NFBE Chapter 609 King Qi's Heart Flutters
Chapter 609 King Qi's Heart Flutters
Zhou Chang glanced at her sideways. This woman was only eighteen years old, yet her brows held a composure and sharpness beyond her years. She was like a sword hidden in its sheath, its edge concealed when gentle, but flashing with cold light when drawn.
Why is Lü Dianji so certain?
Lü Zhi turned her face and smiled slightly: "Because I am a woman myself, I know what a woman is capable of."
She gazed into the distance, her eyes distant: "My father often said that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. But I insisted on studying and working. Three years ago, I went to Xianyang alone, and many people laughed at me, saying what could a woman accomplish? Now, I am a scribe in the Ministry of Rites and Literature, participating in the imperial examinations and training examiners... Where are those who laughed at me back then?"
Zhou Chang remained silent. He knew Lü Zhi's background—a woman from Chu who ventured alone to Xianyang, won the princess's favor through her talent, and rose step by step to where she was today. It had not been easy, truly not easy.
"Dianji Lü...you've worked hard," he said sincerely.
“It’s not hard work.” Lü Zhi shook her head. “Being able to do things, and to do what I want to do, is a blessing. Compared to those women who are confined to their chambers and never know the vastness of the world, I am already much luckier.”
A light drizzle fell, and the distant mountains appeared like dark eyebrows. The convoy gradually drove further and further away, eventually disappearing at the end of the official road.
This vast land is being gently yet resolutely transformed by a spring rain. Women are stepping out of their homes, heading to the examination halls, and stepping into a wider world. This step is small, yet crucial.
Empress Lü turned and went downstairs. Preparations for the imperial examinations had entered their final stage, and no mistakes could be tolerated.
Meanwhile, in Linzi, at the Qi King's Palace.
King Jian of Qi summoned Hou Sheng to a side hall. This ruler of Qi was nearly sixty years old, with a kind face, but his eyes always seemed shifty. He had reigned for over thirty years, enjoying peace and wealth, and his greatest fear was change. When the state of Qin rose to power, he heeded Hou Sheng's advice and adopted a strategy of "not aiding the five states," which indeed preserved Qi and allowed him to amass a fortune through the Qin-Qi economic zone.
But now, four of the six states have been destroyed, the state of Yan is barely clinging to life, and the Qin envoy has already arrived in Linzi. The peaceful days are likely coming to an end.
"Prime Minister, is what Li You said... truly credible?" King Jian of Qi's voice trembled slightly. "Can the State of Qin truly protect my ancestral temple?"
Hou Sheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have carefully studied Qin's 'Plan for Governing the Qi Region.' In my opinion, the King of Qin is indeed sincere."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"The plan states that if the King of Qi surrenders voluntarily, he will be granted the title of Marquis, a residence in Xianyang, and an annual stipend of ten thousand households." Hou Sheng took out several pages of copied documents from his sleeve. "The ancestral temples of Qi can be preserved for sacrifices, Qi nobles can retain some of their land, and they can have priority in obtaining franchises for salt, iron, and maritime transport. This... this is much better than destroying the country."
King Jian of Qi took the document and read it carefully. The more he read, the brighter his eyes became.
The plan was written in great detail: the King of Qi would relinquish his title of King and be granted the title of "Marquis of Donghai," move to Xianyang, and enjoy a fief of ten thousand households; the ancestral temple of Qi would be changed to "Qi State Ancestral Temple," with the court allocating funds for sacrifices every year; and Qi nobles would be allocated different amounts of "franchise rights" according to their rank—they could contract to operate salt, iron, silk, shipping, and ports.
This wasn't just the fall of a state; it was a complete transformation! From a feudal lord to a ruler of Qin, he lost real power but retained his wealth and status, and no longer had to worry about state affairs. The nobles of Qi could now openly conduct business and make money, unlike now where they had to operate clandestinely.
"But...but I am, after all, the King of Qi." King Jian of Qi still hesitated. "Eight hundred years of rule, just like that..."
"Your Majesty!" Hou Sheng lowered his voice, "Eight hundred years of the state's existence depends on how we protect it. If we resist to the end, the Qin army will come from the east, and under the thunderous roar, Linzi will be reduced to ashes, and the ancestral temples will be destroyed. That would truly be a disservice to our ancestors! Now, by voluntarily surrendering, the ancestral temples can be preserved, and the bloodline can continue. This is the wise move."
He paused, then added fuel to the fire: "Does Your Majesty know of King Jia of Wei? The State of Wei stubbornly resisted, and on the day the city fell, the Qin army could have massacred the entire city. However, the King of Qin was merciful and only executed the ringleaders, sparing the rest. King Jia of Wei was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Guiming and now resides peacefully in Xianyang. His son, Wei Ji, has even received the title of Guest Minister, with a promising future. If even an enemy state can be treated so leniently, what about the State of Qi, which voluntarily submitted?"
King Jian of Qi remained silent. He was, of course, aware of the situation in Wei. After King Jia of Wei surrendered, the King of Qin indeed did not make things difficult for him; on the contrary, he granted him a title and a residence. This shifted the balance in his heart even further.
"Then... what about the Yan state?" King Jian of Qi suddenly remembered, "King Xi of Yan is still in Liaodong. If I surrender to Qin, wouldn't that be betraying my ally?"
Hou Sheng sneered: "Yan? Yan can barely protect itself! Your Majesty, do you know what Liaodong is like? It's a bitterly cold land with a population of no more than 100,000 and an army of less than 30,000. If King Xi of Yan flees there, he'll only be clinging to life; sooner or later, he'll be wiped out by the Qin army. Why should we accompany him to our deaths?"
These words struck a chord with King Jian of Qi. He was inherently timid and terrified of war. The mere thought of the Qin army's thunderous bombs sent chills down his spine.
"Prime Minister... allow me to think about it some more," King Jian of Qi finally said. "We will discuss it again in three days."
Hou Sheng knew he couldn't push too hard, so he bowed and took his leave. As he walked out of the palace gate, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes. The King of Qi was already wavering; all it took was one more push.
And he had already figured out how to push it away.
Meanwhile, inside the post station.
Li Youzheng was having a secret meeting with his deputy, Wang Ben.
“King Qi has wavered,” Li You said. “Hou Sheng just entered the palace and talked for an hour. He came out looking relaxed, so it seems things went smoothly.”
Wang Ben nodded: "The Chief Judge is incredibly insightful. However... I am worried that Hou Sheng might change his mind. This man is greedy and cunning; what if he takes our money and then goes back on his word?"
“He wouldn’t dare,” Li You said calmly. “Hou Sheng was able to hold the position of prime minister for thirty years not because of loyalty and righteousness, but because of his ability to assess the situation. Now the tide is in Qin’s hands, and he knows that better than anyone else. Moreover, what we are giving you is not just money, but also long-term benefits—the salt and iron concessions, which are the real gold mine.”
He took out a secret report from his sleeve: "This is news just sent by the Black Ice Guard. Hou Sheng's three sons are secretly transferring family assets, preparing to buy land and houses in Qin. They've even planned their escape route. How could he possibly go back on his word?"
Wang Ben admired him, saying, "The Director's strategies are truly masterful."
“However, we cannot let our guard down.” Li You walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Qi King’s Palace. “The King of Qi is weak, but there are still pro-war factions in the Qi court. In particular, General Tian Chong, whose family has been military for generations, hates Qin to the bone. If he finds out that the Qin king is trying to persuade us to surrender, things may change.”
“Tian Chong…” Wang Ben frowned. “This man is indeed troublesome. He has prestige in the army, and if he incites a mutiny, I’m afraid the King of Qi will not be able to suppress it.”
Li You pondered for a moment: "In that case, tomorrow you will visit Tian Chong under the pretext of 'inspecting military affairs.' Don't talk about persuading him to surrender, just talk about friendship between the two countries and military exchanges. Keep him calm for now."
"promise."