The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 204: The young man went to Liaocheng and his reputation fell into Yanchen

[People with these three characteristics will not be accepted as ministers by the monarch, and the villagers will not associate with them.]

If Guanzi had died in prison after being imprisoned for a long time and could not return to Qi, he would have been left with a lowly reputation for his shameful behavior.

[Even I feel ashamed to have the same name as him, let alone the public opinion. ]

【So Guan Zhong did not feel ashamed for being in prison, but felt ashamed for the lack of peace in the world. He did not feel ashamed for not being able to die with Prince Jiu, but felt ashamed for not being able to spread his prestige among the princes.】

[Thus, although he committed the three faults of rebellion, fear of death, and humiliation, he assisted Duke Huan of Qi in becoming the leader of the Five Hegemons.]

[His reputation is higher than anyone else in the world, and his glory shines on neighboring countries.]

[As a general of the State of Lu, Cao Mo fought many battles and was defeated many times, losing 500 li of land.]

If Cao Mo had not considered the matter carefully and hastily committed suicide by cutting his throat, he would have been labeled a defeated general.

[Cao Mo, despite the humiliation of repeated defeats, returned to discuss matters with the Lord of Lu.]

【When Duke Huan of Qi convened a meeting of the princes of the world. 】*
[Cao Mo, with a short sword, approached Duke Huan of Qi's heart on the altar.]

[His facial expression remained unchanged and his speech was calm.]

[The land that had been lost in many battles was recovered in just this one time, shocking the world and shocking the princes.]

[It made Lu's reputation greater than Wu and Yue.]

[Like these two patriots, they both disregarded their small reputations and integrity, and thus were able to achieve great fame and achievements.]

[To die is not a wise thing to do. 】

【Abandon temporary anger and establish lifelong reputation. 】

【Give up your momentary anger and establish achievements for generations. 】

[Choosing either of the two strategies will allow your achievements to compete with those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and your reputation to coexist with the heaven and earth.]

[Once again, please be cautious, think carefully, and choose one. ]

Veteran general Ju Xin put down the last roll of bamboo slips and picked up the first roll again.

He read it over and over again six times, tears streaming down his face:

“There’s already a rift between me and the King of Yan.

“Given the character of the King of Yan, the day I return to Yan will be the day my entire clan will be killed, so the first plan will fail.

“Without food or reinforcements, I ate the flesh of the people of Liaocheng to defend the city and used their bones for firewood.

“If I were to surrender to Qi, then people from Liaocheng would not be Qi people.

"Otherwise, how could Qi, a country governed by propriety and integrity, tolerate me who killed so many people from Liaocheng? The second plan also failed.

“But if we continue to hold on, the food in Liaocheng will run out long ago.

"Even if Qi doesn't use all its national strength to attack me, I won't be able to hold out for a few months.

"My fate will be the same as what Lu Zhonglian wrote, death and extinction of my clan.

"My soldiers will suffer the same fate as me, and no one will survive.

"In this case, I might as well save the soldiers with my life.

“I hope the King of Yan will not kill my people because I defended Liaocheng with the Yan State and saved the Yan soldiers.

"I'd rather kill myself than let others kill me!"

Outside the city, inside the big tent.

Lu Zhonglian, who was temporarily in charge of the general of Qi, was so angry that he roared until the candlelight in the tent was about to fall out:

"I said no! That's right!

"A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall! Is this the time for you to show off and gain fame?"

Lu Zhonglian pulled Ying Chengjiao's arm and came to the table that had been there for a year.

Apart from the huge map on the table, the most eye-catching are the tablets of the Eight Gods.

Under the gaze of the Eight Gods, Lu Zhonglian punched Liaocheng on the map:

"This is not a debate! This is a war!
"This is not the Jixia Academy! This is a battlefield!
“The city of Liaocheng swallowed up 30,000 troops of our country in one year!
"Among the people in Liaocheng, only one out of every twenty survived! (Note 1)

"If you enter Liaocheng to persuade people to surrender now, there will be only two outcomes.

"1. Serving as military rations.

"Second, be beheaded in public as a sacrifice to restore morale in the army!
"Your life now belongs not only to you, but also to me, Lu Zhonglian, the Kong family, and millions of people in the world!"

Ying Chengjiao's eyes flickered.

Didn't he know that this trip was risky?

The Qi soldiers who fell from the city wall hit the ground, exploding into bloody flowers.

The flesh was trampled into mud, revealing white bones with red threads.

The sad sound of charges and desperate screams could be heard every few days.

Ying Chengjiao is neither blind nor deaf, so how could he not see or hear?
But...what can we do without risks?

It has been three days since Lu Zhonglian handed over the letter of persuasion to surrender.

The soldiers on the city walls of Liaocheng no longer rotated according to a strict three-hour rotation schedule.

At the shortest it would take two hours to change, and at the longest it could take up to five hours.

This is a phenomenon that has never occurred in the more than one year of siege of Liaocheng.

Based on this performance, the boy boldly inferred:
Something serious must have happened to Yan State's main general Ju Xin, so that he was unable to control the military affairs of Liaocheng, causing chaos in the simplest and most important change of guard.

And this major event was recorded in history books - the defender of Liaocheng committed suicide.

[I remember that the Liaocheng defender was not Ju Xin...]
[No, that's not the point. I can't leave anything to chance.]
[Ju Xin cannot die! ]
"Ju Xin cannot die!" Ying Chengjiao was firm: "Once Ju Xin dies, Yan's reputation will be ruined and there will be no more capable generals. Qin is unable to control the floods and go east, and Qi has no intention of interacting with other countries. Zhao and Wei, which border Yan, are likely to divide Yan! I can't watch this happen!"

At this time, the Qin State had just been controlling floods for a year and a half.

If Zhao was allowed to destroy Yan and grow stronger for ten years, its fighting power would be restored to the level before the Battle of Changping, or even stronger.

Although both the war gods Bai Qi and Wang Jian were there, Ying Chengjiao did not have the confidence to win against the prosperous Zhao State.

The State of Zhao lacked kings, men, and land, but it had no shortage of famous generals.

Historically, Li Mu, a famous general of the State of Zhao, almost managed to turn the tables despite the fact that the national strength of the State of Zhao was lagging behind.

If the King of Zhao had not been so foolish as to send an envoy to kill Li Mu, the State of Zhao might not have necessarily perished.

If Zhao could provide sufficient troops to Lian Po, Li Mu and Pang Nuan.

When Qin and Zhao clash, who will win? No one can tell...

The existence of Yan State can greatly restrict the development of Zhao State.

If there were no Yan State, Zhao State should have repaired the wounds of the two battles of Changping and Handan by now.

Lu Zhonglian was still furious:

“I know what you mean.

“But you were by my side when I wrote the letter of surrender, and you watched me write it stroke by stroke.

"I didn't persuade Ju Xin to die. I gave Ju Xin two ways to survive!"

Ying Chengjiao looked at Lu Zhonglian without saying anything.

The boy grows more than two inches, or five centimeters, taller when he grows one year older.

He no longer looks like a child and his aura has become much stronger.

Lu Zhonglian stared at the boy for a long time, then looked away and said:

“Okay, I admit that I didn’t leave Ju Xin a way out.

"As long as he read the bamboo slips, he would know that no matter what, he would die.

"If he is a smart man, the best option is to commit suicide.

"It's been three days. If he was going to die, he would have died long ago. What's the point of you going there?

"Will you be buried with Ju Xin?"

Ying Chengjiao pointed at Liaocheng on the map:

"If Ju Xin really died, Liaocheng would not just have a minor problem like changing guards, but a mutiny!"

"Haven't you heard that all is fair in war?" Lu Zhonglian said quickly, "We can only observe the scene on the tower now. What if Ju Xin did it on purpose to trick us into attacking the city? What if he doesn't have the courage to commit suicide and wants to resist to the end?"

"That's even better." Ying Chengjiao laughed: "If he wants to live, I won't die. I am his way out!"

"You?" Lu Zhonglian sneered: "Why do you do that?"

"Because my name is Ying Chengjiao." The young man smiled calmly.

Lu Zhonglian: “…”

After a while, Lu Zhonglian called his personal soldiers in and gave a decisive order:

"Go up to the big tent!"

The guards were startled at first, and then hatred flashed in their eyes.

Most of the time, only before attacking a city would the great tent be raised and the generals summoned to make strategic deployments.

The personal soldiers responded enthusiastically and went out to summon the generals.

He was full of strength and violence.

He was originally Tian Dan's personal soldier, and after Tian Dan's death, he had been harboring a grudge.

This anger drove him to avenge Tian Dan and tell him that dying in battle is better than living in disgrace!

"What are you going to do?" Ying Chengjiao was puzzled: "Are you going to attack Liaocheng? You can't take it down."

"Of course I know we can't defeat him." Lu Zhonglian turned his back to the young man, "But after this battle, we will know whether Ju Xin is dead or not."

If the combat effectiveness of the Yan soldiers drops significantly and their will to resist weakens, Ju Xin will be dead.

If his fighting ability was still strong, Ju Xin would not be dead.

Lu Zhonglian clenched his fists and his heart ached.

He sacrificed the lives of 100,000 Qi soldiers just to test the information for Ying Chengjiao.

Before he met Ying Chengjiao, he would never have thought that he would one day do such a thing!
[In thousands of years, there is only one chance like this.]
[No more nobles who aspire to be emperors will be obsessed with overthrowing the nobility.]
[Prince Chengjiao, there is only one...]
"Ying Chengjiao." Lu Zhonglian called out his name directly, his voice full of murderous intent: "If your grand plan fails, I, Lu Zhonglian, will spend my entire life to kill you!"

Ying Cheng was silent.

Deng Lingxue, a great scholar of Chu Mo, also said something similar.

The philosophers did not support Ying Chengjiao, but supported the people of the world.

An hour later.

Lu Zhonglian personally beat the drum to cheer, and the sound of the drum was like thunder.

The Qi army launched an unknown number of sieges on Liaocheng.

This time, Liaocheng's defense was still tenacious.

An hour after the battle, Young Master Cheng Jiao, accompanied by Sword Saint Gai Nie, walked to the foot of Liaocheng openly and invited people in.

In Liaocheng, the soldiers dropped a woven basket and allowed only Ying Chengjiao to enter.

"Young Master...go back." Gai Nie advised in a low voice.

"It's okay." Ying Chengjiao's heart was beating wildly. He forced himself to smile back at Gai Nie and sat in the weaving basket.

The woven basket rose slowly, and the soldiers on the city wall pulled it very carefully.

Gai Nie, dressed in white clothes as white as snow, was still extremely worried.

He watched the woven basket rise from the ground to his knees and then to his waist.

The Sword Master suddenly put his hand on his waist and took off the Chengying sword, which he had carried with him ever since he got it, even when he slept or took a bath.

The sword master held the hilt of the sword and forced it into the boy's hand.

He raised his head and looked at the soldiers pulling the baskets on the city wall, his eyes were as sharp as swords.

When the basket disappeared over the city wall, the Sword Saint in White lowered his head and whispered under the city wall:
"May the sword of God protect my Lord."

The city walls were stained with blood.

When the wind blows, it smells very fishy.

Three hours later, the gates of Liaocheng were opened.

The Yan army did not surrender, but gave up Liaocheng.

The Yan army retreated slowly towards the direction of Yan State in an orderly manner, and it was obvious that they were ready for battle at any time.

Some Qi generals requested permission to pursue the enemy, but Lu Zhonglian refused.

A head-on confrontation with the Yan army at this time would only do harm and no good.

Although he wrote in his letter of persuasion to Ju Xin that he wanted to form an alliance with Qin and force Wei and Chu to withdraw their troops.

But he knew very well that Qin could not move at all.

If you want to get the armies of Wei and Chu out of Qi, you need both strategies and wars!

"General! This was sent by the envoy from Yan, who said it was written by Yingzi himself." The personal soldier handed over a piece of sheepskin.

In this era, animal skins are simpler and more advanced cultural relics than bamboo.

Most of them are only used for important letters.

Lu Zhong connected and unfolded gently.

[I am not talented enough to take away the good reputation of Liaocheng that was brought to you by your book.]

Lu Zhonglian curled the corners of his mouth.

[The tone is relaxed, it seems that the trip went smoothly...]
[Reputation, huh... When have I, Lu Zhonglian, ever cared about it?]
When the Qi army entered Liaocheng, the Qi people, who had just been excited, were instantly furious and wished they could capture the Yan army and grind them to ashes!
Hell on earth is not enough to describe the scenery of Liaocheng.

The streets were deserted and there was hardly a dead body to be seen.

Blackened bones were everywhere, and the houses looked dilapidated as if no one had lived there for a long time.

After walking a mile further, there was still no one in sight.

Liaocheng seems to have become a ghost town!
No! Dead City!

It was not until they reached the center, the tallest mansion, that they searched out more than a thousand "people".

If they can still be called human.

They are skinny, have dull faces, and most of them are young women.

When the soldiers touched their bodies, they lay on the ground, spread their legs, and laughed.

They are the only living things in Liaocheng.

It's a plaything.

It's also food.

The Qi generals were so angry that they almost broke their teeth. They all pleaded with red eyes:
"General! They haven't gotten far!"

"Kill those damned people from Yan State!"

"These birdmen! They all deserve to die! They all deserve to die!"

"..."

Lu Zhonglian, who had been prepared for the scene in the city, had a gloomy face and had clenched his fists since entering the city and never loosened them.

Amid the surging crowd, he rode on his horse and waved his arms violently.

He swept his right index finger across the noses of the Qi generals one after another and shouted:
"Without my order! Kill the pursuers!"

Blood trickled down his index finger.

His not-so-sharp nails had cut his own palm at some point.

The many furious Qi generals did not see Lu Zhonglian's bleeding fingers, they only heard the order not to pursue.

They roared and raged, then turned around and led their troops to march.

After Tian Dan's death, the generals who had always obeyed Lu Zhonglian mutinied.

"Behead!" Lu Zhonglian spoke with thunderous tongue.

Six heads rolled to the ground, and the out-of-control scene suddenly stopped, and then order was restored.

Who said scholars don’t kill people?
The majestic Lu Zhonglian looked at the head on the ground sadly.

If these generals could enforce discipline, if the soldiers of Qi were brave and good at fighting, how could Qi have ended up in such a state today?

Lu Zhonglian was thinking about how to expel the Chu and Wei armies and pondering the next response, when suddenly an idea flashed through his mind.

His eyes widened and his lips trembled:
"Could it be... that this is what you have calculated?
“You knew that Qi had a national policy of not getting involved in the disputes in the Central Plains, but you still invited Qi to join forces to force Qin.

"From the moment Qi refused, it became a thorn in the eyes and flesh of the five countries.

"You don't need to do anything anymore... The other nations will not let Qi go...

"Cut off all the meat and feed the Qin people...what a vicious plan!"

The capital of Yan State was Ji.

King Xi of Yan personally met Ying Chengjiao and Ju Xin at the grand court meeting.

He smiled at Ying Chengjiao and called him "Prime Minister" all the time.

He turned a blind eye to Ju Xin, who was pale, dying, and had an obvious scar on his neck.

Ying Chengjiao met King Xi of Yan with courtesy, without any nonsense, and got straight to the point:
"Lord Ju has never betrayed the State of Yan. He has been leading the Yan army to defend Liaocheng. His loyalty is evident to all! Please, King Yan, do not kill loyal people!"

Only then did King Xi of Yan take a look at Ju Xin.

The drama Sina bowed his head and said:

"I have absolutely no intention of offending my superiors! It's all caused by the villains!"

Taifu Ju Wu also stepped forward and once again guaranteed Ju Xin's life.

When Prince Yan's expression eased slightly.

Many of the Yan officials who had previously said that Ju Xin was disloyal and had rebellious intentions jumped out.

They had obviously prepared for a long time in advance and listed one piece after another of evidence to prove Ju Xin's rebellion.

These proofs seem extremely credible, at least much more credible than Drama Xin who only knows how to say that he is loyal.

Drama Xin loudly protested his injustice:

"Your Majesty, please investigate!"

The veteran only said one sentence before being drowned out by a stream of saliva.

"You are treason!"

"If you don't rebel, you won't come back for a year! You have your own army!"

"Kill him! He is a spy from the State of Zhao!"

"..."

Since these people have offended Ju Xin, they only want to wipe out the roots. How could they want Ju Xin to be in power again?

As for what would happen to the State of Yan if it lost Ju Xin, whether it would be destroyed.

They can't think of it, and even if they do, they won't care.

What does it have to do with them what happens to the State of Yan?

Even if the State of Yan was destroyed, they would only give up the little power they had, and they would still be nobles.

The State of Zhao conquered the State of Yan, and they were the nobles of the State of Zhao.

The State of Wei conquered the State of Yan, and they were the nobles of the State of Wei.

They are born aristocrats and will always be aristocrats.

King Xi of Yan had a bad look on his face and said nothing, allowing the situation to develop and gradually leaning towards the voice of the majority.

Ying Chengjiao watched this scene coldly and was not surprised.

This was something that had been expected.

After the extermination of the Lejian clan and the tragic death of Qu by the fake prime minister of Yan, the loyal ministers of Yan State came to an end.

If the King of Yan is not replaced and his ministers are disloyal, the State of Yan will never be able to rise.

But this was not the time for the State of Yan to perish.

The State of Yan should continue to exist, restrict the development of the State of Zhao, and wait to be destroyed by the State of Qin.

"King Yan!" Ying Chengjiao took two steps up the stairs.

"How dare you! Stop immediately!" The eunuch standing next to King Xi of Yan shouted in a shrill voice.

The court gradually became quiet, and almost everyone looked at the young man.

The boy got the silence he wanted and took the initiative to step down the stairs.

He cupped his hands and said in a deep voice:

"I, Ying Chengjiao, guarantee it with my life! Lord Ju did not betray the State of Yan!"

King Yan looked at the young man for a moment and nodded:
"I trust the Prime Minister."

Almost all the officials in the court were very anxious. They all spoke at once and expressed their opinions, trying to prove that Ju Xin was a traitor.

But... it's of no use... Prince Yan didn't want to listen.

Ying Chengjiao's guarantee is more effective than the opinions of all the officials of Yan.

The three words "Ying Chengjiao" mean gentleman and morality.

Before his golden body was broken, Ying Chengjiao had the greatest credibility in the world.

"Shut up!" King Yan roared angrily.

The court was in a state of silence. How could there be any treacherous person who would not hesitate to sacrifice his life?

King Xi of Yan showed his majesty, looking down at Ju Xin from above:
"Take a break temporarily.

"After you recover from your injuries, I will reward you based on your merits."

Ju Xin, who had originally only thought about immortality, was overjoyed, burst into tears, and knelt down to kowtow to thank King Yan for his kindness.

Amid the "duangdang" sound of his forehead hitting the ground, the veteran's eyes would fall on Ying Chengjiao, full of gratitude.

After seven or eight loud bangs, the veteran collapsed to the ground and fainted.

I don't know if he fainted from knocking his head, or was exhausted from fighting over the past year, or if it was an old injury that flared up after he was rescued from suicide.

King Xi of Yan was horrified and stood up from the throne:

"Someone come quickly! Send Lord Ju to the Imperial Medical Bureau! Ask all the imperial doctors to treat Lord Ju! Lord Ju must not be in any danger!"

Since it has been confirmed that Ju Xin is a loyal minister, then loyal ministers should naturally receive the king's care and preference.

This is what a wise king should do, so that more loyal ministers can emerge.

King Xi of Yan thought he was very wise.

Ju Xin was carried away.

King Yan looked at the door reluctantly for a long time before he sighed and said, clutching his heart:
"The injury is in the actor's body, and the pain is in the lonely heart!

"It would be great if I could bear this pain on behalf of Lord Ju!"

The officials of Yan who were about to die of grief just now were all moved by the joy of King Yan. They rubbed their eyes which were unable to shed tears, and spoke in unison, lowering their voices and saying in a voice that sounded like crying:

"Mr. Ju has the king's care! He will be fine!"

"We can't live without Lord Ju, and we can't live without the King!"

"I will die for the king! Let this disease fall on me!"

"..."

It is a foregone conclusion that Ju Xin will not die, so just say a few good words to him, they are the most sensible people.

As the saying goes, it is never too late to mend.

As for the extremely smooth flattery of Prince Xi of Yan... this is a national event that they think about every day.

Ying Chengjiao thought that this was a good thing for the State of Yan.

King Xi of Yan thought that this was a good thing for Yan State.

Both of them got what they wanted, and a world without anyone getting hurt was achieved.

After hearing everyone's praises, King Xi of Yan was reluctant to let the ministers stop talking, and said to Ying Chengjiao with a smile:

"My dear Prime Minister, I miss Dan a little.

"Could you please say a few kind words to Dan to come back?"

Ying Chengjiao glanced at King Xi of Yan with slight surprise.

He heard from his teacher Lu Buwei that when King Xi of Yan sent away his biological son, Prince Dan of Yan, he was very active and secretly happy.

[Why do you want to bring Prince Dan back? Are you feeling guilty?]
Ying Chengjiao thought casually and came to a conclusion in just a moment.

When Prince Dan of Yan was sent away, the State of Yan was in a turbulent period and King Xi of Yan was at risk of being overthrown.

Now, the State of Yan is stable and is firmly controlled by King Xi of Yan.

Prince Xi of Yan, who always prided himself on being a wise monarch, was thinking of bringing his heir back.

Ying Chengjiao pinched his chin.

[To release or not to release... that is the question...]
…………

【Note 1: 二十, twenty. 】

(End of this chapter)