bestfiction Chapter 484 The Panicked Nobles of Six Nations 7
Chapter 484 The Panicked Nobles of Six Nations 7
Linzi, the capital of the State of Qi, was a bustling and prosperous place, but deep within the palace, King Jian of Qi continued to live a secluded life. He spent his days indulging in fine wine and the company of beautiful women, ignoring all matters of state.
Meanwhile, in the secret chamber of Prime Minister Hou Sheng, a clandestine banquet was underway. Hou Sheng sat opposite the Qin envoy, the table laden with delicacies and fine wine. The two chatted and laughed, the atmosphere harmonious.
The Qin envoy smiled, raised his wine cup to Hou Sheng, and said, "King Qi, just enjoy yourself. As long as Qi does not interfere with our Qin's great cause of unification, King Qi can still be a peaceful prince and continue to enjoy wealth and honor after Qin unifies the world."
Upon hearing this, Hou Sheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly raised his cup in response, saying, "Of course, my Qi state will certainly maintain friendly relations with Great Qin and will never interfere in your country's affairs."
While they were raising their cups in celebration, a different scene unfolded on the battlefield of the Dai state. The Dai army was suffering repeated defeats under the fierce attacks of the Qin army, especially the newly developed thunderbolts of Qin, which caused huge casualties to the Dai army.
In just one day, the resistance of the Dai state crumbled rapidly. The Qin army surged into the city like a tidal wave.
King Jia of Dai, gripping his blood-stained sword, retreated to the city wall. The setting sun stained the Qin banner crimson. As the cold chains tightened around his neck, gazing at the high-flying Qin flag, King Jia's eyes filled with regret and resentment. He muttered to himself, "If only I had known this would happen, I should have formed a full-fledged alliance with the King of Wei. Perhaps there would still be a glimmer of hope..." However, it was now too late for him to change anything; he could only watch helplessly as his country was annexed by Qin.
In the Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng sat upright at his desk, intently reviewing a mountain of memorials. Suddenly, a servant rushed into the hall, kneeling and presenting a report of victory. Ying Zheng accepted the report expressionlessly, unfolded it, and a barely perceptible smile immediately appeared on his face.
He slowly put down the bamboo slips in his hand, stood up, and walked to the window. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his tall and majestic figure. Ying Zheng gazed silently at the distant sky, as if he could see the entire world through the endless firmament.
A slight upturn at the corners of his mouth revealed a cold smile. This smile concealed both his burning ambition to unify the world and his contempt and disdain for the fate of the six states.
"The state of Dai has been destroyed, and the six states are shaken." Ying Zheng murmured to himself. Although his voice was not loud, it echoed in the empty palace, carrying a chilling majesty.
He turned around, returned to his desk, picked up the report of victory again, and began to read it carefully. Every word was like a dancing flame, burning in his eyes and igniting an even more fervent desire within him.
Meanwhile, atop the city wall of Daliang, King Jia of Wei stood against the wind, his cloak fluttering as if telling the story of the nation's fate. He bent down and picked up a bronze arrowhead from a crack in the city bricks; the arrowhead was rusted, yet still sharp.
King Wei stared at the arrow in his hand, his thoughts drifting away. This was a relic left behind from the Battle of Guiling twenty years ago. In that brutal war, the State of Wei suffered heavy losses and never recovered.
As dusk washed over the moat like a tide, the once shimmering waters of the city were now completely dry, the exposed riverbed littered with countless white bones—the remains of countless fallen soldiers, a testament to the former glory of the Wei Kingdom.
Now the State of Wei is in dire straits, and how should he, as the ruler of Wei, face this cruel reality?
At midnight, all was quiet. The brocade quilt on the dragon-patterned couch had slipped off without anyone noticing. King Wei Jia was completely unaware, his gaze fixed on the faded coffered ceiling, as if he could see something through the layers of patterns.
Just then, the old eunuch staggered in, his steps unsteady, as if he had been frightened by something. King Wei, hearing the sound, slowly turned his head, still holding the sharp dagger in his hand. He was using the dagger to trim his nails, the shavings falling softly onto the military report on the table like snowflakes.
"The Prince of Dai... committed suicide..." The old eunuch's voice trembled slightly. Before he could finish speaking, Prince Wei abruptly stood up, the pearl on his jade crown rolling off and shattering into glittering dust on the blue bricks. He staggered, grabbing a pillar for support, the image of his father, Prince Wei Jingmin, on his deathbed flashing before his eyes. The old man's withered fingers gripped his sleeve tightly: "Preserve the ancestral legacy..."
The sound of the night watchman's clapper came from outside the window; it was the third watch of the night. King Wei dismissed the palace servants and walked alone towards the empty main hall. The twelve golden pillars with coiled dragons still stood majestically, but the scene of ministers paying homage was long gone. A thin layer of dust covered the steps beneath his feet, and he suddenly remembered when he was ten years old, his grandfather had taken him here to witness a ceremony. The bronze chimes played the "Da Hu," and amidst the resounding bells and feasts, the State of Wei was still the hegemon of the world.
King Jia of Wei sat motionless all night, like a statue, staring at the direction of Xianyang City. His gaze was empty and dull, as if he had lost his soul.
"Your Majesty, it's time for court." The young eunuch approached King Wei Jia tremblingly and whispered. However, King Wei Jia seemed not to hear him, still lost in his own thoughts.
Seeing this, the young eunuch became even more terrified. He hesitated for a moment, but still mustered his courage and called out again, "Your Majesty, it's time for court."
This time, King Wei Jia slowly turned his head, his eyes cold and distant, which made the young eunuch shiver.
"Step down." King Wei's voice was low and hoarse, as if suppressing endless pain and helplessness.
The young eunuch felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly turned to leave, fearing that staying any longer would anger King Wei.
King Wei gazed at the flickering candlelight in the young eunuch's hand, his thoughts drifting away. He suddenly thought of Wei Ji, his son who had been sent to Xianyang as a hostage. By now, Wei Ji should have adapted to life at the academy!
The scene before Wei Ji's departure flashed through King Wei Jia's mind. At that time, Wei Ji gripped the sword hilt tightly, his hand trembling slightly, but he looked up and laughed, "Five years later, when I return after completing my studies, I will surely make the Great Wei rise again."
Thinking of this, King Jia of Wei felt a complex mix of emotions, including longing for his son and worry about the future of the Great Wei.
As the eastern sky gradually turned a pale white, the morning light streamed through the window and fell upon King Jia of Wei. He finally slowly picked up his writing brush and spread the bamboo slips out on the table.
Ink dripped onto the bamboo slips, forming dark red dots, like the flowing blood of the Great Wei. King Wei's hand trembled slightly. He recalled the blood oath of the six states during Su Qin's alliance, and Lord Xinling's heroic act of stealing the tally to rescue Zhao. But now…
The pen tip pierced the bamboo strip heavily, and drops of bright red blood seeped into the characters "ceding the three counties of Hedong," as if the wounds of the Great Wei were bleeding.