The Grandmaster Strategist

I suppressed the fear in my heart and lowered my head. Yes, it was fear. That Li Zhi was actually the Li Tianxiang I met on the way to Jianye. Oh my god, I actually told King Yong of Dayong his plan to unify the world. , and also talked about the internal troubles of Dayong. Is it possible that King Yong really listened to my suggestion and defeated Shu first, and then defeated Nanchu? No, King Yong's military strategy was amazing. He should have already had it. idea.

At this time, King Yong came forward and met Zhao Jue with courtesy. King Yong said gently and sincerely: "Prince De has been fighting all the way. Thank you for your hard work on the way. He defeated Bajun and captured Luocheng. In just these two battles, we can see that the prince is a famous general." posture."

Zhao Jue's face turned slightly red and said: "Jue is not worthy of King Yong's praise. Today our two armies will join forces, and only the isolated city of Chengdu is left in the Kingdom of Shu. I don't know what His Highness King Yong's plan is."

King Yong said: "Chengdu can be easily broken now, but this city is the capital of the Shu Kingdom, with tens of millions of soldiers and people, and it is very prosperous. If our two armies break the city, it will definitely harm the people. I have already drawn up a surrender form. I don't know what the prince thinks. ?”

Zhao Jue said calmly: "It's okay to persuade him to surrender, but should this King of Shu surrender to Dayong or surrender to me, Nanchu?"

King Yong said confidently: "Southern Chu is a vassal state of Dayong, so the king of Shu should naturally surrender to Dayong."

Zhao Jue was already prepared in his heart and just said lightly: "In that case, please ask His Highness King Yong to send an envoy to say surrender. If the King of Shu refuses to surrender, how about a massive attack on the city by our two armies tomorrow?"

King Yong smiled and said: "That's right. Mr. Gou Liangou is my envoy. I have asked him to be an envoy. What do you think of Prince De?"

Zhao Jue couldn't help but glance at me, and when he saw that I didn't respond, he said, "Mr. Gou Lian has been with His Highness King Yong for many years. It is said that he often sent envoys to various princes on behalf of His Highness. I think he will definitely be able to persuade the King of Shu to surrender. Jue will just wait for the good news. , It’s just that Jue is busy with military affairs, so I’ll go back and wait for news.”

Seeing that Zhao Jue agreed with his decision, King Yong Li Zhi asked Zhao Jue to leave a trusted general or staff member so that the two sides could contact and discuss military affairs. Zhao Jue thought about it and felt that it was necessary. He just looked at the people around him. Although they are all close confidants, it is okay to send a message. If you want to discuss military affairs with King Yong and fight for the interests of Southern Chu, there are only two people, Rong Yuan and Jiang Zhe. Rong Yuan can not be separated from Zhao Jue for a moment, so He said calmly: "It's not certain whether tomorrow will be war or peace. Counselor Jiang is my assistant, so let him stay. If there are any changes, we can discuss it with him."

King Yong just glanced at me, as if he just saw me, but I felt cold all over. Zhao Jue is an idiot. King Yong deceived him so easily. I don’t believe that we are discussing military affairs. Most of them want me to stay. This is the purpose of King Yong. Seeing Zhao Jue leave, King Yong asked me to go to the commander's tent with him to talk and wait for the envoy to return. I followed King Yong in uneasily, but my bodyguard Chen Zhen had long been blocked outside the tent. King Yong was sitting on the handsome chair. Seeing my nervousness, he smiled and said, "Master Jiang, why are you so restrained? We are old acquaintances, so we should not be too polite."

I cursed in my heart for a long time, and then said: "I offended many of my subordinates that day. I wonder if it was King Yong who traveled incognito. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

When Li Zhi saw me sitting down, he said: "How can I forgive you? At that time, I disguised myself and went to Shu to check the situation of the military, aircraft and people in Shu. On my way back, I was lucky enough to meet the young master. Listening to your words is better than ten years of reading. If I, Yong, can rule the world , Mr. Jiang’s contribution lies in Sheji.”

I almost fainted with anger. If I owe my merits to Dayong's country, wouldn't it be my fault to Nanchu's country? If these words spread, wouldn't it cost my life? I quickly defended myself: "Your Highness, King Yong, has a lot of treasures in his chest. The little minister's knowledge must have been in His Highness's heart for a long time. His Highness would not dare to take such credit on this small minister. Suiyun would not dare to take it."

King Yong smiled faintly, and did not continue to arrange for me, but went straight to the ground and said: "Of course I listened to the young master's plan, and also heard that the young master was going to Nanchu to serve as an official. I originally wanted to follow the bandit's journey and bring the young master back to Dayong.

Unfortunately, someone happened to discover my whereabouts and wanted to assassinate me. I didn't have many attendants around me at the time, so I had to let him go for fear that I couldn't protect the young master's safety. Now that the young master has become a minister of Nanchu, Li Zhi really regrets it. "

When I heard this, I thought, given his identity, even if his identity was leaked to Shu and Nanchu, probably no one would dare to kill him, so naturally there is only one person who wants to kill him. Thinking of Li Zhi's talent and identity, but Because he is the second son, he cannot inherit the emperor's inheritance, and he has to suffer the jealousy and conspiracy of his elder brother. It is sad, but I feel sorry for him, so don't feel sorry for me. If I were taken away by you that day, ten Eighty-nine have already suffered from the disaster of Chiyu and died unexpectedly. Thinking in his heart, he said: "This is why I have no chance to serve His Highness. It must be God's will."

Li Zhi looked at me, his eyes full of smiles, and said: "You and I met by fate that day, and today we meet. Mr. Jiang is already Prince De's confidant. He must have given Prince De a lot of good ideas. Prince De and his men The other generals on the staff are all more orthodox military advisers. The two battles against Bajun and Luocheng almost all used booby traps and ambush tactics, which must have been Mr. Jiang's clever plan."

I felt a little stiff and said with a wry smile: "I don't know much about military affairs. I just stated a principle. It was Prince De who was wise and decisive and made a plan to achieve a great victory."

Li Zhi solemnly said: "Sun Tzu's Art of War says, 'If you have temples before fighting, you have to count as more. If you have temples before fighting, you have to count as less. If you have more temples, you will win, but if you have fewer temples, you will not win. What's more, nothing counts. ! This is how I look at it, and I can see the outcome.', The young master is already a peerless talent if he is good at temple calculations. Li Zhi can meet the young master, just like King Wen of Zhou met Jiang Shang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty met Zhang Liang, Nanchu Gou'an Jiangnan, Wen Wen Tian Wuxi, although Prince De is good at both civil and military affairs, it is a pity that he does not have the magnanimity of an emperor. The young master is just a scholar and poet in Southern Chu. If he belongs to me, Dayong, he must be a talented person like Youbi."

I thought it would be too arrogant to recruit officials from other countries, so I asked: "I heard that Shi Yu and Shi Ziyou are the chief counselors of King Yong's shogunate. Every time His Highness King Yong goes out, he handles all government affairs under his rule." , Mr. Shi must be the Zuo Fu in His Highness’s mind.”

Li Zhi obviously didn't understand why I asked this, but he still replied: "Zi You is good at government affairs. With Zi You in charge of military affairs at the rear, Li Zhi can use his troops like a god."

I said sternly: "If Shi Ziyou is also a minister of another country, and his master did not treat him lightly and surrendered as soon as he said so, then can His Highness still use him in such a important way?"

Li Zhi was stunned and said with a wry smile: "If that's the case, how dare Li Zhi trust Zi You."

I smiled and said, "So Your Highness understands the minister's difficulties?"

Li Zhi sighed and said: "Southern Chu is not a parasol tree, so why does it live in a phoenix? Southern Chu treats you as a mortal, and I treat you as a scholar. Suiyun still refuses to surrender to me, Yong?"

I looked at Li Zhi blankly. In fact, I really felt a little bit regretful. If Li Zhi had really taken me away by force, I might have been unhappy or even resentful at the time, but maybe I don’t have to worry about Nan Chu now. But since I have become an official of Nanchu, and I have been promoted smoothly over the years, and I have learned so much in the Hanlin Academy, Nanchu treats me well. I can't just take refuge in Dayong and watch Dayong perish. Nanchu. Thinking of this, I said sadly: "Although Nan Chu treats others as ordinary people, I should not betray him. If Sui Yun is a minister of Chu, he will serve Nan Chu for one day."

Li Zhi sighed softly and said, "What will you do if Southern Chu is destroyed by my great Yong?"

I thought for a while and said: "I don't think I have the ability to turn over rain and clouds, and I don't have the ability to draw a beautiful economic map. If Southern Chu is destroyed, and if Yong does not punish me, I will wander around the world and interact with vegetation. Decline together.”

Li Zhi said calmly: "You were counselor of military affairs when Southern Chu attacked Shu. Your ability was impressive. Although Zhao Jue cannot make full use of your talents, he will inevitably use you as counselor in the future. By then, even if you want to, Dayong will do it." I will never let a talent like you go."

I thought about it seriously and said, "If I agree not to make any plans to deal with Dayong after I return to Nanchu, will your Highness be able to let me live?"

Li Zhi frowned slightly and asked after a while: "You still have plans in Shu that have not been implemented? Do you think it is enough to repay the kindness of Nan Chu?"

I looked at Li Zhi with admiration. King Yong was really extremely smart. You can tell these things from my words. I didn't hide anything from him, and said, "I'm planning a plot for Prince De. If it succeeds, it can keep Southern Chu safe for several years."

Suddenly a glimmer of light flashed in Li Zhi's eyes and he said: "If my guess is correct, it is related to the King of Shu. If the King of Shu surrenders to me, Dayong, it will be a big worry for Nanchu."

I did not hide it and said: "That's right. If the King of Shu surrenders, I will have my own way to make the King of Shu die. At least Dayong will not be able to take advantage."

Li Zhi showed a thoughtful look on his face and said: "If the King of Shu refuses to surrender, and you and I attack Chengdu, it is possible to kill the King of Shu or commit suicide. If the King of Shu surrenders, you really have a way to make the King of Shu surrender." Died in Dayong's army?"

I knew he didn't believe it, but he said categorically: "That's exactly it."

Li Zhi stood up, walked a few steps in the tent, and said: "Well, if you can really do this, and you will not make plans for Nanchu after returning to Nanchu, as long as you are not in Jianye when I, Dayong, break Chu, , I promise to let you live in peace."

I was overjoyed. This was a life-saving edict. I quickly stepped forward to thank him. Li Zhi said meaningfully: "What if the King of Shu arrives in Dayong safely?"

I said without hesitation: "If that's the case, Suiyun is willing to serve His Highness."

Li Zhi laughed and said: "Okay, okay, we have an agreement." As he said that, he stretched out his right palm. I felt warm in my heart, and I also stretched out my right palm, and the two of them high-fived each other as an oath. To be on the safe side, I added: "If I win, after returning to Nanchu, if His Highness has any problems that have nothing to do with Nanchu, I can give you some advice."

Li Zhi was stunned again. He originally thought that if I really had the ability to kill the King of Shu under my control, then he would let him go in the future, but would he use the power in Nanchu to trap me first? Unexpectedly, I had such a proposal, so I couldn't help but marvel, and said in silence for a long time: "Okay. Let's see if the King of Shu will surrender first, shall we?" After that, he returned to sit down in front of the handsome case.

I didn't know what to say anymore, so I just sat there waiting for the results of Gou Lian's mission.

When the sun set over the Western Mountains, Gou Lian came back and reported to Li Zhi that the King of Shu would leave the city and surrender at noon tomorrow. Li Zhi and I both looked happy. The bet concerning my fate was about to begin. After discussing with Li Zhi the details of how the two armies would cooperate tomorrow, I wanted to return to the Nanchu military camp. King Yong personally escorted me out of the camp, which flattered me.

The next day, the king of Shu, dressed in white and plain clothes, accompanied by hundreds of civil and military officials and princes, went ten miles out of the city to surrender to Dayong. After accepting the surrender, our two armies entered the city from the west gate and the east gate respectively. The two armies already had a tacit understanding and basically no disputes occurred. Only at the Ministry of Household Affairs, Mr. Rong Yuanrong met Cui Luan, the staff of King Yong. Both of them were ordered to There was a stalemate over the seizure of household documents and classics. After a long debate, King Yong and Prince De negotiated in person and decided to get half of the other people. Although it was a pity, it was always better than nothing. Zhao Jue secretly asked me, if the King of Shu surrenders, how will our divorce plan proceed? Moreover, the King of Shu's surrender to Dayong will also be very detrimental to Nan Chu's rule in Xichuan. I have long been confident and told Zhao Jue that as long as the King of Shu sets out to Yong, Before the meeting, just hold a banquet and let me attend.

After going through complicated negotiations and dividing the spoils, Prince De decided to return to his country. King Yong proposed to bid farewell to Prince De according to etiquette. This was a natural thing. Prince De would naturally attend the banquet, and the King of Shu would also attend to see him off. In the gorgeous In the palace of the King of Shu, the generals and counselors of Dayong and Nanchu were sitting on both sides, drinking and having fun. The King of Shu sat under King Yong, and His Highness sat the ministers who had surrendered with the King of Shu. They all looked bad, especially the King of Shu. It is said that he is less than fifty years old, but he has a haggard appearance and his hair and beard are all white. Some people believe that he is seventy years old. After three rounds of drinking, Zhao Jue followed my plan and suggested that it would be boring to have wine without singing and dancing. It would be better to let the captured female musicians of the King of Shu sing and dance to add to the fun. Although General Dayong felt that Nanchu was indeed weak, he had no reason to stop it, so he Let the female musicians of the King of Shu come to add to the fun. The music of Shu's piano is like the waves rushing to thunder, and the banquet and dance of Shu are graceful and graceful. The monarchs and ministers who are about to leave Shu naturally hold back their tears, but the generals of Dayong and Nanchu applaud. .

I saw that the time had come, so I glanced at Zhao Jue. Zhao Jue understood, and stood up and said: "Today I saw the music and dance in Shu. It was very moving. I am elegant and elegant in Southern Chu. How can I not have singing and dancing to please the guests? It's just that there is no such thing in the army." The female musician has no choice but to play the piano to please the master. Hanlin Jiangzhe is a talented man from Southern Chu. For today's meeting, I specially wrote new lyrics for your appreciation."

The King of Yong, Li Zhi, was moved in his heart. These days, he has sent heavy troops to protect the King of Shu, but he has not seen even half of the Southern Chu killers. Today, the King of Shu is about to go to Dayong. He already guessed that I was going to do something, but I just wanted to It was just a new song to be sung on the spot. If Zhao Jue was refused to play the piano in person, then the monarchs and ministers of Southern Chu would definitely be angry at Dayong for being rude, so even though Li Zhi knew it was inappropriate, he still had to agree.

I stood up and saluted everyone. Zhao Jue sat down and gently stroked the strings of the piano. The sound of the piano was melodious and clear, which was exactly the melody of Cipai's "Po Zhenzi". I sang loudly: "In the past sixty years, our country has been covered by mountains and rivers for three thousand miles. The phoenix pavilion and the dragon tower are connected to the sky, and the jade trees and qiong branches are used as tobacco. I have seen fighting for a few times. Once I become a captive, I sink my waist and wear my temples. On the most hasty day of farewell to the temple, the temple still plays a farewell song. I shed tears to the palace maid. "

After singing the song, the whole palace was silent. Li Zhi felt a chill in his heart. He knew that I had taken action. He looked at the King of Shu and saw that the face of the King of Shu, which was numb and withered, showed a look of grief. And those Shu ministers who were under His Highness Either bursting into tears or staring angrily. After a long time, King Meng Yun of Shu stood up and said: "The little king is tired after drinking. Please allow His Highness King Yongyong to allow the little king to temporarily return to the harem to take a rest."

King Yong Li Zhi had a bitter look on his face and wanted to stop him, but he couldn't. He could only sigh and said: "The king is resting in the harem for the time being. Please don't worry too much. Your Majesty will not treat the king lightly."

Meng Yun did not answer, but just looked at everyone in the hall one by one. When his eyes fell on me, I felt the despair and resentment in his eyes. How can I feel good about a person who tears apart your dreams? , then the King of Shu left the banquet, and all the courtiers of Shu silently knelt down to see each other off. Li Zhi looked at me with a wry smile, admiring and angry at the same time. He raised his glass from a distance and drank it all in one gulp.

After a while, several eunuchs came to the front of the palace in tears and bowed down: "The king drank poison and died."

Li Zhi laughed and said: "Okay, okay, Jiang Zhuangyuan is really powerful. He broke the rhythm and cost the life of a king." He said calmly: "I am about to return to the country, and the military affairs are busy, so I will say goodbye." After that, he turned around and left.

Zhao Jue and Rong Yuan were already soaked in their vests. They were both happy to finally let the King of Shu commit suicide, but also worried about offending Dayong too much. I couldn't laugh or cry. Although it was too much to force the King of Shu to death, he still had to feel ashamed. Li Zhi's words before leaving seemed to express his resentment and dissatisfaction with me. But from another perspective, I was in Nanchu. I can live a stable life. However, his words made me famous all over the world. Wouldn't it be difficult for me to remain anonymous in the future? This Li Zhi, it is really scary to remember to fight back in this situation.

Li Zhi sat on his horse and finally finished handling the military affairs in central Shu. He was about to return to Dayong. Although the King of Shu committed suicide, the Princess of Shu and the Crown Prince were still there, enough to offer prisoners to the Ancestral Temple. The army of Southern Chu had returned the day before yesterday. According to the treaty between the two countries, Dongchuan was returned to Dayong, and Western Shu was returned to Southern Chu. In fact, Jiameng Pass was controlled by Dayong, and Luocheng was controlled by Nanchu. However, central Shu was a buffer between the two countries. The strategy has been realized, but Nanchu has taken advantage of it. Li Zhi smiled bitterly. Now he really regrets not taking the risk to kidnap Jiang Zhe.

His aide, Tan Shuo, stepped forward and asked, "Why didn't Your Highness prevent the King of Shu from committing suicide that day and let Nan Chu be proud of it?"

Li Zhi glanced at him. He knew that these staff and generals had doubts about this, and said calmly: "It's too late. If the King of Shu doesn't commit suicide in that situation, I'm afraid everyone in Shu will despise him. He will Even if you are alive, you are still a zombie."

Fan Qun, a fierce general under Li Zhi, said angrily: "It must be Zhao Jue's trick to actually let the number one scholar write a poem to ridicule the King of Shu." Others agreed one by one, but some staff also said that Jiang Zhe's poem was truly unparalleled. do.

Li Zhi smiled and said nothing, and thought to himself: "How do you know that Jiang Zhe is the culprit? But he did it cleverly, at least no one guessed that it was his idea. This Jiang Zhe is really worth my trouble." Take a look. As the sky turned, Yang whip said: "Let's leave quickly and let them be proud for a while."

Attached:

On February 16, the 20th year of Xiande's reign, King Meng Yun of Shu surrendered in white clothes, and Shu was destroyed.

On March 2, the 20th year of Xian De's reign, King Yong Zhi paid a farewell party to Prince Jue of De. King Meng Yun of Shu accompanied him at a banquet. During the banquet, there were many songs and dances from Shu music. Wang Nai played the piano himself and ordered Zhe to sing new lyrics. Zhe's song "Broken Array", Shu When the king heard about it, he retreated in shame, drank poison, and died at the age of forty-seven. At that time, people called Jiang Zhe's "Ci of Broken Heart" or "Ci of Jueming".

--"History of Chu in the Southern Dynasties Biography of Jiang Suiyun"