"I originally thought that Liu Zhang was cowardly and did not dare to conquer Chu; the only one left to guard against was Dong Zhuo. Even if the war went unfavorably, Dong Zhuo was beaten to Chang'an City without even having a chance to take action. I didn't expect that you would skip Liu Zhang and go to persuade Zhang Ren !”
Ji Shu glared at Xu Shu when he said this, with anger or hatred in his eyes unclear. His thin body trembled slightly, and it was easy to see that this change was far beyond Ji Shu and Zhou Yu's expectations.
Xu Shu grabbed the wine glass and took a sip to cover up his expression. He did not tell Ji Shu that there was someone else who really asked Zhang Ren to send troops, and he had no obligation to tell Ji Shu.
"So, you dare to intercept Taishi Ci's military report?"
"Chu State won, but you didn't win."
Xu Shu and Ji Shu looked at each other silently, their eyes showing no intention of giving in.
"Do you really believe in Sun Ce?"
"Why do you think he became sworn sworn brother with you?"
"Trust you?"
Xu Shu sneered even more.
"wrong!"
"It's just that Sun Jian's death made him understand that it's not enough to have soldiers who can die for him. It's far from enough."
"He needs an adviser, and I admit that he is very discerning. When no one in the world knows about you Ji Shu, he, Sun Ce, is willing to become a brother to you, a little official with no reputation at all, who kidnapped a lady from a noble family to escape from marriage."
"It turns out that he has a good vision. Without you, it might take Sun Ce an extra year or two to unify Jiangdong. Without you, Sun Ce might have died at the hands of the Jiangdong family."
"But does this mean Sun Ce trusts you more?"
Having said this, the coldness on Xu Shu's face did not diminish, but he nodded slightly.
"Maybe he really trusts you more, but you are also more dangerous, you know?"
"Throughout the ages, people in higher positions have been more likely to walk on thin ice. Why? Because they know that the greater their achievements, the closer they are to death."
"The cunning rabbit dies and the lackey is cooked. Don't you understand this principle?"
"If you go against Qijun, the biggest rebel, you will either die today or tomorrow. How can he be there?"
What Xu Shu said seemed to be trying to estrange others, but also seemed to be stating a fact.
Ji Shu lowered his eyes and watched the candlelight ripple in the wine glass. He grabbed the wine glass and poured the wine down his throat, but no one knew whether he tasted the bitter taste.
"maybe."
"My eldest brother and I only met a few times before we became sworn brothers. When we met again, he had only a small army. I knew that he had great ambitions but could not express them. He knew that I had many tricks but could not use them. Is this brotherhood?"
I can't figure it out.
After a long pause, Ji Shu continued.
"I don't know what my eldest brother thinks of me now, but over the years, I have really regarded him as my eldest brother."
"Brother Yuan Zhi, you only know that Chu is strong, but you don't know why Chu is strong."
Ji Shu glanced at Xu Shu and saw that he seemed interested. He even straightened his posture slightly, as if he was listening attentively. Ji Shu continued.
"Zhang Hong, Zhang Zhao, and Zhuge Jin are all descendants of aristocratic families."
"Many people work hard all their lives just to make a living. But they are different. They have countless land rents rolling in and countless servants to serve them. They can enjoy a lifetime of prosperity even without putting in any effort."
"But they chose to change, and that's how the One Tax Law and the Qi Min Law came into being."
Do you think these people are fools?
Perhaps in the eyes of some aristocratic families, they are fools, and they are also hateful fools.
Ji Shu kept laughing as he spoke, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
"Anyone who is not blind can see that this country is sick. Taxes are heavy, the people are struggling, the princes are fighting, and the country is torn apart."
"It needs to change and it has to change."
"Zhang Hong, Zhang Zhao, Zhuge Jin, these people are more than just names. They represent a group of people who are willing to give up their superior lives to change the society and respond to the people's desires."
"Of course, there are also people like Han Dang, Huang Gai, Zhou Tai, and Tai Shi Ci. Some of them are children of aristocratic families, and some of them are from poor backgrounds, but they all fight bloody battles just to make Chu strong."
"This is where Xu Han was inferior to Chu."
"Looking at the princes in the world, only Chu and Wei are seeking change, but Wei's changes are far less profound than Chu's. As for Xu Han, Liu Bei is just trying to climb from the bottom to the top. He is really doing it for him. Are you talking about 'saving the world and helping the great men'?"
Ji Shu stopped talking at this point and just waited for Xu Shu quietly, but Xu Shu closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.
"It's late at night, please come back, Mr. Ji."
"······"
"Brother Yuanzhi, have a good rest and I'll come back to you next time."
Ji Shu let out an insignificant sigh, left the wine bottle, turned around and walked out of the tent.
Seeing Ji Shu's back leaving the camp, Xu Shu let out a long sigh of relief, as if his body had been suppressed by invisible pressure for a long time. He briskly picked up the flask, poured himself some wine, and enjoyed it.
At this time, a sneaky figure poked his head outside the tent to look around, causing Xu Shu to freeze for no reason.
"Mr. Ji was here just now?"
A familiar voice came. Xu Shu took a closer look and saw that the person coming was none other than Pang Tong. Xu Shu was immediately annoyed and rolled his eyes.
"Come in quickly."
Pang Tong responded with a sigh, sat down at Ji Shu's seat, and took out a roast chicken wrapped in lotus leaves and a wine pot from somewhere, and then placed them on the table familiarly.
Xu Shu looked happy, but said with a teasing smile.
"What, you're here to be a lobbyist too?"
"Then you mean you don't want to eat?"
Pang Tong rolled his eyes and pretended to take the roasted chicken away, but Xu Shu quickly stopped him.
"Sit down, you just got here, why are you leaving in such a hurry."
Xu Shu put the last book on the table under the corner of the table and helped arrange the food on the table.
After two glasses of wine, the two enjoyed the roast chicken, and Pang Tong asked.
"Senior brother, what do you think of Ji Shu?"
Xu Shu sighed and hummed.
"But you are a fool, and this is the kind of fool that my junior sister likes the most. Alas, I thought that my junior sister would be with Kong Ming."
Pang Tong's mouth was full of oil. He grabbed the wine glass with his oily hands and took a sip.
"Senior brother, in the Chu-Han War, you should not have given all the command to Kong Ming."
What's the meaning?
Do you want to help me analyze the cause of my failure, or do you want to take the opportunity to belittle Kong Ming?
Xu Shu glanced at Pang Yi strangely.
"You and Kong Ming are both the teacher's most proud disciples. I think I can't arrange things better than Kong Ming's."
Pang Tong rolled his eyes at Xu Shu and continued.
"You have served as military advisor in Xuzhou for many years. You have defeated Cao Cao and defeated Yuan Shu several times. You have already established your prestige in the army. From the generals to the soldiers, you are convinced. When Kong Ming first arrived, he was on the same level as you in terms of position, and in fact, you were the first to win. Then take over the military power. From your and Liu Bei's point of view, it may be meritocracy, but what do the soldiers below think? They still want to make us, the Chu State, our opponent. I think you are really looking for death."
Xu Shu's face remained livid for a while, then he calmed down and pointed at Pang Tong with a smile and curse.
"You're such a bastard, you're really submissive to outsiders, but you hit hard on acquaintances."
Pang Tong listened with a natural expression, laughed twice, and said again without caring.
"I think Junior Sister has good taste and Mr. Ji is a nice person."
Xu Shu sighed softly.
"It's just that this person doesn't care about his life, and his fortune and misfortune are unpredictable."
“It’s hard to predict good or bad fortune?”
Pang Tong gave Xu Shu a strange look.
"I almost lost my head with your sword!"
"Let me tell you, my junior sister is now staying in Jianye to give birth. If the child is born without a father because of you, my junior sister will 90% skin you!"
Xu Shu was speechless immediately, drank a glass of wine and spoke slowly.
"To serve the country and the king, you have no choice but to do it yourself."
