Linzi City.

Perhaps it was because of a war last year, or maybe it was because winter had just passed, although there were still people coming and going in Linzi City, the prosperity had obviously declined a lot.

After the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Gaotang last year, many complaints against King Jian and Housheng began to appear in Linzi City. Moreover, this wave of criticism did not fade away because of the passage of time, but instead became slowly rising.

For some unexplained reasons, the people of Qi are very sensitive to defeat.

If you lose, it's better not to fight.

In the Linzi Palace City, Hou Sheng said to King Jian of Qi with some concern: "King, the number of disloyal remarks in various parts of the country have increased recently, and this is not a good thing."

King Jian of Qi yelled, his face a little ugly, but he didn't say much.

What could he say? Could it be that King Jian of Qi wanted the people to declare that the last war against Zhao was actually not the original intention of King Jian of Qi, but was initiated under the empress dowager's strong advocacy?

Not to mention whether the people of Qi would believe this, just say that the Tian Qi State has always advocated "loyalty and filial piety", be loyal to the emperor and filial to the inside.

If King Jian of Qi threw the blame on his mother, wouldn’t it be like admitting that he was unfilial?

So even though he was depressed, King Jian of Qi also knew very well that he had really taken the blame.

"Houqing, in your opinion, what should we do now?"

Hou Sheng's eyes flashed, and after a while, he spoke: "King, the envoy of Zhao State, Su Dai, has arrived in Linzi, and hopes to see the King."

"What?" King Jian of Qi glared and after a long time, he said, "What are the plans of this Zhao people?"

Hou Sheng shook his head and signaled that he was not aware of it: "King, from the perspective of his ministers, you might as well receive this envoy of Zhao."

King Jian of Qi frowned, stared at Housheng up and down, and said slowly: "Houqing, have you accepted the generous gift from the Zhao people again?"

King Jian of Qi was actually very clear about Hou Sheng's frequent acceptance of gifts from other countries.

But what King Jian of Qi knew more clearly was that most of the gifts and money received by Hou Sheng did not hide their own personal information, but offered them in various different ways, allowing King Jian of Qi to enjoy it.

The problem is that Zhao State had just taken away a large area of ​​land from Qi State a year ago, and now Hou Sheng has gotten along with Zhao people again, which obviously made King Jian of Qi very unhappy.

If it weren't for Hou Sheng's identity as both Xiangbang and uncle, then King Jian of Qi would have spoken out and severely criticized him.

Hou Sheng was not very panicked when facing the reproach of King Jian of Qi. Instead, he smiled and said, "The king doesn't know anything. This time the people of Zhao sent the Heshi Bi back."

King Jian of Qi's eyes widened again, and there was a vague unconcealed joy in his eyes: "His Heshi Bi is back?"

King Jian of Qi loved the treasure of Heshi Bi from the bottom of his heart.

Last year, after asking Housheng to take the Heshi Bi to Handan in order to seek peace from Zhao State, King Jian of Qi felt distressed for a long time.

Unexpectedly, in less than a year, Heshi Bi was back.

Thinking of this, King Qi Shike waved his hand: "Come, come, and go and summon the envoy of Zhao!"

For the sake of Heshi Bi, King Jian of Qi decided to meet the envoy of Zhao.

Soon, Su Dai appeared in the hall.

"See the king!"

King Jian of Qi nodded and said, "Please sit down, I wonder what happened when I come this time?"

King Jian of Qi seemed very calm and cold.

Since the people of Zhao came to give gifts, they must have something to ask for Qi. Since they have something to ask for, then King Jian of Qi naturally did not panic.

Su Dai smiled at King Jian of Qi and said, "King, I am here to send a piece of fertile land thousands of miles away."

King Jian of Qi was stunned for a moment and said, "Where does this fertile land of thousands of miles come from?"

Su Dai smiled and said, "Come from Huaibei."

"Huaibei?" King Jian of Qi and Housheng of the king and ministers showed a look of surprise on their faces.

Huaibei usually refers to a large area north of the Huaihe River. It includes Pi, Tan, Lanling, Pengcheng, and Xueyi.

Before the peak of Qi State, this area belonged to Qi State.

However, after the five countries attacked Qi, Chu took the opportunity to go north and took Huaibei away from Qi.

Until today, Qi State has not been able to take back this land.

Therefore, after hearing Su Dai's suggestion, King Jian of Qi's face moved and said, "Is the envoy's intention that King Zhao wants to unite with me to attack Chu?"

Su Dai nodded with great certainty and said, "That's right."

King Jian of Qi and Hou Sheng looked at each other and saw the trace of joy hidden in each other's eyes.

If Zhao State helps, it is indeed hopeful to recover Huaibei.

However, King Jian of Qi was not blinded by Su Dai's words. Instead, he thought about it and spoke to Su Dai, "How did I know that King Zhao was not cheating me? Then Chu is an ally of Zhao. Why did King Zhao suddenly attack Chu?"

After all, there was only one match last year, and the current Qi State has a very low trust in Zhao State.

So after the surprise, King Jian of Qi's first reaction was to doubt the motives of the people of Zhao.

Su Dai obviously had expected the doubts about King Jian of Qi, and said to King Jian of Qi in a hurry: "The king doesn't know anything. Although Chu is still an ally of Zhao on the surface, it is actually secretly forming an alliance with Qin to become an enemy with Zhao."

After hearing this, King Jian of Qi fell into deep thoughts. After a long time, he said, "So King Zhao is planning to gather the alliance of the Three Jins, and join the power of Qi to attack Chu?"

Su Dai nodded and said, "That's right."

King Jian of Qi stared at Su Dai with bright eyes and said, "This King of Zhao is so kind to help me recover the lost territory?"

Su Dai smiled and said, "Go back to the king, my king naturally has the conditions."

"What are the conditions for King Zhao?"

Su Dai said: "First of all, the rules of this battle against Chu are very simple. The land occupied by the country will belong to which country. Then, no matter who occupied Qufu, all the former lands of Lu, including Qufu, must be owned by Zhao."

King Jian of Qi smacked his lips and tasted some of them.

As the leader of the entire war, Zhao State also had the original land of Lu State guaranteed the worst.

As for the others, everyone can rely on their own abilities. Whoever gains more territory will gain greater benefits.

It sounds like a good plan.

King Jian of Qi pondered for a moment and said, "When will King Zhao launch an attack?"

Su Dai said: "At the earliest, ten days, the latest within one month."

King Jian of Qi and Housheng exchanged a look, and then made a decision, saying, "Since that's the case, then I'll ask the envoy to reply to King Zhao. Only when the three Jin coalition forces enter the territory of Chu, I will send troops to attack Chu immediately!"
Chapter completed!