In September of that year, there was a bumper harvest in Yizhou, Jingzhou was fine, and the newly acquired Hanzhong, the people gradually attached.

Guan Yu, who was far away in Jingzhou, was very happy after receiving Zhuge Liang's letter, and read his letter all over Jingzhou's civil and military affairs, so he gave up the idea of entering Shu to compete with Ma Chao.

In Shuzhong, Zhuge Liang's letter was also widely known, and Ma Chao did not deal with it, so unconsciously, people gradually regarded Ma Chao as a general who drove side by side with Zhang Fei, and Ma Chao's momentum and vibration when he first entered Hanzhong also faded.

On this day, Liu Bei feasted his officials in the military palace to celebrate the bumper harvest in Yizhou.

Not long after the banquet began, Ma Chao raised his glass and said: "Thanks to the blessing of the lord, Yizhou has only reaped a bumper harvest this year, and the people of Yizhou will respect the lord with this cup of wine." ”

Ma Chao took the initiative to call Liu Bei "lord" for the first time in front of everyone, which made the ministers present feel a little surprised. And Ma Chao's move was already expected by Liu Bei, and it seems that the series of means he had used before finally made this Xiliang lion put down his body and began to recognize the reality.

Liu Bei also raised his glass and said with a smile: "The prosperity of Yizhou today is all due to the concerted efforts of Meng Qi and other civil and military personnel, and I also take this opportunity to respect you, come, let's drink this cup full." ”

Everyone raised their glasses to celebrate, and the atmosphere of the banquet reached a small **.

Just when Liu Bei was drunk, suddenly the guards hurriedly entered and presented an urgent report to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei didn't know what to say, so with a drunken face, he unhurriedly opened it, and at a glance, he couldn't help but change his expression.

Zhuge Liang keenly noticed the change in Liu Bei's expression, and knew that something big must happen, so he said: "Lord, I don't know what this newspaper says?" ”

Liu Bei didn't answer, only handed the report to Zhuge Liang, after Zhuge Liang read it, his expression was not as dignified as Liu Bei, but he smiled slightly, and said: "It turned out that Cao Ying added Jiuxi, and he entered the Duke of Wei, it seems that he is really in a hurry." ”

Zhuge Liang said a few words lightly, but everyone was quiet in an instant, and the wine banquet that was in the mood was interrupted by the news from Xu Du, and the atmosphere in the hall became extremely quiet for a while.

Everyone present was a wise person, and he knew that Cao Ying's entry into the title of Duke of Wei marked a key step for him to usurp the Han Dynasty.

The calm atmosphere made people feel uncomfortable, Liu Beisuo put down his wine glass, and said: "Your Majesty ordered the retro Kyushu system, adding nine tin for Cao Ying, entering the feudal country, and building the Wei State, all of which are in Yecheng, and the ten counties of Jizhou are under its jurisdiction. Well, that's it, I don't know what you think. ”

Pang Tong threw the chopsticks on a few and said: "Your Majesty's will is nothing more than being forced, Cao Ying's move is to pave the way for the usurpation of the Han, I expect that his next step will definitely be to be the king, and then, hum." ”

During the Qin and Han dynasties, there was no title of Duke of the Kingdom, only because of the posthumous training of Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, "If you are not the king of the Liu family, the world will fight against it", so the duke was later created, which was specially set up for those who had great merit but could not be crowned king. However, in the past four hundred years of the two Han Dynasty, only two people have been able to be crowned dukes, one is Wang Mang, the Duke of Anhan who usurped the Western Han Dynasty, and the second is now Cao Ying.

Therefore, Cao Ying took Wang Mang as an example and forced the Han Emperor to give him the title of duke, which is actually "Cao Ying's heart, known to passers-by".

Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "Cao Ying has the heart to usurp the Han for a long time, and now he is called the Duke of the Kingdom as expected, and in the Central Plains, there is no shortage of people who support the Han family. ”

Zhuge Liang's words immediately aroused the anger of everyone, especially those generals, who were even more angry.

Ma Chao was even more about to come out, and said angrily: "If the lord wants to send troops to the Northern Expedition, he is willing to be the forerunner, and with the prestige of Chao in Xiliang, as soon as the army comes out, Longyou County will inevitably fall to the wind, and the lord can decide Xiliang without a fight." ”

At the beginning, Ma Chao was taken in in order to take advantage of his prestige in Xiliang, which Liu Bei was naturally clear, but in the face of the passionate invitation of the ministers, Liu Bei did not seem so excited.

Although Jingyi Erzhou is rich, but after all, it is remote, even so, among the officials of the two states, there are many people whose officials are not much different from their own General Zuo and Yicheng Pavilion Marquis, and now Ma Chao, who has returned, has a higher title than himself. As for the future if it is a northern expedition to Guanlong and the troops enter the Central Plains, what are the three auxiliary scholars, Yingchuan scholars, and Nanyang scholars...... The civil and military factions under his command will only become more and more complicated, and the official titles will only get bigger and bigger, and what Liu Bei is worried about is whether he can justifiably rule all parties with his title of general Zuo.

Fang Shao had a keen insight into Liu Bei's thoughts, and thought that the time had come now, and it should be time.

So, Fang Shao stood up and said in a loud voice: "Since Cao Ying has proclaimed himself the prince of the country, why doesn't the lord take the throne as the king!" ”

As soon as these words came out, the hall immediately fell silent.

In everyone's eyes, there is surprise, praise, joy, and of course, there is no lack of disgust. In short, Fang Shao's remarks were a stone that struck a thousand waves, causing the spirits of everyone present to immediately fall into agitation.

Even Liu Bei was stunned for a while, but then he said in a panic: "Why did Zhongzheng say this!" Cao thief tried to usurp the Han Dynasty, but only did such a big rebellious thing, I am dedicated to supporting the Han family, how can I follow Cao thief. ”

At this time, everyone also recovered from Fang Cai's shock, and Zhuge Liang was the first to say: "The lord's words are wrong. Cao Thief is just a courtier, but now he is learning from Wang Mang to enter the feudal country, which is naturally a plot to usurp the dynasty, and the lord is a relative of the emperor surnamed Liu, and now he is a land of two states, ruling millions of people, and he is the important task of the revival of the Han family. ”

One person also jumped out and shouted excitedly: "Kong Ming's military master said very much, that Cao thief dares to call the prince of the country with a surname other than that, his father is the royal family of the Liu family, why not be crowned a king, don't say that it is a king, even if it is a ......"

When Liu Feng just wanted to say more, Liu Bei on the seat glared at him fiercely. Liu Feng originally wanted to say, "What does it matter if you are the emperor yourself", but Liu Bei was stunned for a moment before he woke up, and swallowed back the words that came to his mouth.

Liu Feng is so active, but it is no wonder that although he is Liu Bei's son, according to legal theory, the son has the same inheritance rights as blood relatives, that is to say, if Liu Bei is crowned king, then he Liu Feng also has the right to be promoted to the prince. Further, if Liu Bei is called the emperor, then he will have the opportunity to become the crown prince, even if he takes a step back to become the king, it is a great temptation.

If Liu Bei can be crowned king, the civil and military generals present, the official title will naturally be promoted together, these civil and military people, following Liu Bei to fight the world, are simply for the sake of power and fame, Liu Bei is the king, they are very profitable, so the Zhuge master and apprentice are so agitated, most of the people present are excited, and they have expressed their persuasion Liu Bei to become the king.

At this time, Liu Bei did not seem so enthusiastic, and in the face of the persuasion of the ministers, he looked even more sad, raised his hand and waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then sighed: "I understand your intentions, but I, Liu Bei, take it as my responsibility to help the Han family, and I am by no means a person who is greedy for vanity." If I don't have to be conferred by His Majesty and set myself up as the king, wouldn't it be as good as Cao Ying, and I will be regarded as a rebel by the people of the world. ”

Pang Tong smiled at this time and said: "The lord is too worried, since the lord is unwilling to establish himself as the king, then I will send a letter to His Majesty together to persuade him to crown the lord as the king." ”

When Liu Feng heard this, he immediately said: "Your Majesty is now held hostage by Cao Ying, the name of the edict is from Your Majesty, and it is really in the hands of Cao Thief, so you can allow us to go to the table." ”

Pang Tong said disapprerovingly: "Since I know that Your Majesty is being held hostage by Cao Ying, then at this very moment, I should act cheaply from power, I just did my duty as a minister, no matter whether Xu Du has permission or not, the lord can only take the throne as the king." However, I expect that with His Majesty's intentions, although he was forced by the Cao thief, he did not dare to allow it, but in his heart, there must be a hundred people who are willing to give the lord the emperor's uncle. ”

Pang Tong said this, Liu Bei's face was still bitter and sad, as if everyone was not fighting for the throne for him, but for the notoriety of plotting the dynasty and usurping the throne.

"What you say is not unreasonable, but I really can't afford to be the king. That's all for today's feast, let's disperse. ”

Liu Bei hurriedly dispersed the banquet, and without saying a word, he got up and hurried away first.

A group of courtiers were also helpless, and they dispersed after a while, and after a while, there were only a few courtiers in the hall such as Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei's most relied on.

Liu Feng shouted at the head: "My father now has such a big foundation in his hands, why should he be the king, I don't understand." ”

This matter was provoked by Fang Shao for the first time, but now he was much calmer than others, so he smiled and said: "The young general is a little calm, you have followed the lord for so many years, you should know his surname very well." In fact, in my opinion, it's not that the lord doesn't want to be the king, it's just that he is afraid of being slandered. ”

Pang Tong snorted coldly and said: "So far, what else is there to be afraid of, if you are afraid of slander, I am afraid that you are still fighting with Liu Zhang at this time." ”

Pang Tong refers to the time when he took Sichuan a few years ago, Liu Bei was also afraid of gossip, so he was reluctant to use fraud to capture Liu Zhang, but in the end, he was lured by interests and couldn't help but make a black hand.

Fa Zheng, who had been pondering and silent, said at this time: "In my opinion, the lord is just taking care of a face, since the lord wants face, then let's give the lord face, one please do not achieve two please, two please do not achieve three please, until the lord feels that the face is enough, and feels that he is being 'persecuted' by us, and when he has to do it, he will naturally agree." ”

Fa Zheng's words, everyone thought so, Zhuge Liang said: "That is the case, then from tomorrow, we will have a small invitation in three days, and a large invitation in five days." In addition, he also had to send a message to Jingzhou and Yizhou, telling Yun Chang that they would also keep on the table, and Liang believed that it would not be long before the lord would definitely agree. ”

(To be continued)