The fire burned all night, and finally there was no news of the crown prince Ji Ping, and the city was hoping that Ji Ping had been burned to death, but unfortunately, there was no body in the palace. Soon, the soldiers defending the city told him that a group of soldiers took advantage of the fact that everyone was fighting the fire and left the lower capital with the token of the prince Ji Ping. Only then did the city know that Ji Ping had fled. After weighing the pros and cons, on the one hand, he let out the wind, saying that it was the Qi people who burned the palace of the lower capital and kidnapped the crown prince Ji Ping, and on the other hand, he sent fast horses to Zhao State, hoping that Zhao State could send troops to rescue.

Seeing that Ji Ping was nowhere to be found, the army of the sub-period insisted on attacking again against the wind and snow, but his level was indeed not very good, and the city was properly commanded, so he could hold the last line of defense, and once again let the sub-period return in vain. In desperation, he had to listen to the advice of the ministers, remove the post of general of the sub-period, and send a general named Qin Kai to take over the position of the army and organize the counterinsurgency again.

Qin Kai had just arrived at the front line, and was shocked by the low morale of the front line, although he was only a small lieutenant general before, and it was the first time to command such a battle, but the most basic philosophy of leading troops told him that such a morale battle would undoubtedly be defeated, so he immediately reported to Zizhi that the army must be repaired on the spot, on the one hand, continue to besiege the city, on the other hand, repair morale, at least in the spring before the decisive battle.

Although Ziqi did not understand military affairs, he could only believe Qin Kai's report, ordered the army to be repaired on the spot, and further asked all localities to step up the collection of grain and grass. Qin Kai took the opportunity to reorganize the army and train the soldiers, preparing to deal the final blow to the desperate city army after the beginning of spring.

However, the heavens did not grant people's wishes. Before the two armies could make the final decisive battle, the combined forces of Qi and Song were already in Linzi, and under the leadership of the general Kuang Zhang, they crossed the river and marched towards the Great Wall of Yan in the south. The most surprising thing is that the crown prince Ji Ping, who has disappeared for several months, also appeared on the border of Yan, hoping to suppress the rebellion with the help of the Qi army.

The increasingly fierce situation of Yan has become the focus of attention of the princes of all countries, whether it is Zhao Wei or Qin Chu, they have set their sights on this most inconspicuous vassal state, everyone knows that no matter what, the matter of Yan will have an inevitable impact.

Handan, Longtai.

"The king, the prince of Yan Guo is asking to see the king."

"Hurry up, please." Zhao Yong stood up and walked down the steps, just in time to see the door of the main hall, a young man with a generous demeanor walked in, the young man was not beautifully dressed, but he was victorious in his extraordinary bearing, with a sad face, but he was not lost. Born with the most noble appearance.

"The prince of Yan Kingdom, meet the king."

"Childe is exempt." When Zhao Yong said this, the person had already arrived in front of him and personally helped him up, "The widow is overjoyed to know that the son is coming." I have long heard that the son is extraordinary, and when I see it today, I will not deceive me. ”

Gongzi was quite surprised to see Zhao Yong so enthusiastic, he and this King Zhao had never known each other, but before in Xinzheng, the capital of South Korea, he had a great friendship with Le Yi, and he heard that Zhao Yong was quite talented, and he inquired in many ways, knowing that this King Zhao had been in power for several years, and he had already managed the weak Zhao State into the overlord of the hegemonic side, which was almost comparable to the Qin State, and it was indeed a long-term friendship with Zhao Yong. Seeing his appearance, he was on par with himself, and he felt a little more admiration in his heart. For the first time in his life, he received such a courtesy, and he felt like a confidant, and that strange feeling disappeared, and he was no longer polite.

"Protons of other countries, wandering people, why do the kings value them so much? Shame shame. ”

"The tiger falls in Pingyang, the dragon meets the shallows, and all the true heroes will probably suffer from this change. He may not be able to soar into the sky one day. ”

The development of the situation in the Yan Kingdom greatly exceeded the expectations of the monarchs and ministers of the Zhao State. The meaning of Zhao Yonghe and the lieutenants is probably to hope that the city and Ji Ping's army can withstand Zizhi's attack, and it is best that the two families can delay until Zhao completely destroys Zhongshan, and then Zhao Guo throws out the Gongzi position, and recommends the Gongzi position as the new Yan King with Ji Ping's disobedience, so that Zhao State and Yan State will become allies, and Zhao State can obtain the greatest benefits with the minimum price.

However, the development of things was too weird, Ji Ping and the city were unexpectedly infighting first, and then Ji Ping disappeared, and when he reappeared, he had become an ally of Qi and stood on the side of Qi. And the city quilt, which represents the interests of Zhao State, has been forced to the brink of life and death. At this time, Qi Guo intervened, although it was expected, but the timing was also quite calculated.

Now that the situation has reached this point, Zhao Yong and the others have to adjust their plans. According to the meaning of the lieutenant, although the original plan was the least risky, in the long run, the prince may not completely obey Zhao Guo's advice, and at most maintain a neutral position. Since the situation has deteriorated, simply support Gongzizhi to succeed to the throne at this moment, and support Shibei and Gongzizhi to fight against Ji Ping and the Qi troops. Of course, all this must wait for Ji Ping and others to clear the last obstacle.

"Since the rebellion of the son, the Yan Kingdom has been in constant civil strife. At the beginning, the widow did not stop this from happening on the grounds that the internal affairs of the Yan State and the Zhao State should not intervene more, so that the Yan State fell into such a situation and thought about it so much, the widow felt deeply guilty. Zhao Yong said with a solemn face, "At the beginning, Master Meng also advised the widow to put benevolence first and think about the people of Yan Kingdom, but now that I think about it, I really regret not being at the beginning." The widow is here, and he still has to ask the son for his guilt. ”

"The king is very polite." Gongzi hurriedly returned the salute. Mencius persuaded Zhao Yong about this, Gongzizhi also heard about it, and he also visited Mengfuzi because of this matter, although in the end there was no follow-up to Zhao Yong, Gongzizhi knew Zhao Yong's position, that is, Yan Guo's internal affairs were not ready to participate. is to complain a little about Zhao Yong, but if you think about it carefully, there is nothing wrong with what Zhao Yong did, and he can only blame his father. "Zhao Guo refused to help, because he didn't want to interfere in the affairs of Yan State, and he didn't really want to help Yan Guo. If everyone is like that Qi country, I am afraid that the Yan country has fallen apart at this time, and in the final analysis, the post still has to be thanks to the king. ”

"Yan Zhao is a friendly neighbor, a little help, it doesn't matter. At this time, I invited Childe to come because I wanted to ask Childe about his next step. ”

In the past few years as a hostage in South Korea, Gongzi has tasted the cold words of others, although life is not so wishful, but the hostage life has also made him accustomed to fighting for power and profit, and he has added a lot of experience. At this moment, although Zhao Yong was asking about his own plans, he obviously meant something else.

Gongzi pursed his lips, lowered his head and thought for a while, and returned a little cautiously: "If it weren't for the king's summons, the post would still be in Xinzheng and be ridiculed in every way." Yan Guo suffered from this, but he was powerless, and he was really ashamed of his ancestors. Therefore, he hoped that Zhao Guo could send troops to help Yan Guo and quell the rebellion. He is willing to be a pawn in front of the horse, leading the horse and whipping for the king, in order to serve the country. ”

"Childe is serious." Zhao Yong hurriedly asked Le Yi to help Ji Zhi up, "The widow summoned Gongzi today to discuss this matter. ”

"Could it be that the king has decided to send troops to rescue Yan Kingdom?"

Zhao Yong glanced at Le Yi, who understood, walked up to Ji Zhi, and said slowly: "Forgive me, son, Zhao Guo has no interest in the political affairs of Yan State, not to mention that although the Yan and Zhao families have many grievances, they have been friends for generations, and they have never had grudges, and Zhao Guo has no ambition to annex Yan State, and Yan State has never been lightly provoked. It is because of this matter, Zhao Guo's position has not changed, and the affairs of Yan Guo should naturally be decided by the people of Yan State. ”

Gongzi frowned, thinking that if it was so simple, wouldn't King Zhao's move today be superfluous?

"However, now that Yan's internal strife is no longer just Yanguo's own business. The people of Qi intervened in the affairs of Yan State, and the variables in it naturally needed to be vigilant for Zhao State. If the State of Qi annexed the State of Yan, the State of Zhao would be cold. Therefore, we must not sit idly by. ”

"It's to come up with a way to get the best of both worlds, if the son thinks it's feasible, you might as well give it a try, if the son thinks it's not feasible, Zhao Guo still welcomes the son to live in Handan, and he doesn't have to go back to Xinzheng."

"Sir, please."

Le Yi cleared his throat, walked up to Ji Zhi, and said: "What the king of my family means is that Zhao can send an army into the territory of Yan to help quell the rebellion, and even help Yan Guo and drive the people of Qi out of Yan Realm. ”

"The general of this army is, of course, Zhao Guoren, but the command of this army can be handed over to you, Gongzi. In other words, you decide how this force will fight, and the generals of Zhao are only responsible for advising you. ”

"But please note that as a force of the Zhao State, if you intend to put this army to death, then the generals of the Zhao State can refuse to carry out your orders."

While listening, Gongzi weighed the pros and cons in his heart, and on the surface he looked expressionless, but in his heart there was a fierce battle between heaven and man.

"If the restoration of the Yan Kingdom is successful, this army will also leave the Yan Kingdom, and it will not be stationed in the Yan Kingdom for a long time, and even the Yan Kingdom will not have to pay any price."

Le Yi said this place, Gongzi's heart became more and more excited, this can be regarded as a big bargain, he has already made a plan, if Zhao Guo can help him to restore the country successfully, as long as the price paid is not large, he can agree to everything. Anyway, it's an empty promise, and everything is unknown until he becomes the king of Yan.

"The king is so generous, Ji Zhi is flattered. If Yan Guo can restore the country, Zhao Guo will of course be a great contribution. He paused for a while, "In this case, Ji Zhi can promise the king here, if the Yan Kingdom is restored, as long as Ji Zhi can do his best, he will definitely send the land between the rivers or the three cities of Quyi, Yangcheng and Sanqiu to the Zhao State to thank the king for his help today." ”

"Listening to the meaning of the son, it seems that he has no intention of inheriting the throne of King Yan." Wei Yi, who had been listening, seemed to feel that Ji Zhi had something to say.

Ji Zhi smiled and said, "Of course." Now there is still my father and the crown prince in the Yan Kingdom, and the crown prince is also alive, but one was under house arrest by the rebel minister of the son, and the other was taken hostage by the Qi State, so he had to unite the Qi army to attack the Yan State. Even if the job is successful, it is only a son, and the position of King Yan is never daring to think. ”

"I'm afraid what the boy said just now can't be true, right?" Wei Yu sneered.

Ji Zhi was originally quite uninterested in this arrogant person, and spoke coldly, no matter how he said it, he was a son, but he became a hostage, and even King Zhao was respectful to me, who are you, you dare to be so disrespectful to me. However, looking at his identity, the kneeling position is second only to Le Yi, and he can sit with Sima Wu Guangzhaomu, which must be not small, and he doesn't know it, so he can't bear his anger. If Ji Zhi knew that the little-known young man in front of him was the new lieutenant of Zhao State, and most of this series of plans for Yan Guo came from this person's planning, I am afraid he would not dare to think so.

"What I just said, it naturally counts. After returning to Yan Kingdom, he personally made it clear to his father that these promises could still be fulfilled. If the king does not believe, he can make a written note. "Let's say, I looked at Wei Yi coldly, and there was a lot of provocation in his eyes.

"Not necessarily. What the national lieutenant said was just a joke, and the son didn't have to take it seriously. Zhao Yong said with a smile, "Since this is the case, the widow immediately ordered to raise 10,000 troops, a number of grain and grass, help Gongzi, and revive the Yan Kingdom." ”

(End of chapter)