Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 217

Lu Wei himself had never felt the power of the Qi royal family in Daze Mountain. The only special time was when he discovered Tian Du and Tian Zang in Sanghai City on Tian Guang's orders to contact the royal family.

That's understandable, since he wasn't surnamed Tian. Although about eighty years ago, Tian Tong, the son of King Xuan of Qi, was enfeoffed in Lu Township, and all of Tian Tong's descendants took Lu as their surname, Lu Wei's original birthplace was the State of Zhao.

The ancestors can be traced back to the late Western Zhou Dynasty when a group of Western Rong people migrated into the Central Plains. During the Spring and Autumn Period, they established the State of Luhun in the upper reaches of the Luo River. Later, this state was destroyed by the State of Jin, and the people of Luhun took Lu as their surname, which spread among the people of Jin.

If you think about it carefully, it must have happened several hundred years ago. Lu Wei did have a surname, but his family background was no different from those commoners without surnames.

He has no connection with the Tian family, so the royal family of Qi would naturally only go to the Lieshan Hall and the Chiyou Hall, and not to Lu's Gonggong Hall.

However, he was not entirely unrelated to the peasants, because the Luhun Rong people belonged to the Jiang Rong lineage and were descendants of the Yan Emperor Shennong, as clearly recorded in historical documents.

If Master Lu succeeds as the leader of the chivalrous sect in the future, it can be considered as returning to his ancestral roots.

Although there's nothing to brag about: in the future, everyone will be a descendant of Yan and Huang, and everyone will be equal in terms of ancestral origins.

"The sky cannot be without the sun for a day. I cannot go into detail about the affairs of the farmers, but Brother Lu should try to calm the hearts of the farmers as soon as possible. In this way, when facing the possible turmoil in Qi, the farmers can unite and get through it safely."

Fu Nian was intentionally reminding him.

“Brother Fu Nian is a gentleman, so even if he cares about the affairs of the peasant family, he won’t talk about them much, much less interfere.” Lu Wei shook his head and smiled. “However, not everyone is a gentleman like Brother Fu Nian, so the peasant family may not be able to settle down quickly.”

"But I will never become someone else's tool!"

'Because it can only be my personal tool~ I don't want it anymore, I'd rather destroy it~'

The last sentence doesn't need to be said aloud; just think it in your heart.

The two briefly explained their stance on the current situation in Qi, and then suddenly encountered Tian An again in the peach blossom forest.

"Sect Leader...and this brother."

This member of the Qi royal family, Gongsun Lijie, was meticulous in his manners. Fu Nian nodded with a composed face: "This is Lu Weitang, the head of the Gonggong Hall of the Farmer's School, and also a good friend of mine."

“So it’s Hall Master Lu. I’ve heard of him before and even met him yesterday. But I was busy then and didn’t have time to ask Junior Brother Zhang for details.” Tian An replied politely, then asked curiously, “Senior Brother and Hall Master Lu are both high-ranking and powerful figures in your respective factions. May I ask what you were discussing?”

"Those who are not in a position should not concern themselves with its affairs. Clever words and a flattering appearance are rarely benevolent!" As a guest, Lu Wei naturally did not need to answer, but Fu Nian was not polite at all to the other party's thoughts and directly reprimanded him with a sentence from the Confucian classics.

The two strolled and chatted in the peach blossom grove, and it was clear that this Gongsun had not come here by chance.

Tian An paused, but still managed a forced smile: "I will remember your teachings, Senior Brother."

Then, he obediently turned and retreated. After his figure disappeared, the hall master chuckled and said, "Does the Qi Kingdom not trust the Little Sage Village either?"

"No, it's just that this Junior Brother Tian An is somewhat similar in temperament to Zifang when he first arrived." Fu Nian stroked his short beard: "He is keenly aware of the threats facing the State of Qi, and even though he came to Xiaoshengxianzhuang to study, he is still too concerned about matters of state!"

"Isn't this an advantage for a prince whose country is still standing?" Lu Wei said pointedly.

"After entering Xiaoshengxianzhuang, he was first and foremost a Confucian disciple to me! Even if he had ideas about family and country, he should have a profound enough understanding to rationally choose his own path after completing his apprenticeship."

Fu Nian's tone was firm: "Instead of acting like a brute, driven by mere impulse and emotion. If he weren't a Confucian disciple, I wouldn't need to concern myself with him!"

"It seems Brother Fu Nian's teaching duties will be quite demanding from now on."

"It is my duty, and I dare not relax."

------

After his second conversation with Fu Nian in Sanghai, the possibility of the Qi royal family interfering with Daze Mountain was openly brought to Lu Wei's attention.

Lu Wei had anticipated this, but he knew that the Qi royal family would naturally have to flee in a few years, so he was not in a hurry.

Moreover, the complexities of farming affairs are not limited to the royal family of Qi.

After reporting to his senior brother, the sect leader, Zhang Liang, the third leader of Xiaoshengxianzhuang, casually packed a few belongings and set off without much preparation.

The State of Chu was at war, so he would first go north to Yan to take a look, and then pass through the still barely existing State of Dai and travel south to the Three Jin regions.

Lu Wei estimated that by the time Zhang Liang reached the border of Chu, the Qin-Chu war would have largely ended. However, the war would continue for some time, and Zhang Liang would certainly not miss this opportunity to experience the chaos once again.

The head of the hall north of the Yangtze River in Chu did not make many changes. Lu Wei still planned to continue to wait for Princess Mi Lian in Zuimeng Tower as originally planned, without having to go south to Chu to snatch her himself.

It was an important part of the process to let this noblewoman, who had truly enjoyed the treatment of a 'princess,' personally experience the chaos of war and living under someone else's roof.

Now that he has finally come to Sanghai City for a few days, he can continue to bother Fu Nian and Yan Lu at Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

In this new year of stalemate between the million-strong armies of Qin and Chu, the Confucian school took in a prince from the state of Qi, while the agricultural school was still embroiled in a dispute over chivalrous leaders.

The Yin-Yang School's Mirage Project has reached the second stage of finalizing the blueprints, and the Mirage Project will be the focus of most of the Yin-Yang School's efforts going forward.

The Taoist Xiaomengzi began his seclusion several months ago, while another disciple of the Tianzong sect, Xiaoling, secretly slipped into Xianyang with the intention of infiltrating the Yin-Yang School to investigate something that was very important to him.

The Mohists remained steadfast in their anti-Qin cause in the Chu region, while their headquarters, the Mechanical City, was being raided by Dongjun Yanfei.

One of the two strategists was lost in confusion in the Xianyang Palace, while the other was engaged in bloodshed.

Even prominent families in the Wei region were searching for new paths after the fall of the Wei state.

The various schools of thought during the Warring States period could no longer truly focus solely on their own academic pursuits...

Chapter 244 Mi Lian's Ideal

On the battlefield between Qin and Chu, eight-year-old Shao Yu never took off his armor and went to his commander Xiang Yan to ask to fight again.

This was the sixth time that the young master of the Xiang clan had requested permission to fight since the two armies had reached a stalemate, and the frequency of these requests increased with each subsequent request.

Xiang Yan actually wanted to fight the Qin army more than anyone else, but Wang Jian's military formation was flawless. A blind attack could give the Qin army an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Although his grandson had shown extraordinary military skills since childhood, he was only eight years old, not eighteen.

But there might be ways to use it at an eight-year-old's age...

Staring at the family's hope, who was clad in the Seven Seas Dragon Armor, Xiang Yan asked in a deep voice, "How do you intend to fight the Qin army?"

Shao Yu, who was always flatly rejected by his grandfather when he asked for a fight, was prepared to argue his case if he was rejected again. He never expected that his grandfather would ask an extra question this time. He couldn't help but perk up and straighten his back even more:

"The Art of War says: lure the enemy with profit, seize him when he is in disarray, prepare against him when he is strong, avoid him when he is powerful, provoke him when he is angry, humble him when he is arrogant, exhaust him when he is at ease, and sow discord between him and his allies."

"The Qin army is currently strong and well-rested, which is an advantage for them and a disadvantage for us. Therefore, if I go into battle, I should attack them by surprise and lead my troops to harass their formation, preventing them from resting in peace."

"This can be accomplished with just a small number of cavalry. If the General were to send a contingent of troops from Xiaolong and the Tenglong Legion to me, I would be able to successfully harass the enemy."

Shao Yu looked expectant.

Disturbing the enemy? Xiang Yan chuckled inwardly. He had been doing what needed to be done from the beginning, but his grandson's words were quite surprising: "Did Fan Zeng teach you to say that?"

“It was Master Fan who taught me.” Shao Yu then added, “I think his words make a lot of sense.”

"Since you've already made up your mind, then let Long Qi go with you."

"Yes! Thank you, Grandfather!" Having achieved his goal, Shao Yu was so excited that he forgot the rule of addressing people by their rank in the army. After shouting it out, he saw Xiang Yan's obviously angry and reprimanding expression, and hurriedly changed his address: "I will obey the General's order!"

However, he still couldn't escape a lecture...

Watching her grandson Mingming leave happily after his training, Xiang Yan shook her head helplessly: "His personality is still a bit impulsive, but still within a controllable range. Fortunately, Fan Zeng is resourceful and decisive, and can often help Xiaoyu."

The stalemate with the Qin army has lasted for three months. The food supply for 400,000 people can last for about another six months, but the King of Chu has issued an order urging an attack. Although the food supply in the rear has not run out, the rapid evaporation of grain has filled the court officials with worry.

The theory that "a prolonged siege will dull the troops and blunt their edge, a prolonged attack on a city will exhaust their strength, and a prolonged military campaign will deplete the nation's resources" is discussed in Chapter Two of Sun Tzu's Art of War. Every general in the Chu army understood this principle, but understanding is one thing, but many things on the actual battlefield cannot be avoided simply by understanding.

"The difference in mobilization capabilities between Qin and Chu is too great. Lord Changping still has a Shadow Tiger Legion; I wonder if it can be put to use." Xiang Yan unfolded the bamboo slips, wrote the letter, locked it in the mechanical copper box, and ordered his personal guards to send it to Chenying City.

Inside the city of Chenying, Lord Changping had long anticipated the development of the confrontation between the two armies in the south.

Wang Jian and Xiang Yan were both familiar figures to Lord Changping. While Lord Changping wasn't an expert in the intricacies of military formations, he had studied Sun Tzu's Art of War. He understood which actions of military commanders were right and wrong.

From a military perspective, Xiang Yan had already fallen into Wang Jian's 'trap,' but faced with this trap, he was pressured by various forces within the Chu state and had no way to avoid it.

The letter from Xiang Yan requested that Chen Ying's Shadow Tiger Legion be dispatched south to harass the Qin army's rear supply lines by taking a detour.

After receiving the plan, Changping Jun handed it directly to Ji Bu, the commander of the Shadow Tiger Legion, for review, allowing him to decide for himself whether it was feasible.

Ji Bu knew this was a risky move, but for the sake of the State of Chu, he was willing to try.

The Shadow Tiger Legion needed to leave some troops to continue defending Changpingjun, and only a thousand cavalry could be dispatched to harass the enemy. The target of these thousand men was the rear of the 600,000-strong army that Wang Jian had deployed, and it was very likely that they would not return.

After seeing Ji Bu off from the city wall, Xiong Qi returned to his residence with a heavy expression.

In theory, with a million-strong army facing off to the south, Xiang Yan still had a slim chance of seizing any opening Wang Jian might have and turning the tide of battle. But in reality, Chenying City was already preparing for the Chu army's retreat.

If the Chu army is defeated on the main battlefield, it must retreat to Shouchun to defend the capital. If the capital cannot be defended, it can continue its eastward retreat to the former territories of Wu and Yue.

For example, Guangling City.

In his study, Lord Changping opened a map of the Chu region and pondered the possibility of Chu's continued survival after its defeat on the battlefield.

The city of Guangling, built by King Huai of Chu in the past, was well-defended. It was located south of the Yangtze River and surrounded by waterways, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The Chu army had tens of thousands of naval troops on the Yangtze River. These soldiers did not participate in the Qin-Chu confrontation, so even if the Chu army was defeated on the main battlefield, the strength of the navy was not affected.

By having these naval forces withdraw to Guangling in advance, the city can be defended by both land and sea.

Furthermore, the rulers of the Baiyue tribes had all submitted to the State of Chu for over a hundred years. When the Qin army was far away, these Yue people would ignore it, but if the Qin army was already at their doorstep and about to abolish their status and turn their kingdoms into prefectures, the Yue people would have no choice but to resist.

"Father, the gatekeeper said that the leader of the Mohist school wants to see you."

Just as Xiong Qi was intently staring at the map on the desk, the study door creaked open.

After leaving the Zhu family, Mi Lian continued his studies of medicinal herbs. At the same time, despite his mother's weakened state after giving birth to his younger sister Mi Xin, he still took the initiative to devote more time to managing the household affairs.

In addition, due to the stalemate in the Qin-Chu war, the people in Chenying City were agitated by certain rumors.

At times like these, she would leave the manor with her maids and stroll calmly around the city, buying small pieces of jewelry and the like, using her composed demeanor to soothe people's hearts.

These are things that Mi Lian didn't need to worry about when he was in Xianyang.

But now, for the sake of her father's dream of a 'greater Chu Kingdom,' she must be strong and do everything she can.

"I understand. Go and bring the Grand Master here."

"Yes." Mi Lian bowed and withdrew.

In the little girl's eyes, the leader of the Mohist school was a mysterious figure, just like the black cloak he wore.

She remembered hearing in Xianyang that the Mohists had boldly attempted to assassinate the King of Qin, making them a large rebel organization.

At that time, influenced by those around him, Mi Lian was afraid of and disliked the Mohists.

Now, the Mohists have suddenly become her father's ally, while the Qin state, with which she fondly remembers her childhood, has become her enemy. This evokes complex feelings in Mi Lian.

'Wouldn't it be better for Father to be the Prime Minister of Qin?'

The young girl, dressed in black, led the patriarch of the Mo family into the study with great ceremony, but occasionally felt a sense of disrespect.

'This leader of the Mohist school behaves with aristocratic manners; he seems to be of high noble birth?'

As Mi Lian finished fulfilling his father's instructions and was about to leave the study and close the door, his eyes inadvertently caught a glimpse of the Grand Master bowing to his father, and he seemed to be deep in thought.

She knew nothing about the various schools of thought in the martial arts world; she had only occasionally heard their names from her father or others.