On their way to Yong, the men did not have a lot of food so Ying Zheng led them to some villages to 'borrow' some food.
To keep up his morally just face Ying Zheng commanded his men to "take no more than half from the storage of the villagers, after all, they are your countrymen and you are fighting to protect them and those who refuse to give you food are ignorant and ungrateful bastards so you can beat them to make them regain their minds"
All in all their journey was uneventful and safe for the most part.
During the journey, the men took Ying Zheng as a mental emotional and spiritual support and Ying Zheng was kind enough to give it to them.
At this moment if Ying Zheng told them to stop here and found his own state almost seventy percent to eighty percent of the soldiers would support him but Ying Zheng did not do that even if all his men supported him what could he do against Qin and the other states which could randomly throw out a hundred thousand men without any effort.
Ying Zheng was starting to get used to life as a general and in fact, enjoyed it so much he did not want to return to some commander but Ying Zheng's self-control was out of this world so he endured.
...
3 months later.
180 kilometers from Yong city.
Ying Zheng was in his camp waiting for a message from the nobles and King of the Qin state.
Ying Zheng did not have to wait for long a soldier came running into his camp without introducing himself or knocking.
"Commander! Commander! Commander! the prime minister himself came."
Ying Zheng was shocked and immediately asked prime minister Zhang Lu himself?"
The soldier nodded as if he was a chicken pecking grains "Yes commander it is prime minister Zhang Lu himself."
Hearing this Ying Zheng did not continue to talk he quickly walked out waiting for the arrival of prime minister Zhang Lu.
Soon a carriage led by two horses could be seen in the distance causing dusty sir behind them and leading them was the messenger Ying Zheng had sent to Yong City.
A few minutes later the carriage stopped Infront of the neatly lined up soldiers and Ying Zheng came to the front.
The carriage's door was opened by soldiers following the carriage and an old man with white hair and a wrinkly face came out and asked Ying Zheng "Are you the commander here?"
Ying Zheng stepped closer to the prime minister bowed and said with a cordial smile "Yes sir I am the commander here."
Hearing this prime minister Zhang Lu started stroking his beard and nodded "very good and can you tell me why you have decided to join the Qin state's side?"
Ying Zheng smiled and said, "of course sir we joined the Qin state's side because of the wise king's actions and your heroic adventures and deeds you are truly a man worth being our hero."
Hearing this prime minister Zhang Lu narrowed his and asked "my heroic adventures?"
Ying Zheng nodded and said, "of course sir you are the inspiration you are a man who came from nothing the lowest of the low to the position of prime minister."
Hearing this prime minister Zhang Lu's expression softened and said "Hahaha, of course, it is my job to be the younger generation's inspiration. Alright that aside are not going to invite me into your camp?" asked the prime minister jokingly.
Ying Zheng laughed embarrassedly "hahaha of course prime minister Zhang right this way"
...
Fan Ju was born into an impoverished family and had been working for a noble named Xu, wishing that someday Xu could recommend him to the King of State Wei.
Once, when Xu was serving as an emissary to State Qi, however, his follower Fan Ju impressed the King of Qi and got big rewards.
Fan Ju didn't take anything, but Xu and many other jealous officials suspected that Fan Ju sold any valuable info to the King of Qi.
Hence, Wei Qi, prime minister of the State Wei, commanded to beat Fan Ju to death, wrapped him up in a shabby grass mat, threw him to the toilet, and asked people to pee on him.
Wei Qi wanted to alert everyone to not betray their country, the State Wei. Otherwise, they would end up being humiliated and dead.
Fan Ju faked his death during the entire humiliation and survived.
Afterward, he changed his name to Zhang Lu, escaped, and hid in a small village.
Sometime later, envoy Wang Ji of State Qin was visiting the State of Wei. One of his waiters named Zheng was a friend of Fan Ju, who found a good opportunity to recommend Fan Ju.
Soon, Fan Ju sneaked into the
hotel in the middle of the night
with Zheng's help, met and
impressed Wang Ji, who decided
to take him back to Qin.
Fan Ju hid in Wang's carriage and successfully arrived at the capital city of State Qin, but never got a chance to meet the king.
He was treated badly for over a year, with poor food and unpleasant living condition.
But Fan Ju never gave up.
After careful observation, he wrote an impressive letter to the king of Qin, who finally agreed to meet him.
As expected, he impressed the king of Qin during that meeting.
Fan Ju obtained the king's respect through brilliant analyses of the current situation and the strength and disadvantages of each warring state.
Ying Ji (325 BC - 251 BC), respected as King Zhaoxiang of Qin, was one of the most extraordinary, ambitious kings of the State Qin.
Under Fan Ju's suggestion and assistance, King Zhaoxiang removed power from his mother, also the powerful Queen Dowager Xuan (265); later, four - honored noble clans that supported her were all abolished and forced to migrate to remote places.
After having assisted the king to obtain centralized power, Fan Ju was trusted and nominated as the prime minister of State Qin.
Using his power Fan Ju nominated and empowered his former friend Zheng and Wang Ji, and gave money and treasure to everyone that had helped him before.
Meanwhile, he humiliated his former master Xu in public and forced Wei Qi the prime minister of the State Wei to commit suicide.
After Shang Yang's great reform made State Qin strong and powerful, the other six kingdoms felt threatened and then allied to fight against the Qin.
This strong alliance brought peace for over a decade, but it was a worrisome threat to King Zhaoxiang of Qin.
Fan Ju promised the king to tear it up.
He concluded the shortcomings and vulnerabilities of kings and powerful officials of these six states and used them smartly.
Fan Ju paid tributes to those who were poor and greedy and sent beautiful women to those who were romantic or dissolute.
The extremely smart point, however, was that he only bribed part of the people in the alliance, which then led to more internal suspicions and infighting.
Soon, this strong alliance in the history of China became only an empty title.
...
"Commander Ying Zheng you do not need to worry Qin is all about meritocracy and considering your achievement you might even be promoted straight to great general if you are truly lucky but I would not pin my hopes on that if I were but if worst comes to pass you will at least be promoted to a general. But I hope you will not betray me."
Hearing this Ying Zheng shook his head "of course I would never do that sir I will forever be in your debt."
Hearing this prime minister Zhang Lu nodded and said: "with your wit, I do not understand why do you want to go to war and not in the city and work as a high-level or a mid-level minister?"
"You truly overpraise me sir I am just a brute who is only interested in war and I am not wise enough to speak in the imperial palace"
"Hahahaha alright commander Ying or should I say general Ying? hahahaha and I wish you luck on the battlefield."
Finishing this the prime minister left the camp with Ying Zheng escorting him out.
***
End of chapter
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