Xu Boxiong was declined by King Wuyou, but seeing that although King Wuyou said it lightly, his meaning was very strong, and people always felt that it was impossible to disobey him. Xu Boxiong no longer bothered with this idea, and instead took Fengyue Tower. The old madam got a lot of money for nothing and got a bag of silver.
Xinyi received a reply from the Master of Fenggu: Ignore it!
Although Xinyi knew this was the result, she still hoped in her heart that someone from the Xu family would bring it up again, so that she could ask if King Wuyou also had this intention. However, after two days, there was still no news from the Xu family.
Xu Boxiong took advantage of this incident to get closer to King Wuyou. Occasionally, he would meet Xiao Tianyou in Qi Ci Fang. Although the two had their own thoughts, they were both polite. King Wuyou Looking at Xiao Tianyou and Xu Boxiong, he was also thinking about the next countermeasures.
King Chen quickly organized the eldest prince's subordinates, and the defense of the Pingguan area was handed over to Chen Qi. Xiao Tianyou's 100,000 forbidden troops were in Luo City, and the direct descendants of Fen City and Jincheng were also garrisoned. Most of the Chen Kingdom had already After being controlled by King Chen, King Chen turned his attention to the third prince.
In the morning of that day, King Chen asked Xiao Tianyou how the campaign in Northern Xinjiang and Western Xinjiang was progressing. Xiao Tianyou went out to report: "The Chen army in Northern Xinjiang, under the command of Generalissimo Chen Qi, has successfully attacked Chen Qi. The vanguard of the army has penetrated nearly 300 miles into the northern barbarian territory and captured a large number of people, cattle, sheep, and horses; the Western Xinjiang expedition is progressing slowly, with no success in the past few days!"
King Chen's face became extremely unhappy, and he commented coldly to the ministers in the court. He snorted and said: "My third brother asked for orders to conquer Western Xinjiang. I will also pay him all the elite of the forbidden army, and there are General Li Hao helped me, but he didn’t achieve anything for several months! Prime Minister Xu, do you have anything to report back?"
Xu Boxiong had long known in his heart that King Chen would definitely find him. So after hearing King Chen ask himself, he went out and announced: "Your Majesty, the Xiongnu tribe in Western Xinjiang is extremely fierce and has no fixed abode. , our Chen army often returned without success every time they attacked. In order to avoid going deep into the hinterland of the Xiongnu tribe and being ambushed by them, the third prince attacked steadily and advanced step by step. Now he has captured some grasslands in Western Xinjiang. Captured some cattle, sheep and horses!”
King Chen snorted coldly and said: "Now that Qi is being forced to attack Shu, I, the State of Chen, should take the opportunity to open up the northwest frontier to avoid future intrusions from the Northern Barbarians and Xiongnu, so that we can concentrate on dealing with Qi, Qin and Yan. If it is too late, There is no progress yet. Once the war of Shu is over, how much time do we have left? At that time, we must beware of Qi and the Xiongnu. Our Chen State is surrounded by enemies from both sides, and Qin and Yan are also surrounding us. The situation is dire. Danger. If the Third Prince and General Li don’t have a way to defeat the enemy, then let Marshal Chen Qi go to take charge of Western Xinjiang again!"
As soon as King Chen finished speaking, the trusted ministers in the court all agreed. Seeing this, Xu Boxiong hurriedly took a step forward and said: "Your Majesty, I think what your Majesty said is true. But Marshal Chen Qi is conquering the barbarians in the north of Pingguan, and the Yan army is in the east. The country, the southern defense of Qi Xiang, and Pingguan cannot be carried out without the old marshal! As for the western expedition against the Xiongnu, the third prince and General Li just wanted stability in the early stage, and their strategy was weak. It is better to convey the holy will to them and let them We have made an appointment to defeat the Xiongnu at the end of the day. I think this is safer! Your Majesty, please think again!"
As soon as Xu Boxiong finished speaking, the ministers of the Longxi Party also echoed, saying: "Please think again, Your Majesty! Please think twice, Your Majesty!"
King Chen also knew that the power of the Longxi Party still existed in the court. They were headed by Xu Boxiong, with the Third Prince's army and horses outside as a guard of honor. He should not act too hastily for the time being. Once the Third Prince and Xu Boxiong were forced into a hurry, Chen Guo's
War may break out. Thinking of this, King Chen pondered for a moment and said to Xu Boxiong: "Prime Minister Xu, then you will be the imperial minister and go to Western Xinjiang to announce my intentions to the third prince.
He must defeat the Xiongnu within the month, and I want him to conquer the three hundred miles west of the border. If he cannot win, let him return to Luo City by himself. I will choose another good general to go to the western war!"
Seeing that King Chen was very determined, Xu Boxiong knew that if they argued again, it would make King Chen furious, which would be unsightly. When he went to Western Xinjiang, he could have some serious plans with the third prince, Li Hao. So Xu Boxiong
He bowed to King Chen's decree. When the ministers saw that the matter had been decided, they stopped discussing it, talked about other things, and withdrew from the court.
When Xu Boxiong returned to his home, he ordered his family to pack their things for use before going out, and then went to the third prince's house to talk to his daughter, comforting her to take care of herself. The third prince was in the midst of a campaign in Western Xinjiang, and he went to express his condolences according to the order.
. He also told himself not to go out while he was away from Luo City. He would wait until he came back to talk about everything!
Xu Boxiong left Luocheng and headed for Western Xinjiang. At this time, the army led by the third prince Chen Yi and Li Hao was stationed in Yucheng. Regarding the internal affairs of the Chen Kingdom, the third prince Chen Yi and Li Hao also had constant reports.
Come. When they saw Xu Boxiong coming, the three of them quickly started discussing.
At this time, Chen Yi and Li Hao had mobilized more than 50,000 troops in Yucheng, with 30,000 forbidden troops as the main force, 10,000 defenders as the supplement, and 10,000 new troops recruited. When Chen Yi arrived here, he went on a rampage
They plundered people's wealth, recruited soldiers and horses, hoarded grain and grass, and continuously strengthened the city defense of Yucheng. Today, the city wall of Yucheng has been raised to three feet, and horses can be galloped on the city wall. The moat outside the city has also been deepened and widened, and there are more than ten civilians in the city.
It has a population of 10,000. According to what Li Hao said, Yucheng is already impregnable. Even the defense of Luocheng is no more than this. Even if there are 100,000 troops and the city is besieged for three months, there is no way to capture it.
Xu Boxiong followed the third prince and Li Hao around but was not as optimistic as Li Hao. Returning to the palace, Xu Boxiong, Chen Yi and Li Hao sat down and said to the third prince: "Your Highness, I am here in Yucheng.
I also reported to you why. Now King Chen has put the eldest prince under house arrest in his palace, and all the eldest prince’s subordinates are also under the control of Chen Qi. On that day, there was already an intention to target you in the court, saying that it was to levy
The Xiongnu are in trouble. Let Chen Qi take over the military power here."
After hearing what Xu Boxiong said, the third prince snorted coldly and said: "Master Yue Zhang, does King Chen think I am the eldest prince? I will not let him slaughter me. If he takes away my military power, I will raise my troops."
Start an uprising and rebel against him!"
After hearing this, Xu Boxiong quickly stood up, signaled the third prince to silence, and then looked around carefully. Seeing Xu Boxiong being so careful, Li Hao smiled and said, "Prime Minister Xu, everyone here is personally accompanied by His Highness. Now.
There are only you and me and His Highness in this palace, why do you have to be so cautious!"
The third prince Chen Yi also looked disapproving. Xu Boxiong did not explain and said slowly: "King Chen has taken away the military power of the eldest prince. Now it is your turn to deal with the third prince. In the past, there was Qi State
Containment, King Chen may not touch you and the eldest prince for the time being in order to prevent Qi from taking the opportunity. But King Chen has actually reached an agreement with Qi, and Qi has also sent important ministers to Luo City!"
Chen Yi and Li Hao were both stunned, and both asked: "Is the Prime Minister referring to Wuyou King Qi Si?"
"|It is King Wuyou who is offering sacrifices!" Xu Boxiong lowered his voice and said.
Chen Yi said "Ah" and said casually: "How could it be!" Then he looked at Xu Boxiong, as if to inquire whether he was joking with him. Although Xu Boxiong mentioned this in a secret letter a few days ago,
But Chen Yi still couldn't believe that Wuyou King Qi Si would come to Luo City alone at this time. After all, Qi State was attacking Shu, and Qin State and Chen State wanted to help Shu.
Xu Boxiong nodded, and then continued: "I have also met Qi Si several times. Qi Si came to Luo City probably for two reasons. One is to serve as an envoy of Qi State; the other is to serve for Qi State.
A woman!"
Chen Yi snorted and said, "I know that this Qi Si will not come to our Luo City to be an envoy. I'm afraid he can't change his lustful nature!"
Xu Boxiong nodded and continued: "My original intention was to send the woman to him, but he didn't want her. I came here in a hurry, so I let it go."
The third prince Chen Yi asked: "My father-in-law, who is that woman? She can actually attract all the sacrifices?"
"The joy of Fengyue Tower!" Xu Boxiong said with a chuckle.
Chen Yi also laughed and said: "I know, no wonder Qi Si came running over, it's not surprising!"
Li Hao also knew how happy he was about Feng Yue Lou. Because of this woman, his son almost had a chance to have a successful career.
The three of them then discussed King Chen's decree. Chen Yi wanted to ignore the idea of attacking the Xiongnu territory three hundred miles within a month. Li Hao thought it was feasible, and Xu Boxiong also advocated using troops against the Xiongnu as soon as possible.
Xu Boxiong said to Chen Yi: "The troubles of the Xiongnu are ultimately the disease of our Chen country's western frontier. If they are not eradicated and they are constantly harassed by them, even if the prince gains power in the future, he will have to deal with them again. Why not attack them now?"
, drove the Xiongnu three hundred miles into the grassland, and also eliminated our troubles in Yucheng."
Li Hao also nodded repeatedly and said: "The power of the Huns' cavalry lies in their speed, and they fight bravely on horseback. But we have heavy cavalry and spear formations. We can advance steadily and encircle and destroy them. It will definitely be effective. There are many cattle on the grassland."
Sheep and horses can be used to expand our cavalry. We bought horses from the Huns before, but they took away the gold and silver used to buy the horses. Now we will go directly to snatch his horses back!"
Seeing that Xu Boxiong and Li Hao both supported the use of troops against the Huns, the third prince said nothing more and nodded in agreement.
Xu Boxiong continued: "Prince, although we are thinking of using troops against the Huns, we may be prepared to always be on guard against King Chen attacking you. King Chen is a gloomy man. He has already fought the eldest prince until he was bedridden and under house arrest.
I'm afraid I won't let you go easily. I'm worried that King Chen will imitate the former Emperor Taizong!"
Chen Yi's eyes suddenly became gloomy, and he said: "Prince Chen and I are from the same mother, and are direct brothers. But my mother loves him and wants to pass the throne to him. I don't want to compete with him."
The throne, but if he presses forward step by step and does not allow me to live in the world, then I have no choice but to fight with him. But I will see how my mother can solve it!"
At this time in Luo City, Queen Mother Chen called King Chen to the palace, looked at King Chen, and sighed softly: "Your Majesty, as a mother, you have to remember something. When Emperor Wei Cao Pi wanted to kill Cao Zhi,
He ordered Cao Zhi to write a poem in seven steps. Cao Zhi chanted: We are born from the same roots, so why rush each other? Your Majesty has recalled the eldest prince to your side. But Chen Yi was born to his mother, and he and you are the same mother. After all, he is
Your brother, the so-called fighting brother, he must be loyal to you. He will guard the Western Frontier, and my mother knows that, so you don’t have to worry about him anymore!"
King Chen lowered his head, pondered for a moment and said: "Mother, since you also want your son to inherit the state of Chen, what if the state of Chen falls apart? The third brother is in the Western Xinjiang and supports his troops and respects himself. In the end, even if the third brother is defeated,
My brother has no ambitions, but there is no guarantee that some of his people will not cause trouble. When Chen Guosheng changes and war breaks out again, our brothers will still turn against each other. What I want is to let my third brother come back to me and accompany me in the court.
Be by my side and relieve my worries, but you no longer have to hold military power."
After hearing this, Queen Mother Chen also sighed and said: "Since Your Majesty has an idea, go ahead and do it. You just need to remember that he and you are brothers, and don't let any fratricide happen!"