The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 237: Five countries with their own selfish motives attacked Qin, a strange war

"There is only one king in the Qin State, Prince Chu of Qin." Ying Chengjiao called his father by his name.

If Chunyu Yue from the Jixia Academy, Kong Bin from the Kong family and others saw this, they would get angry and scold him in person.

Prince Chu of Qin chuckled and looked very happy.

The Qin State did not believe in Confucianism.

"Yes, I am the king, I am the only king." Prince Chu of Qin murmured, "I have the final say on all matters concerning the Qin State. Don't blame your brother..."

"What did father say?" Ying Chengjiao leaned over and asked.

Qin Wang Zichu's last sentence was too soft for him to hear.

Ying Chengjiao heard a faint snoring sound.

Prince Chu of Qin fell asleep.

Ying Chengjiao pulled the black bird silk quilt upwards a little, pulled it to his father's collar, and tucked it into his shoulders.

My father's shoulders are very painful.

It seemed like there was no flesh under the clothes, just bones.

Ying Chengjiao sat there, silent.

Since he was born, he remembered that his father had always been very thin.

This time I came back, I am the thinnest I have ever been.

The sad boy didn't have the time to think about the words he didn't hear clearly.

So, a few months later, Duke Bie died.

In the second year of the reign of King Qin, March and April.

During these two months, the Qin army was constantly engaged in warfare.

First defeat Han, then attack Zhao.

The 200,000 Qin troops were under the command of the main general Duke Bie, and his deputy generals Meng Ao, Wang Ling, Yang Duanhe, and Huan Yi.

Invincible, fighting to the fullest.

The surviving Qin soldiers and veterans who had participated in the war all smiled happily as they looked at the heads in their hands, not to mention the new recruits who were not even the lowest rank of dukes.

Since the Qin State conquered the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, there have not been any major wars, not even a few minor frictions among the soldiers.

There was no war in Qi, and the people of Qi celebrated happily.

There was no war in Qin State, and the people of Qin were getting very frustrated.

The Qin State's military merit title is a magical tool that can actually change one's destiny.

As long as I think about going into battle and killing the enemy, I can be promoted to a higher position, wear silk and satin, live in a wealthy house, and eat meat.

The Qin people's blood boiled and steam came out of their heads.

Although farming can help you get promoted, it can't be as fast as military service.
After working as a farmer for a year, his contributions were not enough to be promoted to the first-class duke.

But if he killed a soldier on the battlefield, he would immediately leave his status as a commoner and become a person with a title - a duke.

Few Qin people who went to the battlefield retreated.

We all have one head on two shoulders. Tens of thousands of people die in a war, but I can’t kill even one?

Almost all Qin people thought so.

Few Qin people would have thought that if he could kill his enemies, his enemies could also kill him.

Everyone thinks they are the lucky one.

No, the Qin people did not consider themselves lucky, they just thought it was natural for them to survive after killing someone.

This is what every veteran in their hometown who had participated in the war and enjoyed a very high reputation in their local area told them.

Veterans will not talk about how many comrades died, they will only talk about how brave they were on the battlefield and what they ate, lived in, and wore as noblemen.

This was not because Qin had any requirements for propaganda, but because of their own vanity.

Wealth and honor do not return to their hometown, just like walking in brocade at night.

Human nature is what it is.

Killing innocent people to take credit is also human nature.

The Qin State had strict discipline, and the Qin Army had strict discipline.

But this strictness does not mean killing innocent people to gain credit.

Killing a soldier is like killing an armored enemy.

Cutting off his head and bringing it back is real military achievement.

But the soldiers' heads are not covered with armor.

It was a normal thing for the Qin army to attack various countries, kill their civilians, cut off their heads and bring them back, and falsely claim that they were the heads of soldiers.

If the inspector finds out and the heads don’t count, then it’s over.

But there are always things that the inspectors didn't find, and then this good man's head becomes a real achievement.

There is no extra penalty if you are caught, and if you are not caught, you earn money.

Therefore, the Qin army was extremely bloodthirsty.

Wherever he went, the elderly, children, and women, those with heads that looked unqualified at first glance, might be able to get a chance to survive.

Man, kill.

The Qin army swept through the neighboring Han and Zhao for two months like a swarm of locusts.

The number of people killed was nearly 20,000, and that was registered as military merit.

The number of unregistered people will not be less than that of registered people.

It's May.

Two months after the Qin army launched a massive attack.

Zhao, Yan, Wei, Han, and Chu decided to form an alliance of five countries to attack Qin together.

The leader of the coalition forces, King Dan of Zhao recommended Le Cheng, who had made great achievements in the attack on Yan.

The King of Yan was not happy about it and refused it.

Le Cheng led the Zhao army and just defeated his Yan State, leaving it in a state of disgrace.

He turned around and was about to lead the soldiers of Yan State. What was he thinking?

King Xi of Yan firmly rejected King Dan of Zhao's proposal on the grounds that Ruo Qiang wanted to appoint Le Cheng as general and the Yan army's morale was unstable.

King Dan of Zhao was indignant, but he had to bear it for the sake of the overall situation - the Qin army was now attacking Zhao, not Yan.

King Dan of Zhao took the initiative to propose that Yan general Ju Xin be appointed as the commander of the coalition forces.

Ju Xin was a native of Zhao and a famous general who had fought with King Wuling of Zhao in many battles.

King Dan of Zhao approved of Ju Xin's decision to lead the troops.

However, King Xi of Yan refused again, on the grounds that Ju Xin was old and not good at long-term battles.

Prince Zhao Dan was very angry.

Ju Xin defended Liaocheng for a year without any supplies. Do you call this not being good at long-term fighting?

Zhao Wangdan really couldn't understand.

Since King Xi of Yan was unwilling to let Zhao generals lead Yan troops, why was he also unwilling to let Yan generals lead Yan troops? Is he a human being?

King Dan of Zhao didn't understand, but King Yu of Wei did.

When King Xi of Yan proposed that the war-capable Wei State send a general to lead the coalition forces of five countries, King Yu of Wei refused.

Can the five countries defeat Qin in one fell swoop?
King Yu of Wei thought it was impossible.

Since that is not possible, the main general of the coalition forces cannot come from Wei, and Qin cannot be allowed to bear a grudge against Wei.

King Xi of Yan thought so too.

He was forced to help Zhao fight Qin, and he was very unhappy about it.

Zhao State also wants Yan State to send out its main general to lead the coalition forces to fight against Zhao State and attract Qin State's hatred for Zhao State? You are just daydreaming!

Do you really think he, the King of Yan, is stupid?
Yan and Wei decided not to send out their main generals, so the problem fell to the last country - Chu.

Han...The four countries ignored Han's existence.

If Han sends out a chief general, not only will Yan, Zhao, Wei and Chu be worried, but even Han itself will be worried.

Today's Koreans are not the ancient Koreans of two hundred years ago.

It's fine to ask South Korea to come up with some ideas, but if we ask them to fight, it would be faster for them to surrender directly.

Huang Xie, Jun of Chu State, attached great importance to this opportunity.

The State of Chu led the coalition of five countries to attack Qin. Although this would incur the hatred of Qin, it also became the ruler of the five countries for a short period of time.

This is equivalent to a suzerain state.

With this name, wouldn’t I have a legitimate excuse to do something in the future?

Dangers and opportunities coexist.

However, Huang Xie thought so, but the Chu nobles did not think so. The three nobles of Qu, Zhao and Jing, who were of the same surname as King Yuan of Chu and were branches of the royal family, led the Xiang, Chen and other Chu nobles to ignore Huang Xie.

If you want a general to lead the coalition forces of five countries to fight against the Qin State, sure, just find one from among your retainers.

Aren’t you, Lord Huang Xie, very powerful?
Can't they bypass us and use the name of fiefdom to build a powerful country?
Didn’t we tell the king that we were hindering the development of the State of Chu?

Why are you asking us, the corrupt nobles, to do such an important thing? Just do it yourself.

Huang Xie was overwhelmed.

Explain with emotion.

The Chu nobles showed no mercy to him.

Appeal with reason.

When talking about the powerful Qin State being a huge threat to the Chu State, don't forget that it was Bai Qi who captured the old capital.

The Chu nobles disagreed.

Xinying was a place of peace and prosperity, they were enjoying themselves every day, where did the Qin army come from? This is alarmist!

Lure them with benefits.

The seven official positions in the court, including Zuo Yin, You Yin, Situ, Si Bai, etc., could be given up and replaced by the sons of nobles.

The names of official titles in the State of Chu were unique and different from those in other countries.

The seven official positions that Huang Xie gave up were equivalent to the nine ministers in other countries, which can be said to be a show of sincerity.

The Chu nobles, led by the three great nobles Qu, Jing and Zhao, still refused to give in.

Huang Xie, a pariah who was not from the Chu aristocracy, was removed from office. All official positions in the Chu State belonged to the Chu aristocrats.

Huang Xie made the concession out of kindness.

But in the eyes of the Chu nobles, Huang Xie had snatched away the official positions that should have belonged to them and was throwing them back to make a deal.

As a lowly commoner, does he really think that he can turn the world upside down with the support of the king?
Huang Xie was helpless.

He did have his own men, but Zhao, Han, Wei and Yan did not trust him.

Huang Xie, your men have no outstanding military achievements. Why would the four countries hand over their armies to you for command?

Huang Xie, do you think that attacking Qin is just a childish game?

Is there any difference between letting your retainer, who is unknown to everyone except you, become a general and letting South Korea produce people?

Just vote!

At this point, Huang Xie was forced into a dead end.

The generals of Chu that the other four states could trust were all nobles, without exception.

The State of Chu is not the State of Qin and will be able to climb up from the bottom.

The generals of the Chu State were determined from the moment they were born.

Kings, princes, generals and ministers all have their own race.

Huang Xie, who controlled the State of Chu and held a high position of power.

Domestic affairs are decided by one person, and it is useless to ask the grandfather or the grandmother for help in foreign wars.

Because of this incident, Huang Xie became even more enthusiastic about the prince.

The prince is still his offspring.

His descendant will be the King of Chu.

When the time comes, all these nobles will be dealt with!
With hatred towards the Chu nobles, he went to see King Yuan of Chu and asked him to force the Chu nobles to send someone out.

King Chu Yuan, who was cuckolded without knowing it and was obsessed with babysitting Huang Xie's children, politely rejected his confidant.

King Chu Yuan said that his words were not effective, but in fact he didn't want to say this at all.

This was a counterattack by the Chu nobles against Huang Xie.

As the King of Chu, he was happy to see Le Zhi, so how could he stop it?
Huang Xie and the Chu nobles were in opposition and tit-for-tat, so King Yuan of Chu could raise his child with peace of mind.

The Lu family, the former royal family of Qi, taught King Yuan of Chu the consequences of a single-family dominance through a bloody lesson.

King Yuan of Chu and Huang Xie, the king and his minister, discussed three points and finally reached a consensus - to ask the State of Zhao to send someone.

Call the name, Lian Po.

This issue went around the four countries and finally returned to Zhao.

There was no reason for Zhao Wangdan to be unwilling.

The Qin army is still stationed in Zhao.

Whether the main general of the coalition forces is a Zhao general or not, it will not hinder Qin's attack on Zhao.

Whether the King of Yan is happy or not, why should the Yan army give up the Zhao general?
But since the four countries of Chu, Han, Zhao and Wei all agreed, King Xi of Yan had no choice but to accept it.

Yan, Wei and Chu have no talents, and Han is not worthy of producing any talents, so who else could be the chief general except the general of Zhao?
I admitted it, but the process lasted for half a month.

King Xi of Yan, who already knew the outcome, procrastinated and delayed deliberately, allowing the Qin army to beat Zhao for a while longer.

The weaker Zhao is, the more advantageous Yan will be.

King Xi of Yan did not forget the attack from Zhao.

After the five countries attacked Qin, Yan Guoxi prepared to attack Zhao to avenge himself.

After all this, by the time Lian Po led an army of 300,000 from five countries to fight against the Qin army, it was already June.

The coalition forces were divided into two routes.

Lian Po personally led the army to fight in Zhao.

The young Chu general Xiang Yan led the army to fight in Han.

Less than half a month.

The lost territories of Zhao and Han were completely recovered.

However, the veteran general Lian Po was not happy.

The Qin army in Zhao retreated on their own initiative instead of being beaten back by him.

The old general stood on the top of the newly recovered city, looking at the billowing dust of the Qin army's retreat in the distance, full of doubts.

Why did the Qin army just abandon the captured city and evacuate?

"The general is so powerful! The Qin dogs were afraid of him and fled without fighting!" The deputy general flattered the veteran behind his back.

"Bullshit! When have you ever been afraid of Qin dogs?" The old general cursed and said in a deep voice: "What's the situation in South Korea? Have the people who went there come back? Is it the same as here?"

South Korea, Chenggao (pronounced gao).

Xiang Yan stood on the top of the city wall, also looking at the Qin army disappearing in the distance.

The 21-year-old young general stroked his smooth chin and said with a sigh:
"Is this the Qin State that poses a huge threat to our country? It's really not good."

He raised his voice and shouted:
"Who is the person in charge here?"

The magistrate of Chenggao County, Chu Li, stepped forward and bowed his head respectfully in response.

Xiang Yan stretched his body and shook his neck.
"Go, go, prepare wine and food for the brothers, beauties..."

In Xiang Yan's opinion, this request was extremely reasonable.

I fight wars for you, Korea, eat your delicacies, drink your wines, and play with your beauties, what's wrong with that?
It's only natural!

Chu Li also thought that this was not excessive and it was very normal.

but……

"General, we have beauties, but the food and wine... may not be what you want." The magistrate of Chenggao County smiled bitterly.

Xiang Yan's two arms were stretched out in the air, and he turned his head back, looking dignified without being angry:
"Does the county magistrate look down on my brothers?"

Chu Li shook his hands repeatedly and said in panic:

"How dare I? There is no food left in the city!
“After the Qin army captured Chenggao, they used Chenggao as their center to plunder food and grass from the surrounding towns, villages, and cities and sent them back to Qin.

"To be honest, General.

“It’s not just that there’s not much food left in the city.

“There may be no food within a ten-mile radius.

"The remaining people in the city may need some food from the general..."

The young General Chu was a little confused.

This was the first time he had encountered this, and his elders had never told him that such a thing would happen.

A city that had not been massacred would not only be unable to provide food to his army after it was liberated, but would have to eat up his military rations instead.

"Food is easy. Bring the beauty up first. Don't you see that my brothers are starving?" Xiang Yan said, pointing at the soldiers around him with green eyes.

Chu Li sighed inwardly and replied "Yes", and went down to find women for these Chu soldiers.

He knew that the women who had been abused by the Qin army would once again suffer the atrocities of the Chu army.

But he was not lamenting about Korean women, but about himself.

He felt that this young Chu general would not give him food.

(End of this chapter)