As the saying goes, talking about money hurts feelings, and it is no exception between Li He, Fan Hu, Tian Ji and others.

When he heard about borrowing money, Tian Ji, who had originally formed an alliance with Shaoliang, had a little uneasy smile on his face, and even looked at Li He with a strange look.

The eyes seemed to be saying: You just started to borrow money when you first established diplomatic relations with our country? Are you embarrassed?

"I don't know how much... I plan to borrow?"

Perhaps even Tian Ji himself did not realize that he once again took on the air of "Supreme Envoy" when he said this.

Seeing this, Li He smiled slightly and said, "I wonder how much your country can borrow?"

This rhetorical question not only made Tian Ji confused, but his expression when he looked at Li He also became more and more strange - why are you, the guy who is hiding money, so arrogant?

Perhaps he didn't want to destroy the newly-promoted alliance, Tian Ji said slowly: "This is probably not easy to deal with... For the sake of Shaoliang and our Qi State, our Qi State can also borrow Shaoliang a sum of money, but if the amount is too large, Tian may not be able to make the decision..."

"Does Doctor Ziqi make things difficult?" Li He said with a smile: "Maybe Doctor Ziqi is thinking in his heart, why is this man so shameless? He just formed an alliance and started borrowing money from our country..."

"No, that's not..." Tian Ji, who was guessing, shook his head and denied it, but saw Li He saying sincerely: "Please allow me to explain that borrowing money from your country was a sudden idea yesterday, and I also thought that this matter was also beneficial to Qi."

Tian Ji licked his lips and looked at Li He with a smile. After a while, he said, "...Tian is stupid, please ask Doctor Ziliang to make it clear, why is it also beneficial to our Qi State?"

Li He, who was questioned, said calmly: "Don't Qi State want me to help you check and balance Qin and Wei?"

“…”

Tian Ji's expression gradually became serious.

From the side, Sun Bin put down the tea bowl in his hand and said with a smile: "Shaoliang, can we balance the Qin and Wei countries?"

Li He turned to look at Sun Bin and said seriously: "It is indeed impossible to do it at present, but if Shaoliang becomes stronger, it may not be possible, right?... I think Mr. Sun Bin can also guess that the reason why Han Hou helped me Shaoliang with all his might is because he likes my Shaoliang's potential. Besides, aren't you both here because of my Shaoliang?"

“…”

Tian Ji thought for a moment, turned to look at Sun Bin.

Sun Bin nodded understandingly, and Dai Tian Ji said, "I didn't expect that Doctor Ziliang is so straightforward... Yes, Lord Tian Qi came to Shaoliang for this reason, but this did not convince us that Qi must borrow money from Shaoliang. Shaoliang is located between Qin and Wei. If you do not seek self-improvement, you will eventually be annexed by Qin and Wei. Even if our Qi does not lend money to Shaoliang, Shaoliang can still play a role in restraining Qin and Wei... Doctor Ziliang threatened Qi with this, don't you think it's a bit inappropriate?"

Li He looked at Sun Bin deeply and shook his head and said, "Mr. Sun Bin misunderstood. He has no intention of threatening Qi. He can only say that it provides Qi with a shortcut, a shortcut to replace Wei and become the overlord of the world. As the teacher said, my Shaoliang is located between Qin and Wei. Not to mention that Qi does not lend me Shaoliang, even if I do not establish diplomatic relations with me Shaoliang, my Shaoliang will still more or less restrain Qin and Wei for Qi. But just this can help Qi replace Wei and become the overlord?"

After a pause, he said seriously: "I believe the two of you are generally clear about the current situation in Hedong. As far as I know a while ago, at the end of February, Wei and Zhao formed an alliance in Zhangshui and returned Handan to Zhao. This means that Wei is preparing for the war in full and preparing to gather the whole country to counterattack Hedong, or even Hexi.... I wish I boldly predict the outcome of the next battle between Qin and Wei. In my personal opinion, without my Shaoliang's help, Qin will be difficult to win the next war, and may be defeated from Hedong or even lose Hexi. If this is true, then Wei will be able to regain the majesty of the former overlord. If Qi still wanted to replace Wei, it would be difficult to guarantee that he would not be hostile to Wei."

Sun Bin smiled slightly and was unmoved: "If this were the case, wouldn't Shaoliang become more and more dangerous? Why did Doctor Ziliang think that Shaoliang could be outside? I think that since Doctor Ziliang saw that Qin was defeated by Wei, he should find a way to help Qin. Otherwise, once Wei defeated Qin, Shaoliang would not be the next sacrifice..."

“Not to.”

Li He shook his head and said, "I don't know, sir, how could I force Qin to withdraw my troops three years ago when Qin attacked me Shaoliang?"

"It is said that Doctor Ziliang personally led hundreds of Shaoliang soldiers to capture the King of Qin?" Sun Bin smiled and shook his head and said, "Although this matter is really shocking, I don't think Shaoliang can use his old tricks again and capture the King of Wei..."

"No!"

Li He interrupted Sun Bin and said seriously: "The reason why Qin retreated in the past was not because the King of Qin was captured. The key was that my Shaoliang made Qin understand something, that is, if I force my Shaoliang to a dead end, my Shaoliang will have the ability to die with Qin.... Mr. Sun Bin is right. With the lessons of the King of Qin, if Wei attacks my Shaoliang in the future, the King of Wei will definitely be guarded and will not be captured by my Shaoliang's strange soldiers. However, my Shaoliang also has the ability to die with Wei!... Once the Wei State forces too much, my Shaoliang will definitely send the strange soldiers into the territory of Wei, holding the fish.

The determination to break the dead will create chaos in various parts of Wei. Even if we cannot drag the destruction of Wei, it will make his national strength retreat and lose his overlord position... For the sake of my Shaoliang, a small country, I think the King of Wei will never make such a foolish choice. In addition, there are also Wei ministers such as Xia Yangjun who are kind to me, Shaoliang, who are kind to me. I believe that as long as I Shaoliang does not stand directly on the side of Qin and send troops to assist Qin, Wei will never force me Shaoliang to a dead end... After all, Wei also understands that if Qin is unable to challenge Wei, I Shaoliang alone will never become a threat to Wei."

After a pause, he looked at Tian Ji, and continued with a chuckling, "In other words, once Qin State is defeated, Wei State will no longer have the worries of the west. When the time comes, Wei State may turn its attention to the east again..."

“…”

Not to mention Tian Ji frowned when he heard this, even Sun Bin could not think of anything to question Li He for the time being.

After all, what Li He said is indeed predictable.

After a while, Sun Bin spoke seriously: "If it is for this reason, then our Qi State can support Qin State. Compared with Shaoliang, Qin State is more capable of restraining Wei State..."

"... At the same time, it is even more uncontrollable." Li He interrupted Sun Bin's words again and said with a smile: "Does Qi really want to fund Qin? Both Wei and Han know that Qin is an underrated tiger. It is in a barren West, like trapped in a cage. However, after the reform of self-defense, this tiger showed signs of gradually breaking out of the cage. Once one day escapes, it will definitely become a disaster for the countries in the Central Plains. Therefore, Wei and Han tried every means to curb Qin; in contrast, I, Shaoliang, pursued Mohism, advocated not attacking, and would never launch an unjust war, nor did I hope to become the overlord. Even if my Shaoliang becomes strong in the future, it will never threaten other countries. Does Mr. Sun Bin think that my Shaoliang is the best funding target?"

“…”

Even Sun Bin could not refute Li He's words and exchanged a look with Tian Ji.

Seeing this, Tian Ji asked Li He seriously: "How much money is Shaoliang going to borrow from our Qi State?"

Li He shook his head and said, "Please allow me to explain. In fact, I, Shaoliang, do not want to borrow money from Qi. Your country's coins are not circulated in Shaoliang, and I cannot buy anything. What I mean by borrowing money is actually to use this money to purchase some materials, food, weapons, equipment and other people's living needs in Qi that can help me grow Shaoliang faster. In other words, I hope to get the full support of Qi's State for me Shaoliang. As for the amount of support, then

It depends on what Qi State expects me, Shaoliang, and whether we hope that my Shaoliang will develop rapidly. When one day Wei State is unfavorable to Qi State, we will be able to intervene and suppress Wei State from the west, or will we only need my Shaoliang to support Qi State verbally at that time... By the way, Qi State provides loans and support to me, Shaoliang, but the two countries need the cooperation they need. Please do not have the idea of ​​controlling my Shaoliang, and do not be arrogant because of this. This will be beneficial to the long-term cooperation between our two countries."

“…”

Tian Ji looked at Li He incredibly, and he was completely confused.

In love, Qi State fully supports Shaoliang, and Shaoliang refuses to even surrender to Qi State?

From the side, Sun Bin looked at Li He and bowed, "I finally understand why your country values ​​Doctor Ziliang so much, and why Ziliang caused Pang Juan to be frustrated... Sun Bin admired."

When Li He expressed his humility, he turned his head and looked at Tian Ji, who was still confused, and smiled and said to Li He and the others: "This matter is of great importance. Can you allow my lord to go back and think about it?"

"certainly."

Li He nodded and stood up with Fan Hu and Wang Yi to see him off.

On that day, Tian Ji politely rejected Fan Hu's invitation to keep him and Sun Bin for a meal, and took Sun Bin back to the inn.

When he returned to the inn, Tian Ji said to Sun Bin with a look of fear: "I thought that Li He was just brave in war, but he didn't expect that his words were so stunning... The sir thinks his words were exaggerated?"

Sun Bin thought with a crutch, shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, what this person said...is probably not a silence. Although Qin is fierce, it should not be against Wei. If Wei is fighting against Qin with the whole country, it will be difficult for Qin to defeat Wei. Once Qin surrenders, Wei will relieve the threat from the west, which may indeed be unfavorable to our Qi... Originally, I also tend to support Qin, but as Li He said, Qin is very dangerous. Qi is far away from the east, and it is very difficult to maintain a balance between Qin and Wei."

Tian Ji frowned and asked, "Sir, do you mean to support Shaoliang?...I don't object to support Shaoliang. But, can Shaoliang, a small country, restrain Wei?"

Sun Bin thought for a while and said, "Then Li He said that Shaoliang has the ability to die with either Qin and Wei. If this is true, Shaoliang can indeed restrain Wei... Anyway, the lord is not in a hurry to return to the country. You might as well visit Shaoliang cities to see if Shaoliang has this ability. If Shaoliang does have this potential, then the lord might as well persuade the king to agree to this matter and borrow Shaoliang a sum of money first to help him purchase some supplies in our Qi State. Considering that the two countries have a long journey, this

It only takes a few months for some materials to arrive at Shaoliang at the earliest. I believe the situation in Hedong in Jieshi will become more and more innovative. If Wei really had the advantage at that time, then we would continue to provide the second batch of aid to Shaoliang; on the contrary, if Qin gained power, Shaoliang could also restrain Qin in turn and not make our Qi's aid meaningless. In short, we will not suffer any loss in any case.... By the way, the lord can take the opportunity to see the Shaoliang army with his own eyes and see if our Qi's training methods can be learned from one or two."

"It's worthy of being a sir!"

Tian Ji was pleased with surrender and repeatedly praised Sun Bin for his careful consideration.
Chapter completed!