Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

Chapter 387 The Battle Between Jin and Qi for Hegemony
It was after careful consideration that Qingji handed over the responsibility for the production and sale of salt in Wu to Fan Li, the internal history of Zhisu.

Holding the advanced salt-making method of cultivating furrows and watering and sun-drying salt-making method in hand, the salt-making workshops in Wu State can produce a large amount of refined salt, which is far better than the table salt produced in Qi State.

Coupled with Fan Li, who has a business mind like a genius, how can Qi State compete with Wu State in the salt market?

It is conceivable that after several rounds of competition, Wu Guo will be able to completely monopolize the entire salt market, making hundreds of dollars a day, and earning a lot of money in a real sense!

Afterwards, Qingji's patrol team left Yanling, took a boat from the sea all the way north, and then sailed into the Dajiang (Yangtze River), and returned to the capital Jinling by the same road.

Once back in Jinling, Qingji puts an end to Jizha's concern.

Qingji agreed to Ji Zha's request to resign and stepped down as Dazai.

In order to commend Jizha's hard work, Qingji granted Jizha the title of Zhou Laijun, and enfeoffed the land in Zhou Lai, which was hereditary.

And give three thousand (two) gold, five hundred pieces of silk, a pair of jade discs, and ten good horses!

In addition, he was granted the title of grand master, responsible for preaching and accepting karma for the princes.

Ji Zha readily accepted this.

The reason why he stepped down as Dazai was because he really felt powerless.

But it is not difficult to be the teacher of the young masters and give some guidance.

Qingji then appointed Ji Ran, the Prime Minister of the Right, to succeed Ji Zha's position as Taizai and take charge of state affairs.

Ji Ran also contributed a lot to the state of Wu, and his qualifications are not shallow, so the officials have nothing to say about Ji Ran being promoted to the Grand Prix.

This year, the south has been surprisingly peaceful.

Because the Wu and Chu countries, which had been fighting fiercely all year round, both stopped their troops and stopped fighting. There was only one battle where Baigong won a surprise attack and captured Wu's Qianyi and Liuyi.

But, that's all petty trouble!

The north, that is, the countries of the Central Plains, was uncharacteristically lively!

Had a great time playing!

You must know that since the Jin-Chu war in the past, the countries of the Central Plains have rarely seen wars, especially large-scale wars.

This time is different!

Different from the past!

With Qingji's help, all the feudal lords recognized Chujiu, Marquis of Qi, as Fangbo in the Xuedi alliance, and even the emperor of Zhou sent envoys to grant Chujiu the status of Chujiu.

However, as an established hegemony, how could Jin just sit idly by?

So after a Pingqiu meeting with each other's ghosts, a large-scale war broke out between Jin and Qi.

In the Zide Hall, Qingji was sitting high on the majesty's platform, the new Dazai Jiran, and Zhisu Neishi Fan Li were reporting to Qingji about the scuffle in the Central Plains.

"My lord, since this year, Jin and Qi have fought three wars successively in Shimen, Ailing, and Xuguan."

"After the meeting in Pingqiu, led by Jin, the coalition forces of thirteen countries, including Jin, Xu, Zheng, Chen, and Cao, sent troops to attack Qi. The three countries of Song, Lu, and Wei in the Central Plains had an ambiguous attitude. neutral."

"Under your majesty's instruction, the eight vassal states of Wu, Cai, Xu, Zhongwu, Xue, Ju, Tan, Teng, and Zhu, all expressed their willingness to send troops to join the war."

"Then the Marquis of Qi raised [-] troops and fought against the coalition of thirteen states headed by the Jin State at Shimen of Lu State. They were defeated and the Qi army was defeated."

"Afterwards, the Marquis of Qi gathered together the defeated troops, together with the divisions of Cai, Xu, Xue and other eight countries, one hundred thousand people fought with the allied forces of the princes in Ai Ling within the territory of Qi, and they were defeated again!"

"All the divisions of the Eight Kingdoms fled and went back to their respective homes. The Qi army gathered at Xuguan, wanting to resist, but Xuguan was also breached. Qihou almost died, and fled back to Linzi in embarrassment..."

Hearing Ji Ran's return, Qingji's expression was a little strange.

Because, the mastermind behind the battle between Jin and Qi for hegemony is Qing Ji!

At the Pingqiu meeting initiated by the state of Jin last year, Qingji claimed that he was ill and would not go to court, basically declaring that the diplomatic relations between Wu and Jin had broken down, but Qingji didn't care.

It is difficult for the Qi State to parry the mighty Jin State by itself, let alone the overlord Jin State with a bunch of younger brothers?

Therefore, in order to strengthen Qihou Chujiu's determination to resist the Jin Dynasty and stabilize Chujiu's own dominance, Qingji "spares no effort" to instigate Chujiu.

Under Qingji's instruction, Wu's vassal states, Cai, Xu, Zhongwu, Xue, Ju, Tan, Teng, and Bi, all expressed their willingness to send troops to join the war.

Qingji also promised Qihou that he would send troops to join the battle at a critical moment.

However, the envoys of Qi State urged him several times, but they were all declined.

Either Qingji is on his way out on patrol, or he is not in the palace, avoiding him!
This led to the rapid intensification of the battle for hegemony between Jin and Qi!

The Qi army was not strong enough to compete with the Jin army, what's more, the Jin army also pulled a large group of princes to act as thugs?
The vassal states on the Qi side are also unreliable.

On the bright side, Cai, Xu, Zhongwu, Xue, Ju, Tan, Teng, and Zhu took Qi as their suzerain and expressed their submission.

However, the real suzerain state of these eight countries is Wu State!
Where would he really work for the people of Qi?

Therefore, Qingji really cheated the country of Qi!
However, what Qingji never expected was that Qi Jun was so vulnerable.

In less than half a year, the coalition forces of the thirteen countries headed by Jin State drove them all the way from Ludi to Qi State.

If there is a little carelessness, Qi State is in danger of subjugation!
"Dazai, what's going on in Qi State now?"

Qingji asked again.

"The state of Qi is no longer able to support itself."

Ji Ran gave a wry smile, and said: "The coalition forces have already reached the Anping and Ji lines, only fifty miles away from Linzi, and they can launch an attack on Linzi at any time."

"The people of Qi can only guard against death. They have sent envoys several times to ask us to send troops from the state of Wu, but none of them can be done. The combined army of the princes has more than [-] people. It is not difficult to attack Linzi!"

"It is said that Marquis Qi even vomited blood and fainted in fear."

"Whether to send troops to help the battle, please think twice!"

Qingji really did not expect that the battle for hegemony between Jin and Qi would deteriorate to such an extent!
Because, according to the urine nature of the Jin people, every time they attack Chu under the banner of respecting the king and fighting against the barbarians, it ends in a hasty end.

This time is different.

The people of Qi really challenged the bottom line of Jin!

What's more, Qi State has a flat terrain, which is far easier to attack than Chu State, which is full of mountains and passes everywhere!
Relying on the sharpness of the chariots, the Jin army will be able to go anywhere in the Central Plains!
Of course, Qingji didn't believe that the people of Jin were really stupid enough to destroy a huge state of Qi.

Moreover, although the military strength of the Qi State is not strong, it has a vast land and abundant resources and a wealth of talents. Even if the capital Linzi is attacked, it will not perish.

At most, the people of Qi will mediate with the coalition forces of the princes for a few months with their enthusiasm, and then the coalition forces of the princes will break up again due to logistical pressure and the fact that there is really not much benefit to be gained.

Even now, Qingji suspects that the alliance of princes headed by Jin will disband at any time!

(End of this chapter)