After Lian Po was conferred the title of Lord Xinping, he stayed in his territory to recuperate and did not enter the court.
Although the King of Zhao recognized Lian Po's contributions to the State of Zhao, his prestige had dropped to the lowest level after Zhu Xiang's entry into Qin and the failure of his crops.
Lord Pingyuan and Lord Pingyang were excluded from the court, Lin Xiangru died, Yu Xin resigned due to a misunderstanding about Zhu Xiang, and the court was controlled by a group of foolish and ignorant nobles.
Because they were stupid and ignorant and did nothing, they did not have to bear the responsibility for the King of Zhao's previous wrong decisions, and now they are having the last laugh.
King Zhao overcame all objections and made Lian Po a lord, but he was unable to use Lian Po again.
Although killing prisoners became a custom in the Warring States Period, and a soldier is better than a bandit, it is still very rare for someone to do something like Bai Qi or Lian Po, and they would definitely encounter a lot of criticism.
If the monarch is not strong, he will not be able to protect such a vicious general and killer god.
Obviously, the old King of Qin is, but the King of Zhao is not.
If it were Lian Po a few years ago, he would either be so angry that he would leave for another country to make a living, or drink every day to drown his sorrows. But now he is carrying a hoe and tilling the land like an old farmer, and has just harvested a season of millet.
When Cai Ze came to visit and told the Qin State that he was going to use a strategy of sowing discord, Lian Po, who had a fiery temper, did not get angry. Instead, he said cheerfully, "Lian Po is old now. He cannot conquer cities and territories for the King of Qin even if he enters Qin."
Cai Ze said: "Zhu Xiang wrote to the emperor, asking to open a course in Xianyang Academy to teach military training and marching, and to hire Lian Gong as the teacher."
Lian Po's smile faded. "Zhu Xiang is really meddling in other people's business. Is he still worried that I will be harmed by the King of Zhao in Zhao State?"
Cai Ze shook his head: "Your Majesty is very good at judging people. Although Zhao has already declined, with you and Li Mu as successors, Zhao can be guaranteed peace for decades. Although Your Majesty is now temporarily stopping the war and recuperating with the assistance of Zhu Xiang, he will also do something to weaken other countries. Zhu Xiang persuaded Your Majesty, but he only asked you and Li Mu to enter Qin and not attack cities for Qin."
Lian Po sat down on the ridge of the field, looking at his own manor which was originally a grassland for grazing horses but has now become a field, and said, "You told me this so that I won't resent Zhu Xiang?"
Cai Ze said: "What does this have to do with Zhu Xiang? Could Zhu Xiang have used a strategy of alienation?"
Lian Po was stunned for a moment, then he clapped his hands and laughed: "That bastard doesn't know how to sow discord!"
Cai Ze laughed and said, "Then Lord Lian guessed wrong. This time the plot to sow discord was really set up by Zhu Xiang."
Lian Po almost choked on his own laughter: "Ahem, what?!"
Cai Ze smiled and stood up, bowing and saying, "Zhu Xiang said that this plan of alienation was a conspiracy and an open one. He informed Lord Lian and Li Mu in advance. If the plan still succeeds, it is not his fault."
Lian Po was originally angry.
Although he knew that Cai Ze would be used by the King of Qin after entering Qin, he was still a little frustrated that he was so disregarding of their old friendship.
After listening to Cai Ze's words, Lian Po was stunned for a long time, with a very complicated mood. In the end, his extremely complicated mood turned into a helpless feeling.
If Zhu Xiang was in front of him, he would definitely hit Zhu Xiang's head hard, causing Zhu Xiang to hold his head and run around.
"Is Zhu Xiang doing well in Qin?" Lian Po asked. "Is Zheng'er well behaved?"
Cai Ze said: "The King of Qin, the Crown Prince of Qin, Ying Hou, and Wu'an Jun have already regarded Zhu Xiang's house as a place to recuperate. No one in Qin dares to disturb him. As for Zheng'er, he has become bolder and stronger. Last time I saw him riding on the neck of the Crown Prince of Qin, he almost crushed the Crown Prince of Qin."
Lian Po said happily: "Hahahaha, he is still being carried on the shoulders of the prince?"
Cai Ze said: "Yes, the King of Qin often hugged him. Lord Lian should know that Xia Tong is Zichu."
Lian Po still smiled: "I know."
Cai Ze said: "Prince Zichu is still Xia Tong. Even the King of Qin and the Crown Prince call him Xia Tong."
Lian Po was relieved and said, "Zhu Xiang was right."
Cai Ze shook his head: "I used Zhu Xiang's strategy of sowing discord this time, so coming to see Lord Lian and Li Mu was not part of the strategy, but just to appease you. Although Zhu Xiang said that he didn't mind, I can see that he is very afraid that you and Li Mu will hate him after entering Qin."
Lian Po opened his eyes and said calmly, "Then he shouldn't use this strategy of alienation."
Cai Ze said: "Zhu Xiang said that if his plan to sow discord works, it means that you and Li Mu will definitely be harmed by Zhao. He would rather be hated than save you; if his plan to sow discord does not work, even if there will be hostility in the future, he will have no reason to invite you and Li Mu to Qin."
Lian Po could no longer maintain his indifferent expression. He ruffled his hair in frustration and sighed deeply again.
After a while, Lian Po said, "I will go find Lord Pingyuan and Lord Pingyang."
Cai Ze bowed again.
This time he did not joke like he did with Li Mu, saying "I'll lend you money if you don't have enough money", otherwise he would definitely be beaten by Duke Lian.
Cai Ze nominally left the State of Zhao, but in fact he changed his identity into a wealthy businessman and continued to observe the situation secretly.
Soon, the court began to bring up the old incident of Lian Po's massacre of the city, believing that Lian Po should be punished, otherwise it would seem that Zhao was unrighteous and no one would dare to enter Zhao in the future.
They also brought up Zhu Xiang as an example. Because the King of Zhao forced Zhu Xiang to leave, scholars all over the world cursed the State of Zhao and believed that the King of Zhao was not a person worthy of their assistance. Now Lian Po has done such a cruel and unjust act, which has made the reputation of the King of Zhao and the State of Zhao even worse, so he had to be punished.
Their arguments were very logical and resonated with many scholars.
The scholars from other countries, especially those from Wei and Han, made the most noise, as if if Lian Po had not died, the King of Zhao would be King Jie of Xia and King Zhou of Shang.
Lord Pingyuan and Lord Pingyang hurried back to Handan and asked King Zhao to reconsider.
Before this incident was over, someone else reported to the emperor that Li Mu was resentful of King Zhao because of the incident between Zhu Xiang and Lian Po and wanted to rebel.
Li Mu sent a huge sum of gold to Handan early on, asking important officials in the court to speak for him.
He was defending Zhao State against the Huns and had just achieved some success and was beginning to make a name for himself when suddenly someone accused him of treason. They must have been framing him.
Moreover, if Lian Po could not be saved, then Li Mu would be the only general who could lead the troops for Zhao. If Li Mu was forced to leave, who would be able to lead the troops for Zhao again
Zhao State has no generals available!
King Zhao locked himself in the palace and did not come out for several days.
Less than two years later, Zhao Sheng, who seemed to be ten years older, knocked on the door with a cane. When the king of Zhao did not answer, he kept knocking, refusing to eat or drink for a day.
King Zhao had no choice but to invite Zhao Sheng into the room.
Zhao Sheng cried, "Your Majesty, are you really going to abandon Lian Po and Li Mu?"
King Zhao cried to Zhao Sheng and handed the imperial edict in his hand to Zhao Sheng.
The King of Zhao had already written an imperial edict to recruit Lian Po to Handan as prime minister, and also to reward Li Mu handsomely so that Li Mu would also be sent to Handan to serve as an official.
Zhao Sheng was horrified: "This... the imperial edict has already been written, why not issue it?"
King Zhao knelt on the ground and said to Zhao Sheng in agony: "Uncle, my edict cannot be sent out. It can no longer be sent out!"
Zhao Sheng was stunned, and then his body went limp.
The King of Zhao cried, "They all say that I am unfit to be king. The royal family has united to undermine me. If I order to harm Duke Lian and Li Qing, they will issue an imperial decree; if I order to protect Duke Lian and Li Qing, they will say that I was incompetent in the past and that my imperial decree should not be used. I have no choice, I have no choice! Uncle, save me, save Zhao!"
Zhao Sheng gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go find Lord Lian, I'll go find Li Mu, and ask them to lead their troops into Handan!"
(End of this chapter)