It's a pity that he thought it well, but reality hit him hard.

After getting off the boat and transferring, Zhou Gongding's horse team entered the ancient city of Qufu in a mighty way, and was first left out in the post house for three days, not only could not see Lu Hou, but even the leading ministers were also closed. It wasn't until the afternoon of the fourth day that Luhou Ji Bi summoned Ji Ding, who was anxiously waiting outside the palace.

When Zhou Gongding made his intention to make this trip clear, Lu Houbi always smiled gloomily and did not speak. Zhou Gongding suppressed his anger and asked, "What does Lu Hou mean?" Do you have to marry Ji Hou? ”

Lu Houbi smiled: "Uncle doesn't know, the widow's young daughter has been pampered in the deep palace since she was a child, and she has to be a wife." In this Central Plains, there are very few people who can match, not to mention that now the big and small decisions have been made, and even the wedding date has been set, just in the autumn and August of this year, the arrow has been wound, how can it be changed in a word? ”

Zhou Gongding said coldly: "I don't believe it, the Central Plains is full of talents, and there are countless princes and princes in their prime, and there is no one else except Ji Hou?" ”

"Uncle doesn't know, the so-called same surname is not married, although there are many princely states in the Central Plains, there are only a few people with the surname Ji, such as the surname of Concubine, the surname Ying, and the surname Jiang. There are really few people to choose from, and I hope my uncle will forgive me! ”

Mentioning the surname Jiang, Zhou Gongding immediately thought of a breakthrough, and said sharply: "Ji Qi and the two countries have become a blood feud, and they are constantly attacking each other, you are adding fuel to the fire by doing this, so how can Lu Bushan give up?" If the war starts, the war continues, and the Central Plains becomes a mess of porridge, can you Ji Bi bear this responsibility? ”

It's okay not to mention Qi Guo, but when Lu Bushan is mentioned, Lu Houbi's fire also came up, Huo Ran stood up and said, "So what?" Na Lu Bushan has already sat on the throne, and in the past year, he has repeatedly stirred up trouble on the border, intending to expand outward, and he does not care about the relationship with my Lu country for generations. He is ruthless, and I am unrighteous, so my uncle doesn't need to say more! The widow's young daughter will be Mrs. Ji Houyan, and the matter is a certainty, and there is no room for negotiation. ”

With that, he brushed his sleeves away. When he turned the screen, he suddenly turned around and said leisurely: "Uncle Instead of coming to persuade the widow, it is better to go to Linzi to persuade Lu Bushan, the Marquis of Qi." According to the in-law relationship between his uncle and the Lu family, Qi Hou may be able to sell his uncle a face, but it is not known. ”

Zhou Gongding saw Lu Houbi's firm attitude, so he had to leave the palace angrily. After that, Ji Ding stayed in the ancient city of Qufu for three or five days, and the monarchs and ministers of Lu State avoided him in many ways, and no one saw him. After this round-up, he finally understood a fact: Lu Ji's marriage was a foregone conclusion, and it was difficult to change it. He also understood that behind this incident, it was the aggressiveness of the Qi State that made the two countries have to hug together to keep warm------

Zhou Gongding thought about it for a long time in the post house, and after discussing it with his retainer Uncle Mei, he came to the conclusion that it was meaningless to go to Ji Guo to lobby again, and for now, the only way to do this was to go to Linzi, the capital of Qi, to persuade Qi Hou Lu Bushan to accept the fact of Lu Ji's marriage and appease him.

On the way to Linzi, Zhou Gongding was no longer as optimistic as he was when he came. His intuition told him that it would probably not be easy to convince Lu Bushan. Alas! It was really a chore to come back to the Central Plains, he hated Zhaogonghu to death, and threw such a hot potato to him.

Zhou Gongding has been to Qi several times, but this time he came to Linzi, the new capital, which made him feel refreshed.

The newly built Linzi City is located in the plain, with wide waterways, intertwined official roads, fast cars, horses and boats, and convenient clothing, food, housing and transportation. Gathering people, it has become a hub place. The people are rich, and there are people in the market who play the drum or play the harp, and the cockfighting and lackeys are not counted.

On the wide official road, the cars hit each other, the flow of people rubbed shoulders one after another, raised into a curtain, sweated like rain, and the ambition was high, reflecting a vigorous scene of enriching the people and strengthening the country because of the benefits of fish and salt.

Zhou Gongding admired in his heart while watching, he couldn't imagine that Lu Bushan still had two brushes, and in just a few years, he not only pacified the rebellion of Huhou and the princes, but also governed the country so well. No wonder he was unwilling and intended to expand outward, which was really due to his strength. It's no wonder that Lu Ji and the two countries are uneasy, and if they put themselves on themselves, they must not be able to sleep at night. Thinking of this, the little confidence that had been easily accumulated in my heart instantly disappeared.

Sure enough, on the top of the palatial palace of Qi, when Zhou Gongding said his intentions with anxiety, Qi Marquis Lu Bushan very tactfully and firmly rejected his request for mediation. Of course, the words are still very beautiful: "The prince of the country has come from afar, and this situation is not understood." However, the Marquis of Ji killed my brother, and the widow made a heavy oath at the beginning of his ascension to the throne, and regarded the country as an enemy in this life, if the widow could not destroy it, the descendants of the widow should also remember this hatred and take the destruction of the country as their own responsibility. Qi and Ji, although they are of the same blood as the Taigong surnamed Jiang, but falling into this kind of field is the fault of Ji Guo. There is no possibility of reconciliation. ”

Speaking of this, Lu Bushan deliberately paused, softened his tone and said: "As for Lu Guo, it is good to marry my Qi country, and the widow doesn't want to make too much trouble." For the sake of the face of the country, he will suppress the border troops, as long as the Lu side does not cross the border, the widow can ensure that the border is fine. Luckily? ”

This is already a big face, what else can Zhou Gongding say except nodding his head and thanking him?

Out of Linzi, Zhou Gongding reluctantly embarked on the journey home. Along the way, I was depressed, thinking of the scenery when I was young as a royal envoy to the Central Plains, and then looking at the current situation that I am so unwelcome, lost my soul like a lost dog, what a contrast? He didn't understand, was it because of the decline of the Zhou family, or because these princes looked down on him Zhou Gongding? Decades have passed, and things have changed so quickly?

It's the middle of spring, and when I return, I already have the taste of early summer. Recently, heavy rains have continued, and the water level of the major river has risen suddenly, showing a wave trend, and it may be dangerous to continue sailing. At Uncle Mei's suggestion, Zhou Gongding decided to dock at Luoyi Wharf to avoid this wave of waves and set off again.

Luoyi was the eastern capital of the Zhou Dynasty, and its prosperity was incomparable to other places. Boats and boats on both sides gather like a forest, and four wharves line up on both banks, stretching up and down for more than 20 miles, as if the whole field has become a vast water city. The light boat came to the east, and the sound of the unloading horn was heard from afar, the sound of the call of the ferrymen to each other, the sound of the carriage and horses on and off the bridge was endless, and the bustling and steaming market was not at all, although it was the sunset, but it did not feel the slightest sense of gloom.

Zhou Gongding's mood was warmed by the prosperity of Luoyi, and he got off the boat and landed on the shore to change into a carriage, and walked in the direction of Shangshe. This is the standard configuration as the vice-capital of the dynasty, and it is dedicated to the placement of princes and princes and other guests.

The moon snaked along the eastern shore of a large lake, into the depths of the poplar forest, where the wind lanterns flickered in a golden-red haze, the dark roof ridges loomed, the iron horses tinkled and the fallen leaves swayed, and the courtyards were like mirages.

Uncle Mei saw that his master was depressed all the way, and wanted to find some topic, so he flattered: "This hotel is quiet and secret, and the grandfather can spend a few more days here to refresh his mind." ”

"I hope so!" Zhou Gongding looked tired.

The upper hotel is a large manor set of small courtyards, a low white stone wall zigzags into a large poplar forest, the entrance gate is a number of winding paths, without the guidance of the doorman, and so on, idlers can not find any courtyard at all.

The doorman led Zhou Gongding and his entourage into a courtyard in the northeast corner. This slippery courtyard is made of bamboo fences and logs as doors, so simple as a mountain dwelling, Zhou Gongding only then opened a smile and praised it rarely: "It's very good here!" ”

Zhou Gongding's carriage and horses were bumpy on the road, but he was really tired physically and mentally with sweat and heavy clothes, and after washing and bathing, he went to bed, and was groggy and was waiting to fall asleep, when he suddenly heard a roar from the courtyard in the west neighborhood: "Why is there no ice in ------?" ------Get out of here------"

It was a young man's voice, which sounded a little familiar, Zhou Gongding's heart moved, and he got up in his clothes and looked at the neighboring courtyard.

Looking at the next door through the gap in the bamboo fence, I saw the wind lights shuttling in the courtyard, and a young man who distributed a brocade robe opened his placket and was scolding the servant who knelt on the ground: "Don't you understand that the widow is here to recuperate?" On such a hot day, there is not even ice, so how can the widow sleep? ”

A servant kowtowed: "Your Excellency, please calm your anger, I have already gone to ask for it with the Shangshecheng, he said that the season has not yet entered the summer, and there is no ice in the pavilion." Please Haihan! ”

The young man roared violently: "Haihan Haihan! Who can take a lily on the sea? Well, the widow will stay here until he has prepared the ice! ”

"Huh? How is he? Zhou Gongding recognized that it was Zhao Zhongbao and felt a little surprised. waved his hand and asked a curator beside him, "When did Yan Hou move in?" ”

"It's been half a month, this master is difficult to serve, one will ask for ice, one will want to dance and serve wine, Yicheng is so annoying! I heard that he is the brother of Zhaoguo Gong, tsk, he is really ------ with his brother" The servant shook his head: "It's really different!" ”

"Oh------" Zhou Gongding was stunned for a while, and suddenly beckoned to Uncle Mei and said something in his ear. The latter is not mentioned by Zhang Luo.

After a while, when Zhao Zhong Leopard wore a crown and walked into the quaint wooden door, Zhou Gongding was already wearing a bamboo crown, and he was waiting for the spring breeze to greet him six steps in front of the entrance hall. This is an ancient ceremony, to show the host's respect for the distinguished guests, Zhao Zhongbao's heart swelled with warmth, and the wariness when he first came also dissipated a lot.

"Although it is not the first time I have seen you, it is also a rare fate to go home thousands of miles away and meet here unexpectedly. Special thin wine to greet you, Wanwang Yanhou is not too ugly! Zhou Gongding humbly bowed his hand.

Zhao Zhongbao knelt down and saluted: "Shame, shame!" Duke Zhou is the pillar of the country, and he is the elder of the widow, he should have been invited, but he is really ashamed! ”

"Where, where?" Zhou Gongding said: "Speaking of the pillar stone of the country, who can compare with your brother?" Zhao Guogong is young and promising, and he is in charge of the world, which makes me feel ashamed of old age! ”