"Xinling Jun is a wise man. He can serve as the prime minister in Zhao State, which is something worth celebrating."

This is Zhao Kuo’s reply to Dong Chengzi.

Dong Chengzi was not surprised. Ma Fujun would not pursue power, nor would he be obsessed with official positions. This is something Dong Chengzi had known for a long time. However, who in Zhao State is more suitable to serve as the Prime Minister than Ma Fujun? Dong Chengzi frowned and was depressed. Zhao Kuo did not talk to him about the Prime Minister anymore. He talked about the Law with Dong Chengzi. Dong Chengzi was surprised to find that Ma Fujun seemed to appreciate the Law of Qin State very much.

"If you serve as Siko and take charge of criminal proceedings, you must have a clear law to serve as your criterion."

"Qin's law is very comprehensive, but it also has its disadvantages and is too harsh... I heard that Qin's law should be killed if it is lost. If the people who are rushing to get a few days late because of something unexpected happening, they will have to cut off their heads. Wouldn't this be too much?" Zhao Kuo asked.

Dong Chengzi widened his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then asked: "Qin Fa, if he lost his time, he would be punished with one armor... Haven't he heard that he was going to be killed?"

Zhao Kuo was stunned and asked, "I heard that someone had gone to another place to serve. Because the storm delayed the time, he was going to be killed. Did I remember it wrong?" Dong Chengzi suddenly realized and said, "Service is different. The Qin State's military law is very strict. All crimes involving military affairs will be killed. Other times, lateness will not be killed."

Li Mu sat aside and asked curiously: "Why are you so familiar with Qin Fa?"

Dong Chengzi pointed to the bamboo slips not far away and said, "It is not just the laws of Qin, but also the laws of Chu, Wei, and Qi, I have collected a lot... Except for Qin, the laws of various countries are not much different from those of Zhao, and they are all very simple."

"What do you think of these doing?"

"I want to modify the law. Confucius said: Other people's words and deeds must have something worth learning from. Choose other people's good learning, see other people's shortcomings, reflect on whether they have the same shortcomings, and if so, correct them. I am doing this now." After hearing Fatty Dong's words, Zhao Kuo was in awe. He did not expect that Dong Chengzi, who seemed cowardly, would have such an enlightenment.

"You are right." Zhao Kuo said: "I'll tell you what I think."

"What is the law? The answer is: The people who rule the country use the tools to rule the country. They are formulated according to the ideas of the people who rule the country, and are the embodiment of the will of the ruler. Law is not the embodiment of the individual will. Shang Yang legislated for Qin State, and Qin State's law is the will of the people who rule the Qin State. Therefore, Shang Yang died, but his law is still used by Qin State. This is because Qin law is in line with the interests of those who rule the Qin State. No matter who ruled Qin State, Qin law is beneficial to him."

"How should the law be specified? The answer is: The law is to regulate the behavior of others and provide a standard for the words and deeds of the people. Shang Yang said: Using the method of strengthening the people to eliminate people who disobey the laws will lead to weakening the state; using punishment to make the people obey and other measures to eliminate people who disobey the laws will lead to strongness. Such decrees are universal standards and requirements."

"I think the law is a three-category norm. Tell the people about what they can do, tell the people about what they must do, tell the people about what they are not allowed to do...." Zhao Kuo talked about the law seriously. The more Dong Chengzi heard it, the more surprised he became. He trembled and hurriedly asked Li Mu to find a pen, picked up the bamboo slip, and began to quickly record Zhao Kuo's words.

What Zhao Kuo said was actually the basic explanation of the law in later generations. Zhao Kuo didn't remember much, and he could barely mention it. Just like he did to history, every dynasty could barely say some people and things, but if he had to talk about that era carefully, he couldn't say it. However, Dong Chengzi was very shocked. Many people had formulated laws, but no one had ever said what the law was... nor did anyone say what the law should be followed.

Zhao Kuo gradually became a little exhausted and could not say more, but Dong Chengzi had already recorded everything he said.

Dong Chengzi looked at Zhao Kuo passionately, raised the bamboo slips in his hand and asked, "Can I stay?"

Zhao Kuo nodded and said, "The law of Zhao must be changed. The law is used to protect the people, and the etiquette system is for the convenience of doing things. Therefore, if a wise man governs the country, if the country can be prosperous and strong, he does not have to follow the old laws. If the people can benefit, he does not have to follow the old etiquette system. I think what Shang Yang said is very reasonable."

Li Mu sat aside, staring at the two of them talking about the law in a daze. He found that he could not understand anything, what laws, what requirements, what can be done or not. He rubbed his forehead. Zhao Kuo looked at Dong Chengzi holding the bamboo slip, looking very cherishing, and couldn't help but smile. In the future, some students would recite the contents of the bamboo slips and then constantly scold him, right?

After seeing Zhao Kuo away, Dong Chengzi grabbed Li Mu.

Dong Chengzi looked at Li Mu and asked, "What kind of person do you think Ma Fujun is."

"I said early on that he is a wise man who can serve as prime minister at home and general abroad."

"You are right. A wise man like him will govern Zhao State. Zhao State will be prosperous and strong, and the people can get a stable life. I heard that people without wisdom cannot talk to him about governing the country, and people without virtue cannot talk to him about stabilizing the people. Ma Fujun is a wise man. How can a person like him not be the prime minister? Please pay a visit to me and ask Ma Fujun to be the prime minister."

Li Mu said, "You are right. Your previous proposal was ridiculed by others. I heard that the things that ignorant people laugh at are things that wise people are worried. I don't understand the law, but if Ma Fujun is worried about this matter, I will know that what you said must be the great affairs of Zhao State. Ma Fujun is the prime minister of Zhao State. This is something that villains will be afraid of and gentlemen will be happy. I will go to the gentlemen in Zhao State to come to see you with you."

Zhao Kuo suddenly realized that Dong Chengzi and Li Mu became a little strange. The next day, Li Mu hurriedly left, saying that there was something important. Zhao Kuo waited in Dong Chengzi's mansion for a long time before he heard the order from King Zhao to summon him. Ge hurriedly drove for him. Li Yu and Zhao Fu were waiting, and got in the car. They walked towards the palace. Li Yu said, "King Zhao summoned you, and you must talk about rewards."

"I see."

"I know you will definitely let King Zhao exchange the rewards he prepared to give you for food, seeds, livestock, and land, and distribute them to the soldiers who fought."

"But I ask you not to do this... If you don't give me rewards, the other generals will not be able to ask for rewards anymore." Li Yu said seriously: "My disciple, Zigong, redeemed a slave from Lu abroad, but he did not reimburse him later. When Confucius found out, he severely reprimanded him. Confucius was worried that when the people of Lu would hesitate to see their own people who became slaves in the future, they would pay for their own money to redeem slaves. If reimbursement was made, they would bear an immoral reputation."

"Generals follow you, through life and death, in order to get rewards. If you quit the rewards and they accept them, they will appear to be unethical. If they fight again in the future, will these generals still rush to the front line forever?"

"Then what should I do?" Zhao Kuo asked.

"Please accept the reward from King Zhao, and then turn this reward into food, seeds, and livestock to give it to the soldiers who went to the expedition..." Li Yu said seriously: "Mu Ziming, he used to be a capable businessman. These rewards are in his hands, and more materials can be generated, which can reward soldiers and raise the widows of the soldiers who died in battle."

Zhao Kuo agreed to him.

Sure enough, King Zhao summoned all the ministers, royal families, and ministers, and almost all were present. As soon as Zhao Kuo got off the carriage, the ministers in the country surrounded him and hurriedly met. King Zhao had not arrived yet. It is said that he had had a night chat with Wei Wuji last night, and talked until this morning, and he was still resting. The ministers seemed particularly friendly and had a smile on their faces, but Zhao Kuo did not feel warm. His hypocritical smile looked particularly disgusting.

If Zhao Kuo was only afraid of fame, then today's Zhao Kuo would be afraid of power. Although King Zhao had not said it yet, everyone already knew that Zhao Kuo would get a large fief. He had surpassed Pingyuan Jun and became the vassal of Zhao with the largest fiefs. In addition, his friends were spread all over Zhao, whether it was a prince like Wei Wuji, Zhao Sheng, or ministers like Tian Dan, Dong Chengzi, Yu Qing, or generals like Lian Po and Li Mu.

These people are considered to be close friends and followers of Zhao Kuo.

Not to mention that Zhao Kuo is now the most favored minister of King Zhao. He can completely control the situation in Zhao. Therefore, these ministers treat him very much. This kind of respect is different from the respect of the people. This kind of respect is disgusting respect, and it is a flattering favor based on interests. If one day Ma Fujun is no longer favored by King Zhao, the people will still respect him, but these people will no longer know him. This is the difference between the two.

Everyone was still waiting, and Zhao Kuo went to pay homage to Lian Po and Tian Dan again.

Tian Dan still looked energetic. He was still very strong when he was in the same era as Le Yi. The passage of time did not have much impact on him. He was still very cold. Seeing Zhao Kuo who came to pay homage to him, his eyes were a little complicated. He was silent for a long time and did not return the gift. He looked at Zhao Kuo and whispered, "Be careful." Then, he closed his eyes, Zhao Kuo nodded, and walked away from him.

Tian Dan closed his eyes, but a feast of Qi appeared in his mind. Just like here, all the ministers praised the young man and fought to make friends with him. The King of Qi gave the young man a lot of rewards, and the country's major affairs had to be handled. The young man was very happy. He felt that he would definitely revitalize Qi and was full of fighting spirit... But he never thought that under all the smiles in the banquet, there was actually a dirty jealous heart, constantly planning a conspiracy against him.

Tian Dan suddenly woke up and opened his eyes.

The King of Qi was holding Tian Dan's hand with a smile and said seriously: "The State of Zhao survived because of you, and I want to give you a reward."

"don't want!"

Tian Dan suddenly shouted, and the palace suddenly became silent. Everyone looked at him one after another. Tian Dan looked at him again. It was not the King of Qi who was standing above, but the shocked King of Zhao Kuo, who was held by him. Facing everyone's eyes, Tian Dan was also a little surprised. What's wrong with him? He stood up slowly and said to King of Zhao seriously: "It is not the credit of Ma Fujun alone to repel Qin."

"All soldiers who go to war with Ma Fujun should receive equal rewards, so you should not have too much rewards to Ma Fujun, and you should not have too much food to give." Tian Dan said seriously.

Everyone was surprised. Isn’t Tian Shan’s relationship with Ma Fujun pretty good? Is he jealous of Ma Fujun?

Sima Shang suddenly stood up at the banquet and looked at Tian Dan angrily. Just as he was about to speak, Lian Po, who was sitting beside him, grabbed his arm and pulled it to the ground. Sima Shang looked at Lian Po in surprise. Lian Po widened his eyes. His hideous face really scared Sima Shang. Sima Shang sat down and said nothing. No one said anything, and no one said he would scold him.

King Zhao was stunned for a long time before he smiled and said, "What you said makes sense, but Ma Fujun's credit cannot be underestimated."

This was the first time Tian Dan made his suggestion to him. He sat in the building not far away and looked at Tian Dan thoughtfully, and then looked at Zhao Kuo. He didn't know what he was thinking. King Zhao smiled and gave Ma Fujun a reward. However, he did reduce the original reward. Even the fief was missing several because of Tian Dan's words. The ministers looked at Tian Dan with some disdain. Tian Dan had a bad relationship with Zhao She. Unexpectedly, he was so revenge. He was really a villain.

After Zhao Kuo, Li Mu, Tian Yue and other generals were also rewarded, and even Sima Shang was no exception, but Lian Po did not receive any reward.

General Lian Po sat alone in his position.

Seeing the younger generations around him accepting the reward, he remained motionless and lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking. King Zhao complained that he could not stop the Qin people, causing the Qin people to break through the Changping defense line. Lian Po was not angry. This was indeed his fault. He was unable to defeat the Qin people. Even if King Zhao wanted to punish him, he would not refute anything.

At some point, Lou Yan came to Lian Po's side.

The meeting gradually turned into a banquet, and everyone was very happy, noisy and lively. Lou Yan looked at the old general who was drinking in front of him and asked with a smile: "General, I haven't seen you for a long time, are you fine?"

Lian Po raised his head, looked at him, looked for a moment, and then said, "You are back home."

Lou Yan was stunned. All the words that had been sowing discord in his heart stopped in his throat and could not be said.

He was silent for a long time and nodded with a smile.

"I'm home now."

There was a special noise at the banquet. Lou Yan sat next to Lian Po and drank with him. Lian Po looked at the generals in the distance and said, "Ma Fujun, Li Mu, Tian Yue, Sima Shang and other people are all capable people of Zhao. Ma Fujun is kind and righteous. The soldiers support him. The people love him. The generals are willing to die with him. They can be the commander of Zhao. Li Mu is calm and calm, not afraid of powerful enemies, good at commanding soldiers, and can be the general of Zhao. Tian Yue is cautious, takes every step and never advances. He can stay behind Zhao to defend against foreign enemies."

"Sima Shang is brave and fearless. He can be the vanguard of Zhao and defeat the enemy."

"There are these people in Zhao State, and Qin State dare not attack rashly. I know the grievances you have suffered, but those who framed you are already dead and you are old. Why not help them so that the descendants of Zhao can worship in front of your grave? Will the descendants of Qin State miss a deceased Zhao man? This is something I have never heard of." Lian Po drank wine and persuaded Lou Yan again.

In the midst of the noise, a warrior suddenly rushed in.

The warrior looked very sad. He wiped his tears and ran towards King Zhao. Lian Po seemed to realize something. He suddenly stepped forward, grabbed the warrior, stared at his eyes, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Half an hour ago, Mr. Lin passed away."

"You said...half an hour..." Lian Po muttered, slowly let go of his hand, constantly shaking his head, tears burst out from his eyes, and could not stop him. He held his forehead with both hands and took a few steps back. Suddenly, he started crying, regardless of the suspicious eyes of everyone. Under the willow tree where the two of them had sat on the ground and talked about major events, Lin Xiangru seemed to be waving goodbye to him with a smile.

Lian Po looked at his old friend who was turning around and leaving, cried and shouted at his friend's name, and rushed out of the palace.

"Lin Xiangru!"

At this moment, everyone in the hall was shocked, and the wine cup in Zhao Kuo's hand fell to the ground.

.............
Chapter completed!