Hu Zong, as a trusted minister of Sun Quan, is also a gentleman like Zhuge Jin, and has the bearing of a scholar.
Seeing Jiang Wan asking this question, Hu Zong hesitated for a few moments and replied: "Since Gong Yan has asked, I have no choice but to go to the palace again to ask about the health of the King of Wu."
"But if I go to the palace and the King of Wu asks Gong Yan why he came to Wuchang, what should I say?"
Hu Zong looked at Jiang Wan sincerely and said, "Gong Yan, I came to ask you a few days ago, but you insisted on meeting the King of Wu before you could tell me."
"What exactly is Prime Minister Zhuge thinking? You and I are so familiar with each other, can't you tell me the truth?"
In Shu Han, Cao Wei, and Eastern Wu, everyone knows that Zhuge Liang is in charge of the state affairs of Shu Han. Hu Zong did not pretend and directly raised the question.
Jiang Wan glanced around, grabbed Hu Zong's arm, moved closer to Hu Zong's ear, and whispered:
"Prime Minister Zhuge wants to make an agreement with the King of Wu to attack Wei! One in the east and one in the west, so that little Cao thief will be in a panic and the central army of Wei will be exhausted, and they will not be able to take care of the front and the rear!"
Hu Zong was still very polite. He gently pushed away Jiang Wan's hand that was grabbing his arm, stepped back half a step, and asked softly:
"Where is east and where is west?"
Jiang Wan asked, "Who doesn't know that Brother Wei Ze is trusted by the King of Wu? In your opinion, what do you think of Wankou and Hefei? Which one would the King of Wu be willing to attack?"
Hu Zong showed a hint of dissatisfaction on his face, and his tone rose slightly: "Gong Yan, are you trying to trick me? This is a serious military and national issue, even the King of Wu has to deal with it carefully, how can a humble official like me have the right to comment on it?"
"Please go into the residence and have a rest, Gongyan. If you are bored, you can go to the riverside to relax, watch the sunset on the river and the flocks of birds, and see the scenery of your hometown."
Jiang Wan was from Lingling, Jingzhou. After following Liu Bei into Shu, he had been away from his homeland for a long time and could not return. Among the officials of Shu Han, from top to bottom, there were quite a few who were from Jingzhou.
Mention your hometown in front of Jiang Wan?
Jiang Wan seemed not to notice Hu Zong's dissatisfaction and ridicule, and still had a smile on his face: "Brother Weize, please come to the palace to visit me! I'm waiting for good news from you here!"
Hu Zong nodded, bowed, then turned and left.
If we talk about diplomacy during this era, Jiang Wan, who was in charge of the exchanges between Shu Han and Dong Wu, can definitely be called experienced and professional. As long as he could achieve his goal, how could he be affected by Hu Zong's remarks?
Just pierce your ears.
Hu Zong rode his horse hurriedly into Wuchang City and headed directly towards the King of Wu's palace.
Just at the beginning of last year, under the advice of his ministers, the Prince of Wu's Mansion was completely renovated and upgraded to become the Prince of Wu's Palace.
The palaces and pavilions must be magnificent to show the king's power. This is the reason given by most of the ministers.
Although Sun Quan was the King of Wu, he did not want to disappoint everyone's expectations, so he reluctantly agreed to expand the palace.
As the governor of Jiefan and a close and trusted minister of the King of Wu, Hu Zong did not encounter any obstacles from the palace gate to the inner palace.
Less than half an hour after leaving Jiang Wan, Sun Quan had already heard Hu Zong finish what Jiang Wan said.
Sun Quan was wearing a black and red robe, a golden crown on his head, and a sword on his waist. His left hand was behind his back, and his right hand was gently stroking his slightly purple beard.
"Wei Ze, what do you think Zhuge Liang means? With just one sentence, he wants me to fight for him?"
Hu Zong bowed and said, "In my opinion, Jiang Wan must have other bargaining chips in his hands, but he cannot tell me before I meet the Supreme."
"Does Your Majesty think it is feasible to send troops?"
Sun Quan sneered: "Is it feasible to send troops? I have never been afraid of using troops, but it depends on whether it is worthwhile to use them."
"Ever since Lü Ziheng and Cao Wenlie exchanged letters, the Wei and Wu governors in the north and south of Jingzhou and the north and south of Yangzhou would write to each other whenever there was an important event."
"Cao Xiu is dead, and Yangzhou has been replaced by Chen Qun, who knows nothing about military affairs. Jingzhou is now in the hands of old Confucian scholars like Zhao Yan and royal family wastes like Xiahou Ru."
"To be honest, if I wasn't worried about the Wei army and that kid Cao Rui, I wouldn't really take Chen Qun and Zhao Yan seriously."
Hu Zong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it has been three years since the last war. All regions have accumulated food and grass and restored their military strength. The total strength of the Great Wu has been restored to 160,000."
"If we want to go to war with Wei, we have the strength to fight."
Sun Quan said, "Let's discuss this after I meet Jiang Wan. But, Wei Ze, what conditions will Zhuge Liang offer me if he wants me to do such a big thing?"
Hu Zong curled his lips and said, "Zhuge Liang failed in his attack on Longyou the year before last and lost Hanzhong instead. He also failed in his attack on Dazhong last year and probably returned empty-handed in his attack on Yangpingguan at the beginning of the year."
"What else do the rulers and ministers of Shu have left except the title of the Han Dynasty? What can they give to the Supreme?"
As Hu Zong was talking, he was startled. He looked at Sun Quan with his eyes slightly wide open: "Supreme Lord, could it be..."
Sun Quan asked in a deep voice: "What?"
Hu Zong swallowed his saliva and said, "The only things that can be given to others in this world are fame and wealth."
"As for benefits, what real benefits can Zhuge Liang bring to the king?"
"Your Majesty is already the King of Wu, and has received the Nine Gifts from Luoyang. As the saying goes, the highest position is high. If the rulers and ministers of Shu can help Your Majesty ascend the throne and become emperor, and exchange this favor for sending troops, would Your Majesty be willing to do so?"
Sun Quan walked around the hall several times with his hands behind his back, his thoughts constantly fluctuating.
After a long while, Sun Quan stood still and stared at Hu Zong: "Wei Ze, go find Jiang Wan again! Give it a try!"
"I can choose another day to see him!"
"I understand. I will go out of the city to see Jiang Wan." Hu Zong bowed and walked out quickly. Not long after, Hu Zong returned and went to the residence to look for Jiang Wan but to no avail.
When Hu Zong learned that Jiang Wan was walking by the river, he was slightly startled and rode out to find him. After walking about four miles, he finally found Jiang Wan looking at the river view.
"Gongyan, Gongyan, wait a moment!" Hu Zong rode his horse and chased after him, shouting loudly.
Jiang Wan stood still and looked at Hu Zong who was rushing over with a smile: "I thought I would not see Brother Weize again until tomorrow?"
"What is the King of Wu's will?"
Hu Zong dismounted, tied the horse to a tree beside the path, and continued walking with Jiang Wan.
"Gong Yan, I have something to ask you, and I hope you will be honest with me." Hu Zong asked seriously.
Jiang Wan looked at the river and answered casually, "If I speak well, will the King of Wu recuperate better?"
Hu Zong blushed slightly, adjusted his mentality, and asked, "I have met the King of Wu just now. The King of Wu is just a little confused. Wei and Wu have been at peace for three years, and Gong Yan already knows all the things that happened during this period."
The so-called "all kinds of things" refer to the mutual letters between Cao Rui and Sun Quan, the frequent letters of greeting from governors of various places, and the fact that the Wei Kingdom had a new royal heir with Sun blood.
Seeing that Jiang Wan did not respond, Hu Zong continued, "Prime Minister Zhuge wants to ask the King of Wu to send troops, so he must rely on something. What interests can Prime Minister Zhuge bring to the Kingdom of Wu?"
"Brother Weize, why didn't you ask this question earlier?" Jiang Wan patted Hu Zong's arm and said, "I'm being honest with you. Brother Weize, please ask honestly. Han and Wu were originally allies. This is the best way!"
Hu Zong said: "Alliance should be honest."
Jiang Wan smiled and said, "That's good! I'll talk to Brother Weize. Can you speak in front of the King of Wu?"
Hu Zong nodded seriously: "Okay!"
Jiang Wan pointed to the sky and said, "Brother Weize is also one of the few well-educated people in Wu. I have a question for you, Brother Weize. I wonder if you dare to answer it?"
Hu Zong replied: "Gong Yan, please try to explain it to the best of your ability."
Jiang Wan asked: "Why didn't Cao Mengde proclaim himself emperor in the past, but it was Cao Pi's turn to usurp the Han Dynasty?"
The major event of the Han-Wei transition caused repeated discussions throughout China. And within the Eastern Wu, a consensus had already been reached on this matter.
Hu Zong sighed, "Cao Cao has been a Han official for a long time and does not want to be called an emperor by the title of a Han official."
"In the past, the Minister of the Interior Zhao Wen wanted to recruit Cao Pi to serve as an official in the Minister of the Interior's residence, which angered Cao Cao and caused him to be executed. Since Cao Pi had to serve in the government, Cao Cao had no choice but to personally appoint Cao Pi as the General of the Five Officials and Deputy Prime Minister."
"Cao Pi was so restrained in his official duties, yet he was still reviled by the people of the world."
Jiang Wan glanced at Hu Zong and asked as he walked, "Has the King of Wu ever been a minister of the Han Dynasty?"
Hu Zong's expression became more serious: "Gong Yan, are you kidding? Who in this world has not been a minister of the Han Dynasty?"
Jiang Wan continued, "What if I were a minister of Han and then a minister of Wei?"
Hu Zong stopped where he was and looked at Jiang Wan with a stern expression. With a clang, he drew out half of the sword from his waist.
"Gong Yan, if you have something to say, just say it. If you continue to disrespect Your Majesty, I will kill you right now!"
Jiang Wan waved his hand and smiled nonchalantly, "Brother Wei Ze, don't worry. I am discussing serious matters with you."
"I, Emperor Zhaolie, am the great-great-grandson of Emperor Jing, and it is only natural that I should inherit the Han Dynasty. Although Cao Pi acted out a play, he can still respond with the ancient ritual of abdication to put off the people of the world."
"If the King of Wu wants to be emperor, what is his basis?"
When Hu Zong heard what Jiang Wan said, he stood there in a daze and remained silent for a long time.
The Sun family has been separatist in Jiangdong for thirty years. During these thirty years, seeing the Cao family replace the Liu family and Liu Bei become emperor, how could the officials of Wu not be moved?
No matter how much you think about it, it is not easy to find a reasonable way.
During the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, the sacredness of the Son of Heaven and the emperor was still at a high level.
Who becomes the emperor and which family inherits the empire is all determined by destiny and cannot be controlled by human power.
The saying "He who has the strongest army and the most powerful soldiers will become the emperor" is not tenable at the moment and does not conform to the values of the entire Chinese intellectual community.
As Jiang Wan just said, Sun Quan was first a minister of the Han Dynasty and then a minister of the Wei Dynasty. What is the basis for him to become emperor?
Hu Zong looked at Jiang Wan and bowed: "This matter is of great importance, I hope Gong Yan can teach me!"
Jiang Wan still had a slight smile on his face, and said calmly, "If the Han Emperor admits to dividing Han and Wu into two countries, then the shackles on the King of Wu's road to becoming emperor will be removed, right?"
Hu Zong was shocked: "Gong Yan is saying that the Emperor of Han is willing to let the King of Wu become the Emperor?"
"Is this true or false? Don't lie to me!"
Jiang Wan said sternly: "Brother Wei Ze is a gentleman, am I not Jiang Gongyan?"
"It's not too late today, Brother Wei Ze, why don't you take me to see the King of Wu right now, so that I don't have to worry all night and burn my heart!" (End of this chapter)
