Chapter 122: Le Qi Sends Jin

On the main road of the Jin state, a carriage convoy was moving slowly. Zhao Yang led a group of men to greet them from afar. As the convoy came to a halt, an elderly man stepped out.

His hair and beard were already graying, yet his spirit seemed quite robust. Zhao Yang cupped his hands in a salute and said with a smile, "Master Ziliang, I trust you have been well. I have been waiting here for some time. Please, come with me to my residence to rest."

The visitor was Yue Qi, an envoy from the Song state. Hearing this, he smiled and returned the gesture. "You are too kind, Jianzi."

Once they reached Zhao Yang’s residence and were seated according to their station, the smile faded from Zhao Yang’s face. He asked, "Did the Duke of Song send you here on this occasion because of the situation regarding the Zheng state?"

Speaking of serious matters, Yue Qi sighed, looking quite helpless. "The Zheng state is currently attacking the Xu state and no longer heeds the commands of Jin. The Duke of Song fears that once Zheng conquers Xu, they will turn their military forces against Song. Thus, I have come to inform the Commander of the Central Army."

The mere mention of Fan Yang made Zhao Yang feel somewhat uneasy. Without hiding his thoughts, he pondered for a moment before saying, "Zheng is currently acting recklessly and flirting with the Qi state. Under the present circumstances, Song is safe for the time being, so you need not worry too much, Ziliang. As for the future, Xianzi will surely have a plan."

Zhao Yang spoke this way because the Yue clan had always been subordinate to the Fan clan, and he found it difficult to speak plainly. Nowadays, Fan Yang was rapidly expanding the power of the Fan clan by leveraging his authority, making it the most powerful family in Jin. Under such conditions, the other five senior ministers could only remain submissive.

After this brief exchange, Yue Qi did not press the matter further, instead shifting the topic. "Does Jianzi believe that Zheng and Qi will form an alliance?"

At this, Zhao Yang’s spirits lifted slightly, and a look of disdain appeared on his face. "Although the Qi state appears strong, Duke Jing of Qi is a man who loves grandeur and indulges in pleasure. He forced Tian Rangju into retirement and disregarded the counsel of the wise Yan Ying, allowing the Tian clan to grow powerful."

"Guo Xia and Gao Zhang are merely mediocre figures. If Tian Rangju were still in power, Qi might have had a chance to achieve hegemony. Alas, Duke Jing of Qi has destroyed his own foundation; his desire to dominate the world is nothing but a daydream."

Hearing this, Yue Qi nodded slightly, acknowledging the validity of these words, and then smiled. "I have heard that within your fief, Jianzi, you have reorganized the military, established clear rewards and punishments, and shown great respect to the virtuous while employing the capable. In a short time, you have transformed the lives of your people. It seems you possess extraordinary ambitions."

Zhao Yang felt a mix of surprise and uncertainty. He did not understand why Yue Qi would say such things. Just as he was wondering how to respond, Yue Qi laughed aloud and spoke candidly. "This time, I have brought several dozen shields that I wish to gift to you, Jianzi."

At these words, Zhao Yang felt a stir in his heart. It was clear that Yue Qi intended to align himself with him. "Ziliang, your kindness is most welcome; I would be honored to accept. Since I have some fine wine at my residence, why not stay and join me? I also have some matters I wish to consult with you about."

Chen Yin, the retainer accompanying Yue Qi on his mission to Jin, changed color upon hearing this. However, it was not appropriate for him to speak out in protest, so he kept his head down in silence. Yue Qi agreed without hesitation. "It is my heart's desire, though I dared not ask. I shall intrude upon your hospitality, Jianzi."

Zhao Yang was overjoyed and immediately ordered his staff to arrange accommodations. He understood clearly that Yue Qi intended to change his allegiance. Although expressed quite subtly, it signified that Yue Qi had great confidence in his future.

Back at his quarters, a worried Chen Yin bowed to Yue Qi and said, "My Lord, we have always been subordinate to the Fan clan. Why did you choose to show favor to the Zhao clan today? Furthermore, by gifting the presents you brought to Zhao Jianzi, you are clearly signaling a shift of allegiance."

"The Fan clan is currently the sole powerhouse in Jin. If this gets out, it will surely offend Fan Xianzi. Will this not bring disaster upon the Yue clan?"

Hearing this, Yue Qi chuckled dismissively and countered, "You are also a man of talent. Judging by your own eyes, which of the six ministers of Jin do you think will emerge victorious in the future?"

"That would undoubtedly be Zhao Jianzi. Fan Xianzi is old and frail, and his son, Fan Jishuo, lacks ability while being greedy and base. The Fan clan is destined to decline. Zhi Li is only concerned with self-preservation, and the others are not worth mentioning."

Having said this, Chen Yin understood Yue Qi’s intentions and let out a long sigh. "Since things have reached this point, there is no turning back. Fan Xianzi is suspicious and power-hungry; it is highly likely that you will not be able to leave Jin this time. If Zhao Yang can take power in the future, the Yue clan will surely be able to rise again."

After he finished, Yue Qi laughed, though his words carried a tragic tone. "Fan Xianzi, as Commander of the Central Army, cares only for personal gain and lacks a sense of duty to the state. He has caused the reputation of Jin to plummet and makes endless demands on the clans that serve him. How could one possibly remain loyal to such a man?"

"By befriending Zhao Jianzi today, I am ensuring a place for the Song state in the future. The Chu state’s capital has been breached, and their power is shattered. We must rely on Jin to protect ourselves, so I have no choice but to consider the future."

"Even if I die in Jin for this, I am content. You need say no more."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yin bowed low and said with a heavy heart, "I understand your intentions, my Lord. I will do my utmost to assist the young master and ensure the revival of the Yue clan."

Indeed, when Fan Yang received the news, he was furious. He coerced the Duke of Jin into issuing an order, using the pretext that Yue Qi had failed to pay homage to the Duke upon arriving in Jin and had instead engaged in unauthorized drinking at Zhao Yang’s residence, thus violating protocol. He sent men to arrest him, intending to make an example of him.

When Zhao Yang learned of this, he began to lobby on all sides to make Fan Yang change his mind, but ultimately, he only managed to save Yue Qi’s life; the man remained under arrest.

Once the news spread, the various feudal states grew even more wary of Jin. Regardless of the circumstances, Yue Qi was an envoy of Song. Even if there had been a breach of etiquette, Fan Yang should not have acted in such a manner, treating an envoy as if he were his own personal servant.

In Qiaoge, the capital of the Wei state, Duke Ling of Wei received the news and said to Nanzi, who was by his side, "I did not expect such a thing to happen. Fan Xianzi has gone too far. Now that both Zheng and Qi have sent envoys to persuade me to form an alliance with them, how do you think I should handle this?"