Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 346

"Okay, I know." Xiang Zhuang also knew, Qu Bucai couldn't be blamed for this, and said again, "You go down first."

"Here!" Qu Bucai bowed to Xiang Zhuang, turned around and retreated into the shadows, Xiang Zhuang got up, walked back and forth in the study for a few steps with his hands behind his back, and shouted out the door, "Huyan!"

Huyan Zhengde entered the room in response, and said loudly: "What is your order?"

Xiang Zhuang said: "Immediately send someone to invite the queen, the concubine and the wives over, and then go and invite General Wei."

In the past ten years, the territory, population, and national strength of Chu State have continued to increase, and Xiangzhuang's harem has also continued to expand. Especially in the past two years, Xiangzhuang has successively accepted more than a dozen women as concubines, including several Concubine Ji has already bulged her stomach, and in three to five months, the number of children in Xiangzhuang will increase a lot.

Soon, Wei Yue, Yingzhen, Baili Yishui, Cao Ji and more than ten concubines arrived one after another.

Xiang Zhuang first invited all the girls to the table, and then said: "The purpose of the widow's invitation to come here, I think you all know it, yes, it is for the matter of Gao Chu's appointment as King Jing, Wumuya has already investigated, and this rumor was leaked from the palace. Yes!" After finishing speaking, Xiang Zhuang's fierce eyes flicked over the faces of the girls one by one.

Wei Yue looked ashamed, Ying Zhen looked calm, but Baili Yishui's eyes flickered.

As for Cao Ji and the other dozen or so concubines, their faces paled. Since entering the palace, they have never seen Xiang Zhuang be as strict as today.

"Who spread the rumors this time, I will not pursue it." After a pause, when the girls were relieved, Xiang Zhuang suddenly changed his tone and said coldly, "However, I will speak first." Here it is, if there is a next time, I will never forgive you lightly, let alone care about the relationship between husband and wife, hum!"

All the concubines were silent, so Xiang Zhuang waved his hand and said, "Go."

Only then did the girls get up one by one to salute Xiang Zhuang, and then they went gracefully. Wei Yue was the last to leave, and pleaded guilty to Xiang Zhuang: "Your Majesty, my concubine is incompetent and failed to manage the harem for you, so I let you down. "

"It's good if you know it." Xiang Zhuang said, "You are the master of the harem, you should act like the master of the harem, and you can't blindly be tolerant and kind, you should be strict when you should be strict, otherwise, some people will be lawless , Like this time, they actually dare to make decisions for the widow, it is simply unreasonable, hum!"

"The concubine knows that she is wrong, and she must strictly control her from now on."

Watching Wei Yue's still slim figure leave, Xiang Zhuang sighed. The harem has always been a place of intrigue, which is also human nature. Not only do concubines compete for favor, but those who have children also compete for the position of heir. With Yue Niang's heart, it is indeed difficult for her to manage the harem well.

Now it seems that the appointment of the crown prince cannot be postponed any longer, otherwise, there will be many turmoil in the harem, Xiang Zhuang is decisive, but he is really unwilling to put the butcher knife on his wife or even his son. It is a tragedy in the world after all to cause misfortune to Xiao Qiang, and Xiang Zhuang does not want to be a coffee table full of cups and utensils.

While thinking about it, Hu Yan came in to report that General Wei had finished writing.

At that moment, Xiang Zhuang asked Bi Shu to come in to meet him. The emperor and ministers saw the ceremony. Xiang Zhuang said bluntly: "Learning swords, I called you here today for one thing. Do you want to establish a crown prince? If so, which son is suitable?"

As for the candidate for the crown prince, looking at the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, Xiang Zhuang can also discuss with Bi Shu.

Normally, Xiang Zhuang would ask Bailixian about anything, then Xiang Ta, and then Bi Shu, but regarding the candidate for the crown prince, Bailixian had to avoid suspicion, because he was Baili Yishui's eldest brother, and even more so. He is the uncle of Xiang Shu and Xiang Yong, and Xiang He also needs to avoid suspicion, because Cao Ji is Xiang His sister-in-law, and she also gave birth to a son just now.

"Prince?" Bi Shu obviously lacked mental preparation, and said in astonishment, "Your Majesty wants to establish a crown prince?"

Xiang Zhuang said: "Learning swords, I know that you are the most detached in terms of civil and military affairs in the Manchu Dynasty, so I want to hear your opinion." Xiang Zhuang's words are true. The political arena of Chu State is full of factions, but only Bi Shu is an exception, he has not joined any faction, and he does not seem to have the intention of forming a faction of his own.

After pondering for a moment, Bi Shu said: "Your Majesty, you young masters are young and your temperament is uncertain, so I can't say it well."

Xiang Zhuang frowned, and said: "It doesn't matter if you can't say it well, you can say it boldly, and the widow will never blame you."

"Okay, then I'll speak up boldly." Bi Shu sorted out his thoughts and said, "Qin Shihuang's talents are all in his power, but Daqin died only after the second generation. The root cause is that Qin Shihuang didn't appoint a prince , This gave Li Si, Zhao Gao and others an opportunity to help the incompetent Hu Hai to the throne."

Xiang Zhuang asked: "You mean to say that the crown prince is the heir apparent of the country and should be registered as soon as possible?"

Bi Shu replied: "Yes, the prince is the foundation of the country, so it is better to register the prince sooner rather than later."

Xiang Zhuang nodded and said: "Okay, then tell me, who among you young masters is the most suitable to be the crown prince?"

Bi Shu smiled slightly and said, "Hasn't Your Majesty already made up his mind about the candidate for the crown prince?"

Xiang Zhuang didn't deny it either, and said: "The widow still wants to hear your opinion, how about this, you and my monarch and ministers first write down the candidate in our hearts, and then see if it is the same person?"

"Okay." Bi Shu had no choice but to agree.

At that moment, the two monarchs and ministers picked up the brushes and wrote a word in their palms, and then spread them on the case at the same time. When they looked closely, they saw the word "Zheng" clearly written on each other's palms. Bi Shu smiled slightly when he saw this, and Xiang Zhuang But he laughed, and called Hu Yan into the study and ordered: "Hu Yan, inform all the ministers of civil and military affairs that the imperial court will be held tomorrow!"

Liu Bang wanted to make Gao Chu the King of Jing. This divorce plan was originally very lame and impossible to succeed, but once the internal forces of Chu State intervened, the situation immediately became a little complicated. Yi, Xiang Zhuang just took this opportunity to determine the candidate for the prince, but it turned out that a bad thing turned into a good thing.

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In Wancheng, hearing that General Liu Kou had fled back, Chu Chun rushed out of the city with his own soldiers.

Last time because of the loss of more than 2000 cavalry, Chu Chun was hit by Liu Kou's [-]th army stick, and he stayed in Wancheng to recuperate, but he didn't want to escape the catastrophe.

Seeing that Liu Kou, Liu Chong's uncle and nephew fled back with only a dozen or so remnants of the defeated soldiers, Chu Chun asked instinctively, "General, where is your king?"

Liu Kou sighed, and said sadly, "Your Majesty has already died in the Green Field."

"What?" Chu Chun didn't believe it, "General, Your Majesty is very good at water, how could he die in the lake?"

"Chu Chun, what do you mean by that?" Liu Kou said angrily, "Your Majesty's water skills are good, but he was shot with dozens of arrows. This general saw it with his own eyes. How can it be fake?" Holding the king sword in Yang's hand, he shouted, "What's more, there is also the king sword given by the king before his death. You can't help but believe it."

Liu Chong was already impatient, and shouted: "Chu Chun, stop talking nonsense, hurry up and prepare food and drink!"

After finishing speaking, Liu Chong said to Liu Kou again: "Uncle, what's the point of talking nonsense with him, let's hurry to the city."

Liu Kou ignored Chu Chun, and went straight into the city surrounded by Liu Chong and a dozen defeated soldiers. Looking at the backs of Liu Kou, Liu Chong's uncle and nephew, and more than a dozen defeated soldiers swaggering into the city, a strange coldness suddenly surged in Chu Chun's eyes , turned his head and asked the accompanying soldiers behind him: "Is the Han envoy still in Wancheng?"

The soldier said: "Report to the general, you are still in Wancheng."

"Okay." Chu Chun nodded and said grimly, "Go ahead and inform the Han envoy, and say that this general has a big gift for you tonight!"

"Here!" The soldiers responded abruptly and took orders to go.

Besides, Liu Kou, Liu Chong's uncle and nephew went into the city and found a posthouse to take a hot bath. After taking a shower, Chu Chun had already prepared wine and food, and the uncle and nephew had a full meal They fell asleep and fell asleep, fleeing all the way from Lvyeze, the uncle and nephew were already exhausted, this time they fell asleep, and soon fell asleep like a dead pig.

In the middle of the night, the door of Liu Kou's room suddenly opened silently. Under the cold moonlight, Chu Chun's eyes flashed fiercely, holding a sharp short knife, flashing in like a ghost. The knife fell, and hit Liu Kou's heart. Liu Kou suddenly woke up from his sleep, but only saw Chu Chun's extremely ferocious face.

"Chu Chun, you prisoner." Liu Kou put his hands on his chest and gasped, "How dare you kill me?"

"Liu Kou!" Chu Chun succeeded with the knife, and immediately retreated a few steps away from Liu Kou. He didn't want to be buried by Liu Kou when he died. Serving you in front of the saddle and behind the horse, there is no credit but hard work, but why have you ever regarded me as a person? I have tolerated you for a long time."

"You..." Liu Kou's eyes widened angrily. At this moment, he really wanted to strangle Chu Chun to death, but he failed in the end. He struggled to climb two steps forward, then fell to the ground and died.

Chu Chun waited for a full quarter of an hour to confirm that Liu Kou was dead, and then stepped forward to take down Liu Kou's head, and then strode out of the room, where Chu Chun's soldiers had already taken Liu Chong's head Chu Chun picked up Liu Kou's head and said loudly, "Brothers, King Liang is dead, and the Kingdom of Liang is also finished. You should follow me and go to the King of Han."

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Shangyong, Liu Bang Xingyuan.

Zhou Bo had already set out with an army of [-], but Liu Bang did not go with the army. The main reason was that he was old and his body was not as good as before. Liu Bang didn't want to die of exhaustion on the journey.

Early in the morning, Xia Houying entered the Xingyuan hall with two brocade boxes.

Liu Bang was drinking with Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, and Bai Mo. Seeing this, he asked, "Xia Houying, what's in it?"

"Report to Your Majesty, there are two human heads inside." Xia Houying said as she opened the brocade box on the right.

Liu Bang looked at it intently, feeling vaguely familiar, but Chen Ping recognized it immediately, and said in a voiceless voice: "Liu Kou, this is the head of General Liu Kou of the Liang Kingdom!"

"Liu Kou is dead?" Liu Bang said, "What about Peng Yue?"

"Peng Yue is also dead." Xia Houying said, "It is very likely that Liu Kou killed him."

"Peng Yue is dead too?" Liu Bang heard the words with a gloomy expression, looking at the brocade box on the left and said, "Could it be Peng Yue's head inside?" Peng Yue and Liu Bang are also old brothers. , cut off Xiang Yu's food and military resources, and the Chu-Han dispute still doesn't know what the end will be. Thinking about it, Liu Bang is really sad.

(End of this chapter)