Chapter 29: Forcing Repayment

  Huayang Madame, from the royal family of Chu State's collateral branch, was the niece of Queen Dowager Xuan, mother of King Zhaoxiang of Qin. She married Crown Prince Yiren of Qin under the arrangement of Queen Dowager Xuan, thus she took the position of the first wife and became Madame. Meanwhile, Xia Ji, the birth mother of Yiren, originally favored by him, had to demote herself as a concubine after Huayang Madame's arrival.

  However, Lady Huayang had a fatal flaw - she was barren. Despite being married to Yingzhu for many years, she did not have any children, which made her feel anxious.

  Qin Yi Ren was the most outstanding among all of Ying Zhu's sons, although this talent was not abundant. It was precisely because of this reason that Lv Bu Wei could buy the country successfully. To know, Qin Zhao Wang was a generation of heroes, with eyes as bright as snow, if Qin Yi Ren did not have talent, and could not support the Qin state, would Qin Zhao Wang recognize Qin Yi Ren?

  Duke Xiao of Qin was very dissatisfied with Qin Yi, but his sons and grandsons were all mediocre, and none of them could take over the throne of Qin. He had to choose the taller one from among the dwarfs, and the bamboo pole from among the chopsticks, and reluctantly acknowledge Qin Yi.

  Huayang Madame, in order to consolidate her power and position, decided to get rid of Qin Yiren. Coincidentally, King Zhaoxiang of Qin was planning to attack the Upper Party of Han, and in order not to let Zhao intervene, he wanted to send a hostage to Zhao. Huayang Madame took this opportunity to send Qin Yiren to Zhao.

  At this time, Qin Yi Ren was not famous for his writing and was not respected by others. If he were to suddenly return to the state of Qin, what awaited him would not be the throne of the king of Qin, but rather the ruthless laws of Qin.

  One is to return to Qin without the king's order, which is a serious crime.

  Secondly, Lady Huayang will not let him off.

  It is necessary for Qin Yi to return to the State of Qin and raise his social status in order to ascend to the throne.

  There is a shortcut to increase one's social status, and that is to become famous.

  During the Warring States period, there were only two ways to gain fame. One was to participate in the "Great Debate" and become famous overnight by debating, becoming a renowned scholar in the world. Shang Yang, Zhang Yi, Su Qin, Yue Yi, Fan Sui, Mencius, Xunzi, Gongsun Longzi... These people who shook the world were all famous in this way.

  Once famous, their value increases exponentially, and those they associate with are either wealthy or noble. Like Mencius, he had no territory to his name, yet he could rival princes in dignity and courtesy.

  Two is to invite guests to praise oneself, and let them boast for themselves. Even if thousands of people come to flatter, a fool can be blown into a genius.

  The four nobles of the Warring States period, Xinling Jun, Pingyuan Jun, Mengchang Jun and Chunshen Jun, had a "good reputation" outside. Were they really as talented as they were touted to be?

  They are just lucky, born rich and noble, with power and wealth, they can afford to be arrogant, their reputation is bought with money, not because of their great talent.

  Among the four nobles, Mengchang Jun, Pingyuan Jun and Xingling Jun were born into aristocratic families and were naturally of noble birth; Chunshen Jun was not a member of an aristocratic family but was a member of the Huang clan, a prominent family in Chu, who also had power and influence (the extent of the power and influence of the prominent families in Chu will be explained in later chapters about Chu; in short, it was no less than that of the royal family).

  "I need money, a lot of money!" No matter which path Qin Yi took, he needed money, a lot of money, at the very least tens of thousands of gold coins to make things happen.

  It would be even more wonderful if one could establish great merit. The Qin state values military achievements, and if the extraordinary person of Qin can achieve military merit, the possibility of returning to the Qin state and ascending to the throne of the Qin king will be greatly increased.

  "I want to make money, a lot of money!" Qin Yiren realized the importance of money.

  "There is one thing that is more important than making money, and it must be done immediately: to restore contact with the State of Qin." The Battle of Changping had lasted for three years, and Qin Yiren had been under house arrest for three years. He had lost all contact with the State of Qin, and no news had been exchanged for three years. It was possible that the State of Qin thought he was already dead.

  Recovering contact with the motherland is more important than anything!

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  After returning to the small courtyard, Qin Yiren gathered the five people of Meng Zhao together and said: "We have money now, it's time to change our residence. Hei Bo, go find a bigger and more scenic house, we'll buy it and move there."

  "Oh!" Meng Zhao and his men let out a cheer, each one overjoyed.

  Who would still want to live here, being confined in this small courtyard for three years? Moreover, it's very remote and few people pass by, not lively at all. Leaving here, let them be truly happy from the bottom of their hearts.

  "Qin Yiren, return the gold!" However, before Meng Zhao and the others' cheering had even died down, they heard someone shouting loudly outside the door.

  "Who is it?" This was also too disappointing? Qin Yiren was very dissatisfied.

  "Pay your debts!"

  The reply to Qin Yiren was a loud roar, and there were many people coming.

  "Ah!" He Bo exclaimed in surprise, his face changing color, the joyful expression on his face vanished.

  He knew that in the past three years, Qin Yi had borrowed a lot of debts. If they were to pay off these debts, it was uncertain whether they would have any surplus left. The joy of moving into a new home vanished instantly.

  Qin Yiren walked out quickly, and Meng Zhao followed closely behind him.

  The courtyard was packed with people, each with a resentful face. As soon as they saw Qin Yiren's face, they began to accuse him: "Qin Yiren, you're really something! When you borrowed the gold that day, you promised to return it as soon as you had it. We lent it to you because we're all from the same place, but now you've clearly gotten your goods back and yet you haven't said a word. Are you trying to welch on the debt?"

  "If it weren't for the fact that you're a prince, who would lend you money? Knowing full well that you're as good as dead, we lent you money and took huge risks. Not only do you not show any gratitude, but you also want to welch on your debts! Humph! Is there such an unscrupulous prince like you?"

  Accusations rose and fell like thunder, each one furious, as if afraid that Qin Yi would not return.

  "How did they find out in less than a day that I've retrieved the stolen goods?" Qin Yiren was perplexed, this news had spread too quickly.

  "How did you know?" Qin Yiren's eyes sparkled with light as he asked loudly.

  "If you want others not to know, unless you yourself don't do it. Can you get back the goods and money? Then we can't know?" Immediately, a creditor loudly retorted, speaking with extreme dissatisfaction.

  "Right!" The chorus of assent rose up in unison.

  Obviously something was off, Qin Yiren's eyebrows furrowed, and he said: "Whoever tells me how you knew this, I'll return their gold."

  "It was Lü's merchant house that informed us." a merchant replied loudly.

  "Lü Buwei!" The Qin stranger gritted his teeth and roared: "I won't let you off!"

  "Qin Yiren, how dare you commit such atrocities? If it weren't for the people sent by Manager Lü to inform us, we would still be in the dark. You want to deal with Manager Lü? First, you need to ask us." The creditors erupted into a chorus of angry rebukes.

  Lü Buwei's move is very vicious, aiming to force the Qin stranger to surrender. Didn't you get your goods back? I'll let the creditor take them away and see how long you can hold on. Without your goods, won't you still bow down to me, Lü Buwei, and surrender?

  This was Lü Buwei's vicious intention, and Qin Yiren was extremely furious.

  When Xi Men Old Master went to inform these creditors, he naturally had to talk a lot about Qin Yiren's wrongs, wanting to make these creditors angry and demanding debt repayment. They took the lead, thinking that Qin Yiren wanted to default on his debts, while Lü Buwei was a good person who had to be protected.

  "If you don't pay back the money, we won't leave!" The creditors said in unison, their faces firm and resolute.

  "Isn't it just about returning the money? Return it!" Qin Yiren's response was far beyond their expectations.