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

Chapter 475, A gentleman is inclusive without being partisan; a petty person is partisan without being inclusive.

Han Fei walked away in silence. Although Zhang Liang was very curious, he could only suppress his curiosity and follow Han Fei out.

"Ninth Young Master, please consider what I said carefully. The Farmer Family will always be your friend." Tian Guang said as he walked out of the room, looking at Han Fei's back.

Han Fei stopped and looked at Tian Guang, saying...

"I will consider what Xia Kui said."

After saying this, Han Fei did not give Tian Guang a chance to speak again, and turned to walk outside.

As Tian Guang watched Han Fei's departing figure, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and his eyes sparkled with joy.

He talked with Han Fei for an hour, mostly about wanting Han Fei to join the anti-Qin forces formed by Xiong Qi. However, Han Fei, just like he had been at Xiaoshengxianzhuang in Sanghai, was unwilling to join them in opposing the Qin state.

Even though everyone was rebelling against the tyranny of the Qin state, Tian Guang couldn't understand why Han Fei was unwilling to join them.

However, it doesn't matter if Han Fei doesn't join. Han is in dire straits, and the only people in Han who can lend Han Fei grain are the farmers. Therefore, Tian Guang believes that no matter how unwilling Han Fei is, he will agree for the sake of Han.

Thinking of this, Tian Guang looked at Situ Wanli and said...

"Master Situ, how's the grain I asked you to collect coming along?"

Upon being called out, Situ Wanli stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said...
"Reporting to the leader, I have prepared two thousand bushels of millet and one thousand five hundred bushels of grain, which are currently stored in the Hidden Dragon Hall. Meanwhile, disciples from the Chu, Wei, and Zhao kingdoms are delivering grain."

"Ah."

Tian Guang nodded in satisfaction. Now that he held capital in his hands, he didn't believe Han Fei would dare to refuse his invitation.

Meanwhile, Han Fei and Zhang Liang had already left the Hidden Dragon Hall and were riding their horses towards Xinzheng City.

Seeing Han Fei's solemn expression, Zhang Liang hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question that had been bothering him.

"Brother Han, haven't you reached an agreement with the Xia Kui? Is the Farmer Clan unwilling to help us?" Zhang Liang asked.

Han Fei glanced at Zhang Liang, shook his head slightly, and sighed softly.

"Alas, the truth is quite the opposite. The farmers are very willing to help us, and they have already collected a lot of grain. They have also sent their disciples to transport a lot of grain from Zhao, Wei, and Chu, which is enough to alleviate the current situation in Han."

"only."

Upon hearing that the farmer had grain, Zhang Liang's face lit up with excitement, and before Han Fei could finish speaking, he said...
"Really? The farmers really have grain on hand?"

"Zifang, don't get agitated. The farmers do have grain, but their leader, Tian Guang, is helping us on conditions; it's not for free," Han Fei said.

Zhang Liang realized he had lost his composure, and after calming down, he looked at Han Fei and asked...
"What conditions? Could it be that these conditions are what make Brother Han so worried?"

"The farmer, or rather Tian Guang's condition, is that he hopes I can join the anti-Qin alliance he and the anti-Qin people in various countries have formed, so as to open up the connection between the anti-Qin people in the six states of Shandong and form an invisible defense line to resist the eastward expansion of Qin."

After Han Fei finished speaking, his expression became even more solemn. He looked up at the clear sky, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.

"Isn't this a good thing?" Zhang Liang asked, puzzled.

The purpose of the quicksand is to strengthen Han, and the prerequisite for strengthening Han is to give Han enough time to reform and become stronger. If the anti-Qin people of the six states mentioned by Tian Guang unite, even if this cannot stop Qin's eastward expansion, it can still buy Han enough time.

This would not only provide South Korea and the Shifting Sands with a cooperative ally, but also alleviate South Korea's current predicament. Zhang Liang did not understand why Han Fei would refuse.

"This seems like a good thing, but I always feel that it is not a good thing. The anti-Qin alliance that Tian Guang mentioned spans six states, which is simply not something that the peasant family and he can support. So I suspect that there must be someone else behind Tian Guang."

"Moreover, during my conversation with Tian Guang just now, I managed to get some information out of him. From this, I realized that Tian Guang and the person behind him have ulterior motives. Cooperating with them is like asking a tiger for its skin."

Han Fei looked at Zhang Liang and said slowly.

If given a specific reason for rejecting Tian Guang, Han Fei would only say one thing: those who walk different paths cannot make plans together.

Tian Guang claimed that the anti-Qin alliance was meant to curb Qin's expansion and preserve the six states, but Han Fei sensed from his words that this so-called anti-Qin banner was merely an excuse for Tian Guang and his backers to achieve their own goals.

"But cooperating with them could at least alleviate South Korea's current predicament," Zhang Liang said.

“Zifang, Confucius once said, ‘A gentleman is inclusive but not partisan, while a petty person is partisan but not inclusive.’ If Tian Guang and others really wanted to rebel against Qin, how could they have been completely unknown among the six states? People who act in the shadows have impure motives, and their alliances are not cooperation but collusion.”

Han Fei looked at the anxious Zhang Liang and shook his head.

Zhang Liang is good in every way, except that he is too young. He lacks experience and temperament, and his vision is not long-term enough. However, he will have plenty of time to teach Zhang Liang in the future.

Just as Zhang Liang was about to say something to Han Fei, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking their path.

"who are you?"

Upon seeing the strangers who had suddenly appeared, Zhang Liang and Han Fei immediately became alert and looked at each other warily, asking questions.

The visitor didn't speak, but simply took out a piece of cloth and tossed it to Han Fei before leaving.

Han Fei looked at the cloth in his hand. After seeing what was inside, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. Then, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile.

"Brother Han, what is this cloth?" Zhang Liang asked, looking at Han Fei's changing expression.

"This is an invitation from Brother Xu. He invited us to meet at Banshan Villa and said he would treat us to drinks."

Han Fei waved the cloth in his hand and said with a smile.

"Brother Xu!?"

Zhang Liang looked at the cloth in Han Fei's hand, his expression becoming complicated.

He didn't know how to face Xu Qing anymore. He admired her greatly, but now she was standing against South Korea and causing panic among the Korean people. Zhang Liang really didn't know what attitude to adopt when he saw Xu Qing again.

Han Fei saw through Zhang Liang's concerns, so he tossed the cloth to him and said...

"Zifang, don't overthink it. Banshan Villa is a temporary residence that Brother Xu lent to Liusha. Now that the villa owner has returned and invited us for drinks, how can we refuse?"

"And my intuition tells me that if we accept the invitation, there will be an unexpected surprise waiting for us."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liang stopped thinking about it and nodded, dismissing the idea in his mind.
"Alright, then we will accept the invitation to the banquet."

Han Fei and Zhang Liang turned their horses around and headed towards the Half-Mountain Villa.

As dusk fell, Han Fei and Zhang Liang arrived at the Half-Mountain Villa.

At this moment, the manor gate was wide open, and several girls from the former Zilan Pavilion were waiting outside. When they saw Han Fei and Zhang Liang return, they immediately went forward to greet them.

“Ninth Young Master, Young Master Zifang, your brother-in-law is waiting for you at the manor. Sister Zinu and Sister Nongyu are almost in Xinzheng and will be back tonight,” a young woman said.

"Are Zi Nu and Nong Yu coming back?" Han Fei and Zhang Liang asked in surprise.

The South Korean delegation returned to South Korea two days ago, but Zi Nu and Nong Yu, who accompanied them, stayed at Taiyi Mountain for two more days. According to the letter sent back by Zi Nu, the two of them will not be able to return until at least the day after tomorrow.

Their early return surprised Han Fei and Zhang Liang.

"That's right. According to Nongyu, Sister Zinu originally wanted to stay with her brother-in-law for a couple more days. However, when she went to Mount Taiyi to find him, she learned that he had not only not gone into seclusion but had secretly run down the mountain. So she returned to Xinzheng ahead of time to find him."

The girl from Zilan Pavilion covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

"Oh, Brother Xu, Brother Xu."

Han Fei smiled helplessly, turned around and walked into the manor, with Zhang Liang following closely behind.

Inside the villa, at the lakeside pavilion,

Xu Qing sat upright in the pavilion, with several exquisite dishes and a pot of Zilanxuan's special osmanthus wine laid out on the table in front of her. A refreshing lake breeze blew, making the hem of Xu Qing's clothes flutter.

Light footsteps sounded, and Han Fei and Zhang Liang appeared in Xu Qing's sight.

Upon seeing the two arrive, Xu Qing stood up from his seat and went forward to greet them.

"Brother Han Fei, it's great to see you again. Zifang, it's been a long time." Xu Qing greeted the two with a smile.

"I had barely returned to Xinzheng when Brother Xu hosted a welcome dinner for me. You're too kind to me, Brother Xu. This osmanthus wine seems to be a treasured possession of Miss Zi Nu, which I rarely see when we meet. You actually brought it out for me."

Han Fei looked at the fine wine on the table, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and said something.

"Brother Xu, it's been a long time."

Zhang Liang looked at Xu Qing with a complicated expression. Although Han Fei had reminded him beforehand, he still didn't know how to face Xu Qing when they actually met.

Seeing this, Xu Qing didn't pay any attention and instead hooked her arm around Han Fei's shoulder and walked into the pavilion.

“At home, I still keep my word. Brother Han Fei enjoys fine wine, so how could I not prepare some to entertain him?” Xu Qing said with a smile.

"I just hope that Brother Xu won't be afraid now that Miss Zi Nu is back," Han Fei joked.

Xu Qing and Han Fei chatted and laughed as they sat down in the pavilion.

After pouring wine for Han Fei and Zhang Liang, Xu Qing and the other two exchanged a few polite words. After three cups of wine, Han Fei put down his cup.

"Brother Xu, you specially invited me to the manor for a banquet, it can't be just for drinking, right?" Han Fei asked Xu Qing.

"Brother Han Fei understands me best. I did have other purposes in inviting you and Zifang here today."

Xu Qing didn't intend to hide his purpose, so he said with a smile.

Han Fei and Zhang Liang were taken aback by Xu Qing's straightforwardness.

"Brother Xu is as straightforward as ever. May I ask what brings you here?"

A glint of light flashed in Han Fei's eyes as he asked with a light laugh.

(End of this chapter)