Although Zhao Shu swore by blood, Wei Yan must still be haunted by the past, if he didn't make some contributions like Zhang Wei, how could he feel at ease? Zhao Shu looked at Wei Yan, who was a little anxious, but did not answer, but only asked: "Brother, do you know who the younger brother is afraid of Kong Ming now, why not?" Wei Yan thought for a while, and then replied: "Could it be that he is afraid that he will surrender to Chengdu and unite his henchmen to occupy Xichuan?" ”

"Yes, yes." Zhao Shu chuckled and said: "Now Kong Ming is guarding Badong County, so that Jing Xiang can't go west, if he uses his brother's strange army to go south, with the help of Kong Ming's name, attack and occupy Chengdu, then Your Majesty, the prince is in my hands, even though Kong Ming has great ability, but how can he do it?" Wei Yan applauded and said with a smile: "Wonderful." But suddenly he said: "The general came alone, is it expected that a certain will be attached to the general?" ”

Zhao Shu smiled again: "Brother is a person who understands the general situation and takes care of the overall situation, and he knows what to do and what not to do." There was a hint of praise in the words, and Wei Yan was happy again after hearing it, but he said: "Cao Hong, Zhang Hezhang's army is in Yongliang, and he has the intention of peeping into Hanzhong." If a certain person leads the troops to leave lightly, I am afraid that he will take advantage of it, and Wang Ping is in Chenggu, and the general is not afraid? ”

Wang Ping was loyal to Liu Bei, but he was better than Wei Yan, and Zhao Shu asked Liu Bei for a few edicts when he came. Seeing Wei Yan talk about it today, Zhao Shu asked again: "With the degree of brotherhood, can the prince temporarily take on the important task of Hanzhong?" Although Wei Yan was counted by Wang Ping, he also said truthfully: "Wang Ping is loyal, brave and rigorous, even if he does not have the ability to expand his territory, but he will definitely be safe when defending his territory against the enemy." ”

"That being the case." Zhao Shu hesitated slightly, and asked: "Can my brother temporarily entrust the defense of Hanzhong to Wang Ping, and only bring a few henchmen and horses to Chengdu with me." "Zhao Shu just swore to let Wei Yanyong take charge of Hanzhong, but now he wants him to transfer Wang Ping, and he is indeed a little worried that he will not agree. Sure enough, I heard Wei Yan say: "Fei is unwilling, Wang Ping is loyal to His Majesty, and the general is now giving him all his military power, so he is afraid of trouble in the future?" "Liu Bei is in his sixties, and he is sick all the year round, although Wang Ping is loyal, he is not a fool, he always has to find a way behind himself, and Zhao Shu except Kong Ming is Liu Bei's banner, what can Wang Ping say? Zhao Shu explained this meaning to Wei Yan in detail, and finally said: "After the matter is completed, I will arrange a good place for the prince, and let my brother still be alone in Hanzhong." Speaking of this, if you continue to talk about it, it will inevitably hurt her feelings, so Wei Yan had no choice but to nod and agree.

After the discussion of the main matter, Wei Yan ordered someone to prepare wine and food, but Zhao Shu and the two of them were one in the east of the town and the other in the north of the town, and the two dignified generals, and the things on the scene were always easy to rectify. However, because Zhao Shu's visit to Hanzhong was very secret, the two had to drink together, and it was not very lively. After I was full of wine and food, I asked Wei Yan to prepare first, and I said goodbye and went to Chenggu, now I and Kong Ming are racing against time, and Huan Yi doesn't know what the situation is. If Kong Ming and Liu Bei knew that Zhao Shu was not in White Emperor City, he might not know what would happen.

Chenggu is Jiang Wei's later advocate of heavy defense of the Han, one of the two cities of Lecheng, since Wang Ping was promoted to the general of Pingbei, after taking charge of Hanzhong, it has gradually been repaired, although it is not as majestic as Nanzheng, but it can be regarded as a strong city. Wang Ping saw Zhao Shu's face, just like when Wei Yan saw Zhao Shu, he didn't seem to expect that Zhao Shu really had the courage to run around alone and be a lobbyist in person. Zhao Shu also had no choice, who told our subordinates that they were not manpowered, so they had to wronged themselves.

Although Wang Ping has met several times, he has no friendship at all, far from being polite to Wei Yan, looking at Zhao Shu with a gloomy face, his right hand is still pressed on the sword at his waist, I don't know if he is considering arresting Zhao Shu to ask Liu Bei for credit. It is also a felony to leave his own defense without an edict, if Liu Bei is really in charge, Zhao Shu's head should be moved. Zhao Shu looked at Wang Ping as if he was facing the enemy, and said with a smile: "I am a scribe, although I have the number of generals, but I have no power to restrain the chicken, and now I come alone, why is the general afraid?" ”

Wang Ping sneered and said, "How can the general kill people with any force? As the saying goes, those who work hard govern people, and those who work hard govern people, Wang Ping's words, Zhao Shu accepted the praise, and said: "There is no need to say much gossip, I just want to discuss with the general, can I get rid of the left and right?" Wang Ping immediately said: "Everything must be said to people, if it is a state matter, when it is a righteous and bright matter, if it is a private matter, then the general can be exempted from respect." ”

"Naturally, it's a state affair." Zhao Shu said: "I came all the way to see the general, it was for the Jiangshan Sheji. His Majesty was defeated by Jiangxia, but it was inconvenient to return to Chengdu, and those who were stranded in the White Emperor City, can the general know the reason? "Now the internal situation in Shu Han, as long as he has military power and some identity, and is not an idiot, he can almost see why Liu Bei didn't return to Chengdu. But who dares to say it? Zhao Shuyuan didn't expect Wang Ping to answer, and continued: "In Chengdu for a while, most of the civil and military people have passed away, and they are all people who are close to His Majesty on weekdays. Don't your Majesty doubt it? It was to Zhaowu to lead the troops into Beijing, but Kong Ming blocked Badong, and the army was not allowed to advance westward. Your Majesty sent me to look for the general and make a good plan. ”

"Hey, hey." Wang Ping sneered after hearing this, and said, "The general is a three-year-old child? How can you believe what you say? Zhao Shu slowly took out Liu Bei's edict from his arms, presented it with both hands, and said, "There is His Majesty's edict as proof." Wang Ping didn't come to pick it up, but said: "Didn't the law of filial piety often issue edicts in the past?" ”

Zhao Shu was displeased, and said, "The general actually compares me to a traitor? He replied: "Regardless of whether the edict is true or not, with the general's current situation, he can only take it seriously." Yan raised his eyes and looked directly at Wang Ping, looked at each other for a moment, and thought about it in his heart. Wang Ping finally looked away and asked coldly, "General, let's try to say it." Zhao Shu stepped forward and put the edict on the case beside him, and said: "Your Majesty is old, and he has suffered a great defeat like this, his henchmen and horses have been lost, and he is often sick and bedridden, and the general thinks it can last long?" Speaking of this, Wang Ping suddenly changed color, stood up, and was about to speak, but was interrupted by Zhao Shu and continued: "After a thousand autumns, the prince is still young, if he has no power to assist him, can he be stable?" And judging from the current situation, compared to me and Kong Ming, although the general is loyal and righteous, I am afraid that he does not have such ability. Wang Ping suddenly shouted: "If the powerful minister is in power, where will he be placed in the lord?" ”

"Why should the general be so impulsive?" Zhao Shu smiled lightly: "The ministers are not chaotic ministers, rebel ministers, wouldn't the general have heard of the former Zhou Wu Wang, who succeeded to the throne at a young age, and Zhou Gong assisted him?" Although Shu is not talented, he is willing to follow the sages of the ancients. Wang Ping asked rhetorically: "With the sage of the Duke of Zhou, there are still rumors, how can the general show his sincerity?" ”

This question is difficult to answer, Zhao Shu paced a few steps with his hand, and suddenly asked: "The general has been with His Majesty for five years since he won Hanzhong, and he has been a general, who is more loyal to His Majesty, me or Kong Ming?" When the law was excepted, the general was also in the White Emperor, and His Majesty had an edict, so I went to it in person, but Kong Ming sat in Chengdu and ignored the holy order. If I really have the heart of disobedience, in Jingzhou, what can Your Majesty do to me? ”

Now it is no secret that Liu Bei will die soon, Zhao Shu and Kong Ming may not be considered loyal ministers, but they are not comparable to loyal ministers like Wang Ping. After Liu Chan succeeds to the throne, there will inevitably be someone in power, and Zhao Shu can't prove his loyalty, so he has to compare with Kong Ming. Without Zhao Shu, Jingzhou would not have been under the rule of Shu Han; Without Zhao Shu, Liu Bei may not be able to get out of Jiangxia alive; And Kong Ming is in Chengdu, but many important ministers of the court have died one after another, although there is no clear evidence that he did it, but it is inevitably reminiscent of the past. It is impossible for Wang Ping not to know these things, if he has that ability, he can kill Zhao Shu now, and then get rid of Kong Ming, and protect Liu Bei's father and son, but does he have the ability? So he could only make a very helpless choice between Zhao Shu and Kong Ming. Wang Ping sat down very decadently, bowed his head and said, "Can the general allow some time to think about this matter?" ”

"The stakes are very high, and the general can naturally think about it for a little more time." Zhao Shu also sat down and said, "I'm not here to make a decision just to the general, but I just want to entrust Hanzhong to the general temporarily." Wang Ping raised his head again and asked, "The general wants to attack Wei Yan somewhat?" Categorically, now that Your Majesty has been defeated, if Hanzhong is in chaos again, won't Cao Wei take advantage of it? Zhao Shu knew that he had misunderstood what I meant, but he didn't explain it, but asked first: "The general is afraid of Wei Wenchang, I'm afraid he can't be an enemy?" Wang Ping, like Wei Yan, replied truthfully: "A certain person once served under his account, and it is indeed inferior." ”

It seems that the generals are much more honest and lovely than Zhao Shu and other people who read after all, and they can admit their shortcomings, and Zhao Shu often feels inferior to Kong Ming in his heart, but he has never said it in front of others. Since these two people appreciate each other more, why don't Zhao Shu be a favor? So, Zhao Shu smiled and said to Wang Ping: "The general misunderstood, before I came to see the general, I had already gone to Nanzheng to see Wen Chang, and he was also willing to join hands with me to assist the Lord." Today, Wen Chang wants to go to the White Emperor with me, but he is afraid that the Han will be lost, so he is loyal and rigorous to the general, and recommends the general to guard on his behalf. ”

"Oh?" Wang Ping's face was also a little ashamed, after all, he had also betrayed Wei Yan, and asked again: "Wei Zhenbei really said this?" Zhao Shu hurriedly said: "How can I deceive the general?" "Anyway, Wei Yan did say those words, and Zhao Shu is not lying. Wang Ping pondered for a long time, then sighed, stood up and said: "General Meng and Wei Zhenbei are very affectionate, you can leave with confidence, and you will not let Wei soldiers step into Hanzhong." Finally waiting for his words, Zhao Shu secretly let out a long sigh, the situation in Hanzhong is settled again, Kong Ming would never have dreamed in Badong that Zhao Shu put such a big fire in the backyard, right?

Two days later, Wang Ping moved to Nanzheng and made a short deal with Wei Yan, and Zhao Shu and Wei Yan went south with 3,000 Hanzhong soldiers and horses. Hanzhong is connected to Brazil County in the south, which is the place where Zhang Fei guarded the town in those years, and the military horses traveled day and night along the way, and it was not a day to approach the boundary of the county to govern Langzhong. Wei Yan said to Zhao Shu in private: "Yan Zhi, the county guard of Brazil, is Kong Ming's confidant, and he must be cautious when marching. Zhao Shu smiled and said: "Brother is here to help Kong Ming, if he hides his head and tail, won't it be more suspicious?" Wei Yan nodded yes, so the military horse came to Langzhong with great fanfare. Wei Yan also sent someone to inform Yan Zhi first, and ordered him to prepare the things of the labor army.

More than ten miles outside the city, I saw a small group of cavalry coming, and the first general saw Wei Yan's banner, dismounted and stood beside the road, and said loudly: "The last official of the county, Hu Du, greets the general of Zhenbei." Wei Yan stepped forward immediately, looked at the person who came coldly, and asked, "Why didn't your family guard come to pick up General Ben in person?" "Arrogant words are exactly Wei Yan's true colors.

After hearing this, Hu Du's brows furrowed slightly, but because of his identity, he still replied: "Lord Yan has been waiting outside the city for a long time, but the general has not arrived for a long time, and he has been specially ordered to go out to meet a few miles and investigate first. Wei Yan said "En", which was regarded as a promise, and waved his hand to signal him to lead the way. Hu Du bowed slightly, turned over and got on the horse, first made someone return to Yan Zhi, and then walked slowly with Wei Yan.

Zhao Shu was hiding his identity, wearing sergeant clothes and armor, and followed Wei Yan to serve as a personal guard, listening to the word "fox du" in the back, he was quite familiar, but he couldn't remember this person, so he couldn't help but look at it and secretly pay attention. Seeing that he was indifferent to Wei Yan's words, and he didn't like it, Wei Yan can be regarded as a hot figure now, if he can please him, it will be a lot of benefit to a state and county official like Hu Du, and Hu Du is like this, which makes me more and more suspicious.

Sure enough, as Hu Du said, Yan Zhi had already prepared the cattle and sheep and the wine and waited outside the city for the things of the labor army, and when he saw Wei Yan coming, he hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down and said, "The lower official will meet the general." "Although Wei Yan is the general of Zhenbei, he is only the Taishou of Hanzhong, Yan Zhi didn't have to make such a big gift, but because he knew that Wei Yan was going to help Kong Ming seize power, he would be reused after the success, so he was doubly welcomed. Zhao Shu was a little disgusted when he looked at it, and then he saw that the displeasure on Hu Du's face was even stronger, and then he thought that the two of them were really a stark contrast.

Wei Yan didn't plan to enter the city, so he let the sergeants set up camp on the spot, and he and Yan Zhi found a secluded place, put away the wine and meat, and ate and drank. Yan Zhi first toasted Wei Yan a few glasses, and the sycophants were endless. Wei Yan didn't seem to be surprised, no matter what he said, he accepted it as ordered. After a few rounds of drinking, Yan Zhinai stepped forward a little and said in a low voice, "Can the general temporarily retreat?" Wei Yan glanced at him and said unhappily: "This general's subordinates are all confidants, so it doesn't matter if you have anything to say." ”

"Yes, yes." Yan Zhi took a closer look at the generals behind me and Wei Yan, and then said in a low voice: "Xia Guan Wen General wants to help the prime minister fight with Zhao Shu, and he has also recruited all the soldiers in the county in the past few days, counting five thousand, and he is willing to go with the general." Wei Yan's face couldn't help but change, and Zhao Shu was also surprised, he did a lot of calculations, but he didn't expect that Yan Zhi would also get five thousand soldiers and horses in order to show favor to Kong Ming. Wei Yan's subordinates only brought 3,000 men, although they were all soldiers who could recruit and fight habitually, they were not afraid of Yan Zhi's newly recruited rabble, but if they marched together, it would be a headache.

Yan Zhi saw that Wei Yan's face was different, and he said that he had said the wrong thing, so he hurriedly shut up, thinking about what was wrong, and suddenly said after a while: "Although the lower official has soldiers and horses, he is under the command of the general, and in the future, when the prime minister talks about merit, the general will still be the first." Wei Yan also felt that he was out of shape, and he was wrong, so he raised his glass and smiled: "If this is the case, then it is very good, very good." ”