Wu Ju's cunningness is not only reflected in political games.
His vision and foresight also possess this quality.
He didn't know whether the Wu family would still be involved with Li Ran in the future, but from his perspective now, instead of embarrassing each other with Li Ran, it would be better for him to take the initiative to show his kindness, at least not to bring trouble to his family in the future. Hidden worries.
After all, on the matter of "how to keep Li Ran in Chu State", he had already tried his best and used any means. Even though he contacted Wang Zi Qiji, who in his opinion was the most sinister character in the Chu Kingdom.
But the final result was still to no avail.
Therefore, at this moment, Wu Ju, like King Chu, accepted his fate. He also had to change his strategy towards Li Ran.
Of course, the King of Chu also knew about Sun Wu's contribution in the battle of Zhu Fangcheng. When Wu Ju asked for credit for Sun Wu, the King of Chu was overjoyed.
Then his eyes turned to Li Ran and Sun Wu:
"Well, what Wu Qing said is absolutely true! Sun Qing's bravery and sir's wisdom are both unparalleled in the world!"
"Since Sun Qing was originally the county magistrate of Ye Yi, he will replace your husband and become the county magistrate of Ye Yi in the future."
As soon as the King of Chu opened his mouth, he rewarded Sun Wu with Li Ran's previous position as county magistrate.
Everyone present was startled when they heard the sound, even Wu Ju couldn't help but his eyelids twitched.
You know, Sun Wu is only in his early twenties now!
The grandson Wu Yuan who was with him was an ordinary stranger!
For two people with such a big age gap, the rewards they received this time were exactly the same at first glance!
What's more, among the people present, besides Wu Ju, how many people have received such an honor?
He was granted the title of Marquis when he was only twenty years old. This kind of honor and splendor makes one's scalp numb just thinking about it!
"Your Majesty... I have to rely on my master to make a plan. With today's achievements, how can I dare to seize my master's fief? Your Majesty, please think again."
Unexpectedly, at this time, Sun Wu bowed and politely declined the reward from King Chu.
It was really caught off guard, and everyone present was also shocked.
With such an honor, Sun Wu not only did not panic or feel excited, but politely rejected the King of Chu.
Such a thing is indeed rare in the world.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
"Changqing is truly worthy of being a master disciple taught by Mr. Ziming. Such a broad-mindedness is truly admirable!"
"However, Sun Qing has underestimated me too much. Since I rewarded Sun Qing today, how can I be neglecting you sir?"
At this point, King Chu paused slightly, and a strange smile suddenly flashed across his face.
"Sir, you have given me advice and suggestions for our great cause of the Chu Kingdom. Today, it is possible for us to achieve this. Your contribution must be the first. Therefore, I will never forget your feelings and reasons. Sun Qing must have underestimated me. How can I do this?" Could he be that kind of heartless person?"
"Today I make you the Duke of Yeyi County, and your husband will be the Duke of Zhongli County!"
As soon as King Chu said this, the whole hall was shocked!
It turns out that he made Sun Wu the county magistrate of Yeyi in order to make Li Ran the county magistrate of Zhongli!
In just one moment, there were three more county magistrates in Chu State for nothing! This shocked and stunned everyone present.
Especially Zhongli, who had just been captured by Chu State, was directly granted to Li Ran!
Why is it so shocking?
Because before Zhongli was conquered by the Chu State, he was originally a viscount vassal state entrusted to the Zhou royal family.
Unlike other county princes who were granted the title, this place is truly a state!
The meaning contained in it is completely on two levels!
"Your Majesty, despite my virtues and abilities, I cannot accept this heavy reward. Please, Your Majesty, take back my life!"
Li Ran took a deep breath, and then directly refused the reward from King Chu.
How could he not see that this was King Chu's trick?
The previous reward from the County Duke of Yeyi was because Yeyi itself was close to the state of Zheng, the area was not very big, and it was not an independent country before, so the King of Chu rewarded him with the post of County Duke of Yeyi, and he accepted it. I just accepted it.
The worst-case scenario is that in the future, the gold will be exchanged for the seal, and the person will just pat his butt and walk away.
However, the special status of the county magistrate of Zhongli State should not be too obvious, okay?
The Zhongli Kingdom had previously been a country recognized by the "international community". It was a viscount granted by the Zhou royal family. It was only because of the destruction of the Wu Kingdom that the national unity was cut off.
Now if Li Ran takes office and directly becomes Zhongli's county magistrate, it will be equivalent to being placed in the same position as the kings of the Central Plains countries, and he has become the king of a country!
Let's not talk about whether such behavior is too high-profile, just the identity he possesses, Li Ran, is probably not tolerated by all the countries in the Central Plains.
At the meeting of Shen Di, the countries in the Central Plains had no choice but to attack Zhongli together with the Chu State.
But among the countries in the Central Plains, is there really any country willing to do this? Who hasn’t already sent greetings to all the eighteen generations of ancestors in Chu State from the bottom of their hearts? Who hasn’t already been thinking about how to unite to fight against the Chu State in the future when things are over here?
vertex
So despite the fact that Zhongli State was conquered by a coalition of several countries, the countries in the Central Plains were unwilling to admit it from the bottom of their hearts.
As a result, historians from various countries today will not mention the word "Zhongli" at all, but only say that the state of Chu allied with the princes to attack Wu.
Therefore, if Li Ran became Zhongli's county magistrate, and essentially took over Zhongli's country, becoming the king of a country on an equal footing with them, wouldn't the Central Plains countries directly hate Li Ran?
And the reason why the King of Chu did this was not equivalent to letting Li Ran completely break with the Central Plains countries?
Calculation, everything is a calculation.
Li Ran was so angry, thinking that this King of Chu really didn't care about human affairs at all, and he would be doing a lot of harm to people by engaging in these conspiracies all day long.
"You are the majestic king of a country, but now you don't care about the art of war or the national affairs. You watch the thirty-six strategies every day, right?"
"I'm giving you advice, but you're digging a hole for me to jump into? Are you really not a human being?"
"Gan!"
It was difficult for Li Ran to refrain from swearing. After all, he always felt that his plan had a positive effect on the entire Chu State.
However, when he turned around, King Chu dug such a big pit for him to jump into.
Is this a reward? This is obviously a huge pit!
"Hey, sir, there is no need to be modest. I have long said that to me, sir, is what Guan Zhong is to Qi Huan. No matter how heavy the reward is, I will accept it."
The King of Chu had no intention of taking back his life. Instead, he promoted Li Ran and made Li Ran stand side by side with Guan Zhong. This really caused another wave of hatred for Li Ran.
You must know that among the people present at this moment, there are not a few people who have participated in the Battle of Qunshu, the Battle of Chaoyi, and even the Battle of Zhu Fangcheng.
Isn’t the contribution of these people small?
But the King of Chu only mentioned Li Ran, and compared Li Ran to Guan Zhong and himself to Duke Huan of Qi.
Everyone knows the relationship between Guan Zhong and Duke Huan of Qi. If he, Li Ran, is really Guan Zhong of his King of Chu, then who among these people with the same numerous military exploits are they of the King of Chu?
Could it be that he, Li Ran, is the only one worth mentioning? Are these other people not worth mentioning?
