Princess Shen of Wu and Zhen Zangzhu negotiated a peace agreement to divide the territory of Wu into two parts. Princess Shen and Chen Ruiwen supported the new crown prince to get the northern part, and still used "Wu" as the name of the country, with Jinling as the capital; Zhen Zangzhu supported the former Wang Sun took possession of the southern part, named the country "Yue", and made Hangzhou its capital.
Just now, Zhen Zangzhu looked like she was going to fall out at any moment, but now she was much kinder, and even chatted with Concubine Shen and Chen Ruiwen for a few words. She regretted for a while and said: "The prince refused to reuse Zhang Yuan, the former magistrate of Hangzhou. He has already He was recruited to be the governor of Guizhou."
Chen Ruiwen hurriedly asked: "How did Zhang Yuan get involved with Yan Guo? Does Master Zhen know?"
Zhen Zangzhu shook his head: "How did I know? Yan State always has the ability to take away unappreciated officials from other countries. At the same time as Zhang Yuan, Yunnan Governor Shen Zhao came to office. This was originally just a small man in Shu State. A county magistrate, he was implicated by his brother and lost his official position to do hard labor. He later wrote an article exposing the corruption of gold mine managers and was freed. Such characters were discovered by the Jia family. He and Zhang Yuan are both capable officials and have great abilities. Not bad.”
Chen Ruiwen hummed: "Zhang Yuan is just the son of a country official who was donated to the official position."
Zhen Zangzhu said: "He has been in the Wu Kingdom for many years, and every place he went was rich and prosperous. How could he lose out to the imperial examination and become an official? It's a pity that the prince refused to reuse him, so Baba let him go."
The two of them just talked, but Concubine Shen's expression changed and her voice trembled slightly: "May I ask you two adults, you just said that the name of the governor of Yunnan is Shen Zhao?"
"Yes." Zhen Zangzhu said, "I am from the same clan as your empress."
"He was originally the county magistrate of the Shu Kingdom? Do you two adults know where he served as the county magistrate?"
"I am originally the magistrate of Luzhou County."
Chen Ruiwen noticed something strange: "I heard that the empress is from Shu?"
Concubine Shen burst into tears: "I'm afraid Shen Zhao is my uncle!"
Zhen and Chen were shocked and shouted in unison: "What?! Is he your uncle?"
Concubine Shen had tears rolling down her face: "My father was originally an important minister of the Shu Kingdom. He accidentally made friends with the four sons of the Shu King through poetry and prose, which aroused the prince's suspicion, and he died unjustly in prison. My uncle was implicated and was dismissed from office." She took a handkerchief to wipe her tears. , "I thought he was dead long ago, and even if he hadn't died, he would never be heard from again in this life."
The room was quiet for a moment, then Zhen Zangzhu nodded and said, "I see. Uncle Ling is a blessing in disguise. There may not be any place for him in Shu."
The young Fujian general smiled and said: "Yunnan is bordering foreign countries and is rich in rare medicinal materials and jade. In the past few years since Shen Zhao took office, he has promoted the planting of rubber trees and built roads aggressively, saying it was for tourism to attract people there. Looking at the landscape and people's customs, they are different from ordinary officials."
Zhen Zangzhu said: "This is a capable person. It is rare to dare to do something for the world, but he can do it. Madam Shen, Mr. Shen, there are also rare treasures in Yunnan. If you want to sell them overseas, you are welcome to come to Shanghai Port. Shipping.”
The young Fujian general smiled and said: "Master Zhen talks about doing business, just like a merchant."
Zhen Zangzhu said: "What about merchants? Didn't our country of Wu rely on merchants to make its fortune?"
Concubine Shen felt a mixture of sadness and joy in her heart. Zhen Zangzhu and others only talked and joked casually, but it was like the sound of nature in her ears: She has an identity! She no longer needs to rely on beauty and means to survive in Prince Wu's palace. Chen Ruiwen listened but Another is the general feeling: Concubine Shen was originally an orphan from a foreign country. She lived in the backyard and could not go out. The prince was not his biological son. As soon as King Wu died, the state of Wu had the final say. Now an uncle who is the governor jumped out of thin air. In the future, You still have to be wary of one or two.
After a while, Zhen Zangzhu said with a smile: "The decision to crack the earth cannot be made by the princess, it must be the prince's wish."
Concubine Shen was slightly startled for a moment, then immediately smiled and said: "Yes, it is indeed the prince's intention."
Zhen Zangzhu cupped her hands to Chen Ruiwen and said, "Sir Chen, you are the only scholar here, so the task of drafting the decree belongs to none other than Mr. Chen."
Chen Ruiwen couldn't shirk it again and again, so he had to work up his energy and draft a decree. He had literary talent, and he drafted it in a short time. But he still needed to put the seal of King Wu on it. King Wu was not dead yet. Chen Ruiwen immediately said: "I don't know the king. Where to put the seal."
Zhen Zangzhu thought for a moment and said, "I don't know either. But I have already made a fake seal according to the old decree."
Chen Ruiwen was stunned and pointed at him for a long time: "You, you, you... how dare you?!"
Zhen Zangzhu smiled and said: "Master Chen, please don't forget that I come from Green Forest." Chen Ruiwen stared blankly and was speechless.
However, Concubine Shen stood up and said, "Since it's true, there's no need to lie. Mr. Chen, how about coming with me to see the prince? It's better to ask the prince to agree." She turned her head and looked at Chen Ruiwen, as if there was something else in her eyes.
Chen Ruiwen quickly stood up and said, "That's what the empress said. How can you carry such a big thing behind the prince's back?"
Zhen Zangzhu cupped his hands and said, "Excuse me, you two."
Concubine Shen and Chen Ruiwen went back. When they walked into the room where King Wu was recuperating, they saw King Wu sitting on the bed. King Wu had been lying down recently, so it was obvious that he knew something about the outside world. Concubine Shen hurried forward. Kneel down. When Chen Ruiwen saw this, he also knelt aside. King Wu looked at the two of them and asked, "What happened outside."
Concubine Shen didn't hide anything. She told him that Zhen Zangzhu had borrowed elite soldiers from Fujian to besiege the palace last night. "I thought that Zhen Zangzhu just wanted to be a powerful minister. So she coaxed him and said that if the prince had a The three are long and the other is short, someone will release the late son and don't know where to put him. This thief is really panicked."
Chen Ruiwen was surprised: "Did the empress coax him?"
Concubine Shen was silent. King Wu said slowly: "She doesn't know where the traitor is." Nai nodded, "Very good. What happens next?"
Concubine Shen lowered her head and said, "I came up with an idea to divide the Kingdom of Wu into two countries."
King Wu looked at her for a moment, while Concubine Shen only looked at the green bricks on the ground. For a long time, Chen Ruiwen couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, they are surrounding the Chen Courtyard now, and there is nothing I can do about it."
King Wu snorted: "How brave."
Concubine Shen said: "I think that since the prince and the prince are in their hands as hostages, it is only right to coax them to leave first."
"What happens after you coax him away?"
"Remobilize good soldiers and generals. Since they have used their troops, why should we be more polite?"
King Wu looked at her for a long time and said, "Who are you going to appoint as the commander-in-chief?"
Concubine Shen was stunned, and after a long while she faltered: "I...I don't know. But...Master Chen, General Wang always knows. Their soldiers are borrowed, won't they have to pay them back after a while?"
King Wu's eyes flashed and he asked Chen Ruiwen: "Chen Aiqing, what do you think?"
Chen Ruiwen immediately said: "Our best soldiers and generals are all in South America. Naturally, we will transfer General Ruoheng back to China."
Concubine Shen immediately said: "South America is too far away. It would take a year to go back and forth."
"Why not wait until next year?" Chen Ruiwen said, "Other than General Wei, no one else can take on this responsibility. Otherwise, who does the empress want to use?"
Concubine Shen was at a loss: "I am a harem woman...how do you know about the general?" Her voice gradually became softer, with a hint of grievance.
King Wu actually smiled. Concubine Shen raised her head and glanced at King Wu resentfully, lowered her head again, and quietly pouted. King Wu said: "Zhen Zangzhu was born in the green forest, and has excellent martial arts. Since you have divided the country of Wu Well, he has to win over some people. Only Wei Ruoheng has a great reputation and ability." Concubine Shen responded in a low voice, "Yes." King Wu then ordered her to continue.
Concubine Shen breathed a sigh of relief and continued talking. "I thought it was just a temporary measure to deceive him. He listened to him no matter how he divided the concubines, and even pretended to fight for a few cities." King Wu nodded. Concubine Shen then finished talking about the demarcation of the border between the two countries in one breath, and then talked about Zhen Zangzhu about Zhang Yuan, the former governor of Hangzhou, and mentioned Shen Zhaolai, the current governor of Yunnan.
King Wu was shocked: "Shen Zhao is your uncle?"
Concubine Shen wiped away her tears and said, "I thought he had died long ago."
King Wu looked at Concubine Shen again with complicated eyes. Concubine Shen and Chen Ruiwen waited for a long time without hearing any sound. When they saw that King Wu was concentrating with his eyes closed, they did not dare to say anything. After a while, King Wu said: "That's fine. Prince, it's okay." A capable uncle." Chen Ruiwen was immediately disappointed.
Concubine Shen said with a tearful voice: "Back then, I was sold together with my cousin to work as a maid in a wealthy family. Because of her smart temper, she was chosen as a dowry when the young lady came out of the palace. She is probably still working as a maid now. I have no choice. Now that I'm married, my uncle may not be able to find traces of her."
King Wu thought for a moment: "In that case, you first send people to Shu to look for her. It would be best if Lord Shen doesn't find her." Concubine Shen hurriedly agreed. King Wu said, "In that case, you and Zhen Zang Has Zhu already divided the territory?"
The two were silent for a long time, and finally Concubine Shen said: "Your Majesty...that traitor...that traitor said..."
King Wu hummed: "Do you want King Gu's seal?" Concubine Shen lowered her head and said nothing, and Chen Ruiwen became even more silent. After waiting for a long time, King Wu suddenly asked, "Princess, do you know why Gu didn't tell you?" Where is your late son?"
Concubine Shen was startled: "Tell me what?" King Wu nodded. Concubine Shen was confused, "What do you tell me?"
King Wu shook his head and asked Chen Ruiwen again. Chen Ruiwen thought for a while and gritted his teeth and said: "Although the late prince made a big mistake, he is still the prince's flesh and blood after all. The prince is afraid that the princess and the young prince have gained power, and he will not like the prince."
Concubine Shen was shocked: "How could I have such thoughts!"
King Wu closed his eyes and said, "If you don't have it now, you can't guarantee that you won't have it in a few years."
Concubine Shen kowtowed and said, "I will never do such evil things forever!"
King Wu shook his head slightly: "That's not necessarily an evil thing. The Tian family has no choice but to kill each other." After a long while, he tiredly called out an eunuch Guo. Concubine Shen and Chen Ruiwen were both shocked. This eunuch Guo was usually not favored. Wu The king ordered him to take out the seal, and the two of them followed him out to seal it. Eunuch Guo took the order and took out the seal of King Wu wrapped in brocade handkerchief from his arms. Shen and Chen retired.
After sealing the seal, the two of them wanted to exchange a few words with Zhen Zangzhu, but Eunuch Guo came back first. King Wu couldn't hold on anymore and lay down. Eunuch Guo knelt on the bedside and reported back. After hearing this, King Wu said dejectedly: "It's the lonely king who underestimated Zhen Zangzhu."
Eunuch Guo said: "I don't blame the prince. He was originally a bandit in the green forest."
King Wu shook his head: "On that day, I just deposed the traitorous son and established a grandson. The Bao family is too powerful, so I was afraid that my grandson would not be able to suppress them. Zhen Zangzhu has always been honest. If I had known he had this ability, King Gu Trust him, and he will definitely be loyal."
Eunuch Guo said: "Master Zhen is more capable than Master Chen."
King Wu hummed: "I know that Chen Ruiwen is just a scholar. However, he has some talents. He is ambitious and bold, but he is not responsible and has many worldly constraints. He has a good reputation, but the most important thing is his face. Concubine Chen is dead, and I am alone.
He left a decree for Lao Ba to go to South America. If Chen Ruiwen still wanted to be granted a title of nobility, he could only help the new monarch with all his heart. He could do more to win over and appease people than others. There was also Wei Ruoheng in South America, both inside and outside.
Dare to act recklessly. When the new king matures, he will be able to take charge without any effort. If you choose someone like Bao Lao Er, his ability will naturally be much greater than that of Chen Ruiwen, and the new king will become a decoration in less than three to five years."
After saying so many words in one breath, the old man couldn't catch up and breathed for a while. Eunuch Guo hurriedly rubbed his chest for him. After a long while, he said again: "The greatest advantage of Mr. Shen is that he is content and never looks far away from Shu."
She is smart, capable, and tolerant. She can make up for Chen Ruiwen's lack of intelligence. She is originally from Shu and has no foundation in Wu. Joining forces with Chen Ruiwen is nothing more than that."
Eunuch Guo said: "Master Chen is not from the Wu Kingdom. In the future, the heir apparent can choose a concubine from the Wu Kingdom."
King Wu smiled and nodded: "Only you can guess how much the lonely king is thinking."
Eunuch Guo sighed: "Everyone in the world thinks that the prince is old and confused, and loves to listen to compliments and favors Chen Ruiwen."
King Wu sighed: "The Bao family... is full of talents. Even the playboy Bao Lao San is very capable of doing things. When I saw those things that day, my heart went cold - it was not that the boss did it, but that he was not his second uncle at all.
I still don’t know about my uncle’s opponent. The lonely king really can’t pass the throne to him. Otherwise, sooner or later, the Wu Kingdom will become the Bao Kingdom.”
Eunuch Guo said: "Then why didn't the prince kill the two Bao family members?"
King Wu said: "At present, all the countries are at peace and everyone is happy. Ten years from now, it will be a completely different situation. I don't know what the future will be like for this little one. If nothing happens, I can only play with Qi Chuyan... The Bao family can still come from South America."
Come back and assist that brat hiding in Shanghai - Zhen Zangzhu, who is extremely skilled in martial arts. If he wants to hide anyone, Chen Ruiwen will definitely not be able to find him. After being repaired by Wei Ruoheng, the Bao family will be able to be honest by then.
"
Eunuch Guo nodded: "I understand. Now..."
King Wu slowly shook his head: "Now I can only gamble."
"What is the prince betting on?"
"Wei Wei Ruoheng only loves fighting and is not tempted by power." King Wu closed his eyes and said, "The separation of Wu and Yue is naturally impossible."
Eunuch Guo said: "In my opinion, General Wei really only loves fighting and is not willing to take care of government affairs." King Wu remained silent. After a while, Eunuch Guo said softly, "Governor of Yunnan, Shen Zhao?"
Wu Wang said: "Ms. Shen has never read outside newspapers, and she has nowhere to learn about this letter." He thought for a moment, "That's fine. She has such an uncle, who can restrain Chen Ruiwen and Wei Ruoheng. She has no
son."
Eunuch Guo thought for a long time and said: "Although the current situation is chaotic, everything can be turned around. Your Majesty is wise."
King Wu smiled bitterly and said: "Yingming? Why did Yingming know that his son had emptied the treasury under his nose before he was almost dead?" His face darkened, "Who collected those things? Have you found out?"
"The slave is incompetent." Eunuch Guo knelt down and said, "There is no clue. None of the princes are."
"That's strange." King Wu thought, "They are the only ones who want to pull the boss down." After thinking for a while, he ordered, "Check. Let's check again from the beginning. Even if I die alone, I will still die."
Find out the truth and go back and forth to the solitary grave to find out."
Eunuch Guo choked and kowtowed: "This slave has received the order."
King Wu nodded, closed his eyes to rest, and murmured: "That boy, I will leave it to you." Eunuch Guo kowtowed again.