Soon after Zhao Ju left the Chu Palace, Qu Zhu also entered the palace.

After being dispersed, Qu Shu took out a bamboo slip from his sleeve, presented it to the queen of Chu, and arched his hand: "King, the six rebellious thieves sent a letter to the ministers, let the ministers report to those rebellious ventilators, and let the ministers turn against them when necessary." ”

As he spoke, Qu Wei looked at the King of Chu cautiously and asked, "Dare to ask the king, how should the minister reply?" ”

Xiong Huai read the superstition that the six gentlemen gave to the Qu Department while he was talking, and then muttered: "Since the six thieves want Xianqing to report the defection, then Xianqing will promise him that it will be good, during this time, the movements of the Qing generals in the court, including the major events of the military aircraft and even the deployment of my counterinsurgency army to Huainan, can also be reported to the six thieves." ”

"This..." Hearing this, Qu Zhi glanced at the King of Chu, and saw that the King of Chu had a serious face and was not joking, so he responded: "The minister understands." ”

Then, Xiong Huai spoke again: "Xianqing, when you reply to the letter later, remind the six thieves, just say that the court has made a heavy promise to those rebellious nobles, as long as they are willing to turn against the rebellion in the court, then the widow will not only not blame the past, but also reward him heavily."

Qing told the six thieves to be vigilant, so as not to be plotted by some traitors who mixed in with the rebels. ”

Qu Zhi immediately nodded and said, "It's the king, the minister understands." ”

"And!" Xiong Huai finally advised: "The second son of Qing Zhiyan is also in the six places, when the widow quells the rebellion in the future, let him be careful, act at the opportunity, and don't die in the chaos." ”

"The king's love is grateful!"

······

Three days later.

Zhao Ju and Jing Que entered the palace together.

After the ceremony.

Jing Que presented a roll of bamboo slips with both hands: "King, Yan Lingjun just sent a letter, saying that the king had issued an edict to the whole country before, exempting the whole country from taxes for one year, and letting the people recuperate. However, it is only half a year before the king's edict, and the king has to recruit the people to fight.

This inconsistency, the people are at a loss, and the matter of conscription is a matter of conscription, and the people have many resistances and difficulties.

Therefore, Yan Lingjun hoped that the imperial court would give him a month to appease the people, and within a month and a half, he would definitely lead the army to Yingdu. ”

Xiong Huai's eyes sank when he heard this, and he immediately took the bamboo slip from the waiter's hand, unfolded it, and sure enough, there were many prevarications and procrastination in the letter.

"Bastard thing." Xiong Huai said angrily: "Yes, the widow is exempt from the country's taxes this year, but the widow is clearly written in the edict, military service is not included, once the country has something to do, the people still have to fight in the army."

Now he actually said that the widow rebelled, and in my opinion, it was not the widow who rebelled, but he had a different heart. ”

Xiong Huai snorted coldly: "It takes a month to recruit soldiers, does he have such a large territory in Yanling?" Yan Ling is close to the left of Yingdu, and it takes one day to come by boat, and two days to come slowly, and it takes him half a month to reach Yingdu, which is really unreasonable.

He doesn't count, counting the time he came to Yingdu, plus the widow led the army from Yingdu to Jianghuai, it will take another month, so long, I'm afraid the entire Jianghuai has already overturned. ”

At this time, Jing Que arched his hand and said: "The king is wise, and the minister also thinks that this is Yan Lingjun's prevarication." And Yan Lingjun was in a national crisis, and in the face of the court's summons, he still had a second move, and the minister thought that it was because he still had doubts in his heart. ”

"Doubts?" Xiong Huai said angrily: "What doubts does he still have in his heart? I think it's because he has a different heart in his heart. ”

Jing Que opened his mouth and bowed down: "King, Jianghuai's rebellion is sudden, and the nobles from all over the country are talking about it, some condemn it, some ridicule it, and some sympathize with it. Not long ago, the rebels openly declared that the reason why they rebelled was because they were forced to do so under the pressure of the new law, and if the king was willing to kill Tang and Qu Yuan, then they were willing to be captured and die to apologize.

When the news spread to all parts of the country, the nobles everywhere felt the same way and had great sympathy for the rebels.

Therefore, the minister thought that the reason why Yan Lingjun shirked in every possible way was that he had doubts about Tang and Qu Yuan, and at the same time, he also had doubts about the Jianghuai rebels, and he also had doubts about this civil war that would make the Chu State decline. ”

"Huh!" When Xiong Huai heard this, he looked at Jing Que and sneered: "Widow, you also have doubts about this Sima." ”

Hearing this, Jing Que pondered for a few moments, and then kowtowed: "Yes, king, the minister also had doubts in his heart before, since the minister learned about the banner of the rebels three days ago, the minister has doubts in his heart.

However, after thinking about it for three days, after seeing Yan Lingjun's letter, now the minister has no doubts in his heart, and the minister came to the palace this time, one is to tell the king Chen the thoughts of Yan Lingjun or the nobles from all over the country, and the second thing is..."

Saying that, Jing Que glanced at the King of Chu with a solemn face, and then bowed down as if he was dead: "The king, please ask the king to issue an edict to kill Tang and Qu Yuan." ”

"Bastard..." Xiong Huai glared at Jing Que and was furious.

"Although the king is angry, the minister still has to speak." Jing Que faced the anger of the King of Chu, although he was afraid in his heart, he did not retreat but advanced: "Great King, there are three benefits to killing Tang Yu Qu Yuan at this moment.

First, let the excuse of rebellion disappear and divide the rebellion of Jianghuai; Second, it can make the fathers and elders in the country recognize the true face of rebellion, and no longer have sympathy for rebellion; Third, as soon as Tang Qu Yuan died, the doubts of the nobles in the country suddenly disappeared, and they would definitely immediately unite around the king.

There are these three reasons, which are enough for us to quickly quell the Jianghuai rebellion and try to preserve the vitality of our Chu State.

Therefore, the minister thought that no matter whether what the rebellion said was true or not, it was enough to kill Tang and Qu Yuan. ”

After that, Jing Que bowed and said: "King, our nobles enjoy the preferential treatment of the country, and we should share our worries for the country and the king, and at this moment, it is the time for the two of them to serve the country and serve the king."

I also ask the king to put the country first, to the community, not to pity the two courtiers, and also ask the king to focus on the overall situation. ”

When Xiong Huai heard this, he was silent for a while, and then said calmly: "What a good one to serve the country and serve the widow!" Sima, if at this moment, Jiang Huai Fengjun kept shouting that as long as he got rid of you, he would be willing to give up resistance and apologize to the widow.

So, Sima, how will you choose? ”

Jing Que was stunned, he didn't expect the King of Chu to put the problem on his head.

After thinking about it, Jing Que said without hesitation: "King, if that group of rebellious people want the heads of the ministers, then the ministers are willing to sacrifice their heads for the sake of the Chu State and the king to quell the civil strife." ”

"That's a good thing to say!" Xiong Huai smiled on his face, not believing Jing Que's words at all, but he still showed a touched look and said: "Okay, good, Xianqing is loyal and loyal, and he can be called a model of the ministers!" ”

Jing Que's heart was slightly relieved when he heard this, the king said such a thing, is the king willing to kill Tang Yu Qu Yuan!

Just as he was thinking about it, he saw the king of Chu open his mouth again:

"Xianqing's intentions are already known, and the widows want to come, and at this time, Zhu Guo and Zuo should also think the same. It's just that such a loyal and virtuous minister, how can a widow bear it in his heart?

And it is too unwise to abandon one's loyal subjects for the sake of a group of rebels.

What's more, Xianqing is willing to spare his life for the sake of the Chu State, how can the widow bear Xianqing to make such a sacrifice.

Therefore, if the group of rebellious people who ask for Xianqing's head, the widow will never want Xianqing to sacrifice. In the same way, now the rebels are demanding the heads of the left disciples of the Pillar Kingdom, and the widows do not want them to die. Also, if the rebels demanded the heads of other ministers, the widows would still not agree.

Therefore, about the words of sacrifice, please don't mention it. ”

At this time, when Zhao Ju heard this, he immediately praised: "The monarch is merciful and virtuous, the monarch and the minister are one, all of them are united, and there is no disadvantage." Although the world can be lifted, let alone the rebellion! ”

After that, Zhao Ju bowed his hand and said, "The minister is the king." ”

Xiong Huai laughed and said: "Yes, the monarch and the minister are of the same heart, and there is no disadvantage." ”

Saying that, Xiong Huai immediately stood up from the throne, then took out the Tai'a sword at his waist, and in the surprised gaze of Zhao Ju Jingque, he slashed at the Wang case in front of him, instantly splitting the Wang case in half.

"Come on, place this case outside the palace, and tell everyone that the widow will never make any compromise with that group of rebels, and those who have words to compromise with rebellion are just like this case."

Zhao Ju Jingque's eyelids jumped as he looked at the Wang case that had become two halves, and at the same time arched his hand and said, "The king is mighty." ”

Xiong Huai nodded, and then instructed Jing Que: "Sima, you immediately summon the Yin nobles in various counties and tell them that the widows are only waiting in Yingdu for one month, and it is a month after the conscription order is issued, that is, twenty-two days later, they will officially lead the army from Yingdu to Jianghuai to quell the rebellion, if they can't reach Yingdu in the next twenty-two days, then let them not use it." ”

Jing Que looked at the King of Chu with a serious face, his heart was shocked, and he didn't dare to refute, so he immediately bowed his head and responded: "Only." ”