On the street, the noisy people suddenly saw an instant silence in the direction of the palace in the distance. When they turned around, they saw a huge crowd of people, kneeling on the ground.
See the situation.
As a citizen of Xianyang in the Qin State, I didn't know why, so I reminded my relatives and friends one after another, and then bowed my head and knelt on the ground.
"King Qin Yingzheng!"
"Ying Zheng is here!!"
Except for the common people, nobles, and merchants of Qin State, scholars and merchants from other countries will naturally not kneel to Ying Zheng, especially those from Zhao and Wei.
As a country that had just been conquered by the Qin State, these people who had subjugated their country not only did not develop instinctive habits, but they also had no intention of kneeling down to worship Ying Zheng.
Anyway, there are scholars from Chu and Qi here, so they don't believe that Ying Zheng still has the mind to care about them at the moment.
"Greetings to the King!"
"Meet the King!!"
On the streets of Xianyang City, not only the crowds of people knelt down, but also all the Qin officials and cavalry soldiers except the palace guards also knelt down towards Ying Zheng.
Ying Kan, Jiu, and other cavalry generals also dismounted at this time and saluted Ying Zheng.
As for Xun Shuo, who did not have a title yet and was subordinate to the people, he was in the street. Compared with the other cavalry generals who raised their hands to salute, Xun Shuo also slowly knelt on the ground and saluted Ying Zheng.
The leading palace guard, with a group of guard orders, led the rows of palace guards holding long swords forward, and immediately took over the responsibility of vigilantizing the surroundings.
Riding on the backs of burly and strong war horses, burly men in armor looked around with sharp eyes. Not only were they equipped with sharp swords at their waists, but they also held a curved bow in their hands.
The State of Qin also has Qin Crossbows. No matter how elite the army is, such as the iron cavalry under Bai Yan, or the Iron Eagle warriors who even Bai Yan marveled at, they are all equipped with Qin Crossbows.
When people like these wearing armor and carrying bows appeared, whether they were the people on the street or the scholars from other vassal states, they almost immediately guessed their identities.
CRRC Guards!
He is known as one of the most elite soldiers in the entire Qin Empire.
If the Qin State spent countless energy and time to select more than 3,000 elite cavalrymen, then the CRRC Guards had to hollow out the entire Qin State to select the best of the 800 elites.
"Your Majesty, we are here!"
Zhao Gao reined in the six horses pulling the carriage and watched as the eunuch beside him got down and placed the carriage seats. Zhao Gao got off the carriage, slowly turned around, and handed over his hand to Ying Zheng in the carriage to report.
Following Zhao Gao's words.
All CRRC guards and palace guards looked around with alert expressions. Whether it was the crowds of people kneeling on the ground or the tall buildings, they were all watched carefully.
Li Si, Wei Liao, Chang Wenjun and other officials also came to the front one after another at this time. While looking at the people around them, they also looked at the corpses lying on the ground and the struggling scholars who were pressed to the ground.
On the carriage.
Ying Zheng slowly walked out of the carriage and stood in front of the carriage. Ying Zheng quickly noticed the huge cauldron in the distance among the many kneeling cavalry soldiers.
Although he already knew that it was a fake tripod, Ying Zheng never thought that this fake tripod could be so big.
It's no wonder that after Bai Yan captured Pengcheng, he saw such a big tripod and didn't expect it to be a conspiracy.
"Ying Zheng, you ordered Bai Yan to secretly find a fake cauldron and send it to Xianyang to offer sacrifices to heaven. Are you not afraid of being laughed at by the world by deceiving heaven and deceiving the world? Will you make future generations laugh? In the name of deceiving the world?"
Ying Zheng had just stepped out of the carriage. Almost instantly, someone in the crowd suddenly stood up and shouted to Ying Zheng.
Such an action made the people kneeling on the ground around them raise their heads and look sideways.
Almost instantly.
Scholars from other places also stood up one after another, and some scholars from various countries who were standing originally also agreed. Everyone was questioning Ying Zheng, asking why Ying Zheng ordered Bai Yan to find a fake tripod and pretend to be Jiuzhou.
tripod.
"Ying Zheng!"
"Ying Zheng, if you dare to deceive Heaven, Heaven will not tolerate it!"
The guards of the Xianyang Palace were not just decorations. When they saw the scholars standing up, they had already rushed forward and worked together to detain each of them. The scholars were also struggling and shouting angrily at Ying Zheng.
.
"Kings!"
When Chang Wenjun, Wang Wan and others saw this scene, they naturally understood that so many people had died and Ying Zheng must not be allowed to kill all these scholars. After all, these people did not move toward the tripod like the scholars just now.
He rushed to untie the black cloth with the word Qin covering the cauldron.
Therefore, the two of them quickly bowed to Ying Zheng and reminded him to hold back his anger.
"A few people are deceiving the world?"
Ying Zheng looked at the scholars with a sneer on his face and gloomy eyes. It was not difficult to see the anger in them, but fortunately his expression did not lose his composure.
"Everyone, is there anyone who can prove that I have issued this order? Is there anyone who can see my edict?"
Ying Zheng stood on the carriage and looked around at the countless Qin people kneeling on the ground. There were still many people standing. The number was extremely large, and without exception, the clothes on those people were far better than
Ordinary people of Qin State.
After all, people in other places don't have much financial resources or experience, so they are unwilling to work hard along the way to come to Xianyang.
"..."
Ying Zheng looked to the other side again, looking at those people with feigned curiosity.
In this most direct confrontation, when it is absolutely justified, there is no need to worry at all.
"I am a scholar from Jucheng of Qi State, Luqiuzong! I come from Pengcheng!"
In the distance, Lu Qiu Zong walked out of the street and watched the two palace guards approaching with fierce eyes. Lu Qiu Zong was not timid at all and allowed them to escort him.
"If it hadn't been for the King of Qin's order, Lu Qiu would not understand why Bai Yan massacred the people in a pavilion and why he destroyed the Song family?"
Although Lu Qiu Zong did not directly address Ying Zheng by his first name, the effect of what Lu Qiu Zong said was much higher than that of others. First of all, Lu Qiu Zong said that he was a scholar of Qi State, and secondly, he came from Pengcheng.
, and the third is knowing about Bai Yan's stay in Pengcheng.
This is why almost after Lu Qiu Zong opened his mouth, everyone's eyes turned to Lu Qiu Zong.
Some silent old men finally found the opportunity and spoke one after another.
"The King of Qin, the Jiuzhou Tripod, was made by Emperor Yu's order. It symbolizes the nine states in the world. It has been of extraordinary significance since ancient times. Now it has been passed down for more than a thousand years. How can a fake tripod be replaced! We also ask the King of Qin to not be favored.
Misleading the country and deceiving!”
An old man with white hair spoke first, and his words sounded much better than those of the other young scholars. Not only were they less harsh, but their meaning was also very gentle.
Even many officials of the Qin State started talking after hearing this, understanding what the old man meant.
I want Ying Zheng to reveal the fake tripod to the public in front of the people of the city and countless scholars. If it is fake and if it is deceived by Bai Yan, Ying Zheng can tell the world in person.
on the street.
Many elderly people also came forward one after another.
As the discussion continued, Ying Zheng remained silent and waited patiently for everyone to finish speaking. Then he turned his eyes to the distance and saw the cavalry general next to Ying Kan and the soldier who had been kneeling on the ground.
people.
"Are you the ones who escorted Jiuding to Xianyang?"
Ying Zheng asked.
By the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, after the feudal lords of the world were enfeoffed, a common custom spread among all the vassal states, no matter how they were merged.
That is, any court meeting, or anything that needs to be discussed, is first discussed by the people under my command, and then finally decided by the princes and kings. Even today's court affairs in the Qin State have always adhered to this process.
at the moment.
Faced with the remarks of countless scholars and those old men who came from other places and traveled thousands of miles to Xianyang, Ying Zheng did not rush to reply, but let the two people who escorted Jiuding to Xianyang speak.
Since Bai Yan sent the two of them here, then facing those people at this time, all the words of these two people represent Bai Yan.
"Go back to your Majesty, Xun Shuo, under the orders of General Bai Yan, escort Jiuding here!"
Xun Shuo knelt on the ground. After hearing Ying Zheng's inquiry, he raised his hand and saluted Ying Zheng in a neither humble nor overbearing manner.
Xun Shuo!
Just two words, but it made many scholars from various countries and even many officials of Qin start talking. Even the captured Lu Qiuzong, those old men, and Kuang Jing, Chen Lao, Tian Lao and others in the crowd in the distance started talking.
Everyone looked at each other in surprise, and then looked at the man in the distance with confusion, kneeling on the ground, calling himself Xun Shuo.
As old people from Qi State, they are no strangers to the surname Xun. In the past, they may not have been able to recall the name Xun Shuo, but once they heard about it, they could immediately think of its rumors and Xunzi's favorite
The identity of his grandson.
"How can a descendant of the Xun family be related to Bai Yan?"
"Then Xun Shuo, isn't it said that he traveled around the world?"
This is almost always the first thought in the minds of Qi scholars.
This can only be blamed on Xun Shuo being too low-key in the past. To what extent, it can be said that except for the cavalry generals, most of the cavalry officers and side riders did not pay much attention to Xun Shuo.
Even the people in Yanmen pay more attention to those generals who have noble titles and are very good at fighting.
This is true for Yanmen, let alone the nobles and scholars of Qi State.
at the moment.
Some astute people noticed that Xun Shuo called Ying Zheng the king, not the king of Qin. This Xun Shuo did not have a title in Qin. In other words, Xun Shuo was now under Bai Yan's account.
"Xun Shuo, grandson of Xunzi!"
Wei Liao and Wang Wan were listening to the whispers of other officials, but they all looked at Li Si.
Almost as soon as he arrived here, Li Si's eyes never left Xun Shuo. His eyes seemed full of melancholy, as if he was recalling the past, but he didn't know whether he was missing the days of Mengxue, his mentor and Han Fei, or both.
"No gift!"
Ying Zheng looked at Xun Shuo calmly and asked Xun Shuo to get up without any courtesy.
"Where did you get the tripod? Is it Jiuding?"
Ying Zheng watched Xun Shuo stand up, looked at the covered cauldron, and asked.
Hearing this, Xun Shuo, who had just stood up, saluted Ying Zheng again.
"Back to the king, this tripod was obtained by the general in Sishui. It is the Jiuzhou tripod..."
Xun Shuo raised his hands to Ying Zheng and said, but the words had just sounded, and before Xun Shuo could finish speaking, a loud shout suddenly came from the distance.
"Absurd, this cauldron is definitely not the real Jiuzhou cauldron! I saw with my own eyes how Bai Yan fished the cauldron from Surabaya!"
The sudden shout made everyone look around.
Li Si, Wei Liao, Wang Wan and others all frowned. Even Ying Zheng on the carriage couldn't help but look over when he heard someone said that he saw Bai Yan salvaging the tripod in Surabaya.
Under the eyes of everyone.
Nie Kuan, dressed in cloth, stood out from the crowd and walked step by step around the people who were kneeling on the ground with curious faces on their faces.
"Songzi?"
"Why is Song Zi here?"
Seeing Nie Kuan, many of the cavalry soldiers who had escorted Jiuding to Xianyang looked at each other in surprise and exclaimed in low voices.
The soldiers still had influence on this Songzi. After all, when they went to Surabaya to salvage the tripod, it was this Songzi who led the way. The soldiers did not understand why Songzi, who should be in Pengcheng, was in Xianyang.
"Who are you? How could you see Bai Yan fishing for the cauldron with your own eyes?"
Ying Kan glanced at the cavalry soldiers who were screaming in surprise, and after watching the palace guards bring Nie Kuan over, he frowned and looked straight at Nie Kuan and asked.
Nie Kuan saw this and signaled to let him go.
Instructed by Ying Kan's gaze, the two palace guards let go of Nie Kuan, and immediately saw Nie Kuan saluting Ying Zheng on the carriage not far away, turning around, looking around, in front of everyone
shouted in front of him.
"My name is Song Zi! I heard the news about Jiuding in Surabaya before. Later, I was hunted down and my friend died. Fortunately, I was rescued by the scouts under General Bai Yan. I later led Bai Yan to search for the tripod in Surabaya! At that time, I
I saw with my own eyes how Bai Yan fished for the cauldron in Surabaya!"
Nie Kuan spoke loudly.
When he said this, Nie Kuan's eyes suddenly turned red.
"Then, I just knew..."
Nie Kuan pointed at Xun Shuo, looked at Ying Zheng, and said with indignation.
"The tripod in the Sishui River is not the Nine Cauldron. Bai Yan ordered someone to seize the tripod early and threw it into the Sishui River. My friends and I were also used by Bai Yan to murder us!"
Nie Kuan's sad face seemed to hide untold pain. In front of everyone, he told all the details of what happened.
"It's really a fake tripod!"
"I didn't expect it to be like this! It's actually a fake tripod!"
"Kill people and seize the cauldron~this..."
After hearing Nie Kuan's words, almost instantly, there were countless discussions among the crowds of people. The noise was endless, one after another. People in this era knew things by word of mouth, so when they heard Nie Kuan's words
, the people had no doubts.
After all, there are Qin soldiers, palace guards, and even so many civil and military officials who were rarely seen in the past everywhere. They are all here, even the king is here.
In such a situation, how could Nie Kuan dare to tell lies? Moreover, there were cavalry soldiers there. If Nie Kuan told lies, they would definitely be exposed by the cavalry soldiers.
at this time.
Not to mention the scholars, merchants, and old men from other countries who started talking and shook their heads slightly after listening to Nie Kuan's words. Even the people of Xianyang were horrified by Bai Yan's methods.
According to Nie Kuan, Bai Yan should have ordered people to kill people to seize the tripod first, then deliberately threw Surabaya away, deliberately let the news spread, and then arranged for people to kill people and silence them, deliberately leaving Nie Kuan behind.
Finally, when Bai Yan captured Pengcheng and was looking for the tripod, someone just happened to take him to find the tripod!
"Although you saw Bai Yan fishing for the cauldron, how did you know that it was Bai Yan who ordered people to kill people and seize the cauldron?"
Ying Kan listened to the continuous discussion around him, frowned and asked, looking straight at Song Zi.
"I grew up in Sishui, and my mother came from Shiliting. I have known a good friend since I was a child, named Song Jin. He is the descendant of the Song family. Today, he is also the orphan of the Song family. Song Jin saw this with his own eyes. How could it happen?
Fake!"
Nie Kuan listened to Ying Kan's inquiry and answered without hesitation, looking at Ying Kan with eyes filled with sadness.
However, what Nie Kuan didn't know was that under his actions.
Almost instantly, Ying Kan guessed that there was something wrong with him.
First of all, the clothes on Nie Kuan's body were coarse cloth. A man of such a background came all the way to Xianyang. It seemed that he wanted to take revenge and let the King of Qin and the people of the world make the decision for him, but his courage, tone, and eyes could not be deceived.
.
There was no dodge in the seemingly angry eyes.
but……
"Song Jin!"
Ying Kan heard this name again, and his heart was full of helplessness. Now everything revolves around Song Jin, and because of Song Jin, the situation Bai Yan is facing is almost a dead end.
The matter of killing people and seizing the tripod cannot be defended at all under the criticism of these people.
"If the King of Qin doesn't believe it, the common people once heard that their friends Song and Jin occasionally said that there is a mark in a corner of the Song family's cauldron! The King of Qin ordered someone to open the cauldron, and I can identify it!"
Nie Kuan shouted loudly to Ying Zheng on the carriage in the distance.
Nie Kuan's purpose was to tell the story in front of all the people of Xianyang, as well as scholars and merchants, and to reveal in public that the tripod was a Song tripod, not a Jiuzhou tripod at all.
While Nie Kuan was speaking, the old men including Mr. Chen and Mr. Tian who were with Kuangjing in the crowd also walked toward the palace guards.
"Who are you?"
The guard ordered Cui Ping to frown slightly when he saw these old men.
When he learned that these old men were all Qi nobles, and that their tribes were different from ordinary nobles, Cui Ping couldn't help but take a look at these old men. After hearing that these old men asked to meet Ying Zheng, Cui Ping thought for a while and let the palace guards go.
Report.
On the carriage.
Ying Zheng frowned slightly as he listened to the palace guard's report.
Looking at the many old men wearing uniforms in the distance, Ying Zheng finally understood at this moment how many forces came because of Jiuding. Behind the many old men reported by the palace guards were all the old people of Qi State, and now those old men
In the Qi State, there are either numerous disciples or highly respected people, and their family origins can be traced back a long, long time ago.
This is also the case. When King Qi of Qi State obtained the Nine Cauldrons and prayed to heaven, he would invite these families to accompany him to worship.
Now that he learned that many old men were asking to see them, Ying Zheng did not understand their purpose, but when he thought about the fact that the Qin State now, and even in the future, there would always be a lack of scholars serving as officials.
Ying Zheng finally thought of the prestige of these old men in Qi State and asked the palace guards to invite them.
After a while.
Mr. Chen, Mr. Tian and others passed by Ying Kan and others, came to a place not far from the carriage, and saluted Ying Zheng.
"King Qin, we heard that Qin had obtained the Nine Cauldrons, so we came from Qi. Now we heard that the cauldron Bai Yan sent to Xianyang was a fake cauldron. We also heard what Song Zi said just now. We were very worried. Therefore, we have seen it with our own eyes.
After passing the Jiuding, I am willing to be the King of Qin and debate whether it is true or false in front of the people of Qin and the scholars of the world! In case the King of Qin is deceived and his reputation is damaged!"
After the ceremony was over, these old men did not hide it, but directly explained their intention.
Immediately, a group of old men turned to Ying Zheng and bowed their hands, as if they were requesting Ying Zheng with prestige.
Chang Wenjun stood next to Wei Liao and noticed with sharp eyes that Ji Sheng was among the crowd in the distance. Chang Wenjun knew that it was Ji Sheng who ordered Nie Kuan to come to Xianyang.
Looking at those other places, there were scholars from various countries who wanted to speak one after another, and seeing the people talking endlessly, Chang Wenjun didn't believe how Bai Yan could get Ying Zheng's protection and block the world.
mouth.
"Please, Your Majesty, order an inspection of the tripod!"
"My ministers, please ask the king to order the inspection of the tripod!!"
Suddenly, the shouts of officials came from beside him. Chang Wenjun turned around and saw that more than half of the officials, civil and military, were bowing to Ying Zheng and asking for orders.
Upon seeing this, Chang Wenjun couldn't help but look at Wei Liao, Wang Wan, Li Si and others, and they all became quiet.
the other side.
Ying Zheng, who was standing on the carriage, looked at the crowds of common people, then looked at the scholars, old men, and finally so many officials of the Qin State who also asked for the appraisal tripod.
Ying Zheng felt helpless at this moment.
Once the tripod is appraised, Ying Zheng understands the consequences. In the eyes of everyone, not only the officials, but also the scholars of the world. As the fake tripod is revealed to the public, everyone will look at him and decide how to deal with Bai Yan.
"Kings!"
Ying Zheng suddenly heard Wang Wan's voice, turned around and saw Wang Wan wearing Shangqing's clothes, also holding his hands in salute.
Ying Zheng knew what Wang Wan meant.
Looking at the big cauldron in the distance covered by the black cloth with the word "Qin" in it, the scholar named Wei Pang suddenly appeared in Ying Zheng's mind.
I used to be in Luoyin.
Ying Zheng remembered all the disputes between Wei Pang and Bai Yan.
It's a pity that Bai Yan succeeded in destroying Wei, and even destroyed Wei for Qin with almost no casualties. However, regarding the matter of Jiuding, Bai Yan not only had no news about Jiuding, but was used by others to find a
The fake Jiuding was sent to Xianyang.
"Ying Kan, pass on my order..."
When Ying Zheng said this, he hesitated again, but after two breaths, he looked at the street, surrounded by people all around, and couldn't see the end. Ying Zheng's face was filled with helplessness, and he could only continue to speak.
"Jian Ding!"
Ying Zheng ordered.
Following Ying Zheng's words, Wei Liao and Wang Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
"promise!"
Ying Kan heard Ying Zheng's order and responded with his hands raised. His face was full of worry, but he glanced at Ying Zheng on the carriage and turned around.
The other old men, Nie Kuan, and the scholars from other vassal states looked at Ying Kan and walked towards the covered cauldron with a dozen palace guards, and they all looked at each other.
No matter how well you hide it, it's still hard to conceal your excitement and excitement.
Kuang Jing, Ji Sheng, Xiang Ji, Xiang Bo, and Lu Ze brothers, as well as countless people who were hiding, all looked at each other with gloating.
The Qin officials who had just compiled the ceremony also turned around and looked at the cauldron. Among them were some wily officials who were already thinking about how to give advice to Ying Zheng in the bamboos and silks.