The Six Arts of the Gentleman in the Bright Moon of Qin Dynasty

Chapter 557 Truce Conditions [Subscribe*Monthly Ticket Request]

In fact, it’s no wonder that Prince Xi of Yan felt that someone was playing him.

If you can lose even if you have 500,000 against 100,000, who can you tell about this?

In particular, both of them led the army in person and led the troops, but others achieved great achievements while he lost miserably.

If the third brother next door knew about the history of King Xi of Yan, he would not follow the old path and turn the invasion into a war to defend the capital.

Fortunately, Yan State had the Donghu and other Hu tribes in the northeast to serve as blood bags for them. Otherwise, after being defeated by Zhao State twice in a row, Yan State would have followed in the footsteps of Han State and become the weakest of the remaining six countries.

Now, Zhao was courting death, and Yan suddenly realized that they were like the deer that ran faster than the others in the chase of a pack of wolves.

As for who runs the slowest?
There is no suspense now.
-
Handan
In the Zhao Palace, the entire meeting hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

No one expected Bingzhou to win so quickly. They expected that Bingzhou would win, but it would take at least one or two years.

The Battle of Changping between Qin and Zhao and the Battle of Handan lasted for five or six years in succession, dragging down both countries.

Who could have imagined that the Xiongnu and Dayuezhi were so useless that they couldn't even last a year.

As long as the Xiongnu and Dayuezhi could hold Bingzhou for a year or two, they would be confident that they could capture the Beiye royal court.

"The special envoy from Bingzhou requests a meeting!" Suddenly, news came from the palace gate that the envoy from Bingzhou requested a meeting.

Zhao Wangqian and other pro-war factions were somewhat hesitant, which was not a good thing.

When the Bingzhou army was away, the Bingzhou envoy stationed in Handan kept asking to see them, hoping that Zhao would withdraw its troops. As a result, no one in Zhao State paid any attention to him, and some even ridiculed him.

Now the offense and defense have changed, and it's time for them to look at Bingzhou's attitude.

On the contrary, Guo Kai is sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai.

The fifth most famous general in the Warring States Period always had some luck.

When the entire Zhao State deliberately treated the envoys from Bingzhou with disdain and advocated war, Guo Kai inexplicably came together with Li Mu to oppose Zhao State's attack on Bingzhou.

There is no way, Bingzhou gave too much.

Bingzhou seemed to be aware of Guo Kai's abilities and character in Handan, so it offered a huge price, hoping that Guo Kai could dissuade Zhao from attacking Loufan.

Guo Kai would not go against money, and he would not mind even if it meant getting together with Li Mu.

Make money, don't be embarrassed.

However, Guo Kai never expected that by accepting bribes, he would become the only hub of harmonious relations between Zhao State and Bingzhou.

"Prime Minister Guo, why don't you go and pick it up?"

The situation was stronger than the person, and King Qian of Zhao had no choice but to look at Guo Kai with pleading eyes.

Everyone knows that this time the envoys have straightened their backs and come with ill intentions.

The corner of Guo Kai's mouth twitched. He thought of himself at this time?

I took the money at the beginning, but failed to get the job done, so the money was returned.

Now that I haven't even been paid, why should I work?

But after all, it was the order of King Zhao, and he had no choice but to go.

At least, he still had some friendship with Gongsun Mo, Bingzhou's special envoy to Zhao State, and their relationship was not very strained. The other party would give him some face.

"Yes!" So Guo Kai left the court hall and went to the palace gate to pick up Gongsun Mo in person.

"Special Envoy Zimo, long time no see!"

At the palace gate, Guo Kai looked at Gongsun Mo, who had a solemn expression, a straight back, and eyes not looking away, and instantly understood Gongsun Mo's attitude.

"I didn't expect that Prime Minister Guo would come to greet us personally!"

Don't hit a smiling person. At least Guo Kai is still useful to Bingzhou, so Gongsun Mo did not show a cold and arrogant attitude.

But Guo Kai didn't know how to start.

"It would be better for Prime Minister Guo not to participate in the king's order this time."

Gongsun Mo revealed some of Bingzhou's attitude to Guo Kai.

"Is Bingzhou going to attack Handan?" Guo Kai asked in a low voice. This is probably what Handan is most concerned about.

"That depends on Zhao's attitude," Gongsun Mo replied.

"What is Bingzhou's bottom line?" Guo Kai breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Bingzhou did not intend to completely defeat Zhao State, and there was still room for the matter to turn around.

"Withdraw troops from Danlin, Linhu, and Loufan, hand over Dai County, and pay Bingzhou three million in compensation!"

Gongsun Mo did not hide anything. He would talk about this matter later, so there was nothing wrong in telling Guo Kai the whole thing in advance.

"This...Handan will never agree to it." Guo Kai shook his head.

Handan would never agree to cede land or pay compensation.

In particular, Dai County was the second largest county in Zhao State, and Dai County was the second largest city in Zhao State after Handan.

It is equivalent to asking Wei to cede Yecheng.

"Prime Minister Guo, do you think there is still room for improvement in this matter?" Gongsun Mo asked back.

"Your Majesty is very angry. If Zhao had only occupied Danlin and Linhu, Bingzhou would not even pursue the matter, nor would it take the initiative to take it back."

"But Zhao should never have attacked and occupied Loufan and besieged the royal city."

"I'm sure Prime Minister Guo knows exactly what it means to besiege a country's capital!"

Guo Kai was silent. Besieging a country's capital was tantamount to declaring war on that country!

In this situation, if Bingzhou does not fight back, then Bingzhou is not worthy of being a country.

"Is there really no room for easing?" Guo Kai continued to ask.

He can't make the decision on this matter because it's too big.

All we can say is that Zhao got what it wanted.

In the past, those Zhao generals who had served when Bingzhou was founded have now become the pillars of Bingzhou. Although the relationship between Zhao and Bingzhou is not harmonious, it has not reached the point of war.

Now, these former Zhao subordinates may no longer speak up for Zhao.

"Let's send another message to Prime Minister Guo." Gongsun Mo continued.

"Special Envoy Mo, please speak." Guo Kai asked hurriedly.

"General Luo Bing, General Li Ren, and most of the Zhao generals were left behind by Your Majesty in Dunhuang, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Juyanze and other counties, and did not return with the army." Gongsun Mo said.

Guo Kai immediately understood that this was Bingzhou’s attitude, and they also did not want to make things difficult for those former Zhao subordinates.

The generals who followed the army back were from Qin, Yan, Wei and even Chu, but not from Zhao.

The meaning is very clear.

In this battle, Bingzhou will not hold back.

"I understand!" Guo Kai sighed.

Finally, the road from the palace gate to the court hall came to an end.

Guo Kai led Gongsun Mo, who entered with a seal, into the court hall. Then Guo Kai returned to his seat and pretended to be dead.

Bingzhou still gave him some face and informed him not to participate.

He should just pretend to be dead.

Similarly, King Qian of Zhao invited Li Mu, who was left at home unemployed.

Apart from Guo Kai, the only person in Zhao State who could have a say with Bingzhou was Li Mu.

Li Mu actually didn't want to come, but he was a minister of Zhao after all, so he came anyway.

"We can hand over Danlin, Linhu, and Loufan, but it is impossible to hand over Dai County and pay compensation!" When the Zhao court officials heard Gongsun Mo's words, they all spoke out.

Li Mu also sighed deeply, looked at the civil and military officials in the court, and then looked at Gongsun Mo. Are they here to negotiate with you?
They came to inform Zhao State to prepare for war.

(End of this chapter)