Uncle Bao reluctantly accepted a promotion, that is, to be a master for Gongzi Xiaobai.

Gongzi Xiaobai's mother is the princess of Juguo. is incomparable with Wei Ji, two generations of women of Wei Guo control the harem of Qi State; It is not comparable with Lu Ji, because Lu is a big country on a par with Qi, and her status as a princess of a big country is also more noble. In contrast, Ju Ji, who is Teng's concubine, is always in a passive position. After giving birth to his son Xiaobai, although he was valued by Qi Jiaogong, he was rejected and suppressed by Wei Ji and Lu Ji even more. Because of the time when Gongzi Xiaobai was born, he was used by some people, and he was stunned and said to be a disaster. Ju Ji cried and shouted for her son, wanting to clarify her son's innocence. In the end, not only did it not help, but he was framed for trying to figure out the conspiracy involved. On the way to escape from the Qi Palace, Ju Ji unfortunately passed away, and Gongzi Xiaobai wandered among the people for many years. Suffering from wandering. It was these tribulations that gave Gongzi Xiaobai a tempered his character and will. When Qi Qigong repented and took back Gongzi Xiaobai. Not only did he feel a sense of guilt for this son.

The court of Qi is also surging because of the dispute over the position of the prince. Although Jiang Zhu'er has already been established as a prince. And the queen mother likes another son, Yi Zhongnian, and Yi Zhongnian's son Gongsun Wuzhi, of course, Lu Ji wants to find the status of his son Jiang Jie as the prince. However, the prince Xiaobai, who is very competitive with the prince, has no support from important ministers in the court.

Qi Jiaogong found that the neglected son Xiaobai was not only smart and clever, but also saw Xiaobai return to the palace, a child without a mother made Qi Jiaogong feel more guilty and compassionate.

After Xiaobai returned to the palace, Qi Jiaogong began to look for who would be the master of his son Xiaobai. Qi Jiaogong pondered for a long time, and suddenly thought of Uncle Bao. On that day, he called for Uncle Bao to be called.

Since Bao Shuya entered the Qi army, he has established a very perfect system for the raising, storage, and transportation of grain and grass in the Qi army. There is no need to urgently levy and transfer the grain and grass at any time, there is no need to use the state treasury, there is no need to compete with the people for rations, every mile and every city has armaments, and regulations for the management of grain and grass have been set up, and special personnel have been set up to manage them, which has solved many problems such as decay and consumption in storage, and has solved the problem of either requisitioning and transferring or using military rations from the state treasury. It completely reversed the passive situation when the Qi War broke out. This made Qi Jiaogong particularly appreciate Uncle Bao.

On the issue of military quarters in battle, he often chatted privately with Uncle Bao and listened to Uncle Bao explain his views and strategies. And whenever he talks about specific affairs, Uncle Bao can come up with good rules for the monarch very insightfully. Due to Bao Shuya's achievements, the grain, grass and military supplies of the Qi State were usually stored in the people, and they were naturally brought out with the military service in the township. For a short war, it is not necessary to use the treasury. Only those supplies that require long-term operations can be allocated from the treasury. According to Qi Qigong's words: "Uncle Bao is a person with a strategy in his chest. ”

At this moment, Uncle Bao walked into the court.

"The minister knocks to see the king." Uncle Bao took a step forward and knelt in front of Qi Qi. "Your Majesty is waiting for your order."

Seeing that Uncle Bao was on his knees and waiting for him to issue an order, Qi Jiaogong smiled: "Bao Aiqing is flat, I have something to tell you." ”

Uncle Bao stood up, and when he saw Qi Yigong and Yan Yuese, he felt a little nervous in his heart.

"I have a son, Xiaobai, although he is still young, it is the time to be plastic, and the widow reads you full of economy, and there must be a good way to teach the son. From today onwards, how about I make you a scholar and a master for the widowed and young son Xiaobai? ”

Uncle Bao had heard that Qi Jiaogong had been instigated by insiders to expel Xiaobai's mother and son in the name of the disaster star, and at this time, the disaster star son returned to the palace, and Qi Jiaogong did not look for other people to apprentice, but found me Uncle Bao. Isn't this a great degradation to the common people? Uncle Bao couldn't calm down in his heart. He felt that he had worked hard for military supplies and armaments, but he had never been valued by the king, and now he wanted to silently accompany a son who was listed as a disaster star. Uncle Bao didn't know how to answer

Uncle Bao was silent for a moment and knelt in front of Gong Qi, Uncle Bao groaned and said: "The subordinate Bao Shuya knows that he is not knowledgeable, and the king trusts the subordinate so much, and the subordinate is really scared, I am afraid that I will not be able to delay the son." ”

Qi Gong laughed "hahaha" and said to the people around him: "Since the Qi army attacked Zhou Wangji (jī) Xiangyi and met Bao Aiqing, Aiqing has done a lot of work for the widow with all her heart, and the widow is optimistic about your talent from the heart. Aiqing doesn't have to be humble. ”

Uncle Bao knelt on the ground, and wanted to resign from this errand, but he couldn't say it: "How dare you, the minister is not modest, but he can't do it." ”

"The widow believes that Aiqing is completely competent, and Aiqing does not have to shirk."

Qi Jiaogong got up and scattered, threw down Uncle Bao's teeth and knelt alone in front of the lobby. Uncle Bao felt uncomfortable in his heart, and retreated abruptly. When he walked out of the court, he saw Guan Zhong standing outside the court waiting for him.

Guan Zhong saw Uncle Bao's face displeased. Just said: "Where have you ever seen a promotion and pout!" Let's go, Brother Zhaohu and I want to congratulate you today, come with me for a drink and relax! ”

The two of them went out of the palace gate, got into a carriage and went straight to the bustling commercial city in Linzi City. Stopped in front of a tavern, and Zhao Hu was already standing in front of the store waiting.

The three of them have maintained a deep friendship since they competed in front of the big tent of Qi Qigong's eastern expedition to Zhoutu. They admired each other, respected each other, and became good friends. Not only do they take care of each other in life, but they also have a lot of contacts in normal times, Guan Zhong and Zhaohu are both Jiang Jie's masters, needless to say, Uncle Bao gets together with the two whenever he has time, chatting and even drinking and chatting. In the hearts of young people like them, who are so ambitious. There has always been a great desire to keep the overall situation in mind and serve the country loyally, and the three of them are not only reasonable, but also like-minded.

It's just that Uncle Bao is not as happy as the other two brothers today. Although they were greeting each other when they saw each other, Uncle Bao couldn't talk by himself, and he seemed to be preoccupied.

The three of them sat upstairs, ordered a few snacks and a pot of old wine, and sat down.

Guan Zhong said: "This first bottle is me and Brother Zhaohu to celebrate Uncle Bao's promotion to Doctor Qi Guoshi!" From then on, the three brothers on our martial arts field can all enter the court. He spoke to the monarch and was loyal to the Qi country. ”

Uncle Bao said: "Yes, I would rather not have this promotion and be my military officer." ”

"It's obviously a promotion, why is Uncle Bao so unhappy!" Zhao asked puzzled.

"Let's do the first bottle first." Guan Zhong raised his glass and proposed.

So the three of them drank the first cup of the first cup.

Uncle Bao poured the wine into his stomach, and his unhappiness began to vent. Uncle Bao put the wine bottle on the table and said: "Tell me, who doesn't know that this little white prince was expelled from the palace by the king shortly after he was born, and both of them were expelled from the palace, just because this little white prince had a bad fate, and his mother died on the way north." What can such a son who is looked down upon by the king have anything to do, it is nothing more than to hide people's eyes and ears, both a son and a master, so he found me and let me follow this son to be unlucky. As the saying goes, a son is better than a father, and a minister is better than a king. It shows that the monarch is not optimistic about me, Uncle Bao. ”

"Hahahaha......" Guan Zhong laughed. He poured two bottles of wine again and said, "This second bottle of wine is for Uncle Bao, who has eyes and does not know Mount Tai." ”

Uncle Bao's fingers touched the wine bottle and retracted again, and looked at Guan Zhong dissatisfiedly: "What do you mean by having eyes and not knowing Mount Tai?" ”

Zhao Hu responded: "Yes, yes, yes, you should drink this bottle of Uncle Bao, who has eyes and doesn't know Taishan wine." After saying that, he drank it all.

Guan Zhong looked at Uncle Bao and said happily: "Drink, listen to me after drinking." ”

Uncle Bao had no choice but to pick up the wine bottle, touch it with Guan Zhong and drink it all. Guan Zhong drank the wine in the wine bottle in one gulp, and then began to pour the third bottle of wine, Bao Shuya was still waiting for Guan Zhong to explain what it meant to "have eyes but not know Mount Tai". I didn't want to Guan Zhong, but I raised the wine bottle and said, "This third wine is for Uncle Bao......"

Uncle Bao reached out and stopped Guan Zhong's hand and snatched the wine bottle. Said loudly: "Stop, you first explain what it means to call me Uncle Bao's teeth and eyes don't know Taishan!" Guan Zhong still laughed and said to Uncle Bao: "After drinking three bottles of wine first, can you listen to my brother explain to you?" Uncle Bao had no choice but to retract his hand, so Guan Zhong raised the wine bottle again and said: "This third bottle of wine is the third bottle of wine for me and Brother Zhaohu to respect Uncle Bao and take the overall situation into account and cultivate an outstanding pillar for the Qi country!" ”

Zhao Hu looked very excited and stood up to entertain and said, "Yes, yes, Uncle Bao respects Uncle Bao to cultivate an outstanding pillar for the Qi country!" ”

Although Uncle Bao raised the wine bottle and muttered dissatisfiedly, "What an outstanding pillar ......" he still stood up with Guan Zhong's rhythm.

The three of them held the wine bottle high, although Uncle Bao seemed slow and reluctant, he still stood up and held the wine bottle high, and the three wine bottles touched each other and dried up.

Uncle Bao finished drinking, put the wine bottle on the table, stared at Guan Zhong and said, "I said it, I'm not happy today, I'd rather be my military officer than be a master for Xiaobai!" You all know, why are you still celebrating me? ”

Guan Zhong asked, "How does Uncle Bao know that Xiaobai is a disaster star?" Is it the king's least favorite son? ”

Uncle Bao looked at Guan Zhong, thought for a while, and said, "Aren't those all real things coming out of the palace?" And it was the king who took the initiative to expel Xiaobai's mother and son from the palace. You all know that the king asked me to be the master of one of his least favorite sons, and let me support an unlucky disaster? Where is this to promote and reuse me, purely for me to be a sacrifice. ”

Guan Zhong said: "Uncle Bao's words are wrong, Xiaobai was indeed expelled from the palace by the king, but Xiaobai was also personally taken back to the palace by the king, and the variables are unknown, but at least Xiaobai in the king's heart is no longer a disaster." It is said that someone in the palace was framed at that time, and now the monarch repents of this matter after reading it, and it is estimated that he is also investigating the responsibility. If he still thinks so, how can he personally take Xiaobai back to the palace and invite a master for him? Uncle Bao doesn't have to care about the palace dispute. It's people who should be concerned. ”

Zhao Hu said: "How can you conclude that the little white boy is an incompetent and talentless fool? If he wasn't stupid, if he could have been trained in his suffering, he might have been able to accomplish great things. ”

"Brother Zhaohu is not bad. Let's leave aside the status of a few sons. Just talking about personal talent, it can't be said that Xiaobai Gongzi will be worse than Shizi and Jiang Jie. If there is a human tribulation, the little white boy is far more experienced than the other two sons, as the saying goes: It is difficult to become a great weapon without tribulation, I think the childhood spent by this little white boy outside the palace is wealth for him personally. ”

Uncle Bao said: "No, no, as the saying goes: the son is better than the father, and the minister is the king." Now the monarch knows that Xiaobai's birthday is not a gentleman's life, and he also knows that his subordinates are old and have no great achievements, so he is worthy of such a master and apprentice for us. The more I think about it, the more unpleasant it becomes. ”

Guan Zhong shook his head and said thoughtfully: "You and I are both ordinary people, it was the monarch who discovered and reused us, and when he thought I was Guan Zhuang, he saved my life and gave us a fortune, and you and I should never forget the grace of the king." ”

Zhao Hu said: "Yes, we are all ordinary people. The king does not dislike us as ordinary people, and reuses us. Give us a good voice, and let us do what we should do. And what should be done well. Those who are in charge of major affairs for the state should not shirk their responsibilities and covet a happy life. ”

Guan Zhong glanced outside the private room, then stood up and walked to the door to close the door of the private room. walked back and lowered his voice and said, "Looking at it now, who will inherit the throne of the monarch in the future of the Qi State cannot be finalized. Jiang Zhu'er is casual, has no scruples, has a bad moral reputation, can't hold national affairs in his heart, and has a bad reputation in the DPRK. Although Gongsun Wuzhi gave him the same treatment as his son, he had an important position in the eyes of others. However, the great general Yi Zhongnian and the empress dowager, who was very optimistic about Gongsun Ignorance, are dead, and it is unlikely that Gongsun Ignorance will succeed to the throne, and I don't believe that the monarch will pass the throne to the side branches. Although Jiang Jie can be created, his biological mother Lu Ji has a very bad influence in the palace and the court. Xiaobai lost his biological mother since he was a child and was expelled since he was born, so now the ministers of the DPRK and China have sympathy for Xiaobai Gongzi. The future of Qi is uncertain, you still have the courage to take responsibility. It's good to stay with us in the court of Qi to serve it. It can be regarded as a heart of repayment to the king. ”

Zhao Hu said: "I only agree with half of Brother Guan Zhong's analysis. Jiang Zhu'er has no virtue and no talent, if Jiang Zhu'er succeeds to the throne, it will be the misfortune of the Qi State. Xiao Bai is still young, the development direction is still unclear, and he has been rumored to be a disaster star since he was born, so it is impossible for him to succeed to the throne by virtue of these two points. Uncle Bao's analysis is also very accurate. Jiang Jie has the conditions to succeed to the throne in terms of both virtue and age, why not fully support Jiang Jie to succeed to the throne. The three of us are like the three legs of the tripod, go to one of them, and can't stand up. In that case, why don't you work together to support Jiang Jie. I don't think Xiaobai will be the heir to the throne. Uncle Bao should wait for the opportunity to join forces with us, and all three of them will support Jiang Jie to succeed to the throne. In this way, we are the heart to repay you. For the country of Qi, the three of us have done our best. ”

Guan Zhong shook his head and said, "This statement is not true. Although Jiang Zhu'er is the eldest and has been established as the prince, his quality is despicable, which is also obvious to all the doctors in the Qi State. Even if he ascends the throne, he is afraid that the good times will not last long. If it is said that everyone wants, only Jiang Jie and Xiaobai will rule the Qi country in the future, and no one else can take on this responsibility. But the people of Qi are disgusted with the mother of the son Jiang Jie, and even dislike the son Jiang Jie himself because of their disgust with Lu Ji, which is the desire of the people. And sympathizing with Xiaobai for not having a mother and experiencing hardships since childhood, this is also the desire of everyone. Xiaobai is a person, because he is still young, he can't see anything. But if Jiang Jie has to become the king, because Jiang Jie is lazy and greedy for comfort, according to my personal opinion, nothing will be achieved, so it seems that the future of Qi Guo does not need your Uncle Bao to take the trouble to stabilize the country, who else? ”

Zhao Hu disagreed with Guan Zhong's opinion, and said a little depressedly: "A hundred years after the monarch, if the country is not succeeded by Jiang Jie, even if the three of us can become officials and make a fortune and gain power in the Qi country, I don't want to live; What's more, I participated in the government affairs of Qi State under the order of the king, and since I have to end up with one lord after accepting the order of the king, it is my bounden duty to be the king. ”

Guan Zhong smiled lightly and said: "As a courtier of the king, he was ordered by the king to serve the state to preside over the temple, how could he sacrifice for Jiang Jie to become a king or not?" What I Guan Zhong has to sacrifice for is: the country is broken, the temple is destroyed, and the sacrifice is extinguished, and only in this way can I die. If it weren't for these three things, I would have to try to survive. As long as I live to benefit the Qi Kingdom, I will not choose to die. ”

Uncle Bao said: "You two don't argue about whether Jiang Jie succeeds to the throne or not. Let's talk about what I should do. ”

Guan Zhong said, "You just go and accept the order." To repay the trust of the king, the only way to repay the trust of the king is to be loyal to his duties and do his best. ”

"I also agree with this view, and I am loyal and dedicated. What if Childe Xiaobai comes to run and becomes the monarch! ”

So Uncle Bao agreed to come out to accept the appointment and assist his son Jiang Xiaobai. Uncle Bao asked Guan Zhong, "Then how should you do your duty?" ”

Guan Zhong said: "If you are a minister, you will not be able to gain trust if you do not do your best to the monarch, and if the monarch does not trust, you will not be able to speak effectively, and if you do not speak well, you will not be able to contribute to the stability of the country." In a word: serving the monarch cannot be double-minded. ”

Uncle Bao nodded.

"Listening to the words of the two of you, my Uncle Bao will also do my best to raise a good son for the Qi State Sheji. I hope they can all become the pillars of Qi country. It also highlights the three of me."

Zhao Su immediately raised the wine bottle. patted Uncle Bao on the shoulder and said, "!" ”