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

Chapter 178 King Qin [First update, please subscribe]

After more than 70 years of extra-long standby, King Qin Yingji finally ushered in the day of extinction.

This may be a good thing for the monarchs of the other five countries. After all, they have a chance to breathe.

But just one month later, King Qin Yingji died. This was not a good thing for the monarchs of the other five countries, especially the monarchs of Chu.

Because after the death of King Zhaoxiang, it meant the end of the alliance between Qin and Chu.

This was not a good thing for the King of Chu and the three nobles who had enjoyed decades of peace based on this alliance. The accession of the new King of Qin to the throne means a new style of governance, and may even symbolize war.

The day when Ying Ji died was a very ordinary day, so ordinary that no one thought that King Qin would die on this day.

Except for Qin Wang Yingji himself.

In the fifty-fifth year of King Zhaoxiang, it was the twenty-third day of the sixth lunar month in the summer.

On this day, King Qin Ying Ji had been lying on the bed for almost a month. He finally couldn't stand the stretch on the bed anymore. He struggled to sit up and had the strength to walk a few steps.

Although he has not fully recovered mentally, he seems to be unaffected by his previous illness.

The imperial physician was even a little confused. How could this be possible?

But the state of King Qin Ying Ji is not like returning to glory, because returning to glory should be better than this state.

On this day, Ying Ji walked a lot. Although his condition looked like he could fall down if the wind blew, Ying Ji was very stubborn. No one dared to persuade Ying Ji at this time, because Ying Ji's power was placed there.

Even if people know this is for Ying Ji's good.

As Ying Ji walked around Xianyang City, he clearly knew what these people's attitude was towards him. They were more fearful than respectful, so he didn't say anything unless those people came to dissuade him.

But when Ying Ji walked in front of Xianyang Academy, the chamberlain beside him hurried over with an anxious look on his face: "Your Majesty, your right minister, Chen Zhao, would like to see you."

Chen Zhao?

When Ying Ji heard this name, many memories could not help but surge up in his heart. He sighed softly and said, "Let him come."

Maybe it's because people are getting old, or maybe it's because at this juncture, the memories in people's minds will be reflected like a revolving lantern. Ying Ji's heart has softened a lot. He stood there, looking at the sunset and the setting sun in the distance.

After a while, Chen Su helped Chen Zhao and walked over.

Chen Zhao is already very old, and his body is not even as strong as Ying Ji, who has not yet recovered from his serious illness. If it were not for the support of Chen Su beside him and the crutch in his hand, he could hardly walk.

"Your Majesty, your health is not yet fully recovered. How can you go out and walk around?"

Chen Zhao's first words when he came over were admonitions.

But when it fell into Ying Ji's ears, it surprisingly did not make Ying Ji feel annoyed. He just sneered: "Do you know my body better than me?"

Ying Ji waved his hand: "It's time now, so don't say those depressing words and just go for a walk with Gu."

Chen Zhao looked at Ying Ji's face and seemed to understand something. He walked beside Ying Ji and kept walking.

After a moment of silence, Ying Ji said: "Perhaps I will never see the day when I can unify the world."

Chen Zhao responded with a smile: "I can't see it either."

"But each generation has its own journey, right? If we accomplish everything, what will the future generations do?"

"Are we just going to watch helplessly as we never surpass the glory of our predecessors? Are we going to go downhill from generation to generation?"

It was rare that Ying Ji didn't sneer at Chen Zhao's answer. After being silent for a long time, he spoke: "Brother Zhao."

He recalled the name he used to call him when he was young, and turned to look at Chen Zhao, with a sharp look in his eyes. He waved his hand to make everyone around him move away, and looked at Chen Su again. Chen Su suddenly understood. , also left.

In the entire academy, only Chen Zhao, Ying Ji, and the setting sun were left.

Ying Ji sat cross-legged on the ground casually. Chen Zhao also felt that his legs could not support him, so he simply sat down.

"The covenant I made back then is still valid."

He closed his eyes and whispered: "I can already imagine that the day when the world will be unified is just around the corner. I can even see who the person who will unify the world will be."

Ying Ji whispered as if he was talking to himself, but also as if he was saying to Chen Zhao: "It's either in Zichu's generation, or in the generation of Zichu's children."

"The world will be completely unified."

"Can"

He let out a long sigh, as if to express the frustration in his chest: "But the most difficult thing is not to conquer the world, but to defend it."

"The countries in the world have been fighting for hundreds of years. The order of states has long since collapsed. It is not suitable for the world at this time! But it is extremely difficult to completely establish a new order."

"The original "enfeoffment" ceremony of Bangzhou was established after decades of hard work."

Ying Ji tilted his head and looked at Chen Zhao: "What I want to say is that Qin may not be able to stay in power for a long time after unification, but if that day comes, I hope that the Chen family can retain a trace of the Ying family. Even if he just becomes an ordinary person."

Perhaps as he was about to reach the end of his life, the "heroism" in Ying Ji's heart slowly turned into "caution". He and his teacher were the same at heart, they were both cautious people.

Chen Zhao was dumbfounded. He looked at Ying Ji and said, "If that day really comes, will the Chen family still exist? Or is it another question? Does the king trust the Chen family so much?"

Ying Ji grinned: "The Chen family has always been a family that has been plotting to "continue for thousands of years" since An Guojun, so you can give in, you can be patient, you can withdraw from the Qin court, you can come back again, and you don't care about my suspicions. .”

He sighed: "The Chen family are all gentlemen, but they are all smart gentlemen!" "I know that when my father left that edict, it was no longer possible for the Chen family to live and die with Qin."

"So when the Qin State is really destroyed, no, even before this day occurs, the Chen family should be ready to cut off from the Qin State, right?"

These words were a bit heartless, but Ying Ji didn't care anymore.

He has reached this point, what else can't he say?

Chen Zhao remained silent, but he did not deny what Ying Ji said.

Ying Ji was neither angry nor scolded Chen Zhao, but just looked at him: "So, I hope that one day, the Chen family can preserve a trace of Ying's bloodline, so that the bloodline of Ying family can continue to be passed down."

"I believe Chen has such ability."

"Even when the world is in turmoil, those who want to "conspire" will not touch the Chen family, because the Chen family had many opportunities to replace Qin, but failed to do so. The Chen family's credibility can make the world trust it. "

The reason why Ying Ji would trust Chen so much stems from the "political credibility" accumulated by Chen over the years.

Chen's political credibility has unknowingly exceeded 500.

And Chen really doesn't want to be king.

Becoming king is equivalent to being bound to a certain country and some other "powers" and "families". If the Chen family dies, those families will not necessarily die, but if those families die, the Chen family will definitely be strong. hurt.

Chen Zhao sighed: "I promise you."

He was a little melancholy. The relationship between the Chen family and the Zhao family with the surname Ying had gone through three generations of kings: Duke Xiao, King Huiwen, and King Zhaoxiang, for more than a hundred years in total.

Mrs. Chen's heart is not iron-clad, how can she not have any emotion at all?

After hearing Chen Zhao's answer, Ying Ji suddenly relaxed a lot. He stood up and called his attendants. The distant attendants and Chen Su quickly came back.

Ying Ji walked towards the palace, with a little calmness and peace in his eyes, as if he had accepted everything.

"Don't forget your words."

After finishing speaking, Chen Zhao turned around and left without waiting for a response.

His back was bleak, not like a great devil who had ruled the country for more than fifty years, suppressed the kings of the world for more than thirty years, and was famous for being able to stop children from crying at night.

Chen Zhao did not look back, but turned around and left tremblingly in the opposite direction of Ying Ji.

He didn't know how many more years he could hold on.

But it's time to hand over the Kirin Jade to your children.

In the fifty-fifth year of King Zhaoxiang, it was the twenty-third day of the sixth lunar month in the summer.

On this night when no one could react, King Zhaoxiang was lying on the bed and announced that he would pass the throne to the "Prince" Yingzhu, and watched as the Prince Yingzhu established the new crown prince.

Young Master Zi Chu.

King Qin's handover was very simple, but not too simple.

The important ministers of Qin State are all watching here.

When Yingzhu took the seal symbolizing power from King Zhaoxiang's hand, King Zhaoxiang slowly closed his eyes as if he was tired.

King Zhaoxiang, who had dominated the world for thirty years, reigned for fifty-five years, killed several kings of the Six Kingdoms, and destroyed Han during his reign, left the power and country he loved at this moment.

A new era, the era belonging to King Xiaowen and Yingzhu has arrived.

In the first year of King Xiaowen, Prince Yingzhu ascended the throne and became the new King of Qin.

The first thing he did was to accept the proposal of the "King of Chu" and sign an alliance with the King of Chu again, agreeing that King Xiaowen would not launch a war against Chu during his reign.

The price King Chu paid this time was greater than the price paid last time, because King Chu was gambling.

Bet that even if King Xiaowen doesn't live to be seventy like his father, he can still rule Qin for another twenty years.

Of course, even if the bet is wrong, King Chu will not be afraid.

The worst he can do is to sign another covenant with the next King of Qin, who is now the prince.

The content of the covenant was to exchange fifteen cities of Chu State for peace.

King Xiaowen accepted it and was very happy.

Chen Mansion

The newly appointed Prince of Qin, Zi Chu, had a sad face. He looked at Chen Zhao in front of him, knowing that Chen Zhao's life was about to come to an end, but he had to ask Chen Zhao at this time to come forward and write a letter to the King of Qin. Bring back his "eldest son".

"Please, right minister, help me this time."

Zichu didn't have any of the posture of a prince. He put his hands on his forehead and bowed to the ground.

Chen Zhao sighed deeply: "Okay."

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"In the fifty-fifth year of King Zhaoxiang, on the 23rd of June in the summer, the king died. In the same year, the prince ascended the throne and became King Xiaowen, and named the prince "Zi Chu". - "Book of Qin·The Chronicles of King Xiaowen Zhuangxiang"

(End of this chapter)