Chapter 106: The Ambition of Marquis Qi

At this moment, the Marquis of Qi wore a somewhat smug expression, smiling as he spoke to Gao Zhang and Guo Xia.

“The state of Zheng is so close to Jin, yet now it comes to seek friendship with Qi. What does this signify? It means Jin has lost the people's hearts; it is Qi’s time to rise. This is the perfect moment for us to assert dominance.”

However, Gao Zhang was not so optimistic. He bowed his head in thought for a while, furrowing his brow.

“Your Majesty, it is true Jin is weakening now, but their strength has not changed substantially. The best approach is to wait a while longer. Fan Yang is greedy and petty, Zhi Luo timid and indecisive, but Zhao Yang is ambitious and progressive.”

“The others are mediocre at best. When Fan Yang passes away, by tradition, Zhi Luo will take control of Jin. At that point, internal strife is inevitable. Wouldn’t we then reap the rewards without effort?”

“The reason Zheng sought Qi’s friendship this time is because Zheng has long coveted Xu, keeping a close watch on it. Now that Jin is weakened, Zheng seeks allies to seize this opportunity to annex Xu.”

Upon hearing this, Guo Xia nodded in agreement.

“The previous regent of Zheng, Zi Dashu, was inclined toward Jin. But the new regent, Si Yu, harbors no goodwill toward Jin and is focused solely on strengthening Zheng. He is likely already planning military action against Xu.”

The Marquis frowned deeply. His heart was set on leading Qi to supremacy, replacing Jin as the hegemon. Yet Gao Zhang and Guo Xia’s reasoning was sound. Though Jin’s prestige had plummeted since the Zhao Mausoleum assembly, its internal situation remained relatively stable. Zhao Yang was reforming with determination, and the army was strong.

To provoke full-scale conflict with Jin now would not serve Qi’s interests. More importantly, Lu, right under Qi’s nose, was a steadfast ally of Jin. If Qi failed to neutralize Lu, any friction with Jin risked setting their own backyard ablaze.

The Marquis sighed heavily, resigned to reality despite his frustration, and spoke dejectedly.

“Neither course seems viable. Then you two, give me a plan—how can Qi become the new hegemon?”

At that moment, Gao Zhang’s eyes brightened with an idea.

“Since Zheng intends to attack Xu, we can feign support verbally. Whether we actually aid them is uncertain. The reason is simple: Zheng does not share a border with Qi.”

“To assist Zheng, the only route is through Wei. Therefore, Wei must be secured first; otherwise, aid is impossible.”

“Let Zheng solve this problem themselves. If they manage to rally Cao, Song, Wei, and even Lu to collectively oppose Jin, Qi’s path to hegemony is clear.”

The Marquis grew excited. If this happened, all of Jin’s neighbors would swiftly turn hostile. Moreover, there were reports that Qin was launching continuous attacks on Jin.

Guo Xia, however, voiced concerns cautiously.

“I heard that recently, Lu’s minister Meng Di visited Jin’s six lords, apparently to strengthen the alliance between Lu and Jin. Hence, we must be wary of Lu.”

“Now that Jin faces troubles both within and without, if Zheng, Cao, Wei, and Song form an alliance, we can strike directly at Lu.”

The Marquis was pleased with this suggestion. The Taiyi Mountains formed a natural barrier; Qi’s only route to attack Lu was through Yanyi. That is why Qi and Lu had been at war for so many years.

Yet expanding their gains was difficult. If this opportunity allowed Qi to conquer Lu outright, it would not only expand their territory but also eliminate a persistent threat, possibly securing hegemony in one fell swoop.

Still, the Marquis hesitated and asked both men,

“How confident are you in this? When Qi last sent troops, Lu’s minister Meng Di, with only three thousand men, defeated our forces numbering hundreds of chariots. With such a figure present, our chances against Lu seem slim.”

Gao Zhang laughed confidently.

“Currently, the real power in Lu rests with Yang Hu. His conflicts with the Three Huan family grow ever more intense, and civil strife could erupt at any time. If we form alliances before that happens, we stand a chance to take Lu.”

“As for Meng Di, he commands only a few thousand troops without even a single chariot. His last victory was a clever ruse. If Qi launches a large-scale invasion, he will struggle to resist.”

Guo Xia frowned slightly, feeling Gao Zhang’s confidence was excessive. Yet due to the ties between their families, he refrained from voicing doubts before the Marquis.

After leaving the palace, Guo Xia finally spoke.

“Meng Di is likely no ordinary man. I heard he recently purchased many horses for Jin, and his troops are well commanded, executing maneuvers with precision. He is clearly skilled in military affairs; caution is warranted.”

Gao Zhang dismissed this lightly with a snort before speaking gravely.

“When Pan Yi returned, I asked about the battle. I learned we were lured into a trap, which led to our defeat. Truly, these are times without heroes, allowing the unworthy to rise.”

“When we next campaign against Lu, the prime minister himself will lead. Then I shall see if Meng Di can indeed defeat Qi’s forces again.”

“Besides, as you said before the king, our alliance with the other states to attack Lu will greatly increase our odds. There is no need to worry.”

Guo Xia remained uneasy but said no more.