In the third year of Zhangwu, Emperor Zhaolie died in Yong'an Palace in Baidi City. At this time, Wei and Wu were watching closely outside the Han Dynasty, and the three counties of Nanzhong raised their troops in rebellion. For a time, people were in panic and precarious.
When this kind of danger spread to the Central Plains, everyone in the Wei state thought that Shu Han was likely to send a message after Liu Bei's death. Therefore, after Liu Chan came to the throne in the same year and changed the Yuan Dynasty to Jianxing, Cao Wei's important officials such as Si Kong Hua Xin, Shangshu Ling Chen Qun, and Taishi Ling Xu Zhi Zhi, Ye Zhe Pu She Zhuge Zhang and others all wrote letters to Zhuge Liang one after another, all stating the destiny and personnel, and wanted Zhuge Liang to declare the country a vassal.
On this day, another letter came from Cao Wei Sikong Wang Lang. The letters all contained the same kind of words. Zhuge Liang had received so many letters from Cao Wei's important ministers persuading him to surrender but had not responded. At this time, he felt that the position of the new emperor had been determined, so he treated it as a reply to the letter. The world sees and hears. When Yang Qing came in earlier, he was considering his words and was preparing to reply to Cao Wei Situ Wang Lang. When he saw Yang Qing here, he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to test this young man.
Yang Qing took the bamboo slip and read it when he saw Wang Lang's letter: "The number of days changes, and artifacts become more and more easy to change. It is a natural principle that they return to virtuous people... Today, I, the great Wei Dynasty, have millions of armors. There are thousands of good generals. How can the fluorescent light of the rotten grass compare to the bright moon in the heart of the sky? The prince can turn his back and surrender, and surrender with courtesy without losing his position as a prince. Isn't it wonderful to have a safe country and a happy people?" The meaning of Wang Lang's letter is the same as what he said before. They all said that Cao Wei's strong national power was destiny, and they wanted Zhuge Liang to see clearly the situation and quickly surrender and claim vassal status.
Although there is some truth in such words, it is easy to refute based on the concept of loyalty at this time. What's more, the people who sent letters to persuade them to surrender are all veterans of the Han Dynasty. With their status, no matter how reasonable their words to persuade them to surrender will appear to be cunning. The argument is unconvincing, so it is not difficult to argue.
After reading it, Yang Qing laughed and said: "Prime Minister, Cao Pi and the others have a good idea. They want to make my country a vassal with just a few words. It is simply a fool's dream. Don't say that there are no good conditions. Even if we agree to become a vassal, I Huanghuang How can the great Han and the orthodox people in the world agree?"
Zhuge Liang was very satisfied with Yang Qing's statement. In fact, he appointed Yang Qingzheng as his chief secretary not simply because of his great talents. Since the late emperor established Shu, the Jingzhou people who had followed the late emperor in starting a business had an advantage in the court of Shu-Han Dynasty. The people of Jingchu were valued for a while, which became the consensus of the Shu people. Therefore, since he took charge of the government, he paid great attention to promoting insightful people from Yizhou. Entering the court, all the Shu sergeants were convinced of Zhuge Liang's way of employing people.
But these were not enough. Yang Qing's identity was revealed, and appointing him as the Prime Minister's Registrar was just enough to stop the world from talking about it. As a native of Yizhou, Yang Qing's appointment as prime minister certainly expressed the determination of the Han Dynasty to appoint talents regardless of region. Moreover, Yang Qing was not a powerful person from Yizhou and had little involvement with Shu sergeants, so he was reused. He not only showed that the court valued the talents in Shu, but also would not let the powerful people in Shu use this as a constraint. What's more, Yang Qing not only has outstanding talents, but also has a firm determination to recover. Zhuge Liang is of course willing to reuse such talents. At this time, how he will deal with Cao Wei's inducement to surrender will be a test for Yang Qing, which will further test his loyalty to the Han Dynasty. Another move to learn more about his talents.
Yang Qing didn't think so much. At this moment, he somewhat understood why Lao Luo arranged for Zhuge Liang and Wang Lang to quarrel in front of the battle. It seemed that this incident was based on Wang Lang and others' letter to persuade Zhuge Liang to surrender. As for Chen Qun who wrote the letter to persuade him to surrender, why did they assign the scene of being scolded to death only to Wang Lang? This is not because our Wang Situ happened to be in the second year of Taihe in Cao Wei, which is also the sixth year of Jianxing of the Shu Han Dynasty, Zhuge Liang Because he died during the first Northern Expedition, I have to say that Lao Luo is more familiar with the official history of the Three Kingdoms than most people, and the plot arrangement is very clever.
"Then in your opinion, how should I, a big man, respond to this letter?" Zhuge Liang said with a slight smile.
"There is no other way but to pursue sin according to the right way."
Zhuge Liang laughed loudly after hearing this, handed a scroll of bamboo slips on the desk to Yang Qing, and said, "This is the reply I just wrote. I named it Zhengyi. What do you think?"
In the Xuchang Palace, Cao Pi ascended to the throne. He stroked the armrests of the throne, not only thinking that Han Emperor Liu Xie was sitting on it a few years ago. After starting his eastward tour in August of the fourth year of Huangchu, Cao Pi was lucky enough to visit Xuchang, the capital of the Jian'an period of the Han Dynasty. He thought of many old friends, including of course Liu Xie, who was now granted the title of Duke of Shanyang, and his own sister. She is the former Queen Cao and now the Duke of Shanyang. Cao Pi still felt a little guilty for forcing someone to take the Zen position for no reason. Of course, it was not for the current Duke Yang of Weishan but for his sister. She was originally a queen, but now she can only be a duchess, so today he summoned Chen Qun, Wang Lang, Sima Yi and other important ministers are planning to discuss increasing the reward for their sister.
The emperor wanted to reward his wronged sister, and of course the courtiers would not object. They immediately agreed to give Tangmuyi to Mrs. Shanyang, and also named Liu Xie and Cao's daughter the princess of Changle County, with 500 households each. After agreeing on the reward, Cao Pi felt very relieved. Now his sister would not blame him. Just when he was satisfied, a report suddenly came.
It turned out that it was Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu, who had sent a letter to Wang Lang and the Dukes. It was Cao Pi who ordered the ministers to persuade Zhuge Liang to surrender. Therefore, when he saw that Zhuge Liang had a letter, he couldn't wait to know what Zhuge Liang would say. You don't really mean to surrender, do you? No way?
Cao Pi shook his head with a wry smile, and quickly shook the unrealistic thoughts out of his mind. Zhuge Liang surrendered, so Cao Pi knew it was impossible. This man was not only favored by Liu Bei, but also favored by Liu Bei. He was so kind and loyal. Of course, people will not surrender based on a few letters. In fact, he just saw that the Shu Kingdom was in the midst of external and internal troubles, and thought about whether there were dates but no dates, so what if it happened? Even if it doesn't work, it can still upset people in Shu. Cao Pi thought that this was a brilliant plan, but now he wanted to know how Zhuge Liang should deal with it.
Sikong Wanglang took the letter and opened it and read: "The main argument is: "In the past, in Xiang Yu, he could not start from virtue. Although he was in China, he had the power of the emperor and died in Tang Wo... Zihuan's lewdness followed. To compile. Even if the second and third sons often pursue the theories of Su and Zhang Guimi and offer monstrous words to Huanduo in order to slander the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and ridicule Yu and Ji, it is said that they are just mourning for literary works and bothering with calligraphy... With hundreds of thousands of troops, who follow the right path and find guilty, there are those who can get it and imitate it! "
After Wang Lang finished Zhuge Liang's reply in one breath, he raised his head and looked around. He saw that the emperor on the throne was silent and his face was gloomy. The ministers also lowered their heads and remained silent. The palace was extremely quiet at this moment. It was like you could hear a pin drop.
Zhuge Liang's letter was of course addressed to Cao Pi and his ministers, but it was still nominally a reply to Wang Lang. When he read the letter just now, of course he saw those rebellious words, but after all, he was ranked among the three princes and he read it without pausing. At this moment, the emperor and the ministers were silent. As the recipient and reader of the letter, he had to be the first to break the strange silence.
"Your Majesty." Wang Lang said: "Zhuge Liang not only made false threats in his letter, but also slandered the Holy Dynasty and the Holy Emperor. This person can be said to be extremely arrogant and crazy. However, the more arrogant and arrogant Zhuge Liang is, the more The more it means that he is guilty and fearful, I see that Western Shu has reached its end. In less than two years, when the Wei Dynasty's soldiers arrive, the Shu people will eagerly submit to the Heavenly Dynasty. Therefore, I ask your Majesty not to pay attention to the offensive words of Zhuge villagers. .”
After Wang Lang finished speaking, the ministers also reacted, especially Hua Xin, Chen Qun and others. They all refuted. After all, Zhuge Liang not only scolded Cao Pi for being arrogant, extravagant and usurping artifacts in the "Zhengyi", he also criticized those who wrote the letter to persuade him to surrender. When you are old, you still have to obey the will of the treacherous traitor. And if you don't refute it at this time, does it mean you agree with Zhuge Liang's letter?
After listening to the rebuttal arguments of the ministers, Cao Pi also felt that they were reasonable. He was already in an invincible position in the prosperous land of the Central Plains. Not only had Xi Shu suffered a series of defeats in recent years, but now there was another rebellion in Nanzhong, he had no time to take care of himself at home. , what Zhuge Liang is writing now is just a bluff, why should I be angry about Zhuge Liang's words?
Thinking of this, Cao Pi had regained his dignity as an emperor, and immediately laughed and said: "What you all said is in my opinion. Western Shu will not last long, so we don't have to pay attention to Zhuge Liang's arrogance. Since we are talking about Western Shu today, , spring will come in a few months, do you think we, the Great Wei, are going to take any action?"
