Chapter 3: The Lord of Xinling Calculates Qin

  "Has this young master become even more handsome?" Qin Yiren said with a smug expression, tossing his head.

  Although it was the first time soaking, the effect is not obvious, but Meng Zhao and his three people's keen eyes also captured Qin Yiren's subtle changes, which really made people happy.

  "Haha!" Meng Zhao and his two companions gave Qin Yi a thumbs up, teasing him: "Young master has always been so handsome."

  "What's the use of being handsome? He's still a young boy now." Qin Yiren thought of Zhao Ji's beautiful figure again.

  She agreed and went to find Qin Zhen, but he was nowhere to be found. Qin Yi thought to himself: "Should I go visit the Zhao family for a while?"

  Under the guidance of Meng Zhao, Ma Gai and Fan Tong, Qin Yiren was busy practicing martial arts, temporarily putting aside the matter of Zhao Ji.

  Mo'er decocted the medicine, and Qin Yiren soaked in it once every morning, noon, and evening. The effect was astonishing. After several days, the changes in her body became apparent: her muscles began to plump up, radiant and lustrous like beautiful jade, and her whole person looked refreshed and revitalized, somewhat like a jade tree swaying in the wind.

  That night, Qin Yiren soaked in the medicinal water and said to Meng'er, "Meng'er, from tomorrow on, you will have to prepare more medicine."

  "Master, three times a day is just right, can't be more." Mo Er thought Qin Yiren wanted to increase the number of soaking times again and hurriedly reminded him.

  "It's not for me, it's for you." Qin Yiren explained, "After three years of imprisonment, your bodies have been damaged and are no longer as strong as before. This medicine has been tried by me and has a great benefit to one's vitality, you should also take good care of yourselves."

  After three years of imprisonment, Qin Yiren and the others were no longer in their former physical condition, with severe damage to their spirit. With such good medicine, Qin Yiren would not enjoy it alone, but would use it to restore his most loyal subordinates' bodies.

  "Master... but we don't have much gold." Miao Er was so excited that her eyes turned red and tears welled up.

  Qin's extraordinary people can think of them, let them soak, and recover their bodies. How exciting is that?

  "Money is a problem, we'll think of something later." This medicine is effective, but it's too expensive. Qin Yiren really has a headache. Anyway, they need to recover their bodies.

  "Thank you, young master! Thank you, young master!" Mian'er's eyes welled up with tears, but she was smiling especially brightly, like a pear blossom in the rain, evoking sympathy.

  "Meng Zhao, Ma Gai, Fan Tong, can't they recover their strength as soon as possible?" Qin Yiren raised an eyebrow.

  Meng Zhao, Ma Gai and Fan Tong are Iron Eagle Swordsmen. If they can recover their strength, it will be especially important for Qin Yiren. When Jing Yun comes to attack, they don't even have the power to fight back once. If they can recover their strength, they won't be so powerless.

  "This...young master can let them soak once in the morning and once at night, this way they will recover faster." Mei'er thought for a moment before responding: "It's just that it costs too much."

  Meng Zhao and his three men bathed twice a day, which would cost an extra six taels of silver, a heavy burden for Qin Yi's current financial situation.

  "No matter what, letting them regain their strength is of utmost importance." Qin Yiren said firmly.

  In this way, Qin Yiren, Meng Zhao, Ma Gai, Fan Tong, Miao Er and Hei Bo all had to soak in medicinal water every day. Qin Yiren did it three times a day, morning, noon and night, while Meng Zhao, Ma Gai and Fan Tong did it twice a day, morning and night. Hei Bo and Miao Er only did it once a day. Their bodies showed great improvement and recovered very quickly.

  XXXXXXXX

  Handan West City Gate, a red scout came galloping, riding his horse at full speed while loudly shouting: "The tiger wolf Qin army has retreated! The tiger wolf Qin army has retreated!"

  "What? The Xiongnu and the Qin have retreated?"

  "Did I hear wrong? Is there something wrong with my ears?"

  The people coming and going were stunned, their eyes wide like bronze bells, with a look of utter incredulity on their faces.

  Everyone knows that after the Changping War, Zhao was extremely weak and the entire country was defenseless. As long as the Qin army attacked, Zhao would inevitably be destroyed. This is a huge stone pressing on the hearts of the people, they are worried at all times, who would believe the news of the withdrawal of the Qin army?

  At this moment, they were like listening to heavenly music.

  The Marquis of Hu fled hastily, whipping his horse and shouting loudly: "The tiger-like Qin army has retreated! The tiger-like Qin army has retreated!"

  King Zhao of Zhao's palace, King Zhao Xian Cheng was like an ant on a hot pot, turning around in circles, rubbing his hands non-stop and sighing constantly.

  Since Lu Zhonglian and Su Dai entered Qin State, there has been no news at all. Whether they have spoken of withdrawing the Qin army is his greatest concern.

  All the officials of Zhao were as anxious as King Zhaoxiang, their faces changing colour, constantly looking west, wishing they had a pair of eyes that could see for a thousand miles to penetrate Qin.

  "The Tiger Wolf Troops of Qin have retreated!" Just then, a cheer suddenly came from outside the palace.

  "Retreat?" Zhao Xiaocheng's eyes widened suddenly, his face filled with incredulity.

  "News from the barbarian king, General Bai Qi of Qin has led his troops to retreat west and has already entered Hangu Pass, and will soon return to Lantian Camp." The scout rushed in, shouting loudly, with a face full of excitement.

  "Heaven bless the great Zhao!" Zhao Xiaocheng Wang threw his head back and let out a loud roar, stumbled forward, fell to the ground, covered his face with both hands, and began to wail.

  The Hangu Pass is a crucial location for the Qin army. If the Qin army retreats to the Hangu Pass, then the withdrawal of troops is absolutely true and cannot be mistaken.

  Worried about the White Tiger killing, Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang was anxious and uneasy, eating poorly, sleeping poorly, and extremely worried. Now that the good news of Qin's retreat has arrived, he seems to have been hit by a pie falling from the sky, wrapped in a huge sense of happiness, excitedly unbearable.

  "Woe is me!" The ministers of Zhao all felt extremely fortunate and let out a loud, mournful cry.

  The news of Qin's withdrawal spread like wildfire, and the people went wild with joy, Handan was boiling over, everywhere was filled with cheers.

  After receiving the news, Prince Xinling rushed to the palace of Zhao State and saw that the king and his ministers were all crying with their heads in their hands, but there was a happy smile on each of their faces, just like a beggar who had picked up a gold ingot.

  "Prince Xinling, you've arrived just in time." King Zhao Xiao Cheng hastily wiped away his tears and rushed over to grab Prince Xinling's hand, beaming with joy: "All of this is thanks to your brilliant strategy, Prince Xinling. You retreated the tiger-like Qin army without a fight. I reward you with 100,000 taels of gold, a mansion, 30 beautiful women, and 300 servants."

  A reward of one hundred thousand taels of gold is rarely seen in the world, this is an extremely generous gift. The Prince of Xinling was overjoyed and hastily said: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

  "What should be done now, Lord Xinling?" King Zhao Xiaocheng hastily asked for advice.

  "Your Highness, in my humble opinion as an external minister, at present we should dispatch people to protect Qin Yi Ren well. If something happens to him due to the actions of our own people, or if he gets killed, that would be a completely unnecessary complication." The Prince of Xinling was very clear that it wouldn't be easy for Qin to withdraw its troops now, and absolutely couldn't afford to provoke Qin at this time.

  "Right, right, right!" Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang hastily nodded in agreement and said: "The tiger-like Qin army has finally retreated, we absolutely cannot give the King of Qin an excuse to raise his troops. Ping Yuan Jun, this matter is now entrusted to you."

  "Yes!" Ping Yuanjun hastened to obey.

  "Your Majesty, I think the reason why the Qin army retreated is that their national treasury has been greatly depleted and it's hard for them to continue. They can't afford another big battle. Fan Yu, being a wise man, must be advocating for retreat. But Bai Qi and those fierce warriors are determined to destroy Zhao and are in favor of advancing. We should..." Prince Xinling whispered into the ear of King Xiaocheng of Zhao.

  "Excellent! Excellent!" Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang nodded heavily, clapped his hands in praise and laughed loudly: "If this plan succeeds, Qin Guo will surely lose harmony between its generals!"