The carriage left the palace and moved slowly towards the annex where the envoys were staying.
Dong Shang sat in the carriage and frowned.
"Teacher, why do you think Chu is so resistant to forming an alliance?"
He turned around and sat next to Jia Xu, gesturing with his hands and continuing.
"Before the mission, we also predicted the success or failure of the trip. Everyone felt that we were 60% sure of successfully persuading the Chu State. After all, although my father's reputation is not good, the benefits of the alliance between our two countries are genuine. "
"In the main hall just now, not to mention Sun Ce, all the ministers of the Chu State seemed to be unanimously opposed to the alliance. Are they really not interested in dividing the world equally? Or are they arrogant enough to think that they can conquer the Chu State by themselves? Five countries?"
Jia Xu sighed, with a hint of sadness on his face.
"Although I had many guesses before, it was confirmed after I arrived in Chu State in person. Today I am finally convinced of one of the guesses."
"I'm afraid that the upper echelons of the Chu State have already decided on a fundamental national policy. I think this is the 'three-part world' policy formulated by Zhou Yu and Ji Shu for Sun Ce."
Dong Shang frowned and showed great interest.
"Oh? Three-part world? Can it be more attractive than the two-part world proposed by you, teacher?"
Jia Xu shook his head, looked at his student and smiled.
"It's different. Not to mention that as Zhang Hong said, forming an alliance with Qin will indeed destroy your reputation. Even the two-divided world I proposed has many loopholes. I believe Zhou Yu has already seen it, and I have already made some concessions. Preparation for interests.”
"But the kings and ministers of Chu State had other plans, so they strongly opposed it."
"Now the six countries in the world are standing side by side, restraining each other. Do you think that when Wei attacks Xu Han, Chu will really stay in a corner and do nothing as Sun Ce said?"
Seeing Dong Shang shake his head, Jia Xu continued.
"Huh, since Sun Ce didn't want to send troops to hinder the Wei State from conquering Xu Han, then he must have wanted to take the opportunity to attack the Shu State. They were each fighting their own way, and no one had time to hinder the other. But in terms of the result, the fertile fields of Shuchuan are thousands of miles away, and the land of abundance is abundant. But it is much more valuable than Liu Bei’s Xuzhou.”
"Once the Shu Kingdom is captured, Sun Ce can also attack Zhang Lu's Hanzhong to the north. Our army is mainly cavalry and it is difficult to attack the stronghold. Liu Zhang is cowardly and incompetent. Just because we can't defeat the Lu Kingdom doesn't mean that Sun Ce can't defeat the Lu Kingdom. Once he gets these two pieces, Territory, Chu will soon surpass Wei in strength and become the number one prince in the world."
Listening to Jia Xu's analysis, Dong Shang fell into thinking.
"Teacher, isn't Sun Ce afraid that we and Cao Cao will join forces to deal with him?"
"Hehehe, this is where they are clever."
Jia Xu smiled softly and rummaged around in the carriage for a map. After he spread out the map, he pointed at the Yangtze River and continued to answer Dong Shang in detail.
"Why don't they have any idea about Cao Cao's attack on Xuzhou?"
"Because what they want is the Yangtze River! The Chu State has the most powerful navy among the princes, and it is not just a little stronger, but crushing. Even if we, the Qin State and the Wei State, join forces to deal with the Chu State, what can we do to him? How about that? The cavalry will drown when they get into the water, and the landlubbers will be dragged down by the water ghosts when they get on the boat."
"In the eyes of others, Xuzhou is a piece of fat, but in the eyes of Chu, it is a burden. Sometimes giving up is also a kind of wisdom. With the natural chasm of the Yangtze River, Chu has the confidence and the ability to face the attacks of Qin and Wei at the same time. .”
"Look at Chu State today. Its army has grown from 100,000 to 200,000 in three years!"
"Then let him get the fertile land of Shu and Lu? What if we let him develop for another ten years? Three hundred thousand? Four hundred thousand? Five hundred thousand? Or, six hundred thousand?"
"At that time, who in the world can stop the Chu army?"
Hearing this, Dong Shang's face became solemn, and he finally understood Jia Xu's sorrow.
"Sadly, the State of Chu is advancing by leaps and bounds and changing with each passing day, but the State of Qin is immersed in debauchery."
"Thinking back to the pre-Qin Dynasty, after several generations of hard work, the first emperor left Hangu in the west, swept through the six countries, and ascended the throne of the emperor to rule the world. He took the land of Baiyue in the south and called it Guilin and Xiangjun; the king of Baiyue bowed his head and tied his neck , commissioned his subordinates. He ordered Meng Tian to build the Great Wall to the north and guard the fence, but the Huns were more than 700 miles away. The Hu people did not dare to go south to herd horses, and the scholars did not dare to bend their bows and complain."
"Now the Qin State deserves to be called 'Qin'?"
Dong Shang's face was full of disdain. It was hard to imagine that he, the prince of Qin, would say such a thing.
Jia Xu nodded happily, cupped his hands and said.
"The young master is ambitious and plans for the world, but Jia Xu is not talented and does the work of a dog and a horse."
Hearing these words, Dong Shang felt much relieved and he said quickly.
"Teacher is too modest again. How many people in this world are as talented as a teacher? It is the blessing of Qin to have a teacher to help me!"
"In my opinion, Teacher, will the King of Chu accept our alliance?"
Jia Xu stroked his mustache and smiled.
"Not all the best methods will be used by people. People's hearts are often ruled by emotions. He will accept it."
······
Ji Shu was extremely happy after he recovered Pang Tong, and accompanied Pang Tong while talking and walking slowly along the way. After bringing him to the house to meet Yueying, he temporarily arranged for him to stay in the house temporarily.
Ji Shu then ran to the palace to learn about the recent situation and prepared to recommend Pang Tong to Sun Ce.
"What? My eldest brother decided to secretly cooperate with Dong Zhuo to attack Cao Cao?"
Before Ji Shu met Sun Ce, he got shocking news from Zhou Yu.
"Second brother, why didn't you stop him! What's going on? Doesn't this completely disrupt our plan? And working with Dong Zhuo?! Is the eldest brother crazy? His reputation will be discredited!"
"It's a secret cooperation, it won't be put on the table."
Zhou Yu corrected Ji Shu's statement, sighed, and continued.
"I want to stop it, but how?"
"The Jiangdong family rebelled, and brothers Bofu and Zhongmou turned against each other. Zhongmou is still under house arrest at the Taifu's house; and Han Dang, one of Bofu's most respected uncles, died trying to save him."
"A few days ago, Wei Guo Xizuo was stirring up trouble in Jianye City, trying to provoke us into war with Qin."
"Now, Bo Fu knows that his father also died under Cao Cao's conspiracy."
"How much hatred, how much hatred? How can I stop him?"
"It's too late to say anything now. Bo Fu has promised Dong Shang to jointly send troops to attack Cao Cao in early spring. As winter is about to begin, the war between Cao Cao and Liu Bei has slowed down, and Zhuge Jin has been ordered to send Liu Bei as an envoy."
