I'm so sorry, guys, I was half asleep from my IV drip and uploaded the wrong file.

The news of Li Mu leading his army to withdraw from the northern border quickly spread throughout the Zhao state and even reached Xianyang. For Zhao, this was a desperate attempt to "cut off an arm to survive," but for Qin, it was more like the last struggle of prey.

Inside Handan, the atmosphere was slightly invigorated by the impending return of Li Mu's army. After all, Li Mu was a renowned general who had guarded the northern border for many years, and his elite troops still remained, perhaps becoming the city's greatest asset in its defense.

However, Li Mu was also well aware that whether his troops could withstand the Qin offensive depended on whether Qin was willing to give Zhao a "buffer" opportunity.

...

On this day, the envoy team selected by Crown Prince Qian had already traveled hundreds of miles from Zhao territory, heading towards Xianyang after a long and arduous journey.

At the head of the procession was an elderly minister over fifty years old named Gongsun Qi, who was known in the Zhao court for his eloquence and insight.

Because he was required to "donate the mineral vein to show his loyalty," the court officials kept passing the buck, and finally this hot potato fell on his head.

Throughout the journey, Gongsun Qi repeatedly pondered the wording of his conversation with Ying Zheng, never daring to relax for a moment. He understood perfectly well that whether he could persuade the King of Qin now did not lie in the gold and silver treasures, but in the reason that "the King of Qin was unwilling to take immediate action against Zhao"—that is, the batch of mountains and mineral veins that were "offered," and the sincerity of "showing weakness."

If Qin only coveted the geographical advantage and was willing to give Zhao three to five years to recover, Zhao could still save its life. But if Ying Zheng didn't buy into that and was determined to crush Zhao, then no matter how many gifts he gave, they would just be fresh meat sent into the tiger's mouth.

Gongsun Qi tossed and turned every night, unable to sleep soundly. The thought of the young overlord in Xianyang Palace and the ruthless methods of his butcher subordinate made his heart pound. But the arrow was already on the bowstring, and there was no turning back. He could only grit his teeth and move forward.

...

Meanwhile, in Xianyang, the capital of Qin.

The Grand Commandant's residence was as bustling as ever.

These past two days, the wicked man has been busy discussing military affairs with the newly formed Privy Council. The expansion northward into the grasslands is still being planned and is not in a hurry, but the main task at present is to completely wipe out the remaining Zhao and Wei territories in the southeast.

However, the actions of the Zhao court were somewhat unusual. There was no high-profile oath-taking ceremony, nor any request for assistance. Instead, they were frantically drawing troops from Handan and sending envoys with gifts—as if they wanted something from Qin.

"Hmph, even a cornered beast will fight." The wicked man toyed with the teacup in his hand, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "The territory of Zhao is indeed quite large, but we have everything they have, and what we don't have... wouldn't everything be ours after we destroy them?"

"What a load of rubbish! Trying to give me my mother's stuff as a gift?!"

Zhang Erhe chimed in with a grin, "Grand Commandant, news came from the palace today that the Zhao envoy is almost in Xianyang, saying he's offering mountains, land, and minerals to restore the friendship between Qin and Zhao. Isn't he just bringing our things as gifts?"

The wicked man put down his teacup, remaining noncommittal: "It all depends on what Your Majesty thinks. We're currently on the front lines in all directions; if we spare Zhao for now, it won't matter. But if you're determined to annihilate them in one fell swoop, then we'll save ourselves the trouble of arguing with them. However…"

He paused abruptly, casually spread out a map on the table, and lightly pointed to the location of Handan. "If Zhao really sends Li Mu back to defend and puts up a desperate resistance, it will cause some trouble. Handan has high walls and abundant granaries, and Li Mu is, after all, a famous general. It's not impossible for it to drag things out for a year or two."

Zhang Erhe gave an awkward smile: "Then... shall we wait for His Majesty to make a decision? What if His Majesty really wants to delay, wait until the new northern army is fully prepared, and then send troops to destroy the Zhao state together?"

The wicked man nodded slightly. “Let them waste their time. We’re not short of time anyway—the Privy Council is still in the process of integration, and the new military equipment is at a critical stage. If the mines that Zhao State provides are satisfactory, it wouldn’t be bad to spare them a few years.”

He closed the map, looking leisurely: "Take a look. Once the Zhao envoy presents the map of the mineral veins, see where they are located. If we can use this to infiltrate Zhao's territory, then it will be easy to coordinate an attack from within and without."

...

The following day, the Zhao envoys led by Gongsun Qi arrived in Xianyang. As soon as they entered the city, they saw eight gilded characters hanging outside the tall city gate: "Those who offend our Great Qin, though far away, shall be punished." The dazzling light and the imposing presence made the group tremble.

Gongsun Qi gritted his teeth and stepped forward, presenting the letter of credence and the list of gifts. The guards of Xianyang City, seeing that it was an envoy from Zhao, did not make things difficult for them, but simply told them to wait outside the city for a while, and someone would lead them into the city.

They waited for almost half a day before a Qin state official, dressed as a palace attendant, strolled over and led the group through the streets and market, heading straight for the Grand Commandant's residence.

Gongsun Qi was filled with doubt. Theoretically, they should have gone to the Qin court or relevant government offices to "submit the official letter," so why did they go straight to the Grand Commandant's residence?

Could it be that the Qin state's military and political system had already begun operating from the position of "Grand Commandant" at this moment?

...

Standing before the Grand Commandant's residence, Gongsun Qi gazed at the black-feathered battle banners circling atop the high walls, a wave of unease washing over him. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself, first turning back to signal his entourage to prepare the offerings, before following the guide inside.

Inside the main hall, the wicked man was reviewing military dispatch documents. Upon seeing Gongsun Qi and his party arrive, he didn't even raise his head, but casually waved his hand, saying, "Gentlemen, you have come from afar and must be tired from your journey. Please sit down. In Qin, etiquette is often informal, so we can skip the tedious kneeling and bowing."

Gongsun Qi harbored deep resentment, but dared not act rashly. He remained respectful and bowed deeply, saying, "I am Gongsun Qi of Zhao. I have come to pay my respects to your esteemed country on the orders of my king, bringing gifts and mining deeds. I hope that the Grand Commandant will be gracious enough to introduce us to Your Majesty."

He spoke very politely, but his face betrayed a hint of anxiety.

After all, everyone knows that although the wicked husband carries great weight, Qin is ultimately ruled by Ying Zheng. Without seeing Ying Zheng himself, everything is just empty talk.

The wicked man remained calm and unhurried: "His Majesty has been busy with state affairs these past few days and has not had time. If you truly wish to see His Majesty, you must first let this Grand Commandant understand your intentions. Otherwise, what if you were to imitate the Yan Kingdom's assassination attempt...?"

He smiled and gestured, "Tell me, what gifts did you give, and what benefits are you hoping to gain?"

Gongsun Qi's forehead was slightly sweaty. He stopped beating around the bush and gestured for his attendants to present scrolls of mountain and river topographical maps, a booklet detailing the distribution of mineral deposits, and a list of gifts. "These are the mountainous and mineral-rich areas that my king wishes to offer to your country. In addition, there are more than a hundred boxes of pearls, jade, and precious artifacts, intended as a gesture of goodwill and a wish for lasting friendship with Qin."

The wicked man examined the bamboo slips and scrolls and discovered that although most of the mining areas selected by Zhao Guoxuan were located in the border mountainous areas with inconvenient transportation, there were many places rich in iron and copper, and the area was quite considerable.

For the Qin state, this would undoubtedly further strengthen its logistics and manufacturing capabilities. As long as roads were built and development was carried out, a steady stream of military resources could be obtained within one or two years.