Chapter 4: The Unknown Low-ranking Official is Not Worth Mentioning

  The atmosphere in Qin Yiren's mansion was oppressive, making it hard for people to breathe.

  Meng Zhao and Fan Tong led the servants of the mansion, guarding each place as if they were facing a great enemy.

  The news of the Qin army's retreat was certainly good news for Zhao, but it was bad news for the Qin refugees, as this would make the people of Zhao fearless and might even attack them, so they could be killed at any time.

  "Bang! Bang!" A sudden knocking sound rang out.

  "Who?" Meng Zhao's thick eyebrows rose in unison as he bellowed in a low voice, his hand pressing down on the hilt of his sword.

  "It's me, Magua!" Magua's voice came from outside the door.

  "Hurry up and open it." Meng Zhao hastily instructed, the servant took action, opening a small gap in the gate, Ma Ge quickly slipped inside.

  "Tigers and wolves of Qin, don't run!" Suddenly, a group of Zhao people holding clubs, knives, and swords rushed over like the wind. Everyone gritted their teeth, as if they wanted to tear Ma Ge apart and eat him alive.

  With a "clang", the servants closed the door and reinforced it with a crossbeam.

  "Bang! Bang!" A shocking crash of the door sounded, accompanied by Zhao Ren's thunderous curses, demanding that Qin Yi and those tiger-wolf-like Qin people come out to meet their deaths.

  "Where's the young master?" Ma Ge asked, panting heavily.

  "In the study." Meng Zhao pointed inside the house and Ma Ge flew in hastily.

  Qin Yiren's face was gloomy, pacing back and forth in the study, his eyebrows furrowed tightly into a "川" shape. Miao'er's hands were clenched together, her lips pursed tightly, wanting to speak but hesitating.

  "Sir, don't worry, perhaps the King of Qin hasn't received it yet." Hei Bo comforted Qin Yiren.

  "Ma Gai will know as soon as he comes back." Qin Yiren waved his hand, stopping Hei Bo from continuing.

  Qin Yi had planned a perfectly correct path for the Qin state, and if King Zhao of Qin adopted it, neither Zhao nor Han would be a problem. Logically speaking, the king should have adopted it and sent Bai Qi to march on Handan. However, the news that came was that Bai Qi had retreated. This made Qin Yi extremely depressed - had the letter not been delivered? Or had King Zhao not adopted it?

  He sent Ma Gai to visit Weifeng Shangshe and ask about the situation.

  Ma Gei pushed open the door and hastily came in, saying: "Young master, this is a receipt. It was written by Chang Shi Huan Xing himself, and Wei Feng Shang She delivered the letter." He handed over the bamboo slip to Qin Yi Ren.

  Qin Yiren snatched it over, stared with round eyes, and saw that it was written clearly on the surface. The State of Qin had received a letter. At the end, there was also the seal of the Long Historian (equivalent to the modern Secretary-General).

  "The King of Qin has not adopted it!" Qin Yiren spat out a sentence from between his teeth.

  "What a muddle the King of Qin is in!" Miao Er couldn't help but speak out, calling out to Qin Yi Ren, "Your plan is the best plan, the most beneficial plan for the state of Qin!"

  "Yes." Hebo nodded heavily and said, "Isn't the King of Qin worried that the alliance will rise again? As long as the alliance doesn't rise, Great Qin has nothing to worry about. According to your plan, the alliance won't rise again, and Great Qin can gain great benefits."

  "It's just that even I, a martial man who only knows how to charge forward, know that there is no better plan than the young master's. " Ma Gei called out to Qin Yi, saying: "The Supreme General led his army to kill their way to Handan, broke through Handan, captured the King of Zhao and his ministers, but did not destroy the state of Zhao. Instead, he forced Zhao to surrender, cede land, and pay indemnities. As long as Zhao does not perish, the alliance will never rise again. As for which territories in Zhao that Great Qin wants, isn't it up to Great Qin to decide?"

  As long as Zhao does not perish, it will never rise to form an alliance. After breaking through Handan and capturing the king and officials of Zhao, are the conditions not entirely up to Qin's discretion? As long as Zhao is not destroyed, King Zhao will definitely surrender and cede territory and pay indemnities, this is a benefit that can be obtained effortlessly.

  "Turning back, the culprit who forced Changping to war, Korea, wants Korea to surrender and cede territory, and grab Yiyang Iron Mountain in hand." Magai's tone turned high, saying: "Yiyang Iron Mountain, that is Korea's pillar. It is precisely because of Yiyang Iron Mountain that Korea is called 'Strong Korea'. If Great Qin obtains Yiyang Iron Mountain, the combat effectiveness of Great Qin's elite soldiers will be greatly enhanced."

  During the Warring States period, iron weapons had not yet become popular, and the main equipment of the Qin army was still bronze weapons, with only a small number of elite troops equipped with iron weapons. It can be imagined that if one possessed a high-quality iron mine, what kind of scene would it be?

  Korea's Iyang Iron Mountain was the most famous iron mine in the world at that time. It was precisely because of this iron mine that Korea's strength was greatly enhanced, and it was praised by the world as "Strong Korea".

  If this iron mine falls into the hands of Qin State, wouldn't it be like adding wings to a tiger?

  According to Qin Yiren's plan, it will take only three or two months to complete this plan. Even if the treasury of the State of Qin is severely depleted, it should be enough to support the Qin army on a "tour" trip.

  The greatest benefit of this plan lies in that Qin only needs to pay three months' worth of grain and fodder, but can gain endless benefits.

  It was such a good plan, but it wasn't adopted, Qin Yiren was very depressed.

  "The King of Qin is usually astute, how can he be so muddled this time!" Hei Bo gritted his teeth and scolded.

  "It's not that the King of Qin is confused, it's just that I'm a nobody with no influence." Qin Yi knew the reason all too well. Whether in the Warring States period or in modern society, famous people always have an advantage, and when they speak, people listen. He sighed: "A lowly unknown like me isn't worthy of speaking out! And I'm precisely that kind of lowly unknown!"

  "The halo effect" is universally applicable, whether in ancient or modern times.

  "I want to become famous, I want to be a renowned scholar!" At this moment, Qin Yiren realized the urgency of becoming a renowned scholar.

  "Gongzi, you can participate in the grand ceremony of selecting materials." Mo'er came up with an idea for Qin Yiren.

  The four major systems for selecting officials in ancient Chinese society were the Warring States period's "Selecting Talents Convention", the Han Dynasty's "Holding Filial Piety and Integrity" system, the Northern and Southern Dynasties' "Nine Ranks Middle Righteousness" system, and the Sui Dynasty's imperial examination system. To become a famous scholar in the "Selecting Talents Convention" was equivalent to passing the imperial examinations of later dynasties; to become a world-renowned scholar was no different from being ranked among the top three in the imperial examinations.

  This is indeed a shortcut, however, Qin Yiren furrowed his brow and said: "It's difficult. In the past, every autumn, Handan would hold a grand ceremony to select talents, with scholars gathering like clouds. However, after the Battle of Changping, Zhao's national energy was severely injured, and there is no money to hold it. How can we possibly hold the ceremony to select talents?"

  The grand ceremony of selecting materials is extremely important for Qin Yi, but it was cancelled, leaving Qin Yi extremely depressed.

  "Gongzi, Pingyuan Jun has arrived." Just then, Meng Zhao hastily came in to report.

  "Lord Pingyuan? What is he doing here? Has he come to capture us?" Qin Yiren was somewhat astonished, he had arrived too quickly.

  "No." Meng Zhao shook his head and said, "It's said that it was bestowed by King Zhao of Song as a gift."

  "What's going on?" Qin Yiren was stunned, what kind of tune is this?

  "How much gold will you give?" Heber asked hastily, with lovely little stars in his eyes.

  "Just a hundred gold." Meng Zhao curled up the corners of his mouth, somewhat disdainful: "Zhao dog is really petty."

  "I understand." Qin Yiren's eyebrows rose, and he said in surprise: "The Lord of Pingyuan is here to deliver a message, telling the young master not to cause trouble, lest King Qin be angered by Zhao Guo."

  "Blackbeak, how much gold is left?" Blackbeard asked, turning his head.

  "There's only fifty taels left." Hei Bo's face turned gloomy.

  "Is it really that little?" Qin Yiren was greatly astonished, clearly a family with hundreds of taels of gold.

  "Young master, you don't care about money and food, and you don't know the value of oil and salt." Hei Bo counted on his fingers: "Young master's medicinal bath costs six gold coins a day, Meng Zhao's three people cost twelve gold coins, I and Mo Er cost four gold coins, which adds up to twenty-two gold coins. This is just the cost of medicine, not to mention food, clothing, and servant wages, which will total at least thirty gold coins per day."

  Meng Zhao, Ma Gai and Fan Tong's appetites were huge, even bigger than pigs. Moreover, to recover their bodies, they had to eat well, with wine and meat to fill them up. Qin Yiren's appetite was small due to his training.

  "Hei Bo, don't mind it, just watch me get it back from Ping Yuanjun!" Qin Yiren's eyes rolled over, and a sly smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.