"Your Majesty! Cai Keqing asked to see him outside the palace! The eunuch Ling cautiously said to King Qin, who was fishing in the palace courtyard.

It has long been no secret that King Qin liked fishing. According to King Qin, fishing can cultivate the mind. In fact, the King of Qin was not a person who lacked patience, otherwise he would not have expelled Sigui from Handan in one fell swoop after forty years of forbearance in history and truly grasped the power of Qin! It's just that after enduring it for too long, as soon as King Qin grasped power, he was anxious to rely on his national strength to quickly defeat the six kingdoms and unite the world. But reality gave Qin a huge blow, and after that, King Qin began to pick up fishing again!

"Oh?" King Qin opened his eyes, secretly thinking that Cai Ze was a person who could speak well, and he still admired it. Thinking of this, King Qin said, "Xuan! ”

"Whoa!" The eunuch ordered to retreat cautiously.

After a while, Keqing Cai Ze took a few steps and came to King Qin's side!

"Chen Cai Ze has seen the king!" Cai Ze bowed and said calmly.

"Cai Aiqing is exempt! Today is the day of rest, Cai Aiqing is not resting at home, how can she come to the widow's palace? Hehe, let's say it first, the widow doesn't care about the meal! King Qin quipped.

Cai Ze smiled embarrassedly, he was accustomed to King Qin's attitude towards him, and said: "The minister disturbed the king's fishing Yaxing, it is really a crime to die!" ”

King Qin took the opportunity to put down the fishing rod in his hand, deliberately straightened his face, and asked, "Say it!" Seeing that your face is full of joy, there must be something to be happy about! Say it and make the widow happy! If the widow is unhappy. There is no need for a capital crime, you can go directly to the pool and let the widow touch a few golden carp to come up! ”

Cai Ze looked at the bottomless pool and subconsciously shrunk his neck. He said, "Your Majesty! The minister has been thinking about how to strengthen Qin day and night these days! Occasionally, I hurried to report to the king! ”

King Qin's face was overjoyed, he sat up straight, and asked, "Cai Aiqing, please speak!" ”

"Today, the next country is strong, led by Qin, followed by Zhao. South Korea again. Although our Qin State has the upper hand, its advantage is quite small, and it is almost not counted. This Three Kingdoms. The national strength is far above the four kingdoms of Wei, Yan, Qi and Chu! Therefore, if there is no difference, those who can join the world are none other than my Great Qin, Zhao State, and South Korea. What does the king think? ”

King Qin nodded. He shook his head again. said: "Wei is located in the land of four wars, and it is not easy to rise. Qi and Chu both have a population of more than 600,000 households, and it is not difficult to give them a chance to recuperate for five years, and fight against Zhao and Han! Why didn't Aiqing talk about Qi and Chu? ”

Cai Ze smiled and explained: "What the king said is very true, but South Korea is close to Chu and Zhao is close to Qi, and they will not give Qi and Chu a chance to rise!" What do you think, Your Majesty? ”

King Qin was noncommittal. Cai Ze continued: "South Korea relied on Zhao Guo because of its weakness before. Now that the national strength has increased greatly, it is enough to stand on its own! From Yi Ze's point of view, the suspicion of the Three Jin Dynasty has been born, especially Zhao Guo's jealousy of South Korea. In this case, the alliance of Yan, Zhao, Han, and Wei did not disperse, and the general trend of the world returned to the situation after Tiandan's reconquest, but the positions of Chu and Korea were reversed! ”

King Qin secretly applauded, indeed, the current shape shì and Tian Dan's situation after the resumption of Qi is very similar. At that time, the Qin State was the sole leader, but the Zhao State and the Chu State were also the second only powerful countries to the Qin State, and if the two were combined, it was enough to resist the Qin State. The three kingdoms stand side by side, and everyone has a chance to dominate the world, but the Qin State has a greater chance. It's just that no one expected that Bai Qi used 50,000 elites to knock on the door of the capital of Chu State, which had nearly one million troops, and the Chu State lost three or four hundred thousand, and since then it has been in a slump!

The three-legged equilibrium was broken, and he wanted to take advantage of the victory to march into the Central Plains, while Zhao State drew Wei State to attack Han Zhihuayang, and the next thing was a rare defeat for Qin State for hundreds of years! If you really have to think about it, the shape of the Qin State is worse now than it was at the beginning, at least at that time, the Qin State still held the land of the five counties of Sanchuan, Nanyang, Hanzhong, Hedong, and Hexi, occupying an absolute advantage! But now, the national strength is only slightly stronger than that of Zhao and South Korea, and the confidence of the Chinese people and the morale of the army are even more incomparable!

"What Cai Aiqing said is good, today's shape is like ten years ago! And now that I'm trapped in the pass, the shape is even worse than ten years ago! Does Aiqing have a good plan to offer to the widow? King Qin said frankly.

"Your Majesty! The minister thought that he could use the three Jin to guard against each other and make some fuss to achieve the goal of weakening the enemy country and strengthening himself! ”

"Will the plan be released?" King Qin asked.

Cai Ze said confidently: "The king is not as good as a distant friend and a close attack, the inch is the king's inch, and the ruler is also the king's ruler." Far away to leave people's joy, close to attack my land. From near to far, like cannibalizing leaves, the world is not difficult. ”

King Qin faintly felt empowered, and asked urgently: "What is the way to attack from afar?" ”

"Far friends are like Qi, Chu, Yan, and Zhao, and close attacks are like Han and Wei, and they have Han, Wei, Qi, Chu, Yan, and Zhao can exist alone?"

The King of Qin first stroked his palms and said good, and then asked with some doubts: "Yan and Qi are not close to my Great Qin, and it is very understandable to make friends with Yan and Qi, but why do you want to make friends with Chu and Zhao?" Chu and Zhao have deep grievances with my Great Qin, and I'm afraid it's not easy to make friends! ”

Cai Ze explained: "That minister will talk about Chu State first, since King Chu Huai, my Qin State has repeatedly bullied Chu State, and even more restrained King Chu Huai, there is the humiliation of burning Yiling, Qin and Chu can be described as deep hatred as the sea. But South Korea is eyeing Nanyang, and Chu will probably realize that South Korea's threat to Chu is far greater than Qin's threat to Chu! As long as the monarchs and ministers of the Chu State are convinced of this, no matter how great the hatred is, they must give in for the sake of interests! It shouldn't be difficult for us to win over the Chu State! ”

"The second is the Zhao State, our Great Qin and the Zhao State have fought a lot over the years, and the losses of the two sides are actually almost the same, not to mention absolute hatred! In the matter of curbing the development of South Korea, the minister thinks that our Qin State and Zhao State should have many common interests! Don't forget, Bashu has become an enclave, King Zhao likes wine, and King Han is working hard, if you really want to choose, I think Wang Shang is more willing to choose Zhao as his opponent, right? As for South Korea, the minister thought it would be better to destroy it with Zhao Guo! Cai Ze said very meaningfully.

King Qin suddenly realized. Between the three kingdoms of Qin, Han, and Zhao, Zhao must be afraid of Korea, which is from the same origin as them. It took less than four years for Korea to acquire the land that Qin had taken decades to capture. If South Korea is allowed to occupy Bashu again. After completely digesting the results of the battle, what can Zhao Guo use to resist?! The Qin State also had the same idea, and after thinking about it, the Qin State lost the population and land of the three counties of Sanchuan, Nanyang, and Hanzhong in the hands of Korea, and they were all densely populated important lands in the world. The alliance between Qin and Zhao has an innate advantage over the alliance of Han and Zhao or the alliance of Qin and Han, as long as Qin is willing to put down his posture, the alliance will not be a problem!

And. As long as the Qin State can bring the Chu State over, it is very likely that the two places in Bashu will be preserved. After all, the two counties together also had an army of 80,000. In the case of a significant reduction in the strength of countries. That's a lot of numbers! The King of Qin couldn't help but fantasize that with the assistance of the Zhao State, the Qin State would recover the grand scenery of Hanzhong, Nanyang, and Sanchuan!

"Good! Great goodness! King Qin stroked his palms and laughed, and said approvingly: "Cai Aiqing's clever plan! What a long-range melee attack! The widow thinks it works! Eunuch Order. You immediately proclaim His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Wu Anjun and the Marquis into the palace for the widow. There are also Zong Zheng Yingze, Lang Zhongling Gong Qi, and Weiwei Wang Qian. ”

"Whoa!" The eunuch ordered a hurried retreat. King Qin's oracle includes all the high-ranking officials currently in Xianyang, and the upstart Wang Jian is also impressively listed!

After the order, King Qin took Cai Ze's hand and said with a smile: "Taking advantage of this effort, Cai Aiqing will accompany the widow to fish for a while, and the fish caught will be used to make fresh fish soup for dinner, how can it be?" ”

"Thank you!" Cai Ze knelt down with some excitement. King Qin wants to keep himself in the palace to eat! This honor, as far as Cai Ze knows. Only Wu Anjun and Wei Ran have enjoyed it. Wu Anjun Baiqi enjoyed it after the Yique War annihilated the 240,000 Han and Wei allied forces, and Wei Ran enjoyed it when he was made a marquis.

After catching three carp. Wei Ran's five people arrived late. On the way here, Wei Ran already knew that King Qin was in a good mood, and Keqing Cai Ze was also there to accompany him. Prince Zhu even asked about King Qin's convening of important ministers, which was related to the matter of Lian Heng and Zong.

"The ministers have seen the king!" Wei Ran and Prince Zhu led several ministers to salute together.

"Rank up, please!" As King Qin spoke, he quietly put down the fishing rod. Keqing Cai Ze took advantage of Wei Ran and Prince Zhu's kung fu to get up.

"Today is the day of the holiday, and the widow should not have summoned all of you Aiqing over! How could Cai Aiqing offer a plan to calm the world, and the widow thought it was agreed. Come, Cai Aiqing, tell the Zhongqing family about the plan you said! ”

"Whoa!" Cai Ze saluted respectfully, and then repeated what he had just said.

After a while, King Qin asked with interest, "What do you Aiqing think of this plan?" ”

Prince Zhu's face couldn't help but be happy, and he was the first to speak: "Your Majesty! Erchen thinks that Keqing's opinion is really clever! If I, Daqin, do this plan of long-distance friendship and close attack, I don't have to worry about the uncertainty of the world! ”

Prior to this, Qin's strategy was very simple, suppressing whichever country was strong, such as Wei; If it can't be suppressed, it will unite with other countries to suppress it, such as Qi State. Therefore, the Qin State bypassed Korea several times to attack the Wei State and the Qi State. Cai Ze's construction seems simple, but it is a word that wakes up the dreamer.

Bai Qi also seconded: "The minister also agrees with Keqing's strategy to gradually encroach on the land of neighboring countries, and if you get an inch, you will be the king's inch, and if you get a ruler, you will also be the king's foot." If you bypass your neighbors and attack a distant country, you will only get an enclave! For example, Tao County is not easy to defend, not to mention vulnerable to attacks by other countries, maybe it will become a handle for other countries to coerce us, and become our weakness! ”

King Qin nodded secretly when he heard this, Qin Guo had already suffered enough in this regard, and he would definitely not do such a thankless thing in the future. If you want to start a war in the future, you must choose Han and Wei, and gradually encroach on Fang as the king's road!

Zong Zhengying frowned, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty! This plan of long-distance and close attack is generally good, but there is one point, the minister has doubts. ”

"Aiqing, but it doesn't hurt to say it!" King Qin asked suspiciously. Since the plan is good, why is there something confusing, King Qin is very curious about it.

"Uniting with Zhao to suppress South Korea is feasible. But whether the Yan State and the Chu State will agree to form an alliance with us, the minister does not dare to agree! ”

After the astonishing words, Zong Zhengying continued to throw out his remarks and said: "Yan Guo and South Korea are in-laws, although Zhao Guo will most likely agree to suppress South Korea, but Yan Guo's attitude is afraid that it will be unpredictable. First, suppressing South Korea is not beneficial to Yan State. Second, King Yan greatly favored his sister, the queen of Korea, and third, Zhao Guoqiang was not in the interests of Yan State. Therefore, the minister thought that there must be ministers in the Yan Kingdom who saw these words and admonished! The only thing I can do in the Qin State is for the Yan State to remain neutral! It shouldn't be that hard! ”

"And then there is the state of Chu. If the king is willing to cede the two counties of Bashu to the state of Chu, the state of Chu will definitely agree to the alliance of the Great Qin! If not, it is not easy for ministers to form an alliance! ”

"No, the king must not forget that he formed an alliance with the State of Chu to fight against the Three Jin Dynasty, and my Great Qin ceded the land of Qiyi in the capital of Ying, and as a result, the State of Chu is not treacherous?!" Lang Zhong ordered Gong Qi to immediately retort.

Speaking of this sore spot. King Qin was obviously a little displeased. Zong Zhengying retorted to himself: "The death of the eldest son of the king was committed by the remnants of Gongzi City, no wonder the Chu State!" If there is no such thing, the state of Chu should still be my ally of Great Qin! ”

"Enough!" King Qin stopped with a loud voice. Glancing at Ying Ze, he said, "Zongzheng, I'm afraid you don't need to cut the land to form an alliance with the Chu State!" If you need to cede land to every country, what is the difference between this and selling land to make peace?! Countless generations of monarchs, ministers, and soldiers of Great Qin fought bloodily. There are these counties! Zong Zheng was about to transfer the hard-won land of the two counties of Bashu in a blink of an eye. How generous! The widow disagrees! ”

Seeing that King Qin said so categorically, Zong Zhengying smiled bitterly and said: "It doesn't matter if you form an alliance with Zhao State, or if you form an alliance with Qi State, it's good to lure him with profit!" But the king of Chu is a greedy man, and he is above the court of Chu! The two counties of Bashu occupy the upper reaches of Yingdu, and the state of Chu has always been a trouble to rely on! South Korea has never been aggressive towards Chu, which makes the monarchs and ministers of Chu believe that the advantages of joining forces with our country outweigh the disadvantages! If South Korea wants to win over the Chu State. Just one sentence to help Chu State attack the two counties of Bashu! On the contrary, how can I, Daqin, show sincerity? This is the reason why the minister believes that the alliance between Korea and Chu has a natural advantage! ”

"That can't give up the two counties of Bashu! Zongzheng is also clear. How difficult it was for Sima to destroy Shu at the beginning! If the state of Chu is allowed to gain it, but the state of Chu will not be able to contribute to the work at that time, wouldn't our Great Qin lose his wife and lose his troops! Lang Zhong Ling Gong was still indignant.

King Qin had no words, but judging from the fact that he did not support Ying Ze, he probably was not persuaded by Ying Ze's rhetoric! At this time, Prime Minister Wei Ran opened his mouth and said: "The minister thinks that Zongzheng's original intention should not be to give up the two counties of Bashu lightly, but to lure them to the advantage!" After all, our Daqin wouldn't be so stupid, wouldn't it be a light to send the land of the two counties! ”

Easing the atmosphere, Wei Ran continued: "As Zong Zheng said, the top and bottom of the Chu State are a lord who does not see rabbits and does not scatter eagles. The minister was wondering if he could lure the monarchs and ministers of Chu with a lot of money, and then send a city to let them taste the sweetness. When the alliance is properly formed, the state of Chu will definitely not be able to go back! Otherwise, wouldn't you be a capricious villain! ”

"Prime Minister, this plan is feasible! Ministers agree! Zong Zhengying was the first to jump out in support!

"Feasible!" "Feasible!" Prince Zhu, Bai Qi and other ministers seconded the proposal. Even the guard captain Wang Qian, who had been silent, also spoke out in agreement!

With so many steps, King Qin put away the displeasure on his face and said, "Since this is the case, then the strategy of the Chu State is based on what the Prime Minister said!" Now the key is on the side of Zhao State, as long as King Zhao agrees to form an alliance, and the two countries give Yan State some hints together, King Yan should stand by and watch! ”

"The king is wise!" The ministers complimented in unison.

The ministers believed that with the wisdom of Lin Xiangru and Zhao Sheng, they should be able to judge the benefits of an alliance with Qin—the core of Han and Wei was the real hinterland of the Central Plains, where it was the most prosperous. Such interests are enough to make Zhao State fight back, unless Zhao State is willing to watch South Korea rise step by step and gradually replace Zhao State as the overlord of the Central Plains!

At this time, a close attendant hurried in and whispered a few words to King Qin. After a few words, King Qin's face changed sharply, and he was no longer happy and proud, but said with some bitterness: "Ladies and gentlemen, South Korea's actions are even faster than we imagined!" ”

Everyone only felt that their hearts were terrified, South Korea, which had just won Hanzhong County, what earth-shattering actions did they have?! It's impossible to attack Guanzhong before you have a firm foothold, right?!

King Qin said coldly: "Just now, news came from Heibing Terrace that Tian Dan, the prime minister of Qi State, visited Xinzheng, and Qi and Han reached an agreement to form an alliance, and Wei State was also added!" ”

Everyone looked at each other and couldn't hide the shock in their hearts! Doesn't this mean that the three kingdoms of Han, Wei, and Qi have reached an agreement on succession?! In this way, only the Yan State and the Chu State can be wooed by the Qin State, and as for the Zhao State, the Qin State is bound to win. Presumably when Handan heard this news, Zhao Guojunchen would definitely not be able to sit still! bypassed Zhao Guo and reached this agreement, the implication of this could not be more obvious! Although the Three Kingdoms did not make this news public, obviously saving some face for Zhao State, Qin State naturally had a way to let this news know to everyone in Zhao State!

"Your Majesty! The minister asked the king to appoint a minister as an envoy to go to Handan to discuss the alliance! Wei Ran spoke first.

No one is sure, if South Korea pulls Yan and Chu into this alliance again, destroys Zhao, and then turns the spearhead to Qin, how will Qin deal with itself?!

"Good! Then it's hard work! King Qin quickly made a judgment! At this time, it is undoubtedly very risky to send the prime minister to Handan, after all, the 70,000 Zhao troops have just died in the pass, and the welcome of the people in Handan will not be very friendly! Even if the people of Guanzhong know about it, they are afraid that they will be quite complaining. Such a thankless thing can be done by Wei Ran!

"The minister asks the king to send a minister to the state of Chu!" Zong Zhengying is also a salute.

King Qin's smile was even stronger, and he solemnly replied: "So, it's hard to love Qing!" "If there are ministers like this, why worry about the world not being quiet! King Qin thought secretly. (To be continued......)