Chapter Four: Confucius said, "Since you have come, then settle in peacefully."

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Ying Qian revered those with genuine skill. Before Zhao Zheng demonstrated his true abilities, he showed no special courtesy to him.

Zhao Zheng rubbed his backside, surveying the mountains and rivers beyond the pass.

At the edge of his vision, the essential route through Wuguan suddenly plunged into a grim and jagged gorge.

“Grand Tutor, please look.” Zhao Zheng pointed toward the gorge. “The terrain here narrows sharply, restricting the deployment of troops. This is a godsend for an ambush.”

Following Zhao Zheng’s finger, the mountain walls on either side of the gorge were not particularly high but extremely steep, with rugged rocks jutting out.

Even better, the entrance to the gorge was somewhat wide, but the exit narrowed drastically, like the throat of a colossal natural mouth.

A sharp gleam flickered in Ying Qian’s eyes. “You mean to lay an ambush from the mountains ahead of time?”

Zhao Zheng nodded. “Exactly. Pang Juan’s mission is not truly to attack Qin but to rescue Wei’s Prime Minister Gongshu Cuo.”

“Roll down logs and boulders to crush those bastards, crush their morale, and then return Gongshu Cuo to them, making them suffer a humiliating loss.”

Ying Qian looked puzzled. “If it’s about Gongshu Cuo, why not just release him directly? That would avoid conflict altogether.”

Zhao Zheng smiled slyly. “Since they came, we might as well make ourselves at home… otherwise, they’d think we’re easy to bully.”

??

Ying Qian and Ying Qu Liang exchanged confused glances.

Isn’t he supposed to be Guiguzi? Why does he suddenly sound like a Confucian scholar full of sourness?

Zhao Zheng feigned profundity. “The meaning is, since they’ve come to pick a fight, we’ll make sure their graves are arranged clearly.”

???

Wait, is that what it means?

Isn’t the original meaning that since they’ve been appeased, they should be settled properly?

The two were dumbfounded.

Ying Qu Liang twitched the corner of his mouth. “I never thought you had such a unique interpretation of Confucianism!”

Zhao Zheng scoffed. “What unique interpretation? This is the genuine Confucian classic, thank you very much!”

Just kidding, he was just teasing.

He paused, eyes sparkling with calculation. “It’s like giving a slap and then a sweet plum.”

“Your Majesty, do you remember I once said in court that Gongshu Cuo is our trump card?”

Ying Qu Liang nodded, though he didn’t know how this trump card was to be used.

Zhao Zheng spoke casually. “Originally, I intended to release Gongshu Cuo directly to avoid Wei attacking Qin, but Pang Juan got ahead of us. Now we can only cede territory again.”

Meng Yun, standing beside Ying Qu Liang, pointed at Zhao Zheng’s nose and shouted, “You traitor! When did we Qin people ever fear Wei? Besides, our army has arrived, let’s fight them head-on!”

“Fight! Fight!”

For a moment, the Qin soldiers atop Wuguan were all fired up.

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There was no helping it. The outcome of the Battle of Shaoliang acted like a buff that fueled every Qin soldier’s desire for revenge.

Ying Qu Liang remained silent. As a senior official, he knew Zhao Zheng’s decision was correct, but he could not voice it.

Zhao Zheng shot a glare at Meng Yun. “How did a fool like you become the commander of Qin’s guards?”

“If you recklessly fight Wei to the death, what about the wild wolf cubs feeding on our western borders—the Xirong tribes?”

“To repel external threats, internal stability must come first. Do you understand this principle? Besides, ceding territory and making peace is temporary; we will secretly build strength to reclaim the lost land later.”

Indeed! To repel external enemies, internal stability was paramount. The various Xirong tribes in Qin’s west were nominally submissive, but in reality?

Meng Yun fell silent, well aware of the Xirong’s covetous gaze.

If they truly fought Wei to the death, the Xirong would use the opportunity to rebel in Qin’s rear, and all would be lost.

“So, I’m not saying don’t hit Wei hard?”

Zhao Zheng gave Meng Yun a withering look. “His Majesty will quickly send for Gongshu Cuo, arrange the cession, and when the Wei army reaches Wuguan, release Gongshu Cuo immediately.”

Brilliant! In this way, Wei would suffer a humiliating loss.

It’s like, you know someone is coming to ask for something, but you beat them up first.

Then, when they’re angry, you hand over the item along with a generous gift. No matter how furious they are, they have to swallow their pride.

By doing so, ceding territory becomes a reluctant act, and Ying Qu Liang not only retains public support but also shifts the hatred onto Wei.

Ying Qu Liang thought the plan feasible and asked Zhao Zheng, “Then… Sir, about the territory to cede…”

“Shaoliang, and even all of Wuguan to Wei.” Zhao Zheng answered bluntly.

Wuguan??

They were stunned. Wuguan was a natural fortress, the last gateway of Qin. How could it be ceded to Wei?

If that happened, Qin would lose its natural defensive barrier!

Zhao Zheng patiently explained, “Our great Qin’s sovereignty and territory will not be violated or permanently divided. This temporary separation will be restored in full.”

“Besides, fighting from east to west is one thing; fighting from west to east is completely different.”

No one knew Wuguan’s terrain better than the old Qin people. So even if Wuguan fell to Wei, so what?

Moreover, Zhao Zheng did not intend to hand over Wuguan intact.

He planned to relocate all Qin citizens, take away all valuables and grain, dismantle half the houses and important facilities, and flood the farmlands by diverting water.

So even if Wei occupied Wuguan, what then?

Everyone gasped. Wei would surely curse in frustration.

“Sir, this plan is ingenious.”

Ying Qu Liang praised repeatedly, “Once this crisis is over, I will personally appoint you Left Deputy Director.”

Left Deputy Director?

That was a tenth-rank noble title in Qin! This was a great honor.

However, historically, the Left Deputy Director was Ying Qian…

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Yet now, Ying Qian held the position of Grand Tutor, commanding Qin’s military power.

“Report—!”

At that moment, a junior soldier rushed up the city tower, urgently calling out, “Someone from outside the pass requests an audience!”

Everyone looked out, curious and suspicious. Below the pass stood a man clad in pure white, mounted on a white steed, with an extraordinary demeanor.

“Wei Yang?”

Zhao Zheng suddenly recalled that historically, Wei Yang was the one who resolved this crisis.

Wei Yang had ridden alone in white to save his master in Qin.

Hmm… Does that mean I am stealing Wei Yang’s credit?

“That man claims to be a Wei envoy named Wei Yang. He says the Qin lord must see him and…”

The soldier faltered.

Ying Qian’s expression stiffened. “And…?”

The soldier hurried on, “And he says he can save great Qin from destruction and grant it a chance to catch its breath.”

Oh?

A Wei man saving Qin? What a joke.

Ying Qu Liang and Ying Qian both looked at Zhao Zheng.

“Let him in…”

Zhao Zheng felt a bit embarrassed to face Wei Yang.

Ying Qu Liang waved at the soldier. Soon, Wei Yang was invited into Hangu Pass.

“I am the Lord of Qin. May I ask the purpose of your visit?”

Ying Qu Liang regarded the young man before him with curiosity.

Wei Yang bowed respectfully, then said, “I am Wei Yang. I have two matters to discuss: one concerns my master; the other concerns Qin.”

Ying Qu Liang raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Concerning Qin?”

Wei Yang nodded. “Indeed. Now that Wei’s army besieges the pass and Qin can no longer resist, it might be better to…”

“Release Gongshu Cuo and cede territory to Wei to seek peace?” Ying Qu Liang guessed.

Wei Yang was stunned. How did he know?

Zhao Zheng cleared his throat and hid behind Ying Qian.

Wei Yang continued, “To prevent the loss of public support…”

“So you laid an ambush on the only route Wei can take?” Ying Qu Liang’s eyes narrowed.

Wei Yang: ???