Chapter 31 first quarter

During the nine months from July of the sixth year of Jianxing to March of the following year, Shu Han had no prime minister.Zhuge Liang put the original official uniform on the shelf, and he was demoted to the right general of the third rank, and his real power was not reduced.People still call it "Prime Minister", although Zhuge Liang repeatedly stopped him, but even Liu Chan still talked about "Prime Minister".When the matter reached Cao Wei, Sima Yi sneered and said, "It's just for show." In Jiangdong, Lu Xun counted the victory of Shiting and put a bottle of sake to his lips. "Besides Zhuge Kongming, the position of Prime Minister of Shu should not be seconded to others." Lu Xun said on the table, "I hope that the congratulatory gifts sent to the prime minister's residence in Xichuan on New Year's Day this year will continue to increase."

At the end of the year, Sun Quan received the gift of Bai Mu from Zhuge Liang. He sealed a hundred gold as a reward and sent his nephew Sun Song to Zhuge Liang.Sun Song himself prepared a gift, which was a set of safflower lacquer utensils produced in Jiangdong.Zhuge Liang was very grateful for these gifts, and he wrote back to Sun Quan saying: "Liang's gift of white clover is insignificant, but you have received your grand thanks, which makes Liang feel more ashamed." "What kind of person is Kong Ming?" In order not to be abrupt, Sun Song first asked Zhang Yi who was copying the manuscript in the hall before meeting Zhuge Liang.

Zhang Yi plucked off the stray hairs on the edge of his pen, and said with a smile, "My lord, do you remember "Gan Tang" in "Poetry"?" "Of course!" Sun Song chanted, "Do not cut down the sweet tang, don't cut it down, it will be planted by Zhao Bo. If you cover Fu's Gan Tang, don't cut it, don't lose it, it will rest in Zhao Bo's place..." Gong used to live there. Don’t break the Qingqing Gantang, Duke Zhao used to rest there.) He was suddenly startled: Could it be that Zhang Yi compared Zhuge Liang to Duke Zhao, a famous minister of the Zhou Dynasty?

"Isn't it too much?" the Jiangdong son asked suspiciously. "A hundred years from now," Zhang Yi looked around the hall, sighing quietly, "This prime minister's mansion, like the Gantang tree that Mr. Zhao rested on, will leave behind his love." "Prime Minister, you will not forget rewards because you are estranged from others, and you will not reduce punishments because you are close to them. Under your command, those who have no merits cannot obtain titles out of thin air; This is why all the wise and foolish people work hard and serve the country."

Zhang Yi once called Zhuge Liang so beautiful. When it comes to "he", his gentle face shines brightly. "This..." When Sun Song spoke again, he heard bursts of laughter coming from outside the door. ——"The flame jumps and jumps, as if it is about to fly out!" ——"I thought it would never be prosperous again, but today..." ——"It's because of the prime minister!" Three energetic men walked in side by side. One is Yang Hong, who severely punished Zhang Wu who stole money a few years ago—that is Zhang Yi’s brother, and he has been feuding with Zhang Yi since then; the second is Yang Yi, as soon as he entered, he bowed his hands and said: Jun Si! How is this person better than you?" As he spoke, he pushed the third person beside him forward.

so beautiful!Zhang Yi couldn't help secretly applauding. This is a young man with red lips and white teeth, neat sideburns revealing the night light, his facial features are just like a meticulous painting, there is no part that is not gentle and delicate.A fluffy and light mustache grew on his lips, just like the tip of grass just emerging in the new spring.After coming back from the outside, his cheeks were dyed with a thin layer of blush, and the blush was covered with a thin layer of sweat, very green and lovely. "Where's your step...?" Zhang Yi's smiling eyes suddenly froze!

He saw a handkerchief hanging around the boy's waist, which belonged to Zhuge Liang. "The prime minister inspected the fire well and soiled the sweat towel, so he told me to take it back and wash it." The young man smiled slightly and asked again, "Does Mr. Zhang know the fire well in the suburbs? It has been open for hundreds of years! During the prosperity of the former Han Dynasty, the well The flames flourished; when the Later Han Dynasty declined, the flames became weaker. After Cao Pi usurped the Han Dynasty, the fire gradually extinguished, and it was almost invisible. But today, ah...today!" The young man looked eagerly, and his voice trembled slightly, "The prime minister is going to inspect, well Fire burst out of the well! It jumped three feet high, almost burning people! Really, I was really on fire, Mr. Zhang! The prime minister just lowered his body and looked down into the well. Oh, the fire well is alive! Fire it up. Take water and put it on the fire, and the water will boil in a moment. Rise and fall continue, this is really a tripod to rule the world, rise and fall..."

"Enough!" Zhang Yi interrupted him coldly. His attitude stunned Yang Yi, Sun Song and the young man, only Yang Hong laughed. "Where are you from, kid?" Zhang Yi said in a very rude tone. "Cen Shu." The young man raised his face, "Character Yuanjian." "Yuan Jian was ordered by Lord Li (Yan) of Baidi City to visit the prime minister." Yang Yi added, "The current captain of Siyan." "Salt Mansion is an important place for the country, how can it be handed over to a frivolous person?" Zhang Yi said. This is to question Cen Shu positively.The young man's colorful face couldn't help but darken.The calm Yang Hong deliberately said immediately: "This is taught by the prime minister!"

"The prime minister can also misjudge people! Isn't Ma Su just..." Zhang Yi stopped for a moment, and saw Zhuge Liang walking into the main hall with a feather fan and a scarf.He wears a green shirt with a collar, and only a piece of white jade is tied around his waist. The rings that he used to wear on his fingers when he was young have been taken off one by one as he gets busy every day.This man, who is no longer the prime minister, is more calm than before, even the faint tiredness between his brows, because of the golden smile, is more solemn and kind.When Sun Song saw him, he thought to himself: "The theory of 'Gantang' is really worthy of the name!"

Sun Song didn't notice the sudden change in Zhang Yi's color. When Sun Song first came to Shu, he didn't know that Zhuge Liang was admired and feared by others. "Ma Di" is Zhuge Liang's pain that cannot be offended recently.Although Zhang Yi's words made this proud man feel unhappy, he still smiled when facing Sun Song, holding the feather fan in his hand and bowing: "Zi Qiao (Sun Song's character) came from afar, Liang didn't greet him, it's really rude!" "Prime Minister!" Sun Song hurriedly returned the salute. Zhuge Liang waved his hands and smiled: "It's the right general."

"When will you return to your original position?" Sun Song awkwardly called "General Right", and said, "General Lu said that Mr. Kong Ming is the Liang of the Shu Han, and only the position of 'Prime Minister' can match Zhengliang. carved." "The Marquis of Jiangling praised you." Zhuge Liang referred to Lu Xun by his title to show respect. "Aspect," he said with a clear smile, "we can discuss it after Liang has made meritorious deeds. Liang will not deceive the world and steal his name to the point of refusing the official title he deserves." He will accept every kind of glory. Just as he does not shy away from every punishment. Because from the age of twenty, from the time he looked up at the North Star and used "Kong Ming" as the character, he has determined to be an upright gentleman, a star-like person.Xingchen will not be timid and timid, so he, Zhuge Liang, is the same no matter how difficult and severe the situation is. Just as wise, calm, and brave. Recalling that after the failure of the first Northern Expedition, Li Yan once persuaded Zhuge Liang to recruit troops under the pretext that "the army is limited to defeat", but he refused. "Our army is in Jigu, Qishan, outnumbered by the enemy. We cannot defeat the enemy, but are defeated. The reason is not that there are few soldiers, but that there is only Liang." Otherwise, what good is it to have more soldiers? From now on, all loyal patriots, just expose my shortcomings as much as possible, so as to accomplish great things and destroy the bandits. It’s just around the corner.” “Just around the corner”, that smug Zhuge Liang once again appeared on the paper, floating in the lips and tongues of the whole country.Last autumn, he went out of Sanguan again and approached Chencang.Reluctantly, the Shu army used ladders, tunnels, and chariot wheels to attack the city one after another, but Hao Zhao, the guard of Wei State, broke them one by one.Then Cao Wei's reinforcements were approaching, and the Shu army's food was also in a hurry. Zhuge Liang weighed the pros and cons and ordered the entire army to retreat.Wei general Wang Shuang saw the retreat of the Shu Han, thinking that it would be profitable, he hurriedly took three thousand cavalry to pursue.He encountered an ambush in the canyon and was beheaded by Wei Yan! "No one can take advantage of Zhuge Liang," this matter reached Sima Yi's ears, and he secretly wrote down, "As long as it is not cheap, he will be fine." ——"I asked Kong Ming how to make meritorious deeds to be prime minister, and he replied: Please wait and see, Ziqiao." After returning to Jiangdong, Sun Song told Sun Quan what Zhuge Liang said. Sun Quan had a full brown beard, playing with a jade belt in his hand, and said with a smile: "Yes, just wait and see. Everyone in the world is watching him. Zi Qiao," he thought for a while, and handed the belt to Sun Song , "Go again and take this to Boyan. Just say that Gu Zhi relies on him, just like Zhuge Liang is indispensable in the Shu Han." Zhuge Liang acted quickly. Before Sun Song could deliver the belt into Lu Xun's hands, he heard the news that the Shu Han was attacking the Central Plains again. "It's coming again. It's really powerful..." Emperor Cao Wei frowned, "A mere Shu Han, aren't you afraid of being lonely and poor, and the people are poor? Everyone says that Zhuge Liang is good at governing the country and being a prime minister, but I don't think so! Yuan Zhi What do you think?" Sixty-year-old Xu Shu played under the steps: "I'm afraid Zhuge Liang is sure of himself." "grasp?" "Yes." Xu Shu blinked, "According to my minister's opinion, he is better at governing than fighting. Therefore, he must be able to avoid harming the foundation of the country and not impose heavy taxes." In the blink of an eye, Xu Shu seemed to see Longzhong twenty years ago, and saw the young man climbing up the hill with five strings in his arms, and the wind blowing his jet-black hair fluttering. "To govern the country, one should be like Guan Zhong; to win in the battlefield, one should be like Le Yi!" His eyes were filled with firm, bright, and passionate desire, which made people's hearts jump. "Kong Ming did it." Xu Shu lowered his head and thought, "He is still young, but I am old. I am so old that I don't want to think about anything other than the two thousand stone salary of 'Censor Zhongcheng'." "Huh!" The emperor was angry, and slapped the throne angrily, "Ask Guo Huai to lead the troops to rescue Yinping and Wudu. If he loses to Zhuge Liang, he will be the governor of Yongzhou!" Seizing Wudu and Yinping is the most important purpose of Zhuge Liang's northward journey this time.The second county is located in the west of Hanzhong. Once it is taken, it will add an extra layer of barriers to the periphery of Shuhan. At first, Zhuge Liang ordered Chen Shi to lead the army to attack the second counties. After learning that Guo Huai led 30,000 troops from Yongzhou to attack Chen Shi, he personally led the army and rushed to rescue.The grain and grass were handed over to Cen Shu. "Brother Zhengfang, please dispatch the Hanzhong Army as backup." Zhuge Liang once wrote to Li Yan, but did not receive a reply for a long time. "Wait any longer?" Jiang Wei asked, "Send someone to urge Mr. Li?" "No need." Zhuge Liang said lightly. The Shu army meanders on the high mountain, just like the river flowing on the plank road, silent and swift.A white feather fan is the most dazzling blade in the water!His gaze, sharper than a knife's edge, was hidden behind the lupine. This gaze invaded Guo Huai's dream again and again, invading his half-dream and half-awake state.He often saw Zhuge Liang standing in front of him, shaking his feather fan, and said lightly: "It's cut." Wang Shuang—that was his friend who drank and sang together, and he was a guy who loved to touch girls' legs when he was drunk. But after chasing Zhuge Liang, he died suddenly.The head was sent back in a box with an unbelievable blood on his face. "Compete with Zhuge Kongming? Cough, do you want to die?" Every time he rubbed his eyes and pushed Zhuge Liang away from his eyes, Guo Huai thought, "As a courtier, it's better to work harder. You don't have to risk your life." !" ——Zhuge Liang's army went to Lueyang! ——Zhuge Liang's army arrives at Bishan! ——Zhuge Liang's army is a happy horse! On the evening of March 17, Zhuge Liang's troops arrived at Jianwu Fort, only fifty miles away from the Wei army. This night was very ordinary for Zhuge Liang: Jiang Wei and Mi Wei accompanied him to have a light meal, went to the camp to inspect once, and then returned to the account as usual to deal with the urgent mail from Hanzhong and Chengdu.What is more special is that it is said that Sun Quan is going to proclaim himself emperor, and the officials in the court all accused this of being an act of disobedience and suggested cutting off diplomatic relations with him.Liu Chan couldn't make up his mind, so he asked his father to make a decision in the special article.Zhuge Liang looked at the title of "Father Xiang", smiled and shook his head.He replied a long letter to the emperor, to the effect that "Sun Quan wanted to become emperor for a long time, the country didn't care about it because it wanted to get help from the horns. Once diplomatic relations with it were severed, the imperial court had to conquer Jiangdong and let Cao Wei go. Although our country is strong, our country is caught in a bitter battle with Sun Quan and consumes our national power. This is obviously not advisable. The mediocre people make decisions at will based on their emotions, and His Majesty should not adopt them. Since we cannot annex Soochow at one stroke, we should live in harmony with it , so that the Northern Expedition will have no worries.” Zhuge Liang even wrote that after Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor, please send Chen Zhen as an envoy to congratulate him. "Xiaoqi (Chen Zhen's character) is pure in character, old and faithful, and will surely fulfill his mission." The night is gradually darkening, and the moon is in the sky. Zhuge Liang rubbed his sore wrist and picked up another watch. One after another, his family letters were pushed down to the bottom. It is Zhuge Liang's habit and a kind of support to look at private affairs after reading official affairs.Although I haven't had a good chat with Shunying for a long time, although Linger is a "widow" at a young age, although the marriage of Guo has been procrastinating, and it is difficult to remember the appearance of his son Zhan, Zhuge Liang feels as long as he thinks of "home". A burst of joy, in the hands and hearts, even when you are the most sleepy and tired, there will be more lively yearning and strength. It was not until the third watch that he was able to open the letter from his wife. "I finally figured out the eight formations and understood what you mean by 'the eight formations are complete, and you will never suffer defeat again'! I know of no military formations that are more comprehensive than it. Kong Ming, Kong Ming, alas." "Alas"... what? A sigh, faintly in my ears; where is that dark chestnut hair, that frowning smile?The eyelids are getting heavier, the smile is still on the lips, Zhuge Liang fell asleep.In a daze, I heard the roar of people and horses in the distance, the noise was hard to distinguish.He just turned over and fell into the dreamless night again: It doesn't matter what happened in the distance... Zhuge Liang thought relaxedly: Let's talk at dawn.After dawn, try the power of the eight formations, making Cao Jun crawl and decay like the rustling grass leaves in late autumn, and dare not look up... Eight formations! Eight formations! He was eager to try like a child, but this time Cao Wei didn't give Zhuge Liang a chance.The next day he was woken up by the three-way golden drum. While washing his face, a small school ran into the camp and shouted: "Cao, Cao Jun... is gone!" "not see?" "Ran!" "run……?" "Yeah, let's go!" "Impossible." Qing Shui slipped from between Zhuge Liang's fingers. He was startled, wiped his hands, threw the towel into the basin, and said, "Explore again!" Within half an hour, four groups of sentries entered and exited the camp of the Chinese army, and they brought back the same news: the enemy retreated far away, and Guo Huai slipped away.The spies also reported that those Wei troops who had fought against Chen Shi in Wudu also left cleanly.The more than a thousand axes Chen Shi used to cut down the antler fortifications were all curled up and could no longer be used. Unexpectedly, when he woke up, he saw that the antlers were empty and there were no enemies. Although the "inspector" is important, it is not as important as his own life.Guo Huai thinks this way: Thirty-six strategies are the best. As soon as he shook his hand, he really ran away. What appeared in front of Zhuge Liang was a flat plain, unobstructed and unobstructed. Just as the sun god drove the golden carriage to the center of the sky, the silver-gray mist gradually faded away. After the mist, a few stars shrank their luster, slowly closing like sleepy eyes.The sickle moon, a dim ornament adorning the belt of the Apollonian robe, is crumbling.The whole earth will be enveloped by the roaring golden light!In the distance, on the gleaming horizon, stands a dilapidated sentry post.It seems that as long as Zhuge Liang points the feather fan, they will collapse suddenly; and the birds chirping in groups of three or four will laugh and flap their wings, pecking the shiny nails back to decorate the nest.Zhuge Liang took a heavy breath, this victory made him laugh and cry so easily. "General Chen flew his horse to report that Wudu and Yinping have been pacified!" Mi Wei said excitedly. "Got it." Zhuge Liang said. "Where's Cen Yuanjian? Any news?" He asked again. Yang Yi shook her drooping head and said understandingly: "The food and grass can last for a month." "Since Duke Wei said it was January, it would be impossible to add another day." Zhuge Liang thought with a smile, and said, "Okay, then...let's go back." "Back?" "Go back to Hanzhong." "Go back!? Our army is like a broken bamboo!" Jiang Wei reminded regretfully. "Life is all about choice. Boyue," Zhuge Liang glanced at Jiang Wei with a smile, "I'm not worried that you won't make progress, I'm just afraid that you...don't want to." In just one month, even if you can siege the city and plunder the land, you can't stabilize it and occupy it. Instead of gaining it and losing it, it is better to reorganize your military equipment and manage the second county you have.If Li Yan can actively prepare for military rations... This idea flashed in Zhuge Liang's mind quickly, no, he can't count on Li Yan!Although he didn't want to use malice to speculate on the important minister of the country who also received the favor of Liu Bei Tuogu, Li Zhengfang's lukewarm attitude really made Zhuge Liang suspicious. "Let's indulge Zheng Fang again..." he thought. Zhuge Liang ended the third Northern Expedition and retreated to Hanzhong. Cao Wei Bianting, he came whenever he wanted, and no one could stop him; if he wanted to leave, he left freely, and no one dared to pursue him.For a long time after learning that Zhuge Liang withdrew his troops, Cao Rui felt that the throne beneath him was icy cold, as if sitting in a cold mockery, which made him almost cover his face with his sleeves embroidered with dragon patterns. "Xishu, Xishu! It's just a small country of Cuo'er! I am a majestic Wei, and I don't take off my armor and my horses don't let go of their saddles, but I can only let Zhuge Liang come and go!?" The bloody emperor gave Yu Ruyi a heavy hand. Throwing, roaring, "Where is the country's prestige? Where is the face!? Teach that guy a lesson! Send troops!" The level of Wenwu was silent. "I am determined to conquer Shu!" the emperor said again. After discussing vigorously for a while, Cao Rui ordered Hussars General Cao Zhen, General Sima Yi, and General Zhang Yun to divide their troops into Ziwu Valley, Hanshui, and Xiegu to march to Xishu!Xiao Zuo reported this matter to Liu Chan, and Liu Chan conveniently covered a volume of "Book of Shang Jun" on the "Nan Hua Jing" he was reading, spit out a jujube stone from his mouth, and said with a smile: "It's really interesting, Can Cao Wei also fight? Let’s fight.” He took out an imperial edict from the gold box under his pillow, added a few words, and asked the minister to shoot Li Fu Xingye and send him to Hanzhong. The edict is for Zhuge Liang: "The defeat of Jieting was the fault of Ma Di, and you took the blame and blamed yourself, and deeply belittled yourself. Back then, I was inconvenient to disobey my father's will, and I followed your suggestion to demote. The year before last, you showed off your military power and beheaded Wang Shuang ;The Northern Expedition again this year caused Guo Huai to flee in embarrassment. You conquered the Di and Qiang barbarians, recovered Wudu and Yinping, and made great achievements. Today, the world is harassed, and the culprit has not yet taken the lead. Suppressing yourself, this is not a way to glorify Shengde. Reinstate your original post as prime minister today, please don't refuse." Li Fu brought the official seal and official uniform. "Your Majesty loves the prime minister, and it is clearly stated in the edict." Seeing that Zhuge Liang was silent, Li Fu was afraid that he would not be favored. "Does Your Majesty know that Cao Wei is about to violate the border?" Zhuge Liang asked suddenly. Li Fu nodded. "Oh, Sun De (the word of Li Fu) please tell His Majesty after returning to court, don't worry." Zhuge Liang gently picked up the seals from the gold plate, looked at them, and hung them on his waist.