The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 203 Liaocheng shocking change, Queen Mother died, Chu and Wei attacked Qi, Tian Dan died, Lu Zhonglian persuaded to surrender

The room was filled with the smell of blood and herbs, as strong as the surging East China Sea water.

When Tian Dan woke up, he didn't smell it.

The old general opened his mouth and uttered a dry and hoarse voice:

"Di Yi... has he gotten off the boat...?"

The soldier who had been accompanying the old general grabbed his hand, his eyes filled with surprise and joy, and tears welled up in his eyes:

"It's down! General! It's down a long time ago! It's down three days ago!"

The veteran smiled with relief.

He tilted his head and fainted again.

It was two hours later when the veteran woke up for the second time.

This time, the veteran felt pain all over his body.

No, there is one place, the legs.

Right leg with broken kneecap.

The veteran couldn’t feel his right leg.

The veteran didn't care and didn't even bother to take a look.

He panted for a long time, then opened his mouth and laughed like a child.

“Haha… Hehe… cough cough… hahahahaha…”

He once again saved Qi:

"Where is Juxin? Alive, ahem... or dead... bring him here!"

In the room, all the generals who had received the news of the veteran's awakening in advance were there.

No one said a word.

No one had the heart to tell the veteran the truth, as they didn't want to hurt him.

If the veteran knew, Ju Xin had not been in Diyi for the past three months.

The only one who could resist the army of Qi was an unknown general from Yan State, with only 20,000 soldiers. Could the veteran general withstand it?

Tian Dan was both a general and a prime minister, and he had a keen sense of smell.

I immediately realized that the atmosphere was not right.

Dead and lifeless.

This doesn't feel like a victory, but more like a defeat.

The veteran's heart sank, realizing that something bad must have happened while he was unconscious.

He glared, pointed at a general in the room, and shouted hoarsely:

"Tian Si! Tell me! What happened? Could it be that Diyi was taken back by the Yan army again?"

After speaking a paragraph fluently, the veteran began to cough violently.

Blood foam kept gushing out of his mouth, as if he had eaten a large bag of ketchup.

The accompanying military doctor turned pale and lost his color, and rushed forward.

While treating Tian Dan, he said anxiously:
"The general has injured his internal organs! Don't get angry! Everybody get out!"

Everyone in the room listened to the doctor and went out.

“Tian Si! Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough!” The old general coughed up blood, leaving a shocking red patch on the quilt. He stared at Tian Si, “Hurry up and tell me! This is a military order!”

Tian Si stopped, and everyone else stopped as well.

Military orders are as important as the sky.

When Tian Si was named, his knees went weak and he knelt on the ground.

He bowed his head, his voice trembling:
“That bastard Ju Xin…is not in Diyi!
"The main force of the Yan army is not in Diyi, but in Liaocheng!"

Tian Dan, who thought that the outcome of the battle would be decided in one go, became so angry that he vomited blood and fell unconscious on the bed.

The veteran couldn't figure it out.

Since Ju Xin led the main force of the Yan army in Liaocheng, not in Diyi.

So what was Ju Xin doing in Liaocheng when he was frantically attacking Diyi?
Why didn't they join forces with the Yan army in Diyi to attack the Qi army from both sides, or attack and plunder Qi territory from all directions?

Why could a small Diyi, without any famous generals or insufficient troops, hold off Tian Dan for three months? !

When Ying Chengjiao walked out of the house, he completely believed one thing - Tian Dan was really not good at fighting.

He couldn't help but look at Lu Zhonglian beside him.

Lu Zhonglian felt the boy's gaze, tilted his head and lowered his head, looking into his eyes:
“The young master has worked with Ju Xin before.

"I would like to ask you to speculate what Ju Xin is doing secretly in Liaocheng."

Ying Chengjiao had thought about this a long time ago and expressed his guess:
"Ju Xin...maybe he was intimidated by Tian Dan's achievements just like me..."

Liaocheng.

In the tallest mansion in the center of the city, Ju Xin received the news that Diyi had been conquered.

He held the bamboo slips that recorded the general process of the battle in Diyi, and an indescribable strange feeling arose in his heart.

The famous general Tian Dan can’t fight?
After we take Diyi City, shall we just attack it head-on?
Ju Xin took a long breath, sucked his teeth hard, and slapped his thigh in regret:

"I regret not listening to Le Yi! I regret not listening to Zhao She! I regret not listening to Pang Nuan!"

If he had known that Tian Dan was such a loser, he would not have played so conservatively!
Ju Xin is also a veteran, he is 68 years old this year.

He first served King Wuling of Zhao and followed him in his campaigns.

He was familiar with famous generals of the State of Zhao, including Zhao She, Lian Po, and Pang Nuan.

The older generation of Zhao generals all thought that Tian Dan was not very good at fighting, but Ju Xin was the only one who disagreed.

The opinions of these veteran generals of the State of Zhao mostly originated from the views held by Tian Dan during the debate with Zhao She.

Tian Dan believed that quality of soldiers was more important than quantity, and that 30,000 men were enough to pacify the world.

Zhao She and Yue Yi, who were present, thought Tian Dan was a fool.

Lian Po and Pang Nuan, who learned about this later, agreed with the views of Yue Yi and Zhao She.

When Ju Xin knew about this, he did not think that Tian Dan could not fight, but thought that Tian Dan was hiding his incompetence.

Would a legendary general who defeated the entire kingdom of Yan with just the city of Jimo say such stupid things as 30,000 people are needed to pacify the world?

Ju Xin didn't believe it at first.

He never judged people by words, but by actions.

Although at the end of the debate between Tian Dan and Zhao She, both of them denied their own views.

He admitted that he was too immature and far inferior to Zhao She.

But Ju Xin still believed in his own judgment and felt that Tian Dan was hiding his abilities.

Later, when Tian Dan led the Zhao army to attack Yan, he only captured three "cities" that could not even feed a hundred pheasants.

Lian Po, Zhao She, Yue Yi, and Pang Nuan all looked as if they were saying, "See? I told you he can't fight."

Ju Xin saw what Tian Dan did, but still didn't believe that Tian Dan couldn't fight.

He believed that although Tian Dan was in Zhao, his heart was still in Qi.

Tian Dan fought the battle like this on purpose.

The purpose was to deplete Zhao's military strength and prepare for Qi's subsequent attack on Zhao.

Later, Tian Dan returned to Qi and became the prime minister of Qi, which further confirmed Ju Xin's idea - Tian Dan was just pretending!
Therefore.

When Ju Xin knew that the opponent was Tian Dan, he was extremely cautious.

Don’t seek merit, but seek no faults.

Then, Ju Xin now felt that a great achievement had slipped away from his hands...

"General, it's not too late to fight now!" General Yan stood up and gave an excited advice.

The drama Xin was already popular.

When I saw someone come forward, I sent it out directly.

He threw the bamboo slips in his hand at Zheng Jin, pointed at his nose and cursed:
"Hit me!"

Zheng Jin looked embarrassed and picked up the bamboo slips that fell on the ground:

"General, why can't we fight?"

Ju Xin sneered:

"The Qi army is watching outside with eager eyes.

"If you now take the initiative to attack other cities of Qi, you will be giving up the convenience of defending the city and taking the initiative to engage in close combat with the Qi army!

“It’s like having a weapon in hand but not using it, and having to fight with bare hands.

"That's just sheer idiocy! You're not even as smart as a pig!"

Zheng Jin was not convinced:
"It took Tian Dan three months to attack Diyi.

"If Tian Dan hadn't sacrificed his life to boost morale, the siege would have been held late at night.

“The incident happened suddenly, so Qing Jian was unable to seek help in time, and now Diyi has not been broken yet!
"Even with the Qi army's fighting power, they are no match for us in a head-on battle!"

Ju Xin had finished scolding and didn’t want to waste any more words.

If I continue explaining, there will be too much to say, and these idiots in front of me don't deserve to hear it.

The old general had a gloomy face. Seeing that all the generals in the hall were moved, he shouted an order:
"No one is allowed to leave the city without my order!
"Whoever dares to fight without permission will be killed!"

All the generals responded "Yes" in unison.

After being scolded, Zheng Jin returned to his temporary residence in Liaocheng and grabbed the two beauties to vent his anger.

After ejaculating, Zheng Jin lay on the two beauties' bodies, his sweaty face still full of unhappiness:

"Old bird! You don't want to be promoted! Don't stop your father!"

He was extremely unwilling, but he fixed his eyes and made up his mind.

He asked his servant to bring a brush and dip it in the blood of the beauty under him to write:

[The Qi army is weak, and the Qi generals are incomplete. ]

[At this time of massive attack to expand our country's territory, General Ju Xin asked us to stay put. Anyone who leaves the city will be killed! ]

[I am willing to die for my king, but General Ju Xin won't allow it.]

【Ju Xin's actions must be rebellious! He is a treacherous villain! 】

[Please my king, be vigilant and issue a royal decree to punish the treacherous and corrupt officials! ]

[Please don't waste the opportunity, my king. Give the order to attack Qi quickly! ]

【Written in blood! 】

The bamboo slips were delivered from Liaocheng to Jidu of Yan State.

When King Yan saw the bamboo slips with the blood-stained words that smelled fishy, ​​he immediately began to believe the writer.

After reading the text on the bamboo slips, I was shocked and felt that what Zheng Jin said made a lot of sense.

He wanted to tell Ju Xin before he led his troops to fight against Qi.

The primary purpose of this attack on Qi was to demonstrate the strength of Yan State.

The State of Yan, which had become a laughing stock after losing to 130,000 with 600,000 men, desperately needed a victory with real value.

After the primary goal is achieved, the secondary goal is to expand territory, plunder people, and seize money and food.

Most wars cannot escape these three reasons.

However, the blood letter said that when Ju Xin faced the Qi army that was defeated at the first blow, he occupied Liaocheng and defended it, and did not take the initiative to attack.

In the eyes of King Xi of Yan, this is to preserve strength, to have troops and to be independent as a king! Just like Le Yi in the past!
The king never thought that defending Liaocheng was to achieve his primary goal.

Demonstrating strength does not necessarily have to be in offense, defense can also be used.

Not only is it easier, it also consumes less energy.

King Xi of Yan privately summoned people to discuss how to treat Ju Xin.

At the meeting, although Taifu Ju Wu vouched for Ju Xin and guaranteed with his life that Ju Xin would not fight, there must be a reason.

But there were others who were deeply suspicious of Ju Xin, saying that he was from Zhao and could not be trusted.

There were many different opinions on both sides, and King Xi of Yan was so overwhelmed that he could not make a decision.

Finally, a Yan minister named Bai Ye, who was related to Zheng Jin by marriage, stood up and reminded King Xi of Yan.

Bai Ye said seemingly fairly:
"We are now thousands of miles away from Lord Ju, and we don't know what happened thousands of miles away, and whether Lord Ju is a treacherous villain.

"It is unreasonable to execute the general just based on a blood letter.

"I have made two sincere suggestions. Your Majesty, please release the two of you.

"The king gave a royal order to Duke Ju, ordering him to attack.

“If Lord Ju obeys the king’s order and attacks Qi, it will prove that Lord Ju has no intention of rebellion.

"If Ju Xin does not obey the king's order..."

Bai Ye stopped there, bowed, and sat back.

Ju Wu frowned.

This advice seems fair, but it is actually nonsense.

The battlefield situation is ever-changing. Ju Xin does not attack, and there are reasons for not attacking. How can you interfere with the decision-making of the commander-in-chief when you are thousands of miles away and know nothing about the front line?
A thought flashed through his mind and he was about to speak.

King Xi of Yan had already made up his mind and said in a deep voice:
“Issue an edict!
"The king's edict arrives on the day that Ju Xin is ordered to attack Qi immediately!"

Wang Zhao was sent from Ji to Liaocheng.

The envoy Gao Xuanwang ordered, but Ju Xin looked unhappy and refused to go into battle.

Since fighting with the Qi army is inevitable.

Why not defend the city while waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out but instead take the initiative to attack, isn't that crazy?
Ju Xin wrote a total of three volumes of bamboo slips, fully stating his reasons.

Ask the envoy to take it back to Ji and present it to the King of Yan.

King Xi of Yan opened the three scrolls of bamboo slips and read them, but he just read them.

When he read, his eyes recorded the words on the bamboo slips, but his brain did not store them at all.

His mind was full of one thing - how dare he disobey my orders!
King Xi of Yan issued an order not to provide more food and fodder.

No! Listen! King! Order!
Just these four words are enough to determine King Xi of Yan's attitude towards the veteran general Ju Xin!

Upon hearing this, Ju Wu looked up to the sky and sighed:
"The demise of Yan is due to the king!"

He missed Prince Dan, who was held hostage in Qin State, more and more.

September 18th.

The Qi army, under the command of Tian Dan, had been attacking for more than a month, but there was no sign of breaking through Liaocheng.

But Ju Xin was not happy because his food supplies were running out.

The food and fodder supplies that should have been delivered half a month ago have not arrived yet.

Ju Xin sent eighteen bamboo slips in seven days, questioning why the food and fodder had not arrived.

The eighteen bamboo slips fell into the sea, and there was no reply.

Until a man who claimed to be Ju Wu's disciple came all the way to Liaocheng and risked his life to meet him.

Ju Xin only then realized that he had been cut off from food.

The veteran couldn't figure it out.

The battle went smoothly and the momentum was very good.

He didn't suffer a defeat, so why was he cut off from food?

Soon, an envoy came from Ji, the capital of Yan State, and ordered Ju Xin to lead his troops back to the country.

Ju Xin does not return.

The lesson of Lejian is right in front of us. If he goes back, won’t he and his entire family be killed?
He had an army of nearly 200,000 men outside, and he still had a way to survive, and he could also ensure that his family in Ji would not be killed.

The old general stood on the city wall, looking at the weak Qi army outside the city, and felt despair.

He was guarding Liaocheng, seeing no hope, and was just waiting to die.

This is called defending to the death.

Ju Xin is waiting to die, and the Queen Mother is about to die.

Linzi, the palace of the King of Qi, and the sleeping quarters of the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother looked emaciated and lifeless, and her dilapidated body could no longer hold on.

When she was dying, she urgently called for King Jian of Qi.

Prince Jian of Qi came back with a scent of powder on his body, and threw himself beside the Queen Mother's bed and burst into tears.

The Queen Mother forced herself to open her eyes.

Looking at his son's appearance, he knew that he was wearing casual clothes and going to the buildings in the city again.

The old man was unwilling but unable to preach anymore.

She wants to use her limited energy in the right way:
"Son, remember this.

"Among all the ministers, Tian Dan can be given important positions, and you can trust him completely.

"After Tian Dan..."

As the Queen Mother spoke, Prince Jian of Qi nodded repeatedly, his eyes blurred with tears.

[Tian Dan...Tian Dan...]
When the Queen Mother finished saying the second name, King Jian of Qi was still remembering Tian Dan in his heart.

I was so focused that I didn't hear the second name my mother said.

King Jian of Qi was very anxious. Who was the successor to Tian Dan?
He wanted his mother to say it again.

But he was afraid that his mother would get angry when he heard this and die of anger at her deathbed.

At this moment, King Jian of Qi had an idea and used all his life's wisdom:
"Mother! Wait for me! I'm going to get a pen and write down your name! I'm afraid I can't remember it well!"

The Queen Mother was finally relieved, thinking that her son was being serious and positive.

She kept nodding her head and pushing her son's hand:

"Go quickly, go quickly..."

King Jian of Qi responded and ran away.

Soon, he came back with pen, ink and bamboo slips, and fell beside his mother's bed.

King Jian of Qi unfolded the bamboo slips, picked up his pen, and wrote the two words "Tian Dan".

Then he cried to his mother:

"Mother! Tell me! Who will be the successor to Tian Dan?"

"Tian Dan...who is he?" The Queen Mother stared at Prince Jian of Qi in a daze.

The brush fell, and King Jian of Qi threw himself on the Queen Mother and burst into tears:
"Mother! What's wrong with you, mother!"

The Queen Mother looked at Prince Jian of Qi with a strange look on her face:

"who are you?"

Seeing his mother like this, King Jian of Qi was heartbroken and burst into tears, completely forgetting what he was going to record:
"I am your son! You are my mother! Mother, what's wrong with you?"

The Queen Mother shook her head slowly:

"I...I don't remember...I...I may have forgotten."

She reached out her hand tremblingly and wiped away Qi Wangjian's tears:

"Don't cry... don't cry... my heart hurts when you cry."

"Jian'er, don't cry, Jian'er, don't cry." Qi Wangjian wiped away his tears with his sleeves and held his mother's hand tightly: "Mom, don't you remember anything?"

A look of confusion appeared in the Queen Mother's eyes, and suddenly they were as bright as stars.

"I remember my father! My father's name is Taishi Qiu!" She grabbed Qi Wangjian's hand and said urgently and panickedly: "Where is my father? Where is my father! Where is my father! I want my father!"

At this moment, in Linzi city, in a mansion with a plaque with the words "Tai Shi" inscribed on it.

Taishi Sheng knelt on the ground and begged his father Taishi Qiu:
"Father! Please go see my sister! My sister is dying! I beg you, Father!"

The old and frail Taishi Qiu showed no mercy and was filled with anger:

"She has ruined our family tradition! She has committed adultery with others! She is not your sister! There is no such person in my Taishi family!"

On the day.

After the Queen Mother died in the Qi Palace, the Grand Historian Qi never left the Grand Historian's house.

The news of the Queen Mother's death was spread back to the country by people from various countries.

The State of Wei attacked the State of Qi and captured Nanyang in less than a month.

The State of Chu attacked Qi and conquered Pinglu in a little over a month.

Liaocheng.

Tian Dan, a general of Qi, led a large army to attack for a year but failed to take the city.

The old general Tian Dan became anxious, depressed, and sick due to a relapse of his old injuries, and died in Liaocheng.

The Qi army was in great chaos.

At that time, Lu Zhonglian from Qi stepped forward and temporarily took over the military power.

The first thing Lu Zhonglian did as a general.

Order to strictly keep the news of Tian Dan's death secret, and anyone who spreads it will be executed!

In the central army tent, Lu Zhonglian had a sorrowful look on his face and wrote furiously.

Nine-year-old Ying Chengjiao was watching from the sidelines.

After Lu Zhonglian finished writing, the young man said indifferently:
"Lu Zhonglianzi, are you sure you want to do this?

"Qi is not included in our grand plan."

Lu Zhonglianzi was silent for a moment.

He walked out holding the bamboo slips, saying as he walked:
“I know that Qin will unify the world and all the nations will perish, including Qi.

"But I am from Qi, and I hope Qi will be the last country to perish."

That night.

The bamboo slips written by Lu Zhonglian were thrown into Liaocheng by catapults.

The Yan soldiers in the city picked it up and handed it over to their superiors, and it finally came into the hands of Yan's main general, Ju Xin.

Ju Xin spread it out, read it carefully, and found that it was a letter of persuasion to surrender.

[I have heard that a wise man does not abandon an advantageous action because of bad timing, a warrior does not avoid death and bury his reputation, and a loyal minister does not consider himself first and then the king.]

[You are venting your anger now, without considering that the King of Yan cannot control his subjects, which is disloyalty.]

[Killed in battle, lost Liaocheng, and failed to spread his reputation in Qi, it is not brave. 】

【It is unwise to fail in one's career, lose one's reputation, and have nothing to praise in later generations. 】

[With these three things, the monarch of the time will not regard you as a minister, and lobbyists will not record your deeds for the monarch.]

【So a wise man should not hesitate, and a warrior is not afraid of death. 】

[Now is the key to life and death, honor and disgrace, nobility and dignity. If you can't make a decision now, the opportunity will never come again. I hope you will think carefully and not have the same views as ordinary people. ]

[Chu attacked Nanyang of Qi, and Wei attacked Pinglu of Qi.]

[Qi State had no intention of counterattacking to the south, believing that the loss of Nanyang was small and not as great as the benefit of seizing Jibei, so it made such a decision to execute it.]

[We will ask Qin for help and ask Qin to send troops to stop Wei from marching eastward.]

[The situation of Qin and Qi forming an alliance was formed, and the situation of Chu was in crisis. 】

【You continue to guard Liaocheng. 】

[When the armies of Chu and Wei have withdrawn from Qi, and your Yan State has not given you any support.]

[By then, all the troops of Qi will attack Liaocheng with all their might.]

[Even if all of Qi's troops are deployed, can you still hold on to Liaocheng, which has been under siege for more than a year? I don't think you can do it.]

[Li Fu led an army of 100,000 and suffered five consecutive defeats abroad.]

[A great country with 10,000 chariots was surrounded by Zhao, its land was reduced, its king was trapped, and was ridiculed by the world. ]

【The country is in decline, disasters are rampant, and people are in turmoil. 】

[Now, you are using the exhausted soldiers and civilians of Liaocheng to resist the attack of the entire Qi army. This is like Mozi, who is good at holding the position.]

[I heard that the city is short of food and people are eating human flesh to fill their stomachs.]

[If there is no firewood, human bones will be burned.]

[In this situation, the soldiers have no intention of betraying. You are as good at leading troops as Sun Boling. ]

[Your ability has been demonstrated throughout the world, and your reputation has spread. ]

[Now that things have come to this, you might as well preserve your troops and use them to thank the State of Yan.]

【The troops have returned to the State of Yan intact, the King of Yan will surely be happy. 】

[You will return to your country in good health, and your children can see their parents again.]

【The lobbyists will all praise and admire your great achievements with excitement. 】

【To assist the monarch and command the ministers. 】

【For the lower classes, it not only supports the common people, but also provides support for lobbyists. 】

[Correcting state affairs, changing customs, and establishing a good reputation can all be achieved. 】

[If you have no intention of returning to Yan, then give up Yan. ]

【Abandoning worldly discussions, head east to Qi. 】

[The State of Qi would divide up the land and grant it fiefdoms.]

[Your Excellency will be rich and powerful enough to be compared with Wei Ran and Shang Yang. ]

[From generation to generation, they were called the Lonely and the Fabled, and they coexisted with the State of Qi for a long time. 】

[I hope you will consider these two plans carefully and choose one of them prudently. ]

【I have heard that those who seek small things cannot achieve a glorious reputation. 】

【People who are ashamed of small shame cannot achieve great achievements. 】

[In the past, Guan Zhong shot the hook of Duke Huan's clothes, which was an offense.]

[To give up Prince Jiu and not die with him is cowardice. ]

[Being imprisoned with torture instruments is a shame...]

(End of this chapter)