After breakfast on the second day, Chen Heng came to Fan Li again to discuss some details of the army and Lu.

Over the years, although the Chen family has worked hard in the Qi State, and can control the monarch at the top and win the hearts of the people at the bottom, he cannot control many ministers and princes and nobles in the court, and he has to be contained. You can't do it to your heart's content, and sometimes you have to be provoked.

For this, Chen Heng has always been obsessed. This is a major obstacle to Chen Tian's usurpation, and if these obstacles are not removed, Chen Heng will not be able to do whatever he wants in the court.

However, Chen Heng has not been able to find a good way to solve this problem. Fan Li came and came up with an idea to wage war with the outside world and rely on the strength of foreign armies to weaken the power of the major families.

War is a major national event, and the DPRK and China must mobilize all forces to deal with the war, including private armies, and they must participate in the war. If any army does not obey the requisition, Chen Heng has the right to use the power of the state to encircle and suppress.

In fact, the major families are also willing to participate in the war, and only through the war can the families gain great benefits, and they can also make their own armies trained.

In the war, Chen Heng can send the military forces of each family to the most dangerous places, so as to weaken the strength of each family and preserve his own strength, so that he can change the balance of power between the major forces in the DPRK and China and make himself invincible.

Chen Heng thought it was a brilliant idea. Chen Heng learned that Fan Li had no intention of being an official in the Qi State, and he didn't even want to see the Marquis of Qi, so he was completely unwary of Fan Li.

He knew that with Fan Li's ability, as long as he was an official in the Qi State, he could quickly control the imperial court, and the pattern of the imperial court would undergo major changes, and the situation of his dominance in the court would no longer exist. This is what Chen Heng fears the most.

But now Fan Li has repeatedly said that he is just here to play, and has no intention of being an official in Qi State. That's for the best.

Fan Li is just a tourist, because he saved his wife Hengying during the trip, he became friends with himself, and as a friend, he came up with ideas to help him. There is no touch on his status, which is the most in line with Chen Heng's heart.

The two were discussing some of the details of Varu. Suddenly, I heard a report from my family, someone from the court, and Chen Heng entered the palace, and the Marquis of Qi was summoned for something.

Chen Heng said: "Uncle, you can go around the mansion and play around, the prince will summon you, and I will come when I go." ”

Fan Li said: "Your Excellency just took this opportunity to show the Marquis of Qi that he was going to send troops to attack Lu. If Jian Gong is unwilling, you have to try to convince him. ”

Chen Heng said: "This is a big deal, Chen Heng will naturally make it clear to the prince seriously." ”

Chen Heng said goodbye to Fan Li and rode a horse to the court. Jane waited in her study. Chen Heng stepped forward to see: "The ministers see His Majesty the Marquis." ”

Jian Gong said, "My lord, please calm down, sit down and talk." ”

Chen Heng said: "Why did Your Majesty summon the ministers? Please give me an example. ”

Jian Gong's face was angry, and he said: "It's really infuriating, the envoy of Lu Guo actually asked the widow why the 20,000 loads of grain have not been delivered to Lu State until now." ”

It turned out that when the five-nation coalition attacked Qi, the Qi army was defeated and sued for peace, and some humiliating terms were reached in the negotiations. For example, Qi must pay 20,000 quintals of grain to Lu every year as war compensation to Lu.

20,000 quintals of grain is a small amount for the country. But it is deeply insulting. Back then, in order to avoid the destruction of the country, the Qi State had to endure humiliation and agree, but later when it was implemented, it felt like being slapped in the face.

Qi is a big country, both economically and militarily stronger than Lu. Now like a subject country, it pays tribute to the country of Lu every year. This made Qi Guo unbearable.

At the beginning, Qi Guo still abided by the agreement, but then it was delayed, and this year it simply chose to forget, and no one mentioned it.

And Lu Guo even sent a messenger to ask about this matter, which was really infuriating.

Chen Heng gritted his teeth and said, "Lu Guo really doesn't know what to do, and he still kicks his nose and eyes." Has the prince seen the messenger? ”

Jian Gong said: "When the widow sees him, isn't it too exalted to him? I didn't see it, my lord, you go and see him, and scold him. ”

Chen Heng said: "The minister just scolded him for being too cheap for him." The minister would tell him that the state of Lu colluded with the state of Wu to attack the state of Qi and caused heavy losses to the state of Qi, and the state of Qi had not forgotten this matter. This account still has to be settled with Lu Guo. that they should die of this heart, and not mention the matter of paying bread again. ”

Jian Gong said: "Yes, just say so. ”

Chen Heng said: "This matter, the minister has been thinking about it for a long time in his heart, and he also has some ideas. I will first go and drive away the envoys of the Lu State, and then come back and then make a statement to the prince. ”

Jian Gong said: "Okay, my lordship will handle this matter first, and then we will discuss how to deal with Lu Guo when we go back." ”

The envoy of Lu was resting in the post house when he overheard Chen Heng, the prime minister of Qi, coming to see him. I was secretly happy in my heart, the prime minister of Qi State received him, and the specifications were very high, which was a very face-saving thing. Hurriedly came out to greet him.

"I've seen my lord!"

"No courtesy."

Chen Heng clenched his fists slightly, and his face was cold: "When the envoy came to the Qi country, what do you have to say?" ”

The envoy of Lu said: "My lord, according to the agreement, Qi should pay 20,000 quintals of grain to Lu every day, and in previous years, he returned to the country as scheduled. But this year has been overdue for a long time, and the Lu country has not yet received the grain of the Qi country. I don't know if your country has forgotten about this. So send a messenger to remind you. ”

Chen Heng said: "Thank you for the reminder." We haven't forgotten about it. I won't forget it. ”

The envoy said, "Then when does the Qi State plan to pay for the grain?" ”

Chen Heng said: "Wait until we are ready." will be sent. ”

The messenger said, "My lord, give me a word, when will I be ready?" ”

Chen Heng said: "It's hard to say, maybe it's ready in one year, maybe it's ready in three years or five years, maybe it's ready in ten years or eight years." ”

The envoy was stunned for a moment and said, "What do you mean?" ”

Chen Heng said: "That's what it means. You don't understand people? ”

The envoy paused for a moment and said, "According to what Lord Sense, the Qi Kingdom is planning to break the contract?" ”

Chen Heng said: "No, we don't plan to break the contract, I said, send the food over when it's ready." ”

The messenger said: "Your Excellency's words are not in accordance with diplomatic etiquette. Brutal and unreasonable. The agreement was agreed upon by both parties, and since everyone agreed, it should be followed. If Qi State tears up the agreement on this, it is not honest, and Qi State is not afraid of the world's jokes? ”

Chen Heng sneered: "What is diplomatic etiquette, I don't need you to teach me yet." After the initial strike, there are still many things that have not been negotiated between Qi and Lu, and I am afraid that they will continue to talk. ”

The messenger said, "What else is there to talk about?" ”

Chen Heng said: "At the beginning, the State of Lu colluded with the State of Wu, killed so many people in the State of Qi, and robbed so much property, and this account is far from being settled. Please go back and tell Lu Hou that the prince of Qi may personally go to Qufu to greet this account and settle the account. ”

The envoy's face changed: "My lord, are you declaring war on the Lu State?" ”

Chen Heng said: "Whatever you want to understand! ”