Chapter 5 The Song of the Brothers Without Clothes

  Qin Yiren's roar was not loud, nor did it have much power, yet to Zhao Ping's ears, it was like thunder, and he stared blankly, saying: "You... I... I... you"

  It was as if I had been beaten by a ghost, and after being stunned for half a day, I couldn't say a word.

  "Go!" Zhao Ping had intended to say a few harsh words, to intimidate Qin Yiren, but he didn't have the energy for it. He simply waved his hand and led his men away.

  "Woof!" Only the big yellow dog bared its teeth at Qin Yi Ren, with a ferocious expression.

  "You dead dog, wait for it, I'm going to eat your meat." Qin Yiren shouted at the big yellow dog, but instead, he was met with a series of barks from the big yellow dog, who wagged its tail and swaggered away.

  "Haha! Zhao people are not even as good as a dog." Meng Zhao spoke straightforwardly and quickly.

  The big yellow dog rushed at Qin Yiren, baring its teeth and looking fierce. As for Zhao Ping, the master, he came with a flourish but left without any momentum, the outcome was already decided.

  "Zhao people are just a bunch of dogs! We old Qin people are the real tigers and wolves!" He Bo, Ma Gai, Fan Tong, and Mo Er all strongly agreed with this statement.

  "Master, why is Zhao Ping afraid of you today?" Meng Zhao was somewhat puzzled and looked at Qin Yiren.

  "That's right." Heber and the others chimed in unison.

  If it were a real fight, Qin Yiren and the others wouldn't stand a chance. However, Qin Yiren had Zhao Ping and the others stunned, treating them with utmost respect, which was truly baffling.

  "My aura is stronger than theirs." Qin Yiren said, revealing the mystery in one breath.

  Momentum is what matters most, not brute force. As long as the momentum is sufficient, even a weak person like Qin Yi can gain the upper hand. Today's events are a perfect example of this.

  "Haha!" Hei Bo and the others burst out laughing, holding their heads high, puffing out their chests, with an air of triumph.

  They had been oppressed by the evil officials like Zhao Ping for a very long time, and they never had the upper hand. Today, although they were beaten up, they still gained the upper hand, which made them feel relieved and proud, with a sense of triumph.

  Watching their joyful appearance, Qin Yiren sighed silently. No matter how strong his spirit was, it couldn't be eaten as food. The current crisis still existed. He turned to Meng'er and said: "Meng'er, you know the situation we're in now. Following me may lead to death. If you have someone you like, tell me. If I have extra wealth, I'll give you a dowry; if I don't have extra wealth, I can only return your freedom."

  Today's events are certainly delightful, but as for changing the current predicament, they are of no help whatsoever. Qin Yiren has little grasp on his future and doesn't know how long he can survive. Following him, Mo'er is likely to meet her death.

  Among the six of them, Miao Er is the most likely to survive. If she can find a family to marry into and gain her freedom, that would be a way for her to live.

  "Master, don't say that! Even if it means death, I'll follow you." Miao'er was greatly alarmed, her eyes reddened and tears fell.

  "Mo Er, I know your loyalty, but what's the point of dying unnecessarily? If there's a way to survive, don't miss it." Qin Yiren sighed inwardly.

  If it were possible, he would never abandon them. But with him there was only one way to death, and letting them all die, how could he bear it?

  "Ah." The door was pushed open, and Zhao Ping came back in.

  "What are you back for?" Qin Yiren's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes gleaming like a knife or sword, staring at Zhao Ping.

  Hei Bo, Meng Zhao, Ma Gai, Fan Tong and Mo Er had an evil glint in their eyes as they stared at Zhao Ping.

  "Here you are." Zhao Ping's hand rose, and a dark mass flew towards Qin Yi.

  Qin Yi stretched out his hand and took a look at it. It was that piece of black cake, which felt hard to the touch, like a stone.

  "Who wants your charity?" Hei Bo cursed: "We old Qin people, with our heads held high and our feet on the ground, even if we die, we must die standing upright!"

  "Alms? No, no, no, it's not that." Zhao Ping shook his head and said, "Whether to eat or not, you decide for yourself." He pulled the door shut and quickly walked away.

  "Sir, we absolutely will not accept Zhao's charity, throw it away!" Meng Zhao cursed incessantly: "We old Qin people, only have the reason to live standing up, no reason to die on our knees!"

  "Right! We old Qin people are tigers and wolves, while the Zhao people are dogs. How can tigers and wolves accept charity from dogs?" He Bo, Ma Ge, Fan Tong, and Mo Er loudly echoed in agreement, taking pride in being Qin people.

  Looking at the five determined and proud faces, Qin Yiren thought to himself that the Qin State's ability to defeat six other states with one, its hundred years of conquests in Shandong, growing stronger with each battle, ultimately wiping out the six states and unifying China, had a great deal to do with this sense of pride in being a Qin person.

  Qin Gui's idea is not wrong, although later generations scolded the Qin state as a country of tigers and wolves, scolding the Qin people as tigers and wolves. However, it was this country of tigers and wolves, it was these tiger-like Qin people who unified China, reversed China's fragmented situation, and created China's unified pattern.

  The reason for this situation is not as cruel and inhumane as later generations, nor as the Confucian school has degraded it. In fact, Qin's politics were clear and simple, the people of Qin lived a happy and peaceful life, they had deep feelings for Qin, and were willing to die for Qin because they identified with Qin and took pride in being a Qin person (the corresponding plot will be explained later).

  "Don't say anything more." Qin Yiren stopped them, saying: "Although this black cake makes us very unhappy, however, Zhao Ping finally turned back and did not speak with arrogance, nor did he say any insulting words, it doesn't count as alms."

  "Sir, isn't this what the people of Zhao eat? We Qin people don't eat that!" Hei Bo and the others responded in unison.

  They were tormented by the people of Zhao for three years. The bitterness was immense, the hatred was immense, and no one could describe it clearly. They were forced to eat the food of the people of Zhao, which was truly difficult.

  "You only remember that this is Zhao Ren's food, but you have forgotten how much wealth Zhao Ping has robbed from us? Based on the wealth he has robbed, not to mention a hard and poor pancake, even if it were mountain delicacies and seafood, it would be justified." Qin Yiren was not a pedantic person. As long as it didn't involve dignity, honor, or integrity, which couldn't be compromised, some flexibility was necessary.

  Qin Yiren's current situation is not only due to the Zhao state seizing his property, but also because of Zhao Ping and others' plundering. With the wealth they plundered, it would be justified to give him a piece of bread, let alone serve him mountain delicacies and seafood.

  Hei Bo and his four companions were speechless.

  "Rumble rumble!" Qin Yiren's stomach was growling loudly, like thunder.

  Qin Yiren put the black pancake in his hand into his mouth, and his eyes were full of greedy light, as if he wanted to swallow it into his belly immediately.

  "Gulu gulu!" Another thunder-like sound started, and Hei Bo, Meng Zhao, Ma Ge, Fan Tong, and Mo Er were very embarrassed, their faces turned bright red, wanting to turn their heads away, not looking at the black pancake. However, their necks didn't listen, and they couldn't help but stare at the black pancake.

  The pancake was only an inch away from Qin Yiren's mouth, and as soon as he opened his mouth, it would enter his stomach. However, Qin Yiren forced himself to stop, thinking to himself: "They are loyal and dedicated, yet they are in this predicament without complaint or regret. If I eat alone, my intestines will rot."

  Qin Yiren, with great willpower, finally overcame his hunger and asked Hei Bo to boil a pot of hot water, smash the black bread into pieces, throw it in the pot, and cook a porridge.

  This pancake is too hard, when it's smashed, it makes a "thud thud" sound, like beating a drum.

  After cooking the porridge, Qin Yi Ren asked Meng Zhao and others to bring over some broken ceramic jars, and each person took some.

  "Wuuu!" Meng Zhao, Hei Bo, Ma Gai, Fan Tong and Miao Er held the broken pottery jar and wept continuously.

  "Come on! Only then will I have the strength!" Qin Yiren's tears welled up in her eyes, and she held them back with great effort.

  "Shall I say that I have no clothes? I will share my cloak with you. The king is going to raise an army, I will sharpen my spear and halberd, and join you in the same cause. Shall I say that I have no clothes? I will share my skirt with you. The king is going to raise an army, I will sharpen my halberd and sword, and work together with you. Shall I say that I have no clothes? I will share my lower garment with you. The king is going to raise an army, I will repair my armor and weapons, and march together with you."

  Meng Zhao, Ma Gai and Fan Tong's tears fell in big drops as they involuntarily sang the Qin army's military song.

  They sang in unison, Heber and Miao'er wiping away tears as they sang loudly together.

  This "Naked" is Qin Jun's military song, and also a brotherhood song of "not abandoning, not giving up"!