Chapter 193 Entering the palace, meeting Ying Zheng, and being promoted!
Swish swish swish~!
Outside the palace gate, Bai Yan kept waiting after reporting to the Qin soldiers guarding the city gate.
I don’t know how long I stood there when the light rain suddenly became heavy again.
Bai Yan tightly protected the bamboo slips.
Ye and Huai came before, but Bai Yan asked them to leave again.
finally.
A eunuch and two palace maids came out of the palace gate and came to Bai Yan step by step.
"General Bai, the king summons you to the palace!"
The young eunuch came to Bai Yan and bowed to Bai Yan.
Bai Yan nodded.
When Bai Yan felt that the maid was holding an umbrella for him, Bai Yan did not refuse. After all, the umbrella was not prepared by him, but belonged to the king, which represented the king's favor.
"Bai Yan wants to present this volume to the king."
Bai Yan took this opportunity to hand the bamboo slips to the eunuch, which Bai Yu told him in his letter.
The eunuch took the bamboo slip and nodded quickly.
"General Bai, please!"
The eunuch made an invitation gesture to Bai Yan, indicating that Bai Yan should follow him into the palace.
Bai Yan nodded, returned the gift very politely, and made a gesture of invitation.
Bai Yan's behavior surprised the eunuch. It might have been fine if it were some elderly ministers, but among the young civil and military officials, such as Li Xin, Meng Tian and others, although they did not look down upon him, they did not look down upon him either.
This young man in front of me was the first person to be so polite to a humble eunuch like him.
Think of this.
The eunuch looked at Bai Yan, and there was a hint of intimacy in his eyes.
When the eunuch just now knew that the person coming was Bai Yan, he was still a little worried in his heart. After all, Bai Yan had a reputation for evil and had made numerous meritorious deeds. Even other eunuch colleagues had said that the king had mentioned Bai Yan several times in private.
General.
I thought that General Bai, who was leading the troops outside, was tall and arrogant.
Never thought about it.
First, his appearance was surprising, and then his words and deeds were even more surprising.
The eunuch asked himself, if he had not known that the young man in front of him was Bai Yan, he would not have been able to put the young man in front of him together with Bai Yan, who was rumored to be decisive in killing and leading troops fiercely.
Outside the palace gate.
Following the eunuch, Bai Yan came all the way to the palace gate and stepped onto the threshold of the palace for the first time.
Just as he entered, Bai Yan looked through the huge open space and saw at a glance the huge Xianyang Palace in the distance, which was located on a hundred steps of stairs.
Looking at the magnificent palace that symbolized the center of power of the Qin State, Bai Yan followed the eunuch step by step, feeling very nervous.
Until a long time ago, I came to the hundred-step staircase, followed the eunuch, stepped up the stairs step by step, and stepped onto the place where this step symbolizes the height of power.
Bai Yan was so nervous that he could hear his own heartbeat.
at last.
Bai Yan just arrived in front of a huge palace.
As the huge and towering palace doors opened, Bai Yan stood outside the palace door, waiting for the eunuch to enter.
While waiting for the announcement inside, Bai Yan kept taking deep breaths, feeling that time seemed to pass very slowly, and it seemed like a blink of an eye.
next moment.
The eunuch's announcement came from the palace.
"Xuan, Bai Yan enters the palace!"
The eunuch's voice came from inside, and Bai Yan was shocked. Fortunately, after taking a deep breath, Bai Yan's eyes became firm and he strode towards the palace.
Inside the huge palace.
Civil and military officials kneel and sit on both sides. This is a rule that has been passed down since the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. Whether it was the original Shang Dynasty or the later Zhou Dynasty, when officials went to court, they would have cushions to sit on.
Although the Shang and Zhou dynasties have long since disappeared, both Qin and other vassal states have continued this tradition.
The kneeling system shows the king's respect for talented and famous ministers.
Therefore.
At this moment, Bai Yan could say that he was walking step by step towards the center of the hall under the gaze of all the civil and military officials when he entered the palace gate.
In the main hall.
A thirty-year-old man wearing a royal crown also looked at the young man who walked in alone from the main hall.
The man is King Yingzheng of Qin.
At this moment, Ying Zheng raised his head and looked at the young boy. He was also very surprised.
He never expected that Bai Yan, who had given him surprises one after another before, would look like this. Or perhaps, it would be more appropriate to call him Zou Xing.
Thinking of this, the corner of Ying Zheng's mouth raised.
Because in the entire hall, only he, Ying Zheng, knew that the young man was not a descendant of the Bai family at all.
The center of the main hall.
Bai Yan was a little confused at the moment. Even though he had made many preparations, it was not until this moment that he really walked among the civil and military officials of the Qin State, and really saw with his own eyes the man with Wang Mian in the main hall.
As a man, Bai Yan's mind would still go blank.
No idea.
"Shangjun Gaonu City, the city guard Bai Yan, pays homage to the king!"
Bai Yan stood in the center of the hall, facing King Qin Yingzheng on the hall, bending slightly, looking at the ground in front of him, and bowed his hands in ceremony.
After the salute, Bai Yan could feel how fast his breathing was.
"Bai Yan, no courtesy."
Bai Yan heard the man's voice in the main hall, and at this moment, his heart was shaking with excitement.
He came to Qin from Qi and finally met Qin King Ying Zheng!
And King Yingzheng of Qin called him by his name himself.
Due to the excitement, Bai Yan almost forgot to thank Xie En, but fortunately he quickly realized it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Bai Yan said, then raised his head and looked at the thirty-year-old Ying Zheng wearing a royal crown in the distant hall.
She is not fat, maybe because she has been working on political affairs for many years, her cheeks are a little thin, and her face cannot be said to be beautiful, but she is definitely not as ugly as some thoughtful people say.
At this glance, Bai Yan looked at it very seriously, and even became a little distracted.
Bai Yan's behavior quickly attracted the attention of King Qin Yingzheng above.
A slight smile appeared on Ying Zheng's face.
Ying Zheng was no stranger to the look in His Highness's young man's eyes. Many people's eyes were so excited when they saw him for the first time.
However, seeing the young man who kept surprising him during this period, like others, he was so excited for the first time, so Ying Zheng was lying in his heart that he was not satisfied.
But Ying Zheng was also a little surprised.
Compared with the excitement of other officials when they first met, he vaguely saw a hint of reverence in the young man's eyes.
Is it an illusion? Or?
Ying Zheng was a little confused, but he knew that this young man was from Qi. It was understandable that a Qin person would look like this when he saw him.
But a young Qi Ren looked like this.
This is making people curious.
Ying Zheng clearly knows how people in the world view him!
"Bai Yan!"
In the main hall, Ying Zheng looked at the young man and spoke slowly.
Thinking of Meng Yu's evaluation of this young man and looking at the young man named Bai Yan, Ying Zheng was very curious, but there was one thing he had to ask.
In the main hall.
After Ying Zheng put away his smile, he gave people two completely different feelings.
At this moment, seeing Ying Zheng without a smile and showing no anger or authority, Bai Yan came back to his senses and realized that he was being rude just now...
"My lord is here!"
Bai Yan answered with cupped hands, and then waited for Ying Zheng's next words.
At this moment, all the civil and military officials in the hall seemed to know what King Qin Yingzheng was planning to ask, and they all looked at Bai Yan attentively.
in.
Even Mi Qi, the civil official headed by Changping Jun who was wearing Qin's official uniform, squinted his eyes and looked at the young man.
"I ask you, why did you order the burning of the city after the people migrated? Did you consider the consequences?"
In the main hall, Ying Zheng's voice sounded.
As soon as this sentence came out.
Bai Yan, who lowered his head and cupped his hands, felt a little anxious. After all, he didn't know what Ying Zheng thought about burning the city.
Faced with the inquiry now, Bai Yan still told the truth.
"Back to the king, in the past Bai Yan knew that Shangjun had no help. Facing the invasion of the Xiongnu and Yuezhi armies, Bai Yan was burdened with the king's favor. At that time, Bai Yan only had one thought in his mind. The only way to be loyal to the king was to burn the city and destroy it. He led his troops to fight to the death in order to repay the favor of the king for promoting him, and did not consider his posthumous affairs."
Bai Yan looked at King Qin Ying Zheng in the main hall, cupped his hands and said.
One sentence made Ying Zheng in the main hall very surprised.
Even the civil and military officials in the hall looked at Bai Yan with strange expressions.
Eat the emperor's salary and be loyal to the emperor!
As soon as these words came out, those officials in the palace who had previously discussed that Bai Yan should lead his army to retreat suddenly looked like villains.
After all, under the king's inquiry, Bai Yan said in person in the main hall that at that time he knew that there were no reinforcements in Shangjun. In order to repay the king's favor, he made up his mind to lead his army to fight to the death, without even having time to think about the aftermath.
This sounds exaggerated, but no one can refute the fact, because Bai Yan did not even risk his life at that time and stayed in Shangjun Gaonu to fight in a bloody battle.
Inside the main hall.
While Bai Yan was waiting for the result, a moment later, a word came from the main hall.
"good!"
Bai Yan didn't know if his answer satisfied Ying Zheng, but after hearing this, he felt relieved.
In the main hall, Ying Zheng turned to look at a eunuch and whispered a few instructions. Then he looked at Bai Yan, who was under the main hall. In fact, the reward for the young man had already been determined. He just wanted to ask and hear the young man with his own ears. answer.
Watching the eunuch take the edict and read out the reward to the young man.
Ying Zheng looked at the bamboo slips on the table in front of him that had just been presented by the eunuch. There were still some traces of rain on them.
He didn't understand what was going on, but knowing that it was a bamboo slip presented by a young man, Ying Zheng slowly opened it.
"The King of Qin issued an edict to guard Bai Yan in Gaonu City. He had previously ordered the people to migrate, so that the people in the first city would be spared from devastation. However, when he burned the city, although he stopped the Yueshi and the Huns from looting, the people in the first city were left homeless. Returning, according to the law of Qin Dynasty, merits and demerits are equal to each other. In consideration of his meritorious service in guarding the Shangjun, I will give Bai Yan the title of Zuo Shu Zhang, seventy-four hectares of farmland and house, and an additional five hundred gold!"
Inside the main hall.
The eunuch's shrill voice sounded.
After hearing this, all the civil and military officials started talking about it. Most of the officials nodded. Only a few officials felt that the reward was too much or too little.
Among the officials, Hu Quan and Mao Jiao looked at each other. They had been arguing for so long in the court, but they didn't expect that in the end it was decided by Qin Luying. No wonder the king would send Meng Yu aside.
If Meng Yu were here, Meng Yu would definitely be the first to stand up if all the other officials didn't say anything. Then there would probably be another debate in the court.
"Bai Yan! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Standing in the main hall, Bai Yan was not surprised or disappointed when he heard the contents of the edict.
How could Bai Yan not know about the Qin Luying Theory when he was in the Qin State? Regarding the burning of the city, when he was in Shangjun, General Hu Jin said that the most worrying thing was to define the burning of the city according to the Qin Luying Theory.
Because what was burned was a house, no one knew how the decision would be made at that time.
Not to mention that Bai Yan was the fifth official at the time. In the Qin State, even the title of official was no longer based on the merits of the enemy generals' leaders, but on the merits.
For example, there are more than 4,000 soldiers killed in battle. If he kills less than 6,000 enemies, he will have no merit. If he kills less than 6,000, he will have a fault and will be fined. If he kills less than 4,000, he will be demoted.
at the moment.
Bai Yan knew clearly that although the burning of the city was according to Qin Luying's theory, it was obvious that King Yingzheng of Qin was not unaware of his contribution, but that, as Hu Jin said, his actions could not be the beginning.
Ying Zheng's move was that although he did not have a title, five hundred gold was his reward to Bai Yan.
Inside the main hall.
Following the edict, Bai Yan knelt on the ground, put his head on the ground, and kowtowed. This was also the most precious etiquette among the rituals.
Because it is different from paying homage or meeting. When the king gives a reward, most ministers will do this to express their sincere gratitude for the king's kindness.
Bai Yan was already very satisfied with the result in front of him. After all, he had crossed the insurmountable gap from a doctor to a general, and he also had five hundred gold as a reward.
This has exceeded Bai Yan's expectations. After all, if the theory of clearing profits is really followed, it is impossible to still have five hundred gold!
Inside the main hall.
Along with the clamor of civil and military officials disappeared.
At this time, the civil and military officials noticed that King Qin Yingzheng in the main hall was looking at a scroll of bamboo slips attentively, with a particularly strange expression, half smiling but not smiling.
See the situation.
Many officials looked at each other with doubtful expressions. Even Li Si, Wang Wan and others looked at King Qin Yingzheng in surprise.
As an important minister of the Qin State and a confidant of Qin King Ying Zheng, even Li Si and others rarely saw Ying Zheng showing such an expression.
What is written inside that bamboo slip?
"Interesting, hehe, interesting!!"
Just when Li Si, Wang Wan, Mao Jiao and others were wondering, they suddenly heard Ying Zheng's voice coming from the main hall.
This made Li Si and others even more puzzled.
Just when Li Si and others thought that the king would ask the eunuch to read it out as usual after reading it, they saw Ying Zheng put away the bamboo slips and seemed to have no intention of speaking out.
See this.
Not to mention Li Si and others, even Mi Qi, the head of the civil service, frowned slightly and became more and more confused.
Throughout the hall.
Perhaps Bai Yan was the only one who was filled with anxiety. He didn't relax until he saw Ying Zheng in the main hall, put away the bamboo slips and put them aside.
"Bai Yan, get up!"
Ying Zheng in the main hall spoke.
Even Ying Zheng was a little stunned when he looked at the young man. If he hadn't seen the words written on the bamboo slips with his own eyes, Ying Zheng would not have believed that such an outrageous thing could happen in the world.
People thought that the young man was a descendant of the Bai family, named Bai Yan, but it turned out that the Bai family had already written to him and told him that the young man was actually named Zou Xing.
But now.
When I met the young man for the first time, the young man wrote a bamboo slip himself and told the story of his origin.
The young man was not Zou Xing, but his name was Yan. He was the son of an ordinary citizen of Qi State. He left Qi State because he was expelled by Qi State dignitaries. By chance, he met Zou Xing on the way to Qin State.
This means.
In fact, not only the world, but also the Bai family were all kept in the dark by this young man.
When I think of this.
Even Ying Zheng, who was in charge of the entire Qin State, couldn't help but laugh. He looked at the young man and found it particularly interesting.
This confusing experience made Ying Zheng feel dumbfounded.
Ying Zheng was curious. He really didn't know what Bai's expression would be like if he knew about it.
But at the same time, Ying Zheng also felt a little sad. The young man's experience was similar to his. He hid his identity and lived under the shelter of others. He did not dare to tell others his name easily.
Ying Zheng did not doubt the young man, because if the young man did not tell, no one would know, and there was no need to go to the trouble of recording his parents, the village, and the entire story in detail on the bamboo slips.
Not to mention if this was known to the Bai family.
Thinking of this and looking at the young man, Ying Zheng really couldn't laugh or cry.
"Submit!"
Ying Zheng turned to the eunuch and said.
Hearing this, the eunuch who had been prepared for a long time walked towards the young man under his highness, dragging the wooden tray with official uniforms in his hands.
Inside the main hall.
Bai Yan once again bowed his hand to Ying Zheng. This time, Bai Yan looked at Ying Zheng in the main hall, and his eyes showed not only excitement and reverence, but also gratitude.
After several eunuchs came over to help him remove the Qin armor, Bai Yan honestly opened his hands.
As Qin Jia faded away, the clothes underneath naturally also slowly faded away, implying that identity, status, and everything were different from the past.
But that was at this time.
All the civil and military officials of the Qin State saw that the young man with a handsome face in their eyes was covered with stab wounds. The wounds were spread all over the young man's thin body, making him look particularly ferocious.
"Hiss~!"
"No wonder~!"
"This one!"
At this moment, when all the civil and military officials saw this scene, they all looked at each other and whispered. Looking at the young man, their eyes were full of surprise and emotion.
If they saw that boy for the first time, everyone would still think that boy was young.
So at this moment, they saw that the young man had stab wounds all over his body, and even many of the stab wounds had not yet healed. It was only then that they saw with their own eyes how dangerous it was behind each of the young man's achievements.
Among the generals, Li Xin and Qiang Yu looked at the young man and couldn't help but look at each other. The doubts they had before outside the palace gate were all gone.
This one suffered more injuries than them.
In the main hall.
King Qin Yingzheng looked at the young man who looked at him gratefully just now, and lowered his head shyly.
Thinking of this young man's origin, remembering the young man's deadly battle in Shangjun, and then looking at the wounds on his body.
Eating the emperor's salary is a matter of loyalty to the emperor.
Although it was the first time he met this young man and he didn't even say many words, Ying Zheng felt a rare fondness for and closeness to the young man.
And among all the states, Qi was the vassal state that he had the most favorable impression of.
At the beginning of his succession to the throne and his pro-government, the Qin State was in turmoil. It was General Meng Ao who stabilized the state of Qin. General Meng Ao was once a native of Qi.
When he dealt with Lao Ai and imprisoned his biological mother in Yongcheng, it was also Mao Jiao from Qi who did not fear death and remonstrated.
When the Yuezhi and the Xiongnu invaded Shangjun before, this young man from Qi led the cavalry in Shangjun and fought to the death. The Yuezhi and the Xiongnu plundered less than half, but suffered heavy casualties.
Compared with officials from other factions and other capable officials, Ying Zheng has always had a favorable impression of officials who were once Qi people.
The Qi State has not participated in the wars of the vassal states for decades. Compared with officials of other factions, they need to be careful about seeking personal gain for the mother country. The officials of the Qi faction are the most reassuring.
Your Highness.
Under the service of the eunuch, Bai Yan put on brand new clothes, an official uniform with stripes, his hair was curled up, and he wore a crown.
As the eunuchs retreated, Bai Yan saw Qin King Ying Zheng looking at him in the main hall.
Bai Yan raised his hands, with the huge embroidery on his official uniform hanging on his wrist.
"Bai Yan, thank you, Your Majesty!"
Bai Yan bowed his hands again to King Qin Yingzheng.
When saluting, he lowers his head and looks at the official uniform he is wearing, which symbolizes the official uniform of a general.
At this moment, Bai Yan was in a trance for a moment.
He remembered that when he was a child in Qi State, he was sitting in the village and watching the villagers returning from their busy work.
He remembered that when he was a child, he stood behind his grandmother, who always used a broom to drive away those teenagers who were laughing at him and were many years older than him.
I think of my parents, my eldest brother, my uncle and my aunt.
Thinking of Zi Lu's blind date at his grandfather's house, the remaining girls and their parents saw him and left one after another.
I think of the villagers in Shuicun and think of the villagers in other places and other villages.
Finally, the words that my grandmother once said countless times came to mind.
"My grandson will definitely be more promising than you! There will definitely be a wise king and a wise king who will recognize my grandson, and he will be given the title of minister and general!"
Bai Yan's eyes gradually turned red, and his grandmother's words came to mind. Thinking of his grandmother's figure, a slight smile appeared in his heart.
"Grandma!"
"Yan'er today, I will bow to you as general!"
"Waiting for my grandson to come back!"
With a fleeting thought, Bai Yan murmured in his heart.
As long as the world is unified and Mi Qi is eliminated, he can return to the village.
At that time, the villagers who once laughed at my grandmother and those from other villages will no longer be able to laugh at her.
Think of this.
Bai Yan came to his senses and then heard Ying Zheng's voice coming from the main hall.
"Take your seat and give me a seat!"
After hearing Ying Zheng's words, Bai Yan raised his head, looked at Ying Zheng in the main hall, and saluted again.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After the ceremony, Bai Yan carefully took two steps back and then turned around.
Just when I turned around.
Bai Yan saw a man sitting on the right side, headed by a civil servant, in the prime minister's seat.
Right Prime Minister, Lord Changping!
I just came to the palace for the first time and saw Ying Zheng. I was so excited that I almost forgot about this person.
Just when Bai Yan was looking at Lord Changping and remembering his appearance.
Lord Changping also noticed Bai Yan's gaze at this time.
The two looked at each other.
As the right prime minister, Chang Ping Jun cast a kind look at Bai Yan and nodded slightly as if to express his "affirmation" to the younger generation, with an amiable look on his face.
See the situation.
Bai Yan also smiled kindly, showing his closeness.
Ask yourself, if you didn't know about the assassination of Bai Yu from your uncle when you were young, if you didn't learn about it from Lu Lou, just looking at the surface, Bai Yan really can't believe that such a kind-hearted person can actually act like this.
The man behind the incident.
He almost turned the entire Gaonu into a living hell.
Fortunately, Lord Changping doesn't know yet that he already knows everything.