Most of the half year has passed in a flash, and soon the years have passed.

In the early morning of this day, the sky in the city of Gusu was gloomy, the snowflakes were flying wantonly, the dry trees were shivering in the cold wind, and the rivers and lakes were covered with a thin layer of snow, and the whole city seemed to be covered with a silver veil.

Ji Zheng was teaching and practicing swords in the courtyard, and the two practiced very seriously. Zhang Xun had just gotten up and walked out of the room wrapped in thick cotton clothes, he was shivering with cold, shivering and saying, "You two are too hard, aren't you?" It's only been a while, and I've already practiced it. ”

He Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead, and responded while swinging his sword: "Brother Ji Zheng said, I have to practice harder." Although I studied with Brother Ji Zheng for half a year and understood some techniques, my skills were still not enough. ”

Ji Zhengdao: "Heyu is very talented, and his skills are growing very fast, but his skills are still insufficient, in the final analysis, the basic skills are not solid enough, and the only way to improve the basic skills is to practice a lot." ”

"Well, I see, I'll try harder."

"Go on, I'm freezing to death......" Zhang Xun shivered again, and when he saw the stove burning in Gong Wanran's room, he hurriedly walked through the snow and got into Gong Huiran's room.

Gong Wanran was reading by the fire, and when he saw Zhang Xun coming in, he beckoned him to sit down around the fire.

Zhang Xun leaned his hands in front of the shaking fire and said: "It's really cold today, it is said that this is almost the first month, why is it still so cold, woo woo, freeze me, freeze me to death." ”

"Take a sip of rice bar." Gong Wanran scooped out a spoonful of rice wine from the bronze tripod on the stove, poured it into a bowl, and handed it to Zhang Xun.

Zhang Xun took the bowl, took a sip, felt a warm current flowing in his body, and suddenly felt a lot more comfortable, Zhang Xun took a breath of mist, and then drank all the rice wine in the bowl, and sighed: "Ah, it's so comfortable, this rice wine is really delicious!" ”

Gong Wanran gave Zhang Xun another spoonful and said, "You can't always be so lazy, although you are talented and smart, you have to practice hard." ”

"I know! Besides, I didn't work hard, I usually run and jump, read books or something, hehe. ”

Gong Wanran smiled slightly and shook his head helplessly.

After a while, the door opened, and Ji Zheng strode in, bringing in a snowstorm. Ji Zheng sat down by the fire, steaming hot from his body.

Gong Wanran looked out the door, and when he saw that there was no one, he asked, "What about Heyu?" Why didn't you come in and sit down? ”

"Oh, there's something going on in the county governor's mansion, so he'll go back first."

"Hurry up and close the door, it's freezing to death." Zhang Xun pointed to the door and shouted.

Ji Zheng stirred the fire with a burning stick, and reproached: "It's because you wear thick clothes, and it's called cold, and it's also the Sima of the Left Army, why are you so unproductive." ”

"It's cold anyway!" Zhang Xun drank the rice wine in the bowl again, and then stretched out his hand to ask Gong Hui Ran for another bowl, "Brother Gong Hui is still good to me, Xiao Ji, you will talk about me." ”

Ji Zheng straightened his waist and said: "Brother Xun, I didn't say you, you should be a little more mature, you must always be a little majestic in front of your subordinates, I heard that the brothers in the camp call you a little child, and they don't obey you at all, you have to be more strict with them!" ”

Gong Huiran handed Ji Zheng a bowl of wine and said, "You can drink a little too." ”

"Oh, thank you, Brother Gonghui." Ji Zheng took the bowl and took a big sip, and suddenly felt warm and comfortable.

Zhang Xun defended: "If you want to convince others, you don't just rely on being harsh, you can also establish prestige by being kind to them." ”

Ji Zheng immediately retorted, "It's not!" You have to be tougher, you have to train harder, if you don't train hard now, the battlefield will be dead! This year is over, and they have to be trained! ”

"Okay, okay, I got it, I'll tell them to start training tomorrow."

"Where's tomorrow? Have you forgotten that you are going to the county governor's mansion tomorrow to meet the county captain? ”

"Oh, yes, I forgot."

"You, if you leave me as a strategist, you will have nothing to do as a Sima of the Left Army."

"Hehe, I can't live without Xiao Ji." Zhang Xun scratched his head and smiled.

Gong Hui Ran scooped a bowl of wine for himself, took a sip and said, "Since we moved out until now, the county lieutenant has not taken the initiative to summon us, this time he said that there is something important to discuss, and I don't know what it is. ”

Zhang Xun said suspiciously: "Yes, it's been half a year, and the county lieutenant hasn't discussed things with us again, is it to avoid suspicion?" ”

Gong Hui said suddenly: "There is this possibility, after all, we are all recommended by the county captain, if we move too closely, it may not be good for us." ”

"Yes, I heard that the king is very taboo about forming a party, but we actually don't plan to form a party with the county captain, we can just do our own thing, there is no need to form a party with anyone."

"It's not that simple, although the king taboos the formation of factions, but also connives, factional strife in the court, he wants to maintain the balance between the factions, so that different factions can contain each other, restrain each other, and then enhance the control of the royal power."

"Oh, I see, what are the factions in the court?"

"According to my observations these days, there are at least two significant factions in the imperial court, one faction is headed by Wu Zixu Xiangguo and General Sun Wu, and most of the people in the faction are not from Wu, but wise men who came to serve in Wu from other countries during the reign of the first king, such as Lord County Lieutenant and Ji Wu, all belong to this faction. It can be understood as a new faction of scholars, which has been strong since the time of the first king and continues to this day. ”

Ji Zheng interjected: "I have read Mr. Sun Wu's "The Art of War" countless times, this military book can be called the first strange book in the world, follow the brother, you must also read it." ”

Zhang Xun nodded again and again: "I have read it, I have read it many times." Hey, Brother Gonghui, go on to say, what about the other faction? ”

"The other faction is headed by Dazai Bo Ya, although Bo Yao was originally from Chu, but in order to be able to compete with Wu Xiangguo, he united the vast majority of Wu nobles and imperial relatives in the court, like Lang Zhong Ling Huang, who was sent to check the gold mine before, is this faction, which can be understood as the inherent old aristocratic faction, but this faction is also very strong, but it is slightly weaker than the Shiren faction. The king wants to strengthen this faction to balance the power of the court, so this is probably the reason why the county captain shy away from it. ”

Zhang Xun exclaimed: "Brother Xiao Ran is really powerful, he knows things in the court so clearly, I still have no clue here, except for the Zuo military camp, I don't know a few officials in the court." ”

Ji Zheng also praised: "Brother Gonghui is really a master, admire, admire." ”

"You two need to know these things too, and we may have to choose between these two factions in the future. ”

Zhang Xun didn't think about it, and opened his mouth to say: "Then choose the county captain's side, anyway, we are all foreigners." ”

Gong Wanran didn't answer, just silently took a sip of wine.

The next day, the weather cleared, and the whole world shone brightly on the snow-white earth.

The three of them came to the main hall of the county governor's mansion early in the morning, and before Su Ming arrived, Zhang Xun was just about to sit down in the second guest seat on the west side of the main hall, Ji Zheng stopped him and said, "You can't sit here now." ”

"What's wrong?" Zhang Xun was puzzled.

Ji Zheng pointed to the first guest seat on the east side and said: "You are now in Sima, and I am now white, you still need to pay attention to the seating on this occasion, so you should sit in a more advanced position." ”

"But you're my brother."

Ji Zheng ignored Zhang Xun and sat down in the second seat by himself. Zhang Xun had no choice but to sit down in the seat before Ji Zheng.

After a while, Juan Suming entered the main hall, and the three of them got up and saluted Juan Suming, and Juan Suming returned the salute after sitting on the main seat.

After some greetings, Yu Suming asked, "How do the three of you understand the king's northward strategy of dominating the Central Plains?" ”

Gong Wanran replied: "Lord County Captain, if the king wants to dominate the Central Plains and become the new overlord, he must defeat the current overlord, the Qi State. ”

"That's right. As far as I know, Lord Gonghui was originally from Qi State, right? ”

Gong Wanran did not shy away from it, "Yes, when I was eight or nine years old, I left the Qi State, although the hometown has not changed, but now my subordinates are loyal to the Wu State, so naturally there is no second heart." In the next state of mind, I hope that Lord County Lieutenant can understand. ”

Juan Suming nodded, and then asked, "How does Lord Gonghui think we can defeat the Qi Kingdom?" ”

"Economically strengthen the country, and remove obstacles militarily."

"How?"

"Economically, in addition to encouraging farming, it is also necessary to strengthen commerce and increase trade with neighboring countries, which can increase tax revenues, enrich the national treasury, and thus increase the overall national strength. Militarily, it is necessary to subdue the Chen State in the west first to relieve the flank worries, and then attack the Lu State and knock on the gate of the Qi State. ”

After hearing this, Yu Suming clapped his hands and exclaimed: "Okay! Very well said! ”

At this time, Zhang Xun on the side frowned and said: "Although the strategic plan mentioned by Brother Gonghui is very reasonable, I still think that it is inappropriate to go north. ”

"Oh? What's wrong? ”

"The country of Qi is thousands of miles away, even if it is conquered, its land cannot be defended, and its people cannot be moved. It is not good for the Wu Kingdom, and the Yue Kingdom is under our womb, I don't know how the king can sleep peacefully on a sharp sword. ”

Yu Suming nodded again and again, and asked the other two, "Zuo Sima thinks it's inappropriate to go north, what do you two think?" ”

"It's not right." Gong Huiran and Ji Zheng replied in unison.

Yu Suming laughed at the desk: "Hahaha, you three are so bold!" ”

The three of you, you look at me, I look at you, and I can't help but feel anxious.

Juan Suming waved his hand and signaled the three of them to relax, "Although I was originally a Yue person, I am a Wu minister, for the country and the people, and I have never had two hearts. Now the king listens to Bo Yao's slander, and does not get rid of the great trouble in the belly of the Yue country, but he wants to go north for a long distance and compete for hegemony with the Qi country, confused, really confused! ”

Hearing what Yan Suming said, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Xun arched his hand and said: "What the county lieutenant said is exactly what the three of us think, although it is indeed not easy to conquer the Yue country, but compared to the north to fight for hegemony, it is more strategic. If we blindly go north, it may cause the country to develop into the greatest disaster. ”

Juan Suming sighed, "Hey, you're right, but the king has made up his mind, even if Wu Xiangguo and General Sun Wu have advised the king many times, they can't change the king's determination to go north to fight for hegemony." ”

"If you can't change the king's mind, then you can only go all out and try to defeat the Qi country before the Yue country develops into a disaster."

Juan Suming's eyes were horizontal, he looked at Zhang Xun and said, "The king ordered to raise troops in the spring and crusade against Chen Guo." ”

"Is there really going to war?!" Zhang Xun was very surprised.

"Yes, may God bless the kingdom of Wu."

The three of them were silent for a moment, and then saluted and asked, "Lord Lieutenant, has the commander been chosen?" ”

"It's already decided, this expedition will be led by Lang Zhongling Lord Huang."

"Is that Lord Huang Yun who seized the gold mine before?"

Juan Suming smiled: "It's him, the king's brother-in-law." ”

Zhang Xun and Ji Zheng looked surprised, but Gong Wanran was not surprised, he had already heard of Huang Yun's background. Gong Wanran continued to ask, "I wonder if Lord Huang has any experience in commanding troops?" ”

"No, this is the first time he's led an army."

Zhang Xunzhi scratched his head, "How can you lead the army without experience?" ”

"Hehe, everyone has a first time, haven't you ever been on the battlefield? This time, I recommended you to the king to be the vanguard of the left army, and although you have no experience, the king agreed. ”

"Huh!? I? Vanguard of the Left Army? I can't. ”

Juan Suming waved his hand and said, "Hehe, so, who hasn't had the first time?" In a few days it will be the spring festival, and after the festival, the king will be in the martial arts arena on the eastern outskirts of the city, and you will have to be ready. ”

Zhang Xun was flustered in his heart, and he couldn't react for a while, but he could only thank him again and again, "Oh, I, I remembered, thank you, thank you, Lord Lieutenant." ”

Leaving the county governor's mansion, Zhang Xun suddenly felt extremely nervous, this would be the first time he would really lead the army to participate in the war. Although this was his dream all along, when the dream was about to become a reality, he felt a huge pressure, and he even doubted whether he was really capable of accomplishing this mission.

The more Zhang Xun thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt, and his chest was so stuffy that he couldn't breathe. Seeing that Zhang Xun's face was pale, and knowing that he was panicked, he comforted: "Everyone has a first time, although you are named the vanguard of the Left Army, General Huang should not be entrusted with important tasks, so there is no need to be too nervous, just accumulate experience." ”

Ji Zheng also echoed: "I said Da Sima, isn't it just going to the battlefield?" As for being so scared? ”

Zhang Xun was ashamed and hurriedly defended: "Where am I scared, but I don't understand, why let a person who has never fought a war lead the army?" Is there no military commander in the DPRK and China? ”

Gong Wanran replied: "I am also thinking about this question, but I think the king's arrangement is also deliberate, and even the king agrees that you should be the vanguard of the left army, there is a reason." ”

"How so?"

"People are wrong, but the Tao is different. Most of the generals of Wu are old ministers, these old ministers were born and died with the previous king, and they also followed Wu Xiangguo and General Sun Wu to break through the Chu State and made great contributions. In terms of factions, most of them belong to the faction of scholars, and they have a deep affection for the former king. Five years ago, the first king died at the hands of the Yue people, who had been hoping to destroy the Yue kingdom and avenge the first king. In order to balance the factions and implement the strategy of going north, the king did not use these people. ”

Zhang Xun was still puzzled: "But fighting is not child's play, let a person who has never fought a war to command the army, is the king really relieved?" ”

Gong Wanran speculated: "Relatively speaking, Chen Guo is relatively weak. In addition, in order not to affect the spring ploughing, the militia will not be mobilized in this expedition, and only the standing army should be used, the number of people will not be large, and it will be relatively easy to lead the troops. Maybe the king thinks that it is more than enough for Lord Huang to lead the troops. ”

"Oh, then Brother Xiao Ran just said that there is a reason why I am the vanguard of the Left Army, how can I say this?"

"Maybe it's because you're the only unfactional person that Lord Lieutenant can recommend."

After hearing this, Zhang Xun was even more worried, he stepped on the ice and snow on the ground that had not yet melted, and his face was full of sadness.

Ji Zheng patted Zhang Xun's back hard, and said with a smile: "Master Sima, don't be so haggard, don't let people laugh at you when they see it?" ”

"Xiao Ji, seriously, I'm really nervous......"

"Alright, alright, don't be nervous, isn't this the day you're after?"

"That's what I said, but ...... I was so nervous that I couldn't wait until this day, and I felt the same way I did when we first met the Yin Soldier. ”

Ji Zheng stopped, put his hands heavily on Zhang Xun's shoulders, and said with a smile: "Okay, don't worry, I'll go with you." ”

Hearing this, Zhang Xun grabbed Ji Zheng's hand excitedly and asked tremblingly, "Really?!" Are you really willing to go with me!? ”

"Well, go! If I don't accompany you, I'm afraid you won't live for a few days. ”

"Great! Walk! Drink and go! I'm in for a treat! ”

Zhang Xun pulled Ji Zheng and ran to the wine shop in front, shouting to the public behind him as he ran: "Brother Xiao Ran, come quickly!" ”

"yes, got it." Gong Wan replied, looking at the happy figures of Zhang Xun and Ji Zheng, a trace of sadness appeared between his eyebrows.