On the bank of Lishui River, the sound of a piano played leisurely, and it had a unique charm when combined with the turbulent river water flowing by.

Listening to the sweet sound of the piano, Wei Xianggong Sun Qi had a look of contentment on his face, and his hands followed the rhythm of the music.

Sitting at the table opposite Gongsun Qi, when he saw the scene in front of him, a smile also appeared on the face of Chu State Ling Yin Zhao Xixie.

"The Prime Minister of Wei has lived in the temples of the Wei State for a long time, and all he hears is Huang Zhong Da Lu. Don't you think he is also interested in the music of our Chu State?"

When Gongsun Qi heard Zhao Xixie's words, his squinted eyes gradually opened, "I have always been a person who loves pleasure, and I don't stick to what kind of person I am."

"I am Huang Zhongda Lu and I can hear it, and I can also listen to Chu music, but it makes Ling Yin laugh."

"Prime Minister Wei has so many interests, how can he be called a joke?"

As he spoke, Zhao Xixie raised the wine cup in front of him and saluted Gongsun Qi, "After listening to the music of our country of Chu, how can we not drink the fine wine of my country of Chu?"

"Come, Prime Minister Wei, please!"

"Your Majesty, please!"

After bowing to each other, the wine baron danced rapidly, and a stream of clear and sweet wine from Chu entered their mouths.

After a few breaths, Zhao Xixie first put down the cup of wine in his hand, and when he looked across the way, what caught his eye was Gongsun Qi's aftertasteful face.

This situation made Zhao Xixie recall the first time they met more than ten years ago, and some nostalgia arose in his heart.

"Xiangguo, the last time you and I were here on the banks of the Lishui River was more than ten years ago, right?"

Zhao Xixie's words also brought back memories in Gongsun Qi's heart, "Yes, I still remember that time when our country Wei had just defeated Han and Zhao, and formed an alliance with the two countries on the banks of the Zhang River."

"Not long after, our Wei army received news that Ling Yin was leading his army north to press on our Wei border."

When Gongsun Qi finished speaking, their eyes met at the same place, and a different look appeared on their faces at the same time.

More than ten years ago, Wei and Chu were only potential rivals. Gongsun Qi and Zhao Xishe, two ministers with high positions in Wei and Chu, could still talk to each other.

More than ten years later, the conflict between the Wei State and the Chu State has become more and more intense. Maybe the two sides will be at war with each other again when they meet again after today.

Neither Gongsun Qi nor Zhao Xixie mentioned these words, and both of them knew everything well.

Just looking at each other silently, Zhao Xixie filled up the wine again and slowly raised the wine glass in his hand.

"Come, Prime Minister Wei."

With a smile on his face, Zhao Xixie said with hope: "No matter what the future holds for Wei and Chu, I hope that in another ten years, I can drink and talk with Prime Minister Wei on the banks of the Lishui River."

Feeling the expectation in Zhao Xixie's words, Gongsun Qi also raised his wine cup, "I hope that ten years from now, you and I can be reunited by the Lishui River."

After saying this, without any hesitation, the two of them drank the wine in the wine cup.

Although Wei and Chu were destined to become rivals, the sympathetic friendship between Gongsun Qi and Zhao Xixie would not change.

On the banks of the Lishui River, the turbulent water of the river will bear witness to them and the ten-year agreement they made.

"Xiangguo, it's time for us to go back."

Standing beside the carriage, looking at the rolling Lishui River in front of him, Gongsun Qi did not move for a long time.

Zhao Xixie left and led the Chu army under his command to the south.

After saying goodbye to his old friend by the Lishui River, it was time for Gongsun Qi to return.

The call from the charioteer beside him brought Gongsun Qi back to reality. Looking at the disappearing figure in the distance, he nodded gently.

"It's time to go back."

When Gongsun Qi boarded the carriage, the reins danced in the hand of the driver, and the horses pulling the carriage took four hooves amidst the loud sound of urging.

"drive……"

…

"Xu..."

A rapid sound of horse control sounded, the driver tightened the reins slightly, and the wheels rolling forward gradually stopped turning.

Glancing at the tall and solid city wall in front of him, the charioteer said to the carriage behind him, "Your Majesty, Handan has arrived."

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain of the carriage behind him was lifted, and a handsome but somewhat determined face poked out.

He glanced at the city in front of him, his eyes rested on the two seal characters Handan above the city gate for a moment, and his face quickly returned to the carriage.

"Let's go into the city."

"Here."

With a whistle and a whip, the carriage from Anyi, the capital of Wei State, slowly drove into Handan, the capital of Zhao State.

Not long after this scene was staged outside Handan City, a carriage also stopped outside the palace gate of Zhao State's palace in Handan City.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has arrived."

Under the guidance of the palace servants, Zhao Xianggong Zhong Le came to the front of Zhao Hou Zhao Zhong with a somewhat slow pace.

"Old minister... cough cough cough... Gong Zhongle, I pay my respects to you, Your Majesty."

"Old Prime Minister."

Seeing Xiang Guo coming in front of him, Zhao Hou Zhao Zhong quickly stood up from behind the desk and helped him sit down on a seat beside him.

After assisting Zhao Marquis Zhao Zhong for nearly twenty years, Zhao Xianggong Zhongle has changed from the heroic figure in the past to the waning old man he is today.

In the past year, the Zhao army's fighting on Qi's front line has placed a heavy burden on the old man's body.

The collection and transportation of food, grass and baggage for the frontline army were all things that this old man did not have to worry about.

Suffering from overwork and illness, Gong Zhongle was not in good health because he had been dealing with government affairs for many years, and his health was getting worse and worse.

Therefore, after receiving the news of the great victory on the front line, Zhao Hou Zhao Zhong quickly ordered the Prime Minister Zhong Le to put down the government affairs at hand and rest in peace in his mansion.

If Zhao Zhong had not foreseen a change in the situation this time, he would not have sent someone to invite Gong Zhongle to the palace.

After helping Gong Zhongle sit firmly on the seat, Zhao Zhong immediately returned to his seat.

As soon as he sat down, Zhao Zhong looked at his Prime Minister with some solemnity, "How does the Prime Minister think the current situation of the war is?"

"Your Majesty, cough, cough, cough..."

"Although the veteran is recuperating at home these days, he still knows a thing or two about the war situation."

"I thought that even though our Zhao country was winning consecutive battles on the battlefield..."

"But Qi is a big country in the east after all. It also occupies the advantage of fishing and salt. Its national power and financial resources are no less than our Zhao country..."

"Our Zhao State can win for a while, but if we say that we can completely defeat Qi State, at least in the short term, it is not... possible."

Gong Zhongle spoke out his analysis of the battle situation intermittently, and Zhao Zhong, who listened carefully to all this, had a look on his face full of contemplation.

After some thought, Zhao Zhong once again looked at Gong Zhongle with inquiring eyes, "Today Wei's senior official Xu Yan has arrived in Handan. I wonder why the prime minister thinks the Wei envoy is here?"

"Um."

After pondering for a few breaths, Gong Zhongle's eyes revealed a ray of light belonging to a wise man, "Old minister, I thought Wei was doing this to stop the war."
Chapter completed!