"boom!!"

A thunderclap resounded across the sky.

As spring thunder rumbles, all things revive.

The spring rain drizzled for two days, arriving much later than usual.

As the rain gradually stopped, people came out to the streets and chatted with each other.

This year's spring rains came a little late, but they lasted a long time and were plentiful, so this year is sure to be a bumper harvest.

Three messengers rushed in through the city gate and galloped wildly through the streets on horseback.

"Hey, it must be good news, right?"

The people watched intently, whispering among themselves.

For about a month now, scouts and messengers have been returning to Xianyang City from time to time, bringing good news. They've gotten used to it.

Inside the palace, the wicked husband and Ying Zheng were playing chess face to face.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall. Zhao Gao, who was attending to Ying Zheng inside the hall, immediately hurried to the hall door, fearing that something trivial might have disturbed Ying Zheng's enjoyment.

"Squeak..."

Zhao Gao cautiously pushed open the palace door and saw Meng Can, the Grand Canal Magistrate, standing outside. He quickly bowed and asked, "Grand Canal Magistrate Meng, what business do you have with His Majesty?"

Meng Can lowered his voice, "Go quickly and inform the King that it is about the three clans."

Zhao Gao nodded. "Then I'll trouble Meng Taicang to wait a moment while I go and inform the King."

After saying that, he turned and walked away quickly.

Approaching Ying Zheng and his companion, Zhao Gao lowered his voice as much as possible and said, "Your Majesty, Meng Taicang requests an audience, saying it concerns matters concerning the three clans."

Upon hearing this, the two men who were playing a game stopped what they were doing and said, "Quickly, call him in."

A short while later, Meng Can walked through the long corridor and finally arrived at the side hall.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

"No need for formalities!"

Meng Can stood up and smiled at her husband as a greeting. The latter nodded slightly and asked, "Taicang, are the three clans interested?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Can's smile widened, and he quickly replied, "The messenger just brought back news that the first batch of wolf pelts sent by the Xiongnu is already on its way, numbering approximately 20,000."

"The Yuezhi and Donghu are fewer, but still number five or six thousand."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng and his wicked husband were both taken aback, and then burst into laughter.

"It seems the Xiongnu hunt wolves quite often."

The wicked man stroked his chin and guessed, "This first batch of wolf pelts is probably what they've been saving up all along. This one batch alone has almost cleared out their stock. Next, they'll definitely hunt wolves on a large scale to maintain our trade."

Ying Zheng agreed with his words. The fact that the Xiongnu took out such a large number of wolf pelts in the first transaction showed that they valued it very much. He immediately said, "Meng Can, don't worry about those petty gains. As long as we arouse their envy and protect the great plan of our Qin state, that's enough."

Meng Can nodded quickly and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Commandant Wei, you may not know this, but wolf pelts are a rare commodity for us. They are warm, waterproof, and quite popular."

"Recently, many people have been inquiring through various means, wanting to buy this wolf pelt at a high price."

Well.

Ying Zheng and his wicked husband froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

I was prepared to lose money, but I didn't expect to save money. It's a really good thing!

"but..."

Meng Can glanced at the wicked man and whispered, "The three clans also sent messages inquiring whether the strongmen ravaging their territory are from our Qin state."

"If so, Your Majesty, please order the troops to withdraw. They are willing to engage in border trade with our Qin state for a long time."

The moment he finished speaking, the wicked man's eyes changed instantly, and he sneered, "Dream on! Trading mere wolf pelts for our bronze vessels, silk fabrics, and the like? If you're so good at business, why don't you come and be a merchant in my Qin Kingdom?"

Meng Can smiled wryly. This young master had a really bad temper and would get angry at the drop of a hat, which was quite frightening.

"Look at you, what's the rush?"

Ying Zheng glanced at his enraged husband, then said coldly, "Look how angry you've made our Commandant of the Guards. Send someone to tell them that they are not from our Qin state. Let him go and ask the states of Wei, Zhao, and Yan."

"At the same time, I told them that I was very angry and was already considering cutting back on wolf pelt purchases and prices."

Meng Can's eyes flashed with admiration. The two young men in front of him were an incredibly formidable team. One was a man of profound wisdom and exceptional strategy, while the other was like Chi You reincarnated, brave and unparalleled.

Lü Buwei and Lao Ai deserved their defeat!

"Your Majesty's intentions are understood. I will now go and make the arrangements." Meng Can cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and quickly left.

After he left, Ying Zheng glanced at his still sulking husband and said with a smile, "You came up with the plan, and now you're so angry. Why don't we just declare war from the start?"

The wicked man took a few deep breaths and gritted his teeth, saying, "If it weren't for preserving our strength, I would have already led my men to fight them with real swords and spears. Why would I have to put up with this?"

Ying Zheng shook his head with a wry smile upon hearing this. Having been together for so long, he had come to understand his wicked husband's temperament quite well, and any words of advice would be useless.

Perhaps... let him go out and vent his anger.

Thinking of this, Ying Zheng casually took off the waist token from his waist and threw it to his wicked husband, saying, "Take this token and go out for some fresh air."

"but!"

"You may only bring the Black Dragon Armored Army. You'll have to fend for your own food and supplies. I don't have the money to cover your expenses."

The wicked man hurriedly reached out and took it, finally managing a smile. "I understand, I understand, thank you, brother."

After saying that, he hurriedly got up and left.

Watching the departing figure in a hurry, Zhao Gao couldn't help but chuckle softly, "The Commandant of the Guards is straightforward; he's quite an interesting person."

"I wonder who's going to be targeted this time!"

Ying Zheng nodded upon hearing this and smiled, "This kid never does anything that doesn't make him rich. He must be going out to make up for it this time."

Zhao Gao covered his mouth and chuckled, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes. He noticed that Ying Zheng only became extremely gentle and talkative when he mentioned his wicked husband, behaving like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy.

This could be used to gain favor with Ying Zheng and earn his appreciation and important position.

There are two sides to the story.

After leaving Xianyang Palace, the wicked man headed straight for Zhushan.

At this time, Zhushan was no longer as lively as before, with only three thousand Black Dragon Armored Army soldiers sitting there listlessly.

Upon learning that the wicked husband had arrived, Erniu and Chunning rushed over to greet him.

"General, is it time to move around?" The two men looked at the wicked husband with expectant eyes, without even exchanging pleasantries.

Since Zhang Han and the others left, the place suddenly became quiet and deserted, which made them feel uneasy and particularly negative and bored.

Many soldiers even said privately that the wicked man had forgotten the old men for the new ones and had completely forgotten about them, his old brothers.

The wicked husband said irritably, "Knowing this, why aren't you gathering the brothers up right now?"

Upon hearing this, Erniu and Chunning were overjoyed and immediately took off running back to gather the soldiers.

Zhang Erhe, standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle and said, "General, the brothers have really been holding back for ages!"

The wicked husband shook his head and chuckled, "These two brats, they didn't even ask where they were going."