Thousands of years ago, the Xibohou clan followed the royal family and made great achievements in suppressing rebellions. This vassal state is located in the northwest of the Yin and Shang Kingdom. The people are strong, brave and aggressive, and it has been a place where elite soldiers have been produced since ancient times.
It's just that this place has always been barren and there are few monks, so Taizu granted it to foreign ministers.
After experiencing the turmoil of the vassal state after Taizu, the Shang Kingdom of Yin and Shang has been continuously reducing the vassal states for thousands of years. As the power of the imperial court continued to grow, the vassal states gradually found themselves in a weak position, and the vassal states that were unwilling to obey were eventually wiped out.
About four hundred years ago, it was finally the turn of the four remaining vassal states. He had always been loyal to the imperial court and took the lead in the war, but when he was about to be dismissed, he naturally felt dissatisfied.
In the territory of Xibohou, because there were few monks, it was the last one to be dealt with.
However, three hundred years ago, the earth's veins changed drastically. Spiritual springs suddenly gush out in Xibohou's territory. The spiritual energy flourished. Various treasure mines and spiritual veins continued to appear. As a result, Xibohou's strength greatly increased.
Moreover, Xibohou, who had always been childless, suddenly gave birth to a heir apparent. Just twenty years ago, this heirloom broke through and became a powerful figure in the country. The Xibohou family finally could no longer tolerate it and was ready to take action.
Now, Xibohou has been disobeying the imperial decree and turning the territory into his own private kingdom.
The Yin Shang court was very sure that it was only a matter of time before Xibohou rebelled.
King Fusu communicated with Xibohou and explained Song Zheng's intention. Xibohou did not believe it. However, he did not want to offend a powerful foreign senior and make a strong enemy for nothing, so he behaved very magnanimously: You
Come to think of it, fine, whatever.
When Song Zheng arrived with King Fusu, the contemporary Xibohou was having secret discussions with his confidants in the Xibohou Palace. His study was an independent hall, with a ten-foot-high platform in each of the four corners outside the hall.
Four huge bronze beasts are placed on it.
The copper beast is ferocious and ferocious, and has many characteristics of mythical beasts.
They all face outward in unison, and usually close their eyes and mouth. Once Xibohou enters the study, they immediately activate, open their eyes, and open their mouths.
Within a thousand miles around, no movement can escape their surveillance.
Just from these four bronze beasts, we can see that for hundreds of years, Xibohou has been as wealthy as his rivals.
The contemporary Xibohou, who is more than 700 years old, looks to be in his early forties, tall and strong, and imposing. He is already at the peak of his ancestor's cultivation, and he has excellent qualifications. He practices ancient techniques passed down from his ancestors.
If it weren't for the political affairs in the territory that hindered him, he might have achieved the position of ruling the country.
On his left hand side, there is a young monk sitting on his knees, with sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes, and a handsome figure. Although he is located below Xibohou due to blood relationship, his momentum is like the sea. Even if he is condensed but not angry, everyone in the study
People, including Xibohou, felt every trace of oppression.
He is the eldest son of Xibohou. In this life, he took Xibohou's surname Ji and his name was Ji Wukang.
He awakened Su Hui fifty years ago and learned about his past and present lives. It was also after that that he achieved the position of ruling the country. When he died together with the Suffering Demon Killer in his previous life, he was already a strong man of the ruling country.
He Banshan found Xibohou and used the methods of a strong man to cure his hidden illness, allowing him to have children, and then made a deal with him.
Xibohou showed no resistance to He Banshan's request. Not only did he have no heir at that time, but the court was already preparing to take action against him. It was the most difficult time.
Being able to get an heir apparent with excellent qualifications and a promising future, as well as being able to find a strong man like He Banshan as his backer, he certainly agreed without hesitation.
After Ji Wukang, he had several more children, but none of them were as favored as Ji Wukang.
"Kang'er," Xibohou said in a steady voice, with a sense of accumulated experience: "What do you think about this matter?"
Xibohou has developed the habit of not asking the advisers first, but first the prince's opinion when something big comes up.
Ji Wukang had already thought about it before he came, and immediately said: "Father, although Song Zheng is from Hongwu, he has a great reputation and can be called the number one genius on the east bank of the Ling River.
Such a person must cherish Yu**** and feel that we don’t have to worry about him colluding with the imperial court and it will be detrimental to us. Such a proud person will not do that."
Everyone around him nodded, they were convinced that the prince had extraordinary knowledge.
Xibohou was also satisfied and asked again: "In your opinion, what should we do?"
"Cooperate fully!" Ji Wukang said: "Song Zheng took the initiative to find me, Yin Shang, from Hongwu. What he did must be of great importance. We fully cooperate with him. In this way, no matter whether what Song Zheng wants to do is successful or not, at least he can
Remain neutral and do nothing to help us and the court."
Xibohou looked at the cronies around him: "What do you think?"
The counselors looked at each other and nodded together. The leader raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty's analysis is very reasonable. Our enemy is the imperial court. There is no need to make another strong enemy at such a critical moment.
As long as Song Zheng does not go too far within our territory, the Marquis should cooperate with him."
Just as Xibohou was about to make a decision, a military general on the side snorted coldly: "A bunch of cowards!"
The general's armor is covered with traces of battle, but this armor is extremely extraordinary. There is a powerful aura remaining in every trace, indicating the master's strength against the enemy.
He had a beard all over his face, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and his leopard-like eyes glared: "Song Zheng came with people from the imperial court. To us, he is an enemy, not a friend!
When two armies are facing each other, the most important thing is to be timid. Since they are enemies, don't try to turn enemies into friends. Whatever Song Zheng wants to do, he can't do anything on our territory as long as we don't cooperate.
He is a senior ruler, but if he wants to achieve success, it is wishful thinking to rely solely on force. Only after he fails one after another will he understand our value. Only when he understands this, will he completely surrender to us!"
The fierce general thought that what he said made sense, and said smugly: "In the art of war, it is said that the enemy must be defeated first before peace can be achieved smoothly."
All the counselors shook their heads: "It's so stupid!"
"Short-sighted."
"Master Hou, you must not listen to his nonsense."
Someone even whispered: "Master Hou, why do you always tolerate such idiots to steal high positions?"
Xibohou waved his hand to stop the counselors from talking, and glared at the general: "Stop talking nonsense."
"Master Hou..." The fierce general still felt a little unconvinced, so Xibohou scolded: "Shut up and retreat!"
"Yes." The fierce general reluctantly accepted the order and stepped back.
The counselors were relieved for a while, and fortunately the lord was wise. But they really didn’t understand why the lord could endure this vulgar Zheng Xiutu until now?
Xibohou said to Ji Wukang: "Leave the matter of contacting Song Zheng to Kang'er."
Ji Wukang accepted the order: "Yes, my son will live up to his trust."
After the discussion, everyone filed out. The counselors looked down upon Zheng Xiutu and sneered lightly when they passed by him. Zheng Xiutu's eyes were as high as his head, and he didn't even look at these counselors.
He came out of the Marquis Mansion, got on the beast and returned to his military camp outside the city. The military advisor came over sweating profusely. When he saw him, he complained repeatedly: "General, why have you forgotten my words again? Please don't follow me."
His Highness, please don't conflict with those advisers. It would be better for you to offend everyone with just one sentence.
His Royal Highness is the future marquis, and those advisers are even more ruthless, and they don’t use swords to kill people. If they plot to kill the general behind his back..."
Zheng Xiutu waved his hand nonchalantly, looked around and said, "Go and close the door."
The military advisor closed the door, and a spiritual formation sealed the place. Zheng Xiutu sat down, his armor clanking. He smiled, with a cunning light in his eyes: "Of course I know that the prince is the future lord, but Lord Marquis
I'm still here, if I am like those advisers and obey the prince's advice in everything, what will the Marquis think?"
The military advisor was stunned, and after thinking about it, he couldn't help but nod: "So the general did it on purpose?"
"Of course it is intentional." Zheng Xiutu said: "But I am not stupid. I will not directly oppose the Crown Prince. I will wait until the Crown Prince has finished speaking and the advisers will speak before I speak up. Anyway, as long as I can fight,
Even if the prince succeeds to the throne in the future, he will know who is useful to him."
The military advisor bowed in shame: "The general is far-sighted, but I am short-sighted."
Zheng Xiutu touched the steel needle-like beard on his chin and said thoughtfully: "But this is not enough. The Marquis still needs someone to cooperate with him."
The military advisor was curious: "Cooperate?"
Zheng Xiutu chuckled and said: "If Lord Marquis wants to make friends with Song Zheng, how can he make friends with him? For a person like that, being polite and respectful is just normal treatment for him. This is the case wherever he goes. So...
His Highness’ method is not strong enough.”
The military advisor felt something was wrong: "General, what do you want to do?"
"Think about it, as the number one general under the Marquis, if I offend Song Zheng, and the Marquis punishes me heavily for the sake of Song Zheng's face, wouldn't it be much more severe?"
There is of course a difference between ordinary courtesy and heavy punishment of important ministers for Song Zheng.
The military advisor was shocked: "But general..."
Zheng Xiutu waved his hand: "Don't worry, I know what I know and how to control it. I won't offend Song Zheng to death. And you don't have to worry about Mr. Hou. Mr. Hou and I have been cooperating with each other for hundreds of years.
He understands what I mean and will not punish me to death."
The military advisor nodded slowly, although he felt uneasy, but after thinking about it carefully, he understood why over the years, Xibohou has had many people who are good at conquering and fighting, but only the general can always gain the trust of the Marquis, even though he has been constantly
It was criticized by those advisers, but it still stood firm.
Zheng Xiutu waved to him: "Send someone to secretly keep an eye on what happened in Song Zheng's territory. Come and report immediately."