In the ten days that the ship came to Jinling from Jiangzhou, Zhou Xuan not only drank and played chess every day, but also learned about the current situation of the Chinese countries from Judge Fan and Lin Heishan, which was confirmed by the historical facts of the five dynasties of the Southern Tang Dynasty that he mastered, and he already had a clear outline in his heart. (Eye to the book)

  Zhou Xuan's first sentence asked: "What does Uncle Chen think Tang Guozuo can rely on to this day?" ”

  Chen was stunned, Zhou Xuan's question was very bold and sharp, but Chen likes such a young man with momentum and sharpness, his character has already been revealed to Zhou Xuan by his nephew Chen Ji, he pondered for a while, and said solemnly: "The continuous extension of the country is the blessing of Haotian!" ”

  With this sentence alone, Zhou Xuan paid tribute to Chen Shis, this is an honest and not exaggerated official, and praised: "Uncle Chen's eyes are really like torches, if it weren't for the cannibalism of the Zhao and Song brothers, with the momentum of the Song State to punish Chu and destroy Shu, they thought that the Tang State was in danger, and Uncle Chen and the Duke of the Kingdom He Jing and Ning ** Jiedu made Lin Renzhao take advantage of the internal turmoil in the Song Dynasty to recover Huainan, reverse the decline in one fell swoop, and no longer pay tribute to the Northern Song Dynasty. But without the foresight of Uncle Chen, it would be in vain if God gave him the opportunity and could not seize it, how could he have kept the peace of the past 20 years! ”

  Chen Yuan's eyes were half-narrowed and silent, but then he opened his eyes in horror and said: "Zhou Gongzi is really extraordinary, and the old man is willing to hear Gongzi's high opinion on the current general trend of the countries." ”

  Zhou Xuan felt that there was no momentum in sitting and said, and stood up. pacing back and forth, he said: "Zhou Shizong Chai Rong used Wang Pu's "Pingbian Policy", first the south and then the north, to dominate the world, but the hard work to lay down half of the country but cheaper Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Kuangyin destroyed Shu and captured the Shu lord Meng Chang's Fei Guifei, that is, Mrs. Hua Rui, is very favored. Unexpectedly, his brother Zhao Guangyi also coveted this talented concubine of the dead country. Kaibao for five years. Zhao Guangyi killed his brother and usurped the throne, Zhao Kuangyin's son Zhao Dezhao united with another uncle Zhao Tingmei to establish a national unity according to Shu and Chu, and contend with Zhao Guangyi. No longer pay huge tributes every year, the land crosses the Yangtze River, and there are heavy benefits of tea, salt, rice, and silk, and the Tang Kingdom is getting richer and richer——"

  Chen leaned forward, listened attentively, and nodded: "Zhou Gongzi has analyzed it very well, please be bold and talk about the current pros and cons." ”

  Zhou Xuan said: "But the monarchs and ministers of the Tang State are partial to peace and do not want to forge ahead. To be content with the land of the thirty-six states. Don't you know that once the Song State is unified, it will wave its army south, and the Song State is the army of tigers and wolves who have been fighting for many years. And the Tang State is lax, I'm afraid it will be difficult to resist, the little nephew heard that Zhao Guangyi's general Hu Yanzan is like a bamboo, and he has captured the twelve cities under Zhao Dezhao's jurisdiction in a row, I don't know what the latest battle situation is? ”

  Chen replied: "The old man got the express report seven days ago, Zhao Tingmei fought a decisive battle with Hu Yanzan in Bazhong, Hu Yanzan was wounded by an arrow, Zhao Tingmei was killed in battle, Dongchuan Dacheng Bazhong was captured by Hu Yanzan, at present, Hu Yanzan is recuperating from injuries and soldiers, and then marching after the spring warm snow melts, Zhao Tingmei is Zhao Dezhao's left and right arm, he is dead, Zhao Dezhao is in danger, and Zhao Guangyi uses Zhao Pu's strategy to surrender Zhao Defang, and allows him the position of the king of Shu, I am afraid that within half a year, the land of Shu Chu will be in the hands of Zhao Guangyi, at that time, the warship will go straight down from Jingmen, and the Yangtze River is no longer in danger! ”

  Zhou Xuan said: "Didn't Uncle Chen make a statement to His Majesty the Emperor on this? When the two Zhao maintained the balance of power, it was good to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, but seeing that one of the tigers was about to bite the other to death, they should immediately send troops to help the weak tiger. (Eyes read the book)"

  Chen said helplessly: "What Zhou Gongzi said is very true, the old man also said to His Majesty to send troops to help Zhao Defang, but Lord Xu does not advocate sending troops, and Lord Zuo Xiangwei advocates sending troops, but he wants to send troops to deal with Zhao Defang and seize the land of Jingchu, so the three parties are unable to fight, and Your Majesty does not make a decision." ”

  Zhou Xuan said: "The little nephew is friendly with His Royal Highness the Prince, or he can help his uncle, uncle, there are no outsiders here, the little nephew wants to ask, does the uncle think the prince and King Jing are virtuous?" ”

  Chen officialdom has been trained for many years, don't you know the meaning of Zhou Xuan, the situation of the prince of the Tang State is very delicate, when Li Jing, the father of Li, ascended the throne, in order to appease the younger brothers, in front of the emperor's coffin set up a brotherly alliance, but this caused cannibalism, Li Kun's father Li Hongji is a ruthless person, poisoned the uncle who was made the younger brother, but then Li Hongji himself died unexplained, after Li ascended the throne, he decided to abolish the brother-to-brother and system, and set up his son Li Jian as the prince, if according to Li Jing's alliance of the country, Li Kun should be set up as the prince, Then Li Kun took the throne and appointed Li Jian as his younger brother, so some old ministers were dissatisfied with the old system of Li Gaixian.

  Chen Dao: "Zhou Xian's nephew, the old man is in charge of the military department, and he only cares about the outside world, and he doesn't ask the old man about the affairs of the government." ”

  Zhou Xuan said: "If you go outside, you must first settle inside, Uncle Chen's important ministers of the country, the hope of the people, how can you not ask about the government!" ”

  Chen smiled and said: "If Zhou Xian's nephew can persuade His Majesty to send troops to rescue Zhao Dezhao, then the old man is willing to take the lead of the virtuous nephew." ”

  Zhou Xuan said: "Uncle has tormented the little nephew, but the little nephew can try his best and ask the uncle to give the little nephew ten days." ”

  Chen Daxi, leaving Zhou Xuan, Judge Fan, and Lin Heishan to have dinner in the mansion, Zhou Xuan said: "It's still early for dinner, and the little nephew heard that his uncle is superb in chess, and he wants to ask his uncle for a game." ”

  Chen learned that Zhou Xuan was actually one of the three chess players selected by the Fenghua Army, and said in surprise: "How dare the old man play against the master who participated in the Lantern Festival chess battlefield, since the virtuous nephew wants to give advice, the old man can only fight hard, I just hope that the virtuous nephew will not kill too hard, the old man can't resist it." ”

  Tattoo game, Zhou Xuan let the first, black after the line, chess to the middle game, Zhou Xuan tested Chen Di's chess strength, it is indeed not weak, equivalent to the amateur strong three sections, decisive killing, very powerful, but the layout is weak, not good at operating the empty mid-belly, although it occupies four big corners, but is surrounded by black chess in the middle of the belly, the territory can be put down a slap.

  There is a huge difference in strength, Zhou Xuan did not use all his strength, and the number of pieces at the end of the game was counted, and black chess won two and a half pieces.

  Zhou Xuan said with a smile: "Uncle, the little nephew dares to say a word, this is the defeat of ignorance of the general trend and partial security." ”

  ……

  After dinner at Chen's mansion, Chen personally sent Zhou Xuan and others to the outside of the mansion. watched them get on their horses and ride away before turning around and going home.

  Judge Fan sighed: "Zhou Gongzi's talent is really as profound as the sea, Chen Shilang has always been arrogant and cold to others, if not."

  Heavy son, how can he send him out in person! ”

  Lin Heishan also looked at his righteous brother with admiration, and said: "Chen Shilang's royal majesty is extremely strict, and many generals are in awe of Lord Chen, how can he say it if he wants to say it like Brother Xuan!" Brother Xuan is also really extraordinary. Fang Cai's words were too incisive! ”

  Zhou Xuan smiled: "I'm relying on Chen Ji's relationship." And when it comes to Lord Chen's worries. Now I only hope that His Majesty the Emperor will summon me as soon as possible, and I will use poetry as a knocking brick again, and I will fill in a wonderful word at night, and let His Royal Highness the Crown Prince forward it to the Emperor. That's what it does. ”

  Judge Fan was impressed.

  The beginning of spring has passed, the cold is still there, the night of Jinling is noisy and prosperous, every household is in charge of sheng pipes, every household is singing, and some people are anxious to hang various color lamps in front of the door.

  Everyone walked out of Qingxifang, went west along Tongji Avenue to return to Mochou Lake's residence, and when they passed in front of Xiangrufang, Zhou Xuan suddenly heard a familiar voice in the carriage-

  "I said second brother. How did you sell that mighty general before the decisive battle? So what are you going to do tomorrow to participate in the Lantern Festival Chicken War? ”

  Another familiar voice said: "This is what the third brother asked me to sell, I listen to the third brother, he is my brainchild." ”

  "Third brother. Why did you say you let your second brother sell chickens? ”

  Another familiar voice said: "I had a dream last night, and I dreamed that the second brother was pecked all over in blood and defeated, so I asked the second brother to sell it." ”

  "Ah, you sold that good chicken because of a dream, the dream is the opposite, and the dream of a big defeat is a big victory!"

  "The eldest brother, the second brother, and the third brother have been different since I was a child, and it can be said that I am talented, and my dreams are not reversed, and they are all positive."

  Zhou Xuan laughed, leaned out of the car window, and shouted, "Three Xu Gongzi, how much silver did the good chicken sell?" "While letting the carriage stop.

  Three fat men came out of the light and shadow, and asked in unison, "Who is it?" ”

  The three fat men were followed by four people, one steward, three family members, and the steward recognized Lin Heishan who was riding on a horse, and said in surprise: "General Lin, you have also entered Beijing!" ”

  Lin Heishan couldn't remember this person, but he felt familiar.

  Zhou Xuan still had to pretend to have a leg injury, and it was inconvenient to get out of the car, so Judge Fan came down and said: "Steward Liu, hehe, three Xu Gongzi, why don't you go back to Jiangzhou for the New Year!" ”

  These three fat men are the three sons of Xu Qing, Xu Duan, Xu Yong, and Xu Shu, who got Zhou Xuan's prescription in early August last year, and began to travel to Zhou County, fighting cocks everywhere, and the three idiots left, Xu Mansion was a clean place, and Xu Tingshi was very grateful to Zhou Xuan.

  Steward Liu said happily: "It turned out to be Lord Fan, Lord Fan—"

  Steward Liu began to pour bitter water: "In August last year, I accompanied the three young masters to leave Jiangzhou, traveled all the way west, walked through more than 50 counties, arrived in Jinling at the beginning of November, and originally planned to play in Jinling for ten days and a half before leaving for Jiangzhou, the New Year, I always have to go home, but the three young masters heard that there was a grand Lantern Festival chicken party after the year, so they refused to go back, saying that it would be difficult to go back and then want to come to participate in the chicken meeting, alas! It's all to blame on that Zhou Gongzi, what kind of strange recipe is this, the three young masters are all wild. ”

  The three Xu Gongzi don't like to hear this, Zhou Xuan is their benefactor, without Zhou Xuan, how can the three brothers be so happy now, the boss Ah Duan retorted: "Zhou Gongzi's prescription is very good, and the experience is incomparable, the three of us brothers feel that our minds are open, and they are thousands of times smarter than in the past, right, second brother, third brother?" ”

  "Yes!" Ayong and Ashu said in unison.

  Judge Fan knew the infatuation of Xu Tingshi's three sons, and it was really difficult for this Liu to do things, and said: "Judge Liu has worked hard, and Zhou Gongzi was in the carriage." ”

  Only then did Steward Liu recognize that the person in the car window was Zhou Xuan, and his face couldn't help but stiffen, so embarrassed.

  Zhou Xuan patted the car window and said with a smile: "Steward Liu, don't complain, let the three Xu Gongzi share half of the money you sold for good chickens." ”

  When the three Xu Gongzi saw Zhou Xuan, they were extremely affectionate, and they gathered outside the car window.

  Because Xu Danyuan is the wife of Lin Jizi's unfinished wife, Judge Fan can't be lazy and asks Steward Liu where they live now? Knowing that it was in the inn, he immediately sent a few government officials to follow Steward Liu and three Xu family members to the inn to move all the luggage to the shore of Mochou Lake.

  On the way, Zhou Xuan asked the three Xu Gongzi what would the Lantern Festival chicken mean?

  Xu Duan said: "It's that the famous chickens from the 36 states of the Tang Kingdom come to Jinling to fight, wow, it's so fun to fight for a month." ”

  Judge Fan said with a smile: "Jinling holds the Lantern Festival Chess Battle, the Lantern Festival Chicken Meeting, the Qingming Circle Society Championship Battle, and the Chongyang Insect Battle every year, which is very lively, and there is no restriction on this Lantern Festival Chicken Meeting, anyone can bring a chicken to fight, so although it is not as orthodox and solemn as the chess battle held by the Hanlin Academy, the scale is much larger than the Lantern Festival Chess Battle." ”

  Zhou Xuan laughed, it was so interesting to hold the Lantern Festival Chess Meeting and the Lantern Festival Chicken Club at the same time! The people of Tang are living happily!

  Zhou Xuan was in a good mood when he saw these games and had fun, and it was actually boring to fight for power and profit, although his generous statement just now impressed Chen Shilang, but it was hard, Go, Keju, and Fighting Insects were Zhou Xuandi's favorites, but Tang Guo was in such a stormy ^H moment, and there was a deep crisis under the prosperous surface, and the country would be ruined if he was not careful, which Zhou Xuan was never willing to face, so he had to help Li Jian stabilize the position of the prince, and first of all, he had to persuade Li to send troops to rescue Zhao Dezhao, so that Song Guo could continue to confront his uncle and nephew, and had no time to go south.

  Zhou Xuan thought to himself: "After Li Jian ascends the throne, will I be the prime minister, haha, the cricket prime minister Jia seems to be the prime minister of the dead country, buddy won't be so unproductive!" ”

  (Eye to the book)