Silence, silence for a long time. And in this silence, Xun's heart is also sinking little by little.

Speaking of which, how many years of friendship has it been between Xun and Lu Ren? From working under Lao Cao's men in the early days, to Lu Ren's abduction of Xun to Yizhou, it has been more than 30 years. And for such a long time, how could Xun not know Lu Ren's personality and temper? Seeing Lu Ren silent for such a long time, Xun knew that Lu Ren was in an extreme dilemma.

Lu Ren was embarrassed, Xun Ke was anxious, so there was eagerness, pleading, and some sternness in the tone of his words next: "Yihao, when has this been, what are you still hesitating here!?" ”

Lu Ren looked up at Xun, but he didn't speak, but lowered his head again and continued to be silent.

Xun saw that Lu Ren was so anxious that he was so anxious that he was yelling at Lu Ren next: "Lu Yihao!" ”

Lu Ren waved his hand to Xun: "Xun Gong, don't yell, I know the seriousness of the matter, it's just, it's just ......"

Just what? It's just that the current Lu Ren is really quite embarrassed and extremely embarrassed. I also detailed the reasons why Lu Ren was embarrassed before, so I won't repeat it here, and although Lu Ren was a heartless guy in the early years, at this time, Lu Ren also had some political ideals of his own. It is precisely because of these political ideals that Lu Ren and Xun cooperate so well.

But Lu Ren is not a saint after all, how can he not have his own plans and Xiao Jiujiu in his heart? Especially at this time, if the troops are withdrawn from here in Central Asia......

"Yoshiho! I also know that you must be very embarrassed now, but now that the Han Dynasty is in danger, who else can restrain them at this time besides you!? ”

This is not an exaggeration, because the three families of Cao, Liu and Sun are all about the same, only Lu Ren is, at least on the surface, trying his best to maintain the Han Society, so Xun will pin all his hopes on Lu Ren.

At the beginning, Xun put the hope of reviving the Han dynasty on Lao Cao's body, but unfortunately the final result was that Xun was deeply hurt by Lao Cao, so Xun would choose to die. And Lu Ren's appearance made Xun see some hope.

However, Xun actually knew very well in his heart that some things were no longer possible, and it was obviously difficult for some strong people to force some things on Lu Ren's body, so Xun actually gave a discount to his dream, that is, at least before he died, this Han Dynasty was still alive. As long as he can do this, for Xun, he will show that he has fulfilled his last loyalty to the Han Dynasty, and he can die with peace of mind. And as a person who has already been disappointed in Lao Cao once, he really doesn't want to be disappointed in Lu Ren again. Therefore, at this time, Xun's posture and tone towards Lu Ren became extraordinarily dignified.

Lu Ren at this end was silent for a while, and then said to Xun: "Duke Xun, as my general of the South China Sea, you will go to the court to express the document and issue the document to various places. As for what to write, I think you have the bottom in your heart, so I won't dwell on it. ”

When Xun heard this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although Lu Ren had given Xun a lot of authorization before, Lu Ren still had to nod his head to release such a statement and text: "I have prepared it, just wait for your nod and release it." But Yoshiho, when are you going to bring the troops back? ”

Lu Ren moved his mouth, but he didn't spit out half a word, but glanced at Xun a few times with a very complicated look. Xun Yi's heart sank when he saw Lu Ren's reaction, and the breath that had just been relieved also fell back to his throat again.

And Lu Ren at this end obviously hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke: "Xun Gong, I'm just afraid that I'm going to disappoint you this time." Me, I...... I don't plan to withdraw at this time! ”

"What did you say!?"

Rao was so serious with Xun's old success that he was so shocked that he sat on the ground at this time. After coming back to his senses after a while, Xun hurriedly said, "Yihao, what are you kidding!?" With your talent and knowledge, do you really think that you can scare Liu Bei and Cao Pi just by the expressions and documents you sent? Soldier! You must bring back the army of expeditions!! Otherwise, it will not be able to deter Liu Bei and Cao Pi at all!! ”

Lu Ren shook his head silently: "Xun Gong, I can only say sorry to you." I've decided, and now I'm going to go ahead and rest in peace! ”

Such a sentence made Xun completely angry, and he got up from the ground at that time, pointed at Lu Ren's nose and said angrily: "Lu Yihao, how can you be like this? The country is about to perish, but you still insist on an expedition abroad, where are you putting the great disaster of the country? ”

After scolding this sentence, Xun laughed again, but the smile was very sad, and the smile was more ugly than crying: "How did you promise me at that time?" You've forgotten it all now? Yes, I understand, you Lu Ren, like Cao Cao, still had a bit of loyalty at the beginning, but when your power reached a certain level, they all wanted to be called the king and the emperor! It's just that you Lu Ren have this mind but can't pull this face, so you have to find a suitable opportunity to pretend to be a poor person who has to do this. Now that Liu Bei and Cao Pi are ready to be kings, they just gave you such an opportunity, so you obviously have the ability to stop them, but you just refuse to bring troops back to King Qin!! ”

Speaking of this, Xun looked up to the sky and smiled bitterly: "Xun, Xun, did you finally see the wrong person again!?" ”

At this time, Lu Ren was silent for a while, and then he also broke out: "I didn't!" Xun Gong, I Lu Ren really don't dare to claim to be a loyal courtier of the Han Dynasty, and some thoughts in my heart Lu Ren, don't you know after so many years? Do you your conscience and ask, have I ever done anything to be sorry for the big man over the years!? Today, I, Lu Ren, even dare to pat my chest and say, if it weren't for me in these years, Liu Bei and Cao Pi, and even a Sun Quan, they would have already been called kings and even emperors, okay!? ”

Lu Ren's anger frightened Xun Ye, and people recovered a little from that state of grief and indignation. After glancing at Lu Ren a few times in a complicated mood, Xun took a deep breath, adjusted his tone and said, "Yihao, we have something to say." I want to ask you now, why don't you come back with your troops? ”

Lu Ren smiled bitterly, and also took a few deep breaths to slow down his mood, and then responded: "Yes, let's talk about it if we have something...... Xun Gong, let me ask you first, did Cao Pi implement any new talent selection system in Cao Wei? ”

Xun was stunned for a moment, and then responded: "Indeed." It is the Nine Grades Official Law formulated by Chen Changwen (Chen Qun), and Cao Pi has already adopted it. ”

Lu Ren smiled helplessly: "Then Xun Gong, what do you think of the law drafted by Chen Changwen?" ”

Xun thought for a while, nodded and said, "It is quite desirable, and it is a good policy." ”

Lu Ren was helpless again, and said in his heart that even you Xun think so, so what else do I have to say?

To make it clear, what Lu Ren means here is that you have been mixed with Lu Ren for many years? From the seventeenth year of Jian'an being abducted by Lu Ren, to the current thirty-two years of Jian'an, it's been fifteen years, okay? And Lu Ren's imperial examination selection system, where will Xun participate less? And not only participated, but also Xun was the principal and examiner several times. In this case, Xun has to say that he has no corresponding understanding of the imperial examination system that Lu Ren has organized, is it possible? And as a person who understands both the imperial examination system and the Nine Rank Official Law, but still says that the Nine Rank Official Law is a "good political discussion", what does this mean?

But here we still have to make it clear, that is, the Nine Grades of Official Law or the Nine Grades of the Positive System, although criticized by later scholars, still had a lot of positive effects at that time. At least at least, Chen Qun, who drafted the Nine Grades Official Law, was a very good person with both ability and integrity, and his purpose in formulating this system was not to protect the interests of the noble class, as later scholars said.

At least in Lu Ren's view, there is a problem of the background and concept of the times. Because in the Han Dynasty, studying and becoming an official was basically the patent of the scholar class, in other words, those who were educated, had quality, and had the talents needed to be an official could basically only come out of the scholar class. Under the background of this era, such a thing as the selection of officials must of course be concentrated in the circle of the noble class, and if we really go to examine those circles that do not have the conditions for studying, wouldn't it be a waste of time and energy?

However, in the people's concept at that time, the personnel of the three classes of agriculture and industry were not at all a class of scholars, nor were they materials for studying to become officials. Therefore, when Chen Qun drafted the Jiupin Official Law, it is very likely that there was such a layer of consideration in it. In the context of the times at that time, it also had its reasonable side. As for the things that have been criticized by later generations, it can only be said that it is the result of "policies at the top and countermeasures at the bottom", which is no longer suitable for the new pattern.

Don't go too far, what I want to say here is actually that even Xun thinks that Chen Qun's Nine Grades Official Law is a "good political discussion", so what kind of result will it be on Cao Wei's side? Lu Ren could imagine with his toes that Cao Wei would applaud one after another, okay? And why did Cao Pi abandon Lao Cao's "meritocracy" and use the Jiupin Official Law instead? To put it bluntly, isn't it just a political deal made in order to gain the support of the noble class? Now that Cao Pi has taken this step, if nothing else, he will immediately get the full support of the scholar class in Cao Wei, and the influence of Lu Ren on those scholar class has decreased a lot, so this also means that Cao Pi's claim to be the king cannot be stopped, unless Lu Ren really returns to Huaxia and starts a war with Cao Pi...... It's just that if Cao Pi really becomes the king, what's the point of Lu Ren transferring troops back? A full-scale war broke out with Cao Pi? If that's the case, Lu Ren will become the aggressor in the eyes of Cao Wei, right? The banner of the Great Han is no longer of much use at this time!

It's just that Lu Ren can't say these words to Xun Ming, but Lu Ren also has other things to say:

"Xun Gong, don't blame me for being an afterthought. I want to say to you now, if you told me about this matter at that time, I would not hesitate to return to Shiyizhou at that time, then there would be room for redemption. But you didn't tell me until this time that Liu Bei and Cao Pi had done a lot of things during this time, and the fact that they wanted to be kings was already a foregone conclusion, and even if I brought my troops back at this time, I couldn't stop them, and the only result was to start a war with them. ”

At this point, Lu Ren shook his head helplessly: "I can't figure it out now, with Xun Gong's talent, how can you be so confused in this matter?" But after you made such a fool, you still have to jump to scold me? ”

Xun was stunned, and then shook his head: "Are you putting the responsibility back on me?" I didn't expect this decisive battle of yours to drag on for so long! Do you know what I've been anxious about during this time? ”

Lu Ren waved his hand: "The matter has come to this point, it is useless to say more." As I said just now, I will now lead the troops back, and I am afraid that I will have no other way but to fight with Liu Bei and Cao Pi. So Xun Gong, let me ask you, do you think that if I break off diplomatic relations with Cao Pi and Liu Bei and start a war, I will be able to win the war? Okay, let's not talk about him if we can win it, let's just say that once such a battle starts, how much time will it take? Two years, three years? Or five years, ten years? Xun Gong, you tell me!! ”

“……”

Xun was speechless. Lu Ren was right, if Lu Ren started a war with Cao Pi and Liu Bei at this time, the battle would definitely not be able to be completed in a short period of time. Two years and three years? Five years and ten years? It's good to be able to finish it in ten years, okay?

Thinking of this, Xun was helpless. And a certain dream in his heart seems to be torn apart by the ruthless reality at this moment. It's just that when a person comes to this point, it is inevitable that there will be some gambler-like luck in his heart, so Xun Qiang cheered up and said to Lu Ren with some expectation: "Yihao, it's man-made!" Don't you often say that if you do things in the world, you still have a chance, but if you don't do them, you really don't have a chance at all? So Yoshiho, can you ......"

Lu Renfu sighed lightly again, and still shook his head at Xun: "Xun Gong, there are some things that you don't know, so I won't blame you for anything, but at this point, I think I have to make it clear to you." ”

Xun's heart sank again: "Yihao, what are you going to say to me?" ”

Lu Ren said: "Duke Xun, let's explain in advance that I, Lu Ren, am actually not a loyal minister, and I also have some thoughts of my own in my heart, but as long as the conditions allow, I will try my best to protect our Han ...... In fact, you know these things in your heart, right? ”

Xun was silent for a moment, and then nodded solemnly to Lu Ren......