Chapter 32 Twenty-nine, Ran Qiukangqi

Ran Qiu gave an order, and the archers led by Fan Chi fired ten thousand arrows, and many soldiers in the river fell down from the arrows, and immediately, blood flowed like a river... At the celebration banquet, Ji Xiangguo asked Ran Qiu: "You are very good at conducting! Who did you learn from?" Ran Qiu replied, "I learned it from my teacher." A master is a saint who knows everything, he is versatile in both civil and military affairs, proficient in the six arts, and also proficient in the art of war... Duke Ai of Lu loved hunting very much. On this day, he had just returned from hunting and was admiring his prey in the courtyard.

"Look at how beautiful this little sika deer is, but it's a pity that its leg is injured." Duke Ai of Lu went over and picked up the little sika deer, and said to his concubine: "What are you still doing, bandage its leg for me." "yes." The concubine knew that Duke Ai of Lu loved hunting and animals, and he wanted to shoot animals, and he was afraid of the animals dying, so his mind was always on this aspect every day, so she quickly took off her shawl, squatted down and bandaged the blood-dripping legs of the little sika deer. Duke Ai of Lu was still sighing, afraid that the fawn would die.

The servant came to report: "My lord, it's not good. The army of Qi State is under pressure. The king of Qi sent the general Guoshu and Gao Wuping to lead the army to our border to clear the land." "Ah!" Duke Ai of Lu handed the sika deer to his concubine and said, "Wrap it up and send it to the garden for easy raising." Then he said to the servant, "Call Ji Xiangguo." "yes." Duke Ai of Lu waited anxiously in the study, and Ji Xiangguo arrived without haste. Lu Aigong looked at Ji Xiangguo's face, which resembled his father Ji Huanzi's, with his slender face, and eagle-like eyes, and his heart was trembling. An unstoppable incident came to the fore: Not long after Ji Huanzi died, one day, when Duke Ai of Lu went to the court, Ji Huanzi's retainers suddenly broke into the palace with a baby boy in their arms, and said nervously:

"The monarch is above, and below is Ji Huanzi's retainer. Before the master died, he ordered that if his wife Nan's daughter gave birth to a son, please report to the monarch and make him a minister." Duke Ai of Lu turned his head to look at Ji Kangzi, the concubine son of Ji Huanzi who had succeeded Qing, and saw that his face was gloomy, and those eagle-like eyes were staring fiercely at Lu Jun... Soon, when Duke Ai of Lu wanted to investigate this matter, the baby boy was killed, and the retainer also fled... Lu Aigong thought bitterly, if this Ji Kangzi didn't do anything, then he wouldn't be so constrained by letting that little baby take over the throne... This hateful Ji Kangzi, we Lu Jun, have we been born for generations? Must be restrained by Ji's surname? ...

"Is the lord summoning his ministers to suppress the Qi soldiers?" Ji Kangzi asked. Hearing Ji Kangzi's question, Duke Ai of Lu came back to his senses: "Oh, you also know, well, I just want to discuss with you first, what should I do." "How can I decide on such an important matter? I'll go down and think about it first, and I'll discuss it tomorrow." "That's fine, but I heard that several disciples of Confucius have done a good job with you. Should I call Ran Qiuye to find a solution tomorrow?" "Abiding by the order. But Ran Qiuqia is very good at managing finances, so I don't know if he can use troops?"

"Confucius mastered the six arts, and his students are all capable of literature and martial arts, so they should not be underestimated." "Okay then!" When Ji Kangzi returned to the mansion, Ran Qiu was already waiting outside the door, Ran Qiu came up to meet him and asked: "Xiangguo, is it because the people of Qi have committed a crime that the monarch summoned you?" "Exactly, the monarch wants you to go to court tomorrow to give advice!" "Your servant obeys the order." "Then do you have a plan to retreat? Let's go into the house and talk!"

When he arrived at the hall, two beautiful concubines rushed up and took off his outer robe for Ji Kangzi, exposing Ji Kangzi's increasingly fat belly. He pulled his clothes with his hands, blocked it, and then sat down. "Sit down too." The two sat opposite each other. "Tell me! Do you have any good ideas?" Ran Qiu glanced at the side, and Ji Kangzi said to the attendants and concubines standing next to him, "You all go down!" "yes." Ran Qiu then said: "Qi's army is coming so fiercely that we should not underestimate it. In my humble opinion, Xiangguo, Mengsun's family and Shusun's family have left one family to guard the capital, and the two families will be able to repel the enemy with the lord's own conquest."

Ji Kangzi blinked his slender eyes and said, "What if the two of them disagree?" Ran Qiu said angrily: "When the country is in crisis, as a minister of a country, how can I just sit back and watch?" Ji Kangzi shook his head again and said, "The two of them cannot be allowed to stay in the capital." "Then let them guard the outskirts of the capital?" "Then I'll go and ask them." In the evening, Ji Kangzi came back. While eating, he said to Ran Qiu, "Neither of the two of them wants to take the lead." Ran Qiu said angrily: "It's as expected... But, it's understandable for them to shrink back..."

"What's the meaning?" "Xiangguo, you are now the Minister of State of Lu. You are in control of the power. If you win, you will be a meritorious minister. If you lose, you will be punished by the minister. What do you have to do with them? Of course they are unwilling to do their best. Therefore, you are the lord of a country, and you are under one person. The only way out is to lead the whole army to fight against the city. You are duty-bound, otherwise, if the country is destroyed and the family is destroyed, what will you look like...?" Ji Kangzi seemed to be touched.

"Xiangguo, make up your mind! True Lu people will not stand idly by, and with Lu's current strength, it shouldn't be difficult to defeat the Qi army!" "How do you know?" Ji Kangzi asked. "Because of the enemy's invasion and the national disaster, the people of Lu will share the same hatred. This is the first. Second, the families of officials and officials living in the capital of Lu have more chariots than those of Qi. How can it be possible to use a family of soldiers to fight against the enemy? Is it not enough to defend against a chariot? So the Prime Minister need not worry."

"Then tomorrow is in Chaoshang, you can convince them two more." "it is good." The next day, Duke Ai of Lu was promoted to the palace, and the civil and military officials lined up on both sides. After saluting, Duke Ai of Lu said: "Everyone loves you, Qi State deceived people too much, and even sent two generals, Guo Shu and Gao Wuping, to attack. Now the enemy has already It is tolerable to be stationed in Qingdi to the north of me, which is unbearable. Now I invite all my lovers to discuss how to retreat from the enemy." After Lu Aigong finished speaking, no one came out for a long time. "What's the matter, raise soldiers for thousands of days, use them for a while, when the country is in crisis, no one comes out to share the worries of the widows?...Ran Qiu, you are a disciple of Confucius, today I specially invite you to court, do you know why?" "I understand that the monarch wants me to lead the army to meet the enemy because no one is willing to take the lead. Ran Qiu was ordered to lead the army to fight against the city and defend the country of Lu to the death." Ran Qiu replied. "Well, you are worthy of being a disciple of Confucius." Duke Ai of Lu turned his head and said to Ji Kangzi who was standing beside him, "Xiangguo, then appoint Ran Qiu as your general and lead the army as the vanguard. What do you think?" Ji Kangzi said proudly: "The minister obeys the order. The housekeeper Ran begs to listen to the order." Ran Qiu took a step forward and clasped his fists, "Retainer Ran Qiu accepts the order." "I ordered you to be the general, and lead the division to fend off the enemy. You must not violate it." "Ran Qiu obeys the order." Ji Kangzi squinted at Ding Wang's Shusun family and Meng Sun's family, hum, how is it?Or my retainers of Ji Kang's family should be brave. Seeing that your two families are like the grandsons of turtles, it's not enough to shrink your neck? Duke Ai of Lu was overjoyed and said, "Okay, let General Ran Qiu lead the battle." Suddenly everyone heard an unconvinced question: "Excuse me, General Ran Qiu, I really want to hear your battle plan?" Ran Qiu turned his head and saw that it was Meng Yizi's son Meng Ruzi who challenged him, so he replied mockingly: "I'm sorry, but my battle plan is definitely not willing to discuss with those cowards who shrink back in the face of a national crisis." The young and energetic Meng Ruzi said angrily: "You underestimate people, I'll let you see the armor of my Mengsun family tomorrow!" The old uncle Sun also shook his white beard and said: "Duke Lu is right. Raise troops for a thousand days, use them for a while, and overwhelm the country with large troops. How can my uncle's family sit by and watch. Please see what my uncle Sun's family can do tomorrow." Duke Ai of Lu breathed a sigh of relief, and said excitedly: "Since the three families are willing to send troops, and the enemy is at hand, it is not too late. Then each family should hurry up and mobilize troops, and disperse the court." After retiring from the court, Duke Ai of Lu asked Ran Qiu, Ji Kangzi, Meng Ruzi, and Shusun to discuss in the study. Duke Ai of Lu asked Ran Qiu, "General Ran Qiu, tell me about your plan." "Yes, my lord, Ran Qiu wants to form three armies. Except for one to guard the capital, the other two will form the left and right armies to go to the front to meet the enemy. I am a vassal of Ji Xiangguo, and I will form the left army. I will lead the charge. There is no shirking the responsibility. The remaining two branches are left to the king to decide." Duke Ai of Lu looked at the Shusun family and the Mengsun family. Neither of the two families wanted to go out to fight. Both families looked at me. I think we should lead our troops to stay in the capital. Dr. Mengsun is young and promising, so he will lead his troops out of the city to meet him, that's good." Uncle Sun immediately stated: "I obey the order." Meng Ruzi had no choice but to reply: "My minister obeys the order." "Okay, then it's decided like this, the specific plan, you go down to discuss it." "yes." God help the weak, Qufu suddenly rained heavily, and the Da and Xiaowen rivers in the northern suburbs of Qufu rushed into Surabaya, and Surabaya suddenly became a torrential river. After Ran Qiu and Fan Chi rode horses to the northern suburbs to inspect the terrain, they both knew how to defeat the enemy.Back at his place of residence, Ran Qiu said to Fan Chi, "Have you thought about how to defeat the enemy?" Fan Chi said, "Brother, just one word is enough." "What word?" Fan Chi wrote the water character on the palm of his hand, and Ran Qiu happily patted Fan Chi on the shoulder and said: "I really didn't choose the wrong person." On this day, Ran Qiu was riding in front of the army on a tall horse, and his junior brother Fan Chi, the lieutenant general, also rode beside him, ready to set off to set up camp outside the south gate.When Ji Kangzi came to see him off, he quietly asked Ran Qiu: "Fan Chi is the lieutenant general, okay? He's too young!" "Although Fan Chi is young, he is resourceful and can just help me out." Ji Kangzi asked again: "Ran Qiu, there is Surabaya in the north, isn't it just a good way to block the enemy, why do you want to camp in the south of the city?" Ran Qiu said with a smile: "Because there is Surabaya in the north, the Qi army must go around to the south of the city to fight. I just plan to make them come and never come back." Ji Zi smiled: "Ran Qiu is indeed versatile in both civil and military affairs, I didn't use you in vain." The Qi army also marched to Jiqu, a suburb of Qufu, and stationed there. The Meng family's right army arrived at the camp five days later. The two armies confront each other, and the battle is imminent. Fan Chi led 7,000 people as the vanguard. He knew that the people of Wucheng were brave and good at fighting, so he selected 300 people from Wucheng to form a death squad. On this day, with the sound of war drums and trumpets, Ran Qiu's left army had already stood in formation and was ready to attack.Ran Qiu ordered the soldiers to cross a shallow ditch and charge towards the enemy's formation, but the soldiers did not move when the order was issued. Ran Qiu was furious, and was about to slap his horse forward, when Fan Chi stopped him and said, "Senior brother, the army's morale has not yet been mobilized, can you charge alone?" So Ran Qiu said to the soldiers: "The enemy is now, our homeland, our parents, wives and children are behind us. If we don't charge, the country will be destroyed and the family will be destroyed. They will be killed by the Qi army. We are all Man, the wolf has come to the door, please follow me and drive away the wolf!" After all, he asked Fan Chi to command thousands of archers to release arrows as a cover first, and then Ran Qiu shouted: "Come on!" He led three hundred death squads with spears in his hand to rush over...the soldiers were also there. With the sound of shouting, they all went down the shallow ditch together. After crossing the ditch, the drums sounded.Seeing this, the other soldiers also rushed forward, killing the Qi army's corpses all over the ground, and fled across the road. Seeing this, the right army led by Meng Shuzi also followed behind and took advantage of the momentum to kill. The Lu army became more and more courageous, and the Qi army was defeated and had to flee north.However, there are chasing soldiers in the back, and Surabaya in front.Qi soldiers who knew how to swim plunged into the river and swam desperately to the opposite bank; those who didn't know how to swim dragged each other to wade through the water... When Ran Qiu gave an order, thousands of archers led by Fan Chi fired their arrows at once, and many soldiers in the river fell down from the arrows, and blood flowed like a river... The Qi army fled back to the border of Qi State and camped in Ai Ling, not daring to move again. Ran Qiu and Fan Chi made their triumphant return and were warmly welcomed by the subjects of Lu.Duke Ai of Lu greeted the suburbs in person, and held a grand banquet in the evening to reward the three armies. During the dinner, Ji Kangzi felt very happy that Ran Qiu had added glory to himself, so he asked: "You are very good at commanding! Who did you learn from?" Ran Qiu replied, "I learned it from my teacher, my wife." "Isn't Confucius a literati? Why is he also proficient in military affairs?" "Of course." Ran Qiu said proudly, "Master is a sage who knows everything. He is versatile in both civil and military affairs. He is proficient in Liuzhi, and of course he is also proficient in the art of war." Speaking of Confucius, Ji Kangzi remembered his father’s entrustment to him before his death: Confucius is a great sage, and his advocacy of governing the country with courtesy and benevolence is right. You must invite him back and entrust him with important responsibilities... Therefore, Ji Kangzi said: "I am going to bring Confucius back from abroad." "Are you going to reuse Confucius?" Ran Qiu asked hurriedly. "Anyway, he can't be allowed to wander abroad. Tomorrow, I will invite the king and send someone in the name of the country to invite Confucius back to the country." After hearing this, Ran Qiu raised his glass and said to Ji Kangzi, "Ran Qiu thanked Xiangguo on behalf of the teacher." Mrs. Qi Guan is sick, lying on the bed, looking at the empty writing desk, the brushes and inkstones that have not been used for a long time, she misses her husband far away... Not long ago, Ran Qiu said that the husband will be back soon.is that true?Is he old too?Are you also gray-haired like me?Is your face covered with wrinkles? ... Husband, I miss you so much, Si'er has grown into a half-grown boy, with a square face, fair skin, delicate features, and his intelligence and spirituality are just like his grandpa... In a daze, Mrs. Qi Guan suddenly heard the sound of cars and horses outside the door. "Sier." "Hey, grandma. What's the matter?" "Go and see if your grandpa is coming back by car outside the door." "Hey." After a while, Zisi came in and said, "Grandma, grandpa hasn't come back, it's a passing car." "Alas..." Mrs. Qi Guan sighed and did not speak. After a while, I heard the door opening. "Sier!" "Hey, grandma. What's the matter?" "Go and see if your grandpa is back." "Grandma, not grandpa, but father is back." "Mother, are you feeling better? This is the medicine I caught for you." Bo Yu said to his mother. Bo Yu handed the medicine to his daughter-in-law to torture. "Hey, Li'er, I'm afraid I won't get better from this illness. I don't know if I can wait until your father comes back?" "Mother, your illness will be cured, and you will definitely be able to wait until your father comes back."