Faced with the gloating over Qi's misfortune, as well as those from both the government and the public who attempted to seize the opportunity to get involved when Chu moved north to compete with Jin for hegemony, Yan Ying immediately refuted these officials.
After all, the two countries Qi and Jin could not see each other without looking up. As for the relationship between Qi and Chu, it is far-fetched to say that they are communicating with each other from afar.
Moreover, if we just sit back and watch Chu's power grow stronger, this will only increase the variables for Qi's road to regaining hegemony.
And if they, the brotherly states in the Central Plains, are still scheming there, how can they stop the rise of Qiang Chu again?
Yan Ying is different from them. He truly takes the safety of the world as his own responsibility.
And like Zichan, he also cherishes the people-centered creed of "no intention is higher than caring for the people, and no action is more than happy for the people." Therefore, "implementing benevolent government and benevolent and righteous" is his basic governing philosophy.
Unfortunately, the difference between him and Zichan is that Yan Ying is not the ruler of Qi. Therefore, his influence on Qi State is more reflected in public opinion. But his governing philosophy is difficult to implement.
Because although the Marquis of Qi was obedient to him, he felt helpless in the same situation as Shu Xiang in Jin State when he faced the increasingly powerful Qing clan forces within Qi State.
In the past, there was "Cui Zhu who killed the king and brought chaos to the country", and now there is "field beggars and invitations to buy people's hearts". Yan Ying's aversion to this kind of overbearing and disrespectful behavior has always been consistent.
It is precisely because of his emphasis on "propriety" that he feels shameless towards those Qi Guoqing officials who are now gloating over misfortunes.
In his eyes, this kind of behavior of a gentleman on the surface but a villain behind the scenes can only be called "cheap"!
Yan Ying's eyes were cold, he would not associate with these people.
"I also ask you to write a letter and send it to the State of Chu to give it to the Lord of Chu."
Regarding Zhufan's death in battle and Li Ran's conferment, Yan Ying's attitude was very clear. He could not entirely blame Li Ran. Chu State must be responsible for this matter!
Of course, the monarch of the country with the surname Ji cannot die in vain. His country, Qi, naturally has to have its own attitude!
Of course, the Marquis of Qi immediately understood what Yan Ying meant and immediately followed his instructions.
…
On the other side, Li Ran, who was in Chu State, was having a very difficult time these days.
He first received a letter from Zichan.
After all, the State of Zheng is the closest to the State of Chu, so the exchange of news is naturally the fastest.
Just as he expected, Zichan was really angry this time.
The State of Wu and the State of Jin were in a strategic alliance, so they were naturally considered allies of the State of Zheng. And Li Ran, as a high official of the Zheng State, actually helped the Chu State, causing Wu King Zhufan to die in battle!
Isn't this treason?
Of course, Zichan's words were not so sharp, and his words were relatively more tactful, but the meaning was still the same.
Zichan severely criticized Li Ran's behavior in the letter and insisted that Li Ran give him an explanation.
And Li Ran can also imagine the dilemma Zichan is facing now.
After all, Zheng Guo's New Deal has just taken off, and everyone in the country is counting on Zichan. Feng Duan and others had been waiting for something to go wrong on Zichan's side.
As soon as this incident comes out, Zichan will definitely be unanimously condemned by the domestic opposition, and even the powerful country cannot stop him.
When Zichan was in a hurry, he said some harsh words, which was naturally for self-protection. On the other hand, he was really pissed off by this incident.
Just when Li Ran was about to reply to Zichan, another letter rushed to Chu State also arrived.
Li Ran opened it and saw that it was written for him by Yang Tongu of the State of Jin.
Similarly, Yang Yangui also criticized Li Ran in extremely severe terms for helping the Chu State, and also informed Li Ran of the current trend in the Jin Dynasty's court.
However, he was not in a hurry to ask Li Ran to give him an explanation.
The difference between Yangtongue and Zichan is that the environment in which Yangtongue is located is not as dangerous as that of Zichan.
Therefore, Yang Guizi only criticized Li Ran in the letter, and at the end he gave Li Ran some "Chunchun teachings", asking Li Ran to remember that for the stability of the world, the country with the surname Ji should be put first, and the country with the surname Ji should be put first. For want. If you help Zhou to do evil and go astray, you will be abandoned by the world sooner or later.
In short, the surname Ji should be given priority in everything.
From these two letters, it is not difficult to see the similarities and differences in the relationship between these two people and Li Ran.
One is Li Ran's mentor and friend, and the other is a close ally who is in the same boat as Li Ran, both prospering and losing.
What they wanted and what they wanted was very different. Of course, their attitudes toward Li Ran's aid to the Chu State were also different.
It's just that although Yang Yanji's letter emphasized his position more, it was not as severe as Zichan's. But Li Ran still understood clearly in his heart.
After all, he was always at fault in this matter. He originally thought that he had all the plans and could capture Zhufan alive and persuade him to stop fighting and return. But who would have thought that he would directly kill Zhufan.
Moreover, he directly created a precedent that the king of a country would directly die on the battlefield!
As a result, the strength of the Wu State was greatly damaged, and the Chu State no longer had to take care of the Wu State. Instead, it was able to free up its hands to fight for hegemony in the north. This was also contrary to the purpose of his coming to the Chu State in the first place.
But now that the matter has come to this, he has no other choice but to bite the bullet and write two replies, one to Yuyang Yanjie and the other to Zichan.
Whether he was apologizing or explaining this matter, no matter what, he still needed an explanation.
The next day, after he handed the two letters to the guards and sent them out of Zhanghuatai, he immediately went to see the King of Chu.
Because he knew that the fact that he was named Ye Gong by the King of Chu must have been publicized by the King of Chu with embarrassment. Otherwise, how could everyone in the world know about it so quickly?
The reason why King Chu did this was obviously to force him to submit!
In forcing him, Li Ran, to become a Chu minister, the whole Chu State really took great pains!
"Oh? Mr. Ziming wants to see me? I wonder what business Mr. Ziming has to discuss with me today?"
The King of Chu learned that Li Ran had sent Sun Wu to Yeyi to serve as the county magistrate, so he naturally thought that Li Ran had completely recognized his identity as the county magistrate of Yeyi, so he was particularly happy about it. Therefore, when he saw Li Ran coming, his face was immediately filled with smiles.
"Your Majesty, at this time, we don't have to hide it, right?"
Li Ran's face darkened, but he spoke directly to him unhappily.
But the King of Chu still pretended to be confused, and a confused expression suddenly appeared on his face.
"Sir, what do you mean by this? Why can't I understand this?"
"I and your Majesty had an agreement in advance. After the three things are completed, I will leave Chu. Your Majesty also promised me at that time. However, now your Majesty uses this method to trap me in the Chu Kingdom. Isn't it a breach of trust? What you have done, Your Majesty. How can we set an example for the people of Chu State, and what faith do we have to make Chu State an ally respected by all the nations in the world?"
Li Ran opened the chat room, and regardless of whether it sounded good or not, he just shook it all out.
He was really angry. After all, the current situation was already very unfavorable for him, but the King of Chu was still pretending to be confused. What else could this mean if he wasn't being a rogue?
But what he didn't expect was that King Chu was really acting rogue now.
"Oh, that's what happened... Come on, sir, don't be angry, please sit down quickly, please sit down quickly."
"This matter is indeed something I have threatened. But who made me do such a great service for me? Your contribution to me is what Guan Zhong did to Qi Huan, and Zhao Shui did to Jin Dynasty." Wen! If this is the case, how can I not let the world know about my love for talents?"
"Besides, sir, why should you be angry? At that time, Guan Zhong wanted to get rid of Qi Huan, but Qi Huan could tolerate Guan Zhong as his prime minister in the future. Today, although my husband hates me, my door is always open for me. Now, Zhou State cannot tolerate him Sir, sir, why don’t you just..."
The majestic King of Chu actually acted like a rogue in front of Li Ran, and what he said was so reasonable that he even directly quoted the story of Qi Huan and Jin Wen, and he said it so plausibly!
Yes, it was indeed me who promoted your achievements, Li Ran.
I not only want the people of Chu to know about your achievements, Li Ran, but I also want the whole world to know about your achievements, Li Ran. Otherwise, how can I show the respect I, the King of Chu, have towards those who have made meritorious deeds?
Anyway, you have been abandoned by the Central Plains countries now, why not just stay in Chu State?
When it comes to the shamelessness of all countries today, King Chu is definitely the number one.
He was working with Li Ran behind his back, and yet he was able to come up with such a high-sounding reason to recruit him in front of Li Ran.
At this moment, Li Ran couldn't help but think of Zhuge Kongming's famous saying "passed down from generation to generation".
