"No!" Zhuge Ke was shocked and blurted out: "Prince, how could you have such an idea?"
"Then what should I do? Do I have to have my father issue an edict to deprive me of my position as prince?" Sun Deng couldn't help but tears fell from the corners of his eyes: "I know he can't bear it, although he thinks I am not an ideal successor. The king, but the love between father and son is still there, and he will not do such a thing. If I don¡¯t die, won¡¯t he be in a dilemma? "
"If you die, wouldn't it be even more difficult for him?" Zhuge Ke half straightened up and almost roared: "The king has been fascinated by that woman. He can't listen to anyone now and only believes in that woman. You If you die like this, it will not be the king's will, but the woman's will, which in turn will make the king bear the name of forcing the prince to death. Prince, you can't do this!"
Sun Deng raised his head, looked at the furious Zhuge Ke, and was in a dilemma: "Then what should I do?"
Zhuge Ke took a few deep breaths, gritted his teeth, made fists with both hands, and pressed them on the table. His joints were exposed white because of too much force. He thought for a long time before vomiting for a long time. He said in a weak tone: "If the prince really only wants to die, then it is better to report his illness to Shu, resign as prince, and recuperate in Yuzhang from now on, and no longer get involved in government affairs. This way, at least he can save his life. "He paused, as if he wanted to say something more, but in the end he didn't say anything. He just looked at Sun Deng with pity, which showed disappointment, regret, and some reluctance.
"I have already asked to resign, but my father has never agreed. I'm afraid"
"At this moment, at that moment, I will definitely agree this time." Zhuge Ke waved his hand and interrupted Sun Deng's words. He was disappointed and no longer interested in discussing with Sun Deng. Before coming, his father Zhuge Jin said that Sun Deng would definitely compromise and not fight back. His visit to Yuzhang would only be in vain. He has always refused to believe it. After all, General Bu Zhi and his father, Prime Minister Zhuge Jin, still support Sun Deng. As long as Sun Deng doesn't give up and Sun Quan can't find anything wrong with him, Sun Deng's position as prince only looks dangerous. , in fact, there is not much suspense. With Sun Quan's intelligence, it was impossible for him not to see the problem with this. More importantly, Sun He was only thirteen years old now. Even if Sun Quan had an idea, he would not be in a hurry to let Sun Deng abdicate and make Sun He the crown prince. If you wait a few years, it might be possible for things to turn around. But Sun Deng himself has no fighting spirit, so it will be useless no matter how hard they try.
Zhuge Ke regretted a little. Maybe he should have known about Sun Deng's weak character and shouldn't have pinned his hopes on him. Sun Deng is a good man, but he is not a qualified king. He lacks the necessary contingency ability and believes too much in Confucian ethical creeds.
Sun Deng looked at Zhuge Ke, who seemed to have had his backbone removed, and sighed silently. He got up and went to the study to write a letter asking for his resignation as Crown Prince, and then handed it to Zhuge Ke: "I won't bother you with anything, this letter." Shangshu, please ask Yuan Xun to hand it over on your behalf."
Zhuge Ke did not refuse. Since he could no longer assist Sun Deng, his second purpose of coming here was to make a contribution to this matter, solve a problem for Sun Quan, and thereby draw closer to Sun Quan. It's just that his original purpose was to hope that Sun Deng could persist, but now he can only settle for the next best thing.
Zhuge Ke took Sun Deng's Shangshu back to Jianye and handed it over to Sun Quan. Sun Quan felt a little sad when he looked at Sun Deng's handwriting that seemed to have been stained with tears. He sighed for a long time and put it away without giving any reply.
"Yuan Xun, the King of Yue has been campaigning for thousands of miles and has insufficient troops. Now Wei and Shu are actively preparing, and even Luoyang is preparing to provide support. Do you think we, the State of Wu, will also provide some support?"
Zhuge Ke felt happy, but his face remained calm: "I think it's inappropriate."
Sun Quan looked puzzled, but his eyes showed approval.
"The King of Yue sent troops thousands of miles away, and he relied on the navy. However, based on our many years of experience in the conquests of Wu and Wei and Shu, relying solely on the navy is more than enough to protect ourselves, but not enough to make progress. I heard that Sasanian cavalry dominates. If you want to To compete with such an opponent, we can only imitate Wei Huo's method of using cavalry to control cavalry. In other words, Wei's support is the top priority. For Shu and Wu, even if they send another twenty or thirty thousand people, It's not very useful. What's more, the king has already supported him with 30,000 troops, which is far more than Wei and Shu. There is no need to add more."
Sun Quan nodded repeatedly and looked at Zhuge Ke with a smile.
Zhuge Ke licked his lips and continued: "Besides, Wei and Shu are gathering troops, but whether they want to support Yue or have other ideas is difficult to decide at the moment. We must be on guard. The King of Yue is far away, The country is empty, and as a fellow country of the Yue State, we, the State of Wu, must assist him when he is attacked by the enemy."
Sun Quan¡¯s eyes flashed?, blinked his eyes, raised a hand to gently twist his beard, and said with a smile: "Is there anyone who can attack the Yue Kingdom?"
"You must be on guard." Zhuge Ke did not smile, but said more cautiously: "The King of Yue is not in Funan, and all major affairs are left to Yu Fan and others to take charge. Wei and Yue have always had a close relationship. This time, nearly 30,000 cavalry of the Wei State are going to come from Funan is passing by, if something unexpected happens inside, who can guarantee what will happen? With Wu Guo on my side, even if the Wei people have any ideas, they have to think twice."
Sun Quan's face froze, then he laughed again, nodded and said: "Yuan Xun said yes, Yuan Xun said yes, Feng Xian is going away, and I, as an uncle, have to help him look after his home. Alas. , Fengxian is still a young man who has achieved his ambition, so he is too reckless. Not only did he personally march thousands of miles, but he also asked the prince to go out for a trip, and there was no news once he left. What should I do if something happens? "
Zhuge Ke raised the corner of his mouth and quickly regained his composure. Sun Feng, the prince of the Yue Kingdom, went on a trip as usual, but disappeared as soon as he left Temu City. It is said that no one knows where he is now, and no one knows whether he is alive or dead. According to Zhuge Ke's understanding, when the prince travels, he must not only guard against external dangers, but more importantly, guard against internal dangers. If he wants to get rid of the prince without leaving any trace, the best time to take action is when he is traveling. Perhaps knowing this, Sun Feng's whereabouts are unknown, but there is no airtight wall in the world. No matter how hidden Sun Feng is, it is difficult to guarantee that no one will know his whereabouts and keep himself safe.
Overall, Sun Quan¡¯s evaluation of Sun Shao¡¯s actions was very appropriate, but he knew the hidden meaning behind Sun Quan¡¯s words, so he could only remain silent. Seeing that he remained silent, Sun Quan just nodded in agreement, smiled slightly, and said nothing more.
After Zhuge Ke said goodbye and left the palace, Sun Quan took Sun Deng's book and returned to the harem. Mrs. Wang had received the news early and was waiting impatiently. When she saw Sun Deng resigning as Crown Prince, she just smiled, and then she pouted unhappily. Whether it is true or not that Sun Deng resigned as crown prince, as long as Sun Deng is alive, he will be a threat to Sun He. Sun Deng has a high prestige among the subjects of the Wu Kingdom. His being demoted to Yuzhang to burn porcelain in recent years has caused a lot of controversy. Rumor has it that now that Sun Quan is here, those ministers dare not jump out, but once Sun Quan dies, and Sun Deng raises his arms, it is likely that those who have raised his voice will gather together, and the government and the opposition will immediately change their colors.
It¡¯s not time to celebrate yet. When she thought of this, Mrs. Wang put on a charming smile, hugged Sun Quan and walked back. As she walked, she asked: "Your Majesty, what do you want to eat today?"
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In the winter of the 15th year of the Republic of China, another dispute broke out between Kushan and Sassanids, which had just been peaceful for a few months. The Sasanian king Ardashir used the excuse that several Sassanians were killed in Kushan territory and sent an envoy to the Kushan king. When the two parties disagreed, they immediately started fighting. Bo Tiao seemed to have been prepared for it. Since the Four-Nation Alliance, the defense pressure on the Eastern Front has been much lessened. He has transferred most of his troops to the Western Front and has also hoarded a large amount of food, grass and ordnance. Therefore, when Aldashir came to kill with great force, At that time, although Kushan was no longer what it used to be, it still fought several bloody battles with Aldashir and did not let Aldashir take any big advantage. Ardashir originally thought this was just a devastating battle, but it turned into a tug-of-war. Although the Sasanians had the upper hand, it became a dream to win easily.
Ardashir calmed down and made up his mind to defeat the Kushan people's fighting spirit. After a period of rest and recuperation, the late Kushan people were able to recover a lot of their combat effectiveness. Then wouldn't he have no need to face the Romans? Guaranteed to win? He patiently dealt with the waves, gathered strength, and prepared to inflict heavy losses on the Kushan people.
Bo Diao is not an idiot. He knows that he has an advantage by being able to fight like this. In the long run, he will definitely not be Ardashir's opponent. Therefore, as soon as he got the news of the Sassanid provocation, he sent the messenger Cobra Many sent to Aksum.
"A fight started?" Sun Shao was very surprised, as if he couldn't figure out why things turned out like this: "Didn't you just sign an alliance and want to live in peace? Why did you start a war again before half a year has passed?"
Cobrado gritted his teeth and said: "The Sasanians are cruel wolves. How can they be willing to swallow up our Kushan even with our bones and flesh? The last time they killed the Venerable Ma Ming, they failed to sow discord between us and the king. , this time they used the excuse that a Sasanian died in our Kushan country, and asked our king to hand over the murderer and compensate them a sum of money. He thought that we didn't know his thoughts, and he just wanted to take the opportunity to cause trouble. My family Your Majesty was well prepared, so we blocked their attack. However, if we want to defeat them, we still need Your Majesty's help."
"Did Venerable Ma Ming die at the hands of the Sasanians?" Sun Shao stood up in shock. After receiving a positive reply from Cobrado, he immediately filled his face with anger and cursed the Sasanians for being shameless. Cobrado quickly tried to persuade him and said gratefully: "Thankfully, your Majesty was sensible at the time and took the initiative to give in and did not let their tricks go.If we succeed, otherwise, we will fight each other. Now that the Sasanians come out from behind, our country and species will be destroyed. "
"We are friends and should support each other." Sun Shao waved his hand and said generously: "Since the Sasanian people are always evil, we can't be polite to them." He put one hand behind his back and stroked his beard with the other, walking back and forth. After two steps, he suddenly stood in front of Cobrado: "How long can you support this?"
Cobrado hesitated for a moment and stretched out a finger: "With our current national strength reserves, we can support it for one year at most. After one year, taxes may not be able to supply it."
"Well, let's find a way to make him tired. Can't he run? Let's let him break his leg."
"My lord, what do you mean?"
"The Sassanids are good at cavalry, and they have enough advantages in field battles. Although your Kushans are also good at cavalry, they are severely lacking in troops. Therefore, I hope you will not act out of impulse and fight with them in the field, but rely on your native land." To take advantage of the battle, use the strong city to compete with him. In this way, the advantage of their cavalry cannot be used, and they can only confront you under the strong city."
"But it won't work if it takes a long time." Cobrado said worriedly.
"It won't take long, at most three months, the Romans will send troops to attack their backs. At that time, can he still besiege Kushan? Once he leaves, you will be relaxed and have enough time to rest and recuperate. In half a year, when they are exhausted from fighting the Romans, you attack their backs and make them run back and forth across thousands of miles of east-west borders. In less than two years, they will be dragged to death."
Cobrado thought for a while: "How is the king going to deal with them?"
Sun Shao smiled ashamedly: "As you know, I am good at navy and can't go ashore, so I may not be able to help much on the frontal battlefield." He raised his hand to express his disappointment. Cobrado said calmly: "However, I will do a good job in supplying you. I can guarantee you that the entire Yue Kingdom and Tianzhu will become your base camp. I will supply you with food and weapons at cost prices." , so that you can deal with the Sasanians without any worries."
After hearing this, Cobrado breathed a sigh of relief. He calculated secretly and found that what Sun Shao said was true. The Yue Kingdom was dominated by its powerful navy and wealth. It was indeed a bit difficult for them to go ashore to fight the Sassanid people. Moreover, if they could really go ashore, the Kushan people might still be able to do it. I'm worried that they won't leave. Now he is willing to supply the Kushan people with food and weapons at cost price, which is beneficial and harmless to the Kushan people. And with the help of the Romans, no matter how powerful the Sasanians were, there was nothing they could do to deal with the two great powers of Kushan and Rome at the same time. If Sun Shao's plan can be implemented in accordance with Sun Shao's plan, the Sasanians will be exhausted like wolves following camels in at most two years.
While Cobrado was negotiating with Sun Shao, Quintus came to Axum with Alexander's secret decree. As Sun Shao expected, when he heard that the Sasanians and Kushans were at war, Alexander was very happy to see that the Sassanid rear was empty, and he very much hoped to take advantage of the empty rear of the Sasanians to retake Armenia and avenge the killing of the year before. What he is worried about is that the economic situation in Rome has just eased. If a war is launched rashly, the nobles in the Senate will definitely object. Although the Senate has become a decoration, Alexander's foundation is unstable and he is not as different as his ancestors. He took the Senate seriously, so he could only seek support from Sun Shao.
The arrival of Quintus played into Sun Shao's wish. By making less money, Kushan and Rome could be tied together to fight the Sasanians, which was in line with his strategic intentions. As long as the war reaches a certain level, whether it is Rome, Kushan or Sassanid, the national power will be severely weakened. By then, he will become an indispensable force in influencing the situation. When the time comes Make up for it all.
The three parties hit it off immediately, and Cobrado and Quintus both left happily. Cobrado had to rush back to tell Bo Diao the news of the alliance between the three countries. On the one hand, he should have confidence, and on the other hand, he should feel at ease. , don¡¯t attack hastily. Quintus wanted to go back and tell Alexander that Sun Shao had lived up to his hopes. When he needed help the most, Sun Shao did not hesitate to lend a helping hand.
Alexander was overjoyed to receive Quintus' reward. He immediately prepared for war and expanded Escanomi's new army to ten thousand people. Because there were not enough citizens in Rome willing to join the new army, Alexander adopted the method that is more popular in Rome now. The method was to recruit barbarian mercenaries. Attracted by the favorable conditions, Germans, Gauls, and Goths swarmed in, and 10,000 elite troops were quickly formed. After more than three months of preparations, in February of the 16th year of the Republic, Alexander led an army of 40,000 to conquer Armenia.
The Sasanians obviously did not expect that the Romans would attack so soon. Shapur, who was left behind to guard Ctesiphon, could not come.??Notified Ardashir and rushed to the battle with the 20,000 people who stayed behind. The two sides fought a battle. Although Shapur was brave, he still did not take advantage of the well-prepared Romans. The two sides reached a deadlock. .
Alexander breathed a long sigh of relief. He won the victory for the first time by leading an army alone. He finally proved his ability. With Escanomi's new army in hand, Maximus, the formerly domineering Guardsman, became more obedient. He no longer refuted him face to face as before, but listened to him respectfully. What made him even more happy was that the new army showed great power in the first battle. During the head-on confrontation with the Sasanians, the phalanx composed mainly of Roman noble citizens blocked the Sassanid attack, while the barbarians The man-dominated cavalry successfully defeated the Sasanian flanks, forcing Shapur to retreat early to avoid being encircled by the Romans.
It can be said that this was the first time that the Romans had achieved an upright victory against the Sasanians. Not only did Alexander feel happy, but the morale of the entire Roman legion was greatly boosted.
Only Maximus felt very uncomfortable.
Maximus was not a Roman. He was a Thracian mixed-race barbarian. His father was a Goth and his mother was an Alan. In that year, Emperor Severus returned from the Eastern battlefield and temporarily stopped in Thrace to pay tribute to his youngest son Ge. To celebrate his birthday in the tower, Maximus took the initiative to ask to participate in a wrestling match. As a result, he defeated sixteen strong Guards soldiers in one fell swoop. He gained the favor of Emperor Severus and became a mounted guard, accompanying him in Severus. After the death of Emperor Severus, he served Caracalla. After Caracalla was killed, he became the general of the guard of Elagabalus. After the death of Elagabas, Alexander succeeded to the throne. He gained Momia's favor because of his support for Momia's mother and son. He became the top general of the Guards and became Momia's male favorite for a time. For a barbarian, his past thirty years have been smooth and smooth. The wishes he dared to have before have come true, and the wishes he dared not have have also come true. If someone had told him a year ago, he would die like this. Will be very satisfied.
However, he is very dissatisfied now.
It's not because of Momia - although Momia no longer invites him to stay in the palace, but he doesn't care about it. Although Momia is stunningly beautiful, for the strong Maximus, in bed She was no better than a strong barbarian woman - but because of the Yue King. That day outside the post house in Axum, he was frightened by Tu Hu, the bodyguard of the King of Yue. This was a humiliation that he, who always prided himself on being brave, had never suffered. He didn't understand what he would do at that time. He felt out of breath, as if he had encountered an enemy he could not defeat. This feeling made him even more angry when he came back to it.
Because he was dissatisfied with Tu Hu, he turned his anger on Sun Shao. Now Alexander further deprived him of his rights because of Sun Shao's help in forming a new army, and he hated Sun Shao even more. The victory of the new army was a slap in the face, making him feel unbearable shame.
As soon as he returned to his tent, Maximus kicked over a table, panting heavily, and circling around in the tent like a trapped animal. Alexander's smug look at the military council meeting just now was different from Esca's. Nomi's proud smile appeared in front of his eyes from time to time, making him more and more unable to control his emotions.
"Father." Maximus's son Arullinus came in with a silver pot under his arm. He took a look at the messy tent, frowned, motioned to the soldiers to clean it up, and then put it in front of the table. He sat down, took two silver bowls, poured two glasses of wine, and handed one to the furious Maximus. Maximus took the wine in his hand and glanced at Arullinus: "Did your mother ask you to come again?"
Maximus¡¯s wife is called Paulina. She is a very gentle woman, and only she can counsel the angry Maximus.
"No." Arullinus smiled: "My mother is far away in Rome. How could she know that her father was so angry? In her mind, her father could only make meritorious deeds, so how could he be bullied like this?"
"Humph!" Maximus gritted his teeth and said, "He has forgotten who helped him to this position. He has forgotten who is his benefactor. He thinks that when he grows up, he can spread his wings and fly high. , no longer need my help."
"But, without his father's help, he would probably just fall down from the blue sky." Arullinus smiled and took a sip of wine: "A person like this who doesn't know the heights of heaven and earth will not know if he doesn't give him a lesson. Who should be respected?"
Maximus frowned, turned around and went outside the tent to give a few instructions, then walked back into the tent, sat down in his seat, patted his thigh, pointed at Arulinus and shouted: "What do you have? Just say what you think, don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡±
Arullinus lowered his head and took a sip of wine, and was silent for a moment.He raised his head and looked at Maximus again, his eyes were bright, and there seemed to be a fire burning inside, which made Maximus feel frightened.
"Father, instead of waiting for Alexander to remove my father's power, it is better to establish another emperor while the power is still in his hands, or simply"
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