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

Chapter 402 Not worth it

As early as when Zhou Qi was crowned king, Tian Feng had already been worshiped as a prince.

Since the Qin Dynasty implemented the twenty-level nobility system, the title of princes has been like the tip of a pyramid. For ordinary people, there is no title for them to go up, and all they can add is food.

To measure the status of a prince, it can often be distinguished by his food.

They are also princes, and some titles are just superficial, with empty names but no actual fiefdoms. For example, the former Jingzhou Mu Liu Biao who surrendered, and the former Yizhou Mu Liu Zhang all have such titles.

On the other hand, Tian Feng, Dian Wei, Xiang Hong and others all had real fiefdoms.

When Zhou Qi first awarded rewards, the amount of food he gave to these close ministers was not high, basically one thousand households.

It's not that Zhou Qi is stingy, he just thinks that if he can go further in the future, it won't be too late to grant a large number of ministers.

Nowadays, the number of households in Tianfeng Food Town has increased by one thousand, which has doubled. Even in the entire Chu State, it is still a handful.

The most important thing is that before Tian Feng arrived in Xiangyang, he was appointed as Shangshu Ling, which shows his favor.

Tian Feng was moved and hurriedly followed Chen Wen to visit Zhou Qi.

"I pay my respects to my lord!"

From a long distance away, Tian Feng saw Zhou Qi standing under the canopy. He hurriedly ran forward and prostrated himself to the ground.

Zhou Qi had a bright smile on his face. He stepped forward to help Tian Feng, held his arm and said, "I have been in Jiaozhou for several years. Yuan Hao has become much darker. His body is not as thin as before, but he looks more heroic!"

Tian Feng said: "It's very hot in Jiaozhou, and it's not uncommon to get tanned. The reason why your body becomes strong is because you have to run around, which invisibly exercises your body."

Zhou Qi stroked his back and said, "Before you arrived in Jiaozhou, it was a remote and barren land. In just a few years, the people of Jiaozhou have become peaceful and contented, and the money and grain in the treasury are piled up like mountains. This is all due to Yuan Hao's contribution."

Tian Feng said humbly: "This is my duty!"

Zhou Qi laughed several times and said: "What a minister's duty! If all the ministers of Chu State are like Yuan Hao and do their duty well, why worry about not being able to sweep the world and bring peace to the troubled times!"

Zhou Qi was in a very good mood. He held Tian Feng's arm and said, "Let's ride in the chariot with Gu and return to Xiangyang together."

Tian Feng hurriedly feared the delay and said: "The etiquette between monarch and minister cannot be abolished. How can I dare to ride in the king's car with my lord?"

Looking at Tian Feng with a look of fear on his face, Zhou Qi said in a deep voice: "Since it is an award from the king, as a minister, how can Yuan Hao postpone it?"

Tian Feng was speechless, and was pulled into the chariot by Zhou Qi. Under the escort of the Huben camp and the honor guard, he headed towards Xiangyang City in a mighty manner.

After entering Xiangyang City, all the people in the city stood on both sides of the street to watch His Royal Highness the King of Chu. They were also very surprised to see the scribe who was riding in the chariot with His Highness the King of Chu. They asked those around them who he was.

In this way, Tian Feng returned from Jiaozhou and received the most solemn reception, which can be regarded as an honorable return to his hometown.

When the servants in the Tian Feng Mansion reported this matter to the old lady, she couldn't help but burst into tears and said: "I never thought that my son would be abandoned by Yuan Benchu, but he would be so valued by His Royal Highness the King of Chu in the Chu State, and he would vote for the True Ming Lord. also!"

After welcoming Tian Feng into the city grandly, Zhou Qi did not stay with Tian Feng for long, but said considerately: "Yuan Hao has been away from home for a long time, and the old lady misses him very much. You have returned from a long journey, and you will go home to pay homage to the old lady first. Then wash up and fix yourself.”

"When the sun sets, I will have a big banquet with all the ministers to welcome Yuan Hao and wash away the dust!"

Tian Feng bowed and said, "Thank you for your consideration, my lord. However, the world is still uncertain and we should not be extravagant and wasteful. Please give up the banquet for all the ministers and save the money and food for the future Northern Expedition. Wouldn't it be nice?"

After hearing what Tian Feng said, Zhou Qi smiled bitterly and said to himself: "Here we go, that familiar feeling is back!"

There is no doubt about Tian Feng's talent, but he is indeed too upright.

At this time, anyone with some emotional intelligence will not disgrace the monarch, but will go along with the flow to deepen the relationship between the monarch and his ministers.

Tian Feng was fine, but what he wanted to do was save money and food to prepare for the future Northern Expedition.

Ever since Tian Feng became the governor of Jiaozhou, almost no one around Zhou Qi dared to give such straightforward advice. Even Xu Shu and others sometimes gave very tactful advice.

At the beginning, Zhou Qi felt quite comfortable.

As time passed, Zhou Qi couldn't help but feel a little distraught. Not only did his life gradually become extravagant, but he also gradually became self-willed and could not tolerate the disobedience of others.

Especially after Zhou Qi defeated Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guangling and gathered all his troops, this feeling became more and more obvious. It's not that Zhou Qi lacks cultivation.

Human nature is what it is. In times of adversity, you may grit your teeth, be cautious, and work hard.

Once you achieve something, you will inevitably feel a little elated.

Many people in later generations have good jobs, earn some money, and buy better cars. Sometimes they are inevitably complacent, let alone Zhou Qi today?

For example, when Yuan Shao started his business and fought against Gongsun Zan, he was very brave and energetic. After Hebei was unified, it was inevitable that they would not listen to what others said, and they were eventually defeated by Guandu.

Cao Cao is an example among them. Every time the situation is good, he will be in high spirits. When he is hit hard, he can burst out with amazing fighting spirit and fight back desperately.

Even when Liu Bei was on the move, he was indomitable, perseverant, and fought after repeated defeats. He could be said to obey Zhuge Liang's words.

After occupying Jingzhou and Yizhou, becoming king or even proclaiming emperor, it became like "I have been fighting for my whole life, can't I enjoy it?"
Although that is just a joke, it is not difficult to see the change in Liu Bei's character from his insistence on going his own way in the Battle of Yiling.

Zhou Qi is not a saint, and he can't help but feel a little complacent when the situation is good.

It was only after some earnest persuasion from his wife Shi Wen that Zhou Qi suddenly woke up and realized that he had indeed drifted a bit during this period.

He thought of Yuan Shao's defeat in the Battle of Guandu because he was too drifting.

I remembered that Cao Cao was defeated in Wancheng because of Taipiao, and lost his eldest son, nephew and general Dian Wei.

I remembered that Cao Cao was defeated by Chibi because he was too drifting.

I remembered that Liu Bei was defeated by Yiling because he was too drifting.

I remembered that Sun Quan was ridiculed for more than a thousand years because Tai Piao personally led the army to attack Hefei and finally unlocked the title of "Sun Shiwan".

After thinking of this, Zhou Qi couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, and secretly felt lucky that he had married a good wife. Otherwise, with his current power, even his closest confidants would not dare to advise him so bluntly.

For this reason, Zhou Qi thought about it for a long time and finally decided to transfer Tian Feng back to Xiangyang.

Although Tian Feng always made Zhou Qi unhappy in the past, he was like a bronze mirror that could let Zhou Qi know his mistakes, just like Wei Zheng did to Li Shimin.

After a few years, Zhou Qi heard Tian Feng's blunt words again. Zhou Qi no longer felt helpless and unhappy, and his face was filled with a smile.

It wasn't until Tian Feng finished talking that Zhou Qi said: "The great good that Yuan Hao said is a good thing. Now that the world is uncertain, it really shouldn't be extravagant and wasteful. However, in addition to welcoming the wind and cleansing the dust for Yuan Hao, I have a very important thing to do. The thing is to use Yuan Hao to win over Ju Gongyu. "

"Yuan Benchu ​​ordered Ju Gongyu to lead his troops to Xiangyang in person on the pretext of sending his daughter to marry his third son. In fact, it was because Yuan Benchu ​​did not have much time left and he was worried about Ju Gongyu's influence in the Hebei army. After his death, no one could control him, so he wanted to order him to leave Hebei."

Suddenly hearing this exciting news, Tian Feng's face changed several times, and then his eyes turned red, and he asked: "Where did my lord get this news?"

Zhou Qi said: "Xin Zuozhi has many contacts with Gu An, and Yuan Benchu ​​personally conspired with him."

Tian Feng was silent for a long time after hearing this, and then sighed deeply and said: "I know very well what kind of person you are, and I will never betray Duke Yuan or the State of Zhao. Duke Yuan appoints villains and is suspicious of important ministers. This is the reason." The path to disaster!"

Tian Feng's feelings for Yuan Shao have always been very complicated, but after learning the whole story today, he has completely given up on Yuan Shao, and feels worthless for Ju Shou.

Even a capable minister like Jushou who was loyal and accomplished in battle was jealous of Yuan Shao.

It is conceivable that if I had stayed in Hebei, with my upright character, I might not have ended up well.

Zhou Qi nodded and said: "If Yuan Benchu ​​dies and there is no Ju Gongyu to control Yecheng, Hebei will be in chaos. If I can get Ju Gongyu to help me, Hebei will be pacified soon!"

Tian Feng said with some hesitation: "I know that you are a human being. Even if you are betrayed by Yuan Gong, I am afraid that I will not be used by my lord."

Zhou Qi patted Tian Feng on the shoulder and said: "Whether you can get Duke Ju to surrender to Chu depends on Yuan Hao and the generals from Hebei. For this grand banquet, Yuan Hao and Hebei were specially invited. That’s why all the generals surrendered.”

Tian Feng was silent for a long time, and then sighed: "I'll give it a try, but my lord, don't have high hopes. Don't say that Gongyu's family members are all in Yecheng. It's obviously because Yuan Gong is jealous and takes them as hostages."

"Even if my lord can really bring all of Gongyu's family members to the Chu Kingdom, given Gongyu's character, he may not join the Chu Kingdom."

Zhou Qi said: "Just do your best and listen to fate."

(End of this chapter)