At this moment, Xiao Zhi entered the General's Mansion, and his interest was very good, he was wearing a long leather robe with a blue satin surface, covered with a large coat of Shi Qingjiang silk, and a bright yellow dragon buckle, looking energetic and high-spirited. A cadre of people walked and stopped in the garden, Xiao Zhi couldn't stop pointing his fingers, saying that the rockery here was well built, and the pavilion over there was not built in order, and he said that he was very happy. Xie Lan and the others were sweating in their hearts.

Came to the water pavilion opposite the Heshou Hall, the play on the stage was lively, and when I looked up at the other side, several waiting maids stood far away under the east corridor outside the hall. Cao Ze was alone, wearing a camel-colored cotton robe, a blue satin horse coat, soap boots, and Erlang's legs were half leaning on the bamboo chair, and he didn't seem to see Xiao Zhi and his party. When Xie Lan wanted to say hello, Xiao Zhi shook his head, pulled his sleeves to stop him, and walked towards Cao Ze around the pool.

"The general is well!" Xiao Zhi suddenly said behind his back.

Cao Ze was startled, and when he turned around, he turned over and got up, kowtowed to the ground and said: "The old minister didn't know that the king was coming, and he didn't have time to greet him, so he begged for forgiveness!" ”

"You're still sick, what's the crime!" Xiao Zhi smiled and helped him up: "How is your body?" ”

Cao Ze waved his hand to stop the drama on the stage, and replied with a smile: "I used the medicine given by the king, and it has already been effective. While stretching out his hand to let Xiao Zhi into the Crane Shoutang.

Xie Lan took a few steps to enter the hall first, and carefully looked at the furnishings inside. The furnishings in the hall are not very luxurious, there are nanmu bookshelves against the wall, there is only a sandalwood long table in the hall, there are a few chairs scattered around, and only the inconspicuous place behind the door is placed with a high gilded self-striking clock, which is the most magnificent luxury in the room. There is a large wooden couch at the door, covered with red gorilla felt, and two mud gold and red embroidered felt pillows are pressed at both ends, which can be reliable, can sit and lie down, no matter what posture, you can see the panoramic view of the water pavilion opposite. Xie Lan said secretly, "This old man will really be blessed!" "The wind swept the place, but saw something strange under the pillow on the west side, quickly stepped forward and touched it with his hand, and felt that there was a hard object, and when he pulled it out, it was a cold, shiny, and cold wind throwing knife!"

It happened that Xiao Zhi and Cao Ze entered together, and they couldn't help but be stunned when they saw Xie Lan standing in front of the couch with a long knife in his hand. Rong Xuan and Fang Fei on the side gasped, and stretched out their hands to their sidearms together, looking at Cao Ze!

Xie Lan took out this long knife, looked at the terrifying edge and asked, "General! This...... What does this mean? ”

Cao Ze was not panicked, he raised his head and said with a wry smile: "If the king informs him in advance and wants to control the slave mansion, just like this, it will be enough to cure me for the crime of destroying the door." ”

Xiao Zhi was stunned for a moment, and then laughed: "Eh, the general has been on the battlefield for a long time, and there are excellent Dao attainers, so naturally the knife does not leave the body, and the body does not leave the knife." - I understand this - don't put it away yet! ”

Xie Lan was suspicious, took out the scabbard and closed it, and hung it on the bookshelf close to him, only then was he shocked and said with a smile: "I thought the general didn't want to ask the king and a few of us to go back!" ”

"With you, Zhao Zilong, still afraid of my Yellow Crane Tower? I was a soldier in my early years, and I dare not say that I have experienced a hundred battles, but I am also like a murderer. In the past six months, my body has not been very good, I am sick in bed, and I often feel that I am disturbed by ghosts and gods. Someone taught me such a way to suppress demons, putting a knife under the pillow to suppress evil. It's strange to say, but it's quite effective. I don't want to be shocked today. Cao Ze arched his hand and explained.

This is also a half-truth, and the battle with Xiao Zhi has become more and more fierce in the past half a year, which often makes him uneasy.

Xiao Zhi waved his hand, didn't let him say any more, and sat on the west side of the couch. Depending on how unruly Cao Ze is, he must also pretend to be polite at this time.

The waiting maid came in and said ten thousand blessings to Cao Ze, looked up at Xiao Zhi who was sitting above with some curiosity, and also squatted down to give a salute, and stood by with his hands down, Cao Ze ordered: "Look at the tea!" The maid hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes!" "Lift your feet and go.

"No need!" Xiao Zhen, who was sitting on the first couch, opened his mouth: "I'll discuss one thing with your master and go." Besides, he is sick, and I am also taking medicine, so it is not appropriate to eat tea. ”

The maid only looked at Cao Ze, Jing had no intention of retracting her fate, squatted down with a smile and said a blessing, and still went. Xiao Zhi looked at her back and smiled: "Don't even listen to me, it's amazing!" ”

Cao Ze was quite proud, and said with a smile: "The minister is a military rule of law, how dare she disobey the order?" Besides, she didn't know that you were the king of the day! ”

"It is also a skill to be able to transfer subordinates well." Xiao Zhi conspired for a while and said: "I came to your mansion to see Gui Hao; Second, I am discussing with you, this is an excerpt from the south, and the yellow box was handed over yesterday. Seeing that you have no criticism, I want to talk to you, and there must be a purpose for handling. ”

Cao Ze's heart couldn't help but feel relieved, it turned out that because of this, the restrained and vigilant expression was eliminated. This excerpt is about the events of several well-known enlightened people who were engaged in a celebrity conference in Hangzhou, dancing and writing with great momentum, and appending the poems they wrote to the fold. It's not like the wind and the snow, but the metaphors are quite inconsistent. Even if they don't, it's quite worrying that these people are often in one place. Cao Ze didn't comment, not because he didn't think it was important, but because he was afraid that Xiao Zhi would be suspicious of himself and difficult to phrase, and he was embarrassed to consult Xiao Yan for this matter.

Now that the king has inquired, he thinks it would be better for the king to do it himself. Thinking of this, Cao Ze coughed dryly and said: "These people are the most difficult, they say that they want to save face, but in fact, they are looking at the style, and their subordinates have no good strategies." ”

"I don't have a good idea, so I thought of asking you!" Xiao Zhi smiled, "It's just small talk, you can say whatever you have." ”

Cao Ze thought for a while before replying: "These people were originally famous Dao attainees, the king didn't know, in the past hundred years of disputes, all countries in order to win over the Dao can be said to be unscrupulous, my Daqi even has a clear rule that all those who have attained the Tao within the country, if they do not fight for the country, will be executed on the spot." ”

"And such things, it's really cruel." Xiao Zhi was also very surprised.

"There's no way, the war is cruel, and they can't be used by other countries." Cao Ze paused, "Because of this, many people who have attained the Tao also have deep complaints. If it is decided today, this rule will be invalidated. It's just that they want to be obedient in plain form, and they really can't get down in face. For example, when two people fight, the winner must reconcile, invite the loser to eat and drink, and the loser will always take a shelf. According to the old minister's view, it would be good to pull him to sit down on the table and treat him politely. ””

"What's the law?" Xiao Zhi pondered, but listened to Cao Ze continue: "If you stay in the mountains and fields to accompany the wind and the moon, it is inevitable that you will ridicule the government. It is better to imitate the martial arts of the Tang Dynasty, and also select the Daoists according to what method, and use the best ones, which is also a double win. ”

When Xiao Zhi heard this, he leaned forward and said: "I also have such thoughts, but I also have some concerns - those who come are spineless and worthless, and those who have backbone and weight refuse to come, what should I do?" ”

"Then we won't give them a treat! Katenko took these eminent enlightened people and welcomed them into the capital, where the king himself tested them and gave them a great face. ”

When Xiao Zhi heard this, he completely forgot that it was his old enemy sitting opposite, stared at the Yongdao in the north of the Qianqing Gate, and pondered: "I'm afraid that it will be difficult to recruit." ”

"The power is in my hands today, and if you come, you will come, and if you don't come, you will come!" Cao Ze said angrily, "If you win high school, you will be the pillar of the country; If you fail, then you will be swept out of Beijing, and the qualification to scold behind your back will be canceled by yourself! ”

"Good!" Xiao Zhi was so excited that he slammed the book case, and suddenly lost the brilliance on his face - "Alas, the method you said is good, but it can't be done yet." Now that the situation is in turmoil, I don't have the energy to do this. ”

From the ideal to the reality, both of them were silent. Half-loud, Xiao Zhi said slowly: "Speaking of which, the fire in Jiyi Building a few days ago is related to your younger brother Cao Shuang." ”

"Your Majesty, he just heard that Jiyilou was hiding spies from other countries, so he went to search for them." Cao Ze avoided the important and trivialized, "I didn't expect to cause a big disaster, this is his mistake, and the king forgives the sin." ”

"So I arrested Guo Zhang, and I often see him when I visit Weifu." Xiao Zhi smiled, "My common person is a spy, so what am I?" ”

"Let's open the skylight and say something, Gong Cao, you and your subordinates are dissatisfied with me, so you want to force me to abdicate." Xiao Zhi said nonchalantly, "Actually, I'm also very jealous of you, after all, you are so capable and qualified, I can't control you." ”

Cao Ze was taken aback, he didn't expect Xiao Zhi to say so directly at once, and he didn't know how to parry.

What exactly does Xiao Zhi mean? He was silent and did not reply, and the atmosphere suddenly became solemn.

Seeing the maids bring tea from afar, Xiao Zhi didn't wait for Fang Fei on the side to test the poison, directly took the tea tray, made tea for Cao Ze with his own hands, and said with a smile, "My craftsmanship is average, you will drink it." ”

Xiao Zhi never made tea at all, only took the tea leaves and put them in the boiling water, and even Cao Ze couldn't help but laugh in a clumsy way, and couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, this tea is picked from Junshan Mountain in Hangzhou." When the spring tea spits out the tip, the unhired daughter of the boudoir will dew and step on the frost in the early morning, select a few pieces of high-quality pointed flags, and puff them in the mouth after picking. Only the best son-in-law can taste it when he first enters the door of Yue's house. It's rare for the rest to even see each other. The minister supervised Jiangnan first, and paid thousands of taels of money, only more than two catties, you are a waste of making tea like this! ”

"Yes." Seeing Cao Ze speak, Xiao Zhen's purpose had already replied, "Let's ask someone to make tea." ”

The maid stepped forward, Qianqianyu's hand slowly scalded the pot, placed the tea, and warmed the cup, which was pleasing to the eye, and the tea was brewed down again, and the tea soup was clear and clean, sweet and delicious.

"Sure enough, it's good tea." Xiao Zhi took a drink and sighed, "It seems that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and I don't know if I am really suitable to be the king." ”

"In fact, as long as I can make the people happy, the fortune of the country will be long, and I can overlook the world like the Qin State back then. Whoever is king can be the king, that's what I think. Xiao Zhi looked at Cao Ze and said, "It's just that now that you and I coexist, the people below will inevitably have their own thoughts, and this unstable situation is not what we want to see." ”

"The king's words are good, one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers." Xiao Zhi can say this to himself, and this question cannot be avoided. Cao Ze asked without moving, "What does the king want?" ”

The second time the tea, the tea fragrance is strong, fragrant and rich.

"Since it can't be avoided, then it will be solved openly and honestly, but between you and me, there will be a fair contest, and you will win and lose." Xiao Zhi only felt that his throat was dry, drank the tea soup in one gulp, and said with a smile, "Natural selection, survival of the fittest." Moreover, Cao Gong, you started at the end of the micro-end, and in your early years, you were famous for fighting on the battlefield and famous in other countries, and you were also quite skilled in court politics. If you take my place, you will be a good king. ”

"Natural selection, survival of the fittest, that's a good saying." Cao Ze muttered and repeated, feeling that the person in front of him was crazy, knowing that he was anti-volatile, the first thing he planned was actually after he was codified. "This kind of thing, the king must not talk nonsense."

Throughout the ages, I am afraid that there has not been such a king, what kind of ploy is this?

Looking at the young man in front of him who still had his face unchanged, Cao Ze felt more and more that he couldn't see through him.

"I'm not talking gibberish, I'm serious." Xiao Zhi finally became serious, "I really appreciate you and believe in you, so I told you this." Because I think that with your ability, you can also be a good king. So let's have a real competition, and if you win in the end, I'm going to take your chances. If it's me who wins in the end, you'll have to be caught. That's the best! ”

Cao Ze calmed down and finally began to think carefully about what he said. In all fairness, he has no objections, he is already old, and he has been crowned a prince, and he is already extremely rich. It's just that he was unconsciously forced to this road by Xiao Yan, thinking of Xiao Yan's meticulous arrangements for rebellion, and looking at Cao Shuang, Luo Shi, Sun Fei, Tai Hengyu and others eager to try to plot rebellion, he knew that even he couldn't control them.

Man's thirst for power is something that no one can stop.

This battle is inevitable, and the agreement made by Xiao Zhi can be said to minimize the damage to the Qi country.

Whether Xiao Zhi is in the Zen position or he is in the Fa, in the end, he will settle this dispute smoothly and ensure the stability of the Qi country.

This is planning for the Qi country, not just for his own throne.

Cao Ze suddenly felt that such a young man would be the king, and the Qi Kingdom would become the overlord of the world!

It's too late.

"Okay." Cao Ze replied as if he had made up his mind, "Then the winner is only between you and me, don't let others get involved, I will let Guo Zhang go." ”

"Then it's a deal! Cao Gong! ”

The third time tea, the flag opens the leaf exhibition, and the red cloud fills the cup. The two looked at each other and smiled, raising their glasses and drinking together.

On the second day after Xiao Zhi returned to the palace, he said that he was sick and quit the court, and the people in the court were panicked, and everyone had different opinions.

The prelude to the war has officially begun.