Picked up a copy of Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 503
Xiping 15 years,
Prince Consort Zhuge Liang returned to Luoyang without much fanfare, and even Liu Mastiff did not announce, so he just returned to Luoyang. Princess Raoyang was very tired, so she went back to the mansion to rest first, but Zhuge Liang went to Liuyang alone. When he was going to Dongyi's mansion, he suddenly remembered that since he left like this, there was no one to take care of Liu Gong's mansion, and those chickens and ducks would have starved to death long ago.

When he arrived at the gate of the mansion, unexpectedly, everything was as it was before. In the clean courtyard, there were flocks of chickens and ducks pecking at food. The furnishings were all brand new without any dust on them. Zhuge Liang was very puzzled, looking around, thinking about it, when he heard someone push open the door, Zhuge Liang turned around.

The eldest son of the emperor, Liu Mastiff, had just walked into the courtyard with two attendants. Liu Mastiff raised his head and saw Zhuge Liang standing in the courtyard. It seemed that Zhuge Liang's health had improved a lot. There was a bit more of a hermit's atmosphere, and Zhuge Liang had changed a lot after resting in Dongyi for a period of time. His face was very calm, and his temperament was integrated in this simple courtyard.

"Kong Ming?!"

Liu Mastiff yelled, walked up quickly, held his hand, looked him up and down, and asked, "When did you come back, why didn't you tell me, so I can pick you up too!" Zhuge Liang didn't say anything , he looked at Liu Mastiff in front of him, and at the two attendants behind him, his expression gradually became solemn, and he said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Liu Mastiff was taken aback, as if he just understood what he said, shook his head, and said, "Hey, it's nothing, just don't blame me for offending Mr. Liu's former residence."

Following Liu Mastiff out, Zhuge Liang deliberately slowed down a step and followed behind Liu Mastiff. Liu Mastiff didn't seem to notice. The two chatted and walked to Yuan's Mansion. As soon as they entered, the soldiers in the mansion surrounded him one after another. He came over, greeted Zhuge Liang, and did not forget to comfort him. Zhuge Liang paid his respects one by one, and the soldiers walked away.

He entered the study and met with Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu looked at Zhuge Liang in front of him seriously, nodded, and said, "That's right." He looked at Liu Mastiff beside him, and said, "You go out first." Liu Mastiff nodded and walked out of the study, Yuan Shu watched him leave , Let Zhuge Liang sit down.

"Kong Ming, Mastiff misses you very much these days when you're not here, and even wants to go to Dongyi to see you." Yuan Shu spoke for a while, then suddenly, he stopped, thought for a moment, raised his head, and stared at Zhuge Liang's face. eyes, asked: "What do you think, His Royal Highness the eldest son?"

"His Royal Highness, the eldest son of the emperor, is kind-hearted and intelligent"

Zhuge Liang just said a word, Yuan Shu interrupted him, and asked: "Then what do you think, the eldest son of the emperor is the crown prince?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhuge Liang said, "It should be taken for granted."

"Hahaha!" Yuan Shu laughed suddenly. He looked at Zhuge Liang and said slowly: "The eldest son of the emperor is benevolent and filial. The prince, and the second son of the emperor, who has gradually grown up, heard that his appearance and behavior are exactly like the emperor, and he has not given the title of eldest son to the emperor for a long time, for fear that it will arouse treacherous hearts in the court. In addition, the second son of the emperor."

Yuan Shu didn't continue to speak, but Zhuge Liang already understood.

When Zhuge Liang came out from the study, Liu Mastiff was still standing in the courtyard, and there were two people standing beside him, one of whom Zhuge Liang hated, and the other, whom Zhuge Liang didn't know, but he was quite handsome, He was very tall, and his face seemed a little familiar. Seeing Zhuge Liang coming out, Liu Mastiff quickly led the two of them over.

"Kong Ming, are you back? I heard that you are unwell, how are you?"

Zhuge Liang looked at him and said calmly: "It's still good, thank you Zhongda for your concern."

Sima Yi was stunned for a moment, Zhuge Liang seemed to be a little different, if it was before, he would definitely have said something to him now, he is more stable and mature, which made Sima Yi feel a little uncomfortable, he nodded, and said something without saying a word Thanks.

"Kong Ming, this one is the third son of Duke Yuan of Sikong. His name is Shang, and his name is Xianfu." Liu Mastiff pointed to the young man and introduced him. He said: "I wanted to get acquainted with Mr. Zhuge earlier, and I am really happy to meet you today. Mr. Zhuge is really a talent!"

"Yuan Jun is too famous, you can just call me Biaozi."

Zhuge Liangliang nodded, and the four of them sat in the courtyard and chatted. Zhuge Liang asked, "Where is Captain Hua? Why didn't you see him?"

"Lieutenant Hua, there are not many people who know why he went to the Western Regions," Liu Mastiff said, looking at Sima Yi, who also shook his head, and said, "I heard it was between Guishuang, but , I don’t know what’s going on, and the officials in the court don’t know much about it. In short, it seems that all the northern and southern armies have gathered in the Western Regions, and even the Taiwei has passed.”

"I know about this matter." Yuan Shang smiled lightly, and the other three looked at him. Yuan Shang looked around, lowered his voice, and said, "It is said that it is a civil strife among the Guishuang people, and a rebel army fled. Went to the Western Regions, and arrested the foreign trade merchants of the big man, which angered the emperor and sent the Taiwei to lead the army to the Western Regions. It is said that this is to teach the people of Guishuang a lesson!"

Hearing Yuan Shang finished speaking, everyone nodded, Liu Mastiff smiled and said: "Xianfu knows clearly, if it wasn't for Xianfu, I wouldn't even know that the Taiwei left!" Hearing Liu Mastiff's words, Yuan Shang's face was a little more complacent, and he cupped his hands towards Liu Mastiff, even saying that he didn't dare.

Zhuge Liang understood what was going on, nodded, and didn't say much.

"Your Highness." Zhuge Liang said suddenly, "Your Highness studies here with Duke Yuan all day long, learning the righteousness of the Spring and Autumn Period and the classics of Confucianism. In my opinion, Your Highness might as well go to Taixue, where you can learn from the academy, you don’t need to be registered, you just need to listen in, and increase your knowledge, I don’t know how?”

Liu Mastiff hesitated for a moment, shook his head, and said: "Master, I still need to take care of him. How can I leave him to study in a school?" Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "Mr. Your Highness loves to take care of her, and what I said just now is also what Yuan Gong meant, Your Highness, do you want to think about it?"

Zhuge Liang continued: "After all, His Highness will be the prince of the Han Dynasty in the future. As a prince, how can he not make friends with some pillars of the country?"

Hearing his words, both Sima Yi and Yuan Shang trembled. Sima Yi was okay, and quickly recovered. As for Yuan Shang, he still couldn't hide the excitement on his face. Only Liu Mastiff, his face remained unchanged, extremely calm, Facing Zhuge Liang's gaze, Liu Mastiff said: "Father has never spoken, I dare not call myself Kong Ming the prince, so don't say such words."

"His Royal Highness is kind-hearted like never before, not to mention that His Highness is His Majesty's eldest son, and the position of the crown prince is a matter of course. Could it be that His Highness does not want to be the crown prince?"

"After becoming the son of heaven, I naturally thought about ruling the world and benefiting the common people."

After Liu Mastiff just said a few words, Zhuge Liang stood up and bowed to Liu Mastiff. Liu Mastiff turned pale in shock, and hurriedly got up to help him up, but saw Sima Yi and Yuan Shang bowing to him one after another. He felt helpless Now, facing the surprised eyes of the soldiers around, he said: "Everyone, get up, get up, we are as close as brothers, why should we be like this?"

After he persuaded for a long time, the three of them got up.

"You can enter the study!" Zhuge Liang said solemnly, and the four of them entered Liu Mastiff's study room. After entering, they each sat down. The Son of Heaven has been reluctant to make His Highness the Crown Prince for so long, it is inappropriate, extremely inappropriate, His Highness is getting older, and at His Highness's age, all the princes who are not Crown Princes will be sent to feud the country."

"If Your Highness doesn't have the name of a prince, I'm afraid that the traitors in the court will add fuel to the flames, and even ask for His Highness to be granted a land."

"But, who would act like this? I am not at fault, why would anyone want to deal with me?" Liu Mastiff asked with some doubts.

Zhuge Liang smiled, and said: "Your Highness talked about the New Deal with Lord Situ in the past, and expressed his wish to oppose the New Deal. After this incident, of course, the ministers in the court were all happy and regarded His Highness as benevolent, but there were also some who did not like it." Happy, that is to say, those ministers who support the New Deal, although they are not many, they gather under Cao Cao's wings, and there are ministers, and ministers such as Si Nong are in the company."

"The Guishuang incident, as expected, foreign trade will definitely be interrupted. At this time, the power of the ministers of the New Deal will definitely continue to grow. Because the treasury's financial resources are interrupted, the New Deal can continue to support it. If the New Deal is interrupted, there will be no Foreign trade, everything is impossible." Zhuge Liang said, and looked at Yuan Shang again, Yuan Shang seemed to know what he wanted to say, shook his head, and said:

"Don't worry, Kong Ming. Although my father implemented the New Deal, he often told me that if it wasn't for the Supreme Command, he would not carry out the disadvantages of the New Deal."

Zhuge Liang said: "It's not about this, but I hope that Xianfu can help a little bit, and find out some news from Sikong, how many people in the court are making suggestions for the new policy, this is the important thing I want to ask Your Excellency!"

"I will definitely do it!"

Only then did Zhuge Liang look at Liu Mastiff, and continued: "Your Highness's words in the past, Situ Gong and others kept preaching, which made the ministers of the New Deal worry. If His Highness is the crown prince and the future heir, will their actions now be punished? Your Highness completely rejects it."

Only then did Liu Mastiff understand and nodded.

However, there is no way to do this, whether he supports it or not, as the prince, he must give a clear statement, if it is ambiguous, I am afraid that both sides will not please, and choose the officials of the court headed by Situ in the court, famous scholars in the world, It is obviously correct, it is even more terrifying to be an enemy of them, Liu Mastiff understands this in his heart.

"Therefore, Your Highness, Cai Gong is also a close relative of His Highness. Your Highness may seek Cai Gong and talk about the Taixue. Cai Gong will be delighted. He will play the emperor and ask His Highness to go to the Taixue. He will definitely do it. As for Your Majesty, you can allow it." Your Highness will go to the school to contact the generals, and you can also allow Your Highness to go to Taixue and meet students." He looked at Sima Yi and said, "As for Zhongda, I remember that Zhongda's elder brother is the Yilang in the court?"

"exactly."

"That's good. After Cai Gong asked His Royal Highness to go to Taixue, Yilang, who was born in Menzixue, went to play again. He said that this move would arouse the dissatisfaction of Menzixue. He suggested that His Highness should be able to enter and exit the two universities freely. That's it"

Sima Yi frowned and said, "I don't know if brother will."

"He will definitely..." Zhuge Liang said firmly.

"What about me?" Yuan Shang raised his head and asked.

"I didn't say that just now. Xianfu just found out those courtiers and it's all right."

The four of them sat in this study and chatted for a long time. For many days, Liu Mastiff remained silent and silent. Zhuge Liang asked helplessly, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

"Kong Ming. I just feel that such a conspiracy is not for a gentleman."

"Your Highness, this is not a conspiracy. Your Highness is the eldest, generous, benevolent, filial, and reasonable. The position of the prince is a matter of course. His Highness went to the school, and it was not because of evil intentions. One is to study to clarify one's mind, and the other is Make friends with talented people to help you"

"Sigh..." Liu Mastiff nodded, looked at the three people in front of him again, cupped his hands and said, "So, I'm going to thank you all!"

"Don't dare!"

(End of this chapter)