Scattered King's Palace.

Night had fallen, and Sima Zhou Yao of the Scattered Kingdom stepped out of the carriage and said to the coachman: "You go back first, and I will arrange for someone to call you to pick you up when the time comes." ”

"No," replied the coachman, ---.

Seeing the car disappear into the night, Zhou Yao slowly walked into the gate of the palace.

Walking into the side hall, I saw that there were already two desks inside, the monarch's desk was on top, and there was another desk on the lower side of the left hand, needless to say, it was prepared for myself. Kneeling next to the desk was a palace maid who specialized in filling wine for the master.

At this time, Sangong Ji Zhao was already sitting down in front of his case.

"Minister Zhou Yao pays a visit to the king." Zhou Yao bowed.

"Zhou Aiqing, please get up, please sit down ---," Ji Zhao pointed to the case on the left and said to Zhou Yao.

"Your Ministers obey." Then, Zhou Yao sat down in front of the desk on the left.

"Fill the wine ---" Zhou Yao sat down, and Sangongzhao instructed the palace maid. The palace maids beside him filled the wine for the monarch and Zhou Yao.

Ji Zhao picked up the wine bottle and said to Zhou Yao: "Zhou Aiqing, the reason why the widow invited you to come here alone today is that I want to talk to you alone about something, and I hope Aiqing knows everything and says everything." ”

"Weichen understands the hard work of the king, and the minister will definitely know everything."

"Okay, you and I drink this bottle." Ji Zhao said happily.

So the two of them drank it dry.

Putting down the wine bottle, Ji Zhao said to Zhou Yao: "The widow knows that Aiqing's father and son are loyal and good ministers of my scattered country, and your father Zhou Huan sacrificed his life for the country and died by the widow's side. The widow knew that the old Xiangguo was killed by Rong Di in order to save the widow. Saying that, Ji Zhao's eyes moistened.

Seeing this, Zhou Yao also said: "My father is upright by nature and has a lot of resistance to the old monarch, but his feelings of serving the country still move my generation. ”

After listening to Zhou Yao's words, Ji Zhao said: "The old Xiangguo's feelings of serving the country wholeheartedly are worthy of respect, and the widow deeply admires you, and I hope you can be loyal to the country and the widow like your father." ”

"Be loyal to the country, and the ministers should not give up."

"Well---" After listening to Zhou Yao's words, Ji Zhao nodded slightly, and then said to Zhou Yao: "The widow has just succeeded to the throne, and he doesn't know much about domestic affairs, I hope you will help more, there are a few things that the widow needs you to plan for the widow."

"Your Excellency, please speak."

Ji Zhao put down the wine bottle and said to Zhou Yao: "It has been a few months since the widow succeeded to the throne, and although he was under house arrest for a while, he was thinking about national affairs all the time. There are a few things that are very confusing. One is what is the real strength of the current scattered country? What is the status of all the princely states of the royal family? I also asked Aiqing to tell the truth to the widow. ”

It's been so long since he returned to China, and today Ji Zhao actually asked what kind of strength the scattered country is, or what kind of status it has in all the countries of the royal family?

Could it be that Ji Zhao's princes for decades before were all in vain?

Although Zhou Yao was surprised, he didn't feel strange, after all, a monarch can ask about his country's strength and status so sincerely, which can only show that this monarch wants to really understand the real situation of the country.

Zhou Yao listened, thought for a while, and said, "Since the king asked this question, the minister can only tell the truth. Before answering this question, I would like to ask you a question, in your opinion, what do you think of the strength of our country? ”

This one?

Sangong Ji Zhao was a little stunned, hesitated a little and said: "Before becoming the monarch, the widow's understanding of the country is indeed a little different from now. At that time, the widow was young and vigorous, and he always felt that as long as our monarchs and ministers were single-minded, they would definitely be able to defeat Rong Di by their own strength. I also once blamed my father, why didn't he cheer up his spirits and disperse the country to resist foreign insults, why did he invite such a low-status barbarian as the Qin people to help us guard the border? ”

Zhou Yao'an listened to Ji Zhao's words quietly, and then asked, "Then what did you think after you became the king?" ”

After becoming the monarch, the widow's mind changed slightly, especially when the widow was placed under house arrest by Liu and others. It turns out that the current scattered countries are not only not strong, but also have many domestic contradictions. It makes the widow feel that the responsibility on his shoulders is very great! Ji Zhao raised the wine bottle and shook it at Zhou Yao, signaling that he was talking while drinking.

Zhou Yao said while drinking: "From this point of view, the king is indeed a lot more mature. So the minister told you about the situation of our scattered country! Let's start with the internal contradictions of our scattered countries. ”

Ji Zhao put down the wine bottle and listened carefully.

Zhou Yao said: "At present, there are three layers of contradictions in scattered countries, the first layer is the contradiction between countries, including the contradiction between scattered countries and Rongdi in the north, and the contradictions between neighboring countries and neighboring countries; the second layer is the contradiction between the nobles and the nobles of the scattered countries, and between the nobles and the common people; The third layer is the contradiction between the scattered countries and the Qin people. ”

"Ah---, there are so many contradictions in our scattered country?" After hearing this, Sangong Ji Zhao's eyes widened immediately, "With so many contradictions, how will the widow resolve them?" ”

Zhou Yao did not answer, but continued his words, "At present, there are indeed many contradictions at home and abroad, and it is not easy to resolve so many contradictions in a moment, and it requires strong wisdom and ability. ”

"Then you can tell the widow one by one."

"Let's talk about how to resolve the first contradiction, the contradiction between countries." Zhou Yao continued: "The contradiction between the scattered state and Rong Di has been around for a long time, and it can be said that this contradiction has existed since the beginning of the establishment of the scattered country, and the more the current contradiction accumulates, the more difficult it is to resolve. Not to mention anything else, that is, Weichen's father died at the hands of Rong Di, it can be said that Rong Di is the feud of everyone in the scattered country, and it cannot be forgotten one day. ”

"The contradiction between us and Rong Di is indeed a feud, and it is indeed difficult to solve it." Sangong Ji Zhao said.

"Although it is difficult, it cannot be solved. In fact, no matter how ugly the words are, even if we don't want to solve it, Rong Di will chase after us, not to mention anything else, if we don't solve this contradiction this winter, Rong Di in the north will come to the foot of our scattered city, and if it is not solved well, the scattered country will face the danger of life and death. ”

Before his throne as king was secured, Rong Di in the north would soon come to the city with an army and threaten the survival of the country. As soon as Sangong Ji Zhao heard this, he immediately wilted, "This danger has always existed, and the widow actually knows it very well in his heart. Let's talk about the other issues! ”

"Then Weichen will tell the king about the contradictions between our scattered countries and the surrounding countries. Especially the contradiction with the country. Zhou Yao said, "The contradiction between the scattered country and the Yu country can be said in eight words, that is, interdependence and mutual annexation." ”

Interdependence, mutual annexation?

Sangong Ji Zhao was a little puzzled, "How do you say this, you can make it clear." ”

Zhou Yao smiled slightly: "Presumably, the monarch has some understanding of mutual annexation, but he doesn't understand interdependence, right?" ”

"Exactly. The widow only knows that over the years, the Kingdom of Yu has taken advantage of the opportunity of our war with Rong Di to annex a lot of land on the south bank of our Weishui. Have you ever seen us rely on the kingdom of Qiu, we have relied on them? "Regarding the relationship between the scattered country and the Yu country, Ji Zhao still knows.

Zhou Yao smiled slightly and said: "Although the Kingdom of Yu has annexed a lot of our land, but one day Rong Di really wiped out the Kingdom of San, it may not be a good thing for the Kingdom of Qiu!" ”

"Why?" Ji Zhao asked puzzled.

"Because of the demise of the scattered country, the next target that Rong Di wants to annex will be the kingdom of Yu, so for the sake of its own safety, the state of Yu will definitely send troops to help the country at the critical moment of the life and death of the scattered country." Zhou Yao said affirmatively.

"However, after so many years, why have the widows never seen the Kingdom of Yu helping the Scattered Kingdom?"

"That's because we're not at the critical moment of life or death." Zhou Yao replied.

After listening to Zhou Yao's words, Ji Zhao seemed to understand something.

(End of chapter)