Unfortunately, he thought well, but reality hit him hard.

After getting off the boat and transfer, Zhou Gong Ding's horse team entered the ancient city of Qufu. First, they were neglected in the inn for three days. Not only could they not see the Marquis of Lu, but even the Minister of State also closed their doors to thank the guests. It was not until the afternoon of the fourth day that Marquis of Lu Ji Bi summoned Ji Ding, who was waiting anxiously outside the palace.

When Duke Zhou finished clearly explaining his wishes for this trip, Duke Lu always smiled gloomy and said nothing. Duke Zhou suppressed his anger and asked, "What exactly does Duke Lu mean? Do you have to make a marriage with Duke Ji?"

Lu Hou Bi smiled and said, "Uncle Gong didn't know that my young daughter was raised in the deep palace since she was young, and she had to be a legitimate wife. There were very few men in the Central Plains who could match her, let alone now that the big and small have been settled, and even the wedding date has been set. In August of this autumn, the arrow has been raised. How can I change it in one word?"

Duke Zhou Ding said coldly: "I don't believe it anymore. The Central Plains are full of talents, and there are countless princes and princes in their prime. Is there no one except Marquis Ji?"

"Uncle Gong didn't know anything. The so-called "uncle Gong" did not marry. Although there were many vassal states in the Central Plains, there were only a few who were not Ji's surname, such as Gui, Ying, and Jiang's surnames. There were really only a few who could choose. I hope Uncle Gong would forgive me!"

When talking about Jiang's surname, Zhou Gongding immediately thought of the breakthrough and said sternly: "Ji and Qi have become blood feuds and are constantly attacking each other. If you do this, you are adding fuel to the fire. How could Lu Bushan give up? If the war begins, there are constant wars and chaos in the Central Plains, can you Ji Bi bear this responsibility?"

It would be fine if he didn't mention Qi. When Lu Bushan mentioned Lu Bushan, the fire of Lu Hou Bi also came up, and suddenly stood up and said, "So what? Lu Bushan relied on his firm throne, repeatedly provoked troubles on the borders over the past year, intending to expand outward, and did not care about his generational marriage relationship with our Lu State. He was ruthless and I was not righteous, so there was no need to say more! My young daughter would be the wife of Ji Hou. This matter was for sure and there was no room for discussion."

After saying that, he brushed his sleeves away. When he turned the screen, he suddenly turned around and said leisurely: "Uncle Gong is worse than to persuade me, than to go to Linzi to persuade the Duke of Qi Lu Bushan. Based on the in-laws between Gongshu and Lu, the Duke of Qi may be able to sell Gongshu for his face, which is not known."

Seeing Lu Hou Bi's firm attitude, Duke Zhou had to leave the palace angrily. After that, Ji Ding stayed in the ancient city of Qufu for three or five days. The king and minister of Lu refused to do so, and no one saw him. After this process, he finally understood a fact: Lu Ji's marriage was a foregone conclusion and it was difficult to change. He also understood that behind this incident, it was Qi's aggressiveness that forced the two countries to pick up their teams to keep warm.

After thinking for a long time in the inn, Duke Zhou Ding discussed with his retainer Mei Shu, he concluded that it was meaningless to go to Ji State to lobby again. For the sake of the present plan, he had to go to Linzi, the capital of Qi, and persuade the Duke of Qi, Lu Bushan, to accept the fact that Lu Ji's marriage was connected and appease him.

On the way to Linzi, Zhou Gongding was no longer as optimistic as he came. His intuition told him that it might not be easy to convince Lu Bushan. Alas! This time, Zhongyuan was really doing a chore. He hated Zhao Gonghu so much that he threw such a hot potato to him.

Duke Zhou had been to Qi several times, but this time he came to Linzi, the new capital, which made him feel refreshed.

The newly built Linzi City is located on a plain with wide waterways and intertwined official roads. It is fast in cars, horses, boats and walks, and food, clothing, housing and transportation. It is full of people and has become a hub. People are rich, and people in the streets are either playing zithers or playing zithers or playing zithers or playing zithers or playing zithers or playing zithers or playing zithers or playing choruses, and those who fight cocks and dogs are also uncountable.

On the wide official road, cars and boats attacked each other, people flocked to one after another, raised their sleeves into curtains, sweating profusely, and were full of ambitions, reflecting a prosperous scene of enriching the people and strengthening the country by enjoying the benefits of fish and salt.

Duke Zhou was admiring in his heart while watching. He didn't expect that Lu Bushan still had two tricks. In just a few years, he not only quelled the rebellion between Hu and Hou, but also governed the country so well. No wonder he was unwilling to accept it and intended to expand outward, which was due to his strength. No wonder Lu Ji and the two countries were worried. If they put themselves on themselves, they would have to sleep at night. Thinking of this, the little confidence that he had accumulated in his heart suddenly disappeared.

Sure enough, on the magnificent Qi Palace Hall, when Duke Zhou calmed down and said his intentions with tact, Duke Lu Bushan of Qi very tactfully and firmly rejected his request for mediation. Of course, the words were still very pleasant: "Donald came from afar, and this love was recognized by Bushan. However, Duke Ji killed my brother, and I made a great oath when I first ascended the throne. In this life, I regard Ji Country as a hatred. If I cannot destroy it, my descendants of later generations should also remember this hatred and take it as their responsibility to destroy Ji Country. Although Qi and Ji, although the blood of Taigong of Jiang surname, fell into this field, are all the faults of Ji Country. There is no possibility of reconciliation."

Speaking of this, Lu Bushan paused for a moment and said in a tweaking voice: "As for Lu, I was married to my Qi country, and I didn't want to be too irritated. So for the sake of the Duke, I would suppress the border and station troops. As long as Lu does not cross the border, I can keep the border from nothing. Is that okay?"

This is already a huge face. What else can Duke Zhou say besides nodding and thanking him?

After leaving Linzi, Duke Ding Zhou had no choice but to embark on the way back. Along the way, he was depressed. He remembered the scenery when he was a king envoy when he was young and went to the Central Plains. Then he looked at how unwelcome now, and was as sad as a dog. What kind of contrast was that? He didn't understand whether it was because of the decline of the Zhou family, or because these princes looked down on him Duke Ding Zhou? After decades passed, did the world change so quickly?

It was spring in the coming, and it was already a bit of early summer when I returned. Recently, heavy rains were still frequent, and the water level of the river suddenly rose, showing a raging waves. It is possible to be dangerous to continue sailing. At the suggestion of Mei, Duke Zhou decided to dock at Luoyi Wharf and avoid this wave of Hongtao and set off again.

Luoyi is the eastern capital of the Zhou Dynasty, and its prosperity is beyond comparison. Boats and boats on both sides gathered like forests, and four docks lined up and down for more than twenty miles, as if the entire wilderness had become a vast water city. When the light boats came from the east, they heard the sound of unloading goods and shouting from the shore, the sound of ferries calling each other, and the sound of cars and horses getting off the bridge is endless. The bustling and steaming market is bustling and hot, although it is sunset, but it does not feel desolate at all.

Duke Zhou's mood was warmer by the prosperity of Luoyi. He got off the boat and changed into a carriage, and walked towards the direction of the upstairs. This was the standard configuration for the dynasty's deputy capital, and he specially arranged the princes and princes who came and went.

With the bright moon on its head, it winds along the east bank of a big lake and goes deep into the poplar forest. The wind lights flash in a golden and red haze. The dark roof is looming, the iron horses tinkle the fallen leaves, and the courtyards are like mirages.

Uncle Mei saw that his master was depressed all the way, and wanted to find some topics and said: "This hotel is quiet and secret, so the master can stay here for a few more days and be in a state of mind."

"I hope this is the case!" Zhou Gongding looked tired.

Shangguan Hotel is a large manor with a small courtyard. A low white stone wall is winding and winding into a large poplar forest. When you enter the gate, there are several winding paths. Without the guidance of the gatekeeper, you can't find any courtyard at all.

The gatekeeper led Zhou Gongding and his party to hurriedly walk into a courtyard in the northeast corner. The yards were made of bamboo fences and made of logs as gates, as ancient as a mountain residence. Zhou Gongding then smiled and praised with a rare smile: "This place is very good!"

Zhou Gongding was chaotic all the way, and he was really sweaty and exhausted. After taking a bath, he went to bed and was drowsy and was about to fall asleep. Suddenly, he heard a roar from the courtyard near the west: "Why is there no ice? Get out of the way-----"

It was the voice of a young man, which sounded a little familiar. Zhou Gongding felt a little moved and got up in his clothes and looked at the neighboring courtyard.

Looking through the gap of the bamboo fence, I saw a yard with a slew of strokes, and a young man with brocade robe opened his clothes and scolded the servant who knelt all over the ground: "Don't you understand that I'm recuperating here? It's such a hot day, there's not even ice, so how can I sleep?"

A servant kowtowed more than once: "Your Majesty, please calm down. You have already gone to ask the Shangshecheng for help. He said that the season has not yet entered the summer and there is no ice in the inn. Please wait for you to have a Shanghai hang!"

The young man roared: "Haihan! Who can forgive me? Okay, I will live here until he has prepared ice!"

"Huh? Why is it him?" Zhou Gong decided to recognize that it was Zhao Zhongbao, and felt a little surprised. He waved his hand and asked a staff officer next to him: "When did Marquis Yan move in?"

"It's been half a month since this master is hard to serve. He wants ice and dancer to serve wine. The postmaster is so annoyed! I heard that he is the brother of Duke Zhao. Tsk, he is really good with his brother------" The postmaster shook his head: "It's really a world of difference!"

"Oh------" Zhou Gongding was stunned for a moment, and suddenly waved to Uncle Mei and said something with his ears. The latter went to do nothing.

After a while, when Zhao Zhongbao was neatly worn and walked into the ancient round wooden door, Duke Zhou had already worn a bamboo leather crown and greeted him six steps in front of the hall with a spring breeze. This was an ancient ceremony to show the host's respect for the distinguished guests. A warm feeling surged in Zhao Zhongbao's heart, and the wariness he had when he first came dissipated a lot.

"Although it is not the first time I see you, I have been to my house thousands of miles away and meet you here unexpectedly, which is a rare fate. I specially prepared a small wine to greet you, and I hope that the Marquis of Yan will not be despicable!" Zhou Gong bowed quietly.

Zhao Zhongbao knelt down and bowed: "Shame! Duke Zhou is the pillar of the country and is also my elder. He should have been an invitation. He is really ashamed!"

"Where is it?" Zhou Gong gave in and said, "Who can compare with your brother when it comes to the pillars of the country? Zhao Gong is young and promising and takes charge of the world, which makes us ashamed!"
Chapter completed!