On the sixth day of the first month of 212 A.D., just after the New Year, Wang Xu put on armor and held a sword, and personally rode a horse to inspect the major military camps near Xiangyang.

This seems to indicate that the war is about to begin, although the snowflakes are still falling loosely, the weather is still cold, and the green trees are still covered with a thin layer of white clothes, but the civil and military generals of the Chu State court have red faces and hot hearts, they have been waiting for this day for too long.

"Da Da Da!!"

The sound of horses' hooves on the snow echoed across the wide forest avenue, startling the birds and birds to take refuge in the freezing coldness of the snow.

At this time, Wang Xu was at the forefront, he had just finished inspecting the military camp, and was returning to Xiangyang City with his close ministers and generals.

"Zhou Zhi! You have been in Northern Xinjiang for more than two months? ”

"Hmmm! Visit the border army over there, and by the way, learn about the situation on the northern border! ”

"Huh! You're in good spirits, but what about the actual results? What's the catch? ”

"Yes, of course there are gains, and it's not small."

Zhou Zhi drove the war horse and trotted all the way to Wang Xu's right side, with a strange smile on his face.

Wang Xu didn't see his smile, so he looked ahead and said: "It's good that you didn't run in vain, but don't leave Xiangyang in the near future, prepare well, and set off next month!" ”

"Next month, so soon?" Zhang Jing, who was in the rear, heard Wang Xu's words and immediately exclaimed.

"What, it's too fast? Haven't you been talking about it for so long? ”

"No, it's just exciting!" Zhang Jing smiled, then seemed to think of something, and suddenly said, "Boss." You can't leave me to look after the house in Xiangyang! ”

"Hahaha...... No one wants to look at home. But someone has to look after the house! Wang Xu laughed heartily.

Zhang Jing's face changed. Then he wailed, "Boss, you just have mercy, okay?" As a general, I don't want to leave such big regrets in this life! ”

"Okay, no one will keep you, don't be so pitiful!"

With Wang Xu's words, many of the accompanying generals frowned, bowing their heads and secretly speculating whether they would stay. The atmosphere calmed down.

Zhuge Liang noticed this, couldn't help but smile and shook his head, and then comforted: "Rest assured, generals, this expedition is huge, in order to succeed in one fell swoop, there must be a lot of generals on the expedition, and the lord's order has been issued to Pang Shiyuan, tomorrow it will definitely be made public, it is useless to think about it!" ”

"Kong Ming's words are good!" Wang Xu smiled and took over: "Don't guess, everyone." We'll find out tomorrow! ”

Everyone talked and laughed all the way, and when they returned to Xiangyang. Then they dispersed, and when they returned to their posts, only Zhuge Liang had something to discuss, and Wang Xu returned to the North Palace Qinzheng Palace.

"Kong Ming, why are you so mysterious? I didn't want to say it in public just now, so let's sit down and talk about it! ”

"Thank you for your seat!"

Zhuge Liang held the feather fan in his hand and bowed gently, and then slowly knelt on the mattress very elegantly, unhurried, and looked very calm.

"My lord, since Taiwei Guo went north that year, he has been personally sitting in the western frontier of Yongzhou to guard against Xiliang. The two positions of Taiwei and Right Shangshuling, which he held concurrently, had many inconveniences because he was far away in the western Xinjiang, so in recent years, the lord has let Weichen do it on his behalf, right? ”

Wang Xu nodded: "Yes, this is also what Guo Jia meant, he feels that he can't complete his duties well in the remote council over there, so he asks me to play with me and strongly recommend you to act as his agent, what's the matter, do you have any questions?" ”

"Definitely!" Zhuge Liang shook his head: "It's just that the minister thinks that before going to Xiliang, the state of Chu should be another lieutenant!" ”

"Another lieutenant?" Wang Xu frowned, a little unhappy, and looked at Zhuge Liang with a strange expression: "What does Kong Ming mean by this?" ”

"Don't misunderstand, the minister has no intention of slandering Guo Taiwei, the minister has always admired Guo Taiwei in his heart, and he said this because of the current situation!"

"Kong Ming can be blunt!"

Zhuge Liang was slightly contemplative, as if he was organizing his own language, and only after a moment did he open his eyes and said: "The lord thinks that this expedition to Xiliang, after Taiwei Guo and the lord converge, he must always be by his side and make suggestions, right?" ”

"It's inevitable!"

"The army of Chu will go to Xiliang, if it gains power, Wei and Wu will do their best to help, in order to contain Chu, does the lord think so?"

"It's inevitable!"

"This expedition to Xiliang, the lord let the ministers to the rear of the town, if Wei and Wu send troops at the same time to contain them, the ministers must do their best to maneuver, so they may go on the expedition. In this way, if the ministers are also out, who will be in the rear of the Chu State to dispatch the military affairs in a unified manner? ”

"Tian Feng and Fu can also teach them to concurrently!"

"My lord, since there are people available now, why do you put it together like this and affect the efficiency of the imperial court?" Zhuge Liang may be worried that the more Wang Xu listens, the more he misunderstands, and before he can answer, he hurriedly continued: "The position of Taiwei was originally in charge of the army but not leading the army, but since the establishment of several major generals' mansions, the authority of the Taiwei Mansion has been weakened more and more, and it has become a position similar to that of supervising the army and joining the army. As for wartime, the Taiwei Mansion has the responsibility to send strategists to assist the general in the expedition and give advice! ”

"In such a position, it can be said that the duties of the Taiwei are very different from the past, and the authority is greatly weakened, and it is no longer particularly suitable for Taiwei Guo to occupy this position, but he is restrained by trivial matters to have more of his energy and talent, does the lord think this is the case?"

"This ......" Wang Xu hadn't really thought about this problem, and when he heard Zhuge Liang say it, he realized that Guo Jia was really a secret descender with the adjustment of his position authority, which was quite inappropriate.

Seeing this, Zhuge Liang immediately spoke again: "Lord, in fact, Taiwei Guo has a free and easy personality, and he doesn't like to deal with trivial matters, and he is good at making suggestions and making decisions about the country. ”

"And Shangshutai is now the highest military and political decision-making place under the command of the lord, but all major matters are discussed and approved here, and the final report is made by the lord, whether it is the minister of Weichen, or the three princes and nine ministers. Or the chief and deputy generals of the three generals' mansions. All of them are members of Shangshutai. Guo Taiwei is in charge of Shangshutai. Wouldn't it be better to give full play to their talents and give better play to their advantages? The minister's words are all for the sake of the Chu State, and he is completely selfless, and he hopes that the lord will learn from it! ”

With Zhuge Liang's words, Wang Xu also fell into deep thought!

Zhuge Liang's words are actually good, now the authority of the Prime Minister's Mansion is to be in charge of the military and politics, but the status is the same as that of the Three Princes and the Nine Secretaries and the General's Mansion. In fact, it is still an executive agency, but it is only responsible for doing things and doing things well, which can be understood as the top of the executive agency, and then the general's mansion and the three princes and nine secretaries.

As for the real decision-making body, it is Shang Shutai, although Shang Shuling's status is slightly inferior to that of the prime minister or the three princes and nine secretaries, but he is in charge of Shang Shutai's affairs, reviewing and planning all important decisions and important personnel appointments and dismissals, and is directly responsible to Wang Xu.

It can be said that Shangshutai and the civil and military mansions are a system of mutual checks and balances and mutual growth, and the importance of Shangshuling is self-evident, and Guo Jia's character is really as Zhuge Liang said. I really like to do big things and hate to do trivial things. Talent is a very biased person.

After thinking about it for a long time, he also felt that Zhuge Liang's construction was not wrong, why bother to give Guo Jia a captain, not only hindered the promotion of other capable people, but also did not have the best effect.

"Kong Ming, what you said is very reasonable, but who do you think is better to take over the position of Tai Lieutenant?"

"Xu Shu, Xu Yuanzhi!" Zhuge Liang did not hesitate, and said to himself: "According to the minister's humble opinion, Xu Yuanzhi is diligent and strategic, proficient in military affairs, and loyal and upright, which is suitable for the position of Tai Lieutenant!" ”

Regarding Xu Shu's taking over the position of Tai Lieutenant, Wang Xu didn't feel anything wrong, and asked instead: "In this case, who is the right person to take over the position of Tai Lieutenant?" ”

Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "My brother Zhuge Jin and Ma Liang are the most suitable, but unfortunately although the two of them passed the last big exam, they still have no outstanding merits after all, if they are suddenly promoted to one of the nine kings, it is not appropriate, so Weichen thinks that the lord should use the old ministers in the past!" ”

"Who?"

"Liu Ba!" Zhuge Liang affirmed.

"Liu Zichu?" Wang Xu was stunned, and then remembered that when he was the king, Liu Ba, an important minister under his command, was forced to resign because his father was forced to die.

Zhuge Liang didn't wait for him to answer, he already spoke again: "In terms of qualifications, Liu Zichu followed the lord for a long time in his early years, and in terms of meritorious service, he also accumulated a lot of merit in the old days, and at the same time, he was very famous in the court, easy to convince the public, and his intelligence was amazing, and he was an ideal candidate for good government and good army!" ”

"But when he was king, his father ...... there."

"Huh!" Zhuge Liang smiled, shook his head and said: "The lord doesn't know, Liu Gong has been sick and died for more than three years, Liu Zichu is now in mourning, and he has completed the filial piety of the son of man, and with his reverence and loyalty to the lord, he has long intended to go out, but he feels shameless to face the lord, so he doesn't know how to be good, and he worries every day at home, if the lord is willing to repair a book, it will come." ”

"I see, I can't imagine that Liu Gong has died of illness for more than three years, and the years are unforgiving!"

Wang Xu sighed slightly, Liu Xiang also had merit to the Chu State, but he was a Hanchen after all, so he broke up when he was king. But no matter what, Wang Xu still respects him very much in his heart, and after thinking about it, he nodded in approval: "Since this is the case, it is better to bother you to personally invite Liu Ba out of the mountain on my behalf, but it is a pity that although Liu Gong has contributed a lot to the Chu State, but now whether he is posthumously given his name or food and property, it is an insult to him!" Since he always thinks that he is Hanchen in his heart, it is better for you to send a plaque on my behalf! The four characters of the good ministers of the Han Dynasty are listed for their tree tablets! ”

Hearing this, Zhuge Liang was in awe, and stood up and bowed convincingly: "The lord is wise, this is really the best gift to Duke Liu, the lord does not care about the past, encompasses all things, such a broad mind, it is really a blessing in the world, and the minister Liu family has thanked the lord!" ”

"Let's go! Do your best to do this, the day of going to Xiliang is not far away! ”

"Wechen will go!" Zhuge Liang bowed heavily and bowed and withdrew from the Qinzheng Palace.

As Zhuge Liang left, Wang Xu stayed alone, but he was a little upset and faintly sentimental.

This sudden hearing of Liu Xiang's illness and death made him feel like a dream, and the scene when Liu Xiang was enabled in the early years is still like yesterday!

At that time, Guan Hai, Yang Feng and other old people were still there, everyone gathered in Jingnan, full of spirits, and the familiar laughter and laughter still lingered in their ears, but now they can no longer be seen or heard, some of these people died on the battlefield, some are getting old, and the former elegance is long gone.

Thinking about it carefully, he found that Tian Feng, Fu Zhu and other older people seem to be in their sixties and have gradually entered their twilight years. Exceptionally fast!

After a long silence, a faint sigh sounded in the silent Qinzheng Palace...... (To be continued......)