Helpless, Meng Can could only reluctantly submit to the tyranny of Ying Zheng and her wicked husband, saying, "Your subject will do his utmost and will never fail the trust and expectations of Your Majesty and the Grand Commandant."
Meng Can was quite straightforward; since he couldn't resist, he might as well show his loyalty and earn some praise.
As expected, Ying Zheng and his wicked husband smiled and praised in unison, "With Meng Taicang here, we can guarantee that this matter will be foolproof."
Meng Can smiled wryly. The Grand Minister of Agriculture already had so many duties on a daily basis, and now he also had to shoulder the responsibility of increasing sugarcane production. He would truly be working like a beast of burden in the days to come.
Ying Zheng stopped pressing Meng Can and turned to the wicked husband, asking, "Why has the Grand Commandant suddenly returned? Has the three clans and the Zhao allied forces been wiped out?"
With the wicked husband around, there was basically no chance for the three clans and the Zhao state to show their faces. The reason he asked the question was just to hear about their miserable end.
The people in the hall immediately perked up, their bloodshot eyes turning as they all looked at the wicked husband.
The wicked man felt as if he were being watched by a pack of hungry wolves. Knowing that everyone was curious about the effect of storing water to drown the enemy, he immediately revealed a sinister smile.
"I did not witness the specific scene myself, but I sent out scouts who knew how to swim to investigate, and their findings consisted of only four words."
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the wicked husband to continue. Ying Zheng asked urgently, "Which four words?"
The wicked man's smile grew even colder as he said, enunciating each word clearly, "A vast ocean."
hiss....
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall was filled with gasps of shock. Everyone stared in disbelief, looking somewhat dazed and dejected.
They have been working day and night on disaster relief, and have a very clear understanding of the horrors of floods. When they first heard the wicked man say this, they immediately pictured it in their minds.
"So... the allied forces of the three clans and Zhao have been completely wiped out?" King Ying Zheng was indifferent to matters of life and death; all he cared about was the interests and safety of the Qin state.
Ying Zheng's tone carried a barely perceptible hint of excitement; clearly, the enemy's crushing defeat was a victory for Qin to him. He pressed on, "Grand Commandant, do you have the exact number of casualties?"
The wicked man shook his head slightly and replied, "Your Majesty, according to the scouts, the entire Qi County has been turned into a vast swamp, and no one can survive in such a condition."
"The number of people in Qi County is unknown, and the number of the three clans and Zhao troops stationed there is even more unknown; it is completely impossible to count them!"
Whispers filled the hall once more. Such horrific slaughter was enough to chill one's heart and make it difficult to remain calm.
Many people despised such brutal methods, but they also understood that the Zhao state had acted unjustly first, colluding with foreign tribes to take advantage of the chaos, and was reaping what it sowed. In this way, the Qin state could also weather the disaster without worry.
Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction. He stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his voice filled with unquestionable authority: "Gentlemen, the methods were somewhat brutal, but they have relieved the Qin state of its troubles! This is a great cause for celebration, and the Grand Commandant must be rewarded for this merit."
His words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. After using such ruthless methods, he still wanted to bestow a title upon him. Wouldn't that anger the King of Zhao to death?
"Still sealed off?"
"He's already the Grand Commandant of the current dynasty. What position would he reach if he advanced further?"
Those who were paying attention suddenly felt their pupils shrink, their hearts filled with horror, while others had a gloating look in their eyes.
If he were to be granted an additional title, there would only be two possible outcomes for the wicked husband in the future.
Firstly, he was left to live a life of seclusion in Xianyang, unable to leave the city, and dared not interfere in anything; he had to keep a low profile.
Secondly, if they continue to act willfully and their achievements overshadow the ruler, they will meet their end with a three-foot-long white silk ribbon or a cup of poisoned wine.
The wicked man remained calm. The two had already discussed it beforehand, and even if he couldn't avoid the reward, he would accept it with equanimity. In the future, if he made any meritorious contributions, he could just cause some trouble.
Even if there is really no trouble to be found, the credit can be divided equally among the brothers who follow him.
Thinking of this, the wicked man immediately wanted to speak up and attribute the credit to Li Balang and Zhang Ke, since the plan was offered by the two of them and the matter was handled by them personally, and he really hadn't done anything.
Unexpectedly, Ying Zheng seemed to have anticipated what he was going to say and spoke first: "Grand Commandant, you foresaw the disaster and were able to save the lives of the people of Qin."
"The design, without firing a single shot, defeated the three northern barbarian tribes and the Zhao state's military calamity, protecting the Qin state from great disaster. It deserves a great reward."
He paused here, then shouted with all his might, "Imperial decree: Grant the Grand Commandant the title of Grand Master of the Palace, and bestow upon him gold, silver, jewels... fertile land... servants..."
Aside from material possessions like gold and silver, his only achievement was reaching the 18th rank of Grand Master, which was still within a reasonable range and not yet related to the idea of his merits overshadowing the ruler.
Thus, the wicked man glanced at Ying Zheng and saw a hint of mockery on his face. He immediately understood that this was a decision that Ying Zheng had considered in advance, and he should accept it calmly.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your generous gift!"
The wicked man bowed respectfully, a faint smile on his handsome face.
"We congratulate the Grand Commandant on his promotion to Grand Chancellor!"
All the civil and military officials behind him stood up, clasped their hands in greeting, and shouted congratulations to the wicked husband.
At this point, the title of "Evil Husband" had become the highest among all the current officials, far surpassing the powerful figures like General Meng Ao and Huan Yi who had been navigating the court for decades.
It should be noted that the current scoundrel is not yet of legal age. Meanwhile, people his age are still learning farming from their fathers.
It's true what they say, comparisons are odious!
"Thank you all!" The wicked man bowed respectfully, his expression remaining calm, without the slightest hint of arrogance that comes with a promotion.
"The Grand Commandant is indeed a dragon among men. Even in such a high position, he remains as ethereal as an immortal!" The ministers who were familiar with the wicked husband exclaimed in admiration upon seeing this.
Honestly, if they had achieved what the wicked husband did, they would never be as indifferent as he is, especially at this age.
Words like "spirited and vigorous" and "early success" are insufficient to describe the wicked man's current achievements!
A hush fell over the hall. The wicked man had no choice but to speak: "Gentlemen, this flooding won't just affect Zhao; Qi and Chu will also be in trouble..."
"Our Qin state was prepared, but the losses were mainly in money and supplies, which we can recover from in a short time. But they were completely unprepared..."
At this point, everyone snapped out of their daze and nodded in agreement.
The power of natural disasters is beyond words.
They have been dealing with this disaster recently and have a more direct understanding of it, and can also foresee the losses that other countries would suffer if they were unprepared.
The wicked man chuckled and suddenly proclaimed loudly, "With this shift in power, it's a boon for our Qin state, and the time it takes to unify the six kingdoms will be greatly reduced!"
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