Qin Dynasty: Sword Asks the Bright Moon

"Father, by capturing Gangcheng County, the Qin Army has occupied the only passage from our Yan State to the main territory of Zhao State. On the contrary, the Qin Army can attack our Yan State through this place. Now for our Yan State, it is almost the same. There is a sharp sword hanging over our heads, and we in the Yan Kingdom cannot remain indifferent." Yan Dan, who didn't know why his father was so calm, patiently explained.

In the past period of time, Yan Dan has been trying his best to persuade Yan Wangxi, hoping that Yan Wangxi can allow Zhao Jun to use the military capital to return to the three northern counties to aid. Unfortunately, no matter how Yan Dan persuades, no matter how painful Yan Dan is, Chen Zhongzhi was so powerful that no matter how Yan Dan explained the truth about the death of lips and teeth to King Xi of Yan and the important ministers of Yan State, everyone in the Yan State was not interested in Zhao Jun borrowing a way.

The relationship between Yan and Zhao has never seemed to be good, especially when Yan is asked to bear the cost of offending Qin to help Zhao, and Zhao may not be able to win, helping Zhao seems to be more important than Yan. , and the gain outweighs the loss.

As for the fact that Gangcheng County at the westernmost end of the Yanshan Mountains was directly captured by the Qin army, from the perspective of King Yan, it was nothing. It was just a not too big city hanging alone at the western end of the Yanshan Mountains. That city It may be important to the current Qin army, but it is really not important to the Yan State.

As for the Qin State using the Yanshan Pass to attack the Yan State? That is even more impossible. Not to mention that the Zhao State still exists, the Qin army is going to attack the Yan State along the Yan Mountain. The Yan State only needs to control the eastern mountain pass corresponding to Gangcheng County, and there is no need to go to the expedition area. Fighting against the Qin army, Yanshan is not easy for the Qin army to cross, but the Yan army is also a human being.

As for the cooperation between Yan and Zhao, if Yan and Zhao could really cooperate, they would have cooperated long ago. Why wait until now?

Yan Wangxi looked at his excited son and felt bored, but after all, he was his biological son and his eldest son, so amidst Yan Dan's expectations, Yan Wangxi still said: "What you said makes sense, but, Who can take back Gangcheng County from the Qin army?"

"Father, although the Qin army is strong, our Yan country does not lack brave men." Yan Dan said, his expression was as firm as ever, but it seemed that it was only the so-called firmness. As for the others?

"I asked you to talk about the candidates, not the brave men you mentioned. These words are used to deceive those below. If you even deceive yourself, you are stupid." Yan Wangxi said with a trace of patience.

This kind of stimulating words and impassioned speeches are enough to tell those below and make those people believe it. If you even believe it yourself, then that is true innocence. If Yan Jun is really that strong, he has been so strong over the years. How could he keep suffering at the hands of Zhao Guo?

In the Yan State, who could fight, Yan Dan, or Yan Yi, who was a general in the army? There is no one who can fight. What's more, the leader of the Qin army is still Yang Ming. Is that someone the Yan army can fight against? Yan Wangxi thought very clearly about the twists and turns, but Yan Dan was still too naive after all.

"Father, if we fail, we can lend the road to Zhao Jun." Yan Dan, who was choked by King Yan's words, pondered for a moment, and then talked about lending the road to Zhao Jun.

"The envoy in the prince's residence is just Li Mu's envoy, right?" King Yan asked happily.

"Yes." Yan Dan, who didn't know why Yan Wangxi asked this question, answered honestly.

"He only represents Li Mu, not the King of Zhao. Li Mu cannot represent the State of Zhao. It is still unknown what the attitude of the Zhao capital is. If we agree to Li Mu here, the Zhao capital does not want to spend too much money. If we use all the resources to rescue the three counties in the north, wouldn’t our Yan State be in a bad situation? Not only will we not be able to make Zhao Guo grateful, but we will also offend Qin State.” King Yan said happily.

"Father, how could the Zhao capital sit back and watch the three northern counties fall into the hands of the Qin army?" Yan Dan said in disbelief. His own territory was captured by the enemy, and how could he sit back and watch? How can there be such truth in the world?

"How much do you know about the situation in Zhao State?" Yan Wangxi asked.

The person who responded to King Yan's joy was Yan Dan's Nana Wuyan.

"The State of Zhao has not stopped under the Qin army's offensive in recent years. The arsenal and treasury are quite poor. The current Zhao State can barely defend the Zhao State's hinterland, but let them organize a large-scale army to go To support the northern border, especially since this is still a war where the outcome is difficult to determine, is Zhao really willing to risk his own national destiny to rescue the three northern counties?" King Yan continued to ask.

For his son, Yan Wangxi understands quite well that although Qimou can sometimes achieve unexpected results, the main plan is the foundation, and Qimou can only be used as a support, but Yan Dan obviously cannot see this. , He likes to take the wrong approach, which makes him ignore too many things.

In the midst of Yan Dan's hard thinking, in the distant Zhao capital, a scene that he could never have imagined really happened.

"Queen Mother, the northern border may be hopeless." In the palace of King Zhao, Guo Kai, the prime minister, said with a solemn expression.

"What's the reason?" Queen Mother Zhao asked with an extremely ugly face.

Her son Zhao Wangqian had just inherited the throne. If the three northern counties were lost like this, then the reputation of their mother and son in the State of Zhao would be terrible. Over the years, the territory of the State of Zhao has indeed been continuously invaded by the Qin army. captured, but there has never been a direct loss of three counties.

"The passages connecting the northern border have been completely blocked by the Qin army. If we want to rescue the three northern counties, we must reopen these passages. The price we have to pay is too great. Even if we can open the passages again and rescue the three northern counties, But at that time, could the army, which was already at the end of its strength, still be a match for the Qin Army? You know, the Qin Army was led by Yang Ming this time. Although Lord Wu An is powerful, he may not be able to capture him." Guo Kai analyzed. The pros and cons.

"If you just sit back and ignore the three counties in the north just because of difficulties, will you one day encounter something impossible and even give up the capital?" Chunping Lord Zhao Yan on the side was listening to Guo Kai's absurdity. Zhiyan couldn't bear it anymore.

"Chunping Jun, you know that these are two different things and cannot be confused." Faced with Zhao Wei's accusation, Guo Kai said calmly.

"How come it's not the same thing? There are three counties in the north, with a household registration of one million, and they are nearly a thousand miles from east to west. The ancestors of the Zhao State paid a great price to include them in the territory of the State of Zhao. Now the Qin army has just defeated them, and they are still Without occupation, will we give up? Queen Mother, I have reason to suspect that Guo Kai has accepted bribes from Qin, and he is even an undercover agent of Qin." Zhao Yi said angrily. Guo Kai's words seemed to him Outright traitor.

"Queen Mother, you know, even if I am an undercover agent of Yan State, I will definitely not be an undercover agent of Qin State." Faced with Zhao Wei's accusation, Guo Kai remained calm.

Queen Mother Zhao glanced at Guo Kai, and she still believed Guo Kai's words, because it was the destruction of Zhaojiazhuangzi and the subsequent pursuit of Yang Ming and Xue Nu. Although it came from her instructions, the specific operation process was always the same. Guo Kai is in charge. Guo Kai can be said to be the mortal enemy of Qin General Yang Ming. In the capital of Zhao, anyone can collude with Qin, but Guo Kai cannot.

Empress Dowager Zhao, who knew this, knew very well that Guo Kai might not be reliable in other matters, but in matters related to Qin, Guo Kai was still trustworthy.

"The Prime Minister's loyal family still knows, but the three northern counties are of great importance, so how can we give up so easily." Empress Dowager Zhao said, and in one sentence she had already cleared up Zhao Ji's doubts about Guo Kai.

Can't give up easily? Does that mean you can give up as long as you have good reasons? Guo Kaixin, who was keenly aware of the other meaning in Queen Mother Zhao's words, couldn't help but feel moved, and one reason after another appeared in his mind.

"Queen Mother, the difficulty of saving the three northern counties is only one of the reasons for giving up. There are more important reasons." Guo Kaidao.

"Please tell me, Prime Minister," said Empress Dowager Zhao.

"The second reason is that the Qin army still has Wang Jian and Yang Duanhe's troops attacking our country. Right now, our top priority is to repel the Qin army under Wang Jian and Yang Duanhe. We are really powerless against the three northern counties." Guo Clear the way.

"This is just a difficulty, but not a reason." Zhao Yan interjected from the side, scorning the reasons given by Guo Kai.

"There are three reasons. Giving up the three counties in the North is good for our country." Guo Kai ignored Zhao Wei's ridicule. In terms of shame, Guo Kai has always been unafraid of anyone's challenge.

"Absurd." Zhao Yan could hardly bear it at this time. There are actually benefits to giving up the three counties in the north. Is there any absurd reason in the world?

It's a pity that both Queen Mother Zhao and Guo Kai turned a blind eye to Zhao Yan at this time.

"The best of the three northern counties are all in the frontier cavalry army, and now all the best of the frontier cavalry army is in the hinterland. As a result, the value of the three northern armies will be lost by half." came over.

"Secondly, if the Qin State wants to occupy the three counties in the north, it will need to consume a lot of manpower, material resources and energy. In recent years, the Qin army has been attacking our country year after year. The purpose is to continuously consume our country's national power and not let our country have a chance to breathe. This is also The reason why the late king allowed Qin to continue to encroach on our territory in the past few years is that he made the most beneficial choice for us out of desperation, using his territory to buy time for our country to restore its national strength. "

Guo Kai talked eloquently, and for a moment, Zhao Yan felt a very reasonable feeling.

"If the Qin Army wants to capture the three counties in the North, it will take at least two or three years based on the situation of the three counties in the North. Moreover, even after the occupation, the Qin Army will not be able to digest the power of the three counties in the North in a short time. Not only will the power of the three counties of Di Di not be used by the Qin State in the short term, but the Qin State will also stock up a lot of soldiers and horses here to prepare for the threat of the wolf tribe being difficult to invade. You must know that although the wolf tribe was defeated by Wu'an ten years ago, But now ten years have passed and the wolf clan has almost recovered its strength. While the Qin army occupied the three northern counties, it also had to divide its efforts to defend the wolf clan. In this way, it weakened the Qin army's ability to use To attack our force."

Having said this, Guo Kai paused for a moment and then continued: "But our country can hoard food and grass, repair weapons, and recuperate to enhance its strength in the past few years."

"In short, only by giving up can you gain. The strength of a country does not necessarily have to be measured by the breadth of its territory. If that were the case, Chu would be the strongest in the world, so how could other countries suffer? Has Qin been harmed for a long time?" At this moment, Guo Kai seemed to have really become a man seeking the country, at least on the surface.