Kuaiji County.
In a courtyard along a stream.
Xiang Liang, Xiang Jie, Fan Zeng and others sat together.
The atmosphere inside was solemn.
Xiang Liang looked at the piece of cloth in his hand, with a solemn look in his eyes. He handed the piece of cloth to Fan Zeng and said in a deep voice: "Just now, County Governor Yin Tong sent a piece of cloth, with the message from Xianyang written on it. , Wang Ben died more than ten days ago."
"Brother Fan, what do you think of this?"
Hear the words.
Xiang Jui frowned slightly and said coldly: "Wang Ben is dead? It's an advantage for him."
Fan Zeng took the cloth and looked at it carefully. After thinking for a moment, he slowly said: "Since last year, Wang Ben has been ill and bedridden. Now that the weather has cooled down a little, his death from illness is not a sudden one." , It’s just that we may need to discuss the matter in the long term.”
"Father, why did you say that?" Xiang Jui frowned, with a hint of displeasure on his face.
Fan Zeng said in a deep voice: "Wang Ben died at the wrong time."
"At the beginning of the month, Da Qin issued a decree to implement the 'Official Mountains and Seas' across the country. Qi's reaction was the strongest. The nobles in Qi were unwilling to give up their interests, so they have been communicating secretly, trying to get us to follow suit and make Da Qin Being exhausted makes it difficult to implement this decree."
"We did agree before."
"But after Wang Ben's death, there may be changes."
"What are the variables?" Xiang Jui looked puzzled and asked, "Isn't this a good thing?"
"As long as the Qi Dynasty launches an attack, and our nobles from the five regions follow suit, Da Qin will definitely fall into a passive position. As long as the time is delayed long enough, or my Xiang family can capture a city or a county, when this news spreads to the world, it will be enough to comfort Scholars think, when the time comes, all the nobles in the world will start to revolt, how can Qin Ting suppress it?"
Hearing Xiang Jui's bellicose words, Xiang Liang scolded him coldly.
"How can marching and fighting be a child's play?"
"Back then, your eldest father, your father was defeated by the Qin army. Now my Xiang family is weak in strength, and the nobles of the Chu region also have different opinions. If something happens so rashly, the Xiang family will not be able to bear it. , and what I told you before."
"Our purpose this time is to obstruct and tire Qin, not to fight against the Qin people."
"You turned a deaf ear to what I said?!"
Xiang Jui lowered his head, not daring to say anything to refute.
Xiang Liang snorted coldly, looked at Fan Zeng, cupped his hands and said, "Brother Fan, please elaborate."
Fan Zeng held up his beard, put the cloth on the case, and said in a deep voice: "The situation is indeed different now. Now the First Emperor is not dead, the Qin army still has fighting power, and although the local officials are alienated from the Qin court, they are just The two sides have not really turned against us, so we must not act rashly."
"We can't afford to lose."
"Once we lose, local officials may turn to Qin Ting, and our situation will only become more difficult."
"It's a good thing that Xiang Jiu wants to fight."
"But don't rush it."
"We originally agreed with Zhang Er and others to wait for a riot in Qi, and then cause some trouble in Chu. However, with Wang Ben's death, we can no longer do so. The Wang family and his son have high prestige among the Qin army. At present, the Qin army can be described as a mourning army."
"Most of the major commanders and county lieutenants in the Chu region have received favor from the Wang family. If we do anything at this time, they will definitely be hated by them. If these people try their best to encircle and suppress us, it will be very detrimental to us."
"The Xiang family has deep roots in Chu land, but it cannot withstand such consumption."
"This matter may have to be dropped."
Hear the words.
There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Xiang Jui's eyes, and he retorted: "Xiang Jui thinks Yafu's words are wrong, so what about the Ai soldiers? What Xiang Jui wants to fight is the Ai soldiers. If we can defeat the Qin army head-on, this will be a great blow to the morale of the Qin army. It is a fatal blow, and the rumors that the Qin army is invincible will be completely defeated."
"The people of Qin will have nothing to fear from now on."
"The higher the morale of the Qin army is, the more they will attack head-on."
"The world has been afraid of the Qin army for a long time."
"How can this be accomplished if you have been so timid and restrained?"
"If you don't defeat the Qin army head-on, but you always have fear in your heart, wouldn't such an army become a joke?!"
"I think it's time to go ahead with the plan."
Hear the words.
Xiang Liang's face darkened.
He said angrily: "Xiang Yu, shut up."
"It's not your turn to point fingers now. Back then, your eldest father held 400,000 Chu troops, but he was still defeated by the Qin army. Now my Xiang family has less than a thousand private soldiers, how can we go head-to-head with the Qin people? I agree. Brother Fan’s suggestion should be slow down.”
"The people of Qin are in mourning. If we cause trouble at this time, it will definitely make the people of Qin share the same hatred with the enemy and make Ying Zheng wary. This will be very detrimental to our Xiang family."
"If the commanders and county commanders in various places are dissatisfied, it will be very inconvenient for the Xiang family in the future."
Xiang said:
"Uncle, my Xiang family does have less than a thousand soldiers."
"But who in the world doesn't blame Qin?"
"The people of Chu have only recognized the King of Chu from the beginning to the end. As long as I, Xiang, ascend and wave, how can the people of Chu not come to vote? By then, I, Xiang, will be able to command more than a thousand soldiers?"
"Uncle, you are too afraid of the Qin people!"
"It is precisely because of this that I take action more and more. Only by cutting off distracting thoughts can we get rid of the fear in our hearts."
"Only in this way can our country of Chu be restored."
Hearing Xiang Jui's sophistry, Xiang Liang shouted angrily: "What do you know in this instant?"
"What does the Qin army have to fear?"
"It's not like your eldest father didn't kill the Qin people back then, but you have to understand that the situation now is different from the past. The Qin people have conquered the world alone, and Yingzheng is even more prestigious. In recent years, the Qin people have conquered the Xiongnu in the north and captured hundreds of thousands in the south. Yue, the strength of the army has not declined much, and now there are three to five million troops in the north and the south. Do you really think that the Qin people are like that withered grass? They can be extinguished with a fire?"
"Arrogant and ignorant!"
"It's in vain that I valued you so highly in the past."
"Are you so virtuous? If I ask you to read more on weekdays, you will end up reading all the books you read."
"It really pisses me off!"
Said.
Xiang Liang couldn't help but want to take action.
Fan Zeng on the side quickly stopped him.
He winked at Xiang Jui, and Xiang Jui reluctantly left the table.
Xiang Liang said: "Brother Fan, you are too used to Xiang Jui."
Fan Zeng said with a smile: "Young people are full of blood and impulsiveness is inevitable."
"But what Xiang Jiao said is actually correct."
"We have been too afraid of the Qin Army in recent years, even fearing it like a tiger. If we continue to have this mentality, when we really face the Qin Army in the future, we may be very constrained."
Xiang Liang nodded and sighed: "How could I not know?"
"It's just that the situation is stronger than the person."
"Right now, my Xiang family, and even the entire nobility of the Six Kingdoms, are not ready yet. There is really little chance of a decisive battle with the Qin people, so I have to endure it. However, in recent years, Qin Ting's control over the local area has become increasingly weak. , this gives us the opportunity to accumulate strength.”
"But it's not enough."
"Qin Ting is still too strong."
"The world's resentment against Qin Ting is not enough."
"I, Mr. Xiang, can only continue to wait."
Fan Zeng agreed with this and said in a deep voice: "What Brother Xiang said is true. We really can't get too much limelight right now."
Xiang Liang hesitated and said, "What about Qi Di?"
Fan Zeng said coldly: "When Qin and Chu fought, Qi refused to save them. This time, let the Qi people face it on their own."
Xiang Liang nodded.
the other side.
Han Dynasty, Yingchuan.
Zhang Liang was sitting in the house with a fire burning. He looked at a piece of cloth with a look of contemplation in his eyes.
Finally he sighed deeply.
He stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, and said slowly: "Guan Shanhai, Qin Ting is seeking money and food, and Da Qin may want to use this to change the tired status quo. Originally, this matter was regarded as an opportunity for cooperation between the six places, but unfortunately with Wang Ben's When the body dies, everything comes to an abrupt end.”
"One loosen and one tighten."
"But I don't know how much impact it will have on the world."
Zhang Liang raised his head and looked at the sky in the distance, his eyes were quite profound.
At this time.
There was a sound of footsteps outside the house.
Zhang Liangliang tensed up, and after hearing the footsteps clearly, he sat back on the table again.
"Brother Zifang, great joy, great joy."
He Yao ran in excitedly, waving a piece of cloth in his hand.
"Wang Ben is dead."
"God is really helping me to wait."
Zhang Liang shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Brother He, I'm afraid that's not the case."
"Wang Ben's death will benefit Qin."
He Yao, who was still excited at first, his face suddenly froze and he asked doubtfully: "Brother Zifang, why did you say this? Wang Ben is a famous general in the world. If he dies, it will have a great impact on the morale of the Qin army. Isn't this beneficial to us?" ?"
Zhang Liang said seriously: "Wang Ben is seriously ill and has been unable to go out to lead troops. His actual impact on the world has been very small."
"The Wang family and his son are indeed very prestigious in the military."
"But Meng Tian is in charge of the north."
"The actual impact of Wang Ben's death is even smaller."
"If it takes longer, it will indeed be good for us, but at the moment, it is not good for us."
"Why is this?" He Yao was puzzled.
Zhang Liang did not answer, just dipped some water on his finger, wrote a word on the case, and then said: "After Guan Shanhai's decree came down, the nobles from the six places have been in secret contact, and they all decided to launch an attack in Qidi. Together they create turmoil in various places, making Da Qin exhausted and consuming Da Qin’s national power.”
"But with Wang Ben's death, the other five places may be shaken."
He Yao frowned. He did not ask questions in a hurry. Instead, he looked at the big case. When he saw the words on it, his face changed. Finally, he said unwillingly: "Is it just like this to back down? This time, we finally reached a consensus among the six places. They will unite to cause chaos and consume the Qin State. Once they retreat this time, it may be difficult to unite them again."
"Qidi will be severely damaged as a result."
He Yao looked unwilling.
Zhang Liang looked at He Yao, his eyes were very calm, and he put his hands behind his hands and said: "The world is like this, so what can we do?"
"Perhaps Qin's energy is not exhausted yet."
Xianyang.
For half a month.
Ji Heng was living a very comfortable life.
No one disturbs.
He takes care of the small vegetables in the courtyard every day, and now his vegetable garden has more vegetables than before.
What he valued most was Song.
That is cabbage.
However, the cabbage of the Qin Dynasty was not as round as that of later generations, and the leaves were also very sparse. But Ji Heng was very happy. With the cabbage, he could pickle some pickles. The various sauces of the Qin Dynasty were really hard to eat. pharynx.
He really couldn't eat anymore.
Half a month.
Wang Ben's funeral has ended.
The city has returned to its usual tranquility, becoming much more solemn than before.
Ji Heng added a thin layer of cushion to his recliner and lay on it comfortably. He took the relevant bamboo slips in his hand and checked them carefully.
He recorded all the historical materials previously registered.
Now we need to check it again and send it to Yushi Zhongcheng.
Ji Heng looked at the bamboo slips with a relaxed expression, when suddenly there was a sound of footsteps outside the door.
Not long after.
Fusu's figure appeared in the courtyard.
Fusu saluted and said, "I have met Mr. Ji."
Ji Heng did not raise his head, his eyes still rested on the bamboo slips.
Fusu said: "Mr. Ji, ten days ago, the Qi nobleman Zhang Er, together with some salt workers and ministers, launched a riot."
"The riots have now spread to several counties across the country."
Hear the words.
Ji Heng's expression remained as usual, as if he had expected it.
Fusu's eyes were full of worry, and he continued: "Now that Marquis Tongwu has passed away, the morale of the army has been shaken, and chaos has broken out in Qi. I'm worried that the other five places may have different intentions."
"Sir, what should we do?"
Fusu asked anxiously.
Ji Heng frowned slightly, glanced at Fusu a few times, and said in a serious voice: "Fusu, have you ever read The Art of War?"
Fusu was stunned.
I don’t know why Ji Heng asked this question.
He said: “I have dabbled a bit, but not deeply.”
Ji Heng said: "I once said: There is no greater disaster than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy will cost us our treasures. Therefore, if the resisting troops add up, the one who mourns will win."
"Therefore, the soldiers who mourn will surely win."
"It is true that Marquis Tongwu has died of illness, but for Da Qin, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."
"Wang Ben has a high prestige in the army. Most of the county and county captains from all over the world have received his kindness or the kindness of his father Wang Jian. Now that Wang Ben has passed away, in Xianyang alone, there are countless long banners hanging all over the streets and streets. In the alley, there are countless incense burners and offerings piled up at the door of the house. Now that the army heard that Wang Ben died of illness, they must be filled with sadness."
"How would you feel if you knew that Qi was causing trouble when Wang Ben died of illness?"
Fusu's eyes narrowed slightly and he said, "I will be very angry."
Ji Heng nodded and said: "The nobles of the six places have always been afraid of the Qin army. Now that the Qin army is full of grief and anger, how can the nobles of the six places dare to provoke it?"
"The other five places will not cause trouble easily."
"I don't dare."
"But unwilling."
"They just want to tire Qin, not fight against the Qin people. But if they completely anger the Qin people, it is hard to predict what the Qin army will do. The remaining people of the six countries do not dare to gamble, nor do they want to gamble, so Wang Bizhi Death will hurt the Wang family, but it will be a great benefit to the country."
"Courtesy does not stop mourning."
"This is the morality of the Spring and Autumn Period."
"Many people in the world understand this."
"The Five Lands are currently unjust and unjust. Even if they want to cause trouble, they won't be able to make a big splash. They will still put themselves in the public eye. Even if they really succeed in the future, they will be criticized. Therefore, all the remnants of the Six Kingdoms have some foresight. No one would choose to take action at this time."
"There is no way to stop it."
"Da Qin's decree has been issued. If we don't raise an issue, it may be eaten away. Qi is destined to cause rebellion, but without the five regions' response, the rebellion in Qi will soon be put down. Therefore, you are worried It’s a little redundant.”
"Besides."
"This time Qi Di's rebellion gave the imperial court something to talk about."
"Originally, the imperial court had to restrain its hands for fear of causing great dissatisfaction in the six regions. However, after Wang Ben's death, the rebellion in Qi region gave the imperial court an excuse to act harshly. The imperial court could even use this rebellion to launch a major coup in the region. Cleanse.”
"The imperial master is famous."
Hear the words.
Fusu was stunned.
He hadn't thought clearly about the twists and turns before, but after Ji Heng's prodding, it suddenly became clear to him.
Since ancient times, etiquette has always been inseparable from mourning.
Although this rule was hardly followed during the Warring States Period.
However, Wang Ben had a high prestige in the army. When Wang Ben died of illness, Qi was in rebellion at this time. This would undoubtedly arouse the indignation of the army sergeants. At that time, the court could use this to vigorously reorganize Qi, and the rebellion in the six areas The more intense it is, the more it will arouse the anger of the Qin army.
The Qin army will also be more united around the court.
The most important thing for the imperial court at present is to stabilize the morale of the army, so it does not want to make a big move. However, if the soldiers can use the anger of Wang Ben's death to make the soldiers share the same hatred and stabilize the somewhat shaken morale of the army, the rebellion in the six places will actually be doing the imperial court a favor. .
The Qin army had a reason to take action.
The imperial court can take the opportunity to align itself with the ruthless underground forces.
As for the other five places taking action, the imperial court was not afraid because the imperial court's desired goal had been achieved.
It is to stabilize the morale of the military.
Suppressing the rebellions in the five places is completely a bonus.
The reason why the imperial court gathered money was to stabilize the morale of the army and appease the soldiers.
Now through Wang Ben's death, the imperial court can not only stabilize the morale of the military, but also take the opportunity to suppress the remnants of the Six Kingdoms. Why not?
Even as long as there is no chaos in the six places, the imperial court is happy to see it.
Think of this.
Fusu's eyes showed a complicated look.
He was actually very sad about Wang Ben's death.
The collapse of the pillars of the empire would be a sad thing for the whole country at any time. But thinking about what Ji Heng said in my mind, I couldn't help but feel a ripple in my heart. This feeling was strange, but also very strange.
For a while.
He didn't even know how to speak.
Ji Heng looked calm.
He doesn't have such many mood swings.
In his opinion, Wang Ben died at the right time, and he really dedicated his life to the Qin Dynasty and died.
(End of chapter)
