Chapter 493: The late emperor has just been buried in the imperial mausoleum. Not only are you not observing mourning for your brother, but you are also planning to take a concubine?
"Grandfather! Grandfather!"
The chubby Wang Li was wearing clothes made of bear skin and he stumbled as he ran, like a blind little bear.
In fact, the temperature in Qi is not low. There was heavy snow in the northwest in December, but here by the sea, there was only a slight cool breeze. Using a bearskin coat to resist such a slight breeze is like using a butcher knife to kill a nut.
There is a kind of coldness in this world, which is called your father feels you are cold.
The wet nurse who followed him watched over him carefully, fearing that the young master would fall.
Although the Marquis said that his grandson Wang Jian was not so pampered, he could just fall down if he wanted to, and there was no need to take care of him too closely, or he would become a waste.
But as a slave, how could you really take such words seriously?
When they were still seven or eight steps away from the courtyard, the wet nurse saw the murderous look in the leather-armored butler's eyes and shuddered.
The wet nurse had worked in the mansion of an old noble in Qi State and had seen a lot of the world. She was no longer the timid bride who would tremble with fear at the sight of a stern look from someone.
The Wucheng Marquis Mansion is different.
Saying that the stewards of other nobles' houses had murderous looks in their eyes was just a metaphor. But the steward of the Marquis of Wucheng had really killed people, and killed quite a few of them.
She gently took Wang Li's hand.
"Young Master, we have some new cane sugar in our house. Do you want to try some?"
The greedy Wang Li opened his eyes wide and said in a baby voice:
"What is cane sugar?"
The nurse squatted down.
"It's something sweeter than maltose."
Wang Li's big eyes suddenly lit up. The temptation of sugar was much greater than that of his amiable grandfather. He kept shouting that he wanted to eat it, and was carried to the kitchen by his wet nurse.
The butler's face was as cold as iron. He shifted his murderous gaze and looked into the courtyard worriedly.
He was a military man, and had accompanied Wang Jian in the invasion of Yan and Chu when Wang Jian was not yet Marquis of Wucheng. Now Wang Jian was the only surviving Marquis of Che in the Qin Empire, and his title had reached the eighth rank of Duke of Gongcheng.
He could have retired at home and enjoyed the rest of his life.
He could also continue to serve in the army and strive for a bright future by entering the Xianyang Palace and becoming one of the nobles of Yan.
But although these things were good, they were not what he wanted. He only wanted to follow the general who could lead him to victory forever.
He got what he wanted.
A Gongcheng who had the potential to become a general worked as a small housekeeper in the general's mansion.
There are many people like him in this county.
But he was the only one who knew that the general didn't want anyone to enter the room, including his favorite grandson.
The First Emperor died.
Currently, there are no more than three people in Wucheng Marquis’s Mansion who know this news, and he, the butler, is one of them.
"Qin is not obedient to Heaven, and Qin II is doing evil things. The world is in chaos now. Doesn't Marquis Wucheng want to be the master of the world again?
"With the 200,000 troops and horses that Marquis Tongwu has in the northeast, plus the rich land of Qi, Marquis Wucheng can establish himself as king.
"Yin Tong is willing to lead Kuaiji County under the command of Marquis Wucheng."
Inside the house, Yin Tong, the governor of Kuaiji County, bowed sincerely.
Wang Jian's eyes seemed half closed as he lay in the rocking chair, as if he had fallen asleep.
But as Yin Hua's voice fell.
"Is this your idea or Wei Liao's?"
"Before leaving, Tong asked Wei Zi, if Wucheng Hou wishes to be king, Wei Zi is willing to serve as the king's national lieutenant."
"What if the old man doesn't want to?"
Wang Jian suddenly opened his eyes, slowly sat up from the rocking chair, his eyes as big as copper bells.
"The previous king has just passed away. As a minister of Qin, you have not tried your best to suppress the rebellion, but instead you have come to me to raise an army and rebel. Aren't you afraid that I will kill you here?"
Yin Tong was a little embarrassed.
Didn't you, Wang Jian, say that you would raise an army and rebel as soon as the First Emperor died? Why are you pretending to be a loyal minister now?
"Does Marquis Wucheng think that Yin Tong's position is high?"
Wang Jian looked impatient.
"If you have something to say, say it now. If you have to fart, fart now. I am not a scholar with bad intentions like you. I don't have the brains to waste time talking to you. If you can't give me a clear answer, I will kill you!"
How vulgar! He is still a fool even if he becomes a Chehou!
Yin Tong put on a smile.
“Marquis Wucheng is straightforward and frank, which is a sign of his lack of consideration.
"There are thirty-six counties in the world. Although I am not talented, I am honored to be the governor of Kuaiji County. Except for Xianyang, there is no foreign affairs official more powerful than Tong.
"In terms of power, Tong is in charge of the life and death of the people in a county, and the people's livelihood. Even the nine ministers are not as good as Tong.
"Tong has reached the highest position among the ministers in Qin. If he had not been desperate, why would he seek rebellion against Marquis Wucheng?"
Wang Jian sneered.
"Because you Qi people are all lowly merchants, if Qin had not been unable to find competent officials, how could you have been able to occupy such a high position? The late king should have killed all of you remnants of the six kingdoms!"
This old man is not stupid! He is not easy to deceive!
Yin Tong was extremely cautious and was about to continue speaking.
Wang Jian stood up from his rocking chair and shouted:
"Someone come!"
The butler, who had been waiting outside and not letting anyone in, immediately entered with two Qin soldiers who were armed to the teeth and had followed Wang Jian into the battlefield.
Wang Jian pointed at Yin Tong.
"Push this beast out, behead him in the market, cut off his head and put it in a wooden box!"
"only!"
The three of them said in unison.
Yin Tong's face suddenly turned frighteningly pale, without any human color left.
"Wang Jian! I am the governor of Kuaiji County! How dare you kill me?"
Before he could finish his words, the butler grinned and punched him in the face, aiming hard and dislocating his jaw, causing blood and saliva to flow out.
Yin Tong struggled hard.
But he was born and raised in the wealthy State of Qi and had never experienced the hardship of practicing martial arts. How could he compare to the Qin soldiers who had escaped nine death situations?
He flapped his wings desperately like a pheasant found by a hunter, but could not escape the fate of being caught and taken away.
"The former king is gone, and Wang Jian is still alive. The former king did not care about Wang Jian's outspokenness, but Wang Jian wants the people of the world to keep silent in return!
"It's not too late to kill the remnants of the six kingdoms, Wei Liao..."
Wang Jian, who had personally told the First Emperor that he would rebel after his death, lay on his back in a rocking chair.
With his arms resting on his eyes, the rocking chair trembled with his body...
Half an hour later, the butler came in carrying a bloodstained wooden box.
"General, Yin Tong's head is here."
Everyone in the mansion calls him Marquis, but he, who used to be a personal soldier and is now the butler, is still called General.
"Send it to Kuaiji County and give it to Wei Liao, the lord of Kuaiji County."
Wang Jian's words were filled with murderous intent.
The butler hadn't heard such words for nearly a year.
In the past, before every battle, Wang Jian’s words in the military tent would always contain such murderous intent.
"Ask him what he means! Is he going to take advantage of the chaos to rebel?"
"only."
The butler responded excitedly.
Immersed in the excitement of the upcoming war and the battle to be fought, he did not notice that the general's voice was a little hoarse and choked.
…
The wooden box was placed on the table, open.
The head of the prefect of Kuaiji County was placed inside. His face was hideous and blood was constantly oozing from the cut on his neck. The blood had seeped out of the box and soaked the table.
The not-so-strong smell of blood lingered in the house for a long time.
Han Xin, dressed in bright clothes, stepped over the threshold, twitched his nose and frowned.
"Where does the smell of blood come from?"
He followed the fishy smell to the table and was surprised to see Yin Tong, who had just come to visit his master in the morning.
"Teacher, did you kill the governor of Yin?"
In Kuaiji County, apart from the teacher, no one else has the ability to kill Yin Tong.
Wei Liao, who was eating apricots and seemed completely oblivious to the smell of blood, glanced at his disciple unhappily.
"Why should I kill him?"
Han Xin breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it wasn't done by the master, beheading Yin Tong was a big deal that could reach the court in Xianyang. Having met the First Emperor, he was a little afraid of provoking the King of Qin.
He was certain in his heart, and he became curious, and said jokingly:
"If it wasn't Master's doing, then who was it? Who was so bold as to behead a county governor? This crime must be the extermination of the entire clan, right? Who is this unlucky and audacious person?"
Wei Liao stuffed an apricot into his mouth and uttered two words in a heavy voice.
"Wang Jian."
Han Xin opened his mouth wide, his face full of disbelief, and suspected that he had heard it wrongly.
"who?"
Wei Liao did not answer immediately. He mumbled for a while, spit out an apricot kernel and dropped it on the plate, then said lightly:
"You heard it right, it's the person you were thinking of, the only existing Marquis of Qin, Marquis of Wucheng Wang Jian."
Han Xin was confused and continued to ask questions following his master's instructions, but in fact he didn't even know what he was saying.
"Why did Wang Jian kill the governor of Yin?"
"Because Yin Tong asked him to rebel and claim the throne."
"Oh, rebel and become king... rebel and become king!"
Han Xin yelled.
"Yin Tong is crazy! He dared to rebel and claim the throne! He was deceived by those brainless remnants of the Six Kingdoms! He believed the rumor that His Majesty is dead!"
A month ago, rumors of the death of the First Emperor began to spread in Qi, but Han Xin never took it seriously. His elder brother, Zhao Gongming, told the world that the First Emperor was not dead, and Han Xin believed his elder brother.
"Your Majesty has indeed passed away. The successor to the throne is the Second Qin Emperor, Ying Chengjiao, the Lord of Chang'an. Within half a month, everyone in Qi will know about this."
Wei Liao looked calm, ignoring the disciples' horrified expressions, and continued:
"Yin Tong came to me this morning to ask for rebellion. I neither agreed nor refused. But Wang Jian cut off his head and sent it to me, asking me if I wanted to rebel. This villain must have said that I agreed to his request to rebel."
With a sneer, Wei Liao's face wrinkled and looked a little creepy.
"Oh, maybe he will say that I want him to rebel with me. He really deserves to die."
Han Xin shook his head and suppressed the shock in his heart.
"Whatever the teacher thinks, I will listen to it."
Wei Liao said slowly:
“There are three things I want you to do.
"First, give a banquet to the soldier who delivered the letter.
"Second, a letter, saying that I have no intention of rebelling, that I am extremely terrified, and that I am a loyal subject to the Qin State, and that I want the soldier to be sent back to Wang Jian.
"Third, find your uncle and tell him I've changed my mind."
Han Xin was confused.
Teacher, you told Marquis Wucheng that you would not rebel, but at the same time you wanted to find your uncle who wanted you to rebel. Are you rebelling or not?
The experienced Wei Liao saw that his disciple was confused, but he had no intention of explaining.
"You're not going to do it yet?"
"only!"
Wei Liao closed the lid of the wooden box, touched the rough texture of the box, and talked to himself.
"The First Emperor's death and the division of the land is truly a prophecy that has come true... Your Majesty is mean and ungrateful, so it is not surprising that such a disaster has occurred.
"Now that Yin Tong is dead, all the land in Kuaiji will be mine."
Wei Liao had not yet made up his mind whether to rebel or not. He planned to wait and see, but Kuaiji County must be taken.
He controls a county, has sufficient military force and power, and can advance or retreat on foot.
Now he has no evil, but for some reason he is loyal to Qin and a famous general who is good at fighting, Wang Jian, Marquis of Wucheng.
He did not offend his foolish junior fellow apprentice - he wanted his proud disciple Han Xin to treat Huang Shi with the same courtesy as his teacher, just for today.
Don't offend both sides, follow the situation and act according to changes. This is Wei Liao's way of dealing with the world.
Whether in the court or in opposition, against the First Emperor or the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, he never lost, and he always had the last laugh.
He asked someone to take away the wooden box containing Yin Tong's head and the apricot kernels he had eaten.
Wei Liao frowned as he thought about the things that Qin II had done that had been reported from Xianyang.
"He acted so foolishly. From my experience with him, I know something is wrong. This is not something he should do. There must be something fishy going on.
"Could it be that the second emperor of Qin has changed his personality? It is possible, but not very likely. Let's wait and see what this boy can do."
…
The old minister was so angry at Ying Chengjiao's words that he saw stars. His empty stomach made his dizziness worse, and he actually fell down.
"Hurry up and call the imperial physician to come and treat him!"
Ying Chengjiao shouted anxiously, his chest open.
The ministers knew it was all a show, and while they sneered in their hearts, they also felt a little relieved.
If Your Majesty is still willing to put on a show, then there is room for negotiation. The only thing I am afraid of is that Your Majesty is too lazy to even put on a show, then the situation will become serious.
"Don't die in my Xianyang Palace. That would be too unlucky!"
The ministers clenched their hands under the table and tensed their legs under their buttocks.
The previous emotions solidified before they could dissipate.
It would be better if this play had not been performed. It was clearly treating these important officials of the court as if they were actors and actresses and making fun of them!
A minister stood up, weeping.
"Your Majesty, what you said is really chilling!"
Ying Chengjiao pulled up the collar of his shirt .
"The people of Guizhou have been chilled for their entire lives, and I have been chilled for nearly thirty years. Is it not too much to ask you to be chilled for just this morning?"
An obese minister stood up with difficulty.
"Why are the people so disappointed? It is because Your Majesty does not let the prince return to the capital, which is a violation of human ethics and filial piety. The world will be in chaos, but Your Majesty only knows how to enjoy himself, which makes people disappointed."
Ying Chengjiao was all smiles .
"Then why am I so disappointed?"
The fat minister spoke righteously and passionately, his face full of the light of righteousness.
"Your Majesty is chilled because these loyal people in this room do not fulfill your Majesty's wishes! We are like Bigan, whose honest advice is unpleasant to the ear, and we are not like Fei Zhong, who follows your Majesty's wishes but makes you make mistakes!"
Pah pah pah
"Color! "
Ying Chengjiao applauded three times in a row.
"What you said seems to make sense, but why did I hear that the people sang praises to me, and many even erected my tablet? I gave the people honeycomb coal, I let them live, and they treated me as a king and father. They didn't eat the food of Qin and curse me, the King of Qin, like you do."
The ministers were in turmoil, and several of them rushed to stand up.
Ying Chengjiao waved his hand.
"Don't worry, I have a few things to announce, let's talk about them together.
"I have no children, so I am planning to take a concubine. Whoever is in charge of this, please prepare. I plan to take more at once."
The ministers were stunned.
The late emperor has just been buried in the imperial mausoleum. Not only are you not observing mourning for your brother, but you are also planning on taking a concubine?
