"Coming for Qi, is this what Prime Minister Wei really said?"

In the palace of Handan, the capital of Zhao State, Zhao Hou Zhao Zhong, who was already full of white hair, couldn't help but ask this question after hearing the report from Prime Minister Zhong Le.

Zhao Xianggong Zhong Le, who was sitting across from the case, faced Zhao Hou's inquiry and unconsciously recalled the scene of meeting Wei Xianggong Sun Qi yesterday in his mind.

After reiterating that Wei and Zhao were from the same lineage and were allies of each other, Gongsun Qi told Gong Zhongle the reason for his trip to Zhao.

Now that the previous king of Qi has passed away and the new king has ascended the throne not long ago, it is the time when the political situation is in turmoil, and Wei intends to take advantage of this opportunity to send troops to march eastward.

After some previous mediation, the State of Wei had already brought the three kingdoms of Lu, Song, and Wei into its own camp. This time, they arrived in Handan in order to gain support from the State of Zhao.

As scenes passed through his mind, Gong Zhongle said in a deep voice to Zhao Zhong: "Your Majesty Qi, Prime Minister Wei revealed this meaning in his words."

"I thought that Wei and Qi already had a long-standing feud. In the past, Marquis Wen of Wei led troops from the three Jin Dynasties to attack the Great Wall of Qi and even captured Duke Kanggong of Qi, the then king of Qi."

"Eight years ago, the State of Qi took advantage of the beginning of the war between Wei and Qin to launch a surprise attack. In anger, the Marquis of Wei led a coalition of princes to defeat the Qi army."

"All kinds of things have already caused tensions between Wei and Qi. How can Wei let go of this opportunity of internal instability in Qi?"

Sitting on the throne, listening to the analysis of Prime Minister Zhong Le in front of him, Zhao Hou Zhao Zhong nodded in agreement from time to time.

This analysis not only covers the old grievances between Qi and Wei, but also conforms to the current world situation. It can be said to be completely reasonable.

Even Zhao Zhong felt that if he sat in the position of Wei Marquis, he would seize this rare opportunity to severely weaken Qi's opponent.

The thoughts in Zhao Zhong's mind were becoming more and more inclined to believe that this was Wei Guo's plot this time. However, when the figure deep in his memory appeared in his mind, he suddenly became a little suspicious.

The figure who successively defeated Zhao, Han, Qi, Qin and other great powers ten years after taking the throne. The Wei monarch who led the Wei State to regain its hegemony and was known as a talented and strategist was really just trying to obey Qi.

Will the country gain any benefits?

Doubts arose in his heart, and gradually the expression on Zhao Zhong's face also showed some suspicion.

Gong Zhongle, who saw all this in his eyes, immediately asked bluntly the doubts in his heart: "Your Majesty, have you noticed that Prime Minister Wei has other intentions for this trip?"

"That's not true." Looking up at his Prime Minister, Zhao Zhong said immediately: "I just feel that with the magnanimity of the Marquis of Wei, he will not be greedy for the small profits of the Qi State in front of him."

Zhao Zhong's casual words immediately aroused Gong Zhongle's suspicion.

Gong Zhongle also fully agreed with Zhao Zhong's words of praise for the current Wei Marquis Wei Feng.

In ten years, the decline of Wei Wuhou in the late period was swept away, and several decisive battles pushed Wei back to the throne of hegemony.

Wei Hou Wei Feng, the third monarch of Wei after Wen Hou and Wu Hou, did indeed do the best he could.

As his thoughts circulated in his heart, Zhao Zhong's words turned into doubtful voices, resounding in Gong Zhongle's heart.

"Is it that a hero like the Marquis of Wei is making such a big show just to take advantage of the instability in Qi to gain some benefits?"

When this question kept lingering in his mind, Gong Zhongle stood up from his seat and couldn't help but walk to a map of various countries in the main hall.

Turning our attention from the north to the southeast where Zhao State is located, the large areas of land that originally belonged to Qi State have now become the territories of Zhao, Lu, Song, and Wei.

The reason why such a change occurred was because of the war between the princes and Qi led by Wei State eight years ago.

At the Pinglu Conference that year, the four countries as members of the alliance could be said to have gained huge benefits, but on the other hand, Wei, as the leader of the alliance, did not gain much benefit in the east.

Is it because Wei State is incapable of obtaining these benefits?

of course not.

With Wei's strong military power at that time, and its successive defeats of Qin and Qi, the two great powers, even if they incorporated all these lands into their own territory, they would only gain dissatisfaction from other countries.

Did any country really dare to stand up and challenge the powerful Wei State at that time?

But what shocked the princes of other countries was that Wei gave up a large area of ​​wealthy territory in the west of Qi and used them in exchange for the princes' support for Wei's occupation of the land east of Qin's Jing River.

In the eyes of others, Wei Guo's choice was undoubtedly a disadvantage, but in the eyes of wise men like Zhao Xianggong Zhong Le, Wei Guo made the choice that was most beneficial to itself.

It can not only eliminate the dissatisfaction of the princes and win the respect of all countries, but also can smoothly and without dispute the land in the eastern part of the Qin State, which greatly alleviates the unfavorable situation of the four war areas.

Wei Hou's choice really killed two birds with one stone.

Eight years ago, Wei State was able to exchange Qi State's wealthy land for the security of its strategic environment; eight years later, will Wei State make the same choice?

This thought came to mind. Standing in front of the map, Gong Zhongle immediately turned around and asked: "Your Majesty, has Wei made any moves against Qin in recent years?"

"In recent years, the Wei State has been implementing the military merit system, but there has been no war on the Wei-Qin border."

Facing Gong Zhongle's question, although he didn't know why he asked, Zhao Zhong still responded in a deep voice: "It's just that General Pang Juan, as the supreme commander of Wei State Xihe, often led his soldiers to cruise on the border between Wei and Qin.

.”

After listening to Zhao Zhong's narration, Gong Zhongle immediately moved his eyes back and looked at the Qin and Wei border that had already advanced to the Jingshui River. His heart suddenly became enlightened.

"Your Majesty, I am afraid that what the Wei State is plotting this time is not the Qi State in the east, but..."

…

"If I'm not mistaken, your Majesty must be planning on Qin, right?"

In Handan's Guanyi, facing Wei Xianggong Sun Qi sitting in front of him, Zhao Xianggong Zhongle came in a hurry with a confident face.

Looking at the expression on the opposite side, Gongsun Qi asked calmly: "Prime Minister Zhao, why did you say this?"

"On one side is the size of Qi State in the east, and on the other side is the vast territory of Qin State in the west;"

"On one side is the seemingly lucrative petty profit, on the other side is the great future of getting rid of the predicament."

Saying these words with a smile on his face, Gong Zhongle looked at Gongsun Qi with solemn eyes.

"If I were the Marquis of Wei, I would definitely choose Qin instead of Qi, which seems to be profitable now."

The voice fell and silence continued in the room until a smile appeared on each of their faces.

Now that the other party has guessed the true purpose of his trip, Gongsun Qi simply stopped hiding it, "I wonder what Zhao Guo will choose this time?"

"The State of Zhao and the State of Wei have always been friendly allies, and this time our State of Zhao is also willing to help the State of Wei."

Facing Wei Guo, who obviously demanded conditions from Zhao Guo, a smile appeared on Gong Zhongle's face, and he gave the conditions previously discussed with Zhao Hou.

"The State of Zhao intends to explore the Eastern State of Yan, and hopes to gain the support of the State of Wei."

"In addition, Zhongshan State is a serious problem for our Zhao State. We also ask the Wei State to help Zhao State eliminate this scourge."
Chapter completed!