I am already immortal, why should I ascend to become an immortal?

Chapter 257: Confucius of Lu County, Shixiu surrenders; Lü Buwei arrives in Liaocheng

Just like last night, Jin Chan ate meat and drank wine.

On the side of the wooden table, there was a bowl of steaming broth.

Use mutton as the base, add half a pot of well water, then add pepper, cinnamon, ginger, onion, mustard, and finally use salt to enhance the flavor.

Although it is a bit rough, it is full of fragrance and makes people salivate.

The table was filled with a bowl of bean rice and other meat or dishes.

"Sir, Qi is doomed. I will give you two choices. Either I will destroy the Tian clan of Qi and then help me naturalize Qi to Qin. Otherwise, Qi will continue to suffer from famine and only two out of ten people will survive."

Jin Chan said in a voice that only the three of them could hear.

After hearing what was said, Sun Bin lowered his eyes in thought.

Now that Qin is determined to sweep across the six kingdoms and unify them, even if I don't agree, Qi will eventually be destroyed within a few months. When famine strikes, even if there is a good harvest next year, the population will still drop by 70% to 80%.

As for the outcome of the Tian clan, it had been determined after the Battle of Hangu Pass and there was no possibility of changing it.

Although the man in front of him is a general, his height and state of mind are as if he is looking down from the throne and measuring as a king.

At this moment, Sun Bin finally understood what Jin Chan, or the King of Qin, was trying to do.

This battle destroyed Qi.

The Qin State fought for the six states to see, and also for the people of the world to see.

In the matter of destroying Qi, the Qin State did not want to waste too much military force.

Rather than ending up with a broken Qi State, the King of Qin and Jin Chan would rather have a Qi State that was completely naturalized under Qin.

The reason why Jin Chan allowed himself to live was simply because he needed a person of high moral character in Qi to stand up for Qin and endorse him.

"Alas, the State of Qi has been destroyed!"

At this moment, Sun Bin had to admit that Qi and himself had become fish in the hands of the Qin people, who could cut them open with a single knife or carve them into sashimi.

"Have you thought about it, sir?"

Jin Chan put down the chopsticks in his hand, raised his chin and asked with a smile.

In fact, even if Sun Bin did not agree, Jin Chan still had other ways to achieve his goal, but it might take longer.

Moreover, early this morning, Jin Chan had already decided in his heart that if Sun Bin did not agree to his request, he would behead him in the downtown area of ​​Liaocheng.

After destroying Qi, let the great Confucianists speak for Qin.

As for the people of Liaocheng, they can only be left to fend for themselves for now.

"I promise, General, but please promise me two things."

Sun Bin picked up a piece of mutton and put it directly into his mouth.

However, this simple action aroused dissatisfaction among the people around.

"Sir, please speak."

Jin Chan raised his right hand and motioned Sun Bin to continue.

"First, I hope the general can tell the King of Qin that he will treat the people of Qi the same as us in the future, and give us the title of twenty military merits, instead of becoming slaves in Qin."

"can."

"second."

Sun Bin paused, swallowed the mutton in his mouth, and then continued.

"Second, please allow me to resign and return to the countryside after the matter is accomplished."

Although Tian Jian was incompetent, he was very kind to Sun Bin. After helping Qin to naturalize in Qi, Sun Bin planned to give up his burden and become an old man in the fields of Qi.

"also may."

Although a great talent was lost, Jin Chan did not think it was too regrettable.

"Then please, sir, speak to the people of Liaocheng in front of this gate in five days."

The matter of Jin Chan has been completed, and how to carry it out next is a matter between Xiao Luoyang and Sun Bin.

"Five days, young lady is really thoughtful."

Sun Bin replied helplessly, then turned his head and looked at Xiao Luoyang again.

Although she is a girl, her thoughts and the aura in her conversation are no less than those talented officials in governing the country.

Especially during those few laps on horseback, Xiao Luoyang's performance was outstanding.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I'd like to trouble you to have dinner here every day for the next few days."

Xiao Luoyang nodded and smiled back.

Five days without food was enough to make everyone think only about how to have a full meal.

As for family and country, I'm afraid that people on the verge of death will not have the energy to think about it.

In addition, with a person of Sun Bin's status eating Qin food here every day, it is likely that within five days, someone will start thinking about entering Qin.

Afterwards, Xiao Luoyang told Bai Macuo.

During these five days, if anyone asked the Qin army about entering Qin, no permission would be granted.

However, you can give them half the ration of rice once to show the grace of the Great Qin.

Five days later.

Li Xin, Zi'an and Mu Xuanzi also came to Liaocheng at the same time to meet up with Jin Chan.

Sun Bin and Luoyang explained in detail the plan of entering Qin to the people of Liaocheng at the city gate.

"My fellow countrymen, King Tian Jian of Qi is insane and tyrannical. His royal family and nobles have been living in debauchery and extravagance without regard for the lives of the people. This has led to a sharp decline in the population of our Great Qi and a thousand miles of wilderness. Three hundred miles away are the three cities of Lin, Le, and Liang."

"These cities originally belonged to Chu, but now they belong to Qin. Fellow villagers, if anyone has no food at home, they can go to these three cities to make a living. However, if you leave Qi this time, you will no longer be a Qi citizen, but a Qin citizen. You can share the same Qin laws with the Qin people, and you can also join the army to earn military merit."

Xiao Luoyang led the Qin army to provide porridge and food to the people of Liaocheng, while Sun Bin sat in a wheelchair and persuaded the people to join Qin.

After five days, things went much more smoothly than expected.

Of the 200,000 people in Liaocheng, 60% packed their bags and headed to Lin, Le and Liang, just filling the vacancies left by the Chu people in these three cities.

As for the rest, they went to the heartland of Qi State to seek other ways to survive.

the other side.

Because the capital Linzi was destroyed, Tian Jian was not sure whether Qin could succeed in the peace talks.

To be on the safe side, Tian Jian planned to move the capital across the river to Jiaoao City on the east coast.

Before leaving, they also planned to take the people of Linzi and two nearby cities with them so that they could serve as laborers in the future.

The remaining 500,000-plus troops of the Qi army also retreated eastward and stationed across the river to protect their own safety.

"Damn it, this damned King of Qin, if he really doesn't agree to negotiate peace, I won't let him get his wish. He wants the territory of my Great Qi, bah, wishful thinking."

Tian Jian had already made up his mind. If the Qin State was unwilling to withdraw its troops and negotiate peace, then he would sacrifice all members of the Tian family and use the Partridge Sky to make most of the Qi land barren and devastating.

All the Qin troops that entered Qi should be buried here.

Even if he could never go back, he would never let Qin get away with it.

at this time.

After all the people in Liaocheng left.

Jin Chan divided the team that was going to attack Qi into two groups.

A group consisting of Li Xin, Yang Ruihe, Bai Macuo, Zi'an and Mu Xuanzi set out eastward first.

He and Xiao Luoyang would set out again in thirty days.

The two teams met outside Linzi City.

If the advance team finds Qi troops stationed in important cities along the way, they will be directly wiped out by overwhelming force.

Sun Bin followed Li Xin and others.

As for the famine among the people along the way, if the three cities of Lin, Le and Liang are already full, there is no need to worry about it and we can deal with it after the destruction of Qi is completed.

However, Tangqianyan disappeared after entering Qi, saying that he was going to the Qi royal tombs to dig a few graves.

The following days.

Jin Chan and Xiao Luoyang stayed in Liaocheng, waiting for someone to come.

On the twenty-first day.

Jin Chan looked at the military report sent back from the front and sighed in his heart that Tian Jian was indeed a waste. He did not even send a single soldier to guard all the large cities along the way.

At this time, the State of Qi could almost be considered a country without a ruler.

Tian Jian led his troops to plunder all the money and food in the national treasury. He then crossed the easternmost river with a group of court officials and royal nobles. They were only about three days' journey away from Jiaoao City.

But in Linzi.

Before leaving, Tian Jian actually left behind his beautiful queen, two hundred concubines and fifty confidants, intending to make a final attempt to negotiate peace with the State of Qin.

In the heart of Qi, the defenders of each city had declared themselves rulers due to famine and the court's inaction, and had begun to plunder the remaining food and money from the people in the city.

Even after the food ran out, they began to cook and eat people.

Who could have imagined that just three months after the Battle of Hangu Pass, the State of Qi had become a wasteland.

In the villages, the scenes of curling smoke and laughter in the past no longer exist, replaced by deathly silence and despair.

The dead trees in the wilderness are filled with helpless people seeking death.

There were people everywhere who had died of eating Guanyin soil, and some who had gone mad were cut into pieces and cooked in pots.

There are over a hundred villages with no one left.

"General, Lü Buwei has arrived at the city gate."

Hearing the messenger's words, Jin Chan smiled slightly and put down the military newspaper in his hand.

After a while.

"General Jin, long time no see."

Although the news of retreating south and abandoning Hangu Pass had spread throughout the Qin Dynasty.

But Lu Buwei didn't seem to be affected. He still had that confident smile on his face and a pair of bronze balls in his hands.

Behind him were Zhu Hai and Zhuan Zhu.

"Prime Minister, please take a seat."

Jin Chan extended his hand and motioned for the other party to take a seat.

"General Jin, you saved the day by turning the tide, relieving the danger at Hangu Pass and protecting tens of thousands of Qin's people. You are truly amazing!"

Listening to Lu Buwei's flattering words, Jin Chan did not respond but went straight to the point.

"Prime Minister, you talked to the king before about unifying the world with 'resources'. Do you think this is still feasible?"

"Of course it is feasible, but Qi lost 1.6 million troops at Hangu Pass. With such a huge disparity in military strength, there is no need to use 'resources' at all."

Lu Buwei is full of confidence.

"Prime Minister Lu, Prime Minister Lu, although you have held a high position for many years, your heart is still as low as a valley. This time when you join Qi, I will make you admit defeat with conviction. The unification of 'resources' you mentioned is nothing but childish joking."

Jin Chan looked normal as he picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. However, his words were as sharp as a blade, as if he said them on purpose.

"How dare you, a mere general, speak so arrogantly to the prime minister." Before Lu Buwei could speak, Zhu Hai behind him swung up two Xuanhua axes and chopped down at the table in front of Jin Chan.

Although Zhuan Zhu did not take action, he pulled out the long sword at his waist two inches.

Just the next second.

Several flashes of lightning suddenly emerged from the ground, like five thick chains, and in the blink of an eye they wrapped around Zhu Hai's neck and limbs, trapping him firmly in place and unable to move.

"A reckless man who doesn't even have military status is qualified to fight in front of me?"

"Prime Minister, is this how you educate your subordinates?"

Jin Chan didn't even look at Zhu Hai, but stared at Lu Buwei and asked reproachfully.

"Zhu Hai, step back."

Lu Buwei did not choose to reprimand his men, but simply ordered them to retreat.

"General Jin, although I appreciate you, it does not mean that you can lie to me like a child playing around. Humph, then you can prove it to me on behalf of Ying Lou."

Lu Buwei was arrogant and thought he was the wisest person in history.

He can be humble himself, but he will never allow others to look down on him, let alone Jin Chan, even if Ying Lou came.

Looking at Lu Buwei's reaction, Jin Chan knew that his goal had been achieved.

"Let's go to Linzi."

Less than thirty days later, on the twenty-first day, Jin Chan's troops began to march towards Linzi.

Another seventeen days passed.

Tian Jian had already determined that Sun Bin's peace talks had failed.

At this moment, he has already set Jiaoao City as the temporary capital.

Even in this not-so-big city, a luxurious bathhouse covering five acres was built in just five days.

He asked fifteen handsome boys to wash his body day and night.

It seems that only by soaking in this warm spring water can one forget all worries.

As for the royal family and high-ranking officials, they squandered the grain and wine brought from Linzi.

Although life is much poorer than usual, we can still get by.

After all, in their eyes, the King of Qi still has the most powerful troops in the Central Plains.

The common people who came with them were guarded outside the city by soldiers.

In the absence of food, the nobles ordered these people to find ways to survive on their own.

Moreover, a large-scale construction project would be carried out for Tian Jian outside Jiaoao City to build a new palace that would be suitable for the status of the King of Qi.

the other side.

Jin Chan and Lu Buwei were only two days away from Linzi.

However, before arriving in Linzi, the two first came to a small town called Lu County.

"According to the military report sent by Li Xin, although this city is small, it has sufficient food. It is a pilgrimage site for Confucian students in the Central Plains. Prime Minister, are you interested in taking a look?"

Ten miles away from Lu County.

Jin Chan, holding the military report that came in a few days ago, asked Lu Buwei.

In the military report, Li Xin described it as follows: the gate of Lu County was opened, and Confucius' students personally stood outside the city to welcome the Qin army.

After talking with him for a day and a night, Sun Bin told Li Xin that if Jin Chan met the people in this city, he might get an unexpected surprise.

"Let's take a look."

Lu Buwei had visited the Confucianists in Lu County when he was a businessman in his early years, but the place did not leave a good impression on him.

Now when I pass by again, the scene is completely different.

The Qin army marched towards Lu County in a mighty manner, raising a cloud of dust. The sounds of horse hooves and wheels intertwined into a deafening roar.

Jin Chan and Lu Buwei rode their horses in the front of the army, with Xiao Luoyang following behind.

Ten miles is not a long distance, and although the army was large in number, they still arrived quickly.

But before they reached the city gate, they saw about two thousand people wearing dark robes, who looked like Confucian scholars, standing neatly outside the gate, and bowing to their waists in the direction of Jin Chan.

Moreover, the leader, an old man who seemed to be in his seventies, stretched out his arms, holding a thick roll of bamboo slips in his palms.

They didn't raise their heads and their bodies were bent very low, so the fake expressions on their faces could not be seen clearly.

Bang, bang, bang, the sound of horse hooves became louder and louder.

Jin Chan was only ten steps away from the leader.

"I am the 52nd generation descendant of the Confucian family, Duke Wenxuan, a Confucian scholar. I have heard that the Qin army is famous far and wide, so today I am bringing the 'Exhortation to Punish Qi' to meet the Qin general Jin Chan."

"Although Lu County is small, it is a country of etiquette and does not want to see the disaster of war."

"However, the King of Qi indulged in sensual pleasures and indulged himself in debauchery. He took pleasure in wine and meat, and ignored the suffering of the people, which resulted in an empty treasury and a miserable life for the people. His government was incompetent, treacherous officials were in power, loyal and good people were wronged, and the government was weakened. Qi was gradually declining and had no virtue. The King of Qi was ambitious and sent troops to attack Qin, which caused famine and disasters. The people were displaced and complained, and people wanted to change their minds."

"However, the King of Qin ruled the country by law, and clearly distinguished between rewards and punishments, which made Qin conform to the way of heaven, and the country became strong, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. He had the world in his heart and ambition, and wanted to bring eternal peace. He was absolutely incomparable to Yongqi."

"Therefore, I have prepared a letter of surrender, and I am willing to follow the will of heaven and submit to the Qin State. I will use the knowledge of the ancient Confucian sages to help the Qin State govern the country, and I am willing to work with the King of Qin to bring peace to the world."

The old man kept his head down and didn't raise it at all.

Although his waist was bent, his legs were weak, and his spine was easily broken, the words of surrender were recited loud and clear.

After the old man Kong Ru finished speaking, the Confucian students behind him shouted in unison.

"We wish to use our Confucian knowledge to help the King of Qin achieve great things for generations to come, so that there will be no more wars in the world and the people will enjoy peace forever; we hope that the King of Qin will be kind and lenient to Confucian students, so that we can continue to inherit the Confucian way, educate the people, and build a harmonious and prosperous world together."

Thousands of people shouted in unison, the sound was deafening, it didn't seem like they were living in a famine year at all.

Moreover, the clothes of these hundred Confucian students were brand new and not stained with any dirt.

Everyone's cheeks are as rosy as jade and their qi and blood are abundant.

"Lord Lu, before I even opened my mouth, the Confucian masters surrendered to the Qin Dynasty en masse. Do you think this can be achieved by unifying 'resources'?"

Jin Chan ignored Kong Ru and the Confucian students behind him, but turned to Lu Buwei and asked with a smile.

"If they have enough food, they won't. But if they have no food, no money, no oil in their stomachs, do you think they won't surrender to the truth?"

Lu Buwei replied with disgust, but his disgust was not directed at Jin Chan, but at the pedantic people who thought themselves superior right under his nose.

"This is extremely wrong. We Confucian students have been taught by the ancient sages to carry forward the past and open up the future. We are all strong-willed. Let alone a mere famine and lack of food, even if a weapon is pointed at our throats, we would rather die than surrender."

"Today, I am preparing to submit a petition. First, the King of Qin has great martial virtues and is a master of both civil and military affairs. He is the one who controls the world. Second, he follows the will of Heaven and responds to the will of Heaven. That is why I am willing to assist the State of Qin and teach Confucianism."

Kong Ru raised his head and shouted at Lu Buwei with his wrinkled, greasy face.

But before he could finish his words, a black gun was pointed at his throat, less than half an inch away from his skin.

Feeling the biting cold, cold sweat instantly slid down Kong Ru's face and dripped onto Jin Chan's black gun.

At this moment, he no longer had any of the "courage" he had just had. His legs went limp with fear. Because the tip of the gun was too close to his throat, he didn't even dare to swallow his saliva.

"Did I ask you to speak?"

Jin Chan's tone was extremely cold, and the murderous intent in his eyes was something that someone like Kong Ru could not resist.

In an instant, Kong Ru's eyes turned black and he fell down.

"Enter the city!"

The white dragon horse stepped over Kong Ru's body and walked straight inside.

The students on the side also tactfully moved to the sides.

It’s not that Jin Chan has any opinion on Confucianism.

It's just that although Confucius' words just now seemed to praise Qin and belittle Qi, in essence every word was full of arrogance. The implication was that Qin needed them, the Confucians, not that the Confucians should surrender.

Enter Lu County.

Jin Chan found that there was no sound coming from the houses around him, as if all the people here had left, leaving only the Confucian students.

"You, tell me, where are the people in this city?"

Jin Chan pointed the tip of his gun at the Confucian scholar closest to him and asked.

"Reply, reply General, the people have been taken by us., no"

This Confucian scholar, who was only about twenty years old, realized that he had said the wrong thing as soon as he opened his mouth, and hurriedly corrected it.

"Now that famine is raging, the city has limited food reserves. The people know they don't deserve it, so out of righteousness, they left the food and grass to Confucian students like us, and then left Lu County one after another."

Not to mention that Jin Chan didn't believe this, even Zi'an would probably sneer at it if he were here.

The people knew they were unworthy, and they withheld the grain out of righteousness.

Jin Chan really didn't know how he could say such vile and disgusting words.

Taking a deep breath, he noticed a faint smell of blood coming from the nearest house, and Jin Chan guessed something.

After entering the "Confucius Temple", the largest mansion in Lu County.

Jin Chan asked his troops to bring two chairs, one for himself and one for Lu Buwei.

"Splash water."

"what?"

"Pour the water on him to wake him up. I have something to ask."

Jin Chan pointed at Kong Ru, who was helped in by students but was still unconscious.

"I obey my orders."

When Sui Jun heard this, he immediately brought two buckets of well water and, despite the students' objections, poured the water directly on Kong Ru's face.

Under the stimulation of the cold well water, Kong Ru shivered and woke up.

But at this moment, he was disheveled and had disheveled hair. Compared with the sage just now, he was completely different.

"General Jin, as a general of Qin, how can you be so ignorant of etiquette?"

Although he was a little angry and embarrassed, Kong Ru still didn't dare to say anything too radical.

"Etiquette? Ridiculous."

"The purpose of our Great Qin's expedition this time is to destroy Qi. What qualifications do you, the defeated nation, have to discuss etiquette with me?"

How could Jin Chan not know what these Confucian students wanted to do?

It was nothing more than asking for a respectable and lucrative job from his subordinates before the complete demise of the State of Qi.

He also wanted to use Qin to tell the world that the Confucians in Lu County did not surrender, but were following the will of heaven and assisting Qin in governing the country.

To put it bluntly, Confucians want both fame and benefits.

However, Jin Chan will not tolerate these people.

Unlike the other six states, the Qin State highly respected Confucianism.

Even in Xianyang, Confucian students could only speak in schools, courtyards, and taverns. They were not allowed to enter the Afang Palace, let alone meet Ying Lou.

"General, your words are wrong. For thousands of years, our Confucian sages and students have traveled among the seven kingdoms of the Central Plains, seeking benefits for the people of the world, imparting knowledge to the kings, and seeking peace for the people."

"You, Qin, were defeated by Qi and the Tian royal family. What does this have to do with me, a Confucian scholar? The reason why I, a Confucian scholar, am preparing a letter of surrender today is not to succumb to the power of Qin, but to follow the will of heaven."

　Continue to strive for 6k tomorrow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)