Three

Zheng Wugong's wife, Shen Mengjiang, gave birth to two sons for Zheng Wugong. The eldest son is called Kou Sheng, why is it called Kou Sheng? It is said that Shen was still asleep when she gave birth to this eldest son, and when she woke up, the child had already fallen to the ground, which made the first lady of Zheng Guo very embarrassed and became the laughing stock of everyone in the palace. This made Shen's Meng Jiang feel depressed, and he always felt that this child was ugly. So I have a grudge against Ji Ningsheng. When Shen gave birth to his second son, the situation was different, everything went smoothly, and this second son was handsome since he was a child, with a tiger head and a tiger brain, thick eyebrows and big eyes, which made Shen Meng Jiang love it very much. Seek the opinion of Zheng Wugong and name the child Ji Duan. This Ji Duan was also born for his mother, not only is he good-looking but also naturally smart, not to mention being proficient in riding and archery swords and halberds, he will also please his mother, and everything is liked by Meng Jiang. I thought that if Ji Duan was the son of the world and inherited the public throne, wouldn't it be a hundred times stronger than Ji Ningsheng. Meng Jiang thought like this, and also tried to figure out how this position of the son of the world could be fought for Ji Duan. She looked back and saw that this Ji Ning was not as good as Ji Duan, and she couldn't see how smart she was, and more importantly, this Ji Ning was indifferent to Meng Jiang since she was a child, as if she knew that her mother didn't like her in her heart when she was a child. Every time it reminds Meng Jiang of the scene when he was alive. Therefore, he repeatedly admonished Wu Gong, calling the second son Ji Duan's virtuous ability, and hoped that Wu Gong would be abolished and would grow up. It's just that Zheng Wugong didn't allow it, he said, "The young and the old are orderly, and they can't be disordered, not to mention that Ji Ningsheng has nothing to do." How can you abolish the growth and stand young! ”

Meng Jiang put aside her thoughts like this, but she repeatedly did not give up, but Zheng Wugong was not allowed to say her words in full while she was alive.

In 744 BC, the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Duke Zheng Wu, who had made every effort to develop and stabilize the eastward expansion of the Zheng State, and watched and annexed the surrounding vassal states with great eyesight, he could not afford to fall ill. At the age of 50, due to his father's diligence in governing the Zhou royal family, he has been in charge of Zheng Guoye since he was a child. He was deeply familiar with his father Zheng Huangong's survival strategy and the strategy of trying to be strong, and led his family to move east on behalf of Zheng Huangong, inheriting his father's foundation and leading Zheng Guo to expand his territory in the east. He successively destroyed the State of Yi, the State of Dongyu, the State of Hu, etc., and not only opened up a land belonging to the State of Zheng on the land that had been strong for hundreds of years, but also expanded the territory of the Zheng family several times. Zheng Wugong died, and according to the custom, the prince Ji Liaosheng took over the title, known as Zheng Zhuang Gong, and continued to be a secretary for Zhou Tianzi. At this time, Zheng Zhuang was stationed in the capital of the state of Yi, which was annexed by Zheng Wugong. is preparing to move his family into the capital Xingyang.

Meng Jiang, who had always hoped that Duke Zheng Wu would pass on the title to Ji Duan, saw that his second son Ji Duan was sealed in a small Yan land, with no position or status. She knew in her heart that Ji Duan, who could have been surprised, would be in a state of collapse from now on, let alone have greater ambitions to talk about. He said to Zheng Zhuanggong: "Your son inherited his father's business and owned the world for hundreds of miles, but your fellow brothers were relegated to a small remote place. How can you bear it? ”

Zheng Zhuanggong Ji Ningsheng was a little innocent about his mother's accusation, so he said to his mother: "What does my mother want? ”

Shen's Meng Jiang said: "Why don't you divide the system to Ji Duan!" ”

It was originally the capital of the Dongyu Kingdom, and because the Dongyu Kingdom was built earlier, it was rich and prosperous, with strong walls and a large population. Zheng Guo, under the efforts of Zheng Wugong, already has a relatively large territory. However, in terms of the size of the city, except for the capital city of Xingyang, only the province is a city with a large population. Meng Jiang hoped that Ji Duan could have a large-scale city with a large number of people to manage, so as to create a good foundation for Ji Duan to regain the throne. Therefore, it was proposed that a large city name would be difficult for Zheng Zhuang Gong.

Zheng Zhuang Gong thought for a while and said: "No, it is the northern fortress of Zheng State, a place that needs to be heavily guarded, and it is related to the survival and safety of Zheng State." Other than that, but not here. ”

Zheng Zhuanggong's words were not as expected by Shen's Meng Jiang, he knew that this Ji Kousheng was good at what he said, and he would not be willing to hand over the big city to Ji Duan to be in charge, but she immediately seized the loophole in Ji Kousheng's speech, pointed at Ji Kousheng and said: "This is what you said, except for making any city." Then I think I'll seal the capital to Ji Duan. ”

Zheng Zhuang Gong Ji Ningsheng listened to his mother's words, his face darkened, he couldn't imagine that his mother could say such a thing no matter what. A capital, then it should be the entrenchment of the king of a country, how can a core city like the capital be given to Ji Duan? But it was by virtue of his incomplete speech that his mother made such unreasonable demands. Ji Ningsheng knows that now that he is the monarch, he must speak and count, and he cannot regret it. There was no reason for him to regret with his mother that what he had said was incomplete. Zheng Zhuanggong also seemed to understand his mother's intentions, and he silently left Meng Jiang, which was regarded as a promise to his mother.

The next morning, Zheng Zhuang Gong was about to ask Ji Duan to make public his newly changed title. The doctor next to him immediately stopped him and said: "The lord can't do it, there are no two days in the sky, there are no two monarchs in the country, the capital is a vast people, located in the center of Zheng Guo, and it has always been the core city of Zheng Guo where the first prince was stationed." Didn't the lord also want to move east to the capital? Fengjing is so big to Ji Duan, it is like a country with two monarchs. If the capital is ceded to Ji Duan, the lord and the courtiers will have to retreat to the capital of Yi. Wouldn't giving up the central city to Ji Duan be tantamount to giving up the throne? What's more, Ji Duan has always been favored by his wife, if he relies on his wife's power to do unrighteous acts, Zheng Guo is afraid that there will be endless troubles in the future. ”

Zheng Zhuanggong remained silent and said: "This is the order of the Queen Mother, how dare you not accept it!" The priest shook his head bitterly, puzzled by what he meant.

Zheng Zhuang Gong announced in front of the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty and his younger brother Ji Duan that Ji Duan had changed the seal. All the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty were surprised.

Ji Duan got the title of Dayi in the capital, not only the important ministers of the court rushed to be puzzled and surprised, but the entire Zheng State was shocked, and everyone thought that this Zheng Zhuang Gong had a problem with his brain. When Ji Duan said goodbye to Shen's Meng Jiang, Shen retreated left and right and whispered to his son Ji Duan.

Meng Jiang said to Ji Duan: "Your brother Kou Sheng doesn't care about the feelings of his compatriots, he doesn't take you seriously, and I have repeatedly pleaded with me to give you the title of the capital today, and he reluctantly agreed, not out of his original intention." You must work hard to occupy the capital, secretly accumulate wealth and capable people, train troops and martial arts, rectify vehicles and passengers, and prepare in private. When the time comes, you can try to take the country. I will follow Kou Sheng, secretly monitor his movements, once there is an opportunity, I will tell you, you can send a teacher to attack Zheng, I will be the internal response, and the position of the monarch will belong to Ji Duan yourself. If you take the place of Kou Sheng, I will die without regrets. Ji Duan took the Queen Mother's words to heart, and clasped her mother's hands to say goodbye.

Ji Duan rushed to the capital, and on the day of the opening of the mansion, the Quartet came down to congratulate. The small towns east and south of the capital did not dare to slack off, and they also came to congratulate them. Ji Duan sat on the dragon chair of the court where the former emperor Wugong had sit, and immediately announced: "From now on, Ji Duan is in charge of the capital, and you are all under my jurisdiction, and from today onwards, your payment of taxes will come to me, and your military vehicles will be transferred by me, and if you neglect it, you will be punished according to law." ”

The subordinates of the capital and the surrounding Yi Zai heard the taste, they had already heard that Ji Duan was the love of the Empress Dowager Shen, plus Ji Duan was tall and tall, dignified, not angry and arrogant, how dare he talk nonsense. Soon, the local officials under the capital handed over the chariot and horse sergeants they had raised to Ji Duan. Ji Duan registered one by one, recruited troops in the capital and bought horses to train outside the city. Ji Duan saw that the unexpected Yi Zai in the capital did not fully obey his command, so in the name of hunting, he went to the suburbs to attack the neighboring cities in the capital, captured the Yi Zai and ordered him to follow him, and handed over the military chariots and soldiers. There is a great tendency to encroach on Zheng Guo. The two threatened Yi Zai quietly fled into the capital of Yi and reported to Zheng Zhuang Gong that Ji Duan was arrested and threatened.

Zheng Zhuanggong asked, "Didn't Ji Duan hurt you?" ”

The two governors said, "Even so, but he asks him to put all the chariots and soldiers of our city under his command?" ”

Zheng Zhuanggong said: "What reason? ”

The two Yi Zai said: "Ji Duan said: From now on, he is the military commander of Zheng State, so the guards in the city must listen to his dispatch and have him to practice in a unified manner." ”

Lu, the son of Shangqing, who was sitting on the side, heard the report of Yi Zai, and couldn't listen to it anymore, so he stood up and shouted: "Lord, you can kill Ji Duan." ”

Zheng Zhuanggong pretended to be puzzled and asked Gongzi Lu: "Why did you kill Ji Duan?" ”

Gongzi Lu said, "I heard that people and ministers cannot set up their own generals, and those who stand up for themselves are blind to the laws of the country, and they must kill him, otherwise there will be trouble." Now Ji Duan relies on the authority of the Shen clan internally, and the capital is large and strong outside, and he dispatches troops day and night, isn't it a rebellion? The lord should take advantage of his unpreparedness to send someone to arrest and kill him, so as to prevent future troubles. He plundered the land of Zheng Guocheng with the monarch today, and will usurp the throne of Zheng Guo tomorrow. ”

Zheng Zhuanggong was very calm, he said: "Ji Duan did not openly rebel, what reason does the widow have to kill him." Besides, Ji Duan is also the beloved son of the Queen Mother, and he is my compatriot's beloved brother, how can I kill him without thinking of the love of my compatriots? The widow would rather lose his land than lose his brotherhood. Hahahaha......"

Gongzi Lu saw that Zheng Zhuanggong was indifferent, and his face showed a worried look, but he still softened his tone and said: "I'm not worried about losing the country, but I'm worried about losing the country." Now that Ji Duan is getting stronger and stronger, the people are waiting and seeing, if the lord allows him to go on like this, the people in the capital will part ways with the lord and lean towards him Ji Duan because of fear. At that time, Zheng Guo's situation will be difficult to control. ”

Zheng Zhuanggong said, "Don't talk nonsense, I naturally have a good idea." ”

Gongzi Lu bitterly didn't see that Zheng Zhuang Gong was concerned, not only stupid. After leaving the palace, he happened to meet the sacrificial foot, so he told the sacrificial foot about his worries.

Saizu smiled and said, "The lord is a monarch with both intelligence and wisdom, wisdom and bravery, and he is not an idle person. He naturally knew about Ji Duan's affairs, but he couldn't leak it in public. Seeing that Gongzi Lu was still puzzled, he further said: "Gongzi is an important minister of the lord and a member of the prince. If you tell the lord in private about this kind of internal affairs in a hidden place, the lord will tell you the truth and tell you what he has in mind. ”

Gongzi Lu felt that the sacrifice made sense, and stopped returning to the house, and then returned to the palace to see Zheng Zhuanggong. Gongzi Lu entered Zheng Zhuanggong's private residence, and after seeing Zheng Zhuanggong, he asked Zheng Zhuanggong to step down, and Gongzi Lu said: "It is not the will of the Queen Mother to succeed to the throne, in case Ji Duan relies on the capital to have a large number of soldiers, and the internal and external conspiracies are afraid that Zheng Guo will have an accident." I was really worried about my lord, and I couldn't be quiet. So come and knock on the lord again. ”

Zheng Zhuanggong swept away the disapproving look of the court, and said to Gongzi Lu: "Ji Duan's behavior is related to the Queen Mother, and it is not trivial. ”

Gongzi Lu told Zhuang Gong about the historical facts of Zhou Gongdan's assessment of the rebellion of the three eunuchs and the killing of his younger brothers Uncle Guan and Uncle Cai to remind Zheng Zhuang Gong. "Family affection is important, but the society is even more important, and it will be chaotic if it is constantly broken."

Zheng Zhuanggong said: "The widow has already thought about it, although Ji Duan is misbehaving, but he has not openly rebelled, if I decide to kill Ji Duan, the Queen Mother will obstruct it, and the people will also talk about my disregard for family affection, betraying my mother's wishes and ending up with a reputation of unfilial piety." Now that the widow turns a deaf ear and ignores it, and lets it do what he does, he will be self-righteous, and with the support of the Queen Mother, he will be more unscrupulous to disclose his opinions. When he thinks the time is right, he will engage in an open rebellion. At that time, the evidence of the crime is conclusive and it is impossible to quibble, and if the widow arrests Ji Duan and corrects the law, the queen mother will have nothing to say, and the people will not say that the widow is ruthless and unjust. ”

Gongzi Lu deeply felt that Zhuang Gong's strategy was beyond his reach, and admired Zhuang Gong's resourcefulness, but Gongzi Lu was still a little worried, he said: "I'm just afraid that day after day, Ji Duan will be raised into a big force, and at that time, it will be difficult to figure out." ”

Zhuang Gong asked, "What is Qing's plan?" ”

Gongzi Lu said: "The lord is not diligent for a long time, the matter must be because Ji Duan seeks the country, the lord can openly go to the government, the queen mother Ji Duan will definitely take advantage of this special period, thinking that there is no owner in the country, the court is empty, you can take the opportunity to raise troops to fight for the country, the secretary can take a crack to hide near the capital, and when Ji Duan sends troops to capture Zheng, I will lead the troops to take advantage of the situation and enter the capital, and explain Ji Duan's conspiracy to the people of the capital, so as to master the capital." And the lord can kill all the way, and Ji Duan will be attacked on his back, and he will definitely be defeated. ”

Zhuang Gong said, "Qing's plan is very good, but don't leak it out." Otherwise, it will be ruined after being understood by the Queen Mother or Ji Duan's informants. ”

Gongzi Lu nodded solemnly. After making a plan to get rid of Ji Duan, Gongzi Lu walked out of Zhuanggong's private room and sighed that the sacrifice was like a god.