"Your Majesty, Qin is now strong and Zhao is weak. Qin's territory is more than twice that of Zhao. In addition, the two major granaries of Bashu and Bashu have captured Nanyang from South Korea and Chu, and Nanjun from Chu.
There is almost no food left to eat.”
"The three northern counties of our Zhao State are all bitterly cold places and face plunder by foreign tribes every year. Shangdang is occupied by the Qin State, and Taiyuan is blocked by the Taihang Mountains. We can only rely on Handan and Zhongshan to compete with the Qin State.
"
"Due to years of war, starvation and death are everywhere in both places. The people can only exchange their children to eat, and break their bones to cook. The country is in danger of being overrun with eggs, and the people are in danger of falling. This is the autumn of life and death."
"Of course, our country, Zhao State, shares the same hatred of the enemy and is united as one. In the front, there are soldiers who risk their lives and fight hard to kill the enemy. In the rear, there are nobles and ministers who sacrifice their small families for everyone. They don't hesitate to repay, donate money and food, and help Zhao State resist foreign enemies.
.This is all because I am grateful to the king for his character and kindness, and I want to repay the king. I implore the king to open the inner palace and send money and food to the soldiers on the front line to calm the morale of the army."
In the palace, Zhao Kuo stood in the center of the hall, speaking righteously and eloquently.
"All the nobles in the country have agreed to donate food to the front line?" King Zhao said in disbelief.
As the King of Zhao, he knew the character of the nobles in the country, so how could he be so easy to talk to.
"Pingyuan Lord Zhao Sheng and Shangqing Lin Xiangru are both virtuous ministers through the ages. They have persuaded most of the nobles and ministers in the country to donate food and grass to the front line. As the monarch of Zhao State, your Majesty should take the lead in donating money and food to the front line to set an example for the world.
In this way, the frontline soldiers will be more willing to sacrifice their lives, and the court ministers and nobles will be more dedicated."
"Since everyone has donated, it should be enough if I don't donate." Zhao Wangdan said hesitantly.
He was somewhat reluctant to part with the money and food in his palace.
"May I ask your Majesty, does the Kingdom of Zhao belong to you or to those nobles?" Zhao Kuo asked in a deep voice.
"Of course it's mine."
"In this case, those nobles have agreed to donate food and grass, why are you reluctant to part with it? Your Majesty, if the Kingdom of Zhao dies, the people will still be people, the generals will still be generals, and the nobles will still be nobles. They will just change a monarch. But
You are different. Do you still remember Jin Jinggong?"
Jin Jinggong was the last monarch of the Jin Dynasty. After the fall of the country, he was demoted to a commoner. Finally, he was intercepted and executed by Koreans. He did not even have a tomb after his death.
Thinking of this, Zhao Wangdan trembled all over and said quickly: "I will donate, I will donate. I will only keep a small part, and the rest will be sent to the front line. Aiqing must promise me and defeat the Qin army."
"I will definitely defeat the Qin army." Zhao Kuo said solemnly.
Not for the State of Zhao, not for the King of Zhao, but for myself.
…
"Go to Lord Duping's Mansion."
After leaving the palace, Zhao Kuo said to Ben who was driving.
The king, nobles, and ministers have all been persuaded. Le Yi and Li Mu have also returned to their posts. Lian Po is in Changping, so how can he lack the famous general Tian Dan.
Tian Dan was once a famous general of the Qi State. When Le Yi attacked Qi, he defended the Qi State of Jimo and was never breached.
After the death of King Yan Zhao, his son King Yan Hui succeeded to the throne.
King Hui of Yan had a conflict with Le Yi.
Tian Dan then sent people to Yan Xing to create a wedge, falsely calling Le Yi his name to attack Qi, but actually wanted to claim the title of king of Qi, and deliberately delayed the attack on Jimo. If Yan sent another general, Jimo would be able to attack soon.
Hmm, looks familiar, right?
That's right, it's exactly the same as the current Qin State's strategy.
What's more, the monarchs of Yan and Zhao fell into the trap.
King Yan Hui sent Qi Jie to replace Le Yi.
Zhao Wangdan also replaced Lian Po with Zhao Kuo.
History really just keeps repeating itself!
After the opponent was replaced by horsemen and robbers, Tian Dan used the Fire Ox Formation to defeat the Yan army and wrested Qi's land back from the hands of other countries.
After that, maybe he didn't even think about it himself.
He saved the Qi State, but because his reputation was too high, he was sold to the Zhao State by the King of Qi.
King Zhao exchanged three large cities and some small villages, totaling more than fifty cities, for Tian Dan, and appointed him as prime minister.
Zhao Kuo had never thought before that Tian Dan and Le Yi, old enemies, were actually ministers in the same palace.
I never expected that the seemingly weak Zhao State would be so rich in talents.
Except for the Qin State, probably no other country in the world can compare with the Zhao State in this regard.
Thanks to the late king's habit of collecting cards of famous generals.
…
Du Ping Jun's Mansion.
Tian Dan and Zhao Kuo sat opposite each other.
Tian Dan is about the same age as Le Yi, but not half old.
A resolute face and strong muscles.
The sharp eyes were like lightning flashing across the void, striking directly into the soul.
Zhao Kuo visited Le Yi before, and Le Yi gave him the impression that he was like an old farmer in the fields, without any aura of a famous general.
And Tian Dan felt like an abyss to Zhao Kuo, unfathomable.
"This is the momentum of a famous general."
Zhao Kuo looked at Tian Dan and frowned slightly.
Tian Dan was actually dressed in uniform. It was obvious that he was in the Zhao camp and was at ease with each other.
This matter is a bit difficult to handle.
"Is Ma Fuzi looking for something to do with me?" Tian Dan said coldly.
"Now that Zhao is in its most difficult time, Kuo comes to visit you because he wants to seek your help." Zhao Kuo leaned over and saluted.
"I am from Qi, and what you are talking about has nothing to do with me." Tian Dan pointed at the Qi uniform he was wearing.
"Good birds choose trees to roost in, and good ministers choose their masters to serve. In the past, Wu Zixu, Sun Wu, Shang Yang, and Wu Qi were all like this, and they all achieved great things. In order to realize his ideals, Confucius visited various countries. The King of Qi was afraid You, sold yourself to Zhao Guo. Why do you need to be persistent?" Zhao Kuo advised.
"If you win this war, you will understand how I feel." Tian Dan raised his head and looked at Zhao Kuo deeply.
Zhao Kuo was shocked, thinking of what Le Yi had said:
"Zhao Kuo, you must not become a general in the future. If you lose, you will not be able to save your life, and you will have to suffer eternal infamy. If you win, the king will be jealous, and you will not be able to save your life."
Historically, Zhao Kuo lost the Battle of Changping.
Bai Qi won.
But Bai Qi’s end...
"Wu Zixu was sentenced to death by the King of Wu. Sun Wu was disheartened and repaired books and lived in seclusion. Shang Yang was torn apart by the Qin State's chariot and his whole family was killed. Wu Qi was killed by the Chu State and was still torn apart by the chariot after his death." Tian Dan continued.
His tone was extremely calm.
Compared with these people, his fate has already been settled.
Zhao Kuo secretly resented why he only cited so few examples.
Zhao Kuo thought for a moment and then said:
"The King of Qi was afraid of you and sent you to the State of Zhao with more than fifty cities. The late king loved you so much that he made you king and appointed you as the prime minister of the country. He never treated you badly. How kindly did the late king treat you?"
"The scholars of the Zhao Kingdom did not ridicule you because you are not from Zhao. They were all very respectful when they saw you. May I ask how kindly the Zhao Kingdom treats you?
Now that Zhao State is in crisis, shouldn't you repay Zhao State and the late king?"
"The king appointed me as the commander-in-chief to resist the Qin army. Now I don't need you to lead the troops to fight. As long as you are by my side, help me correct my mistakes when I make mistakes. Aren't you even willing to do this?"
Zhao Kuo's words pierced Tian Dan's heart like a sharp arrow, causing a slight tremor in the heart of the famous general who had been buried in dust for more than ten years.
He thought of the time when King Zhao Huiwen personally went to the border of Zhao State to greet him and appointed him as Prime Minister.
Even though he stayed at home every day and ignored government affairs, King Zhao Huiwen was not angry.
He would visit me every once in a while, and he didn't get angry even if he was rejected many times.
Although he conquered three small cities for Zhao State, they were far less expensive than what Zhao State paid for him.
King Zhao Huiwen and the State of Zhao did not feel sorry for him at all. On the contrary, it was he who felt sorry for King Zhao Huiwen and the State of Zhao.
I don't know how much time passed before Tian Dan said, "If Ma Fuzi can answer my question, I will help you."
"Master Du Ping, please speak." Zhao Kuo said.
"Do you think there are more soldiers or better soldiers?"