The "art of rule" that feudal monarchs and monarchs had to accept since childhood was once the same.

A qualified feudal monarch needs to be proficient in conspiracy, know how to raise dead soldiers, learn to stand in line, have a heart of rebellion at any time, intrigue and intrigue, and cooperate vertically and horizontally. A feudal lord who does not conspire will inevitably find it difficult to survive, and his family will soon become extinct.

Originally, the princes of various countries, that is, the largest feudal monarchs in the country, had to learn from childhood to fight wits and courage with their uncles and brothers, seek their own interests with the feudal lords and nobles at home, and make good relations with foreign nobles.

For example, in the State of Qi, Gongsun would independently vote for Zhao and Xiang Ziniu to attack the State of Lu if they disagreed, just to say hello to the Marquis of Qi.

For example, in the state of Chu, before Bai Gong was in turmoil, Ye Gong could lead troops to quell the chaos and support the new monarch, Wu Zixu could talk to his friends when he was in Chu State, saying that I had to destroy the Chu State, and Qu Yi was dissatisfied with the King of Chu to change the law and directly surrendered to Korea.

The feudal monarch was very independent, with soldiers, money, fiefs, and farmers attached to the fief, and there was no shortage of anything.

In fact, the monarchs of various countries are seeking a solution once and for all, and centralization of power has become the main theme of the changes in the world after the Spring and Autumn Turbulent Times.

The centralized imperial monarch and the largest feudal monarch under the feudal system had nothing to learn from each other.

The feudal monarch is heavy on conspiracy, and the monarch is heavy on power.

It's just that the tide of law change has just risen in the land of Zhuxia, and the heirs of the princes of the world are in an awkward transition period: the aristocratic conspiracy politics of the previous hundreds of years has matured and become a system that can be learned and inherited; And the new art of power is still developing, and there has not yet been a master of fortune.

Sishang, the only one that has completed the centralization of power, cannot be learned by other countries.

Gongzhong Lian was born in the Spring and Autumn Period, grew up in the Warring States Period, witnessed the rise of scholars, presided over the changes of the Zhao State, and personally studied the deconstruction of the world by the Mohist doctrine in the past 20 years.

Times have changed.

Before the death of Zhao Liehou, it was also regarded as a lonely to Gongzhong Lian, and under the circumstances at that time, it was impossible for Zhao to pass on the throne to his son, so he could only choose to let his son accumulate strength first, and Gongzhong Lian had been watching Gongzizhang's growth behind his back all these years.

And now, Gong Zhonglian feels that his time is short, so he wants to tell Gongzizhang all his feelings.

There are too many things to say, and it may not be enough to say in a year or two, but he hopes that even if Gongzizhang does not fully understand it now, as long as he keeps in mind the words "times have changed", he can still grow slowly.

Before the common people showed their sufficient strength, the king's biggest enemy was always the nobles, and Gong Zhonglian wanted Zhao Hou to understand that if he wanted to confront the nobles, he had to jump out of the unspoken rules of aristocratic politics and everything he had learned before, and rely on the strength of the scholars and the common people to fight against the nobles.

So he has been saying that let Zhao Hou become the king of Zhao Min, not the prince of Zhao.

Gongzhong is even anxious that the world is changing, and a slow step may be the temple.

For the entire feudal aristocracy, the Mo family is the biggest enemy.

But for individual princes, kings and nobles, they have too many individual enemies, and they are far from being forced to unite together for the sake of etiquette.

There is no difference between the death of the Zhao family and the death of the Zhao family in the Han, Wei, Ying, Tian, Xiong and other clans. Those who are not of my race will have different hearts, and their families will be different, and they will not be of one mind.

Therefore, Gong Zhonglian said that Zhao Hou must flexibly use the cold lips and teeth and distant and close attacks.

Don't be a martyr of the ritual system, respect the etiquette and uphold the righteousness of the Mo family, Zhao Guo does not have this strength, and whoever shows up first is disadvantaged.

Don't be a "benevolent" monarch who thinks that the Mo family is harmless, and really believes the words of the Mo family that benefit the world, whether it is theory, strength and incitement, the grandsons of the Zhao family who have been fiefdom are not as good as those who are famous and heroic in the world.

This is what you need to prepare for those who die with a different surname or without a surname.

And if you want to deal with the biggest enemy, the same clan and relatives, you need to learn more things, Gong Zhonglian believes that this kind of power and art, there will always be people who study it, in order to make meritorious achievements or wealth and fame, he feels that even if he dies, as long as the monarch can understand the general trend in the future, he will always find a suitable candidate.

Zhao Hou was reprimanded by Gong Zhonglian again and again, but there was no anger in it.

Gong Zhonglian is a person entrusted by his father, and now that he is old, he is about to die, and his words are good, and it is unlikely that there is any selfish harm in what he says, just whether he wants to hear it or not.

After carefully pondering Gong Zhonglian's words, Zhao Hou said: "I already understand your words. I may not know how to do it yet, but I will always keep your words in mind. ”

"Of course, you think it will be difficult to prosper the country......"

Gong Zhonglian immediately said: "It's not that I think it's difficult to prosper the country. If what I think is what the Emperor of Heaven has blessed, then I am willing to think that Zhao is strong and prosperous in the world. ”

"Now you only see the rebellion, but you don't see that after the rebellion, those nobles whose vast fiefdoms are not in line with you have been swept away, and there is no power to stop your change."

"It's like a person born with a poisonous sore, and this rebellion is to completely remove the poisonous sores with a sharp sword. It may bleed, but once you recover, it will be better than before. ”

"If you only regard this matter as a rebellion between the nobles and princes, you will not be able to get the support of the Mo family outside, and you will not be able to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change in one fell swoop."

"You have to think of the rebellion as the beginning of your change. If you are a king, you have to think about what happens after the rebellion. ”

Zhao Hou nodded, and comforted the somewhat excited Gong Zhong with a few words.

said: "As you said, after this rebellion, if I win, I will be able to sweep away those powerful feudal monarchs in the country, and the Zhao State may really be strong." ”

"However, there are many heroes in the world, Qin, Chu, Wei and Qi are all strong enemies, and the strength of Zhao State, what kind of plan should be there?"

"In the past, Jian Zi showed the princes and said: I have a treasure in Changshan, and the first one can be rewarded."

"Only Xiangzi knows the meaning of Jianzi, thinking that with Changshan to attack the generation, the country is the treasure of Changshan. After the Xiangzi stands, the fruit replaces. ”

"Where are the treasures of Zhao now?"

"Now there is Wei Shangjun in the west, Yan Yishui in the east between the rivers of Qi, the danger of the big river in the south, the strength of Han Wei, and the north of Lin Hu Lou is good at riding horses and controlling ......the strings."

Gong Zhonglian stretched out his finger and pointed to the northeast and said, "Now the treasure of Zhao is on Taihang Mountain." ”

Zhao Hou immediately understood what Gong Zhonglian meant, and said, "The treasure you are talking about, is it the Zhongshan Kingdom?" Zhongshan is now about to restore the country, and has said that he wants to make friends with me, so once the rebellion is put down, do I want to capture Zhongshan? ”

The betrayal of the alliance is not a big deal for the princes.

Gong Zhonglian shook his head and said, "You were right earlier, now the treasure of Zhao is Zhongshan." There is the danger of Taihang, the north is adjacent to Yan and the east is adjacent to Qi, there are thousands of miles of fertile land, and there are 100,000 people, which is a treasure that can not be compared with any pearl and jade for the monarch. ”

"But what you said later is not right. It's not that after the rebellion is put down, the mountain country will be attacked. ”

"You have already said that there is Shangjun in the west of Zhao, Yanqi in the east, Huma in the north, and Han Wei in the south. Now that the alliance between Wei and Zhao will be resolved, the affairs of Zhongshan will no longer be just a matter of Zhao, but will be annexed only by taking advantage of the chaos in the world. Otherwise, Zhongshan asks for help from Yan, Qi, Wei, and Han, what will happen to Zhao? ”

"The son can be replaced, and the generation is a treasure. And if it weren't for a sage like Xiangzi, the generation would not necessarily be a treasure but a poison. It's the same with Zhongshan. ”

Gongzhong was still a little puzzled when he saw Zhao Hou, and said: "How much does it cost for Xiangzi to attack the generation?" How long does it take? ”

Zhao Hou smiled: "Xiangzi replaced, and killed with a counter-fighting hammer." It takes a meal, and it doesn't cost much, so that the wife and brother of the acting monarch will succeed to the position of the acting monarch. ”

Gong Zhonglian asked again: "So, even if you put down the rebellion now, how much will it cost to capture Zhongshan?" How long does it take? ”

"If the Wei people take advantage of your capture of Zhongshan and besiege Handan Zhongmu, wouldn't the foundation of Zhao be dangerous?"

Zhao Hou calculated a little and understood, even if he put down the rebellion, those people in Zhongshan Kingdom were like hundred-legged insects who died but did not stiffen, and they were good at fighting, and if they wanted to attack, they were afraid that they would have to raise 50,000 troops, and it would take several years to do it.

Gong Zhong Lian said: "Now that the Marquis of Wei supports the Gongzi Dynasty and you have quelled the rebellion, can Wei and Zhao still trust each other such as Marquis Lie and Marquis Wen?" ”

Zhao Hou said hatefully: "The Wei people are greedy and do not allow Zhao to enter the Central Plains, how can they be trusted?" ”

Gong Zhonglian asked again: "Even if Wei Zhen is not as virtuous as Wenhou now, then the foundation left by Wenhou for Wei Zhen can be shaken by Zhao State?" ”

Zhao Hou shook his head again and said, "Although Wu Qi left, the martial arts are still there; Although Li Kui Zhai Huang passed away, his uncle also has talent. The foundation of Wei is not something that Zhao can easily shake. ”

"As you said, can't you get this treasure of Zhongshan Kingdom?"

Gong Zhonglian laughed and said, "Not really. The Wei people raised troops in Daliang, Yuguan, and Chengyang, which was to get Sishang. Qi people have also coveted Si Shang for a long time. Now that there is a Mo family in Sishang, the land of Taoqiu is rich and the world is rich, which monarch doesn't want to get it? ”

"Although Zhao is surrounded on all sides, there is no place to fight like Sishang after all. Once the rebellion is put down, you must wait, Your Majesty. ”

Zhao Hou had already understood, and said, "You are asking me to wait...... Waiting for chaos in Sishang? ”

Gong Zhong laughed and said, "The gentleman is smart. If the rebellion is quelled, the king remembers that he must not set foot in the Central Plains, but only change the internal affairs and raise soldiers. gradually reconciled with Wei, but kept in touch with the Mo family. ”

"Once the chaos in Sishang arises, the Wei people will inevitably need your strength to help. When the time comes, you will express your support for the Wei people's scramble in Si, so that the Wei people have no worries, and when the war in Sishang is fierce, quickly conquer Zhongshan and obtain the treasure of Zhao State! ”

"And before that, in the enclaves of Gangping and Dunqiu in the Central Plains, you must not try to obtain the rich land of the country, and you must not participate in the chaos in the Central Plains and Sishang, and not a single soldier will be sent to the Central Plains. Even if Wei seeks the enclave of Gangping and Dunqiu, you can even retreat, only in this way can Wei go all out to seek Sishang. ”

"As long as Wei seeks to take Sishang, the five families of Qi, Wei, Han, Chu, and Mo will be involved. At that time, it was your time to capture Zhongshan. ”

"Remember! Remember! Sishang is not chaotic, and does not want the Central Plains; Sishang is not chaotic, and make good friends with Zhongshan. ”

"Sishang chaos, then distinguish between cold lips and teeth, distant and close attacks. Mo Jiasheng will aid Wei; Wei Guosheng is anti-Wei. Don't be anxious, Zhao Fangli of the Zhao family has been in the past 20 years, if you can get Zhongshan, this is the merit that can be compared to Xiangzi. ”