When it was dark, Fan Zeng came to the door of Xiang's mansion and asked to see Xiang Yan.

But Xiang Yan was busy gathering troops and horses from all over the city, and Fan Zeng waited in Xiang's mansion for an hour before Xiang Yan returned from outside the city.

"Mr. Fan, I've kept you waiting!"

Xiang Yan had just crossed the threshold, and he didn't care about washing the dust off his face, so he first came to apologize to Fan Zeng, "The scale of the soldiers and horses dispatched this time is too large, and we have to transfer troops from Changsha, Wuling and other places, and only after the 20,000 soldiers and horses from Lujiang and Chaisang arrive can the number reach 100,000." ”

Fan Zeng said with emotion: "The battle of Yique buried the lives of 100,000 soldiers of Dachu at once, which is a full 100,000 strong, which is a huge loss for any country. ”

Xiang Yan also looked up to the sky and sighed: "One hundred thousand strong, almost every family in Yingdu has a funeral, every household is crying and mourning, the battle of Yique is a shame that my Great Chu will never erase!" ”

Waiting for Xiang Yan to wash off the dust, after changing his clothes, he returned and sat down with Fan Zeng, and ordered the servant to serve tea.

"I wonder what advice Mr. Fan has when he comes to Yan?" Xiang Yan took a sip of tea and asked.

Fan Zeng arched his hand and said: "General Xiang is serious, and he doesn't dare to take the word advice, but now there is a great opportunity to make the Chu State strong in front of him, I don't know if the monarchs and ministers of the Chu State can seize it?" ”

"Please make it clear to Mr. Fan?" Xiang Yan listened attentively.

"Tang Gongfang has already passed Xiangyang, and he will arrive in Yingdu in three or four days." Fan Zeng picked up the tea bowl, blew the tea leaves floating on the water, and said.

Xiang Yan nodded: "Duke Tang has come thousands of miles to form an alliance with the Chu Guild, which shows his sincerity, in the future, Chu and Tang will be of the same heart, why worry that the Qin army will not be broken!" ”

Fan Zeng poured a sip of hot tea violently, raised his voice and said: "The good opportunity that Zeng said is in this Tang State and Fang Li, the 250,000 troops of Chu State have entered the territory of Tang State, if Chu Gong is interested, he can first put Fang Li under house arrest in Yingdu, and then take Wancheng, Xingyang, Hanoi and other places in one fell swoop while Tang State is unprepared, then Chu State will be greatly strengthened, like a tiger with wings." ”

Xiang Yan's heart was shocked when she heard this, and she was speechless for a long time holding the tea bowl.

After a long time, Fang said slowly; "This matter is very important, and if you are not careful, you will lose everything, but I am afraid that the lord will not agree!"

Fan Zeng arched his hand and said: "Please General Xiang take me into the palace to meet the Duke of Chu, and I am willing to persuade the Duke of Chu to leave the Tang State with his incorruptible tongue." ”

Fan Zeng's words made Xiang Yan's heartbeat speed up a lot, if Fan Zeng's plan could be realized, the strength of the Chu State would undoubtedly be greatly enhanced, and the territory would extend to the north of the Yellow River, and even form a situation of entrapment for the Qin State.

But if it fails, how much loss it will bring to the Chu State, Xiang Yan doesn't dare to imagine......

Fan Zeng's eyes radiated a blazing light, and he pleaded: "General Xiang Yan, Zeng knows that this matter is very important, and it is not up to you to decide. Please take me into the palace to meet the Duke of Chu, analyze the pros and cons, and persuade him to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ”

"Good...... I'll take you into the palace! ”

The two carriages left the Xiang Mansion and went straight to the Chu Palace, surrounded by twenty guards.

With Xiang Yan's recommendation, Fan Zeng successfully met Xiong Lu, the monarch of Great Chu.

After listening to Fan Zeng's intention, the bear couple was shocked and stroked his beard; "You said that let the widow put Fang Li under house arrest first, and then let the army raid Wancheng, Xingyang and other places in the Tang Kingdom?"

"Exactly!"

Fan Zeng nodded, his gaze was extremely firm, "If Duke Chu can do this, why worry that Da Chu can't dominate the world?" ”

Xiong Lu's face was unreasonable: "The current enemy of Great Chu is the Qin State, if you make a black hand on the allies, wouldn't it make the relatives and enemies happy?" ”

"If Great Chu can successfully destroy the Tang State, it will gain a population of more than two million, as well as a territory across both sides of the Yellow River, forming a north-south attack on the Qin State, and it will be more certain to defeat the powerful Qin State!" Fan Zeng made an impassioned speech.

Xiong Lu's face was grim: "Tang State is our ally of Great Chu, and will provide enough assistance to Great Chu, can my Great Chu use troops against the allies?" ”

Fan Zeng said: "All countries in the world are for the sake of benefit, all because of the disadvantages, the Tang State may join forces with Chu to fight against Qin today, and it may also join forces with Qin to fight against Chu tomorrow." Only by turning all the territory and people of the Tang Kingdom into the people and territory of Great Chu can they be used by the Duke of Chu forever! ”

"If you do this, the princes of the world will laugh at the treachery of the widow and be despised by the world!"

Fan Zeng said in a loud voice: "If the king is defeated and defeated, if the Great Chu can successfully annex the Tang State and defeat the Qin State, who in this world dares to say no word to the Duke of Chu?" At that time, it will dominate the world, and the four seas will surrender, just around the corner! ”

Xiong Liang thought for a moment, and shook his head like a rattle: "No, your plan is too risky, and the slightest carelessness will make Da Chu fall into the abyss." The widow will never take this risk, so you quickly retreat, and do not mention the matter again. If the news leaks, Hugh will blame the widow for taking you to make amends to Tang Gong! ”

Fan Zeng was disappointed, sighed slightly, and arched his hand; "In that case, the people will retire!"

Xiang Yan hurriedly took Fan Zeng to say goodbye, went out of the Chu Palace and returned to Xiang's mansion together, and repeatedly told Fan Zeng in the living room to mention this matter to others in the future, so as not to leak the news and cause trouble.

Fan Zeng sighed and said abruptly: "Duke Chu is more than loyal, but his courage is insufficient, and the State of Chu can only dominate one side at most, I'm afraid it will be difficult to win the world!" ”

Xiang Yan stroked his beard and said: "The land owned by Chu is only one-tenth of the world, with Qin in the west, Qi in the east, and Jin and Zhao in the north. As a courtier, Yan can only do his best to obey the destiny of heaven! ”

The night is dark, and the hustle and bustle has dissipated.

On the long street of Yingdu, only Fan Zeng walked alone, regretting that he could not find a monarch who could make him serve.

When the Tang army led by Fang Li walked to Banpo, the magistrate of Dangyang County, they met Qu Yuan and Jian Yong, the doctors of Chu State, who came to greet them.

Fang Li looked at the Changban Slope of the Pingchuan River on the horse, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "This is the place where Zhao Zilong became famous and powerful in history, I don't know if there is a chance to shine here in this life?" ”

Qu Yuan took the reins of the horse and came to Fang Li to give a salute; "Qu Yuan, the doctor of the State of Chu, came to greet the Duke of Tang on the order of the lord."

For this well-known patriotic poet before the crossing, Fang Li respected him from the bottom of his heart, and hurriedly turned over and dismounted to return the salute: "I am tired of Qu Zi to greet him, and the widow is so polite!" ”

After looking at Fang Li's appearance, Qu Yuan was full of praise: "Tang Gongsheng's appearance is dignified, mighty and extraordinary, and he has a domineering demeanor, and Duke Chu married Princess Yue to Tang Gong, which can be regarded as finding the right person!" ”

Fang Li smiled: "Haha...... Qu Zi has won the award, but I heard that Princess Miyue's elves are weirdly tight! ”

Qu Yuan laughed: "Haha...... That is the princess of the moon did not meet the true husband, I believe that with the spirit of the prince of Tang, the princess will definitely be able to obey the princess and be a good wife and mother of husband and children. ”

Accompanied by Qu Yuan, Fang Li led 10,000 Tang troops through Changban Slope and continued southward, arriving fifteen miles north of Yingdu City three days later.