Chapter 66 In the third quarter, Zhang Yi made another mistake

At the turn of October, Mr. Mengchang arrived in Xianyang, and Zhang Yi went out of the city to meet him in person. The etiquette was extremely grand. Mr. Meng Chang had a strange feeling for Zhang Yi, he was congenial, but he didn't know what it was like?Having gotten along with Su Qin for a long time, Mr. Mengchang naturally had some speculations and imaginations about Zhang Yi, who is famous all over the world. Generally speaking, he can't escape the shadow of Su Qin's celebrity weapon bureau.But when he saw Zhang Yi for the first time in Linzi, Mr. Meng Chang felt that Zhang Yi was completely different from Su Qin!Zhang Yi's conversation is witty and sharp, not as dignified and wise as Su Qin; Compared with the purge and luxurious atmosphere, Zhang Yi looks like a commoner in the market; Zhang Yi does not stick to trifles, drinks spirits, and talks high-spirited words, but when he makes comments, he laughs and scolds. Excessive!After listening too much, I got used to Su Qin's eloquent remarks. When I suddenly heard Zhang Yi's discussion, I couldn't believe that the person I was facing was Su Qin's classmate and younger brother... All these things that I couldn't see in Su Qin, All of them fascinated the heroic Mr. Mengchang. In comparison, Mr. Mengchang felt that he liked Zhang Yi even more.Meng Changjun hated Qin, but he really liked Zhang Yi.

In the suburban welcome gathering, but meeting such an unremarkable and unrestrained character, Mr. Mengchang was really happy like never before.It was supposed to be a polite greeting, but the two drank together for two hours!While talking and laughing, let’s talk about wine tasting, famous wines and fine wines, famous cars and horses, weapons and swords, "Poetry", folk songs, everyone’s favorites, they don’t care about anything, but they don’t say a word about state affairs, and they sleep in autumn up the hill.Seeing that it was already dusk, Ying Hua came over and whispered something in Zhang Yi's ear.

"Sin, sin!" Zhang Yi suddenly laughed and stood up: "Meng Changjun, the King of Qin is still waiting to clean up your dust, go! Go on and drink!" "Okay! Go ahead and drink!" Meng Changjun also burst into laughter. The two got into the car and entered the east gate of Xianyang, and the city was already lit up.Driving on the ten-mile long street, I saw a lot of traffic in the road, and the night market was brightly lit with thousands of lights, a splendid and beautiful scene.Mr. Mengchang was dazzled, and he was amazed all the way. When he arrived in front of the palace, he saw cars and horses rushing to and fro in the square, which was even busier than the early court in Linzi!Mr. Mengchang couldn't help laughing jokingly and said, "With a Mr. Mengchang, the state of Qin has become so busy?" Zhang Yi laughed loudly: "There are no idle officials in the Kingdom of Qin. Can you not be busy?" Dazed, he let out a long sigh, but he was speechless for half a day.

Entering a small hall, four men in black were chatting leisurely and laughingly, and the wine and food that had obviously cooled down were placed on several long tables.Mr. Meng Chang glanced at the door, but saw that several people in the seat were all in black uniforms without crowns, and the seats were arranged in a circle. He didn't immediately see who was the King of Qin?Jun Mengchang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief: some ministers must be waiting here, and the King of Qin hasn't come yet.At this moment, a thick and steady man in black with gray beard and hair greeted him: "Meng Changjun, Ying Si has been waiting for a long time." Ying Si?Unexpectedly, Mr. Meng Chang bowed deeply: "Tian Wen is abrupt, drinking too much is rude, I hope the king of Qin will forgive me."

"Where do you come from?" Qin Huiwang said with a hearty smile: "The most affectionate, the great courtesy is not in vain, Mr. Mengchang is right to the taste of the people of Qin." He said and took Mr. Mengchang's hand: "Come on, first recognize me Old courtier: This is Prime Minister You Liji, your old friend." Xi Liji cupped his hands and said with a laugh, "Mengchang Jun, Hei Fatty misses you very much." "This is General Sima's fault, an old friend whom I have never met." Sima Cuo bowed his hands in salute: "I have admired the name of Lord Mengchang for a long time, and I will receive more advice in the future."

Meng Changjun smiled: "General, you have spoken for me, a defeated general." Amidst the laughter, King Hui of Qin introduced Chang Shi Ganmao again, and the monarchs and ministers sat down at the table.During the gap, Zhang Yi had already ordered the servants to put on hot new dishes, and King Qin Hui held a banquet with the emperor, and the emperor and his ministers drank together, and performed the ceremony of cleaning up the dust for Lord Mengchang.After drinking for three rounds, King Qin Hui smiled and said: "Meng Changjun, I will wait for the monarchs and ministers to clean up the dust for you. Ying Si only has one sentence: Inviting you to Qin, it is not for other reasons, but just want to invite you to visit Qin. , you can come back at any time."

Meng Changjun was very surprised, but he smiled leisurely: "Thank you King Qin, Xu Tianwen is free." "Hey," Chili pointed out with a quick smile, "You Meng Changjun, does the Qin Kingdom care about you as a hostage?" Mr. Mengchang and Chili were used to laughing and cursing, and they laughed loudly when they heard this: "I'm relieved if there's such a thing as black fat man!" King Qin Hui smiled leisurely: "Shandong and the six countries have always looked at Qin with old eyes, calling Qin a country of tigers and wolves and a country of barbarians. The king is upright, and he can give Qin a justice. Ying Si will be very grateful."

"Thank you King Qin for your trust." Meng Changjun generously agreed, and wanted to say something, but finally held back. It was already the second watch when he came out of the palace.Zhang Yi pulled Mr. Mengchang and said with a smile: "I told you, I still have a few jars of century-old Zhao wine in my place. How about going to destroy it tomorrow?" "What are you going to do tomorrow? It's tonight!" Meng Changjun said enthusiastically, "I don't like living in a post house the most, so I went to your house to hang around it for a few days to see how the Prime Minister of Qin is living?"

Zhang Yi laughed loudly: "People promise three points, but they claim ten points. Mr. Meng Chang is really surprised!" "It's a shame to keep a doorman for a long time, and you want someone else to take care of you, what's so strange?" Mr. Meng Chang was serious. Zhang Yi couldn't help laughing: "Oh, that's amazing! Such a guest, Zhang Yi is broken." Laughing and pointing all the way, it's been three o'clock since I got back to the mansion.Zhang Yi, smelling of drunkenness, shouted loudly as soon as she entered the main hall: "Fei Yun, the God of Dionysus is here! Hundreds of years of Zhao Jiu!" Fei Yun supported Zhang Yi and smiled: "Hey, return the God of Dionysus, the wine barrel How much more can you hold?" Meng Changjun smiled and said: "Little sister is right, it was originally two wine barrels." Zhang Yi stomped on the iron staff: "My little sister, is that your name?" Jun Mengchang couldn't help laughing out loud: "What's yours is mine, so what's the matter?" Zhang Yi fell on the mat next to the case, muttering to himself: "What's mine is mine, so what's the problem?"

While Fei Yun was busy helping Zhang Yi to sit on the big back cushion, she blushed and giggled and said, "Oh! You're talking nonsense again, there is a distinguished guest here." As she spoke, she took one for Mr. Meng Chang The big cushion: "My lord, wait a moment, Zhao Jiu will come right away." After speaking, he floated away like a gust of wind. "Brother Zhang," Meng Changjun smiled mysteriously: "In the age of forty, you are still single, so the article is here?" Zhang Yi laughed and said, "Article oh article, it's time for the article to come to fruition..."

"Brother Zhang is very generous, and he will definitely write a good article!" "Great writing? Big writing can only make a good article." "Oh—!" Jun Mengchang shook his head and said, "As long as it is worth doing, two articles can be done, and ten articles can be done. Zhang Yi is Zhang Yi, and Zhang Yi is neither Confucius nor Mencius." "Well said!" Zhang Yi slapped the desk and said with a smile: "Zhang Yi is Zhang Yi, and the one who knows Zhang Yi is also Mr. Mengchang!" "The person who knows Tianwen, Zhang Yiye!" Meng Changjun clapped the case, and the two of them laughed at the same time. There was a slight sound of footsteps, and Fei Yun floated in with two maids. After a while of fiddling, the two long tables were filled with tripod plates and chopsticks, and two white pottery wine jars with red letters on them squatted beside the table. !Mr. Mengchang shrugged his nose: "Ah, it smells so good! Is this a hundred-year-old Zhao wine?" Fei Yun said with a smile, "Oh, you can't go wrong, just make sure you drink it to your heart's content." Mr. Mengchang laughed: "Okay, that's the right way Already!" He suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked at the big earth-colored pottery bowl in front of him: "Oh——? Old Zhao wine, do you want to drink it from a pottery bowl?" Fei Yun laughed and said, "Hey! The big bowl of old wine is better than the bronze jue It would be more satisfying." As he spoke, he picked up the white pottery altar, quickly filled two large pottery bowls, and handed them in front of them. Meng Changjun laughed loudly and said: "Brother Zhang, come, your century-old Zhao wine! Do it!" "Yes! Your hundred-year-old Zhao wine, do it!" After taking a photo of two bowls, the two drank it all in one gulp. "It's so refreshing! Century-old Zhao wine! Come again." After drinking three more bowls in a row, Meng Changjun just clicked his tongue and said with a confused face: "No, this, this Zhao wine? How can it be cold and sour?" "That's right, why is this Zhao wine cold and sweet? Ask the wine official in Handan!" Zhang Yi stomped on his iron staff. Seeing the drunkenness of the two, Fei Yun giggled and said, "Hey! This is iced old Qin rice wine, and it's even a Dionysus." Meng Changjun laughed loudly: "Okay! It's the century-old ice cold, at the right time, the best in the world! Come again!" "Yes! Ice iced for a hundred years, the best in the world! Come again!" Zhang Yi immediately responded. In a short while, the two drank six bowls in a row. The hot flame in the chest finally subsided a little, but they both leaned crookedly against the wall with flushed faces.Zhang Yi patted the long case: "Mr. Mengchang, you have been wandering around for a month. When I have something to do at hand, I will go to Linzi with you." Mr. Mengchang smiled and shook his head again and again: "Su Qingang When you arrive in Qi State, you are going to stir up trouble and make Brother Su restless?" Zhang Yi's face suddenly darkened: "Meng Changjun, tell me, did Qu Yuan conspire with my senior brother in assassinating Zhang Yi?" Meng Changjun laughed loudly, and then fell down on the carpet and snored.Zhang Yi tilted her body, knocked on the long case and said with a smile: "Okay, Mr. Meng Chang, snoring is prevaricating to me. I will chase you in your dreams, and I have to ask you to understand..." Tilted her head, she also snored. In the afternoon of the next day, Mr. Mengchang just woke up. After washing and eating, he came to the study to talk to Zhang Yi.When I met Fei Yun outside the study, I knew that Zhang Yi had entered the palace early in the morning and hadn't returned yet.Mr. Mengchang couldn't help being surprised by Zhang Yi's extraordinary energy, and even more admired the diligence and respect of Qin officials.If you were in the state of Qi, if you got drunk because of diplomatic relations, you would be justified in sleeping for three days, and no one would come to you for business.A prime minister is so diligent, who dares to slack off state affairs?The whole country is so diligent, how can the country not prosper?Suddenly thinking of the state of Qi and the Warring States of Shandong, Meng Changjun suddenly felt heavy in his heart. At this time, Zhang Yi had a fierce argument with Sima Cuo in the palace. After the Danshui War, Qin Huiwang felt that the national power was still lacking, and he felt tight after a fierce battle with the new army of Chu State. How could he compete with the six kingdoms of Shandong for a long time?After Zhang Yi and Sima Cuo returned to Xianyang, King Qin Hui ordered several brachial ministers to plan seriously, how to greatly enhance the national power?How to reopen deadlock?Today's court meeting is a gathering to discuss this crucial event.In addition to Zhang Yi, Sima Cuo, Chi Liji, and Gan Mao who participated, King Qin Hui also specially sent his servants to carry the gray-haired Wang Bo Yingqian on a military couch, and asked him to lie down in the bright charcoal fire and listen to the scene. listen. Xi Liji is the right prime minister who actually presides over internal affairs. First, he briefly reported the state of national power after the Great War between Qin and Chu: Although Qin has six counties and thirty-eight counties with a population of more than three million, the three counties of Beidi, Shangjun, and Longxi In order to fight against the Huns and the Huns, they have never recruited soldiers or paid taxes; the two counties of Guanzhong and Shangyu County are the source of Qin's strength against the six kingdoms of Shandong. The amount is 300,000; the three granaries of the Qin State store more than one million dendrobiums of grain, which can be used as food for the army for three years if there is no urgent need for disaster relief; Xianyang Shangfang stores more than 90,000 catties of iron materials, which can only cast about 10,000 weapons; There are more than 30,000 tons of salt in stock, which can be used by the country for two years. At the end, Li Ji said: "According to my calculations: To counterbalance Shandong and achieve the great cause of unification, the strength of the new army should be at least 500,000. With Qin's land, population, wealth, goods, salt, iron, food, and other conditions, it can be achieved. An army of 300,000 troops cannot last for more than three years. If taxes are increased and the number of soldiers is increased, the legal system will be undermined. For the current plan, we must focus on the word "expansion." Chi Liji, who is naturally witty, has a black face and no smile today.Although the ministers generally knew the truth, it was still frightening for the minister in charge to show it with a series of numbers, and the hall was silent for a while. "Expansion?" Qin Huiwang wandered back and forth before the king's case: "It's not bad, but where to expand? Have you thought about it?" "I have no final opinion yet." Chi Li said quickly, "The prime minister knows the world well, so I should ask the prime minister to make a decision on this matter." Zhang Yi is the chief minister, and he is also a master who knows the world like the back of his hand. King Qin Hui and the ministers naturally want to hear his long-term plans.As soon as Xi Liji said it, Qin Huiwang smiled: "That's natural. The prime minister will talk about it first." "My lord:" Zhang Yi clasped his hands and said, "Qin country must meet three conditions to open up: first, this place is connected with Qin country, otherwise it will be difficult to integrate into it; second, the land is rich and the products are abundant, otherwise it will become a burden Thirdly, if the country is weak and has few soldiers, it can be attacked in one attack without worrying about repeated scrambles." "Okay." King Qin Hui smiled and clapped the case: "Those are the three conditions. Where is the prime minister aiming?" "South Korea!" "Han-guo-?" Chi Liji, Gan Mao and Ying Qian on the army couch stared in surprise almost at the same time, only Sima Cuo sat calmly.King Qin Hui just looked at Zhang Yi, obviously wanting him to continue talking. "South Korea is adjacent to Qin State. Not only are Yiyang Iron Mountain and Dahe Salt Field, but also a plain granary, and a population of more than two million. This is the strength of destroying South Korea! South Korea is weak and can fight with only 50,000 elite soldiers. The current alliance is broken , The Warring States of Shandong is too busy to take care of itself, and South Korea has no rescuers, so it will definitely go down. This is the possibility of destroying South Korea." Zhang Yi said excitedly, and stood up: "Let's talk about the distant plan of destroying South Korea: Once South Korea is destroyed, Qin will be outside the pass. With a solid foundation, it will greatly intimidate the Shandong Warring States, and promote the early completion of the great cause of reunification. Zhang Yi believes that the current attack on South Korea is the right time!" There was a moment of solemn silence in the hall.The gray-haired Yingqian was so excited that he gasped. He knocked on the stove and said in a hoarse voice, "Well said! You are courageous! Annihilation of Korea will shake the world. Maybe Shandong will collapse suddenly." At this time, Qin Huiwang showed a rare concentration. Looking at the other ministers who did not speak, he paced slowly and said: "Life and death are at stake at this time. You can't take a wrong step. Everyone has spoken." Chi Liji laughed again: "If you want to attack the city and plunder the land, Hei Fatty should listen to what the general said first." "I'm just planning a big policy, and I want to hear the general's advice first." Gan Mao immediately followed Chi Liji. "That's right, you have to rely on the generals to fight the war." King Qin Hui said with a smile: "Sima Cuo is reticent and resourceful, so let's talk about it." Sima Cuo, who had been silent all this time, bowed his hands humbly to Zhang Yi: "The prime minister whipped him into the house, and Sima Cuo admired the three conditions for land expansion. However, Sima Cuo thought that it is not appropriate to destroy South Korea, but the two countries of Bashu should be destroyed." "Ba--? Shu--?" One word fell, and the waves rose again!Xi Liji was even more surprised and perplexed than Zhang Yi's proposal to destroy Han just now. He wanted to laugh, but somehow it turned into two long exclamations. In the ruling and opposition parties of the Qin State at that time, few people knew about Bashu and Bashu, and even fewer ministers had been to Bashu and Bashu.Now, General Sima Cuo is going to capture this foreign country in the vast mountains, it is really unimaginable, no wonder Xi Liji was so surprised that he couldn't laugh if he wanted to. "General, Bashu...Okay, let's go on." Qin Huiwang suddenly remembered Sima Cuo's words before his surprise attack on Fangling, "There is no eight-point chance of winning, and I dare not seek the country." After all, he stabilized his mind and decided to listen to Sima Cuo. finished. "Your Majesty, my lords:" Sima Cuo did not feel the slightest embarrassment, and clasped his hands and said: "An old proverb says: If you want to enrich the country, expand its land; if you want to strengthen its soldiers, enrich its people; Zhang Qili. At present, the land of Qin State is small and the people are few. The country has no rich goods, and there is no three-year grain accumulation in the warehouse. If you are eager to make a big profit, you will exhaust your national strength and achieve nothing. Destroying Han can greatly increase its strength, but in fact it is extremely difficult. It is difficult to succeed. Although the six countries are broken apart, the disaster of annihilation of the country will suddenly arise. The six countries in Shandong will have a cold heart and will desperately rescue. But the war will start, how can the soldiers and wealth of the Qin State last for more than three years? This is South Korea Indestructible." "It's indestructible if you're close at hand, but it's better if you're thousands of miles away?" Zhang Yi smiled teasingly. Sima Cuo: "The prime minister clearly observed: Although Bashu is far away from mountains and mountains, the two states have a large population, and there are many valleys and plains. The mountains are rich in salt and iron, and the plains are abundant in rainfall. Once the flood is cured, it will be a natural granary. If the Qin State takes the land of Bashu , the population should be increased by more than one million, and the land expanded by a thousand miles, which is equivalent to half of Chu State!" When the words fell to the point, the monarchs and ministers in the palace couldn't help being moved, but Zhang Yi coldly followed him: "How do you get the law?" "The difficulty in Bashu lies in the fact that there is no clear road." Sima Cuo pointed out the crux of the problem first, and then said: "When the surprise attack on Fangling, Sima Cuo had already explored clearly. There are three ways to enter Bashu: First, go up the river by light boat. Second, 5,000 light soldiers went out of Chencang Dasan Ridge and entered Shu through the mountain road; third, 5,000 light soldiers went out of Baoxie ancient road and entered Badi along the submerged river. With the tenacity of our army, It is not difficult to enter Bashu." "Hey hey hey," Chi Li laughed and said, "General, if there is an army lying in ambush, nothing will be harvested!" Sima Cuo smiled lightly: "Dare to ask Prime Minister Zuo, was there a Bashu envoy entering Xianyang half a month ago?" "Hey! How did Hei Fatty forget about this?" Chu Li slapped his thigh quickly: "Ba Kingdom and Shu Kingdom are fighting, and they all come to invite me to send troops. Your Majesty hasn't responded to them yet." "There is such a thing." Qin Huiwang nodded: "Considering the difficult journey, I didn't plan to rescue, so I didn't inform you all." "Even if there is such a thing, Bashu is still unacceptable!" Zhang Yi said decisively: "Although Bashu is large, it is mostly dangerous mountains and bad waters, and there are many miasmas. If it is a thousand miles away, not only will it not increase the strength of Qin, but also We must make great efforts to garrison the army and govern the people. Zhang Yi thought: without thirty years of achievements, Bashu will be a burden! I dare to ask the general, if the land of Bashu can greatly increase the national power, why does Chu not expand the three thousand miles south of the Lingnan, but has to fight to the death? Compete for the size of land north of the Huai River?" "The prime minister's words are wrong." Sima Cuo actually denied Zhang Yi with one sentence, and Ying Qian who was beside the burning stove widened his old eyes in surprise, but Sima Cuo still said with a straight face: "First, the outside of Bashu is steep but the inside is gentle. There is neither the threat of coercion by a big country nor the harassment of the Huns. The difficulty of governance is easier than that of the Rong people in Longxi, and it can be regarded as the real rear of Qin. The tribes live scattered by the caves and waters, and live only by hunting and fishing, without farming customs; the two states of Bashu are similar to the Central Plains, and they admire the civilization of the Central Plains. If there are more than ten capable officials, within three years there must be a small Success, it will be a great success within ten years." "Three years? Ten years?" Zhang Yi sneered: "It takes time and hard work, but it's not enough to become famous, and it's not enough to make a profit. How can it be compared with destroying Korea?" "No." Sima Cuo was not moved by Zhang Yi's momentum at all, and stubbornly retorted: "To destroy Korea at the moment is really to brag about the world's shame. Once you gain a bad name, you make a strong enemy and make the world violent. Isn't it related to Lian Heng?" The long-term policy is running in the opposite direction?" Zhang Yi was taken aback for a moment, but immediately retorted: "Conquering and killing but relying on strength to compete, what is the name of good and evil? When did the general become a Confucian general?" During the Warring States period, "Confucian generals" were a kind of sarcasm. As soon as it came out, the monarchs and ministers in the palace couldn't help being startled. "You don't need to be famous for attacking cities and expanding land, but you don't need to summon the world to criticize yourself." Sima Cuo seemed unaware of that "Confucian general", and he continued according to his own thoughts: "Bashu asked for help, and Qin used the law to stop violence and chaos." It is logical to take it for the sake of name. Pulling out the two countries will not be regarded as violence by the world, and the world will not be regarded as greedy by gaining real benefits. In one fell swoop, the name and reality match. Why not do it? Han Gu should be destroyed, but Qin is powerless today. Bashu is far away, but Qin is within reach. May the prime minister think twice." "A proverb goes: Compete for fame in the court, and strive for the benefit of the market. The land of the Central Plains is the court market of today's world! Seeking profit but not going public, seeking government but not entering the court, isn't it the opposite?" Zhang Yi explained the status of the Central Plains clearly. But that's all. "This is all I have to say, I hope the king will decide." Sima Cuo finally backed down. "The minister and the general are of the same mind and not conspiring, the emperor has clearly observed and made a decision." Zhang Yi also laughed. "Concentric but not conspiring, the prime minister said it well!" Qin Huiwang was worried about the estrangement of the general at the moment, especially for Zhang Yi, who was known as the world's most eloquent, and Qin Huiwang was even more worried that he would not be ashamed.At this moment, Zhang Yi put aside his heartache with one sentence, and naturally he was very grateful: "The same heart is the great blessing of the country! The prime minister's words are like the ocean, and he is a good prime minister through the ages!" Chi Li laughed and said: "Hey hey, just use defense as offense, don't be fooled, Your Majesty." Zhang Yi laughed loudly: "The one who knows me is the fat black man!" The hall roared with laughter, even Sima Cuo, who couldn't laugh, laughed too, the tense atmosphere just disappeared.When King Qin Hui was about to disband the dynasty, a scribe hurried in and handed Gan Mao a scroll of bamboo slips.Gan Mao opened it and glanced at it, and quickly held it to King Qin Hui with both hands: "The book of the Kingdom of Zhao, please read it." King Qin Hui said with a smile: "Read it, and listen to it together." Gan Mao unfolded the bamboo slips and read aloud: "Zhao Yong paid homage to the King of Qin: Although Yong is the king, Zhao is poor and weak, and Yong is ashamed of the country and the government. Now he wants to reform the law to enrich the people, but there is no way to start it. The reform of the Qin State is thorough. , is indeed the teacher of the world. Yong Yu learned from the reform of the Qin State, and I hope that the King of Qin will send a minister to change the law for me. Qin and Zhao have the same origin, and I sincerely hope that the King of Qin will grant permission. The autumn of the second year of Zhao Yong." The hall was stunned for a moment!Reform plans have always been top secrets in all countries, and it is impossible for ordinary ministers to participate in the planning, let alone openly seek help from other countries.Now the new king of Zhao is unbelievable. Not only has he clearly announced his intention to reform the law, but he also asked Qin to send a "reform master". It is really unbelievable! "Hey, Zhao Yong has a lot of guts." Chili patted his stomach quickly: "I think we should be careful, and we'll talk after we see." Qin Huiwang had been wandering around slowly, and now he said with a smile: "We have diplomatic relations, and the prime minister has the full power to deal with it. I don't have to think about it." After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and said, "Dismiss the court." Then he left. "Stay, General." Zhang Yi walked to Sima Cuo and whispered for a while, Sima Cuo nodded frequently.