On July 16, Ying Ying returned to Luoyang, the capital of the King of Wei, by boat.

After returning to the palace, she didn't even bother to send someone to notify her husband, and went straight back to Youzhi Palace, hoping to reunite with her son Zhao Xing and daughter Zhao An.

Later, when she learned that her son and daughter were with Empress Dowager Shen while she was away from Wei, she went straight to Fuyan Palace. One can imagine how much she missed her children during this period.

Empress Dowager Shen didn't pay much attention to worldly affairs, so she naturally didn't know that Ying Ying was under house arrest in Xianyang Palace by her father, King Qin. Therefore, when she saw her daughter-in-law, the always kind Empress Dowager Shen couldn't help but blame her and said: "Ying'er Ah, after you return to Qin to visit your father and queen mother, I understand, but you can't leave Xing'er behind. An'er has been gone for more than half a year, right? There's not even a message..."

Ying Ying didn't want to explain that she was under house arrest by her father, so she only admitted her mistake.

Fortunately, brother and sister Zhao Xing and Zhao An saw their mother at this time and happily rushed towards her. Empress Dowager Shen did not want to scold her too much in front of her grandson and granddaughter, so she stopped.

Not long after, Wei King Zhao Run, who received the news that "Concubine Qin returned to the palace", brought Chu Heng, the general of the Imperial Guard, and Gao He, the eunuch, to Fuyan Palace.

After the family chatted and laughed happily for a while, Zhao Run winked at Ying Ying and motioned for the latter to follow him to the garden outside the palace.

A moment later, in the small garden of Fuyan Palace, Zhao Run sat on a stone bench and asked Ying Ying: "Are you under house arrest by your father?"

"Um."

Ying Ying, who was still dressed in men's clothing, sat down on another stone bench next to the stone table at Zhao Run's signal, and said with a wry smile: "Since I was a child, some people have said that my father and I are quite similar in words and deeds. This time... I deceived my father, and he also deceived me... Fortunately, you saw through my father's intentions."

"Hehehe."

Zhao Run chuckled twice and did not want to continue this topic. After all, the person they were talking about was Ying Ying's father, King Qin Hui.

He changed the topic and asked: "This time your father returns you to the country, is there any message for you to convey?"

"Um."

Ying Ying was not surprised that her wise husband could guess this. She nodded and said truthfully: "My father hopes to make peace with Wei."

"Yanhe? Humph."

Zhao Run snorted softly. Although the snort was not very deliberate, one could hear his disdain for the matter.

Seeing this, Ying Ying shook her head and explained: "It's not the kind of peace you imagined... My father also understands that it is extremely difficult to restore the previous relationship between Qin and Wei. Therefore, he asked me to Let me give you a suggestion: temporarily reconcile while still maintaining hostility... My father said that the Wei Dynasty should devote itself to attacking Qi and Chu to further expand the results of this war, rather than continuing to fight Qin. "

"..." Zhao Run was slightly startled.

He originally thought that King Qin's return was asking for peace, which was why he showed disdain just now. Unexpectedly, the so-called peace that King Qin returned was just a temporary truce between the two countries.

This means that Qin and Wei are still hostile parties, and Wei still has the right to counterattack Qin. As long as Wei is ready, war can start again at any time.

To be honest, this is very beneficial to Wei State.

You must know that although the current Wei State has defeated South Korea and the coalition forces of various countries, its national strength has also declined a lot. More importantly, military pay, military rations, pensions, and rewards are a series of burdens and expenses caused by the war. , the pressure has already made Wei Guo somewhat breathless.

At this time, Qin proposed a temporary truce, which undoubtedly gave Wei a chance to breathe. It would only take one to two years for Wei to recover the national strength lost due to this battle and regain its former strength.

Even more so, given that Wei currently controls South Korea and has a guard, Lu and Lu have returned to Wei's camp, making Wei more powerful in a year or two.

Therefore, Zhao Run didn't understand why King Qin Hui gave Wei a chance to breathe.

Is it just a simple "draining trouble to the east" strategy, hoping that Wei will be defeated by Qin when it attacks Qi and Chu in the future? Or should it be said that it will be restrained by the latter?

Touching his chin, Zhao Run said with a half-smile: "It seems that I have no reason to refuse such a negotiation that is completely based on the interests of Wei Wei... Tsk, but I don't believe my father-in-law. , so kind-hearted.”

Ying Ying rolled her eyes at Zhao Run when she heard this, but she still nodded in agreement: "My father must have his own plans... He hopes that I will persuade you to temporarily suspend the truce between the two countries, and he keeps saying that Wei should follow the trend of the war. By annexing Qi and Chu, he must be planning to do something when our army in Wei conquers Qi and Chu... He is not even worried that our army in Wei will attack Qin after annexing Qi and Chu, so he probably has some support."

With that said, she asked Zhao Run: "What do you think? Do you accept it?"

Zhao Run touched the beard on his chin, frowning in thought.

To be honest, in order to continue the war with Qin, he had already mobilized several more troops to go to the battlefield of Qin and Wei. However, the "temporary truce" negotiation proposed by King Qin was more beneficial to Wei, which made him hesitate.

"I'll think about it," he said solemnly.

Ying Ying nodded slightly, that was all she could do for her husband.

After a while, Zhao Run returned to the Ganlu Hall and told the eunuch Gao He: "Send someone to summon Yang Yi and Zhai Huang... Yes, ask Yang Yi to bring the accounting books of the household department's expenses for the past year. "

"According to the decree."

The great eunuch Gao He left in response and sent someone to summon Yang Yi and Zhai Huang.

After about one stick of incense, Yang Yi and Zhai Huang arrived at the Manlu Hall.

Yang Yinai was the Minister of Household Affairs of the imperial court, while Zhai Huang was a general in charge of Tiance Mansion.

"Your Majesty, Yang Yi (Zhai Huang), pays homage to your Majesty."

After some greetings, Yang Yi, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, took the lead and respectfully handed Zhao Run his account book of expenditures in recent years - of course, it was just an account book that simply recorded the revenue and expenditure of the treasury. After all, if it were a detailed account book, it would probably be necessary. Calculated by baskets, how could Zhao Run have such free time?

"My dear friends, please sit down for a while, make peace, and serve tea."

Zhao Run gave an order and immediately took the thick account book and began to read it roughly.

From the side, the eunuch Gao He was ordered by Zhao Run to immediately send someone to serve tea, which flattered Yang Yi and Zhai Huang.

After a while, Zhao Run held the account book with his left hand and pinched the bridge of his nose with his right hand, which he used to turn the pages, looking a little tired.

The reason is that the current inventory of the national treasury is not optimistic - for this war, the Wei State has almost spent all its ten-year savings during the "Xing'an Period". Regardless of the figures representing money and food on the account books, it is still relatively optimistic. , but don’t forget that the Wei State has not yet issued pensions and rewards.

For example, the imperial court has not yet issued pensions to the 15,000 Daliang Imperial Guard soldiers who died in the Battle of Daliang.

It's not that the imperial court had any intention of throwing away the money, it was just that after the war between Wei, South Korea, and the coalition forces of other countries, they really had little money. However, there was also the threat of Qin, which caused the imperial court to temporarily withhold pensions and rewards.

, to avoid any changes in the Qin and Wei wars.

"Crack."

Zhao Run threw the account book in his hand on the table and said to Yang Yi: "Yang Yi, in your opinion, how long can the money and food last for the war between Wei and Qin?"

After hearing the monarch's inquiry, Yang Yi immediately stood up, cupped his hands and replied: "To answer your Majesty's question, if we can temporarily suppress the pensions and rewards, it is roughly estimated that it can still last for more than half a year. If we distribute pensions and rewards..." He said somewhat cautiously.

Licking his lips, he whispered: "I'm afraid the country will have no spare money or food to support the war..."

Zhao Run nodded and said, "I understand, please step back first."

With that said, he asked the eunuch Gao He to return the account book to Yang Yi.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Yang Yi took the account book and walked away.

Seeing this, Zhai Huang subconsciously sat up straight because he knew that the monarch in front of him was about to talk to him.

Sure enough, after Yang Yi, the Minister of Household Affairs, left, Zhao Run turned to Zhai Huang and said, "Today Concubine Qin returned to the palace and brought the words of King Qin... She hopes to have a temporary truce with me, the Wei Dynasty."

"Temporary truce? Isn't it peace of mind?"

Zhai Huang was also a little surprised when he heard this, and said incomprehensibly: "What if the Qin State used troops to prevent the Wei Dynasty from becoming dominant and destroying the still balanced situation in the Central Plains... Now, Qin State has

The country should not have a temporary truce with the Wei Dynasty. If the Wei Dynasty is allowed to recover its strength, Qin's original move to start a war against the Wei Dynasty will become meaningless."

"Perhaps King Qin was a little frightened when he learned that South Korea surrendered and all the countries were defeated." Zhao Run said half-jokingly.

In fact, even he couldn't convince himself of this statement. After all, his father-in-law, King Qin Hui, was also a wise and far-sighted king. That's why, in the informant letter from the Han general Li Mu, he learned that at that time

When the Wei State had gained an advantage, instead of showing favor to the other Wei State, it broke the relationship between the two countries and sent troops to attack the Wei State.

Because King Qin knew very well that Wei had broken the original balance of the Central Plains. If Wei's momentum could not be curbed, all the countries in the Central Plains would be annexed by Wei one by one in the future, including his own Qin State. - If it were like King Fei of Wei.

As for the goods, he was probably only thinking about how to please the Wei State at that time.

"I suspect there may be fraud..."

Zhai Huang said without confidence, because he couldn't think of any fraud for a while.

After thinking for a while, he held up his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I suggest that you immediately send the Green Crows to Qin to inquire about the news and see Qin's true intentions. If Qin has no tricks, I suggest that you might as well temporarily make a truce with Qin...

After all, we, the Wei Dynasty, will challenge South Korea and the alliance of other countries at the same time in this battle.

The army, the national power is consumed hugely, and it is too reluctant to start a full-scale war with Qin at this time. It is best to cultivate for a year or two and accumulate enough money and food... As long as I, the Wei Dynasty, have enough money and food, no matter what Qin's plot is

No trick can withstand my Wei army!"

"Hmm."

Zhao Runshen nodded in agreement, and then, after thinking for a moment, he ordered the eunuch Gao He: "Gao He, call those two bastards Gao Kuo and Zhongzhao over for me from the east city gate!"

As soon as he heard the names of Gao Kuo and Zhongzhao, the eunuch Gao He wanted to laugh. He held back his laughter and asked: "Your Majesty, do you need two adults to take a bath and change clothes before coming to see your Majesty?"

The so-called bathing and changing clothes are purely polite words. What Gao He really wants to ask is whether Gao Kuo needs to be asked to change clothes. After all, these two have now been demoted to the East City Gate. As guards on duty,

It was embarrassing for these two adults to enter the palace wearing the armor of a small soldier and meet many soldiers of the Imperial Guard along the way.

However, after hearing this, Zhao Run snorted coldly and said, "Do you still want me to wait for them to take a bath and change clothes?... Tell them to come here immediately!"

"Yes." The eunuch Gao He responded and left.

About half an hour later, when Zhao Run and Zhai Huang were discussing the matter of "garrisoning troops in Lu County", Yan Shun, the commander of the Huben Imperial Guard, announced from outside the palace, obviously suppressing a smile: "Uh.

… Gao Kuo, a soldier at the city gate, prepared his moves and was summoned to come to see him.”

Even Zhao Run couldn't help but smile after hearing these words.

A moment later, under the gaze of Zhao Run, Gao He, Chu Heng, Zhai Huang and several young eunuchs in the palace, Gao Kuo, the left captain of the former Tian Ce Mansion, and Wei Cheng Zhongzhao looked embarrassed and panic-stricken.

Stepping into the hall, they saw two wooden plaques standing upright behind their necks that made people laugh.

Especially Chu Heng, this arrogant man looked at Gao Kuo, feeling embarrassed and laughing non-stop.

To be honest, if it hadn't been for Gao Kuo, neither of them would have been able to defeat such a reckless man. Moreover, in front of the monarch, I'm afraid the two of them would have rushed over and beaten him up - although it was very likely that they were beaten.
To be continued...