The entire inn was filled with silence.
"These two tough guys!"
Zhang Xiu had a look of helplessness on his face.
I thought that when these two people saw me here, they would definitely know that he was making a secret visit, so they quietly pretended not to know each other. I didn't expect that they would kneel down and bow down so directly.
Now it's better, the undercover investigation has become an open investigation.
Ma Zhong and Li Hui's faces turned pale with fright, and cold sweat broke out all over their bodies. They hurriedly knelt down and worshiped: "Common people pay homage to the emperor, long live! Long live! Long live!"
Others also knelt down in a hurry.
"Everyone, get up!" Zhang Xiu looked at Qin Mi and Yi Ji helplessly, "I originally wanted to visit secretly, but I didn't expect that the secret visit turned into an open visit, everyone, get up!"
In fact, Qin Mi and Yi Ji were frightened by the fierce attack, and kneeling down was just a quick and subconscious reaction.
After hearing Zhang Xiu's words, a layer of sweat broke out on their foreheads.
Everyone else got up, but the two of them knew they were guilty and did not dare to get up. They waited quietly with their foreheads on the ground.
"Get up!"
Zhang Xiu said to them, "Are you here also for an unannounced visit?"
Qin Mi and Yi Ji breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that he was not angry. Qin Mi secretly wiped his sweat and said, "I heard that students from all over the world are here, so I wanted to come and see how the inn is doing. I brought Yi Shangshu here."
"kindness!"
Zhang Xiu nodded and glanced at Ma Zhong and Li Hui. "What you just said is good, but running a country is not just about words. You need to see your true talents and learning. I originally wanted to ask your names, but I don't want to ask now. Now, I will be waiting for you two in the palace, are you confident?"
Ma Zhong and Li Hui were so excited that their hearts almost jumped out of their chests.
His face turned red.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiu didn't reply quickly after he asked the question. He stared at the ground in a daze.
Yi Ji reminded: "Why don't you reply quickly?"
The two of them suddenly understood and knelt down: "I have confidence and am willing to serve Dajing! I am willing to serve the emperor."
Zhang Xiu nodded, then looked at the others: "It's not just the two of them, you all have to take the exam well. The country of Dajing is ours and yours. You will be the cornerstone of Dajing in the future. I wish you all the best." Everyone’s names on the gold list!”
None of the candidates dreamed that they would receive the emperor's blessing.
They all knelt down and responded in a rough voice.
The secret visit failed and Zhang Xiu could not stay any longer. He just walked around the yard accompanied by the innkeeper, Qin Mi and Yi Ji, and then went back.
As soon as he entered the palace, Li Ru had been waiting outside the study pavilion for a long time.
Seeing Li Ru's hurried and anxious look, with sweat breaking out on his head, he smiled and said, "What big deal is it that makes my prime minister so anxious?"
"Your Majesty!" Li Ru hurriedly knelt down and said, "A letter from Cao Wei."
"A letter from Cao Wei?" Zhang Xiu was surprised, "Is it a letter from Cao Cao to me?"
"yes."
"What's in the letter?"
"I don't know," he said, handing the letter over, "it was written by Cao Cao himself. Please see it before your Majesty."
Zhang Xiu took the letter and entered the study pavilion. Su Jin had prepared hot tea in advance and asked several eunuchs to stand around the pavilion with cattail fans to cool it.
Sitting on a chair, he opened the letter in no hurry, asked Li Ru to sit opposite him, stared at the letter in his hand and asked: "Prime Minister Li, what do you think the content of this letter is?"
Sitting still, Li Ru breathed a sigh of relief and said slowly: "I think it's probably the intention of unity."
"How can I see it?"
"Wuchen Zhou Yu met with the emperor to discuss the alliance, and Cao Wei is right in the middle of our two countries. If there is a sudden move, Cao Wei may not be able to react in time."
"Isn't there Liu Bei?"
Li Ru smiled and said: "Liu Bei has been targeted by our 150,000 border troops and is in a passive situation. How dare he make a move? Cao Cao wants to unite with Liu Bei, but Liu Bei is powerless."
Zhang Xiu nodded and opened the letter.
In the letter: Dear brother Jinghuang Boyuan, you are well and well! Since the attack on Yuan Shu in the south, we have not seen each other for several years, and I miss him very much. I am already at an age where I know my destiny. I am afraid that my time will be short, and I miss my old friend more and more in my heart. I specially held a banquet in Songshan Mountain to invite Emperor Jing Boyuan's distinguished brother to attend. I heard that Boyuan had established a crown prince, so I also took Prince Pi there, accompanied by twenty people. In the autumn of September, we are waiting for a special ride in Songshan Mountain!
"Invite me to a date?"
Zhang Xiu stared blankly at the letter in his hand, reading it three times.
This was really unexpected. Why would you want to go to Songshan Mountain to meet him? Are you going to play the emotional card? We are all people who have been through ups and downs for many years. It is probably impossible to play the emotional card, let alone talk about old times. I am afraid it is more about discussing the matter of union.
Zhang Xiu stationed 150,000 troops in Bingzhou, which put great pressure on Cao Wei.
If they were given two years of relaxation, there would be no pressure. Now Jizhou and Youzhou have just been pacified. The consumption of grain and grass is huge, and it is difficult to recover in a short period of time. It is necessary to increase the defense of Jizhou and guard against Soochow in the south, which is really unaffordable.
Zhang Xiu handed the letter to Li Ru: "I really don't know what kind of medicine Cao Cao is selling in this gourd, but he actually wants to invite me to meet at Songshan Mountain."
Li Ru took the letter and read it carefully, then sat there and thought about it intensely.
First rule out the possibility of Hongmen Banquet.
The Zhang family's heirs are prosperous, and the monarch and his ministers are united. Even if Zhang Xiu has an accident, Dajing's pace will still go forward. Moreover, after Zhang Xiu's accident, such a general who is so kind to Zhang Xiu may really fight Cao Wei. When the time comes, The only ones that are cheaper are Soochow and Liu Chu.
The most likely possibility is union.
But the problem is that from the beginning to the end, Zhang Xiu and Dajing's ministers never considered uniting with Cao Wei. Their relationship could only be hostile. Maybe they could unite for interests during the war.
After thinking for a moment, Li Ru said: "Your Majesty, I think you can go!"
"oh?"
Zhang Xiu looked at Li Ru with some surprise, "Tell me, why can you go?"
Li Ru: "I think there are three things to do. First, Cao Wei is in short supply of food and grass now. Cao Cao must want to communicate directly with the emperor to achieve the issue of the withdrawal of the border guards from both sides. Whether we agree or not is in our hands, so we can go; second, because of the general trend , whether the Songshan Talk succeeds or not, it will make Liu Chu feel that our relationship is tighter than theirs, and make them more wary of Cao Wei, but go; third, we can recreate the 'Gulf Alliance', and after agreeing to their request, Cao Wei did not dare to go back on his word, but we do, so these three can go."
He tapped his fingers lightly on the tea table and thought carefully.
Thinking that this trip is really feasible, not to mention these three points of Li Ru's point of view, Zhang Xiu felt that it was worth going, and wanted to know what Cao Cao had to say many years later, after the change of circumstances. Say it yourself.
He said: "Your analysis is very good. If this is the case, then you should prepare. I will reply to Cao Cao now. Since it is the Emperor of Wei who has made an appointment, how can I not give him this face?"
He said standing up.
Li Ru followed and waited for Zhang Xiu to write the letter and seal it before leaving.
