freenovelworld Chapter 142 The State of Chu Rejects the State of Qin's Request for Cooperation
Chapter 142 The State of Chu Rejects the State of Qin's Request for Cooperation
In mid-October of 226 BC, the palaces of the Chu Kingdom stood majestically, exuding an ancient and solemn aura under the sunlight.
Carrying the economic zone plan meticulously crafted by Princess Jiayang, Ying Wuyou, Yao Jia embarked on his journey to the State of Chu. This trip carried a heavy responsibility, concerning the future direction of both Qin and Chu.
Weary from his journey, Yao Jia's heart was always heavy with the weight of his mission. Finally, Yao Jia stood outside the palace of the Chu Kingdom. Looking up, he saw the palace standing majestically, its grandeur awe-inspiring. Taking a deep breath, Yao Jia steadily stepped into the palace.
King Fu Chu sat high on his throne, a hint of doubt and scrutiny in his eyes. Yao Jia bowed respectfully, then straightened his back, preparing to begin this difficult persuasion.
"Your Majesty, I am Yao Jia, the envoy of Qin. I have come on the orders of the King of Qin to discuss the construction of the economic zone at the border of Qin and Chu." Yao Jia's voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the hall.
King Fuchu of Chu frowned slightly but remained silent. Yao Jia stood in the center of the court, his expression calm and composed, and continued, "To show our sincerity, Great Qin is willing to build a road to the economic zone for Chu. This is the economic zone plan written by Princess Jiayang of Qin. Please review it, King of Chu."
As he spoke, the deputy envoy behind Yao Jia carefully presented the meticulously prepared plan to the King of Chu with both hands. Upon seeing this, a young eunuch immediately ran down the steps, took the book, and then placed it steadily in front of the King of Chu.
The King of Chu leaned forward slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, and gently picked up the plan. His brow furrowed slightly, his gaze sharp as he meticulously examined every word and detail. The plan was indeed extremely detailed, showcasing its immense value and profound significance from every perspective. King Fuchu of Chu seemed equally absorbed, reading intently as if trying to etch every word of the plan into his mind.
After a while, King Fuchu of Chu slowly raised his head, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face, his eyes flashing with complex light, as if countless thoughts were intertwined within them. He remained silent, his gaze sweeping back and forth over Yao Jia, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. At this moment, the ministers of Chu began to whisper among themselves, discussing the matter animatedly.
An old minister stepped forward, stroked his beard, and slowly said, "Your Majesty, Qin's move may be a trap. Qin has always been ambitious, and this construction of the economic zone may be a preparation for the future annexation of Chu."
Another minister countered, "That is incorrect. Nowadays, there are constant conflicts between the states. If Qin and Chu can cooperate to jointly build an economic zone, it will not only promote the economic development of both countries, but also enhance their strength and resist the aggression of other countries."
The ministers argued endlessly, each holding their own opinion. King Fu Chu of Chu frowned even more deeply, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Yao Jia felt a growing anxiety. He knew he had to persuade King Fu Chu of Chu as soon as possible, otherwise the mission would surely fail. So, Yao Jia spoke again, saying, "Your Majesty, Qin's construction of the economic zone is a sincere effort. This economic zone will become an important hub for trade between Qin and Chu, from which the people of both countries will benefit. Moreover, Qin's willingness to repair roads for Chu demonstrates its sincerity. If Your Majesty refuses, you may miss a golden opportunity and regret it later."
Xiang Yan, with a solemn expression, stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Your Majesty, the Qin state has always been ambitious. Although they seem very sincere this time, we must not easily trust them, lest we fall into their trap. The world knows of Qin's wolfish ambitions. Today they propose establishing an economic zone, but tomorrow they may use this opportunity to infiltrate our country and nibble away at our territory. Back then, how ruthless Qin was in its treatment of other countries! This seemingly tempting proposal must be hiding some ulterior motive. Our country must be cautious and must not be deceived by their apparent sincerity.”
King Fuchu of Chu gazed silently ahead for a long time before speaking softly to Yao Jia, who was standing below, "Envoy, please go down and rest for a while. I will discuss this carefully with you gentlemen and make a final decision after we have sorted things out."
Upon hearing the order, Yao Jia bowed respectfully and solemnly said, "This humble subject obeys and takes his leave." With that, he slowly rose and walked out of the hall with steady and firm steps. His figure gradually disappeared into the deep recesses of the court.
King Fu Chu watched Yao Jia walk away, then turned his gaze to the assembled ministers below the platform and said solemnly, "Take a good look at this plan first." As soon as he finished speaking, a young eunuch quickly stepped forward and carefully presented the book to Prime Minister Xiang Yan with both hands.
Xiang Yan extended his slightly rough hands and gently took the book. He held it up to his eyes, bringing it close, his gaze revealing focus and seriousness. After a short while, he quickly browsed through the entire book, then sighed softly and slowly handed it to the person beside him.
The ministers who received the books had varying expressions. Some had excited glints in their eyes, as if they had seen a great opportunity; others had solemn faces, as if they had a premonition of the challenges they were about to face; and still others looked bewildered, not knowing how to deal with this sudden change. The atmosphere in the court instantly became tense and subtle, as if a fierce storm was quietly brewing.
After the key ministers had finished reviewing the documents, King Fu Chu of Chu asked, "Tell me your thoughts, what do you think of this economic zone?"
Huang Xie said loudly, "Your Majesty, this may be an opportunity for us. Although Qin is strong, we cannot miss the opportunity for development because of fear. If we can seize this opportunity, Chu may be able to grow stronger through cooperation with Qin."
Xiang Yan countered, "King Zhaoxiang of Qin lured King Huai of Chu to a meeting at Wuguan by offering to return the cities. As a result, King Huai was detained by Qin as soon as he arrived at Wuguan. Qin forced King Huai to cede Wujun and Qianzhongjun, but he refused and was detained by Qin for three years, eventually dying in Qin. Qin is not trustworthy."
Huang Xie said, “Your Majesty, Prime Minister, recall the past, the matter between Duke Mu of Qin and Duke Hui of Jin. Back then, Duke Mu of Qin supported Duke Hui of Jin to the throne, but Duke Hui of Jin broke his promise and refused to cede the land west of the Yellow River to Qin. However, Duke Mu of Qin did not break his promise to the world because of this, and still upheld justice and benevolence.”
Xiang Yan continued to refute, "The Qin state has always been committed to unifying the six states, and its ambition is obvious. The proposed economic zone plan is likely a strategy of the Qin state. On the surface, it is to promote economic development, but in reality, it wants to weaken the economic strength of the Chu state and prepare for future annexation."
After hearing Xiang Yan's words, King Fu Chu of Chu nodded slightly, a resolute look flashing in his eyes, and then slowly said, "What the Prime Minister said is absolutely right, every word is reasonable. After careful consideration, I have finally decided to resolutely reject Qin's unreasonable request for cooperation. This is a matter of life and death for my Chu state, and it must not be easily agreed to."
At this moment, Huang Xie wanted to say something more to try and change the King of Chu's decision, but the King of Chu decisively waved his hand to interrupt him. The King of Chu's originally gentle face became even more serious. He stared intently at the ministers below and solemnly said, "My mind is made up, and there is absolutely no possibility of changing it. The Qin state is ambitious and treacherous, and its cooperation hides many conspiracies and schemes. If we cooperate with them, we will surely fall into an abyss of no return."
As the King of Chu finished speaking, the ministers below seemed to be encouraged by something, and they all shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is sagacious! We are willing to follow Your Majesty to the death and fight against the invasion of Qin." A passionate atmosphere immediately filled the entire hall.