20demayo Chapter 446 Wei State's Request
Chapter 446 Wei State's Request
However, as an experienced diplomat, he quickly regained his composure, a smile spreading across his face, and explained calmly, “Qin is a wealthy and powerful state, and its development in the past two years has been rapid. With a strong army, abundant supplies, and ample provisions, it is undoubtedly the leading state among the feudal lords. My King of Wei deeply admires Qin's strength and ponders day and night how to lead Wei to prosperity as well. I also hope to learn from Qin's experience to vigorously develop our economy and people's livelihood. As for Crown Prince Ji, he has been intelligent and studious since childhood, with a strong interest in the knowledge of various states. If he can study in Qin, a land full of wisdom, he will surely gain a lot and be able to contribute to the development of Wei after returning home.”
King Ying Zheng of Qin smiled slightly, looking at the Wei envoy with a half-smile. His smile held a hint of amusement as he continued to press on unhurriedly: "Oh? In that case, what benefit would this bring to my Great Qin? Could it be that, based on a few words of admiration, I should assume the responsibility of educating the crown prince of another country?" His voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the hall, each word seeming to strike the Wei envoy's heart heavily.
The Wei envoy clearly hadn't anticipated the King of Qin's relentless pressure and direct questioning. He inwardly groaned, his face flushing and paling by turns. Sending the crown prince as a hostage was already a show of weakness under the threat of Qin's overwhelming power; why was the King still dissatisfied? His mind raced, frantically searching for a solution, but for a moment he was speechless, his lips parting slightly, yet no sound came out.
In this slightly awkward silence, Grand Chancellor Feng Quji stepped forward from the ranks of court officials. He was thin and had sharp eyes. After bowing respectfully, he said loudly, “Your Majesty, Wei’s actions are likely not what they seem; they want to uncover the secrets of our Great Qin! Wei has always been wary of Qin, and their sudden sending of the Crown Prince to Qin must be a trap.” His voice was firm and powerful, causing a small commotion in the hall. The court officials began to whisper among themselves.
Feng Quji's words struck like a thunderbolt, causing the Wei envoy's legs to buckle and he collapsed to his knees with a thud. His forehead pressed against the ground, his voice trembling as he said, "Absolutely not! Prime Minister Feng, please don't misunderstand. Our King of Wei truly admires the King of Qin and longs to establish a long-term, stable, and friendly relationship with Qin. Crown Prince Ji came to Qin to study purely to broaden his horizons and learn Qin's advanced techniques; he had absolutely no intention of prying into any secrets. If he breaks this oath, he is willing to accept divine punishment." As he spoke, he secretly glanced at the King of Qin's expression.
Immediately, the court was abuzz with discussion. Some ministers believed that this was a show of weakness by the State of Wei, and that the Crown Prince of Wei had come to the State of Qin to learn advanced methods of governance in order to revitalize Wei. Others, however, felt that this was a conspiracy by the State of Wei, and that the Crown Prince of Wei was probably on a mission to gather intelligence, and that once he entered the Great Qin Academy, he would take the opportunity to spy on Qin's secrets.
King Ying Zheng of Qin listened quietly to his ministers' debate, pondering inwardly. The Great Qin Academy was an institution he had established to cultivate the future pillars of Qin, gathering the nation's talents and teaching various subjects such as classics, history, philosophy, military strategy, law, and agriculture. Allowing Prince Wei, Ji, to enter the academy would demonstrate Qin's magnanimity and openness, while also providing an opportunity to keep him under his watchful eye. However, if he were to be careless and allow Ji to steal Qin's secrets, the consequences would be unimaginable.
King Ying Zheng of Qin pondered for a long time. He looked at the Wei envoy kneeling on the ground, and after a moment of silence, he slowly said, "It is not impossible to have the Crown Prince of Wei come to Qin to study at the Great Qin Academy, but..." He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, and a glint of unfathomable light flashed in his eyes.
Hearing that the King of Qin seemed to be softening his stance, the Wei envoy was overjoyed. He hurriedly crawled forward a few steps and said eagerly, "Whatever request the King of Qin has, our Wei state will do its best to fulfill it. As long as Crown Prince Ji has the opportunity to study in Qin, the King of Wei will surely remember the King of Qin's kindness." His voice carried a hint of flattery, and sweat slid down his forehead and dripped onto the cold ground.
King Ying Zheng of Qin narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the prostrate Wei envoy. His voice was deep yet carried an undeniable authority: "My conditions are simple. You are presented with two paths. First, after completing his studies, Prince Ji of Wei must serve my Qin for ten years. During these ten years, he is forbidden from meeting any Wei citizen or exchanging messages with them. Second, Wei must cede the salt and iron monopoly over the Hanoi region for ten years. Go back and tell the King of Wei to carefully consider this."
Upon hearing this, the Wei envoy was greatly alarmed, his face turning deathly pale. Either of these conditions would be a devastating blow to Wei. If Crown Prince Ji of Wei served Qin for ten years, it would mean that Wei's future heir was deeply controlled by Qin. Ten years is enough time to change many things; who could guarantee that Crown Prince Ji wouldn't be assimilated by Qin, and whether he would still be wholeheartedly devoted to Wei upon his return? Furthermore, offering up ten years of exclusive control over the salt and iron industries in Hanoi would sever a vital economic lifeline for Wei. Salt and iron were crucial resources for the nation's livelihood and military; losing control of Hanoi's salt and iron industries would severely impact Wei's economic strength and military development.
The envoy hesitated for a moment, then mustered his courage, raised his head, and said with a troubled expression, "Your Majesty, these two conditions are far too harsh. I implore Your Majesty to consider the long-standing friendship between our two countries and reconsider. Crown Prince Ji is the future hope of Wei. It would be unacceptable for the people of Wei to isolate him from Wei for ten years. As for the salt and iron industries in Henan, they are crucial to Wei's national economy and people's livelihood. If he were to relinquish his power, the livelihood of the people of Wei and the equipment of the army would face difficulties. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy."
The King of Qin snorted coldly, his expression growing even more stern: "What? You find my conditions harsh? If your Wei Kingdom had no sincerity, why would you have sent your crown prince to Qin? Now, Qin's national strength is formidable, and its military might is invincible. Destroying your Wei Kingdom would not be difficult. I am already showing extraordinary mercy by giving Wei Kingdom this opportunity. Go back and tell the King of Wei not to miss this golden opportunity."
The envoy was intimidated by the King of Qin's imposing manner and knelt down again, his voice filled with fear: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I will certainly convey Your Majesty's words to the King of Wei. However, I dare not make such a decision on my own regarding such an important matter. I hope Your Majesty can grant me some time to allow the Wei court to discuss it."
The King of Qin nodded slightly, his expression softening: "Then I will give you five days. In five days, I will hear Wei's reply. You may leave."
The envoy felt as if he had been granted a pardon and scrambled out of the hall. Upon returning to his post station, he immediately wrote a letter and sent it to the State of Wei by fast horse.