Chapter 176 Lobbyist
Ying Zheng was not refusing intentionally, he did have important matters to deal with.
The plan to attack Zhao has been finalized. Soon Wang Jian and Qiang Wei will lead an army of 300,000 from Shangdang County and attack Handan directly. Li Mu will also accompany them.
The Qin State welcomed a rare bumper year this year, with grain production increasing significantly year-on-year. Every household in Qin had surplus grain. It might not make them rich, but it did allow them to have enough to eat.
Ying Zheng looked at the report from the Internal History of Grain and fell into deep thought. He still remembered that the Queen Mother had always said that she wanted everyone in the world to have enough food and clothing.
He scoffed at it then, but now it seems that he was just ignorant.
As for keeping warm, all the soldiers of Qin State have put on the cotton clothes made by the Queen Mother. In time, these clothes will be circulated among the people of Qin State and even other vassal states.
Although the Queen Mother is arrogant, she is indeed very capable.
A large amount of food and cloth solved the supply problem of the Qin army, allowing Qin to quickly gather another 300,000 troops to attack Zhao.
Ying Zheng issued the decrees one by one.
Until he put down the red pen and faced the silence in the room, he felt a little regretful for a moment. The Queen Mother was sent by God to help him, and she had already done things that ordinary people could hardly accomplish. Why should he blame her for being wary of him?
The Queen Mother was not wrong. She might not be qualified to be the Queen Mother, but as the Queen Mother of Qin, no one could do a better job for the Qin State.
Ying Zheng rested his chin with one hand, his eyes closed, but suddenly opened them and looked at Zhao Gao, who was grinding. "You have been serving the Queen Mother all along. Can you tell me what kind of person she is?"
Zhao Gao thought for a moment, then bowed and replied, "The Queen Mother is kind and compassionate. She feels pity for the poor and needy, and she will always see justice done when she sees an injustice."
"Even if a palace maid committed a minor offense, he treated her with leniency, and everyone in the palace was content. He also provided food to the hungry and clothing to the cold, just like a bright moon shining upon the world, bringing blessings to all people."
"The Empress Dowager loves the two young masters with all her heart, and heaven and earth can bear witness to their love. She personally reviews all their readings and takes care of their food, clothing, housing, and transportation, never slacking off in the slightest."
In short, the Queen Mother is kind to everyone.
That's a really good and bad answer.
"Is there nothing wrong with her?" Ying Zheng frowned.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" Zhao Gao knelt down in shock.
It's not that Zhao Gao couldn't point out the Queen Mother's shortcomings, but he wasn't sure whether the King really wanted to hear it. What if he angered the King and caused the King and the Queen Mother and their son to become estranged? Wouldn't he be doing something stupid that would harm others and not benefit himself?
Seeing him hesitant and daring to speak, Ying Zheng waved his hand, "Alright, get up! You step aside first!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhao Gao bowed his body and retreated tremblingly.
As soon as I walked out of the door, I saw Prince Fusu walking towards me with small steps.
"Hello, Eunuch Zhao." Fusu nodded to Zhao Gao and asked softly, "Is my father in there?"
Zhao Gao breathed a sigh of relief. "Is Prince Fusu here to see the king? The king has important matters to attend to and may not be able to see you."
"That's all right. I can wait here. Please tell them I'm here to have dinner with my father. It was made by my mother."
Zhao Gao thought of the days he spent with the Queen Mother and sighed, "Sir, please wait a moment."
Ying Zheng had just driven the man out when he saw him walk in again. "What else?"
"Your Majesty, Prince Fusu said that the Queen Mother had him send dinner over, and he wants to dine with you."
After a long time without a reply, Zhao Gao could only hear his own shallow breathing, and his heart began to tense up. "This slave will..."
"Let him in!"
It was time for dinner, but Ying Zheng was busy dealing with government affairs and the meal was not served.
Fusu heard his father's voice asking him to come in, and reached out to the palace maid behind him, "Give me the box!"
The little palace maid hesitantly placed the food box in Fusu's small hands.
Fusu walked in unsteadily, holding a food box that was not much smaller than him. His father was still as tall and majestic as before on the long steps, but Fusu did not seem as scared anymore.
"Oh! Young master, let me help you!" Zhao Gao hurried over and took the food box from Fusu's hands.
"Your son greets his father."
Ying Zheng walked down the steps and pulled Fusu up. "Did she ask you to come over?"
"It is your son who wants to come and see your father. Since your son returned to Xianyang, your son has not seen your father again." Fusu raised his head, his eyes full of admiration.
Originally, Zhao Yuanxi planned to send a few palace maids to deliver the food boxes, but Fusu and Ziying happened to return from school, so she gave this important task to him.
Fusu patted his chest and promised to complete the task.
Ying Zheng was stunned for a moment, then he remembered that he had not met Fusu for a long time.
"What did you bring?" Ying Zheng's mouth curled up slightly.
Seeing that his father agreed, Fusu quickly ran to Zhao Gao and tugged at his clothes, "Eunuch Zhao, could you please help me bring out the dishes?"
"Please wait a moment, my lord. I will arrange it right away."
Fusu ran over to Ying Zheng again, tugged at his sleeve, and pulled him to sit at the table. He then sat down beside him and counted on his fingers, saying, "These are all made by my great mother. There's crispy chicken, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, steamed osmanthus fish, and braised lion's head!"
If Ziying were here, he would have already started eating a lot, but Fusu's reason overcame his appetite and he enthusiastically introduced these dishes to Ying Zheng.
After the introduction, Fusu looked up and asked, "Grandmother rarely cooks so many delicious dishes. If she cooks so many dishes herself one day, it must be because she wants to please us. But this time, the dishes are for father."
Fusu hesitated to speak, leaned forward, and whispered, "Grandmother must be trying to coax you!"
Ying Zheng smiled helplessly. When did he ever need anyone to coax him?
"Father, please don't be angry with Mother."
"So, you are here to lobby for the Queen Mother?" Ying Zheng asked indifferently.
Fusu shook his head. "I'm here to accompany my father and, incidentally, to be a lobbyist for my mother."
Ying Zheng was a little surprised: "It seems that she has indeed taught you well. You are becoming smarter and smarter."
In the past, Fusu would probably have only spoken to him about loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, but now he seemed more like a clever villain.
Fusu's face flushed, "Grandmother is very powerful, I should learn from her."
Ying Zheng frowned: "It's fine to learn the ways of dealing with the world from her, but it's better not to learn the ways of governing a country from her."
If we follow the Queen Mother's crooked ways, then the Qin State will be in chaos, with the king no longer being a king and the people no longer being people.
Fusu nodded, not quite understanding, and planned to secretly ask his grandmother why his father and she had such different opinions.
The food prepared by the Queen Mother really suited the appetites of the father and son, and they ate all the dishes together.
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