Chapter Nine: Buying Deer to Control Chu

"No... there really isn't." Jing Jian frowned, shaking his head.

The State of Qi had no significant hostility toward Qin simply because the two nations did not share a border. Furthermore, the distance between Qi and Qin was immense, and merchants, considering the costs, would naturally not venture to the far-off land of Qin to conduct business. The State of Yan was equally remote. As for the Three Jins, they had always been unfriendly toward Qin, making it even less likely for their merchants to enter Qin for trade. Only the merchants from the State of Chu had consistently come to Qin to trade. Yet, before their eyes, Chu merchants were now openly mingling among the traders from the other five states.

"This is a problem..." Zhao Zheng frowned. "Go up and see what is going on."

As he spoke, he led the way toward where the merchants from the six states were gathered, with Jing Jian hurrying to keep pace.

"Buying furs and lacquerware at high prices!"

The merchants from the six states were shouting at the top of their lungs, spittle flying. Piles of animal skins and lacquerware rose like hills, and the old Qin folks, clutching the copper coins they received in exchange, were grinning from ear to ear.

"This is bad..."

At a single glance, Zhao Zheng’s heart sank; he immediately realized something was wrong.

"What is it?" Jing Jian looked at Zhao Zheng, puzzled.

"Fool." Zhao Zheng shot him a look. "Don't you see what these merchants are doing?"

"Buying up lacquerware and furs! And paying a premium for them—isn't this just like giving free money to our Qin people?" Jing Jian looked at Zhao Zheng, still confused. What was so bad about foolish merchants from the six states overpaying for local goods?

Zhao Zheng retorted indignantly, "Where is your head? Do you think Qin has an endless supply of lacquerware and furs for them to buy?"

"If I am not mistaken, it is not just in Yueyang; merchants from the six states are buying up lacquerware and furs all across the Qin heartland of Guanzhong. If this continues, Qin is in danger."

Jing Jian looked unconvinced. "Danger? That can't be, can it?"

Zhao Zheng explained, "Have you ever heard of the 'Buying Deer to Subdue Chu' strategy of the State of Qi?"

Jing Jian felt as if struck by lightning, his face turning deathly pale. "Buying deer to subdue Chu... you mean..."

"Indeed. If I am not mistaken, this wretched idea must have come from that motherless wretch, Pang Juan." Zhao Zheng mentally greeted Pang Juan with his warmest regards; that fellow truly never rested.

"Buying Deer to Subdue Chu" was a strategic deception originating from the Spring and Autumn period, when Qi sought hegemony but found the State of Chu too powerful to conquer directly. Guan Zhong had come up with a devious plan: since Chu had many sika deer in its mountains and forests, he sent men to purchase the deer at high prices and spread rumors that the King of Qi loved them. The people of Chu, seeing that catching deer was more profitable than farming, abandoned their fields to hunt deer. Eventually, even the soldiers joined in, leaving the borders empty and the farmland fallow. Then, Guan Zhong secretly bought up grain from neighboring countries and from within Chu itself. When the time was ripe, he ordered a stop to the deer purchases and banned the export of grain to Chu, blockading all trade. By the time Chu realized what had happened, famine had already struck; the people of Chu could not buy a pound of millet even with a thousand gold pieces. In the end, Chu had to submit to Qi.

Pang Juan was trying to cut off the very roots of Qin. If they hadn't discovered it in time, Qin would surely have reenacted the tragedy of Chu.

Jing Jian panicked. "Then... what should we do?" He was not an administrator and knew nothing of such matters.

"Let's go. We must see the Lord at the Yueyang Palace first." Zhao Zheng knew how to counter the stratagem, but it required an order from Ying Quliang. Before leaving, he instructed Jing Jian to call a squad of soldiers to surround the merchants from the six states—not a single one was to escape. This was no longer just trade; it was a battlefield without smoke.

The two raced to the palace, for this matter allowed for no delay. Inside, Ying Quliang was meeting with the Magistrate of Yongcheng, who had just arrived. Hearing the report, Ying Quliang was deep in thought when Zhao Zheng and Jing Jian burst in, panting heavily.

"Audacious!" the Magistrate of Yongcheng barked at them.

Ying Quliang waved his hand, signaling it was fine. Seeing their urgency, he knew something critical had occurred. "Sir, what is the matter?"

Zhao Zheng collapsed to the floor and pointed at Jing Jian, who, catching his breath, recounted what they had seen. Upon hearing this, Ying Quliang and the Magistrate exchanged glances, as the Magistrate had come to report the exact same thing.

"So, there is a problem with this?" Ying Quliang looked at the man still sitting on the floor.

Zhao Zheng nodded. He only had to utter the words "Buying Deer to Subdue Chu," and Ying Quliang understood. But it was a sophisticated ploy; how could it be broken?

Ying Quliang felt a headache coming on—the pressure was immense. The Magistrate of Yongcheng suggested simply executing all the merchants.

Zhao Zheng immediately stopped him. "You cannot! Do you want to ignite the fury of all six states? Do you think the current Qin can withstand another round of attacks?" Qin had not yet recovered its strength, and with the strategic passes of Wuguan and Shaoliang already ceded to Wei, if the six states formed an alliance to attack, it would be the end.

The Magistrate looked at him with disdain. "If not that, what other method could there be?"

Zhao Zheng nodded at Ying Quliang. "Of course there is. We only need three steps to resolve this."

"Three steps? That is easy to say. Guan Zhong's ruse was considered unsolvable. I would like to see how you intend to break it." The Magistrate was dismissive of the young man.

Zhao Zheng ignored him and said slowly, "First, we arrest all those merchants and issue a decree prohibiting the common people from engaging in private trade. Then, we levy heavy fines on the merchants from Wei. Finally, we release them."

The Magistrate of Yueyang was stunned. "Only fine Wei?"

Zhao Zheng nodded. "Why not? The grudge between us and Wei is already set. Since they have come, you must make them leave something behind, right?"

"Since they have come, you must let them stay?" Ying Quliang recalled Zhao Zheng saying something similar at Hangu Pass, though the meaning seemed different here.

Zhao Zheng’s face stiffened. "Anyway, that’s the gist of it. Killing them has bad implications, but letting them go without a penalty is unsatisfying—so we extort... ahem, I mean, we fine their wealth. Qin is currently short on money!"

Ying Quliang’s mouth twitched. He had to admit, Zhao Zheng was an expert at raising funds. First, he bled the old aristocracy, and now he was targeting the merchants of Wei?

Zhao Zheng added, "Also, treat the merchants from the other states well, and spread the news that we have ceded Wuguan and Shaoliang to Wei."

"Why?" Ying Quliang, Jing Jian, and the Magistrate all looked at him with confusion.

Zhao Zheng acted mysteriously. "This is called 'using their own strategy against them.'"

The news of the land cession, which had been kept quiet, was finally being put to use. Word of the merchants' arrest in Qin quickly reached the ears of the other states, who immediately sent envoys to Wei to demand an explanation.

In the General's Mansion of Wei:

"Damn it, how is this possible?"

"The plan was flawless! Who could have done this?"