In the following days, Ying Zheng was almost always by Hu Yu's side. In addition to continuing to comfort her, Ying Zheng also wanted to stay by Ying Yu's side more and see more of his immature face.
After several consecutive snowfalls, the weather has warmed up, and it looks like next year will be another good harvest year.
On this day, after going to court, Lord Changping followed Ying Zheng to the imperial study.
"Your Majesty, Xiang Yan has written a letter saying that he has set out immediately. He must be on the way at this time." Lord Changping said with cupped hands.
"Huh, he's really in a hurry." Ying Zheng said angrily.
"Presumably he was also under the orders of the King of Chu, so he paid so much attention to it." Lord Changping excused Xiang Yan.
Ying Zheng looked at Lord Changping and said more solemnly: "Jun Changping, regarding the matter of the proton, I would like to agree on a few things with you."
Lord Changping once again raised his hand and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."
"First of all." Ying Zheng said, "I sent Gong Ziyu to the Chu State as a hostage, but I was not coerced by the Chu State. Therefore, I hope that the previous matter about the Western Chu Army will be settled. From now on, you will be the main force of the Chu family. , but also to assist Da Qin wholeheartedly."
Ying Zheng's words told Lord Changping very straightforwardly: Don't make a fuss about the fight between the Western Chu Army and Lao Ai in the future, and the Chu forces in Qin should also be more peaceful.
"This is natural." Changping-kun nodded unnaturally.
"Secondly, Gong Ziyu went to the Chu State. Don't make any publicity about it. Quan should treat it as if it never happened." Ying Zheng continued, "Xiang Yan's side, I will also ask the same."
"This..." Lord Changping was a little surprised, "If this matter is not made public, I am afraid that the King of Chu will treat the young master badly, and his safety will not be guaranteed."
"I understand," Ying Zheng said. "This is my personal request to Xiang Yan, and you just need to keep it secret."
Lord Changping couldn't figure out what King Qin was thinking, but he still nodded.
"The last point is also the most important point." Ying Zheng continued, "In the future, when Gong Ziyu grows up, if Xiang Yan dies before you, can you take over Xiang Yan's care and take care of him?"
This question is actually difficult for Lord Changping to answer, because in that case, he may leave Qin and return to Chu.
If so, then it is suspected that Lord Changping expected to return to the Kingdom of Chu to serve the King of Chu.
If he says no, then he just wants to shirk responsibility and ignore Qin's protons.
Lord Changping remained silent and looked very embarrassed.
"Don't worry." Ying Zheng said, "Even if you go back and become the King of Chu, it is still necessary as long as you can help him grow."
Ying Zheng's intention was for Lord Changping to help Gong Ziyu at any cost, and whether this cost was good or bad for the Qin Dynasty, the King of Qin could accept it.
Lord Changping thought for a while and then said, "Okay, I promise the king that if Xiang Yan is no longer around, I will take over from Xiang Yan and help Gong Ziyu grow up."
"Remember your oath." Ying Zheng said, "Go and prepare to welcome Xiang Yan."
"Wei Chen excuses himself." Chang Pingjun bowed his hands and exited the study.
Ying Zheng looked at Chang Pingjun's leaving figure and couldn't help but sigh.
This game of chess seems to be getting bigger and bigger.
On another snowy day, Xiang Yan arrived in Xianyang.
What is different from the past is that this time Xiang Yan brought dozens of vehicles, which were said to be carrying silk and other goods.
"King Qin, last time the Chu envoy brought back the trade documents, now the King of Chu ordered me to escort the first batch over, and asked the King of Qin to check it." Xiang Yan was full of energy and confidence.
"Haha, it seems that King Chu is really impatient. I'm afraid he has other plans." Of course, Ying Zheng knew what King Chu was planning, so he deliberately teased.
Xiang Yan said disapprovingly: "The Chu State is vast and rich in resources, and it is also the main producer of silk, so my king took out the stocks from the treasury."
"Okay." Ying Zheng asked Zhao Gao to check what Xiang Yan brought
goods, and then took Xiang Yan into his study.
"Sit down, I will ask Lord Changping to write to you.
, just for the agreement we made before. Ying Zheng said directly.
"Then why didn't we discuss this matter in the main hall, but came to the study alone?" Xiang Yan asked with some confusion.
The exchange of protons between the two countries is a major event in the diplomatic relations between the two countries. According to the etiquette system, most of the special agreements are signed in the court before proceeding to the next step.
Ying Zheng lowered his voice and said, "I didn't let Mr. Changping tell you my plan. I wanted to tell you face to face, and no third person would know about it."
Even Lord Changping, who is the Prime Minister of the Qin Dynasty, cannot know, which shows that what Ying Zheng wants to say is very secretive.
"The King of Qin just said it doesn't matter." Xiang Yan said bluntly.
Ying Zheng calmly poured a cup of hot tea for Xiang Yan, and then said: "My plan is not to make this matter public. As for this young son, the good news of his birth has not been announced in the court yet."
"Oh?" Xiang Yan asked in shock, "Why is this?"
"Because I don't want him to go to Chu as a proton." Ying Zheng said, "And Chu doesn't need to send protons to Qin."
Xiang Yan's face darkened and she said, "Why, King Qin regretted it?"
"No." Ying Zheng shook his head and said, "What I said was that I won't go as a proton, but that doesn't mean I won't go."
"What, what does this mean?" Xiang Yan was confused.
"What I mean is..." Ying Zheng paused and then said, "After you bring Ying Yu back, don't reveal his identity. You only need to inform the King of Chu, and then put him by your side. To raise."
"And his identity must not be known to anyone, including himself."
"This is also the most basic condition for you to take him away."
Xiang Yan was stunned for a moment. He never expected that Ying Zheng would propose such a condition, and he couldn't figure out why King Qin would do this.
"What, why is this?" Xiang Yan asked in confusion.
Ying Zheng was silent for a moment and then said: "There are many reasons, but the most important thing is that I want you to be a witness. If in the future Great Qin does something that is not good for Chu State, or even bad for the world, you will let this son Come and attack Da Qin personally."
"Letting Da Qin's young master attack Da Qin, isn't this the best punishment for Da Qin?"
"And no matter which side loses, it will be Great Qin's loss."
"Isn't it?"
In order to make Xiang Yan believe it, Ying Zheng must of course come up with a reasonable reason, otherwise if it arouses Xiang Yan's suspicion, all his plans will be in vain.
"King Qin, are you really determined like this?" Xiang Yan still couldn't believe that King Qin would do something that would harm his own interests.
"Haha, what I'm talking about is just what if." Ying Zheng said with a smile, "Great Qin will not do unjust things, and of course it will not fall into a situation of killing each other. And if we still do it when he comes of age, If everything goes well, you will send him back to Daqin."
There was a previous agreement with Ji Fa that Ying Zheng must unify China before he was forty years old, so it was impossible to wait until Ying Yu came of age.
And Ying Zheng's words did dispel many of Xiang Yan's doubts.
"The King of Qin said it was easy. If this son's identity was exposed during this period, how could he come to attack Qin." Xiang Yan continued.
"If that's the case, you have more reasons to unite all the countries to fight against Qin. As for whether you use this son to conquer Qin personally, why does it matter?" Ying Zheng responded easily.
Xiang Yan's eyes rolled a few times, and he quickly considered the interests of himself and Chu State.
"I still don't understand what benefits the King of Qin will have for the Qin Dynasty by doing this." Xiang Yan still questioned, "Presumably the King of Qin will not do a loss-making business because of his shrewdness."
Ying Zheng let out a breath and said rather melancholy: "General Xiang should also know why my brother Cheng Jiao was defeated and died.
of. "
"If it weren't for the conspiracy of the three Jin Dynasties, he would not have fallen into the trap and rebelled against the country. I wanted to spare his life, but he insisted on dying to prove his ambition."
"I am heartbroken
, how could this account not be calculated? "
"We had no choice but to encounter Lao'ai's rebellion again. Lu Buwei stepped down and the government was unstable. Otherwise, I would have marched eastward."
"I hate that Korea. The Qin Dynasty refused to provoke it, but it took advantage of its position to threaten its trade throat. Not long ago, it even detained my husband Li Si."
"General Xiang, tell me, if it were you, how long could you endure this tone?"
Ying Zheng's few words aroused Xiang Yan's anger.
"Humph, I had heard before that people from Wei pretended to be Chu people and assassinated the King of Qin. At that time, Chu had already sent troops to help Qin, but unexpectedly, Cheng Jiao's troubles happened." Xiang Yan said, "As for South Korea, not only did it offer cultivation to Qin He was tired of Qin's plan, and he also arbitrarily blocked the trade between other countries and the Qin Dynasty. Even the Chu State would not be able to tolerate such a thing."
Seeing that the method worked, Ying Zheng continued: "If the temple was not in urgent need of repairs, I might have sent troops to South Korea long ago. But once the trade pattern is formed, it will be inconvenient to attack it in the future. However, if South Korea continues to make trouble unreasonably, I will If one day I can no longer bear it any longer, I hope Chu State will not interfere."
Ying Zheng finally gave a complete explanation, and Xiang Yan fully understood King Qin's intention.
This is equivalent to reaching certain covenant conditions with the Chu State through the proton matter, but it is not made public.
"Since this is the case, we still need to wait for the King of Chu's reply. I will write a letter to my king immediately." Xiang Yan said.
"No need." Ying Zheng raised his hand and said, "I have already asked Nan Su to write a letter to the King of Chu. There should be a reply in the next few days. General Xiang has been renovating in Xianyang these days, waiting for the reply from the King of Chu. .”
It turns out that King Qin had already informed King Chu.
"This is best." Xiang Yan said, "But since we have to conceal the young master's identity, then..."
"I have already thought about this." Ying Zheng said, "This son will no longer be called Ying Yu. Since he has joined your Xiang family, he will be called Xiang Yu."
"Xiang Yu?" Xiang Yan asked anxiously, "How can this happen?"
"There is nothing that cannot be done." Ying Zheng interrupted Xiang Yan and said, "According to his age and seniority, he will be your grandson from now on."
"Grandson?" Xiang Yan's expression was quite embarrassing, "Isn't this nonsense? My eldest son Xiang Liang is only seventeen years old and has not yet married. Where did he get the child from?"
"Isn't that the end of it if you declare to the outside world that Xiang Liang is his uncle? Xiang Yu is the eldest son of your concubine." Ying Zheng said.
Ying Zheng's intention was to let Xiang Yan reveal that he had an illegitimate son, and Xiang Yu was born from this illegitimate son.
"Wouldn't this ruin my reputation?" Xiang Yan said angrily.
"Then tell me, is there any other good way?" Ying Zheng asked the question to Xiang Yan.
"Uh..." Xiang Yan also ran out of ideas for a moment.
"Let's just decide. From now on, this child will be called Xiang Yu and you will take care of him. If we are in peace when he becomes Guanli, you will send him back. If the Qin Dynasty brings disaster to the world, you will let him lead the army. Come and attack Qin until you conquer the Qin Dynasty."
Xiang Yan saw that what Ying Zheng said was extremely sincere, so he no longer hesitated: "Okay, since the King of Qin said so, Xiang Yan has accepted the order, but let's discuss a secret code for this agreement."
Ying Zheng looked at Xiang Yan and said casually: "You decide."
"Although Chu has three households, if Qin is destroyed, Chu will definitely die." Xiang Yan thought briefly and said, "How about it?"
"Haha, you have quite a lot of morale." Ying Zheng said with a smile, "But who are these three households?"
"Isn't this meant to express this?" Xiang Yan said.
"Okay!" Ying Zheng said, "According to what you said, even though Chu has three households, if Qin is destroyed, Chu will definitely die."
