Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 139 Unkind [First update, please subscribe]

When King Zhou Nan passed away, only six people cared about this matter, but they were not sad for the death of King Zhou Nan.

Instead, they were planning something else.

Divide the last territory of Bangzhou and eliminate this "small country" that can stand above all kings in terms of "righteousness".

Yes.

For the current countries, Zhou Zao has become a small country that they don't even want to take a look at.

of course

And the most important point.

After obtaining the "Jiuding" in the hands of Emperor Zhou, the disputes between the countries, starting from the time when Jiuding was divided up, have turned into a war of "righteousness" and "name".

Whoever can gather the "Nine Cauldrons" may be able to obtain the last piece of the puzzle.

This is not to say that "Jiuding" can enhance national power. Its representative significance is actually stronger, symbolizing the destination of "mandate of destiny".

In this era, people still believe very much in the matter of "destiny", especially the meaning it represents.

The more talented a person is, the more he believes in destiny.

As a result, a vigorous war broke out again.

Qin, Zhao, Wei, Yan, and the Four Kingdoms all participated in this battle. A few days ago, these four countries, which were so good at dividing the three kingdoms together, suddenly started fighting together for their own interests.

The remaining three countries are watching this excitement.

After experiencing the previous wars, these three countries have been severely damaged, and they only want to restore their own strength to resist those who intend to subjugate them.

The war did not last long.

The first to be eliminated was Wei. Although the king of Wei had great ambitions, he had suffered too many losses in the previous war. Wei was no better than the other three countries.

Yan State has Le Yi, Zhao State has Lian Po, and Qin State has Sima Cuo, Ying Ji, Chen Zhan, Bai Qi and other generals.

The victory of the war undoubtedly fell on Qin. Even in the later stages of the war, Yan and Zhao united, and Le Yi and Lian Po joined forces.

King Qin got the third "Nine Cauldrons".

Historians from all over the world are lamenting that this is the destiny of the Qin State, and the destiny of the Qin State started from Shang Yang and reached its peak during the reign of Chen Ye. This was brought about by Shang Jun and the Chen family. Destiny!

When this rumor emerged, Chen Shen's first reaction was not excitement, but nervousness and emotion.

The day has finally arrived.

Although the speeches of the historians were free, it was another person who indulged them, the person sitting tall on the throne.

Ying Ji.

Wen'an Junfu

Everyone in the second generation of the Chen family gathered at Wen'an Jun's Mansion because they were all aware of the surging situation in the country.

Chen An was half lying on the ground, with a calm and casual expression on his face, and even yawned.

Chen Shen sat there, looking at his brothers sitting in the hall, the expression on his face became more solemn: "The king's suspicion of the Chen family has become more serious."

Chen Zhan smiled lightly and simply said: "It's not suspicion, it's precaution."

He put down the cup in his hand and sighed softly: "But this cannot be blamed on the king. The Chen family has too much power and has controlled Qin for too long."

"Since my father's time, Chen has gone through three kings."

"So far, there is no aristocratic force in Qin that can compare with the Chen family. The Chen family has become the kind of "old noble" that Qin Law killed back then. And you and I, brothers, occupy the top of this country. Location."

Chen Zhan said mockingly: "Three Masters and Three Masters, look at their high reputations."

"But to be more careful, you are the leader of the hundred officials, and I am the leader of the generals. Even the fourth brother has the title of "Master of the King of Qin"."

He pointed at Chen An, who was half lying there, extremely lazy, and said: "Even the third brother, the king gave him a position as a minister, allowing him to live freely for so many years."

"Except for the second brother, which of the second generation of the Chen family has been missed by the king?"

Chen An curled his lips: "Fifth brother, that's what you said."

"Third Brother, I'm not bad, am I? Why is it so wrong to fall into your mouth and give Third Brother a place for me?"

Chen Zhan glanced at Chen An and said, "Third brother, the most valuable thing about a person is that he knows himself."

"Hope you understand that."

Chen Shen waved his hand and sighed: "The things we planned before must be accelerated."

There was a deep look in his eyes, and his voice was slightly hoarse: "We have to complete that matter before it happens, so that we can completely preserve the Chen family."

"This is what we must do."

"Father gave the Chen family name into our hands, not to change it according to the king's suspicion."

Chen Shen closed his eyes silently and stroked the jade pendant around his waist.

At this time, Chen Shou spoke, his voice was also hoarse, and his face looked a little tired and confused.

Ying Ji was his disciple, a disciple on whom he had placed many feelings.

The people in front of him are his brothers, and the land under his feet is his home. Now his home, his family, and his disciples are fighting.

He didn't know what to do for a moment.

"Brother, don't we have any other options?"

"Isn't there a chance that things will turn around?"

Chen Shen hesitated slightly and said after a moment: "Maybe."

He cheered up and smiled: "Maybe things are not as bad as we thought? If that is the case, we will continue to stay here. If things cannot be done, we will just return to the fiefdom."

The fiefdoms of this era were still different from those of later generations.

The "fiefdom" of a "lord" is sacred and inviolable. Unless you want to break up with this "lord", even the king cannot enter other people's fiefdom at will.

A fiefdom is equivalent to a small country.

The most critical difference between this and some powerful families in later generations is that the feudal king has a high degree of independence and "justice".

Chen Zhan looked at Chen Shen and said, "Speaking of which, is the second brother okay in the fiefdom?"

When the two of them were granted the title of marquis or king for their military merits, they did not choose a new fiefdom, but requested that their fiefdom be connected to that of their father.

Many years ago, their second brother, Chen Ye's second child, requested to return to the fiefdom.

The fiefdom cannot be without the Chen family, but the Chen family did not have many "owners" who could govern it at that time.

The five brothers drew lots to go there, but Chen Ye's second child "Chen Jing" took the initiative to express his willingness to leave the bustling Xianyang City and go to the "Guandu" fiefdom.

Now, it has been more than ten years.

Chen Shen shook his head slightly and sighed: "You still don't know the second brother's temperament? Compare it with the third brother's."

"It's just that the second brother has a bit of "quiet and peaceful" in his temperament. He has managed the fiefdom very well over the years. Even if we leave the power vortex of Xianyang City, we can continue to develop well in the fiefdom."

He looked at Chen Shou, who had been silent, and comforted him again: "What's more, even if the Chen family wants to leave Xianyang City and leave this whirlpool of power, not everyone has to leave."

"Why are you so worried?"

Chen Shen made a decision in his heart: "If you stay away from the center of power for too long, the Chen family will be gradually forgotten by the Qin State." "At that time, the Chen family will gradually decline."

"So the Chen family still needs someone to stay in the court, and this person must be able to represent the Chen family and have a good relationship with the king. Only in this way will the king not deepen his doubts about the Chen family."

Chen Shou hesitated: "Brother, you don't have to think so much because of me."

His expression gradually became firm: "If I had to choose between a family and a disciple, I would definitely choose the family."

"I'm not nostalgic for the wealth of Xianyang City."

Chen Shou looked around at the people sitting here and said softly: "My talents are not as good as those of my eldest brother and fifth brother, and my personality is not as good as that of my second brother and third brother, but I still have a firm belief."

“If it can’t be done, there is no need to do it.”

"I still have this determination."

Chen Shen was a little moved when he heard Chen Shou's words. Chen Shou had always been the silent one at home, and because of his young age, he was cared for by many brothers. Even the youngest Chen Zhan looked older than Chen Shou due to his personality. He is "big" and has a much calmer personality than Chen Shou.

Now, listening to Chen Shou's words, everyone felt as if "my son has just grown up."

Even Chen Zhao, who had been standing next to Chen Shen, felt this way.

After all, his fourth uncle had a quiet personality and was relatively peaceful and tolerant. He unconsciously looked at him as if he were a "junior".

I don’t know where this mentality comes from.

Before Chen Shen could be moved for a moment, Chen An spoke. He yawned and said, "I'm telling you, fourth brother, don't flatter yourself."

He chuckled: "Someone must stay. After all, if we all leave Xianyang City, our king will start to doubt Chen."

Chen An pinched his throat and said: "Why did you all leave? Did you want to defect to another country? Did you want to betray Gu? Did you want revenge? Did you resent Gu? You must have such thoughts!"

Listening to what Chen An said with a pinched throat, everyone couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Even Chen Shou, who was feeling a little depressed, couldn't hold back his laughter. He looked at Chen An and said, "Third brother, you really are."

Chen Shen couldn't help but laugh, and then said: "Okay, okay, don't do such rude things."

"In short, what the king is doing now coincides with ours. You and I just need to appease the people under our command. If it doesn't work, we will hand over the burden."

He sat there and said softly: "I will learn from my father and report illness."

"Gradually transfer the affairs in hand to Su Qin and Zhang Yi. Zhao'er will also gradually hand over the affairs of "Sikou" to the student from Xianyang Academy who is more valued by the king. As for brother Zhan."

Chen Shen sighed, feeling a little helpless.

"Brother Zhan and Brother Shou no longer have to hand over the affairs in their hands. Even in the final step, the fifth brother and the fourth brother will stay in Xianyang City."

This is an identity similar to that of a "proton."

It can be regarded as Chen's certificate of surrender.

Perhaps hearing the guilt and apology in Chen Shen's words, Chen Zhan waved his hands and said with a smile: "Brother, don't think too much, I stayed here voluntarily."

He took a sip of the wine jujube in his hand, and then seemed to feel uncomfortable, so he directly picked up the pot on the side and poured it into his mouth.

"You know, that's just my personality."

"The destiny of a general is to die on the battlefield. If you really ask me to follow you back to Guandu, I won't be used to it."

"What's more, it's okay for you to leave. After all, the king may think that anyone can do these things and it won't have much impact on the Qin State."

He pointed to his nose and said with a hint of ridicule: "The king will not let me go if he is a talented general like me."

"After all, if you defect to another country, it will be a serious problem for Qin."

This was said with a slightly boastful tone, but it was a somewhat heartbreaking fact.

Chen Shen closed his eyes slightly and said nothing more.

At night, Chen Shen sat alone in his study, with the calligraphy that Chen Ye had given him hanging behind him.

Time gradually passed, a wisp of fragrance slowly drifted by, and Chen Shen lay on the table and fell into a deep sleep.

When he opened his eyes again, what Chen Shen saw was the "Peach Blossom Spring" that appeared in his dream a few years ago. The Peach Blossom Spring seemed to be in spring, with peach blossoms in full bloom. A slight spring breeze blew, and petals fell one by one. .

"Father."

Chen Shen's tone was a little low: "Chen is leaving Xianyang City."

Chen Ye just smiled and said, "Isn't this great?"

"The king is so ungrateful."

"You have done a great job by being able to make timely judgments and leave Chen a way out."

"Why are you so down?"

Chen Shen sat next to Chen Ye, with a little sadness on his face: "I am worried about my fifth brother. If my mother is still here, how worried should I be about him?"

"If you were still here, Chen might not have to be in this situation."

Chen Ye just waved the fan in his hand: "Don't think so much."

"Even if I am here, I can't change this ending. If Chen wants to last for thousands of years, he will definitely have to go through a lot of things like this in the future, so this is not a "mistake" but a rare "experience"."

"There is no need to feel sad because you have to leave Qin.",

"In the future, in the tide of history, the Chen family may experience many such things as "the birds are gone, but the good bows are hidden". The main thing the Chen family's family members in the past generations have only done is to preserve the Chen family and the world."

"You have to know that what the Chen family wants and does is not the "Qin Kingdom", but the people of the world."

"I'm asking for a clear conscience."

He clicked on the illusory "jade pendant": "Didn't Qilin Jade make you think clearly about this?"

Chen Shen lay there, listening to his father's teachings, as if he was back when he was young again.

He lay there silently, feeling the spring breeze.

In the winter of the ninth year of King Zhaoxiang's reign, it was extremely cold.

Zhangtai Palace

Ying Ji sat there, looking at Chen Shen's medical report, with a little peace on his face.

He knew Chen's loyalty, but the power Chen held was too great.

Suddenly, Ying Ji laughed to himself.

Because this was his father's instructions before his death, he had to do it.

Perhaps, kings have been ungrateful since ancient times.

(End of this chapter)