When Zhou Xu returned to the court, he quite thought that the people of the Wei Kingdom would support him after returning in triumph. Who knew that it had the opposite effect, and the people complained, saying that Zhou Xu had launched an unprovoked war and made the people uneasy.
Some people ridiculed that Zhou Xu won the battle but only brought back a few carts of wheat. Some people even talked privately about going to Luoyi to report Zhou Xu and Shi Hou for seeking power and usurping the throne.
Zhou Xu said to Shi Hou: "The people are still dissatisfied. What should we do?"
Shi Hou said: "It seems that we can only find an old minister who is highly respected and loved by the people to come out and help us hold back. Otherwise, there is really nothing we can do."
Zhou Xu asked: "Who are you looking for?"
Shi Hou hesitated and said, "My father has always had a very high prestige in the court. If it weren't for...well, if it weren't for his old age, he still wouldn't have left..."
Shi Hou originally wanted to say that his father left the court precisely because he disdained Zhou Xu and him, but he did not dare to say that.
Zhou Xu also hoped to have a veteran minister with high prestige to support him, so he said: "Just ask him to come out. This matter is left to you. You must ask him to come out no matter what."
Shi Hou's father was called Shi Que. He was an old minister in the era of Duke Huan of Wei. He was an upright man and highly respected. All the civil and military officials in the court admired him. Because he couldn't stand Zhou Xu, Shi Hou and others, he resigned long ago and became idle.
Shi Hou went to lobby his father, and was naturally scolded. The matter was settled as it was. However, one of Shi Hou's retainers gave him advice: "The government of Wei State is in chaos. If you don't care about it, it will be a disaster."
No one can take care of it. Your Excellency, you always put the country first, so why bother fighting with Shi Hou?"
Shi Que hesitated for half a night and decided to go out.
Shi Hou asked his father for advice: "The hearts of the people in the country are unstable, and the new king is worried about his throne. Do you have any good ideas?"
Shi Que said: "The new king's accession to the throne should be approved by the emperor. This is true for all the princes of all countries. As long as the emperor gives permission, who can say anything?"
Shi Hou asked again: "I'm afraid the emperor will not agree so easily. It is best for someone to intercede for this kind of thing. If someone intercedes, the matter will be easier to handle. But this interceding person..." Shi Hou said
Then he looked at his father eagerly.
Shi Jue mocked: "You are very capable, you can't even find someone to intercede."
Shi Hou said with a smile: "Please give me some advice from my father."
Shi Que said: "The Marquis of Chen has a close relationship with the Heavenly King and has friendship with us. You might as well go to the Chen Kingdom first and ask Chen Marquis to speak to you in front of the Heavenly King. Then you can go to Luoyi to ask the Heavenly King for instructions. Isn't that right?
?”
Shi Hou was overjoyed, and after bidding farewell to his father, he went to see Zhou Xu. Zhou Xu also clapped his hands and applauded Shi Jue's opinion. After thinking about it, the two of them thought that this matter was important and they should go to Chen Guo in person. To be on the safe side, Shi Hou first
He wrote a letter to his friend Zizhen, the official of the State of Chen, asking him to give Chen Hou a blowjob first.
After getting ready, Zhou Xu and Shi Hou excitedly went to Chen State with gifts. When they arrived in Chen State, Zi Zhen sent people to arrange food and lodging, and treated them all as state guests. That day, word came out from the palace
:Marquis Chen invites the distinguished guests from the Kingdom of Wei to meet at the Imperial Ancestral Temple tomorrow.
The next day, the wind was warm and the sun was shining brightly. Zhou Xu and Shi Hou took their entourage and carried gifts to the Ancestral Temple of Chen State. Master Zizhen of Chen State had already been waiting here. Seeing Zhou Xu, Shi Hou dismounted and hurriedly greeted him.
Come up
Zi Zhen said: "Marquis Chen has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me in." After saying that, he glanced behind Zhou Xu and said to Shi Hou: "The Imperial Ancestral Temple is an important place in the country. Just two of you can come in, and the rest will wait. Stay outside the door temporarily."
Shi Hou waved his hand, and the entourage on the left and right retreated one after another. Only Zhou Xu and Shi Hou were left, following Zi Zhen.
When they walked to the gate, they saw a wooden sign erected at the door, which read: Unfaithful and unfilial people are not allowed to enter this gate. When Zhou and Shi saw the wooden sign, they were surprised and couldn't help but stop.
Shi Hou asked Zi Zhen: "What does the sign at the entrance to the Imperial Ancestral Temple mean?"
Zi Zhen said lightly: "This is the rule of the Chen State. There is no other meaning." Zhou Xu and Shi Hou breathed a sigh of relief and followed Zi Zhen into the Ancestral Temple.
When they came to the hall, they saw Chen Huangong sitting in the hall with dignity. On the left and right, warriors lined up. The atmosphere was solemn. Zhou Xu and Shi Hou hurriedly stepped forward, bent down, and saluted Chen Hou.
Duke Huan of Chen did not return the courtesy, but suddenly he stood up and loudly announced: "The emperor has an order to arrest the rebellious minister Zhou Xu and Shi Hou who murdered the Marquis of Wei." The warriors on both sides rushed forward and immediately held Zhou Xu and Shi Hou down.
Zhou Xu looked at Duke Huan of Chen and shouted, "Marquis Chen, why do you want to take me?"
Chen Huan Gong raised his face and looked dismissive. At this time, Zi Zhen walked into the hall, took out a letter, shook it open and read: "Foreign Minister Shi Que, kowtows to the Marquis of Chen, and submits this letter: Unfortunately for our country, rebellious ministers committed regicide, all of which were committed by Zhouxu and Shi Hou. If we don’t punish the rebellious ministers and traitors now, others will follow their example in the future. The old minister is old and unable to do what he wants. Therefore, we lured him to the state of Chen and asked the prince to uphold his righteousness and rule the two countries. Human crime. If you sincerely eliminate harm to the country, you will also eliminate harm to the world."
Zhou and Shi woke up from a dream. They had fallen into a trap set by Shi Que. As the saying goes, it is too late to regret. Shi Hou lowered his head and said nothing. Zhou Xu was still quibbling. Chen Huan Gong was impatient. He ordered his left and right Said: "Push it out and chop!"
Zi Zhen quickly pressed his hand to signal the warriors to slow down. Then he walked forward, approached Chen Huan Gong and whispered: "My lord, I can't kill you. This Shi Hou is Shi Que's biological son. We'd better not take action, but inform him Weiguo told them to figure it out on their own."
When Chen Huan Gong heard this, he was right. He smiled slightly and ordered Zhou Xu and Shi Hou to be put in prison respectively...
When the news reached Weiguo, the court was in a state of uproar. It was natural to be overjoyed. Everyone agreed that Zhou Xu should be killed, but no one mentioned Shi Hou. This was because the ministers were not in a good mood because of Shi Que's face. Expressing his position. But Shi Jue knew in his heart that if everyone didn't say anything, it didn't mean they were willing to let Shi Hou go. They just wanted Shi Jue to speak out on his own.
Shi Jue said: "These two people have committed a capital crime. There is no need to escort them back to Wei State. They can just send people to Chen State to kill them."
Someone among the ministers shouted: "Everyone can kill the rebels and traitors. I request that the young master Zhouxu be killed."
Shi Jue nodded and scanned the officials, waiting for someone to come forward and say they were willing to kill Shi Hou. After waiting for a while, no one said anything. Shi Jue understood what everyone meant, so he asked, "Who is willing to kill Shi Hou?" "
There was silence in the court. Shi Que asked several times, but no one responded. At this time, someone stood up to intercede for Shi Hou: "Zhou Xu is the principal culprit, and Shi Hou is just following his orders. There should be a distinction between master and slave, so you can be another person." Never mind."
When Shi Jue heard this, he was immediately furious. He pointed at the crowd and trembled and said, "You think of me like this? I, Shi Jue, have always put the country first, right from wrong. Am I not able to distinguish right from wrong? How have I ever bent the law for personal gain?" man of?"
Shi Que was so angry that all the ministers shrank their heads, and no one dared to speak. Shi Que could only shake his head and said: "Okay. If no one dares to go, then I will go."
Shi Que's retainer was also facing the court. He stepped forward and said, "Sir, please calm down. You are old and cannot travel far. Leave it to me and I will go on your behalf."
That's how things were settled.
A few days later, the envoys of Wei State and Shi Jue's retainers rushed to Chen State. After communicating with Chen State, the envoys of Wei State went to kill Zhou Xu, and Shi Jue's retainers went to kill Shi Hou.
Before his death, Zhou Xu said to the envoy of Wei Guo: "You are my subject, how dare you kill me?"
The envoy said: "You were once a minister of the late king. Didn't you also kill the late king? I just borrowed your skills today." After saying this, he killed Zhou Xu.
When Shi Hou met Shi Que's retainers, he made a request. He said: "I know that I have committed a capital crime. Can you let me see my father before you kill me?"
The retainer said: "This is not difficult. I will chop off your head and send it back to Weiguo, and you can see Master Shi."
This pair of rebellious officials and traitors appeared hastily and ended hastily. It was like a farce.
Shi Que, together with the ministers of Wei, appointed another brother of Duke Huan of Wei, the son of Duke Jin, to ascend the throne. This was Duke Xuang of Wei.