Qin Gong

Chapter 692: Lady Qi meets Zhao Qiu

It was the beginning of June, and only a few days had passed since King Jian of Qi surrendered to Qin. During these few days, Bai Yan was extremely busy. To put it simply, he would get up before the roosters crowed in the morning, and would not dare to rest at night when the dogs were asleep.

As a territory without war for decades and also the capital of Qi, Linzi's wealth is far beyond ordinary people's imagination. Compared with the wealth that Bai Yan saw when he stayed with General Teng in Xinzheng City after the destruction of Han, all the wealth added up was far less than one-tenth of Linzi, and it was still far from one-tenth.

And this was after all classes, officials, and aristocrats in the State of Qi had made money, and the rest was handed over to the Qi treasury.

After the demise of Qi, many orders in the state changed. As Qi officials lost their functions, most of the money-making processes of all classes in Qi were directly interrupted. However, in the absence of war, the wealth accumulated by Qi every day did not decrease much.

"General! Yesterday, Li from Bairen came to Linzi. General Li Xin was drunk and did not wake up!"

Niu came to the study and reported to Bai Yan. After he finished speaking, Niu looked hesitant, but finally looked at Bai Yan.

"Li came to visit yesterday, but left after hearing that the general was managing the treasury in the palace!"

Niu explained.

As Bai Yan's trusted and capable general, Niu knew that Li of Bairen had a close relationship with the general.

"I forgot!"

When Bai Yan heard Niu's reminder, he remembered that Niu had mentioned this matter yesterday, but there were too many things to do and he forgot about it for a while.

Thinking of this, Bai Yan supported his head and rubbed his eyebrows.

"General! Lord Xun Shuo and Lord Xiao He are already outside the mansion!"

At this time, a confidant came to report.

Upon hearing this, Bai Yan quickly asked his trusted confidant to bring someone in.

After a while, Bai Yan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Xun Shuo and Xiao He coming into the room while talking.

"Xun Shuo, meet the general!"

"Xiao He, meet the general!!"

Seeing Bai Yan, Xun Shuo and Xiao He stepped forward and raised their hands to salute.

"If you two don't come, this Linzi city will be in chaos!"

Bai Yan stood up and asked the two of them to kneel down in front of the table. Then he went to the wooden table nearby, picked up two wooden cups himself, and poured tea for Xun Shuo and Xiao He.

"General, this is..."

Not to mention Xiao He, who was confused when he saw Bai Yan's actions, even Xun Shuo on the side looked at Bai Yan strangely, and watched Bai Yan pour the tea himself with a smile.

"Although the old officials of Qi State stayed, after Qi State was destroyed, those officials appeared to be honest, but secretly they all listened to the words of the nobles. Bai Yan did not believe a word of the matters of Linzi City, taxation, farming, and land statistics submitted to him."

Bai Yan poured tea for Xiao He, talking as he poured tea. Then when he poured tea for Xun Shuo, he turned the topic to the gentry.

"Linzi is a prosperous place with money, wine and women. Bai Yan has ordered the soldiers in the army not to enter the city to burn, kill, rob, rape or pillage!"

After Bai Yan poured the tea, he looked at Xun Shuo.

"However, if the generals under my command were not all former generals of the Iron Cavalry and Border Cavalry, I'm afraid that now, there wouldn't be a single general in the camp outside the city! The interests of the old families of Qi cannot be rashly deprived, otherwise the nobles will definitely find ways to cause unrest between the Qin army and the Qi people."

Bai Yan explained.

After hearing Bai Yan's words, Xiao He and Xun Shuo pondered for two breaths, their faces suddenly became serious, and they looked at each other. At this time, they finally understood why Bai Yan said what he had just said as soon as he saw them.

Xiao He looked at the bamboo slips that Bai Yan brought, opened it and started reading. The next moment, his eyes suddenly widened.

"so much?"

Xiao He raised his head and looked at Bai Yan in surprise, his expression a little dazed.

"This is the number that the nobles allowed Bai Yan to know!"

Bai Yan looked at Xiao He's expression and found no surprise. He spoke slowly, word by word, and then looked at Xun Shuo who was reading the bamboo slips beside him.

Qi was the only vassal state among all the countries that treated scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans equally. Qi, which had not experienced war for decades, had huge aristocratic interests behind its population, land, industry, etc.

If Qi State was destroyed, the nobles of Qi State might be sad, but if they lost their property, they would definitely fight to the death.

Looking at why the Li family of Bairen, Zhao, came to Linzi, we can see that the Qi gentry had tried every possible means to use all their connections to protect the family wealth.

"General, have you met any of the nobles in the city these days?"

Xun Shuo put down the bamboo slips and looked at Bai Yan and asked.

"Bai Yan has already met the people brought by Chen Ze and Fu Yao, and has also met more than ten well-known scholars and noble families in Linzi City, but he has not said frankly that he can agree to anything!"

Bai Yan nodded and looked at Xun Shuo, his eyes full of helplessness. These past few days, he had been drinking until midnight from time to time, and when he came back he had to continue dealing with the affairs of the Prince of Qi's Palace. He dared not delay either side.

"No! If the general had not agreed...how could the nobles in the city be so obedient?"

Xun Shuo thought for a while and asked with some doubt.

In the eyes of Xun Shuo, who was born in the Xun family, if Bai Yan did not give in as soon as he entered the city, it would be like a sword hanging over the heads of the gentry in the city. All the gentry would be unable to sleep or eat. So why is Linzi City so peaceful now? Nothing has happened and Bai Yan has not mentioned anything.

Xun Shuo doesn't believe that the Linzi gentry would have no means!

Although the Iron Cavalry and Border Cavalry under Bai Yan's command are all people who have followed Bai Yan through life and death, facing the methods used by the gentry in the city, it is basically difficult for the soldiers of low birth to resist the temptation. They may not dare to betray Bai Yan, but it is not difficult to use the Iron Cavalry soldiers to arouse the anger of the Qi people in the city.

Previously, all the Qi defenders in the city had surrendered to Qin, not died. As long as the unrest breaks out again, Bai Yan will definitely be under pressure. And transferring the Qin troops from Gao Tang and Lu Ping over will not only fail to relieve Bai Yan's worries, but will make things more convenient for the Qi gentry because of the arrival of other Qin troops.

Not every Qin army was like the Iron Cavalry and Border Cavalry under Bai Yan's command, who were loyal to Bai Yan and never regretted their deeds until their death.

"Before this, Bai Yan let all of Tian Dan, Tian Heng and other relatives go! Only the nobles from three places tried to flee the city, but were killed by the soldiers!"

Bai Yan looked at the puzzled Xun Shuo, and seeing that only Niu and Xiao He were in the study, he explained softly.

When Xun Shuo heard Bai Yan's words, a look of sudden enlightenment appeared on his face. He looked at Bai Yan with some admiration, guessing that Bai Yan must have had a premonition that he would face the current situation, so he let the person go.

Letting Tian Dan, Tian Heng and other relatives of Qi State go was not only a favor to Tian Dan and other relatives of Qi State, but also a way to show the Qi nobles in the city, telling everyone that Bai Yan would not kill them all, and would only capture the nobles from three places.

In this way, when the old clans of Qi State in the city are appeased, they will all keep themselves out of trouble and will not collude with the gentry of Wei, Chu and Yan without authorization before Bai Yan expresses his position.

"What is your plan, General?"

Xun Shuo looked at Bai Yan and asked.

After learning the whole cause and effect, Xun Shuo looked at Bai Yan in front of him and lamented that if it were any other Qin general, Linzi might have been in chaos by now.

"There are too many things to do, so it is not convenient for the teacher to come forward. In the next few days, I will trouble Brother Xun Shuo to meet with the nobles on Bai Yan's behalf and tell those old clans of Qi that what Bai Yan wants is the stability of Qi. Therefore, the old clans of Qi must not have any connection with the nobles of Chu, Wei and Yan. Bai Yan will write to Xianyang and request that all the old clans of the three places be moved to Xianyang or Yanmen. He will not kill them all!"

Bai Yan said this, poured himself a cup of tea, and looked at Xun Shuo.

"Secondly, stop trying to restore the old order!"

Bai Yan said while drinking tea.

When Xun Shuo heard Bai Yan's words, he and Xiao He looked at each other. After knowing what Bai Yan was thinking, they could also understand Bai Yan's worries.

………………

In Linzi City.

Shui Shou took his grandmother and held Shu'er in the carriage, watching his uncle and father walking and talking. Behind him, his mother, his wife Yunhan, and his aunt walked and visited the small vendors on the street. Whenever he saw a vendor had good things to sell, his mother would pay to buy them for his wife and aunt.

Looking at this scene, Shui Shou's heart was filled with emotion. Not long ago, just half a year ago, let alone buying things for his aunt, even if his mother wanted to buy something for his wife, she had no money, and his wife said she was reluctant to spend any money.

"Dad! Shu'er wants uncle to take Shu'er to go horseback riding later..."

The eldest son in his arms spoke in a baby voice, but his tone was obviously a little scared. This fear might be the fear that a son has for his father.

Hearing his eldest son's words, Shui Shou frowned, then began to perform.

"Uncle is busy, Shu'er should not cause trouble!"

It was just a short sentence, and the tone was not harsh at all, but it made Shu'er feel so aggrieved that she dared not speak again. She could only look ahead with disappointment, tears welling up in her little eyes.

Finally, the ox cart slowly stopped in front of a huge mansion.

However, the family who had agreed to come to find Bai Yan instinctively stopped when they actually stood in front of the mansion's gate. It was not until the soldiers guarding the gate of the mansion felt strange that they came forward to ask.

After learning the identities of Yanfu and his group, the soldiers hurriedly invited Yanfu and others into the mansion.

"uncle!!!"

Bai Yan walked out of the corridor and into the yard, then he saw a small figure running towards him quickly.

After squatting down and picking up the child, Bai Yan looked at the group of people who were approaching.

"Dad, Mom! Grandmother, Uncle..."

Bai Yan looked at his family with a smile on his face, then asked the maid behind him to notify the servants in the kitchen to prepare lunch.

"You haven't slept in the past few days?"

It was the first time in her life that Shi Xi came to a mansion, and such a huge mansion at that. Whether it was the gate, the corridors along the way, the carefully carved corridor railings, or the garden, Shi Xi was a little at a loss. However, when she saw the fatigue on her second son's face due to staying up late, her first reaction was heartache.

"The King of Qi has surrendered, but he has been fighting all along!"

Bai Yan looked at his mother's distressed expression, smiled softly and said, watching his grandmother walk towards him step by step.

"Grandma!"

Bai Yan's mouth corners kept rising, and he shouted with a silly smile.

Shi Xi wanted to say something out of pity, but when she saw the boy's expression when he saw his mother, she ended up saying nothing out of sourness. Fortunately, over the past ten years, Shi Xi had become accustomed to the closeness between the grandfather and grandson.

But at this moment, Shi Xi suddenly noticed that a woman in Qi clothing was walking down the corridor in the distance.

As the woman came closer, when she saw her face, she was amazed by her appearance.

"Mom, Dad! This is Miss Zhao! This is Master Xu!"

Bai Yan was just about to say that he had bought two mansions on the other side of Linzi City, but before he opened his mouth, he noticed that his mother, Shi Qi, his father, and his brother were all looking behind him in a daze. Bai Yan turned his head and saw that it was Zhao Qiu and Master Xu who were coming, so he instinctively introduced them to his parents.

Bai Yan was not surprised to see Master Xu wearing Qi clothes, but when he saw that Zhao Qiu was not only dressed up carefully, but also wearing Qi's unique clothing, this was something Bai Yan did not expect. He stared at him in surprise.

"I've met my grandmother, my aunt, and my uncle..."

It was not the first time that Zhao Qiu had experienced someone's stunned look, but for some reason, this time Zhao Qiu's ears gradually turned red.

"Yan'er, who is this Miss Zhao?"

After coming back to her senses, she asked with a stutter, looked at the stunning Zhao Qiu, and then looked at her second son.

"Mother, Miss Zhao is a girl Yan'er met when he was in Zhao State. She helped Yan'er a lot in the past..."

When Bai Yan heard his mother's question, he didn't know how to introduce Zhao Qiu for a moment. After all, Zhao Qiu's identity was quite sensitive.

"Meet each other in Zhao State?"

Following Bai Yan's words, not only Shi Xi, but also Yan's father, Shui Shou, and Yun Han, instantly realized something, especially when they saw Zhao Qiu wearing Qi clothing.

Yanfu and the others fell silent, their eyes kept looking between Zhao Qiu and Bai Yan.

"Grandma!"

Zhao Qiu lowered his head, walked to his grandmother, and slowly raised his two slender hands.

"Great! This outfit is really suitable..."

When the grandmother saw Zhao Qiu trying to support herself, a satisfied smile appeared on her old face and she kept praising Zhao Qiu's beauty.

Standing aside, watching Zhao Qiu walk forward obediently and support his smiling mother, Shi Xi realized how ridiculous it was for her to say some time ago that she wanted to propose a marriage to her second son. Compared to this Miss Zhao, Shi Xi was afraid that she would never be able to find a woman more beautiful than Miss Zhao in her entire life.

Thinking of this, Xi Shi felt something was wrong again, and suddenly remembered how she had found out in the past two days that Yan'er's wife was the daughter of Tian Fu in Linzi City of Qi State, a woman named Feiyan.

But what about Miss Zhao?
concubine?
Shi Xi suddenly widened her eyes and looked at her second son beside her in amazement. She never dared to imagine that her son could marry such a beautiful woman, not to mention that such a beautiful woman might just be her second son's...concubine!!!
Shi Xi was a little confused and couldn't figure it out in her mind, but at this moment, Shi Xi noticed the other woman standing next to Yan'er.

"aunt!"

Master Xu stood silently beside Bai Yan. When he saw Shi Xi's gaze looking at him, he quickly bowed his head and greeted her respectfully.

"Girl, have we met before?"

When Shi Xi looked at the girl named Xu Shi and marveled at her beauty, she suddenly vaguely remembered that she seemed to have seen her once.

"My aunt, Master Xu happened to visit Shui Village before and happened to meet my aunt and uncle! But at that time, Master Xu didn't know that my aunt and uncle were the general's parents!"

Teacher Xu said a little embarrassedly, then lowered her head. When she saw Bai Yan's parents just now, she was also stunned and felt that they looked familiar. Then she remembered that she had met Bai Yan's parents when she went to Shui Village, but she didn't know it at that time.

"Second brother!"

Bai Yan held his nephew in his arms, looking at Zhao Qiu's back as he supported his grandmother. Thinking of Zhao Qiu's shy look just now, Bai Yan's face was full of confusion. Suddenly, he heard his brother's voice beside him. He turned around and saw his brother's smiling face, as if he was saying congratulations.

Bai Yan was also a little amused and knew it was difficult to explain.

Noticing that his brother and sister-in-law seemed a little dazed and absent-minded, as if thinking about something, Bai Yan signaled his brother with his eyes to look at him.

Watching his brother turn around to talk to his brother's wife Yunhan, Bai Yan knew that his brother's wife Yunhan probably knew in her heart that in the future when his brother was in Linzi, the nobles would definitely send one beauties after another to his side. They might not be as talented as Zhao Qiu, but they would definitely be beauties too.

but……

Looking at his eldest brother who was talking to his sister-in-law Yunhan with a smile and an almost flattering manner, Bai Yan had a vague premonition that his brother seemed to be the same as Feng Nian, and there was a high probability that he would be alone with his sister-in-law in the future.

Feng Nian was at his lowest point when he met the girl he loved. His brother was at his most desperate point, but his brother and sister-in-law stayed with him without leaving.

Both are in despair, but neither gives up!
"Compared to myself..."

Bai Yan couldn't help but sigh. For the first time in his life, he felt inferior to others.

Turning to look at Master Xu beside him, Bai Yan thought about his experiences with Master Xu over the years. Many things could never be undone, and he gradually felt relieved. Just like the tens of thousands of Qin soldiers outside the city, they followed him without regrets. Could he really abandon them and let them be used by the nobles in the future?

No matter what others say, once I leave, Old Wei and Old Shi will definitely use the Iron Cavalry to do something before they lose control of them.

Behind Bai Junzhu are the connections of the Xianyang gentry and court officials.

Behind Zhao Qiu are not only the orphans of the State of Zhao, but also the old clan connections and spies in the northern Zhao area.

Teacher Xu’s identity is even more sensitive.

The only one who is most likely to be abandoned is Bao...

With a bitter smile, Bai Yan looked at Master Xu who was talking to his mother, and looked at Master Xu's timid profile. He had been busy these days and had not had time to tell Master Xu about the matter between Master Xu and Cen Qing.

In Linzi City.

Just as Wu followed Zhan and tried every means to contact Bai Yan, he even went to find the old man who was brought back to Linzi, hoping that the old man could help them talk.

In a mansion strictly guarded by Qin soldiers, Gui Hanzi learned from an old minister who came to visit his father that Bai Yan would not see any guests today, and it seemed that his family had come to Linzi City. Gui Hanzi had been in a daze under the pavilion.

"Your Majesty! Hanzi wants to see Bai Yan, but she doesn't know how to ask or how to get there! So let Yan Li take Hanzi to see Bai Yan!"

Concubine Li was in the study, looking out the window at the pavilion. Seeing Gui Hanzi, who used to be lively and cheerful, now seemed like a different person, she said to King Jian of Qi.

"Ugh!"

King Jian of Qi, also known as Tian Jian who has now lost the throne of King of Qi, was filled with heartache when he saw the appearance of his beloved daughter.

As for Bai Yan, since he gave up the throne and surrendered to Qin, Bai Yan did not imprison him like he did to King Han. Not only did he let him leave at will, he even allowed his old ministers to come and see him, which made King Jian of Qi very satisfied.

It’s a pity that Bai Yan doesn’t seem to have any thoughts about Gui Hanzi.

"Go! But be careful, there are many people who hate... me!"

Prince Jian of Qi nodded and gave instructions to Concubine Li, but there seemed to be some discomfort in his words.

During this period, the only thing that puzzled King Jian of Qi about Bai Yan was that Bai Yan sent him a bamboo slip, informing him that Tian Dan, Tian Heng and others had not been captured in the past. Moreover, after sending people to investigate, it seemed that the people who assassinated the clan of Hou Sheng, the prime minister of Qi, were from the aristocratic families of Chu, Wei and Yan, and that Tian Dan and other relatives of Qi were not involved.

　The flu is serious during this period. Dear readers, please remember to drink more water, take care of your body, and get enough rest. This flu is quite serious!
　　Today I have to go to the hospital for a prenatal check-up, queue up, register, then queue up for a color ultrasound and other tests. In the afternoon, I have to queue up again to show the results to the doctor. There are many people in a big hospital, so the queue is very slow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)