Set up camp.
Xu Mu personally took the people and went around the neighborhood two or three times. Only when I found nothing unusual did I go back.
"Lord, someone is coming."
As soon as they returned to the camp, Ma Yi, who was left behind, approached and spoke.
Xu Mu raised his head and found that an exquisite carriage had stopped on the official road in Kezhou ahead. There were about two to three hundred guards surrounding the carriage.
"King Xu Shu!" Before the curtain of the carriage swayed, an old man in a luxurious robe stepped out. As soon as he stood firm, he hurriedly approached with fists clasped and saluted Xu Mu.
Xu Mu returned the gift.
"I, Huang Daochong, couldn't help being happy when I learned that the King of Shu had arrived in Kezhou, so I rushed over immediately."
Huang Daochong, the leader of the three counties of Kezhou, was a smart man and did not become king. Any such well-rounded person is not an ordinary person.
"King Shu, why bother to camp outside the country? Follow me into the city quickly. In Kezhou, I have prepared a banquet and a fine wing."
Xu Mu smiled and said, "No need, thank you Mr. Huang."
It is already far away from Shuzhou. Even if there is an army of 10,000 supported by Fan Lu behind him. But no matter what, be careful.
Listening to Xu Mu's words, Huang Daochong sighed.
"I know what the King of Shu is thinking. If it hadn't been for this troubled time, I would have drank three hundred cups with the King of Shu. Last year, the King of Shu rejected Beidi. Every time I think about it, I always feel extremely heroic. In the world, if there are more people like the King of Shu Such people have no need to worry about the troubled times."
"Mr. Huang, you're welcome."
Xu Mu didn't listen. It was normal for a well-rounded person to slap a rainbow fart.
"Come here, bring me all the wine and meat. I want to offer it to my little brother, King of Shu." Huang Daochong turned his head, his tone full of anxiety.
Xu Mu stood calmly, with no sadness or joy in his heart.
"King Shu, how about you and I having a few drinks together?"
"That's easy to say."
There were guards from Kezhou who laid out mats by the river. It didn't take long, just waiting for the wine and meat to be served, Huang Daochong made a "please" gesture.
Xu Mu returned the favor, imitating the ancients, holding the corners of his robe and sitting on the ground.
"First of all, I would like to offer you a glass of wine to the King of Shu. After a long journey, this is the wine to catch the wind."
Afraid that Xu Mu might think it was poisoned, Huang Daochong held the wine cup and drank it all first.
Xu Mu paused, then raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.
"I have heard about the King of Shu. He is so heroic and has the world in mind. I should also know why Lord Yuan chose you."
"Back then, with no army or generals, King Xu Shu dared to borrow troops to go north and blocked the entry of 300,000 Beidi troops. In any case, I, Huang Daochong, admire this matter."
"As luck would have it, I almost didn't come back." Xu Mu smiled lightly.
Huang Daochong smiled even more happily, "Look at the kings of foreign states and generals from Dingzhou all over the world. Who is gone? Only you and the king of Yuzhou."
"I, Huang Daochong, am over half a hundred years old and can see through many things. The day when Mr. Yuan Houye Qingjun died. I won't hide it from you. I hid in a county guard's mansion in Kezhou, closed the door, and cried. Two days later.”
Xu Mu nodded calmly.
Huang Daochong raised his head and looked at Xu Mu, "The path taken by the King of Shu can be seen by everyone in the world. It is not like the King of Yuzhou, King Liangzhou, or even King Zuo Shiren, the King of Lingzhou... You are following the way of the people."
Folk ways? I guess this word was coined by some rotten scholar after drinking two ounces of rice wine.
"I used to be a poor person, so that's normal. I'm not the only one in this world. The people in Laizhou are very poor. Isn't that why I follow the folk way?"
Fang Ru, a native of Laizhou, had already proclaimed himself king. He led the people's rebel army to pursue the rich gentry and dog officials to kill him.
"That's different." Huang Daochong's face was serious, "He is a commoner who is eager for quick success and quick profit, and he will eventually be destroyed. But you, King Xu Shu, know how to prepare for rainy days and rely on the support of the people. One day, I won't be surprised if you conquer half of the country. .”
"Mr. Huang, you are joking again."
Huang Daochong was silent for a while, "King Xu Shu may not know that my Huang family was originally a noble family in the inner city. More than forty years ago, I watched my father worry every day, and the business of the family was also affected by other powerful families. , the family went bankrupt. With no other choice, my family moved to Kezhou. Even so, I still have to gather many aristocratic families in Kezhou to take charge of the three counties of Kezhou."
"What does Mr. Huang want to say?" Xu Mu frowned. Huang Daochong in front of him, the things in his words became more and more strange.
Huang Daochong paused, "The King of Shu is right to take advantage of the situation. But has the King of Shu ever thought that you might cause trouble if you are so... disregarding the family's status?"
"The aristocratic family doesn't like me in the first place. It doesn't matter if I care or not."
Just like Pingman and Human, he can only choose one. As early as when he entered Shu, the policy of subsidizing the people with a tax of one for fifteen years was set, and many wealthy families in Shuzhou had already moved away.
At most, a few small aristocratic families were supported and remained in Shuzhou.
If what he does is based on caring for the people, he will inevitably become the opposite of those aristocratic families.
There is no third option.
Therefore, Huang Daochong's words were completely meaningless to him.
Huang Daochong became silent. Even if Xu Mu didn't say it, he guessed the meaning.
"King of Shu, do you know why I don't want to be king? Although there are only three counties in Kezhou, most of them are old business families. If we gather the supplies, we can recruit at least 50,000 war-ready troops. Moreover, the terrain of Kezhou is mostly Fifty thousand people are enough to defend the miasma."
"I can't guess what the old gentleman meant." Xu Mu said calmly.
Huang Daochong raised his head, "I don't want to fight for hegemony, I just want to continue the family. The interests of many aristocratic families in Kezhou are consistent with mine. If you want to conquer the country by yourself and become the emperor, if you are not careful, the family will be wiped out. .”
"So -" Huang Daochong paused, "If a Ming Lord can appear and have the power to sweep the world, what's the harm in Kezhou being a minister who obeys the dragon."
Xu Mu smiled. He didn't think that Huang Daochong in front of him was choosing a master. In fact, it was more like an expression of one's true feelings, showing that one had no ambition to compete with the world.
But Xu Mu didn't listen to this kind of thing. The Dwarf King was similar at first, but in the end he stabbed Uncle Chang, almost to death.
Xu Mu estimated that if he met Zuo Shiren, Huang Daochong would probably say the same thing.
However, Huang Daochong's words about his family are quite insightful.
"King Shu, please don't spread what you said today." Huang Daochong had a nervous look on his face and his tone was anxious.
"Don't worry, old gentleman." Xu Mu nodded.
"Come, you and I have another drink. I guess the King of Lingzhou is coming soon. In Kezhou, I will definitely be a landlord."
Xu Mu has another question. He couldn't understand how bold King Lingzhou was to let Huang Daochong know about such a thing.
Really not afraid, Huang Daochong sold them both together.
