Zhao Yan was clearly persuaded by Guo Kai's words and quickly asked, "What should we do now?"

According to Guo Kai, their Zhao state is now truly in a predicament.

A hint of excitement flashed across Guo Kai's brows, then he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, there is only one way now!"

"Oh? Tell me quickly!"

"By pushing the Mohists out and shifting all the blame onto them, Your Majesty has been misled by the Mohists."

Guo Kai's suggestion once again made Zhao Yan fall into deep thought. The Mohists were members of the Hundred Schools of Thought. If he did this, wouldn't he offend the Hundred Schools of Thought? Who would dare to serve the State of Zhao in the future?

The State of Zhao could ignore the Hundred Schools of Thought, but it dared not offend any of them, especially the Mohists, who held a pivotal position among them.

"If I do that, wouldn't I offend all the powerful families?"

Guo Kai smiled immediately; he knew Zhao Yan would say that.

"Your Majesty, there are some things you don't need to say." Guo Kai revealed a wicked smile.

"What do you mean?"

"Now the people of Zhao are all talking about this matter. Let's just add fuel to the fire and expand the matter. When the people's opinion is like this, then they can't blame Your Majesty."

Zhao Yan's eyes lit up. That's right, he hadn't given any direct instructions, and it was caused by public opinion, so what did it have to do with him?

Qi refused to participate in the coalition, and Zhao Yan had already given up hope, but Yun Qingshu kept trying to persuade him.

Zhao Yan laughed heartily and said, "Alright, let's do it this way!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, you can leave this matter to me!"

.............

Three days later, the whole city of Handan was talking about this.

"The Mohists? Didn't they oppose war?"

"Yes, that's a rumor. The Mohists have always opposed war, and they have always helped weak countries fight against strong ones."

The taverns were packed with people, all discussing the same thing: the Mohist school.

"The idea for the five states to unite against Qin was suggested by the Mohists."

"We originally intended to involve the State of Qi, but for some reason, the State of Qi drove out the envoy sent by the State of Zhao. By the way, this envoy was also a member of the Mohist school."

As things escalated, and with Guo Kai secretly fueling the flames, the image of the Mohists in the minds of the people of Zhao was completely changed.

The Mohist school has always advocated universal love and non-aggression.

Universal love: Complete, undifferentiated, and unbiased love that extends the way we treat our relatives—such as fathers and brothers being kind, children and younger brothers being filial, elders being respected and friends being friends, and the young being respectful to their elders—to other strangers.

Non-aggression: Opposing wars of aggression. Wars harm the defeated, taking lives and damaging their talents; they are meaningless acts of destruction.

The Mohists have now deviated from the principle of non-aggression, and their image in the eyes of the people has gradually changed.

Upon learning of this news on the sixth day of the lunar month, he immediately relayed the message to Lu Li.

After receiving the news, Lu Li calmly said, "Guo Kai has already set off a bomb. Now, let me add fuel to the fire."

In truth, Lu Li held some admiration for the Mohists, especially since Yun Qingshu had facilitated the alliance of six states to attack Qin, a fatal blow to the latter.

If successful, the Qin state will be unable to expand eastward for twenty years.

Essentially, the Mohists instigated the alliance of six states to attack Qin in order to prevent Qin from expanding eastward and launching a war of annihilation.

This is not far removed from their philosophy of non-aggression; as the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense.

The State of Zhao has now become a weak state, while the powerful State of Qin is eyeing it covetously. If Zhao only wants to remain in a corner of the world, it will eventually be swallowed up by other states.

But Yun Qingshu forgot one thing: the common people wouldn't think that way.

The common people don't want war, so they don't care about the Mohist school's motives. Aren't you Mohists supposed to practice universal love and non-aggression? Then why are you actively provoking war?

Now that Qi has not joined the alliance, only five states remain. If Lu Li were to dismantle one of these states, the Mohist plan would be completely ruined.

"Brother Lu, what are you going to do?" Lu Fusheng asked from the side.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Li took out a bamboo slip and began to write furiously! After finishing, he handed it to Lu Fusheng and said, "Quickly send this bamboo slip to Hou Sheng, the Prime Minister of Qi."

After Fusheng took the bamboo slip and quickly read through it, he immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

"Brother Lu, you...you want to instigate a war between the Qi and Yan states?"

"No, it's just to make the Yan state feel at all times that the Qi state will send troops."

Apart from Qin, the two most powerful of the six states are Qi and Yan, which share a border and have a long history of enmity.

It can even be traced back to the attack on Qi by Yue Yi in 284 BC!

In the 28th year of King Zhao of Yan's reign, Yue Yi was appointed Supreme General, and together with the states of Qin, Han, Zhao, and Wei, they launched a joint attack on Qi. A fierce battle was fought west of the Ji River, resulting in a major defeat for the Qi army.

Le Yi led the Yan army to conquer 72 cities of Qi, and went straight to the capital Linzi. He burned the Qi capital's palaces, temples, and royal residences, and looted all the treasures and wealth, which all went to the Yan state.

King Zhao of Yan enfeoffed Yue Yi as the Lord of Changguo. The state of Yan reached its zenith at this time.

At that time, only Ju and Jimo remained in the state of Qi, and Yue Yi besieged them for three years without success.

After King Zhao's death, the newly enthroned King Hui of Yan fell for a counter-espionage plot by Qi general Tian Dan, dismissing Yue Yi and appointing Qi Jie to lead the army in the siege. After a prolonged siege, they were caught in Tian Dan's fire ox formation, resulting in King Hui's death and the defeat of his army. Qi seized the opportunity to recover all lost territory. Yue Yi's campaign against Qi was thus completely in vain.

So until Qin conquered Yan, Qi chose to stand idly by. But after Yan was destroyed, Qi had no choice but to surrender, and the enmity between the two countries finally came to an end.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!