If the Song State annexed the Cao State, it would inevitably increase its national strength, and it would not benefit the neighboring Central Plains countries such as Weiguo, Zheng, Lu, and Chen.

Because the Song State already occupies a rich land, has a large population, and has a prosperous business, I am afraid that after the Song State annexes the Cao State and occupies Taoqiu, it will leap up and become a powerful country second only to Wu, Qin, and Qi in terms of national strength!

However, Qingji didn't have much to worry about this.

Regarding Kuai Chen's request for Wu to send troops to rescue Cao, Qingji just smiled and said, "Prince, the widow can't sit back and watch the Song State destroy Cao. However, why let Wu send troops? ”

"The widow had promised you to defend the country and Cao earlier. Wei Hou has the heart of Cao, why didn't he send additional troops and horses into Cao's battle? ”

As soon as he heard this, Kuai Yu couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "King Wu, in the previous iron war, more than half of the elite of my country was lost, although there is still strength left to fight again. However, if you want to repel the Song army, I am afraid that it will not work. ”

"King Wu and today's son Zhibo, as the chief of the princes, why do you ignore the matter of the Song State and Cao?"

Qingji shook his head and said: "Prince, I won't tell you, although the widow is Uncle Fang, he is newly established, and I am afraid that the princes will not be convinced." ”

"Moreover, Wu and Cao do not border each other, my Wu country last year's labor expedition, has been overwhelmed, if you go north to the Central Plains again to rescue Taoqiu, I am afraid it will affect this year's spring ploughing."

Qingji, this is completely prevarication.

The national strength of the Wu State is extraordinarily strong, and it is not impossible to annex a Song State.

Kuai Shen also knows this.

However, Qingji is reluctant to send troops, so what can he do?

"The crown prince, Uncle Zheng's side, must not tolerate the Song people's annexation of Cao State. If Zheng Shi arrived, it is believed that the Song people would definitely retreat. ”

Why don't you know?

However, Kuai Yu planned to let Wu send troops to assist Wei to defeat the Song army, and then annex Cao.

It's just that Qingji can agree to such a thing?

He only acquiesced in the annexation of Cao by Song or Wei, but he did not intend to intervene in this war at all.

Because this is not any benefit for Wu Guo.

How can Qingji do thankless things?

In today's world, as the old overlord Jin State falls apart and is divided into six, Wu State will replace it, and it will surely enter a new pattern and come to a round of reshuffle.

Qingji is indeed the overlord now, but his attention is no longer in the Central Plains.

At this time, seeing Kuai Chen, who was determined to be a wall-by-side watcher, he could only sigh helplessly, and then said goodbye and left.

……

After Kuai Yu left, Qingji summoned the envoy of Cao State, Sicheng Gongsun Qiang, in the Zide Palace.

Sicheng, equivalent to Sikong, is the head of the six secretaries in Cao State and belongs to the ruling ministers.

However, this Gongsun Qiang's background is really not outstanding, and he is considered a declining aristocracy, referred to as "broken household".

Gongsun Qiang likes to shoot birds, and when he shoots a white goose, he dedicates it to Cao Boyang, the monarch of Cao Guoguo, who has the same hobby and like-minded interests as him, and also tells the skills of hunting and shooting birds, Cao Boyang loves him very much.

As a result, Cao Boyang asked Gongsun Qiang about national affairs, and Gongsun Qiang responded decently, which made Cao Boyang love him even more, pampered him, and let him serve as the Sicheng to take charge of national affairs.

Gongsun Qiang also proposed a hegemony strategy to Cao Boyang, and Cao Boyang adopted his suggestion.

As a result, Gongsun Qiang built five cities on the outskirts of the national capital, which were called Huangqiu, Yiqiu, Dacheng, Zhong, and Yi.

Historically, the fall of the Cao State can be said to be inseparable from Gongsun Qiang and Cao Boyang.

This pair of monarchs and ministers, one is the monarch and the other is the ruling minister, but they are all so playful and discouraged, treating state affairs as child's play, no wonder they will end up ruining the country and ruining the family!

Just a mere Cao country, still delusional to dominate?

At best, Cao can only rely on the hegemonic power and survive.

However, Gongsun Qiang, who proposed a hegemonic strategy to Cao Boyang, planned to become independent.

In the original history, Cao Boyang even announced the severance of diplomatic relations with the Jin State and sent troops to attack the Song State......

Isn't this looking for death?

"Cao Guo Sicheng Gongsun Qiang, see King Wu! Wan Wan of King Wu! ”

Under the majestic platform, Gongsun Qiang, who was wearing a dark court dress, saluted Qingji respectfully.

"Sicheng doesn't have to be polite, please take a seat."

"Xie Wu Wang!"

Gongsun Qiang sat down with half of his body.

Qingji said slowly: "Gongsun Sicheng, the widow already knows about the Song Kingdom's attack on Cao. The prince of Shicai Weiguo had already met with the widow and asked the widow to send troops to rescue Cao, but the widow thought it was inappropriate, so he politely refused. ”

Hearing this, Gongsun Qiang suddenly had a panicked look on his face, and kowtowed to Qingji: "King Wu! ”

"Song people, for the descendants of Yin Shang, the ambition of the wolf, and the heart of the Cao country will not die, how can you stay out of the matter, King Wu?"

"Wu Guo and Cao Guo are from the same lineage as Ji, and they are of the same origin, how can King Wu bear to be bullied by the Song people and turn a blind eye?"

Regarding Gongsun Qiang's statement, Qingji just laughed it off.

Wu and Cao are indeed from the same ancestor.

In the past, Cao Shu Zhenduo, the sixth son of King Wen of Zhou, was sealed in Cao and built the capital of Taoqiu, which was a count's country.

The domain of Cao State "takes the river and controls the Lusong Dynasty", lives in the key rush, and the princes are connected in all directions, and it is the place where the princes and countries must pass through.

】

Taoqiu is the "middle of the world" in this era, and the business is very developed.

At the beginning, Cao was a big country, and he shared the eastern soil of the dynasty with Lu and played an important role, and was listed as the "Twelve Princes" with Jin, Lu, Wei, and Cai.

However, with the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, the Cao State gradually became a second-rate vassal state in the Central Plains.

When Jin and Chu were fighting for hegemony, Cao Guo became one of the victims.

When the prince of Jin passed through Cao Guo when he was in trouble, he was treated rudely by Cao Gonggong.

After Duke Wen of Jin ascended the throne, he crusaded against Cao State, and Duke Cao Gonggong was captured.

Fortunately, during the battle between Jin and Chu Chengpu, the Chu State failed, and the Cao State attached himself to the Jin State......

The friendship between Cao and Song has been going on for a long time.

Twenty years ago, after Cao Miangong was imprisoned by the Song Marquis until his death, civil strife broke out in the Cao State, and the successors of the monarch, Cao Shenggong and Cao Yingong, were also killed successively.

Let's ask, how can the people of Cao Guo let go of such a deep hatred?

At this time, Qingji did not reply positively to Gongsun Qiang's statement, but said with a surging smile: "Gongsun Sicheng, the widow has heard of an incident in Cao Guo. ”

"Cao people have dreams, and all the gentlemen stand in the community palace, plotting to kill Cao."

"Cao's ancestor Uncle Zhenduo came out to dissuade them, saying, 'Please wait for Gongsun Qiang.' All agreed. After dawn, he begged Gongsun to strengthen his people, but he couldn't ask for it. ”

"The dreamer secretly warned his son, saying, 'If I die, I will leave Cao and not suffer from Cao's calamity.' This is a precursor to the imminent demise of the Cao Kingdom......"

Hearing this, Gongsun Qiang couldn't help but sweat on his forehead, and hurriedly kowtowed, and said to Qingji: "King Wu, this is just the words of the market, please don't listen to King Wu!" ”