Langya Palace is probably the most beautiful palace Zigong has ever seen. ︽, x.

This palace is located on the Langya platform more than 100 feet high. Nine peaks are pulled up from the clouds, and there are stone paths between the peaks, which are called "cloud ladders". In the midsummer, trees, shrubs and other vegetation are all over the hillsides on both sides of the cloud ladder, which are lush and full of vitality. When you turn your head back during the climbing process, you can see the prosperous harbor and the blue-blue East China Sea.

Climb the ladder, pass through the towering brick wall covered with pale vines, and you will reach the interior of the palace. Zigong was escorted by the warriors of Ju State into the hall where he received the guests, and he was asked to wait here.

He asked politely, "I wonder when Jun Jun will come?"

The warrior said coldly, "It's unfortunate that the envoy came, the Lord is offering sacrifices to the God Lord of the Four Seasons, I'm afraid it will take a while."

Zigong had no choice but to wander around the hall, thinking about his words for a while.

Most of the buildings here are made of local quarrying stones, which are quite exotic. The air is filled with the fragrance of wormwood and spices. You can also hear the prayers sung by the great witch of Juguo during the worship of the Four Seasons Lord.

"In the four seasons, spring is born, summer is long, autumn is harvested in winter, and winter is stored; there is a restraint in taking and giving, and there are times when entering and leaving, opening and closing Zhangshe, without losing its narrative; joy, anger, rigidity and softness, and do not leave their rituals." The main **** of the four seasons is one of the eight seaside gods. , is most closely related to the life of Qi and Ju people. It dominates the four seasons, determines the growth of crops and agricultural harvests, and ebbs and flows with the tides throughout the year. It is these seafood that nourish Juguo to this day.

Therefore, in Ju State, both the monarch and the Li Shu must worship it. They chose to set up a shrine and an altar in Langyatai to thank the four seasons Lord God for the wealth brought to people.

At this time, Juzi would personally participate in the sacrifice. If you dare to behave badly, you will be hated by the doctor and the people of the country.

This generation of the monarchs of the Ju Kingdom has followed this path. His surname is mad, and he is nearly fifty years old. Speaking of which, his experience can be described as twists and turns.

It was the fourteenth year of Duke Zhao of Lu (528 BC) in the autumn and eighth month, when Duke Qiu died, Ju Kuang did not look sad after taking the throne, and he did not pay attention during the process of worshipping the Lord of the Four Seasons and the Sea God, so he became angry. Doctor Juguo.

The coup d'état happened quickly. In December of that year, the doctor of the state of Ju attacked and drove Ju Kuang to the state of Qi. From the state of Qi, he welcomed Ju Kuang's uncle, the son Gengyu, to Langya to succeed him.

But the new monarch is not a good thing. In the 23rd year of Duke Zhao of Lu (519 BC), Ju Zigeng was tyrannical and good at casting swords, and every time he made a sword, he would have someone to test the sharpness of the sword. The doctors couldn't bear their tyranny, and went to Qi again to invite Jukuang to return to the country for resettlement. Gengyu fled to Lu and is still living in Qufu. When Zhao Wuxi entered the city of Lu, he specially asked Zigong to visit the exile.

thought here. Zigong showed a smile, thanking Juguo for the internal contradictions, he had already obtained the first chess piece before lobbying.

After waiting for a while, until the sun rises three poles. Ju Zi, who had finished the sacrifice, had his black hair loose, and came to see him in a sacrificial robe, with an impatient expression on his face.

Zigong saluted: "Duanmu, a traveler of Lu. I have seen Jun Ju."

Ju Kuang said indifferently: "Ju is Qi's country and Lu is Qi's enemy. Ju and Lu are also enemy countries, what is the purpose of the envoy coming here? I am not afraid that the widow will bind you and send you to Qi. ?"

Zigong smiled and said, "If this is the case, then the state of Ju is about to lose its love for jade and silk and resume fighting. With the wisdom of Lord Ju, he should not hold grudges against Lu for the people of Qi. Why don't you listen to the words of your foreign ministers? "

Ju Kuang responded coldly: "Thanks to the help of the Marquis of Qi, the widow was able to return to the country and resettle, but it is a generational feud with the state of Lu. Let me ask you, Zhao Wuxi raised the banner of respecting the king and repelling the barbarians, and it was not against me Ju. country?"

Zigong categorically denied: "No, the general will not even set up a county to rule the eastern part of the state of Lu, and will not even cross the Yimeng Mountains to covet the land of the state of Ju.

"Who? You don't have to say that it's just a matter of Zhuanyu, and it's worthy of Zhao's big fight."

Zigong's hand pointed to the south, with a mysterious expression on his face: "Actually, the barbarian that the general wants to harass is the state of Wu!"

...

Ju Kuang was startled and said, "Wu, Jin and Lu, aren't they allies?"

"This is a bad statement. Wu and Jin are very close to each other, but with Lu and Song, they are not allies at all. Last year's Song Rebellion Juzi should have heard of it. The prince-in-law of the Wu state almost had a conflict. What's more, Wu's wolf ambitions have always coveted the Sishang princes including Lu, Song, and Zhu. The reason why the generals formed alliances with other countries is to guard against the Wu people!"

Zigong saw that Ju Kuang was silent, and knew that he was in the right mind, so he continued: "If the foreign ministers are not mistaken, now the biggest threat to Ju State is not Lu State, but Wu State!"

Ju Zi's face was a little stagnant. Compared with his old neighbor Lu, he was indeed more afraid of Wu.

Thirteen years ago, Wu Zixu and Sun Wu sent Wu Zixu and Sun Wu to warm up for the attack on Chu. They took over Ju's southern neighbors Xu and Zhong Wu in one go, and marched against Ju to demonstrate. Ju Zikuang was so frightened that he hurriedly sent an envoy to the state of Wu. Helu, the king of Wu, had no intention of going north, so he arrogantly frightened the messenger of the state of Ju, and asked Juzi to come to the court, and he would pay a certain amount of tribute every year.

Ju Kuang did not dare to go to the land in the south of the Yangtze River, for fear that his bones would not be returned, so he hurriedly sought asylum in Qi State. At that time, the state of Qi was still quite powerful, and the Marquis of Qi helped Ju Guo to be strong, and the conflict between Qi and Wu started from this, just because the main energy of both sides was not here, and no war broke out.

The two sides finally reached an agreement to let Juguo follow Qi and Wu, and the tribute was changed from one to two. Afterwards, Qihou married a daughter to Wu's prince Bo, so as to form a good relationship between the two families. It is a pity that the Qi girl died of homesickness after she went to Wu State, and died of depression with Wu Crown Prince Bo by the way. Only then did the husband Chai get the chance to take the position. Wu State and Qi State were hostile again, and Ju State was sandwiched between them.

Compared with the state of Lu, which has been at peace for more than 20 years, the state of Wu, which has a huge navy, can travel along the coast unimpeded, and can attack Langya at any time, is of course even more terrifying. This country of tigers and wolves, which is dozens of times more barbaric than Ju, likes to destroy people and society, which is not the same as the survival and destruction of the Central Plains.

"I don't need to worry about the matter of Biyi..." Although Juzi was worried about Wu, he still couldn't believe Zigong's words and wanted to drive him away with a wave of his hand.

"Don't you think that as long as you have the protection of the state of Qi, the state of Ju will be able to sit back and relax?" Zigong stomped heavily on the floor of the hall before the warriors of the state of Ju came to pull him. Said regretfully: "I feel sorry for this idea of ​​Jun Jun."

Ju Kuang asked the warrior to hold back and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Zigong walked forward a few steps and said, "The closest lord Ju is to Qi. But Qi always likes to betray your promises, and the alliance with people has a beginning and an end. When Duke Huan of Qi was a son, he took refuge in the state of Ju, and before leaving, he vowed to say "Don't forget to be in Ju." But Xiaobai didn't remember his old virtues after he returned to Qi and became the monarch. Soon after, he brazenly attacked Ju and declared that he was respecting the king and repelling the barbarians. Ju was not allowed to participate in the several alliances he led. All the people in the world are not worth it for the state of Ju."

"The people of Qi are fierce and cruel. The six relatives do not recognize this. This is what Ju Jun clearly knows. Do you still think that the Marquis of Qi can rely on them? The state of Qi once used the pretext of 'Ju rely on Jin and not do anything about Qi' and sent troops to attack many times. Duke Ling of Qi attacked Judu. North Gate; Qi Prime Minister Cui Hao also commanded his division to attack Ju and invaded Jiegen; more than 20 years ago, Qi doctor Gao sent his commander to attack Ju, Ju Jun Gengyu fled to Ji Zhang, Qi also moved his division, and Ju was almost a general of the state. No country. Ju Jun claimed to be grateful for the restoration of the state of Qi. In fact, the state of Qi could have helped Ju Jun to return to the country that time, but because of the bribes of several cities and towns, it was not resolved. It was not until a few years later that Ju Jun was welcomed back. In my opinion, Jun Jun should not be thanking the Marquis of Qi, but should be thanking the ancestors of the state of Ju and the Lord of the Four Seasons!"

Ju Kuang agreed with Zigong in his heart that he was expelled by the doctors. Young Master Gengyu also received Qi's support when he came to power, and Qi didn't care who was in power at all. They only care who can bring more benefits to Qi. This Ju Kuang can only hide in his heart and dare not reveal it. But Zigong said it for him, but it was quite relieved.

"But Qi is a big country after all. Looking to the east, only Qi can confront Wu..."

Zigong said: "Otherwise, the state of Qi was defeated by the Zhao clan of the state of Jin the year before last, and tens of thousands of teachers were killed, but the entire nation's strength was not matched by a minister, which shows that the state of Qi is strong from outside and in the middle. Then last year's Song Rebellion and Lu Zhi. In the chaos, the state of Qi did not do anything, and the people of Jin invaded the defense, and the state of Qi was unable to control it. This shows that the state of Qi is weak and incompetent. The state of Zhu was the nephew of the Marquis of Qi, and he saw that the state of Qi was not worth relying on, so he asked me to be an intermediary. Resolutely surrendering to the state of Lu. Ju Jun should have a good understanding of the form. Jin and Chu have lost their hegemony, and Qi has also declined. Wu's aggression!"

"Juzi doesn't have to worry that Qi and Wu will be indicted. The cooperation between Lu and Ju can be carried out in secret. If the people of Qi find that they are to blame, Ju Zizui will say that Lu forced it. The southern border of Qi, Muling Pass, was strangled by the State of Lu. Live, the Yimeng Mountains are east-west, so even if the Qi people want to go south, it will be very difficult."

His subtext is that the country of Lu wants to go east, it is much more convenient than the people of Qi. Although Ju has the danger of mountains, rivers and seas, there are not many tunnels in the mountains. You can be enemies or friends with Lu. Think about it.

Ju Kuang fell into contemplation. What the envoy of Lu State said made some sense. Everyone saw that Qi State was unreliable, but Lu State seemed to be rejuvenated. Zhao Wuxi had a tough attitude towards Wu State. During the chaotic time, the Prince of Wu did not get much benefit, but now he has united the princes of Sishang, and he has the attitude of a young uncle.

But this messenger has a lot of heart and thinks that he will focus on the conflict between Ju and Qi, and he will forget the old grudges between Lu and Ju.

Not to mention the years when the two countries were evenly matched, it can be said that the borders of Ju State have been retreating eastward for nearly a period of time. During this period of time, the territory of Ju State was occupied by the State of Lu, and the country gradually became weaker and had to take the defensive. Whenever there is civil strife in Ju, the state of Lu will invade several border towns, Moulou, Fang, and Li, and the frontiers along the Yishui River have fallen one after another.

Although Zhao Wuxi has never done anything bad to Ju since he came to power, as Zilu said ~lightnovelpub.net~ the feud between the two countries is too deep and difficult to resolve.

Ju Kuang said: "I believe in General Zhao's ability. He has a reputation of winning in a hundred battles. If he can unite the lords of Si Shang and fight against Qi, even Wu, it is not a problem. But what about sincerity? I want to know, With what sincerity can the country of Lu convince the widow that Lu really wants to cooperate with Ju, not to lie to me!"

"Of course the State of Lu will offer sincerity, and it will surely satisfy Jun Jun."

"General Zhao knows what I want?" Ju Kuang didn't believe it.

Zigong smiled, but there was a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes: "As long as Jun Jun agrees to cooperate with Lu and signs the secret treaty between the two countries, the thing that Juzi wants most will be put on the case immediately!"

(To be continued.)

ps: Thanks for the reward on the 7th! Thank you Tang Minhang, Man Xing 31, green tea when sleepy, 1st Guards Tank Brigade, Mystery 12345, Hahaha's Trumpet, My Gold, Delusional God, God Illusory Realm, czdxh042408, One Night Lonely Boat ￥, every day Not happy, the people who call me old man are alive, but Han is rewarded! Thank you for your monthly pass!

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