The Moon in the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 96: The coalition forces dispersed, Zichu was critically ill

For two consecutive months, the coalition forces of the five countries and Wang Jian and Meng Ao confronted each other at Hangu Pass, and the coalition forces could not advance an inch.

The Five-Nation Alliance had a large number of troops and had difficulty in supplying them. Han was weak and Zhao had not yet recovered. Yan and Chu came to help, so naturally they asked Wei to provide military supplies and food. Han and Zhao were only willing to be responsible for their own food and also asked Wei to provide a part of it. This was not a burden that Wei could bear.

In addition, rumors were spreading among the vassal states. Qi seemed to be making unusual moves. Yan and Chu had already been clamoring to withdraw their troops. If they were not still arguing about the ownership of the captured cities, they would have returned long ago.

South Korea was already satisfied with having regained all its lost land and did not dare to hope for anything else. Moreover, South Korea was facing Qin directly and felt insecure, so it did not dare to be too aggressive and had long wanted to withdraw its troops.

The State of Zhao wanted to attack Hangu Pass, but Hangu Pass was a natural fortress guarded by top generals. The Qin government and the people were united, and it would be impossible to break through even if the coalition forces of the five countries starved to death.

Especially for the host State of Wei, King Anxi of Wei was already restless. First, his younger brother was too powerful, so powerful that he worried every day whether the king of Wei would be replaced. Second, Wei could no longer hold on. The coalition forces of the five countries had so many troops and the daily military supplies for food and horses were astronomical. Wei could not afford it at all.

Now that the crisis has been resolved and the lost territory has been regained, it is already a pleasant surprise. Even King Anxi of Wei could not have expected it. He originally only wanted Lord Xinling to come back to defend Daliang, but the result of the battle was beyond his imagination.

This also made King Anxi of Wei even more afraid. He had heard in Daliang that some people no longer called his younger brother Xinling Jun, but called him King of Wei.

After comprehensive consideration, he ordered Xinling Jun to return to Daliang to celebrate the victory and sent another confidant to take over the military power. Xinling Jun insisted on confronting at Hangu Pass for two months, and he had exhausted himself in maintaining the internal situation of the coalition forces.

During this period, they attacked the city many times, but gained nothing except the loss of soldiers and generals. Xinling Jun knew all the situations very well and knew that Wei could no longer hold out. After the arrival of the King of Wei's confidant who replaced him, he looked up to the sky with a bitter smile, accepted the imperial edict in a straightforward manner, and returned to Daliang.

He knew that the Six Nations would not last long.

As soon as Xinling Jun left, the coalition forces of the five countries immediately scattered, and frictions arose over the fight for cities. The crisis of the Qin Dynasty was resolved.

Although the crisis was resolved, no one in the Qin court was happy because Prince Chu of Qin was already terminally ill and was dying.

During the confrontation between the two sides, Zichu's condition continued to worsen, and Nian Duan and all the imperial doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau were helpless. The disease came extremely suddenly and the symptoms were severe and fierce, including chills, fever, headache, fatigue, rapid depletion of qi and blood, and now he is vomiting blood, having bloody stools and urine, and bleeding in the funds of the eyes.

Even so, Zichu never had a good rest. He forced himself to be energetic and worked hard on government affairs every day. He already knew that his body was not good, and he had to pave the way for Ying Zheng as much as possible in the next period of time. The hard work in recent days had aggravated his condition. Now he relied on Nian Duan's daily acupuncture and strong medicine to keep him going. Once the coalition forces of five countries disbanded, this breath of air that he had forced himself to hold on would be gone.

In the Lanchi Palace, Zichu mustered up his last bit of energy and summoned all the important civil and military officials in the court. Even Wang Jian and Meng Ao were replaced by Wang He and Huan Yi (Wang He (he, second tone) and Wang Yi (yi, third tone) are the same person, but Tianjiu was too outrageous to turn such a loyal and veteran general with outstanding military achievements into a rebel. This article separates the two people into two persons, please understand).

Zichu was lying on the couch, looking extremely haggard. The two Queen Mothers, Zhao Ji and Mi Yu, and Cheng Jiao were crying beside them. Ying Zheng also had red eyes. He had been staying awake for several days, guarding Zichu's bedside. The friendship between father and son has been deep for more than ten years. Zichu has always done his best to treat Ying Zheng. No one is heartless. How can he not be sad that his father is about to leave?

He also had to deal with political affairs. The war had just ended and there were many things to deal with.

Zichu looked at the civil and military officials kneeling under the couch. He leaned on the couch and used all his strength, but his voice was extremely weak: "My dear ministers, my life is over. Now, I want to tell you about my affairs." As soon as Zichu said this, everyone burst into tears. Zichu stopped them quickly: "Everyone will die. Don't be sad. Listen to me."

Everyone stopped crying, and Zichu said, "My son Zheng is born extraordinary. With the blessing of God, he will surely lead the Qin Dynasty to wipe out today's shame and sweep across the world."

"After I am gone, Crown Prince Zheng will succeed me as King of Qin!"

The ministers bowed and said, "We obey your command."

Zichu reluctantly nodded slightly and looked at the two Queen Mothers. Queen Mother Huayang and Queen Mother Xia hurried forward. Zichu held the hands of the two Queen Mothers respectively and said, "Mother, my child is not virtuous enough and can no longer be filial to you. It is my child who is unfilial. Zheng'er is still young, so I will rely on you two grandmothers for support from now on."

The Queen Mother Huayang wept bitterly and nodded repeatedly. The Queen Mother Xia was heartbroken and sobbed, so she could only nod.

Zichu looked at Lü Buwei, who hurriedly knelt forward and cried, "Your Majesty, I am here."

Zichu held Lu Buwei's hand, and their hands were held together again. When Lu Buwei held Zichu's hand, he felt a pain in his heart and tears fell. The hand that was once so strong was now skin and bones, and only weakness remained.

Zichu forced a smile and said, "Lü Qing, I have known you for nearly twenty years. We have been through thick and thin together. It is also thanks to you that I was able to become the ruler of the Qin Empire. I remember that year, you promised me that you would help me build my family, and I also said that I was willing to share the world with you. Now it seems that everything has come true."

"Haha, the relationship between you and me as king and subject can be called a beautiful story for all eternity."

Lü Buwei and Zichu have known each other for nearly twenty years. They have an extremely complex and intimate relationship. Now that Zichu is seriously ill and about to die, their fates are tied together. How can Lü Buwei not be deeply saddened? Even such an eloquent man is now in tears: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am lucky to be able to follow Your Majesty all my life."

Zichu smiled again and said, "I am not virtuous and will soon pass away. I can no longer fulfill our relationship as monarch and subject. Zheng'er is young and you are so talented that I feel at ease. From now on, I will ask you to assist Zheng'er. Please, Brother Lu!"

Hearing this, Lü Buwei burst into tears, unable to contain his grief, and kowtowed repeatedly: "I will serve the prince till death, and swear to be loyal to him until death."

Zichu nodded with difficulty: "With you here, I feel at ease."

He looked at Zhong Cang again, and Zhong Cang hurriedly knelt forward.

Zichu said: "Zhongqing, you are a great talent in the world, and you are also Zheng'er's teacher. From now on, I will rely on you."

Zhong Cang's face was covered with tears. He kowtowed heavily, making a loud sound on the floor, and cried, "Your Majesty, I have shown such kindness to me that I cannot repay you even if I die. I will swear to be loyal to the Crown Prince until death!"

(End of this chapter)