Since Zhang Lu was summoned to Xianyang, with the secret support of the King of Qin, on the pretext that "a favor must be repaid, and a grudge must be avenged," after some saucy maneuvers, it only took a month to weaken the He gained the status of Ranghou and others and established his own administrative team; he also used the buffer of the prince's death to establish his own prestige. In less than a year, he had completely controlled the government of Qin. The King of Qin then safely arranged for Ranghou and other "Four Nobles" to retire, and took the opportunity to discuss the marriage of An Guojun in the Queen Mother's Palace to finalize the return of each of the "Four Nobles" to their fiefdoms. From the perspective of the "Four Nobles", it is not a bad luck to be able to escape from the center of the political arena. Especially Ranghou, a man in his sixties had to personally lead the troops to fight in Huayang, which was also very physically demanding. Now in his seventies, who knows what may happen one day!
Having set this theme, the "Four Nobles" closed their doors and thanked guests. They only waited for An Guojun's wedding and the fiefdom mansion to be completed before heading to the fiefdom to seal it.
Although Zhang Lu was appointed to be in charge of An Guojun's wedding, he had actually focused his main energy on Zhi City. Because the prince was swallowed up by a whirlpool by accident, Zhi City, which was originally planned to be handed over, was unexpectedly still in the hands of the Qin people. What is particularly important is that Zhi Road is still completely controlled by the Qin people, and Zhi Pass is still traded with grain. Important trading point for salt.
Zhang Lu asked Sima Jin to take charge of the arsenal and take over the position of Lord Huayang. Sima Jin is a descendant of an old minister of the Qin State, and he was promoted through military exploits, so he is highly accepted among the Qin people.
The training of prisoners was handed over to Zheng Anping. The Qin army's battlefield orders inherited a system developed by Wu Qi in Wei, with slight development. Zheng Anping, who has been a soldier for ten years, is very familiar with this and appreciates the improvements made by the Qin people. There is no problem with his ability; more importantly, training prisoners is a job that is not valued by others. Generally, anyone who has the ability to fight on the battlefield Those who have made meritorious deeds do not want to participate in it. The boring work day after day, the cumbersome training procedures, and the lack of any visible achievements discourage every ambitious person. Therefore, even though Zheng Anping was only a public doctor, not even a public transport officer, he was arranged to preside over the training of prisoners across the country, and no one raised any objections; it even felt that Zhang Qing left the hard bones for himself to chew on, which added a little bit. Respect.
Chen Si was arranged to form a secret organization to understand the dynamics of various countries through businessmen and travelers.
After each of these people took charge of their own business, Mang Wei became Zhang Lu's general manager, assisting Zhang Lu in handling various affairs. Mang Weigui was born as a son, and he was influenced by it since he was a child. As an adult, he assisted Mang Mao in handling various affairs and became administratively adept. When he arrived in the Qin State, although he was unfamiliar with the place, he quickly established personal connections and gradually became familiar with the operation of the Qin State's administrative system. This time, Mang Wei was sent to Nanyang County, which was naturally a good time for him to deal with Nanyang Shou and establish contact.
Since the Wei State sent copper and iron craftsmen, the smelting industry in Hedong has recovered day by day. Now, with the consent of King Qin, Zhang Lu recruited 10,000 prisoners from various places into Hedong for mining and smelting. He also issued a decree that prisoners who could undertake smelting and casting work after training could be exempted from crime and stay in Anyi as craftsmen.
Xianyang Wangyi Palace was originally Xianyang's line of defense against the Rong on the plateau. Since the Yiqu incident, the King of Qin continued to send people to build roads on the plateau to connect Rong settlements everywhere. The transportation between the plateau and Xianyang was convenient, and the Rong tribes came down the mountain one after another to communicate with Guanzhong. The Qin court also sent officials to implement Qin law. in the local area. Now there is almost no threat from Yiqu or other Rong people descending from the mountain to attack, and the military role of Wangyi Palace has almost disappeared. But there is still a huge barracks here, which is a place where prisoners or prisoners are trained every year.
After the battle between Yan and Yu, the Qin people did not send troops to fight for two years, and the sound of the golden drum was not heard here for two years. With Zheng Anping taking office, the training of prisoners began again. The surrounding Qin people exchanged excited glances with each other, which meant that a new round of battle was about to begin. Businessmen from various countries quickly spread the news to all directions, causing panic in various vassal states. Everyone believed that the Wei State, which failed to protect the crown prince, might be the target of conquest.
The monarchs and ministers of Wei State also had a difficult time this year. The King of Qin announced the funeral for the prince, and the King of Wei went down to the ministers to discuss the matter. The ministers agreed that since the Wei State could not explain the death of the prince, especially the guards sent by the Wei people who fled collectively after the accident, it was even more difficult to explain. If they went to Xianyang, they might be blackmailed by the Qin State, so it was better not to go. . Duan Ziqian was the representative of King Wei in the military. After Duan Ziqian's death, Wei's military power lost a pillar. Big figures in Wei's political circles such as Lord Xinling and others were very cautious, fearing to trigger political disputes on this sensitive issue. After months of open and covert fighting, Jin Bi was finally confirmed as the general: both King Wei and Lord Xinling expressed their trust in him.
In September, autumn harvests begin in various places. The core ministers of Wei received the news that Qin was training prisoners in Wangyi Palace almost at the same time. Dr. Xu Jia found Wei Qi, and then went with Wei Qi to find Lord Xinling.
Lord Xinling had just received the news and was discussing with a group of disciples. When he heard that Wei Qi and Dr. Xu Jia had come together, everyone said: "It must be done for this!"
Mr. Xinling asked Mr. Guo, who was usually in charge of intelligence work, to stay. The others were scattered on both sides. In fact, they could still hear their conversation, but they could not interrupt.
After Wei Qi and Xu Jia came in, they sat down in the guest seats. Mr. Guo sat in the main seat, with Lord Xinling in the middle.
Wei Qi said: "If we had known Mr. Guo was coming, none of us would have had to do it! Mr. Guo will definitely repay us!"
Lord Xinling said: "Mr. Guo just got the news that Qin will attack Wei." Then he motioned to Mr. Guo to tell him what he knew.
Mr. Guo said: "There is a rumor in the West that the Qin generals will come out and attack Wei to avenge the death of the Qin prince!"
Wei Qi said: "Who is the leader, how many soldiers are there, and where will they attack?"
Mr. Guo said: "It's still unknown. We should deal with it with emotion and don't go out to confuse the road, or attack the Great Wall, or cross the river to attack Nanyang. That's all."
Wei Qi said: "Today Zhi is still the stronghold of Qin. Maybe we can leave Zhi and attack Nanyang."
Mr. Guo said: "If it is true, Daliang will be able to avoid the war, which is a good thing for Wei! However, what we are afraid of is that if Qin goes straight out of the main road and takes control of the fields, it will hurt the foundation of Wei."
Wei Qi said: "Sir, there are clan members in charge. We should order him to prepare for war to ward off the Qin army."
Mr. Guo's descendant Guo Zhongjin returned to his post after the Qin army withdrew from Qifeng. Due to his military exploits, he became a sergeant and promoted to post official. During the Battle of Huayang, Qifeng was not affected. After the military soldier system was abolished, Guo Zhongjin did not lose his identity and treatment as a military soldier, but he just didn't have to fight anymore and could just work as a post official with peace of mind. After Zheng Anping fled, Lord Xinling originally wanted him to govern the city, but his title was too low and he failed. Now Guancheng is managed by a business manager from Putian, and Cao Bao is responsible for the actual work. Guo Zhongjin became a gang leader in Guancheng and was responsible for the training of Guan people. Now seeing Wei Qi talking about Zhong Jin, Mr. Guo said: "I accept the benefits from Wei. The fool is in charge of the city and is dedicated to training troops, but the land in charge of the city is small and the people are few. If the city is not solid, it will be difficult to support it."
Wei Qi said bitterly: "If Han Yuzhong hadn't caused trouble, how could he have managed the city like this!"
Mr. Guo said: "I heard that the man who trained troops in Qin was a deceased minister of Wei, so I am in charge of Zheng Anping."
Wei Qi hit his knees and said: "A few years ago, people reported that the governor had drowned, but I couldn't believe it. Now the result is in Qin. So the so-called Zhang Lu must be Fan Ju! A traitor and a traitor, I can't wait for him to die!"
Mr. Guo said: "What's more, those who are knowledgeable will say that Lu's work is nameless, but in fact Mangmaozi Mang has not yet been born. If so, the Mang family is also in Qin!"
Wei Qi shouted: "If this is true, Huayang's defeat is nothing surprising. The Mang family must have colluded with Qin to trap our Wei soldiers. The Mang family was recommended to Wei by Qin. When the former king was there, he relied on him as his confidant, He was entrusted with Qiancheng. Wei has no one to let him down, but he actually let Wei down. He is a true wolf!"
Dr. Xu Jia said: "If you are not of my race, your heart must be different! Isn't it appropriate that Mang's family is Qin?"
Lord Xinling said: "As soon as the Mang clan came out, they were defeated by Beimang and then by Huayang. They both affected the foundation of Wei and hurt my heart. After the battle of Huayang, our Wei Dynasty has not been able to regain its old state. They are all Mang clan." It’s a mistake. How could you possibly end up in the Qin Dynasty!”
The three Wei ministers talked about Mangmao's ingratitude for a long time. Lord Xinling finally said: "Mang has been a minister of Wei for a long time and knows the truth and weakness of Wei. Now that we are assisting Qin, we must not take it lightly. We should plan it carefully. The prime minister and officials of Wei must be able to teach me."
Wei Qi said: "Food, food! If there is no food, there will be no soldiers, and if there are no soldiers, there will be no war. Hedong has exchanged salt for food over the years, and most of the food in the fields has been gone, so don't worry about the rest. Today, the family only prepares rations for the year. , and the price of grain in the market is fifty or sixty yuan. I will harvest this autumn, and I hope all the proceeds will be returned to the warehouse to prepare for the war."
Lord Xinling said: "The food in Xinling will be insufficient. If you buy it in the market for sixty coins, you have to be reckless. Would you rather suffer the people to die from hunger and discouragement?"
Wei Qi said: "What you say is sincere. Those who are powerful will lose all their grain to the east of the river, while those who are powerless will buy grain in the market and cannot get it. A benevolent person is like a ruler. Although he has nothing to gain, he has nothing to save. The only thing he can do is fight. "We rely on food, not salt."
Lord Xinling said: "The stalemate in the unsealing period lasted no more than a month, and the food supply has become so expensive that it has not been reduced for many years, and the people have been harmed."
Wei Qi said: "If we stop the rise in wealth, we can still make plans. I am afraid that there is no food to raise now, so there is no plan! In my opinion, if Qin comes within one month after the autumn harvest, the food can last for several months. In two months, but It lasts for one month. After three months, there will be no food to sustain it, and it will be defeated before fighting."
Lord Xinling said: "Zhang Lu has left Hedong, and the policy of grain and salt may be changed."
Wei Qi said: "Although it is easy to defend the east of the river, the strategy will not be easy. What is it? Exhaust the power of the princes to serve Qin. Then Qin will be strong and the princes will be weak. Qin will ask the princes, and the princes will not dare to disobey."
Lord Xinling said: "This salt is endless, and the princes have no food. What strategy should be used to control it?"
Wei Qi said: "If we had a plan, why would we do it today? We would have done it long ago!" What Wei Qi said is true. They have been discussing these words since last year, but they have no countermeasures. The only effective way is to monopolize the sale and purchase of grain. You can charge as high a price as you want, but you won't sell it. But in this case, those who have to buy food in the market will starve to death, so it is not feasible. Theoretically, there is another way, which is to control the amount of grain exchanged for salt, but this is obviously not possible by Wei alone.
