The Chu people's fear towards the Qi general Tian Dan made all the Wei people, including Zhao Hongrun, feel incredible.
Who would have thought that Xiong Tuo, Lord of Yangcheng, who was arrogant and never bowed his head in the eyes of Zhao Hongrun, and Xiong Wu, Lord of Guling, who even had the courage to speak provocatively in Daliang, the capital of the Wei Dynasty, would hear Qi General Tian Dan making a mocking sound. After "getting out", he actually left the Zichen Palace with a gloomy face.
Well, it should be said that, except for the negotiating team headed by Huang Xu, the envoy who really came to win Wei to their Chu camp, some Chu people with ulterior motives, such as Xiong Tuo and Xiong Wu, all They left the Zichen Palace, and under the arrangement of several officials from the Ministry of Rites, went to the post house where they were temporarily staying.
The reason is that the Qi general named Tian Dan joined the negotiations that originally only belonged to Chu and Wei.
Diplomatic negotiations in the true sense.
He had no interest in such boring negotiations, so when his sixth brother Zhao Hongzhao invited him to leave the palace, Zhao Hongrun also happily left the diplomatic battlefield.
Since he had been away for more than half a year, Zhao Hongzhao wanted to go back to his former dormitory, Yafeng Pavilion, to take a look.
In this regard, Zhao Hongrun is happy to accompany him.
On the way to Yafeng Pavilion, Zhao Hongrun curiously asked about the details of the Qi general Tian Dan. He wanted to know why this Qi general made the Chu people so afraid.
In response, Zhao Hongzhao smiled and asked Zhao Hongrun a question: "In last year's war, Hongrun, how long did you spend, how many cities did you conquer, and how many Chu armies did you defeat?"
Zhao Hongrun was stunned for a moment when he heard this. He vaguely guessed the purpose of Sixth Brother's question and said with a chuckle: "It took about five months. We conquered eighteen cities of the Chu people and defeated 160,000 Chu troops."
"Awesome, awesome." Zhao Hongzhao complimented with a smile, and then said in a teasing tone: "However, General Tian Dan once spent twice as long as you did to conquer the Chu State's three times as many cities as you. !”
"One year? Fifty-four?" Zhao Hongrun's eyes widened in shock.
Zhao Hongzhao smiled a little: "No more, no less, exactly fifty-four cities!"
Is it true? Wouldn’t it take seven days to capture a city?
Zhao Hongrun had an expression of disbelief on his face.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongzhao smiled and asked: "Do you want to know how many Chu armies he defeated in that year?"
Recalling that just now in the Zichen Palace, Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo and Guling Lord Xiong Hu suddenly changed their expressions when they heard the name "Tian Dan", and even the guards around them drew out their protective swords desperately, Zhao Hongrun He shook his head sensibly.
Because he felt that once he really asked, the numbers spit out from the mouth of the sixth brother in front of him would probably hit him who was still a little complacent about that victory.
"When did Sixth Brother arrive in Daliang?" Zhao Hongrun changed the topic shamelessly.
Zhao Hongzhao looked at Zhao Hongrun narrowly after hearing this. Soon, the smile on his face gradually faded a bit, and he said with a hint of melancholy: "I just returned to Daliang today, but I have lived in Huaxian for about half a month."
Hua County?
Zhao Hongrun frowned slightly. You must know that Huaxian is not far from Daliang. It may only be a day's journey by carriage, but why did Sixth Brother live in Huaxian for half a month?
Suddenly, Zhao Hongrun's heart moved slightly, and he asked tentatively: "Sixth Brother is waiting for the envoy from Chu?" At this point, he seemed to have thought of something again, and asked more pointedly: "Could it be that Sixth Brother wants to sabotage This meeting between our great Wei and the Chu envoy?"
"..." Zhao Hongzhao fell silent.
He acquiesced.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun understood in his heart: the sixth brother and the Qi general named Tian Dan happened to suddenly appear in Zichen Palace when the Ministry of Rites received the Chu envoys today. This was not a coincidence. It was most likely that the sixth brother had deliberately
arranged.
As for why, just look at the two brothers Xiong Tuo and Xiong Wu who had never dealt with each other. After seeing Na Tian Dan, they both left with gloomy faces. The reason is not difficult to guess.
"Why?" Zhao Hongrun frowned, and he really couldn't understand: "Why do you want to destroy the peace between Wei and Chu? In my opinion, whether it is the state of Qi or the state of Chu, we, the great Wei Dynasty, remain neutral and sit back and watch Qi and Chu attack each other.
It is more conducive to the interests of our country, Wei Dynasty, so why does Sixth Brother... favor Qi?"
When he said the last sentence, his tone became slightly more serious because he felt that his sixth brother's move would not bring the greatest benefit to Wei.
In response, Zhao Hongzhao sighed lightly and said with a wry smile: "This is my selfishness..."
…
Zhao Hongrun glanced at Zhao Hongzhao and closed his mouth gloomily.
The two of them walked to Yafeng Pavilion in silence, and at this time, Zhao Hongzhao's clan guard Fei Wei was already waiting outside Yafeng Pavilion.
Zhao Hongzhao glanced at Zhao Hongrun and then walked into the hall.
"Nothing has changed..."
After taking a look at the many paintings and calligraphy written by himself hanging in the hall, Zhao Hongzhao expressed his emotion.
Behind him, Zhao Hongrun said nothing, because he felt that this sixth brother seemed a little different from half a year ago. As for the difference, Zhao Hongrun couldn't tell.
At this time, in Yafeng Pavilion, even though its owner has not lived here for half a year, the little eunuchs in the palace are still taking care of it diligently every day, cleaning the dust and ensuring that everything in the palace is in good condition.
Keep the original appearance.
"Your Highness?"
"Your Highness!"
After seeing Zhao Hongzhao, the young eunuchs in the palace rushed up one after another. It was obvious that they were very excited, just like when Zhao Hongrun suddenly saw Zhao Hongzhao in the Zichen Palace.
Zhao Hongrun nodded and smiled at each of the young eunuchs in a gentle manner, and at the same time gently ordered them: "Make me a pot of tea."
"Yes, yes."
The young eunuchs rushed to the side hall excitedly, never considering that just making a pot did not require so many people.
"Sit down, Hongrun." Zhao Hongzhao turned around and said to Zhao Hongrun.
"..." Zhao Hongrun remained silent and silently knelt down on a mattress in the front hall. His eyes still glanced at Zhao Hongzhao from time to time.
Zhao Hongzhao sat opposite Zhao Hongrun.
Perhaps noticing Zhao Hongrun's silence, Zhao Hongzhao sighed slightly, looked back at Fei Wei, the Zongwei Chief beside him, and said: "Fei Wei, go and ask for Madam."
"Yes." Fei Wei clasped his fists and turned towards the inner hall.
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun frowned in confusion.
Madam? What Madam?
Zhao Hongrun was a little surprised. You must know that his sixth brother was not married, so where did he get his wife?
However, not long after, Fei Wei guided a beautiful woman whose clothes obviously did not resemble Wei's clothes, and slowly came to the front hall.
"Longji, come here and sit down."
Zhao Hongzhao gently patted the mattress next to him.
"Yes, husband." The beautiful woman walked up to Zhao Hongzhao. Just like the husband she said, she knelt down on the mattress and looked at Zhao Hongrun curiously with her beautiful eyes like glass.
At this time, Zhao Hongzhao pointed at Zhao Hongrun and introduced with a smile: "Concubine, this is my husband's eighth brother. Last year, he led 25,000 soldiers of the Junshui Camp of Wei Dynasty to defeat Xiong Tuo, Lord of Yangcheng, Chu State. King Su."
"Concubine, pay your respects to Prince Su." The quiet and beautiful woman bowed her head to Zhao Hongrun.
…
Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth, sighed with complicated emotions, and also raised his hands as uncle and sister-in-law: "Hongrun has met Sixth Sister-in-law."
Until now, there was still something he didn't understand.
After a while, the tea was served, and the beautiful and young woman from Qi State poured a cup of tea for Zhao Hongrun and her husband Zhao Hongzhao in person, then bowed and left knowingly.
Zhao Hongrun watched the woman slink away, but when he turned his attention to his once-respected sixth brother, he could not control his words with a bit of ridicule: "Marriage, no wonder!"
Zhao Hongzhao smiled bitterly and sighed, without making any excuses.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun lost interest. After a moment of silence, he asked: "The daughter of King Qi Xi?"
Zhao Hongzhao nodded silently, and then took a sip of the tea in the cup. After hesitating for a while, he spoke: "It's not as unbearable as you think... She is a good woman."
Perhaps noticing the struggle and shame in Zhao Hongzhao's eyes, Zhao Hongrun's heart softened. He suddenly remembered the past kindness of the sixth brother in front of him: this sixth brother once, when he launched the war against Chu, in order to ensure that their great Wei He sacrificed himself silently and willingly went to Qi State as a pledge for his own interests, just to persuade Qi State to form an alliance with Wei Dynasty.
Thinking of this, Zhao Hongrun put away the indifference on his face and joked with a smile: "It seems that King Qi Xi values you very much, Sixth Brother."
Zhao Hongzhao was a little surprised by the sudden change in his brother's tone. He could naturally understand the reason, so his eyes showed a bit of gratitude. However, when he mentioned King Qi Xi, his expression seemed a little dumbfounded: "I don't know how to evaluate it. , As you can see, Hongrun, the King of Qi betrothed his most beloved daughter to me, and also appointed me as the right minister of Qi..."
Right phase?
Zhao Hongrun looked at Zhao Hongzhao in disbelief. As far as he knew, the Qi court still used the dual-phase system, that is, appointing the left prime minister and the right prime minister to coordinate the affairs of the country. His authority was far higher than that of the Wei Dynasty. Six ministerial books.
"You...you are an official in Qi State? And you are also the Right Prime Minister?" Zhao Hongrun looked at Zhao Hongzhao with wide eyes.
"Yes." Zhao Hongzhao smiled bitterly and said something that Zhao Hongrun couldn't understand: "Compared to being a groom who raises horses, after all, the position of right minister is more dignified, isn't it?"
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun didn't care about the groom and the right minister. He frowned and asked the doubt that suddenly arose in his heart: "You... still have to go to Qi?"
Zhao Hongzhao paused slightly while holding the teacup. He slowly put the teacup on the table, looked at Zhao Hongrun calmly, and said in a complicated tone: "When I and I have paid homage to the emperor and the concubine, , I will leave Wei and return to Qi... This is my promise to King Qi."
"..." Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth, and after a long time asked in a low voice: "Are you staying temporarily, or... are you staying in Qi State all the time?"
Zhao Hongzhao was silent for a moment after hearing this, and said melancholy: "Maybe..." At this point, he shook his head and said no more.
But Zhao Hongrun understood.
If nothing else happens, when his sixth brother Zhao Hongzhao leaves Daliang this time, he may never come back. (To be continued.)