Chapter 42: A Guest Arrives from Afar in Xianyang

  The news of the defeat of the Great Qin army spread rapidly in the streets of Xianyang.

  Some people wring their wrists and sigh, some are indignant, but no one worries that the great Qin will decline from this and be attacked by the three countries of Han, Zhao, and Wei. The reason is simple: the invincible General Wei Liao has led a large army to conquer the three Jin states. What the people of Xianyang are discussing most now is how long it will take for General Wei Liao to capture Yique and annihilate the allied forces of the three Jin states.

  Looking at the confident Xianyang citizens around him, Fan Jue revealed a hint of imperceptible bitter smile.

  For decades, the territory of Qin has been expanding rapidly, and the confidence of the people of Qin has also been growing. Unlike the attitude of the countries in Shandong towards war, the people of Qin regard each battle as a joyful event. War means victory, victory means that the upper and lower classes of Qin can gain more land, more taxes, and more markets.

  Fan Yi and his entourage have arrived in Xianyang for two days. The nearly thousand-mile journey, under the relentless whip of day and night, took only ten days.

  Although he arrived in Xianyang, the original plan was not going smoothly. For the past two days, Fan Jushi went to the "Four Nobles" of Qin State, attempting to persuade them. Either they were rejected at the door or followed by someone, and Fan Jushi was so frightened that it took him a lot of effort to shake off the tail.

  At this time, Fan Yi began to care about the trends in the streets.

  Rumor has it that the defeat of Hu Yang's army enraged the King of Qin, who issued a decree stating that anyone who dared to obstruct the war between Qin and the Three Jin would be killed without pardon. Anyone who dared to plead for peace on behalf of the Three Jin would also be killed without pardon. To prevent troublemakers like the "Four Nobles" from causing unrest, the King of Qin ordered the entire city of Xianyang to be placed under martial law, with a curfew in effect. Without a royal edict, anyone who dared to venture out would be put to death.

  The complete defeat of Hu Yang led to a decline in the prestige of the King of Qin, and during this extraordinary period, the King of Qin resolutely implemented severe punishments and dispatched people to closely monitor the princes and high-ranking officials. This move directly killed off many people's thoughts of stirring up trouble.

  In the original plan of Taizi Ran, if possible, he would instigate the "Four Nobles" to rebel, and if not, he would win over Yiqiu to attack Xianyang. In either case, Bai Qi's large army would inevitably return to rescue, and the crisis in Yique would be resolved.

  It just doesn't seem to work at all now. And the second plan is also difficult to implement.

  When it comes to Yiqiu, its history cannot be avoided.

  As a branch of the Northwestern Qiang Rong nationality, the Yiqu were the earliest nomadic people to learn from the Central Plains civilization. In the late Western Zhou Dynasty, King You of Zhou lit beacons to trick the vassals for the sake of his concubine Bao Si's smile. Later, when the Qiang Rong really rebelled against the Zhou and caused chaos, the Western Zhou had no vassal troops to rescue it, resulting in its downfall and the death of King You. Taking advantage of this great opportunity, the Yiqu formally established their country. From then on began several hundred years of history of swallowing up the other Rong tribes to the north and attacking the Qin state to the east.

  During the thirty years when Yiqu was at its strongest, Qin was defeated by Yiqu and even driven out of the lower reaches of the Wei River. However, after internal strife broke out in Yiqu, Qin took advantage of the situation to quell the unrest, causing Yiqu to surrender. Later, as the various states of the Central Plains clashed with each other, Qin also became deeply embroiled in these conflicts. After recovering its strength, Yiqu rose again and joined forces with the states of eastern China to resist Qin, at one point even threatening Xianyang.

  The Qin state felt deeply threatened by the Yiqu, and after the Central Plains War, it gathered national strength to attack the Yiqu. The Yiqu country lost its city and land, suffered heavy casualties, and greatly reduced its national power. However, the Qin state also paid a considerable price, and afterwards the throne of Qin changed hands, with the young King Zhao of Qin being enthroned, and Queen Dowager Xuan taking regency.

  Yiqu is again restless and harassed the border of Qin. In order to appease Yiqu, who was in the heart of Qin, Empress Dowager Xuan adopted a soft approach, using the beautiful woman strategy. To dispel the concerns of the King of Yiqu, she did not hesitate to use her own body as bait and had an affair with the King of Yiqu, giving birth to two sons. As a result, she tricked the King of Yiqu into staying in Xianyang for a long time, residing in Ganquan Palace, indulging in pleasures and forgetting his home.

  It's hardest to repay the kindness of a beauty, from then on King Yiqu listened to and followed Empress Dowager Xuan's words. The state of Qin had already given the highest position of empress dowager to King Yiqu, how could he still have the heart to make trouble?

  These were what Fan Yu heard after arriving in Xianyang, but hearing such news made him even more helpless. The Qin state's policy of winning hearts and minds had reached this point, how could he persuade Yiqu to create chaos for the Qin state?

  "Have you heard? The Empress Dowager has summoned another batch of beauties into Ganquan Palace for her nocturnal pleasure!"

  Just as Fan Yao was getting a headache, a faintly audible sound came from the desk next door.

  "Shh! Are you trying to get yourself killed? How dare you say such things?" Another person looked around nervously and said in a low voice.

  "What's there to be afraid of, everyone in Qin knows about the Empress Dowager and King Yi Qu." The person who first spoke up had a fearless look on his face, but his voice was lowered again.

  "Knowing is one thing, expressing it is another."

  "Alright, alright, I get it. What's puzzling me is that the State of Yue is so small, with a population of only 8 or 9 million people. Our Great Qin can easily crush them, why do we need to make such a great sacrifice for the Empress Dowager? Isn't this damaging the prestige of our Great Qin?"

  "You don't know this. The people of Yiqu are fierce and brave, when they go to war, all men taller than a horse will follow the army, and if necessary, strong women can also ride horses and shoot arrows! In this way, Yiqu can gather an army of more than 200,000."

  "My goodness, is it really that much?" The speaker's face was filled with incredulity.

  "Frightening, but at least there are also 150,000 troops! If Yí Qú really rebels, think about it, 150,000 cavalry galloping inside the pass, how much loss will it bring to our Great Qin?"

  "So you're saying that we, the great Qin, don't dare to provoke them now! Our territory is getting bigger and bigger, our military strength is scattered all over the place, and there are only a few tens of thousands of troops around Xianyang."

  "It's not that we don't dare to provoke, but it's better not to provoke. If we were to conquer Yiqu with one swift motion, we would need at least 200,000 troops, and even if we succeeded in taking down Yiqu, our Qin state would still suffer greatly. Look at how we've smoothly occupied the granary of Bashu and taken over large tracts of land from Chu - it's all because of Her Majesty's benevolent plan, which has calmed Yiqu's heart."

  "Now that you mention it, it does make sense. However, the Empress Dowager wouldn't go so far as to have a child with someone from another tribe, would she? After all, the three of them were in Ganquan Palace, and the Empress Dowager herself found beautiful women for them - this is also too absurd."

  "Alas! The state of Yiqū is after all a barbarian land, you don't know that when someone dies in battle, his wife and children all belong to his younger brother. It's no wonder there are such things."

  "Could such a thing really happen?" The speaker thought that if the Central Plains also had such a custom, wouldn't it be... Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.

  "It's indeed so! However, the Empress Dowager also has her own good intentions. This is entirely to corrupt and win over Yiqiu, think about it, even King Yiqiu and his only two successors have fallen so far, where can Yiqiu go from here? When the time comes, take advantage of their unpreparedness, and our great army can destroy Yiqiu in one battle!"

  "I think I understand, brother, your vision is higher than mine! No wonder you've read a few years of books, unlike us who are just watching the excitement. Brother, tell me again, if King Yiqiu doesn't return for so long, won't Yiqiu be in chaos? If our king is always away, it's possible that the crown prince will make trouble!"

  He drained the wine in his cup, paused for a moment, and said: "In my early years, I did go to Qingyang, so I have some understanding of that place. Yiqu is a barbarian state, with a fierce folk culture, and those in power are either royalty or trusted ministers. The entire country, from top to bottom, loves money, silk, and fine fabrics; as long as they are tempted with gain, the royal family and trusted ministers who stay behind will not betray Qin. Nowadays, the king of Yiqu has only one younger brother, but he is a man who has always been loyal and true-hearted. With this person present, the king of Yiqu can rest assured and live in Xianyang for a long time."

  "So that's it! No wonder King Yi of the Que kingdom stayed in our Xianyang for over thirty years! It turns out he had a loyal and diligent younger brother helping to keep an eye on things domestically!"

  "Yes! The younger brother of King Yiqiu is indeed loyal! Every three years, he must come to see King Yiqiu. Calculating the days, he should be arriving in Xianyang these few days. You just need to know this, but absolutely don't tell anyone else! In the future, it's best not to mention Empress Dowager's matters, she isn't easy to deal with either."

  "I get it! I get it! I won't say anything anymore."

  Fan Yi, who overheard the conversation between the two, was overjoyed. Originally, he had been at a loss for what to do, but now a major plan was taking shape. The beauty trick of Qin Guo had been in use for more than 30 years! What they were plotting was so grand.

  Think about it, if the King of Rong and his two princes were to suddenly die abroad, and all evidence pointed to Qin's assassination, how would the King of Rong's brother react with a heart full of grievances?

  Even if he remains restrained, can't the money and silk in his hands be used to win over the Yiqi nobles? At that time, Yiqi will have no choice but to take up arms to avenge themselves.

  Think about it, 150,000 Yiqu cavalry stirring up the flames of revenge, this fire will make Xianyang lively enough! Lively, he likes lively the most! Fan Yu smiled comfortably.