72 Chapter 72
◎ Hopeless. ◎
The conversation between Fusu and Qiang Wei naturally reached Ying Zheng's ears. When Fusu came back, he looked at his eldest son and nodded secretly in his heart. Yes, my eldest son is so good and can be loved by everyone.
Fusu felt strange: "Father, what's wrong with me?"
Ying Zheng ignored the question and directly praised: "Li Mu, you did a good job."
Fusu laughed and said, "I dare not take credit for it. I think the preparations were done well. If I hadn't known General Li's character, I wouldn't have dared to respond in this way."
Ying Zheng smiled and said, "Not just you, everyone who has made contributions will be rewarded."
"I can only thank you on my own behalf, Father." Fusu tilted his head and smiled, "What reward does Father plan to give me?"
This time, Ying Zheng was stumped. Fusu had made many contributions, and the rewards he gave him were also varied, including gold, silver, pearls, jade, silk, and toys. In addition, there were some small requests between father and son for fun, which could also be regarded as rewards.
Many times, what was called a reward was actually just Ying Zheng expressing to Fusu that he knew about his eldest son's contribution and was happy about it. He did not care about the size of the reward.
But when it came to Ying Zheng thinking of a reward for Fusu, he didn't really have any specific ideas, so he threw the question back to his eldest son: "What reward do you want?"
The ball was kicked back. Fusu scratched his chin in confusion and said, "I... I don't lack anything. I really don't lack anything."
Ying Zheng laughed: "I am the eldest son of the Qin State, who would dare to let you lack anything?"
"Yes." Fusu stuck out his tongue and laughed, "Then I don't want any reward. Father, there will be more and more soldiers who have made great achievements in the future. You can keep the reward for them!"
Ying Zheng tapped his head and said with a smile, "I am not so poor. I can still afford your reward."
Anyway, it makes no difference whether it is with his father or with himself. Fusu thought, if his father wanted to take it back, would he still keep it and not give it to his father?
Therefore, Fusu changed his words again: "Then I want it."
Ying Zheng shook his head and smiled: "Silly child."
"I'm very smart, Father. General Qiang praised me as a genius!" With the supporting evidence, Fusu was very confident. "I'm embarrassed to say that."
Ying Zheng's face turned stern: "You should be ashamed. I know you scared the old general a lot."
Fusu thought about General Qiang's expression and felt ashamed. "I was so focused on convincing General Li that I neglected General Qiang. My father taught me a lesson. I'm really sorry for what I did to General Qiang."
"That's not what I meant," Ying Zheng said coldly. "Do you remember what you said when you asked me to go see Li Mu?"
Fusu blinked his eyes. He thought that he would speak nicely and would not anger Li Mu. He would hide when the situation got bad and asked Qiang Wei to protect him personally. He believed that he had done all these things.
One look at his eldest son's expression and Ying Zheng knew what was going on in his head. He had no problem with Fusu's modesty towards Li Mu. He treated him with respect, something he often practiced. Fusu's behavior was good. But Fusu's subsequent words, spoken without warning, nearly angered Li Mu and put himself in danger, leaving Ying Zheng furious.
Ying Zheng said, "If you don't give me an explanation today, I will never allow you to see anyone again."
This touched Fusu's sore spot, and he hurriedly said, "Father, I kept my promise. Not a single hair was lost. General Li... he has a good temper. I returned safely, and I completed what I wanted to do successfully."
Li Mu promised Fusu that he would share all his experience in fighting the Huns with him, but he would not serve Qin - this was also in line with Ying Zheng's thinking. If Li Mu surrendered to Qin immediately, he would suspect that he had ulterior motives.
Ying Zheng said, "I not only care about the result, but also the process."
Fusu snapped his fingers and whispered, "Both the process and the result are perfect."
"Oh." Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow, "You refuse to admit your mistake?"
Seeing this, Fusu stopped struggling and admitted his mistake: "Father, please calm down. Fusu was wrong and I will never do it again."
When his eldest son admitted his mistakes, Ying Zheng always just listened to them. After all, this kid always said one thing but did another.
However, Ying Zheng felt that today's matter was no ordinary matter, and he could not allow Fusu to throw him out to take risks, so he said: "Write a letter of repentance, where you went wrong, how to correct it, write it down in detail, I want to read it."
"Ah?" Fusu didn't expect this development and was stunned.
Ying Zheng asked again: "Why? One letter is not enough..."
"Enough, enough..." Fusu hurriedly hugged his father's hand, "Father, I'll go write it right away! Right away!"
Only then did Ying Zheng nod in satisfaction. As for his plan to keep the letter of repentance so that he could bring up the past later, there was no need to tell Fusu.
Fusu had just written half of his letter of repentance when Li Ying ran in and handed him a letter.
"I recognize this handwriting, it's Zhang Liang's! Young Master, please take a look!" Li Ying said anxiously.
Fusu slowly opened the envelope and asked curiously, "Do you care so much about Zifang?"
Li Ying said, "I'm so curious. He clearly wrote you a letter, but when you came to Handan, he disappeared. Where did he go?"
Fusu smiled and said, "He has seen what he wanted to see, so it is time for him to leave Handan."
"Then...is he satisfied?" Li Ying asked immediately.
There was also a painting attached to the letter. After reading the letter, Fusu unfolded the painting and saw a busy scene in the fields.
Fusu chuckled and said, "He is very satisfied."
…
Led by the Qin army, Li Mu circled twice inside and outside the city of Handan. Although the Qin army followed him, the route was entirely determined by him.
Li Mu had seen Handan with his own eyes. During the time he was imprisoned, the people of Handan had already lived their normal lives, and it seemed that he was the only one who still remembered the State of Zhao.
Afterwards, Li Mu was allowed by Ying Zheng to return to his home and reunite with his wife and family.
After reuniting with his wife and family, Li Mu realized that the Qin people gave him the clothes made by his wife not out of threat, but simply because they asked her and found out that she happened to have clothes that fit her.
Madam Li was very thankful when she spoke: "Although there were Qin soldiers guarding outside, they did not enter to disturb us, and they also allowed one or two servants to go out to buy things."
Li Mu just nodded lightly. After capturing Handan, the Qin people did show kindness beyond his expectations.
But Li Mu knew that it was just a trick of the King of Qin, just like everything he saw today. Everything the King of Qin gave to the people of Handan was just to conquer them.
However, King Zhao couldn't even do these things. There was a faint voice in Li Mu's heart.
Li Mu asked, "Your Majesty... Where is Your Majesty now? Have you heard anything?"
Madam Li shook her head and said, "I've never heard of it."
Since the fall of Handan City, Madam Li has been confined to her home. The servants who go out to buy things are also accompanied by Qin soldiers. They dare not ask a single word, so she knows no more than Li Mu.
However, someone soon came to answer Li Mu's questions.
Li Mu finished writing a part of his experience in fighting against the Huns in two days. After the Qin army guarding him handed it to Fusu, the man came back and told him that the eldest prince wanted to see him.
So Li Mu met Fusu again.
Fusu seemed to have completely forgotten their last unpleasant meeting. He smiled and asked him to sit down, then ordered someone to serve tea and snacks.
After listening to Master Qin's polite praise, Li Mu said modestly for a few words, then said bluntly, "Master, did you ask me to come here? Is there something?"
Fusu smiled and said, "I saw that General Li mentioned the crossbow cart in his notes, but there were no details. So I asked the general to come over and ask for your advice in person."
The crossbow cart was invented by the Qin State, but since it was used on the battlefield, it would be seen by people. Even though its structure needed time to crack, its power was quickly spread.
Li Mu had been guarding the border for many years. As soon as he heard about the crossbow cart, he knew that it was a powerful weapon to deal with the Huns. However, he had never seen a crossbow cart, so until now, it was just talk on paper.
Fusu then said, "Then I'll ask the general to go and see the crossbow cart."
Li Mu was stunned. Fusu was already leading the way in front. Soon he was told the range of the crossbow cart. Of course, he still didn't know its structure, but Li Mu did encounter the crossbow cart.
For a moment, Li Mu felt a little complicated.
Then when Fusu asked him how to use crossbow carts to deal with the Huns, he subconsciously told the truth.
The Qin State naturally had the means to fight the Huns, but Li Mu's views had some points that they could adopt.
When he sat down in the hall again, Li Mu felt that he could no longer see through the young prince of Qin.
Fusu returned the favor and asked, "General, is there anything else?"
Li Mu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Sir, where is my king now?"
Fusu answered truthfully, "He should have arrived in Xianyang. I have already chosen a place. Once they arrive, they can open up the wasteland and build a courtyard."
Li Mu was silent.
Fusu saw that he looked gloomy, so he comforted him, saying, "Han An's land has been harvested. The harvest is not good, but we will definitely not let him starve, so don't worry, Zhao Qian is doing well too."
Li Mu: “…”
His and Master Qin's definitions of "very good" seem to be completely different.
Then, Fusu generously offered Li Mu a piece of news, which was not sure whether it was good news or not. Although the State of Zhao was destroyed, there was still a prince Jia who led a small number of clan members to escape, and he also proclaimed himself king in Dai.
——To some extent, you, Zhao, are still alive!
Li Mu felt even more complicated after hearing this.
He knew what Prince Jia was planning. There were precedents: Yan and Qi had both nearly been destroyed, but with the help of their kings and other countries, they had finally managed to restore their countries. Prince Jia also wanted to follow the same path as Yan and Qi.
But the present was different. Today, Qin was even more powerful. The other states were preoccupied with their own affairs and could not possibly send troops to help Zhao recover. As for the few men under Prince Jia's command, the King of Qin could simply raise his hand, and the Qin army would wipe them out in an instant.
Zhao...has no hope of restoring its country.
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