When Ran Qiu heard Gao Zhang's question, he just smiled calmly and said:
"Now that the two armies are facing each other, it is not easy for the general to meet with my master. However, to show his sincerity, my master is willing to make some concessions!"
"Although we are in the Lu territory now, the front camps of the two armies are only ten miles away from each other. My master suggested that both sides can retreat ten miles each. We have family affairs and have made an appointment with the general to meet here! I wonder what the general thinks?"
Gao Zhang couldn't help but think about it in his mind, and then said with a smile:
"This is the boundary of the Lu Kingdom, so that's not bad. Otherwise, Gao would be really worried. Since Kong Sikou is so sincere, how could Gao not see it?"
Hearing this, Ran Qiu couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief:
"In that case, the matter has been settled with the general!" Gao Zhang nodded and said:
"Okay! At noon tomorrow, only two people from each side will come here." Ran Qiu bowed and said in reply:
"No! Since the general is so frank, how can my master refuse? Since we have made this decision, I will go back to camp and report to my master!"
Gao Zhang was very satisfied with Ran Qiu's attitude and stroked his beard:
"Why do you have to leave in such a hurry? You and I can be regarded as old friends reunited. I will prepare a banquet for you so that I can take care of you!"
Ran Qiu said hurriedly:
"General, you don't have to be polite. My master is still waiting for Ran Qiu to return. It's inconvenient to stay here. Please don't blame me, General! After the two armies are defeated, it won't be too late to invite the general and my master to have a drink together!"
Gao Zhang couldn't help laughing when he heard this:
"Okay! In that case, I'll do whatever you want!"
Therefore, Gao Zhang immediately sent Ran Qiushi away from the camp with a gesture of entreaty.
After watching him leave, Gao Zhang was about to turn around. But he didn't know when the vertical ox arrived, and it was already close to him:
"General!"
Shu Niu suddenly made a sound, Gao Zhang turned around and glanced at Shu Niu coldly.
Just because Zhu Niu was obviously Tian Qi's spy in Master Qi, he knew this very well, but he could only tolerate it for the time being:
"The army commander is not raising military funds in the back camp, but why is he here?"
Zhu Niu was indifferent, pretending not to notice Gao Zhang's disdainful attitude, and just continued to bow and said:
"May I ask General, who is it that left the camp just now?" Gao Zhang did not want to say more to him:
"Oh, he's just an envoy from the State of Lu. If you have nothing to do, you'd better go back quickly. It's not your place to ask, so it's better not to inquire!"
Facing Gao Zhang's use of status to oppress others, Shu Niu did not flinch.
"General, when two armies are fighting, it is taboo to meet with enemy envoys in private. I'm afraid it will be very inappropriate! Aren't you afraid that you will be suspected of being a collaborator?"
Gao Zhang said disdainfully:
"Hmph! You are not from Qi, and you were favored by the uncle and grandson Muzi of Lu. So, aren't you a bigger suspect than me? Why are you so ungrateful, and are you making trouble here?"
"I also had Tian Qi's sake in mind, allowing you to take up the position of Sima of this army, and also giving you this opportunity to make contributions. Could it be that you are trying to relapse into your old illness and frame me?!"
Shu Niu narrowed his eyes and said shamelessly:
"General, calm down. It's just because he is eager to make great achievements, so his words are rash. Please don't blame me, general!"
Gao Zhang sneered in his heart, thinking to himself that you are here to make achievements, you are clearly here to be a spy.
However, when he thought about this, his tone became calmer:
"Hmph! There is nothing wrong with me meeting the envoy of Master Lu. If I am not a beast, you will take me as an enemy.' Are you so suspicious, are you worried that I, the Gao family, will bring harm to the country of Qi?!"
Gao Zhang finished his words and walked away.
The standing cow just stood there, helpless. He could only write a letter to Tian Qi immediately, stating the truth and making his own judgment.
The next day, Gao Zhang went to the front camp in person, took only two people with him, and drove a carriage to meet Confucius.
Confucius took Ran Qiu and Chu Dang with him. Just in case, both sides built an earth platform, where they could watch the movements from a distance. Once there is a situation, they will believe in the smoke.
Gao Zhang and Confucius met. They were old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years, so they were quite familiar with each other when they met.
Confucius smiled and said:
"I haven't seen you for many years, doctor. How are you?" Gao Zhang couldn't help but laugh:
"Haha, Zhongni has done great things in the State of Lu over the years! Now he has recruited three thousand disciples in the State of Lu, and he has been promoted to the rank of Sikou, acting as regent for the government of Lu. He is a very human minister! Unexpectedly... ...Haha, it’s really unexpected!”
The two of them stood on their own sides, and when they met, they first praised each other, and then talked about every detail of their time in the Gao family.
Then, Gao Zhang suddenly said:
"Zhongni, the country of Lu is small and the people are few. Zhongni is a self-proclaimed man of great talent, and at that time, I also had the intention of using you. As the saying goes, good birds choose trees to roost. It is better for me to introduce you to Zhongni." What do you think about taking up an important position in my country of Qi?"
When Confucius heard this, he knew that this was a high-minded talk, and he suddenly shook his head and said:
"Haha, thank you for your kindness, but now our country of Lu is full of political leaders and people, and it is at its peak. I am afraid that the country of Qi is not as good as it is!"
"In the past, Dr. Yan once made it clear that the Tian family was a disaster for the Qi State and a serious nuisance to the Qi State. But now, the Tian family's disaster has begun to appear. Even if Qiu went away rashly, there would be no way for Qiu to gain a foothold. land?"
Confucius's words compared Tian Qi with today's Sanhuan. And these words were quite arrogant.
Gao Zhang couldn't help but smile and replied:
"Hey... it's just a pity that Zhongni can't be used by our country of Qi in the end!" Confucius replied calmly:
"Haha, it is enough for Qi State to have the Guo and Gao Er clan to assist the Marquis of Qi!" "It's just..."
Suddenly, Confucius paused one after another. Immediately afterwards, the conversation changed again, and he actually deliberately tried to make things worse:
"Speaking of which... Qiu Daidai also has something unclear, and I hope you can enlighten me!"
When Gao Zhang heard this, he couldn't help but wonder:
"Oh? What did Zhongni say? Just tell me." Then Confucius cupped his hands and said:
"I dare to ask the doctor, among all the officials in the Qi Kingdom, which one is the most powerful now?"
I could only hear a sneer coming from the high nose:
"Huh, knowingly asking, of course it's their Tian family. The Tian family's property is spread all over the nine states. Although its fiefdom is not big, it is the most prosperous noble family in our country! It is not an exaggeration to say that he is as rich as the enemy. !”
Confucius smiled slightly again, and then continued:
"Then... I dare to ask the general, why does Tian Qi never take charge of the expedition? Among the powerful officials in the world, such as Fan Yang, Ji Sun Yiru and others, they all covet the power of the country's three armies, and they are Keep it firmly in your hand.”
"But... Your Excellency, have you ever seen Tian Qi's soldiers? Isn't this... worthy of suspicion?!"
Some people died, but not completely...
