Han Fei smiled, "You could say that."
"Showing up empty-handed, you are stingy," Zhao Feng teased.
"I came with nothing but my sleeves; what could I possibly give you as a gift?" Han Fei replied, annoyed.
"Watch your tone. I'm your savior, after all."
"If word gets out, your name, Han Fei, will become a joke." Zhao Feng laughed.
"Fine, with someone like you as my savior, I guess I'm just unlucky," Han Fei said helplessly.
Although Han Fei was a Legalist, skilled in the art of debate, he found himself utterly outmatched in verbal sparring with Zhao Feng.
"Though I didn't bring a gift," Han Fei continued, "I do have some news from the court about you. Do you want to hear it?"
"About Crown Prince Fusu and some of the disputes in the court," Han Fei said confidently as if certain Zhao Feng would be curious.
But!
Zhao Feng casually replied, "Not interested."
"You're not curious?" Han Fei asked in disbelief.
"Fusu personally requested to deliver the king's edict to you this time. Don't you want to know why?" Han Fei was momentarily taken aback.
"What else could it be?" Zhao Feng said. "He sees that my momentum is unstoppable."
"Fusu even sought me out earlier to apologize personally," Zhao Feng sneered.
"No wonder he's the eldest son the composure, the grace. It's no surprise he's garnered so much support in the court," Han Fei remarked with a chuckle. "By apologizing to you personally, word will spread that he's a leader who respects talent."
"Heh, respects talent," Zhao Feng scoffed, unimpressed.
"I've also heard a bit about Fusu," Han Fei continued. "Didn't Chunyu Yue send one of his disciples to threaten you regarding your engagement to Miss Wang?"
"Indeed," Zhao Feng replied. "He sent an idiot to try and force me to break off the engagement."
At this, Zhao Feng couldn't help but laugh.
"An idiot?" Han Fei was intrigued by this peculiar term.
"It means someone whose brain doesn't work properly," Zhao Feng explained casually.
"Fair enough. Fusu is unlucky to have such a teacher. No wonder the king hasn't named him crown prince," Han Fei nodded in agreement.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng gave Han Fei a surprised glance. He hadn't expected Han Fei to grasp the essence of the matter so quickly.
"Whether or not he becomes crown prince is none of my concern," Zhao Feng said. "As long as they don't provoke me, I don't care."
"Before I came, Li Si specifically stopped me to talk. Can you guess what his intention was?" Han Fei asked with a grin.
"I don't know much about the court's inner workings, but I've heard a bit. Li Si represents the new nobility, while Wang Wan and his ilk represent the old aristocracy and the royal family. Naturally, they're constantly at odds," Zhao Feng said thoughtfully. "With Fusu's visit, I'd guess Li Si wanted you to prevent him from apologizing to me."
Han Fei nodded. "Not so much to stop him, but to ensure you remain hostile toward Fusu. After all, your reputation in the court and military is unrivaled. They say you're the future Grand General. If Fusu offends you, it won't bode well for him."
"Of course," Han Fei added. "I'll be honest with you: back when you were guarding Weicheng, Wang Wan and his faction did try to sabotage you, accusing you of leaving your post without authorization. But the king dismissed their complaints."
"Now that they see they can't suppress you, even Fusu has come forward. It's up to you to weigh the pros and cons of this situation."
"As a friend, I urge you to avoid getting involved with them as much as possible. Don't be fooled by your current prominence in the military. If you get entangled in their disputes, it could lead to your downfall," Han Fei advised earnestly.
Zhao Feng listened to Han Fei's heartfelt warning and understood his good intentions.
"Don't worry," Zhao Feng reassured him. "Their petty disputes don't interest me. I'm doing just fine in the military. It's you who needs to be cautious in the court."
"Sigh," Han Fei sighed. "It's a shame we're still in wartime, or I'd drink with you today."
"There will be a chance," Zhao Feng said. "After we defeat Zhao, I'll invite you to my house for my wedding feast. You'll taste the finest wine in the land."
"Looking forward to it. I'll be waiting for that day," Han Fei said with a smile.
…
Half a day passed quickly.
Outside the military camp, five hundred imperial guards escorted two carriages back on their journey.
"Farewell, Crown Prince," Wang Jian said, clasping his hands in salute to Fusu.
"General, please stay here," Fusu replied, waving him off.
The two carriages, surrounded by imperial cavalry, slowly departed.
"What did the Crown Prince want with you?" Wang Jian asked Zhao Feng after Fusu left.
At this moment, Wang Ben and Yang Duanhe had already left for Jinyang City, leaving Zhao Feng temporarily in charge of the camp.
"His teacher, Chunyu Yue, sent someone to threaten me to break off my engagement with Yan'er, so Fusu came to apologize," Zhao Feng explained.
"Threaten you to break off the engagement?" Wang Jian's brows furrowed with anger.
He hadn't been aware of this.
"No wonder Chunyu Yue dared to target you so openly in court afterward. So that's the reason."
"Well, well," Wang Jian said coldly, his face darkening.
"Don't worry, Father-in-law," Zhao Feng said. "Since Fusu came to apologize personally, it shows his sincerity. However, Fusu is Fusu, and Chunyu Yue is Chunyu Yue. If he dares to act again, it won't end with just an apology."
This time, Zhao Feng accepted Fusu's apology, acknowledging it as a gesture of poor management on his part.
But considering Chunyu Yue's disposition, Zhao Feng suspected he might act against him again in the future. When that time came, Zhao Feng wouldn't show any mercy.
"I'll handle Chunyu Yue after we defeat Zhao," Wang Jian said firmly. "Even if he is the Crown Prince's teacher, there must be accountability."
"With you handling it, Father-in-law, I'm sure Chunyu Yue will suffer," Zhao Feng replied with a laugh.
At this moment, Wang Jian turned to Zhao Feng with a serious expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Father-in-law?" Zhao Feng asked, puzzled.
"Have people from the 18th Prince's faction come to see you?" Wang Jian suddenly asked.
"You know about that, Father-in-law?" Zhao Feng was surprised.
"Not only do I know, but word has spread in the court. They say you've allied with the 18th Prince and become his supporter," Wang Jian said meaningfully.
At this point, the implication was clear.
Spread in the court?
Why?
It was obvious that Hu Hai had been using Zhao Feng's name to rally support, making it known to everyone that Zhao Feng was on his side. This was a calculated move to trap Zhao Feng into taking his side in the future.
"Heh," Zhao Feng sneered. "Hu Hai. Just a young pup. It seems the people backing him are cunning, already calculating me into their plans."
With just this reminder from Wang Jian, Zhao Feng instantly understood who was pulling the strings.
There was no doubt it was Zhao Gao.
"Do you know what military officials fear most in court?" Wang Jian asked with a smile.
"Factional disputes," Zhao Feng answered without hesitation.
Knowing the history of China, Zhao Feng understood well that military officials should avoid becoming entangled in struggles for the throne.
Choosing the wrong side meant certain doom.
Even if they stood on the right side and achieved unparalleled success, the outcome could still be death due to overshadowing the ruler.
In this era, not every ruler was like Qin Shi Huang, capable of tolerance and exceptional control.
"So, you understand," Wang Jian said, nodding in satisfaction. "I was planning to remind you of this myself."
"With military power in hand, it's natural to be targeted by princes vying for power. I understand, Father-in-law," Zhao Feng said with a smile. "Getting involved in succession struggles is a grave taboo for a subject. No matter which side you take, it leads to disaster."
"So be cautious. No matter which prince tries to win you over, don't get involved," Wang Jian warned.
"Understood," Zhao Feng replied with a nod.
To be honest, Wang Jian didn't know that Zhao Feng looked down on all of Qin Shi Huang's sons.
The most virtuous and self-restrained among them, Fusu, was still inflexible and pedantic.
And he was the best of them. That spoke volumes about the rest of the princes' characters.
The worst of them all was the eighteenth son, Hu Hai Zhao Feng even admired his audacity in coming to him.
A fool who annihilated all his siblings, a fool who severed the Qin dynasty's lineage.
To the nation, to his kin, to his father
Hu Hai was a disgrace on all counts.
If the deceased Emperor Qin Shi Huang knew what Hu Hai had done, he would probably crawl out of his grave and tear this unfilial son to shreds.
"Among the Qin generals, has anyone gotten involved in the court faction struggles?" Zhao Feng asked curiously.
As the son-in-law of a high-ranking general like Wang Jian, Zhao Feng naturally had access to many secrets within the court.
"Sigh..."
Wang Jian let out a heavy sigh and gazed northward with a somber expression. "The Meng family perhaps they've already made their choice."
Hearing this, combined with his knowledge of history, Zhao Feng immediately understood.
"The Meng family chose Fusu."
"Historically, the Meng family did the same."
"When Fusu was killed by Hu Hai, Meng Tian was also executed by him, and the Meng family army on the northern border was disbanded. Of course, it wasn't called the Meng family army at the time but rather the Northern Border Camp."
"The Meng family's fate is such a pity," Zhao Feng thought to himself.
"What are your plans for the future, Father-in-law?" Zhao Feng asked with some curiosity.
Historically, Wang Jian was a master at self-preservation. Even when leading armies in the field, he regularly requested rewards from the king. This self-deprecating approach was meant to assure the king he had no ambitions.
Because of this, even at the height of the Wang family's prestige, they refrained from joining factional struggles.
"Our Wang family is loyal only to the Qin king."
"For now, we are loyal to the current king."
"And in the future, we will be loyal to the king's heir," Wang Jian said gravely.
"That is indeed the safest course of action," Zhao Feng nodded.
This explained why the Wang family managed to survive under Hu Hai and Zhao Gao, while others perished. Only during the chaos at the end of the Qin dynasty did their lineage come to an end.
Wang Jian's cautious approach to self-preservation was undeniably effective.
"I was initially worried you might get involved in these matters, given your youth," Wang Jian said.
"After all, you're not just a key general of Qin but also my son-in-law. In a way, you represent the Wang family now," he added, patting Zhao Feng on the shoulder with a smile.
"Don't worry, Father-in-law," Zhao Feng replied.
"I won't get involved in such affairs. Besides, neither Fusu nor Hu Hai are worthy of my attention." He smiled faintly.
These words caused Wang Jian's expression to shift. He gave Zhao Feng a deep, probing look.
Words hovered on his lips, but he ultimately refrained from speaking.
"Now that Jinyang has fallen, may I lead the troops to attack tomorrow?" Zhao Feng inquired.
"What is your plan?" Wang Jian asked in response.
"Nothing complicated conquer Zhao's cities as quickly as possible," Zhao Feng replied immediately.
"Wait ten more days," Wang Jian said.
"Why?" Zhao Feng asked in confusion.
"You currently have only fifty thousand elite soldiers. Half a month ago, I petitioned the king for reinforcements. They are already on their way and will arrive within ten days," Wang Jian explained.
Zhao Feng's eyes lit up. "How many reinforcements?" he asked eagerly.
"Don't you know how many soldiers make up a main combat camp?" Wang Jian glanced at him and replied in mock annoyance.
"Fifty thousand recruits?" Zhao Feng ventured a guess.
"Exactly fifty thousand, all of whom have already undergone three months of training. The battlefield will further hone them," Wang Jian said seriously.
"The king has also granted you the command token for the Fourth Main Combat Camp of the Blue Fields Army," he added.
"Your subordinate accepts the order!" Zhao Feng responded promptly.
He then returned to his camp to announce the arrival of reinforcements.
As Zhao Feng left, Wang Jian stood in silence.
"Zhao Feng, sigh..."
"This young man seems to hold no reverence for royal authority."
"I can't tell whether that's a blessing or a curse for our Wang family."
"Ah, well. We'll just have to take things one step at a time. This boy's audacity was clear when he boldly declared he'd steal a bride. Now, it's only grown more evident."
"Does he believe his strength alone is enough to defy royal power?"
For Zhao Feng, Wang Jian felt both pride and frustration.
He was proud of his son-in-law's exceptional abilities but frustrated by his lack of respect for royal authority. The only time Zhao Feng seemed to acknowledge royal power was when he was promoted or rewarded.
Wang Jian knew there was little he could do to change Zhao Feng's temperament it was something he had never encountered before.
In the State of Zhao, at Handan:
"Outrageous!"
"How could Jinyang fall?"
"How?!"
"What was Yan Ju doing?"
"I gave him two hundred thousand troops two hundred thousand!"
"Yet he couldn't even defend a single city like Jinyang."
"What use is he to me?"
Zhao Yan bellowed furiously in the court, his face contorted with rage as he heaved deep, angry breaths.
"Please calm yourself, Your Majesty," the assembled officials pleaded in unison.
The fall of Jinyang cast a heavy pall over the court, leaving many Zhao officials visibly grim-faced.
"Your Majesty, there's no longer any alternative," Zhao Yi stepped forward and said loudly.
"With Jinyang lost, the only option is to recall the troops from Yan to defend against Qin."
"Otherwise, Zhao will face certain doom."
"Withdraw the troops?" Zhao Yan gritted his teeth, his face filled with reluctance.
But at this point, with Yan Ju defeated, there seemed to be no other choice.
Zhao's remaining forces consisted of 300,000 stationed in Yan and 200,000 in Dai.
"How many troops does Yan Ju still have?" Zhao Yan asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.
"Your Majesty," an official stepped forward, "the situation in Jinyang is still unclear. General Yan Ju is retreating with the remnants of his forces toward Leiyang, but it's estimated that fewer than 100,000 remain."
"Less than 100,000?"
"Yan Ju, you've truly let me down!" Zhao Yan cursed again.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Yi interjected, "Jinyang is the cornerstone of Zhao's defense. With its fall, our defenses are compromised."
"Since Your Majesty has already concentrated the regional troops in Jinyang, the surrounding cities are now defenseless. Qin's forces will sweep through them without resistance."
"Our only chance lies in recalling Yan's forces while General Yan Ju still has some strength left. Otherwise, the consequences will be catastrophic."
Zhao Yi spoke firmly, his tone growing louder with urgency.
This time, Zhao Yi was not alone.
"I second the motion."
"The nation's crisis must take precedence."
"Please, Your Majesty, issue the order to withdraw the troops from Yan."
"If we do not withdraw, Zhao will fall."
Many officials, including members of the royal family and neutral ministers, echoed Zhao Yi's plea.
These officials, all part of Zhao's elite, had their interests to protect. If the nation fell, its power and privileges would be reduced to nothing.
They understood all too well:
If Zhao fell, the land they had annexed would be redistributed by Qin to its soldiers. This redistribution of land was precisely why the states had allied to resist Qin in the past it posed a direct threat to the aristocracy's interests.
For the sake of their wealth and land, they had no choice but to support this motion.
But now, with Qin's dominance solidified, there was no more hope of reversing the tide.
As more and more officials voiced their agreement, Zhao Yan's expression grew darker. This time, he truly had no choice but to recall the troops.
His dream of becoming a king who expanded his territory had been shattered.
"Nearly half of Yan's territory is already under my control. Do I have to retreat?"
"Just a little more time, and Yan would have been mine," Zhao Yan muttered, clenching his fists in bitter frustration.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Yi said urgently, "there is no more time. If we do not withdraw, Zhao will be doomed."
"Can we recall Li Mu from Dai to defend the capital?" Zhao Yan turned to ask Guo Kai.
At this question, Guo Kai hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
If Li Mu were to return, it doesn't seem like a good thing for Great Qin.
"Your Majesty."
"If we recall General Li Mu, does that mean we're abandoning Dai Commandery?"
"That's half of our Zhao territory!" Guo Kai hesitated for a moment before respectfully voicing his concern.
"Your Majesty must not give up Dai Commandery. If we lose it, the northern borders of Zhao will be in grave danger not only from Qin but also from the Xiongnu," Zhao Yi added.
"Is there truly no other option but to withdraw troops from Yan? Can't we seek assistance from Qi and Chu?"
Even now, Zhao Yan still clung to a glimmer of hope.
"Your Majesty."
"Have you still not figured it out?"
"Our Zhao kingdom's campaign against Yan was unjustified. And now, with our forces still deep in Yan and unable to return, how could Qi or Chu possibly send troops to aid us?"
"What justification would they have to support us?"
"Your Majesty should have been more cautious when deciding to attack Yan," Zhao Yi boldly rebuked, taking advantage of the moment.
"You"
Seeing Zhao Yi completely dismissing his plans, Zhao Yan was filled with anger, but more than that, he was helpless.
If he had truly become a wise ruler known for expanding his territory, he might have been able to punish Zhao Yi outright, as his success would have commanded the respect of the court.
But what was the reality now?
He had failed.
If the troops were not withdrawn from Yan, the kingdom would fall.
Under the pressure of the entire court, Zhao Yan was left with no choice but to announce bitterly: "Draft the decree. Order Supreme General Pang Nuan to withdraw the troops."
"Your Majesty is wise," Zhao Yi immediately proclaimed with a triumphant tone.
A hint of satisfaction flickered across his face.
At this moment, Zhao Yan's attempt to solidify his prestige had utterly failed.
"Your Majesty,"
"I have a matter to report," Guo Kai suddenly stepped forward.
"Speak, Prime Minister," Zhao Yan said with trust, his tone much warmer upon seeing Guo Kai.
"According to intelligence, the Qin forces have divided into two routes to attack Zhao. One is the main force led by Wang Jian. The other is a smaller contingent from the northern Qin army tasked with holding off our troops in Dai Commandery."
"To preserve Zhao, aside from recalling the forces from Yan, we must also address the situation in Dai. If General Li Mu could defeat the northern Qin forces, it would be a great boon. Once their northern forces are crushed, Wang Jian's army will lose its momentum and retreat."
"Therefore, I believe General Li Mu should take the initiative and launch an offensive," Guo Kai said with a solemn expression.
Hearing this, Zhao Yan appeared deep in thought.
"If Li Mu can lead the army to defeat Meng Wu, the troops in Dai will no longer be held back and can be redeployed to resist Wang Jian. If the Qin forces are defeated, I can then send the army back to attack Yan," Zhao Yan thought to himself, swayed by Guo Kai's suggestion.
"The Prime Minister speaks wisely."
"If we can eliminate the Qin forces harassing Dai Commandery, the interior of Zhao will be secured," Zhao Yan said, nodding immediately.
However, Zhao Yi frowned and promptly stepped forward to object: "Your Majesty must not order General Li Mu to launch an offensive."
"The Qin forces are cunning. If General Li Mu takes the initiative, he risks falling into their trap."
"I believe General Li Mu should prioritize defense," Zhao Yi argued.
Guo Kai quickly countered: "Spring Peace Lord, your words are absurd."
"General Li Mu is the supreme general of Zhao, entrusted with defending our lands. Now that we face foreign invaders, how can he merely defend without counterattacking?"
"As a general of Zhao, he must crush the enemy. If he cannot, then we should find someone more capable," Guo Kai declared righteously.
At this moment, Zhao Yan immediately understood and echoed: "Well said."
"If Li Mu cannot defeat the enemy, then we shall indeed select someone more capable. I will give him three months. If he cannot defeat the invading Qin forces within that time, I will find another commander."
Hearing this, Zhao Yi glared at Guo Kai, frustrated but powerless.
It was evident to him that Guo Kai and Zhao Yan were conspiring to use this as a pretext to strip Li Mu of his command.
This was Guo Kai's true goal.
"Lian Po is already dead. With that, I have fulfilled Qin's request. Next, I only need to strip Li Mu of his military power. This will be another great contribution."
"I'm sure the king will reward me generously in the future," Guo Kai thought gleefully.
Once again, Guo Kai, who was remembered in history as the "War God of Great Qin," made his move!
Yan Kingdom, Yuyang City.
Twenty thousand Yan soldiers were stationed here, with reinforcements continually arriving.
The elite forces of Zhao, under the command of Pang Nuan, had been virtually unstoppable. Yan's strength was no match for theirs, as the Yan army ranked among the weakest in all of the warring states only slightly stronger than the Han.
At this moment, nearly half of Yan's territory had already fallen to Zhao.
Countless Zhao soldiers were advancing, while the Yan army mounted a desperate defense.
At Zhao's central command:
"Supreme General."
"An urgent decree has arrived from Handan."
"The king orders a withdrawal."
A messenger from the Zhao capital entered, holding the royal decree as he reported to Pang Nuan.
Upon hearing this, Pang Nuan's expression immediately changed.
"What did you say?"
"Withdraw?"
Even his voice wavered.
"Yes, General," the messenger said respectfully, handing over the decree.
Pang Nuan's face turned ashen as he read its contents.
"General, is the king ordering us to retreat?"
"We are on the brink of conquering Yan. Once we breach this city, Yan will be no more this is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement!" Zhao Cong said anxiously.
"General Zhao," Pang Nuan said with a heavy sigh.
"I don't want to retreat. The king doesn't want to retreat either."
"But now…"
"Qin has already broken through Jinyang. General Lian Po has fallen in battle."
"If we don't return to defend Zhao, our kingdom will be in grave peril."
"But we are just one step away from taking Yuyang! We have already fought so hard and sacrificed so many soldiers. To retreat now I truly cannot accept it!" Zhao Cong gritted his teeth.
"Whether we accept it or not, we have no choice."
"If we don't withdraw, Zhao will truly be destroyed by Qin," Pang Nuan said with another sigh.
Finally, with great reluctance, he raised his hand and gave the order he dreaded most in his life: "Sound the withdrawal."
Immediately, the sound of gongs echoed across the battlefield.
The Zhao army, which had been fiercely attacking the city, began an orderly retreat.
On the walls of Yuyang City:
Clad in armor, Crown Prince Dan of Yan watched the retreating Zhao forces with a puzzled expression.
"Why are the Zhao forces retreating so suddenly?"
"This doesn't seem like Pang Nuan's style," the crown prince said, frowning.
"Perhaps,"
"Qin has become a serious threat to Zhao," Yue Sheng said solemnly.
"We haven't received any information about Zhao's situation all news has been sealed by Pang Nuan. Could it be that Zhao has indeed encountered a crisis?" Crown Prince Dan's eyes lit up.
"That must be it."
"Otherwise, Pang Nuan would never retreat."
"In this case, I suggest we immediately pursue the Zhao army and deal them a severe blow," Yue Sheng proposed.
"No," Crown Prince Dan replied, shaking his head.
"Why not?" Yue Sheng asked, confused.
"First, Pang Nuan's army is highly disciplined, and their retreat is orderly. Even if we pursue it, we may not gain much. Second, if we truly crush the Zhao army now, would that be a good thing for us?"
"If Qin ends up destroying Zhao entirely, wouldn't Yan face an even greater threat in the future?"
"Ying Zheng is nothing less than a wolf with insatiable ambition," Crown Prince Dan said coldly.
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