After hearing this, the two masters stopped unconsciously, turned around and looked at King Hui who was standing in front of him, and said, "Your Majesty." King Hui faced Cao Shuang and said, "Cao Shuang, please retreat." Cao Shuang then retreated. Behind King Hui, he stood with Shang Fu. King Hui walked up the road: "The "King Wen" sung by the children is probably the words filled in by you two insects. You are not a real hermit. You are living in seclusion here to wait for a virtuous king like King Wen to assist him." , like Jiang Taigong. I am not as virtuous as King Wen, nor can I win over all the princes in the world. Zhao State does not have the ambition to unify the world like Qin State, but from the day I became the king of Zhao State, I will never forget King Wen’s words. The virtuous people will support the Zhou Dynasty, and the famous people from all over the world will work with me to govern the Zhao Kingdom. Peace in the world may be the common wish of you and me." The two noble men knelt down together and looked at King Hui and said, "We are willing to go down the mountain with the king. "They have seen King Hui's kindness. If they don't come out of the mountain at this time, then they will be wasting their time and they will have nothing to accomplish in this life. He went down the mountain with King Hui, and King Hui personally drove the second high scholar, because he was a corporal of courtesy and virtue. They returned to Handan, the capital of Zhao State, and entered the Zhao Palace.
There was a severe drought in Qi and Chu, and the people suffered severely. Even the rivers, lakes and seas have dried up, there are many refugees, and people are dying of hunger everywhere. Along the way, there are piles of bones, ruins, and smoke. There are more fireworks among insects, and the people are displaced. Under the capital of the Chu State, there were many victims of the disaster, begging along the streets, and countless people died of starvation. This is a natural disaster that only occurs once in a century. God has not rained for three years, and the scorching sun is baking in the sky. The people gathered next to the dry well and lowered the buckets to bring up yellow sand instead of water. The yellow sand in their hands was flying, and some had no strength to even walk, so they walked on the wall, looking up to the sky and shouting: "God, please let it rain."
The state of Chu was like this, and the state of Qi was not much better. When some officials of Qi State were going to court, they opened the curtains of their carriages and looked out, seeing hungry people everywhere. After entering the Palace of Qi, he met the King of Qi and stood up and said: "Your Majesty, our country of Qi is suffering from a severe drought and there is no harvest in the fields. Just now, when I was on my way to the court, the people inside and outside Linzi City were full of victims of the disaster. The elephants were so miserable that it was unbearable to see!" King Qi also had no choice but to say: "This is a natural disaster. What can you do about it?" The official could only retreat among the officials, sighing repeatedly. King Qi looked at Prime Minister Qi again and said: "Prime Minister!" Prime Minister Qi stood up and bowed and said: "Your Majesty." King Qi asked: "I heard that Chu State also suffered a disaster." Prime Minister Qi replied: "Yes. The state of Chu is much more serious than the state of Qi." King Qi said: "That is King Chu's lack of benevolence. It is God's punishment for him. I can't blame him for anything." Xiang Qi raised his eyes and looked at King Qi and said, "What about the state of Qi? This year is another year of great disaster for our two countries, Qi and Chu. How will our Qi country survive the year of famine?" King Qi had already planned in his heart and said: "King Zhao is benevolent and will not treat me badly. The people of Qi State don't care. I wonder who among you is willing to go as an envoy to the State of Zhao?" The official stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to be an envoy to the State of Zhao." The King of Qi stood up and said: "Okay." Then he walked down the station. In front of the official, he stretched out his hand to help the official, looked at him and said: "Okay, you are going to be the envoy to Zhao. I hope you will fulfill your mission." The official saluted again and said: "I will definitely fulfill my mission." ." King Qi patted it on the shoulder and said: "Okay, Widow Chong is waiting for your good news in Linzi City." Then he turned around and walked up: "You go ahead."
The official left the palace of Qi and went to Zhao as an envoy that day. At the same time, Chu also sent an envoy to Zhao. The envoys of Qi and Chu arrived at Handan, the capital of Zhao, at the same time. At this time, King Hui was still in Jinyang, and they were all living in a posthouse waiting for King Hui's return.
As soon as King Hui entered the Zhao palace, he became concerned about the disasters in Qi and Chu. He asked the ministers: "My lords, this drought is a rare event in a hundred years. Qi and Chu were seriously affected. I wonder how they are doing now?" A minister stood up and said. "Back to your Majesty, the disaster situation in Qi and Chu is still very serious. Now Qi and Chu have sent envoys to Handan, the capital of Zhao." King Hui stood up and asked, "How long have the envoys of Qi and Chu been in Handan?" ?" The minister replied: "It has been five days." King Hui scolded: "Both Qi and Chu are subjects of the Zhou Dynasty. We were born as ministers of the Zhou Dynasty, and we should share the emperor's worries. The local disaster situation is urgent and we need to make a decision immediately. Why don't you report it to me?" King Hui stood in the main hall and looked at these ministers. These ministers stood speechless in the court. King Hui looked at them and said: "The envoys have been in our Zhao country for five days. They don't care or ask. It's our Zhao country that is rude!" Then he turned to the eunuch beside him and said: "Prepare the chariot, the widow is about to leave the palace." Go down and exit Zhao Palace.
These ministers followed behind. King Hui turned around and said, "Your Majesty, stay here." He then looked at Shang Fu who was standing behind them and said, "Shang Fu!" Shang Fu ran forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty." King Hui faced Shang Fu. Said: "You'd better go with me." Shang Fu just nodded silently. King Hui faced these ministers again, bowed and saluted, and said: "I lost my temper with you just now. This is my fault. I apologize to you and I understand you. This drought is a rare occurrence in a hundred years. I, Zhao The country has also suffered a disaster, and you don't want me to be distracted, but I want to tell you that people's livelihood issues are a major matter for the country, and there is no need to delay. You must repay me immediately, without looking forward or backward." These ministers were even more ashamed, and they knelt down and shouted together. He said: "Your Majesty!" King Hui faced these ministers and said: "My lords, please stand down." King Hui bowed and took a few steps back, and got on the carriage behind him. Shang Fu sat in front and drove King Hui to the post house.
Before arriving at the post house, Shang Fu got off the carriage, stood beside the carriage and said, "Your Majesty, we have arrived." King Hui then walked out and stood in front of the post house, looking up. Yi Cheng and the two envoys walked out and knelt to greet him: "Your Majesty." King Hui helped Yi Cheng up, then looked at the two envoys behind Yi Cheng and said, "You all get up." He walked up and said, "You two are The envoys from the State of Qi and the State of Chu are sent as envoys to the State of Zhao." The two envoys looked at each other for a while, a little silly, and then looked at King Hui, kowtowed and said, "That's right." King Hui faced They took a few steps back, bowed deeply, put their hands in front of them, and said: "I, the State of Zhao, were rude first and kept you two waiting for a long time. Please get in the car with me. We will talk after we enter the palace." Let's go." The two envoys got into King Hui's chariot and sat in the car with King Hui. Shang Fu drove them.
Entering Zhao Palace, King Hui sat in front of several cases. The two envoys from Qi and Chu entered the Zhao Palace, stood in front of the ministers, kowtowed and saluted, and said: "Your Majesty, the disaster in the Chu Kingdom is serious. We are sent as envoys to the Zhao Kingdom. Under the order of our king, we ask your Majesty to save the victims of the Chu Kingdom. Right." The envoy of Qi stood aside and said: "The same is true for our country of Qi. Please save our country of Qi." King Hui sat in front of several cases and nodded and said: "I understand the disasters in Qi and Chu. Tomorrow, the money and grain for disaster relief will be shipped to Qi and Chu." The two envoys kowtowed together and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty." Then they exited the Zhao Palace.
King Hui looked at the ministers and said, "My lords, which one of you is willing to send money and food for disaster relief to Qi and Chu?" Two noble men stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we should go to Qi and Chu as envoys." King Hui He walked down and said, "I have wronged you two gentlemen." One of these two noble men is a Chong from the state of Qi, named Cheng Yang, with the courtesy name Pengju; the other is a Chong Yangchu from the state of Wei, with the courtesy name Tianyi. They are both Hui A scholar invited by the king.
King Hui governed the State of Zhao, and Shang Fu was in charge of the finances of the State of Zhao. Shang Fu was originally a businessman from Wei State and was good at financial management. Shang Fu promulgated a series of preferential policies for business, attracting merchants from all over the world to Handan, the capital of Zhao State. Business developed even more, and Handan, the capital city, became the commercial and cultural center of Zhao State. At the same time, Shang Fu was also responsible for diplomacy and entertaining all kinds of people. For the envoys of the vassal states, Shang Fu is responsible for all matters, no matter how big or small, and no matter how detailed they are regarding diplomatic and financial matters.
At night, Shang Fu held a banquet in the mansion to entertain the wealthy businessmen in the city. These wealthy businessmen entered the merchant mansion one after another. When these wealthy businessmen entered Shang Fu's house, they kowtowed in front of Shang Fu and said, "Shang Fu." Shang Fu stood up and said in return, "Everyone, please have a seat." These merchants were sitting in front of several tables on both sides. Shang Fu looked at the merchants sitting on both sides and said: "Your Majesty governs with austerity and refuses all extravagance and waste. Please forgive me." These merchants all appreciated Shang Fu's character and were very loyal. They all believed in it and said: "Big Chong is worthy of being the king's disciple. We all believe in your character. If you have any questions, just tell us and we will do our best." The rest of the merchants looked at Shang Fu and said, "Big Chong , just say it." Shang Fu looked at the merchants on the left and right and said: "Since everyone has said so, then I can only say it directly." These merchants said: "Big insect, just say it." Shang Fu looked at them He said: "The two countries of Qi and Chu were seriously affected by the disaster. I, the King of Rende, always paid attention to the victims of the Qi and Chu countries. For this, the king could not bear to eat and could not sleep. As you all know, our country, Zhao, has just gone through a year of disaster. , In addition, the king wants to expand his army and send troops to Zhongshan State. The money and food in the treasury are not enough. I also ask you to generously donate money and food." Then he stood up and bowed to them and said: "I, Shang Fu, would like to thank you all. Yes." A merchant began to hesitate and said, "Big Chong, I have something to say. I don't know whether I should say it or not?" Shang Fu sat down and looked at the merchant and said, "Please speak." The merchant said, "Big Chong, I know you were once a businessman, and we businessmen do nothing for profit. Please understand this." The businessmen around them lowered their heads and said nothing. Shang Fu looked at them, all of them remained silent. After a long time, he said: "You are right. I was once a businessman who valued profits but neglected justice. I think this is not a shrewd businessman. I think too much. Narrowness will not last long. Live in harmony with friends and exchange benefits, so that your trade routes will be broader. I will sign my name on the money and food you donate, and I can use this to spread the word. The money and food donated are not in vain. From now on, you will be the righteous merchants of our Zhao country. You will have both fame and fortune. Isn't it the best of both worlds?" After saying this, Shang Fu looked at them and paused for a long time. Everyone still had nothing. reaction. Shang Fu added: "This is the money and grain that the imperial court borrowed from you. I will pay it back twice as much when there is a good harvest next year. This is the biggest concession I have made. If you still refuse to borrow it, then fine, I will raise the money and grain myself. That's the point." I, the merchant assistant, can still handle the money and food. From now on, the government and businessmen will be clean, and there will be no more interactions." These merchants are really slippery, and they immediately turned to the side of the merchant assistant, reproaching the merchant and saying: "Li Huo, you What are you talking about? Although we are Shang Chong, we still have righteousness in our hearts. The Chong is a loyal insect, don’t we still believe in its nature? We all believe in the Shang Chong, who values harmony and values peace. Expensive." This businessman looked dumbfounded. He must be thinking, why should I do it while the good ones do it? I felt very dissatisfied and stood stupidly. A merchant looked at it and said, "Why don't you sit down quickly? It's a shame. You just say some unpleasant things." The merchant sat down boredly. Shang Fu made peace among them and said: "It has nothing wrong. It speaks what it wants to say and dares to tell the truth. I like insects who tell the truth." These merchants said flatteringly: "It's better. Big Chong is generous." He looked at the Shang Chong sitting next to him and said, "This is the Chong that doesn't care about you." The Shang Chong stood up again and said, "Thank you, the Chong, for not caring about us. This is the attitude of a small Chong." The belly of a gentleman.”
