Kong Ming seemed to see through the other party's thoughts, and said: "Lord Lu, please rest assured, Uncle Liu Huang can lead the people to advance together, proving that he is a kind person, and he will never have other plans for your state, and the fact that he does not take over as the pastor of Jingzhou is proof." Although he is currently outnumbered, after all, he is a member of the Han family, and he is also a man with great ambitions and worries about the country and the people. I have decided to do my part to help him build his business. ”

When Lu Su heard this, he thought, "This person is really not simple! Before I could say anything, he had already blocked my words." ”

Liu Bei said: "Lord Lu's coming this time shows that General Sun is extremely concerned about this matter, and Liu hopes to meet him as soon as possible to discuss the plan to retreat from Cao." ”

Lu Su said: "Exactly, exactly. Uncle Liu's reputation has long been spread all over Jiangdong, and he is deeply admired. I am willing to do my best to help Uncle Huang get the help of our state. ”

Liu Bei thanked and said: "Lord Delu said this, Liu is grateful!"

Kong Ming also expressed his gratitude. Lu Su asked, "I wonder if Mr. Kong Ming has the confidence to convince my father-in-law?"

Kong Ming smiled: "I have my own way, Lord Lu, don't worry about it." ”

Lu Su nodded suspiciously. Kong Ming said again: "It's better for us to go to Jiangdong as soon as possible, I don't know if they have seen my brother." ”

Lu Su said, "Okay, let's go to General Sun together." ”

Kong Ming said to Liu Bei: "Lord, I have to prepare to leave, and by the way, I will take General Lei and Xiao Miao with me." ”

Liu Bei was puzzled: "It's no problem to take Zhiming, but why do you want to take Xiaomiao?"

Kong Ming shook his fan and said: "Xiao Miao is a witness to the Jingzhou massacre, and taking her to see Sun Quan should be of some help to our side." ”

Liu Bei thought for a while and said, "Okay, let the two of them go with you." ”

Kong Ming found Zhiming and said what he meant. Zhiming said: "I am willing to go to Wu with the military division." ”

Lu Su said: "It's not early, let's go." ”

So, Kong Ming and his entourage followed Lu Su to Chaisang by boat. Liu Bei went to Xiakou afterwards and didn't mention it.

On the boat, Kong Ming watched the celestial phenomena at night and said to himself: "This time, it is imperative for the two armies to join forces to resist Cao! The war is coming, and it seems that this war is not trivial, but an earth-shattering war!"

He looked at the starry sky with an indescribable sense of foreboding.

Lu Su, who was resting in the cabin, was also worried, and he remembered what Sun Quan had said to him before he set off: "Friends can share weal and sorrow, and enemies cannot share weal and woe." Whether the other side is friend or foe cannot be reflected in wartime, but can only be exposed after the war. In any case, we must first ensure the interests of my Soochow. It's up to you to decide what to do. ”

Zhiming also sensed that the pace of war was approaching, and for him, this battle would involve humans and gods and humans, and it would be a battle of great significance. He wasn't sure if he would be able to wipe out the White Tigers in this battle, but he found that the Demon Slayer Sword had always been shaking from time to time in the past few days, as if it was a sign of an unprecedented test.

Zhao Yun and Sun Qian came to the Wu Palace, met Zhuge Jin, and presented the letter. Zhuge Jin looked at it and said, "It's hard work, this matter is on me." ”

Zhao Yun and Sun Qian thanked each other. That night, Zhuge Jin arranged for them to stay at the pavilion.

Later, Kong Ming met his brother under the guidance of Lu Su. When the brothers met, the family affection was fully revealed, and the two hugged each other tightly, deeply feeling the preciousness of family affection. Kong Ming asked the others to wait in the study next door, and he wanted to have a private chat with his brother.

"Big brother, long time no see, are you okay?" Kong Ming asked happily.

"It's fine. Second brother, you won't tell me when you come out to be an official!"

"I'm sorry, but I haven't had a chance to contact you. It's not too late to know!"

"Yes, you became Uncle Liu's military advisor, I'm really happy for you! Alas, it's just that the third brother has no interest, and he is still a poor scholar. ”

"Big brother's words are wrong. Although scholars are ordinary, they at least represent knowledge, and they do not have to get ahead to be considered promising, and self-cultivation is also a kind of cultivation in life.

"The second brother's views are always so unique and admirable. ... By the way, are they okay?"

"A few days before I went out of the mountain, I also went to Xiangyang with Zhouping, and he said that he was going to go to Jizhou, but I don't know if he went; Guangyuan and Gongwei have not been in touch for a long time. But to be honest, based on their personalities, it is estimated that they will not do much in the future. ”

"That's right. I really want to go back to Longzhong when I have the opportunity, drink with them, catch up with them, I haven't seen them for many years... It's just that there are some things that keep me from getting out of here. Alas, after entering the officialdom, the relationship is estranged. Zhuge Jin looked up to the sky and sighed, as if there was something unspeakable.

Kong Ming saw that he seemed to have something on his mind, so he said, "Don't worry, find an opportunity, I will accompany my eldest brother back to Longzhong." To tell the truth, if it weren't for Uncle Liuhuang's kindness, I wouldn't have come here at all, and I still live an idle and comfortable life in the countryside, although it is ordinary, but at least it is stable and comfortable. ”

"Haha, you still yearn for freedom so much!"

"For me, freedom is the most important thing. ”

"But you still went out of the mountain, which shows that you still have great political ambitions in your heart. ”

"That's true, but now it's still far from my dream of establishing the Great Shu Kingdom. ”

"Great Shu Kingdom, do you want to help Uncle Liu Huang capture Xichuan?"

"Well, that's why I came out of the mountain. ”

"Take your time, the priority is to convince my lord to help you. ”

"Big brother, don't worry, I have my own measure. ... By the way, I have one thing I want to ask my eldest brother. ”

"The second brother is polite, please speak. ”

"This morning, when Master Lu and I passed through the downtown area, we saw a large group of people watching something, as if a few people were promoting some theories. ”

"What did the second brother hear?"

"It seems that someone said something like 'if a man offends himself, heaven and earth will punish him'. Kong Ming tried to recall, "Anyway, they are all remarks that sound like big truths and are not credible when you think about it." I asked Master Lu, and he said that it was a heretical heresy, demagoguery, and that it was just a matter of not listening to it. The eldest brother has been working in Jiangdong for several years, I don't know if I know about this situation?"

Zhuge Jin understood and said: "This is the followers of the Nine Unitary Sect, they are outside all day long to promote cult theories and attract Protestants to join in order to collect high church fees, this is their job. ”

Kong Ming was puzzled: "Since it is a cult, why doesn't your state ban it?"

"This kind of thing has long been commonplace in the Jiangdong area, and we are all used to it. I had sent troops to intervene before, and I had captured a lot of people, but I still couldn't control it. There are too many of their followers, all over the six counties of Jiangdong, among which Yuzhang County and Luling County are the majority. In my opinion, the fundamental reason for the existence of cults lies in the fragility of people's hearts and the imperfection of the current education system. Just imagine, if everyone is familiar with the Four Books and the Five Classics since childhood, understands the truth of the world, and does not listen to them, then how can the purpose of this be realized? In the final analysis, the theory of the cult is the knot in the hearts of the people themselves. As long as everyone unties the knots in their hearts, the cult will be self-defeating. ”

Kong Ming deeply agreed, and said: "The eldest brother has been in politics in Soochow for several years, and everything he spits out is a golden rule, which impresses the younger brother! I will sleep in the same room with the eldest brother tonight, and we brothers have not slept together for a long time." ”

"Okay. Looking back, it has been almost 15 years since I came to Soochow. Time flies, the years are urging people, and I am already forty years old. To be honest, I'd love to go back to my hometown right away. ”

"There is an opportunity, big brother rest assured. ”

That night, Kong Ming shared a room with his brother, and Zhiming and Xiao Miao were arranged in the guest room. In the evening, the brothers held candles and talked for a long time, both public and private, until late at night.

Zhiming slept peacefully in the guest room, he felt that the environment here was quite comfortable, the decoration style was generous but not noble, elegant but not luxurious. It was the first time he came to Soochow, and he felt that the Jiangnan atmosphere here was very strong, and the climate was also very suitable for human habitation. However, he didn't know that in this seemingly calm land of fish and rice, there was an unprecedentedly powerful opponent who was brewing a conspiracy.

The next morning, Kong Ming temporarily bid farewell to his brother and went to the pavilion outside the palace with Zhiming and Xiaomiao to meet Zhao Yun and Sun Qian.

Zhao Yun asked, "When does the military advisor plan to meet Sun Quan?"

"Without further ado, I'll go back to my brother and ask him to take me into the main hall. I'm going to bring the seedlings. Kong Ming glanced at her and said, "It is really not easy for this little girl to live strong until now, I want everyone in the Wu Palace to know about Cao Cao's crimes." ”

"Then I'll wait here for good news. Sun Qian said.

"Wait, Strategist, I'll go with you. Zhiming volunteered, "One article and one martial arts, be prepared." ”

Kong Ming thought for a while and said, "It's okay, then let's go together." ”

Zhao Yun said half-jokingly: "Zhiming, you kid still want to compete?"

Zhiming said solemnly: "It's nothing, I just want to protect the military division, after all, it is in other people's territory, and one more person is safe." ”

Zhao Yun asked, "Do you want to go with us too?"

"No, if there are too many people, they will seem to be weak-hearted. Kong Ming said to Zhiming again, "Let's leave immediately." ”

The three of them left the pavilion and returned to Zhuge Jin's house. Kong Ming said: "Big brother, let's start doing business." ”

"Good. "Zhuge Jin is ready to go.

The four of them went to the main hall of Soochow - Baoguang Temple.

Lu Su was in Sun Quan's study to report to him about Kong Ming's visit.

"Oh?" Sun Quan's eyes lit up, "'Fulong' has arrived?"

"Yes, he said that he would personally come to meet the lord today to discuss the matter of resisting Cao. ”

"It seems that Zijing (Lu Su's character) has comprehended the meaning of loneliness! As far as Zijing knows, Kong Ming's main battle is still the main peace?" Sun Quan asked him with squinted eyes.

"My lord, Kong Ming is the main battle faction. Lu Su told the truth.

Zhang Zhao, a strategist on the side, said: "If this is the case, then he must have come to lobby the lord today." We might as well set up the following martial arts array to test their strength. The literary array is a group of Confucian tongues, and the martial array is a group of heroes to fight. ”

Lu Su said: "Kong Ming came this time, and only brought a young general and a little girl, I think this martial array will be spared." ”

"Little girl?" Sun Quan was puzzled.

"yes, I don't understand. Lu Su shook his head.

Zhang Zhao said: "Leave him alone, anyway, the civil and military formations are all in place, and there must be a formation that makes it difficult for him to step down, so as to show the majesty of our army, and to see if the other party really has the material." ”

Sun Quan said: "It's okay, just do it according to the meaning of Zibu (Zhang Zhao's character)." ”

Zhang Zhao said: "Don't worry, I will arrange it." ”

Zhuge Jin took Kong Ming and the three of them to the temple. Passing through the square outside the temple, I saw a group of strong samurai lined up on both sides, all of them bare-chested, and saluted them with serious expressions.

Kong Ming was puzzled: "What does Sun Quan mean by sending so many warriors to greet us?"

Zhuge Jin whispered: "It must be Zhang Zhao who asked my lord to set up a martial array, the first formation is the literary array, and many strategists will jointly make things difficult for you; If no one dares to go up, it is equivalent to admitting defeat so that they can save face. This trick is Zhang Zhao's original trick, you have to be careful. ”

Zhiming looked at the fierce faces of the samurai, and felt as if they were thinking about how to tear their opponents apart for a while, thinking that they were fortunate to follow today.

Kong Ming looked at Zhiming with his spare eyes, meaning to ask him if he was okay. Zhiming coughed deliberately, indicating that there was no problem.

When he was about to step into the gate of the palace, Kong Ming saw that the palace was full of civil and military officials, about fifty or sixty people, all neatly dressed and bright, and they were obviously ready to deal with it.

Zhuge Jin said: "Second brother, it's inconvenient for me to go in, I have already greeted the lord before, you can enter by yourself." Be careful. ”

Kong Ming clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your support, I will do my best." See you later. ”

After Zhuge Jin left, Kong Ming led Xiao Miao and strode into the temple, looking calm. Zhiming followed in, looking a little restrained, after all, it was in the main hall of Wu State, fortunately, Kong Ming opened the way, so he was not too nervous. Xiao Miao was not seen at all, she looked around the temple greedily, and was deeply attracted by the luxury of the place. She didn't know that there was such a noble place in the world, like a heavenly fairyland.