Handan has been very lively recently, not only because Zhao State defeated Qin State, but also because King Zhao will hold a commendation ceremony for meritorious service outside the city. Everyone can watch it. It is said that King Zhao will also personally award medals to the soldiers who have made meritorious service.
In the past, this kind of honor could only be enjoyed by generals, and usually when they were crowned kings. If they could not be crowned kings, they would not even be qualified for generals, let alone ordinary soldiers.
Nowadays, the boundaries between the lower class and the upper class in Zhao are being broken down bit by bit. The honors that the upper class can have can also be owned by the bottom class. The upper level can read and write, and the lower level can do the same.
After the people around heard about it, they rushed towards Handan one after another, and even some nobles from far away came over. Before the Zhao army returned in triumph, only the nobles in Handan had time to catch their son-in-law on the roadside. Now it was finally their turn.
As for looking down on soldiers, that would have been impossible in the pre-Qin period.
The soldiers in the army were even more excited, discussing their respective merits with each other, and hating themselves for not killing more enemies on the battlefield.
There were more than 200,000 Zhao soldiers, but only 6,000 people were awarded medals. Many soldiers killed several enemies but did not get the chance to be awarded the medal. It was not that they did not work hard, but that others were stronger.
However, they didn't have any complaints. They were originally ranked from high to low according to their military merit. Their military merit was not as high as others', so the quota naturally belonged to others.
What they can do is kill a few more enemies on the battlefield next time and try to have Zhao Kuo personally award them with medals.
"The soldiers of Zhao State are so brave!" King Qi looked back at the soldiers who had just stopped and saluted Zhao Kuo, and couldn't help but sigh.
Although they were just ordinary soldiers, they gave King Qi a feeling of being more powerful than his own bodyguards, especially the murderous intent that was so strong that it could never be formed without experiencing several battles involving hundreds of thousands of people.
"Don't think these are just ordinary soldiers. The money Zhao Kuo spends on them can support at least five Qi guards. This does not include the equipment they built and the pensions for those who died in battle." Zhao Kuo said.
The cost of building equipment for Zhao State was very high before. In other words, minerals are free these days, and they can blackmail them from Wei and South Korea. Otherwise, Zhao State cannot even afford to build equipment. Later, after several technological improvements, the cost was gradually reduced.
"Do you still need to pay pension?" King Qi asked curiously.
"Soldiers died on the front line and their children have no one to support them. Shouldn't they be given pensions?" Zhao Kuo asked rhetorically.
"Wouldn't it be better if we didn't fight? If we didn't fight, soldiers wouldn't die in battle, the country wouldn't have to provide pensions, wives wouldn't lose their husbands, and children wouldn't lose their fathers. We wouldn't have to suffer the consequences of war. No matter how hard it is, the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and even the poor can sit back and relax." King Qi said hopefully.
He has no ambitions for hegemony. He only hopes that the world can be peaceful, that the people of Qi can have enough to eat, and that he can happily be the king of Qi for the rest of his life.
"You are a good person." Zhao Kuo patted King Qi on the shoulder and said silently in his heart: But you are not a good monarch.
Most things in the world will not change due to personal will, even if you are a king.
Hundreds of years ago, there were hundreds of princes in the world, but now there are less than ten left. Where have those princes gone?
It would be nice not to fight, but is it possible?
In peaceful times, King Qi might still have a good reputation, but in troubled times, if you don't attack others, others will attack you. Just like the weeds on the roadside, they don't offend anyone, but passers-by will step on them.
Unless one day it grows into a towering tree.
Even so, there is still a possibility that they will be chopped down and turned into furniture or cars...
However, Zhao Kuo would not tell King Qi these words. Having a peace-loving neighbor is a good thing for Zhao.
"I think so too." King Qi said with a smile.
"I heard that you like to play Cuju very much. Let's compete. You lead a team of personal guards, and I lead a team of imperial guards. The loser is invited to have lunch." Zhao Kuo saw a Cuju player not far away. On the scene, he walked over and kicked Cuju to King Qi.
When confronting the Qin army, Zhao Kuo often played with the soldiers and held some
Competition stimulates the fighting spirit of soldiers.
"In terms of fighting, I can't compare to King Zhao, but in terms of Cuju, King Zhao can't compare to me." King Qi said excitedly. When he was in Qi State, he could only play with his servants, and even if he won, he wouldn't feel good. It's cool, but playing with Zhao Kuo is different.
Zhao Guo is also the king of a country and will not deliberately let him down on this, and this is likely to be his only chance to defeat Zhao Kuo.
"You can see the true seal at your feet," Zhao Kuo said.
Soon, the game started. King Qi rushed out first, his body as strong as a cheetah, and his usually weak personality just like the two of them.
"There is definitely no less kicking Cuju in this draw." Zhao Kuo cursed in his heart, but he also played Cuju with the soldiers in the army, and he was not afraid. And as a strong person in the extraordinary realm, he has a natural advantage in this kind of confrontational sport.
There were more and more people watching. Some people recognized Zhao Kuo and cheered for him. Several Qi officials standing outside saw this and were not to be outdone. They cheered for the King of Qi at the top of their lungs.
"Go in!" Two quarters of an hour later, Zhao Kuo kicked the ball into the goal, ending the game.
"I am willing to accept the defeat." King Qi came over and said with conviction.
He had worked very hard to score goals, but in the end he was still one less than Zhao Kuo.
"King Qi has given you the reward." Zhao Kuo said.
"King Zhao usually has to deal with state affairs and lead troops to fight. Does he still have time to play Cuju?" On the way back, King Qi couldn't help but ask. He always felt that Zhao Kuo was an extremely diligent king. Just start handling government affairs, otherwise Zhao State would not be so powerful.
Now he suddenly realized that his previous thoughts seemed wrong, and they were very wrong.
Just with Zhao Kuo's kicks, reaction, and kicking Cuju, I'm afraid he won't be any less successful than him.
"How long does it take to handle state affairs? As monarchs, we only need to grasp the general direction. As for the dirty work, don't we have ministers? If everything has to be done by a few people, then why do we need ministers? "Zhao Kuo said matter-of-factly.
King Qi looked at Zhao Kuo excitedly, he was a close friend.
He has always thought this way, but no one understands that Qi State is not well governed, and it is obviously those useless ministers who are not good at it, so why should he take the blame?
"The affairs of state and family are entrusted to you, and all the fun and joy are entrusted to me. Don't we enjoy happiness as kings? If we can't enjoy happiness, why should we be kings? It would be better to be a rich young man. Is that right, King Qi?" Zhao Kuo Said with a smile.
"Yes, yes, brother-in-law is so right." King Qi said excitedly, not even calling him King Zhao, but directly calling Zhao Kuo brother-in-law.
The Qi officials hesitated to speak, but in the end they remained silent.
"Let's go, are there doctors holding an exchange meeting ahead? Let's go over and have a look." Zhao Kuo pointed to the front and said.
The State of Zhao holds a doctor's seminar every three years, inviting all doctors in the world to attend and discuss medical skills with each other. The State of Zhao will also give the compiled medical classics to participating doctors for free. If any doctor can point out the errors, You will also get rewards from doctors.
At this time of year, a large number of doctors will provide free clinics, and people from around will come over.
Zhao Guohe's doctors had only one purpose, to improve their medical skills and accelerate the development of medical skills.
The scale of the last exchange meeting was relatively average, with only doctors from the Central Plains participating. This time the exchange meeting was much larger, with doctors from all over the world coming, and even doctors from the Western Regions, who brought completely different medicines from the doctors from the Central Plains. inherited.
"Doctor exchange meeting? It looks very lively." King Qi said curiously.
Ever since he came to Zhao State, everything he saw felt fresh. He had seen a huge flower bud on the city wall before, but later he learned that it was a flower clock invented by the Mohists, which was used for timekeeping.
There were many, many delicious foods that either had not been seen in Qi State, or were not as delicious as those in Zhao State. Later, King Qi found out that King Zhao had raised a group of cooks specifically to study food.
It is said that King Zhao even built a greenhouse specifically for food, so that he could eat food even in winter.
Eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
The King of Qi used to think that he was extravagant, but when he arrived in the State of Zhao, he realized that the King of Zhao was much more extravagant than himself.
But what King Qi has always wondered is why no one in Zhao State scolded Zhao Kuo. Many people in Qi State scolded him. Zhao Kuo was obviously more extravagant and fatuous than him.
It's just that the ministers of Zhao State are particularly capable and support Zhao State.
On the other hand, the civil and military men under him were more useless than the last.
"The main purpose is to improve medical skills and make it easier for us to see doctors in the future. We are kings just for enjoyment, but can enjoying ten years be the same as enjoying twenty or thirty years?" Zhao Kuo whispered to King Qi.
"Of course it's different." When he thought that he could only enjoy it for ten years before dying, King Qi suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. He hadn't enjoyed it enough, how could he die?
"Yes. But people will eventually get sick, and many monarchs died of diseases. If we don't want to die early, we must find ways to improve the medical skills of doctors. Only in this way can we continue to enjoy it. Those monarchs in the past did not understand, Spend all your money on useless things." Zhao Kuo said seriously.
"What my brother-in-law said is so reasonable. I have never felt so clearly. We not only need to eat and have fun, but we also need someone to treat us when we are sick. If we get sick and even the doctors can't save us, everything else will be in vain." King Qi was excited. He said, "I also want to support the development of doctors, what should I do?"
"Do you know medical skills?" Zhao Kuo asked.
"I don't understand." King Qi shook his head.
"Then just donate some money to the doctors, so that they can recruit more disciples and buy more medicinal materials." Zhao Kuo said.
"Okay, I want to donate 10 million, no, 30 million yuan to the doctor." King Qi said loudly.
"The King of Qi is very righteous. On behalf of the medical family, I would like to thank the King of Qi for his generous donation." Zhao Kuo leaned over and bowed, and said solemnly. There was no fraud this time.
The officials of Qi State who were following him almost cursed out loud, "Do you think you are the king of Qi? Even if you want to support the development of doctors, can you support our doctors of Qi State? Do you think that the doctors of Zhao State are stupid?" ?
"Xiangzi, Xiangzi, come here quickly?" Zhao Kuo saw Xiangzi giving instructions to a young doctor and waved to him quickly.
"Wait a moment." Xiangzi said to his disciple, walked over and bowed, "What does the king want from me?"
"This is King Qi." Zhao Kuo pointed at King Qi and said.
"I've met King Qi." Xiangzi nodded slightly, clasped his fists and said in a very calm tone, as if he was facing a passerby.
"The King of Qi just promised to donate 30 million yuan to the medical family for the development of the medical family. I want Xiangzi to do a physical examination for the King of Qi." Zhao Kuo said.
"Thirty million!" Xiangzi's right hand stroking his beard suddenly stopped. His wrinkled old faces were squeezed together, trying his best to smile. "It's an honor for my family to have King Qi come here. Please come in quickly, King Qi. I will definitely do a comprehensive examination for Prince Qi. And I promise that no matter what problem Prince Qi has, my doctor will treat him for free."
"You're welcome, old man." King Qi said with a smile.
"Come here, open the middle door to welcome the distinguished guests." Xiangzi shouted towards the inside, so powerful that he could not tell that he was an old man in his seventies or eighties.
Soon, King Qi was crowded into the hall by a group of doctors. At this moment, King Qi felt what it was like to be surrounded by stars, which he had never experienced in Qi State.
Even though he was the king of Qi, those ministers never treated him like this.
"In a moment, including me, three of the best doctors from Zhao will examine King Qi." Xiangzi said with a smile.
"Trouble." King Qi said politely.
Zhao Kuo sat next to him, watching with interest, with a smile on his face that couldn't help but laugh.
"Does your Majesty also want to check it out?" Song Zhong stood next to Zhao Kuo and said with a smile.
King Yan was feeling a little unwell a few days ago, so he went there for diagnosis and treatment in person. Later, he would examine King Qi and Zhao Kuo.
Speaking of which, he can be regarded as a doctor for three monarchs.
this
This is an experience that most doctors probably have never experienced.
"Forget it, I." Zhao Kuo waved his hand. After all, he was also in a transcendent realm, immune to cold and heat, and immune to external evil, so how could he possibly get sick.
"King Qi, stretch out your hand." Xiangzi said to King Qi. King Qi obediently stretched out his left hand. Xiangzi put his fingers on the pulse point, closed his eyes slightly, and after half a quarter of an hour, he switched to his right hand.
After taking the pulse, I basically understood everything, but Xiangzi checked very carefully, checking his eyes, tongue coating, and even toenails.
After all, when you take money from others, you must provide good service.
"King Qi's body is very, very healthy, better than most people." Finally, Xiangzi concluded.
Zhao Kuo looked at Xiangzi, who nodded. He told the truth and did not hide anything.
King Qi's physical condition is indeed very good, with a strong pulse and normal tongue coating. It is not a problem to live to seventy or eighty years old. Generally, this kind of situation rarely occurs in monarchs.
The monarch has many affairs, and at the same time he has to deal with three thousand beauties in the harem. It often happens that he has more than enough ambition but not enough power.
But King Qi is different from most kings. He is not weak at all, and he is twice as good.
"Thank you, old sir." King Qi was very happy.
