Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

After figuring out the key point, Xu Qing decisively turned around and left, showing remarkable tact.

This scene surprised the guards at the entrance of Hou Sheng's residence, but they didn't say anything.

The Qin state is attacking Qi, and this is a time of great turmoil. At this time, many people want to pay their respects to the Prime Minister, some seeking protection and others seeking cooperation, but not everyone is able to meet the Prime Minister.

Especially those who failed to provide a suitable reason.

There are quite a few people who leave disappointed like this.

Their duty remains unchanged; they continue to guard this place.

But today, it seems that there are more people coming here to freeload than ever before.

Not long after, another figure arrived.

Unlike the previous figure, this was an extremely refined middle-aged man with graying temples, whose appearance bore some resemblance to the previous young man.

"Stop!"

As before, the guards at the gate still chose to stop the other party.

"How dare you! Don't you even recognize me?"

The newcomer was furious at the guards blocking his way and reprimanded them.

Upon hearing this, the guards at the door instinctively wanted to reprimand them.

Why should we get to know you?

Before they could even speak, they saw a token.

That was a token from the Prime Minister.

The words he was about to say immediately stopped, and the guards instantly stood at attention, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency!"

Although they did not recognize the person in front of them, the fact that he could produce the Prime Minister's token clearly indicated that he was an important figure trusted by the Prime Minister, and they dared not be negligent.

"Sir, please come in!"

Then someone else spoke to Xu Qing with a fawning expression.

"Arrogant at first, then obsequious; it's laughable to even think about it." Looking at these people's appearance, Xu Qing curled his lip and sneered.

These people, upon hearing this, showed no anger, acting as if they hadn't heard it at all.

Xu Qing naturally didn't need to get angry with these people.

After being intercepted earlier, he realized that if he wanted to "persuade" Hou Sheng, he would have to use his identity as Mr. Qing from back then. So, during his short time away, he changed his appearance again. Although he had left Hou Sheng's residence in the past, he still had the corresponding token.

Led by the guards at the gate, he stepped back into Hou Sheng's residence.

I haven't been here for several years, but Hou Sheng's mansion is still as prosperous as ever, which is quite different from the desolation and chaos of Linzi outside.

Naturally, his number of retainers also increased considerably.

As Xu Qing walked through, he soon encountered several retainers. These retainers were probably newcomers and did not recognize Xu Qing. They even asked him arrogantly, "Are you new to serve the Prime Minister?"

If Xu Qing agrees, they don't mind putting on airs as seniors.

However, Xu Qing was too lazy to answer their questions, and simply asked calmly, "Where is the victory in the end?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the newly arrived retainers immediately darkened, and their tone became sharp: "Insolence! How dare you address the Prime Minister by his given name! You are utterly ignorant of your own limitations!"

As they spoke, the group was about to step forward and reprimand Xu Qing, in order to establish their authority within the mansion.

The expected conflict did not occur. Just as the group was about to touch Xu Qingyi's sleeve, an old but loud voice came from under the corridor, filled with undisguised excitement and respect.

"Do not be rude to Mr. Qing!"

Everyone turned their heads at the sound and saw several elderly men in brocade robes with calm demeanor walking quickly towards them. They were the most senior retainers in Hou Sheng's household. They had followed Hou Sheng for many years and had seen a lot of the world.

At this moment, these usually composed old men were filled with excitement, their eyes fixed on Xu Qing, and their steps were somewhat unsteady.

"Mr. Qing! It really is you! You've finally returned!" The leading old retainer stepped forward quickly, bowed deeply to Xu Qing, and spoke with utmost respect.

The other old retainers followed suit, bowing in unison and calling out, "Mr. Qing!"

The new retainers, who had been so arrogant just moments before, froze on the spot, their arrogance vanishing, replaced by expressions of astonishment and fear.

Although they were newcomers, they had already heard that the person most respected by the Prime Minister was a hermit codenamed "Mr. Qing," who had once advised the Prime Minister and was deeply trusted by him. However, he suddenly left several years ago and has not been heard from since.

They never expected that the person they had looked down on and even wanted to reprimand was actually the legendary Mr. Qing!

"Get out of here at once!" The senior retainer shouted angrily at the new retainers. "How dare you disrespect Master Qing! If you displease him, I'll skin you alive!"

The new retainers trembled with fear, not daring to say another word. They quickly bowed and apologized, then slunk away without even looking back.

Xu Qing nodded slightly, gestured to the old retainers, and said in a calm tone, "I'm looking for Hou Sheng. Lead the way."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Qing, please!"

Several old retainers quickly stepped aside to lead the way, their attitude extremely respectful. Along the way, the servants and retainers in the mansion who knew Xu Qing in the past, upon hearing that Master Qing had returned, also gathered around, their expressions respectful, and they greeted him in hushed tones.

For a time, Hou Sheng's mansion became lively because of Xu Qing's arrival, which was in stark contrast to the desolation and chaos of Linzi City outside.

News of Xu Qing's return quickly reached Hou Sheng's ears.

At that time, Hou Sheng was sitting in his study, frowning at the battle report on the table. On one side was the crisis of the Qin army pressing in, on the other side were the temptations of the remnants of the various states, and on top of that, King Jian of Qi was wavering. He was so worried that he could not sit still.

Upon hearing that Mr. Qing had returned, Hou Sheng suddenly stood up. The irritation in his heart vanished instantly, leaving only ecstasy. In his panic, he didn't even have time to put on his shoes and rushed out of the study barefoot, stumbling and staggering all the way towards the direction where Xu Qing was.

"Mr. Qing! You're finally back!"

From afar, Hou Sheng saw Xu Qing surrounded by his old retainers. His voice was full of urgency and excitement. He ran up to Xu Qing, disregarding his bare feet and disheveled clothes, and tightly grasped Xu Qing's hand, his eyes even a little red. "I thought I would never see Mr. Qing again!"

This discomposure was noticed by many people in the mansion. Even the servants and new retainers who did not recognize Xu Qing finally understood how high this Mr. Qing's status was in Hou Sheng's heart.

Even the Prime Minister had to greet him barefoot, which shows how important he was.

Chapter 370 If the King of Qi refuses to surrender, then let's get rid of him!

Faced with the emotionally charged Hou Sheng, Xu Qing remained remarkably calm. He gently withdrew his hand, glanced at Hou Sheng's bare feet, and then looked at the crowd of onlookers.

Although he didn't say anything, Hou Sheng understood what Xu Qing meant.

Following Xu Qing's gaze, he also looked at the crowd around him and said in a deep voice, "You may all step back!"

"Yes!"

As a result, many of the retainers, both new and old, retired.

For a moment, only Xu Qing and Hou Sheng remained in the vast courtyard.

After everyone else had left, Hou Sheng's attitude changed. If he was excited when he learned of Xu Qing's return and went barefoot to greet him, now that no one was around, he seemed somewhat obsequious.

"Mr. Qing, do you know that the State of Qi is now on the verge of collapse? The Qin army is at the gates of the city, and the remnants of other states are stirring up trouble in the city. The King is also hesitant and indecisive. I am really desperate. You must have come back to help me this time, right?"

Hou Sheng stared intently at Xu Qing, his face full of anticipation.

It can only be said that even though Xu Qing has been away from Qi for a long time, the "illusion" he cast on Hou Sheng in the past has not been lifted and is still affecting Hou Sheng.

If there is such a thing as a white moonlight or a cinnabar mole, then Xu Qing is the white moonlight and cinnabar mole in Hou Sheng's heart.

Meeting Hou Sheng's gaze, Xu Qing nodded, not disappointing his expectations, "Indeed, I have returned to relieve your worries."

"Great, that's wonderful!"

Upon hearing this, Hou Sheng was immediately overjoyed.

"With your help, sir, I am sure I will be able to overcome this crisis!"

Since this was a courtyard, although all the idlers had been dismissed, it was still an open space, and it was inevitable that some people would hide in the dark and eavesdrop.

So Hou Sheng quickly took Xu Qing to another place to talk.

They found a secret room.

A soundproof room can prevent eavesdropping.

Inside the secret room, the candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of the two figures on the wall, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

Hou Sheng sat opposite Xu Qing, still with that slightly obsequious look. He said in a heavy tone, "Mr. Qing, to be honest, I've been driven almost crazy these days."

“These days, wave after wave of people from the five states have come to me. There are former officials of Zhao and nobles of Chu. They begged me to persuade the king to resist Qin. They even promised me that if Qi could defeat the Qin army, they would give me countless gold and silver treasures.”

As Hou Sheng spoke, a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by worry. "But I know in my heart that Qi has no ability to resist Qin at all! In recent years, Your Majesty has been focused on befriending Qin and has never trained the army. The military preparedness has become extremely lax. The border guards can't even hold their weapons properly. How could they possibly defeat the ferocious army of Qin?"

He paused, then lowered his voice even further. "What makes me even more hesitant is that after King Fuchu of Chu was captured by the Qin army and taken to Xianyang, he died not long after. Even if we surrender, wouldn't death be the only outcome for us?"

"And then there's the King. He's even more hesitant and unwilling to accept the fact that Qin has broken the alliance and attacked Qi. Back then, in order to please Qin, he personally went to Xianyang to pay homage to Ying Zheng, treating him with utmost respect and giving countless gifts. Now that Qin has suddenly changed its attitude, he simply cannot accept it. He stays indoors all day and doesn't even attend court anymore."

"Fighting means certain death; surrendering doesn't guarantee survival either." Hou Sheng looked up at Xu Qing, his face full of pain and confusion.

It can be said that Mr. Qing's return was like a ray of light, allowing Hou Sheng to find someone to confide in and seek a way out of the predicament from Mr. Qing.

Xu Qing listened quietly to Hou Sheng's story, and only after he finished did he calmly say, "The reason you are confused is simply because you are trapped by appearances and cannot see the advantages and disadvantages. I am here today to help you clear away the fog and tell you the only way to survive, which is to surrender to the Qin state."

"Surrender?" Hou Sheng was shocked and quickly shook his head. "But King Fu Chu of Chu..."

"The death of King Fuchu of Chu was an accident. Moreover, Chu did not surrender at all; they resisted to the bitter end. Ultimately, due to the fall of Shouchun, King Fuchu of Chu was taken prisoner and brought to Qin." Xu Qing interrupted him, making no mention of the fact that he himself had killed King Fuchu of Chu.

Xu Qing had not expected that Hou Sheng, who had historically persuaded King Tian Jian of Qi to surrender to Qin, would hesitate so much because of Fu Chu's death.

Therefore, he needed help to make up his mind.

“You are different from him. If you take the initiative to persuade the King of Qi to surrender and help Qin take Qi without bloodshed, it will be a great achievement. Ying Zheng would be more than happy to do so. Why would he kill you?”

Xu Qing then went on to list the many benefits of surrendering, his words striking at Hou Sheng's heart: "First, if you surrender voluntarily, Ying Zheng will surely appreciate your contributions. He will not only not harm you, but will also preserve your title and wealth, and may even give you a higher official position, allowing you to continue to enjoy wealth and honor, even more so than when you were the prime minister of Qi."

"Secondly, if you persuade the King of Qi to surrender, you can prevent Linzi from being slaughtered by the war, the people can be saved, and you can leave behind a reputation for good deeds, so that you will not be cursed by future generations."

"Thirdly, those remnants of the five states are merely using you as a pawn. They have no ability to fight against the Qin army. Once the Qin army breaches the city, they will abandon you, and you will ultimately suffer the fate of death and extermination of your clan. Only by surrendering to the Qin state can you protect yourself and your family."

"As for the King of Qi, his hesitation is just a temporary inability to accept reality," Xu Qing added. "As long as you step forward to persuade him and explain the advantages and disadvantages, he will eventually understand that surrender is the only way out. Back then, he was able to personally go to Xianyang to curry favor with Qin, which showed that he knew how to assess the situation. Now that the tide has turned, he will not risk his life and the lives of the people of Qi."

Hou Sheng sat there, his brows furrowed, carefully pondering Xu Qing's words.

Every word Xu Qing said hit him where it hurt.

He coveted wealth and honor, and valued his life even more. Resisting Qin meant certain death, but surrendering would allow him to keep everything and even gain more.

The promises made by the remnants of those five states were ultimately just illusions; only the sincerity of the Qin state was real.

Moreover, to be fair, he didn't harbor much hostility towards the Qin state.

In the years prior, he had received many benefits from the Qin state.