Spring dreams and cold nights don't know the sorrow. After several storms, I complain about the spring without saying a word. The bright moon rises above my head, alleviating the sorrow of lovesickness.
Zhao Yong didn't go anywhere that day. He only stayed in the Greenhouse Hall, staying with Ji Yao's mother and son, enjoying the happiness of human relations. In the next two days, he went to the palaces of Yao Lan and several other ladies and concubines to comfort the girls from their long absence.
... After galloping for several days, Zhao Yong returned to his sage state.
...Ten days later, it was a crisp autumn day with beautiful wind and sunny weather, and the armies of the Northern Expedition were marching into Handan City one after another.
After the morning meeting, Zhao Yong immediately led his guards and took a royal chariot directly to the top of Desheng Gate in the North City to welcome the triumphant army.
He arrived at just the right time. A neat row of soldiers were mobilizing in accordance with military orders and slowly marching towards the city.
The soldiers did not carry provisions or marching equipment at this time. Although there was a lot of dirt on their clothes and armor, they were very neat overall.
They lined up neatly, "Ka, Ka, Ka..." The dull and heavy sound of footsteps was full of power.
Zhao Yong watched for a while and was quite satisfied with the solemn and tidy military discipline and appearance of this new army.
The soldiers walked in uniform steps, raised their chests and raised their heads, looking ahead.
It was as if someone had discovered King Zhao on the city tower. People looked sideways and shouted: "The Kingdom of Zhao will last forever!"
"The king has been king for ten thousand years..." There was an uproar in the streets for a while, and the shouts seemed to resound throughout the entire city.
Everyone is wearing full body armor and wearing feathers and iron stomachs. This army of more than a thousand people is one of the most elite troops in Zhao State at this time.
They were not the main combat force in the Zhongshan battle. The real main force had been disbanded at the same location or returned to the Beishan military camp.
And this military brigade was specially selected to go through the motions here and now.
Watching the ceremony on both sides of the street were not only the people of Handan, but also envoys from various countries stationed in Zhao State.
Zhao Yong's purpose is to let all countries know and understand Zhao's current strong national power.
He was not afraid that the princes would unite to deal with Zhao. Because the weak are naturally afraid of the strong, their first thought is not to fight against the strong, but to win over and rely on them.
It is even more unreasonable to talk about the current situation in which the Central Plains is in chaos and all countries have too much time to take care of themselves.
In addition to fighting, they want a strong ally.
As the only country among the seven major powers that has not participated in the war, Zhao must be the target of active wooing by other countries.
...This is indeed the case. Now not only Qin, but also Qi and Chu have extended an olive branch to Zhao.
What Zhao Yong has to do now is to show his strength in order to seek the greatest interests for Zhao State in the melee of various countries.
...Perhaps one day, when the princes come to their senses and want to unite to fight against the powerful Zhao State...by then everything will be too late, and the Zhao people will not give them that chance.
By uniting vertically and horizontally, and dividing and planning, Zhao State has firmly taken the initiative in this game in the name of the world.
...A country's military force must have a higher status in society.
At this time, looking at the soldiers in the queue with their heads held high, their self-esteem and vanity have been greatly satisfied.
The people and envoys on the street stepped aside and looked at the dark armor with a look of awe in their eyes.
Since the three clans were divided into Jin Dynasty, the proportion of professional armies has been an important indicator of the strength of a country.
Population, production, and economy all serve the war. In troubled times, the status of soldiers has always been high, and no one dares to discriminate.
For a country to be strong, it must establish the values of the people at the bottom. In troubled times, it is necessary to arouse people's competitive spirit, so that they can regard making achievements, becoming marquises and ministers as their greatest glory, and be loyal to the country and their emperor.
It is even more important to let them know that these are more important than their lives; instead of relying on the ways of the prosperous age and the rituals and music of the Book of Songs.
When a saint governs the world, he must be both domineering and benevolent. But you need to know how to use it and when to use it. If the relationship between primary and secondary is confused, the collapse of a country will be inevitable.
At this time, after more than a hundred years of melee, the princes of various countries have gradually figured out their own way of governing the country. However, whether it is limited by the geographical structure or inherent political shortcomings, the gap between the strengths and weaknesses of the countries has become wider and wider. Bigger.
What Zhao Yong wants is a country that is proud of its military achievements. All economic development is to serve the war. Only strong military power can cope with the impact of external forces. Thousands of years later, the heroes people worship will also be those The passionate soldiers on the battlefield are not just some clowns.
What Zhao Yong wants is a country that is proud of its military achievements. All economic development is to serve the war. Only strong military power can cope with the impact of external forces. Thousands of years later, the heroes people worship will also be those The blood of the soldiers on the battlefield is not always the same.
The war may have made people in the world fear and hate warriors...but Zhao's army is not bad. They run the army with strict laws and train the army with strict laws, so that military discipline can be strict. It is a joke to govern the country with benevolence and justice in troubled times. Human nature is inherently evil and selfish. Both morality and law are constraints. Only strict laws can restrain the evil in people's hearts by making them fearful.
Benevolence and righteousness are just a means to restrain the people at the bottom. If a country wants to be strong, the first thing it must do is 'weaken the people'. But this weakness is not the weakness of the other, but control, that is, deprivation and giving, which makes them fear and the king wants what they fear.
Benevolence and righteousness are just a means to restrain the people at the bottom. If a country wants to be strong, the first thing it must do is 'weaken the people'. But this weakness is not the weakness of the other, but control, that is, deprivation and giving, which makes them fear and the king wants what they fear.
...The professional sergeants of Zhao State are not the lower class people like serfs, but the young and strong class with high quality in the counties and counties of Zhao State. Height, strength, age, and skills are all carefully selected. Many professional sergeants even know how to read. After a little training, these people can be appointed as officers at the bottom.
Although the proportion of professional soldiers in the Zhao State is not large, only about 80,000, Yiran is the guarantee of the Zhao army's combat effectiveness.
The number of people is even higher among the countries.
According to information from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, although the three traditional powers of Qin, Qi, and Chu claim to carry 500,000 armored men, their number of professional soldiers is often less than one-tenth.
Especially Chu State, which seems to have a vast land, but most of it is wasteland. Not to mention absorbing resources, as long as you don't waste resources to suppress the rebellion of the King of Chu, you will burn high incense.
National policies and reforms are just one thing, but more importantly, they are far beyond the eyes of the world.
A professional soldier does not need to farm. His mission is to fight. When he is not fighting, he will engage in military training. The Zhao State needs to spend a lot of money to maintain these infantry and cavalry, but this is not a big problem for the Zhao State at this time.
In order to avoid following the example of Wei's soldiers, Zhao made two changes.
One is thoroughness! Reform the army and the title system, and use the military title system to encourage Zhao soldiers to fight bravely on the battlefield. This method greatly stimulates the enthusiasm of ordinary soldiers to fight, because the function of combat changes destiny.
The second is the economic aspect, which is also the most important aspect. All the laws enacted by Zhao Guoxin also give priority to the military, and a large amount of social resources are tilted towards the army. In the recent battle to annex Erhu and attack Zhongshan, Zhao Yong also rewarded the soldiers with a large amount of money.
According to the calculations of the Ministry of Household Affairs, with Zhao's current annual revenue and expenditure ratio, Zhao's professional army can be maintained at least between 100,000 and 120,000.
In other words, Zhao's war potential has not yet fully reached its upper limit. With the expansion of land and the reclamation of waste fields, this number can continue to rise.
The image of Zhao Jun once again refreshed the understanding of Zhao Guoxin in various countries...
Both sides of the avenue were blocked and some young ladies and daughters-in-law of the common people who were passing by were staying. When they saw the soldiers in the queue, many of them had peach blossoms on their faces and watched excitedly.
The envoys from various countries were even more cautious in their hearts: There are men in the world who are tall, short, fat and thin, but these Zhao soldiers are all young and strong, with complete armor and stomach, and how powerful they are in combat.
Qin Prime Minister Zhang Yi, the chief minister of Da Dao Merchant, stared closely at this powerful force in bright armor until they walked out of sight.
The crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed, but Zhang Yi did not move, looking outside the city.
After a while, several gorgeous carriages drove into his sight from outside the city, with many soldiers guarding them on both sides of the convoy.
Zhang Yi bowed to the Zhao official accompanying him and asked calmly: "Excuse me, doctor, who are those?"
The official looked flattered and replied without much thought: "The royal family of the State of Yan, Queen Yan and Prince Yan."
Queen Yan, Prince Yan!
"Why did the Yan clan appear in Handan?" Zhang Yi said with confusion.
"The Prime Minister of Qin did not know that Ji Xie, the fake King of Yan, was innocent. In order to seize the king's power, he led the Qi army to attack Jidu. The clan of the Yan State knew that my king was benevolent and righteous, so he came to Handan to take refuge." The official said.
Zhang Yi's eyes narrowed slightly: "Qi Guo is causing trouble."
"Who says it's not the case..." The official muttered at the corner of his mouth.
…
Zhang Yi said goodbye to the officials accompanying him, got on the carriage and headed towards the common people's area.
The carriage drove slowly across the People's Bridge, as if it was far away from the hustle and bustle for a moment. There was silence on both sides of the road, and the withered yellow poplar leaves had fallen all over the ground before I knew it.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of a courtyard gate close to the wall of King Zhao's palace.
Zhang Yi got off the carriage, straightened her robes, and then walked into the house under the guidance of the waiter.
Go around the corridor and reach the outer hall.
Qiuyue had already come out first, and when she suddenly saw her old friend who had not been seen for a long time, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation in her heart: "Please wait a moment, Prime Minister, the princess and the young master will come out to meet you later."
Zhang Yi nodded and knelt down quietly on the banquet to wait. He looked around and then involuntarily glanced at the Gaotai Palace in the distance. It's a place of tranquility.
After a while, Mi Bazi walked out with Ying Ji beside her.
Zhang Yi turned to pay homage: "My lord, Zhang Yi, pay my respects to the princess, and pay my respects to the young master."
Mi Bazi nodded without saying anything and sat on the couch opposite. She was wearing a light-colored skirt, no makeup on her face, only a few gold and stone jewelry, and her thick hair was tied into a simple bun with a green hairpin. The light-colored dress made her look haggard.
Ying Ji stood timidly beside Mi Bazi and bowed respectfully to Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi looked a little complicated and said: "The princess and the young master have always been well."
Hearing this, Mi Bazi smiled: "Don't you know how to read it yourself?"
A flash of shame flashed in Zhang Yi's eyes, and she bowed her head and said, "The princess and the young master have suffered."
Mi Bazi shook his head gently: "I think this place is quite good. Compared with Qin Palace, it is much more comfortable. You don't have to be sad. Ji'er and I can eat and sleep here without suffering. "
Zhang Yi bowed again.
Only a sigh was heard, "The State of Qin asked me to give the gift to King Zhao's harem, and I have done so... What happens to the State of Qin now?"
Zhang Yi was silent for a while and then said: "There is a change in the Qin court. I can no longer think about what I promised before and let the princess return to Qin."
Although Mi Bazi had expected it, now that he heard it with his own ears, his heart still sank.
After a long time, she smiled relievedly: "Then why are you here?"
Zhang Yi said: "According to the king's order, we formed an alliance with the state of Zhao and chased Qi Cunyan."
"I'm asking why you came to my courtyard in person." Mi Bazi asked again.
Zhang Yi was silent, and Gu took out a silk book from his arms and handed it to the other party.
"The king's body is about to run out of oil and light. Before I leave, the king specifically asked me to give this letter to the princess."
Mi Bazi looked at the silk book in front of him and was silent for a long time before taking it.
Wait for her to scan it carefully. The originally calm heart instantly stirred up some waves.
Mi Bazi asked with a trembling tone: "Is your Majesty going to take us back?"
When Ying Ji heard this, a joyful look flashed across his young face.
Zhang Yi nodded and said, "That's why I gave you this secret edict. But now things have changed."
Mi Bazi immediately asked anxiously: "Why did it change?"
Zhang Yi turned away, a flash of humiliation flashed in his eyes: "King Zhao refused..."
King Zhao refused... Zhao Yong's smiling face suddenly appeared in Mi Bazi's mind, and when he thought about it again, he couldn't help but feel that his face was full of jest.
"Why doesn't King Zhao agree?" Mi Bazi asked as if he was lost.
Zhang Yi sighed and said: "Actually, long before Qin wanted to form an alliance with Zhao, Zhao had already thought about asking Qin to come to Yan to take a trip into troubled waters. Now the young master is Zhao's hostage. If King Zhao refuses, I will The State of Qin will not be able to bring the princess and the young master back to the country."
This... if this opportunity is missed, will mother and son still have a chance to return to the country? Once King Qin dies, will Queen Qin and Prince Qin Yingdang let them go back? Even if they go back then, will mother and son still have a way to survive?
"Then Xiangbang took He Ji'er away secretly. King Zhao should not know about it." After Mi Bazi said this, he looked at Zhang Yi expectantly.
Zhang Yi lowered her head in shame and said: "Now that the State of Zhao is strong and the State of Qin is weak, if King Zhao does not agree, even if the princess and the young master escape from Zhao, they will not be able to return to the Qin Palace."
Mi Bazi suddenly collapsed on the couch like a lost soul...
