Zhuge Liang, the commander-in-chief of the Prince Consort, returned to Luoyang without much fanfare, and even Liu Mastiff did not announce it. He just returned to Luoyang. Princess Raoyang was very tired, so she went back to her residence to rest first, but Zhuge Liang went to Liuyang alone.
Liu Gong's mansion, when he was heading to Dongyi, he suddenly remembered that if he left like this, no one would take care of him in Liu Gong's mansion, and the chickens and ducks would have probably starved to death long ago.
When he arrived at the door of the mansion, to his surprise, everything was as it was before. In the clean courtyard, there were flocks of chickens and ducks pecking at each other. The furnishings were all brand new and not stained with any dust.
Zhuge Liang was very confused. He looked around and was thinking when he heard someone pushing the door open and Zhuge Liang turned around.
The eldest son of the emperor Liu Mastiff, with his two attendants, had just walked into the courtyard. Liu Mastiff raised his head and saw Zhuge Liang standing in the courtyard. It seemed that Zhuge Liang's body had improved a lot, he was no longer sick, and his whole body was healthy again.
He gained a bit more of a hermit's air. After recuperating in Dongyi for a while, Zhuge Liang also changed a lot. His face was very calm, and his temperament was integrated in this simple courtyard.
"Kong Ming?!"
Liu Mastiff shouted, walked up quickly, held his hand, looked up and down, and asked: "When did you come back, why didn't you tell me so that I could pick you up?" Zhuge Liang did not speak.
, he looked at Liu Mastiff in front of him, and at the two followers behind him, his expression gradually became solemn, and he said: "Your Highness, thank you."
Liu Mastiff was stunned for a moment, as if he finally understood what he was saying. He shook his head and said, "Hey, it's nothing. Just don't blame me for offending Liu Gong's former residence."
Following Liu Mastiff out, Zhuge Liang deliberately slowed down and followed Liu Mastiff. Liu Mastiff didn't seem to notice. The two chatted and walked to Yuan Mansion. As soon as they entered, the soldiers in the mansion gathered around them.
He came over and greeted Zhuge Liang, not forgetting to comfort him. Zhuge Liang bowed back one by one, and the soldiers walked away.
Entered the study and met with Yuan Shu.
Yuan Shu looked at Zhuge Liang in front of him seriously, nodded and said: "Not bad." He looked at Liu Mastiff beside him and said: "You go out first." Liu Mastiff nodded and walked out of the study. Yuan Shu watched him leave.
, and asked Zhuge Liang to sit down.
"Kong Ming, these days when you are not around, I miss you very much, and even want to go to Dongyi to see you." Yuan Shu said for a while, and suddenly, he stopped, thought for a moment, raised his head, and stared into Zhuge Liang's eyes.
, asked: "What do you think, His Royal Highness, the eldest son of the Emperor?"
"His Royal Highness, the eldest son of the Emperor, is kind-hearted and intelligent."
Zhuge Liang just said one sentence, and Yuan Shu interrupted him and asked: "Then what do you think of the emperor's eldest son being the prince?"
Zhuge Liang said without any hesitation: "Of course it should be."
"Hahaha!" Yuan Shu suddenly laughed. He looked at Zhuge Liang and said slowly: "The eldest son of the emperor is kind-hearted and filial. He respects the emperor very much and is courteous. Because of this, he is determined to study, but he can't do it.
The prince, the second son of the emperor, gradually grew up, and I heard that he looked and behaved like the emperor. However, he delayed giving the emperor the title of eldest son, fearing that it would arouse the treacherous intentions in the court. In addition, the second son of the emperor "
Yuan Shu did not continue, but Zhuge Liang already understood.
When Zhuge Liang walked out of the study, Liu Mastiff was still standing in the courtyard, with two people standing next to him. One of them was extremely disgusted by Zhuge Liang, and the other one was unknown to Zhuge Liang. However, this person was quite handsome.
He was very tall and his face seemed familiar. When he saw Zhuge Liang coming out, Liu Mastiff quickly led the two people over.
"Kong Ming, are you back? I heard you're feeling unwell, how are you?"
Zhuge Liang looked at him and said calmly: "That's good. Thank you Zhongda for your concern."
Sima Yi was stunned for a moment. Zhuge Liang seemed to have become a little different. If it were in the past, he would definitely have a few words with him. Now, he is more stable and mature, which makes Sima Yi feel a little uncomfortable. He nodded and said that it goes without saying.
Thanks.
"Kong Ming, this is the third son of Sikong Yuan Gong. His name is Shang, and his courtesy name is Xianfu." Liu Mastiff pointed at the young man and introduced him. The man saluted Zhuge Liang and behaved upright, quite like Yuan Shao.
Style, he said: "I have long wanted to get to know Zhuge Jun, and I am really happy to be able to meet him today. Zhuge Jun is really a talented person!"
"If Mr. Yuan has given you too much praise, you can call me by your name."
Zhuge Liang nodded, and the four of them sat in the courtyard chatting. Zhuge Liang asked, "Where is Captain Hua? Why don't you see him coming?"
"Hua Xiaowei, not many people know the specific reason why he went to the Western Regions." Liu Mastiff said, looking at Sima Yi who was standing aside. Sima Yi also shook his head and said, "I heard it was between him and Guishang, but
, I don’t know what it is, and the officials in the court don’t know much either. In short, it seems that all the Northern and Southern armies have gathered in the Western Region, and even the Taiwei has passed by.”
"I know about this." Yuan Shang smiled softly. The other three people looked at him. Yuan Shang looked around, lowered his voice and said, "It is said that there was a civil strife among the Kushan people, and a rebel army fled to
We went to the Western Regions and captured the foreign trade merchants of the Han Dynasty. This angered the emperor and sent the Taiwei to lead the army to the Western Regions. It is said that he wanted to teach the Kushan people a lesson!"
After hearing what Yuan Shang said, everyone nodded. Liu Mastiff smiled and said, "Xianfu still knows it clearly. If it weren't for Xianfu, I wouldn't even know that the Taiwei left!" Hearing Liu Mastiff's words,
Yuan Shang's face became more proud, and he raised his hands towards Liu Mastiff, even saying that he did not dare.
Zhuge Liang understood where things were going and nodded without saying much.
"Your Highness," Zhuge Liang suddenly said, "Your Highness has been studying at Duke Yuan's place all day long, learning the great principles of the Spring and Autumn Period and the classics of Confucianism. Although Duke Yuan is a virtuous man, there are still people who are incompetent. In the subjects of law and agriculture, Duke Yuan has no way to teach them, so he has to teach his ministers."
In my opinion, Your Highness, why not go to Taixue and study within the disciples’ school? You don’t have to register your name, you just need to sit in and increase your knowledge, I don’t know what?”
Liu Mastiff hesitated for a moment, shook his head, and said: "Master, I still need to take care of him here. How can I leave him to go to school?" Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "Master Yuan is here, I will take care of you."
Your Highness takes good care of you, and what I said just now was also what Mr. Yuan meant. Your Highness, do you have to think about it?"
Zhuge Liang continued: "After all, His Highness is determined to be the prince of the Han Dynasty in the future. As a prince, how can he not make friends with some pillars of the country?"
Hearing his words, Sima Yi and Yuan Shang both trembled. Sima Yi was okay and soon recovered. As for Yuan Shang, he could not hide the excitement on his face. Only Liu Mastiff's expression remained unchanged and was extremely calm.
Facing Zhuge Liang's gaze, Liu Mastiff said: "My father has never spoken, so I don't dare to call myself the crown prince. I'd better not say such words."
"Your Highness is kind-hearted and has never been seen before. What's more, Your Highness is His Majesty's eldest son, and the position of Crown Prince is a natural one. Is it possible that Your Highness doesn't want to be the Crown Prince?"
"After becoming the emperor, I naturally thought about ruling the world and benefiting the common people."
Liu Mastiff just said a few words, and Zhuge Liang stood up and bowed to Liu Mastiff. Liu Mastiff was shocked and quickly stood up to help him up, but saw Sima Yi and Yuan Shang beside him, who were bowing to him one after another. He was a little helpless.
Then, facing the surprised looks of the soldiers around him, he said: "Everyone, get up, get up, we are as close as brothers, why should we be like this?"
After he persuaded them for a long time, the three of them got up.
"You can go into the study and talk about it!" Zhuge Liang said cautiously, and the four of them entered Liu Mastiff's study. After entering, they each sat down. Liu Mastiff sat on the main seat. Zhuge Liang then said: "Your Highness,
The Emperor has been reluctant to make His Highness the Crown Prince for a long time. This is inappropriate, extremely inappropriate. Your Highness is getting older. At Your Highness's age, all the princes who are not Crown Princes will be sent to feudal states."
"If His Highness does not have the title of Prince, I am afraid that traitors in the court will add fuel to the flames, and even demand that His Highness be given a fiefdom."
"But, who would act like this? I am not at fault, why would anyone want to deal with me?" Liu Mastiff asked with some confusion.
Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "Your Highness used to talk freely with Situ Gong about the New Deal, and expressed his wish to oppose the New Deal. After this incident, of course, the ministers in the court were all happy and regarded Your Highness as a benevolent person. However, some people did not
Happy, that is, those ministers who support the New Deal. Although they are not many, they are gathered under Cao Cao's wings, and they are even accompanied by ministers such as Shangshu Ling and Si Nong."
"With this Kushan incident, as expected, foreign trade will definitely be interrupted. At this time, the power of the New Deal ministers will definitely continue to grow. Due to the interruption of national treasury financial resources, the New Deal can continue to support it. If the New Deal is interrupted, there will be no
Everything will fail in foreign trade." Zhuge Liang said and looked at Yuan Shang. Yuan Shang seemed to know what he wanted to say, shook his head and said:
"Don't worry, Kong Ming. Although my father implemented the New Deal, he often told me that he would not implement the New Deal without an order."
Zhuge Liang said: "It's not about this, but I hope Xianfu can help me and find out some information from Sikong. How many people in the court are making suggestions for the new policy? This is the important thing I want to ask you!"
"I will definitely do it!"
Zhuge Liang then looked at Liu Mastiff and continued: "His Highness's words in the past were constantly publicized by Situ Gong and others, which made the ministers of the New Deal worry that if His Highness were the prince and the future heir, what they did now would be criticized.
His Highness completely rejects it."
Only then did Liu Mastiff understand and nodded.
However, there is no way to do this. As a prince, he must make it clear whether he supports it or not. If he is ambiguous, he is afraid that both sides will not be pleased. Instead, he will choose the hundreds of officials in the court, headed by the Situ of the court, and celebrities in the world.
It is obviously correct. Being enemies with them is an even more terrifying thing. Liu Mastiff knows this in his heart.
"Therefore, Your Highness, Duke Cai is a close relative of Your Highness. Your Highness can seek out Duke Cai. When it comes to the matter of Imperial College, Duke Cai will definitely be delighted. He will report to the Emperor and ask His Highness to go to Imperial College. He will certainly do it. As for Your Majesty, can you allow it?"
His Highness can go to the school grounds to contact the generals, and His Highness can also be allowed to go to the Imperial College and get to know the students." He looked at Sima Yi and said, "As for Zhongda, I remember that Zhongda's brother is serving as Yilang in the court?"
"exactly."
"That's good. After Cai Gong made a report and asked His Highness to go to Taixue, Yilang, who was born in Menzixue, made another report. He said that this move would arouse the dissatisfaction of Menzixue, and proposed that His Highness should be able to enter and exit the two universities freely.
That’s it”
Sima Yi frowned and said, "I don't know if brother will."
"He will definitely do it," Zhuge Liang said decisively.
"What about me?" Yuan Shang raised his head and asked.
"Didn't I tell you just now that Xianfu would be able to find out those ministers? That would be a good thing."
The four of them sat in the study and chatted for a long time. For many days, Liu Mastiff remained silent and silent. Zhuge Liang asked helplessly: "Your Highness, is there anything wrong?"
"Kong Ming, I just think that such a conspiracy is not something a gentleman would do."
"Your Highness, this is not a conspiracy. Your Highness is the eldest son, generous, benevolent and filial. He is affectionate and reasonable. This position of prince is all deserved. Your Highness went to the school not with any evil intentions. One is to study to clarify his mind, and the other is
Make friends with talented people to help you”
"Alas" Liu Mastiff nodded, looked at the three people in front of him, cupped his hands and said, "Well, thank you for your help!"