Chapter 371: Your Majesty, do you agree?
In January, a sparse snow fell on the top of the city wall, turned into water, and flowed to the base of the wall. Winter had arrived.
The streets were covered in snow and were already deserted. People were hiding in their homes, hoping that the winter would pass quickly. They didn't like winter.
Winter means cold, bleakness and depletion of food for the poor people. The vast expanse of white is not worth singing about, nor is it anything to look at.
"God, please let this winter pass!"
People all over the world huddled and cried out.
Winter is not suitable for traveling, so it is naturally not suitable for patrolling.
The cold weather will bring great trouble to the Qin army, adding countless negative variables to the already dangerous patrol, but it will provide the remnants of the six kingdoms with better assassination opportunities.
The First Emperor was not afraid of these things, but he would not cause trouble for himself or create difficulties to move forward.
Winter comes and summer goes, autumn harvests and winter stores.
Work at sunrise and rest at sunset.
This is the law of nature and also the law of the ancients.
The ancients had great reverence for heaven because they really relied on heaven for their livelihood, much more than we rely on heaven today.
If winter lasts too long, people will really starve to death or freeze to death, especially the elderly.
The physical fitness of the elderly is much worse than that of the young. Every winter is a life-and-death crisis for many elderly people.
If you can’t bear it, you will die.
In this snowy weather, two generals of the Qin Dynasty rushed to Xianyang from the northwest.
The First Emperor granted amnesty to allow Meng Wu, father and son who were stationed in Shangjun, and Meng Tian, father and son who were stationed in Jiuyuan County, to return to the capital.
Braving the wind and snow, traveling day and night.
The father and son, covered in white frost, returned to the Meng family where they grew up.
In addition to Zhao Su, the wife of Meng Wu, Bu Xianglian, the wife of Meng Tian, and Meng Yi, who was the internal historian of the Qin Dynasty, who welcomed them.
There was also an old man named Meng Ao, wrapped in a thick leather coat, who was supported by Chang'an Jun Ying Chengjiao, who should not have been here.
"Are you back?"
The veteran smiled happily.
"Father."
"Father!"
Ying Chengjiao handed the old man to Meng Wu and Meng Tian, and said with a smile:
"Old boy, my brother is calling me. I will go to the palace first and come to see you another day."
When Meng Wu and Meng Tian did not come back, it was fine for him to stay here with Meng Ao. But when Meng Wu and Meng Tian returned home, the family would definitely have something to say, and it would be inappropriate for him to stay any longer.
"Thank you, Changan-kun."
The veteran said gratefully.
The old veteran who has never been to school and cannot read is not stupid.
After walking out of the Meng family's gate, Ying Chengjiao's face instantly became gloomy as he faced the long street.
Meng Ao's life was intermittent. This old man, who was in his twilight years, would not live long.
Birth, aging, sickness and death are things he cannot control, and he once felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
The last time was when his father, King Zhuangxiang of Qin, passed away. He had a fortune of millions and countless natural treasures. In Xianyang, there was Xia Wuqi, the heir of the most skilled doctor. It was difficult for ordinary people to see a medical master.
However, all these could not help Ying Zichu survive for another month.
All are equal in the face of death.
It is the same whether you are a beggar who makes a living by begging or a powerful ruler with all the power in the world.
The pond in Chang'an Junfu was not frozen, and snowflakes fell into the pond and merged into it.
When it gets cold, the koi no longer tumble happily on the water surface, but swim at the bottom of the deepest and warmest pond, occasionally floating to the surface, opening their mouths to breathe in a breath of fresh air, and then quickly sinking back down.
As the number of koi at the bottom of the water increased, the silver needle sinking to the bottom of the water moved more frequently, and the float on the water surface also moved much faster.
The Emperor, who never forgot to fish with a straight hook in winter, had a calm expression on his face. He turned his head to Xia Wuqie who had just come out of the Meng family and said:
"How is Mr. Meng?"
Recently, Xia Wuqie would go to the Meng family every day to check Meng Ao's body, prescribe conditioning prescriptions based on Meng Ao's physical condition, and he knew Meng Ao's physical condition very well.
"I don't think I'll survive this winter."
In the courtyard, Ying Chengjiao, who was leaning against the pillar, the First Emperor, who was fishing by the pond, and Xia Wuqi, who was standing with his hands clasped, were all silent.
The north wind swirled in and out, taking away not only the temperature but also life.
"Confer him the title of Marquis."
Ying Chengjiao suddenly said:
"Although the old guy never mentioned it, he actually takes it very seriously. He's about to die, so let him be happy by making him a marquis."
Xia Wuqie wanted to leave. This was not something he could listen to.
After so many interactions, he already knew that the relationship between the First Emperor and Chang'an Jun was not ordinary. They were not like other royal children who regarded each other as enemies, but like brothers who depended on each other like poor people.
But for such a major event as conferring a title of nobility, especially the title of Che Marquis, Ying Chengjiao's casual interference still made Xia Wuqie feel a sense of unreality - there was only one Che Marquis in the Great Qin Empire now, and that was Wucheng Marquis Wang Jian.
[Your Majesty is clear about rewards and punishments. How could you make a marquis of a person just because he is dying? Chang'an Jun is so childish, and his childishness is a little cute. Perhaps Han is a good place.]
Xia Wuqi thought to himself that he was not optimistic about Ying Chengjiao's words, but he was optimistic about Ying Chengjiao's territory.
The next day, a court meeting was held in Xianyang Palace.
The First Emperor issued an order that all qualified people must attend the meeting.
At the court meeting.
The civil officials were headed by Prime Minister Jiang Shang.
Right Prime Minister Wang Wan, Left Prime Minister Li Si, and Imperial Censor Feng Quji were in the lower positions.
The military generals were headed by the national commander Lian Po.
Meng Wu, Meng Tian, Tu Sui, Zhao Tuo and Ren Xiao were at the bottom.
There was also a person who should not have appeared in the court meeting, Meng Ao, who was obviously breathing more than he was breathing in.
Meng Wu, Meng Tian, and Meng Yi sat around Meng Ao, with confusion and anger in their eyes.
The First Emperor issued a private order requiring the veteran general Meng Ao to attend the court meeting, and he must be there.
Meng Ao was already in very poor health, and the court meeting was very early, so he had to get up and go out before dawn, which was the coldest time of the day.
Even though the ox cart was covered with thick animal skins, a fire was lit in the carriage a quarter of an hour in advance to increase the temperature, and the old man was wrapped in four layers of leather clothes.
The old man's complexion was still visibly worse when he went out, and he coughed a few times.
"This is murder! Father, let me help you get back to the house!"
Meng Wu spoke those hurtful words with an angry look on his face, and was about to walk back with his father's support.
"I will go and talk to His Majesty! How can you act like this?"
Meng Tian, who was a childhood friend of the First Emperor, did not defend him this time, and his expression was the same as his father's. It was the first time that he felt so angry and disappointed with the First Emperor.
He felt cold on his face, and the coldness penetrated from his skin to his internal organs, and Meng Ao's body resisted it very much.
Those eyes, which used to be bright and lively, stared at the eldest son and grandson, and became lifeless.
"Wang Ling, obey."
The old man said weakly.
He had seen what happened to Wu Anjun who disobeyed Wang's orders, so he would not make the same mistake.
He is dying, but his family is still there, and his descendants who continue his life are still there.
The morning meeting begins.
The First Emperor asked Prime Minister Jiang Shang to report on the situation after the implementation of government orders in various places, and whether there was anything urgent that had to be dealt with immediately.
Fu Zikang, the internal historian of grain, reported on the tax revenues of various places and judged the degree of loyalty of each place based on the tax payments.
He asked the Chief Justice Zhang Tu to report the number of people in prisons in various places, the number of people doing corvee labor, the number of slaves and concubines, and the number of cases.
…
This court meeting lasted a very long time. Ying Chengjiao, who was sitting in the first row, kept his eyes on Meng Ao.
He saw that Meng Ao could no longer sit still and his body was shaking. The simplest sitting posture that the veteran could do for a whole day without moving was now torture for him.
He saw that the faces of Meng Wu, Meng Tian and Meng Yi were becoming more and more ugly, and their dissatisfaction and anger were accumulating more and more.
He also looked angrily at the high and mighty First Emperor, and his gaze, as if it were real, instantly made the First Emperor feel something and look over.
"Brother Emperor, what are you waiting for? To be granted a title of nobility!"
Ying Chengjiao's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
The First Emperor could read lips and could tell what he was saying from the shape of his mouth.
Sitting on the high platform, the First Emperor turned his head, glanced at Meng Ao and smiled.
Without Gai Nie and Zhao Gao blocking the view, the smile appeared clearly in front of all the court officials.
[Your Majesty is in a good mood, is it because Meng Ao is going to die? ]
【After Wang Jian went to Qi, the Wang family's influence in the army was greatly reduced, and the Meng family was the only one left in the army. Now that Meng Ao has fallen, the army is under the control of Your Majesty.】
[The Meng family’s favor has come to an end! Great! The arrogant Meng family will eventually be suppressed! ]
[Why torture Lord Meng to this extent? ]
…
The court officials all had their own thoughts and ideas.
Meng Wu's face was filled with anger. He had been hiding his incompetence, but now he could no longer do so and was about to stand up immediately.
He had long disliked the current king, and he could not stand such humiliation! His Meng family was full of loyal and brave people, and there was no telling how many Meng family members had died on the battlefield fighting for the Ying family. Why was his father being humiliated like this?
But he was held down by the old general. It was unknown where the old general, who had difficulty even sitting, got the strength.
Ying Chengjiao, who knew the inside story, thought that the First Emperor would speak up in the next second and confer the title of nobility on Meng Ao.
Unexpectedly, the First Emperor turned his gaze and looked at Feng Quji, the Imperial Censor who was in charge of supervising all officials and was known as the deputy prime minister.
"Feng Quji, recently the officials in Xianyang have violated Qin laws..."
"His Majesty!"
Ying Chengjiao stood up and rudely interrupted the First Emperor's words in front of all the civil and military officials in the court.
The already quiet court was filled with even more silence, a terrifying silence.
They knew that Ying Chengjiao was extremely powerful, and they wanted to avoid him as much as possible.
But how dare you, Ying Chengjiao, be so presumptuous? You interrupted the First Emperor when he was speaking. It is true that you have tremendous power, but you forgot that this power was given to you by God!
The emperor of Qin was the First Emperor.
All the civil and military officials in the court saluted the First Emperor who was interrupted. Many of them thought that they would definitely see the First Emperor being furious - the First Emperor was not the type to show his emotions on his face. His anger and happiness were all written on his face.
However, they saw that the First Emperor's smile deepened.
"What is it?"
They heard that the Emperor's voice was very gentle.
【Don’t provoke Chang’an Jun! ! ! !】
In an instant, this thought flashed through the minds of all the court officials, and they were shocked.
[Brother, you are really good at using conspiracy! ]
Ying Chengjiao raised his hands high, lowered his head slightly, and said in a deep voice:
"In the first year of King Zhuangxiang, Duke Meng was a general and attacked Han. He captured Chenggao and Xingyang and established Sanchuan County.
"In the second year, he attacked Zhao and captured thirty-seven cities.
"In the third year, Gong Han captured thirteen cities.
"In the fourth year, he captured the two cities of Chang and Yougui in Wei.
"In the fifth year, he attacked Wei, captured twenty cities, established Dongjun, and suppressed the rebellion in Jinyang.
“In six years, we defeated the coalition of five nations.
"When your majesty ascended the throne, in the first year of the king's reign, the prime minister Lü Buwei and his retainer Lao Ai rebelled in the Qinian Palace. Duke Meng led 8,000 soldiers to attack and put down the rebellion in the Qinian Palace. He killed the traitors Lü Buwei and Lao Ai in battle, and restored order and made your majesty the king.
"Meng Gong has made great contributions and has been loyal to the Qin Dynasty. He has done his utmost for Your Majesty. Meng Gong's son Meng Wu, Meng Gong's grandson Meng Tian, and Meng Yi inherited Meng Gong's ambitions and are all backbones of the empire.
"I am the Duke of Meng, please grant me the title of Marquis of Che!"
Shocking!
The last wave that stunned all the civil and military officials in the court had not yet passed, and a wave even bigger than the last one came.
Meng Ao has passed away, and Your Majesty is about to take over all the military power. Do you, Lord Chang'an, now want to request that Meng Ao be granted the title of Marquis Che?
Your Majesty finally replaced Wang Jian, the Marquis of Che, with the fertile land of Qi, and now you want to invite another one? Do you think Your Majesty doesn't know that you are close to the Meng family?
——Meng Wu did not even toast Queen Afang at the Xuanniao Palace banquet, but only toasted Ying Chengjiao, which was noticed by some people.
Aren't you anti-aristocratic and want to give His Majesty power? What are you doing now? You are trying to seize His Majesty's power! His Majesty can't use you so much even if he has so much favor! Isn't this courting death?
"His Majesty!"
The old general Meng Ao shouted weakly, and stood up tremblingly with the help of his eldest son Meng Wu and eldest grandson Meng Tian. He wanted to stop this!
"Please wait a moment, sir."
The First Emperor's voice was not loud, but the firmness and warning in his voice were clearly audible. These four words made the old general say everything he had to say.
The old general had been warned once by the First Emperor when he broke into the palace wearing armor and carrying a sword.
He turned his gaze to look at his younger brother and said with a smile:
"Have you thought about the title?"
[Changan Jun is smarter. If he speaks properly now, he can save his life. ]
All the court officials lowered their heads and remained silent in the cold Xianyang Palace. Everyone thought that the First Emperor was laughing out of anger.
Under normal circumstances, officials could propose titles and make suggestions, but this is an abnormal situation.
Proposing to confer a title of nobility on Meng Ao was in the end a jump across the line of being killed by the First Emperor. If even the title was thought of in advance, it would be a complete jump to the side of being killed.
"Mong Gong has captured more than 70 cities for the Qin State. Since the founding of the Qin State, no one has captured cities as well as him. You are the bravest among the entire army. Please make me the champion marquis!"
Ying Chengjiao's words were sonorous and powerful.
[Chang'an Jun is finished! Where does the Marquis Guanjun put Wucheng Hou! Where does Wu'an Jun put him! ]
All the court officials exclaimed inwardly.
[You are the bravest among the whole army. This title is so honorable! 】
A few generals had strange lights in their eyes and couldn't help but glance at Ying Chengjiao.
Although they felt that the young Chang'an Jun might not live longer than Duke Meng, it did not stop them from having a particularly good impression of this Chang'an Jun who spoke up for Duke Meng.
"The bravest of the three armies, champion marquis, not bad."
The First Emperor nodded repeatedly, and his gentle muttering to himself made all the civil and military officials in the court think that it was the calm before the storm.
If the next moment the First Emperor ordered Ying Chengjiao to be dragged out, his limbs cut off, and exposed to the sun outside the palace, they would not be surprised. They felt that no matter how extreme the First Emperor's reaction was, it would not surprise them.
“Okay.
"Meng Ao, conferred the title of Champion Marquis."
The First Emperor's face became solemn and he said in a deep voice.
Every court official raised their heads, their faces filled with horror and shock.
[Your Majesty, do you agree? ]
