"Foreign ministers heard that Yan's 200,000 soldiers are still in Zhao. With the strength of Zhao, it is the limit to eat 200,000 Yan's soldiers. Keeping 200,000 Qi's soldiers in the country will probably only become a
Burden." Zhou Zi reminded.
"Thank you sir for reminding me. If you can't support me, you can kill me." Zhao Kuo said calmly.
"You..." Zhou Zi suddenly choked up and started to speak in a garbled way. He quickly took a sip of tea to regain his mood.
In half his life, this was the first time that he had lost his composure like this. Other monarchs would pretend to be cruel even if they were cruel, but Zhao Kuo didn't even bother to pretend.
However, Qi State had nothing to do with him.
"King Zhao is joking. If he kills 200,000 prisoners, King Zhao may not be able to withstand the anger of the people in the world." An embarrassed smile appeared on Zhou Zi's face.
"The anger of the people of the world? Sir, are you referring to the Five Kingdoms' attack on Zhao? Then the anger of the people of the world does not seem to be a big deal." Zhao Kuo shrugged, looking completely indifferent.
"Your Majesty, don't you think about your reputation?" Zhou Zi asked.
In this era, reputation is life. When Zhao Kuo usurped the throne, some scholars would speak for him, relying on the reputation he had accumulated in the past.
"So the 200,000 soldiers are still there." Zhao Kuo waved his hand and said, "Okay, sir, don't beat around the bush. I know your purpose clearly. Whether it is to exchange for prisoners or to seek peace, the conditions are the same."
The reason why Zhou Zi insisted on exchanging prisoners instead of suing for peace was on the one hand to make Qi Guo bear some of the cost, and on the other hand it was to make Qi Guo look better. As long as he did not sue for peace, he was not defeated in name.
, which can be regarded as an explanation to the people.
Zhao Kuo doesn't care about the name or not, but he must get the benefits he wants.
"Your Majesty, you should know that it is impossible for Qi State to agree to these conditions." Zhou Zi shook his head. Zhao Kuo was just talking like a lion. No country would agree to such harsh conditions.
"In that case, please come back, sir. If Qi State doesn't agree, I will go get it myself!" Zhao Kuo stretched out his right hand, made a gesture of invitation, and said in a deep voice.
The generals on both sides stood up at the same time, staring at Zhou Zi with fierce eyes, murderous aura emanating from their bodies, and pressing towards Zhou Zi.
"Haha, may I ask your Majesty, given the current situation of Zhao State, how long can it last?" Zhou Zi said calmly, as if he didn't see it.
"Since you are here, sir, it means that the State of Zhao can last longer than the State of Qi." Zhao Kuo said calmly.
Zhou Zi had a headache, Zhao Kuo was more difficult to deal with than he thought.
He was sure that although the Zhao State seemed to be in great momentum, it could not last long at all. It would take about twenty days at most before the Zhao army would retreat.
But he knew it was useless, he was not the monarch of Qi after all... Thinking of King Jian of Qi, Zhou Zi felt a little pain.
As long as Zhao State steps up its attack, King Jian of Qi's weak character will inevitably choose to cede territory and pay compensation for peace.
It would be great if the Empress Dowager Qi was the monarch, Zhou Zi couldn't help but sigh.
After the monarch reaches adulthood, the queen mother wants to take power again, but after all, her name is somewhat unfair, and she is far from being a real monarch.
"This is not good for either Zhao or Qi," Zhou Zi said.
"My king is not hiding anything from Zhou Zi. General Lian Po has arrived with his army. In addition, this is the news that my king has just received." Zhao Kuo placed a bamboo slip in front of Zhou Zi.
Zhou Zi opened it and was shocked: "Korea and Wei have been defeated!"
"Zhou Zi guessed right. Our Zhao State's food and grass will not last long. However, as long as Linzi is captured, our army will be able to obtain a large amount of food and grass. If you were my king, what would you choose? Now do you think Qi State can continue to hold on? "?" Zhao Kuo looked at Zhou Zi with a smile.
Zhou Zi suddenly broke out in cold sweat on his forehead. The three kingdoms of Han, Wei, and Yan had been defeated by Zhao. Qin's vitality was severely damaged and it was difficult to carry out an expedition. The remaining people of Yue in Chu were still rebelling and could not support them.
If Zhao has 200,000 soldiers, with Qi's current strength, Linzi will definitely be captured by Zhao's army, and even the entire Qi will be destroyed as a result.
"Foreign Minister... Foreign Minister will go back to discuss with the Queen Mother and the King, and ask King Zhao to grant some grace." Zhou Zi leaned over and said.
"Don't worry, Zhouzi. Linzi has a high city and a deep pool. Our Zhao army won't be able to attack it for a while." Zhao Kuo did not agree to Zhouzi to stop attacking Linzi. Although Zhouzi heard it, he had nothing to do.
"Foreign minister, please retire." Zhou Zi bowed his hands, turned and walked outside.
"Pang Nuan, Yan Zhou, Li Mu, Yan Ju, Jia Yan, Yan Xiong, Le Jian, Ju Xin, Qing Qin, Rong Xiao." Zhao Kuo looked at Zhou Zi's leaving back, stood up suddenly, and said loudly.
"The end is here." The ten people stood up immediately, clasped their fists and said, their high-pitched voices rising to the sky.
Zhou Zi heard some noise outside the camp and couldn't help but stop.
"Generals, listen to the order. Each of you will lead an army of five thousand to plunder the cities and villages around Linzi. Whether it is money, food, or people. As long as they can be moved, all will be moved. When will Qi sue for peace and when will it stop? Come down." Zhao Kuo said loudly.
Zhou Zi was right, Zhao Guo could not hold out for long, and if it continued, it would only hurt both Qi and Zhao Kuo, but how could Zhao Kuo allow Qi to remain in a stalemate?
Hearing this, Zhou Zi was about to turn around and stop Zhao Kuo when Pang Nuan, Li Mu and others had already walked out of the camp and strode towards their respective military camps.
Zhou Zi sighed, not daring to stop at all, and accelerated back to Linzi.
"I pay homage to the Queen Mother, Your Majesty." When Zhou Zi saw the Queen Mother of Qi, King Jian of Qi bowed down and bowed.
"How did the discussion between Sir and Zhao Jun go?" Empress Dowager Qi asked anxiously
Zhou Zi smiled bitterly and explained Zhao Kuo's conditions.
"Zhao Guo has gone too far!" Empress Dowager Qi slapped the eucalyptus and said angrily. "Tell Zhao Guo that I will never agree to this condition."
"I have already said it, but..." Zhou Zi defeated Han and Wei, and Zhao Kuo threatened Qi. "Zhao's bottom line will definitely not be like this, but I, Qi, want to make Zhao retreat. There is a huge price to pay.”
"South Korea and Wei were also defeated." Empress Dowager Qi murmured, her face a little confused, "Is Zhao so powerful?"
Qi Wangjian glanced at Zhou Zi and felt a little unhappy in his heart. Is this what his mother called a capable minister? Nothing more than that!
My uncle was dismissed from office by his mother because of him. If he can be driven away, maybe my uncle will be able to come back, and then I won’t have to work so hard!
"If I agree with Zhou Zi to go to the State of Zhao, can the conditions of the State of Zhao be less?" Qi Wangjian said tentatively.
Zhou Zi suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart. He was stunned and looked at Qi Wangjian blankly. He had never thought that Qi Wangjian wanted to use him to exchange for peace after he worked so hard for Qi State!