Wang Sheng knew very well that although the Huai army had won consecutive battles and had high morale, its physical fatigue would not change. Having traveled thousands of miles in a short period of time and fought several battles during this period, these soldiers also needed to rest.
Of course, even if peace was to be negotiated, he could not send people there.
Wang Sheng let the army continue to form an attack formation to suppress Qi State, but he relaxed a lot against Lu State. After seeing this situation, Qi State became more certain that there was already a connection between Lu State and Huai State.
It did not dare to unite with the Lu State again, and without an alliance between the two countries, it would not be an opponent against the Huai State alone. At this time, the Qi State did not dare to go to war with the Huai State again. It's just that now that the Huai army is on the side, they don't dare to retreat easily.
Once the Huai State makes a surprise attack during its retreat, the Qi State will definitely suffer heavy losses. As for the State of Lu, even the State of Qi cannot believe them now.
For the current plan, we can only ask for help from the country and send people to negotiate.
After receiving the news that Qi Jun sent an envoy to negotiate, Wang Sheng was relieved. The Qi people came to negotiate, and it seemed that the war was coming to an end.
After more than a hundred years of development, the Qi State conquered and annexed many Dongyi tribes. The Lai State, which was still able to compete with it in the past, has gradually declined in the past few decades, and a lot of land has been occupied by the Qi State. Now the population of Qi State is not much worse than that of Huai State. It would be a headache to fight to the death.
After learning that Qi wanted to cease the war, Wang Sheng discussed with the ministers and felt that they could not just sign this armistice covenant, but wanted to sign a long-term covenant with Qi. When he goes south to annex Wu, Qi will not hold him back.
However, the current Qi generals did not have this authority, so after some discussion, Wang Sheng decided to send an envoy to Qi.
Being an envoy to Qi State is not an easy task. After all, there have been several wars between Huai State and Qi State, and it is not easy to form an alliance. Moreover, this mission will most likely be met with difficulties, which is not a good job, so a person with both wisdom and courage is needed to go.
After thinking for a long time, Wang Sheng decided to send Xu Mao as envoy to Qi.
Qi State, Linzi.
When Xu Mao came here, the Marquis of Qi received him with the courtesy of a duke. Since the Huai Kingdom was recognized by the Emperor of Zhou, no matter how unhappy the Zhou states were, they had to receive him with the courtesy of a duke.
It's just that this warm reception disappeared after entering the Qi King's Palace. Although it was still a gift from a duke according to the specifications, it just seemed very perfunctory.
Xu Mao didn't pay attention to this, because this was indeed a gift from the Duke, and you can't say that their smiles were fake.
The banquet in the main hall was not lively and seemed very deserted. After Xu Mao sat down, before he could say anything, he saw two officials tying up a man and walking to Qi Hou.
Qi Hou asked: "Where is the tied man from and what crime did he commit?"
The eunuch next to him said: "He is from Huaiguo and has committed the crime of theft."
Qi Hou glanced at Xu Mao and said contemptuously: "Are all Huai people good at stealing?"
Xu Mao left his seat and replied: "I heard that oranges are oranges when they grow in Huainan, and they become tangerines when they grow north of the Huaihe River. It's just that the leaves are the same, but the taste of the fruit is completely different. What's the reason? The water and soil are different. Huai people did not steal when they lived in Huai State, but they stole when they came to Qi State. Could it be that the soil and water of Qi State made the people have to steal for a living?"
The monarchs and ministers of Qi were embarrassed for a while, then waved their hands and asked the officials to take them away.
Qi's arrangement also made Xu Mao understand that he had to fight back, otherwise Huai would only be looked down upon by him. As soon as my heart moved, I said it immediately.
"I heard that many of the rich people in Qi have wives and concubines. Is that okay?"
Hearing the envoy from Huai State praising the prosperity of Qi, these ministers immediately nodded in recognition, but at the same time they despised him again in their hearts.
Xu Mao continued: "When I came to Qi, the foreign minister heard something."
"I don't know what it is?" a minister asked.
"It's about a man in Qi who had a wife and a concubine at home. The husband went out every day and came home after eating and drinking. The wife was a little curious about who was eating with him. The man said that they all He is a high-ranking official with great status.
The wife was very surprised when she heard this. She told the concubine that her husband would come back drunk every day when he went out. When asked who he was drinking with, he said they were some dignitaries, but our family is just ordinary people. Why should he be invited by dignitaries and also not Have you ever seen any dignitaries come to your home?
The wife decided to secretly follow her husband to check, so early the next morning, the wife secretly followed her husband out of the house. She saw that her husband did not say hello or talk to anyone the whole way. Instead, he came to a place near a wealthy family's house. Just when the wife thought her husband would enter the home of this dignitary, she saw her husband take a detour and come to a small road nearby.
This path leads to the back door of this dignitary's house. Could it be that the husband can only enter through the back door? The wife felt a little unhappy. I saw my husband coming to the back door and knocking on it a few times. After a while, the door opened, and a servant-looking man glanced at him, while the husband asked the man for something with a flattering look on his face. The servant waved his hand impatiently and asked him to wait here, and then closed the door with a bang.
After a while, I saw the servant bringing some leftovers and giving them to the husband. The husband was very grateful to him and ate the leftovers. After eating, the husband left here and went to the back door of other dignitaries' houses to beg for money. It turns out that this is the place where dignitaries are invited to have dinner every day.
After the wife returned, she told her concubine what she had seen. The two of them stood in the yard, quarreled and cried each other, but the husband had no idea about it. After drinking and eating, he came back triumphantly and showed off his power in front of his wife and concubine.
I wonder if you think this person is funny? "
After listening to Xu Mao's story, the faces of the monarchs and ministers of Qi State turned ugly. Qi Hou wanted to have an attack several times, but had to endure it.
In the end, he could only say: "Haha, the Huai envoy is here, you can't joke, but I am doing something wrong. Take all these wines and food away, and send new ones!"
Xu Mao said: "Thank you very much, Marquis Qi, for your hospitality."
Soon, many attendants replaced the simple banquet and brought all kinds of food and wine. Then songs and dances were performed one after another, and the whole hall was peaceful, as if the quarrel just now was an illusion.
...
"Xu Mao's Envoy to Qi" has concise text, spicy writing style, and penetrating characters. It depicts the arrogant attitude of Qi's monarchs and ministers, and Xu Mao's counterattacks are also gold-plated. It satirizes the arrogant, arrogant and rude Qi Jun, and reflects Qi Jun's despicable heart but arrogant hypocrisy on the outside. It fully demonstrates his awe-inspiring integrity that puts national dignity first, and his diplomatic talents that are good at dealing with enemies. ——"People's Education Press High School Chinese Volume 5"
