nashuaworldcup Chapter 447 My dear ministers, do you think the Wei Kingdom will grant my request?
Chapter 447 My dear ministers, do you think the Wei Kingdom will grant my request?
As the Wei envoy's figure hurriedly disappeared outside the hall, King Ying Zheng of Qin slowly swept his gaze over the assembled courtiers below. His expression was calm as still water, yet it seemed to conceal turbulent undercurrents. He said in a deep voice, "What do you think of Wei's actions, my dear ministers?" His voice was deep and mellow, echoing in the empty hall, as if carrying an irresistible majesty.
As soon as he finished speaking, Yao Jia stepped forward quickly, his posture upright and his expression respectful. He bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Wei's actions are insidious. On the one hand, they want to use the Crown Prince's studies as a pretext to lull us into a false sense of security; on the other hand, the Crown Prince of Wei is studying diligently at our Great Qin Academy, and he will surely absorb a great deal of knowledge about governing the country and strengthening the army. Once he takes this knowledge back to Wei, it will undoubtedly help Wei rise rapidly and become a formidable enemy of Great Qin." His words were earnest, and his eyes flashed with worry, as if he had already foreseen the threat posed by Wei's growing power.
Before Yao Jia could finish speaking, Ying Wuyou stepped forward calmly. Dressed in magnificent robes, her figure was graceful yet spirited, her every gesture exuding the air of royalty. "Lord Yao is right," she said, nodding slightly in agreement with Yao Jia's viewpoint.
She then looked at the King of Qin and spoke again: "Father, Your Excellencies, the initial intention behind establishing these three academies was to attract talented individuals from all over the world and make them serve Qin. If we rashly refuse the Crown Prince of Wei's request to study, those talented individuals from other countries who are unaware of the truth will inevitably become suspicious, worrying that Qin is treating them differently, or thinking that Qin is unwilling to accept talented individuals from other countries. As a result, many insightful people will hesitate to come to Qin in the future. From a long-term perspective, this is extremely detrimental to Qin's great cause of attracting talent and dominating the world." Her words were clear and concise, her voice crisp and pleasant, yet resolute, revealing a profound consideration for Qin's future strategy.
Meng Tian stepped forward, clad in armor, exuding an imposing aura. He clasped his hands in a salute, his voice booming like a bell: "Your Majesty, this humble general believes that since Crown Prince Wei dares to come to Xianyang, we can keep track of his every move at any time. The Great Qin Academy has strict rules and complete systems. The teachers are all loyal to our Great Qin and strictly control all matters of the academy. Even if Crown Prince Wei harbors rebellious intentions, I doubt he can cause any trouble. Placing him under our watchful eyes will make it easier to monitor him and will also demonstrate the magnanimity of our Great Qin." His gaze was firm, his expression confident, and he was full of confidence in the Great Qin Academy's ability to manage it.
In the imperial court, the ministers began to whisper among themselves. Some deeply agreed with Yao Jia's concerns, believing that the State of Wei should not be trusted lightly; others felt that Ying Wuyou and Meng Tian's words were also reasonable, and that refusing the Crown Prince of Wei would damage the reputation of the Qin Dynasty. For a time, opinions were divided, and no consensus could be reached.
King Ying Zheng of Qin listened quietly to the murmurs of the crowd, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of his throne. His gaze was deep and unfathomable, making his thoughts impossible to fathom. After a long while, he slightly raised his hand, signaling for silence. The hall fell silent instantly; everyone held their breath, awaiting the King's decision.
Instead of continuing the previous topic, the King of Qin asked, "My esteemed ministers, do you think the State of Wei will agree to my demands?" The King of Qin's gaze swept over the assembled ministers, his voice echoing throughout the Xianyang Palace, carrying with it his innate majesty.
For a moment, the hall was silent. Everyone looked at each other, then slowly shook their heads. Neither of these two conditions was too heavy for Wei. Giving up ten years of control over the crown prince, or surrendering ten years of monopoly on salt and iron in Hanoi, would be tantamount to cutting off one's own arm. How could Wei easily agree to such terms?
Feng Quji stepped forward with steady steps, cupped his hands in greeting, his posture upright and his expression composed. Though advanced in years, his gaze remained sharp as an eagle's: "Wei will certainly not agree. Based on my understanding of the Wei court, they will never compromise so easily. However, I believe Wei will not reject the proposal outright. It is very likely that Wei will propose other solutions. Although Wei's national strength is not as great as that of my Qin, even a weakened camel is bigger than a horse. They will surely still want to gain some benefits in this game and will not give up easily."
King Ying Zheng of Qin nodded slightly, a hint of agreement flashing in his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "What Minister Feng said is absolutely right. The State of Wei has always been cunning, and this time they will certainly not sit idly by and wait for their doom."
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd again, and continued, "What do you, my esteemed ministers, think is the amount of concessions Wei would make for us to agree?"
These words immediately sparked a flurry of discussion within the hall. The ministers whispered among themselves, each offering their own opinions.
Sima Xin stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the State of Wei should at least relinquish its monopoly on salt and iron in Hanoi for five years. Only in this way can they demonstrate their sincerity. Salt and iron are vital national assets, and controlling them will provide a certain degree of economic restraint on the State of Wei. Five years is enough time for our Great Qin to gain an advantage in this regard and weaken the State of Wei’s strength.”
After a moment's thought, Meng Tian clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that in addition to monopolizing the salt and iron monopolies, we can also demand that Wei cede some border cities. Border cities are strategically important, which will not only expand the territory of our Great Qin, but also strengthen our military deterrence against Wei. In this way, we can suppress Wei both economically and militarily." Meng Tian's voice was loud and clear; as a military general, he placed greater emphasis on strategic military interests.
Ying Wuyou stepped forward, his demeanor elegant, his voice clear yet composed: "What you gentlemen say is all reasonable. However, we must also consider Wei's bottom line and the reactions of other states. If the conditions are too harsh, Wei might resort to desperate measures, uniting with other states against our Great Qin, which would be undesirable. In my opinion, we should make some concessions on the monopoly of salt and iron and the control of border cities in exchange for Wei's political submission. For example, we could require Wei to obey our Great Qin's commands on major decisions. This would both demonstrate our Great Qin's hegemonic status and avoid excessively escalating the conflict."
King Ying Zheng of Qin listened quietly to his ministers' advice, deep in thought. He understood that this negotiation with Wei was a delicate matter with far-reaching consequences. He had to secure the greatest possible benefit for Qin while also considering the situation on all sides. The slightest misstep could trigger a new crisis.
"I have taken note of all your suggestions, my esteemed ministers," the King of Qin said. "This matter requires further consideration. We will discuss countermeasures based on the proposals put forward by the Wei envoys when they return. That's all for now, court adjourned!"
The courtiers bowed and withdrew. King Qin gazed at the empty hall and the gloomy sky outside, lost in thought.