『ps: The Zongzi Festival is gone? Oh, anyway, the authors of the online writing never have a festival, so it doesn't matter."

The following text

"A gentleman can deceive his way, but it is hard to ignore his way." This is an allusion in "Mencius", which tells the story of Zichan, the predecessor of the Legalists and the prime minister of Zheng State.

Once, someone gave Zi Cai a big fish. Zi Cai’s destiny to manage the pond and put it in the water. Unexpectedly, the scammer secretly cooked the fish and ate it. After returning, the liar said, “I put the fish back into the water. At first it was a little weak, but it swam away soon.”

Zichan believed it without a doubt and smiled: "(It) found the place we should go."

Afterwards, the clerk was very proud and said to someone in private: "Who said Zichan is wise? He didn't know that I lied to him."

Regarding this incident, Mencius said that a gentleman can use reasonable methods to deceive him, but it is difficult to deceive him with unreasonable things.

And this is exactly the trick Meng Zhong was preparing to use to convince Qu Yuan.

That night, when Meng Zhong and Xiang Liao were entertaining Qu Yuan in the side hall of Yeyi government office, Meng Zhong deliberately asked Qu Yuan: "Listen to my brother, is Doctor Qu now exiled by the King of Chu again?"

To be honest, even if a righteous man like Qu Yuan was full of anger when he mentioned that he was exiled, he restrained himself very well and said lightly: "It's just that there are treacherous ministers in the country who don't want to see him stay in Chuying."

Meng Zhong knew that Qu Yuan was attacked and annihilated by his colleagues from Chu State, and then asked again: "Where did you exile?"

"Jiangnan."

As he said that, when Qu Yuan saw Meng Zhong, Xiang Liao and the others looked puzzled, and explained again: "That is, the location of the two countries of Wu and Yue."

"I see."

After Meng Zhong suddenly realized it, he directly said to Qu Yuan: "The King of Chu abandoned such a virtuous man like Duke Qu, but he did not use it. It can be seen that he was ignorant and could not recognize the pearl in his eyes... Now, he was appointed as the commander of Fangcheng and obtained Yeyi and Wuyang. We are not good at governing the people of the town. I don't know if Duke Qu is willing to surrender here, so I decided to regard Duke Qu as a guest of honor."

After hearing this, Xiang Liao couldn't help but feel a little anxious and frequently winked at Meng Zhong.

He thought to himself, I have already tried this to Qu Yuan, but the other party refused to agree at all. I asked you to find a way, why did you ask directly?

As if he noticed the anxious look on Xiang Liao's face, Meng Zhong shook his head slightly and signaled him not to be anxious.

As Xiang Liao guessed, Qu Yuan politely declined without hesitation: "The foolish people in the lower house cannot bear the praise of Fang Chengling... Fang Chengling's kindness is understood, but I will not agree to this matter."

He was rejected directly, but Meng Zhong didn't care at all. He smiled and praised: "Doctor Qu is really loyal to the State of Chu..."

Suddenly, he changed his tone and asked Qu Yuan: "But I don't know if Doctor Qu is loyal to the State of Chu or the King of Chu?"

"This..." Qu Yuan was slightly stunned when he heard this, and asked in confusion: "Is there any difference between the two?"

"Of course." Meng Zhong said seriously: "The State of Chu is a 'name (concept)', and the King of Chu is a 'real'. If the Duke Qu is loyal to the State of Chu, he will be a minister of the country; if the Duke Qu is loyal to the King of Chu, he will be a minister of the king. I wonder if the Duke Qu is a minister of the country, or a minister of the king?"

“Um…”

Qu Yuan stroked his long beard and pondered, then nodded for a moment and said, "I will analyze this way to ask what I heard and asked before... What does the ministers of the country understand?"

Meng Zhong explained when he heard this: "I am determined to protect the country, outside, so that it will not be humiliated by foreign enemies, and inside, so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment. No matter how others slander me or deceive me, I only abide by the right path. Wealth and honor cannot take away my ambitions, and the king's orders cannot make me bow. This is a minister of the country!"

Qu Yuan couldn't help but open his eyes wide when he heard this. He thought to himself, isn't this just talking about me?

After thinking about it, he stroked his long beard and said, "As Fang Cheng Ling said, Qu Yuan is a minister of Chu."

Seeing this, Xiang Liao laughed in his heart: Qu Yuan may not know that he had fallen into the pit.

Sure enough, after listening to Qu Yuan's words, Meng Zhong nodded and praised: "I also think that Qu is a minister of the country. I heard from my brother that Qu had served as the left disciple under the throne of Chu Huai and was trusted to implement reforms and reforms. I believe that during this period, I encountered many obstacles from the old nobles in the country."

Hearing this, Qu Yuan felt a little sad and sighed: "All countries in the world get their names first, and there are countries, but our Chu state has their names first, and then they get their names..."

According to Qu Yuan's explanation, today, except for the Three Jins, all the countries were first granted the status of princes granted by the Zhou royal family, and then they gradually established their respective countries. However, the Chu State was different, because when the Shang and Zhou countries competed for the world, the Chu State had already existed, but the concept of "country" had not yet appeared at that time, but it only appeared in the form of the alliance of tribes south of the Yangtze River.

Therefore, later all countries in the Central Plains could call themselves the descendants of the Shang people, and the Zhou people were the orthodox Central Plains. Only the Chu people were neither the Shang people nor the Zhou people. They were the barbarians who were naturalized by the Zhou Kingdom. This is why the Chu country has long been looked down upon by the Central Plains countries.

Because of poverty and backwardness, the State of Chu began to imitate the State of Zhou and learn from the Central Plains culture.

For example, the feudal system of Zhou State, which led to the deep-rooted forces of the local nobles and local families in Chu State, and it is difficult to eradicate them through temporary reforms.

This is a disadvantage that Chu State fell in the beginning of its founding.

Now, Qu Yuan was trying to make a strong move, but he was boycotted and persecuted by many old nobles in the country, so that his future is ruined and he cannot return even if he has a family.

Whenever Qu Yuan thought of this, he couldn't help but sigh.

Hearing Qu Yuan's self-deprecation, Meng Zhong praised it seriously: "No. Mencius once said that when God is about to give a great responsibility, people must first suffer their minds and minds, tired their muscles and bones, starve their bodies, empty their bodies, and act and disrupt their actions. Therefore, they are moved and endure their nature, and have made them unable to do so... Now, Doctor Qu is suffering, or God is grinding Doctor Qu's will so that Doctor Qu can return to the temple in the future and support the country."

"Select the time?" Qu Yuan was stunned when he heard this, and immediately changed his mind: "What Fang Chengling meant is that it is not the time to become an official?"

"Isn't it?" Meng Zhong said calmly: "Although I don't know much about Chu State, I have heard that the current King of Chu is a ignorant king. He cannot look at the loyal and kind-hearted Duke Qu, but appointed evil people, and is greedy for wine and sex, and has no ambition to build a country. If the king's ambition is like this, what can the ministers do? I think it's better to retreat to the mountains and forests, wait for the temple to clear and clear, and then come out of the mountains."

After hearing this, Qu Yuan remained silent.

After all, the fact is just as Meng Zhong guessed. Today's King Xiong Heng of Chu has no ambition to strengthen the country. Most of the people in the country are treacherous ministers like Ling Yin Zilan who only care about personal interests and immediate interests. Although there are still ministers like Zhao Sui who are determined to serve the country, but because of the general situation, they can only succumb to the old aristocratic forces headed by Ling Yin Zilan.

In this case, wise people should indeed retreat temporarily, live in seclusion in the mountains and forests, and wait for the court to be clear and clear. But the problem is, if everyone thinks so, then isn’t the temple a traitor in power?

Thinking of this, Qu Yuan shook his head and said, "I am sorry to be unagreeable to what Fang Chengling said. Although the evil in the temple is in power, we still have to insist on fighting against it, even if... even..."

"Even if you are slandered by evil spirits, you will be exiled by the King of Chu?" Meng Zhong said.

"That's right!" Qu Yuan said in a deep voice, clenching his fists.

Seeing this, Meng Zhong nodded and praised: "Doctor Qu is worthy of being a strong and upright minister. I admire him... but I don't think this is the best choice."

Qu Yuan looked at Meng Zhong after hearing this: "I wish to hear and see the best."

Meng Zhong pondered for a moment and said seriously: "The military strategy is that if the enemy is strong and I am weak, avoid its edge for the time being and wait for its weak position. A temporary retreat is not surrender, nor is it weak... I retract my five fingers at this moment to gather stronger power when I punch the next blow. Now Doctor Qu offended the King of Chu and the Order Yin Zilan. Although the Chu State is so great, Doctor Qu can only be exiled to Jiangnan. I think this may be because Doctor Qu is too 'standard'."

To be fair, Zhao Sui once advised Qu Yuan not to be so upright, but Qu Yuan had never listened to it, but today he heard Meng Zhong's words, Qu Yuan couldn't help but think deeply.

The reason is that Meng Zhong did not blindly persuade him to put away his straightforward nature, but was teaching him how to defeat the strong with the weak.

More importantly, the young Fang Chengling said everything that was reasonable made Qu Yuan think deeply about it.

Suddenly, he bowed and said, "Please teach me, how can I turn this situation around like this?"

Seeing this, Meng Zhong smiled and said, "I dare not take it. It's just that the authorities of the Qu Doctor Qu are confused, and the bystanders are clear... Since Doctor Qu said this, I will just say a few words. It seems that the situation of Doctor Qu in Chu is nothing more than that the King of Chu is not close to him and is also taboo by Ling Yin Zilan and others. Since this is the case, Doctor Qu must find a way to dispel the old noble forces' resistance to you. This is one of them."

Qu Yuan nodded thoughtfully and asked again: "Is it not enough to relieve those treacherous ministers from being exiled to Jiangnan?"

"certainly!"

Meng Zhong smiled and said, "Although it was caused by the treacherous ministers, the one who ordered the exile of Doctor Qu was the King of Chu... Today, the King of Chu could exil Duke Qu, and tomorrow he could recall Duke Qu. Just imagine, will those treacherous ministers who hope to prevent Doctor Qu from returning to Shouying promote slander in front of the King of Chu at all times?"

“This… has been taught.”

Qu Yuan nodded suddenly and asked again: "Then, how can Fang Chengling dispel the vigilance of those treacherous ministers?"

Under Xiang Liao's gaze, Meng Zhong showed a familiar smile on his face: "I think Doctor Qu should Quju in Ye Yi."

“…”

Hearing this, Qu Yuan looked at Meng Zhong with a strange expression, shook his head for a while and said, "I don't understand... I'm sorry, please help Fang Chengling solve his doubts."

“This is very simple.”

Meng Zhong spread his hands and said, "If Doctor Qu is on the way, he will become an official in the Wei State. Even if the King of Chu cannot recall Doctor Qu for no reason, just like this, Ling Yin Zilan and others will gradually reduce their vigilance against Doctor Qu."

"That's right, but why do you feel that you have selfish intentions?"

After thinking about it, Qu Yuan deliberately said: "I understand. Fang Chengling means to temporarily join another country and tell Zilan and others that he will not return to Chu State, so he will wait for the future... But in this case, I don't have to serve in Fang Chengling?"

"...It's true that it's not that easy to fool."

Xiang Liao let out a long sigh and looked at Meng Zhong nervously.

But Meng Zhong was very calm and said with a smile: "Doctor Qu said very well, but the help that Doctor Qu could get may not be as much as he could get in the lower place."

"Oh? How can I tell?" Qu Yuan asked with a smile: "How can I make a conclusion that Fang Chengling will definitely help me?"

Meng Zhong did not rush to explain this and asked Qu Yuan: "Doctor Qu knows that how many of my brothers and I are from the Song Dynasty?"

Qu Yuan was stunned for a moment, after looking at Xiang Liao, nodded and said, "I have heard from Xiang Yicheng."

"That's good." Meng Zhong nodded and asked again: "So, Doctor Qu knows why he went to Wei State for?"

"I really don't know this... I'm going to know."

"To save the State of Song."

"Save Song State?" Qu Yuan's face showed a hint of confusion.

"Um."

Meng Zhong scooped a spoonful of wine with a wine spoon, and after taking a sip, he said slowly: "When I was young, my father and brother died in the foreign wars of Song State. Later, I had the honor to meet Song Wangyan. I asked him why there were frequent wars that led to my father and brother on the battlefield. Song Wangyan replied: Today, if our Song State does not annex small countries and strengthen its strength, it will be annexed by a big country tomorrow."

As he said that, he glanced at Qu Yuan and said in a deep voice: "My Song State is not strong, but is located in the heart of the Central Plains. But as the saying goes, every man is innocent and is guilty of possessing a treasure. My Song State is always coveted by major countries such as Qi because of its wealth in the country. I know that my Song State will not have the strength to fight against Qi in a short period of time, so I went to Zhao State to strengthen the alliance between Zhao State and Song State, but ultimately failed... This time, my brothers and others defected to Wei State, not to be the king of Wei State, but to strengthen the alliance between Wei State and Song State. If one day I can serve as the Grand Marshal in Wei State, when Qi State attacks Song State, wouldn't I influence the King of Wei State and ask Wei State to come forward to help Song State? Qu's situation is similar to that of him, and I feel the same way. Therefore, I will do my best to help him, but others may not be."

"So that's it." Qu Yuan was convinced by Meng Zhong's explanation, and at the same time he also respected Meng Zhong and others more.

At this time, Meng Zhongze took the opportunity to persuade Qu Yuan: "Since you can temporarily join Wei to save Song State, why don't Qu Doctor try this method?... Compared to being exiled to Jiangnan and without benefiting Chu State, why don't he temporarily join Yeyi? As long as you gain a high position in Wei State in the future, you will use the power of Wei State to send Qu Doctor as an envoy to Chu State. Even if the King of Chu and the Order of the Order of Qu, he still has to treat Qu with courtesy... When Qu was in Chu State, wouldn't he speak in the State of Chu State?"

These reasonable words left Qu Yuan speechless.

If you think about it carefully, what Meng Zhong said is indeed very reasonable, and Meng Zhong also explained the reason why he would try his best to help him in the future, that is, he would empathize with it.

I have to say that Qu Yuan really couldn't think of a reason to refuse.

"clever!"

Xiang Liao temporarily gave Meng Zhong a wink.

Although he could see that Qu Yuan was still hesitating, it is undeniable that this doctor Qu had been shaken. As long as he added another fire, he might not have a chance to detach him Ye Yi. It should be said that this matter is almost certain.
To be continued...