Chapter Sixteen: Disaster Strikes

  "What clever plan? You have a fart's clever plan!" Zhao Xiang Wang heard the words "clever plan" and his anger intensified, shouting even louder, shaking the ground: "If you had a clever plan, would Great Zhao have suffered the defeat of Changping?"

  Pingyuan Jun was the prime minister of Zhao, and had been in this position for many years without achieving much. Although he hadn't made any major mistakes either, his handling of the Changping War was a series of blunders that left him speechless when questioned by King Xiaocheng of Zhao, unable to utter a word for half a day.

  Zhao Xiang Gong scolded him and wasn't wrong. If Ping Yuan Jun had a wonderful plan, would Zhao Guo have suffered the great defeat of Changping?

  His lies were clever plans, but they were just spoken out of panic, and now his heart sank, secretly calling it over.

  "What can be done now?" As he watched, the shining sword in Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang's hand was about to stab him. Looking at Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang's twisted face, Ping Yuan Jun knew that he was doomed.

  Suddenly, Pingyuan Jun thought of a plan: "It's life or death, I'll stake everything on this one move!"

  Marquis Pingyuan was very clear that after the great defeat at Changping, King Xiaocheng of Zhao would inevitably look for someone to blame, and he, Marquis Pingyuan, was the most suitable candidate. Who else but him, as the prime minister, had missed many opportunities that led to the disastrous defeat at Changping?

  He has really reached a critical juncture and can only stake everything on one throw of the dice now; whether he will survive or not depends entirely on luck.

  "Your Highness, Zhao Kuo rashly sent out troops and fell into the treacherous plan of Butcher Bai Qi. Although he is dead, his family members are still alive and cannot be spared." The Marquis of Pingyuan was like a mad dog trying to save his own life by biting people randomly.

  "Hmm!" Zhao Xiao's sword stopped just an inch away from Ping Yuanjun's neck.

  "It's a show." Ping Yuan Jun broke out in a cold sweat, but his heart was overjoyed. He urged: "Your Majesty, Zhao Kuo buried the 500,000 elite troops of Great Zhao and buried the hope of unifying the world under Great Zhao. No matter how he is punished, it will not be excessive."

  The Battle of Changping had a profound impact, and later historians generally believed that it greatly shortened the process of unification in China. Because after this battle, Qin State no longer had any rivals, and the six states in Shandong lost their last elite troops that could resist the sharp soldiers of Qin State, making the road to unification much smoother for Qin State.

  At that time, although there was no such precise view, Zhao Xiang Wang knew that after this battle, Zhao Guo lost the qualification to compete with Qin Guo for hegemony and never had the hope of unifying the world again.

  "We can't let his family off! I want to execute his nine clans!" Zhao Xiaocheng Wang nodded vigorously, with a fierce glint in his eyes, and a strong killing intent emerged, showing great approval.

  However, there was a prior agreement between the Lord and Zhao Kuo's mother... Pingyuan Jun deeply understood King Xiaocheng of Zhao's character. If he didn't kill off Zhao Kuo's family, then Pingyuan Jun would be doomed.

  "What a ridiculous agreement! Can I, Zhao Xiao, make an appointment with an old hag?" King Zhao Xiao denied it without even thinking.

  King Zhaoxiang of Zhao wanted to appoint Zhao Kuo as the general, leading the army into battle. Zhao Kuo's mother rushed to dissuade him. Not only did King Zhaoxiang not listen, but he also laughed at Zhao Kuo's mother for being overly cautious. Zhao Kuo's mother repeatedly pleaded with him, and finally, King Zhaoxiang made a pact with her that if Zhao Kuo were defeated, he would not punish his family members.

  This is a well-known thing, but at this time Zhao Xiaocheng Wang was on the verge of anger, and Pingyuan Jun's words were like pouring oil on fire. He didn't care about the trivial agreement, he just wanted to exterminate the Zhao Kuo family to vent his anger.

  "Your Majesty is wise and brilliant." The Marquis of Pingyuan hastened to flatter him.

  Zhao Xiaocheng's sword was withdrawn, and the back of Pingyuan Jun was drenched with sweat. He had walked through the Ghost Gate Pass once, and the secret path was perilous. His life was finally preserved.

  However, his heart was still not at ease and he brought it up again. Zhao Xiang Wang then said: "Zhao Sheng, you don't have to be the prime minister anymore."

  Marquis Pingyuan was the biggest pusher of the great defeat at Changping, and dismissing him as Chancellor is the lightest punishment. The problem is that this position of Chancellor is too important to Marquis Pingyuan, if he loses this position, Marquis Pingyuan will be nothing.

  The reason why Ping Yuan Jun was able to become the prime minister was not because he had exceptional talent, but because he had a "good reputation". The reason why he had a good reputation was that he kept thousands of guests at his gate, who would praise him. With thousands of guests praising him, even an idiot could be blown up into a genius, and he could become the prime minister. After becoming the prime minister, he got more wealth, which allowed him to keep even more guests, who would praise him even more loudly, and he would get even more benefits.

  If he loses the position of Chancellor, his power will be weakened and his guests will disperse. Although not all will be lost, most will be lost. The case of Mengchang Jun's dismissal is a good proof that he cannot repeat Mengchang Jun's mistake.

  "There is still one person who cannot be let off." Pingyuan Jun understood Zhao Xiao Cheng too well, if he could vent his grievances, he would not pursue this matter again, and his position as prime minister would be preserved.

  "Who?" Zhao Xiaocheng's eyes flashed with sharp edges.

  "The prince of Qin is a hostage in Qin, an unusual person." The flat lord sighed silently, what a good venting object, it's going to be gone.

  Three times he came, when Pingyuan Jun was not feeling well in his heart, he sent someone to bring Qin Yiren over and tortured him severely to vent his anger. After three rounds of torture, he couldn't bear to part with him.

  "Isn't he dead yet?" Zhao Xiaocheng Wang was somewhat surprised.

  "Your Majesty has not yet given an order, how dare I kill him?" The Marquis of Pingyuan hastily tried to placate him.

  "Hmm. He's still alive, that's good. I'll make him wish he were dead, unable to live or die!" King Zhao of Chu's hatred for Qin at this moment was like the Yangtze River, endless and boundless, so intense that he wished he could tear Xiangzi apart and devour him.

  As expected by Pingyuan Jun, Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang gritted his teeth and said: "Prepare the most severe punishment, I want to personally take action, let the tiger wolf Qin people suffer all the severe punishments in the world and die!"

  Not mentioning a word about resigning, Pingyuan Jun was delighted in his heart, and his position as Prime Minister was secured.

  XXXXXX

  In Qin Yiren's small courtyard, Qin Yiren leaned against the wall to bask in the sun, his eyes wide open, watching Meng Zhao, Ma Gai and Fan Tong practicing martial arts.

  Three people, three meals a day, never had a full meal, never practiced martial arts. Now, no need to worry about warmth and hunger anymore, thoughts are also more agile, ready to re-practice martial arts. The three were originally from the Qin army's elite soldiers, with high martial arts skills, excellent swordsmanship, although their bodies have deteriorated, their combat power is much weaker than before, but the foundation is still there. Once they start practicing again, they will be majestic and powerful, really great! Qin Yiren praised them for a while.

  "Bang! Bang!" Suddenly, a burst of footsteps like muffled thunder rang out, rapidly approaching the small courtyard.

  "What's going on?" Qin Yiren was greatly astonished.

  Meng Zhao, Ma Gai and Fan Tong stopped practicing martial arts, each of them agape with astonishment.

  "Bang!" The courtyard gate burst open, and a team of swordsmen in red robes appeared at the entrance.

  These swordsmen were extremely tall and large, like iron towers, with a fierce aura, killing intent soaring, one glance and you could tell they were the elite of the elite.

  "Red Cloak Swordsman!" Meng Zhao, Ma Gai and Fan Tong exclaimed in unison.

  The Red Clothed Swordsmen were the most elite troops of Zhao, serving as the personal bodyguards of the King of Zhao. Every single one of them was a master handpicked from a thousand miles away, having undergone rigorous training and possessing exceptional martial arts skills, with movements that were swift and precise.

  In modern terms, they are "masters of internal power".

  "Got them!" The leading red-robed swordsman waved his hand, and the red-robed swordsmen rushed over like the wind, as fierce as wolves and tigers, and subdued Qin Yiren and the others without saying a word.

  The red-clothed swordsman was skilled and swift as the wind. Meng Zhao, Ma Gai, and Fan Tong thought of resisting, but it was completely useless.

  "Go!" The leader waved his hand and the red-robed swordsman took Qin Yiren, Meng Zhao, Ma Gai, Fan Tong, Hei Bo and Miao Er away.

  "Qin Yiren, you're doomed this time, there's no escape from death!" Zhao Ping gazed at Qin Yiren's back, his expression vivid: "You dare to fight me? You're dead for sure! Heh heh, my goods are coming back to me."

  Zhao Ping returned to the courtyard and summoned the red-clad attendants to rush into Qin Yiren's residence, moving away all the goods he had brought with him, leaving not a single hair behind, cleaner than if a dog had licked it.