Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Although he was the Right Chancellor of Qin, he never considered himself a Qin person. He always identified himself as a Chu person and did everything he could to protect the Chu state.

The fact that the Qin state launched its attack on Chu without taking a break was something Lord Changping had not anticipated.

Therefore, after suppressing the rebellion in Xinzheng, he rushed back to Xianyang and volunteered to Ying Zheng, requesting to go to Huaiyang to coordinate the supply of provisions for the army that was attacking Chu.

To gain Ying Zheng's trust, he solemnly advised him: "I am well aware of the situation of the State of Chu. Its national strength is far superior to that of the three states of Han, Zhao, and Wei. Even if General Wang Jian is invincible, it would be extremely difficult to conquer Chu in a short period of time. Therefore, this war against Chu is completely different from the wars against Han, Zhao, and Wei. It is destined to be a protracted war. Although the State of Qin is strong, it has been through a series of wars. After conquering Wei, it is too hasty to launch a war against Chu. Food and supplies are the lifeblood of an army. If we want to prevent problems before they occur, the supply of food and supplies is of paramount importance."

Lord Changping knew Ying Zheng's temperament well, so he did not directly point out the drawbacks of the continuous wars. Instead, he secretly pondered that this might be the key to the survival of the Chu state.

If Qin were given several years to recuperate and fully absorb the manpower and resources of the Three Jin regions, Chu would have no power to resist.

Conversely, Qin's hasty attack on Chu without any preparation suggests that its conquest of the Three Jin states was too successful, and it intends to crush Chu in one fell swoop with overwhelming force.

This idea is good, and Wang Jian is an extremely difficult opponent. However, if Qin fails to achieve its goal and cannot quickly destroy Chu, but instead drags the war into a protracted war, then there will be another opportunity. This is because Chu has a vast territory, and the longer the war drags on, the more advantageous it will be for Chu.

The key to a protracted war lies in the supply of logistical provisions.

This is the real reason why Changping Jun took the initiative to recommend himself.

Perhaps it was because Lord Changping was very good at hiding his abilities, or perhaps it was because he had made great contributions in quelling the rebellion in Xinzheng. When faced with his self-recommendation, Ying Zheng not only had no doubts, but was quite pleased. With such a dedicated prime minister, how could he not succeed in his great cause?

In contrast, the former Right Chancellor Lü Buwei was a truly despicable and treacherous villain.

Ying Zheng finally agreed and ordered Lord Changping to be sent to Huaiyang to be responsible for preparing provisions for the army that was going to attack Chu.

Although Lord Changping was the Right Chancellor of Qin, he did not need to stay in Xianyang all the time. He had already spent many days suppressing the rebellion in Xinzheng. Letting him serve outside was also a way for him to do his best for Qin.

Huaiyang Commandery, Chenying, as the name suggests, was once the capital of the State of Chu.

But that was many years ago. Ever since Bai Qi emerged from the Qin state, the six states east of the mountains have been plunged into dire straits.

Although Bai Qi did not have the merit of destroying a country, he fought in the south and north, conquering countless cities for the Qin state, and countless people from the six states died indirectly at his hands.

It was precisely because of this deep-seated hatred that the peasants hunted down Bai Qi in the past.

Chen Ying was captured by Bai Qi's army.

Since then, this place has become a vital strategic location at the border between Qin and Chu. It was once the capital of Chu, directly radiating influence over most of Chu's territory. After being occupied by Qin, it became the forward bridgehead for Qin's invasion of Chu.

Upon arriving in Huaiyang, Lord Changping immediately replaced the local governor and took control of the military and political power of the area.

After all, although the prefect held a high position and wielded great power, he was far less influential than the Right Chancellor of Qin.

Inside Chenying City, the ruins of the old Chu palace are still faintly visible, and the banners of the Qin people flutter in the wind above the city walls, giving this former Chu capital a strong sense of Qin life.

Lord Changping sat upright in the main hall of the prefectural governor's mansion. The table was piled high with grain ration lists and transport documents submitted by various counties. His expression was solemn, and his whole being exuded an unquestionable majesty.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, the grain supplies from Chen County and Shangcai have been transported to the granaries on the outskirts of the city, totaling 400,000 shi of millet and 200,000 bundles of straw, enough to supply Wang Jian's army for twenty days. Only in the Ku County area, due to continuous rain and muddy roads, the transport of grain supplies has been hindered, and it is expected that they will arrive in five days." A Qin army officer bowed and reported, his tone tinged with apprehension. He knew that the Right Prime Minister was strict and dared not make even the slightest mistake.

Lord Changping raised his eyes, lightly tapping the table with his fingertips. His voice was calm but carried a chilling sense of oppression: "Five days is too long. Three days is the limit. Issue my order to the magistrate of Ku County to conscript laborers to repair the roads. If the provisions are not delivered by the deadline, he will be punished according to military law! General Wang Jian is leading a large army to attack Chu. Provisions are the lifeline, and there can be no delay."

"Your subordinate obeys!" The military officer bowed and replied hastily, then turned and retreated quickly, not daring to linger for even a moment.

Once everyone else was in the main hall, the solemnity on Changping Jun's face vanished instantly, replaced by a deep sense of gravity and urgency.

He got up and walked to a hidden side door at the back of the hall, raised his hand and knocked lightly four times, paused briefly, and then knocked three more times.

This was a secret code he had agreed upon with his confidants, which was extremely difficult for others to detect.

Previously, he had heavily relied on Tian Guang, and the farmers were the sharpest weapon in his hands.

But this does not mean that Tian Guang and the farmer are the only people he can use.

He was a man of great ambition and had many trusted confidants under his command; otherwise, there would have been no way he could have instigated the rebellion in Xinzheng.

A moment later, a man dressed in a coarse cloth shirt, with a wary look in his eyes, walked in, bowed and whispered, "Your Majesty, the two guests are waiting in the side hall of the old Chu palace outside the city. There are sentries all around, and no one is spying on them."

Changping-jun nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Understood, come with me."

After saying this, he took off his official robes, put on an ordinary blue cloth robe, and wore a wide-brimmed straw hat to cover most of his face. He then followed the man out of the side gate and, under the shadow of the street, quietly headed towards the Chu Old Palace outside the city.

The old Chu palace had long been abandoned, with weeds growing among the broken walls and ruins, except for the side hall which was still intact.

By the faint moonlight, two tall figures stood in the hall, their expressions solemn.

"Changping-kun!" Upon seeing Changping-kun's arrival, the two men spoke in unison, their expressions solemn.

This was not their first meeting with Lord Changping. The last time they met was in Xianyang, Qin, accompanied by their father, Xiang Yan.

That meeting was extremely dangerous. Even though Lord Changping took the initiative to contact them and express his feelings, Lord Changping was an important minister of Qin, and the meeting place was in Xianyang. Given their special status, it was very easy for them to encounter misfortune if they went there rashly.

It should be noted that King Huai of Chu met his demise in Qin.

Ultimately, their father, Xiang Yan, defied all opposition and led them to Xianyang to meet with Lord Changping.

It was after that meeting that their connection with Changping-kun became even closer.

Their identities are self-evident.

Who else could be Xiang Yan's son?

Of course, it's Xiang Chao and Xiang Liang. Perhaps Xiang Chao isn't as famous as his younger brother Xiang Liang, but that doesn't matter. His son is very famous; he is none other than the historically renowned Hegemon-King of Western Chu, Xiang Yu. Well, in this world, perhaps he should be called "Xiang Shaoyu".

"Lord Changping!" Xiang Chao stepped forward, his voice low and filled with respect and urgency. "You risked your life to invite us here. Do you know that Qin soldiers have eyes and ears everywhere here? If we are not careful, we will be doomed?"

Lord Changping entered the side hall, his gaze sweeping over the two men. His tone was grave: "I have already seen your sincerity in coming all the way from Chu. Now that Qin is attacking Chu, and Wang Jian is no ordinary man, Chu is facing a life-or-death crisis. Although I am the Prime Minister of Qin, I am still a Chu citizen. How can I sit idly by and watch my homeland perish? The reason I invited you two here today is to discuss how to secretly assist Chu in repelling the Qin army."

Chapter 331 The Decision at Changping: A Plot Against Yin and Yang

It is truly hard to imagine that such words would come from the mouth of Lord Changping, the Right Chancellor of Qin.

It is important to know that King Ying Zheng of Qin trusted Lord Changping very much.

Previously, when the Xinzheng rebellion broke out, it was Lord Changping who was sent to quell it. Now, when Qin attacked Chu, it agreed to Lord Changping's request and sent him to Huaiyang to manage the grain and supplies. This in itself shows the importance of Lord Changping in Ying Zheng's heart.

The attack on Chu was no ordinary matter. Even a slight problem with the supply of provisions could affect the battle at the front. However, Ying Zheng still entrusted this matter to Lord Changping. It can only be said that Lord Changping was very good at disguising himself in front of Ying Zheng.

No, it's not necessarily a disguise.

At the beginning, Lord Changping may have been genuinely serving the Qin state.

In cases such as the Lao Ai rebellion and Lü Buwei's dismissal from his post, Lord Changping played a significant role. In the former case, Lao Ai's rebellion not only involved his attempt to assassinate Ying Zheng in the Qinian Palace, but also a simultaneous uprising in Xianyang. The rebels sought to control the central region of Xianyang, and it was only through the valiant resistance of Lord Changping, Lord Changwen, and other relatives of the Chu state that the unrest was quelled.

That period was also the time when the relationship between the Qin and Chu states was at its best.

The two countries formed a marriage alliance, and Lady Huayang did not die. Because of Lady Huayang, the Chu foreign relatives held a very high position in Qin. This can be seen from the fact that Ying Zheng's father, Ying Yiren, changed his name to Zichu in order to please Lady Huayang.

Lord Changping's initial dream was to maintain the friendship between the Qin and Chu states and let it continue.

At least, after the birth of his eldest son, Fusu, he still harbored this delusion.

The eldest son, Fusu, was the child of Ying Zheng, who married a princess of Chu under the auspices of Empress Dowager Huayang. It is worth mentioning that Lord Changping was himself a descendant of the King of Chu, so the identity of the Chu princess was self-evident. She was Lord Changping's half-sister. Even though he had never met his sister before she was married off to Qin, he could not sever the blood ties. Therefore, after Fusu was born, he, as Fusu's uncle, loved him exceptionally well.

It can be said that Changping Jun's ultimate goal was actually related to Fusu.

He did so much to preserve the State of Chu, but that doesn't mean he intended to destroy the State of Qin.

If possible, he would prefer to see someone with Chu blood become the King of Qin, and then the two countries of Qin and Chu would live in peace forever.

The world is vast; there's no need for only one country to exist. It can easily accommodate two countries.

All I can say is that Changping Jun's idea is somewhat naive.

Therefore, this naiveté was quickly shattered after Ying Zheng revealed his ambition to destroy the six states and unify the world.

Changping Jun had to face a reality.

Unable to stop Ying Zheng's ambition, he could only plot in secret in order to preserve the Chu state.

During this period, he even considered manipulating the State of Yan to assassinate Ying Zheng. If Ying Zheng died, the State of Yan would become the scapegoat, and Fusu would be able to succeed to the throne, which could be described as killing two birds with one stone.

The result, of course, was failure.

Not only did the State of Yan suffer retaliation from the State of Qin afterward, but the Black Glove Farmers, which he used to carry out his work, also suffered a change, making it impossible for him to control the Farmers in the slightest. This meant that all his previous investments over the years had gone down the drain.

Therefore, there are times when Changping Jun really can't understand it.

He believed he hadn't done anything wrong.

But why do accidents keep happening?

All I can say is that he wasn't very lucky.

Even so, he did not give up.

Even as Qin attacked Chu, he still did not abandon his obsession.

"I have a plan that, if executed properly, might preserve the State of Chu while severely weakening the State of Qin, leaving it unable to attack Chu for several years..." After expressing his determination to the Xiang brothers, Xiang Chao and Xiang Liang, Lord Changping then shared his thoughts.

After all, he had taken the initiative to invite these two people here for a meeting, and they had risked their lives to come. He had already seen their sincerity, and now it was time for him to show his own sincerity.

"Please explain further, Your Majesty..."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Liang immediately spoke, his words filled with urgency.

Now, Qin is attacking Chu, and Chu is in imminent danger.

Their father, Xiang Yan, was the commander-in-chief of the four major armies of Chu. As his sons, they should have accompanied him in battle. However, because of a secret letter from Lord Changping, the two brothers risked their lives to come to Huaiyang.

What is the request?

It's just that the battle at the front is going badly, and they hope to get help from Lord Changping!

Changping Jun did not disappoint them; upon meeting them, he directly expressed his feelings.

Lord Changping spoke in a deep voice: "This time, Wang Jian is leading an army of 300,000 to attack Chu. The amount of grain he consumes every day is terrifying... I volunteered to come to Huaiyang to coordinate the grain supply for him, all in order to wait for an opportunity..."

Historically, Wang Jian led an army of 600,000 to attack Chu.

At that time, it was because Li Xin's attack on Chu failed, and he lost all 200,000 troops to Chu that Ying Zheng personally went to Pinyang to ask Wang Jian to come out of seclusion and use all the strength of Qin to gather an army of 600,000 to attack Chu.

In this world, because the conquest of Wei was too smooth, and because Xu Qing had told Ying Zheng about the world beyond the Central Plains when they met, Ying Zheng became even more eager to destroy the six states. Since the conquest of Wei did not consume too much food and supplies, after the fall of Wei, he directly ordered Wang Jian to attack Chu.

As for the claim that the Wang family father and son's achievements overshadowed the emperor?

After Ying Zheng learned about the wider world, his mind became more open.

He believed he could still tolerate those who had contributed to his cause.

In comparison, the most important thing was to destroy the six kingdoms and unify the world.

Naturally, because the campaign against Chu was brought forward, and Lord Changping was suppressing a rebellion in Xinzheng at the time, without his encouragement, there was no reason for Ying Zheng to summon Li Xin and Wang Jian to the palace to ask for advice, and Li Xin was confident that the 200,000-strong army could destroy Chu.

From the very beginning, Wang Jian became the main general in the attack on Chu, but due to a series of chain reactions, the number of troops under his command was greatly reduced.

It wasn't 600,000, but it was more than 200,000, exactly 300,000 troops.