People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 336, May I ask about the casualties of the Qin army? (Seeking monthly votes! Last day, please vote!)

Da Qin, Xianyang Palace.

As the palace where the King of Qin lived and handled state affairs, Zhangtai Palace had become the core of power since the reign of King Huiwen of Qin. All court discussions and decisions, large and small, were made in this palace.

Xu Qing, dressed in brocade robes, climbed the steps to the Qin State Council Hall, where dozens of ministers were already waiting.

Dozens of people formed small groups, whispering amongst themselves, occasionally glancing at the empty throne of the King of Qin and the seat below belonging solely to Marquis Wenxin, Lü Buwei. Since Lü Buwei had feigned illness and refused to attend court for three days, Ying Zheng had become increasingly assertive, catching these ministers somewhat off guard.

As Xu Qing walked in, she instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Xu Qing looked at the dozens of people in the hall and found that most of them had extremely unfriendly gazes. Obviously, his delay in receiving the title had made most people in Qin unhappy.

This applies to both civil officials and military generals.

"Looks like we're in for a tough battle today," Xu Qing sighed inwardly.

Although he had made preparations, Xu Qing still dared not be careless in the slightest when facing these Qin ministers, who were at least of the rank of Grand Master. After all, everyone who could stand in Zhangtai Palace was a shrewd and capable individual.

The clear sound of the bronze chimes rang out, and the Qin ministers withdrew their gazes and quickly walked to their seats.

The somewhat chaotic crowd was immediately divided into civil and military ranks. Because Lü Buwei claimed to be ill, the seat at the head of the civil officials was empty, while the head of the military officers was Biao Gong, behind whom was an old man with white hair wearing a black and red robe and holding a tablet.

After the two rows of people were lined up, Xu Qing stood awkwardly in the middle. It was his first time attending court and he didn't know where he should stand.

“Grand Master, you have not yet been granted a title, you should wait with me here,” a eunuch said as he approached Xu Qing.

Xu Qing nodded slightly and followed the eunuch to the side, while the other ministers entered the hall one by one.

As the three chimes rang out, Xu Qing saw through the door that Ying Zheng, dressed in black royal robes and wearing a crown, strode confidently onto the throne.

After the formalities between the emperor and his subjects concluded in the palace, a powerful voice rang out.
"Summon Mr. Xu to the hall."

"Sir, please."

The eunuch spoke to Xu Qing with utmost respect, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

Xu Qing nodded slightly to him, straightened his clothes, and then stepped into the main hall of Zhangtai Palace.

The Qin state pursued solemnity, and black and red were often used in both architecture and clothing. Zhangtai Palace was no exception. The solemnity of black and the uprightness of red intertwined, making it appear particularly solemn and dignified.

As soon as Xu Qing entered the hall and everyone's eyes turned to him, an invisible pressure formed in the hall, pressing down on Xu Qing like a mountain collapsing.

Xu Qing sensed the heavy atmosphere around him and suddenly understood why Qin Wuyang was so frightened as soon as he stepped into the hall when Jing Ke attempted to assassinate the King of Qin.

Let alone a ruthless second-generation official like Qin Wuyang, even a master with a stable mind would probably have his aura suppressed.

Despite feeling the pressure, Xu Qing remained unaffected, walking calmly and slowly to the center of the hall. Her ethereal and otherworldly aura stood out amidst the solemn and majestic atmosphere, drawing admiring glances from onlookers.

"Good lad, he doesn't look like a doctor, he looks more like a Taoist."

Looking at the composed Xu Qing, Biao Gong couldn't help but praise him in his heart.

Xu Qing looked at Ying Zheng on the throne, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw a beaded curtain. There was no one behind the curtain at this moment.

"Xu Qing greets the King of Qin and all the esteemed officials." Xu Qing bowed slightly, showing proper manners.

Upon hearing Xu Qing introduce himself by his name, many people frowned, their eyes showing surprise. Although they had heard of Xu Qing's youth, they never expected that he had not yet reached adulthood.

Is this another Gan Luo?

Some people couldn't help but think of it, and at the same time, their gazes toward Xu Qing became more complicated.

Gan Luo was a legend in the Qin court. He became a high-ranking official at the young age of twelve and was known for his exceptional intelligence. However, this young high-ranking official met a tragic end, becoming a victim in the first power struggle between the King of Qin and Lü Buwei.

"Sir, there is no need for such formality. You are a talented individual, and our Qin state is eager to find such talent. Once you enter our great Qin, you should be treated as a national treasure."

Sitting on the throne, Ying Zheng nodded slightly to Xu Qing, revealing a peaceful smile, and spoke.

"Your Majesty is too kind. I am but a humble scholar, and it is my honor to be valued by Your Majesty and placed in this great hall." Xu Qing replied politely and then straightened up.

Everyone flatters and praises each other, and mutual compliments are essential in business. After he finished speaking, Xu Qing felt that the gazes directed at him from all around had softened slightly, and were no longer as unfriendly as before.

"Previously, you postponed your investiture and requested leave, which caused much discussion. Today, all the officials of our Great Qin are present. May I ask what exactly you requested leave for?"

After surveying the assembled officials below, Ying Zheng spoke in a deep voice.

Xu Qing's request for leave has sparked rumors and gossip. Even though Xu Qing's official position and title were agreed upon by him and Lü Buwei, he is still facing criticism from the court officials.

Rather than letting these shrewd people take the initiative, it's better for him to ask directly, seize the power of conversation, and then be able to speak up for Xu Qing when he's overwhelmed.

Upon hearing Ying Zheng's words, several ministers who were originally prepared to launch an attack were speechless, as Ying Zheng's favoritism towards Xu Qing was far too obvious.

So this means they're not even going to pretend anymore, they're just going to fire back and seize the right to speak from them.

But Ying Zheng had already spoken, so they could only wait for Xu Qing to finish speaking before they could speak. In any case, they would never let Xu Qing leave Zhangtai Palace unscathed until he gave a clear answer.

A dozen ministers glared at Xu Qing, slightly turning their bodies to assume an aggressive stance, ready to step forward and launch an attack the moment Xu Qing finished speaking.

Xu Qing glanced at the ministers who were full of hostility towards him, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He had to apologize to these people in advance, because they were destined to be unable to speak today.

"Before answering Your Majesty's question, please allow me to ask a question first," Xu Qing said, bowing slightly before looking towards the military general.

The burly, armored generals all looked on in astonishment.

Why are you looking at them? Are you afraid you can't win an argument with those who are good at talking, so you're going to pick on the weak?

"Sir, please feel free to ask any questions you may have. The Grand Commandant and the General will certainly answer them without reservation," Ying Zheng said in a deep voice, a hint of anticipation and curiosity flashing in his eyes.

He was also very curious about what Xu Qing had prepared in the past three days to deal with the rumors, and how he would gain a foothold.

As the Grand Commandant, Biao Gong remained silent, while General Meng Ao, standing at the rear, nodded slightly to Xu Qing and spoke.
"Mr. Xu, please feel free to ask me anything. I am Meng Ao, the Supreme General of Qin. If there are any questions about the army, I will answer them to the best of my knowledge."

Upon hearing Meng Ao's name, a glint of light flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. The Meng family had served the King of Qin for generations, and Meng Tian had clearly expressed his support for Ying Zheng. It was certain that Meng Ao would also be on Ying Zheng's side.

This high-ranking military official, a veteran of four dynasties, is one of our own.

"May I ask, General, how many casualties do our Qin warriors suffer on each expedition?" Xu Qing asked Meng Ao with a burning gaze.

Upon hearing this, Meng Ao, the general, and the other generals were all taken aback, while the other civil officials also looked at Xu Qing with puzzlement in their eyes.

Meng Ao glanced at Xu Qing. Although he didn't understand why Xu Qing was asking this question, he slowly spoke, thinking they were all on the same side.

"This is a difficult question for me to answer, because the enemy situation is different each time we go on an expedition, so the number of casualties is also different. Based on the expeditions I led, the Battle of Pingyang involved 60,000 troops attacking the combined forces of Han and Wei, resulting in over 10,000 casualties. The Battle of Hedong..."

Meng Ao recalled his experience leading troops into battle, reciting the numbers of those who had died in action. Unconsciously, Meng Ao's voice trembled slightly.

He fought in over a hundred battles, both large and small, with victories and defeats. Victories led to territorial expansion, while defeats resulted in the loss of land.

Regardless of victory or defeat, the Qin army would ultimately suffer casualties, ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands. Perhaps to others these were just cold numbers, but to Meng Ao, the general, each number represented a vibrant life.

They were all the pillars of their families, the beloved children their parents longed for, the husbands their wives thought of day and night, or perhaps their fathers.
Every time Meng Ao recounted the casualties of a battle, the brutality of the battle would appear before his eyes. He would see those young faces rushing to the battlefield without hesitation. Some of them were able to return alive, but many more were forever buried on the battlefield.

It is said that generals love war the most because they can achieve great deeds, but veteran generals like Meng Ao truly longed for a time without war.

The other generals also looked grave upon hearing Meng Ao's words. They were all experienced military commanders and could naturally understand Meng Ao's feelings.

Humans are not plants or trees, how can they be without feelings? A comrade who was laughing and talking with you one day may fall on the battlefield the next day, his body trampled by the enemy or his own people, eventually becoming a bloody mess.

Ying Zheng listened to Meng Ao's words and his expression became extremely solemn. Although he had never personally led troops into battle, his understanding of the battlefield was mostly based on various military reports or historical books, and he had no feeling for those cold words.

But during his two days in Wusui, looking at the Qin soldiers in the camp, he realized how many young lives and the hopes of others were represented by those cold words.

Many of the civil officials also became somber. These civil officials were not like those of later generations who were lazy in farming and had never seen battle. Many of them had served in the army and had witnessed the cruelty of the battlefield.

"I'm not good at calculations, so I can't give you specific figures, but on average, each battle costs anywhere from a few thousand to several thousand," Meng Ao said after taking a deep breath, his tiger eyes slightly red.

(End of this chapter)