Cheng Xi rebelled, and even blatantly began to recruit troops, going completely crazy.
Qin also responded quickly. At the end of May, it sent an army to quell the rebellion. Wang Jian was the main general, and Wang Ben and Wang Jie were the left and right vanguards. They mobilized 100,000 troops to attack.
…
On this day, Zhao Jia was invited into the Yong Palace where Qin Wangzheng handled government affairs daily, and met his childhood playmate again.
Ying Zheng was dressed in silver-white uniforms and looked noble and extraordinary. He stood at the window and looked into the distance with a gloomy expression, even a little confused, as he looked at the mountains and rivers in the distance.
"Foreign minister Zhao Jia has met King Qin!"
Zhao Jia took two steps forward, bowed his hands to Ying Zheng, and at the same time glanced at the sword-wielding brother Gai Nie beside him.
This top student from Guigu seems to have really become a bodyguard now...
"I invite you here today. There is no distinction between a king and a minister. You don't need to be polite."
Ying Zheng turned to look at Zhao Jia and said softly.
There was a pause.
He continued: "I want to talk to you about Cheng Xi. During this period, you must have heard about Cheng Xi. Before he went on the expedition, he interacted with you most frequently, so I want to know. What did he say to you, and did you notice anything unusual about him?"
"King Qin didn't even notice it, so how could I notice anything?"
Zhao Jia shook his head and said softly.
"...I have been thinking about it for a long time, and I still don't understand why Cheng Yu did this. Is it really for the throne?"
Ying Zheng seemed to be talking to himself and said slowly.
Zhao Jia looked at the confused king in front of him and said softly: "What is important? From the moment he betrayed King Qin, wasn't everything already doomed?"
"Since ancient times, emperors have called themselves widowers. Are they really lonely?"
Ying Zheng smiled self-deprecatingly, with a touch of sadness in his eyes, and said slowly.
Since he sat on the throne, his mother, Zhao Ji, has gradually become estranged from him. The only brother with whom he was close and friendly, Cheng Yu, has also betrayed him. This feeling of loneliness without anyone around him makes him feel unspeakable. Suffocating feeling, even if Ying Zheng is a born king, he is only a nineteen-year-old boy now.
Of course, being a widower does not mean being alone, but Ying Zheng feels that he is becoming more and more like a loner.
"Emperors are inherently lonely."
Zhao Jia looked at the young king in front of him and said slowly.
The sadness in Ying Zheng's eyes quickly disappeared, as if it had never appeared before. He looked at Zhao Jia and said softly: "I am very curious, if one day you return to the country, will you also fight with your brothers? The throne?"
He looked at Zhao Jia, seeming to be curious about Zhao Jia's choice.
Because Zhao Jia was originally the prince of Zhao State, it would be reasonable for him to return to the country and compete with Zhao Qian for the crown prince position.
"Will King Qin let me return to the country?"
Zhao Jia asked rhetorically.
Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Jia calmly: "You answer my question first."
"meeting!"
Zhao Jia was silent for a while and said slowly.
"If it were me, I would do the same!"
Ying Zheng's eyes were slightly cold and he said calmly: "Everything that should belong to you should not be given to others. If you had understood this truth earlier, you would not have been reduced to Qin as a hostage. For Qin, It is better for Zhao Qian to become King Zhao than for you to become King Zhao!"
He answered Zhao Jia's question, he would not let Zhao Jia return to the country!
"The King of Qin really thinks highly of me. In fact, even if I return, I may not be able to win over Zhao Qian."
Zhao Jia smiled bitterly and said mockingly.
With Zhao Wangyan, Changhou, Guo Kai and others standing for Zhao Qian, his position as prince could not be shaken by a lonely man like Zhao Jia. Unless he could persuade Li Mu to help him and learn from his mistakes, he might be able to rebel. Success, but in this way, the reputation is not justified.
Even if such a throne is obtained, there will be endless troubles.
Look at all the kings in history who tried to usurp the throne. None of them ended well.
"If I send you to persuade Cheng Xi to give up, are you sure?"
Ying Zheng suddenly said something coldly.
You care so much about this brotherhood... Zhao Jia was a little surprised, his eyes flickered, and after a moment, he said slowly: "No."
Ying Zheng seemed to have realized that he had made a mistake, and did not continue the topic: "I just want to ask, you don't need to be nervous, I invite you to come, I just want to ask you, why haven't you gone to paint for the Queen Mother recently? On that day, I heard that you painted for the Queen Mother, which made her feel happy and happy. Could it be that something happened?"
Perhaps because of Cheng Yu's incident, he has become more concerned about Queen Mother Zhao Ji's affairs recently.
Well, I failed to confess to your mother, what do you want me to say...
Zhao Jia looked embarrassed, lowered his head, and said nothing. He couldn't handle this, so he couldn't tell the truth. He didn't want to be torn apart by five horses.
Ying Zheng seemed to be aware of Zhao Jia's "difficulties" and said softly: "You and the Queen Mother are old acquaintances. She has been in a bad mood in recent years. During the time when you were painting for her, the Queen Mother seemed to be a lot happier. , so I hope you can continue to paint for it."
Isn't this bad... Zhao Jia pursed her lips and said with some embarrassment: "The Queen Mother doesn't want to see me anymore."
"The Queen Mother is just talking. She often says this to me. You don't need to take it seriously. If you can take good care of the Queen Mother for me, I can keep you safe in Qin in the future!"
Ying Zheng made a promise that he would not let Zhao Jia return to the country. Similarly, he would not use Zhao Jia too much. The significance of this promise at the moment can be imagined.
"What King Qin said is true!"
Zhao Jia's eyes lit up and he said in a deep voice. He had to admit that he was a little excited when he heard this.
"Of course, why should I deceive you about this matter?"
Ying Zheng nodded and said.
"I'll try my best!"
Zhao Jia frowned and considered for a while, then took a deep breath, seemed to have made a major decision, and said in a deep voice.
A smile appeared on Ying Zheng's face: "You don't have to worry. Although I won't let you return home, I won't make things difficult for you. If you can do this well, I will give you a reward!"
It was a deal... Zhao Jia was silent. At this moment, he felt that Ying Zheng was a good person.
Zhao Jia left with the decree.
Ying Zheng turned his back to Gai Nie and said slowly: "Sir, what do you think of this Young Master Jia?"
"Judging from his words and deeds, he is a humble gentleman!"
Gai Nie pondered for a while, and after being hurt by the criticism, he opened his mouth to comment. No matter how you put it, Zhao Jia's unparalleled handsome face is still a plus.
Good-looking people are always easy to like.
"I hope he can take good care of his mother!"
There was a hint of apology in Ying Zheng's eyes, and he whispered to himself, as the King of Qin, he naturally could not fulfill his filial piety by his mother's side like an ordinary child, especially now that the Qin State was in troubled times!
