In the afternoon, a chamberlain hurriedly led a person through the garden of the Chu Palace, and walked briskly towards a pavilion.

Behind the chamberlain is Kong Ji, at this time he holds a hundred admonitions, anxious in his heart, his father and hundreds of officials went to the palace of Chu in the morning, and was rejected from the palace, which is something that has never happened since the founding of Eastern Chu, although in the afternoon he received Xiang Zhuang's acceptance of the western expedition, but Kong Ji had to advise Xiang Zhuang, everything should be based on stabilizing the situation, once the western expedition, the government will be deserted, the people's hearts are unstable, and the eastern Chu is in danger.

But Kong Ji couldn't see Xiang Zhuang at this time, except for the generals who had a meeting at noon, and now the entire court can see Xiang Zhuang, I'm afraid that only his sister Kong Xiuyun is there.

Therefore, Kong Ji hurriedly entered the palace after sorting out the hundred admonitions, and it happened that Kong Xiuyun was enjoying the flowers in the back garden today, Kong Ji came to the garden with the waiter after getting permission, and at this time through the bluestone path, Kong Ji saw Kong Xiuyun who was drinking tea in the pavilion, and he hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "I have seen the side concubine Niangniang." ”

"Why should my brother do this?" Kong Xiuyun was a little surprised to see Kong Ji so polite, and Kong Ji also replied with a smile: "This is the palace, it can't compare to home." ”

Kong Xiuyun no longer forced Kong Ji, she nodded with a smile: "My brother is in such a hurry to find me, what's the matter?" ”

"Have you heard that the imperial court is going to war again?" Kong Ji's face was urgent, Kong Xiuyun seemed to see something, she shook her head slightly and said, "I haven't heard of it." ”

"My father and I agreed that if we go west, the government of Eastern Chu will definitely be turbulent, so we hope that you can give this book of advice to the king and dissuade him from sending troops to Guanzhong." Kong Ji said, and presented the book with both hands, but Kong Xiuyun was not in a hurry to take it, she looked at the bamboo slip in Kong Ji's hand, and sighed: "Women don't interfere in politics, don't you understand this truth?" ”

"The situation is urgent, and I can't care so much, sister, only you can do this." Kong Ji sighed and said, "This is also what my father meant, don't worry about it." ”

"That'...... Well, I'll give it a try. Kong Xiuyun got up and nodded slightly.

……

In the afternoon, after leaving the side hall, Xiang Zhuang ordered Yingliang to select fifty sturdy guards to wear civilian clothes, and hurriedly left the palace of Dongchu with himself and headed to the north of the city.

In only a quarter of an hour, this gorgeously dressed team came to the gate of Cao's mansion, Xiang Zhuang had just dismounted, and a personal guard had hurriedly walked up the steps and said to the family guarding the gate on the side: "My master has something to see Lord Cao, please report it quickly." ”

"Who are you?" The porter didn't go to report, he looked at Xiang Zhuang who was dressed gorgeously below, thinking that this person must be a rich businessman, who came to Cao Wuyi to do something, so he didn't take him to heart, until the guard saw that this person was so rude, he couldn't help but be furious, and waved the horsewhip in his hand to cover the doorman and whipped it: "Blind your dog's eyes, this is ......"

Before the guards could finish speaking, Ying Liang had already opened his mouth and scolded: "Sixth son, don't be rude." ”

Liuzi's words were interrupted, he hurriedly turned around and saluted Ying Liang, if he just said Xiang Zhuang's identity, I am afraid that he will get into trouble, since Xiang Zhuang did not wear a python robe and took a carriage, it means that he doesn't want others to know that he came to Beicheng, and he ......

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became, Liuzi retreated, Ying Liang only glared at Liuzi fiercely, and then walked up to the porter and said, "My subordinates are not disciplined, and there are rudeness, please forgive me." ”

Ying Liang's low posture made the porter who had just been beaten down the steps, and the porter was also startled by the savagery of the six sons, and he didn't dare to make things difficult for this group of people at this time, so he had to give up: "If you don't leave your name, I can't tell you." ”

"You can just give this to your family." Ying Liang took out Xiang Zhuang's jade pendant from his arms and handed it to the porter, and then turned to leave, the porter looked at the jade pendant in his hand, only sighed lightly, scolded himself, and then hurried to the palace.

At the time of a cup of tea, Cao Wuyi personally walked out of the door to greet Xiang Zhuang, on the side, it was Cao Feng, Cao Feng was also surprised, she didn't expect that she had just broken up with Xiang Zhuang in the morning, and he would come to Cao's Mansion in the afternoon, which made Cao Feng feel that Xiang Zhuang still attached great importance to the Cao family.

"Why did the king come in person?" Cao Wuji laughed and walked out of the gate, went straight to Xiang Zhuang, and when he got closer, he hurriedly saluted Xiang Zhuang: "The old minister has seen the king." ”

Xiang Zhuang had already turned over and dismounted at this time, held up Cao Wuyi with both hands, and said with a smile: "Don't make a noise, don't tell anyone about this king's coming to Beicheng." ”

Cao Wuyi nodded knowingly, pointed to his mansion and said, "The king, please." ”

Accompanied by Cao Wuyi and Cao Feng, Xiang Zhuang came to the Cao Mansion Guest Hall, a maid brought tea, retreated, Xiang Zhuang gave Ying Liang a look to the side, Ying Liang understood, walked out of the guest hall, closed the door, and took the guards to guard it strictly, and in the house, Xiang Zhuang took a sip of the teacup, then looked at Cao Wuyi, and said with a wry smile: "It seems that the hundred officials have a lot of opinions on my expedition to the west." ”

Cao Wuyi was also full of questions and wanted to ask Xiang Zhuang, at this time Xiang Zhuang took the initiative to mention the matter, Cao Wuji had to sigh lightly: "Yes, today all the officials went to the palace of Chu and were stopped outside the palace by General Win, and everyone complained a lot." ”

Seeing Cao Wuyi say this, Xiang Zhuang smiled and waved his hand: "I don't care what others think of this matter first, I want to hear Lord Cao's opinion." ”

"I ......" Cao Wuji hesitated for a moment, and arched his hand: "I am also very entangled, I hope that the king can think about it carefully, sending troops to Guanzhong, this is not a trivial matter, besides, the battle line is so long, and with the help of the land of Linjiang State, if Gongao has different intentions, the king has ever thought that our retreat will be cut off, even if Gongao is loyal to the king, the king should also consider the national strength of the Eastern Chu State at this time." ”

Speaking of this, Cao Wuji also picked up the teacup and took a sip, and when he drank tea, Cao Wuji quietly glanced at Xiang Zhuang's expression, and saw that he was not angry, so he continued: "I also think that we can watch the battle situation in Guanzhong, no matter which side wins, we can all benefit from the fish, and strike later, it is far better than us sending troops to rescue Guanzhong at this time, besides, Zhang Han, Sima Xin and Dong Yi may not want the king to also enter the Guanzhong, if they guard against the king, the king has to accept a reality, that is, the possibility of a war with the major forces in Guanzhong." ”

Cao Wuji said all his thoughts in one breath, which made Xiang Zhuang a little surprised, he guessed that Cao Wuji would not support the Western Expedition, but Xiang Zhuang did not expect that Cao Wuzhi would analyze the situation in Guanzhong so thoroughly, at this time Xiang Zhuang thought for a while, and sighed: "I will not change the matter of the Western Expedition." ”

Seeing that Xiang Zhuang was so resolute, Cao Wuyi had to sigh lightly, looked at Xiang Zhuang and said, "Doesn't the king plan to think about it again?" ”

"Hehe, the matter of the Western Expedition is a decision that I have been thinking about for a long time, and the reason why I didn't disclose it to anyone is that I am not sure about the specific time when Liu Bang will go north, and this time, since Liu Bang has gone north, then our opportunity has come." After Xiang Zhuang finished speaking, Cao Wuyi sighed puzzledly: "Opportunity? ”

"Yes, this is an opportunity, a great opportunity for me to eliminate Liu Bang, don't you think so, Lord Cao?"

Cao Wuji still shook his head helplessly: "Let's ask the king to make it clear." ”

"Hehe, Liu Bang has more than 200,000 soldiers and horses, if he recruits troops in Shu, the strength should not be less than 250,000 at this time, imagine that today, I am afraid that only Xiang Yu can match Liu Bang, and Xiang Yu is not Liu Bang's opponent after all, once Western Chu is defeated, can it be that Eastern Chu alone can resist Liu Bang's hundreds of thousands of troops? The answer is very affirmative, we can't fight Liu Bang, instead of waiting for the big war to begin, it is better to take the initiative to attack, before Liu Bang is out of the Guanzhong, completely defeat him, or even eliminate him, if Liu Bang is frustrated in the Guanzhong, greatly damaged his vitality, I can let Linjiang send troops to Wushan, straight to Ba County, and I will lead the coalition army from Guanzhong to Hanzhong, Liu Bang will be defeated. Xiang Zhuang said with a smile.

"But has the king thought about it, Zhang Han, Sima Xin and Dong Yi in Guanzhong are by no means mediocre people, will they unite with the king?" Cao Wuyi was still puzzled, but Xiang Zhuang smiled resolutely: "Yes, it is a matter of the survival and interests of the Three Kingdoms, and they will not destroy the alliance." ”

After speaking, Xiang Zhuang stared at Cao Wuyi with blazing eyes, and said word by word: "So, I need someone to control all the military power of Huiji and stabilize the situation for me, and this person is only you." ”

……

Promoting Cao Wuyi is not only a means for Xiang Zhuang to stabilize the court, but also the implication of Xiang Zhuang to improve the Cao family, many people smell the political smell from this, and the rise of the Cao family indicates that Cao Feng may marry into the palace soon.

Of course, Cao Feng's entry into the palace is inevitable, and the rise of Cao Wuyi can greatly contain Kong Kun, the Kong family's power in Jiangdong at this time is too great, and the prestige is also very high, and it may not be a good thing for a family to be dominant, but Kong Ji accepts bribes without fear but it is a reality, Kong Ji may think that Xiang Zhuang does not know, but he does not know, Huayu has long mastered these things, and told Xiang Zhuang, but if the Eastern Chu Kingdom wants to develop and grow, it is inseparable from the Kong family.

After talking with Cao Wuji for three hours, and having dinner at Cao's mansion, Xiang Zhuang returned to the palace of Chu surrounded by everyone.

After a day's work, Xiang Zhuang was exhausted, but there were still many things waiting for Xiang Zhuang to deal with, especially when the army was going west in ten days, and he had to approve some important government affairs before that.

At this time, the study room in the apse of the palace of the king of Chu was brightly lit, and several attendants stood on both sides of the main hall, and stacks of bamboo slips were piled up, and Xiang Zhuang checked them one by one very seriously.

Soon, light footsteps sounded outside the hall, Kong Xiuyun walked into the main hall with two maids, one of whom was holding ginseng soup in his hand, while the other was holding a hundred admonitions, and the three of them went straight to Xiangzhuang.

Xiang Zhuang also seemed to hear the footsteps, he put down the bamboo slip in his hand, picked up the teacup and was about to drink tea, but found that the tea was already cold, he was about to call someone, but it was Kong Xiuyun's soft voice that came: "King, the tea is cold, let's drink some ginseng and rest first." ”

Xiang Zhuang turned his head to look at Kong Xiuyun, his heart was warm, he smiled and nodded, at this time, Kong Xiuyun had come to the imperial case, helped him clean up the mess, and after vacating a space, Kong Xiuyun took the ginseng soup in the maid's hand with both hands and put it on the table, looked at Xiang Zhuang and said: "The ginseng soup is hot, don't be hot king." ”

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