Chapter 59: Distant Allies and Nearby Enemies - Fan Ju

  Chapter 59: Distant Allies and Nearby Enemies: Fan Ju

  The sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels echoed as two chariots entered Xianyang.

  At this time, the sky was already late, and the lights were all on. The city of Xianyang was magnificent and majestic, adding a bit of grandeur.

  Lu Zhonglian lifted the curtain, stuck out his head and gazed at Xianyang, sighing: "I'm touring Xianyang again!" He was a well-known strategist of the time, traveling all over the world, and Xianyang was not his first visit.

  Su Dai lifted the curtain and looked out at Xianyang, seeing Qin people coming and going in a hurry, with very little conversation, exchanging glances and immediately leaving.

  "The road is blocked! The Qin law is cruel and violent, it's true that the people of Qin dare not speak!" Su Dai was very dissatisfied and ridiculed him with a sentence.

  "Suzi, this statement is incorrect." Lu Zhonglian explained to him, "In the east of Shandong Province, there are many idle people who like to gather in groups of three or five and discuss things. This won't work in Qin because Qin doesn't support idlers, if someone can't support themselves, not only will the government not provide assistance but also punish them. According to Shang Yang's law: everyone has good hands and feet, others can support themselves, why can't you? Such people must be idle citizens and should be punished! After a long time, it formed the habit of Qin people being busy and diligent, when meeting each other, they don't want to talk much, just ask with their eyes."

  Lu Zhonglian was a man of Qi State, yet he spoke for Qin State. This wasn't his usual style. Su Dai was very curious and asked: "Thousand-mile Colt, why did you speak up for the people of Qin?"

  "It's not that I'm speaking on behalf of the Qin people, but this is indeed the true situation." Lu Zhonglian shook his head and smiled: "For a hundred years in the Warring States period, scholars and sons ran around, showing off their cleverness, offering unusual strategies, each for their own lord."

  The phrase "each has its own master" reveals the style of scholars in the Warring States period, as long as they are employed, regardless of which country's people, they will definitely do their best and will not be deceitful or cunning.

  "It's already nighttime now. There is a place in Xianyang that is perfect for viewing, Su Zi. Follow me." Lu Zhonglian ordered, "Go to the Wang City."

  "Go to Wang City?" Su Dai was somewhat puzzled.

  Lu Zhonglian did not explain. The charioteer took orders and drove straight to the Qin State's royal city.

  Before long, Lu Zhonglian and Su Dazi got off the carriage. Lu Zhonglian pointed at the Qin State's royal city and laughed: "Su Zi, have you ever seen such a wonderful sight?"

  "Heavens!" Su Dai was stunned by the scenery in front of him on his first trip to Qin.

  Only the Qin state's imperial city was brightly lit, with carriages and horses coming and going in a continuous stream. Officials and clerks hurried to and fro, never stopping for a moment, nor exchanging a word, their faces solemn as if they were busy with matters of great importance.

  "Is this really Wangcheng?" Su Dai asked incredulously.

  "Absolutely true!" Lu Zhonglian affirmed, and sighed: "The prosperity or decline of a country can be known by observing the night scene of its capital! The night scene of Qin's capital is vastly different from that of Shandong, this is the reason why Qin becomes stronger with each war."

  "That's right! That's right!"

  Su Dai nodded in agreement, saying: "I have traveled throughout the land of Shandong and seen that the night scenes of the six kingdoms' capitals are vastly different from those of Qin. The capital of Qi is filled with music and laughter every night, the sounds echoing through the streets. In the capital of Wei, as soon as night falls, the front hall where state affairs are handled is plunged into darkness, while the rear hall where the king and his concubines indulge in pleasure is brightly lit all night long. The capital of Han has a dim and gloomy atmosphere both inside and out, with an air of death hanging over it at night. The capitals of Zhao, Chu, and Yan are roughly the same."

  "In Qin, there are no idle officials and no idle matters. Officials devote themselves wholeheartedly to their duties, and finish the day's work on the same day!" Lu Zhonglian sighed and said: "In the land of Shandong, affairs have accumulated like a mountain, with no one to take care of them. The ruler indulges in pleasure and even if there are important matters, he dare not report them. In Qin, however, regardless of time or place, only major events can be reported directly to the King of Qin. To say something unpleasant, even if the King of Qin is on a woman's breast, he can still be called upon."

  "So it seems that the overall trend of the world has already been controlled by the Qin people." Su Dai had always known that Ruzhonglian was a man who would not speak falsely.

  "We have done our best." Lu Zhonglian's life was spent opposing Qin, but he also knew that he could not resist the Qin state, only that he had to do his best and be at peace with himself.

  "Alas! My brother is not used by Qin!" Su Daisighed with a long sigh to the sky, feeling sorry for Su Qin.

  "Life is but a fleeting moment!" Lu Zhonglian was also deeply moved by Su Qin's fate.

  Su Qin and Zhang Yi, after completing their studies, descended from the mountains and divided the world among the various states. Zhang Yi wanted to serve in Shandong, while Su Qin wanted to serve in Qin. However, it turned out that they ended up doing the opposite: Su Qin wore the seals of the six states as his minister, while Zhang Yi became the prime minister of Qin.

  The wonder of creation, the playfulness of fate, can be seen from this.

  "When Suzi first arrived in Xianyang, we traveled all around. Lu Zhonglian revisited his old haunts and took Su Dai on a stroll through the city of Xianyang."

  It was getting late, and by the time they arrived at midnight, Lu Zhonglian said, "Let's go to Chancellor Fan's residence to see Fan Ju."

  "Have you seen Fan Ju?" Su Dai hesitated for a moment, then said: "It's already midnight, Fan Ju has gone to bed long ago. Why not go tomorrow instead."

  "Suzi, have you forgotten? This is the state of Qin, not Shandong. I dare to say that Fan Yu has not rested yet." Lu Zhonglian was full of confidence: "Even if he has rested, he will still come to meet us."

  Su Dai was somewhat skeptical, but couldn't argue with Lu Zhonglian, and had no choice but to follow him.

  The Chancellor's mansion of the Qin state was very large, covering over a hundred acres. The scene here was no different from that in the royal city, and it was already midnight, but officials were still coming and going, rushing about, just like during the day, which made Lu Zhonglian and Su Dai sigh again.

  Su Dai took out a piece of high-quality beautiful jade, stepped forward and handed it to the guarding soldier. Before he could say anything, the soldier threw the jade back at him and said in a deep voice: "This is Qin State, not that dirty place in Shandong. If you have business, go inside."

  "Susu was stunned."

  He traveled through Shandong and came to a realization: without money, nothing can be done! The Qin state not only didn't accept gifts, but also skipped the memorial ceremony.

  This is no ordinary place, it's the residence of a high-ranking prime minister. If you have business, enter directly without needing to report, if Su Dai hadn't experienced it personally, he wouldn't believe it even if you beat him to death.

  "This is the State of Qin." said Lu Zhonglian with a smile.

  "The Prime Minister has summoned Qianli Ju and Su Zi." Just then, a clerk came striding over to rush past Ruzhong Lian and Su Dai.

  "Haha!" Lu Zhonglian burst out laughing: "Ying Hou's eyes are like a torch, indeed not false, shining for thousands of miles, already knowing we're coming!" He took a big step forward and followed the officials into the Prime Minister's mansion.

  Su Dai was still a bit dizzy, and with his vast experience, he had never encountered such a swift event in his life.

  Entering the Prime Minister's mansion, the scene inside was no different from the entrance. Officials were busy and restless, rushing about without stopping. It was already midnight, yet they were still as busy as in broad daylight. Who would believe it if you told them?

  In the distance, a majestic figure stood under the eaves of a house. A loud and clear laughter echoed: "Qianliju, you want to suppress Fan Yuqi!"

  "Here comes Lord Hou again!" Zhonglian laughed loudly and quickly stepped forward, shaking hands with Fan Yu tightly.

  Look at how affectionate they are, just like old friends meeting up. In fact, their private relationship is not bad, they are good friends who know each other well, it's just that they have different masters.

  They were close friends, yet they fought each other to the death. This was a unique landscape of the Warring States period, and none were more famous than Zhang Yi and Su Qin. Su Qin united the vertical alliance, while Zhang Yi formed the horizontal alliance, with their sharp points facing each other, fighting to the death, refusing to yield until one side emerged victorious and the other was destroyed.

  However, the brotherly affection between them is not to be doubted. When they meet again, it's a joyful reunion with cups of wine. After Su Qin was stabbed, Zhang Yi was furious and prepared to kill thousands in revenge for Su Qin. But Su Qin had left a trump card, avenging himself, so Zhang Yi didn't take action.

  Su Dai hastened forward, rushed to see Fan Yu, and was greatly surprised by this legendary and famous prime minister.

  Fan Yao's physique was tall and majestic, with a heroic bearing that made him stand out at first glance. Especially his eyes were exceptionally bright, shining with intelligence, brighter than anyone else's, radiating wisdom.

  A bit thin-headed, not plump enough, but more spiritual.

  The whole person is like a sharp sword out of its scabbard, with an air of heroism that is intimidating.

  His forehead was covered with scars, bright red, moving as Fan Yu spoke, like a crawling red centipede, left from the flogging punishment he received in Wei State years ago.

  Fan Ju, a famous minister of the Warring States period, was praised by Li Si in "Chen Qian Shu" as follows: "King Zhao got Fan Ju, abolished Marquis Rang, expelled Huayang, strengthened the imperial court, blocked private doors, nibbled at the feudal lords, and made Qin's imperial achievements."

  When he was the Premier of Qin State, Qin State really declared itself an empire, titled "Western Emperor", although it existed for a short time, this was a probing action to contend for the throne.

  In his great achievements, there are two great merits that should be recorded in history. One is that he used a clever strategy to make Zhao Guo give up the military power of Lian Po and replace him with Zhao Kuo, who only knew how to talk about military tactics on paper, which led to Qin's victory in the Battle of Changping. The second is that he came up with a legendary plan for Qin: "Distant alliance, nearby attack!"

  ;