Qin State, Xianyang.

The Qin army had just returned to the city, and although it was defeated in the hands of Huai, the Qin army still gained a lot of benefits in this battle. The soldiers of the Qin army were more concerned about whether their knighthood merits could be attributed to their crimes.

Fortunately, Bai Qi fought two battles of annihilation before the war with Huai and wiped out the 200,000 allied forces of Han and Wei, which brought great benefits to the Qin army that needed to be recorded at the first level, and it was therefore the Qin army that supported Bai Qi.

Since the Shang Dynasty changed the law, after several generations, the Qin people have paid more and more attention to military merits. This is because military merit can atone for sin, exempt soldiers from various assessments, exempt from conscription, and even receive additional rewards.

This is also the reason why the Qin army can take the lead bravely in every battle.

Don't think that the Qin army can live well with a reward for military merits, because it is very likely that if you are defeated, all these things will be taken back.

In the Shang Monarch Law, it was clear that rewards and punishments should be clear, which was implemented very thoroughly in the Qin State. Huai also has clear rewards and punishments, but it is far less stringent than Qin.

For example, since the Shang Dynasty changed the law, the monarch of the Qin State no longer carried out disaster relief. For example, a few years ago, there was a drought in the Guanzhong of Qin, and the people had no food to eat, so the minister asked for orders to hope that the monarch would open the five gardens and let the people go inside to collect wild fruits and wild vegetables.

As a result, this suggestion was rejected by King Qin.

The king of Qin said: "My Qin law enables the people to be rewarded for their merits and punished for their crimes." Those who send the vegetables and plants of the five gardens close to the people will be rewarded for both merit and merit. The husband makes the people rewarded both meritorious and unmeritorious, and this chaotic way is also. ”

In the Shang Dynasty's law, mountains, rivers, rivers and lakes were listed as royal property, and the common people were not allowed to enter to collect fruits, hunt, fish, or gather wood. This kind of harsh system can only be said to be endured by the poor Qin people. The system of collecting wild fruits as a reward for the hungry is no longer as harsh as it can be described.

Although the Qin State did not provide relief to the victims, it adopted the method of cash-for-work to relieve the victims, or let the victims serve as servitude for the government. However, cash-for-work actually hired people to work at a very low price, and when the work was completed, the government did not give much money and food. At the same time, there is no reduction or exemption of all kinds of labor taxes, but only deferral.

The people are already in poverty, and after the drought, how can they have surplus food? In the next few years, you will have to make up for the deferred taxes.

In the end, in order to pay off the taxes, the people have and only one way to go, that is, to join the army and make military achievements.

This kind of system can indeed strengthen the country, but it is too cruel for the grassroots people. The consequences are also severe, as it leaves people with little sense of belonging, let alone a sense of nation. This is also why in the history of the previous life, Liu Bang entered Guanzhong, and only three chapters of the law were able to make the people of Guanzhong support him.

The hundreds of years of rule of the Qin State quickly collapsed after only three chapters of the law, and soon accepted the Han Dynasty and no longer called itself Qin. In the eyes of the Qin people, what they have obtained now is what they have obtained by their own hard work and fighting, and they deserve it, and it has nothing to do with the monarch and the Qin State.

This kind of thinking is dangerous, but it is growing more and more in the Qin state.

Xianyang Palace.

The tall and magnificent palace is very majestic, and there are not too many gorgeous and delicate ornaments on the palace, but it has a rough beauty.

Bai Qi slowly entered the main hall, and at this time the hall was already full of people, on the left was the secretary of the Qin State, the generals and ministers, and on the right was the secretary of the Qin State. Everyone was dressed in court clothes, and it was clear that this was an official pilgrimage meeting. At this time, in the main hall, everyone lowered their heads and looked serious, and the hall was silent and solemn, and the atmosphere was solemn.

Qin Wangji sat on the top, his face was covered by the crown and he couldn't see his expression clearly. Bai Qi took a few steps forward and knelt down on one knee

"Your Majesty, the minister failed to recapture Hangu Pass, and the army suffered tens of thousands of casualties, which is the fault of the minister, and please ask the king to punish the crime."

Qin Wangji was silent for two seconds, and then laughed and said: "Bai Qing, please hurry up, Qing this campaign, destroy the Han and Wei coalition forces, seize the land east of the river, and expand the land for hundreds of miles, he is a meritorious hero of the Qin State, although he was frustrated by Huai, but it was only a small setback, how could a widow be so harsh on the hero?" ”

"The widow should compensate you with gold and jade!"

Saying that, Qin Wangji got up and came to Bai Qi, took off the sword at his waist, handed it to Bai Qi, and said in a firm tone: "Victory or defeat is a common thing in soldiers, Qing doesn't have to worry about it, I hope Qing can make persistent efforts, and when the time comes, Qing will take this sword and lead the Qin people to pacify the Six Kingdoms." ”

Bai Qi's expression became more resolute, a flame ignited in his eyes, he lowered his head slightly, took the sword with both hands, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the minister Bai Qi swears to you that he will smear the liver and brain of the Qin State in this life to repay the king's great kindness." ”

With Qin Wangji's reward for Bai Qi, the original dignified air in the hall also dissipated.

Qin Wangji returned to his position, and then continued to ask: "Zhuqing, this time the capture of Hangu Pass failed, my Qin army was blocked from going east, I don't know how the Qin State should develop in the future, what good strategy do you have?" ”

Bai Qi arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, this time the eastward exit is blocked, but Le Yi's talent is not inferior to the minister, if you want to wear hard, my Qin State is not an opponent, so the minister suggests, first attack other countries, seize the land and population, increase the national strength, as for Le Yi, he is old, how many years can he live?" When our Qin State is stronger, we will definitely be able to break its army in one battle. ”

Qin Wangji also understood that the Huai State was strong and prosperous, and there was a famous general Le Yi, and it was difficult to defeat the Huai State, so he agreed with Bai Qi's statement in his heart.

"Your Majesty, Zhao took advantage of my invasion of Western Chu to unite the Three Jin Dynasty to attack my Qin State and occupy Shangjun, this time Zhao is in turmoil, it is better to take the opportunity to attack Zhao and recapture Shangjun." One of the ministers said.

Shangjun is located in the north of Hexi, which is condescending to Qin, and at the same time gives Zhao a strategic support point to the west of the Yellow River. The threat to the Qin State is very great, once the Zhao State attacks the Qin State from Shangjun, the Zhao State can rush to Xianyang in one day and one night.

If Shangjun can be recaptured, not only can it clear Zhao's stronghold west of the Yellow River, but it can also harvest a large number of people and arable land, which can quickly increase the strength of Qin. Qin's defense in the north also had a support point, and at the same time, it could also go out of Shangjun to attack Zhao.

The civil and military officials in the main hall quickly decided to attack Zhao, and a trace of coldness flashed in Qin Wangji's eyes. You must know that when Qin was attacked by the Three Jin Dynasty, Qin was forced to make peace with Zhao, not only ceding Shangjun, but also making Zhao Guo, the current Qin Wangji, a proton in the early stage.

If it weren't for the overconfident King Zhao Wuling, who wanted to use his identity to control the Qin State, he would probably never return to the Qin State in his life, let alone ascend to the throne of the King of Qin. Now that King Wuling of Zhao is dead, Zhao's internal strife is an opportunity for the Qin State.

(End of chapter)