even if I kill someone, King Wu and my father will not do anything to me." If Dad really knows, just say it's my idea, and I won't bother you. In the end, under Xu Zhixun's instigation and temptation, Xu Zhixun agreed to kill Xu Zhihe with him.

Four

Early the next morning, Xu Zhixun went out to arrange manpower. When he came back, it was just in time for Xu Zhihe to resign to Xu Wen and his wife, Mrs. Xu was still a little reluctant to let him stay for one more day, Xu Zhihe wanted to go back immediately on the grounds that Shengzhou was busy with official business, but Mrs. Xu had no choice but to give up. Xu Zhixun immediately said:

"I said I know, is it because of my words yesterday that upset you, if so, my brother will compensate you. That's it, father, mother, I'm going to do it for you today. ”

Xu Wen was very happy when he heard it, "Okay, okay, then Xun'er will send him well, and Xun'er and Ji'er will also go with him." Oh, it's rare for your brothers to be so harmonious. ”

"Yes, Xun'er is finally sensible, and he is becoming more and more like a brother." Mrs. Xu added.

Xu Zhihe was quite surprised, thinking about how this arrogant guy could suddenly be so polite, but seeing that his adoptive father and adoptive mother were so happy, he readily agreed.

Xu Zhihe thought that it was his brother's party and went to the appointment, and asked Zhou Zong to wait for him at the city gate, but he didn't expect that this was a Hongmen banquet.

When he arrived at the agreed place, Xu Zhihe saw that the surroundings were quiet and the environment was beautiful, and he thought that Xu Zhixun was usually arrogant and uninhibited, but he didn't expect that he knew Yaxing very well.

"How do you know, brother, I'm looking for a good place, no one will disturb our brother." As soon as he saw Xu Zhihe, Xu Zhixun said.

"Big brother is so Yaxing, this place is secluded and elegant, it's a good place!" Xu Zhihe complimented.

After the brothers sat down, Xu Zhixun said: "Our brothers haven't gotten together like this for several years, come, big brother has a drink first." After speaking, Xu Zhixun drank it all, and Xu Zhixun and Xu Zhizhi also followed.

"Zhihe, you did a good job in Shengzhou, my father praised you in front of me many times, and let us learn more from you!" Xu Zhixun said.

"The eldest brother has won the award, but he is just responsible, not as the eldest brother said."

"Hey, yes, what's humble, big brother, I won't rob you, come and have another drink with our brother." After saying that, everyone drank it all again.

Xu Zhixun felt that they were a little weird, Xu Zhixun kept asking Xu Zhixun to drink, Xu Zhixun only drank and didn't speak, and his eyes kept looking at Xu Zhixun. Xu Zhiyi was a little worried in his heart, thinking that their relationship was usually tense, and he was afraid that something unpleasant would happen if he drank too much, so he hoped that Xu Zhihe would leave quickly.

"Big brother," Xu Zhihe said, "Without my adoptive father, without the Xu family, without my eldest brother, I wouldn't be where I am today, I respect my eldest brother and my younger brothers." "Finish it all. Xu Zhihe on the side was very anxious when he saw this, thinking that he would get drunk after drinking for a while, so he kicked Xu Zhihe with his foot under the table, but Xu Zhihe didn't care, thinking that he had unintentionally touched it.

"Zhihe, what are your plans for the future?" Xu Zhixun asked suddenly. Xu Zhihe knew that this was testing his future life plan, so he deliberately said lightly:

"Big brother, where do I have any plans, I will go wherever my father tells me to go, my life is given by my father."

"Yes," Xu Zhixun said in a weird manner, "I'm afraid your heart is no longer in Shengzhou!" ”

"The eldest brother said that it was funny, I served in Shengzhou, and my heart was naturally in Shengzhou, so it is difficult for the eldest brother to think that he was distracted."

"Hmph, it's hard to say, you already have more eyes than others." Xu Zhixun said in a cold tone. Everyone was silent, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense, Xu Zhixun stared at Xu Zhihe, Xu Zhihe looked at Xu Zhixun, and then looked at Xu Zhixun, the two of them had serious expressions, especially Xu Zhixun didn't speak, Xu Zhihe felt a little unusual. When he turned his eyes to Xu Zhiyi, Xu Zhizhi's eyes kept turning, and Xu Zhihe immediately understood that this was the meaning of signaling him to go. Thinking of Xu Zhixun's consistent personality and his unusually enthusiastic attitude at the beginning of the wine game, Xu Zhihe suddenly became vigilant, and he pretended to be relaxed and said:

"Oh, big brother, I can't drink enough! After only a few glasses, I was confused, how to drink next. Oh, no, I need to go to the toilet first. ”

"Exactly, I want to go too." Xu Zhizhi hurriedly said. He pulled Xu Zhihe to walk briskly in the direction of the toilet, and as soon as he turned a corner, Xu Zhihe hurriedly told Xu Zhihe to go quickly. At the same time, Xu Zhixun and Xu Zhixun realized at the same time that Xu Zhihe was going to take the opportunity to escape, Xu Zhixun threw the wine glass to the ground, and with a "snap", a group of people rushed out of the side hall, and Xu Zhixun shouted "kill". It was only at this time that Xu Zhihe understood that Xu Zhixun was going to kill him, before he simply thought that Xu Zhixun might want to use the strength of alcohol to vent his anger, humiliate and ridicule himself, so he pretended to go to the toilet and slip away, so as not to be ugly, and never thought that Xu Zhixun would be so ruthless.

Xu Zhihe heard someone chasing after him, he climbed over the wall, looked back at Xu Zhiyi gratefully, and then jumped down and fled. At this time, Xu Zhixun also arrived, and saw Xu Zhihe jump over the wall and escape, so he loudly ordered his subordinates to "chase". Xu Zhizhi hurriedly stopped, "Big brother, they are all their own brothers, do they have to be like this?" ”

Xu Zhixun yelled: "Fourth brother, what are you doing? Don't you know who your brother is? He's not your brother, I'm the one. ”

"Big brother, I know that he is a loving and righteous person, he is not sorry for us, he is not sorry for his father."

"Affectionate and righteous, I'm bah, that's because my father is still there, if my father is not there one day, do you think he will still be affectionate and righteous?"

Xu Zhizhi also yelled: "Isn't it because my father praised him in front of you?" His promotion was done step by step, your promotion was given by your father, you think he stole your limelight and made your face ugly, you think that your father likes him and doesn't like you, in fact, you are jealous of him. ”

"You ......" Xu Zhixun was speechless by Xu Zhixuan, and he snorted heavily in his mouth and walked away angrily. Xu Zhizhi is right, Xu Zhixun is jealousy, once a person is jealous to a certain extent, he will be ruthless, and when he hates to a certain extent, he wants the other party's life.

Five

After Xu Zhihe successfully got rid of Xu Zhixun's killer, he successfully joined Zhou Zong, Zhou Zong knew that something had happened after seeing Xu Zhihe's serious expression, and before he could speak, Xu Zhihe told Zhou Zong to leave quickly. The group quickly left Guangling City and went straight to the direction of Shengzhou, and when they went out of the city, Xu Zhihe told Zhou Zong that Xu Zhixun wanted to kill him, Zhou Zong was shocked, he didn't expect Xu Zhixun to even kill his own brother, but he immediately calmed down again, thinking that he finally left safely. I didn't go far, I came to a slightly remote path, there were dense forests on both sides, and at the end of the woods was a river. Suddenly, a group of masked people rushed out from both sides, Xu Zhihe knew that it was Xu Zhixun's person, he quickly pulled out his sword and shouted: "Everyone be careful!" The masked man didn't say a word, and directly rushed at Xu Zhihe, and the guards immediately surrounded Xu Zhihe and Zhou Zong in the middle, and the two sides fought together. The so-called comers are not good, the masked people are all masters, and the number of guards is small, so they can't resist at all. Xu Zhihe needed to protect Zhou Zong, because Zhou Zong didn't know martial arts, he slashed left and right, rushed left and right, and after killing two masked people, he and Zhou Zong broke through the encirclement with difficulty, and quickly rushed out of the woods and crossed the river. The masked man was in hot pursuit, and when he saw that they had crossed the river, he stopped the pursuit, Xu Zhihe and Zhou Zong looked back, several guards were sacrificed, and the two were heartbroken. But they didn't have time to hesitate, and quickly whipped up and went straight to Shengzhou.