Tracing China: Through history, dialogue between ancient and modern

Chapter 173 The Four-Move Chess of King Zhuang of Chu
Today's protagonist is the third overlord of the first group, Chu Zhuang King Xiong Lu who has not flown for three years and soared into the sky.

In the era of King Chu Cheng, the state of Chu was only one step away from being the overlord of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. If King Chu Cheng hadn’t been able to control such powerful men as Ziyu in the country, the second overlord in the Spring and Autumn Period might have been King Chu Cheng instead of Duke Wen of Jin. .

Xiong Yun, king of Chucheng, can only leave the matter of dominating the Jianghu to the latecomer, his grandson Xiong Lu.

Compared with the difficulties and twists and turns of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin coming to power, the coming of Xiong Lu, king of Chu Zhuang, went smoothly, and there is no story worth mentioning.When he was less than 20 years old, his father, King Chu Mu, died of illness, and Xiong Lu came to power as the legal heir.

However, the young King Zhuang of Chu, who came to power, ignored the state affairs. He knew how to fight cocks and horses in one day, indulge in sensuality, beauties in the east and the Yellow River in the west.

In today's terms, he is a prodigal son.

According to historical records, he faced an incompetent king who was greedy for pleasure.Seeing that this was not going to work, the veterans of the court saw that the Xiong family's country would be ruined by this kid, and they tried to persuade them:
"Your Majesty, look at my Great Chu Kingdom, which has been painstakingly managed by the four generations of Wu Wencheng and Mu Kings for nearly a hundred years. Its business is booming, and it is just around the corner to dominate the world. How can you lose the chain at this critical moment?"

King Zhuang of Chu said with a playful smile:

"I'm very young, and I don't have enough experience in governing. At present, I mainly focus on learning. The important affairs of the family and the country can be taken care of by important court officials like Yin Yuqiu, Gongzi Yi, and Gongzi Xie. I don't need to worry about it."

At first, the Xiong couple was polite to the acceptors, but then they lost their patience, so they put up a sign at the entrance of the court hall, with four large characters on it:

"The slanderer dies."

It was so frightening that no one dared to give advice to this devil king.

……

At this time, Lin Feng Bailu wanted to talk to such a bohemian young master.

The capital of Chu - Yingdu.

The emergence and prosperity of Yingdu can be said to be one of the main signs that distinguish barbaric society from civilized society.

Yingdu goes south.

It was Lingnan, which was not yet civilized at that time, where there were few people, miasma and foggy forests, and only some small tribes lived. These small tribes had no writing, and they used the oldest language, and their spiritual wisdom was not yet developed.

To the north of Yingdu is the border of the Central Plains in the Spring and Autumn Period.

This is also the reason why the major vassal states at that time mocked Chu as a half-illiterate and half-barbaric country.

Besides.

In the time and space of 3000 years, the capitals of the major vassal states moved frequently, which led to the fact that the place known as the capital of Ying is difficult to have a conclusion in later generations; in fact, no matter how you look at it, it is difficult to have a unified place for many ancient city ruins.

There is no way, the primitive living conditions at that time, in case the capital catches fire, let’s move!
Food shortage nearby, move!

The city is about to be flooded, so move!
The old aristocracy rebelled, move!
It is not conducive to commanding frontline wars, so let's continue to move!
Over the course of a year, the capital has been changed to three or five places, which are sparse and ordinary. Anyway, they are within their own land, so they can go wherever they want.

Moreover, the cities at this time were smaller in scale, probably larger than castles, and there were not many utensils, so the relocation did not cost much money, material and manpower.

Not only Yingdu of Chu State, but even Xianyang of Qin State moved its nest several times in the early days.

The night was deeper now.

However, the palace where Lord Chu lived was full of voices, singing and dancing, a scene of drunkenness and dreams.

Through the gate of the palace, you can see the extremely "luxury" scene inside.

More than a dozen singers in thin clothes are dancing, and the torch is shining. King Chuzhuang is lying on the laps of two women, eating fruit, singing songs through a small wine, singing and dancing with the singers from time to time Jump.

This little day is definitely scratchy.

"I'm going, people 3000 years ago, would they enjoy it like this?"

"Compared to King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty 4000 years ago, these things are insignificant."

"Hey, think of me as a modern person who eats instant noodles and eats pickles every day, which is not as good as it was 3000 years ago!"

"I'm about the same as King Zhuang of Chu, but I'm short of a group of singers."

"I'm still short of wine."

"I lack such a big house."

"Don't think about it too much. As far as the family property of King Zhuang of Chu is concerned, there are few modern people who can compare with it."

"The king of Chu Zhuang, who soared to the sky in history, was so prodigal a year ago?"

"Compared to Duke Huan of Qi, Duke Wen of Jin, and Duke Mu of Qin who have been busy all their lives, it would be better for me to be King Zhuang of Chu if I travel through time."

"Hahaha, don't you know that King Chuzhuang still has the title of "King of the Green Hat"?"

"I heard that it seems that he was cuckolded by one of his subordinates. The general had an affair with his concubine and made a big fuss. But for the sake of the relationship between the monarch and his ministers, King Zhuang of Chu insisted not to get angry. He stared at the cuckold and continued to trust that General."

"He dares to wear a green hat and knows how to endure. No wonder he can soar into the sky."

……

Just now.

In the camera, an old official from the state of Chu appeared on the screen. The old official's name was Wu Ju, a doctor from the state of Chu. He entered the palace late at night to meet King Zhuang of Chu.

At this time, King Zhuang of Chu was having fun in the harem, holding Zheng Ji in his left hand and Yue Nu in his right hand, hugging left and right to make him happy.

What is "Zheng Ji"?
What is a "Vietnamese girl"?
Zheng Ji is naturally the beauty paid tribute to her younger brother Zheng Guo.

The Yue girls are beauties sent by the country of Yue in the north.

And those singing girls dancing gracefully are not from Chu State, but are all beauties sent from the surrounding small countries.

She is a real beauty.

The young women selected from every vassal state, with a little makeup, can be called graceful and gorgeous.

Seeing Wu Ju, Xiong Lu tilted his head, his eyes slanted, and said angrily, didn't Dr. Wu see the sign at the door? Dare to come?
Wu Ju also said with a playful smile, "I'm not talking about those boring nonsense, I just have a wine bug in my stomach, so I dare to ask the king for a few glasses of fine wine!".

"I want to drink! Good! There are all wine and beauties, but the widow is short of drinking friends."

The two of you have a cup and I have a cup, talking about ancient and modern anecdotes from all over the world.

During this period.

Lin Feng and Bailu didn't show up, they were silent spectators, watching Chuzhuang King's hedonic "performance" with all the audience!
At the same time, let the big guys enjoy the singing and dancing during the Spring and Autumn Period.

For the modern bachelor, it is also a rare moment of welfare.

While talking, Wu Ju suddenly told Xiong Lu a story:
"Your Majesty, you don't know that Chudu recently discovered a very beautiful and vigorous bird of five colors, half like a peacock and half like a phoenix, it lives on a century-old sycamore tree in the mountains, it does not fly or sing for three years, and spends all day with crows and birds It is strange for Chu people to eat insects like a woodpecker, but they don't know what this bird is called?"

"Oh, Doctor Wu, why doesn't this bird fly for three years?"

"This divine bird! It is full of majesty and unfathomable. I don't know what kind of bird it is, but I know that this bird is definitely not a stupid bird, nor is it a lazy bird. It has not flown for three years. That is because There are ghosts, beasts and good birds in the forest. It is hard to tell who is the traitor and who is loyal. If you spread your wings rashly, you will hurt its wings. I can guarantee that this bird will rush into the sky as soon as it flies.

Hearing this, King Zhuang of Chu's face changed obviously.

But he still said with a smile, "Doctor Wu, what do you mean? Why can't I understand?"

Wu Ju raised the wine bottle, drank it down, and said in a low voice, "My lord, even if the people in the world don't know it, the veterans still know it. You are not just looking for pleasure, and you don't want to follow in the footsteps of King Zhou. You have great ambitions, but you are just waiting An opportunity."

King Zhuang of Chu was very upset, and immediately waved his hands, "Everyone, leave!"

The sound stops, the dance stops, and the people leave.

The hall suddenly became extremely quiet. At this time, King Chu Zhuang held Wu Ju's hand tightly and said excitedly:
"Doctor Wu, what you said speaks to the heart of the widow. After the widow came to power, why did he neglect the affairs of the court? Why did he resign himself to depravity? All of this is for others to see."

Wu Ju deliberately asked, "My lord, who are you going to show?"

King Zhuang of Chu said that his enemies are not only the mighty Jin State and the princes of the Central Plains, but also the unrestrained aristocrats in the country. They can determine the rise and fall of Chu State, and they can also determine the stability of their own throne.

Therefore, King Zhuang of Chu needs to see who is treacherous and who is loyal, who is strong and who is weak, and who is stupid and who is wise among the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty and the many wealthy families in the country.

What he was waiting for was a loyal minister and good general like Wu Ju who could help him.

Wu Ju asked, "Your Majesty, three years have passed, and in your heart, have you chosen to be an assistant minister?"

"Yes!"

King Zhuang of Chu's originally muddy eyes suddenly brightened up, his back straightened, and he restored the majestic image of a generation of monarchs. He only heard him say:

"Doctor Wu, to be honest, tonight is the last time I have fun. From now on, I will be in charge of government affairs and will truly take power. I can't help but make the old nobles of Chu tremble, and let the Central Plains be frightened."

Wu Ju asked again, "My lord, what are you going to do?"

King Zhuang of Chu is testing who is a loyal minister and good general, and those courtiers, aren't they testing their king?

Wu Ju is alone tonight.

He definitely came here to test the truth with the hopes of a group of important ministers.

King Zhuang of Chu got up, his young and slender figure looked so eye-catching and dazzling under the light of the flames.

"First, abolish the prime minister Yin Yuqiu."

"Secondly, wipe out the Ruoao clan who dragged Chu State back in the battle of Chengpu, so that the power of the widowed monarch can be concentrated."

"Thirdly, the widows will reuse Sun Shuao, Wu Ju, Su Cong and other talented people to carry out nine economic reforms, so as to make the state of Chu rule."

"Fourth, use the strategy of crusade to bring the Chu army close to the Zhou royal family, so that the emperor of Zhou will recognize the identity of the overlord."

"In the end, it is to block the Jin State in the north, and then crusade from east to west, so that the territory of Chu will be expanded ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times!"

……

Wu Ju knelt down and shouted loudly, "In this way, the king will definitely be able to soar into the sky and aspire to the Central Plains."

King Zhuang of Chu looked to the north and said, "The most difficult step is to fight the Jin State. Once you lose, you will lose everything."

Wu Ju raised his head, offered a plan and said, "Your Majesty, in the eyes of the veterans, the state of Jin is not a serious problem. What we should guard against should be Qin in the west. The people of Qin have fought with dogs and soldiers for hundreds of years. , and finally swept away the dog army, the current Qin people have expanded the land by more than ten times, the old minister wants to come, but when the Qin and Jin places are bloody, the king will send troops again..."

King Zhuang of Chu's ambitious hegemony.

In this night, completely rooted and sprouted!
(End of this chapter)