When Qi Hou Chujiu heard Li Ran's compliments, he couldn't help but secretly thought:
"This man is really eloquent. He has promoted me to such a high level, but for a while I couldn't get off the stage!"
"If I don't agree to him... I will lose my face. But if I agree to him, then won't all our efforts in Qi State be in vain?"
Prince Tu observed the words and expressions and saw the difficulty of his father, so he said:
"Master Taishi, you have made such lofty claims about the widowed monarch, but in the end you are still going to make Qi suffer a loss. If it is true that there is no benefit at all, how can you satisfy your father? Such an elimination of troops is really too childish.
Already?!"
When Li Ran heard this, he shook his head and said:
"Killing troops with friendly neighbors will only prevent the people of the two countries from unnecessary casualties. How can it be said that there is no benefit? If the Wei State can serve the Qi State with peace of mind, why can't the Lu State?"
"Besides, the state of Lu faces Wu and Yue on behalf of the state of Qi, which is the barrier to the southern border of the state of Qi! The state of Jin is eyeing the west and supports the state of Wu in the south. Now the state of Wu is connected with Chu and has great potential to dominate."
"If the Marquis of Qi doesn't believe it, Li can make a bet with you. The State of Lu is now confronting the State of Qi. In less than ten days, the State of Wu will send troops to the State of Lu on the pretext of helping Lu! By then... Haha, I'm afraid I won't be able to help it.
As the Marquis of Qi, Wu must threaten Lu to frighten Qi, so while the defeat is still uncertain, I ask the Marquis of Qi to think twice!"
After Qi Hou Chujiu heard this, he realized that Li Ran was indeed a eloquent man. If he was asked to speak a few more words, he might not even be able to hold himself back.
So, I saw him suddenly stretched out and said:
"Hey... I'm old and can't take care of things. I'm a little tired today, so let's stop here! What Mr. Ziming said... I'd better let you think about it again. I'll give it to you after I think it through.
Reply!"
When Li Ran saw Qi Hou Chujiu looking like this, he also knew that all this was actually an act and that he was unable to make a decision at the moment, so he wanted to leave the hall first.
"No! In this case, please take good care of yourself. Foreign Minister Li Ran will retire first!"
At this time, Tian Qi also stood up and said:
"Your Majesty, I will send Master Taishi back to the official post immediately!"
Qihou Chujiu waved his hand, stood up with the support of Prince Tu, and left the hall tremblingly.
Tian Qi, on the other hand, took Li Ran directly out of the palace.
"Haha, Mr. Taishi is indeed amazing. With just a few words, he directly persuaded the prince, making him unable to get off the tiger today?!"
Obviously, there was a hint of dissatisfaction in Tian Qi's words, and Li Ran could hear it clearly:
"Lord Tian, you are worrying too much. The Marquis of Qi is a hero in the world. I am just talking about the matter, so how can I praise him?"
"Could it be that... Mr. Tian has other opinions on what I said?"
Tian Qi was suddenly slapped with such a label, but he was also momentarily embarrassed. His eyes could not help but wander, and he hurriedly said:
"Master Taishi talks like this, but how can anyone else say it? It's just that... what you say about the affairs of the Wu Kingdom is a bit alarmist. And what you say about benevolence and righteousness is really too illusory!"
When Li Ran heard this, he just smiled slightly and remained silent.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a little awkward, Tian Qi couldn't help laughing again and said:
"Hahaha, could it be that what I said was too shocking? If my words shocked you, please don't blame me!"
Li Ran slowly shook his head and said calmly:
"Oh, how dare you. It's just... what Mr. Tian said is quite similar to what the prince of your country said. I really don't know how to answer it. It's just that... the prince is still young and has little qualifications.
It’s not surprising to say this. But Mr. Tian...why is he so unreasonable? Moreover, if you want to compare with the prince, you seem to lack some etiquette..."
"In today's world, the masses coexist, and only the virtuous can live among them. The same is true for you, sir. If you want to get involved in the affairs of the world, the key is virtue! Regarding this point, as a minister, you must be more careful than me.
Do you understand?"
"That being the case, why do you say it's 'ethereal'?!"
When Tian Qi heard this, he couldn't help but be alert.
Obviously, on the one hand, Li Ran deliberately clicked "Prince" to express his good impression of the prince.
On the other hand, Li Ran reminded Tian Qi that he should pay more attention to his own virtue, lest any flaws would really show up in the end and his "good image" would be wasted.
And Tian Qi is such a shrewd person, how could he not understand the meaning of this?
Therefore, he immediately started a fight with Li Ran and sent him all the way back to Guanyi.
At this time, Fan Li and Chu Dang were waiting anxiously. When they saw that Li Ran's carriage and horse had returned safely, they hurriedly came over to greet them.
After Li Ran got off the carriage, Tian Qi said directly to Li Ran in the carriage:
"I may give you a reply to Mr. Taishi soon. Please wait here for a moment."
Li Ran bowed, lowered his head and said:
"Master Tian is busy!"
Tian Qi glanced at Li Ran one last time, and then did not stop. After a very contemptuous glance, he ordered his driver to drive away in a hurry.
Li Ran, Fan Li and Chu Dang walked into the courtyard.
Fan Li couldn't wait to ask:
"Sir, why did you come back so soon after the Qi Dynasty meeting today?"
Li Ran sighed:
"What needs to be said has been said during the court meeting. Only the last step is to wait for the news from Wu State."
Hearing this, Fan Li nodded and said no more.
…
On the other side, although Qi Hou Chujiu said he was tired, he actually did not sleep. Instead, he returned to the palace first, looked at Prince Tu next to him and said:
"Tu'er, what do you think of what Li Ziming said?"
Prince Tu thought for a while and then replied:
"I think that what this person said has some truth. However, after all, it is alarmist! The Wu State is certainly supported by the Jin State, and everyone knows this. But now they are dealing with the Chu State in the south, not to mention that there are
If the Yue State is in trouble, how can they find the energy to deal with our Qi State?"
After Qi Hou Chujiu heard this, he put his hand on his forehead and pinched his temples.
"Tu'er, but you have overlooked one thing. Behind the Wu people is the Jin State, and our current enemy of the Qi State is also the Jin State. Although the Jin State is constantly fighting among itself, but for the Wu State,
We definitely cannot underestimate the threat."
"I'm even thinking that if, as Li Ziming said, the Wu State really takes action, it would be better to immediately reconcile with the Lu State. If not, our Qi State will definitely be constrained by it."
Prince Tu nodded and said:
"What your father said is true!"
Then, Qihou Chujiu suddenly lay half-lying on the couch.
"Hey...it's just that the Lu State is currently experiencing civil strife. If they wait for them to recover, will it be more detrimental to our Qi State?"
"The current situation is chaotic and it is really difficult for me to deal with it. Let me think about it again."
"Hey... Tu'er, you have to grow up quickly! From now on, the cause of reviving the Qi Kingdom may fall on your shoulders soon!"
Prince Tu replied:
"My son and I are ashamed. Even today, I still worry my father...my son and I are unfilial..."
Qi Hou Chujiu smiled when he heard this and shook his head:
"What's your crime? I just can't wait any longer. I'm already old and I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on for much longer... Hey, now I just hope that I can pave the way for you and let you sit down safely.
Kingship. In this way, my ambition is to have a successor!"
…
two days later
Qi Hou Chujiu was still weighing the rights and disadvantages.
Li Ran was also quietly waiting for news in the hotel.
At this moment, news suddenly came from the south!
Sure enough, as Li Ran said, Wu State saw that Lu State was suffering from internal and external troubles, so it actually prepared to send troops to Lu State.
It seems that he also wants to get a share of the Chengyi Rebellion.
When Qi Hou Chujiu heard the news, he sat up in shock. Thinking of Li Ran's words, he couldn't help but murmured:
"This Li Ziming... really knows things like a god! It's exactly what he said?!"
