At the end of the Han Dynasty: a stingy husband from his hometown

Chapter 303 Suppression

"The King of Chu has issued an edict: This is Zhou Yu of Lujiang, whose nickname is Gongjin. He is young and intelligent, loyal, brave and courageous. He first captured Lu Bu, and then went north to conquer Hanzhong and captured the entire Yizhou territory."

"Today I worship Zhou Gongjin as General Zhechong, grant him the title of Marquis of Tingting, reward him with a thousand pieces of gold, and give him a hundred pieces of silk!"

Zhou Yi, Zhou Yu and his son hurriedly accepted the edict to express their gratitude, and then respectfully sent the envoy away.

After watching the envoy leave, Zhou Yi couldn't help but frown slightly as he looked at the edict and seal in Zhou Yu's hand.

Zhou Yu saw that his father's face was not very good, but he asked: "Why is father like this?"

Zhou Yi did not say anything, and introduced Zhou Yu into the study. When he saw no one around him, he sighed: "My Zhou family in Lujiang is a famous family, and we are of the same lineage as the Zhou family in Peiguo. I thought that after surrendering to the lord, The family will take it one step further.”

"I never thought that, apart from the fact that my lord has been using the descendants of the Lujiang Zhou family just now, he has gradually started to marginalize us in recent years."

"Did Gong Jin really think that his father resigned because of his physical discomfort? That's not the case!"

"It's just that I have been a county guard there for many years and have not been promoted. Even when the lord became the king, I was not rewarded. It seems that the lord has forgotten me a long time ago."

"I originally thought that after resigning and coming to Xiangyang, I would come back into the eyes of my lord and be used in important positions again, but I never thought that I would always be idle at home."

"This time Gong Jin has made great achievements. Even if the relationship between the two parties is not considered, this reward will not be the only one!"

Although General Zhe Chong also holds the title of general, he is just a general with a miscellaneous title. He is ranked as a fifth-grade military attache, similar to the partial general and the general Pi, and his status is not even as good as that of the Zhonglang general.

As for Dutinghou, although he is also a prince, he is the lowest Tinghou, and he is the kind of virtual prince without a fiefdom.

If this kind of reward falls on someone else, it can be regarded as a blessing to his wife and his ancestors.

However, the Zhou family of Lujiang is a powerful family, with many people in the family having been ranked among the three nobles, and even fewer who have been worshiped as county guards. How can they value this reward?

the most important is.

Zhou Yi originally thought that after the Zhou family in Lujiang took refuge with Zhou Qi, the family would become stronger than before. However, many of the Zhou family's children now seem to be constantly being marginalized.

Although there are many descendants of the Zhou family at the grassroots level, there are not many people serving in the central office.

Even people of the same generation as Zhou Yi are gradually being left out.

In addition, after Zhou Yu conquered Hanzhong, he received so few rewards, which made Zhou Yi inevitably complain.

Looking at his father's appearance, Zhou Yu sighed slightly.

With Zhou Yu's intelligence, how could he not know why his father resigned, and how could he not know the dissatisfaction in his heart?

However, Zhou Yu has followed Zhou Qi for many years and knows his lord far better than the rest of the Zhou family in Lujiang.

If the King of Chu rewards the Zhou family in Lujiang too much, many people from the Zhou family are in high positions, which will frighten Zhou Yu.

in contrast.

The King of Chu suppressed the Zhou family in this way. Even after he made great achievements, he did not give him too much reward, which made Zhou Yu feel relieved.

He looked at his father and decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with him.

Zhou Yu walked up to Zhou Yi's back, patted him gently on the back, and then asked: "If you put aside your personal thoughts, father, do you think the master leader can be regarded as a hero?"

Zhou Yi was silent for a long time, and finally sighed: "You came from a humble background and rose up in adversity, and finally became a powerful prince occupying the entire south of the Yangtze River. The king is naturally regarded as a hero in this world!"

Zhou Yu walked up to Zhou Yi and said: "Since my lord is a hero, he naturally has his own considerations for what he does and does not want to be restricted by others."

"Father, you might as well think about it. If all the people of the Lujiang Zhou family hold important positions and receive generous rewards, then who has the final say in the entire Chu country, my lord, or me, the Lujiang Zhou family?"

When Zhou Yi heard this, he immediately fell silent.

Zhou Yu continued: "Father should be glad that the lord will treat the Zhou family like this now. If the reward is too high, the child will feel uneasy."

Zhou Yi looked surprised and asked, "Why did Gong Jin say this?"

Zhou Yu sighed: "My lord is so talented and strategic, so naturally he doesn't want to be restricted by others."

"Now that the great cause has not been accomplished, if the Zhou family in Lujiang is given generous rewards and has unlimited glory, when the future master conquers the world and ascends the throne and becomes emperor, the Zhou family will have no title. Does my father know what will happen?"

After Zhou Yi was stunned, he immediately felt cold sweat dripping down his back.

If it were those mediocre monarchs, they might not be able to suppress the Lujiang Zhou family, but Zhou Qi is worthy of being chosen regardless of his means or scheming.

Such people, once they feel that the strength of the Lujiang Zhou family is too expanded, they will raise the butcher knife.

In fact, Zhou Yi's guess was not wrong.

When Zhou Qi first occupied Yangzhou, in order to quickly stabilize the situation in Yangzhou, put down the Shanyue Rebellion early and recruit refugees, he made many compromises with the wealthy families in Yangzhou.

Among them are marriages and the reuse of children of Yangzhou aristocratic families.

However, as Zhou Qi's regime became more stable, his strength continued to expand, and he cultivated many students from poor families, he began to inadvertently suppress the children of aristocratic families.

Zhou Qi's attitude towards the Lujiang Zhou family is actually very cautious. A slight mistake may cause an uproar in Yangzhou.

The Lujiang Zhou family is already quite famous. If they treat the Zhou family more favorably, they may not be able to suppress them in the future.

Zhou Qi also considered that after the great cause is achieved in the future, just like Cao Cao did to Xun Yu, he would find an opportunity to kill the donkey, and then exclude the Lujiang Zhou family from the Tao Center.

However, after much thought, Zhou Qi still couldn't bear to do this, so he treated Zhou Yu favorably and reused Zhou Yu while suppressing the Lujiang Zhou family.

Doing so would not only ensure the Lujiang Zhou family's status in the Chu State, but also prevent their power from overexpanding.

He believed that with Zhou Yu's intelligence, he would be able to see through his own mind.

Zhou Qi's reward for Zhou Yu this time was indeed deliberately lowered.

It's not that Zhou Qi is mean and ungrateful, but because he plans to reuse Zhou Yu and train him to become the future pillar of Chu State.

If Zhou Yu is promoted now and he makes more contributions in the future, how will he be rewarded?

Once there are no more seals, he will either be given a sinecure and abandoned, or he will have no choice but to get rid of him. This is not the result Zhou Qi wants to see.

not to mention.

For the still young Zhou Yu, Zhou Qi planned to train him to become his son's future assistant minister.

If Zhou Yu was able to reward Zhou Yu on his own, how would Zhou Ji reward Zhou Yu in the future? How to show kindness to the other party?

Just like Li Shimin in history, in order to pave the way for his son, he deliberately demoted Li Ji out of Beijing, and told his son to call Li Ji back to Beijing and entrust him with important tasks after he ascended the throne.

In this way, Li Zhi's kindness to Li Ji can ensure Li Ji's loyalty.

Zhou Qi deliberately suppressed Zhou Yu's reward this time, not only to entrust him with important tasks in the future, but also to test Zhou Yu and even the entire Lujiang Zhou family.

He wanted to see how the Lujiang Zhou family would react to this situation.

Looking at his father's changing face, Zhou Yu comforted him: "Father, there is no need to worry too much. As long as we stay safe, my lord will not treat the Zhou family of Lujiang badly."

"It should be noted that my lord has put a lot of effort into raising his children."

"Father, let's see, if the lord really plans to use the crown prince, it is very likely that the child will be sent to serve under the crown prince."

"If this is true, at least our Lujiang Zhou family will be able to be rich and prosperous for several generations!" Zhou Yi suddenly realized when he heard this.

From then on, Zhou Yi no longer thought about becoming an official in the court. Instead, he planted flowers, read books, and even walked around every day in his spare time. He lived a happy life.

As for Zhou Yu, he did not complain at all and continued to work diligently every day.

After seeing the performance of Zhou Yu and the Lujiang Zhou family, Zhou Qi couldn't help but have a smile on his face, and thought to himself: "In this way, it does not disappoint Gu Yiyi."

Zhou Qi put down the information handed over by Chen Wen, then raised his head and asked, "If I remember correctly, Lu Yi has reached the age of twenty, and is he going to be crowned?"

Chen Wen nodded and said, "That's right."

Zhou Qi tapped his fingers on the table and remained silent.

Wu Jun, Wu County, Lu Mansion.

Today's Lu family, since Lu Kang was killed by Lu Bu and his father Lu Jun was dismissed from office, is far less prosperous than before, and there are far fewer people coming to visit the mansion.

As for why Lu Jun was dismissed from office, there are different opinions, but there is no conclusion.

However, almost everyone believes that even if the King of Chu marries Lu Jun's biological sister, even if there is such an in-law relationship, the Lu family's future may not be easy.

Just because Lu Yu belonged to a concubine after all, and the son he gave birth to was also a concubine, so he didn't have much competitiveness at all.

In the study room, Lu Yi was holding a volume of books, not relaxing at all because of the upcoming crowning ceremony.

Just because Lu Yi felt a little crisis since his father was dismissed from office.

Speaking of Lu Jun being dismissed from office by Zhou Qi, it actually had something to do with Lu Yi.

When Zhou Qi sent his eldest son Zhou Ji to Xuzhou as a hostage, Lu Yu had some unwanted thoughts and wanted to rely on his natal Lu family to push his son to the position of heir.

It's no wonder Lu Yu has such thoughts.

Regardless of her birth, appearance or knowledge, she thinks that she is not inferior to her main wife Shi Wen, who just married Zhou Qi earlier.

If it was just Lu Yu herself, she might not fight for anything.

However, since giving birth to his son, Lu Yu has gradually given all his love to his son, naturally hoping that he can inherit Zhou Qi's legacy.

If Zhou Ji had not gone to Xuzhou, then the eldest son who had always been cultivated as the heir would have been a mountain that was difficult to climb, and Lu Yu would not have had any evil intentions.

Zhou Ji left Xiangyang and went to Xuzhou as a hostage. After not returning for a long time, Lu Yu finally found an opportunity.

She knew that her nephew Lu Yi was young and smart, so she transferred him to her son's side, hoping to train Lu Yi to be her son's right-hand man.

She even wrote a letter to her brother, hoping that Lu Jun would use the power of the entire Lu family to help her son develop his power.

Although Lu Yu's affairs were kept secret, Zhou Qi's ears and eyes had already spread throughout Xiangyang, and this matter soon reached Zhou Qi's ears.

At the beginning, he did not act rashly, but wanted to see what Lu Jun and Lu Yi would do next.

What happened was that Zhou Qi was slightly disappointed.

Although Lu Jun did not agree to his sister's request, he still sent Lu Yi to Lu Yu's side, always accompanying his cousin.

In his ordinary words, Lu Yi also deliberately guided his cousin on how to become a monarch.

This incident naturally touched Zhou Qi's bottom line.

According to Chinese tradition since ancient times, the elders are established rather than the young, and the heirs are established rather than the concubines.

It makes sense that this tradition can be passed down for thousands of years.

Many people think Lixian might be better.

But let me ask you, what is virtuous?

Just like the so-called inspection and promotion system in the late Han Dynasty, the government can recruit famous scholars, and local officials can also recommend virtuous people.

But, how can one be considered a famous scholar? How can one be considered a virtuous person?

It is undeniable that the people recruited by the imperial court and recommended by the localities are indeed people with extraordinary talents.

But if you want to gain fame, the most important way is to rely on your own strength and compliment each other with other scholars.

Ordinary people, like Xi Zhicai and Xu Shu, even if they are talented, will not be famous if they do not work hard.

The same is true for Li Xian.

The virtuous person in your eyes may also be a product of packaging, or it may be just the management of the forces behind it. After inheriting the foundation in the future, it may also be a chess piece in the hands of the opponent.

The most important thing is that the process of selecting talents will inevitably be accompanied by brothers fighting and subordinates taking sides.

Once it is not handled well, it will lead to irreversible civil strife.

Zhou Qi clearly knew the lessons learned from Yuan Benchu ​​and Liu Jingsheng in history.

If the eldest son is raised as the heir from the beginning, as long as he is not stupid and stupid, after receiving a good education, even if he cannot become a hero, he can at least serve as a defender of the city.

It is difficult to fight the country, but it is even more difficult to defend the country.

Just like the second generation of rich people in later generations, if they inherit the family business honestly, they may not be able to spend all their money in a few lifetimes, even if they spend a lot of money.

If you like to mess around, you may lose all your wealth.

Zhou Qi also believed that with the team he had left for Zhou Ji, as long as he did not commit suicide, Chu State would definitely have a bright future. It did not require Zhou Ji to be so talented and strategic, and stability was more important than anything else.

Lu Yu's actions violated Zhou Qi's bottom line, so he casually found an excuse to dismiss his uncle Lu Jun from office and let Lu Yi return to his hometown of Wu County to study.

Although Zhou Qi did not directly tell them the reason for this move, how could he not guess his lord's thoughts as smart as the Lu family and his son?

The father and son were frightened, and since then they have stayed in their hometown without going anywhere. Nearly two years have passed.

In the past two years, many children of the Lu family have been dismissed from official positions due to various reasons.

Zhou Qi's move was not only to warn the Lu family and his son to stay safe, but also to suppress the Lu family's power.

When Zhou Qi came to rule Yangzhou, the Zhou family in Lujiang and the Lu family in Wujun were the most powerful.

Even the Zhou family was suppressed, let alone the Lu family.

"A Yi, your crowning ceremony will be tomorrow. Let's take a rest today."

Lu Jun walked into the study, looked at Lu Yi who was studying hard, and said softly.

Lu Yi put down the book in his hand, looked up at his father, and suddenly asked, "Are my aunt and my brother okay in Xiangyang?"

When Lu Jun heard this, he remained silent.

(End of this chapter)