Once again, it was confirmed that the Qin people indeed had prisoners all over the country, and they would be consumed by conquests. Therefore, they were conscripting year after year without any rest. This made Zhang Noi feel happy and sad at the same time. The good news is that the weakness of Qin's policy has been grasped, but the worry is that Qin's attack may be difficult to eliminate unless Qin changes its tactics and reforms again.
Chen Xiaolue chatted for a few words and then left, telling Zeng Ji to show Zhang Jue the situation of transporting grain to the Qin people from Zheng. The two started drinking and talking again. The wine delivered by the wine shop this time was of high standard and abundant, but it was not as good as the soda duck in the morning, so they ate slowly until the sun went down. The two of them were really full and still had a lot of food left. I had no choice but to come out and take a leisurely walk to eat.
All the way back to the bamboo raft mooring, we chatted for a while, and the sky turned completely dark. The two got on the raft. Zeng Ji rowed the bamboo raft to the intersection of Qin and Wei, found a hidden river branch to stop, and said to Zhang Noi with a mysterious face: "We will find out in a little while."
I don't know how long it took, but I saw a group of boats coming down from the upper reaches, with torches on the boats, illuminating the surrounding area. Zhang He kept counting to ten before the last boat passed. When the fleet passed by, Zeng Ji rowed out the bamboo raft and hung it far behind the fleet. Along the way, he walked very carefully close to the shore, using the cover of shadows and not daring to get very close. Sometimes he lost sight of the fleet; but Zeng Ji was obviously familiar with the direction of the fleet, and he lost track of it soon. After two strokes, the fleet's flames could be seen dimly in the night.
After walking for half the night, the fleet obviously entered a reverse current and slowed down. Zeng Ji stopped rowing to follow, tied up the bamboo raft, and went ashore with Zhang Noi, walking along the river. After about five miles, I saw the fleet docked in the distance. The lights were brightly lit on the shore. Zeng Ji pulled Zhang Noi and said, "I don't dare to move forward for fear of a hidden whistle." After lying on the shore and observing for a while, Zhang Noi felt that there was nothing to see, so he said to Zeng Ji: "I Wait and return."
Zeng Jidao: "Brother, do you know him?"
Zhang He replied cautiously: "Watching movies from across the bank, it's just a rough cover." Zeng Ji smiled slightly, turned around and left.
By the time the two returned to the thatched cottage by the lake, it was already twilight. Two masses of laundry were still piled under the window. Zhang Ye changed into his old clothes and paid special attention, but found no sign of being disturbed. Regardless of the tiredness of running around all night, he immediately set off for Huayang. On the way, he was discovered and captured by Wei Jun's secret sentry. After explaining his identity, he was sent to Mr. Liang Wei and returned to Huayang City safely.
When entering the city, the army was responding to the attack. When Lord Xinling heard that Zhang Zhe was back, he hurried over to meet him without waiting for the end of the day. After seeing Li, he asked eagerly: "Sir, you are in danger alone, which is disturbing. Where can Brother Zeng lead you?"
Zhang Noi said: "Go and see Mr. Chen!"
Just one sentence shocked Lord Xinling. He took a step closer and said, "Mr. Chen? Sir, see Mr. Chen? What did Mr. Chen say?"
Zhang Ye said: "I have gained a lot during this trip, which is both true and false. I would like to report it to you in detail."
Lord Xinling said: "Yes, yes. Sir, you have been working hard, so let's take a break until something happens in the camp. I will see you soon."
Yesterday, the Qin people also went into battle, but the two sides did not fight. After a half-day confrontation, the Qin people withdrew their troops. There was no fighting for two days, and the atmosphere in the camp became relaxed. Jin Bi did not give any more orders. He only asked all battalions to be on strict alert and not to let down their guard.
Last night, the whole army ate the pork soup bought by Zhang Le. Wei Gao divided the pork into six portions, one portion for each portion. When distributing soldiers, the number of battalions was taken into account. Generally speaking, a battalion could get about one kilogram of bones, meat and minced meat, which was cooked in a big cauldron in front of the camp gate, and all the soldiers drank soup and ate grains in turn. As for the civilian army, it was even more miserable. Several villages drank a pot of broth together. Although no one ate the meat, the smell of meat made all the troops feel refreshed and felt that the king's kindness was great. ——After all, it was an era when the middle class could not eat meat more than once in their lives!
After o'clock, it's breakfast time. The gentlemen who had no jobs entered the house together and cooked millet porridge in a corner of the courtyard. A few core diners sat around Mr. Xinling, and the others who were interested sat on the outside. Those who were not interested simply went to smell the porridge, or wandered back and forth.
Mr. Xinling said urgently: "Mr. Zhang didn't come back all night yesterday, and he gained a lot. Sir, I just want to tell you what happened."
Zhang He said: "I was ordered to go to Zheng Huizhong, but unexpectedly I met my old friend Zeng Ji on the way..."
A doorman asked: "Who is brother Zeng Ji?"
Zhang He said: "Zeng Ji is a knight. He travels all over the world and is as close as Korea."
The retainer said: "The Ranger will definitely do something when he settles down."
Zhang He said: "Sir, it is true. Brother Zeng entered Korea and became Duke Chen."
A retainer asked: "Who is Mr. Chen?"
Lord Xinling was troubled and said, "But listen to what you have to say, sir!"
Zhang Noi answered the last question patiently and said: "Mr. Chen is a lobbyist. He is the one who said that Han was connected with Qin."
The secret communication between Qin and Han is currently only known to the core level. Zhang Ye suddenly said it, causing an uproar among the peripheral disciples. Several guests from the inner circle turned around and stretched out their hands to silence their surprises, waiting for Zhang Noi to continue.
Zhang He said: "On the way, I met Brother Zeng sitting in the road and cut off the way. I asked the two gentlemen to return and report back, and I followed him to Zheng alone." He originally wanted to talk about his dispute with Zeng Ji's King Wen and Duke Zhou. But thinking that the people who came were too mixed, and fearing that there would be bad effects, he ignored it and continued: "Brother Zeng said that since the Qin Dynasty, Lord Shang changed the law, and the people of Qin will be punished for minor offenses, and the remaining prisoners will be three hundred thousand. The King of Qin is worried about the lack of land. He fights every year, and he must gain military exploits and atone for his sins. When the minister heard this, he was shocked and asked, "Isn't it appropriate to lighten the punishment and save the punishment while practicing benevolence and righteousness?" Brother Zeng said, "Qin will trade laws." It has been around for a long time, and although it has its disadvantages, it is inconvenient to abolish it.”
Someone in the outer circle said: "Since Qin came here for military exploits, what harm will he do if he abandons the small city? How can he fight for so long?"
Someone immediately retorted: "If Nian She is despised, Wei will be cut off, so why is Wei!" The man stopped talking.
Zhang He said: "I discussed it with Brother Zeng and at noon, I went to Youshenmen to see Mr. Chen. Mr. Chen hid in a wine shop and waited for the two of us to arrive. Then he came out. There were five cauldrons and four guis for a banquet."
There was another sigh everywhere, as if they were envious of Zhang Yu's privilege of being given the five tripods and four guis, while he could only drink millet porridge in the wild.
Zhang He ignored everyone's sighs and said: "During the banquet, Duke Chen reported the grievances between Qin and Wei, and denounced Wei for advocating a vertical alliance and becoming Qin's enemy. He entered Qin three times, and even though he was defeated, he did not realize it. I blamed Qin for being rude. If more Wei cities are captured, Qin will lose more to Wei, but Wei will not lose to Qin. Duke Chen said, if Zhang Yi follows Zhang Yi's old example and joins forces with Qin, then the war can be stopped and the Qin army can retreat. I dare not act arbitrarily, but just hum in response. .”
Lord Xinling asked: "How long will it take to meet Mr. Chen?"
Zhang He said: "Not long after Chen Gongyan announced his resignation, he used Han Nuo Lianheng as his excuse, and said that Brother Zeng led me to watch Zheng Liangzhou until he was unsealed."
Mr. Xinling, Mr. Guo, and Mr. Jin all said, "Sir, are you watching?"
Zhang He said: "At night, Brother Zeng led his ministers to lie down on the raft, and they saw ten boats of food going down the river. Brother Zeng followed him in the boat, and at midnight, he saw them going around the chasm and entering Qifeng. After entering the chasm, The boat was sailing against the current, but the boat was moving slowly. Brother Zeng and his ministers abandoned the boat and landed ashore. They sneaked five miles to take a look. They saw the boat moored in Qifeng, with bright lights on both sides. They wanted to unload the boat. They were afraid that Qin's secret sentry would notice it and not get close enough. What they saw was like this. "
At this time, the diners could no longer suppress their discussions: "Zheng Di", "Ten Boats", "Down the River", "Until Unsealing", various key points were mentioned one by one. Lord Xinling did not think too much about Han and Qin's affairs, but asked, "May I, Sir, elaborate on what Mr. Chen said."
The voices of the diners gradually became lowered, and everyone was listening to Zhang Noi's narration. Zhang Xian said: "Brother Zeng led his ministers to the wine shop and said, Mr. Chen is about to arrive, brother, please wait for him! Unexpectedly, Mr. Chen in the compartment said: "I have arrived." After singing and singing, Mr. Chen said: "I have heard that Mr. Chen for a long time. We have no chance to meet each other." The minister said: "Young Master has also heard of Chen Gong's famous name, and he is very attracted to it!" Chen Gong said: "I and the master have the same mind. Yesterday, I heard that the master visited my subordinates, so I did not dare to hide myself, so I invited a See you. Let’s meet at a wine shop to comfort our lifelong hope!'"
Lord Xinling said: "Why does Mr. Chen know that he wants to know where he is?"
Zhang He said: "I went to Zheng to meet the man, and I thought the matter was secret, but it was all in the eyes of Duke Chen. Brother Zeng said that half of Zheng's affairs were his eyes and ears. Although it is not true, the difference is similar."
Mr. Xinling said: "I heard that Mr. Zeng was invited by Brother Zeng. Mr. Zhongyue invited his old colleague to sneak into Zheng to meet the people in the middle. The man then told Mr. Chen that he had no fixed place to live and would change in a few days. , I don’t always do it. Sometimes I stay in the palace, and the king offers a beautiful woman to recommend him as a pillow. Just when I am sighing, my husband is actually meeting Chen Guong, how happy is he!"
Zhang He said: "I said: 'Young master, I heard that the boy was disturbing Mr. Chen, and I felt very uneasy. But if I ever meet you, I will bow to you again and again to show your sincerity!' He avoided the table and bowed three times to show his respect. Mr. Chen returned to his seat and paid homage. . The minister said, Wei Wei offended Duke Chen and was punished by heaven. If he can forgive it, I am willing to forgive him! Duke Chen said: "Qin had no choice but to attack Wei. In the past, Wu Zi guarded the Xihe River and invaded Qin after numerous battles. Entered Xianyang. Since the time when the princes were prime ministers, Xi was the first to create a unified vertical, uniting the world to attack Qin. Zhang Yi Lianheng, fraternizing with the world, wanted to bring peace; Wei dismissed him as prime minister, and united vertically. Although he suffered repeated defeats in battles, he did not Why did he change his policy? In the 20th year of King Qin's reign, the Five Kingdoms attacked Qin again, and Qin ceded the land in order to make peace. King Qi destroyed Song Dynasty, and the whole world was fighting for it. Qin was the first righteous, and Wei was plotting against Qin. Why did Qin and Wei lose and deserve this punishment? '"
Lord Xinling said: "This is the advantage of a eloquent debater!"
Zhang He said: "I replied: 'When Chen Gong talked about the prime ministers of the five kingdoms, the boy was young and not as good as him. In the 20th year of King Qin's reign, Qin captured dozens of cities in Wei. Wei had no choice but to unite and protect each other. . The king of Qin restored the land of the six kingdoms, and the six kingdoms naturally withdrew their troops. How could it be necessary to cede the land! When the king first came to the throne, Qin attacked our borders. It has only been two years since he reached the outskirts of the country. Therefore, Qin defeated Wei more, but Wei did not lose to Qin!' "
Lord Xinling also praised: "Sir, your speaking ability is no less than that of Mr. Chen!"
Zhang He said: "Chen Gong said: 'Qin entered the suburbs of Wei not to attack Wei, but to protect itself. Which one? When Qin leaves Guandong, it must pass through Han and Wei. Han is the east road, but Wei does not allow it, so it cannot go east. . If Lian Heng is achieved, the world will be at peace, wouldn't it be a wonderful thing!' The minister said: 'Qin wants to Lian Heng, so it should send its envoys to achieve the king's wishes. But how can we use troops to join forces, rather than alliance under the city?' Chen Gong said : 'No. The Qin soldiers joined Kaifeng in order to impress the king's ears and eyes and convey his wishes to the King of Wei. Now, thanks to the King of Wei's favor, Qin was ordered to eat at Kaifeng. Daliang and Zheng both provided food and fodder, and they never neglected.'"
At this time, everyone was shocked: "Daliang and Zheng, both contributed food and fodder?" "Aren't you slacking off?"...
Lord Xinling asked: "What does it mean?"
Zhang He said: "I also asked Chen Gong about this. Chen Gong replied: 'Brother Zhang is ignorant of the current situation. Brother Zeng observed it and informed the young master to decide the big plan!' The minister said: 'What is the big plan?' " Chen Gong said: "If you understand the current situation, you will definitely have a plan, what can I say!" Then he retreated. The minister asked again about his harsh laws and punishments. The punishment was a matter of Ying Ye. Chen Gong said, "Yes!"
