In Xianyang Palace.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Gao said as he walked into Ying Zheng's study and bowed his hands in greeting.
Ying Zheng was sorting out the translation of the "Book of Changes" in the inner room. Hearing Zhao Gao speak, he stretched himself and walked out of the inner room.
"What's the matter?" Ying Zheng asked.
"Please see Lu Xiangbang," Zhao Gao said.
"There must be news of military situation ahead." Ying Zheng said, "Invite him in."
Zhao Gao responded and went out to invite Lu Buwei.
Lu Buwei entered the door with a smile on his face, which made Ying Zheng already guess the general result.
Lu Buwei cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, good news is coming from the front."
"Has Wang Jian already achieved small results?" Ying Zheng asked.
"It's not Xiaotei." Lu Buwei said with a smile, "I have returned with a great victory."
"Already triumphant?" Ying Zheng asked in surprise.
Lu Buwei nodded.
"It's so fast." Although he expected to win, Ying Zheng really didn't expect that Wang Jian would defeat Cheng Jiao so quickly.
"Mr. Changping's strategy was very effective. Half of the sergeants in Chengyu's army were wearing red silk." Lu Buwei said with a smile, "General Wang Jian was afraid that it would take too long and Fan Yuqi would notice, so he decided to fight quickly. , win in one battle.”
"What about Cheng Yu and Fan Yuqi?" Ying Zheng asked eagerly.
"Cheng Xi was captured and is now on his way back to Xianyang." Lu Buwei paused and then said, "Unfortunately, Fan Yuqi finally abandoned Cheng Xi and fled to Zhao State alone by water."
Ying Zheng nodded with peace of mind and said: "Send someone to track down Fan Yuqi's whereabouts, but don't act rashly. You just need to find out where he is staying."
Lu Buwei was about to ask something, but after rolling his eyes twice, he smiled knowingly and stopped asking.
"What are the casualties of the soldiers?" Ying Zheng asked.
Lu Buwei smiled again and said: "Our casualties were less than two thousand, and the rebels died in more than twenty thousand. Except for the one with the red silk on his left arm, all the others surrendered."
"Such a battle damage ratio is reasonable." Ying Zheng nodded and said, "Pass on the order and bring all the rebels back and wait for them to be punished."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lu Buwei said, cupping his hands.
"What's the situation between Zhao and Wei?" Ying Zheng asked again.
"Wang Ben set up defenses on the border in advance. Zhao and Wei did not dare to act rashly because they were unknown." Lu Buwei said, "It is said that he only sent two guides to help Fan Yuqi enter Zhao by water, but they also died in the rebellion. .”
"Is Wang Ben still fortifying the border now?" Ying Zheng asked again.
"Although the war has calmed down, Wang Jian was afraid that Zhao Wei would not be reconciled, so he sent Wang Ben to still fortify the border." Lu Buwei said.
"Although we must not attack Wei, we must not allow Zhao Wei to take advantage of the chaos." Ying Zheng said, "Let Wang Ben stick to the border for a while. With the garrison at the pass, it should not be a big problem. "
"The old minister also has this intention." Lu Buwei said.
"Then let's decide like this. Let Wang Jian and Ying Cheng come back first." Ying Zheng said.
Lu Buwei nodded, then whispered: "Your Majesty, the pattern on the Jiuding has been rubbed by my veteran."
"Oh?" Ying Zheng said with a smile on his face, "Bring it to me and show it to me."
Lu Buwei turned around and went out, took a brocade box that Zhao Gao had brought with him, and then went in and handed it to Ying Zheng.
Ying Zheng opened the brocade box and found several layers of brocade silk stacked inside.
Opening the brocade silk on top, the pattern on the Nine Tripods appears in front of your eyes extremely clearly.
Ying Zheng exclaimed: "It's so clear."
Lu Buwei smiled and said: "The old minister ordered someone to first apply a layer of ink on the surface of Jiuding, and then rub it, but the lines were still blurry, so he traced it again with tulle, so no matter the outline The size is basically the same as that of Jiuding."
Ying Zheng smiled and said, "Father Zhong took the trouble."
Lu Buwei waved his hand and said, "It's just a matter of my duty."
"Father Zhong, how many craftsmen do you have there?" Ying Zheng asked.
"There are about a hundred more people." Lu Buwei said.
"Can you send them all to the pottery kiln to make some pottery for me to prepare for the wedding?" Ying Zheng said lightly.
"If people do their best, there will be no problem." Lu Buwei said.
"Thank you very much, Father Zhong." Ying Zheng said.
"Your Majesty's words are serious." Lu Buwei said.
Ying Zheng had long wanted to ask the remaining craftsmen to come over. He thought it would take some trouble, but he didn't expect that Lu Buwei agreed happily.
The two discussed some topics about the wedding, and Lu Buwei stood up and resigned.
After Lu Buwei left, Ying Zheng immediately called Li Si, and then told Li Si the situation of the battle ahead.
"Sir, Cheng Xiu is about to be escorted back to Xianyang." Ying Zheng said, "I would like to hear your advice on how to deal with Cheng Xiu."
Li Si thought for a while and said: "Gonggong, even if the king punishes Cheng Yu, it is not an exaggeration; privately, even if the king forgives Cheng Yu, it is excusable."
Ying Zheng said with some embarrassment: "I asked my husband how to decide just because I couldn't make a decision. After all, this is not a trivial matter."
Ying Zheng had not forgotten that he needed to consult with Li Si on all major matters, and he did not want ambiguous answers.
Li Si just said lightly: "Wei Chen is just explaining the nature of the matter. As for which is more important, public or private, I believe the king will make his own judgment."
Ying Zheng was stunned for a while.
Li Si has already given the most obvious hint. When comparing public and private matters, is there any need to choose?
Ying Zheng sighed. He only had one biological brother, Cheng Jiao, so he couldn't bear it. If he had more brothers, he probably wouldn't be so uncomfortable.
But from the perspective of the overall situation, Cheng Jiao cannot be forgiven, because if even conspiracy to rebel against the country can be forgiven, then people who intend to rebel will not appear one after another.
Having made up his mind, Ying Zheng's eyes became determined.
After calming down for a while, Ying Zheng said: "Sir, I have just brought all the craftsmen from Lu Xiangbang's house over. Let's put them in the pottery kiln for the time being."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Si responded.
"By the way, how is the pottery factory doing now?" Ying Zheng asked.
"Weichen has transported the paint on the second floor of King Wu's Mausoleum and the equipment for making flying crossbows to the pottery kiln factory, but because the repairs have not been completed, the craftsmen only briefly studied it." Li Si said.
"I guess sir knows the secret of this imitation." Ying Zheng asked with a smile.
"This time, I have a scroll as a reference. I think it will be simpler than the last time." Li Si said, "So, Wei Chen's help should not be needed."
Ying Zheng smiled bitterly and shook his head. Li Si was the one who judged whether the imitation was qualified. Asking Li Si to help was tantamount to open cheating.
After Li Si left, Ying Zheng went into the study room again, opened the patterns on the Jiuding brought by Lu Buwei, and compared and translated them with the "Book of Changes".
Two days later.
Wang Jian's army returned in triumph, and in the prison car, the former Lord Chang'an, now a prisoner, was imprisoned.
The army was stationed outside the city and was divided into three parts: Wang Jian's main army, Cheng Jiao's surrender troops with red ropes on their middle arms, and the rebels who were captured in rebellion.
It turned out that the two parts of Chengjiao's army, the surrender troops and the rebels, were separated, and their weapons were confiscated. Although they were not tied up, they were guarded by specialized teams, which restricted their freedom.
Cheng Jiao was imprisoned in a prison car and followed the general team led by Wang Jian into Xianyang City.
Both sides of the road were crowded with onlookers, including those who welcomed the army's triumphant victory, those who watched the excitement, those who came to see Cheng Jiao, and even those from other countries spying on military affairs. There were all kinds of people.
"Look, that's General Wang Jian, he's so majestic." Someone said.
"Yes, I heard that General Wang completely defeated the rebels in just one day. He really used his troops like a god." Someone sighed.
"What do you know? Most of the rebels are unwilling to treason and have no resistance at all."
"It's right not to resist. If you fight your own family, we are all brothers, so why bother."
"It is normal for the rebels to have their minds elsewhere, have no morale at all, and have no ability to resist. However, if Wang Jian's army faced an army from another country, they would not be able to win so easily."
The people were all talking about anything.
"Look, Lord Chang'an is coming." Someone in the crowd shouted.
Almost everyone looked back.
At the rear of the team, a prison cart pulled by two army horses was slowly approaching.
The people in the car looked haggard and in a daze, as if they were recovering from a serious illness.
"Alas! Mr. Chang'an is upright and benevolent, how could he be so confused?" Someone sighed.
"Struggles for power and position have been going on since ancient times. There is nothing to make a fuss about."
"It's not Fan Yuqi who already had the intention of treason and used Lord Chang'an as a stepping stone."
"Do you think the king will kill Lord Chang'an?"
"It's hard to say. I heard that the King and Queen Mother have begged for mercy a long time ago, and they are brothers after all. However, the crime of treason is too high. Whether to kill or not to kill may be at the discretion of the King."
Amid the various discussions among the people, the team arrived at the palace hall.
Lu Buwei was already waiting outside the palace.
After exchanging greetings, Lu Buwei and Wang Jian entered the main hall together.
Ying Zheng was sitting on the king's chair. When he saw Wang Jian entering the hall, he quickly stood up to greet him.
Wang Jian knelt down on one knee and paid homage: "Your Majesty, Wang Jian, has wiped out the rebels and captured Cheng Jiao. I will return to the king to return my order."
Ying Zheng stepped forward and helped Wang Jian up: "General Wang has accomplished such a great feat, so there is no need to be polite."
Wang Jian stood up, took out the Tiger Talisman from his arms, and held it in front of his chest with both hands: "Now that the rebels have been defeated, please take back the Tiger Talisman, Your Majesty."
For a moment, Ying Zheng really wanted to put the tiger talisman in his hand, but then he thought about it and looked at Lu Buwei and said, "Lu Xiangbang, put the tiger talisman away."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lu Buwei took the tiger talisman from Wang Jian and put it away.
Wang Jian handed over the tiger talisman and then knelt down on one knee again.
Ying Zheng, Lu Buwei and other ministers were a little confused by Wang Jian's behavior.
Just when he was about to ask, Wang Jian said solemnly: "My subordinate's supervision of the battle was unfavorable. Although Cheng Jiao was captured, I don't want Fan Yuqi to escape by chance. Please punish me."
"Haha." Ying Zheng smiled and helped Wang Jian up again. "That Fan Yuqi was cunning and cunning. He must have used Chengjiao as bait and escaped alone. It was not General Wang's fault. I hope General Wang will not commit suicide. responsibility."
Wang Jian originally thought that Ying Zheng would be angry because of Fan Yuqi's escape, but he never expected that Ying Zheng would be so indifferent and laugh it off.
"Where is Cheng Jiao now?" Ying Zheng asked instead.
"Waiting for the king's treatment outside the palace." Wang Jian said.
"Bring him in." After saying that, Ying Zheng turned around and sat back on the king's chair.
Not long after, four guardsmen escorted Cheng Jiao into the hall.
Cheng Jiao was not shackled, but she was hobbling and unkempt.
Ying Zheng looked directly at Cheng Jiao and shouted coldly: "Cheng Jiao, do you know your guilt?"
When Cheng Jiao heard Ying Zheng's voice, she suddenly became excited, her legs went weak, and she knelt down with a thud.
