Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

"Your envoy can take a rest first, let me discuss with General Hussar."

After Wang Ling finished speaking, the venue was silent for a while.

Finally Zhuge Liang spoke out.

Knowing that the two of them needed to discuss it, Wang Ling stood up, bowed his hands, and left.

After he left, Shen Chen said: "Sima Yi is a cunning and treacherous man. This move is to make advances rather than retreats. First, we propose two conditions that we cannot agree to, and then retreat to the second best."

"Ah."

Zhuge Liangliang nodded, this was also something he wanted to understand during the negotiation process.

It is impossible for Sima Yi to want to be a casual official, honorary officer, and title above the second rank.He settled for the next best thing, and wanted to keep the clan's land and population, which was even more impossible.

At this time, Sima Yi would probably make his final request. After rejecting the first two times, as long as the last request was not too much, he would generally agree.

This is the so-called broken window effect, and it can also be said that advancing is retreating.

Obviously, the other party is still well versed in negotiating skills, and this is to strive for the best interests of himself and his family.

Shen Chen asked: "In my brother's opinion, what is the ultimate goal of this fellow?"

"What could it be? It's nothing more than the title of a loose official or honored officer who hopes to obtain the shadow of his descendants, plus a certain population and land to ensure the continuation of the family."

Zhuge Liang smiled lightly.

He is too clear about what the family is thinking, everything is in the interests of the family, Sima Yi knows that the situation is inevitable, so he will definitely find a way to find a way out for himself and the family.

Population and land are the bottom line of the big man and cannot be shaken.At present, there are only imperial examinations, door yin and expropriation for the ascending ladder of the Han Dynasty.

Even enlistment is only eligible for opening a government level like Shen Chen, Zhuge Liang, and Guan Yu, and it is impossible for ordinary officials below the second rank to enlist subordinate officials to become officials.

The imperial examination was full of uncertainties, and Sima Yi could not guarantee that his family's heirs could pass the imperial examination, so he could only find a way that would 100% allow future generations to become officials - Menyin.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang knew with his toes that Sima Yi's ultimate goal was to be a higher-ranking official and a knight to obtain a way to become an official.

Between Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang's scattered officials and knighted status, it is estimated that the level he wants is probably between the third and fourth ranks, so that future generations can easily enter the officialdom and occupy a position in the court. This is a more reasonable guess.

After all, Sima Yi is a demoted general, and the possibility of having real power is very small, so he will naturally consider other interests.And in order to appease the surrendered general, Liu Chan will probably give him some land and property for his enjoyment.

Considering that the surrender of 12 Cao Jun saved the Han Army from a large number of casualties, and allowed the Han Dynasty to wipe out Hebei overnight and restore the Han Dynasty, this request is actually not too much.

"Only want to be dismissed as officers and knights?"

Shen Chen smiled: "The old thief can think clearly about the way forward."

Zhuge Liang fiddled with the writing brush on the table, lowered his head and said: "I don't really care about his ultimate goal, anyway, he is going to die.

"Oh?"

Shen Chen stood up in awe, looked back at Zhuge Liang and said, "Brother wants to kill him?"

"Of course, since Xiaoqing said he wanted him to die, then he must die."

"What method is brother planning to use?"

"Murder with a knife."

Zhuge Liang only said this sentence.

Murder with a knife?
Shen Chen thought for a while, his eyes lit up immediately, he pointed in the direction of the tent entrance and said, "This Wang Ling?"

"good."

Zhuge Liang smiled.

Shen Chen pondered for a while, then said, "Is it possible? Sima Yi sent him here, he must be his confidant."

"What kind of close confidant can Sima Yi have?"

Zhuge Liang shook his head: "His family members are all in Yecheng as hostages, and he came to Henan alone in danger. I have known all this for a long time. Even if there are a few cronies in the military camp, can't they be lured?"

"So it is, so it is"

Shen Chen muttered to himself.

It's not that he didn't think of this method, but he just ignored it.

The reason was that there was an information gap in Shen Chen, and he would instinctively feel that Sima Yi would definitely send a trusted confidant over such an important matter.

If he wanted to persuade the people inside the Wei army to do something, one would write directly to the generals of the Wei army. Sima Yi might notice that once he found out that they were going to put him to death, the possibility of death would be very high, and the Han army was not very risky.

The second is that if you want to use the envoy sent by Wei Jun to carry out this plan, if the envoy is Sima Yi's confidant and tells Sima Yi immediately after returning, the plan will still fail.

Therefore, considering that the best way to achieve peaceful liberation is to achieve peaceful liberation, Shen Chen has never thought about the possibility of using the Wei army's internal personnel to do it.

But Zhuge Liang had confronted Sima Yi in Henan for more than half a year, and naturally investigated Sima Yi's situation clearly, knowing that he had no foundation in the army, and almost no confidantes, and Wang Ling was still one of the senior generals, so it was unlikely that he was Sima Yi's diehard loyalist.

"The Wei army was divided due to unequal interests, and Sima Yi died suddenly in the chaos. It sounds very pleasant."

Shen Chen stroked his chin and said with a quick smile: "Brother is very strategic, but since we want to stir up internal disputes in the Wei army, we must have a suitable bait. What kind of bait do you think should be thrown?"

Zhuge Liang tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, looked at Shen Chen with a smile that was not a smile, and said: "With Xiaoqing's wisdom, can't you think of it?"

Shen Chen said helplessly: "I have been fighting in Guanzhong, so I really know very little about the Henan Wei army."

"Just watch me talk later."

Zhuge Liang smiled and shouted to the outside: "Come here."

Ma Liang came in and said, "Prime Minister."

"Call the messenger."

"only."

Ma Liang went out again.

After a while Wang Ling came in again.

This time he bowed his hands to Zhuge Liang in his spare time and said, "Prime Minister, the governor."

"Ah."

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and said, "Sit."

Wang Ling sat down.

Then Zhuge Liang said: "It is a good thing that Sima Yi surrendered to us in consideration of the overall situation. After discussing with General Hushi, I plan to ask His Majesty to give me the title of Minister of the Yellow Gate, Marquis of Liedu Ting, General Guide, and Guard Army. I will give you [-] mu of land and [-] households in the city. What do you think?"

"Thank you, Prime Minister!"

Wang Ling was very happy, this has greatly exceeded his and Sima Yi's expectations.

The ranks corresponding to the titles of the Han Dynasty in the South are that the Duke of the State corresponds to the first rank, the county marquis corresponds to the first rank, the township marquis corresponds to the second rank, and the Tinghou corresponds to the third rank.Among them, there is also the distinction from the second-rank duxianghou and the third-rank dutinghou.

In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Du Xianghou refers to the town where the fiefdom is located as the county seat, which is also commonly known as the government office, such as a certain county where the government of a certain county is located, a certain township in the county where the government is located, and a certain pavilion under the jurisdiction of the government seat of a certain township.

However, the rank of the Duxianghou is lower than that of the normal Xianghou. There are many examples in the history books that a certain Dutinghou turned into a Tinghou, and Duxianghou turned into a Xianghou.For example, Cao Ren was granted the title of Marquis of Duting in 205 AD, and Cao Ren was granted the title of Marquis of Anping Ting during the Battle of Nanjun in 209 and 210 in the park.

In addition, "Huayang Guozhi" also mentioned that during Liu Chan's period, there were ranks such as Xianghou, Duxianghou, Tinghou, and Dutinghou. Therefore, the titles from high to low should be County Hou, Xianghou, Duxianghou, Tinghou, Dutinghou, and Guanneihou.

And Guanneihou is the fourth grade.

As for General Guide and the guards, one is a loose military officer, and the other is an honored officer, both from the third rank.Being able to shade the heirs, so that the heirs can directly enter the official position from the seventh rank.

Sima Yi felt that the big men in the south were so stingy with scattered officials and titles, that he would be satisfied if he could get one from the third rank, and the rest were up to the fourth rank.

I didn't expect Zhuge Liang to be so generous, not only three of them were from the third rank, but also a full-time official from the fourth rank.

Huangmen Shilang is a Lang official under Shangshu Province. Although the real power is not very high, he is dispatched by Shangshu Ling and Shangshu Zuofu. Although his rank is higher than Shangshu Zuocheng, he does not have the power to handle government affairs like Zuocheng, but he can often see the emperor.

So after Sima Yi passed, the starting point could no longer be considered low, and the Han Dynasty did show full sincerity.

Having received Zhuge Liang's promise, Wang Ling cupped his hands again and said, "It's just that the governor still has some concerns. I hope that there will be an imperial edict from the emperor of Han. What does the prime minister think?"

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "Don't bother. If Sima Yi doesn't believe me, I can open an altar by the river and swear by the river. What do you think?"

"That's fine too."

Wang Ling felt that there was no problem. Although Liu Chan's edict was more secure, people at that time believed in credibility. If Dahe swore an oath, it would be known to everyone in the world, and there would probably be no problem.

After finishing this matter, Wang Ling was about to bid farewell to Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang and leave.

Unexpectedly, Zhuge Liang looked at him with a smile. Wang Ling suddenly remembered something, and asked cautiously: "By the way, Prime Minister, I want to ask. Sima Dudu has a home, so shall I wait?"

"Oh?"

Zhuge Liang glanced at him and said with a light smile, "Why, do you want to give it too?"

Wang Ling frowned: "Isn't the Prime Minister playing tricks on me?"

"But when you came here this time, you only asked about Sima Yi's arrangements, and didn't ask about your affairs."

Zhuge Liang said with a smile.

Wang Ling remembered what Sima Yi had told him before coming. They did ask about Sima Yi's arrangement first, but not themselves.

The main reason is that they instinctively felt that since even the boss Sima Yi had made arrangements, they must have their own arrangements, so from the beginning they went straight to the point and asked what Sima Yi would get.

I didn't expect the other party to answer like this, but luckily I asked again.

Wang Ling then said: "Excuse me, Prime Minister, how should I arrange the many generals?"

Zhuge Liang frowned and pondered.

"Forehead"

There was silence in the room. Seeing that he was silent, Wang Ling asked again, "Prime Minister?"

Zhuge Liang put the feather fan he was playing with in his hand aside, and said with some seriousness: "As for your arrangements, it is really not easy to handle. Think about it, none of the honored officials, scattered officials, and titles in the south today are not exchanged for their lives, and even many generals do not have them. As surrendered generals, after surrendering, you will be immediately placed in high positions. The rest of the generals of the Han Dynasty know, how should they think about it?"

Wang Ling hesitated a little, and replied: "Just ask if we can get the position of the fourth rank? Even one is fine."

"It's hard to do."

Zhuge Liang sighed.

This is really not nonsense. Although Sima Yi led an army of 12 to surrender, it can be considered a meritorious service, but being able to place the position of the third rank is already the limit.

It can't be that the generals of the big man were born and died, working hard, it might as well be lower than the rewards received by this group of generals.

So people like Wang Ling are really not easy to arrange.

Wang Ling's expression was not very good-looking.

As a family, they naturally hope to get a way to become an official with a lower threshold.However, loose officials, honorary officials and titles below the fourth rank are not eligible to enter the officialdom.

In other words, if they couldn't get a position above the fourth rank, and Liu Chan just gave them a idle position without real power, then they and their family would be completely finished.

Without high officials and rich salary, without clan population and land, everything will return to the original point.

From a high-ranking Cao Wei official to a lower-level official in the middle of the Han Dynasty, and there is no upward path in the future, I can only hope that the descendants of the family will have an outstanding son to take the imperial examination and become an official. This chance is really slim.

In the future, the clan will decline more and more, and they will naturally not be able to guarantee their own power. This is more uncomfortable than killing them for someone like Taiyuan Wang who is a top-ranking family in Cao Wei.

Wang Ling asked with an almost trembling voice: "Then what kind of position will we arrange in the end?"

Zhuge Liang thought for a while and said: "This matter still depends on the placement of the three provinces and departments, but if there is no accident, it is probably an idle official position of the fifth and sixth ranks. As for the honored officials and the titles. Ha ha."

Wang Ling only felt his eyes go dark, and he almost fainted. It's over, the family is completely over.

"You can't say that."

Shen Chen looked at Zhuge Liang and said, "I heard from my elder brother before that there seems to be another way?"

"Is there any way?"

Wang Ling suddenly felt hopeful, looked at Zhuge Liang and said, "Prime Minister, please show me the way."

Zhuge Liang hesitated for a moment, then stroked his chin beard, thinking: "Do you know why the positions assigned to you are so low?"

"Why?"

Wang Ling hurriedly asked.

"First, you are surrendered generals. If you are treated too well, the generals may have objections. Second, come on."

Zhuge Liang looked down at the table case.

"Secondly what?"

Wang Ling asked.

"Secondly, Sima Yi was able to get the title because he is the commander-in-chief of the three armies. All 12 Wei troops belong to him. If he is willing to submit to the big man, he has made great contributions. You are his subordinates and do not have as much power as him. Therefore, most of the rewards you can get are taken by him alone."

Zhuge Liang raised his head and looked at him and said, "You also know that the big man is extremely cautious about conferring titles, scattered officials, and honored officials above the fourth rank and above. He alone occupied three subordinate third ranks. If he hadn't been rewarded, this credit may at least give birth to more than a dozen of the fourth rank."

"What does the Prime Minister mean?"

Wang Ling was a smart person, and he was shocked and said, "If Sima Yi dies, can we all be enshrined?"

"Probably so."

Zhuge Liang picked up the feather fan on the table, shook it gently, and looked at him with a smile.

Although it was freezing outside, it was warm inside the tent.

Pots of smokeless charcoal were burning, and the flames were flying wildly, reflecting Wang Ling's uncertain face. At that moment, he seemed to have a little understanding.

original.

Prime Minister Zhuge meant to let Sima Yi die!