As the Qin army was defeated and fled, the Zhao army successfully captured Xianyang and occupied the Qin capital.
At this time, Xianyang City no longer had the prosperity of the past. The rows of houses were only ruins, and the people coming and going on the streets turned into a torrential flood.
Countless houses were washed away, and homeless people stood on the roadside, looking at Zhao Jun in fear, not daring to make any sound, for fear that Zhao Jun would kill them all if he was unhappy.
The old people collapsed in the mud. The long-term heat, humidity, hunger, and mental torture made many old people fall ill.
They don't have money for medical treatment, so they can only resign themselves to fate.
"Lian Po!" Zhao Kuo said in a deep voice.
"The final general is here." Lian Po took a step forward and said with cupped fists.
"Take people immediately to block the Jingshui embankment to prevent floods from flooding Xianyang." Zhao Kuo said.
"General, let's go now." Lian Po said, leading his Xuanjia army towards the gap in Jingshui River.
"Lecheng." Zhao Kuo nodded again, "Immediately lead people to dredge the river between Xianyang and the Wei River and release the flood as soon as possible."
"Nuo." Le Cheng also took people away.
"Feng Quji, Huang Shigong, you lead the doctors to treat all the sick people in the city, regardless of age." Zhao Kuo said.
"Nuo." Feng Quji and Huang Shigong said.
"Li Si, Han Fei, you organize some people to work for relief and build damaged places in Xianyang and houses destroyed by floods." Zhao Kuo said.
"No." Li Si, Han Fei said.
"Your Majesty, do you want to..." Xunzi looked at Zhao Kuo in surprise.
"Yes, since Xianyang has been captured by the few, there is no need to return it to the Qin State. Since it belongs to our Zhao State, it is natural to rebuild it properly." Zhao Kuo said matter-of-factly.
Guanzhong, with Xianyang as its center, is one of the few places that can rival the Central Plains. Zhao had no chance before, but now that it has conquered Xianyang, how could it possibly give up the fat on its lips?
"Your Majesty, King Qin..." Meng Wu couldn't help but say.
"No rush, let him hide for a few days." Zhao Kuo said nonchalantly. In the current situation of Qin, even Qin Wangji would be unable to save his life, let alone Qin Wangzhu.
If he wanted to organize his forces to compete with Zhao Jun, he could only stand up openly, and he could not hide forever.
"Your Majesty, we have captured several young masters and grandsons of the Qin Kingdom, as well as several concubines of the King of Qin. However, the prince and queen of the Qin Kingdom have all run away with the King of Qin." Li Mu reported.
"Lock them all up. Don't run away or die. It will be useful when negotiating with Qin later." Zhao Kuo said.
He did not expect that this battle would destroy the Qin State. Although the main force of the Qin State was gone, the people's support was still there. Qin Wangzhu could raise tens of thousands of troops to compete with the Zhao State at any time.
The State of Zhao has been fighting for more than a year. The treasury has been wiped out, and the soldiers are waiting to go home. If the war continues, the State of Zhao will be injured.
The gain outweighs the loss.
Secondly, Zhao State does not have so many people and cannot occupy such a large territory. It will also arouse the covetousness and targeting of the other four countries.
Instead of doing this, it is better to keep the half-dead Qin State and wait until Zhao can free up manpower before annexing it.
Three days later, Zhao Kuo received news that Qin Wangzhu and some of the remaining troops fled to Jingyang.
Just as he was preparing to lead his troops northward, Qin sent an envoy.
"Mr. Zhongzhong, long time no see." Zhao Kuo said with a smile.
The envoy sent by the State of Qin this time was from the middle period of the last time.
"The foreign minister pays homage to King Zhao." He bowed helplessly in the middle and saluted. He really didn't want to see Zhao Kuo, but Lu Buwei was not in Qin State, and Fan Ju had to take charge of the overall situation. Lou Huan, Shou Zhu and others were too old, so only
He is fit for mission.
"Give the envoy of Qin a seat." Zhao Kuo waved his hand and said.
"The foreign minister came this time...to represent the State of Qin to ask for peace from King Zhao." This time in the middle period, it was very direct. There was no roundabout like last time. He didn't even say 'talk about peace', but directly said 'ask for peace.'
The last mission made him know that his schemes were of no use in front of Zhao Kuo. The only thing that could convince Zhao Kuo was interests.
"Yes." Zhao Kuo nodded and signaled the Qin envoy to continue.
"We, the State of Qin, are willing to surrender to the State of Zhao, and send the prince to the State of Zhao as a hostage, cede Shangjun to the State of Zhao, and give Shaoliang City to the King of Zhao as Tang Muyi." Zhong said through gritted teeth.
"Not enough." Zhao Kuo said calmly.
Except for Shangjun, Shaoliang City barely meets half of the requirements.
The first two conditions were of no use in Zhao Kuo's view. Zhao Kuo's purpose was not to strive for hegemony, but to unify, and becoming a vassal had no appeal to him at all.
As for protons, it's even more ridiculous. Protons from other countries may be of some use, but Qin's protons are useless.
At that time, the prince of Qin was held as a hostage in the state of Wei, but it did not affect the state of Qin in killing 150,000 Wei troops.
Qin's king and grandson were held hostage in Zhao, which did not affect Qin's launch of the Changping War.
In the face of national strategy, all sons and grandsons are political victims.
"Plus Longxi..." Zhong Zhong said in a deep voice.
"Longxi doesn't need to be troubled by Qin. I, Zhao, have already conquered it." Zhao Kuo said, if Longxi had not been conquered, he would still be tempted.
Now, the Qin State is ceding the land that the Zhao State has already occupied to the Zhao State. Do you really think that he is one of those pedantic people? Fighting for a little face?
"Plus Zhangye County." Zhong said.
Longxi has been captured by the State of Zhao, and Zhangye will belong to the State of Zhao sooner or later. With the current strength of the State of Qin, it is impossible to keep it, so it is better to give it to Zhao State as a bargaining chip.
"Zhangye County can do it, but... it's not enough." Zhao Kuo said.
"This is all the price our country of Qin can pay." Zhong said in a deep voice.
He was not lying. In addition to the above territories, Qin State only had two areas left in Guanzhong and Bashu. Bashu was far away from Zhao State. Even if Qin State was willing, Zhao State would not be willing.
Guanzhong is the foundation of Qin State. No matter what, Qin State cannot give Guanzhong to Zhao State.
"In this case, I, the State of Zhao, will take it based on our strength." Zhao Kuo said nonchalantly.
"Although our Qin State was defeated in this battle, I'm afraid Zhao State will not feel comfortable. King Zhao is so determined to go his own way, is he not afraid of Chu State and South Korea and Wei? Or does King Zhao think that Wei State and South Korea will never betray Zhao State?
." Zhong said.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Hehehe. Qin envoy can give it a try. Is it Zhao who cannot hold on first, or Qin who cannot hold on first. As for the relationship between Zhao, Wei and Han, it is not you.
Can provoke." Zhao Kuo said with a smile.
Of course he does not believe in the loyalty of Wei and South Korea to Zhao, but even if Wei and South Korea really attack Zhao, they must have this ability.
The State of Zhao went through a war for more than a year, and the State of Wei and South Korea experienced a war that lasted several months longer than the State of Zhao. The country was already empty, and where was the food and grass to fight the war?
"Please also ask the King of Zhao to speak frankly about the price our Qin State needs to pay before Zhao State is willing to withdraw its troops." After a while, Zhongzhong finally spoke.
"First, the Qin State ceded Xianyang and its surrounding 23 cities, all the land east of the Jing River, and Zhangye County to our Zhao State. Second, the Qin State opened all the border passes and cities to the Zhao State and allowed the Zhao State to
The Chamber of Commerce in and out of the Qin State's border is exempt from customs duties for Zhao State's Chamber of Commerce. Third, the people of our Zhao State died because of the Qin State. I asked the King of Qin to issue a criminal edict and went to the tomb to worship the deceased of the Zhao State. Fourth, the Qin State
Compensate our Zhao country with five million stones of grain and fifty thousand pieces of Shu brocade." Zhao Kuo said one by one.
"This is impossible!" Zhong stood up suddenly and looked at Zhao Kuo angrily.
In the past, asking for peace was at most a matter of bloodletting. Zhao Kuo was directly seeking Qin's life. If he agreed to Zhao Kuo's conditions, what would be the difference between Qin and subjugation?
What's more, five million stones of grain and 50,000 pieces of Shu brocade, even if the entire Qin State was drained, they would not be able to get so much.
Le Yi and others also looked at Zhao Kuo in shock. Zhao Kuo had never discussed these conditions with them before. They had no idea that Zhao Kuo was so open-minded.
"It's impossible. The envoy of Qin's decision doesn't count, but the King of Qin's. It's better for the envoy of Qin to go back and ask the King of Qin." Zhao Kuo said calmly. He didn't expect to settle the matter in one go.
"Foreign Minister...resign." Zhong took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, stood up and resigned.
"I will wait for you for three days." Zhao Kuo said to Zhong Zhong's back.
In the middle, I was shocked all over and continued walking outside.
After Zhong Zhong left, all eyes focused on Zhao Kuo.
"I'm afraid Qin will not agree to the king's conditions." Xunzi said with a bitter smile. Zhao Kuo's request was too harsh. After this battle, Qin had only changed from a first-rate power to a second-rate country. Zhao Kuo suddenly let Qin
If you fall directly into a third-rate country, you will have to pay off the debt to Zhao in the next few years.
"I will make Qin agree." Zhao Kuo said with a smile, "Li Mu."
"The general is here." Li Mu walked to the center of the camp, clasped his fists and said.
"Lead 50,000 troops north and surround Jingyang, but do not attack." Zhao Kuo said.
"No." Li Mu received the military order and strode outside.
"Didn't the king say... wait for Qin for three days?" Xunzi was dumbfounded.
"Didn't I tell Li Mu not to attack Qin for three days?" Zhao Kuo said confidently.
Touman looked at Zhao Kuo excitedly. He learned another move today.
…
"Sir is back." Qin Wangzhu looked at the middle period expectantly, hoping that the other party could bring him good news.
"Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my duty." Zhongzhong knelt on the ground and didn't know how to speak. The conditions proposed by Zhao Kuo were impossible for any Qin country to agree to, let alone four.
"King Zhao refuses to negotiate peace?" Upon hearing this, King Qin Zhu's face turned ashen.
"King Zhao put forward new conditions." Zhong Zhong said.
"What conditions?" Qin Wangzhu's eyes lit up, as long as there are conditions, it means there is still hope for negotiation.
After telling Zhao Kuo's conditions in the middle period, Qin Wangzhu became furious, kicked the desk away, drew his sword and slashed it at the shelf behind, roaring: "Zhao Kuo, you are bullying me too much!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please calm down." Fan Ju and others quickly grabbed Qin Wangzhu.
"Let me cede half of the country, and then make me punish myself and worship those untouchables. This is simply too much!" Qin Wangzhu's eyes were burning with anger, and the veins on his forehead popped out, like a furious lion.
In all these years, no one has ever humiliated him like this.
"Father, even if you agree to the conditions of Zhao State, you are just lingering. I, the descendants of Qin State, are never afraid of death. At worst, we will be defeated by Zhao State. I am willing to be a pioneer." Zi Chu walked to Qin Wangzhu and solemnly said
said.
When he was held hostage by the State of Zhao, he never thought that the situation would change so quickly, and that he would have the opportunity to return to the State of Qin and become an heir or even a prince.
I never thought that the prosperous Qin State would decline so quickly, and that Zhao State would defeat Qin State, replace Qin State, and become the overlord of the world.
Fan Ju also regretted it extremely. If he had known that things would turn out like this, he would not have used counterintuitive tactics to ask King Zhao to change the coach from Lian Po to Zhao Kuo.
"Your Majesty, Prince, no." At this time, a voice came from afar.
Seeing the person coming, Qin Wangzhu and Zichu's eyes lit up, "Young Master!"
"Your Majesty, Prince. I have left the green mountains there, so I don't have to worry about having no firewood. In the past, Yan was destroyed by Qi, but it was still able to recover. Qi only had two cities left, but it was able to retreat from Yan. As long as we, Qin, are still there,
If the king and the prince are still there, they can always wait for the opportunity. If the king and the prince are gone and the Qin Kingdom is destroyed, then there will really be no hope." Lu Buwei said quickly. He still doesn't know what happened, but he
Zi Chu’s desperate thoughts must be dispelled.
The State of Qin cannot compete with the State of Zhao. Maybe it can bite off a piece of meat from Zhao State before it dies, but it will cost the entire State of Qin!
"What did Chu say? Can you save Qin?" Qin Wangzhu grabbed Zi Chu and asked anxiously.
"The State of Chu does not want to directly conflict with the State of Zhao." Lu Buwei shook his head. After receiving the message, he immediately went to ask the King of Chu, but the King of Chu refused on the grounds that the army was on the front line and there was insufficient strength.
Chu and Zhao are not bordering each other. If you want to encircle Zhao and save Qin, you can only cross Wei. However, Wei and Chu are at war at this time, and Wei cannot agree.
Moreover, if the Chu State attacks the Zhao State, it will directly offend the three kingdoms of Zhao, Wei and Han, as well as the Qi State, which it defeated before.
If the four countries were put together, Chu would not be able to bear it.
How the Qin State was pinned to the ground and beaten by the Four Kingdoms was clearly seen by the Chu State from the side.
Even if the Chu State wanted to save the Qin State, it would be impossible for them to do so.
Seeing that there was no hope of persuading the Chu State, Lu Buwei rushed back to the Qin State without stopping. When he entered Guanzhong, he received the news that Xianyang had been captured. He then inquired all the way until Qin Wangzhu issued a notice calling everyone in the Qin State to resist Zhao, and then he found him.
.
"Since Chu State does not keep its promise, then the seven counties of Badong..." Qin Wangzhu said in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, our Qin State has become an enemy of the Zhao State and we cannot offend the Chu State again." Lu Buwei said quickly.
"Can I just wait to die like this?" Qin Wangzhu said through gritted teeth.
"Please tell the prince about the current situation." Lu Buwei leaned over and said.
Zi Chu recounted what happened during this period, including the conditions proposed by Zhao Kuo when he just sued for peace.
"King Zhao has a huge appetite. He only annexed the Yan Kingdom last year, and this year he wants to annex half of the Qin Kingdom. He is not afraid of dying." After hearing this, Lu Buwei's face was gloomy, but he felt extremely powerless.
Between countries, strength is fundamental.
Now Zhao is strong and Qin is weak. No matter how arrogant Zhao is, Qin is powerless.