"Can this king understand your words that you don't plan to fight to the death with this king anymore?"

When this doubt was spoken, in fact, Zhao Hongrun himself was a little incredulous, you must know that a few days ago, during the negotiation, Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng, gritted his teeth at him, and wanted to hack him Zhao Hongrun to death.

But today, Zhao Hongrun has not yet felt the hostility of the other party, which makes him can't help but have some doubts: whether Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng in front of him, is himself or is being pretended by others.

"Ah, you can understand that."

"Tell the king the reason." Zhao Hongrun frowned and asked.

"Isn't that obvious?" Xiong Tuo spread his hands and said with a strange expression: "According to the legend of my Da Chu, the witch's frog Gu is difficult to cure, if this is the case, you will become Xiong's...... Cousin-in-law. When he said the last three words, his expression was like swallowing a disgusting worm.

And Zhao Hongrun obviously felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest.

Think about it, you must know that a few months ago, the two were still in an absolute opposite situation, but now, a blink of an eye seems to have the possibility of shaking hands and making peace, and even, it is very likely to climb a relative, this kind of transformation that seems to come from God's malicious tricks makes it difficult for Zhao Hongrun and Xiong Tuo to adapt in a short time.

"How about joining forces with Xiong?" Taking a deep breath to adjust his mood, Xiong Tuo, the monarch of Xuancheng, finally said the purpose in his heart: "Xiong helped you ascend to the throne of King Wei, and you also secretly helped Xiong to become the king of Great Chu, how about it?" ”

"......" Zhao Hongrun was silent. Thinking about this moment, he finally deeply understands what it means to be "yesterday's enemy, today's ally".

But after thinking about it, Zhao Hongrun shook his head and said lightly: "This king is not interested in the position of the king of my Great Wei, and he will not help you ascend to the position of the king of Chu." …… If it weren't for some reason, this king would have killed you a long time ago! ”

"I've heard that." Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng, smiled unexpectedly. sneered: "Ah Jiang just mentioned me, saying that when she told you about the relationship between Master Xiong Hao and Xiong and their sisters, when it came to innovation and change, it was murderous in your eyes......

"What if it were you?" Zhao Hongrun asked rhetorically.

"Kill! To prevent future troubles! Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng, replied without hesitation.

“……”

“……”

The two looked at each other, and neither could help but fall silent.

They all knew each other, if it weren't for the factor of Mi Jiang. There is no possibility for them to shake hands with each other, because they know too well what kind of person each other is.

And the current embarrassment is that for some reason, they can't get rid of each other.

After a period of silence, Xiong Tuo, the monarch of Xuancheng, spoke again: "No matter what, don't you want to help Xiong Mou sit on the seat of the king of Chu?" …… Maybe, if Xiong becomes the king of Chu, maybe there will be something to take advantage of. ”

"......" Zhao Hongrun didn't say a word.

He knew what Xiong Tuo's "opportunity" meant.

After all. Xiong Tuo's ambition was to find a way to eradicate the old aristocratic forces within the Chu State, including the Xiong clan, but because this old aristocratic force was too deep-rooted, it would be difficult for Xiong Tuo to reform the Chu State drastically even if Xiong Tuo really became the king of Chu in the future.

At that time, there will undoubtedly be a large number of old aristocratic forces led by the Xiong clan to stand up against Xiong Tuo.

However, Xiong Tuo, the Jun of Xuancheng, is not the kind of person who cares about the feelings of the same clan as Xiong Hao, the Jun of Runan, he is even more ruthless. Therefore, it is conceivable that Xiong Tuo, who later became the king of Chu, proposed reforms. In contrast, he is also ready for a full-scale decisive battle with the forces of the old aristocracy.

At that time, the entire Chu State will be plunged into civil strife and strife, which will undeniably be a golden opportunity for the Wei State to attack the Chu State.

But the problem is that if the state of Chu withstood that catastrophe and was reborn after the catastrophe, then. Whether it is Wei or Qi, there will be great trouble.

For things that are generally ungraspable, it doesn't hurt for Zhao Hongrun to gamble, but if it involves the national fortune and fate of the entire Wei State, even him. Don't dare to bet lightly.

After a long time, Zhao Hongrun said inexplicably: "The more you say that, the more this king wants to keep you......"

Xiong Tuo, the monarch of Xuancheng, seemed to hear something extraneous from Zhao Hongrun's words, and said with a faint smile: "Then let's put it another way." …… Thanks to you, Xiong will be greatly affected in my Da Chu for a long time in the future, not only don't you want to suppress Liyang Jun Xiong Sheng anymore, maybe even Guling Jun Xiong Wu that idiot can't suppress it...... Xiong Wu won't talk about it for the time being, but that Xiong Sheng is not easy to deal with. ”

"Is Liyang Jun Xiong Sheng?" Zhao Hongrun touched his chin and said meaningfully: "Wasn't he demoted?" ”

Xiong Tuo was stunned, stared at Zhao Hongrun inexplicably, and said with a smile: "Do you know a lot?" Did Qu Cheng or Yan Mo say it to you? After that, he restrained the smile on his face and frowned: "Father is indeed dissatisfied with him, but it is undeniable that there are still many aristocratic forces in China who support Xiong Sheng. Moreover, now that the State of Qi is repairing the city in Pi County, it is not difficult to guess that the State of Qi will successively launch a tentative attack on our Great Chu for a while, and when you Wei State has eliminated internal troubles, it may be possible for the King of Qi to form an alliance of various countries again to crusade against my Great Chu...... And Xiong Sheng's territory is in Liyang, and if the Qi State wants to cross the Chuqi border, it will inevitably have some friction with it. …… It's okay if Xiong Sheng is defeated, but if he wins a few battles one after another, when Xiong is defeated by you, his momentum is bound to be skyrocketing......"

Speaking of this, Xiong Tuo turned his head to look at Zhao Hongrun, and added in a low tone: "Xiong Sheng, that is also one of the very few people who support the reform of Lord Xiong Hao of Runanjun...... Moreover, he is more difficult to deal with than Xiong. ”

『…… Is it another Xiong nobleman who intends to reform the Chu State?"

Zhao Hongrun was slightly shocked when he heard this.

You must know that he refused to join forces with Xiong Tuo before, because he didn't want any possibility of reform in Chu, because once Chu changed its original statecraft, restrained the rights of the nobles, and improved the status and treatment of commoners in Chu, then the country would inevitably develop rapidly and pose a threat to his Wei State.

Therefore. It is impossible for Zhao Hongrun to secretly support Xiong Tuo.

But now listening to Xiong Tuo's words, that Liyang Jun Xiong Sheng turned out to be a great nobleman who intended to change the current appearance of the Chu State, which made Zhao Hongrun inevitably hesitate.

After all, he had heard Qu Cheng, Yan Mo and others mention that Liyang Jun Xiong Sheng, unlike Xiong Tuo, the short-tempered Junxiong Tuo of Xucheng who offended many local nobles, Liyang Jun Xiong Sheng Ke is the son of the King of Chu who is quite respected by the nobles. Even Xiong Tuo, who refused to admit defeat easily, admitted that this person was quite difficult to deal with.

Does that mean that secretly supporting Xiong Tuo, who is about to lose power, and competing for the position of King of Chu with Xiong Sheng, the soon-to-be-powerful Liyang monarch, is more beneficial to their Wei State?

Zhao Hongrun frowned and thought for a moment, and suddenly, he opened his mouth and asked, "As far as this king knows, Liyang Jun Xiong Sheng was suppressed by you before?" Why? ”

Probably didn't expect Zhao Hongrun to suddenly ask about it, Xiong Tuo frowned, it seemed that this topic made him a little unhappy.

But he also understood. If he couldn't say the reason why Zhao Hongrun was satisfied, this King Su of Wei would definitely not support him.

Thinking of this, Xiong Tuo smacked his lips and said with an unswerving expression: "It was he who shook the determination of Lord Xiong Hao of Runanjun. …… Specifically, Xiong doesn't want to go into details, you just need to know that there is no possibility for me to stand side by side with him! ”

"I see......

Zhao Hongrun recalled that Mi Jiang had revealed to him that her father, Runanjun Xiong Hao. It was after meeting with the current Liyang Jun Xiong Sheng that the decision to lead the army of western Chu to fight against the nobles of eastern Chu was dismissed. After saying that he was "too anxious" and "Da Chu is not ready for innovation", he entrusted his ambition to Xiong Tuo, who had not yet become the king of Xuancheng.

Therefore, in Zhao Hongrun's view, Xiong Tuo's words should be credible.

After thinking about it again and again, Zhao Hongrun finally decided to secretly support Xiong Tuo as appropriate, anyway, as long as Xiong Tuo and Xiong Sheng, the two tigers, could not win in the short term. Maintaining a situation where the two tigers are competing with each other is indeed the most favorable situation for the Wei State.

"What do you want?" Zhao Hongrun asked in a low voice.

When Xiong Tuo, the monarch of Xuancheng, heard this, the corners of his mouth raised a little smile, and then he said unceremoniously: "A large amount of rice grain!" Lots of armaments! ”

Zhao Hongrun frowned when he heard this.

As if seeing the concerns in Zhao Hongrun's heart, Xiong Tuo, the monarch of Xuancheng, smiled and said, "Don't worry." This time, Xiong will not go to your Wei State for trouble, Xiong is just going to Ba Shen to have a while......"

"Ba?"

Zhao Hongrun was stunned, you must know that Ba is a place where many small countries stand side by side, and Bachu has a good relationship, it is hard to imagine that Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng, would actually plan to plot against Ba.

"Ba ...... It is said that he has always had a good relationship with your Chu State? ”

"Huh! Having said that, there are some things that Xiong feels more secure in his own hands......"

"For example...... Horse!'

Xiong Tuo said secretly in his heart.

I have to say that because the army under his command lacks the relationship of elite light cavalry, he has suffered a lot in the hands of the Wei army this time.

But on the other hand, because of this national war, Xiong Tuo also clearly understood the importance of cavalry on the battlefield, if he could form the first cavalry team of Chu State, it could not only deter Wei State, but also use it to bully and bully those Chu Eastern nobles who did not look down on war horses at all.

Of course, in addition to horses, the wealth of Pakistan is also what Xiong Tuo wants, especially grain, brocade and so on.

"Join, not attack...... What?'

Zhao Hongrun looked at Xiong Tuo for a while, and said in a low voice: "When the army withdraws, this king will leave you the equipment of the Pingxuan army, and a part of the rice grain will also be left for you......"

Xiong Tuo shook his head when he heard this: "This is far from enough!" ”

Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun said unhappily: "You don't want to get an inch!" ”

"What does Xiong mean......" Xiong Tuo looked up at Zhao Hongrun and said in a low voice: "You should have heard that Xiong used to trade with the cross-border merchants of your Wei State from time to time, trading some ...... Your country restricts the flow of things from the local to foreign countries, Xiong doesn't care...... Change a long-term trading partner. ”

『……』

Hearing this, Zhao Hongrun frowned, and glanced at Xiong Tuo inexplicably.

"Think about it. …… About March and April this year, Xiong will personally go to Daliang to observe the peace talks between the envoys sent by my Great Chu Shouying and your country. ”

"Go to the girder? You are so bold......" Zhao Hongrun sneered when he heard this, after all, the Wei people are eager to cut Xiong Tuo with a thousand knives, but there are many people.

"Humph!" Xiong Tuo snorted lightly, got up and walked outside the study.

"You don't have to worry about this. …… By the way, as far as Xiong knows, Shouying's batch of materials has been on the road two days ago, ready for delivery, and then ...... Tell you to command the soldiers and horses, take those things, and get out of Xiong's fiefdom! ”

“……”

Fingers tapped on the desk, and Zhao Hongrun watched Xiong Tuo walk out of the room.

It is undeniable that he can't help but feel a little emotional at the moment, after all, who would have thought that his relationship with Xiong Tuo would gradually become so complicated.

At the beginning of February of the 17th year of Hongde, the materials promised by Huang Arsenic, the doctor of Chu Guoshi, as an indemnity, arrived in Runan one after another.

At this time, Zhao Hongrun's 80,000-strong army officially entered a busy stage, and almost every day, tens of thousands of soldiers escorted a carriage full of pearls, jade, lacquerware, bronze and other materials, transported it by land to Chen County, unloaded the carriage, and returned to Runan.

After repeating this for more than ten days, all the gains of the Wei army were transferred from Runan to Chen County, loaded with the warships that Wu Ji had prepared for 3,000 people, and gradually transported them to the territory of Great Wei.

At the same time, as the Son of Heaven gradually warmed up, a large number of civilians of the Chu State also embarked on the journey to the Wei State.

At least 300,000 people, under the escort of the Wei army, some took warships to Wei in Chen County, and some went to Wei on foot.

However, it seems that Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng, does not care about this, and it is no wonder, after all, during the war between the two armies, the power of the Wei army has not yet touched the Huai River area such as Xiangcheng and Xuancheng, and Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng, still has a fiefdom population far exceeding the 300,000 people.

It is no exaggeration to say that Xiong Tuo, who lost the battle and suffered heavy losses this time, can relieve the food shortage in his fiefdom after losing those people.

By the end of February, everything was almost done, including more than 50,000 Ping Xuan troops, and the 80,000 Wei troops under Zhao Hongrun officially withdrew, and the Chu cities such as Zhengyang and Runan were handed over to Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng, and the army recently formed by Xiong Tuo of Xuancheng took over.

During this period, Zhao Hongrun followed his private deal with Xiong Tuo, so that Qu Cheng, Yan Mo and other generals of the Pingxiang Army, when leading the army to withdraw, took off the weapons and equipment of the whole army, and left Xiong Tuo, the king of Xuancheng, who had a source of troops but lacked armaments.

At the same time, Zhao Hongrun also left a lot of military rations for Xiong Tuo in each city.

Of course, the civilians of the Chu State in the city have already been swept away by Zhao Hongrun at this moment, although some of them are unwilling to move to the Wei State, but that proportion is really insignificant.

Regarding his private transaction with Xiong Tuo, Zhao Hongrun did not inform Junshui Ying, after all, from a certain point of view, this can be regarded as a kind of capital enemy.

He only revealed it to Qu Cheng, Yan Mo and other generals, after all, these Chu generals who surrendered to Wei will only have to rely on him as a way out after they arrive in Wei, and there is almost no possibility of betrayal.

As for whether the more than 50,000 Pingxuan soldiers who went to Wei empty-handed would arouse suspicion, Zhao Hongrun didn't care.

After all, in the Yanshui camp near Yanshui, there were not many Wei troops stationed in the empty camp, but there were still tens of thousands of armaments that originally belonged to Xiong Hu's army.

As long as the additional defenses of this camp are removed, it is enough to arm 50,000 Ping Xuan troops. (To be continued.) )