Chapter 49: The Lord of Xinling Enters Zhao

  East of Handan City, thirty miles away, a bustling scene unfolded, with carriages and horses as numerous as clouds.

  King Zhao Cheng, Prime Minister Pingyuan Jun, and a multitude of officials all arrived, each wearing new clothes, with wide sashes and ornate belts, dressed to the nines, as if it were New Year's Day.

  "Not yet?" Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang stood on tiptoes, stretched his neck and looked eastward.

  "It's almost here!" Ping Yuanjun hastily replied.

  The sound of horseshoes and carriage wheels echoed, a procession came from east to west. Banners and flags filled the sky, countless flags fluttering in the wind.

  "Here he is!" Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang was overjoyed, rubbing his hands together non-stop, with a big smile on his face, saying: "Prince Xinling has finally arrived! He's finally here!"

  He believed in the words of Pingyuan Jun, thinking that if Xiangling Jun entered Zhao, he could add a lot of strength to the country of Zhao. He looked forward to it day and night, and finally waited for Xiangling Jun's arrival.

  "How many people is this?" The officials all looked at each other and were shocked.

  This team is extraordinary, with a procession of at least over ten miles long, and it's impossible to have such a scale without tens of thousands of people.

  "I've long heard that Lord Xinling has thousands of guests at his gate, coming and going with him, calling out in front and crowding behind. It's really true! King Zhao Xiaocheng was overjoyed and said: "Now that Lord Xinling is here, Zhao is free from worry!"

  Just then, a man of extraordinary height and build appeared, extremely robust, riding a snow-white horse, leading the way.

  "It must be Zhu Hai!" Zhao Xiaocheng Wang made a judgment at the time, and loudly praised: "I have long heard that Zhu Hai is brave and fierce, and it is indeed extraordinary."

  Prince Xinling had two major confidants, one was Hou Ying who was in charge of literary affairs and the other was Zhu Hai who was in charge of military affairs. These two men were famous far and wide and well-known to many people.

  Behind Zhu Hai came a very luxurious carriage, rumbling along.

  "Zhao Wang has arrived!" Zhu Hei shouted at the top of his lungs, like a thunderclap, extremely startling.

  "Worthy of a mighty warrior indeed!" Zhao Xiaocheng Wang exclaimed, hastening forward to say, "Zhao Dan invites the great guest!"

  The term "dà bīn" was rarely used in the Warring States period, and it means a high-ranking guest or noble guest. When Zhao King Xiaocheng called Zuo Liangyu "dà bīn", he regarded him as an existence of unparalleled nobility.

  "I dare not presume." A clear voice rang out, and Xingling Jun emerged from the carriage, wearing a jade crown, brocade robes, and embroidered boots, accompanied by Hou Ying and Lu Zhonglian, to pay his respects to King Zhao of Chu.

  "Prince Xinling, I have been expecting you for a long time. You can be considered as having arrived." King Zhao of Chu hastened to take two steps at a time, came forward and grasped Prince Xinling's hand, personally helping him down from the carriage.

  During the Warring States period, it was a great honor for a king to personally support another. The Lord of Xinling did not expect King Xiaocheng of Zhao to treat him with such courtesy and was delighted, smiling and saying: "I dare not trouble Your Majesty, Zhi Yanzhu is at your service."

  "Haha!" Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang grasped Shilin Jun's hand and rushed to the royal carriage. Upon arriving at the royal carriage, he wanted to help Shilin Jun get on the royal carriage.

  In the Warring States period, except for the monarch, no one else was allowed to ride in it. Unless he had obtained the monarch's permission, whoever rode in the royal carriage would be extremely honored.

  This was another great favor, and Prince Xinling was even more delighted. After a show of modesty, he was helped onto the royal carriage by King Xiaocheng of Zhao.

  Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang jumped onto the chariot shaft, grasped the horse whip, and wanted to personally drive the carriage for Prince Xinling.

  King Zhao Cheng had done many things that brought great honor, but none of them compared to him personally driving the carriage. The Prince of Xinling was overjoyed and hastily said: "Your Majesty, you mustn't do this, you really mustn't."

  "What makes you so unhappy?" Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang laughed heartily and said: "In the time of great crisis for Zhao, Prince Xinling did not decline the hard work, was not afraid of the tiger-like Qin country, entered my Handan, saved me from destruction. This is a great righteousness that makes me feel deeply grateful, I have no way to repay him, so I will be his charioteer."

  Before he could finish speaking, with a flick of the whip, the tip of the whip cracked in mid-air, and the four white horses pulling the carriage whinnied loudly and set off at a gallop.

  The several thousand retainers of Prince Xinling were invited by the various ministers to get into carriages, some accompanying him and others personally taking the reins to hurry the carriage along as they sped off towards Handan.

  Zhao Xiang, the King of Zhao, went thirty miles out of the city to welcome him, which was the highest courtesy at that time. Not to mention, such a grand and majestic scene, it was an unparalleled honor, and the retainers of Prince Xinling felt proud and delighted, with joy written all over their faces.

  "The Prince of Xinling has arrived, Handan is at peace! Zhao is at peace!" Taking advantage of this opportunity, the guests of Prince Xinling spread the news far and wide. Soon, the news of Prince Xinling's entry into Handan spread, and those who had planned to flee the country were no longer afraid, and the trend of fleeing the country was finally stopped.

  Returning to the palace, King Zhao of Chu grasped the hand of Lord Xinling and personally led him in, inviting Lord Xinling into the palace. He ordered people to set up a grand feast to entertain Lord Xinling and his entourage.

  Prince Xinling and Lu Zhonglian sat on both sides of King Zhao Xiao Cheng, which was also a great honor.

  After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang put down his wine glass and eagerly asked for advice: "Prince Xinling, what can you teach me?"

  This is exactly what the officials are concerned about. They neither stop their chopsticks nor put down their cups, but instead keep their eyes wide open and stare at Prince Xinling.

  The king and his ministers of Zhao had high hopes for Lord Pingyuan and were eager to know his plan.

  "Haha! The king inquires, and Wei is not daring to speak his mind." Xingling Jun put down his wine cup and smiled: "The great battle of Changping lasted for three years, the consumption was enormous, rarely seen in a thousand years. With the strong power of Zhao, the treasury was depleted, the remaining money and grain were endless, Wei didn't know about the tiger-like Qin state's treasury, but he could boldly guess one or two things."

  The king and his ministers nodded their heads in agreement, greatly approving of this statement.

  The state of Zhao was the strongest warring state in Shandong at that time, and even such a first-rate warring state was consumed to extreme weakness. Although Qin's strength was slightly stronger than that of Zhao, it would not be easy either.

  Moreover, some time ago, Yue Yi had such a conclusion, which made them even more convinced that Qin Guo would never be able to pass.

  "With no hesitation, I think that since Shang Yang's reform, the tiger-like Qin state has been growing stronger and stronger, bringing disaster to the eastern regions. However, after the Battle of Changping, it is certain that their treasury will not have much left, and they won't have a lot of money, so the Qin state cannot afford to fight another big war." The Prince of Xinling began his analysis, saying: "There are only two strategies to solve the current difficulty."

  "Oh. Which two strategies?" Zhao Xiao's king originally thought that if Zeng Lingjun had one strategy, it would be fine, but he didn't expect to have two strategies, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed, with a burst of sharp light in his eyes.

  These words were exactly what everyone in the court was thinking, and they all stared at Prince Xinling with wide eyes, wishing they could pry an answer out of his mouth.

  "One plan is to make military preparations complete, for defensive warfare." The Prince of Xinling replied loudly.

  "The Battle of Changping, the elite troops of Zhao were all lost. If you want to defend the city, we need a good general. The Prince of Xinling is well-versed in military strategy, please ask him to take on this difficult task and defend Handan for Zhao." King Xiaocheng of Zhao entrusted him with an important mission.

  The reputation of Xinling Jun's "Xianming" has spread far and wide, and is respected by the world. As a general, no one would have any objections.

  "The king's favor is great, and I am deeply grateful. However, since I was originally from Wei, if I were to become a general of Zhao, people might not obey me." The Prince of Xinling glanced at the Prince of Pingyuan and said, "The prime minister has great talent, he should be the most suitable for this task."

  This was a plan that had been discussed with Pingyuan Jun long ago. Pingyuan Jun would help him enter Zhao and gain a good reputation, while he would help Pingyuan Jun gain military power.

  "Alright!" Zhao Xiao thought the same way, after all, Wei Yang was a man of Wei, and it would be hard for people to accept his words as a commander of the Zhao army. If Prime Minister Pingyuan could handle this matter, that would be even better: "Please ask Prince Xinling to assist Prime Minister Pingyuan."

  "The vassal should do his best." Gongzi Xingling hastily said.

  "Thank you, sir." The Marquis of Pingyuan now held both military and administrative power, a rare occurrence in the Warring States period. He could be said to have great authority and was overjoyed.

  Another strategy is to send someone into Qin, persuade the King of Qin, and let Qin stop its troops. The Lord of Xinling did not wait for King Xiaocheng of Zhao to ask, but took the initiative to speak out.

  "Hmm." Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang was overjoyed and said, "Qin will definitely not be able to withstand it. If we can do it according to the method, we can definitely retreat the Qin army without a fight. Who is willing to go?" He scanned the group of ministers.

  However, all the ministers of Zhao were lowering their heads, and no one was willing to go. Qin is a country of tigers and wolves, who dares to enter the tiger's lair?

  "The Great King, Lu Zhonglian wishes to go." Lu Zhonglian loudly asked for orders.

  "A thousand-li steed is willing to go, and Great Zhao will have no worries!" King Zhao Xiao Cheng was overjoyed. Lu Zhonglian was a famous horizontal and vertical house, his name was known all over the world, he went and it would be absolutely safe.

  "Lu Zhonglian still needs one more person's help to succeed." Lu Zhonglian said hurriedly.

  "Who?" King Zhao Xiao Cheng hastily asked.