Chapter 24: The State of Wei... A Storm Is Gathering
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The Six States were not fools. The weak state of Qin had suddenly defeated Wei three times in succession.
The last defeat had reduced Wei’s sixty-thousand-man army to ashes.
Rumors spread among the people that the God of Fire had blessed Qin, but the rulers and ministers of the Six States scoffed at the notion. The God of Fire? What nonsense.
Who was Wei’s commander?
None other than Pang Juan, the foremost disciple of Guiguzi.
The other five states knew better than anyone how ruthless Pang Juan was.
In his generation, only Sun Bin of Qi could match him—and even then, Sun Bin had needed twice the troops and an overwhelming advantage.
Yet the weak state of Qin had dealt Pang Juan a crushing defeat. Unless some extraordinary strategist had aided them, they simply could not believe it.
On the second day after Zhao Zheng’s triumphant return, spies from the Six States poured into Qin like rabid dogs, all determined to uncover the mysterious mastermind behind it.
Meanwhile, Wei had erupted into chaos.
When news of Pang Juan’s defeat arrived, the entire court and country were shaken.
Marquis Hui of Wei immediately ordered the construction of a long wall along the western bank of the Yellow River to guard against Qin.
His political enemies seized the opportunity to attack him, and impeachment memorials flew toward the marquis like snowflakes.
However, Pang Juan silenced them by handing over three cities of Zhao.
This defeat was not considered particularly severe.
Of course, there was another reason. The aged chancellor of Wei, Gongsun Cuo, was critically ill, and everyone wanted to compete for the chancellorship.
In the king’s study, the atmosphere was taut.
Marquis Hui narrowed his eyes at Prince Ang. “Wei Yang? Is this man truly so talented?”
With Gongsun Cuo gravely ill, Wei desperately needed someone capable of shouldering the state’s burdens. Prince Ang had therefore recommended Wei Yang to King Hui of Wei.
“Without a doubt. Wei Yang is not only superior to me, he is even several times more capable than our teacher,” Prince Ang said with certainty.
Pang Juan, who had been watching coldly from the side, suddenly spoke. “In my view, Wei Yang’s ambitions likely do not lie with Wei.”
Prince Ang’s expression darkened as he turned toward Pang Juan. “What makes you say that?”
Pang Juan gave a cold laugh. “Hmph. There have long been rumors that Wei Yang and Gongsun Cuo intend to betray Wei and enter Qin.”
“Hmm? Impossible.”
Prince Ang frowned. He had heard such rumors before, but he absolutely refused to believe that Wei Yang and his teacher harbored thoughts of betraying Wei.
“Impossible? Gongsun Cuo was once on friendly terms with Sun Bin, and we found this among the spies from Qi whom we captured.”
As he spoke, Pang Juan handed a wooden tablet to Marquis Hui.
The marquis took it and glanced at the writing. His face instantly darkened until it seemed water might drip from it.
“This is the man you recommended?”
With a cold snort, Marquis Hui hurled the wooden tablet to the floor at Prince Ang’s feet.
Prince Ang bent down and picked it up. The moment he recognized the handwriting, his expression changed drastically.
The tablet read:
If Wei should one day become impossible to remain in, I may enter Qi and serve as an official there.
—Sun Bin
Gongsun Cuo had replied:
I have little time left. My disciple Wei Yang is no less talented than I am and may aid Qi...
As Gongsun Cuo’s disciple, Prince Ang could tell that the handwriting had not been forged.
“This... this...”
Prince Ang’s mind went blank.
His teacher had been foolish!
A smug smile curled at the corner of Pang Juan’s mouth. He immediately clasped his fists.
“Your Majesty! I request that the traitor Wei Yang be arrested at once!”
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“Granted.”
Marquis Hui’s icy voice fell.
Pang Juan immediately led his men toward Wei Yang’s residence, their murderous intent palpable.
Prince Ang, meanwhile, rushed toward the chancellor’s residence as though he had gone mad.
At the Chancellor’s Residence
“Teacher, what is the meaning of this?”
Prince Ang thrust the wooden tablet before the bedridden Gongsun Cuo.
“This...”
Gongsun Cuo’s cloudy old eyes passed over the writing. It was as if a bolt of heavenly thunder had struck him.
“Ugh...”
With a muffled groan, a thick stream of crimson blood burst from Gongsun Cuo’s mouth.
“Teacher!”
Prince Ang was startled and hurried forward to support him.
“I could die of rage!”
Gongsun Cuo’s eyes bulged with fury, his cloudy pupils nearly bursting from their sockets.
“Heaven means to destroy Great Wei! Treacherous men are ruining the state! Pang Juan, you... what a vicious scheme!”
Gongsun Cuo slammed the wooden tablet onto the floor.
Prince Ang’s recommendation of Wei Yang had naturally reflected Gongsun Cuo’s own wishes. It had also, without question, threatened Pang Juan’s interests.
The two men had fought each other in secret for years over the chancellorship.
Now that Gongsun Cuo was on the verge of death—and his own position was at stake—Pang Juan had finally torn off his mask and made his move openly.
There was no doubt that this false-defection scheme had been devised by Pang Juan.
“It really was Pang Juan... I should have realized it then...”
Prince Ang was filled with regret. The imitation of the handwriting on the wooden tablet had been far too convincing.
“Realizing it now is useless. His Majesty is suspicious by nature...”
“Not long after we returned from Qin, rumors began spreading that Wei Yang and I intended to betray Wei and enter Qin... I paid them no heed at the time.”
“Who would have thought? Who would have thought Pang Juan had begun laying his plans so early? No wonder he is a disciple of Guiguzi. His mind truly is meticulous!”
Gongsun Cuo sighed helplessly. Everything had already been decided.
“What are we to do?” Prince Ang asked anxiously. “Pang Juan has already sent men to arrest my junior fellow disciple.”
At this, Gongsun Cuo seized Prince Ang’s hand and pleaded, “Ang, I beg you. You must find a way to save your junior fellow disciple!”
“Do not let those treacherous men harm him. But also... do not let him leave Wei.”
“Let him... find somewhere safe and spend the rest of his life in peace.”
Prince Ang stared at him in confusion. “Why?”
“Wei Yang possesses extraordinary abilities. If Wei cannot use him and an enemy state obtains him instead, he will become an endless source of calamity for Wei.”
Gongsun Cuo sighed helplessly. He did not wish to do this either, but matters had come to this.
For the sake of Wei... Wei Yang could only be imprisoned for the rest of his life.
...
“Why are you arresting me?”
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Wei Yang was at home when a squad of Wei soldiers suddenly burst in and forced him to the ground.
“I am the disciple of the current chancellor, Gongsun Cuo!”
Wei Yang struggled and shouted angrily, attempting to intimidate the intruders with his teacher’s authority.
“Hmph. Colluding with Qi is a capital crime!”
Pang Juan strode inside and looked down at the pinned-down Wei Yang with a mocking expression.
“Pang Juan! You are slandering me!”
Wei Yang retorted furiously.
All his lofty ambitions had been devoted to Wei, and now he had been framed by a petty villain?
“Bah! You sharp-faced little runt think you are worthy of competing with me for the chancellorship?”
Pang Juan spat viciously at Wei Yang, then waved his hand.
“Take him away!”
...
Meanwhile, in Qin, Zhao Zheng had not attended court for even one day when Ying Quliang was already berated to the point of dizziness by the old aristocratic clans.
In the end, it was only Ying Qian’s arrival that suppressed those old nobles.
There was nothing else to be done. At that time, Ying Quliang still lacked any force at court capable of standing against the old aristocratic clans.
Although Meng Yun was good at reading people’s expressions, before Gan Long he was nothing more than a wet-behind-the-ears child.
“Ah... Sir, that old Gan Long is truly infuriating!”
After court, Ying Quliang went straight to Zhao Zheng’s residence.
“Hmm? What is in those bowls on the table? Long, thin white strips—they look rather novel.”
He picked up a pair of chopsticks and sampled a bite.
“Mmm... this is delicious!”
“Let me try.”
Seeing this, Meng Yun picked up another bowl and began eating.
“...What?”
When Zhao Zheng walked in and saw the scene, he was utterly dumbfounded.
What were the two of them doing?
Had the ruler brought a general to freeload at the home of a minor official?
Ying Quliang’s cheeks were bulging with food. Only then did he notice Zhao Zheng, and he said somewhat awkwardly, “Ah... it’s delicious. What is this?”
Zhao Zheng stared speechlessly at the two empty bowls.
“Noodles.”
He rolled his eyes at them. He had planned to enjoy a proper feast while on leave, but these two shameless men had eaten it all.
Irritated, Zhao Zheng said, “My lord, what brings you here today?”
“Two matters. First, Gan Long. Second, the scholars from the eastern states.”
“Those eastern scholars are just as infuriating as Gan Long. They make my blood boil.”