Yun Qingshu was immediately stunned. Could a monarch of a country really say such a thing?

"Your Majesty, the people are the foundation of a nation..."

"Sir! The Qin state is now close to the city of Handan, and the Yan state is also eyeing us covetously. Our Zhao state is fighting on two fronts. If we don't have enough military supplies, how will we cope?"

Zhao Yan's words made Yun Qingshu feel uneasy, and he continued, "I am willing to borrow grain!"

Borrowing grain was a last resort, but it came at a price. Was Zhao Yan willing to pay that price?

"Where are you going to borrow grain, sir?" Zhao Yan asked.

"I am confident I can borrow grain from Qi and Chu. Please, Your Majesty, distribute the grain to the people!"

To everyone's surprise, Zhao Yan was immediately displeased. "You haven't even borrowed the grain yet, and you want me to distribute it? How is that possible?"

"Sir, let's talk about borrowing grain first. I'm willing to pay any price!"

It must be said that Zhao Yan had become surprisingly shrewd at this point.

Because he also knew that once the people revolted, the state of Zhao would be finished.

Now that Yun Qingshu wants to borrow grain, this is perfect. He's willing to pay any price.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! I'll set off immediately!"

After saying this, Yun Qingshu bowed and left the palace.

"General Li, if the supplies are sufficient, can you repel the Qin army?"

Zhao Yan's question made Li Mu want to slap him. The two-front war was being fought on two fronts, with the main battlefield in Qin. He had held out all the way to prevent the Qin army from breaching Handan.

Beset by internal and external troubles, King Zhao still thinks about repelling the enemy? He should stabilize the country first!

Although he thought this way, Li Mu couldn't say it out loud, because the truth is the most hurtful!

"Your Majesty, this humble general can only fight to the death to prevent the Qin army from advancing an inch!"

If these words had been said before Guo Kailai, Zhao Yan would have thought that Li Mu had already resolved to die and perish with the city!

But now, to Zhao Yan, it all sounds different.

Li Mu simply didn't want to exert himself; otherwise, with Li Mu's strength, why couldn't he repel the enemy?

Moreover, the general of the Qin army was an old general named Wang Jian, who had saved Ying Zheng's life in the past, which is why he rose so quickly to power.

Such an old general, who has never become famous in Qin for so many years, how come you, Li Mu, are no match for him?

But now is the time when manpower is needed, so although Zhao Yan had a burning anger in his heart, he still managed to suppress it.

"General Li, I have entrusted my life and fortune to you, please do not let me down!"

Li Mu knelt on one knee, clenched his right fist, and said, "Your Majesty, as long as Li Mu lives, the city lives! If the city falls, Li Mu will perish!"

Zhao Yan nodded, somewhat moved, and then Li Mu turned and left for the front lines.

At this moment, Guo Kai stepped out from behind the screen, looking at Li Mu's departing figure with resentment.

"Prime Minister, it is indeed as you say, what should we do!"

Beset by internal and external troubles, and with treacherous officials in power, Zhao Yan suddenly felt a headache coming on. Could it be that the Zhao state was really going to perish in his hands?

"Your Majesty, why not capture Li Mu?"

Li Mu and Yun Qingshu came to the palace together. If we could capture Li Mu now, it would be the best opportunity.

But Zhao Yan asked, somewhat angrily, "If you capture Li Mu, will you go and fight against the Qin army?"

"Idiot!" Guo Kai's heart skipped a beat.

In the Zhao army, apart from Li Mu, who was able to resist the Qin army, anyone else would probably have already breached the city. Therefore, Zhao Yan was not stupid and still had to rely on Li Mu.

"Your Majesty, I have misspoke!"

Guo Kai's greatest strength was his ability to read Zhao Yan's mind, which is why he was so favored.

"I wonder if Yun Qingshu can borrow some grain for me!"

As long as Yun Qingshu can borrow grain, this crisis can be temporarily resolved. When spring comes next year, Zhao can join forces with Wei to encircle the Qin army!

Although Zhao Yan's plan was so rosy, there was still Wang Ben in Wei who was watching him closely. If Wei relaxed its guard, Wang Ben would march straight in.

Guo Kai had no other choice now. Zhao Yan had already tolerated Yun Qingshu and Li Mu's embezzlement, so what else could he say?

"Prime Minister, are you willing to go on a diplomatic mission to the Qin state?" Zhao Yan suddenly looked up at Guo Kai and asked.

Guo Kai was so startled that his sphincter tightened. An envoy to the Qin state? What a joke!

Now that the two countries are at war, the King of Zhao is sending him as an envoy to Qin. Isn't that courting death?

"Your Majesty...why do you need to go on a diplomatic mission to Qin?" Guo Kai asked with a bitter expression.

"Didn't the Qin state attack my Zhao state under the pretext of rescuing the Yan state?"

"I think that rather than paying the price to borrow grain, it would be better to reluctantly cede cities to Qin and force them to withdraw their troops."

It has to be said that Zhao Yan's thinking was far too optimistic.

"Your Majesty... Qin will absolutely not withdraw its troops; they are here to destroy Zhao!"

"Qin used a feint attack on Wei first, hoping to lower our and Yan's guard before turning around and attacking Zhao. This was definitely premeditated!"

At this moment, Guo Kai's intelligence instantly soared, and he guessed Qin's intentions with remarkable accuracy.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan nodded in agreement; he was indeed too anxious.

If the fighting continues like this, Handan will eventually fall.

"Enough, it was my foolishness." Zhao Yan sighed, looking as if he had aged considerably in an instant.

Guo Kai raised an eyebrow and immediately knelt on the ground, saying, "Your Majesty! I am willing to go on a diplomatic mission to Qin, even if I die far from home, to buy some time for my Zhao state!!!"

Zhao Yan slowly raised his head, looking at Guo Kai's heroic sacrifice, and a tear welled up in his eyes.

"My loyal minister! In this time of crisis, only the Prime Minister can share my burdens."

Zhao Yan quickly stepped forward, helped Guo Kai up, and held his hand tightly, refusing to let go for a long time.

"However, Your Majesty, if we want Qin to withdraw its troops, we will likely have to pay a heavy price."

The State of Zhao has now reached such a state that, as long as it does not perish, Zhao Yan is willing to pay any price.

"I will grant you the greatest power. As long as it can force Qin to withdraw its troops, I am willing to pay any price!"

Guo Kai's heart leaped with joy, but his face twisted with bitterness as he said, "Your subject obeys!"

The next day, Guo Kai went to Qin as an envoy of Zhao.

After leaving Handan, he first went to see Wang Jian, since he had passed through the former state of Han.

"General, Guo Kai, the Prime Minister of Zhao, requests an audience!"

Wang Jian was having breakfast when he heard the name Guo Kai, and his pupils contracted.

He had just received a message from Lu Li last night, instructing him to let the Prime Minister of Zhao pass if he came to see him.

Amazing! Absolutely amazing!!!

Fortunately, Lu Li was not a strategist from another country; otherwise, it would have been extremely difficult for the Qin state to unify the world!

This idea had echoed in Wang Jian's mind more than once.

"Bring him in!"