2.

Qi Xianggong's words: "When the melons are ripe next year, the widow will naturally send someone to take over your border task." "Let Lian Cheng and Guan Zhi's father stick to Kwai Qiu, but they have to face multiple difficulties. There was no ready-made military camp in the city, so they temporarily set up a military tent, but this temporary military tent leaked rain in summer and ventilation in winter, and the soldiers were miserable, and the material funds allocated by the imperial court were limited. And even if you have money, you can't buy meat, you can't buy food and vegetables, and you can't wear clothes that change the seasons in autumn and winter, and in spring. Lian Cheng and Guan Zhi's father were at a loss, so they had to send someone back to the court to ask for some material clothes to be used as seasonal supplements. However, the economy of Qi has been seriously deficient in the past few years when Qi Xianggong only cares about crusades and does not pay attention to economic construction, and it is difficult for the court to pay the demands put forward by the two generals who are even in charge of the management to his father. Even sending people back to Linzi to urge them a few times did not have any effect. This time, Lian Cheng and Guan Zhi's father had no choice but to settle the Biansai properly, and the two of them ran back to the court in person to meet the monarch and urge the Biansai to replenish.

Lian said that he met with Qi Xianggong in person and reported to Qi Xianggong the difficulties of guarding the border. Lian said: "5,000 soldiers are stationed in Kwai Qiu, and there are 200 chariots and horses, and a large number of seasonal clothes, grain and grass are needed in winter. ”

Qi Xianggong said: "Supply according to the season, please make a budget and supply regularly." ”

Qi Xianggong agreed on the spot, but it was not the same thing at all when he arrived at Xiangguo. There is no way to get the clothes for the change of season, so you can only give a certain amount of money, and the money in the treasury is limited, and even the money in your hands is not enough for the whole army to feed the horses for a season. This frustrated the two generals. went to Qi Xianggong again, but avoided it because he was busy with official business. The two generals had no choice but to return to the side of the fortress. When passing by Quqiu, Gongsun Wuzhi still warmly received the two generals. This time, it was not Gongsun who complained in ignorance, but the two generals complained about the difficulties in the army in front of them.

Gongsun asked ignorantly: "Seeing that the two generals are worried, it seems that there are many difficulties in garrisoning the army?" ”

Lian Cheng just sighed and raised the bottle to drink. Guan Zhi's father said: "This winter is coming, and my army's warm clothes have not been found, and the people sent back to the court will never be able to solve the problem. This time, my eldest brother and I met with the monarch in person, but we still couldn't solve the problem. This gentleman said it well, and he agreed quickly, but when he got to Xiangguo, it was indeed not that or that. My eldest brother got angry overnight and had a terrible toothache. After all, there are tens of thousands of sergeants in Kwai Qiu, hundreds of soldiers in military vehicles, living in makeshift grass huts, not sheltering from the wind in winter and rain in summer, and the sergeants have no warm clothes ...... this winter. ”

Lian weighed the bottle and did it again, and scolded: "I said that this Jiang Zhu'er is not a thing, he led the troops to the battle, the sergeant's carriages, horses and clothes are properly prepared, we are leading the troops outside, he said it well, but in fact he doesn't care about anything." How can we, the soldiers, survive the winter! ”

Gongsun asked ignorantly: "There are no clothes for the season, and the court didn't give some silver taels to buy clothes?" ”

Lian Cheng smiled bitterly and said: "Xiangguo said that the economic situation of Qi is not good, and many places cannot collect tribute from the imperial court, and the share is insufficient, which makes it more difficult for us to defend the border." Now there is no place for the soldiers to have winter clothes. ”

Guan Zhi's father said: "You said this gentleman, what you said is very good, you will promise everything, and you will not achieve anything in concrete implementation." You don't know if this gentleman is deliberately trying to fool us, or if the people below don't listen to him. ”

Lian said: "Xiangguo will not deceive us, it seems that in the past few years, the monarch has been fighting in the east and west, but it has put a certain amount of pressure on the people's lives." This year, there has been another drought and a decline in the grain harvest, and it is estimated that the national treasury is indeed insufficient. The difficulty lies in the question of how our soldiers survive the winter. ”

Seeing that even the general was at a loss, Guan Zhi's father sighed. The two men raised the wine bottle and drank in silence.

Gongsun Wuzhi also sighed and said: "The two generals are not worried, although my father's fiefdom is not large, there are more than 5,000 households, as the governor of the city, I can mobilize each household to make a set of sergeant's winter clothes, so as not to pay the tax price this year, I think the people will be willing to accept it." In addition, there are some winter clothes in the inventory of the armor in the castle, and all of them can be requisitioned by the general. I think it's almost enough to solve the general's difficulties. ”

When his father was happy, he pushed away the wine bottle, got up to give a salute to Gongsun Wuzhi, and said happily: "Thank you Gongsun Yizai for your support." General Lian and I don't know how to thank you. ”

Lian said: "No, Gongsun Yi Zai exempted the people in the food yi from paying taxes for one year, so what about the mansion expenses for next year?" In addition, what about the tribute handed over to the imperial court? ”

Gongsun Wuzhi waved his hand at Lian Cheng, then raised the wine bottle and said, "The general drinks!" Gongsun Wuzhi has been demoted from the imperial court doctor to the current ruler of the city, do you think he Jiang Zhu'er will still let me live freely? ”

Lian Wei took a sip of the wine in the bottle and said, "It's hard to be a grandson." Even the name is not talented, in the future, Lord Gongsun will need to be called a place to say, I will never live up to Lord Gongsun! ”

Guan Zhi's father continued: "We can jointly report to the imperial court, and the people of Quqiu will do their best to solve the problem of the winter of the border soldiers, and Quqiu should be exempted from the annual tribute to the imperial court." ”

Gongsun Wuzhi said: "It is not easy for the two generals, and there is no need to spend too much energy on the ignorance of bad luck. ”

Guan Zhi's father said: "No, Lord Gongsun treats me so kindly, even if the two of us fight to the death, we will exempt Lord Gongsun from paying tribute." ”

Lian Cheng looked at Gongsun Ignorance with grateful eyes, as if that look conveyed a strange message. Gongsun Wuzhi gently patted Lian Cheng's shoulder and said, "The coming day is long, from the master, we are like brothers." ”

Lian Cheng nodded, and when his father went out to relieve himself, Lian Cheng suddenly said: "My father has long said that you have a gentleman's appearance, don't you have any ideas?" ”

Gongsun ignorant that it was time, so he said to Lian Cheng: "Actually, when my grandmother was alive, she wanted me to succeed to the throne. My grandmother said that my father should be the king of the country in terms of appearance and ability. The father was not the eldest son, and the grandmother hoped that the ancestor would cultivate ignorance and ascend to the throne. But the ancestor still supports his own bloodline, and on the surface, he treats ignorance the same as the prince, as if he is looking to see which one Jiang Zhuer or Gongsun Wuzhi has more monarch talent. But secretly he was afraid that Gongsun would be ignorant and would kill his father ....... ”

This is a little-known incident in the Qi Kingdom, the general was assassinated on the way to inspect, and the murderer is still unknown. But Gongsun Wuzhi knew this, just because once General Yi Zhongnian made a move, Jiang Zhu'er would lose the possibility of ascending the throne, so he was assassinated on the way.

Lian Cheng asked in surprise: "General Yi Zhongnian was killed by the first monarch?" ”

Gongsun Wuzhi shook his head and sighed deeply, and then said, "Don't talk about this. For so many years, the real reason for my father's death has been buried in my ignorant heart. My father was wise all his life, fighting for the south and north of the Qi country, but in the end he was secretly framed, and he was ignorant and had nowhere to avenge his father! Gongsun Ignorance was already in tears.

Lian said: "Don't be sad, Lord Gongsun, Jiang Zhu'er, this demon has done too many evils, and sooner or later he will die of natural and man-made disasters!" My sister hated him very much as his concubine, and I now understand why Wang Ji also assassinated him. If there is a chance, even the name will result in him, and then Lord Gongsun will be able to get his wish. ”

Gongsun Wuzhi was silent for a while, and then said to Lian Cheng: "The general said this, you and I are like brothers, I see if it can be ...... like this." ”

After Gongsun Wuzhi finished talking about his inner calculations, he nodded again and again. He said to Gongsun ignorance: "Don't worry, Lord Gongsun, after Wang Ji's death, my sister-in-law should be the stepfamily." There is no way to be a faint king, regardless of the morality of the wheel, the brothers and sisters are messy, incorruptible and shameful, where is it still like a monarch. Let us be vigilant and watch day and night, and treat it as a fool, but he ignores the government and loves day and night. I'm going to kill him!"

The second general of Lian Cheng and Guan Zhi's father ordered him to be stationed in Kwai Qiu, but he didn't feel a year. This year, Lian Cheng and his subordinates have eaten a lot of hardship. It is said to be stationed, but in fact it is to be ready to meet the enemy at any time. It is necessary to send spies to dozens of miles to monitor and inquire about news; It is also necessary for the soldiers to maintain a state of readiness at all times, live in temporary tents, and eat local alms. In addition, the soldiers who have a wife's room, who have not been reunited with their families for a long time, are irritable, and all kinds of complaints arise one after another. Even if he said it, he could only reprimand with a straight face, but he reprimanded his subordinates, and he had to bring a sentence: "This is the will of the king, and the general is helpless." This winter, it is not Gongsun Ignorance Yizai who supports General Ben, and the brothers are not frozen dry this winter. ”

Suddenly, one day, the soldiers guarding the melon for Lian Cheng and the second general to taste it, and the second general saw the melon and remembered the claw ripening appointment of Qi Xianggong: "At this time, it is time to explain, why doesn't the king send someone to replace us?"

So the second general of Lian Cheng and Guan Zhi's father sent his henchmen to return to the capital to inquire about the news, and the henchmen came back to report that the second general said that Qi Xiang was just happy with Wen Jiang in the cake field; I haven't been back to the palace for a month.

Lian said that he felt that the opportunity had come. When his father came back from his inspection, he complained: "The brothers are all on fire, and they are all scolding the king for sending us to guard here, and if you know that you will have fun with your sister again, you must kill him." ”

Lian Cheng secretly discussed with Guan Zhi's father: "I'm going to kill this faint king, can you help me?" ”

Seeing that Lian Cheng was in a state of excitement, Guan Zhi's father advised him to calm down, saying: "Killing the king in vain is a great rebellion, and it should not be done lightly." Although it is said that when the melons are ripe this year, we will send someone to replace us, and it is true that the lord has made a promise. I'm afraid that the Lord has forgotten a lot of business, so it is better to ask someone to replace him in person. If you don't allow it after asking for instructions, you will be resentful of the soldiers, and the morale of the army will fluctuate, and it will not be too late to launch a plan again. ”

Lian Cheng thought in his heart that even if we told him that it was time to change his guard, he Jiang Zhu'er would not take it to heart, why not take this opportunity to provoke the soldiers to rebel together, so he said to Guan Zhi's father: "Yes, what you said makes sense." If he had allowed our brother to return to the city, we would have spared him. ”

So he sent his sergeants to deliver melons to Qi Xianggong, and also asked for orders to change the guard by the way.

Several sergeants sent by Lian Cheng took a cart of melons from Kwai Qiu all the way to the cake delivery field, asking to see Qi Xianggong. And choose the largest and sweetest melon, and then cut it and send it to Qi Xianggong.

Qi Xianggong happily ate the melon. When he heard the sergeant on the border guard talk about the request for a change of guard, instead of thanking the soldiers for their intention to send melons for hundreds of miles, they were furious.

"It is a matter of widowhood to send a man to replace you. What does it have to do with you? Whose family do you ask for? Go back and tell Lian to say that when the melons are ripe again, I will talk about changing guards! ”

The morale of a few soldiers who sent melons was in their hearts, but they didn't dare to vent. I had to hang my head and go back to the errand.

The sergeant who sent the melon replied to Qi Xianggong's words and called the general. Lian Cheng gritted his teeth and was angry. scolded Jiang Zhu'er on the spot, a bastard, who must not die well. So there was an uproar in the barracks. Filled with righteous indignation, the spearhead was directed at the monarch of Qi State.

Lian Cheng found Guan Zhi's father and said to Guan Zhi's father: "How is it, can you see it?" He Jiang Zhu'er only has his sister Wen Jiang in his heart, and there are no soldiers like us who work the border. What else can happen to doing things for him! I'm just trying to fuck this bastard right now, what can you do?"

Guan Zhifu pondered for a moment, and he thought of Gongsun ignorance, so he said to Lian Cheng: "Whatever is abolished, we must first know who we want to appoint, and then we can do it." ”

"What do you think of Gongsun ignorance?"

Guan Zhi's father thought about it seriously and said, "Gongsun Wuzhi is the eldest son of the great general Yi Zhongnian. Because Xianjun and Zhongnian were born to the same mother, he and Yi Zhongnian have been brothers and sisters since childhood, and they are intimate. After becoming the king of a country, he also regarded Yi Zhongnian as a confidant, and he had to negotiate with Yi Zhongnian on important matters of the state. There is also a queen mother who likes Gongsun Ignorance, so Gongsun Ignorance has been raised in the palace since he was a child. By the side of the ancestors, there is no difference between food, clothing, education and even the treatment enjoyed by the prince Jiang Zhu'er. even lived in the East Palace with Jiang Zhu'er. Therefore, in the minds of the ministers of the court, Gongsun ignorance is no different from the son, and now seeing that Gongsun ignorance is really in our hearts and cares about our border soldiers. Tell everyone about our winter, there is no one who does not support Gongsun ignorance. If it is said that the monarch is abolished, it must be him. ”

Even the words of the father said to his heart. This is exactly the way Gongsun Wuzhi conspired with himself. So Lian Cheng and Guan Zhifu made their position clear:

"Kill Jiang Zhu'er and support Gongsun Ignorance! This may be the only opportunity for you and me. If Gongsun ignorance is established, you and I will be reused. and will not be afraid every day, and will guard the frontier hard. ”

"We can secretly inform Gongsun Wuzhi of this matter, and let Gongsun Wuzhi go straight to the Qi Palace, and the ministers of the Qi Palace are familiar with him, and he will be the internal response in the palace. We raised an army to kill Jiang Zhu'er and supported Gongsun Ignorance, and this move can be successful. ”

"When is the best time to do something?" Lian Cheng asked.

"Jiang Zhu'er has always liked to use military force, and he also likes to go hunting in the mountains. Just like subduing a tiger, it is only when it leaves its cave that it will easily find an opportunity to subdue it. Therefore, we need to find out in advance the specific time and place of his outing, and then it will be the best time to subdue this tiger. ”

Lian Cheng thought for a while and said: "My sister Concubine Lian was left out in the palace, and she was also dissatisfied with Jiang Zhu'er soaking in Wen Jiang all day long. We can instruct Ignorance to contact my sister in private, pay attention to Jiang Zhu'er's whereabouts, and look for an opportunity to attack us. Concubine Lian can monitor the timing of his outings day and night in the palace, and she will not miss something. ”

After the second general discussed the strategy, Lian Cheng sent his confidants to send a letter to Gongsun Wuzhi. The letter reads:

Brother Gongsun: Nowadays, the monarch is mediocre, disregarding ethics, and his decrees are impermanent. Our sergeants stationed in Kwai Qiu have been stationed for more than a year, and the monarch promised that Guashu would send someone to replace him, but when the melon ripening season came, he ignored it, and the officers and men of the three armies were indignant. Lian said that now was the perfect time for Gongsun to realize his lofty ambitions. Even said that he was willing to follow the work of dogs and horses, and he died to support him. The sister of the concubine is resentful of being snubbed in the palace, and she can assist Gongsun to do internal response, and the opportunity must not be missed!

Gongsun Wuzhi was overjoyed to see the letter, and his heart was indignant for many years. Now, a group of people have fallen from the sky and confessed the Lord's scheme, wouldn't God help me! After Gongsun Wuzhi sent someone to contact Concubine Lian, he really got a response from Concubine Lian. Gongsun Wuzhi immediately wrote back:

Thanks to the general's heartfelt affection, ignorance is very grateful. Ignorance has sent a maid to correspond with Concubine Lian, and sent the general's letter to Concubine Lian to read. Ignorance has promised to be with Concubine Lian, if it is done, Concubine Lian should be appointed as his wife. Concubine Lian has agreed to cooperate.

The two generals, Lian Cheng and Guan Zhi's father, saw that Gongsun was ignorant and replied to the letter, and they couldn't hold back the excitement in their hearts. Both of them were gearing up, looking forward to the day, holding their breath for that moment to come.

3.

There is a Beiqiu Mountain in the wilderness of Gudi. In winter, the animals gather and are a great place for hunting.

This has always been the royal hunting ground of the Qi Kingdom. In October, someone reported to Qi Xianggong that Beiqiu Mountain is still full of birds and beasts this year, and it is a good year for hunting.

Qi Xianggong was excited, and in the past two years, he has been fighting for many years, destroying Ji Guo, sending Ji Shuo, killing Ji Ji (wěi), and defending the king of Zhou, everything has made this monarch very sad. Qi Xianggong was nervous and very hard. The Gudi area hasn't hunted for a long time. So Qi Xianggong instructed his subordinates: prepare the carriage and horse expenses, and the general will follow him personally, and decide to go hunting in Beiqiu Mountain next month. He wanted to take a pleasure in any of his trips, so that he could relax for a while from the burden of a heavy monarch.

Concubine Lian learned that Qi Xianggong was going out to hunt, so she asked her subordinates to find out, and then repaired a book, and sent her subordinates directly to Gongsun Wuzhi's hands.

Gongsun was ignorant and got the exact information, and without stopping for a moment, the starry night sent a message to Kwai Qiu. Gongsun Wuzhi informed Lian and Guan Er in the letter that they would go to Gudi together in early November to kill the monarch and support the establishment.

After Lian said that after receiving the letter from Concubine Lian and Gongsun Wuzhi, he hurriedly consulted with Guan Zhi's father.

"Jiang Zhu'er is hunting, the country is empty, we can lead the army to embrace Gongsun Wuzhi and go straight to the capital, and use my 5,000 army to govern the ministers of the court and directly support Gongsun Wuzhi as the king.

Guan Zhi's father shook his head again and again.

"No, you can't. Jiang Zhu'er is the king of a country and is in harmony with his neighbors. It is known as a joint conscription, a war, a Song Dynasty and other accompanying activities. If Jiang Zhu'er learned that Gongsun was ignorant and usurped the throne, he could use the teachers of other countries to crusade. At that point, how will we defend ourselves against the enemy? Moreover, as long as Jiang Zhu'er is still there, all the doctors in the court will turn their backs on each other, and it will be difficult for Gongsun to establish a dynasty without knowledge. It is better to set up an ambush in the field of Gudi, wait for the opportunity to kill the faint king first, and then support Gongsun to ascend the throne. to achieve great things. ”

Lian was convinced by Guan Zhi's father's careful thinking, so the two decided to lead a large army to ambush Jiang Zhu'er.

On this day, Guan Zhi's father will garrison the army and gather in one place, and ask the general company to call it a pre-war mobilization.

Lian Cheng was dressed in rhinoceros skin armor, a red cloak on his shoulders, and a long sword hanging from his waist, standing majestically on the parade platform. Shout.

"Brothers, after more than a year of being in the border area, everyone is homesick and longing for their relatives. Looking forward to returning home soon. Isn't it? ”

"Yes! Be! Be! ”

"General Lian, take me home!"

"Home, home, home!"

Lian Cheng waved his hand to the excited sergeant.

"If I take you back to Linzi now, we will disobey the military order and we will lose our heads."

Even when he said this, there was silence below. The faces of the soldiers showed dismay. Lian Cheng went on to say:

"If it weren't for the support of Gongsun Wuyi Zai this year, every one of our soldiers would have to suffer from cold and starvation, and without Gongsun Da, we would be even more miserable, but Jiang Zhu'er not only didn't sympathize with us, but also asked us to continue to stick to the melon ripening season. If it goes on like this, I don't know how many melon ripening seasons it will take. Does he Jiang Zhu'er still have us as a garrison soldier in his heart? No! What are we, the soldiers who have worked for the country, trying to do? If he doesn't love us, we don't love him, right? ”

The soldiers below understood. Unanimously shouted:

"Kill the faint king! Stand up to Gongsun! ”

At this time, the soldiers stationed in Kwai Qiu, because they were away for a long time, were homesick and missed their relatives. The heart is like a handful of dry wood, a little bit can ignite a fire. Lian said that after the righteous indignation of the soldiers, he secretly passed on the order, prepared dry food, and went to Beiqiu to raise important things. All the guards of the Ebian understood that the general was going to take them home. When it was time to go home after killing the faint king, everyone was excited and happily prepared to go.