The handover of the three cities of Taiyuan was very smooth. In less than a month, the Qin army successfully withdrew from Qi, Lishi and Lin. But when Prime Minister Fu Cheng reminded him that he was going to take over the three cities of Jidong, the envoy from the State of Zhao directly denied it and said: "I have not heard about the affairs of Jidong. I have other things to do, and I would like to listen to Master Pong."
The prime minister asked these people to return to Qin with him and meet with the prince. These people refused, saying: "I only heard that Qin offered three cities, but others did not. Now the three cities have been obtained, and my orders have been paid." , It is useless to return to Qin!" The prime minister was so angry that he wanted to return to the army and recapture Sanyi. But when I looked around, I saw all the Zhao troops. The Qin troops had withdrawn three days ago, and now they have all crossed the Yellow River. Moreover, it is obvious that this defensive team alone cannot complete the task of recapturing the three cities.
The prime minister gnashed his teeth with hatred and said: "Zhao has no faith, breaks the contract and breaks the alliance, and he will perish!"
The envoy said: "This is his agreement, and no one but Zhao dares to break it."
The Prime Minister knew that he had been deceived and it was a fait accompli. It was meaningless to argue with such a small person here. The top priority now was to report the news to Xianyang quickly and discuss the next step. So he raised his hands and said, "I'm waiting to speak to Young Master Xi!" He got on the boat that had been prepared on the shore and crossed the river.
The withdrawn Qin army is still forming a team on the other side, waiting for the next action order. The Prime Minister had calmed down when he was crossing the river and had thought of his next action plan. After crossing the river, he asked the withdrawing Qin army to camp nearby. He asked for a leather chariot, took two followers with him, and rushed back to Xianyang in a light chariot to ask for instructions on further action plans. The other entourage did not return to Xianyang, but coordinated with Fushi's logistical support in the camp. The followers naturally knew that they had been deceived, but they could not say this yet, lest it affect morale and the prestige of King Qin, and they all felt very angry.
The journey from Fushi on the other side of Lin to the mouth of the Wei River is hundreds of miles. The Prime Minister drove for three days before arriving, and spent another day taking a boat to enter Xianyang. It was already dark. After arriving at the Prime Minister's Mansion, the Prime Minister hurriedly visited Wei Ran. Before Wei Ran could ask questions, he burst into tears himself!
Wei Ran seemed to have expected it, and asked gently: "Zhao Ren broke the promise?" Prime Minister Fu Cheng nodded in tears.
Wei Ran asked again: "Are there any injuries?" The prime minister cried and shook his head.
Wei Ran stopped asking questions and asked the prime minister to sit down, waiting quietly for him to change from crying to sobbing. Then he asked: "But tell me in detail!"
The prime minister said with sobs: "I came ashore from Lin, and from Lishi and Zhi, I met with Qi Wei in Jinyang to discuss the transaction. I just said everything, but Zhao Wu refused. So I got money from Qi. Thousands of goods were transported, and Li Shi and Lin were ignored. The Zhao army did not force each other, and the Qin people retreated for two or three days before entering the city. There was no difference! After Zhao entered Lin, I asked the ministers to accept Jidong, but Zhao Chen repeatedly said, He said it was not the case! I argued over and over again, but he only asked the young master Gong Keye, and he did not know. I had no choice but to leave the army on the river and sail back at starry night to report to the king."
Wei Ran pondered for a moment and said: "Put Young Master Xi and his party in prison and question him tomorrow."
The prime minister immediately got up and called a hundred retainers in the mansion, each holding a sword and a halberd, to the post. After showing the talisman, he called for the courtyard door to be opened. Without saying a word, he tied up the young master and his entourage and took them to the supervision of the side courtyard of the Prime Minister's Mansion. During the process, the young master and his entourage all turned pale, but did not resist, not even making a slight cry, and calmly allowed the retainers to arrest them.
Wei Ran paced slowly in front of the hall, watching the prime minister fetch the young master and his entourage, and headed towards the side courtyard in confusion. The Prime Minister wanted to come over to report, but Wei Ran waved his hand and asked him to go down.
Zhao Guo actually used such a rough and almost obscene way to defraud three places in Taiyuan, which greatly surprised Wei Ran. He thought again and again, are the three cities of Taiyuan really so important? Is it worth investing so much money? I can’t figure it out, I can’t figure it out at all!
His thoughts suddenly went to Taoyi, then to Taiyuan, and then to Ganquan Palace. A scolding from the Queen Mother was probably inevitable. The Queen Mother had long felt that there was a trick involved, but even though he was careful, he still fell into the trap.
Was it really wrong from the beginning? Shouldn't the exchange of Taiyuan Sanyi for Jidong Sanyi be agreed from the beginning? If there is a possibility of success, then which step did I make that made the wrong move, causing me to lose everything?
Wei Ran tried to figure it out, but it became more and more confusing. In the end, he couldn't calm down and think seriously. He returned to the hall, sat on the banquet, and began to vomit.
As the continuous energy passed through the chest and entered the lower abdomen, his mind slowly calmed down and gradually entered an ethereal state.
As the rooster crowed for the first time, Wei Ran withdrew from the void, straightened his court clothes, and prepared to go to court. Unlike the Wei State, which pays attention to etiquette, the Qin State's court uniforms are relatively simple, and there are no jingling items such as jade pendants, and swords are not required.
After eating some snacks and drinking some water, Wei Ran got in the car and headed to Zhangtai Palace. From Weibei to Zhangtai Palace, you have to cross the Wei River Bridge. Most of the officials of the Qin State lived in Weibei, so when they went to court, the bridge would be very blocked. In order to avoid the trouble of fighting for roads, knowledgeable officials often park their cars on the north bank of the Wei Bridge and walk to Zhangtai Palace.
Wei Ran also arrived, stopped the car, greeted each other with a group of officials, and headed to Zhangtai together. Along the way with Ranghou, many officials felt that they had an opportunity to test people. Along the way, everyone asked Ranghou for advice, inquired about the inside story, and also showed off their talents secretly, hoping to be recognized by Ranghou. Ranghou smiled kindly, answered everyone's questions, and analyzed the current situation, like a kind old father-in-law. After entering Zhangtai, most of the officials could only wait in the private room. Marquis Rang was the prime minister, so he naturally had to go inside, and then he said goodbye to these officials.
In the wing of Zhangtai Palace, there was a room specially prepared for the ministers of the auxiliary state. Marquis Rang opened the door and walked in. Mi Rong and Bai Qi were already here. Lord Jingyang and Lord Gaoling lived far away and had not arrived yet. Mi Rong met Wei Ran and asked, "Wen Ye came to ask for the Zhao envoy, what can I do?"
Wei Ran smiled and said: "You are so awesome!" Then he changed his serious face and said: "The envoy Zhao is indeed deceitful. The three cities of Taiyuan will not be given to Jidong."
Mi Rong was also a little surprised and said: "What can I say to entrust him?"
Wei Ran said: "No words! But there is no such thing!"
Bai Qi stood up angrily and said: "If there is no deal, how can Qin offer the city?"
Wei Ran said: "That's what he said!"
Bai Qi said: "Is it not good for Zhao to bully my troops?"
Wei Ran said: "The signs of Zhao's betrayal of the alliance are very clear, so we can beat the drum and attack!"
Bai Qi said: "But where does it come from? I am willing to fight in person!"
Wei Ran said: "I firmly think about the way. Recapturing the three cities without harming Zhao is not the way. You must hit the opportunity with one blow, and it will hurt your heart and lungs, and you will win."
Everyone agreed. Not long after, the drums of the Shang Dynasty sounded.
During the time when he was dealing with the city transactions, Zhang Lu had built a plank road fifty miles upstream from Baoshui River. On the Baogu Valley side, Hanzhong Shou was in charge, and Sima Jin was in charge of the specific tasks. He also built fifty miles upstream. There was a lot of pressure on transporting grain in Xiegu. Mi Rong once hinted to Zhang Lu to slow down the progress a little to avoid excessive logistical pressure, but Zhang Lu turned a deaf ear. Mang Wei showed excellent organizational skills. Ten thousand prisoners set up camp, went to work and finished work, felling wood and repairing boards, driving piles and installing holes, everything was in order.
Wei Ran only briefly asked about the construction status of the plank road in the court hall, and then turned to other topics. Building the plank road was mainly Mi Rong's job, and Bai Qi also participated in it. After the prince stationed in Daliang, the connection between Tao and Xianyang became closer. No matter from Taoyi or Xianyang, as long as he said to see the prince of Qin or returned from the prince, ordinary Wei officials would not dare to stay in trouble. The post road in Xianyang was built semi-publicly.
After discussing the affairs of the day, King Qin announced the dissolution of the dynasty. The four nobles stayed behind and first reported to the King of Qin that the Zhao envoy had betrayed the alliance and that Marquis Rang had taken the young master Suo Suo as hostage to the Prime Minister's Mansion. King Qin's expression remained unchanged, as if everything was as expected. He just asked calmly: "What did Master Gong say?"
Wei Ran said: "I should ask about it!"
But the King of Qin said: "Ranghou and Tingwei share the same responsibility."
Wei Ran could only say: "Here!"
The Lord of Jingyang said: "Young Master Yong's pledge is the right thing to hand over to Jidong. Now there is no one in Jidong, but he is a cauldron and a wok, so why ask!"
King Qin said: "Look at what he said, maybe it is true!"
Wei Ran said: "Maybe we will attack Zhao with troops."
The King of Qin said: "With the help of Han and Wei, it will not be difficult to defeat them."
After coming to court, Wei Ran first invited Tingwei to interrogate the young master Pong together. Young Master Yong's answer was astonishing: "How can they know about Jidong if they only listen to Taiyuan's ears? The princes and princes consult others, but they themselves are ignorant."
Wei Ran said: "What do you mean?"
Young Master Pong said: "If you take us to the east of Jidong, you will surely capture its city!" Young Master Pong said so surely that Wei Ran almost believed it.
Wei Ran knew in his heart that Young Master Xi was trying to delay the attack, but he thought it was worth a try. He and Tingwei wrote the contents of the interrogation of Prince Pong into a love letter and submitted it to the King of Qin. Tingwei stressed that it was not appropriate to punish Prince Yong for fear of dissatisfaction until his words were proved to be false.
After the court meeting ended the next day, King Qin left the four nobles to continue the discussion. After reading the book of love, everyone agreed with Tingwei's judgment. If it could not be proved that what Young Master Pong said was false, it would be difficult to convict him.
The King of Qin said: "Use it to go to Tao, and to collect and help the east, to prove its falsehood."
Although everyone has already concluded in their hearts that Young Master Pong is here to deceive, in order to confirm this, they can only let him go to Jidong. If he doesn't return to Jidong, he will be punished. Having made this determination, Marquis Rang ordered that the Qin army that had withdrawn from Taiyuan be disbanded on the spot!
Taking Prince Pong to Tao to prove his crime is easier said than done. From Xianyang to Taoyi, it is more than a thousand miles, and there is no guarantee that there will be no accidents on the road. When we arrive at Taoyi, how should we deal with the young master Pong? Treating them with courtesy is afraid they will change; treating them as prisoners is not the way to treat guests. Should we take back the three cities of Jidong?
Liao, She and Linglu are always like a bait. Even though they know it is a trap, they still can't help but bite it. What if it is true?
